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

A.  Minutes of Regular Council Meeting – April 28, 2003

B.  Financial Report for April 2003

C.  Fireworks Permit for J & M Displays, Inc. – Des Moines County Fair

D.  Water Workshop for Four Public Works Employees – Brissey, Schurk, Mesecher, Cline

E.  Summer Fire School for Ten Firemen

F.  Training for City Hall Employees – Sattler, Fry and Simonson

G.  Payment to Burlington Municipal Waterworks – April Water - $13,990.19

H.  Contract for Weed Spraying – Land and Water - $1,691.28

I.  Payment to City of Burlington – County Wide Communications - $2,691.28

J.  Payment to Snyder & Associates for Engineering Services - $1,204.00

K.  Payment of Claims as Presented

PUBLIC HEARING: Issuance of Urban Renewal Tax Increment Revenue Bonds –

Mayor Trousil opened the Public Hearing on the borrowing of the funds from F&M Bank & Trust for the construction of the New City Hall. He said the plan is to borrow up to $1 million for the project. Because the project is in the Urban Renewal District repayment of the loan would come from TIF Revenue.

There were no comments from the public nor were there any comments from the Council. No written comments had been received by the City Clerk.

Mayor Trousil said the Resolution authorizing the borrowing of money would be placed on the next Council Agenda.

Mayor Trousil closed the Public Hearing.

CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES: There were none.

FINANCE – Mayor Trousil said since the next Regular Council Meeting is scheduled for May 26 (Memorial Day) the meeting will be held instead on May 19.

STREETS – Administrator Mandsager reported a Pre-Construction Meeting was held last week regarding the Longmeadow and Glasgow Street Project. He said Glasgow Street construction will begin on May 19 and Longmeadow Construction will begin after Memorial Day Weekend. He said he has obtained the temporary construction easements from the residents at 538 Ballard Street and 406 Longmeadow Street. He also said a letter was sent to residents on the north side of Longmeadow Street regarding the Orangeburg sewer piping that may need to be replaced.

Administrator Mandsager also said there had been a glitch by the Iowa Department of Transportation in the bid letting for the Agency Street Widening Project. He said hopefully the project will be let in June.

SANITATION – There was nothing to report.

UTILITIES – Council Member Johnson said the street in front of Shottenkirk floods when it rains. He said if any construction is going to take place there we should look at enlarging the storm sewer pipes.

PUBLIC SAFETY – Council Member Lees said she would like to congratulate the City’s newest Police Officer, Ringo Covert, who was selected as the President of his class at the Police Academy.

Fire Chief Astfalk said he has been meeting with Quad Township representatives to discuss the purchase of a new Fire Truck. He will report back to the Council regarding the findings.

Consider Contract for Police Chief – Alex Oblein – Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve an employment agreement with Alex Oblein for the Police Chief position with a start date of either June 16 or 23. His salary will be $48,000 annually with a 2% increase after six months. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Ordinance Amending the Sign Regulation – Definition of "Canopy" – First Reading – Mayor Trousil presented a proposed Ordinance amending the Sign Regulation by adding the definition of a "canopy" to the sign regulation. Building Inspector Hoy recommended this addition because he said there are a few around town and Murphy Oil will be installing a canopy with company colors when they locate at Wal-Mart.

Crowner moved, second by Johnson, to approve the first reading of an Ordinance amending the Sign Regulation by adding the definition of canopy. Roll call. Ayes: Johnson, Crowner, Lees, Hockett and Pilger. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Contract for Vending Machines at Swimming Pool – Mayor Trousil reported bids had been received from concessionaires who are interested in providing vending machines at the swimming pool for the summer. Those concessionaires were Automatic Vending ($500) and American Vending Service (Burlington Tom’s) ($705).

Lees moved, second by Pilger, to contract with American Vending Service for vending services at the swimming pool for the 2003 Summer Season. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to Cameron Insurance Services for Property, Liability, Workers Comp and Miscellaneous Insurance – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve payment in the amount of $100,809 to Cameron Insurance Services for the City’s Property, Liability, Workers Comp. and Miscellaneous Insurance. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Council Member Crowner said he is unhappy with the late arrival of this renewal invoice. He said the policy runs from April to April and we just received the renewal. He suggested talking to the carrier to see if we can change the term to January; we would then have the amount to use for budget preparation for the following year. Crowner also suggested looking into increasing the deductibles to $5,000 for buildings and $1,000 for automobiles.

OLD BUSINESS:

Consider Ordinance on Second Reading Amending The Municipal Code Concerning Stop or Yield Required – Mayor Trousil said part of the proposed Ordinance concerns the City’s acceptance of the Shottenkirk Projects which include the transfer of property knows as Huston Street and Layne Drive. Section 1 of the Ordinance addresses Huston Street as a through street through the Shottenkirk Development. Section 2 addresses the four-way stop at the Intersection of Huston Street and Layne Drive.

Section 3 of the Ordinance addresses yield requirements on Wheeler Street at Summer and Spring Streets. Mayor Trousil said since Wheeler Street was improved last year traffic speed has increased and he has received requests from residents.

Lees moved, second by Johnson, to approve the second reading of an ordinance amending the Municipal Code concerning stop or yield required. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Johnson, Hockett and Pilger. Nays: None. Motion carried.

MAYOR’S INQUIRIES: Norma Jennings, 538 Broadway, said she had read Hockett’s letter to the editor in The Hawk Eye about not building a New City Hall and buying the bank building instead. She asked the Council to explain why they would not consider buying the bank building and saving a million dollars.

Mayor Trousil said as far as he knows the bank building is not for sale. He also said the building is old, that part of it dates back to the 1900’s. The bank pays taxes of $20,000 per year that would be lost if the City buys the bank.

Hockett said the bank is for sale, it was in the newspaper two weeks ago. He also said the bank is moving to a new location that will also generate taxes. He said this building should be placed on the market to add to the tax rolls.

Johnson said we don’t know the cost to remodel the bank. He said we would have to put in Council Chambers somewhere and the cost for that is now known. He said Hockett did not include all the costs in his comparison.

Johnson and Hockett discussed at length their different opinions on the building of the New City Hall.

Ray Peebler, 317 Swan, said the bank building is 100 years old, and there would be costs associated with locating City Hall there including remodeling and repairs to the alley. He said it is time to move on. He said all the negative comments about this subject only serves to feed The Hawk Eye. He said we are helping them sell newspapers.

Lees said when the City first talked to the bank about their building they did not contact us back when we asked. She said too much has progressed and it is too late to back down now. She said the Council held Public Hearings on the subject and no negative public comments were received, everyone wanted to keep City Hall downtown.

Hockett said the people he talked to did not want City Hall downtown if the cost was too high. He said the only way to solve the debate is to hold a reverse referendum.

Polly Rein, 417 West Burlington Avenue, asked if the Council was going to downsize the project, to get it to the point where it was reasonable. She also asked that the Council make more of an effort to make dates and times for Public Hearings more public. She suggested putting these dates in the newsletter. Rein also said comments made at Council Meetings should not be so personal; the public officials should control themselves and not criticize the citizens.

Council Members agreed they would like more citizens to attend Council Meetings.

Considerable discussion was held concerning different opinions about responsibilities of elected officials.

ADJOURN – There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. upon motion by Lees, and second by Pilger. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried.

Approved Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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