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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-04-30-Special MinutesCITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 30,2001 Call to Order -Mayor Pro Tern Wayne Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:27PM. Roll Call-Roll call was taken.Councilmen Wayne Johnson,Marvin Berger,Nick Gruber and Bill Peard were present.Mayor Donald L.Bailey,Jr.and Councilman Mike Watts were absent. Agenda Additions/Agenda Approval -A motion was made by Gruber seconded by Berger to approve the agenda as presented.Motion passed unanimously. Resolution Approving Revised Site Plan for Windfield West Townhomes -A motion was offered by Berger seconded by Gruber to approve the revised site plan.The revision allows the substitution of two single story unit for two story units on several of the buildings.This revision has been reviewed and approved by the Planning &Zoning Committee.Mayor Pro Tern Johnson called for a roll call vote.Ayes;Berger,Gruber, Peard,Johnson.Nays;None.Motion approved. RESOLUTION 01-66 APPROVING REVISED SITE PLAN FOR WINDFIELD WEST TOWNHOMES WHEREAS,Regency Builders is the developer of the Windfield West Townhomes located at the comer of Warrior Lane and Melrose Street,AND, WHEREAS,Regency Builders has determined that the current market for townhomes favors additional single story units,AND, WHEREAS,the site has been redesigned to include single story townhomes which slightly alters the footprint of the approved buildings,AND, WHEREAS,a new sight plan showing the revised building footprint has been approved by the Planning &Zoning Commission, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOL YED by the Waukee City Council in session this 30th day of April,2001 that it hereby approves the revised sight plan for the Windfield West Townhomes. Donald L.Bailey,Jr.,Mayor Attest: 1 Mark J.Arentsen,City Administrator/Clerk ROLL CALL VOTE Nicholas C.Gruber Marvin Berger Bill Peard Mike Watts Wayne Johnson AYE NAY ABSENT X X X X X Councilman Watts joined the meeting at 4:30PM. Strategic Planning Session -Tim Shields of the University of Iowa Institute for Public Affairs led the session.Mayor Bailey arrived at 4:34PM.He stated that the ground rules for this session involved an informal atmosphere,openness,listening,staying focused and silence implies affirmation.The process today will involve a review of what's been done since the last session,looking at the key issues facing the City in the next one to two years,discussion and analysis of the key issues and developing priorities and goals. The Council first reviewed the accomplishments which have occurred since the last planning session in 1998.Berger stated that the two most significant accomplishments involved hiring a new City Administrator and beginning work on a new Comprehensive Plan.Councilman Peard listed the main accomplishments as expanding the City staff including the Community Development Director,construction of the Public Safety building and purchasing the City Hall building.Councilman Watts stated the two most important accomplishments were lowering taxes and accomplishing annexations. Councilman Gruber listed the storm warning sirens and remodeling of the old City Hall into the Community Center.Mayor Bailey listed the major accomplishments as the probable success of the library referendum,annexations,construction of the Public Safety building and the construction of Gilcrest Jewett Lumber Company.Councilman Johnson listed the probable success of the library,the improved financial condition of the City,the increased awareness of the need for park and recreation facilities and the addition of two full time firefighters.Other accomplishments listed by the group were growth in business and growth in population. 1 Shields reviewed the goals established in the 1998 plan.The street improvement plan is an ongoing project.A new public safety building has been built.A community center has been established.Fiscal stability has been achieved.Design standards are being developed at this time.A City Facility Plan has been adopted.A library plan has been adopted.Staff capacity has been developed.The Comprehensive Plan is being updated. The City has put more emphasis on economic development.The Capital Improvements Plan has yet to be developed.Shields stated that the City has done a good job accomplishing the goals set in 1998.I 2 He stated that one of the major issues for people now is quality of life.People have left larger cities to improve their quality of life,yet they have many of the same expectations they had when they lived in larger cities.He also stated that there are three Iowas.One Iowa is dying.These are older towns in decline.Some parts ofIowa are working hard just to maintain what they already have.There are also cities that are growing.80%of the growth in Iowa is occurring in the Iowa City/City Rapids corridor and the Des Moines/Ames corridor.Waukee is part of this.Ethnic diversity is another emerging issues.State government may also dip into the growing cities revenue opportunities.The Council agreed that enforcement of design standards may result in some projects not coming to Waukee.Mayor Bailey stated that he is concerned about tax incentives. Development should come from the core of the City out. The Mayor and Council then listed the key strategic issues for the City to address in the next one to two years.The items listed were Design Standards,Development Incentive Policies,Capital Improvements Plan,Comprehensive Plan Administration,Annexation, Park &Recreation Issues and