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

A.  Minutes of Regular Council Meeting – July 14, 2003

B.  Financial Report for June 2003

C.  Sidewalk Reimbursement for Heather Dean – 206 Ramsey - $260.23

D.  Payment to Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities – SASSO Dues - $14,798

E.  Payment to French-Reneker Associates - $1,088

F.  Payment to Collision Center – Repair Police Vehicle - $2,858.59

G.  Selling Concrete Saw at Auction Barn

H.  Payment to Des Moines County Auditor for GIS - $2,178.99

I.  Payment to Municipal Supply for water meters - $3,635.00

J.  Payment to Invensys Metering Systems for System Support - $1,000

K.  Payment to Ultramax for Ammunition - $1,226

L.  Payment of Claims as Presented

Mayor Trousil opened the Public Hearing on the Plans and Specifications, Proposed Form of Contract and Estimate of Cost for Intersection Improvement Project on Mt. Pleasant Street and Gear Avenue. He asked for comments. The Engineer for the project, Darin Ligtenberg with Snyder & Associates, explained the project generally consists of construction of utility and street improvements including approximately, reconstruction of the radii on North Gear Avenue at Mt. Pleasant Street and installation of a traffic signal at the South Gear Avenue intersection with Mt. Pleasant Street. The Council agreed Mr. Ligtenberg should prepare an acquisition plat that would transfer part of the property on the NE corner of the intersection to public right-of-way. This is property the City currently owns. There were no comments.

The City of West Burlington received a Traffic Safety Improvement Grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation in the amount of $105,000 for this project.

Consider Resolution Approving Plans & Specifications, Form of Contract and Estimated Cost for the Mt. Pleasant Street & Gear Avenue Traffic Signal Project – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve a Resolution approving the Plans and Specifications, Form of Contract and estimated cost for the Mt. Pleasant Street and Gear Avenue Traffic Signal Project. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES:

Sandra Scott, 412 North Gear Avenue asked the Council if speed limit signs had been received for Brushtown Lane. Public Works Director Fry said they had arrived and he would have them installed this week.

SANITATION – Public Works Director Fry reported he had to call Burlington to bring their root cutter this week to remove roots that were growing in clay tiles. He said this occurred because of blockages they discovered during routine flushing. This occurred at two locations, Longmeadow/Van Weiss and the other on Mt. Pleasant Street.

UTILITIES – There was nothing to report.

PUBLIC SAFETY – Recognition of Police Academy Graduate – Ringo Covert – Mayor Trousil recognized Ringo Covert on his accomplishments at the Police Academy. Police Officer Covert was selected as president of his class; member of 300 Points Club (physical fitness) and he received the McCartney Award (conscience).

Fire Chief Astfalk said the bids for the Child Safety House and Van should be back by August 8^th. He hopes to have them on the August 11 Council Agenda.

Police Chief Oblein reported Police Officer Jesse Logan’s last day with the City will be August 10. Officer Logan has accepted a position with Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.

FINANCE – Discuss Update of City Fire and Building Codes – Building Inspector Hoy explained he is recommending the Council establish a committee to review the Fire and Building Codes. Mr. Hoy recommended updating the Codes to the 2003 Edition from the current 1997 Edition. The Council agreed to do the review and suggested including a contractor on the review committee.

Council Member Hockett said he would like to see a format document outlining how the New City Hall will be financed. He said the City has an approved loan with the bank for $1,000,000 but would like to see how the remaining $700,000 will be financed.

STREETS – Don Jordison, French-Reneker Engineer, told the Council the Longmeadow Street project is on schedule. He said they were able to get Longmeadow Street open to local traffic in 14 ½ days. He said they will receive $1,500 incentive for each day of the 25 they were allowed. He said they still need to pave driveways and seed but he is pleased with the amount of work completed.

Improvement Project – Mayor Trousil explained the Engineer’s estimate for the Brushtown Road & North Gear Project was $649,714. He said four bids were received. Shipley Contracting, KM King, Inc., Wunderlich, Inc., and Laverdiere Construction. The low bid was from Shipley in the amount of $417,893.45.

Hockett moved, second by Lees, to award the contract for the 2003 Brushtown Road and North Gear Avenue Utility Improvement Project to the low bidder Shipley Contracting Corp. in the amount of $417,893.45. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Hockett, and Johnson. Pilger abstained because the company he works for (Millard’s) will working with the Contractor on the project. Motion carried.

Consider Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of an Urban Renewal Tax Increment Revenue Bond not to Exceed $320,000 for COBO Industrial Project – Crowner moved, second by Lees, to approve a Resolution authorizing the issuance of $320,000 Urban Renewal Tax Increment Revenue Bonds (Taxable), Series 2003A, pledging to the payment of the bonds funds and portions of taxes created pursuant to the authority of Subsection 2 of Section 403.19 of the Code of Iowa and providing for the securing of such bonds, all for urban renewal purposes of the City of West Burlington. Roll call. Ayes: Hockett, Crowner, Lees, Pilger and Johnson. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Engineering Services Agreement for Trail Project on Gear Avenue – Mayor Trousil explained the City was awarded a grant for the construction of a 10-foot wide multi-use trail along Gear Avenue. The trail is planned to run from the north mall entrance south to the hospital. Don Jordison with French-Reneker Engineers presented an Engineering Services Agreement for the project. The agreement is in the amount of $26,690 and assumes they will need to prepare documents for securing sidewalk easements from three properties, the necessary fieldwork locating lot corners, courthouse research, and preparing right-of-way easement descriptions. Mr. Jordison said the funding does not include the 1,300’ segment north of the north mall entrance to Mt. Pleasant Street which would be an additional $55,000. He suggested the Council might want to consider adding this segment to the project.

Council Member Crowner said he doesn’t have any trouble having a trail but he isn’t satisfied with a trail plan that starts in the middle of nowhere and goes nowhere. Council Member Hockett said he agrees with Crowner but believes the City should take advantage of the grant and build the trail one piece at a time. Council Members Pilger and Johnson said they were concerned about handicapped access across the bridge and concerned about acquiring right-of-way access prior to having a contract.

Hockett moved, second by Lees, to table the consideration of an engineering services agreement for the trial until the next Council Meeting. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Acceptance of IDOT Rise Agreement – Division Street – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to accept the IDOT Rise Grant for the development of a 2,100 foot extension of Division Street west to South Gear Avenue. In a memo from Administrator Mandsager, he advised Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission and French-Reneker have both spoken with IDOT and IDOT recommends that we accept the grant and continue to pursue the land acquisition and at the same time submit an amended timeline for the project which is required in the RISE agreement.

He said the contract needs to be accepted at this point to avoid default and keep the contract funds in place. There is no penalty for failure to begin the project other than the loss of funds. Funds are received following expenditure or we can request funding as we go.

Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Hockett, Crowner, Pilger and Johnson. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission for Grant Administration – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve a contract with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission in the amount of $7,500 to administer the RISE Grant in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Iowa Department of Transportation. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to Snyder & Associates – Engineering Services – Crowner moved, second by Lees, to approve payment in the amount of $5,473. to Snyder & Associates for Engineering Services involved with the Ethanol Project and Mt. Pleasant Street and South Gear Avenue Traffic Signal Project. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to French-Reneker – Engineering Services – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve payment in the amount of $13,403.05 to French-Reneker for Engineering Services for the Glasgow and Longmeadow Projects. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Contract Amendment for Engineering Services for Snyder & Associates – Lees moved, second by Johnson, to approve an amendment to the Engineering Services Agreement with Snyder & Associates to cover construction services for the Brushtown Road & N. Gear Avenue Utility Improvement Project. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

Consider Second Reading of Ordinance Amending the Zoning Code – Street and Sidewalk Requirements – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve the second reading of an ordinance amending the Zoning Code concerning street and sidewalk requirements. Roll call. Ayes: Hockett, Crowner, Lees, Johnson and Pilger. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Ordinance on Third Reading – Establishing Chapter 14 Commercial Tax Abatement – Crowner moved, second by Pilger, to approve the third reading of an Ordinance establishing Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code providing for Commercial Tax Abatement.

Council Member Hockett reiterated his feelings concerning tax abatements for commercial and not for residential. He said the City is loosing a huge opportunity for giving residential home owners tax relief that has been given to the commercial. Both could be included in this ordinance.

Mayor Trousil said the Council has a draft of an Ordinance that would include residential, however, because there is a developer anxious to consider a commercial development it is prudent to begin with commercial and consider residential when time allows.

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

Consider Resolution Approving the Ordinance Establishing Chapter 14 and enacting/adopting a City-Wide Urban Revitalization Plan for the City of West Burlington – Crowner moved, second by Pilger, to approve a Resolution approving the Ordinance Establishing Chapter 14 and enacting/adopting a City Wide Urban Revitalization Plan for the City of West Burlington. Roll call. Ayes: Crowner, Lees and Pilger. Nays: Hockett and Johnson. Motion carried.

Consider Resolution Approving a Commercial Tax Abatement Application – Spectra Group, Inc. – Crowner moved, second by Pilger, to approve a Commercial Tax Abatement Application for The Spectra Group. The Spectra Group is anticipating locating on Agency across from Wal-Mart. They will construct a 30,000 – 36,000 square foot shopping center that will be occupied by mostly national tenants and some local businesses as well. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner and Pilger. Nays: Hockett and Johnson. Motion carried.

MAYOR’S INQUIRIES:

ADJOURN – There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 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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