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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.07.2004 (3)• • COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 7, 2004 4:45 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: Mayor Hurley, Kincaid, Cole, Greenwood, Clark, Schmitt, Gunderson, Welper. Moved by Welper, seconded by Kincaid that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Lou Cutwright, Building Official/Maintenance Administrator, reviewed implementation of the International Property Maintenance Code and Comprehensive Building Permits and Inspection Department. The International Property Maintenance Code is platform needed to enforce and regulate property appearance in the city. Waterloo will not be the first city in Iowa to adopt the document to improve property value. Existing properties and the maintenance of existing properties will be regulated by the International Property Maintenance Code. Ninety percent of the properties within Waterloo will not be affected. It's the 10 percent that drives down prices of surrounding properties. The code, in time, will improve the face of neighborhoods, thus raising property values. Section 307.2.1 can be amended to assist apartment owners to size the container for their apartment. The smaller container issued by Waste Management is 32 gallons. If an apaituient has 12 units, the container size for the building would be a 7-yard container (12 x 32 gallons). This would prevent, or cut down on, the practice of piling garbage outside the container because it is too full. A hardship section would be added and would be developed by working with Community Development and others, such as banking, service organizations, etc., to assist homeowners to comply with the code. Section 302.8 would be amended to reflect the adoption of the front -yard parking ordinance. The front -yard ordinance has been discussed in previous meetings. The International Property Maintenance Code will be enforced through the Board of Appeals which is already in place. The Board of Appeals does not have the authority to override the code, but to look at whether enforcement made the right decision based on the code. After four work sessions discussing the International Property Maintenance Code and Comprehensive Building Permits & Inspection Department, Mr. Cutwright requested that a decision be made to move forward. To establish the enforcement authority, several things have to first happen. The authority to enforce rental housing inspection will have to shift from the Fire Chief to the Building Official. This would be a simple ordinance change in Chapter 9-7 of the Waterloo Code of Ordinances by deleting the section in its entirety and replacing it with new language for adopting the IPMC. The addition of three enforcement officers and one clerical staff is necessary for comprehensive inspection to move forward. It would take 90 days to put these people on board. This is excellent timing in that they will have the fall and winter to certify and train the new staff so the city will realize results in the spring of the coming year. Mr. Cutwright needs authorization to proceed to the Human Resources Committee to start this process. In addition, Mr. Cutwright needs authority to move forward with minor office remodeling for the maintenance office in the basement, equipment purchases, etc., to support the new staff. The city will have to invest approximately $220,000.00 into the project in personnel, office remodeling, equipment purchases, etc., before realizing a positive cash flow in the new department. Council Work Session June 7, 2004 Page 2 Councilperson Welper stated he supports the changes and feels the citizens will support it. Mr. Cutwright reported that the department will be self -supported through rental inspection fees, revenue from Waste Management Services and building permit fees collected every day. The Waste Management Services budget currently supports three officers in code enforcement using garbage fees. Mr. Cutwright is asking initially to increase that funding by an additional $90,000.00 to purchase equipment, vehicles, etc. Mr. Cutwright estimates in FY 2006, he will only need $20,000.00 additional funding from the Waste Management Services Department. Mayor Hurley stated he has supported this plan since he was a council member, and that this issue is one of the top three concerns from citizens. Citizens on the east side are concerned that the city doesn't care about them as much as the west, and this will help. Mr. Cutwright reiterated that the plan will need an initial investment of $220,000.00, but the revenue generated throughout the year will take care of those dollars. Mr. Cutwright reviewed the proposed Front Yard Parking Ordinance as it pertains to definition of driveway and parking in front yards. In any "R" District, no one- or two-family dwelling or lot shall have more than 33 percent of the front yard used for driveway and off-street purposes. However, this restriction will not prohibit the construction of a 20 foot driveway or driveway expansion immediately in front of and the minimum width reasonably necessary to provide access to a 3 or 4-stall garage. Nor will it prohibit the construction of a circular drive if otherwise approved by the City Engineer and meeting the requirements of the Waterloo Code of Ordinances. Councilperson Clark commended Mr. Cutwright for the work involved in putting all this information together, but he is concerned that it will take money from the Fire Department. Councilperson Clark stated he could not commit this money at this time, and he has concerned that the cost for operating the new department and ordinance may be under estimated, and the Assistant City Attorney position may have to be increased to a full-time position to handle the additional workload. Councilperson Clark stated he feels we are overreacting to what we are trying to do. Councilperson Schmitt stated he would like Mr. Cutwright's enforcement officers to handle the weed complaints as there should be one place for all code enforcement. Councilperson Welper asked if the Fire Department will need as many people because they will no longer do inspections. Fire Chief DeBerg responded that they will still need firefighters at all the stations and will need the same number of firefighters for each station. Councilperson Kincaid stated he would like to see one location for all code enforcement. Councilperson Kincaid asked what the code enforcement officers would do in the winter. Mr. Cutwright responded code enforcement is busy all year, although there is a slight drop in the number of calls, but enough to keep everyone busy and have time to catch up on problem calls. Councilperson Gunderson stated in a few weeks he would like to see if there is any money left over from other city budgets. Councilperson Gunderson stated he feels the city needs to try to accomplish this. Moved by Schmitt, seconded by Cole that Mayor Hurley conduct an executive review of the revenue stream and look at the financial impact this proposal would have on other city departments before the end of the fiscal year and bring back the information to the council. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. With no further business before the committee, it was moved by Welper, seconded by Cole that the meeting be adjourned at 5:26 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk • •