HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.06.2002 (2)• •
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
June 6, 2002
8:30 a.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Berry, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley.
Members absent: Getty.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Berry that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six.
Absent: Getty. Motion carried.
The Yes to Progress Committee updated the council on the campaign to support the public
referendum on August 20, 2002. Ross Christensen, Co -chairperson of the Yes to Progress
Committee, reported that last week a press conference was held to kick off the campaign for the
referendum on extension of the one -cent location option tax to help fund the Riverfront
Renaissance Project. The committee has been meeting with groups, with most organization
supporting the plan. Mr. Christensen reported he attempted to set up a meeting with Bill Bartels,
but he refused to meet with him. The committee will spend a lot of time talking to groups
explaining why citizens should support this referendum and the plan.
Mr. Christensen stated that the committee is questioned often that if the city uses the one -cent
local option tax for the Riverfront Renaissance Project, what will keep the city from bonding for
street improvements. Mr. Christensen stated that they need a fairly strong statement from the
council. Mr. Christensen stated that the city needs to show a three year plan for street
improvements and show what improvements will not be competed because of the referendum.
We need to assure citizens that all the streets will be improved, but may take just a little longer.
Mayor Rooff stated he was hesitant to make a commitment because the city doesn't know which
issue may come up a few years from now that the might merit selling bonds for road work.
Mayor Rooff stated this is a council decision and we can't tie the council's hands.
Mary Robinson, Co -chairperson, stated that citizens are concerned taxes will have to bail out the
Riverfront Renaissance Plan just like the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
Mr. Christensen stated it is important to let the public know about the Local Option Sales Tax
Oversight Committee, how often they meet and how they review the use of the funds. Mayor
Rooff stated the city may want to expand that committee. Mr. Christensen stated it is important
to let everyone know that private investment is also a part of this plan as the Yes To Progress
Committee is focusing on the $16 million referendum.
Ms. Robinson stated that we need to remind people that citizens will be involved every part of
the way. There will be opportunity for public input and for them to have some say in these
proj ects.
Mayor Rooff explained that ground will be broken right away on city -owned properties, while
other properties will have to be acquired.
Councilperson Hurley asked what businesses will have to be relocated and if the city will help
with the relocation. Mayor Rooff stated we should make a list of the businesses to be relocated
and explain how we will help those businesses.
A letter from the Executive Director of Main Street Waterloo was distributed. Main Street
Waterloo indicates that since the announcement that Vision Iowa has awarded $16 million to the
Cedar Valley, sixteen new business starts or relocations in downtown Waterloo have been
announced.
Mr. Christensen explained that the referendum includes the cities of Cedar Falls, Elk Run
Heights, Evansdale, Hudson, Raymond and Waterloo. A majority vote will pass the referendum.
It appears that all the cities but Waterloo will vote to use the sales tax as currently approved. Mr.
Christensen stated that the other cities will need to let their citizens know there is no change to
the way the local option sales tax will be used, and the tax will not cost the citizens anything.
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Council Work Session
June 6, 2002
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Councilperson Clark asked how the committee will notify the public of the meeting dates. Mr.
Christensen responded that the press release included all the dates of the meetings, and the
committee notifies the media of each meeting.
Councilperson Berry stated that she is hearing from citizens that they will not vote and are asking
what will it do for this part of the town. Mr. Christensen stated that the Vision Iowa funds will
also be used to help fund other community projects such as the East Side Ministerial Alliance
Community Center, Waterloo African -American Museum, a one -stop veterans assistance and job
placement center, and an Iowa Veterans addition to the Grout Museum named for Waterloo's
five Sullivan brothers. Mr. Christensen stated he would encourage citizens to go to the Young
Arena and they would see it is a major gathering area. The Sports Complex will be a huge piece
of the project, and the entire project will attract people downtown. Don Temeyer, City Planner,
stated that the Cedar River Dam improvements is a part of the project. The Riverwalk Loop will
connect the bike trails on both the east and west sides of the Cedar River. Mayor Rooff stated we
need to get the message out that the Cedar River will unite us not divide us. Ms. Robinson stated
that those citizens are looking at their blighted areas, and this plan appears to benefit the
westside.
Mr. Christensen stated that another big issue is the Wellness Center and the monthly fees. The
committee explains during the public meetings that there will be a fee to use the public facilities
in the Sports Complex. One part of the Recreation and Sports Complex is a fitness center, and
anyone who pays the membership fee can join. The committee emphasis that this will be a
gathering place.
Ms. Robinson reported that she met with Bill Bartels. Ms. Robinson stated the committee needs
to be sure to get the information out just to set the facts straight.
The council reviewed a video explaining the Riverfront Renaissance Plan. Materials were
distributed to the council.
The council reviewed the proposed rates for sewer and garbage services. The council reviewed
proposed sanitation and sewer fund rate increases with the proposed rates equivalent with Cedar
Falls. If the garbage fees are approved as proposed, citizens with a 32 gallon container will see a
$6.00 decrease per year, those using a 68 gallon container will have an annual increase of $36.00,
while citizens using a 95 gallon container will have an annual increase of $48.00.
Councilperson Clark asked where the additional funds will go, and that he wants the money to go
directly for sewer and garbage operations and not to subsidize other funds. Michelle Weidner,
Chief Financial Officer, responded that sewer and garbage operations need these funds and they
will not be used for other funds.
Councilperson Jordan stated that it was his understanding when the city built the new plant that
costs would go down. Mayor Rooff responded that the new plant was built not to reduce costs,
but because the state told the city either improve the sewer plant or they were going to fine the
city. Mayor Rooff stated that the savings are in reduced staffing and the new plant also reduced
the smell from the plant. Mayor Rooff stated the city is working with the City of Cedar Falls to
pursue their use of the Northeast Interceptor.
Councilperson Berry asked what about other cities such as Raymond and Elk Run Heights.
Larry Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Waste Management Services, responded that each of
these cities maintains their own plants. The city talked with Evansdale to try to persuade them to
use our facilities, but they decided to increase their plant, which has increased the cost of
operations, including additional staff.
Councilperson Hurley stated that Ms. Weidner has explained that budget projections indicate that
an additional $1.5 million needs to be raised annually for the sewer fund and an additional
$650,000 needs to be raised annually for the garbage fund.
Ms. Weidner reviewed the Financial Analysis spreadsheet for the Sewer Fund.
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Council Work Session
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Councilperson Hurley asked what the city will use the $1 million General Obligation Bonds we
are going to issue for the sewer facilities. Mayor Rooff responded those funds will be used for
part of the interceptor lines.
Mr. Smith reported that the city has 800 miles of sanitary and storm sewers, 43 lift stations, 2
pre-treatment plants, 60 miles of drainage, gatewells for the flood system, and 7,500 manholes.
Councilperson Hurley asked about the $274,000.00 awarded to the city from the Black Hawk
Solid Waste Commission. Ms. Weidner responded that the Black Hawk Solid Waste
Commission has awarded the city $274,000, but they will not distribute those foods to the city
until the next fiscal year. Ms. Weidner reported that at one of the budget work sessions, the
council discussed using the $274,000 for the FY03 Budget and also discussed using the funds for
the FY02 Budget to balance the Sanitation Budget. Ms. Weidner stated that the useful life for an
automated garbage truck is five to seven years. The city could bond for those trucks rather than
increasing the rates to purchase one truck per year to replace the fleet without incurring any
interest rates.
Mr. Smith reported that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has told the city we can no
longer bury our yard waste. The other option is to haul the yard waste to the landfill and pay $25
to $50 per ton. Mr. Smith stated that it cost approximately $100,000.00 per year for the fall and
spring leaf pick up program. Ms. Weidner stated the city also incurs expenses for the
neighborhood cleanups.
Councilperson Jordan asked what will be the cost to the city if we do not allow burning. Mr.
Smith responded that currently we collect about 800 tons of yard waste in the fall, and that could
increase to about 1,200 to 1,300 tons if citizens are no longer allowed to burn. The Department
of Natural Resources will not allow the city to do a clean burn of that yard waste. Mr. Smith
stated the city could create a compost, but the city does not have a facility to store the compost,
and it is very labor intensive. The yard waste trucks will need to be replaced and additional
workers will need to be hired to operate those trucks. Mr. Smith stated the city is negotiating
lowering the land fill rates.
Mayor Rooff stated the council will need to address burning, free leaf pick and the neighborhood
cleanups
Ms. Weidner asked if there was a consensus to adjust the sewer and garbage fees to Cedar Falls
rates. Mayor Rooff asked Waste Management Services staff to produce the costs to the city if
residents are longer allowed to burn and a breakdown of the cost for the neighborhood cleanups.
Mr. Smith reported that Waste Management Services has a proposal for a centralized drop-off for
the neighborhood cleanups.
Clark now absent at 10:10 a.m.
Councilperson Hurley stated he would like to leave the cost for the small garbage containers as
currently charged and increase other containers to Cedar Falls rates. Councilperson Hurley
stated he is not sure if we should do a flow rate for the sewer rates or reduce the CCF.
Councilperson Jordan stated he is concerned about any rate increase and asked if there are other
ways to do business. Councilperson Jordan stated he would like to look at other options.
Councilperson Greenwood stated he has trust in the Department Heads and feels he can go along
with the proposed rates as the sewer industry is highly regulated.
Mayor Rooff asked for a cost chart for the Sanitation and Sewer Departments for the past ten
years, what an increase in those fees would do and how long would the new rates last.
Councilperson Berry stated she agrees with Councilperson Jordan. Councilperson Berry stated it
seems as if the council is always under pressure to make decisions. Mayor Rooff stated that the
proposed rates have been under consideration since the council worked on the FY03 Budget.
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Council Work Session
June 6, 2002
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With no further business before the council, it was moved by Berry, seconded by Jordan that the
meeting be adjourned at 10:16 a.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Getty, Clark. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk