City Council Minutes July 27, 2010

Minutes
North Liberty City Council
July 27, 2010

Call to order.  At 7:00 p.m., Mayor Salm called the July 27, 2010 regular session of the North Liberty City Council to order.  Council members present:  Chipman, Donahue, Hoffman, Kuhl, Wayson; absent – none.

Others present:  Ryan Heiar, Scott Peterson, Tracey Mulcahey, Dean Wheatley, Kevin Trom, Erika Harper, Bill Mausser, Harold Cameron, Kevin Hochstedler, Adam Bohr, Gary Watts, Stephen Schmidt and other interested parties.  

Approval of the Agenda.  Chipman moved, Kuhl seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Hoffman, Wayson, Donahue, Chipman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda.  Kuhl moved, Hoffman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda including: City Council Minutes, Regular Meeting, July 13, 2010; the attached list of claims; June Revenues; Liquor License Renewal for Brown Bottle, Class C Beer with Carryout wine and Sunday Sales Endorsements; Highway 965 Project, Metro Pavers – Pay Request Number 2 – $119,493.46; and Highway 965 Project, Metro Pavers – Change Order Number 1 – $14,548.00. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Donahue, Wayson, Hoffman, Chipman, Kuhl; nays – none. Motion carried.

Public Comment.  Councilor Donahue reported that the Thanksgiving in July continues for one more week. Donations are deductible at the rate of four pounds are the equivalent of $1.
Councilor Donahue recognized Jessica Taylor and Peyton Benge have been collecting cans in their neighborhood all summer benefitting Ronald McDonald House.

City Attorney Report.  City Attorney Scott Peterson presented the Legislative Update for the past session. Councilor Kuhl asked about planning issues relating to sustainable growth. Peterson reported that the legislation contains 10 smart principles that can be used for determining funding for programs.  New programs focus on the 500 year flood plain instead of 100 year flood plain as has traditionally been done. Wheatley stated that the legislation contains many things that most cities already do. The legislation did not focus on sustainability rather on topics like mixed uses, density, and the like to prevent consuming more farm land.

Mayor Salm asked for clarification about the child restraint legislation. Peterson stated that all children under 18 required to be in a seat belt or car seat as appropriate.

City Engineer Report.  City Engineer Trom reported on the following projects:
•    West Forevergreen Road. The overlay is well under way. The second half of the base was put in place today. The project is expected to finish tomorrow. The City will be placing the gravel shoulders and pavement markings at completion.
•    Scales Bend Road. The overlay is in place. The gravel on the shoulders and some sidewalk needs to be installed.  The contractor will be on site tomorrow at 9 a.m. to install pavement markings.  
•    Forvergreen Road.  Half of the paving is complete. The grading for the second half is underway. A meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss phasing to make sure roads are not closed.
•    Jones Boulevard and Penn Street. Design and surveys are underway. Trom met with streets department for comments on preliminary drafts.

City Administrator Report. City Administrator Heiar reported on the following:
•    Highway 965 project continues to move forward. The pavement will be installed either tomorrow or Thursday on the west side. Highway 965 was shut down for two minutes today to move Linn County REC overhead line. Progress is moving along nicely.
•    Senator Harkin and Senator Grassley have included a $500,000 earmark in the transportation appropriations bill for the Highway 965 project.
•    Staff is working with the Ranshaw House committee to bring updated figures to council for second August meeting.
•    Eight transit committee applications were received. Heiar will meet with mayor to get the process started.

Council discussed the earmark, funds received for the Ranshaw House and speeding on Forevergreen Road.  Councilor Chipman reminded all of the speed limit on Forevergreen Road and requested extra patrols on the street.

Mayor Report.  Mayor Salm reported on the University of Iowa Community Credit Union project. The Credit Union is intending to build their member support facility in North Liberty in an area currently zoned RM 21. The City will be changing the zoning on the property to commercial zoning. The project is expected to add 400 jobs over a period of years.  

Library Board Appointment. Hoffman moved, Chipman seconded to approve the appointment of Robin Blackburn to the Library Board for a term ending June 30, 2013.  The vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl, Donahue; nays – none. Motion carried.

Chesterfield Commons Residential Site Plan Application.  Dean Wheatley presented the staff case presentation of Chesterfield Commons Residential Development Site Plan.  He stated that this site plan is far from typical multifamily site plan. This site plan has particular features including loop drives, thicker concrete with rock base streets, sidewalks on one side of private drive separated with grass from the street, streetlights, differing building styles and sizes, designated open space area in center of site, pulled away from southern boundary in anticipation of single family housing to south with berms, open space, and visitor parking.

