Regular Council Meeting October 26, 1999 - 7:00 P.M   The West Burlington City Council met in Regular Session at 122 Broadway Street with Mayor Trousil presiding.  Council Members Lees, Johnson, Hockett, Pilger and Riessen were present.  City Administrator Plyman, Building Inspector Hoy, Police Chief Walters and Public Works Director Christy were also present.    Lees moved, second  by Pilger, to approve the Agenda with the following additions: Report on Water Tower Condition and Salary Adjustment for City Accountant.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

    Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve the following Consent Agenda items:  All aye.  Motion carried.  (Item C. Mary Evans Water Bill was removed from the Consent Agenda and moved to Committee Reports:

    A.       Minutes Regular Council Meeting October 12, 1999

    B.        Police Dept. Computer Training

    C.        Payment to Municipal Supply for water dept. supplies -- $7,146.75

    D.       Payment of Claims as Presented

    E.        Purchase Water Bills -- $1,400

    PUBLIC HEARING:  Designation of Expanded West Burlington Urban Renewal Area and

    On Proposed Urban Renewal Plan – Mayor Trousil opened the Public Hearing on the proposed expansion of the West Burlington Urban Renewal Area and on the proposed Urban Renewal Plan.  The area considered is bounded by freeway, West Burlington Ave., north city limits, N. Gear Ave. and S. Gear Ave., excepting the Westland Mall property.  There were no comments from those present nor were there comments from the Council.  The Public Hearing was closed.

    Mayor Trousil said we will present the Resolution of Necessity and enacting Ordinance at the next meeting. 

    BID OPENING FOR PLEASANT MEADOW SUBDIV. LOTS - AWARD TO HIGHEST  BIDDER:

    Mayor Trousil announced there were no bids received. 

    CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES:  There were none.

    Water Tower Condition Report:  Dale Sorensen from Veenstra & Kimm, Inc. told the Council the contractor has begun work on the water tower.  He said the original design called for spot repair to the coating on the interior.  Now, as the contractor commenced brush blasting the interior of the elevated storage tank with abrasive air blasting more of the coating is separating from the substrate than was anticipated.   He said approximately 40 – 50% of the coating is separating from the substrate.  The remaining coating is well adhered.  He recommended removing the coating that separates from the substrate and then clean the surface to SSPC-SP-10, then apply primer coats and finish the coat.  The cost to complete the additional removal of coating is $26,250.

    Council Member Johnson expressed his displeasure that the condition of the tank was not determined prior to bidding the project.  He said this could have changed the outcome of the bidding.  Mr. Sorensen said when the specifications were developed only spot checks were made to determine the condition of the tank. 

    Hockett moved, second by Lees, to approve Change Order #1 for the Elevated Storage Tank in the amount of $26,250.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

    NEW BUSINESS:

    Set Public Hearing for Zoning Code Amendment concerning Rear Yard Setbacks and attached Garages -

    Hockett moved, second by Johnson, to approve a resolution setting a Public Hearing for amending the Zoning Code concerning rear yard setbacks for attached garages in residential districts.  The Public Hearing will be November 9, at 7:00 p.m.  Roll call.  Aye:  Lees, Riessen, Hockett, Johnson, and Pilger.  Nay:  None.  Motion carried.

    Set Public Hearing for Zoning Map Amendment concerning Great River Medical Center site – Hockett moved, second by Johnson, to approve a resolution setting a public Hearing for amending the Zoning Map concerning the Great River Medical Center.  Roll call.  Aye:  Lees, Riessen, Hockett, Johnson, and Pilger.  Nay:  None.  Motion carried. 

    Consider Request to create "Tobacco Free" zone at Great River Medical Center campus – Mayor Trousil said the City received a request from Burlington Medical Center asking the City designate, by ordinance, their entire 102 acre + parcel as a “tobacco free zone”.  They said as the major healthcare provider in this area, they feel it is very important to provide leadership and healthy environments for all who work and visit their campus.

    The ordinance they request would ban the use of all tobacco products on the entire campus except in specified designated rooms for isolated patient use only as directed by their personal physician.  Employees and visitors will not be allowed to use tobacco products anywhere on the campus. 

