City Council on June 27, 2023
Agenda
6:00 p.m. Regular Session
Council Chambers, 1 Quail Creek Circle
- Call to order
- Roll call
- Approval of the Agenda
- Consent Agenda
- City Council Minutes, Regular Session, June 13, 2023
- Claims
- Liquor License Application, Iowa Craft Beer Tent, Blues & BBQ
- Liquor License Application, Field Day
- Liquor License Application, Colony Acres
- Liquor License Renewal, Copper Boar
- Liquor License Renewal, Smokin’ Joe’s
- Liquor License Renewal, Sushiya
- Liquor License Renewal, Kum & Go
- Liquor License Renewal, Casey’s General Store #2788 (Kansas Avenue)
- Jones Boulevard Improvements Project, Pay Application Number 8 and Retainage, Schrader Excavating & Grading, $54,124.18
- Jones Boulevard Improvements Project, Project Acceptance and Completion
- Ranshaw Way Phase 5 Project, Change Order Number 15, Peterson Contractors, Inc., $8,354.50
- Ranshaw Way Phase 5 Project, Pay Application Number 26, Peterson Contractors, Inc., $9,140.74
- Public Comment
- Engineer Report
- City Administrator Report
- Mayor Report
- Pride Month Proclamation
- Council Reports
- Board & Commission Appointments
- Council confirmation of Mayor’ s appointments
- Youth Council
- Presentation by Youth Council
- FY 24 Social Service Grant Funding Applications
- Presentations of applicant agencies
- Discussion and possible action on allocation of Social Service grant funds for FY 24
- Forevergreen Estates
- Resolution Number 2023-71, A Resolution Accepting Public Improvements and Releasing Surety for Forevergreen Estates Part One, North Liberty, Iowa
- Assessment Resolution
- Resolution Number 2023-72, A Resolution assessing amounts owed to the City of North Liberty, Iowa to individual property taxes
- FY 2024 Salaries and Wages
- Resolution Number 2023-73, A Resolution authorizing salaries and hourly wages for City employees for the Fiscal Year of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024
- Iowa DOT Agreement
- Resolution Number 2023-74, A Resolution approving the Cooperative Agreement No. 2023-16-021 for a Primary Road Project between the Iowa Department of Transportation and the City of North Liberty
- ARPA Transit Contract
- Resolution Number 2023-75, A Resolution approving the Contract for Same-day On-demand Transit Services between Johnson County SEATS and the City of North Liberty
- Urban Renewal
- Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment to the North Liberty Urban Renewal Area
- Resolution Number 2023-76, A Resolution to Approve Urban Renewal Plan Amendment for the North Liberty Urban Renewal Area
- Resolution Number 2023-77, A Resolution Setting a Date of Meeting at Which it is Proposed to Approve a Development Agreement Lion Development Group, LLC, Including Annual Appropriation Tax Increment Payments
- 425 N. Dubuque Street – City initiated rezoning
- Public Hearing regarding proposed zoning amendment
- Staff and Commission recommendation
- First consideration of Ordinance Number 2023-18, An Ordinance amending the Zoning Map District designation for certain property located in North Liberty, Iowa from RM-21 Multi-Residence District to RM-12 Multi-Residence District
- Hatch Property – City initiated rezoning
- Public Hearing regarding proposed zoning amendment
- Staff and Commission recommendation
- First consideration of Ordinance Number 2023-19, An Ordinance amending the Zoning Map District designation for certain property located in North Liberty, Iowa from RM-21 Multi-Residence District to RM-12 Multi-Residence District
- Old Business
- New Business
- Adjournment
Minutes
City Council
June 27, 2023
Regular Session
Call to order
Mayor Chris Hoffman called the June 27, 2023, Regular Session of the North Liberty City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1 Quail Creek Circle. Councilors present: Ashley Bermel, RaQuishia Harrington, Erek Sittig, Brent Smith, and Brian Wayson; absent: none.
Others present: Ryan Heiar, Tracey Mulcahey, Grant Lientz, Ryan Rusnak, Josiah Bilskemper, and other interested parties.
Approval of the Agenda
Harrington moved; Wayson seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was all ayes. Agenda approved.