Purchase of City Owned Land. Shields then asked the Mayor and each Council member to rank their top five priorities from the above list.The group consensus was that Design Standards,Capital Improvements Plan,Comprehensive Plan Implementation and Administration, Annexation and Park &Recreation Issues were the top five group priorities. Regarding Design Standards,the group agreed that the City should establish high minimum standards,include flexibility depending on location,establish overlay districts for some areas such as Hickman Road,apply design standards by zoning district and be sure the standards are reflective of the market.Mayor Bailey stated his support for establishing a City Planner position. Regarding the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP),Shields stated that the major components of the CIP are streets,water,sewer,parks,major equipment and land purchases.A multi-year plan and funding strategy is needed for each.He suggested developing a five year plan with a three year funding commitment.The CIP should be reviewed annually. The group next discussed how to implement the updated Comprehensive Plan.Mayor Bailey again stated his desire to establish a Planner position for the City.The Council agreed that if there was a way to fund the position,it would be desirable for the City to have this position.Shields stated that the Council should hold a joint annual meeting with the Planning and Zoning Committee.Mayor Bailey stated the City's development ordinances needed to be revised following adoption of the Comprehensive Plan.Shields stated that the City should adopt a teamwork approach to plan implementation using community values.Long range goals need to be developed.There needs to be mutual support of the Council and P&Z.As a short term strategy,a memo needs to be sent to the P&Z stating the Council's expectations for the appearance of new commercial construction. 3 Annexation was the next issue discussed.Shields stated that the City needs to determine what the high priority annexation areas are.Several Council members stated the City needs to continue annexations south of 1-80.Mayor Bailey stated that the City should adopt an annexation agreement with West Des Moines.The value of developing annexation agreement with Van Meter was also discussed.A multi-year approach to annexation needs to be developed.The City also needs to explore the benefits that could be achieved through annexation agreements. Parks and recreation issues were discussed next.A linear park,a bike path,was mentioned.Parkland dedication could be used to acquire the land for this park. Councilman Watts and Peard spoke in favor of a City aquatic center.This has been a high priority issue for the City as far back as 1985.Councilman Gruber and Watts spoke in support of summer recreation programming by the City.Councilman Johnson stated that only $25,000 in capital funds have been allocated to the Park Board this year. The group next discussed other long term planning issues.Shields suggested that the City should consider developing a staffing plan.The City may also need to develop a long range transportation plan.City Engineer Mikelis Bredis suggested that the City should consider allowing the older streets to deteriorate for several more years and then replace the underground facilities as part of the street reconstruction process.Mayor Bailey suggested that widening University Avenue using MFO funding should be a higher priority than funding for an interchange at Alice's Road.He also stated that there is a downside to TIP that the City needs to understand better.Councilman Gruber and Peard stated that TIP projects are evaluated on a case by case basis.Councilman Watts stated that he and Mayor Bailey oppose incentives to specific projects that are built in a business park that has already had TIP funds used to install sewer,water and streets. Community Development Director Jody Gunderson stated that developers need the infrastructure improvements to attract non TIP development that then generates revenues that rebate the developer his infrastructure expenses.It is not in the developers interest to have specific buildings TIPed because that extends the time for the developer to recoup his infrastructure investment.Mayor Bailer referenced the Stratford Commons development in Clive as an example that the City of Waukee should follow.He stated that the City's TIP policy may not be the best it could be.Shields stated that rebated formatted TIPs used by the City of Waukee are in the City's interest since the developer and not the City is financing the project.Mayor Bailey stated that the City should use rebate TIPs funded by the developers and not fund TIP improvements as a City expense. Gunderson stated that some developers may be willing to forfeit a portion of their rebate dollars to get a development onto their property.Several Council members stated that the City should retain its options to use multiple forms of TIP. Shields stated that there is much consensus among the Council members and that they should continue to work together because they do agree on almost everything that was discussed tonight.Councilman Gruber stated that these planning sessions should become an annual event.Shields stated that Waukee is in the enviable position of dealing with growth related problems.Waukee's problems are other community's solutions. 4 A motion was then made by Peard,seconded by Johnson to adjourn.Motion passed unanimously.Mayor Bailey declared the meeting adjourned at 8:55PM. ~ti1----- Attest: Mark J.Arentsen,q y Administrator/Clerk I 5