Regular Council Meeting February 11, 2002 – 5:30 P.M. The West Burlington City Council met in Regular Session at 118 W. Wheeler Street with Mayor Trousil presiding. Council Members Johnson, Lees, Crowner, Hockett and Pilger were present. City Administrator Mandsager, Public Works Director Fry and Building Inspector Hoy were also present. Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve the Agenda as presented. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

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

A.  Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 28, 2002

B.  Financial Report for January 2002

C.  New Liquor License for The Barn

D.  Liquor License Renewal for Costello’s

E.  Training for Water and Wastewater Certifications – Bill Schurk

F.  Payment to City of Burlington – County Wide Communications - $2,519.52

G.  Payment to City of Burlington – Water for January - $14,196.72

H.  Payment to Municipal Supply, Inc. – Meter Replacement Program - $4,357.50

I.  Payment to Smith Engineering for City Hall Survey - $1,886.80

J.  Payment of Claims as Presented

PRESENTATION:

Naomi Eigner-Bybee Young House Family Services – Naomi Eigner-Bybee told the Council about a Mentoring Program that will begin in the West Burlington School District in January. She said the Mentoring Program began in 1998 as a Phase II project with the Burlington Community School District. The New Horizons Family Resource Center joined efforts with Phase III to implement a pilot Mentoring Project at the Middle School level. In four years the program has grown from a pilot program with three mentor/mentee matches to fifty matches. This year, they received a Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant and Juvenile Court Services Funding to expand the program into additional school districts. They are looking forward to assisting the West Burlington School District with this program. She said they are looking for volunteers to assist with the program and invited the Council to participate either by becoming a mentor or recruiting other volunteers.

Brian Tapp – Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission – Brian Tapp with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission told the Council about a financing program that provides assistance to business and industries which require funding in order to create new job opportunities or retain existing jobs which are in jeopardy. The program is called Intermediary Relending Program and the funds will come from Rural Development ($600,000) with $150,000 coming from local sources. Participants include Des Moines County, Henry County, Mt. Pleasant, Lee County, Fort Madison, Keokuk and Louisa County. Each of the entities pledged either $15,000 or $25,000. Tapp said the amount requested from the City is $15,000.

Southeast Iowa Regional Planning will administer the funds. The Council will consider being a participant during preparation of the budget for FY2003.

CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES: - None.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

UTILITIES – There was nothing to report.

PUBLIC SAFETY – There was nothing to report.

FINANCE – There was nothing to report.

STREETS – There was nothing to report.

SANITATION – Administrator Mandsager said he will be attending a Water Board Meeting in Burlington tomorrow to discuss water rates for the ethanol plant that is considering locating near West Burlington. The ethanol plant is looking at a site just outside of the city limits on Washington Road. The plant will need as much as 18,000,000 gallons of water per month. There are other factors that need to be considered as well if they decide to locate at this position. Mandsager said he will report back to the Council his findings.

NEW BUSINESS:

Consider Request from Tony Baxter Concerning Building Code for Shottenkirk Project – Administrator Mandsager said Tony Baxter submitted a request to the City for relief with construction requirements placed on Shottenkirk by Section 155.05 of the Building Code. This section requires a minimum 3-foot parapet above the roofline for additional fire safety. According to Building Inspector Hoy the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) provides adequate protection for the units proposed by Shottenkirk. Mandsager recommended the Council grant the request.

Lees moved, second by Crowner, to allow the contractor to construct the Multi-Family units in the Shottenkirk Development without requiring the parapet above the roofline. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

The Council agreed the Code should be changed to reflect this.

Hockett said he would like the Building Department to keep a list of complaints about our Building Code.

Consider Sharing Expenses with Des Moines County, City of Burlington and Chamber of Commerce – Power Generation Full-Page Advertisement – Mayor Trousil said the Chamber of Commerce is asking the City to consider sharing expenses for a full page advertisement that appeared in The Hawk Eye on Sunday, January 20. The ad was for the Power Generation Facility the Chamber is encouraging to locate here. The Chamber suggested the bill, in the amount of $1,912, be shared by all entities; Des Moines County, City of Burlington, City of West Burlington and the Chamber.

Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to deny the request for sharing the expense of the advertisement. Voice vote. Crowner, Johnson and Lees voted nay, Pilger and Hockett voted aye. Motion denied.

Johnson said the Chamber is trying to drum up jobs for this area. He is concerned if we deny the request we are sending the wrong message. Crowner moved, second by Lees, to approve paying one fourth of the cost ($1,912) for a full page advertisement in the Hawk Eye. Voice vote. Crowner, Lees and Johnson voted aye. Pilger and Hockett voted nay. Motion carried.

Consider Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Chapter 73 Concerning Penalty for Speed Violations – Hockett moved, second by Crowner, to approve the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 73 of the Municipal Code concerning penalty for speed violations. Police Chief Walters said the West Burlington Police Department is issuing citations via computers in the squad cars and they are unable to use the City code for those citations because it lacks a penalty section that corresponds to the State of Iowa system. Walters said with the adoption of this Ordinance the City will receive revenue from speed violations instead of the State.

Hockett moved, second by Crowner, to approve the first reading of an Ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter 73 concerning the penalty for speed violations. Roll call. Ayes: Crowner, Hockett, Pilger, Lees and Johnson. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Donation to West Burlington Schools for Post Prom Party – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve a donation to the West Burlington Schools for the Post Prom Party in the amount of $300 plus two single pool passes. Hockett said he believes the students should go out and collect money for these functions the way they used to. Voice vote. All ayes except Pilger and Hockett who voted nay. Motion carried.

Consider Donation of Dirt to Des Moines County Conservation Board for Re-Construction of Dam at Walton Lake – Crowner moved, second by Lees, to approve donating 100 tons of black dirt to the Des Moines County Conservation Board for the dam reconstruction project at Walton Lake as recommended by Public Works Director Randy Fry. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried. Johnson said he would not be in favor of making the donation if the City was going to have to buy it for ourselves. Fry said he did not anticipate that happening.

Consider Approval of Contracts for Police and Public Works Departments – Administrator Mandsager presented the union contracts for Public Works and Police Departments. He said the contract contains the changes agreed to at the time of contract negotiations. Basically the contracts are three years in term and contain increases in the amount of 6%, 3%, and 3% for Public Works and 6%, 4%, and 2% for Police. Crowner moved, second by Pilger, to approve the contracts as presented. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

Consider Agreement to use Traffic Safety Improvement Program Funds for Gear Avenue and Mt. Pleasant Street – Bill Cary with Shive-Hattery Engineering told the Council in response to a question from Council Member Lees at the last meeting concerning other funding options for the re-alignment of Gear Avenue at Mt. Pleasant Street, he began talking to the Iowa Department of Transportation. Cary said if the City’s long term goal is to re-align Gear Avenue, and that is his recommendation, there are Federal Funds available to the successful applicant. He said the estimated cost of the project could be in the millions and the grant would be an 80/20 match. One of the steps in qualifying for the grant is a community based consensus. He said this can be done by appointing an advisory committee composed of residents, businesses, and other directly affected and non affected participants. He also said Council Members (not a majority) and other city staff could serve on the committee. The Committee will bring their recommendation back to the Council for final determination.

Cary said the City has been awarded a Traffic Safety Grant for $105,000 for the installation of a new traffic signal at the offset-tee intersection of N. and S. Gear Avenue and Mt. Pleasant Street in April 2001. The City has not accepted the grant yet but said the deadline for accepting the grant is near. Cary recommended the City accept the Traffic Safety Grant now; but not begin the work until the committee has made its recommendation and the Council has acted upon that recommendation.

Council Member Lees, Crowner and Hockett agreed this is the right approach. They are in favor of realignment if it is possible and affordable. They are anxious to see the outcome of the process and the potential for Federal dollars. Johnson said he is afraid if the City accepts the Traffic Safety Grant we will be obligated to install the signals and he is not in favor of the project. He said he has heard before that we can apply for a grant but don’t have to accept it, and he doesn’t want to hear that again. Johnson would prefer the City not apply for grant funds unless committed to the project.

Cary said if the City accepts the grant now that does not mean the design is decided. The City and State will have to agree on the design for construction and bid letting.

Pilger said he does not believe the Council should put the decision to re-align off on somebody else. He said the Council was elected to make decisions and he thinks they are shrugging their responsibility. He thinks the traffic signals should be installed now.

Hockett said he hates to see the signal project put on hold while we study the re-alignment but thinks if we can receive some funding it will be worth it.

Lees moved, second by Hockett, to accept the Traffic Safety Grant for $105,000 for new traffic signals at the offset-tee intersection of N. and S. Gear Avenue and Mt. Pleasant Street.

Consider Payment to Shive-Hattery for Engineering Services – Council Member Lees said when Shive-Hattery was in town working on the traffic signal study for SCC and GRMC they should have notified City Officials prior to doing additional field survey work for the revised SCC entrance. Shive-Hattery said resurvey of the north approach was due to reconstruction of the driveway after the original survey was completed.

Lees moved, second by Pilger, to deny payment to Shive-Hattery in the amount of $2,010.50. Roll Call. Ayes: Lees, Johnson, Pilger, Crowner and Hockett. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Trousil said Shive-Hattery Engineers had billed the City for $9,323.11 for work involved in completing the Gear Avenue Division 2 Construction Services. This was above the original contract amount. Shive-Hattery said these were costs incurred because the contractor went over the anticipated time period. They asked the Council to consider the payment.

Pilger moved, second by Lees, to approve payment to Shive-Hattery in the amount of $9,323.11 for engineering services in connection with the Gear Avenue Division 2 Construction Services. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Hockett and Pilger. Nays: Johnson. Motion carried.

ADJOURN: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. upon motion by Hockett, second by Lees. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried.

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Approved Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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