Consent Agenda
Harrington moved, Smith seconded to approve the Consent Agenda including the City Council Minutes, Regular Session, June 13, 2023, Liquor License Application, Iowa Craft Beer Tent, Blues & BBQ; Liquor License Application, Field Day; Liquor License Application, Colony Acres; Liquor License Renewal, Copper Boar; Liquor License Renewal, Smokin’ Joe’s; Liquor License Renewal, Sushiya; Liquor License Renewal, Kum & Go; Liquor License Renewal, Casey’s General Store #2788 (Kansas Avenue); Jones Boulevard Improvements Project, Pay Application Number 8 and Retainage, Schrader Excavating & Grading, $54,124.18; Jones Boulevard Improvements Project, Project Acceptance and Completion; Ranshaw Way Phase 5 Project, Change Order Number 15, Peterson Contractors, Inc., $8,354.50; Ranshaw Way Phase 5 Project, Pay Application Number 26, Peterson Contractors, Inc., $9,140.74; and the attached list of claims. The vote was all ayes. Consent Agenda approved.
Public Comment
No public comments were offered.
City Engineer Report
City Engineer Bilskemper reported that City Hall site work continues with parking lots, electrical, mechanical, drywall and exterior brick. The Jones Boulevard Extension Project punch list is complete. The project will be accepted tonight. The Penn Meadows Park parking lot project should begin the week of July 17. The Ranshaw Paved Shoulders project is substantially complete. Correspondence from IDOT on the Penn Street/I-380 Project was received. He will be updated at a meeting with IDOT this week. The Penn Street Railroad Improvements Project is in design. It will be bid this summer with construction this fall. Council discussed the report with Bilskemper.
City Administrator Report
City Administrator Heiar provided a DC trip update. He reminded all that fireworks are illegal to use in North Liberty. The City can not limit sales, but use is not allowed.
Mayor Report
Mayor Hoffman updated on the DC trip. He thanked Mayor Pro Tem Wayson for leading the last meeting. He attended the Quail Creek Condo event last week. He offered the reminder that fireworks are not permitted in the city. He proclaimed June as Pride Month.
Council Reports
Councilor Sittig met with Ellen McCabe and Jessica Andino regarding affordable housing in North Liberty. He asked them to provide as many out of the box ideas as possible. He attended the Mexican Embassy event. He attended Cedar Rapids’ Juneteenth event and Iowa City’s Pride event. He reminded that Blues and BBQ is July 8. Councilor Bermel attended Let Love Fly event.
Board & Commission Appointments
Sittig moved, Bermel seconded to confirm the Mayor’ s appointments of Barry A’Hearn, Sheila Geneser and Amy Yotty to the Planning and Zoning Commission; Alan Wieskamp to the Board of Adjustment; Shannon Greene and Richard Grugin to the Parks & Recreation Commission; Adbouramane Bila and Kevin McGrane to the Tree/Stormwater Board; Jamie Helmick to the Library Board; Aaron Schultz to the Cemetery Board; and Andrew Ballard, Ryan Dehart, Nathan Griffith, Joshua Scanlon, and David West to the Board of Appeals. The vote was all ayes. Appointments confirmed.
Youth Council
Youth Councilors Leela Strand, Megan Quinn and Olivia Roling and staff liaison to the organization Micah Ariel James presented a summary of Youth Council activities. Council discussed the information with James, Strand, Quinn and Roling.
FY 24 Social Service Grant Funding Applications
Presentations of applicant agencies: 4 Cs Community Coordinated Child Care – Missie Forbes; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County – Dina Bishara; Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa – Ayman Sharif; Community Crisis Services and Food Bank – Kelsey Steines; Corridor Community Action Network – Mandi Remington; Domestic Violence Intervention Program – Melissa Russell and Kristi Dosier; Families Helping Families of Iowa – Amie Buckley; Friends of the Center – Emily Edrington; Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa – Abbie Reuter; Horizons – A Family Service Alliance – Mike Barnhart; Houses into Homes – Lucy Barker; Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County – Ellen McCabe; Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District – Laura Ebinger; Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County – Judy McRoberts; Iowa City Free Medical & Dental Clinic – Jennie Schmidt; Iowa Legal Aid – Jim Kringlen; Iowa LEAP – Randy McDonough; Iowa Matrix – Stacia Roth; North Liberty Community Pantry – Leslie Alvarez; Rape Victim Advocacy Program – Adam Robinson; Shelter House – presented by Tracey Mulcahey; Sober Living – Merrilee Ramsey; Table to Table – Nicki Ross; The Arc of Southeast Iowa – Chelsey Markle; and United Action for Youth – Genevieve Anglin. After Council discussion, the following allocation was agreed upon:
| Agency | Amount |
| 4 C’s Community Coordinated Childcare | 5,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County | 8,000 |
| CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank | 12,000 |
| Domestic Violence Intervention Program | 6,500 |
| Families Helping Families of Iowa | 750 |
| Friends of the Center | 7,450 |
| Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa | 3,000 |
| Horizons, A Family Service Alliance | 10,000 |
| Houses into Homes | 7,000 |
| Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County | 20,000 |
| Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District | 5,000 |
| Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic | 5,800 |
| Iowa Legal Aid | 5,000 |
| Iowa LEAP | 1,500 |
| North Liberty Community Pantry | 25,000 |
| Rape Victim Advocacy Program | 3,500 |
| Shelter House | 10,000 |
| Sober Living | 1,500 |
| Table to Table | 7,000 |
| The Arc of Southeast Iowa | 2,000 |
| United Action for Youth | 9,000 |
Council recessed at 8:15 p.m. Council reconvened at 8:17.
