Regular Council meeting April 24, 2001 – 7:00 P.M. The West Burlington City Council met in Regular Session at 122 Broadway Street with Mayor Trousil presiding. Council Members Hockett, Pilger, Lees, and Johnson were present. Council Member Crowner was absent. City Administrator Gregg Mandsager, Police Chief Gary Walter, Fire Chief Bill Astfalk and Building Inspector Hoy were also present. Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve the Agenda with the following amendments: Change Item #3 from two part-time employees to one; and delete Item #6, Development Agreement with Shottenkirk until more details can be worked out. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    A. Minutes Regular Council Meeting April 10, 2001

    B. Payment to RIT Concepts – SASSO Expense

    C. Payment of Claims as Presented

     

    CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES: Dave Snicker, owner of the Maid-Rite Diner on Division Street, urged the City to move forward with extending Division Street through to gear Avenue. He said there would be significant benefits to having Division Street extended to Gear Avenue. He said an increased tax base would be just one benefit. He said it would also provide another emergency route to Great River Medical Center and would also be the only east west arterial that would go from the Burlington riverfront to the hospital.

    Mayor Trousil said the City must first reach an agreement with John Danielson, who owns the property where a Division Street extension would go, before the project could move forward. He said the City must reach a consensus with Mr. Danielson on how that property will be developed. He said the City and Danielson are in the midst of negotiating incentives and how the development should be funded.

    RECOGNITION:

    Nominees for Youth Appreciation Week – Mayor Trousil recognized the students from West Burlington School who were nominated for outstanding youth of the year. Those attending the meeting included Catherine Johnson, Jennifer Connell, Brian Bonebrake (Father), Mike Goudie, Tony Hoover, Tamra McPherson, Nathaniel Prickett, Kate Walters and Ryan Jones. Mayor Trousil congratulated the students on their accomplishments and wished them luck in the future.

    NEW BUSINESS:

    Consider 28E Agreement for Geographical Information System – After discussing the 28E Agreement for Geographical Information Systems with Des Moines County and the City of Burlington the Council directed the City Administrator to obtain additional information. The contract states the three entities will be co-owners of GIS and will be split by the following: Burlington 25%, Des Moines County 60% and West Burlington 15%. The Council wanted to know how they arrived at these percentages. They also wanted to know the intended budget. The RFP requests proposals from qualified firms for professional Geographic Information system (GIS) products and services including intra/internet tax administration and real estate reporting. They would like a clarification of this. The Council will consider the agreement at the next Council Meeting.

    Consider Purchase of two Swings for Longmeadow Park – Hockett moved, second by Lees, to purchase two swings for Longmeadow Park. One is an Arch Belt Swing – 4 place – in powder blue for a cost of $1,970 including shipping. The second swing is a glider bench built of Douglas fir for a cost of $861. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    Council Member Pilger suggested the City consider placing a grill or two in Community Park this year. He said he believes it will be used. City Administrator Mandsager will check styles and prices and come back to Council.

    Consider Hiring Part-Time Summer Employees for Public Works – Lees moved, second by Hockett, to hire Lana Polson at $7.00 per hour to assist with various jobs in the Public Works department. The City budgeted for four (4) part-time employees this fiscal year and next. Public Works Director Fry plans to hire two more part-time summer employees.

    Consider Application for Fire Department Grant – Administrator Mandsager said he and Fire chief Astfalk are proceeding with the grant application for the fire department. They also plan to proceed with an application for the Quad Township. Mandsager said the grant for the city will be for Personal Protective Equipment and Fire Fighting Equipment. They may ask for a vehicle on behalf of the township. The grant will be for an amount up to $750,000.

    Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve a grant application for Fire Department Equipment and Vehicles. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    Consider Salary Resolution for Fiscal Year 2002 – Administrator Mandsager presented a Resolution containing the salaries for non-union personnel, which were discussed during the budget process. The Resolution increases the City Administrator and City Clerk by 6%; the Public Works Director 4% July 1, 2001 with an additional 4% after January 1, 2002 with a positive evaluation; pool, summer help and Firefighters will receive no increase and all other non-union personnel will receive 3.5% increase. Council Member Johnson questioned the salary increases the City Clerk has received in the past. Administrator Mandsager said she has received 4% for the past several years. Johnson said he thought she received a larger percentage last year.

    Johnson moved, second by Pilger, to approve a Resolution setting salaries and benefits for certain non-union Personnel. Roll call. Ayes: Hockett, Pilger, Crowner and Lees. Nays: None. Motion carried.

