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

PRESENTATION: West Burlington School Board – School Board Members and Superintendent Sleister attended the meeting to discuss their budget. They said the City’s TIF District has minimal impact on the amount of revenue the school district is permitted by law to raise for the education of the students. They said it does have a major impact on the levy rate the school district must ask for in order to get revenue. This in turn impacts the Board of Education’s ability to raise optional tax levies that it could use to improve the district’s financial condition or to meet its infrastructure needs. If there had been no TIF Districts in place the school district tax asking for 2002-2003 would have been $14.44423 per thousand instead of $16.52600 per thousand to raise the same amount of school funding. Because of the high rates the Board of Education then feels it can’t use the other tax levy options available to them because it would make the school tax levy even higher.

They said there is very little the City can do to eliminate this predicament that the School Board faces but there are things they could consider doing to help the district better meet its infrastructure needs without raising the school tax levy higher. Because the schools are included in the TIF District, the City could contribute funds to some of their capital projects which include a roof replacement at the junior-senior high school; a portion of the construction costs at the elementary or pay for the parking lot that will help alleviate some of the student drop off/pick up traffic problems. These projects range in cost from $75,000 to $200,000. (The cost has not been determined for the parking lot.)

Superintendent Sleister said he was under the impression any construction done at the elementary school will require sprinkling the existing building and bring many items in the existing building up to current City codes which in many cases are stricter than the State requirements.

Council Members said they would have staff take a look at the City’s Fire Code requirements as opposed to the State Fire Codes to determine why the City’s would be more restrictive. The Council agreed they would consider the School District’s request at budget time.

CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES: There were none.

SANITATION – There was nothing to report.

UTILITIES – Council Member Johnson said he received an e-mail from Debbie Deen with the Little League concerning the concession stand at Community Park. She said she had obtained electronic score boards for both ball diamonds. And in so doing she signed a contract with Burlington Pepsi stating they will sell only Pepsi products for a number of years. She said at the time she signed the contract there was a concession stand there and now it is gone. She wanted to know if the City intends to replace the concession stand for the coming season.

Administrator Mandsager said he and Public Works Director Fry are obtaining costs for an 18 x 30 garage package to be used for the concession stand. He said they believe they can design the garage package to meet the requirements of a concession stand. He will present the information at the next Council Meeting.

PUBLIC SAFETY – Police Chief Walters said Sergeant Newberry is on sick leave since having angioplasty and 2 stints. Newberry hopes to return to work soon.

Walters also said he is having transmission problems with one of his squad cars (oldest Impala). He is getting costs for rebuilding it because to replace it costs $1,900.

FINANCE – Mayor Trousil said we will have two work sessions for the budget; Thursday the 16^th at 5:30 and again on Monday the 20^th at 5:30.

Administrator Mandsager reminded the Council Members about meetings they might want to attend including Southeast Iowa Days in Des Moines and the Chamber Washington D.C. trip.

STREETS – Council Member Crowner inquired about what would need to occur before the City would take over maintenance of the streets and water in Emerald Glen Subdivision. Administrator Mandsager said the City will work with F & M Bank who is in charge of the property when they are ready.

Administrator Mandsager said French-Reneker has suggested three alternatives for the improvement of Longmeadow Street from Swan to Van Weiss. The street is presently sealcoat and the options range from replacing sealcoat with hot mix asphalt resurfacing to PPC and the cost ranges from $112,600 to $208,200. Mandsager will ask the Engineer to attend the work session to answer the Council’s questions.

Consider Resolution Naming Official Newspapers – Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve a Resolution naming the Des Moines County News and the Hawkeye as Official Newspapers for the City. Roll call. Ayes: Hockett, Crowner, Pilger, Johnson and Lees. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Incentive Payment to Firefighters – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve incentive payment to 11 firefighters in the amount of $909.09 each. In order to qualify for the incentive payment firefighters must attend 70 percent of department meetings and respond to 30 percent of city alarms. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Chief Astfalk said the incentive is not really doing what it was intended to do. He said the department has discussed an hourly pay hike instead of the incentive. He said he had wanted to pay the incentive quarterly instead of annually but it didn’t get done. The Council agreed to consider the department’s request.

Consider Payment to Dorsey & Whitney for Legal Services – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve payment in the amount of $5,163.40 to Dorsey & Whitney for legal services provided by Bob Josten for the Park West and Cobo TIF projects. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried. Council Member Pilger noted that Dorsey and Whitney do not list the hours he worked on a project like other attorneys do. He said he would like to see the number of hours on his billing. Council Member Hockett said he would like to have seen the breakdown by project instead of having it all grouped together.

Consider First Consideration of an Ordinance Providing for Industrial Tax Exemption – Crowner moved, second by Pilger, to approve the first reading of an ordinance providing for partial exemption from property taxation for Sherwood Company located at 1302 Broadway Street. Council Member Johnson said he would like to see a clause added to the Ordinance stating the construction must be completed in a particular time frame of the exemption will not be granted. Mandsager said this would require a change to the Ordinance allowing for Industrial Property Tax Exemptions.

Council Member Hockett said he would like to see the same thing allowed to residential property owners who make improvements to their homes. He thinks it is a fundamental fairness to allow the tax exemption to home owners as well a commercial property. He said he will only vote no because of the unfairness.

Council Member Lees said she thinks the tax exemption for industrial property owners is fair because they pay taxes on 100% of their property value, where residential property valuation is rolled back 51%.

Roll call. Ayes: Pilger, Crowner and Lees. Nays: Hockett and Johnson. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to Snyder & Associates for the Mall Traffic Signal Project – Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment in the amount of $4,121.70 to Snyder & Associates for work on the Mall Traffic Signal Project. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to McClure Engineering for the Agency Road Project – Lees moved, second by Johnson, to approve payment in the amount of $4,800 to McClure Engineering for work on the Agency Road Project. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Appointment of Ringo Covert to Planning and Zoning – 5 Years – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve the appointment of Ringo Covert to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a 5 year term. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

Consider Health Insurance Plan for City Employees – Administrator Mandsager said after reviewing additional quotes and plans for health insurance for city employees he is recommending remaining with Blue Cross Blue Shield. He recommended altering the plan and increasing self-funding to maintain what employees are now provided. He said by doing so he hopes to reduce the overall costs approximately $12,000 depending on our group’s experience next year.

Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve amending the City’s health insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES: There were none.

MAYOR’S INQUIRIES: There were none.

ADJOURN – There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m. upon motion by Lees, and second by Crowner. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried.

Approved Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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