City Council Minutes June 12, 2007

North Liberty City Council
June 12, 2007
Regular Session
Number 29

Mayor Salm called to order the regular session of the North Liberty City Council at 7:00 p.m.

Council members present: Bahl, Kuhl, Moody, Wozniak, Wilkerson.

Others Present: City Engineer Kevin Trom, Acting City Administrator Tracey Mulcahey, City Planner Dean Wheatley, Lori Linder, William Mausser, Carolyn Matousek, Deanna Lear, Water Superintendent Greg Metternich, Deputy City Clerk Mary Byers and other interested citizens.

Approval of the Agenda and the Consent Agenda. Kuhl moved, seconded by Bahl, to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Kuhl, Moody, Wozniak, Wilkerson; nays—none. Motion carried.

Public Comment. Mayor Salm read a Proclamation declaring the month of June Pride Month.

Official Announcements. Salm thanked everyone who helped with the success of the Blues and BBQ Day and the Fun Day’s Celebration.

The Mayor and City Staff met on Friday, June 8th to update the Mayor on projects in the City for the last couple of years and discuss their status.

City Engineer Report. Trom reported that the new water tower is almost completely painted. The disinfection process has been started and Water Department is hopeful that the tower will be filled by the end of the week.

The pump for the new motor in well six has been installed.

Maxwell Construction is going to start on the West Trunk sewer line on the 18th of June with a three month completion date.

Phase I of the 240th Street paving project is completed. They are going to start on the Phase II June 13 with a completion date of the 4th of July.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant Project had its first monthly progress meeting with Staab Construction.

There was a Preconstruction Meeting for 270th Street Project with Streb Construction, the contractor for the project.

Acting City Administrator Report.
Water Usage Ordinance. Staff would like Council to take a proactive approach and encourage a program of education and limitation of water usage. The Council had information regarding potential programs the City could implement. Council is to get suggestions back to staff.

Flotation Devices and Swimming in City Owned Ponds. The Police Department and our Insurance Risk Manager have recommended the City consider implementing an Ordinance that restricts flotation devices and swimming in City owned ponds. After the Ordinance is implemented, signage will be installed. The Police will be asked to provide enforcement. This Ordinance will provide the officers with the ability to require that people exit the ponds.

Community Center Concerns: Community Center staff has expressed growing concerns regarding the number of youth who gather right inside the doorway of the facility. Staff is asking the Council to visit the facility between the hours of 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm to see the issues and concerns.

Sand/Salt Storage Facility. Wilkerson moved, seconded by Moody, to approve the Sand/Salt Storage Facility project contract with Shive-Hattery. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Moody, Wilkerson, Kuhl, Bahl, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.

Matousek Special Controlled Burn Permit Application. Bahl moved, seconded by Kuhl, to approve the Special Burn Permit. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Moody, Wilkerson, Kuhl, Bahl, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.

General Obligation Bond Issuance. Public Hearing was opened at 7:37 p.m. regarding instituting proceedings for the Issuance of General Obligation Urban Renewal Street Improvement Bonds in a Principal Amount not to Exceed $2,250,000. There were no comments and the Public Hearing was closed at 7:38 pm.

Public Hearing was open at 7:37 p.m. regarding instituting proceedings for the Issuance of General Obligation Urban Renewal Corporate Purpose Bonds in a Principal Amount not to Exceed $1,300,000. There were no comments and the Public Hearing was closed at 7:38 pm.

CRANDIC ANNEXATION. Public Hearing was opened at 7:40 pm and there were no comments. Public Hearing was closed.

Bahl moved, seconded by Wilkerson, to approve the CRANDIC request for property assessment agreement. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Kuhl, Wozniak, Moody, Wilkerson, Bahl; nays—none. Motion carried.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the Annexation.

Kuhl moved, seconded by Wozniak, to approve Resolution Number 07-113, A Resolution Authorizing and Accepting the Application of CRANDIC to Annex a Tract of Ground to the City of North Liberty, Iowa. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Kuhl, Wozniak, Moody, Wilkerson, Bahl; nays—none. Motion carried.

Lenane Annexation. Public Hearing was opened at 7:43 pm. There were no comments and the Public Hearing was closed.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the Annexation.

Bahl moved, seconded by Wozniak, to approve Resolution Number 07-114, A Resolution Authorizing and Accepting the Application of Frank Lenane to Annex a Tract of Ground to the City of North Liberty, Iowa. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Kuhl, Wozniak, Moody, Wilkerson, Bahl; nays—none. Motion carried.

Work Session. City Staff reviewed the policy for Water Shutoffs, Late Notices, and Late Payment Charges with the Council. Councilor Kuhl asked for this item to be on the agenda when he heard the amount of past due water bills that are mailed out monthly. He would like to reduce the work load of City Staff, and he feels maybe looking at different policies and fee structures would help.

Conservation Promotions and Modification of Pricing Structure for Water Bills. Kuhl would like staff to look at having a possible different water rate for homeowners who choose to water established lawns. Staff should also look at ways to encourage purchasing energy efficient appliances.

Deanna Lear addressed the Council on the water shut offs located on homeowners property. The current North Liberty Municipal Code puts the responsibility of the maintenance of the service, from the main to the house, on the homeowner. She has lived in North Liberty for 32 years and was here when the City installed the first Municipal Water Service. Homeowners at that time had to run the service lines to their houses and she feels that there were a lot of problems with poor installation of the services. At that time the City was responsible for maintenance and not the homeowner. About five years ago the City changed the policy and made the old part of town consistent with the new part of town, which made the homeowner responsible for their service from the water main to the house. She feels that was unfair and what the City was doing was turning over an old water service back to the property owner.

Council Member Wilkerson agreed with Lear and feels that there are products in the ground that are not working and haven’t worked over time and the City is pushing the problem on to the homeowner. Wilkerson would like the Council to rethink this policy and bring it back for more discussion.

Aspen Ridge Subdivision. Wozniak moved, seconded by Kuhl, to approve Resolution Number 07-108, A Resolution Approving the Vacation of the Ancient Roadway Easement. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Wilkerson, Kuhl, Bahl, Moody, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.

Wozniak moved, seconded by Bahl, to Approve Resolution Number 07-109, A Resolution Accepting Improvement in Aspen Ridge, Part One. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Wozniak, Moody, Bahl, Kuhl, Wilkerson; nays—none. Motion carried.

Wozniak moved, seconded by Kuhl, to approve Resolution Number 07-110, A Resolution Approving the Final Plat for Aspen Ridge Subdivision, Part 1, North Liberty, Iowa. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Kuhl, Wilkerson, Wozniak, Moody; nays—none. Motion carried.

Wozniak moved, seconded by Wilkerson, to approve Resolution Number 07-111, A Resolution Accepting Improvements in Aspen Ridge, Part 2. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Kuhl, Wilkerson, Wozniak, Moody; nays—none. Motion carried.

Wozniak moved, seconded by Wilkerson, to approve Resolution Number 07-112, A Resolution Approving the Final Plat for Aspen Ridge Subdivision, Part 2, North Liberty, Iowa. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Kuhl, Wilkerson, Wozniak, Moody; nays—none. Motion carried.

Old Business. Moody announced that the Johnson County Emergency Commission has hired Dave Wilson as the new coordinator. The position starts June 24, 2007.

New Business. Moody suggested that Wilkerson pursue National Incident Management System compliance training. Mulcahey will facilitate this for Wilkerson.

Closed Session. At 8:18 p.m., Moody moved, seconded by Wilkerson to go into closed session for discussion and possible action regarding Potential Property Acquisition. This section may be a Closed Session as according to the Iowa State Code Section 21.5 (j), “To discuss purchase of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would pay for that property.

At 8:50, Kuhl moved, Wilkerson seconded to go back into regular session. The vote was: ayes—Kuhl, Wozniak, Moody; nays—none. Motion carried.

At 8:50 pm. Kuhl moved, Wilkerson seconded by Moody, to adjourn the meeting at 8:52. The vote was: ayes. Meeting adjourned.