Regular Council Meeting January 11, 2000 - 7:00 P.M.   The West Burlington City Council met in Regular Session at 122 Broadway Street with Mayor Trousil presiding.  Council Members Lees, Hockett, Pilger, Johnson and Crowner were present.  City Administrator Plyman, Public Works Director Christy and Fire Chief Astfalk were also present.   Police Chief Walters arrived at 8:15.  Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve the Agenda as presented.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

     

    Lees moved, second by Johnson, to approve the following Consent Agenda items:  All aye.  Motion carried. 

     Minutes Regular Council Meeting December 28, 1999

     Financial Report for December

     Payment to Iowa Prison Industries for Replacement Street Signs - $1,323.10

     Payment to Burlington Municipal Waterworks - $11,941.25

     Payment to City of Burlington for County Wide Communications - $2,285.28

     Payment to Loeschen & Loeschen - $1,290.00

     Payment of Claims as Presented

     

    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. 

     

    NEW BUSINESS:

    Accept Resignation of City Administrator David Plyman – Lees moved, second by Pilger, to accept the resignation of City Administrator David Plyman effective March 4, 2000.  Plyman has accepted employment with the City of Washington, Illinois as its City Administrator.  Roll call.  Ayes:  Crowner, Lees, Pilger, Johnson and Hockett.  Nays:  None.  Motion carried. 

     

    Discuss Hiring Procedure for City Administrator Position – The Council discussed the process they thought would be best to fill the City Administrator position.  They discussed hiring a professional recruiter and decided to meet with several companies who provide this service.  The City Clerk will schedule two interviews for next Tuesday, January 19, beginning at 7:00 p.m. 

     

    Consider Resolution Setting Public Hearing to Consider Rezoning Certain Properties along Hwy 34 and 406 – Hockett moved, second by Johnson, to hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 25, at 7:00 p.m. to consider rezoning certain properties along Hwy. 34 and 406 from A-1 to R-1.  Roll call.  Ayes:  Lees, Pilger, Johnson, Hockett and Crowner.  Roll call.  Nays:  None.  Motion carried.

     

    Consider Resolution Consenting to Release of Retention Monies for Mt. Pleasant Street Frontage Rd. – Mayor Trousil explained in November the Council approved a resolution for payment on the Mt. Pleasant Street Frontage Road Project.  The amount due was $3,663.23 in addition to the retention of $6,400.83.  The resolution approved the payment and release of retention monies in the total amount of $3,663.23.  The Council needs to release the retention monies of $6,400.83 in a new resolution. 

     

    Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve a resolution consenting to release of retention monies for the Mt. Pleasant Street Frontage Road in the amount of $6,400.83. 

     

    Consider Payment to Shive-Hattery for Engineering Services $13,982.70 – Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve payment of $13,982.70 to Shive-Hattery for engineering services for the Gear Avenue Project and traffic engineering and design services.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

     

    Crowner noted the Gear Avenue traffic engineering services had exceeded budget.  Bill Cary, a Shive-Hattery engineer, explained the magnitude of the project was not known initially.  The project has taken longer than originally anticipated and the State has taken longer to review.  Normally a change order would occur for a project, that has exceeded budget but this one did not. 

     

    Consider Incentive Bonus for Seventeen Firefighters – Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment of an incentive bonus of $588 to 17 firefighters as recommended by Fire Chief Astfalk and in accordance with the City budget.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

     

    Consider Incentive Bonus to Police Reserve Officers – Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment of $3,600 to 9 reserve police officers that have met the criteria to receive the bonus.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

     

    Consider a Resolution Naming the Official Newspapers – Hockett moved, second by Johnson, to approve a Resolution naming The Des Moines County News and The Hawkeye as the Official Newspapers of the City of West Burlington. 

     

    Consider Payment to Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities for SASSO - $12,850 – Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment of $12,850 to the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities on behalf of SASSO.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried. 

     

    Consider Waiving Preliminary and Approving Final Plat for Tenth Addition to Flint Ridge Business Park

    Hockett moved, second by Lees, to approve a Resolution Waiving the Preliminary and approving the Final Plat for the Tenth Addition to Flint Ridge Business Park.  Roll call.  Ayes:  Johnson, Hockett, Crowner, Lees and Pilger.  Nays:  None.  Motion carried.

     

    Consider Engineering Services Agreement for Storm Water Study – Administrator Plyman explained when the City Council conducted a strategic planning session about two years ago, storm water planning was considered a priority.  This is the first step in developing a plan to pave seal coat streets.

     

    Plyman asked Shive-Hattery and French-Reneker to prepare proposals for this work last spring.  Shive-Hattery’s proposal is the low bid at $15,000.  They agreed to prepare a new stormwater utility map using our new GIS base map.  Further, Shive-Hattery will be preparing a new GIS zoning map at no additional cost.  The firm is agreeing to do this additional work for free so it can develop a GIS portfolio to attract GIS clients. 