Bill Mausser provided the Planning Commission report on the case. The Commission voted on July 20 to recommend approval of the site plan application with no conditions.

Council discussed parking requirements for the site plan.

Kevin Hochstedler and Gary Watts made the applicant’s presentation of the residential development site plan application.

Council discussed stormwater management on the site, stoplight requirements/access at Penn Street, concerns with windows in structures, patios that cannot be enclosed due to encroachment into setbacks, and safety of facilities in storms.

Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-104, A Resolution approving the residential development site plan for Chesterfield Commons Lot 1, Liberty Medical and Commerce, Part Two, North Liberty, Iowa.

Chipman moved, Kuhl seconded to amend the motion to include limiting parking to only one side of the street in the development. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Wayson, Kuhl, Chipman, Hoffman; nays – Donahue. Motion carried.

After discussion, the vote on Resolution Number 10-104 was: ayes – Wayson, Donahue, Chipman, Hoffman; nays – Kuhl. Motion carried.

Telecommunications Commission Amendment.  Kuhl moved, Hoffman seconded to approve the third consideration and adoption of Ordinance Number 10-08, An Ordinance amending Chapter 2.22, entitled “Telecommunications Commission,” of the North Liberty Municipal Code by amending section 2.22.070 to revise meeting frequency.  The vote was: ayes – Chipman, Kuhl, Donahue, Hoffman, Wayson; nays – none. Motion carried.

Zoning Ordinance Amendment. Donahue moved, Chipman seconded to approve the second consideration of Ordinance Amendment Number 10-09, An Ordinance Amending Sections 307 and 1606, and various use tables, Title 17, Zoning Code, of the North Liberty Municipal Code regarding the establishment of Food Pantries as accessory uses to Places of Worship. The vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Wayson, Kuhl, Donahue, Chipman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Cedar Springs Lift Station Project.  At 7:45 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost. No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

Donahue moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-106, A Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the Cedar Springs Lift Station Project. The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl, Hoffman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Officer Training Reimbursement Agreement.  Donahue moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-103, A Resolution approving Agreement between Oleta Davis and the City of North Liberty, Iowa for Reimbursement of Officer Training expenses.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Chipman, Kuhl, Hoffman, Donahue, Wayson; nays – none. Motion carried.

Penn Meadows Park Parking Lot Improvement Project.  Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-107, A Resolution approving services agreement between the City of North Liberty and Shive-Hattery, Inc. for services relating to the Penn Meadows Park Parking Lot Improvements Project.  The vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Donahue, Wayson, Hoffman, Chipman; nays – none.  Motion carried.

Dubuque Street Trail.     Hoffman moved, Kuhl seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-108, A Resolution approving services agreement between the City of North Liberty and Shive-Hattery, Inc. for services relating to the Dubuque Street Trail Project.  The vote was: ayes – Donahue, Hoffman, Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl; nays –none. Motion carried.

2010 Bond Sale. Heiar presented the updated version of the resolutions for the bond sales. Donahue moved, Kuhl seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-109, A Resolution to fix a date of meeting at which it is proposed to take action for the issuance of Urban Renewal Tax Increment Revenue Bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $8,000,000.  The vote was: ayes – Chipman, Kuhl, Wayson, Hoffman, Donahue; nays – none. Motion carried.

Chipman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-110, A Resolution to fix a date of meeting at which it is proposed to take action for the issuance of General Obligation Bonds.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Wayson, Donahue, Hoffman, Kuhl, Chipman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Councilor Donahue stated that the largest portion of the General Obligation Bonds is for upgrades to Highway 965 as requested by citizens. He stressed that good communication needs to be made that these bonds are predominantly going to be repaid with tax increment financing dollars and not through the increase in tax levy.  Heiar indicated that staff will be putting that communication out.

IJOBS Applications.  Donahue moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-111, A Resolution in support of I-Jobs II Grant Application.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Kuhl, Chipman, Donahue, Wayson; nays – none. Motion carried.

Assessment Resolution. Kuhl moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-112, A Resolution authorizing the assessment of delinquent amounts owed to the City of North Liberty, Iowa to individual property taxes.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Chipman, Donahue, Wayson, Kuhl, Hoffman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Adjourn.  At 8:00 p.m., Kuhl moved, Wayson seconded to adjourn. All ayes. Meeting adjourned.