City Council Minutes April 26, 2011

Minutes
North Liberty City Council
April 26, 2011
Regular Session

Call to order.  At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Salm called the April 26, 2011 Regular Session of the North Liberty City Council to order. Council members present: Chipman, Donahue, Hoffman, Kuhl, Wayson.

Others present: Ryan Heiar, Tracey Mulcahey, Scott Peterson, Kevin Trom, Dean Wheatley, Erika Harper, Cheryle Caplinger, Dan Wiese, Barbara Beaumont and other interested citizens.

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

Consent Agenda. Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve the Consent Agenda including the City Council Minutes from the Regular Meeting on April 12, 2011; the attached list of Claims; March Revenues; the Liquor License Renewal for LD Express, a Class C Liquor License with a Sunday Sales endorsement; for the Highway 965, Phase I Project to Metro Pavers, Change Order Number 5 – $ 18,905.70, and Pay Request Number 16 – $65,339.30.  The vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl, Donahue; nays – none. Motion carried.

North Liberty Citizen Opinion Survey Presentation.  Dan Wiese presented the results of the Survey. Of the one thousand surveys were mailed out.  334 surveys were returned.  The City Council discussed the results.

Public Comment.  No public comment was offered.

City Attorney Report. City Attorney Peterson provided an update on the zoning ordinance amendments. The Council approved new code in December. These three amendments are clean up or were overlooked in the recodification process. There may be other amendments coming forward for clean up, as well.

Peterson commented on Agenda Item number 22, “Litigation Issue.”  He has nothing new report unless Council has issues, concerns or items for discussion.

City Engineer Report.  City Engineer Trom reported that wet weather has slowed projects.  He attended a progress meeting on the Jones Boulevard project. The contractor is working on the sanitary sewer installation. The Penn Street Project contractor has started work but hasn’t been able to progress very far due to weather complications.  The contractor is starting by Meade Drive and is working east to Highway 965.  The contractor is not sure as to the closing dates of Jones Boulevard for the water main crossing, but expects the closure to last for two weeks. The Streets Department wants panel replacement incorporated into the project.  A possible change order will be coming forward to incorporate this change.  The Penn Meadows Park Parking Lot Project has begun. Most of the rock base was in place before the wet weather.  The Dubuque Street Trail and Golfview Drive projects are on the agenda tonight.

Councilor Kuhl commented that it is nice to have lines painted on Highway 965.

City Administrator Report.  City Administrator Heiar reported that painting on Highway 965 will continue to the South to Forevergreen Road.  Saturday, April 30 is Clean Up from 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. With regards to the Fiscal Facts graph, General Fund revenues are below where they are supposed to be due to tax proceeds being received in April.  Road Use funds are starting to increase based on the new Census numbers. Stormwater expenses appear low due to transfers not occurring yet this fiscal year.  Heiar asked Council to provide feedback on the proposed Council Chambers layout.  He asked for input on paperless options for Council. Staff will be discussing the proposal of allowing golf carts on city streets this week.  Heiar is planning work sessions with tours of facilities. He wants the sessions to be as efficient as possible.  The Street Maintenance Facility and Library Design contract will be coming up for Council consideration soon.  A special joint meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission will be scheduled soon.

Mayor Report. Mayor Salm reported that the City was awarded $622,488 in CAT funds to bring the Library Expansion to its fundraising goal. A Bookmarks meeting for Council will be held on Thursday, April 28 from 4:30-6:30 at the Coralville Library.

Blues and BBQ. Kuhl moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-44, A Resolution authorizing the use of Liberty Centre Park and City equipment for Liberty Centre Blues and BBQ and authorizing temporary street closings for the event. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Chipman, Wayson, Donahue, Hoffman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Golfview Drive Connection Project.  Wayson moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-45, A Resolution approving the Contribution in aid of Construction Agreement to Relocate Existing Line Due to Road Extension between ITC Midwest LLC and the City of North Liberty for the Golfview Drive Improvements Project as updated by the City Attorney.  The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Hoffman, Chipman, Kuhl; nays – Donahue. Motion carried.

