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02-05-1973 MinutesCity of Salina, Kansas Commissioners' Meeting February 5, 1973 The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners met in the Commissioners' Room, City -County Building, on Monday, February 5, 1973, at four o'clock p.m. The Mayor asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Moment of Silent Prayer. There were present: Mayor Jack Weisgerber, Chairman presiding Commissioner Leon L. Ashton Commissioner Robert C. Caldwell Commissioner Norma G. Cooper Commissioner Mike Losik, Jr. comprising a quorum of the Board, also: L. 0. Bengtson, Norris D. Olson, D. L. Harrison, Absent: None City Attorney City Manager City Clerk The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 29, 1973, were approved as mailed. THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED the Week of February 11 through 17, 1973 - "VOCATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK". The proclamation was read by Roger Miller, President of the Salina Area Vocational School Teachers' Association. THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED the Month of February, 1973 - "BOY SCOUT MONTH". The proclamation was read by James L. Adkins, District Commissioner of the Three Rivers District of Boy Scouts. THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED the Week of February 18 through 24, 1973 - "ENGINEERS' WEEK". The proclamation was read by Charlie May, President of the Smoky Valley Chapter of the Kansas Engineering Society. STAFF AGENDA AN ORDINANCE was introduced for second reading entitled: "AN ORDINANCE Exempting certain persons from obtaining an electrical contractor's license, amending Section 9-139 of the Salina Code, and repealing the existing section." A motion was made by Commissioner Ashton, seconded by Commissioner Losik to adopt the ordinance as read and the following vote was had: Ayes: Ashton, Caldwell, Cooper, Losik, Weisgerber (5). Nays: (0). Carried. The Mayor approved the ordinance and it is numbered 8273. The ordinance was introduced for first reading January 29, 1973. AN ORDINANCE was introduced for second reading entitled: "AN ORDINANCE making it unlawful to labor at the trade of plumbing within the City of Salina without obtaining certification from the Board of Plumbing Examiners and making certain exceptions thereto, amending Section 9-207 of the Salina Code and repealing the existing section." A motion was made by Commissioner Caldwell, seconded by Commissioner Ashton to adopt the ordinance as read and the following vote was had: Ayes: Ashton, Caldwell, Cooper, Losik, Weisgerber (5). Nays: (0). Carried. The Mayor approved the ordinance and it is numbered 8274. The ordinance was introduced for first reading January 29, 1973. AN ORDINANCE was introduced for second reading entitled: "AN ORDINANCE making it unlawful to labor at the trade of gas fitter or install gas burning appliances without first securing a Gas Fitter's Certificate and license, exempting licensed Mobile Home Craftsmen from the provisions thereof, amending Section 9-241 of the Salina Code and repealing the existing section." A motion was made by Commissioner Caldwell, seconded by Commissioner Losik to adopt the ordinance as read and the following vote was had: Ayes: Ashton, Caldwell, Cooper, Losik, Weisgerber (5). Nays: (0). Carried. The Mayor approved the ordinance and it is numbered 8275. The ordinance was introduced for first reading January 29, 1973. THE CITY ENGINEER reported on Petition Number 3293, which was filed by Oscar A. Wenthe, for the paving of the 300 Block of South Third, between Mulberry and the Smoky Hill River, that the petition had a sufficient number of signatures and is a valid petition, and that it be included in the next feasibility report to determine the cost. A motion wasmade by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Ashton to accept the City Engineer's report. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. 1 LI J 1 A MOTION was made by Commissioner Losik, seconded by Commissioner Ashton to introduce an ordinance for first reading providing for the vacation of a certain easement in Block 9 of the Replat of Faith Addition to the City of Salina, Saline County, Kansas. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. Ordinance Passed: �,,Q„�1 a„a ZL 97-� Number: 'd2�Co COMMISSION AGENDA None PUBLIC AGENDA PETITION NUMBER 3294 was filed by G & K, Inc., George C. Etherington, President, for the acceptance of Preliminary Plat of McArthur Addition consisting of the West 45 Acres of the North Half of the Southwest Quarter of Section 19, Township 14 South, Range 2 West of the Sixth Principal Meridian, Saline County, Kansas. A motion was made by Commissioner Caldwell, seconded by Commissioner Ashton to refer the petition to the Metropolitan Planning Commission. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. PETITION NUMBER 3295 was filed by G & K, Inc., George C. Etherington, President, for the rezoning of Blocks 1, 4, 5, 6, McArthur Addition from agriculture to District "AA" (Public Park); and Blocks 2 and 3, McArthur Addition from agriculture to District "EE" (Local Service District), subject to the acceptance and approval of the preliminary plat, final plat and petition for admittance to the city limits. A motion was made by Commissioner Ashton, seconded by Commissioner Cooper to refer the petition to the Metropolitan Planning Commission. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. PETITION NUMBER 3296 was filed by G & K, Inc., George C. Etherington, President for the zoning and annexation to the City Limits of McArthur Addition upon the acceptance and approval of the preliminary plat and final plat. A motion was made by Commissioner Losik to refer the petition to the Metropolitan Planning Commission with the recommendation that they use the consultant to come up with their guide lines on annexation. "We are talking about an additional 45 acres. I do not make this statement to curtail annexation or to curtail growth, but simply for the City to provide the services that should be made automatically available to these people if this is annexed. I am basing that are we capable of doing so from the budget we have?" The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ashton. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. PETITION NUMBER 3297 was filed by Larry D. Stroede, 509 South Tenth for the vacation of the alley at the side of the lot and have it reverted as part of their property to be used as a private drive. The alley is located abutting Lot 13 in Morrison's Replat on South Tenth Street. Alley to be vacated to the end of Lot 13. A motion was made by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Ashton to refer the petition to the Metropolitan Planning Commission for a recommendation. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. PETITION NUMBER 3298 was filed by Harold Dickey, 844 Hancock, for the rezoning of Lots 2, 3, 4, Block 18, Sunset Manor Addition from District "A" (Second Dwelling House District) to District "EE" (Local Service District). A motion was made by Commissioner Losik, seconded by Commissioner Caldwell to refer the petition to the Metropolitan Planning Commission. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. A CEREAL MALT BEVERAGE LICENSE APPLICATION was filed by S & G, Inc., d/b/a Shamrock Lounge, 701 North Broadway. (New). The City Clerk reported the applicant had paid the proper fee and the application has been approved by the Zoning Officer, Health Department and Police Department. A motion was made by Commissioner Caldwell, seconded by Commissioner Losik to approve the license application and authorize the City Clerk to issue the license. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. A CEREAL MALT BEVERAGE LICENSE APPLICATION was filed by Roy C. Morris, d/b/a Ritz Tavern, 101 NNorth Broadway. (New). The City Clerk reported the applicant had paid the proper fee and the application has been approved by the Zoning Officer, Health Department, and Police Department. A motion was made by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Caldwell to approve the license application and authorize the City Clerk to issue the license. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. A TREE TRIMMING LICENSE APPLICATION was filed by Marvin Reinert, d/b/a Reinert Tree Service, 2042 Wesley. (Renewal). The City Clerk reported the applicant had paid the proper fee, and has the proper surety bond and public liability insurance certificate on file. A motion was made by Commissioner Losik, seconded by Commissioner Ashton to approve the license application and authorize the City Clerk to issue the license. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. A TREE TRIMMING AND TREATING LICENSE APPLICATION was filed by Paul Handlin, d/b/a Handlin and Son Tree Service, Route 1, Marquette, Kansas. (Renewal). The City Clerk reported the applicant has paid the proper fee, and has the proper surety bond and public liability insurance certificate on file. A motion was made by Commissioner Ashton, seconded by Commissioner Losik to approve the license application and authorize the City Clerk to issue the license. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. A REQUEST was received from Philip R. Herzig, Attorney for Alonzo R. Wilson, Jr. requesting the vacation of Ash Street between Orange Street and Grove Street, and the alley in Block 5, Elm Grove Addition to the City of Salina, Kansas. A motion was made by Commissioner Losik, seconded by Commissioner Ashton to refer the request to the Metropolitan Planning Commission for a recommendation. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. A REQUEST was received from the Salina Passport for Adventure Committee for a grant of $9,922.50 of Revenue Sharing Funds to provide one-half of the needed funds for implementation of the Passport Program with thirty-six Salina families in 1973. Mr. Tom Aird read a prepared statement to present the request: "This is a request from the Salina Passport for Adventure Committee to the Honorable Commissioners of the City of Salina for a grant of $9,922.50 to provide one-half of the needed funds for implementation of the Passport program with thirty-six Salina families in 1973, the balance of the funds to be secured by the Committee. This grant would fall in the category of social services to the poor, a high priority area as defined in federal law as well as in community opinion. "Passport for Adventure began in Salina two years ago with the stated goal of reaching out to youngsters who, for one reason or another, are having difficulty in functioning effectively in our society, with a positive program to enhance their confidence and skills, and those of their parents, in such a way as to enable them to experience increased success and gratification. Funded jointly by a grant from the Governor's Committee on Criminal Administration and by private contributions by friends both inside and outside Salina, Passport has now worked with forty-eight Salina families. Careful research at Wichita State University shows the stated goal has been reached. On the average their school grades are up one letter point; their behavior, objectively recorded on five separate measures, has improved significantly. Local school officials encourage the continuance of the program, and parents of former Passport youngsters continue to express their pleasure. Some representative quotations from parents include: 'It helped me to get to know all my family a lot better, and how to cope.' 'My boy gets along with his sisters and brothers better, and realizes I have feelings, and he don't want to hurt them. He don't gripe or nothing - he just seems like a different boy.' 11 learned that I was doing wrong, and how to change my way of thinking when my kids do things wrong.' 'She learned a few choice words - which she would have learned sooner or later - but I am sorry she learned them.' 'I have ssen several changes. He doesn't roam so much, he loses his temper less often, he does his chores before I ask - he is a much better boy.' 'He is more contented now, and shares more, but he still don't help out around the house. He told me he is ready for school, which he never did before.' 'She seems more grown up in many ways, but I can't tell if it is me or her.' "The Governor's Committee on Criminal Administration philisophy and policy is to make grants which can enable new programs to prove their value, in the expectation that proven programs will merit and obtain local funding. Salina, thus, cannot look for additional Passport for Adventure funds from the LCCA. "In response to this challenge, the Salina Passport for Adventure Committee proposed to make this proven program available to an additional thirty-six Salina families in 1973 - one -and a -half times as many as were included in any single year in the past. "The program itself is intensive, comprising three separate survival camping expeditions for the youngsters, designed to enable them to accomplish difficult tasks, and gain the self-confidence which comes from such success. During the expeditions the youngsters engage in daily group counseling, and live in a merited -reward society designed to teach the satisfaction resulting from positive behavior. At the same time certified social workers engage in regular group and individual counsel with the parents, to help them sustain and enhance the positive gains made by their children. i "Members of the Salina Passport for Adventure Committee consider this program to be of major importance in the lives of Salina boys and girls and their families. To make the promise of the program a reality, we have volunteered our personal effort. Your challenge grant of one-half of the needed funds will ensure the availability of professional help to many more Salina families than would otherwise be possible." Mr. Lloyd Lockwood and Mr. Jim Wayman spoke of the importance of the program and the need to have it continued. Two parents of children who had been involved with the Passport to Adventure Program spoke and told what that program had done for their children. Commissioner Ashton commented that the Commission has endorsed this program in the past, and they are very much aware of the good it has done for the individuals who have been a part of it. "I feel we should give this as high a priority as some of the others, but I feel we are going to have to see what obligations we are trying to meet and Bibby this up a little bit, because we don't have enough to go around for everyone, I am sure." Commissioner Cooper suggested the City Commission hold a public hearing at such time as the monies are to be appropriated to the different programs and services, and at that time the people who have submitted requests come back on an informal basis to discuss it. Mr. Aird thanked the Commission and said they are very much aware that the Commission is going to have a very difficult job in the distribution of any revenue sharing funds, and asked their indulgence and consideration of their request. He added that this program is one of prevention rather than a program of cure, and it is their intention to try and prevent these children from becoming problem children before they get involved with the Police Department and other crimes. Mr. Medford Shively said, "I came down to this meeting specifically because of these two proposals, because I really think you Commissioners need to set a definite criteria for the distribution of the funds since this may or may not be reinstituted in years to come from the federal