It's a busy evening for Council! In our regular meeting at 7pm, some of our voting will be on TIF financing and documentation (Items #9-18); I'm going to set aside time tomorrow morning to focus on these items prior to council...same for a review of the Imagine Downtown! plan (Item #27) [UPDATE: Both are done]. If approved, the Imagine Downtown! plan will set into motion some significant recodifications and define the direction of Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods for decades to come. The plan requires a LOT of weighty reading and consideration, and if you consider yourself a stakeholder in downtown, it's vital that you understand what the plan entails. I'll be reading it closely as well.
Prior to Council, at 5:10 we'll have an informal work session (open to the public, but not recorded/televised) on staff's progress on the city's Climate Action Plan. At 5:40 we'll receive a presentation on the Recreation Center Usage Study which was carried out earlier this year; this study will help Council determine the future direction of the Recreation and Fitness Center.
All of these sessions are at City Hall; I hope you can join us in person, on Channel 15, or streaming live on YouTube. Thanks for doing the work to be informed & engaged residents.
Call to Order by the Mayor
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting of November 4, 2019. No questions.
Agenda Revisions
Special Order of Business
2. Public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Agreement relative to conditions of the HWY-1, Highway Commercial District, for property located in the southwest corner of Highway 58 and West Ridgeway Avenue. The new Mills Fleet Farm wishes to change the location of their property sign. Since it's different than what was approved in the site plan, this change must be brought to Council for approval. This is the public's opportunity to comment on the change.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published November 8, 2019)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Oral comments.
3. Pass an ordinance rezoning property located generally on Lot 1 of The Point at Henry Farms, pursuant to provisions of a conditional zoning agreement associated with Ordinance #2933, which placed said property in the HWY-1, Highway Commercial District, upon its first consideration, or No questions; the petitioner has requested to get final approval on this night, in order to have the sign in place for their soft grand opening later this month.
a) Suspend the rules requiring ordinances to be considered at three separate meetings (requires at least six aye votes), and
b) Pass the ordinance upon its third & final consideration.
New Business
Consent Calendar: (The following items will be acted upon by voice vote on a single motion without separate discussion, unless someone from the Council or public requests that a specific item be considered separately.)
4. Receive and file the Committee of the Whole minutes of November 4, 2019 relative to the following items: Enters the minutes into the record as an accurate reflection of what was discussed at the meeting. No questions.
a) Downtown Visioning Update.
b) Bills & Payroll.
5. Receive and file a communication from the Civil Service Commission relative to a certified list for the position of Building/Electrical Inspector. Enters into the city record the test scores and rankings of the candidates. No questions about the validity of this ranking process.
6. Receive and file a communication from the Civil Service Commission relative to a certified list for the position of Public Safety Officer. Enters into the city record the test scores and rankings of the candidates. No questions about the validity of this ranking process.
7. Receive, file and refer to the Planning & Zoning Commission a communication from College Hill Partnership relative to the renewal of the College Hill Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID). These are petitions to continue the self-imposed tax in the College Hill Business Overlay District, which are enough to continue the tax for this upcoming year. No questions.
8. Approve the following applications for beer permits and liquor licenses: The Council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits. No questions.
a) Hansen's Dairy, 123 East 18th Street, Class C beer & Class B native wine - renewal.
b) Tony's La Pizzeria, 407 Main Street, Class C liquor & outdoor service - renewal.
c) Urban Pie, 200 State Street, Class C liquor & outdoor service - renewal.
d) Five Corners Liquor & Wine, 809 East 18th Street, Class E liquor - renewal.
Resolution Calendar: (The following items will be acted upon by roll call vote on a single motion without separate discussion, unless someone from the Council or public requests that a specific item be considered separately.)
