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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.19.2021 work session minutes COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 19, 2021 4:15 p.m. Meeting was held via Zoom. Members present: Boesen, Amos, Morrissey, Klein, Feuss, Grieder, and Juon. 159782 -Juon/Grieder that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Voice-vote Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 159783 -Juon/Grieder that the Minutes of April 5, 2021, Work Session, as proposed, be approved. Voice-vote Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Objective: Discussion of amendments to Sections 3 and 8 of Chapter 2, Fire Prevention and Protection, Title 9, Building Regulations, of the Waterloo City Code. Martin Peterson, City Attorney, provided an overview of the proposed amendments to the City Code that would allow the Fire Chief the discretion to appoint inspection officials for inspection enforcement. Pat Treloar, City Fire Chief, commented that the changes make sense as the Fire Department shares about 10 chapters of the building code. Mrs. Juon questioned if this would change current inspector status or staffing. Pat Treloar responded there would not be a change in operations for all three departments. Objective: Discussion of establishing a SSMID in downtown Waterloo. Jessica Rucker, Main Street Waterloo, provided an overview of implementing a Self-Imposed Sales Tax, SSMID,to both aesthetically and economically improve the Downtown District. This mechanism will allow business owners and property owners within the SSMID District to come together to create a district that will generate funds for specific improvements and services they want, and requested that Council support matching City funds. Mr. Morrissey stated he supported the SSMID the idea of City matching funds. Mrs. Juon stated she agreed with Mr. Morrissey,that the measures were good for the Downtown and all of Waterloo and that it was time to re-instate the SSMID. Mr. Boesen questioned if they were requesting $150,000.00 in addition to City funds already going to support Main Street Waterloo and asked about the sunset clause. Ms. Rucker explained they were proposing a five (5) year sunset clause if approved, and at that time would come back to the council to ask for a renewal to continue with the program. Mr. Boesen expressed his concerns with financing and budgeting to support the SSMID year after year and asked about the taxable value and boundaries being considered for the District. Ms. Rucker explained the taxable value would be $66,896,000.00, including multi-residential. Mr. Boesen questioned if the City match fluctuates if the valuations go up or down. Ms. Rucker responded this would need to be part of the conversation when developing the agreement with the City. Mr. Boesen questioned if businesses or property owners had the option of non-participation. Page 2 Ms. Rucker explained the measure would only pass if a majority of the property owners chooses to implement the SSMID, and would be collected through the property tax levy. Mrs. Juon stated her preference would be to take the $150,000.00 City match from the Downtown TIFF District. Mayor Hart commended everyone for working on the project and supporting the efforts for moving the community forward. 159784 -Juon/Grieder that the meeting be adjourned at 4:47 p.m. Voice-vote Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. NED � rzrz 12.�iYe2 LeAnn M. Even, CMC, IaCMC Deputy City Clerk