    After discussion it was the consensus of the Council Members that this was not an issue for the City to get involved with.  Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to deny the request.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

    Consider Request from Des Moines County to contribute to GIS Study -- $1,750 – Administrator Plyman reported Des Moines County hired Avatech Solutions to perform a needs assessment study for the county and cities to determine our mapping needs.  The firm will be assisting the county in preparing a Request for Proposal on the GIS map project and to review the proposals when they come in.  The County is requesting the City contribute $1,750 to this project. 

    Hockett moved, second by Riessen, to approve reimbursement of up to $1,750 to Des Moines County for the Avatech Solutions needs assessment study using local option sales taxes.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

    Consider Renewal to Delta Dental Insurance Policy for Year 2000 – Administrator Plyman explained the City provides dental insurance benefits to full-time employees pursuant to the collective bargaining agreements and, for non-union employees, current personnel policies.  The City purchases this insurance from Delta Dental Plan of Iowa.  This plan needs to be renewed for calendar year 2000. 

    Hockett moved, second by Riessen, to approve Dental Plan renewal with Delta Dental for Calendar Year 2000.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

    Consider Pay Request from Shipley Contracting for Gear and Agency projects -- $195,854.30 – Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve payment to Shipley Contracting in the amount of $103,798.14 for work completed on the Agency Road Widening/Broadway Improvement project and $96,901.22 for work completed on the Gear Avenue Widening.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

    Consider Payment to Shive-Hattery for Engineering Services -- $27,125.85 -  Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment to Shive-Hattery in the amount of $27,125.85 for engineering services.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

    OLD BUSINESS:

    Consider Ordinance on Second Reading Concerning Increases in Fines for Parking Violations and Simple Misdemeanors – Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve the second reading on an ordinance increasing fines for parking violations and simple misdemeanors.  Roll call.  Ayes: Lees, Hockett, Pilger, Johnson and Riessen.  Nay:  None.  Motion carried.

    Consider Salary Adjustment for City Accountant – Mayor Trousil explained when the Salary Resolution was adopted in June for non-union personnel the City Accountant position had just been created and received a raise.  The position was therefore, not included in the resolution.  The Council decided at that time to review the City Accountant’s performance after six months.   Administrator Plyman and City Clerk Simonson reported the City Accountant Position is working very well and the performance of the City Accountant Leslie Sattler is good. 

    Pilger moved, second by Johnson, to approve a resolution setting the salary for Leslie Sattler, City Accountant, at $34,476 per year.  This is a 4% increase.  Roll call.  Ayes:  Lees, Johnson, Pilger, Hockett and Riessen.  Nay:  None.  Motion carried.  

    COMMITTEE REPORTS:

    STREETS – Administrator Plyman said Shipley’s sub-contractor for painting the striping on the Broadway/Agency St. Project could not get the type of paint that was called for in the specifications.  Plyman said the sub-contractor has provided the City with a three-year Performance Bond for the painting.

    SANITATION – Plyman said he talked with Shive-Hattery Engineer Ken Bickner concerning the sewer plant upgrade.  He said there is some concern about the amount of flow that has been reported.  He said he will report more on this later.  Mr. Bickner said we are looking at a January bidding for spring construction.  The new plant needs to be in compliance by fall. 

    UTILITIES – Plyman said he has been working with the new owners of the ‘Walker Tree Farm’ on Washington Road.  The new owners want to develop 10 to 11 building lots there.  They are interested in city water.  Plyman said he also plans to meet with Raider’s owners who also are interested in water and we might be able to work out something to connect the two and therefore loop the system.  Brushtown Road residents would also benefit from this development.  He will report more on this later. 

    Deny Reduction of Water Bill -- Mary Evans, 902 W. Mt. Pleasant St. – Administrator Plyman presented a letter to the Council from Mary Evans, 902 W. Mt. Pleasant Street.  Her September water usage is significantly higher than normal – over 12,000 gallons.  In her letter she claims that a storm during the month caused a “surge” that caused the higher reading.  Plyman recommended against making any reduction based on this kind of claim.  He said water meters are not electrical devices that are affected by power outages.  He said he is not aware of any way a lightening storm could cause the gears in a water meter to advance.  It is the gears in a meter that measures the usage of water. 

    After discussion Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to deny the request to reduce the water bill for Mary Evans.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried. 

    PUBLIC SAFETY – Council Member Lees said the Grade A+ Parade will be tomorrow at 2:00. 

    FINANCE – There was nothing to report.

    CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES:  There were none.

    ADJOURN:  There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. upon motion by Hockett and second by Riessen.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

                                                                                                                                                               

    Approved                                                                      Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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