City Council on January 28, 2025
Agenda
6:00 p.m. Regular Session
Council Chambers, 360 N. Main Street
- Call to order
- Roll call
- Approval of the Agenda
- Consent Agenda
- City Council Minutes, Regular Session, January 14, 2025
- City Council Minutes, Special Session, January 28, 2025
- Centennial Park Event Complex, Larson Construction Co., Inc., Change Order Number 4, ($3,047.50)
- Claims
- Public Comment
- Engineer Report
- City Administrator Report
- Mayor Report
- Black History Month Proclamation
- Council Reports
- FY 2024 Audit
- Presentation of the FY 2024 Audit
- Resolution Number 2025-13, A Resolution accepting the Audit Report for Fiscal Year 2024 as completed by BerganKDV
- FY 2025-26 Budget
- Review Operational Budget
- Social Service Grant Funding
- Capital Projects
- Other
- Accessory Dwelling Units
- Discussion regarding Accessory Dwelling Units in North Liberty
- CDBG – CV – Food Pantry Grant
- Public Hearing regarding Status of Funded Activities
- Johnson County Mutual Aid Agreement
- Resolution Number 2025-14, A Resolution approving a 28E Agreement for Automatic and Mutual Aid Fire Protection, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services between the City of North Liberty and certain other cities and independent Fire Districts in and around Johnson County, Iowa
- Forevergreen Road and Jasper Avenue Roundabout
- Resolution Number 2025-15, A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Settlement Agreement between the Cities of North Liberty, Tiffin and Coralville, Clint Rarick, and the Ruth E Rarick Trust
- Resolution Number 2025-16, A Resolution authorizing the execution of an Agreement for Engineering Design Services between the City of North Liberty and Shive-Hattery, Inc.
- Assessment Resolution
- Resolution Number 2025-17, A Resolution assessing an amount owed to the City of North Liberty, Iowa to individual property taxes
- Zoning Ordinance
- Second consideration of Ordinance Number 2025-01, An Ordinance amending Chapter 168 of the North Liberty Code of Ordinances pertaining to Residential District Dimensional Standards
- Greenbelt Trail Part 8 Rezoning
- Second consideration of Ordinance Number 2025-02, An Ordinance amending the Zoning Map District Designation for certain property located in North Liberty, Iowa from ID Interim Development District to RS-6 Single-Unit Residence District
- Old Business
- New Business
- Adjournment
Minutes
Call to order
Mayor Hoffman called the Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Regular Session of the North Liberty City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 360 N. Main Street. Councilors present: Brian Leibold, Paul Park, Erek Sittig, Brent Smith, and Brian Wayson.
Others present: Ryan Heiar (electronically), Tracey Mulcahey, Josiah Bilskemper, Grant Lientz, Ryan Rusnak, Dustin Opatz, Captain Tina Humston, Chief Chris Kochanny, Michael Pentecost, Guy Goldsmith, Shelly Simpson, William Gorman (electronically), Jeff Kellbach, Tom Gruis, and other interested parties.
Approval of the Agenda
Sittig moved; Wayson seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was all ayes. Agenda approved.
Consent Agenda
Smith moved, Sittig seconded to approve the Consent Agenda including the City Council Minutes, Regular Session, January 14, 2025; City Council Minutes, Special Session, January 21, 2025; Centennial Park Event Complex, Larson Construction Co., Inc., Change Order Number 4, ($3,047.50); and the attached list of Claims. The vote was all ayes. Consent Agenda approved.
Public Comment
No public comment was offered.
City Engineer Report
City Engineer Bilskemper had no report and offered to answer questions.
City Administrator Report
City Administrator Heiar had no report.
Mayor Report
Mayor Hoffman proclaimed February as Black History Month. He reported he will be the JECSA Policy Board Chairperson for the next year. He participated in Legislative Career Day at Kirkwood and attended Fire & Ice. He encouraged Council to keep continuing to pay attention to what’s going on in the state and nationally.
Council Reports
Councilor Wayson thanked staff for Fire and Ice. Councilor Sittig stated that regardless of what happens at the state and national level, the City will keep programs going for all at an affordable or free level. Councilor Leibold met with a representative from Miller-Meeks office. He attended the Think Iowa City Legislative forum and Fie and Ice. He reported that tickets are still available for the Snuggie Crawl. Councilor Park attended the Legislative Forum by Think Iowa City and Fire and Ice. He thanked City Slate sponsors for their sponsorships that keep events happening in the community.
FY 2024 Audit
Dustin Opatz presented the FY 2024 Audit report. Council discussed the report with Opatz.
