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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-02/14/2000• • February 14, 2000 The Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, met in Regular Session at City Hall Council Chambers, Waterloo, Iowa, at 7:00 p.m., on Monday, February 14, 2000. Mayor John R. Rooff in the Chair. Roll Call: Anders, Jordan, Krizek, Murphy, Getty, Gronen, Berry. Invocation by: Reverend Michael Coleman, Antioch Baptist Church. Pledge of Allegiance: Councilperson John Murphy. ORAL PRESENTATIONS 113369 - Larry Bedard, 1938 Franklin Street and the owner of property located at 710 Linden Avenue, stated that the council received a letter from him this evening regarding the request of Aramark to vacate, sell and convey an alley located north of Aramark's facility. Mr. Bedard stated that he met with Planning, Programming and Zoning staff today, and they agreed to table the February 21, 2000 meeting to March 6, 2000. Mr. Bedard asked the council to please carefully read his letter. Mr. Bedard stated that selling the alley to Aramark will diminish the value of his property, and he could be forced out of business because he cannot use the alley. Mr. Bedard commented that in the past year he donated part of his building to the American Red Cross for the Black Hawk County Flood Disaster Relief program and to the Waterloo Community Schools for their recycling of donations from Principal Financial Group. Without access to the alley that would not have been possible. Mr. Bedard quoted from his letter, "If the alley is not accessible to the warehouse, it makes the warehouse less functional and I could be forced out of business. This, in turn, would greatly diminish the value of my warehouse facility." Don Temeyer, City Planner, stated that there is a chance that Aramark will look at their plans, but they will probably withdraw their request for that part of the alley, and the city will then table that portion. Councilperson Anders questioned if we could vacate the east half. Mr. Temeyer stated that Aramark needs the entire vacation. Mr. Temeyer stated that the request will probably be withdrawn or tabled on February 21, 2000. Tom Hall from Emergency Road Service presented a plaque to Mayor Rooff for the good job he is doing for the city. Getty/Gronen that the above oral comments be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 113370 - Jordan/Murphy that the Agenda, as amended to add items l0a and 10b, for the Regular Session on Monday, February 14, 2000, at 7:00 p.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 113371 - Jordan/Anders that the Minutes, as proposed, for the Regular Session on Monday, February 7, 2000, at 7:00 p.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Mayor Rooff read a proclamation recognizing Allen Health Systems, Inc., on their Diamond Jubilee Anniversary. PETITIONS FROM PUBLIC 113372 - Murphy/Jordan that communication from City Clerk transmitting request of Bruce Stiles for an exception to burning yard waste to burn a portion of prairie grass located on Big Rock Road, one-quarter mile west of Highway 63, during the period of March 18 - April 30, 2000, together with recommendation of approval of the Fire Chief, Leisure Services Director and Superintendent of Recycling/Sanitation, be received, placed on file, and "Resolution approving said request", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-81. 113373 - Murphy/Jordan that communication from City Clerk transmitting request of John Miller for an exception to burning yard waste to burn approximately 2'-1 acres of prairie grass located on south Kimball Avenue behind 145 Blaine Road on the edge of the city limits during March - April 2000, together with recommendation of approval of the Fire Chief, Leisure Services Director and Superintendent of Recycling/Sanitation, be received, placed on file, and "Resolution approving said request", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-82. February 14, 2000 DOCUMENTS 113374 - Anders/Krizek Page 2 that communication from Associate Engineer transmitting Contracts, Bonds, and Certificates of Insurance in the amount of $386,883.69 from Peterson Contractors, Inc., of Reinbeck, Iowa, in conjunction with West Airline Highway Bridge Replacement, Project No. BRM -8155(30)-8N-07, Contract No. 560, be received, placed on file and "Resolution approving said documents", be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk authorized to execute same. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-83. 113375 - Anders/Krizek that communication from Associate Engineer transmitting Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with Earth Tech, Inc., for professional services at a cost of $10,402.21 in conjunction with reopening of the Eighteenth Street Bridge, be received, placed on file and "Resolution approving said agreement", be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk authorized to execute same. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-84. 