City Council Minutes November 27, 2007

North Liberty City Council
November 27, 2007
City Council Chambers
No. 47

Mayor Salm called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Council Members Present: Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak, Bahl, Moody.
Also Present: City Administrator Ryan Heiar, Asst City Administrator Tracey Mulcahey, City Attorney Scott Peterson, City Engineer Kevin Trom, City Planner Dean Wheatley, Library Director Dee Crowner, Recreation Director Shelly Simpson, Deputy City Clerk Mary Byers, Carle Lyons, Natlie Wilkerson, Terry Donahue, Lori Lindner, and other interested citizens.
Mayor Salm introduced Heiar as the new City Administrator; congratulated Crowner and Byers for 20 years of employment with the City of North Liberty; thanked Wilkerson for serving on the City Council as an interim position; and thanked Mulcahey for her work as Acting City Administrator.
Approve the Agenda: Bahl moved, seconded by Moody, to approve the agenda subject to moving agenda item ten up on the agenda to number three, the Water Bond Issuance. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Water Bond Issuance: Public Hearing was opened at 7:06 and there were no comments. Public Hearing was closed.
Moody moved, seconded by Kuhl, to approve Resolution Number 07-212, A Resolution authorizing and approving a Loan Agreement with UMB Bank to provide for the sale and issuance of $855,000.00 General Obligation Water Improvement Bonds and providing for the levy of taxes to pay the same. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays-none. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda: Bahl moved, seconded by Hoffman, to approve the Consent Agenda. During discussion, Kuhl wanted the Minutes to reflect Moody arriving late to the November 13, 2007 Council meeting. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Public Comment: None.
City Attorney Report: Peterson reported that the Developers Agreement for Liberty Centre and the Animal Ordinance will be on the next agenda for Council approval.
City Engineer Report: I-380/Penn Street Interchange plans have been submitted to the Department of Transportation and are awaiting their comments. This project is scheduled for a March 6, 2008 Bid opening.
Wastewater Treatment Plant is still on schedule. The MBR is scheduled to be functioning by July 1, 2008 and October 31, 2008 for the digesters. Final completion of the plant is on schedule for November 30, 2008.
Utility maps are being updated from this past year.
City Staff is working with Coralville and Iowa City to come up with a unified Post Construction Run Off Ordinance for water quality. The Ordinance will hopefully be before Council in January.
City Administrator Report: Outstanding Development Obligations and Future Developments: Staff has been discussing options for working with developers that have outstanding obligations in developments that are bringing forth new projects. Staff is proposing Council consider a policy to not approve additional developments for developers that have outstanding obligations in previous projects.
The consensus of Council was to have this as an agenda item at the next meeting and be prepared to discuss issues in the past that will help to enforce this issue in the future.
Neighborhood Drainage Projects: With the wet spring, summer and fall, City staff has received many complaints and inquires regarding stormwater issues. These are cases where the drainage has been altered after the subdivision has been completed and homes were constructed. The City does collect a $2.00 Stormwater Management Fee on each Utility Bill to be used for these projects. What staff has done in the past is meet with the property owner and review the problem and decide if it is a city issue or not. Staff is asking for a policy on this issue with a set dollar amount to be used and whether Council wanted to review each case.
It was the consensus of the Council that city staff work with the property owner or builder who created the problem and use their own discretion on each project with a $2000.00 cap per project.
Staff Evaluations Software: In the Compensation Study report, Austin Peters had reported that the software for staff evaluations would cost approximately $2000.00. Council approved this document. After staff ordered the software, Austin Peters provided a revised estimate based on actual cost estimates from the software provider. The actual cost of the software would be $4018.00 which is double the amount approved by Council. The funds would be spread over each department to provide more efficacies in the project. The Council approved the purchase.
Animal Ordinance: Mulcahey will be meeting with Kathy Evans, K9S With Class, to get a final draft of the Ordinance to Council for the December meeting.
Telecommunications Commission Appoint: Kuhl moved, seconded by Hoffman, to appoint Joseph Wagner to the Telecommunication Commission. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Library Expansion Committee: Library Director Dee Crowner and Doug Neil, head of the Expansion Committee, addressed the Council on the joint effort of the Committee and City Staff to have one unified committee to address all of the building needs of the City. Staff has been meeting to discuss potential options for this project and other city projects. Mulcahey feels that contracting with the architect and the consultant at this time, would provide the city with the opportunity to determine if a unified group scenario would work.
