This meeting will once again occur on Tuesday evening, due to the Federal holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The major topic scheduled for tonight is the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), which is the city's five-year "look-ahead book" for what the city expects to fund in the coming five years of budgets. The CIP is not required by state law, but it helps greatly for phasing projects and making sure the funds are available to do what the city council wants to, when the council wants to do it. If the council cannot find a majority vote to approve the CIP, then the FY24 budget will have to be developed without one. I hope that there is enough Council willingness for collaboration and compromise during Monday night's FBO Standing Committee meeting to reach approval in the regular meeting that same night.
Also, I'll note Item #11 as a topic that should be of interest to citizens. Each year for decades, the council has approved annually about $25K in "Community Betterment Grants", which were city grants approved by the council to various non-profit organizations. On principle, I have not been in favor of expending public money (even though it's hotel/motel taxes) on projects that don't have an essential public purpose for the majority of residents. The State Auditor issued a recent statewide opinion that agrees with this view, and so I'm glad we'll be making significant changes to how grants are provided. I'm glad we're doing away with Community Betterment Grants, and am happy to discuss this further with any affected organization.
Before the regular council meeting, the Finance and Business Operations Standing Committee will meet at 5:45 in the Council Chambers to revisit the draft CIP, and hopefully will gain the amendments needed to assure passage by a majority of the council in the regular meeting.
I hope you can join us in person, streaming live on YouTube, or on Channel 15. Thanks as always for doing the work to be an informed and engaged resident.
Call to Order by the Mayor
Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Minutes
1. Regular meeting of January 3, 2023.
Agenda Revisions
Special Presentations
Public Forum. (Speakers will have one opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes on topics relevant to City business.)
Staff Updates
Special Order of Business
2. Public hearing on the proposed FY2023-FY2028 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). This is the second attempt to pass a CIP for this year. It did not pass in the last meeting, and the City Administrator and FBO Director have met with members of the council this past week to seek compromises which will bring more members onboard with an approval vote. This will also be discussed in the FBO Standing Committee immediately prior to this meeting, and the document, if amended, will be what is brought forward for approval as Item #2.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published January 6, 2023)
b) Written communication filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Resolution approving and adopting the FY2023-FY2028 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
3. Resolution declaring an official intent under Treasury Regulation 1.150-2 to issue debt to reimburse the City for certain original expenditures paid in connection with specified projects. (contingent upon approval of previous item). This standard resolution is required for debt funding approval to carry out projects shown in Item #2.
4. Public hearing on the proposed rezoning to R-4, Multiple Unit Residential Zoning District, pursuant to a Zoning Agreement, for property located on Lots 5 and 6, Midway Business Park. This change is needed in order to permit a senior living facility to be built in this area, and conforms with the other uses in that vicinity. It was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published January 6, 2023)
b) Written communication filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Pass an ordinance amending the Zoning Map by placing property located on Lots 5 and 6 of the Midway Business Park in the R-4, Multiple Unit Residential Zoning District, pursuant to provisions of a Zoning Agreement, upon its first consideration.
5. Public hearing on the proposed rezoning from R-4, Multiple Unit Residential, to R-1, One & Two Unit Residential, for Lots 1-4 of Midway Second Addition. This change puts the existing homes at the cul-de-sac to R-1, in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood. A common-sense change and I have no concerns.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published January 6, 2023)
b) Written communication filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Pass an ordinance amending the Zoning Map by removing property generally described as Lots 1-4 of Midway Second Addition from the R-4, Multiple Unit Residential Zoning District, to the R-1, One & Two Unit Residential Zoning District, upon its first consideration.
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.)
6. Receive and file the City Council Work Session minutes of January 3, 2023 relative to the following items:
a) Council Policy Development.
7. Receive and file the City Council Standing Committee minutes of January 3, 2023 relative to the following items:
a) Annual Report of Library.
b) RETF items implemented by Public Safety.