113376 - Anders/Krizek that communication from Neighborhood Services Coordinator transmitting Contracts and Certificates of Insurance in the amount of $34,776.00 from McMains Excavation and Abatement of Moulton, Iowa, in conjunction with Rath Vertical Kill Building Asbestos Removal Project, CDBG 112 -AR -1-18-00, be received, placed on file and "Resolution approving said documents", be adopted and Mayor and City Clerk authorized to execute same. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-85. RESOLUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED 113377 - Krizek/Jordan that "Resolution approving partial acquisition contract and accepting deed for Parcel No. 3 (Buckets, Inc.) in the amount of $1,100.00 in conjunction with Highway 218/Cedar Valley Lakes Trail - Phase I, Contract No. 584", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-86. 113378 - Krizek/Jordan that "Resolution approving partial acquisition contract and accepting deed for Parcel No. 2 (National Cattle Congress) in the amount of $1.00 in conjunction with Highway 218/Cedar Valley Lakes Trail - Phase I, Contract No. 584", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-87. 113379 - Krizek/Jordan that "Resolution approving delay of the start of the second cycle of the 10 - year Sidewalk Repair Program until the 2001 construction season", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-88. ORDINANCES TO BE ADOPTED 113380 - Bruce Meisinger, Finance Manager, stated that with the proposed fee change the average sewer bill will change from $19.95 to $20.75 per month. Mr. Meisinger stated that the preliminary FY 1999 audit results indicate we have lost the minimum rate coverage required by the governing bond covenants and that a rate increase will be necessary. The sewer revenue bond covenants require that we maintain rates adequate to provide net revenue (which is derived from operating income less operating expenses) to cover a minimum of 1.25 times debt service on revenue bonds. Mr. Meisinger stated that the city is currently at 1.1 times debt service on revenue bonds. Mr. Meisinger noted that through meetings with Councilpersons Anders and Krizek and Water Pollution/Flood Control staff, they identified $355,000.00 in reduction of operating expenses at the plant. Mr. Meisinger stated that he is recommending to the city council an increase in sewer rates from $1.30 per Ccf to $1.40 per Ccf, but the $9.55 per month minimum will remain the same. Mr. Meisinger stated that the impact of the increase would be 4 percent on the quarterly bill. I February 14, 2000 • • ORDINANCES TO BE ADOPTED CONTINUED Page 3 Mayor Rooff stated that the city received a sizable grant from the federal government to improve the sewer plant. Mayor Rooff stated the law requires net revenue to cover a minimum of 1.25 times debt service on revenue bonds, and we are currently at 1.1 times debt service. Mayor Rooff commented that city has not raised sewer rates in eight years. Mayor Rooff stated that with the increase every family will pay $9.60 more per year. Mayor Rooff stated that the city has close to $3 million in the sewer fund but we have to have current net revenues. Mayor Rooff stated that costs of chemicals and running the plant have increased our operating costs. Mr. Meisinger stated that he must disclose to the bond rating agencies and bond investors what action has been taken by the city council, and the minimum action would be the recommended $1.40 per Ccf. Councilperson Anders stated that he is comfortable with the proposed rate increase. Councilperson Anders stated that he met several times with Mr. Meisinger and Tim Shea, and he is comfortable with the information he received from them. Councilperson Anders stated that this increase will move Waterloo from 10th to 7th place out of 15 cities in the state, and that Ottumwa, Iowa City, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Cedar Falls and Urbandale are above us. Councilperson Getty asked when we enact the proposed rates and we are in parity for two years, what will the city do, leave it or lower it. Mayor Rooff stated that he believes the city needs to enlist the support of Solid Waste Management on what all cities spend on sewer and garbage. We just found out our water rates are the lowest in the nation and our sewer rates are one of the lowest in the state. Mayor Rooff stated that our continuing efforts in the budget is cost savings for the sewer plant, to show responsibility is to cut cost, and that is hard right now with the construction at the plant. Jordan/Murphy that "an Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, by repealing Subsection (a)(6) of Subsection 34-77, Determination of Rates and Charges, of Division 7, User Charges and Fees, of Chapter 34, Utilities; and by enacting in lieu thereof a new Subsection (a)(6) of Subsection 34-77, Determination of Rates and Charges, of Division 7, User Charges and Fees, of Chapter 34, Utilities; and by adding Subsection (a)(7) to Subsection 34-77, Determination of Rates and Charges, of Chapter 34, Utilities (change rate charged per Ccf over the minimum usage allowance from $1.30 per Ccf to $1.40 per Ccf)", 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. In answer to a question, Mr. Meisinger stated that he would not like to put a sunset clause in the ordinance but to leave it blanket, and that in a couple of years when construction slows down, the city could look at the rates again. Mayor Rooff stated that he would like to review the sewer fees in a year and a half. Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following result. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. BILLS PAYMENT 113381 - Krizek that "Resolution approving Schedule AP640, pp. 1-142, dated February 14, 2000, in the amount of $2,200,474.97, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office", be adopted, together with recommendation of approval of the Finance Committee. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2000-89. NEW BUSINESS 113382 - Gronen/Jordan that communication from Mayor Rooff transmitting recommendation of the following appointments to the Telecommunications Commission: reappointment of Daniel Evanson and Ron Knapp, with term expiration date of December 1, 2002, and appointment of Randy Herod, with term expiration date of December 1, 2002, be received, placed on file and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 113383 - Gronen/Jordan that communication from Mayor Rooff transmitting recommendation of the following appointments to the Leisure Services Commission: reappointment of Bob Kleiman, with term expiration date of March 2, 2003, and appointment of Jim Berry, with term expiration date of March 1, 2003, be received, placed on file and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. February 14, 2000 Page 4 TRAVEL REQUESTS 113384 - Berry/Jordan that the following travel requests, with expenses not to exceed amount shown, be received, placed on file and approved: 1. Timothy Pillack and Brent Cirksena, Police Sergeants, to attend Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston, Iowa, on April 2 - 7, 2000, with costs not to exceed $590.00, including use of city vehicle. 2. Carroll Kienol, Rick Harned, Willie Keller and David Mohlis, Police Officers, to attend Traffic Accident Reconstruction training conference in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on May 21 - 24, 2000, with costs not to exceed $1,000.00, including use of city vehicle. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. MISCELLANEOUS 113385 - Getty/Murphy that the following beer and liquor license applications be received, placed on file and approved and endorsed applications forwarded to the Iowa Beer and Liquor Control Department and the following applications for outdoor service area be received, placed on file and approved: 1. Beer License Permit Application Class C Hy -Vee, Inc., 306 Byron Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 03/23/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) Hy -Vee, Inc., 2052 Logan Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 03/23/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) Hy -Vee, Inc., 4000 University Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 03/15/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) 2. Beer License Permit Application Class B Northwest Hockey, Inc./dba Waterloo Bucks, 850 Park Road (New) (Expires 9/20/00) (Includes Sunday Sales) 3. Beer/Liquor License Permit Application Class C A.J.'s Midtown Bistro, 3251 West 4th Street (Renewal) (Expires 02/20/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, 4045 Hammond Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 03/11/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) National Dairy Cattle Congress Pavilion, 250 Ansborough Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 02/29/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) 4. Wine License Permit Application Class B Hy -Vee, Inc., 306 Byron Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 03/23/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) Hy -Vee, Inc., 2052 Logan Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 03/23/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) Hy -Vee, Inc., 4000 University Avenue (Renewal) (Expires 03/15/01) (Includes Sunday Sales) 5. Application for Outdoor Service Area Northwest Hockey, Inc. dba Waterloo Bucks, 850 Park Road (03/20/00 through 09/20/00) A.J.'s Midtown Bistro, 3251 West 4th Street (02/21/00 through 08/20/00) Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. BONDS 113386 - Jordan/Anders that the report of the City Attorney and list of bonds filed with the City Clerk through February 14, 2000, be received, placed on file and report and bonds be approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT 113387 - Jordan/Getty that the Council adjourn at 7:33 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk •