HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-22-Work Session MinutesWAUKEE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
FEBRUARY 22,2006
A)Call to Order -The special workshop meeting of the Wankee City Council was called to order by
Mayor Peard at 7:00 p.m.
B)Roll Call -The following members were present:Mayor Peard,Mayor Pro Tem Stanton and Council
Members Bailey,Mertz,Watts.Council Member McGee arrived at 7:II p.m.after roll call.
C)Agenda Approval.Motion by Council Member Stanton,seconded by Council Member Mertz,to
approve the February 22,2006 special meeting agenda,with a discussion of the 98th St./Waco PI.
realignment inserted between work session items #3 and 4.Roll Call.Ayes:Stanton,Mertz,Bailey,
Watts.Nays:None.Absent:McGee.Motion carried 4 -O.
D)PRESENTATION:Recognition of Tom and Carleen Evans for their volunteer service to the City
of Waukee.Mayor Peard read a proclamation recognizing the Evans'for their work with Crime Stoppers,
McGruffHouse and Neighborhood Watch.He then presented Carleen Evans with a copy of the
proclamation.
E)RESOLUTION:Consideration of an Amendment to Option to Purchase Land between the Estella
L.Copeland Trust,the Estella L.and Ralph C.Copeland Trust,and the City of Waukee,Iowa.Motion
by Council Member Watts,seconded by Council Member Mertz,to approve the resolution:John Gibson
explained that the amendment would extend the deadline for City's option to purchase by six months.He
then stated that he had spoken with Joe Copeland on the matter,and the Copeland family feels that ifthe
option is extended,the family should be paid interest on the payment during that six months.The
Copelands also want added stipulations on the purchase,such as the ability to continue fanning the land
until it is developed by the City and a stipulation that if the City wishes to sell the property,the Copelands
could purchase it for the same price for which it was initially sold to the City.(Council Member McGee
arrived at 7:11 p.m.)Council Member Mertz stated that he did not support paying interest during the
extension.Council Member Bailey asked if the City could purchase land from the Cope lands that was
closer to the current city limits;Mr.Gibson replied that it had not been discussed with the Copelands.
Council Member Bailey then suggested a 90-day extension instead of six months.Mr.Gibson stated that
he had discussed the possibility of a land purchase closer to the City with the Clayton family,but that they
would not be able to make a decision within 90 days.Council Members Stanton and Watts said that they
supported purchasing the next parcel by the original date of March 1,2006.Council Member McGee
stated that he did not see the logic in purchasing land closer to the City if it meant buying less acreage.
Jody Gunderson explained that the stipulation the Copelands requested allowing them to purchase the
land in the future at the current price may not be legal.He also stated that once infrastructure is
constructed out to the property,development will follow.Council Member McGee agreed,saying that
park facilities would be used no matter where they were built.Council Member Bailey wanted it known
that Adel's future annexation plans would bring that town's border to R-16 near the Copeland property.
Council Member Bailey asked that City staff pursue a 90-day extension option with the Copelands;the
remaining council members agreed to purchase the next parcel of the Copeland property by the original
deadline of March 1,2006 if the Copelands would not agree to the extension with no additional
stipulations,and the City shall continue to pursue the purchase of land closer to the current city limits.
Roll Call:Ayes:None.Nays:Watts,Mertz,Bailey,McGee,Stanton.Motion defeated 0-5.)F)Work Session:
1.Grant Park subdivision -312t11 Place Extension.Brad Deets explained that the City had
received a letter from Kurt Brewer expressing interest in developing his property immediately to
the east of Grant Park.However,there is a potential issue with access to this proposed
development,as Mr.Brewer owns the northem half of the proposed 312'h Pi.extension and the
Booth family owns the southem half.According to Mr.Brewer,the Booths are not interested in
putting in their half of the extension.There would most likely be adequate access to the Brewer
property without the extension,both through Grant Park and the proposed University Plaza Park
to the north,which would allow access from University Ave.There are also drainage issues on
the proposed development site that would limit the number of lots that could be developed.City
staff would like direction from Council as to whether Mr.Brewer should be allowed to develop
this parcel without constructing the 312'h Pi.extension.Council Member Mertz reminded the
Council that the City agreed to allow for no parkland in Grant Park with the provision that it be
provided in this newly proposed development.He also expressed concem with the proximity of
single family housing so near the future Alice's Road corridor.Jody Gunderson replied that the
Brewer property is designated as residential in the Alice's Road Corridor Plan.Council Member
Mertz stated that he did not favor allowing the development until there was access in place to
University Ave.to the north.Council Member Watts said he would not favor the development
without the 312'h Pi.extension.Mr.Gibson replied that the City had not discussed the extension
directly with the Booths,but would do so.He also stated that the parkland issue would be
handled during the platting process.