Hoffman moved, Kuhl seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-46, A Resolution accepting the bid from Iowa Bridge and Culvert for the Golfview Drive Improvements Project. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Chipman, Kuhl, Hoffman, Wayson; nays – Donahue. Motion carried.

Dubuque Street Trail Project.  Chipman moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-47, A Resolution approving Services Agreement Amendment Number One between the City of North Liberty and Shive-Hattery, Inc. for Services relating to the Dubuque Street Trail Improvements Project, North Liberty, Iowa. After discussion, the vote was: ayes –Wayson, Hoffman, Kuhl, Chipman; nays – Donahue. Motion carried.

Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-48, A Resolution accepting the bid from Peterson Contractors, Inc. for the Dubuque Street Trail Improvements Project. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Chipman, Kuhl, Wayson; nays – Donahue. Motion carried.

Personnel Policy Manual.  Kuhl moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-49, A Resolution approving the Personnel Policy Manual for the City of North Liberty, Iowa. Donahue moved to table the issue to a work session of the Council.  Kuhl seconded.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Donahue, Wayson, Chipman, Hoffman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Administrative Ordinance Update.  At 7:30 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding proposed Ordinance amendment. No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

Chipman moved, Wayson seconded to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 11-03, An Ordinance amending Chapters 7.05, 21.03, and 50.06 of the North Liberty Code of Ordinances by amending sections pertaining to the City Administrator. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Wayson, Hoffman, Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl; nays – none. Motion carried.

Fire Department Ordinance Update.  At 7:33 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding proposed Ordinance amendment. No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 11-04, An Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of North Liberty, Iowa, 2010, by amending provisions pertaining to the Fire Department. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Chipman, Kuhl, Donahue, Hoffman, Wayson; nays – none. Motion carried.

Zoning Ordinance Update.  At 7:40 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding the proposed Ordinance amendments. No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

Bill Mausser of the Planning Commission reported that the Commission recommended approval as written with the request that Good Neighbor meetings be placed on NLTV. Council discussed the proposed amendments.

Chipman moved, Donahue seconded to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 11-05, An Ordinance amending the Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations of the North Liberty Code of Ordinances by amending Sections 165.09, 170.02, 173.09, and 180.09(2) concerning Good Neighbor Meetings, Residential Day Care Facilities and Signs in Industrial Districts. The vote was: ayes – Donahue, Wayson, Hoffman, Kuhl, Chipman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Assessment Resolution.  Donahue moved, Kuhl seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-50, 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, Chipman, Wayson, Kuhl, Donahue; nays – none. Motion carried.

Old Business.  Councilor Kuhl is working with a group of people with the MPO to get a second representative seated on the MPO board. Councilor Kuhl attended the library luncheon on April 17 and announced the CAT grant award. Mayor Salm & Councilor Kuhl attended the Chamber lunch last Wednesday.  The NLD Breakfast was held last Tuesday morning. Councilor Wayson stated that in the last meeting’s packet, the Wastewater Department reported on an initiative to buy equipment at a cheaper rate resulting in a cost savings of $10,000 per year.
New Business.  Councilor Hoffman would like Council to consider a disbandment of the Personnel Committee.

Negotiation Strategy Session. At 7:54 p.m., Kuhl moved Donahue seconded to go into a negotiation strategy session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 20.17(3) to discuss strategy relating to labor negotiations with removal of item number 22, “Litigation Issue” from the agenda.  The vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Chipman, Donahue, Wayson, Hoffman; nays –none. Motion carried.

At 8:38 p.m., Wayson moved, Kuhl seconded to return to open session. The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Hoffman, Kuhl, Chipman, Donahue; nays – none. Motion carried.

Adjournment.  At 8:38 p.m., Kuhl moved, Wayson seconded to adjourn. All ayes. Meeting adjourned.