     

    Hockett moved, second by Lees, to approve an engineering agreement with Shive-Hattery for preparing a Stormwater Drainage Study at a cost of $15,000.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

     

    Consider Engineering Services Agreement with French-Reneker for Street Resurfacing – Plyman said he asked French-Reneker to submit a proposed engineering services agreement for the resurfacing of Van Weiss Street, from Broadway to the Westhighland Subdivision, and N. Washington Road, from the railroad crossing to the city limits. 

     

    He said the Council postponed the Van Weiss project two years because of the construction at the schools.  The plans and specifications on this need to be updated to reflect new bid letting dates.  The engineer also has to prepare the plans for N. Washington Road project. 

     

    He said regarding Washington Road, the engineer John Meyer agrees that resurfacing the road now should extend the useful life of the pavement another 8-10 years.  Some cracking is occurring on this street and it needs attention.  If we wait, we run the risk of losing the street and needing to reconstruct it at a substantially higher cost.

     

    Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve engineering services agreement with French-Reneker in the amount of $5,800 for the 2000 Street Resurfacing Project.  Voice vote.  All aye.   Motion carried.

     

    Consider Payment to Shipley Contracting Corp. for Work Performed on Gear Avenue Street Project – Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment of $130,287.83 to Shipley Contracting Corp. on Pay Estimate No. 3 for work performed on the 1999 Gear Avenue street improvement project.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

     

    Consider Appointment of City Clerk – Hockett moved, second by Johnson, to reappoint Terrie L. Simonson as City Clerk/Treasurer.  Roll call.  Ayes:  Crowner, Lees, Pilger, Johnson and Hockett.  Nays:  None.  Motion carried.  Mayor Trousil administered the Oath of Office to City Clerk Simonson.

     

    OLD BUSINESS:

    Consider Ordinance on Second Reading Concerning Speed Limit on Agency – At the last meeting the City Council approved an ordinance on first reading lowering the speed limit on Agency Street from 45 mph to 35 mph, between Broadway Street and the IAAP. 

     

    After considerable discussion Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve an ordinance on second reading lowering the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph, between Broadway Street and the IAAP.  Roll call.  Ayes: Lees and Pilger.  Nays:  Johnson, Hockett and Crowner.  Motion denied. 

     

    Schedule a Town Meeting on the Proposed Master Plan for City Parks – City Clerk Simonson will contact the Superintendents Office to establish an available date to hold a Town Meeting to discuss the master plan for City Parks. 

     

    COMMITTEE REPORTS:

    STREETS – Bill Cary, Shive-Hattery Engineer, reviewed for the council the schedule for submission of the plans, bid letting and construction of the Gear Avenue Widening and Signalization – Division 2 – Traffic Signal Improvements.  The plans include three temporary and permanent traffic signal installations on Gear Avenue, a new controller and cabinet at the mall entrance, pavement widening and reconstruction at the south ramp intersection (US 34 and Gear Ave.) and pavement markings on Agency Road in response to Iowa DOT comments. 

     

    The final plans should be submitted to council with authorization for distribution to contractors on February 8, 2000 and the bid opening and award of contract on February 22, 2000.  The construction completion date is August 15, 2000. 

     

    SANITATION – Plyman said since he will be leaving in March, the Council would need to fill his position with the Solid Waste Commission.  He said Cathy Christy, who lives in West Burlington, is an alternate for Des Moines County.  He said she is willing to represent the City in his absence, at least until a new City Administrator is hired.  Plyman will discuss the position with her. 

     

    UTILITIES – Plyman said the plans for the new sewer plant should be ready

     

    PUBLIC SAFETY – Mayor Trousil said in September West Burlington Police Officer Angela Bonar filed a written report with Chief Walters stating incidents in which Deputy John Horton of the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office made inappropriate remarks toward her.  Chief Walters sent Officer Bonar’s report to Sheriff Behne and told him he expected immediate action to prevent such behavior from occurring again.

     

    According to Behne, after his department conducted their investigation, he suspended Deputy Horton for three days for Conduct Unbecoming an Officer.  Horton has filed an appeal with the Civil Service Commission.  A hearing has been set for Friday, January 21.   

     

    FINANCE – Simonson said the company who supplied the pop machine in the Council Chambers is no longer going to provide the 10 oz. Bottles to stock the machine.   The Council agreed to purchase a refrigerator for the Council Chambers.

     

    MAYOR’S INQUIRIES:  Committee Appointments and Mayor Pro Tem Appointment – Mayor Trousil announced the following Committee Appointments:  

    Finance: Dan Hockett (Chairman), Therese Lees and Rod Crowner. 

    Utilities: Rod Crowner (Chairman), Marc Pilger and Johns Johnson.

    Sanitation: Marc Pilger (Chairman), John Johnson and Rod Crowner. 

    Streets: John Johnson (Chairman), Dan Hockett and Therese Lees. 

    Public Safety: Therese Lees (Chairman), Dan Hockett and Marc Pilger.  

    Mayor Pro Tem:  Therese Lees

     

    CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES - There were none.

     

    ADJOURN:  There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m. upon motion by Lees and second by Hockett.  Voice vote.  All aye.  Motion carried.

     

    ___                                                                                          ___                                         

    Approved                                                                                  Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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