9. Resolution authorizing certification of eligible expenses for reimbursement from the College Hill, Downtown, Pinnacle Prairie, South Cedar Falls and Unified Tax Increment Financing Revenues. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
10. Resolution approving and authorizing an inter-fund loan from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Bond Fund to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund relative to funding for legal fees, incentive payments, and project costs related to Peter Melendy Park and the Downtown Streetscape in the Downtown Urban Renewal Area. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
11. Resolution approving and authorizing an inter-fund loan from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Bond Fund to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund relative to funding for the Prairie Parkway & Viking Road Signalization Project in the Pinnacle Prairie Urban Renewal Area. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
12. Resolution approving and authorizing an inter-fund loan from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Bond Fund to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund relative to funding for legal and administrative fees for projects in the South Cedar Falls Urban Renewal Area. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
13. Resolution approving and authorizing an inter-fund loan from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Bond Fund to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund relative to funding for Highway 58 Corridor Improvements, Industrial Park Street Patching, and administrative and legal fees in the Unified Urban Renewal Area. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
14. Resolution approving and authorizing an inter-fund loan from the Economic Development Fund to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund relative to funding for the purchase of land in the South Cedar Falls Urban Renewal Area. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
15. Resolution approving and authorizing an inter-fund loan from the Economic Development Fund to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund relative to funding for the purchase of land in the Unified Urban Renewal Area. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
16. Resolution approving and authorizing an inter-fund loan from the General Fund to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund relative to funding for the Downtown Visioning Project in the Downtown Urban Renewal Area. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
17. Resolution approving and authorizing an inter-fund loan from the Street Construction Fund to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund relative to funding for the 100 Block Alley Reconstruction Project and to support the Downtown Urban Renewal projects and planning in the Downtown Urban Renewal Area. As I understand it, these are not new TIF expenditure approvals, but simply a document stating that these expenses have occurred for state reporting purposes. No questions.
18. Resolution approving and authorizing submission of the City's FY19 Annual Urban Renewal Report. (Pages 86-128) This report summarizes the expenditures in the items above, for state reporting purposes. It does not obligate the city to additional TIF expenditures. No questions.
19. Resolution approving the Certificate of Completion and accepting the work of Blacktop Service Company for the 2018 Seal Coat Project. Releases the $57K in the Streets Construction Fund to this contractor. No questions.
20. Resolution approving the Certificate of Completion and accepting the work of K. Cunningham Construction Company, Inc. for the University Avenue Reconstruction Project - Phase I. (Pages 136 - 201) This lengthy section is the final acceptance of Phase I of University Avenue, which releases the final $20K in payment to Cunningham. No questions, aside from curiosity of why all the lien waivers had to be included in this packet. Would it be possible to have said, "lien waivers are on file for review", in order to reduce the size of the council packet?
21. Resolution receiving and filing the bids, and approving and accepting the low bid of Municipal Pipe Tool Company, LLC, in the amount of $303,361.45, for the 2019 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. Allows the city to move forward with the maintenance of our sewer system by selecting a contractor. No questions.
22. Resolution approving and accepting the contract and bond of Municipal Pipe Tool Company, LLC for the 2019 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. Allows the above contractor, if selected, to begin the maintenance project.
23. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Storm Water Maintenance and Repair Agreement with Greenhill Village Senior Living, LLC relative to a post-construction stormwater management plan for Lot 1 of Greenhill Village Estates. This is the stormwater management plan for the new senior center in Greenhill Village. No questions.
24. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Amendment to Professional Service Agreement with Snyder & Associates, Inc. relative to the Cedar Heights Drive Reconstruction Project. Page 227-231; this amends the contract to simply include non-discrimination assurances required by the federal government, since this project will be receiving some federal funding. No questions.
25. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Release of Minimum Assessment Agreement and Agreement for Private Development, and approving and accepting a Quit Claim Deed, relative to an Agreement for Private Development with BAJR Enterprises, L.L.C. (Page 231-237) The company, BJAR, is not able to move forward with its construction project in the North Cedar Industrial Park, so it it is being returned to City ownership. I would like to know if the city is able to collect on the legal costs and staff time needed to assemble these projects if they are canceled as here.
26. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Termination of Agreement for Private Development, and approving and accepting a Warranty Deed, relative to an Agreement for Private Development with Schuerman Construction, Inc. (Page 238-244). The city agreed to donate 1.1 acres to Schuerman in the industrial park; they are now wishing to build a larger facility than originally planned, and so will be asking for a larger property with greater valuation. To make this happen, they need to first return their existing property to the city, and this documentation accomplishes that. No questions.
27. Resolution approving and adopting the Imagine Downtown! - Cedar Falls Downtown Vision Plan. (Page 245-342). This is a major policy-driving document that will require significant study and understanding. No specific questions at this time, but I may have some by Monday night.
28. Resolution setting December 2, 2019 as the date of public hearing on a proposal to undertake a public improvement project for the Cedar Heights Drive Reconstruction Project and to authorize acquisition of private property for said project. (Page 343-429) No questions about the hearing date for this significant project.
Allow Bills and Payroll
29. Allow Bills and Payroll of November 18, 2019. No questions.
City Council Referrals No referrals.
City Council Updates No updates.
Executive Session No questions about the executive session.
30. Executive Session to discuss Property Acquisition per Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property, following Public Forum.
Public Forum. (Speakers will have one opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes on topics germane to City business.)
Adjournment
| Council Packet Link | |
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| Meeting Date | 11/18/19 |
