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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-01/10/2011January 10, 2011 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, January 10, 2011. Mayor Ernest G. Clark in the Chair. Roll Call: Cole, Getty, Jones, Greenwood, Schmitt, Welper, Hart. Moment of Silence. Pledge of Allegiance: Dennis Clark, General Manager of Waterloo Water Works. 135786 - Hart/Schmitt that the Agenda, as amended, for the Regular Session on Monday, January 10, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135787 - Hart/Schmitt that the Minutes, as proposed, for the Regular Session on Monday, January 3, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Recognition of January Team Member of the Month - Jimmy Day, Jr. Recognition of 2010's Team Member of the Year - Tony Pauley. CONSENT AGENDA 135788 - Hart/Schmitt 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 AP642, pp. 1-59, dated January 10, 2011, in the amount of $1,014,981.76, 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. 2011-11. 2. Request of Nathan Hovey for tax exemptions on improvements totaling $120,000.00 for property located at 1660 Shultz Street and located in the Consolidated Urban Revitalization Area -Submitted by Shane Graham, Planner II. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-12. 3. Request to certify the following assessments to properties for work performed by the Water Works, together with recommendation of approval of Board of Water Works Trustees -Submitted by Dennis Clark, General Manager of Waterloo Water Works: Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-13. b. Motion to approve the following: 1. Travel Requests Address Amount to certify 316 Prospect Boulevard $609.52 305 Cutler Street $2,594.00 903 Logan Avenue $2,284.45 1003 Logan Avenue $3,400.00 Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-13. b. Motion to approve the following: 1. Travel Requests Name & Title of Personnel Class/Meeting Destination Date(s) Amount not to exceed Richard Olson, Maintenance Foreman Total Backflow Resources Advanced repair re - certification class Waterloo, Iowa January 6, 2011 $150.00 January 10, 2011 Page 2 2. Motion to receive and file Mayor Clark's recommendation of the following appointments: Liquor License Permit Application Class C 3. Galleria De Paco & Coffee Shop, 622 Commercial Street (Renewal) (Expires 12/19/11) (Includes Sunday Sales) 4. Doughy Joey's Peetza Joynt, 300 W. 4th Street (Renewal) (Expires 10/7/11) (Includes Sunday Sales) Outdoor Service Area Application 5. Doughy Joey's Peetza Joynt, 300 W. 4th Street 6. Bond 7. Beer License Permit Application Class B National Dairy Cattle Congress, 250 Ansborough Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 12/23/11) (Includes Sunday Sales) Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARINGS 135789 - Hart/Welper that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on F.Y. 2011 Cattle Congress Storm Water Pump Station, Contract No. 801, as published in the Waterloo Courier on January 7, 2011, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135790 - This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called for written and oral objections and there were none Hart/Welper that the hearing be closed and oral and written comments be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135791 - Hart/Welper that "Resolution confirming approval of plans, specifications, form of contract, etc. in conjunction with F.Y. 2011 Cattle Congress Storm Water Pump Station, Contract No. 801", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-14. 135792 - Hart/Welper that "Resolution ordering construction in conjunction with F.Y. 2011 Cattle Congress Storm Water Pump Station, Contract No. 801", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-15. Appointee Board/Commission Expiration Date New or Re - Appointment Scott Cawelti Cultural & Arts Commission December 31, 2013 New Appointment KatySusongCultural & Arts Commission December 31, 2013 New Appointment Tim HurleyCultural & Arts Commission December 31, 2013 New Appointment Karol Hoth Cultural & Arts Commission December 31, 2013 Re -Appointment Tom Lan las g Cultural & Arts Commission December 31, 2012 Re -Appointment Dustin Whitehead Enterprise Zone Commission January10,2014 New Appointment Galen Howsare Enterprise Zone Commission January 10, 2014 New Appointment Geraldine M. Thornsberry Community Development Board March 1,2013 New Appointment Liquor License Permit Application Class C 3. Galleria De Paco & Coffee Shop, 622 Commercial Street (Renewal) (Expires 12/19/11) (Includes Sunday Sales) 4. Doughy Joey's Peetza Joynt, 300 W. 4th Street (Renewal) (Expires 10/7/11) (Includes Sunday Sales) Outdoor Service Area Application 5. Doughy Joey's Peetza Joynt, 300 W. 4th Street 6. Bond 7. Beer License Permit Application Class B National Dairy Cattle Congress, 250 Ansborough Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 12/23/11) (Includes Sunday Sales) Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARINGS 135789 - Hart/Welper that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on F.Y. 2011 Cattle Congress Storm Water Pump Station, Contract No. 801, as published in the Waterloo Courier on January 7, 2011, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135790 - This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called for written and oral objections and there were none Hart/Welper that the hearing be closed and oral and written comments be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135791 - Hart/Welper that "Resolution confirming approval of plans, specifications, form of contract, etc. in conjunction with F.Y. 2011 Cattle Congress Storm Water Pump Station, Contract No. 801", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-14. 135792 - Hart/Welper that "Resolution ordering construction in conjunction with F.Y. 2011 Cattle Congress Storm Water Pump Station, Contract No. 801", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-15. January 10, 2011 135793 - Hart/Welper Page 3 to receive, file and instruct City Clerk to open and read bids and refer to City Engineer for review: Bidder Bid Bond Division I: Storm Water Improvements Bid Amount Division II: Sanitary Pump Station Bid Amount Alternate A Alternate B Peterson Contractors Inc. Box A Reinbeck, Iowa 50669-0155 5% $972,155.75 $22,560.00 $47,500.00 $36,000.00 Summer' Enterprise Inc. 1776 Buchanan Delaware Ave Masonville, Iowa 50654 5% $977,461.95 $29,180.00 $48,644.00 $35,000.00 Vieth Construction Corporation 6419 Nordic Drive Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 5% $1,539,122.20 $22,560.00 $49,000.00 $42,000.00 Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135794 - Getty/Greenwood that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on Public Library's Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Conversion Project, as published in the Waterloo Courier on January 4, 2011, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135795 - This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called for written and oral objections and there were none. Getty/Schmitt that the hearing be closed and oral and written comments be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135796 - Getty/Schmitt that "Resolution confirming approval of specifications, bid document, etc in conjunction with Public Library's Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Conversion Project", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-16. 135797 - Getty/Schmitt that "Resolution authorizing to proceed in conjunction with Public Library's Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Conversion Project", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-17. January 10, 2011 135798 - Getty/Cole Page 4 to receive, file and instruct City Clerk to refer to Library Director for review: Bidder Bid Amount Demco $150,220.80 Madison, WI 3M St Paul, MN $105,175 plus shipping Bibliotheca Huntsville, AL $105,175 (not including options) ITG Norcross, GA $93,358.28 EnvisionWare Duluth, GA No total given—prices for individual pieces are supplied but not compiled. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135799 - Schmitt/Hart that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on Asbestos Abatement Services for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Property Acquisition Project, as published in the Waterloo Courier on January 4, 2011, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135800 - This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called for written and oral objections and there were none. Scmitt/Hart that the hearing be closed and oral and written comments be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135801 - Schmitt/Hart that "Resolution confirming approval of Request for Proposals, plans, specifications, form of contract, etc. in conjunction with Asbestos Abatement Services for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Property Acquisition Project", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-18. 135802 - Schmitt/Hart that "Resolution authorizing to proceed in conjunction with Asbestos Abatement Services for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Property Acquisition Project", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-19. January 10, 2011 135803 - Schmitt/Hart Page 5 to receive, file and instruct City Clerk to open and read bids and refer to Community Planning & Development Director for review: Bidder 5% Guarantee by certified check or bid bond Total lump sum bid (total cost based on the tabulated amounts from each property bid tab) Abatement Specialties 201 30th Street Dr SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 5% $142,235.00 Active Thermal Concepts 2805 Stonegate Court Hiawatha, Iowa 52233 5% $88,430.00 Advanced Environmental Testing & Abatement, Inc. 803 Ricker Street Waterloo, Iowa 50703 5% $86,710.00 Affordable Hazards Removal, Inc. 121 E Grand Street Monticello, Iowa 52310 5% $52,800.00 Great Plains Asbestos Control, Inc. 820 East Railroad PO Box 39 Kearney, Nebraska 68848-0039 5% $92,985.00 Iowa Illinois L Taylor Insulation Co 3205 W 76th Street Davenport, Iowa 52806-1000 5% $183,444.00 Site Services, Inc. 1621 E. Commercial Street Algona, Iowa 50511 5% $189,000.00 Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. RESOLUTIONS 135804 - Greenwood/Schmitt that "Resolution approving agreement with AECOM of Waterloo, Iowa in the amount of $30,000.00 for engineering services related to the design and acquisition of Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) for Waterloo Regional Airport; and authorize Mayor to execute said document -Submitted by Bradley Hagen, Airport Director", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-20. 