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.

Consent Agenda

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

• City Council Minutes (04/26/22)
• Claims
• Change Order #9, Ranshaw Way Phase 5 Project, Peterson Contractors Inc., $12,907.95
• Pay Application #13, Ranshaw Way Phase 5 Project, Peterson Contractors Inc., $359,640.24

Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Presentation

Kate Moreland, President of the Iowa City Area Development Group, and her team will be at Tuesday’s meeting to present an annual update on their work and the health of interstate commerce business in North Liberty.

Matnic Site Plan

This site plan proposes two, three-story 12-unit residential buildings and related infrastructure at 10 Jaro Way. The buildings are well designed and include the use of masonry, window glazing and building articulation. The off-street parking area is located to the rear allowing the front building facades to be the primary view from North Front Street. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the site plan at its May 3 meeting. Staff also recommends approval.

Centennial Park Project

The state of Iowa recently announced a program called Destination Iowa, providing $100 million in funding for outdoor recreation & tourism projects. The long-planned entertainment venue and splash pad at Centennial Park appears to be a prime applicant for the Destination Iowa program. Given that this project is a Council priority and Destination Iowa is a limited time program, it is imperative to move forward with programming and preliminary design of this Centennial Park Project. The agenda includes a proposal from Shive Hattery in the amount of $60,000. If approved, the final product will allow staff to submit a complete application to Destination Iowa with color renderings, a detailed programming concept and a cost estimate. While Destination Iowa is accepting applications through the end of the year, staff anticipates having a submittal prepared by the end of summer. Staff recommends approval of the proposal with Shive Hattery.

Liberty Villas Rezoning Ordinance, Second Reading

Daniel & Rhonda Bernacki Revocable Trust is requesting a zoning map amendment from C-2-A Highway Commercial District and I-1 Light Industrial District to RS-6 Single-Unit Residence District (19.73 acres) and RM-12 PAD Multi-Unit Residence District Planned Area Development (5.91 acres) – east side of North Dubuque Street approximately 185’ south of Scales Bend Road – to facilitate development as a residential subdivision. The PAD is being sought is allow the townhomes within the multi-family portion of the development to construct individual curb cuts along a public street, which is not currently permitted in the Off-Street Parking Ordinance. It is staff’s opinion that residential development would be more compatible with the area due to the residential and school development that has occurred after Centro, Inc. since 1990. Two good neighbor meetings were held on February 14 and March 22. Several concerns were noted and are contained in the Planning Commission staff report. There is one verbal objection to the request. Staff is cognizant that “fitting the last piece of the puzzle” is important and the feedback received will need to be considered when the subdivision is designed. Staff is committed to maintaining an open dialog with surrounding property owners should the rezoning be approved. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the request at its April 5 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.

Zoning Ordinance Amendment, Third & Final Reading

This minor amendment to the Zoning Code proposed by City staff addresses oversights and scrivener errors discovered after the most recent large Zoning Code update. Specifically, the amendments address overhead doors, residential garage size and corrects two code references. These mini-amendments are common with large updates and staff anticipates there will be subsequent requested changes. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Ordinance at its April 5 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.