HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-02/10/2007• •
February 12, 2007
The Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, met in Regular Session at City Hall Council
Chambers, Waterloo, Iowa, at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, February 12, 2007. Mayor Timothy J.
Hurley in the Chair. Roll Call: Kincaid, Gunderson, Getty, Cole, Schmitt. Absent:
Welper, Greenwood.
Moment of Silence.
Pledge of Allegiance: Don Temeyer, Community Planning & Development Director.
124880 - Schmitt/Kincaid
that the Agenda, as amended to delete Item 9, for the Regular Session on Monday,
February 12, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124881 - Schmitt/Kincaid
that the Minutes, as proposed, for the Regular Session on Monday, February 5,
2007, at 5:30 p.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper,
Greenwood. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
124882 Schmitt/Kincaid
that the following items on the consent agenda be received, placed on file and
approved:
a. Resolutions to approve the following:
1. Resolution approving Schedule AP640, pp. 1-96, dated February 12, 2007, in
the amount of $1,212,710.28', a copy of which is on file in the City
Clerk's office, together with recommendation of approval of the Finance
Committee.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-95.
2. Communication from Police Chief transmitting request of Main Street
Waterloo and Convention & Visitors Bureau to hold Cinco de Mayo Festival
on May 5, 2007 from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to be held on West 4th Street
near LaPacita Grocery and Lincoln Park, including barricades and street
closures.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-96.
b. Motion to approve the following:
1. Eric Thorson, City Engineer, to attend American Public Works Association
Iowa Chapter 2007 Spring Conference in West Des Moines, Iowa on March 7-9,
2007, with costs not to exceed $409.00, including use of city vehicle
2. Robin Means, Fair Housing Coordinator, to attend HUD Investigator Training
Session in Kansas City, Kansas on January 24-25, 2007, with costs not to
exceed $387.39.
3. Mark Boesen, Manager of Rehabilitation Services, to attend Radiation
Safety Training in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 12-13, 2007, with costs
not to exceed $375.00, including use of city vehicle.
4. Mike Jenn, Fire Captain; and Darryl Hartema, Mechanic; to pick up Quint in
Weyauwega, Wisconsin on January 31, 2007, with costs not to exceed
$400.00, including use of city vehicle.
5. Greg Erie, Police Officer, to attend Taser Instructor School in Johnston,
Iowa on May 30-31, 2007, with costs not to exceed $322.00, including use
of city vehicle.
6. Todd Derifield, City Forester; Luke Even, Forestry Foreman; Lawrence
Harms, Parks Maintenance II -Forestry; and Chris Pett, Park Maintenance II -
Forestry; to attend Iowa State University Shade Tree Short Course in Ames,
Iowa on March 13-14, 2007, with costs not to exceed $689.50, including use
of city vehicle.
February 12, 2007
Consent Agenda continued
7. Aaron McClelland, Police Officer, to attend ILEA
School in Des Moines, Iowa on February 8-9, 2007,
$308.00, including use of city vehicle.
8. Willie Keller and Dave Bovy, Police Officers, to
Reconstruction I in Johnston, Iowa on March 19-30,
exceed $2,293.00, including use of city vehicle.
Page 2
Firearms Recertification
with costs not to exceed
attend Traffic Accident
2007, with costs not to
9. Monty Frana, Police Sergeant, to attend Open Sight Rifle Instructor School
in Johnston, Iowa on March 5-9, 2007, with costs not to exceed $423.25,
including use of city vehicle.
10.Kevin Boyland, Police Officer, to attend Basic Criminal Investigation
School in Johnston, Iowa on April 2-6, 2007, with costs not to exceed
$308.25, including use of city vehicle.
11.Monty Frana, Police Sergeant, to attend Glock Armorer's School in Des
Moines, Iowa on May 1, 2007, with costs not to exceed $162.00, including
use of city vehicle.
12.Kevin Boyland, Police Officer, to attend Basic Evidence Collection School
in Johnston, Iowa on April 23-27, 2007, with costs not to exceed $298.25,
including use of city vehicle.
13.Lou Ball, Waterloo Fire Rescue Community Services Coordinator, to attend
Scaffa Fire School in Topeka, Kansas on March 14-16, 2007, with costs not
to exceed $340.00, subject to use of city vehicle or no mileage
reimbursement for private vehicle.
14.Tina Schellhorn and Kevin McKenzie, Maintenance Electricians, to attend
Maintenance Seminar, Signal Timing Seminar, Video Seminar in Spencer, Iowa
on March 12-15, 2007, with costs not to exceed $900.00, including use of
city vehicle.
15.Matt Vlasak, Maintenance Electrician, to attend General Traffic Controls
Video Seminar in Spencer, Iowa on February 28 -March 1, 2007, with costs
not to exceed $185.00, including use of city vehicle.
16.Human Rights Award Luncheon at Waterloo Center For The Arts on February 8,
2007, with costs not to exceed $1,633.00.
c. Beer/Liquor License Permit Application
Class C
Red Lobster, 941 East San Marnan Drive (Renewal)
Sunday Sales)
(Expires 3/10/08)
d. Bonds.
Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
HEARINGS & BIDS
124883 - Getty/Gunderson
that proof of publication of notice of public hearing
Rehabilitation and Riverwall Construction, Contract No.
Waterloo Courier on January 24, 2007 and notice to
January 18, 2007, be received and placed on file.
Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124884 - This being the time and place of public hearing, the
and oral objections and there were none.
Getty/Gunderson
that the hearing be closed. Ayes:
carried.
124885 Getty/Gunderson
that "Resolution confirming approval
etc. in conjunction with F.Y. 2007
Construction, Contract No. 713", be
Greenwood.
(Includes
on F.Y. 2007 Waterloo Dam
713, as published in the
bidders as published on
Ayes: Five. Absent:
Mayor called for written
Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
of plans,
Waterloo
adopted.
specifications, form of
Dam Rehabilitation and
Ayes: Five. Absent:
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-97.
• •
Motion
contract,
Riverwall
Welper,
February 12, 2007
Hearings & Bids continued
124886 - Getty/Gunderson
Page 3
that "Resolution ordering construction in conjunction with above said project",
be adopted. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-98.
124887 - Getty/Gunderson
to receive, file and instruct City Clerk to open and read bids and refer to City
Engineer for review:
Bidder
Bid Bond Bid Amount
Cramer & Associates, Inc., Des Moines, IA 5% $6,583.271.00
Iowa Bridge & Culvert, LC, Washington, IA 5% $8,539,760.49
Peterson Contractors, Inc., Reinbeck, IA 5% $5,405,520.26
Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
HEARINGS
124888 Gunderson/Schmitt
that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on Amendments to Zoning
Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2479, as amended, as it pertains to Home Occupations,
Erection of More Than One Principal Structure on a Lot, and Enclosure of
Existing Open Porch, as published in the Waterloo Courier on January 29, 2007,
be received and placed on file. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Motion carried.
124889 - This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called for written
and oral objections and there were none.
Gunderson/Schmitt
that the hearing be closed and recommendation of approval of Planning,
Programming and Zoning Commission be received and placed on file. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124890 - Gunderson/Schmitt
that "an Ordinance amending Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2479, as amended, as
it pertains to Home Occupations, Erection of More Than One Principal Structure
on a Lot, and Enclosure of Existing Open Porch", be received, placed on file,
considered and passed for the first time.
Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard.
Mayor Hurley stated there is a provision under home occupations that there will
be no outside storage of any kind except for licensed and operable vehicles
including one semi -tractor but not trailers, and he asked if these changes were
patterned after what other cities have'been doing.
Don Temeyer, Community Planning & Development Director, responded this came out
of the question as to people who drive their trailer tractor home. It is not
illegal to park those, so this clarifies they cannot make a parking lot of it,
but they can drive their own rig home, and they do..
Councilperson Getty asked if Mr. Temeyer is saying that they can park that semi
on their property or on the street. Mr. Temeyer responded either one as long as
it is a legal parking spot, and this is occurring now quite a bit.
Mayor Hurley stated he thinks our current ordinance keeps them off the street.
They can park on their property, but they cannot park on the street.
Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following
result. Ayes: Four. Nays: Getty. Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion
carried.
February 12, 2007 Page 4
Hearings continued
124891 Kincaid/Schmitt
that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on request of VJ
Engineering on behalf of Menard Inc. to rezone from "R-2" One & Two Family
Residence District and "C-2" Commercial District to "C -P" Planned Commercial
District approximately 36 acres of property generally located just north of
Logan Plaza Shopping Center, going up to Ralston Road and spanning from Highway
63 to East 4th Street to construct a Menards store and lumber yard with
approximately 214,000 sq. ft., as published in the Waterloo Courier on January
29, 2007, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper,
Greenwood. Motion carried.
124892 - This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called for written
and oral objections and there were none.
Tom O'Neal, Menard Inc., 4777 Menard Drive, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, stated he was
at the meeting on behalf of Menard Inc., which is requesting the rezone. Mr.
O'Neal stated they are obviously thrilled to be in Waterloo. Their store on the
south side at San Marnan & Hammond area is a fabulous store. That can be
demonstrated by the additions, the expansions, and the store actually being
rebuilt. Menard would like to put a complementary store on the north side, and
they are asking for the council's support.
Councilperson Gunderson asked Mr. O'Neal what is Menard's timetable if
everything is approved in the next couple weeks, when does Menard hope to start
construction. Mr. O'Neal responded the more important thing from their
standpoint is figuring out the design elements, but later this year at the very
earliest, perhaps as early as 2008 commencement.
Kincaid/Schmitt
that the hearing be closed and recommendation of approval of Planning,
Programming and Zoning Commission and oral and written comments be received and
placed on file. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124893 - Kincaid/Schmitt
that "an Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2479, as amended, City Zoning
Ordinance by adding Subsection No. 388 to Section 2A-5, Rezoning Certain
Property", be received, placed on file, considered and passed for the first
time. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124894 Gunderson/Kincaid
that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on request of MKW
Apartments LLC. to rezone from "R-3" Multiple Residence District to "R-4"
Multiple Residence District approximately 7 acres generally located along
Cataract Avenue and Edgemont Avenue, just south of Ridgeway Avenue and West High
School to allow for construction of an additional 22 -unit apartment building, as
published in the Waterloo Courier on January 29, 2007, be received and placed on
file. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124895 This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called for written
and oral objections and there were none.
Gunderson/Kincaid
that the hearing be closed and recommendation of approval of Planning,
Programming and Zoning Commission be received and placed on file. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124896 - Gunderson/Kincaid
that "an Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2479, as amended, City Zoning
Ordinance by adding Subsection No. 389 to Section 2A-5, Rezoning Certain
Property", be received, placed on file, considered and passed for the first
time. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124897 - Schmitt/Kincaid
that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on request of Iowa
Wireless for a site plan amendment to the "S-1" Shopping Center District for
property generally located at 351 Fletcher Avenue to allow construction of an
80' monopole cellular tower with equipment on property owned by the Waterloo -
Cedar Falls Board of Realtors, as published in the Waterloo Courier on January
29, 2007, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper,
Greenwood. Motion carried.
4110 i
February 12, 2007 Page 5
Hearings continued
124898 This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called for written
and oral objections and there were none.
Schmitt/Kincaid
that the hearing be closed and recommendation of approval of Planning,
Programming and Zoning Commission be received and placed on file. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
124899 - Schmitt/Kincaid
that "Resolution approving said site plan amendment", be adopted. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-99.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
124900 - Getty/Gunderson
that communication from Building Official/Maintenance Administrator transmitting
recommendation of award of contract in the amount of $96,872.00 to Paul
Christensen Construction of Cedar Falls, Iowa in conjunction with Byrnes & Gates
Swimming Pools Bath House Remodel, be received, placed on file and "Resolution
approving award of said contract", be adopted. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper,
Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-100.
124901 - Getty/Gunderson
that communication from City Engineer transmitting recommendation to add Kimball
Avenue from Highway 20 bridge to 1200' south, Sycamore Street from E. lst Street
to E. Park Avenue and Lafayette Street from E. lat Street to E. Park Avenue and.
remove Charles Street from N. Barclay Street to E. 4th Street in conjunction with
F.Y. 2007 Asphalt Overlay Program;'Contract No. 719, be received, placed on file
and approved.
Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard.
Eric Thorson, City Engineer, reported that, as with all of our reconstruction
overlay projects, the Waste Management Services Department televises all of the
sanitary sewers, and the Engineering Department reviews those tapes. Upon
reviewing the tapes for Charles Street, the sanitary sewer is in poor condition.
Its not like it is ready to collapse or anything, but if the city did do some
heavy work over the top with an overlay program it could cause some problems.
Mr. Thorson stated it is the Engineering Department's recommendation through
this change to council that we take Charles Street out of the overlay program,'
and try to add it to a reconstruction project in the future. We haven't figured
out exactly when, it will be a few years out at least. Mr. Thorson stated it
would be better to wait and reconstruct the street so that the sanitary sewer
can be rebuilt.
Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following
result. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
DOCUMENTS
124902 - Gunderson/Schmitt
that communication from Senior Planner transmitting request of The Rose of
Waterloo, L.P. for tax exemptions on improvements totaling $7,389,961.00 for 421
Oak Avenue located in the Consolidated Urban Revitalization Area, together with
recommendation of approval, be received, placed on file and "Resolution
approving said request", be adopted and City Clerk instructed to notify Black
Hawk County Assessor of same. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-101.
February 12, 2007 Page 6
Documents continued
124903 - Gunderson/Schmitt
that communication from Senior Planner transmitting request of Francis Carney
for tax exemptions on improvements totaling $98,000.00 for 212 Randall Street
located in the Consolidated Urban Revitalization Area, together with
recommendation of approval, be received, placed on file and "Resolution
approving said request", be adopted and City Clerk instructed to notify Black
Hawk County Assessor of same. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-102.
124904 - Gunderson/Schmitt
that communication from Police Chief transmitting application with Iowa
Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau for an Alcohol -Impaired Driving Incentive grant
in the amount of $45,274.00, with no required local match, be received, placed
on file and "Resolution approving said application", be adopted and Mayor
authorized to execute same. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-103.
124905 - Gunderson/Schmitt
that communication from Fire Chief transmitting 28E Agreements with East
Waterloo Township, Cedar Township and the City of Elk Run Heights to provide.
fire and emergency medical response, be received, placed on file and "Resolution
approving said agreement", be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk authorized to
execute same. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-104.
124906 - Cole/Schmitt
that communication from Superintendent of Central Garage transmitting 28E
Agreement with Black Hawk County Solid Waste Commission to use city's fueling
facility, be received, placed on file and "Resolution approving said agreement",
be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk authorized to execute same. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-105.
124907 - Cole/Schmitt
that communication from Senior Planner transmitting Preliminary Plat of
Crossroads Estates Replat No. 4, together with staff report, Preliminary Plat,
Certificate of Survey and Report of the City Engineer, be received, placed on
file and "Resolution approving said Preliminary Plat", be adopted. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-106.
124908 - Cole/Schmitt
that communication from Building Official/Maintenance Administrator transmitting
Contracts, Bonds and Certificates of Insurance in the amount of $96,872.00 with
Paul. Christensen Construction of Cedar Falls, Iowa in conjunction with Byrnes &
Gates Swimming Pools Bath House Remodel, be received, placed on file and
"Resolution approving said documents", be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk
authorized to execute same.
Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard.
Councilperson Gunderson noted that have a completion date of May 31, 2007, and
he asked if this is going to be cutting it close to when the city is going to be
opening up the pools. Louis Cutwright, Building Official/Maintenance
Administrator, responded yes it is.
Councilperson Gunderson asked if there is anything in the contract if the
contractor doesn't complete the work on time. Mr. Cutwright responded he did
not put the penalty clause in the contract. Mr. Cutwright stated that since it
is such an important project, the goal is to have direct oversight of that
project, be out there and make sure it gets finished on time.
Councilperson Gunderson commented he is going back to old history when this
contractor was given another contract and it took him forever to get it done.
•
February 12, 2007
Documents continued
Councilperson Gunderson noted he has concerns that the contractor get this job
done because this one is definitely going to be one that is in the forefront and
he can't be lagging at getting it completed in time. Councilperson Gunderson
stated he is hoping that both Mr. Huting and Mr. Cutwright will monitor this
closely and if the contractor is not getting his job done in time that we make
some other arrangements.
Page 7.
Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following
result. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-107.