135805 - Greenwood/Schmitt that "Resolution approving Contract Amendment No. 5 with Iowa Department of Economic Development New Construction Contract 08-DRH-211 to increase the award amount by $872,959.00 for Round 3 new construction projects; and authorize Mayor to execute said document -Submitted by Rudy D. Jones, Community Development Director", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-21. 135806 - Greenwood/Schmitt that "Resolution approving Completion of Project and Recommendation of Acceptance of Work performed by Active Thermal Concepts, Inc. of Hiawatha, Iowa at a total cost of $602,479.00 in conjunction with Phase 2 Demolition - Former Chamberlain Manufacturing Property, Contract No. 762 -Submitted by Noel Anderson, Community Planning & Development Director", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-22. January 10, 2011 135807 - Schmitt/Welper Page 6 that "Resolution approving One (1) Year Agreement with C.J. Cooper & Associates of Marion, Iowa as a third party administrator for alcohol and drug testing of job applicants and/or employees at a cost of $32.00 per drug test and $25.00 per collection when performed at C.J. Cooper & Associates -Submitted by Bob Stringer, Human Resources Director", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-23. 135808 - Schmitt/Welper that "Resolution approving recommendation of award of bid and contract in the amount of $113,876.80 to Radio Communications of Waterloo, Iowa in conjunction with Alarm Controller System in 23 Lift Stations -Submitted by Larry N. Smith, Superintendent of Waste Management Services", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-24. 135809 - Schmitt/Welper that Change Order No. 3 for a net increase of $8,199.59 for work performed by B & B Builders and Supply of Waterloo, Iowa in conjunction with F.Y. 2010 Sidewalk Repair Program - Zone 10 and Trail Repairs, Contract No. 779 -Submitted by Wayne Castle, PLS, EI, Associate Engineer, be received, placed on file and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135810 - Cole/Hart that "Resolution approving Completion of Project and Recommendation of Acceptance of Work performed by B & B Builders and Supply of Waterloo, Iowa at a total cost of $172,080.49 in conjunction with F.Y. 2010 Sidewalk Repair Program - Zone 10 and Trail Repairs, Contract No. 779 -Submitted by Eric Thorson, P.E., City Engineer", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-25. 135811 - Cole/Hart that Change Order No. 3 for a net increase of $1,520.30 for work performed by Cunningham Construction, Inc. of Cedar Falls, Iowa in conjunction with F.Y. 2010 Geraldine Road, Contract No. 767 -Submitted by Jeff Bales, Associate Engineer, be received, placed on file and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135812 - Cole/Hart that "Resolution approving Completion of Project and Recommendation of Acceptance of Work performed by Cunningham Construction, Inc. of Cedar Falls, Iowa at a total cost of $239,403.30 in conjunction with F.Y. 2010 Geraldine Road, Contract No. 767 -Submitted by Eric Thorson, P.E., City Engineer", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-26. 135813 - Hart/Welper that "Resolution approving Completion of Project and Recommendation of Acceptance of Work performed by ECINC of Cedar Rapids, Iowa at a total cost of $197,197.83 in conjunction with F.Y. 2010 Arch Gate Replacement, Contract No. 778 -Submitted by Eric Thorson, P.E., City Engineer", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-27. 135814 - Hart/Welper that "Resolution approving Construction Plans and Sanitary Sewer Serving Bamboo Ridge Area Sanitary Sewer Relocation and Improvements, as submitted by Wayne Claassen Engineering & Surveying, Inc. of Waterloo, Iowa, and Sewage Treatment Agreement DNR Form 29 (Nov 00) with the Department of Natural Resources and the final acceptance of construction plans subject to the review and acceptance by the DNR -Submitted by Dennis Gentz, P.E., Assistant City Engineer", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-28. January 10, 2011 135815 - Hart/Welper Page 7 that "Resolution approving installation of street light on a wood pole located on the curve of the 3100 block of Marnie Avenue, and authorize City Clerk to notify MidAmerican Energy -Submitted by Sandie Greco, Superintendent of Traffic Operations", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-29. 135816 - Schmitt/Hart that "Resolution setting date of hearing as January 24, 2011 to approve the execution of a Quit Claim Deed for property located at the southwesterly corner of Jefferson and West llth Streets -Submitted by Noel Anderson, Community Planning & Development Director", be adopted and City Clerk instructed to publish notice of same. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-30. 135817 - Schmitt/Hart that "Resolution approving Completion of Project and Recommendation of Acceptance of Work performed by Peters Construction Corporation of Waterloo, Iowa in the amount of $1,125,627.50 in conjunction with 2009 Riverfront Stadium Locker Room Renovations Phase I & II -Submitted by Rick Curran, Leisure Services Facilities Manager", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-31. ORDINANCES 135818 - Cole/Getty that "an Ordinance amending the 2007 Code of Ordinances of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, by adding Chapters 1-6F, Creating Department of Safety Services, amending Section 2 of Chapter 6, Article A, 1-6A-2, Police Chief; repealing Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph A of Section 1-6B-1; and enacting in lieu thereof a new Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph A of Section 1-6B-1, Composition