In tonight's 7pm meeting, Item #14 (the FY20 Appropriation Resolution) and Item #22 (City Fee Schedule) were two items I paid especially close attention to, and are worth reading in detail. I had a few questions on other items, but nothing that seemed particularly controversial. In tonight's meeting, we can expect to hear from city staff about the recent cemetery item disposal issue, and I'll ask for some background on a new "minder" at the gate to the city's compost facility in North Cedar.
Prior to the regular meeting, at 5:15 we'll have a Committee of the Whole presentation on a grant-funded study of city government greenhouse gas emissions and a report from finance on the city's cash management. Both the regular session and Committee of the whole will be broadcast on Channel 15 and streaming live on YouTube. Hope you can join us in person or at home!
Call to Order by the Mayor
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting of June 3, 2019. Simply enters the minutes into the city record as an accurate reflection of what transpired at the meeting. No questions.
Agenda Revisions
Special Order of Business
2. Public hearing on proposed rezoning from R-3, Multiple Residence District, to C-2, Commercial District, of property located at 2600 Grove Street. Council is being asked to approve a change in zoning designation for a small parcel of property next to Peet Junior High, which contains a storage shed for a next-door business. This is the public's opportunity to comment on this change.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published June 7, 2019)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Oral comments.
3. Pass an ordinance amending Section 26-118 of the Code of Ordinances by removing property located at 2600 Grove Street from the R-3, Multiple Residence District, and placing the same in the C-2, Commercial District, upon its first consideration. This is the first of three readings required to change the designation. No questions.
Old Business
4. Pass Ordinance #2944, amending Chapter 2, Administration, and Chapter 23, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances relative to updating terminology, in conjunction with the implementation of recommendations from the Downtown Parking Study, upon its third & final consideration. We discussed this in previous council sessions. No questions.
5. Pass Ordinance #2945, amending Chapter 23, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances relative to establishing parking regulations, in conjunction with the implementation of recommendations from the Downtown Parking Study, upon its third & final consideration. We discussed this in previous council sessions. No questions.
6. Pass Ordinance #2946, amending Chapter 23, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances to be consistent with parking regulations being established, in conjunction with the implementation of recommendations from the Downtown Parking Study, upon its second consideration. We discussed this in previous council sessions. No questions.
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.)
7. Approve the following recommendations of the Mayor relative to the appointment of members to Boards and Commissions: The mayor appoints commissioners & board members with the consent of council. No questions.
a) Brian Hayes, Historic Preservation Commission, term ending 03/31/2022.
b) Michael Mahncke, Historic Preservation Commission, term ending 03/31/2022.
c) Debra Iehl, Utilities Board of Trustees, term ending 08/31/2025.
d) Brooke Croshier-Sidebotham, Visitors & Tourism Board, term ending 07/01/2022.
e) Amy Dutton, Visitors & Tourism Board, term ending 07/01/2022.
f) Doug Johnson, Visitors & Tourism Board, term ending 07/01/2022.
8. Receive and file the Committee of the Whole minutes of June 3, 2019 relative to the following items: Simply enters the minutes into the city record as an accurate reflection of what transpired at the meeting.
a) Utilities Board of Trustees Interview - Debra Iehl.
b) Grow Cedar Valley Update.
c) Monument Mailboxes.
d) Bills & Payroll.
9. Receive and file a communication from the Civil Service Commission relative to a certified list for the position of Equipment Mechanic. By state law, civil service positions like this one are filled using a list of most-qualified candidates (a certified list). No questions.
10. Receive and file two Reports of Compensation Commissioners and Notices of Appraisement of Damages and Time for Appeal, in conjunction with the West 1st Street Reconstruction Project. .(Page 95 to 232) A large section of legal proceedings & documentation related to acquiring property for the widening of West First Street / Highway 57. No questions.
11. Approve a request for street closures for the Sturgis Falls Half Marathon and 5K Run on June 30, 2019. A Sunday morning closure of a few blocks near CFU for the race. No questions.
12. Approve the following applications for cigarette/tobacco/nicotine/vapor permits: City Council is the approving authority for all such annual permits. No questions; smoking is bad for you - do your future you a favor and quit today. https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/guide-quitting-smoking.html
a) B & B West, 3105 Hudson Road.
b) Buzz Smoke & Vapor, 2125 College Street.
c) Dollar General Store, 2921 Center Street.
d) Hill Street News and Tobacco, 2217 College Street.
e) Prime Mart, 2728 Center Street.
f) The Smoking Dragon (f/k/a The Dragon's Cave), 2225 College Street.
13. Approve the following applications for beer permits and liquor licenses: City Council is the approving authority for all such annual permits. No questions.
a) King Star, 2228 Lincoln Street, Class C beer & Class B native wine - renewal.
b) Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, 6306 University Avenue, Special Class C liquor - renewal.
c) Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 6301 University Avenue, Class C liquor - renewal.
d) Texas Roadhouse, 5715 University Avenue, Class C liquor - renewal.
e) Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 1614 Technology Parkway, Class C beer - new.
f) Famous Dave's, 6222 University Avenue, Class C liquor - new.
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.)
14. Resolution approving and adopting the City's FY20 Appropriations Resolution. (Page 243 - 284) These forty pages detail the anticipated overall expenses for the city for this next fiscal year. Anyone interested in the city budget should review this document. I'm working to obtain a better understanding of the timelines and processes of city budgeting; I disagree with the city's approach of "saving up" designated operating funds and applying them to building construction. This happened with the new Public Safety Building, and I believe that $11M facility should have been voted on as a bond measure by the taxpayers who have to foot the bill for the new construction.
15. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Engagement Letter with Eide Bailly, LLP to perform the audit of the City's FY19 financial statements and compliance with federal award programs. No questions.
16. Resolution naming official depositories for the City of Cedar Falls. (Page 297-298). Given Wells Fargo's high-profile abuses and settlements, I'm surprised that the city still lists it as its highest depositor (up to $50M). I question whether it's in "the best interest of the City of Cedar Falls" to do so (as worded in the resolution). No other questions.
17. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Agreement for Textile Services with City Laundering Company relative to providing linen services. .Will provide shop towels and mats to city departments for $10.8K this upcoming year. No questions.
18. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Administrative Services Agreement with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield relative to the City's FY20 Employee Health Plan. (Pages 304-338) No questions.
19. Resolution approving a Stop Loss Policy with Wellmark, Inc. relative to the City's FY20 Employee Health Plan. (Pages 339-351). No questions.
20. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Client Agreement with Express Scripts, Inc. relative to pharmacy benefit management services. (Page 352-364) An agreement for filling prescriptions for city employees. No questions.
21. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Client Authorization to Bind Coverage with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. relative to FY20 insurance brokerage and risk management services. (Page 365-379) This is the city's insurance policy. No questions for the council meeting.
22. Resolution approving and adopting the City's FY20 Fee Schedule. (Page 380-396) This Excel printout lists all the current and proposed rates for city services. I'm happy to see the City Employee Wellness Rates listed for the Rec Center (page 392), which is a win for transparency. I do have additional questions about how residents are invoiced for remediating unkept yards (mowing) and we'll need to address the monthly parking pass issue (which is raised here from $20 to $35 per month) but not urgent for tonight's vote.
23. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Agreement with Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. relative to the preparation of a Visitor Guide. This would change the annual Visitor Guide from a contract with the Courier to an "in-house" production by Experience Waterloo (the new name for the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau). This would result in a gross profit to the city via ad sales. I have a question about selling advertising in what's essentially a government publication. How would this be different from banner ads on the city's website? Not that I'm opposed to this, per se, just interested in the details, and to know if we're somehow competing with private enterprise here.
24. Resolution approving and accepting a Quit Claim Deed, in conjunction with the Ridgeway Avenue Reconstruction Project. A transfer of property for $1 from CFU to the city in order to build the upgraded West Ridgeway Avenue at the new Fleet Farm. No questions.
25. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of Supplemental Agreement No. 8 to the Professional Service Agreement with Snyder & Associates, Inc. for 2019 Engineering Services relative to the Greenhill Road Extension Lighting Project. $7K in taxpayer funds for the design of lighting in the new Greenhill Road roundabout at University Ave. No questions.
26. Resolution approving and adopting revised Bylaws for the Historic Preservation Commission. Just changes the regular meeting time of the commission. No questions.
27. Resolution approving and accepting a Lien Notice and Special Promissory Note for property located at 1600 West 3rd Street relative to the Rental to Single Family Owner Conversion Incentive Program. The city grants a $10K forgivable loan to qualifying properties for exterior improvements like windows and siding. No questions.
28. Resolution approving and accepting a Lien Notice and Special Promissory Note for property located at 620 Tremont Street relative to the Rental to Single Family Owner Conversion Incentive Program. The city grants a $10K forgivable loan to qualifying properties for exterior improvements like windows and siding. No questions.
29. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Project Escrow Agreement with Greenhill Estates, Inc. relative to completion of public improvements at the Greenhill Road and Coneflower Parkway intersection. The developer of that area is jointly paying for improvements along with the city, next year. This $102K escrow account is meant to ensure that the developer completes their end of the work. No questions.
30. Resolution setting July 1, 2019 as the date of public hearing on a proposal to undertake a public improvement project for the Cyber Lane-2018 Street Construction Project and to authorize acquisition of private property for said project. No questions about the hearing date.
31. Resolution receiving and filing, and setting July 1, 2019 as the date of public hearing on, the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the South Main Street Parking Lot Project. This is the parking lot that will replace the dirt (or sometimes mud!) parking area across from the Paw Park on South Main, for trail users. No questions about the hearing date.
32. Resolution setting July 1, 2019 as the date of public hearing to consider entering into a proposed Agreement for Private Development and to consider conveyance of certain city-owned real estate to Tjaden Properties, L.L.C. No questions about the hearing date.
33. Resolution setting July 2, 2019 as the date of consultation and directing mailing of notice of consultation, and setting August 19, 2019 as the date of public hearing, directing publication of notice of hearing, directing the mailing of notice of hearing, and approving pre-annexation agreements for application for voluntary annexation of real estate to the City of Cedar Falls. . No questions about the hearing date.
34. Resolution appointing City Councilmember Susan deBuhr as a representative of the City of Cedar Falls for a Consultation with representatives of the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors and the Cedar Falls Township Trustees relative to applications for voluntary annexation of certain real estate to the City of Cedar Falls. No questions about the hearing date.
Ordinances
35. Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 23, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances relative to prohibiting parking on portions of Panther Lane, upon its first consideration. (Page 520-521) This new ordinance matches what was discussed during Committee of the Whole a few weeks back. No questions.
Allow Bills and Payroll
36. Allow Bills and Payroll of June 17, 2019. No questions.
City Council Referrals No referrals.
City Council Updates No updates.
Public Forum. (Speakers will have one opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes on topics germane to City business.)
Adjournment
| Council Packet Link | |
|---|---|
| Meeting Date | 06/17/19 |
