HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-25-Special MinutesWAUKEE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
MAY 25,2005 )
(1)Call to Order -The special meeting of the Waukee City Council was called to order
by Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Mertz at 7:00 PM.
(2)Roll Call-The following members were present:Mayor Pro Tern Jeff Mertz and
Council members Nicholas Gruber,Donald Bailey,Jr.,Bill Peard and Darlene Stanton.
(3)Agenda Approval-Changes were made by the Council to re-order the agenda and
add an open forum as Item 4,Bill Peard moved;Darlene Stanton second to approve the
agenda as changed.Ayes:Peard,Stanton,Bailey,Gruber,Mertz.Nays:None.Motion
carried 5-0.
(4)Open Forum:Bart Weller,840 4th St.spoke to the Council in support of the
Sidewalk Program for repair,reconstruction of old and construction of new sidewalks,
which began this year.Mr.Weller commended the Council and Staff and encouraged the
City to continue with the program.
Mayor Pro Tem Mertz announced that Planning &Zoning Commission would hold a
special meeting at the Warrior Plaza Phase III development site to get a visual sense of
what has occurred with the development.Council members are invited to attend.
(5)Consultation Meeting:Annexation of property in Ashworth Road area West 0/R22
Mark Hansen,Dallas County Supervisor and Boone Township Trustees Judy Boston and
Kathy Hancock were present for this Consultation Meeting.The City is proposing an
80/20 Almexation-80%voluntary and 20%non-consenting -for property that lies west
ofR22 or Ute Avenue except for 4.75 acres,which abuts R22 on the east side.The
annexation of 80%is development driven.The 20%portion ofland contiguous to the
City is opportunity and numbers driven.City Administrator Mark Arentsen explained the
method and timeline for the annexation process.Mr.Arentsen also discussed the
possibility of reduced water rates due to the City's purchase of the Xenia Water Lines
and the Utility Committee's approval of reduced rates,access to municipal sewer at such
time as it is available and the benefit accruing to properties to be developed due to the
annexation and construction of utilities.Mr.Arentsen also indicated the area comprising
the 80%would be part of an amendment to tile Comprehensive Plan where the proposed
property to be annexed would likely be designated residential with very little commercial.
In addition,Mr.Arcntscn stated that the properties in the 20%,which were being taken in
as non-consenting properties were selected so as to include whole properties and not
portions of a property such as would have been the case if including the Phillips
Hamilton property and to make sure that in a few years with additional annexations,the
City isn't faced with the prospect of having an island ohm-annexed properties in the
middle of annexed property.Ted Torstenson,Mark Sampson,President of Sunset Ridge
Home Association,Mike Phillips,Mark Foust,Bill Olson,Don Davis and Diane Foust,
all members of the non-consenting portion of this annexation,spoke to the Council in
opposition to the 80/20 Annexation.Mr.Torstenson questioned why the City was not
using the R-22 sewer,which was recently completed.Mr.Arentsen explained that most
ofthe capacity of the force main sewer line recently completed had been purchased by
those individuals helping to fund approximately 80%of the construction costs.Mr.
Arentsen answered a second question from Mr.Torstenson when he indicated tile Phillips
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Hamilton property probably would not be annexed at this time because it could only be
annexed in part and not entirely.The City practice has been to annex whole properties
and to not annex parts of properties.Mr.Sampson indicated that the residents of Sunset
Ridge as well as the others in the non-consenting portion did not have enough
information to determine whether the residents are interested in the annexation.Mr.
Sampson will give to Mark a list of questions regarding the annexation to be answered
prior to the next discussion of this item.Mike Phillips discussed the availability of
benefits for those who annex this summer.Mark Foust stated that annexation to the City
brings with it certain costs -the potential of special assessments such as sewer
assessments,and city taxes,which are higher than rural.In addition Mr.Foust indicated
he preferred living in the country and didn't want to be annexed because (the City)"has a
lot of plans you're not telling people."Bill Olson moved here because ofthe potential of
the property and loves living in the country.He is cleaning up the property and burns a
lot and knows the City does not permit burning.He also questioned the cost of city
water.Don Davis discussed sewer construction and how much will be built and what
size of line will be installed.Diane Foust wanted to be sure that all information was
shared with all parties and,perhaps,placed on the web site.Further discussion of all of
these questions and concems and provision of more information for these property
owners will occur prior to proceeding with this annexation.
(6)Resolution:Approving Site Plan of Village at Grace Woods Bill Peard moved to
approve this site plan,Darlene Stanton second.Roger Silver of Nilles &Associates and
Bob Gibson and Josh Skau of Triton Homes presented the changes to the site plan
originally requested by Council at the last regular meeting.Benning and landscaping of
the property line separating the development with the existing homes,increasing the
bump-out of the residential units by 4 inches and changes in the property storm water
drainage were the three areas of concentration.Roll call:Ayes:Peard,Stanton,Bailey,
Gruber,Mertz.Nays:None.Motion carried 5 -O.
(7)Resolution:Approving Health Insurance Plan An Employee Benefits Review
Committee has met since the latter part of2004.The group,after extensive study,
recommended a change in the health insurance plan provided to City employees.The
change included larger co-pay and a deductible.These changes would be funded by a
self-insured portion of the program,whereby the City would pick up the cost of increased
co-pay and the deductible.Receipt of the billing for that portion paid by the City would
be through a third party,The change most evident to the employees would be an
increased amount to be paid at the time of the office visit or medical treatment and the
necessity for managing the paper requirements of the self-insured funding.In addition
members of CWA Local 7102 are indicating that the changes represented in this proposal
are changes to the three year contract,which is still in effect through the first half of next
year.Members of Local 7102 who were present at the meeting were Bob Herrick,Brian
Hickman,Troy Winters,Chris Keller,Justin Dodge,Lee Perkins,Bill Daggett and Rod
Schettler.Kay Pence,CW A Representative for District 7 as well as Jim Perky and three
other representatives were present.It was apparent to City Council that many employees
did not have the necessary information with which to understand the changes to the
insurance program.In addition,those employees who understood the administration of
the program did not understand how the benefits derived from this change would be
distributed or used.For many union members,the difficulties in accepting the change
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stemmed from not having a thorough understanding of the proposed change as well as the
ramifications of that change.In addition,union members are against changing the
insurance from the one insurance plan proposed and accepted by union members during
the negotiations in 2003.Union members are recommending that the proposed change be
postponed and brought back next year during the 2006 Union/City Negotiations.City
Administrator Mark Arentsen said that of the two proposed plans,one was without any
substantive change and was considered by the City's labor attomey as being the same as
the current program.TIns item will be brought back to the Council during a special
meeting Tuesday,May 31,2005.
(8)Discussion:City Attorney Candidate Interviews The Council members discussed the
preceding Monday evening meeting,May 23,2005,during which interviews were
conducted with three law firms from the DM area.All Council members thought the
three firms were very strong and each had a lot to offer.The Council will select the finn
to represent the City of Waukee during the June 6,2005 regular Council meeting.
(9)Discussion:Golfpasses for the full and part time City Employees Council members
discussed this proposal and were somewhat divided in that two Council members thought
discussion of any benefits to be given to employees should wait until next year and two
other Council members,who were proposing the type of benefit to be given to employees
this year.Further discussion of this item will occur in the future.
(10)Discussion:Fire Chief Position Due to time constraints,tins item was not
discussed ..
(11)Discussion:Big Box Regulations Due to time constraints,tins item was not
discussed.
(12)Discussion:Clive property transfer Due to time constraints,tins item was not
discussed.
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Mayor Pro Tem Mertz asked for a motion to adjourn.Nick Gruber moved.Bill Peard
second.Ayes:All.Nays:None.Motion carried 5-0.
Meeting Adjourned at 10:15 PM.
C.Paardekooper,Deputy Clerk
Attest:
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