Regular Council Meeting August 11, 2003 – 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, Hockett, Pilger, Lees and Crowner were present. Public Works Director Fry, Building Inspector Hoy, Police Chief Oblein and Fire Chief Astfalk were also present. Crowner moved, second by Pilger, to approve the Agenda as presented. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    Johnson moved, second by Hockett, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented except for removing Item J and placing under Finance. Voice vote. All Ayes. Motion carried.

    A.  Minutes of Special Council Meeting – July 21, 2003

    B.  Minutes of Regular Council Meeting – July 28, 2003

    C.  Training for Police Chief – Law Enforcement Training Conference

    D.  Training for Police Chief – Annual Training Program ‘On Being Chief’

    E.  Payment to Ideal Ready Mix Co. – Concrete - $1,344.00

    F.  Payment to Shipley Ready Mix – Concrete - $1,363.25

    G.  Payment to Burlington Municipal Waterworks - $19,287.87

    H.  Payment to City of Burlington – County Wide Communications - $2,927.67

    I.   Purchase of Spot Chains for Squad 4 – Fire Department - $1,400

    J.   Payment to Kim Hoogeveen – One Half Arbitration Fees - $1,441.80

    K.  Liquor License Renewal and Sunday Sales for Otis Campbell’s Bar & Grill

    L.  Payment of Claims as Presented

    CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES:

    Doris Young, 222 Swan Street, told the Council she lives on the corner of Swan and Glasgow where Glasgow Street construction is taking place. She said the rock that has been placed in their driveway is bigger than it used to be and it is too big. She said she tripped on the big rock and twisted her back and neck. She also said the grass seed needs to be re-done. It is mostly weeds. Administrator Mandsager said he will get the rock replaced now and the seeding will be re-done before fall.

    COMMITTEE REPORTS:

    STREETS – The Council discussed the need for no-parking on Broadway Street and Wheeler Street next to the New City Hall site. No parking will be necessary for the construction.

    Council Member Hockett said the area around the Chamber sign at the Truck Stop needs to be cleaned up. Weeds need to be mowed.

    Council Member Johnson said the approach to the railroad tracks on Gear Avenue needs to be fixed. He said in the mean time a sign needs to be put up alerting traffic to the big bump.

    Public Works Fry will take care of both these items.

    Fry also said the contractor, Meller Excavation, is supposed to start on the Street Resurfacing Project (20 various blocks) this week.

    Administrator Mandsager said he received a cost estimate from French-Reneker for repair of the alley between Wheeler Street and Mt. Pleasant Street. He said Don Jordison estimates between $4,000 and $10,500 depending on whether the Council chooses to resurface or reconstruct. He will place this on the next Agenda.

    The Council discussed the cracks in Longmeadow Street. They said they are concerned the incentive offered for early completion may have caused the contractor to hurry and not allow the cement to cure properly. They said they are not going to be willing to pay incentives for work completed early when it is defective. They agreed they need to review incentive offerings in the future. They said they should have been more specific about the street being opened; should have specified driveways also.

    SANITATION – Brian with Snyder and Associates reported the Brushtown Road project is under way. He said they installed about one half of the forced main today.

    UTILITIES – Council Member Johnson said the contractor on Longmeadow Street damaged the water line belonging to Randy Carlson. He said it broke the drain pipes under the house. He said the contractor repaired it but did not replace it. He wanted to make sure the incident was documented in the minutes for future reference.

    Council Member Crowner said the intersection at Huston and Lane Drive is very dark. He said the City should get a quote from Alliant to install a street light.

    PUBLIC SAFETY – Discuss Patrol Cars – Police Chief Oblein told the Council he feels the patrol cars the Police Department currently uses are not adequate for the service they are asked to provide. He said the Ford’s are not designed as a police unit so they lack the suspension and power needed for police service. The Chevy’s are designed to be a police unit, but with the equipment and computers in the units, they lack adequate room for front seat passengers and lack power needed to run all the equipment needed.

    Chief Oblein said it is his desire that the department move from the current police fleet to Ford Crown Victoria’s with the Model 71 Police Interceptor package. These cars have been designed for police service and have proved themselves to be reliable over the last 15 to 20 years. He said this type of vehicle should provide a more reliable service to the department and will enhance the safety of the officers driving them and the general public.

    Chief Oblein said with the limitations on our budget he realizes that a new Ford Crown Victoria Interceptor costs in excess of $22,500 before police equipment is added. The cost of a fully equipped vehicle can be more than $30,000. He said a lower cost option to purchasing and equipping new units would be to purchase used Crown Victoria’s from the Kansas Highway Patrol. He said when he was with Purcell, Oklahoma they purchased vehicles from the Kansas Highway Patrol and they provided excellent service to the department with virtually no major mechanical problems in any unit. He also said annual vehicle maintenance costs were between $25,000 and $28,000 for 21 vehicles. He said he has reviewed our budget and found we spent approximately $13,000 to maintain 5 units last year. He said over the last three fiscal years an average of $12,200 per year has been spent for vehicle maintenance costs.

    Chief Oblein recommended the City begin purchasing these units, beginning this fiscal year and continue until our fleet is made up of Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. He said he would also like to establish a police for Individually Assigned Vehicles for officers with units assigned to them. He said historically units assigned to individual officers are better maintained and annual maintenance costs are lower.

