HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.19.2022 Work Session MinutesCOUNCIL WORK SESSION
December 19, 2022
3:30 p.m.
Harold E. Getty Council Chambers
Members present: Boesen, Nichols, Amos, Chiles, Grieder, Wilder, and Feuss.
101069 - Grieder/Chiles
that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Voice -vote Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
101070 - Grieder/Chiles
that the Minutes, as proposed, for the Work Session on Monday, December 5, 2022, be
accepted and approved. Voice vote -Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Objective: Re -adoption of the City Limits Urban Revitalization Area (CLURA).
Noel Anderson, Community Planning and Development Director, provided an overview of the
CLURA and CURA programs and their performance since adopting them in 2011. He shared
that they will be seeking input from council on whether they wish to include multifamily housing
in the program. The Planning Commission did not recommend including multifamily housing.
He added that having an option of the 10-year tax abatement would help qualify more families
for home loans.
Mr. Boesen questioned the difference in the abatement programs.
Noel Anderson provided an explanation.
Mr. Boesen questioned how often the county revalues homes.
Noel Anderson shared that the county reassesses home values in two to three years.
Mr. Boesen questioned if the city could structure the ten-year program so that there would be
less shock when the first tax bill comes due.
Noel Anderson explained that the program could not be restructured and must stay just as the
state code has it.
Mr. Amos questioned if there are more opportunities for people to become homeowners with the
ten-year option.
Noel Anderson confirmed.
Mr. Feuss questioned how to get people to understand that if they do the ten-year option they
would be better off financially.
Noel Anderson shared that they have a fact sheet that they hand out to people to help them make
a decision. In addition, it depends on how long people plan to stay in their home as well.
Mr. Grieder commented that he is excited to see that the childcare piece will be included in the
policy. He shared that he is in favor of including multifamily housing in the program as well.
Mr. Boesen commented that he is not in favor of including multifamily in the program. He
explained that the incentives to build these projects come through the CIP program and
questioned how the city will build its tax base when it is simultaneously abating taxes on the
project.
Noel Anderson added that something to keep in mind is that these projects generate revenue for
the city in other ways, such as utility bills.
Page 2
Mayor Hart commented that the problem is a bit of a catch 22. Where the city needs to be
aggressive with building up existing housing but at the same time needs to have new housing as
well. He said that competing for quality housing is very important.
Objective: An ordinance adopting the new city seal and logo.
Kelley Felchle, City Clerk, provided an overview of the ordinance.
Mayor Hart commented on the adoption of the 2030 Vision Plan and thanked deNovo, Wendy
Bowman, other staff and the many citizens who participated through either a survey or focus
group to help bring something fresh, new and different for Waterloo. He thanked council for
their support of the 2030 Vision Plan.
Objective: Discussion of changes to the credit card policy.
Bridgett Wood, Finance Manager, provided an overview of the proposed updates to the credit
card policy. This change would have each of the department heads and elected officials approve
an individual within their department to be a cardholder, thus streamlining a depaianent' s ability
to make necessary purchases. All charges made on the card would be the responsibility of that
employee. She explained that they had recently performed a pilot program to see how this
change would work and not only has it improved the efficiency of the purchasing process for
individual departments, it has saved the finance staff a great deal of man hours.
Mayor Hart questioned how this creates efficiencies compared to the current process.
Bridgett Wood explained that currently there are generic cards that are checked out via finance
staff to various individuals throughout the city. This change would remove any question or
research time to determine who made a charge on a particular card.
Mayor Hart clarified that it strategically streamlines where the charges are coming from.
Mr. Nichols requested clarification of whom the cards would be issued to.
Bridgett Wood shared that the department head would approve an individual employee that the
card should be issued to.
Mr. Boesen commented that in the past, when he checked out a card, he had to bring his receipts
back, so there was checks and balances. However, if a card is issued to a particular department
and a specific individual, this should prevent other individuals within the department from using
the card.
Bridgett Wood added that this would also allow departments to request additional cards for the
different employees in the department
Mr. Amos questioned if the policy could restrict the usage of the card to only the issued
employee.
Bridgett Wood commented that they could make that statement in the policy.
Mayor Hart shared that there will still be some generic cards in the Finance Department in case
an issue arose.
Bridgett Wood confirmed.
Mayor Hart questioned if employees would still be required to be provide receipts.
Bridgett Wood confirmed.
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Mr. Boesen voiced his concern over incurred interest due to our two -meetings per month.
Kelley Felchle, City Clerk, commented that AP checks are still run weekly, so it is unlikely.
Objective: Discussion of personnel policies.
Kelley Felchle, City Clerk, provided background on why this work session is being held.
Lance Dunn, Human Resources Director, shared that he is looking for input from council on
what they would like to see in the personnel policy.
Mayor Hart commented that there was an ask to look at policy changes and questioned if council
has an idea on how they would like to address any concerns or changes.
Lance Dunn shared some ideas on how policy review and feedback could occur.
Mr. Feuss commented that he is in favor of having a review of the policy, maybe not yearly, but
that they will all be reviewed periodically and, as it occurs in the K-12 world, they have a policy
review committee take a look at the policies. He suggested have a committee review a couple of
times a year perhaps before negotiations or budget discussions.
Lance Dunn concurred.
Mr. Nichols commented that the state just settled on a matter with pharmacy benefits. He
questioned if the city has a process to review the pharmacy benefit to determine whether we are
being overcharged.
Lance Dunn shared that they recently changed Third Party Administrators to EMC Insurance,
which take care of looking at prescriptions.
Mr. Nichols questioned if EMC just works with work comp or all pharmacy benefits.
Lance Dunn shared that EMC works with workers compensation and Wellmark covers the rest
of our health benefits.
Objective: Update on the City of Waterloo 2030 Vision Plan.
Mayor Hart provided an update on initiatives that have taken place to support the 2030 Vision
Plan.
Council members discussed the work that has taken place to support the 2030 Vision Plan with
Mayor Hart.
101071 - Feuss/Boesen
that the meeting be adjourned at 4:48 p.m. Voice -vote Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
7(et1 y Fe1chCe
Kelley Felchle
City Clerk