of Department; amending Section 2 of Chapter 6, Article B, 1-6B-2, Fire Chief", 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. Councilperson Welper, for the nine years that I have sat here regardless of how controversial the issue is I've always known where I stood. But this time I have to admit that I'm troubled with this one. I certainly applaud you for finding a way to shrink government and reduce taxes. I have tremendous respect for Chief Trelka. I think we're very fortunate to have him as our Police Chief. But knowing very little about this, I read in the paper that the unions were behind it. And so I took it upon myself to go visit with the fire department. It took me three days to visit with all of the men and women. And my basic question was: what are your concerns? what are your questions? what questions should I be asking? And I think the main response from them was we don't know what's going on. All we know is we've lost our Chief. They were concerned about where the money was actually coming from. They were concerned about losing people possibly from the bottom to fill positions. They were very concerned about their training officer. This was very paramount to these guys. They said without a training officer it endangers their lives and they were very concerned about that. The citizens just to say at best I heard said maybe it would work. I didn't have anybody be in support of it. The citizens who have contacted me have said, "Ron do whatever you can do to stop this". Well, I can't vote for everybody here. Chief Trelka and Mayor have said that we need to get the right people in the right places and I totally agree with that. The problem is we're all temporary. In three years this entire council could change. Chief Trelka could be gone. Then we have to find someone to fill that spot. I would say that I think I could support this if everybody was on board with it. But as of right now, I don't have anybody telling me to support this. And I don't know how I can support something I don't know much about. We have work sessions on just about everything but here we have a major change in our public safety and we've heard nothing. I just think we all need to sit down and talk about this. Councilperson Schmitt, just to reiterate what Ron said. I did not get around to all the stations but I did talk to a number of fire fighters and I did hear the same concerns. I also have heard it at the various venues I frequent. Whether it's church or service clubs. People wanting to know what exactly the plan is and I can't tell them. I can't tell them because I think because there is not a firm final plan. And the idea that we can take a city the size of Waterloo and January 10, 2011 Page 8 no longer have a full time Fire Chief and a full time Police Chief, I have a hard time getting my arms around that given all the issues we have going on in our city. I really want to applaud you for spending the time, making the effort to do this. I think it potentially has some great merit but like Ron said, I would really like to get some more people in the room for further conversation. Talking to the fire fighters, they had some suggestions to me that they certainly understand how the fire department works better than I do. And some ideas instead of doing what you are proposing to do, what would you think about doing this or what would you think about doing that. Those are the kind of things I'd like to see us step back and take the time to do. You know as I look at the chart that we were given last week, in my opinion it appears to me that we are creating another layer of government. And I know at our public safety meeting a fellow council member stressed the fact that the proposal does not remove a front line employee. Which I again applaud for that. We are not losing a fire fighter or a police officer. We are looking at an upper level management person. As I look at that organizational chart with the new organizational structure, I see an additional layer of management. And given the budget situation we are in, I can't support that. So I would agree with Councilperson Welper on this one. And I would look forward to having some work sessions if this effort doesn't pass and coming back and taking another swing on that. Councilperson Cole, we must run in entirely different crowds and I'm sure we do. Because what I am hearing from citizens is why didn't you do stuff like this years ago? And all of you guys have had all of this information in your hands for as long as I've had it. We're projecting, and these are Mrs. Weidner's figures so they're pretty close to godly I would say. We trust her on everything else and she does a very good job for us. Projecting a net savings of $651,823.00 over the next five years, that is not chump change. Also, it was cleared up and the question that I asked earlier was are we going to lose any guys off the street? That's my concern. Are we not going to be able to serve our citizens? Are we not going to be able to respond? And the answer was no, we are not losing guys off the street. We might lose one manager who might have to take on additional responsibilities. I congratulate you on coming up with this plan. We talk about out of the box all the time. I don't think some of us know what that means but this is certainly a step in the right direction. It's a paradigm shift. And I also visited with some people around Cedar Falls government today, and I know that some of the arguments I've heard