124909 Cole/Schmitt
that communication from Building Official/Maintenance Administrator transmitting
recommendation of award of contract in the amount of $7,594.00 to Kidder
Construction of Waterloo, Iowa and to approve Contracts and Certificates of
Insurance in conjunction with Fire Training Center Emergency Management Room
Remodel, be received, placed on file and "Resolution approving said documents",
be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk authorized to execute same. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-108.
124910 - Cole/Schmitt
that communication from Building Official/Maintenance Administrator transmitting
professional services agreement with VJ Engineering of Cedar Falls, Iowa at a
cost of $30,500.00 to prepare design/bid documents for roof replacement for City
Hall, Fire Station #3, Fire Station #4, Fire Station #5, Fire Station #6,
Annex/Traffic Operations, Central Garage and the Library, be received, placed on
file and "Resolution approving said agreement", be adopted and Mayor authorized
to execute same. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-109.
124911 - Schmitt/Gunderson
that communication from Associate Engineer transmitting City -State Agreement
with Iowa Department of Transportation for. RISE Funds in the amount of
$271,709.00, with local match of $271,709.00, in conjunction with F.X. 2007
Cyclone Drive/Titan Trail, Contract No. 727, be received, placed on file and
"Resolution approving said agreement", be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk
authorized to execute same. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by. Mayor assigned No. 2007-110.
124912 - Schmitt/Gunderson
that communication from Associate Engineer transmitting City -State Agreement
with Iowa Department of Transportation for federal funds for development of
transportation improvements and economic development and land -use planning along
the U.S. 63 Corridor from U.S. 218 to Donald Street, be received, placed on file
and "Resolution approving said agreement", be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk
authorized to execute same. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-111.
124913 - Schmitt/Gunderson
that communication from Associate Engineer transmitting agreement with Kucera,
International, Inc. at a cost of $72,600.00 for production of a Digital Terrain
Model (DTM), be received, placed on file and "Resolution approving said
agreement", be adopted and Mayor authorized to execute same. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-112.
124914 Schmitt/Gunderson
that communication from Associate Engineer transmitting agreement with Dan
Corbin, Inc. at a cost of $12,537.00 for review and quality control of Digital
Terrain Model (DTM), be received, placed on file and "Resolution approving said
agreement", be adopted and Mayor authorized to execute same. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-113.
February 12, 2007
RESOLUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED
Page 8
124915 - Kincaid/Schmitt
that communication from Senior Planner transmitting request to set date of
hearing as February 26, 2007 on vacation, sale and conveyance to NM Development
LC for $1.00 a portion of the alley generally located adjacent to Lots 1 thru 5
and Lots 24 thru 25 in Block 1 of North Waterloo Place for the purpose of
constructing a Walgreens Pharmacy Store and rescind Ordinance No. 4820 and
Resolution No. 2006-545 in their entirety due to error in the legal description,
be received, placed on file and "Resolution setting date of hearing as February
26, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers on the above described
request", be adopted and City Clerk instructed to publish notice of same. Ayes:
Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-114.
124916 - Kincaid/Gunderson
that "Resolution setting date of hearing as March 5, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. in the
City Hall Council Chambers on FYE 2008 Budget", be adopted and City Clerk
instructed to publish notice of same.
Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard.
Mayor Hurley explained the budget process. Back in November instructions were
sent out to department heads. The department heads' input came back in through
the first or second week of January. There was a continuous process of
compiling and analyzing those in the mayor's office and the finance office.
Mayor Hurley stated they have arrived at where we are today after the data was
collected, clarified and asked and answered questions. Mayor Hurley noted we do
a bottom-up style of budgeting, that is where we get democratic and go out to
the department heads with instructions and ask them for their input. The other
way is to do top down, which would have the mayor come in and suggest to council
and say this is going to be our levy and now make it fit. Both have their
advantages and drawbacks. Mayor Hurley noted we are used to the bottom-up one
and that is what we are doing, this year. Mayor Hurley stated his charge to the
department heads in early December, was that his goal is that we would have a
measurable lower tax bill for our citizens and businesses. Their instructions
in getting to that goal were to maintain their Fiscal Year 07 year-end June 30,
2006 staffing level. There was one exception to no new programs and that was
unless they netted revenue. Any fee base program must net positive revenue.
