City Council Minutes September 13, 2011

Minutes
North Liberty City Council
September 13, 2011
Regular Session

Call to order.  At 7:00 p.m., Mayor Salm called the September 13, 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, Dean Wheatley, Kevin Trom, and other interested parties.

Mayor Salm commented on the Council Chambers open house and ribbon cutting.

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

Consent Agenda.  Kuhl moved, Hoffman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda including City Council Minutes from the Regular Meeting on August 23, 2011; City Council Minutes from the Special Meeting on August 30, 2011; City Council Minutes from the Special Meeting on September 1, 2011; City Council Minutes from the Special Meeting on September 6, 2011; the attached list of Claims; the Liquor License Renewal for Johncy’s Liquor Store, Class E Liquor License with carryout Wine-Beer and Sunday sales endorsements, Change Order #2 for the Golfview Drive Project to Iowa Bridge and Culvert in the amount of $10,576.86; Pay Application Number 2 for the Dubuque Street Trail Project to Peterson Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $326,555.81; and Pay Application Number 3 for the Golfview Drive Project to Iowa Bridge and Culvert in the amount of $316,492.50.  The vote was: ayes – Donahue, Kuhl, Chipman, Wayson, Hoffman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Public Comment.  Tina Dubois of the North Liberty Food and Clothing Pantry thanked the Council for their continuing support of the pantry.  She reported that September is Hunger Action month and encouraged Council to be involved in the process.  She updated council on the building fundraising. The fundraising is at $60,000.  Dubois announced the Food Pantry golf outing on October 2. October 8 is the pantry’s coat, sock and underwear distribution.

City Attorney Report. City Attorney Peterson stated he has nothing to report, but offered to answer any questions council might have.

City Engineer Report.  City Engineer Trom reported on the city’s ongoing projects.  The design development phase is complete for the Streets/Maintenance Facility.  The professional cost estimator’s estimate came back really high and the soils testing came back poor. All of the issues have now been resolved and the project is back on track.

The contractor on the Jones Boulevard project is backfilling and seeding walks on the south side. The rock subbase has been placed on the north end.  Paving is expected in a week from Monday.

The Penn Street Project contractor is completing striping today. The signals are close to complete.  The project will then be shifted to close off the south side to backfill and seed along the sidewalk.

The Golfview Drive Project contractor has the street poured on the west side.  The rock base on the east half has been set. Paving may happen this week.

The Dubuque Street Trail Project contractor is waiting on Alliant to move power poles to finish the project.

Council discussed the progress of the projects.

City Administrator Report.  City Administrator Heiar reported on the annexation agreement update. He met with Coralville’s City Administrator and Johnson County staff to bring them up to speed.   The group was generally very receptive and offered positive comments.  Heiar reminded Council of the timeline.  Notices have been published and sent to the necessary entities. The agreement is on target for consideration on October 11 by both Coralville and North Liberty.  If anyone has questions, concerns or comments, they should be brought forward prior to the meeting, so that both councils can act on the same agreement at the same time.

Heiar updated council on his work on the Economic Development strategy. He has met with ICAD, a local utility for partnering for starter business, and other entities to have conversations to see what resources exist.  He will have more to report at the next meeting.

Staff is applying for grant funds from Iowa Homeland Security for a generator for the fire department to create backup power for the emergency command center.

Heiar reported that the ICAD annual meeting is scheduled for September 28 at the Sheraton in Iowa City. Debi Durham the IDED director will be speaking.

The next Council meeting will be starting at 6:30 p.m. for a work session the MPOJC to review speed studies with the Council.

Mulcahey reported that the Taste of North Liberty was a successful event.

Mayor Salm reminded Council of the process and timeline for the approval of the annexation agreement.

Mayor Report.  Mayor Salm proclaimed September 14-20, 2011 as City Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week.

Legislative Update.  City Attorney Peterson provided a Legislative Update from the most recent legislative session.

Golf Cart Ordinance.  At 7:29 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding the proposed Golf Cart Ordinance.  Dan Schrock,1160 St. Andrews, stated that all golf carts should have a speed over 15 mph. All flags on the golf carts should be even or above highest part of golf cart. No young children on back seat. No infants on cart at all. He would like to do away with decal. He has operated his golf cart for three years in North Liberty and he never holds up traffic in a 25 mph zone. He requested that it be required that golf carts be required to stay away from busy streets only during rush hour times.  The public hearing was closed.

Kuhl moved, Donahue seconded to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 11-11, An Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of North Liberty, Iowa, by adding a new chapter pertaining to the operation of golf carts on city streets with a city issued permit. Kuhl moved to amend the ordinance with the following requirements:
•    No one under the age of six is permitted on a golf cart.
•    The flag should be required to be extended above the top of the rear of the golf cart.
•    Additional street restrictions should include all of Jones Boulevard, all of Fovergreen Road, Front Street, Mehaffey Bridge Road, Scales Bend and Dubuque Street.
•    The ordinance will sunset on December 31, 2012 and will only be for a trial basis.
After discussion, the vote on the amendment was: ayes –Chipman, Kuhl, Donahue; nays – Wayson, Hoffman. Motion carried.  The vote on the consideration of the Ordinance was ayes – Chipman, Kuhl, Donahue; nays – Hoffman, Wayson. Motion carried.