Sittig moved, Smith seconded to approve Resolution Number 2025-13, A Resolution accepting the Audit Report for Fiscal Year 2024 as completed by BerganKDV. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Smith, Sittig, Leibold, Wayson, Park; nays – none. Motion carried.
FY 2025-26 Budget
Heiar presented a brief overview of the operational budget. He reported that there is a placeholder of $175,000 for social service grants. The requests total $294,000. Council discussed social service funding. Consensus is to include $175,000 in the FY 2026 budget. Heiar presented information on proposed capital projects. Council discussed the projects with staff.
Accessory Dwelling Units
Rusnak, Jeff Kellbach, and William Gorman presented information regarding Accessory Dwelling Units in North Liberty. Council discussed the information presented. The Mayor asked Council to submit input and questions on accessory dwelling units and the potential ordinance to Rusnak. This conversation and discussion will continue.
CDBG – CV – Food Pantry Grant
At 8:05 p.m. Mayor Hoffman opened the Status of Funded Activities for the Food Pantry Project of North Liberty, Iowa, as assisted by the Community Development Block Grant-CV (CDBG-CV) program
- For a general description of accomplishments to date: the food pantry has purchased fresh food including meat, milk, and produce.
- For a summary of expenditures to date: through January 15, 2025, a total of $42,657 has been invoiced and will be submitted tomorrow for grant reimbursement. This expenditure included $38,907 for food purchases and $3,750 for grant administration. The expenditures are 100% supported by the grant. There is $57,343 remaining in grant funds.
- For a general description of remaining work: additional fresh food purchases up to $51,093. Additional procurements of meat, dairy, and produce are expected to occur and eggs, if availability improves.
- For a general description of changes made to the project budget, performance targets, activity schedules, project scope, location, objectives or beneficiaries: the budget is currently at the same level as proposed in the grant application. The project application proposed an end date of July 2025. The project will be completed by late 2025 or early 2026, but prior to the award end date of April 2026. The objectives and beneficiaries remain the same.
Council discussed the project with Gruis. No other oral or written comments were received. At 8:09 p.m. the public hearing was closed.
Johnson County Mutual Aid Agreement
Sittig moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 2025-14, A Resolution approving a 28E Agreement for Automatic and Mutual Aid Fire Protection, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services between the City of North Liberty and certain other cities and independent Fire Districts in and around Johnson County, Iowa. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Wayson, Leibold, Smith, Park, Sittig; nays -none. Motion carried.
Forevergreen Road and Jasper Avenue Roundabout
Park moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 2025-15, A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Settlement Agreement between the Cities of North Liberty, Tiffin and Coralville, Clint Rarick, and the Ruth E Rarick Trust. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Leibold, Park, Smith, Wayson; nays – none; abstain – Sittig. Motion carried.
Smith moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 2025-16, A Resolution authorizing the execution of an Agreement for Engineering Design Services between the City of North Liberty and Shive-Hattery, Inc. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Wayson, Sittig, Leibold, Park, Smith; nays – none. Motion carried.
Assessment Resolution
Sittig moved, Smith seconded to approve Resolution Number 2025-17, A Resolution assessing an amount owed to the City of North Liberty, Iowa to individual property taxes. The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Leibold, Park, Sittig, Smith; nays – none. Motion carried.
Zoning Ordinance
Park moved, Sittig seconded to approve the second consideration of Ordinance Number 2025-01, An Ordinance amending Chapter 168 of the North Liberty Code of Ordinances pertaining to Residential District Dimensional Standards. The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Park, Sittig, Leibold, Smith; nays – none. Motion carried.
Greenbelt Trail Part 8 Rezoning
Park moved, Smith seconded to approve the second consideration of Ordinance Number 2025-02, An Ordinance amending the Zoning Map District Designation for certain property located in North Liberty, Iowa from ID Interim Development District to RS-6 Single-Unit Residence District. The vote was: ayes – Smith, Wayson, Park, Leibold, Sittig; nays – none. Motion carried.
Old Business
Councilor Park requested clarification on the ADU conversation.
New Business
Councilor Park reported on the request of viewers on the livestream that want to see slides. He asked if Fire Department training could be opened to the public. Councilor Smith announced the Better Together 2030 Bravo awards are Thursday. He issued a call for action from the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to approve what Sheriff Kunkel is asking for regarding the jail. He would like a letter to be drafted from the Mayor and City Council to the Board of Supervisors regarding the jail. Councilor Sittig requested that the CRANDIC discussion be on an agenda soon. Mayor Hoffman thanked Council for the length of the meeting and for time and effort in research and being ready for tonight’s meeting.
Adjournment
Sittig moved; Park seconded to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. The vote was all ayes. Meeting adjourned.
