City Council Minutes February 25, 2003

February 25, 2003
No. 17

The North Liberty City Council met in regular session in Council Chambers.  Mayor Mekota called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Council members present:  Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner and Soukup.

Also present were Brian James, William J. Sueppel, Kevin Trom, Mary K. Mitchell, Laura Burges, Diedre Bello, Adam Weeks, Tony Johnson, Chris Hoffman, Tom Salm, Larry White, Chad Lambi and interested citizens.

Council met informally with candidates for Telecommunications Commission appointment at 6:45 p.m.

Consent Agenda.  Dorst moved, seconded by Bandy, to approve staff reports, Library mission statement, Telecommunications Commission minutes, payment of attached list of claims and City Council minutes of February 5 and February 11, 2003.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Wastewater Treatment Facilities Plan.  Chad Lambi, Shive Hattery, summarized the 2003 Capacity Evaluation and Report for the wastewater treatment facility.  The study reports that the present capacity is adequate for treatment of normal wastewater flows.  A flow equalization basin is recommended to provide temporary storage of excess stormwater infiltration during heavy rainfall events.  With that addition the wastewater treatment facility is adequate to handle a population equivalent of 9,000 to 10,000.  With the future addition of another SBR basin and aerobic digester, the treatment plant will have adequate capacity for a population equivalent of 14,000 to 16,000.  The current 20-acre site has adequate space for future expansions.

City Administrator reported that staff is also analyzing options and developing a ten-year plan for sludge hauling.  The cost of sludge hauling and the equalization basin will be incorporated into a rate analysis and into the capital improvements plan.

Dorst moved, seconded by Bahl, to accept the 2003 Wastewater Capacity Evaluation and Report.  The vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Key Lock Box System.  Assistant Fire Chief, Larry White, explained a proposal to require commercial, industrial, multi-family, government and nursing care buildings to have a key lock box installed on the exterior of the structure for fire safety purpose.  Keys to the lock boxes are kept in emergency vehicles in a box that can only be opened after radio dispatch from the Sheriff’s department.  City Administrator suggested a 6-month to one-year period for compliance for existing buildings.

After discussion, Bandy moved, seconded by Dorst, to approve first consideration of Ordinance No. 03-14, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 15, ENTITLED “BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION,” OF THE NORTH LIBERTY MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING SECTION 15.02, ENTITLED “KEY LOCK BOX SYSTEM,” TO REQUIRE A KEY LOCK BOX ENTRY DEVICE TO BE PLACED ON COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, MULTI-FAMILY, GOVERNMENT AND NURSING CARE BUILDINGS FOR FIRE SAFETY PURPOSES.  The vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Liberty’s Gate Zoning.  Soukup moved, seconded by Bahl, to approve the second consideration of Ordinance No. 03-03, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE USE REGULATIONS ON PROPERTY OWNED BY PRIME VENTURES TO THOSE SET FORTH IN THE NORTH LIBERTY MUNICIPAL CODE FOR THE C-2-A HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Bahl moved, seconded by Soukup, to approve the second consideration of Ordinance No. 03-04, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE USE REGULATIONS ON PROPERTY OWNED BY PRIME VENTURES TO THOSE SET FORTH IN THE NORTH LIBERTY MUNICIPAL CODE FOR THE C-1-B GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Fox Run Part Eight.  Mayor Pro Tem Soukup assumed the chair.  City Engineer reported that improvements in Fox Run Part Eight have been completed with the exception of seeding and private utility installation.  He recommends approval with an escrow in the amount of $2722 for completion of the remaining items.  Dorst moved, seconded by Bahl, to adopt Resolution No. 03-11, RESOLUTION ACCEPTING PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS, EROSION CONTROL AND GRADING IN FOX RUN SUBDIVISION—PART 8, NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Mayor Mekota returned to the chair.

North Front Street Parking.  Council reviewed an ordinance that prohibits parking on North Front Street from Dubuque Street north to the City limit.  Bahl moved, seconded by Soukup, to approve the first consideration of Ordinance No. 03-06, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10.36, ENTITLED “STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING,” OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF NORTH LIBERTY BY AMENDING SECTION 10.36.050 THEREIN TO PROHIBIT PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF NORTH FRONT STREET FROM DUBUQUE STREET NORTH TO THE CITY LIMIT.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Cherry Street Courtyard Condominiums.  Council reviewed an amendment to the Developer’s Agreement for Cherry Street Courtyard Condominium because the Agreement requires Council consent to change of ownership and to delete the section requiring owner occupancy of all units.  Bandy stated his objection to removing the requirement that units be owner occupied.  After discussion, Dorst moved, seconded by Bahl, to adopt Resolution No. 03-12, RESOLUTION TO CORRECT DEVELOPER’S AGREEMENT AND APPROVING ASSIGNMENT OF OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED UPON THE DEVELOPER FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR CHERRY STREET COURTYARD CONDOMINIUMS, NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA.  The vote was: ayes—Bahl, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—Bandy.  Motion carried.

Telecommunications Commission.  Bandy moved, seconded by Bahl, to appoint Chris Hoffman to the Telecommunications Commission to fill an unexpired term to January 1, 2005.  The vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Soukup; nays—Gardiner.  Motion carried.

I-380 Industrial Park Sidewalks.  A prospective buyer of Lots 1 & 2 in I-380 Industrial Park has asked the Council to waive the requirement for sidewalks on those lots because they are located in an industrial area.  The developer’s preference is to have the sidewalk requirement waived for the entire subdivision.  Council discussed the potential need for sidewalks on at least one side of Hawkeye Drive because it will eventually connect future residential areas to commercial areas on Penn Street.  After discussion, Bandy moved, seconded by Dorst, to waive the sidewalk requirement for Lots 1 & 2, I-380 Industrial Park.  The vote was: ayes—Bahl, Bandy, Dorst, Gardiner, Soukup; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Adjournment.  Dorst moved, seconded by Bandy, to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m.  Motion carried