government, and the criteria you set ought to have some bearing upon the basis of the Revenue Sharing Act in its inception, which I understand is somehow to be relief to tax payers, in some shape or form, or to give us programs we couldn't have otherwise. It looks as if the streets are going to need tremendous repair after all these snows we have had. There is undoubtedly many other areas that are going to call for federal money and as a taxpayer, and as burdened as we all are, we want relief as well as we want additional good programs, and so I know the task is great. I ask that you take serious consideration in making criteria that are going to be acceptable to the citizens of Salina in distributing the money. I know everyone has a good function in mind, and everyone deserves or wants money, and your job is going to be to decide how, and I say the criteria has to be based on what is good for the total community and how do we get tax relief in some shape from this Revenue Sharing Money?" Commissioner Caldwell commented, "I am not going to jump right in and say I am going to do that today, I am going to listen to the Commission a while, and I am pretty sure we will give consideration to all of the requests." Mayor Weisgerber asked if there were any others who wished to speak regarding this request. There were none. REQUEST from the Salina Youth Home Foundation for $20,000 of Refenue Sharing Funds to purchase a home. Mrs. Ginger Clubine reviewed the written request. "The group care foundation was formed in October, 1972 and incorporated. We have seven board members and 4 ex -officio members. Our board has visited with other group facilities in Topeka and Emporia. We have had contact with numerous others by letter or telephone. This board was formed through the League of Women Voters study on the mental health and was found there was a dire need in Saline County and Salina, per say, for a group care facility. Through the League study it was found that the cost per child in this type of facility is less than it is in a State institution. I will qualify this by saying that at Girls Industrial School and Boys Industrial School the cost runs between $800 and $1,000 per month. In our facility we have come up with a budget of approximately $300 per month, per child. This would show a savings to the tax payers, because Girls Industrial School and Boys Industrial School are supported by taxes. We have set our budget up on a tentative basis of seven girls. We would have to be licensed by the Board of Health and by the Welfare Department. Our financial report, which is also included in the proposal shows that we have $6,500 savings account. This money has a few strings attached to it. Part of it was given to us on the basis that it be used after the home was purchased, so we cannot use this money for the purchase of a home. We also have it set so when we apply, we plan to apply for either a grant from the Governor's Committee on Criminal Administration or from Title IV A, and in these type grants you have to have a matching fund. We put up 25% and the grant, if approved, is 75% monies. We need either to have, before we can go to either one of these committees for funding, we have to have the facility. We have to have the plant. It has to be licensed and this is why we are requesting the $20,000 for the purchase of such a plant. We must either have a long term lease, construct a home, or purchase an existing home. In Saline County there are 15 licensed foster homes at the present time. Only 4 of these will accept adolescent children. This is the range from 12 to 17. These 4 are already filled. The Welfare Department had 15 adolescents come through their department for placement in 1972. Twelve of these could have been placed in a long term residential care, if one would have been available in Saline County, which would have filled us up within a year. We can be self-sustaining once we get in operation and we start receiving girls. We are self-supporting on our own, through third party payments. The other communities in the State of Kansas have such facilities. Other communities comparable to our size and smaller already have these facilities. They are full. So it is quite hard when Juvenile Court, has a juvenile adolescent come through. We run into the problem of trying to place them. Our foster homes are filled. We can't seem to place them outside of the County. So many end up in Girls Industrial School or Boys Industrial School. If there was an in-between place for them, they may not have needed to go. You are also separating the child from its family. Granted, in a group care home, they would not be living in the family, but they would still have contact with their family. They would be in their school district; they would be going to their school. The ideal situation would be to work with the family, straighten their problem out between the child and the family and have the child go back into the family. When you have 150 miles difference between the two, it is rather hard to communicate. Our proposition is to strengthen the family not to divide it any further by shipping the child away. Other homes in the State run anywhere from $5.00 a day up to $25.00 or $35.00, is what they are charging. We have a list of 38 such homes, and this would include like in Topeka both a girls and a boys home. It is under one name, but there are two separate homes. These homes are filled. The list of what it costs does not include, like the lower ones that are charging $5.00 a day, it does not include their medical bills, their clothing. This is strictly room and board per child, and we feel Salina needs such an organization. We need such a home to be able to take care of our own children. We have found in other States, they are going in this particular direction. So our proposal is to ask for $20,000 from Revenue Sharing to purchase such a facility for -- Salina." Mrs. Dick Worth spoke for the League of Women Voters, "The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization. Our purpose is to promote more informed, active participation of citizens in government. We study issues not candidates. "After studying the juvenile services and facilities of Salina we support the establishment of services, programs and facilities for prevention and rehabilitation of juveniles. There is no one solution to our juvenile problems, but after an intensive study we found the most pressing need to be shelter group care homes. We need two for girls and one for boys. The Salina Youth Care Home Foundation will provide physically unrestricting facilities where youth would live until, after working with parents, they could return home. "Many things that youth do that makes him a delinquent under criminal code are permissable for an adult. A community based and community controlled shelter home would decrease the loss of productive citizens. Ninty percent of adult criminal offenders have been juvenile offenders so any money spent by our community now would save the taxpayers money. "We must not ignore the fact that every youngster placed behind bars will return to the society which placed him there. "The Salina League of Women Voters strongly supports the efforts of the Salina Youth Care Home Houndation." Mrs. Worth said, "In addition, I would like to reiterate both of those, that we realize ours is not the only answer, that also these people have an answer to children; and through the homes in Kansas, and I want to stress again there are 38 of them in other counties and communities, that reach over 400 of our children, beside those there are the State supported places such as the Girls Industrial School and Boys Industrial School, and Atchison, Larned, Salina and Osawatamie. Massachusetts, California and now Florida are going away from state institutions into group care facilities. This is something that is _ very important because our community is responsible for these children, and we are responsible to make them worth while adults in the future." Mr. Clancy King said, "I have waited until now to speak, because I wanted to speak for both programs. I was on the original group of the Passport program and I think it is a tremendous thing, and I think it is great, and hope that this Commission will certainly consider the programs for the youth out of the Revenue Sharing. I have been Commissioner Cooper replied, "Well we might be a little premature on that cut off point, for the simple reason that until the Commission has agreed on what kind of a measurement we will use to determine who will or who will not qualify. Maybe the measurement itself will eliminate some requests that they have been anticipating; so I think we have our homework to do first before we can say to them that by this magic date, if your letter isn't here, you are not going to be considered." Commissioner Caldwell suggested that people who do have grants or proposal requests find time other than Commission meeting time for this, so they can discuss it a Little better, because as an agenda item, there are people waiting. Commissioner Losik made the motion to accept the two requests for future consideration. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ashton. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. THE MAYOR, with the approval of the City Commission, made the following appointments: Cultural Arts Commission Jack Gillam, appointed for a 3 year term to January 16, 1976 to succeed Max Bishop. Mrs. Cecil Beverly, appointed for a 3 year term to January 16, 1976 to succeed Mrs. John Dahlquist. Mrs. Whitley Austin, appointed for a 3 year term to January 16, 1976 to succeed Mrs. John Black. Harlan Rimmerman, appointed for a 3 year term to January 16, 1976 to succeed Richard Bergen. closely associated with these and I feel it is time that we, as a community, as a governmental body, should work toward some of these programs that have thus far been done by volunteers basically when it really is the governmental function to take care of some of these things, and it has gotten so big that it now requires some governmental assistance. The Passport to Adventure, I am convinced, has kept some of these young kids out of institutional facilities where they may have ended up, had it not been for this learning experience. The girls that we are talking about I have represented many of them and I can tell you it is a rather sad situation when our community has the dubious distinction of ranking third in the past 10 years from 1960 to 1970 for the number of girls sent to Girls Industrial School and fourth in the State in the number of boys sent to Boys Industrial School. This is our community; the place you and I live and rear our children, and it certainly seems to me we can invest our money no more wisely than in the youth of our community. In this situation the girls we are talking about are mainly wayward girls and boys. What do we do with a child at this point in Salina, Kansas, when a parent takes him down to the police station and dumps him off and says I can't handle this kid, you take him, put her in jail. Now theoretically she has done nothing wrong, but somebody has to do something and the parent is beside himself and cannot or will not act. We can argue all day about the merits of that situation but the fact is we have a child then to take care of and she doesn't belong in our jail, nor does she belong in Girls Industrial School in Beloit. This child we should care for and provide at least one place in our community where she can go and that is what we are talking about on group care. Group care is talking very sensibly insofar as trying to acquire a facility at the moment for girls. Eventually it will be necessary, and they have plans in the future to obtain a facility for young boys who are in the same problem, and perhaps then a second facility for girls. We feel there is that much need in this community and certainly we would urge the Commission to give priority to these youth projects. I think taxpayer wise, I don't know of any way we could better spend our money than to, and save our tax money, spend it wisely for some youth programs which will fall eventually if they don't get some help from the community at large." Commissioner Losik suggested the City Attorney research the legal aspects as rapidly as possible, and then the Commission get together to establish future criteria so whoever is asking for funds knows what their chances are, what category this falls in, not just because 30 or 40 people show up to lobby here and ask for it. Commissioner Ashton commented, "There are still other groups within our community that have talked with some of the people about submitting what their needs are, and I don't know just how we are going to handle all of them, and what length of time we should give them to get their needs and wants in to us, but someplace along the line we are going to have to give them equal time or study to see who has the priority and what we can come up with." Commissioner Cooper replied, "Well we might be a little premature on that cut off point, for the simple reason that until the Commission has agreed on what kind of a measurement we will use to determine who will or who will not qualify. Maybe the measurement itself will eliminate some requests that they have been anticipating; so I think we have our homework to do first before we can say to them that by this magic date, if your letter isn't here, you are not going to be considered." Commissioner Caldwell suggested that people who do have grants or proposal requests find time other than Commission meeting time for this, so they can discuss it a Little better, because as an agenda item, there are people waiting. Commissioner Losik made the motion to accept the two requests for future consideration. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ashton. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. THE MAYOR, with the approval of the City Commission, made the following appointments: Cultural Arts Commission Jack Gillam, appointed for a 3 year term to January 16, 1976 to succeed Max Bishop. Mrs. Cecil Beverly, appointed for a 3 year term to January 16, 1976 to succeed Mrs. John Dahlquist. Mrs. Whitley Austin, appointed for a 3 year term to January 16, 1976 to succeed Mrs. John Black. Harlan Rimmerman, appointed for a 3 year term to January 16, 1976 to succeed Richard Bergen. Trustees of the Municipal Band Robert J. Cooper, reappointed for a 3 year term to January 1, 1976 Salina -Saline County Civil Defense Council Mike Losik, Jr., City Commission Representative Metropolitan Planning Commission Solomon Oliver, appointed to fill the unexpired term of Cecil Beverly, to May 1, 1973 Housing Authority of the City of Salina Fortino Bonilla, appointed to fill the unexpired term of Cecil Beverly, to September 11, 1974 The Mayor also announced that there would be no Commission meetings on the next two weeks, as they are holiday weeks, and the next Regular Commission Meeting will be February 26, 1973. A motion was made by Commissioner Ashton, seconded by Commissioner Losik that the Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners be adjourned. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. D. L. Harrison, City Clerk City of Salina, Kansas Commissioners' Meeting February 12, 1973 There was no meeting today because a quorum was not present. Legal Holiday - Lincoln's Birthday. D. L. Harrison, City Clerk City of Salina, Kansas Commissioners' Meeting February 19, 1973 There was no meeting today because a quorum was not present. Legal Holiday - Washington's Birthday. '24�- D. L. Harrison, City Clerk