Alcohol Consumption Ordinance.  At 7:47 p.m., Mayor Salm opened the public hearing regarding the proposed Alcohol Consumption Ordinance.  No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed.

Donahue moved, Hoffman seconded to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 11-12, An Ordinance amending sections of the Code of Ordinances of the City of North Liberty, Iowa, 2011, by amending provisions pertaining to alcohol consumption and intoxication. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Chipman, Kuhl, Donahue, Wayson; nays – none. Motion carried.

Fun Run.  Chipman moved, Hoffman seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-100, A Resolution authorizing the use of city streets and temporary street closings for the Annual North Liberty Chamber Steering Committee Fun Run/Walk. The vote was: ayes – Chipman, Donahue, Kuhl, Wayson, Hoffman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Parking Update.  Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-101, A Resolution approving parking control devices in the City of North Liberty, Iowa.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Donahue, Hoffman, Wayson, Kuhl, Chipman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Traffic Control Devices.  Kuhl moved, Donahue seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-102, A Resolution approving traffic control devices in the City of North Liberty, Iowa. Donahue moved, Wayson seconded to amend the resolution to include the stoplight at the Penn Street and Jones Boulevard intersection. After discussion, the vote on the amendment was: ayes – Kuhl, Hoffman, Chipman, Wayson, Donahue; nays – none. Motion carried.  The vote on the resolution was: ayes – Hoffman, Chipman, Wayson, Donahue, Kuhl; nays – none. Motion carried.

2011 Telephone System Update.  Heiar presented information regarding the phone system update.  John Taylor provided information regarding the process. Kuhl moved, Chipman seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-103, A Resolution accepting the proposal from South Slope for the 2011 Telephone System Update and authorizing the execution of the contract.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Wayson, Chipman, Hoffman, Donahue, Kuhl; nays – none. Motion carried.

MPOJC Transit Committee Representative.  Kuhl moved, Chipman seconded to appoint Josh Sabin as the North Liberty representative to the MPOJC Transit Committee.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Chipman, Hoffman, Donahue, Kuhl, Wayson; nays – none. Motion carried.

Road Use Tax FY 2011 Annual Report.  _ moved, _ seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-104, A Resolution approving the Official Financial Report for City Streets for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2011.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Kuhl, Donahue, Wayson, Chipman; nays – none. Motion carried.

JECSA Radio Agreement.  Kuhl moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-105, A Resolution approving a Communication Services Agreement between the City of North Liberty and the Joint Emergency Communication Services Association of Johnson County for Non-public Safety Subscribers.  The vote was: ayes – Kuhl, Wayson, Donahue, Chipman, Hoffman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Streetlights.  Hoffman moved, Chipman seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-106, A Resolution approving the installation of street lights on Penn Street according to the terms set forth in the existing street light contract. The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Chipman, Donahue, Hoffman, Kuhl; nays – none. Motion carried.

Hoffman moved, Kuhl seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-107, A Resolution approving the installation of street lights in West Village, Part 2 according to the terms set forth in the existing street light contract.  The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Donahue, Chipman, Hoffman, Kuhl; nays – none. Motion carried.

Great Places Application – Ranshaw House.  Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-108, A Resolution in support of a Great Places Grant Application. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Donahue, Chipman, Hoffman, Kuhl, Wayson; nays – none. Motion carried.

Minutes for issuance of Series 2011A Bonds.  Hoffman moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-109, A Resolution authorizing the issuance of $790,000 General Obligation Corporate Purpose and Refunding Bonds, Series 2011A, and providing for the levy of taxes to pay the same. The vote was: ayes – Chipman, Hoffman, Kuhl, Wayson, Donahue; nays – none. Motion carried.

Minutes for issuance of Series 2011B Bonds.  Hoffman moved, Chipman seconded to approve Resolution Number 11-110, A Resolution authorizing the issuance of $5,810,000 General Obligation Urban Renewal Bonds, Series 2011B, and providing for the levy of taxes to pay the same. The vote was: ayes – Hoffman, Kuhl, Wayson, Donahue, Chipman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Utility Rate Discussion.  City Administrator Heiar presented information regarding utility rate proposals.  Includes proposed rate increases based on 4% increase in costs and capital improvement projects. Council discussed the models and possible rate increases. The proposed rate increases will be back in front of Council during the budget period.

Old Business.  Councilor Kuhl provided information about the HUD sustainable communications pre-application that was contained in the Council packet.

New Business.  Councilor Wayson praised the Police Department for the good idea to have officers working with kids.  Mayor Salm reminded all that the IPADs with a 185 page agenda packet is working great. Heiar stated that over 2,000 pages of paper saved at this meeting.

Adjournment.  At 8:48 p.m., Donahue moved, Kuhl seconded to adjourn. All ayes. Meeting adjourned.