have been well it didn't work in Cedar Falls back in the 1980s whenever we tried it. My comment to that would be, a. we don't live in Cedar Falls and b. many times things not working have to do with having the wrong people in the positions. And I go back far enough when I remember when it was a big deal when we were going to share a library director with Waterloo and Cedar Falls. And while you may not equate that with public safety, believe me, the two library boards were, well it was not a happy time. And that has worked out wonderfully. We had the right person at the right time who made that work, Carol French -Johnson. And thank goodness Cheryl has continued that on. I think looking at financial situations of cities and states we have to come up with answers. And this is one that doesn't cut from the bottom and take the people who are doing the real work off the streets. Councilperson Greenwood, I'm going to support this initiative. We'll see how it works. I know there'll be some things we'll have to figure out as we go through it. But as you look around the country, the cities, counties, municipalities are merging. They share services. I think this is a place that is a start. I'm all for it. As the Chief and the former Chief have all come, we need to keep the guys on the street. The four -minute response time is paramount to whether a guy lives or dies or whether a house burns down or not. So that keeps the staff, the fire fighters on the street. So in this budget with budget gaps, we need to go somewhere and I think this is a good start. The government moves very slow to begin with. I can see Councilperson Schmitt's point here to have more work sessions and more committees put together. Then we are six months or a year down the road and we are looking at the next budget process. So I think lets see how it goes. Councilperson Getty, I've been on the council for a long, long time. And I know a lot of the firemen, I know a lot of the policemen. I got one call from one Waterloo fireman and I got one call from one Cedar Falls fireman. And that's it. Nobody else has bothered to call to ask or express their view point. Whether they're for pro or con. And I think its something that we need to take a look at. And if it doesn't work we can always turn around and make a change. So I will support it. Mayor Clark, I didn't wake up one morning thinking that I think I'm going to go and mess with the fire department and see what we can do. I put a lot of thought into this. I've also put a lot of thought into our budget about where we're going to go with that. And you cannot turn on the television, radio or pick up a newspaper without seeing things about the budget. In today's Waterloo Courier the Speaker, House Republicans have set spending reductions on priority January 10, 2011 Page 9 number one in reducing the size of government number two. That's exactly what we are doing. Two days ago in the Waterloo Courier the county is talking about last year's budget proposal. During last year's budget process, the supervisor eliminated eight positions, including three by layoff, and froze all wages except those raises required by union contracts. We have extensive funding to us this year that we haven't had prior to this year. We have gotten put on an unfunded mandate kind of thing in the form of pensions and potential commercial property rollbacks that are going to be very devastating to us. And there are several firemen in the room tonight. And when you guys talk about going around and speaking to firemen, getting their opinion I applaud that. But I also wonder where you were a year ago when I took office and Station 5 was closed. Nobody on this council did anything about that, yet the firemen were livid in an upheaval about public safety and their safety with Station 5 being closed. Nobody asked them what they thought about that. The first day that I took office, the first act that I did as Mayor was call former Chief Carter and Michelle Weidner in my office and I said we won't close anymore fire stations as long as I'm Mayor. And we reopened Fire Station No. 5 because of what the fire department was saying and telling me. I don't know how recently or if you remember or not, not too awful long ago there was a pretty bad fire where there was two young little girls that were saved by firemen that would most likely be dead right now. That was Station 5 that made that initial response. If Fire Station No. 5 had been closed when that happened, we would've had two fatalities that night. And that was because I listened to the firemen. Shortly after that there was some issues with mechanics with the fire truck. We didn't have enough fire trucks to operate Fire Station No. 5. And the fire department and Chief Carter at that time came to me and said we would have to close Station No. 5 because we didn't have one to put in it. I said we couldn't do that and we are not closing fire stations, so through my request Chief Carter went to Evansdale and managed to create a relationship with Evansdale to rent/lease/borrow a fire truck to keep Fire Station No. 5 open. Again, I was listening to the fire department as to what we needed to do. I care about public safety. I care about the fire department. I care about the police department. It also concerns me that this affects the police department just like it does the fire department. Did you ask any police officers? Councilperson Schmitt, yes I did as a matter of fact. Mayor Clark, well I don't know