2.92nd St.Alignment.John Gibson explained that developers in West Des Moines wished to align
92"d St.in such a way that would 11.mit directly through the Bi11Chase property,The City and
Mr.Chase object to this alignment,and instead propose that 92"d St.run along the western border
of the Chase property,then connect with Ashworth Road west of the acreages to the west of
Maple Grove United Methodist Church.Council agreed to this alignment.
3.Giles property -Alice Rd.Realignment.Jolm Gibson explained how the City had been
working with the Giles family over the last year to come to an agreement on the alignment of the
Alice's Rd.extension through their property.As part of the proposed agreement,the Giles family
would deed the Alice's Road right-of-way to the City.Mik Briedis of Veenstra &Kimm
addressed the Council,explaining that there are three proposed options for the alignment of
Alice's Rd.south of the Giles property to connect with Ashworth Road.He stated that the City
wanted Alice's Rd.to have a design and feeling similar to Mills Civic Pkwy.in West Des
Moines,with similar tuming radii.Jody Gunderson then stated that the alignment of Alice's Rd.
south of the Giles property to the interstate would depend on the approved design of the 1-
80/Alice's Rd.interchange.Council agreed to the Alice's Rd.alignment along the Giles
property.
3A.9S'h St./Waco PI.Realignment.John Gibson explained that the proposed realignment wonld
eliminate the square comers,replacing them with an "S"curve.It will be a developer's
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responsibility to aquire the land on both sides of981h St./Waco PI.in order to realign the road.
Waukee's city boundary would then need to be realigned to follow the centerline of the newly
constructed road.Council Member Watts then addressed the Alice's Rd./University Ave.
intersection,asking what was to become of the parcel ofland at the northeast corner ofthe
intersection that would be created by the Alice's Rd.realignment,Mr.Gibson explained that the
parcel would become a detention pond with a key comer feature,such as a fountain.The pond
would be maintained by Regency as part of Williams Pointe Plat 9.Council Member Watts
questioned the use of such a prime location for drainage detention;Mr.Briedis answered that the
topography created natural drainage to the site,and that it would be cost prohibitive to make the
area buildable.Council Member Bailey asked if the calculations proved the detention pond to
have adequate capacity;Mr.Briedis replied in the affirmative.Returning to the discussion of 981h
St./Waco PI.,Council Member Bailey asked if the affected property owners were aware of the
realignment;Mr.Gibson replied that they had been informed.
4.RAGBRAI -Update.Mayor Peard stated that the City's RAGBRAI committee had met with
the executive director ofRAGBRAI.He also stated that volunteers were still needed to fill three
seats as committee chairpersons,and that the website for the event was now up and running,The
logo for the event had been discussed but not yet chosen.
F)Comments -Mik Briedis spoke on the bidletting for the University Ave.widening project.He
explained that the City needed to sign a project development certification agreement to proceed,but that
an agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad must be in place first.Veenstra &Kimm has tried to
contact representatives of the railroad,but phone calls are not being returned in a timely manner,if at all.
The delay in obtaining the railroad agreement adds more cost to the project.Council Member Bailey
asked if the City could contact Senator Grassley and Congressman Latham to apprise them of the
railroad's lack of cooperation and see if anything could be done to expedite the agreement.He also asked
if the City Attomey should look into the matter.J olm Gibson replied that the senators would be contacted
and that the City Attomey had been consulted on the matter.
Adjournment.Mayor Peard asked for a motion to adjoum.Motion by Council Member Mertz,
seconded by Council Member McGee.Ayes:All.Nays:None.Motion carried 5 -O.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
R.Schuett,Deputy City Clerk
Attest:
t:'F.eard,Mayor
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