April 20, 2015 Minutes

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 20th day of April, 2015, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present were: Tim Koehler, Virgil Wayne Latimer, Lisa Mengler, Jackie Puck, and Jacob Puck. Absent: None. City employees present: Jeff Blake, John Brockmann, Jackie Huston, Lisa Rickertsen, and Tom Schirman.

Approval of Agenda. Mayor Kostichek stated the architect for welcome signs under the Vision Committee Report has been removed from the agenda due to absence of committee member. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the agenda with deletion as stated. Motion carried.

Audience. Gene Meyer, Kent Arp, Paul Baele, Karen Puck, Jill Hernandez, and Sarah Hayden.

Public Hearing : Main Street Streetscape Enhancement Project Plans and Specifications. Mayor Kostichek opened the public hearing and Rickertsen stated no written comments were received. Discussion was held on designating the west bridge walkway (structural bridge items) as an alternate bid item, adding a third driveway at the B & D property, and including decorative light pole brackets and electrical outlet location details. Engineer Paul Baele, Missman, Inc., will amend the plans and specifications to include the changes as discussed. Brockmann questioned why the decorative lights are not being extended to Welcome Park during this project. It was stated that this phase of the project stops at Vernon Street however extending to Welcome Park could be the next phase. Discussion ensued regarding project costs and location and separation distance of decorative lights. Following discussion, Jackie Puck moved and Mengler seconded to close the public hearing and resume the regular meeting at 6:31 p.m. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda. Koehler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices and March financial reports. Motion carried.

Minutes : April 6, 2015. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the minutes from April 6, 2015. Jackie Puck and Latimer abstained due to absence from meeting. Motion carried.

Vision Committee Members. During the last Vision Committee meeting, the committee requested approval for two new members. Jacob Puck and Koehler moved to approve Brent Arp and Austin Burt as new Vision Committee members. Motion carried.

Main Street Streetscape Enhancement Project. Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2015-13, Approving Plans and Specifications/Contract Documents for Main Street Streetscape Enhancement Project. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Jackie Puck, Jacob Puck, Latimer, and Koehler. Motion carried.

Resolution Setting Date for Public Hearing on Urban Renewal Plan Amendment. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2015-15, Setting Date for Public Hearing on Urban Renewal Plan Amendment. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Jacob Puck, Jackie Puck, Koehler, and Latimer. Motion carried. The hearing will be on May 18th at 6:00 p.m.

Resolution Setting Date for Public Hearing on Development Agreement with Eugene Meyer. Jacob Puck moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2015-14, Setting Date for Public Hearing on Development Agreement with Eugene Meyer (Geno's Ice Cream and Subs). Roll call ayes: Jacob Puck, Jackie Puck, Mengler, Latimer, and Koehler. The hearing will be on May 18th at 6:00 p.m.

Municipal Building Project. Jill Hernandez, neighboring property owner, questioned the status of the municipal building project. She stated she had been contacted by a representative of Central Petroleum Company (Cen-Pe-Co) regarding the purchase of her property to be gifted to the City. In response, discussion included the possibility of selling the lot at 101 S. Main Street or retaining ownership while providing an easement and possible use restrictions and advantages/disadvantages and costs of constructing a new municipal building on the property adjacent to the current City Hall. Koehler advised Hernandez the City Council needs more information before determining what direction they want to take and Cen-Pe-Co is waiting for that determination prior to any action. The City Clerk was directed to continue working with the architect regarding plans for a municipal building at 101 S. Main Street. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to have Brockmann obtain demolition costs, estimates for salt shed relocation, and contacting the property owner of 116 N. Main Street for possible purchase. Motion carried.

City Owned Lots on N. Main Street. Additional information was provided regarding the two city-owned lots, west side of Main Street just north of Mud Creek. Zoning Administrator, Jackie Huston, provided floodway and floodplain maps and documents from the IDNR and described the legal process to fill in floodplain. Brockmann stated the City Engineer already has topography information on the lots therefore it wouldn't cost as much as the previous estimate provided to submit an application to the IDNR for permission to fill the lots. Mengler moved and Koehler seconded to have Brockmann obtain engineering quotes from the City Engineer and a second engineer for services as discussed. Motion carried.

Realtor Contract Amendment. Mel Foster Commercial Realtor, Nick Bert, submitted a request to extend the listing contract for 1113 N. Main Street for another six months. Concerns were expressed regarding the lack of communication from the realtor. Jackie Puck moved to proceed with obtaining a new realtor. Following further discussion, Jackie Puck rescinded her motion and Koehler moved and Mengler seconded to extend the contract with Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services to May 20, 2015, and request the realtor attend the next council meeting. Motion carried.

Ordinance 477-15, Amending the Official Zoning Map. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the third reading of Ordinance 477-15. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Jacob Puck, Jackie Puck, Latimer, and Koehler. Motion carried. This is the final reading to rezone the lot at 101 S. Main Street from M-1, Light Industrial, to C-2, Central Business District.

Ordinance 478-15, Adding Chapter 126 Entitled RAGBRAI. Jacob Puck moved and Jackie Puck seconded to waive the second reading of Ordinance 478-15, Adding Chapter 126, Entitled RAGBRAI. Roll call ayes: Jacob Puck, Jackie Puck, Koehler, Latimer, and Mengler. Motion carried. Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the third reading of Ordinance 478-15, Adding Chapter 126, Entitled RAGBRAI. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Jackie Puck, Jacob Puck, Koehler, and Latimer. Motion carried.

Police Department Report. Chief Blake presented his report including recent graffiti vandalism to the slides at Victory Park.

Public Works Report. Brockmann presented a project worksheet to replace the computer at the wastewater treatment plant WWTP. He stated this will cut down on paper work and will help in getting the lab certified. Koehler moved and Latimer seconded to purchase a new computer for the WWTP from Tiger Direct at a cost of $659.97. Motion carried. Brockmann also reported he was contacted by the RAGBRAI Committee to try and improve the condition of E. Bryant Street because it is on the proposed RAGBRAI route. Discussion was held on the request and also on the condition of properties along E. Bryant Street. Brockmann will obtain cost estimates for street repairs on E. Bryant Street. Brockmann mentioned that for some of his employees the cut in prescription benefits last fall was more than the wage increase last year. Mayor Kostichek stated he and a neighbor mow the unimproved street right-of-way west of his house and questioned if Public Works could smooth out the ruts on that property which resulted from the W. Bryant Street project.

City Clerk's Report. Jacob Puck moved and Jackie Puck seconded to set the public hearing date for the FYE 2015 budget amendment for May 18th at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried.

Attorney's Report. Attorney Schirman discussed various options of the 101 S. Main Street lot and questioned what response should be given to Cen-Pe-Co. The Council stated they are obtaining additional information prior to making a determination.

Mayor's Report. Mayor Kostichek reported he was contacted by the Blue Grass Mayor to determine interest in forming a separate school district incorporating Walcott, Blue Grass, and Buffalo. This would provide K-12 education for the three communities. It was stated that many citizens had requested this over the years. Attorney Schirman questioned if the research had been done to determine the process necessary to establish a school district. Mayor Kostichek expressed his thanks and appreciation to Brian Mengler, Park Board Chairperson, for the many volunteer labor hours he has put in at the parks recently.

Mengler moved and Koehler seconded to adjourn at 7:47 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.