8. Approve the following recommendations of the Mayor relative to the appointment of members to Boards and Commissions: Thanks to Shirley Merner for her willingness to serve an additional six years. This is a challenging board to find new members for, and so I am re-appointing despite my usual practice of not re-appointing members who've already served 20 years on the same commission or board.
a) Shirley Merner, Health Trust Fund Board of Trustees, term ending 12/31/28.
9. Approve the following applications for retail alcohol licenses: The City Council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits and liquor licenses in the city.
a) College Square Cinema, 6301 University Avenue, Special Class C retail alcohol - renewal.
b) Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2125 West Lone Tree Road, Class C retail alcohol & outdoor service - renewal.
c) Kwik Spirits, 4116 University Avenue, Class E retail alcohol - 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.)
10. Resolution Calendar with items considered separately.
11. Resolution approving and adopting amendments to the City's Accounting Policies and Procedures and Purchasing Manual. The Section 11 change is simply administrative to update dollar thresholds; the Section 28 change is more significant for organizations that have applied for "Community Betterment grants" in the past. These grants will end, and instead, organizations may apply for Economic Development Funds or Tourism Development Funds, and must show to have a clear public purpose. I support these changes, becuase I believe that, in past years, the city has dedicated taxpayer funds to initiatives that, while commendable, should instead be funded through private fundraising efforts. In this new approach, the mayor-appointed Visitors and Tourism Board will have the discretion to approve tourism development funding requests within the budgeted dollar amount set by the city council each year. Service agencies that rely on these dollars will instead enter into annual service agreements with the city; Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley and the Cedar Valley Soccer Club are two examples of such service organizations.
12. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Contract with Exceptional Persons, Inc. (EPI) relative to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for service agencies. This agreement would provide $5800 in federal passthrough funds for rental assistance for low-to-moderate income residents.
13. Resolution approving the final plat of Wild Horse Ridge Sixth Addition. This approval would allow the parcels in this subdivision to be sold for home construction. I greatly appreciate that the layout minimizes the use of cul-de-sacs.
14. Resolution approving and authorizing the expenditure of funds for the purchase of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection lamps for the Water Reclamation facility. The treatment lamps must be replaced, for a total cost of $63K out of Sewer Rental Funds.
15. Resolution approving the Certificate of Completion and accepting the work of Aspro, Inc. for the College Hill Parking Lot Improvements Project. This agreement allows the contractor to be paid the remaining $7.8K for the project.
16. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a License Agreement with Aureon Network Services relative to installing a fiber optic telecommunications system within the West 2nd Street public right-of-way.This agreement allows the applicant to install their fiber-optic. No concerns.
17. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a License Agreement with Windstream Intellectual Property Services, LLC relative to installing a fiber optic telecommunications system within the West 12th Street and Union Road public right-of-way. This agreement allows the applicant to install their fiber-optic. No concerns.
18. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Owner Purchase Agreement; and approving and accepting one Temporary Construction Easement, in conjunction with the Oak Park Sanitary Sewer Repair Project. This agreement gives the city the rights to access property to repair the sanitary sewer in that neighborhood.
19. Resolution approving and accepting completion of public improvements in Wild Horse Ridge Fifth Addition. This approval would affirm that the developer has completed the necessary streets and other improvements to the city's satisfaction, in this new subdivision.
20. Resolution approving and accepting completion of public improvements in Wild Horse Ridge Sixth Addition. This approval would affirm that the developer has completed the necessary streets and other improvements to the city's satisfaction, in this new subdivision.
21. Resolution approving and accepting a Warranty Deed, in conjunction with the Main Street Reconstruction Project. This provides the city with a small sliver of St. Patrick's Catholic Church property for the reconstruction project.
22. Resolution receiving and filing, and setting February 6, 2023 as the date of public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the Hudson Road & West Ridgeway Avenue Intersection Improvements Project. No concerns about the hearing date.
23. Resolution receiving and filing, and setting February 6, 2023 as the date of public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the Oak Park Boulevard Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project. No concerns about the hearing date.
Allow Bills and Claims
24. Allow Bills and Claims for January 17, 2023.
Council Updates and Announcements
Council Referrals
Adjournment
| Council Packet Link | |
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| Meeting Date | 01/17/23 |