    The Council Members agreed to consider the proposal stating they see merit in the program. They suggested Chief Oblein get with Administrator Mandsager and determine how this will fit into this year’s budget.

    Chief Oblein also stated Police Officer Jesse Logan completed his last day with the City and will begin his new position as a Deputy with the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.

    FINANCE – The Council inquired about the bill from Kim Hoogeveen in the amount of $1,441.80. Administrator Mandsager stated this was half of the bill from the arbitrator for the claim involving major sick leave. Council Member Hockett said the City needs to look at changing the contract concerning arbitration; stating if a claim goes to arbitration and is lost the loser will pay all costs.

    Hockett moved, second by Johnson, to approve payment to Kim Hoogeveen in the amount of $1,441.80 for arbitration fees for West Burlington/CWA. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

     

    NEW BUSINESS:

    Consider Purchase of Child Safety House and Van – Hockett moved, second by Crowner, to table the purchase of Child Safety House and Van until the next Council Meeting. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    Consider Payment to the Iowa Department of Transportation for Interchange at Beaverdale Road – Mayor Trousil explained the City agreed to share the cost for additional right of way for an interchange at Beaverdale Road with the County and Burlington Area Development Corp. (Grow Greater Burlington). The total cost for the right-of-way is $94,209; divided between the three entities and spread over three years the amount of $10,467 will be due in September of each year.

    He said the City also has an agreement to share the cost for grading the new interchange at Beaverdale Road with Des Moines County. That cost is $127,839.48; divided between the two entities and spread over three years, the amount of $21,306.58 will be due in September of each year.

    Hockett moved, second by Crowner, to approve payment of $10,467.66 and $21,306.58 to the Iowa Department of Transportation for right-of-way and grading for the interchange at Beaverdale Road. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    Consider Payment to Shipley Contracting for Glasgow and Longmeadow Paving – Hockett moved, second by Crowner, to table the Pay Request from Shipley Contracting for the Glasgow and Longmeadow Paving Project. The Council Members expressed concern about cracks that are appearing in the new paving on Longmeadow Street. They wondered if working toward the incentive caused the contractor to hurry and not let the concrete cure properly. They are also concerned about the amount of weeds in the grass seeding. Voice vote. Hockett and Crowner voted aye. Lees, Pilger and Johnson voted nay. Motion failed.

    Johnson moved, second by Pilger, to approve paying $75,000 of the $110,527.61 requested by the contractor. Voice vote. Johnson, Pilger and Lees voted aye. Hockett and Crowner voted nay. Motion carried. Crowner said he was disappointed the Engineer was not present to address concerns about the project.

    Consider Payment to Meller Excavating for the Street Resurfacing Project – Crowner moved, second by Hockett, to approve payment to Meller Excavating in the amount of $42,545.14 for work completed on the Street Resurfacing Project (20 various blocks throughout town). Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

    Consider First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 75 of the Municipal Code concerning Stop or Yield Required – Police Chief Oblein said he had several requests to have stop signs or yield signs placed at the corners of Glasgow at Summer and Spring Streets. He looked at both intersections and would agree that some type of traffic control device should be placed at those locations. He said with the recent improvements on Glasgow, it has the appearance of a through street, and someone unfamiliar with the area may not realize the need to yield to traffic on cross streets. He recommended placing yield signs for both east and westbound traffic on Glasgow at the intersections of Spring and Summer Streets.

    Hockett moved, second by Crowner, to approve the first reading on an Ordinance amending Chapter 75 of the Municipal Code concerning Stop or Yield required. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Hockett, Johnson, Pilger and Crowner. Nays: None. Motion carried.

    Consider Resolution Waiving the Second and Third Reading of an Ordinance – Crowner moved, second by Hockett, to approve a Resolution waiving the second and third reading and adopting the Ordinance amending Chapter 75 of the Municipal Code concerning Stop or Yield required. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Hockett, Johnson and Crowner. Nays: Pilger. Motion carried.

    OLD BUSINESS:

    Consider Third Reading of Ordinance Amending the Zoning Code – Street and Sidewalk Requirements – Crowner moved, second by Pilger, to approve the third 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 Engineering Services Agreement for Gear Avenue Multi-Use Trail – This topic was tabled at the last meeting. In a memo Mayor Trousil said he had discussed easements with the Mall Manager who seemed receptive to the trail project. He said he had not been able to speak with SCC President Jim Richardson. He did recommend proceeding with the engineering agreements and proceeding with the project.

    Pilger moved, second by Crowner, to table until we have enough information about the project to bring back. Voice vote. All ayes except Hockett who voted nay. Motion carried.

    CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES:

    Stacy Gengenbacher, 221 Ballard, lives on the corner of Ballard and Glasgow where the street construction is taking place. She lives across the alley from Doris Young. She said the rocks placed in the alley as part of the construction are too big. She also said the grass seed the contractor put down has too many weeks in it. It is more weeds than grass. Administrator Mandsager said these items would be worked out with the contractor before the project is accepted.

    MAYOR’S INQUIRIES:

    ADJOURN – There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m. upon motion by Crowner, and second by Pilger. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried.

    Approved Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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