City Council to Meet on Aug. 24, 2021

Included in each City Council information packet is a memo from the City Administrator offering a summary and context of items appearing on the agenda. We will begin publishing these memos here in our news feed to make them more accessible. You can sign up to be notified of news items, agendas and more by email.

This meeting will be held in person and may be accessed live by the public in person or on the internet 

This meeting may be accessed live by the public in person or on the internet at at northlibertyiowa.org/live, on Facebook at facebook.com/northliberty or on YouTube at youtube.com/ northliberty. Meetings are rebroadcast on cable and available on-demand on northlibertyiowa.org/meetings.


Meeting Note

Tuesday’s meeting will be held in person as well as live streamed at Watch Meetings Live.

Consent Agenda

The following items are on the consent agenda and included in the packet:

  • City Council Minutes (08/10/21)
  • Claims
  • Pay Application #12, SW Growth Area Utility Extensions, Boomerang Corporation, $289,322.85
  • Change Order #2, Ranshaw Way Phase 5 Project, Peterson Contractors, Inc., ($1,753.70)
  • Pay Application #3, Ranshaw Way Phase 5 Project, Peterson Contractors, Inc., $831,755.54

Bowman Annexation

Bowman Property, LLC – located east of South Kansas Avenue, ¼ mile north of West Forevergreen Road – is seeking voluntary annexation of their 72.24 acre property. A concept plan has been submitted, which anticipates that the development would be a mixture of residential housing types. It is staff’s opinion that with the development of Steindler Orthopedic Clinic (would be located west of this property), could spur related commercial development on the east of South Kansas Avenue. This annexation is consistent with the annexation agreements between Tiffin and Coralville. City water service and sanitary sewer service is being designed to be extended to the west side of South Kansas Avenue. All other typical city services will be provided upon annexation, including street maintenance (already managed by the City), police, fire, refuse pickup, building inspections and enforcement, and others. All required notifications have been made and no objections to the annexation have been received. Staff is recommending approval of the annexation.

Rarick Annexation

Robert and Joyce Rarick are seeking voluntary annexation of their 2.55 acre property. The property is currently a homestead and would remain so for an undetermined period of time.  At some point, the property is anticipated to be redeveloped. This property is surrounded by the Bowman Property, LLC, which is also seeking voluntary annexation. State law does not allow the creation of an un-annexed island. Therefore, staff worked with the property owners to obtain voluntary annexation and is recommending a tax increase deferment. This annexation is consistent with the annexation agreements between Tiffin and Coralville. All required notifications have been made and no objections to the annexation have been received. Staff is recommending approval of the annexation.

Greenbelt Trail Subdivision Part Two

Part Two of Greenbelt Trail Subdivision consists of 50 lots (70 residential units).  As indicated by the developer, construction would proceed from east to west eventually connecting to the Arlington Ridge neighborhood. Staff recommends approval of the developer’s agreement, outlining the developer’s and city’s respective responsibilities for this piece of the subdivision.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds

The City is slated to receive an allocation of $2,906,110.44 in ARPA funds.  Staff will lead a discussion regarding planning for the expenditures of these funds.

Hate Crime Ordinance, 1st Reading

The proposed ordinance as revised from Council input and feedback is enclosed in the packet.  Documents used in the drafting of the ordinance are included for reference, too.

Recordation Ordinance, 2nd Reading

This minor ordinance amendment clarifies the duties of the developer to record certain documents along with a final subdivision plat. Minimum Low Opening (MLO) tables were previously included on a plat, and a previous ordinance amendment requires that the table be provided in a separate document. This amendment does not represent a substantial change from current practices, but instead merely serves to codify current practices since the MLO tables were moved to a separate form. Staff recommends approval.

JT Properties LLC Rezoning Ordinance, 3rd Reading

This is a City initiated request for a zoning map amendment from I-1 to C-2-A to allow 1.72 acres – southwest corner of Ranshaw Way and 240th St, formerly Suburban Landscape – to achieve consistency with the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map designation, which is Commercial.

The Zoning Ordinance authorizes the City Council to consider a zoning map amendment on its own or on petition. Comprehensive Plans in Iowa are advisory; however, staff is initiating this request for the following reasons:

  1. Staff agrees with the Commercial Future Land Use Map designation and believes the Commercial designation will not change with the upcoming Comprehensive Plan
  2. The property is along a prominent location on the Ranshaw Way
  3. Without a zoning map amendment, the City Council would be compelled to approve a development proposal consistent with I-1 standards.

Staff spoke with the property owner prior to initiating the request. The property owner indicated that the I-1 zoning was more desirable but shared that the sale of the property is not actively being pursued. Notices of the Planning Commission and City Council meetings were sent to the property owner via certified and regular mail. No formal objection has been received. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the request at its July 6, 2021 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.

 

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