Department Heads were instructed to use the three year historical average on
each line item as their basis for estimating expenses. If they stepped outside
of that they were to provide an explanation. Our rollback was increased
slightly. That's bad for revenues but good for taxpayers on the residential
side. Commercial and industrial was increased to 100%, which yields us
something. Our total tax base did show a little growth, we will release some
TIF revenues, we increased out savings account, increased our self-insured
insurance reserves. The contribution rate for the 411 pension was lowered, but
IPERS employer's contribution increased. The capital improvement plan is about
where we have been, maybe a little higher, which won't necessarily have an
immediate impact on this year's levy but it will down the line. The casino will
be opening up, which is new revenue. Our bargaining unit wages are going up 3
percent by contract. Our health insurance cost we booked initially at 15
percent increase, but they were lower than that but are still a double digit
increase. We increased some non -bargaining salaries last year by using
$100,000.00, and those carry into this year. We have lost about $1.8 million
dollars in tax base due to court stipulations throughout the year. Mayor Hurley
stated this year the department heads probably did as a good job he has ever
known to keep this to the minimum and followed the instructions and provided
explanation and there just wasn't that sense of fluff in their budget askings.
They got it, they get it, and they know what's going on. Mayor Hurley stated
that the local option tax budget, which is street reconstruction and overlay, is
relatively stable. We should be able to do what we want to do, but we'll have
to dip into reserves fairly significantly to get it done. The road use tax,
which takes care of such things as snow removal, sweeping, some engineering
costs and some other costs, is hurting. Mayor Hurley stated he is concerned
that we are going to be able to do what we should do without some adjustments in
what we do with the road use tax. The Waste Management Fund enterprise for the
most part is stable, but; he needs to go back and take a look at that.
Mayor Hurley reviewed the General Fund. Mayor Hurley stated our total levy rate
for this year is $18.845. If we did everything that staff submitted in their
budget and if there were no $8.10 limit, we would have a levy rate of $19.4789,
a 3.4 percent increase. But we cannot legally tax at that level so we will have
an have an opportunity to find $880,000.00 in cuts.
• •
• •
February 12, 2007 Page 9
Resolutions to be Adopted continued
If we get that far just to get legal in our general fund budget, it will
represent a very small decrease in residential asking on that proverbial
$130,000.00 house, although that base today is $144,000.00, and it would be less
than 1 percent increase on commercial and industrial. That is just to get
minimally legal, to stay within the $8.10. Mayor Hurley stated he has talked
with staff about this already, and we have added revenues and booked increased
tax valuation and pretty much everything. Mayor Hurley noted that of the
$900,000.00 gap, $750,000.00 was from department heads' input, and he added some
things he believes are important for this city and they already built into this
budget. Mayor Hurley stated he has 'identified about $813,000.00 but some of
those are less likely to get past ;council than others. He weighed them and then
came up with $565,000.00 of that gap. Those are such things as going through
the line items again like he did last year. That yielded $292,000.00 last year
after due consideration of the three year averages and talking with department
heads. Mayor Hurley noted that last year we had over a $1 million dollar gap,
and there were two years in a row we had a $1.4 million, so its getting a little
better. Mayor Hurley stated he could present in detail later a number of items
for council's consideration to significantly close the gap and we still have
some homework to do because we have to find almost $900,000.00 in order to get
legal.
Mayor Hurley distributed to the council excel sheets and a book of narratives
for each department.
Mayor Hurley noted the excel sheet shows the levy rate to be legal is $19.00325,
and that based on department heads' requests and things he put into the budget,
we are short $878,052.00 or $0.47 over the $8.10 levy that we have to get rid of
to reach $19.003. Mayor Hurley reviewed a handout entitled the tax levy
limitation, which shows the $870,052.00 gap and distributed a copy of the
proposed budget comparison spreadsheet. The assessed values and total taxable
values spreadsheet shows 1.89 percent in real growth in residential and.total
assessed value. We have a total of 1.86 percent assessed value of all the
classes of property, including agricultural. We are up to $3.3 billion and then
taxable value total is up just over a percent for a total of $1.952 billion.
The real growth without 'Tap is 1.'76 percent.
Councilperson Cole stated she thinks she has heard all of this three times
before, but they have been larger amounts. Councilperson Cole stated she feels
it is really tough to ask intelligent questions when you just get documents
placed in your hands so she would reserve questions until she has had a chance
to actually look at them.
