City Council Minutes August 10, 2010

Minutes
North Liberty City Council
August 10, 2010
Regular Session

Call to order. At 7:00 p.m., Mayor Salm called the August 10, 2010 Regular Session of the North Liberty City Council to order.  Council members present: Chipman, Hoffman, Kuhl, Wayson; absent: Donahue.

Others present:  Ryan Heiar, Tracey Mulcahey, Scott Peterson, Kevin Trom, Dean Wheatley, Erika Harper, Doug Lindner, Steve McCoy, Tracy Barkalow, Barbara Beaumont, Dr. Pete Wallace, Mike Bales, Susan Glasgow and other interested citizens.

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

Consent Agenda.  Hoffman moved, Chipman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda including City Council Minutes from the Regular Meeting, July 27, 2010; the attached list of Claims; Liquor License Renewal for Caseys #2788 595 N. Kansas Avenue, Class C Beer Permit with Sunday Sales Endorsement; Cherry Street Signalization Project,  Advanced Electrical Services, Pay Request #4 – $168,617.04; Highway 965, Phase 1 Project,  Metro Pavers, Pay Request #3 – $95,507.37; Forevergreen Road Project, Metro Pavers, Pay Request #2 – $ 305,250.60. The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Chipman, Hoffman, Kuhl; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

Public Comment.  Steve McCoy had questions about UICCU project. He asked what the net effect on taxpayer would be.  He encouraged council to be considerate of people that don’t have the same amount of money coming in that they had in the past.

Susan Glasgow, Advanced Millwork, expressed that her taxes had increased $40,000 in two years. They have decreased employees from 52 to 26. She requested no more taxes on independent business owners.  

City Attorney Report.  City Attorney Peterson had no report to offer.

City Engineer Report.  City Engineer Trom reported that he was out of the office last week and is working to catch up on project statuses. He reported that the south half of the west end of Forevergreen Road was paved today.  The other half will be paved on Friday.  The intersection with Jones Boulevard will be paved in four to keep the intersection open at all times.   

Councilor Hoffman stated that the Scales Bend Rd. project was awesome. Trom updated that City staff has some sidewalk connections, crosswalks, and stop bars to complete.

City Administrator Report.  City Administrator Heiar reported on the following:
•    He will be meeting with Harkin staff on Thursday regarding Highway 965. He will make sure to thank them for their recent efforts to get an earmark for Highway 965 in the transportation bill.
•    He met with Dick Ferguson last week and toured Cornerstone Nature Area, the park on the land he donated to the city.   
•    Transit Task Force interviews will be held next week. Mayor Salm, Councilor Kuhl, Councilor Hoffman and City Administrator Heiar will be conducting the interviews.
•    Heiar reported that the Recognition and Rally group are hosting a lunch & learn this month. The program will be Ten Steps to Financial Success provided by a local financial institution. A survey regarding work environment will be conducted. Management will use this as a tool to help guide the city.  
•    Heiar has been asked to serve on the advisory board for Corridor regional branding. The board will be investigating a regional branding initiative.  

Mayor Report.  Mayor Salm attended the Heritage School ribbon cutting this afternoon.

Get Moving Proclamation.  Mayor Salm proclaimed August 29, 2010 as Get Moving for Healthy Kids Day in North Liberty, Iowa.  Dr. Pete Wallace added that the Get Moving for Kids 5k walk/run is scheduled for Sunday, August 29 at West High School.

Zoning Ordinance Amendment.  Kuhl moved, Hoffman seconded to approve the third consideration and adoption 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, Chipman, Kuhl, Wayson; nays – none ; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

Cedar Springs Lift Station Project.  Wayson moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-113, A Resolution accepting the bid from Wendler Construction for the Cedar Springs Lift Station Project. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl, Hoffman; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

2010 Bond Sales.  At 7:23p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding instituting loan agreement in the principal amount of $5,900,000 (General Obligation). No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

At 7:24 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding instituting loan agreement in the principal amount of $1,250,000 (General Obligation). No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

At 7:24 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding instituting loan agreement in the principal amount of $900,000 (General Obligation). No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

At 7:24 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding instituting loan agreement in the principal amount of $675,000 (General Obligation). No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

At 7:25 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding instituting loan agreement in the principal amount of $12,250,000 (General Obligation). Councilor Kuhl stated that the Credit Union does pay taxes and was not permitted to receive TARP funds under federal legislation. Heiar presented additional information regarding the proposed bond sales. With tonight’s vote, council is authorizing to move ahead with the bonding process.  Some of the bonds are being sold as annual appropriation bonds. No bonds issued for the Credit Union project will require any increase in tax rate as they will be repaid with tax increment financing taxes received. The other borrowing is General Obligation.  The tax rate may increase but the amount is dependent on growth of tax base. Tax base could grow enough to maintain the debt service rate or minimize the increase.  The credit union project involves the purchase of property known as the Villas. The City is purchasing property, rezoning to commercial, and providing property to UICCU to construct their Member Support Center. The facility will be 100,000 square feet initially and will generate $600,000 annually in property taxes. The center will have 125 jobs initially and will grow approximately another 300 jobs over the next phase. The Credit Union is forecasting ongoing growth. The development of the Member Support Center will most likely be followed by commercial development. Taxes paid by the Credit Union will go toward paying bond payments. As properties sell, the bonds will be repaid with sales proceeds.  No oral or written comments from the public were received regarding this matter. The public hearing was closed.

At 7:31 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding instituting loan agreement in the principal amount of $350,000 (General Obligation). No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

Kuhl moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-114, A Resolution taking additional action to enter into Loan Agreements and authorizing the sale of General Obligation Corporate Bonds. The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Hoffman, Kuhl, Chipman; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

At 7:32 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding issuance of an Urban Renewal Tax Increment Bonds in the amount not to exceed $8,000,000. No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

Chipman moved, Kuhl seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-115, A Resolution taking additional action for the Issuance of an $8,000,000 Urban Renewal Tax Increment Bond. The vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Chipman, Hoffman, Wayson; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

TIGER II Application.  Hoffman moved, Kuhl seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-116, A Resolution authorizing the submission of TIGER II Application to the USDOT for the Highway 965 Corridor Enhancement Project. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Chipman, Wayson, Hoffman, Kuhl; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

Dubuque Street Trail Project.  Hoffman moved, Chipman seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-117, A Resolution approving the agreement between the City of North Liberty and the Iowa Department of Transportation regarding Project Number STP-E-5557(616)-8V-52for the North Liberty Dubuque Street Connector Trail Project.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Kuhl, Chipman, Wayson; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

Great Places Agreement.  Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-118, A Resolution approving the agreement between the City of North Liberty and Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs regarding Project Number GP22-02 for the Ranshaw House Renovation Project.  The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Hoffman, Chipman, Kuhl; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

Library Expansion Project.  Kuhl moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-119, A Resolution to support the application to the Iowa Department of Economic Development for $675,000 from the Vision Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism Fund for the expansion of the North Liberty Community Library, North Liberty Community Center Phase III. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Wayson, Hoffman, Chipman; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

2010 Sanitary Sewer Service Study  Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-120, A Resolution approving the services agreement between the City of North Liberty and Fox Engineering, Inc. for services relating to the 2010 Sanitary Sewer Service Study.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

City Hall Land Acquisition. Chipman moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 10-121, A Resolution approving and ratifying the purchase of Parcel Number 061241009 from Ken & Cindy Heaton. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl, Hoffman; nays – none; absent – Donahue. Motion carried.

Adjourn.  At 7:45 p.m., Kuhl moved, Wayson seconded to adjourn. All ayes. Meeting adjourned.