Forevergreen Estates
Harrington moved, Wayson seconded to approve Resolution Number 2023-71, A Resolution Accepting Public Improvements and Releasing Surety for Forevergreen Estates Part One, North Liberty, Iowa. The vote was: ayes – Smith, Sittig, Harrington, Bermel, Wayson; nays – none. Motion carried.
Assessment Resolution
Harrington moved, Sittig seconded to approve Resolution Number 2023-72, A Resolution assessing amounts owed to the City of North Liberty, Iowa to individual property taxes. The vote was: ayes- Harrington, Sittig, Wayson, Bermel, Smith; nays – none. Motion carried.
FY 2024 Salaries and Wages
Sittig moved, Bermel seconded to approve Resolution Number 2023-73, A Resolution authorizing salaries and hourly wages for City employees for the Fiscal Year of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. The vote was: ayes – Sittig, Harrington, Wayson, Bermel, Smith; nays – none. Motion carried.
Iowa DOT Agreement
Harrington moved, Smith seconded to approve Resolution Number 2023-74, A Resolution approving the Cooperative Agreement No. 2023-16-021 for a Primary Road Project between the Iowa Department of Transportation and the City of North Liberty. The vote was: ayes – Wayson, Harrington, Sittig, Smith, Bermel; nays – none. Motion carried.
ARPA Transit Contract
Harrington moved, Sittig seconded to approve Resolution Number 2023-75, A Resolution approving the Contract for Same-day On-demand Transit Services between Johnson County SEATS and the City of North Liberty. The vote was: ayes – Bermel, Wayson, Harrington, Sittig, Smith; nays -none. Motion carried.
Urban Renewal
At 8:20 p.m., Mayor Hoffman opened the public hearing on the proposed amendment to the North Liberty Urban Renewal Area. No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed at 8:20 p.m.
Sittig moved, Smith seconded to approve Resolution Number 2023-76, A Resolution to Approve Urban Renewal Plan Amendment for the North Liberty Urban Renewal Area. The vote was: ayes – Smith, Harrington, Wayson, Bermel, Sittig; nays – none. Motion carried.
Wayson moved, Sittig seconded to approve Resolution Number 2023-77, A Resolution Setting a Date of Meeting at Which it is Proposed to Approve a Development Agreement Lion Development Group, LLC, Including Annual Appropriation Tax Increment Payments. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Sittig, Harrington, Wayson, Bermel, Smith; nays – none. Motion carried.
425 N. Dubuque Street – City initiated rezoning
At 8:23 p.m., Mayor Hoffman opened the public hearing regarding proposed zoning amendment. No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed at 8:23 p.m.
Rusnak reported that staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendment. Council discussed the applications with Rusnak.
Harrington moved, Bermel seconded to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 2023-18, An Ordinance amending the Zoning Map District designation for certain property located in North Liberty, Iowa from RM-21 Multi-Residence District to RM-12 Multi-Residence District. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Smith, Sittig, Wayson, Harrington, Bermel; nays – none. Motion carried.
Hatch Property – City initiated rezoning
At 8:28 p.m., Mayor Hoffman opened the public hearing regarding proposed zoning amendment. No oral or written comments were received. The public hearing was closed at 8:28 p.m.
Rusnak reported that staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendment.
Wayson moved, Smith seconded to approve the first consideration of Ordinance Number 2023-19, An Ordinance amending the Zoning Map District designation for certain property located in North Liberty, Iowa from RM-21 Multi-Residence District to RM-12 Multi-Residence District. After discussion, the vote was: ayes- Bermel, Smith, Harrington, Wayson; nays – Sittig. Motion carried.
Old Business
No old business was presented.
New Business
Councilor Wayson offered that the hazy weather will be sticking around for another day or two. He encouraged those with lung issues to stay inside. Councilor Smith asked the public to please not call 911 to tell them there is smoke in the air.
Adjournment
Sittig moved; Harrington seconded to adjourn at 8:32 p.m. The vote was all ayes. Meeting adjourned.
CITY OF NORTH LIBERTY
By: __________________________
Chris Hoffman, Mayor
Attest: ________________________
Tracey Mulcahey, City Clerk