    Consider Development Agreement with Shottenkirk for Extension of Huston Street – This item was removed from the Agenda. The Council met in a Work Session earlier tonight to discuss an agreement with Shottenkirk Inc., an auto dealer, who wants to develop land west of Gear Avenue. Tony Baxter representing Shottenkirk, proposed Shottenkirk would extend Huston Street west from Gear Avenue past his new dealership then another street south ending in a cul-de-sac where he would develop 46 lots for a mixture of single-family homes, upscale condominiums and apartments. The project would need up to $2 million to pay for infrastructure, including streets, sewer and streetlights. Baxter proposed the City would use additional tax revenues derived from the development to repay the bond.

    The Council agreed Mandsager would continue to work on the details with Shottenkirk.

    Consider Engineering Agreement for Brushtown Road Improvements – Administrator Mandsager said he requested proposals from Engineering Firms regarding the planning phase of the Gear Avenue/Brushtown Road Water and Sewer Project. BNSF Railroad will cover this portion of the engineering. The planning phase of the project will cover such items as necessary right-of-way or easement, utility location, researching property legal descriptions, and identifying potential problems that may arise during or before the project will be reviewed. The City will be contracting with the engineer with BNSF Railroad paying the actual costs.

    Mandsager said the City has no obligation to continue with the project. He said this is merely a planning and discovery phase since there are numerous issues that need to be resolved prior to entering into any agreement to place water and sewer in the area.

    The City received three proposals, Shive-Hattery, French Reneker and Snyder and Associates. Each of the proposals are very similar in describing their concerns that this preliminary phase needs to be accomplished to identify the best routes and any potential concerns or problems that may arise for the City. Snyder and Associates has several recent water and sewer projects and this seems to be a good opportunity for the City to meet and work with a new firm. Mandsager recommended the City contract with Snyder and Associates for engineering the Brushtown Road Improvements.

    Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve an Engineering Agreement with Snyder and Associates for the Brushtown Road Improvements contingent upon a letter from BNSF committing up to $10,000 for the initial phase of the project. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    Consider Ordinance Amending the Water Rates for Fiscal Year 2002 – Hockett moved, second by Lees, to approve an ordinance on first reading reducing the minimum monthly charge for water from 3,000 to 1,000 gallons and eliminating the requirement that water rates shall be increased by five (5) percent each July 1. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Pilger, Johnson and Hockett. Nays: None. Motion carried.

    Administrator Mandsager reminded the Council this change would mean a loss of approximately $23,000 per year in the Water Revenue Fund.

    Mayor Trousil cautioned that the by eliminating the annual 5% increase the Council would be less likely to look at the Water Fund on an annual basis and that increases might be neglected for a time than have to be made up in one year.

     

    Consider Change Order for Division 2 – Gear Avenue Widening and Signalization - Repainting of Pavement Markings – This item will be considered at the next Council Meeting. Council Members had questions concerning the number of symbols that were in Division 1 Project that should be covered by the maintenance bond.

    Consider First Consideration of Ordinances Amending the Electric Code; Uniform Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code and the Uniform Building Code – Administrator Mandsager explained the various codes had been reviewed by staff over the past year and they recommended updating these code by adopting the most recent National, Uniform and International Code. Pilger said buildings in West Burlington are not built according to code. He said without proper inspections the City is wasting its time adopting these codes. He said if we are going to adopt the codes the City should hire another inspector or contract with the City of Burlington. He said the job of inspections is too large for one part-time person. Hockett said we should to be careful not to make the code so extensive it would drive up the cost of construction.

    Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve the First Consideration of Ordinances amending the Electric Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code and the Uniform Building Code. Roll call: Ayes: Hockett and Lees. Nays: Pilger and Johnson. Motion failed.

    Consider Purchase of Calcium Chloride from Iowa Department of Transportation – Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve the purchase of 450, 50 lb bags of Calcium Chloride from the Iowa Department of Transportation. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    OLD BUSINESS:

    There was no old business.

    COMMITTEE REPORTS:

    Public Safety – Council Member Lees noted the construction of the Christian Book Store on Cottage Grove is causing poor visibility at the intersection. Building Inspector Hoy will meet with Mr. Broeg to discuss the situation.

    Finance – Council Member Hockett said the City of Independence, Iowa was hit by tornadoes this past week. He inquired about the City’s capability to provide water in case of an emergency. Mayor Trousil said the City pumps about 400,000 of gallons of water per day. He said the elevated storage tank should be sufficient for an emergency. They agreed the Disaster Plan should be reviewed and updated if necessary.

    Streets – There was nothing to report.

    Sanitation – There was nothing to report.

    Utilities – There was nothing to report.

    ADJOURN – There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M. upon motion by Lees and second by Hockett. Voice Vote. All ayes. Motioned Carried.

     

    ______________________________ ______________________________

    Approved Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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