City Council Minutes February 1, 2007 (Special Session)

North Liberty City Council
February 1, 2007
Special Session
Number 17

Mayor Franker called the special session of the City of North Liberty City Council at 7:04 p.m.

Council members present: Kuhl, Moody, Salm, Wozniak. Absent: Bahl.

Others present: Brian James, Scott Peterson, Tracey Mulcahey, Tommy Haines, Bill Mausser, Lori Lindner, Rachel Gallegos, Darrell Grannert, Jim Tallman, Lynn Caslavka, Mary K. Mitchell, Herb Loops, Deeann Wortman, Kathryn Young, Mike McCue, and other interested citizens.

Consent Agenda. Kuhl moved, Wozniak seconded to approve the agenda, the attached list of bills, and Resolution Number 07-09, A Resolution Approving the Agreement Between the City of North Liberty and Tyler Technologies, Inc. that sets forth the Terms and Conditions of InVision Migration System Agreement for Financial Software Upgrades. After discussion, the vote was: ayes — Kuhl, Wozniak, Moody, Salm; nays – none; absent — Bahl. Motion carried.

Public Comment. Darrell Grannert, Stoney Point Development, spoke representing the Citizens for Sensible Development in appreciation of the City Council accepting the application for the annexation petition.

Jim Tallman, Penn Township Trustee, spoke as a resident of North Liberty area for forty years and Penn Township Trustee. Mr. Tallman shared a State code excerpt regarding annexation procedure and interest of residents in the annexation. He asked Council to consider and approve annexation that CSD is requesting.

Lynn Caslavka, 1045 W. Forevergreen Road, one of the first members of Planning and Zoning and served fourteen years on City Council spoke regarding CSD requesting to voluntarily annex into the City.

Mary K. Mitchell, 2008 Cardinal Lane, read short statement on behalf of Larry Pacha.

Herb Loops, 2900 North Liberty Road, thanked Council for accepting application and offered support in what they doing here. He requested that Council not abandon them to Coralville.

Deeann Wortman, 2707 Woodfield Lane, currently not proposed to be annexed by anyone. She would like to support North Liberty’s proposed annexation as they would rather be annexed into North Liberty rather than Coralville.

Scott Peterson, City Attorney, offered brief update regarding election law and instant runoff. By state law, instant runoff is not allowed. Peterson will be proposing some election law alternatives at the next Council meeting.

Kathryn Young, 3916 County Down Lane, appreciates the hard work that has been done to listen to CSD and look at the things that residents are trying to deal with. She encouraged Council to approve the application.

Mike McCue, Whitetail Lane, pleased to be a part of the annexation request. He thanked Councilor Kuhl for his comments to the Johnson County Supervisors earlier in the day.

Home Rule Charter Petition. Councilor Tom Salm presented an update regarding the Home Rule Charter Commission Petition Signature Review Committee meeting on January 31, 2007. Salm’s recommendation is that we have a motion to consider the petition invalid.

Kuhl moved to accept the review committee’s report and consider the petition invalid, Salm seconded. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Salm, Wozniak; nays – none; abstain – Moody; absent – Bahl. Motion carried.

Peterson offered comments regarding concern about the process. He recommends that at the next meeting, a resolution regarding how to handle petitions as they are received by the City. Peterson offered a reminder regarding people who sign petitions. There is a window and there are different opinions regarding the window. Once the petition is signed, a person may or may not have the opportunity to remove their name.

Official Announcements – Mayor Franker. He attended the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner tonight. United States House of Representatives passed the annual appropriations bill yesterday allocating $870,000 to the Highway 965 project.

Cemetery Board Appointment. Moody moved, Salm seconded to reappoint Chris Croy to Cemetery Board. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Moody, Wozniak, Kuhl, Salm; nays – none; absent — Bahl. Motion carried .

West Trunk Sewer Main Agreements. Kuhl moved, Wozniak seconded to approve Resolution Number 07-10, A Resolution approving the West Trunk Sewer Main Easement Agreement between TL & L and the City of North Liberty. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Salm, Moody, Wozniak, Kuhl; nays—none; absent — Bahl. Motion carried.

City Administrator Brian James and City Attorney Scott Peterson presented information regarding the Sewer Main Easement Agreements for the West Trunk Sewer Main project. The final agreement will be in front of Council at the next meeting.

Kuhl moved, Wozniak seconded to approve Resolution Number 07-11, A Resolution approving the West Trunk Sewer Main Easement Agreement between Ted Lewis & Brenda Lewis and the City of North Liberty. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Moody, Wozniak, Kuhl, Salm; nays – none; absent – Bahl. Motion carried.

Budget Work Session. Assistant City Administrator/City Clerk Tracey Mulcahey presented the proposed FY 08 budget. Discussion was held regarding the proposed budget. James provided summary of budget calendar and process. The public hearing is scheduled for February 27, 2007.

Council Comments. Councilor Wozniak reported that last Wednesday, he attended JCCOG meeting with preliminary discussions on JCCOG budget. The next parks comprehensive plan meeting is scheduled for 2/13/07. Council will be asked to discussCommunications Joint Facility and committing funds on design of this program. He would like to see a policy on easement negotiation. With budget costs and tax increases, he would like to look at savvy ways to increase contributions from those who are driving the growth.

Councilor Moody would like Council to have item discussing agenda setting meetings going to informal agenda setting meeting. Moody expressed issues regarding shifting the council date Moody requested that given budget situation, we need to take a look at all expenditures to insure that we have cut ourselves to the bone. He asked council given the state of finances, to take immediate action to zero out their payouts.

Kuhl attended luncheon of leaders with President of Kirkwood college regarding what Kirkwood can do with cities in the corridor. He attended Iowa River Landing Task Force meeting on Wednesday. He attended the Johnson County Board of Supervisors meeting talking about the annexation petitions.

Mayor Comments. Mayor Franker provided information regarding thanked citizens for serving on boards, commissions, and committees.

At 8:30 p.m., Kuhl moved, Salm seconded to adjourn. All ayes. Meeting adjourned.