City Council Minutes March 9, 2010

Minutes
City Council Minutes
March 9, 2010
Regular Session

Call to order.   Mayor Salm called the Regular Session of the North Liberty City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. 

Council members present:  Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl, Wayson, Hoffman.

Others Present:  Ryan Heiar, Scott Peterson, Kevin Trom, Dean Wheatley, Corinne Lemmage, Bill Mausser, Lori Linder, Carol Bonnett, Josh Schamberger, Lori Haman, Mary Byers and other interested citizens.

Approval of the Agenda.   Chipman moved, seconded by Kuhl, to approve the agenda.  The vote was: ayes—Wayson, Kuhl, Donahue, Chipman, Hoffman.  Motion carried.

Consent Agenda.     Hoffman moved, seconded by Wayson,  to approve the Consent Agenda including: City Council Minutes of Regular meeting of February 23, 2010 as amended, the attached list of claims, and the liquor license renewal of Gasby’s #2 ( 1 Hawkeye Drive) Class C-Sunday Sales.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Donahue, Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl.  Motion carried.

Public Comment.   Jim Sayre, 1395 Antler Drive, wanted to give is support for the item on the agenda to prohibited parking on Deerfield Drive West.  

Carol Bonnett, 65 North Dubuque Street, addressed the City Council on the FY11 Budget and the proposed 2% Cost of Living increase for the City employees.  Ms. Bonnett suggested Council consider an alternative in dispersing the money budgeted for the 2% COLA increases by dividing the total amount budgeted by the number of employees and splitting the sum equally to each.  Rather than adding the dollar amount to the employee’s base salary, the proposal is to provide one or two lump sum pay outs throughout the year.  Ms. Bonnett felt this method would be a cost saving measure for the City.

City Attorney Report.   The Attorney had nothing to report.

City Engineer Report.    Trom asked for consensus from the council on some work that needs to be done at Freedom Park and Pond.  The pond was constructed several years ago and Trom would like to see the pond brought up to current standards.  Trom feels constructing a weir in the outflow pipe would not change the normal level of the pond, but would control the level during heavier rains with letting the water out at a slower rate. The Street Department would be able to do the work for the cost of materials, which they think would be approximately $100.00 to $200.00 and the cost of labor. 

City Administrator Report.  Heiar reported on the meeting that he had with Iowa City School District on a fiber project that would come up South Front Street from North Central Junior High to the Penn Elementary School.  The City would like to partner with the project because of the city buildings that would benefit.  Heiar will keep the council updated.

Heiar reported on how North Liberty is working with representatives from Iowa City, Coralville, Johnson County and the University of Iowa to market the Census.  Heiar urged the public to return the form that they will receive in the mail as the city receives Road Use Funds based on the number of people in North Liberty.

Wednesday, March 10th the Union for the Police Department and the City will be providing their initial proposal to the City of North Liberty.

Mayor Report.   The Mayor reported on the lunch he attended with some city staff members earlier in the day that was hosted by the Homeowners Assoc. on the benefits of new construction.
The Mayor will no longer chair the Joint Emergency Communication Policy Board.  The position is rotated yearly and this year will be Michael Wright, Iowa City Council Member.

Great Places Designation.   Josh Schamberger and Lori Haman presented the city with Great Place Designation signage.  North Liberty, Coralville and Iowa City were awarded the designation last fall by Governor Culver and the Iowa Department of Public Affairs. 

Haman reported that she and Tracey Mulcahey are working on an opportunity through Great Place Designation for possible money for the Ranshaw house.  

Tree and Stormwater Board Appointment.      Wayson moved, seconded by Donahue, to approve the appointment of Todd Coleman to the Tree and Stormwater Board.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Donahue, Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl.  Motion carried.

Cedar Springs, Part 12 Rezoning.     Donahue moved, second by Kuhl, to approve the second consideration of Ordinance Number 10-01, An Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance to change the use regulations of property owned by Cedar Springs Partners, LLC, located in North Liberty, Iowa to those set forth in the North Liberty Municipal Code for the RS-4 Single Family Residential District.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Deerfield Drive West Parking.   Kuhl moved, seconded by Hoffman, to approve the second consideration of Ordinance Number 10-02, An Ordinance amending Chapter 10.36 entitled “STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING,” on the North Liberty Municipal Code by amending Section 10.36-050 to prohibit parking on Deerfield Drive West from Deer Drive to the termination of Deerfield Drive West.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl; nays—none.  Motion carried.

FY11 Budget.   The Public Hearing was open at 7:28 p.m.  There was no public comment.  Mayor Salm did remind the Council on Carol Bonnett’s comments under Public Comment at the beginning of the meeting.  The Public Hearing was closed. 

Wayson feels that this is a good budget and was appreciative to city staff for their efforts.
Kuhl stated that he agrees with Bonnett’s comments on the cost of living increase for City Employees.  Kuhl would recommend adding up the funds allocated for the Cost of Living Adjustments; divide it by the amount of employees; and disperse in two equal payments, one on April 30th and the other October 31st.  He stated that this option will provide an equal amount for each employee and will be in the best interest of the City and Kuhl moved for its adoption.  It was seconded by Donahue.   During the discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to approve the budget as it’s presented with the understanding that Heiar meet with Kuhl on the Cost of Living increase.  Donahue withdrew his second, Kuhl withdrew is motion.

Kuhl moved, seconded Donahue, to approve Resolution Number 10-25, A Resolution Approving the Annual Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011 for the City of North Liberty, Iowa.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl; nays—none.  Motion carried.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Application.   Chipman moved, seconded by   Hoffman, to approve Resolution Number 10-26, A Resolution Authorizing Submission of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Application for a Lighting Retrofit Project at the North Liberty Community Center.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl.  Motion carried.

Johnson County Rezoning Request.   This request is to rezone an existing property with existing buildings from Agriculture-Residential to Residential Multi-Family.  The parcel is not within the corporate limits of North Liberty but is within the area subject to a fringe area agreement between the City of North Liberty and Johnson County. 

The Planning Commission recommended approval with the stipulation that a recorded agreement between the County and the owner be executed to limit future development on the site to no more than the existing number of dwelling units (four) no conditions.

Donahue moved, seconded by Wayson, to approve Resolution Number 10-27, A Resolution recommending approval of the rezoning request for Sharon Sass property located at 2359 Mehaffey Bridge Road, Johnson County, Iowa.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl.  Motion carried.

Assessment Resolution.  Chipman moved, seconded by Donahue, to approve Resolution Number 10-28, A Resolution authorizing the assessment of delinquent amounts owed to the City of North Liberty, Iowa to individual property taxes.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl.  Motion carried.

Old Business.  Kuhl reported that he and Donahue went to a Search Committee Meeting for the new Iowa City Superintend of Schools.

New Business.  Chipman wanted the status of the homeowner that was having a problem with their address.  Heiar was not sure of the status but knows that city staff is working on it and will report back to the Council.

Adjournment.  Donahue moved, seconded by Kuhl, to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 p.m.  The vote was: ayes—Hoffman, Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl.  Motion carried.