what the response was but all I kept hearing was we're talking to fire. Councilperson Schmitt, their response was they would like to see a plan. Mayor Clark, so bear with me if you would please and let's just for minute do a little comparison. Every college in the country that has a sports program has an athletic director, a director of athletic services. The AD has administrative responsibility over the ATHLETIC department but each individual program, whether it's football, basketball, baseball, swimming, etc., has a head coach...a chief, if you will, and each head coach has assistant coaches. The AD has the administrative responsibility of providing leadership for the athletic program as a whole, for long range planning, for visioning and goal setting for all of the athletic programs, etc., etc., etc. The head coach, the chief, of every program has direct responsibility for their individual programs. They determine when practice is, which players start the game, which plays to run, when to call a time out, when an athlete deserves praise or discipline, etc., etc., etc., NOT the Athletic Director OK, you're saying what does this have to do with anything. I submit it has everything to do with exactly what I am proposing. It's new, it's different, and it's change so there is that "Unknown" factor that everyone worry's about but in the end, I'm creating an Athletic Director position except it's a Safety Director position. The concept is exactly the same. We will have a Safety Director to provide long range planning, vision casting, goal setting, morale boosting, relationship building, and many, many other administrative duties to both fire and police. And like an Athletic Director, our Safety Director will have head coaches and assistant coaches in both fire and police that will direct the day-to-day operations of their respective teams. In the end, in last year's budget package, we pledged $225,000 from our cash reserve to get to a % that most of us were comfortable with. You all made it very clear that was a one-time deal and we would not do that again. I'm OK with that, and I agree, however, you guys are going to have to have the commitment to. make some hard decisions to get this budget balanced with a number we can all live with. The alternative is raising fees, and playing with those accounts that we can raise taxes in, because you all know our 810 levy is capped. January 10, 2011 Page 10 If you're looking for a guarantee from me on this program, you're not going to get it. I believe in this move with every fiber of my being, but is there risk, sure. I also believe with every fiber of my being that we absolutely have the right people driving this bus to be successful and that we have an opportunity here to prove that just because things have always been done this way or that way, does not mean they always have to be done that way. I've heard the terms "think outside the box, act more like the private sector, do what the county has done, consolidate our services, shrink government" till it's coming out my ears. That's exactly what this proposal does; all of the above, and some of you do not support it. The why of that is beyond me, but I suppose it's because all of the details are not worked out and some folks oppose it. There's a potential to save $112,000 this year folks and in excess of $651,000 in five years. Those are projections I know, and there may be some fluctuation in them depending on where the internal promotions come from in police and fire, but let's say we don't realize $112,000 the first year...what if it's only $100,000, is that so bad? I further submit to you that we don't have all the details worked out on this plan yet and we won't until Trelka officially takes the position of Director. Working out the who, the why, and the when of the individual department leaders needs to be a team effort involving the director and the current command staff of fire and police. That's why it's so important to get the director's position officially established and operational. I beg of you, if the ordinance change passes for the first time tonight to please not block the motion to suspend and to pass this in it's entirety tonight to get this started in a positive direction instead of being debated in the press, the taverns, and the coffee shops. If the motion to suspend does not pass tonight, and it takes two more readings, within those two weeks it will take to pass the ordinance change, we could have gotten the safety team assembled and be making positive progress to the success I know we're going to achieve. Ladies and gentlemen, we simply cannot let public and private opinion of our administrative policy be the driver of our decisions. Should we listen, absolutely, should we include the input and weigh it in our decisions, absolutely, but in the end, you people were elected to be good stewards of the citizen's money and making very difficult decisions regarding budgetary issues is one of those areas where very difficult decisions are going to have to be made. If you choose to close the library one day a week, will you poll all of those who work at the library to see if you have support for that plan? If you choose to cut back hours or personnel at Culture and Arts, will you poll all those who work at Culture and Arts to see if they support your plan? What if you choose to not give raises to any non -bargaining personnel, will you poll all of those folks to see if they support your plan, how about our event planners that have previously been provided police security at no charge...if we change that and start charging for our police and fire presence, are you going to poll them to see if they support your plan? I suggest you would not do any of the above and that you would make the decision on what most positively affects the budget with the profound hope that the majority of our citizens will appreciate the hard decisions that have to be made. I also suggest that if you're not willing to take a certain amount of risk in achieving that "outside the box" thinking, you don't really mean that we should be thinking outside the box in the first place, it's just rhetoric that sounds good. I would also suggest that if you're not willing to make those hard decisions now and in the coming weeks, that when it comes time to vote on the 2012 budget you have little room to makes statements like "we could have done more". Councilperson Welper, I haven't gone anywhere. I've been right here for the last 9 years and I do not recall approving the closing of a fire station. If it happened it happened without my knowing so. I think the problem isn't so much is your proposal it's the fact that none of us knew what was going on. When I have the public telling me what's going on from what their reading in the paper before I know it's a little embarrassing as an elected official that I wasn't a part of this. Forrest Dillavou, 1725 Huntington Road, I find it quite interesting that you folks sitting there who have been in on what meetings were held don't all understand equally. The public understands nothing just what is put in the paper. You folks do all of your work in work sessions and so on where the January 10, 2011 Page 11 public doesn't see it. You don't have the TV camera on. You say it's going to save money. You're going to create two new positions and eliminate one position. The people I see on a weekly or monthly basis are saying how can you create two positions and save money? And you're talking about taking on a sports complex down here and adding employees. How many? How much do they pay? You're saying this is going to be a good deal, we'll take on more employees. And here you are going to get rid of one position to create two new ones. The money thing doesn't make sense. When you think you can take on the sports complex, all the people, and all of the bills, and everything else and save money. I can tell you the taxpayers out there, who are treated like mushrooms, they don't believe it. Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following result. Ayes: Five. Nays: Schmitt, Welper. Motion carried. 135819 - Cole/Greenwood that rules requiring ordinances to be considered and voted for passage at two prior meetings be suspended. Ayes: Six. Nays: Schmitt. Motion carried. 135820 - Cole/Greenwood that "an Ordinance amending the 2007 Code of Ordinances of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, by adding Chapters 1-6F, Creating Department of Safety Services, amending Section 2 of Chapter 6, Article A, 1-6A-2, Police Chief; repealing Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph A of Section 1-6B-1; and enacting in lieu thereof a new Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph A of Section 1-6B-1, Composition of Department; amending Section 2 of Chapter 6, Article B, 1-6B-2, Fire Chief", be considered and passed for the second and third times and adopted. Ayes: Five. Nays: Schmitt, Welper. Ordinance adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 5024. OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS 135821 - Hart/Greenwood to instruct Leisure Services Director to prepare specifications, bid document, etc. in conjunction with 2011 Golf & Downtown Area Maintenance Turf Equipment, be received, placed on file and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135822 - Hart/Greenwood that specifications, bid document, etc. in conjunction with 2011 Golf & Downtown Area Maintenance Turf Equipment, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 135823 - Hart/Greenwood that "Resolution preliminarily approving specifications, bid document, etc. in conjunction with 2011 Golf & Downtown Area Maintenance Turf Equipment", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-32. 135824 - Hart/Greenwood that "Resolution setting date of hearing on specifications, form of contract, etc. and taking of bids as January 24, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers on the 2011 Golf & Downtown Area Maintenance Turf Equipment and City Clerk instructed to publish notice of same", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2011-33. ORAL PRESENTATIONS 135825 - Councilperson Hart, I would like to interject January 17, 2011 as the commemoration and celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday. I invite all community members to make that a day of service in his vision. And also on January 16, 2011 is the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day banquet. I'm pretty sure there are some other activities that maybe Mr. Funchess will be able to tell us about. But there is plenty of other programming that will be taking place throughout the community so stay tuned. Mayor Clark, stated that Suzy Schares, City Clerk underwent surgery today and it went fine. She will be gone for a couple of weeks, she is doing well and she will probably be able to come home tomorrow. So a Gung Ho to Suzy, God Bless her and lets all keep her in our thoughts and prayers too.