Moody moved, seconded by Bahl, to approve Resolution 07-190, A Resolution Approving Services Agreement between the City of North Liberty and Renaissance Group for Service relating to Fundraising for Library Expansion. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Moody, Bahl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—Kuhl. Motion carried.
Moody moved, seconded by Bahl, to approve Resolution Number 07-191, A Resolution Approving the Contract for Design Services between the City of North Liberty and Neumann Monson. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Moody, Bahl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—Kuhl. Motion carried.
Joint Emergency Communication Center: Moody moved, seconded by Bahl, to approve Resolution Number 07-211, A Resolution Approving the Agreement for Funding Consultant Services for the Joint Emergency Communication Center. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Community Center Room Rental Policy: Shelly Simpson, Recreation Director, addressed the Council on proposed changes to the policy for room rental for Non-Profit Organizations. Due to the high demand for room rental between the hours of 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm, Monday-Friday, Simpson is proposing to charge 50 % of the regular room rental rate for to Non-Profit Organizations during this time frame.
The Council received a number of e-mails from the Girl/Boy Scout Groups opposed to the increase.
The Minister of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, addressed the Council on his opposition to the proposed increase. His church uses the Community Center for their needs and he is very thankful for the low cost the Community Center offers. He would encourage the Council to build more rooms instead of increasing the cost of the room rental.
Jared, an Eagle Scout, addressed the Council on his appreciation for his troop being able to meet for free at the Community Center and would oppose the increase to the rental fee.
Natlie Wilkerson, North Liberty Food Pantry: She understands the demand uses, but feels the increase would cost the Food Pantry three-fourths of a month of food. She would like the Council to carefully consider the increase.
The Recreation Department hopes that with the proposed increase would help cut the demand of room rental during the prime rental times.
The consensus of the Council was to have the Recreation Staff work on a better way to resolve the prime time use without the rate increase.
Moody moved, seconded by Kuhl, to defer Resolution Number 07-213, A Resolution Approving the Revised Room Rental Policy for the Community Center back to the Park and Recreation Commission for further review. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Sign Ordinance Amendment: Bahl moved, seconded by Moody, to approve second consideration of Ordinance Number 07-26, An Ordinance Amending Title 17, Zoning Code of the North Liberty Municipal Code Regarding Wall Sign Requirements in the C-1-A and C-1-B Districts. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Fire Department Ordinance Amendment: Public Hearing was opened at 8:33 p.m. There were no comments and the Public Hearing was closed.
Kuhl moved, seconded by Hoffman, to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 07-28, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.24, “Fire Department” of the North Liberty City Code. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Woznaikl; nays—none. Motion carried.
Administration and Personnel Ordinance Amendment: Public Hearing was opened at 8:38 p.m. There were no comments and the Public Hearing was closed.
Bahl moved, seconded by Hoffman, to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 07-29, An Ordinance Amending Certain Sections of Title 2, “Administration and Personnel. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Parking on Penn Court: The Public Hearing was opened at 8:35 p.m. There were no comments and the Public Hearing was closed.
Kuhl moved, seconded by Wozniak, to approve the first consideration of Ordinance 07-30, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 10.36, “Stopping, Standing and Parking. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Annual Appropriation for Tax Increment Financing (Energy Mizer): Moody moved, seconded by Kuhl, to approve Resolution Number 07-214, A Resolution Obligating funds from the Urban Renewal Tax Revenue Fund for appropriation to the payment of annual appropriation tax increment financed obligations which shall come due in the next succeeding fiscal year. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Bahl, Moody, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wozniak; nays—none. Motion carried.
Jefferson Point Addition, Part Three: Moody moved, seconded by Bahl, to approve Resolution Number 07-217, A Resolution accepting Property Improvements in Jefferson Point Addition, Part Three. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Wozniak, Bahl, Moody, Hoffman, Kuhl; nays—none. Motion carried.
Old Business: Wozniak wanted to know if the projects have been submitted for Washington DC Funding consideration if February. Mulcahey said the process has started and for now they just needed a number of representatives going from North Liberty.
New Business: Kuhl was at the Legislative Forum at the Coralville City Hall on November 20th with Donahue and Chipman.
Adjournment: Moody moved, seconded by Kuhl, to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Wozniak, Bahl, Moody, Hoffman, Kuhl; nays—none. Motion carried.