Mayor Hurley stated he would like to schedule a half hour work session next week
Monday, February 19, and again on Monday, February 26, and then we will have our
budget hearing on March 5.
Mayor Hurley stated the best information right now is that the Isle of Capri
will open the last weekend in June. The city has an agreement with the Isle of
Capri of 1 percent of their adjusted gross revenue, but they gave us an advance
on that so its really a half of a percent and based upon their projects that
would be $500,000.00. We are being conservative, trying to be prudent, so we
put $450,000.00 in income because we don't know when they are going to open, how
many customers are going to go through the door. Mayor Hurley noted he has not
booked the city host fee because there is a lawsuit in which the City of
Waterloo is named that threatens our cable access franchise fee. Mayor Hurley
stated he has not booked that because he thinks we need to recognize that threat
to our revenue and not strain our . budget by parking that revenue because if we
were told in January that we have to cut $300,000.00 or $500,000 it is going to
be almost impossible to do without immediately releasing positions, which would
be about 20 of them.
Councilperson Gunderson asked so what happened a couple of years ago with the $1
million dollars that the Isle of Capri gave us, we put that in and we used it in
our general fund and we are not doing that this year.
Mayor Hurley responded we don't have it yet. We are putting the $450,000.00
into the general fund. Without it the gap would be $1,350,000.00.
Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following
result. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2007-115.
February 12, 2007 Page 10
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
124917 Kelvin Scott, 517 Gable Street reported he was before the council a while back,
and he was working on the legal sale of and distribution of crack and meth pipes
in his community. Mr. Scott stated for the last five years it seems like this
problem only came up every six months, that every six months it pops up on the
six o'clock news. This year they got a little bit better, they even got a pipe
and a brittle on the news, but that is as far as it went. Mr. Scott stated he
understands the council already passed a law that should take care of that and
its out of their hands now. Mr. Scott stated he feels it is time for our
community and some of our community leaders to get up and try to take hold of
this problem. This is a small problem, but it is creating big things. Mr;.
Scott stated since he was last before the council, he did go back out there and
used and he smoked some dope. Mr. Scott stated he is not going to use that for
an excuse but we need to stop them from selling crack pipes. That is he reason
for going out there and using, but he did and learned a little bit more and kind
of like graduated. Mr. Scott stated the sale and distribution of these pipes
wasn't stopped, it slowed down. Mr. Scott stated the last time he was before
council he was clean and was walking in God's path. He was going His purpose
and for some reason he got out of His path and started doing it his way and was
lead astray, but a wise man learns from his mistakes. Mr. Scott stated if he
did not know any better he would think that the people in the community don't
even care anything about this problem. They don't see it, they don't see what
is going on. Mr. Scott stated right now this problem is like that of a full
moon. Everybody sees .it, its round. You get your pipe right here, you go
around the corner, you get your dope. You go on around the corner you go to
jail. You leave jail you are going onto treatment. You get out of treatment
after a couple of months, and you stop by the store to get your favorite pop and
there is a big old pipe right there in your face. Mr. Scott stated his point is
that we need to some way go back to the table and come up with some type of
solution where we can stop them from selling these crack pipes. The reason that
this keeps going on is that they don't have information to convict these guys to
keep them from selling these pipes, but he has that. Mr. Scott stated he will
come back to the council in the future and will be asking for them to vote on a
plan, a solution that will help people.
Councilperson Getty stated he would like to mention to the council that tonight
the council voted to change an ordinance to allow semi -tractors to park in
residential areas. He asked the council to take a strong look at that ordinance
before it comes back for the second and third reason because in the middle of
winter semis usually run 24 hours a day, and he doesn't think we want that in
our residential areas running all night long. Councilperson Getty noted he will
be absent for next Monday's vote. Mayor Hurley asked Councilperson Getty to
touch base with Noel Anderson or Don Temeyer to see what else is behind that
ordinance.
Schmitt/Gunderson
that the above oral convents be 'received and placed on file. Ayes: Five`:
Absent: Welper, Greenwood. Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
124918 - Gunderson/Cole
that the Council adjourn at 6:31 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Welper, Greenwood.
Motion carried.
Nancy kert, CMC
City Clerk
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