City Council to Meet on Feb. 8, 2022

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 (01/25/22)
• Claims
• Pay Application #4, Centennial Park Loop Road Project, All American Concrete, Inc., $17,161.75
• Change Order #2, Aquatic Center Pool Water Heater Replacement Project, Tricon General Construction, $12,791.68
• Pay Application #5R, Aquatic Center Pool Water Heater Replacement Project, Tricon General Construction, $16,736.89

Center for Worker Justice Presentation (Wage Theft)

Included in the packet is a proposal from the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa seeking funds to help combat wage theft in the region. The CWJ is requesting $7,000/year for 5-years from North Liberty and has made similar requests to neighboring jurisdictions. A representative from the CWJ will be at Tuesday’s meeting to formally present their proposal.

City Hall Project Update

Staff has been working with Shive Hattery on the design for a new City Hall since February of 2021. As part of the design process, a third-party estimator recently reviewed the plans and has opined that the current project cost, which was estimated to be $9 million, is more likely to cost $10.7 million. Included in the packet is a memo offering more detail about the most recent estimate as well as a recommendation to amend the project budget to $9.9 million. Staff is seeking consensus from Council to continue to proceed with design, with an anticipated bid date of September 2022.

Colony Annexation

City staff has been working with the Colonys over the past couple of years to facilitate bringing the Colony Pumpkin Patch and family farm into City limits. In consideration of the potential annexation, staff collaborated with the Colonys to write and propose an Agricultural Experience use and regulations in the zoning code, which was approved in July 2021. On Wednesday, the Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a Conditional Use, subject to formal annexation. The Colonys have committed to annexing the remainder of the family farm; however, it will be part of a much larger annexation involving various land owners at a later date. The Colonys are requesting the right to continue hunting on the property, in accordance with DNR regulations, and the depredation agreement on the agenda will allow them to do so. This undertaking highlights the City’s approach to collaborate and adapt City regulations to fit the needs and desires of the community. Staff recommends approval of the annexation and related agreement.

Community Center Facility Plan Proposal

As the community center ages, maintenance costs continue to add up year after year. Most notably, the replacement of the indoor pool HVAC unit and pool heaters have totaled over $1,000,000. In an effort to be more proactive, staff is recommending approval of a proposal from Shive Hattery to evaluate and assess the facility’s mechanical, HVAC and electrical systems and various other areas of the building to help determine life expectancies and plan for associated repair/replacement costs.

Community Center Roof Proposal

Several storms over the last couple of years have taken their toll on two large sections of the community center roof. Staff has worked with the City’s insurance provider to coordinate temporary repairs and now a larger replacement project is needed. It is anticipated that insurance will cover most if not all the estimated $700k project. Staff recommends approval of the design proposal from Shive Hattery, which will initiate the roof replacement process.

Watts Group Development (The Preserve) Rezoning, Second Reading

Watts Group Development, Inc. is requesting a zoning map amendment on 3.9 acres from RS-6 Single-Unit Residence District to RD-10 Two-Unit Residence District – south side of Denison Avenue approximately 130 feet east of Brook Ridge Avenue– to facilitate development as single-unit zero lot line dwellings. The applicant indicated that the requested change will allow them to offer more affordable homes. The property abuts properties zoned RD-10 to the west so the request is compatible with the area. A good neighbor meeting was held on November 29, 2021 and no one outside of the applicant and City staff attended. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the request at its December 7, 2021 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.

Zoning Code Ordinance Amendment, Second Reading

This is a substantial amendment to the Zoning Code that City staff has been working on for approximately two years. The overarching goal was to make the Zoning Code more user-friendly and address contemporary trends and best practices. Staff will be prepared to summarize the changes at the meeting (a summary of the changes are contained with the staff report to the Planning Commission). The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Ordinance at its January 4, 2022 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.

Update: City staff is requesting an amendment to the sign regulations be included in the overall Zoning Code amendment. While working with representatives from GreenState Credit Union, it was determined that a maximum 240 square foot wall sign could be placed on the west elevation. This is because the sign regulations limit wall sign area on an elevation to a maximum of 3 square feet for each linear foot of building wall. As permitted, a 240 square foot sign would look odd next to the existing 300 square foot sign on the north elevation, which is permissible. Thinking broadly, it is staff’s opinion that increased wall area would be appropriate on buildings four-stories in height or greater. A maximum size is being proposed to prevent excessive signage. If Council is agreeable, there would need to be a motion and approval to include the amendment.

Rental Code Ordinance Amendment, Second Reading

This is a companion request to the Zoning Code amendments. It is not a best practice to regulate rental housing in the Zoning Code. The Ordinance proposes relocating relevant rental housing regulations to Chapter 146 (Housing Code). Staff recommends approval of the Ordinance.

Rezoning Ordinance, Second Reading

This is a companion request to the Zoning Code amendment. Three of the rezonings will allow properties to align with the proposed changes in the Zoning Code. The UIHC rezoning is to allow the Zoning Map to better reflect the actual use of the property. All property owners have been contacted and there are no objections to the request. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Ordinance at its January 4, 2022 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.