HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-22-Special MinutesWAUKEE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
MAY 22,2006
A)Call to Order -The special workshop meeting of the Waukee City Council was called to order by
Mayor Peard at 7:05 p.m.
B)Roll Call-The following members were present:Mayor Peard and Council Members McGee,Mertz,
Stanton,Watts.Absent:Council Member Bailey.
C)Agenda Approval.Motion by Council Member McGee,seconded by Council Member Mertz,to
approve the agenda.Roll Call.Ayes:McGee,Mertz,Stanton,Watts.Nays:None.Motion carried 4-
O.
CLOSED SESSION -Motion by Council Member Watts,seconded by Council Member Mertz,to
close the regular session.Roll call:Ayes:Watts,Mertz,McGee,Stanton.Nays:None.Motion carried
4-0.
D)Closed Session:Held pursuant to Iowa Code §20.17(3)to discuss the City's Plan for Union
Contract Negotiations
E)Closed Session:Held pursuant to Iowa Code §21.5(l)to discuss strategy with Counsel in matters
where litigation is eminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the
position of the governmental body in that litigation
F)Closed Session:Held pursuant to Iowa Code §21.5(l)to discuss strategy with Counsel in matters
where litigation is eminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the
position of the governmental body in that litigation
Motion by Council Member McGee,seconded by Council Member Stanton,to open the regular
session.Roll call:Ayes:McGee,Stanton,Watts,Mertz.Nays:None.Motion carried 4 -O.The
Council entered regular session at 8:19 p.m.
G)MOTION:Consideration of approval of June 5,2006 as the date of public hearing for Project No.
STP-U-8177(605)-70-25 University Avenue PCC Pavement>-Replace Waco Pl.to west of Alice's Rd.-
Motion by Council Member Stanton,seconded by Council Member Mertz,to approve the motion.Roll
call:Ayes:Stanton,Mertz,McGee,Watts.Nays:None.Motion carried 4 -O.
H)RESOLUTION:Consideration of approval of the Certificate of Completion for Glynn Village Plat
1 -Council Member Mertz asked that the resolution be reconsidered at a regular City Council meeting,
and not during a special workshop meeting,as it is best to act on such matters in a more public forum;
Council Member McGee agreed.John Gibson explained that the final plat for Glynn Village Plat 1 was
approved by the City Council in the fall of2005,with the stipulation that there would be a bond for
incomplete improvements;and the City would allow Hubbell Development building permits for the
clubhouse,one town home and two single family lots,but no more permits or certificates of occupancy
until the public improvements for the plat are completed and accepted by the City.Mr.Gibson suggested
the Council approve the resolution.Motion by Council Member Mertz,seconded by Council Member
McGee,to move consideration of the resolution to the next regular City Council meeting agenda.Roll
call:Ayes:Mertz,McGee,Watts.Nays:Stanton.Motion carried 3 -I.IE)Work Session:
1.The role of the City Attorney -Council Member Stanton asked City Attorney Steve Brick to
discuss his interaction with the Council.Mr.Brick outlined his duties as City Attorney,including
rendering opinions on legal matters,assisting in the preparation of policy and procedures for
Council consideration,and answering questions of the Council.He specifically spoke on election
issues,potential conflicts of interest,and libel/slander suits.There was some question as to the
City's insurance coverage of a council member in certain types oflitigation;Mr.Brick suggested
the matter be researched to verify coverage.Council Member Stanton suggested a workshop be
scheduled to instruct the Council on matters dealing with the news media;Mayor Peard agreed
that such a workshop would be helpful.
At this point,Council Member Mertz asked ifthe remaining work session agenda items should be
prioritized in the interest of time.Jody Gunderson stated that the University Heights
Development agreement discussion could be removed from the agenda,as the City has yet to
meet with the developer regarding the agreement.
2.Chamber of Commerce agreement -John Gibson stated that a defined agreement was
necessary between the City and Chamber regarding the use of City office space and equipment,
as it was recently discovered that it might be illegal to allow the Chamber to have office space
without paying rent.The possible solutions are:1)the Chamber will pay for the office space at
fair market value;2)the Chamber will relocate to another office not owned by the City;or 3)the
City will appropriate more funds to the Chamber,with the Chamber paying that additional
amount back to the City as rent.Council Member Mertz spoke in favor of the third option.
Council Member McGee asked if the Chamber could afford to purchase their own printer/copier;
Mr.Gibson stated that the Chamber thought it best to purchase one for their exclusive use.
3.University Heights Development agreement -REMOVED FROM AGENDA
4.Alice's Rd.lAshworth Rd.alignment -John Gibson reviewed the alignment options,stating
that two of the three options would require the City to purchase or condemn existing homes in
order to acquire the right-of-way.He then stated that Knapp Properties could potentially
purchase those homes if they (Knapp)wished to have the right-of-way located on their property.
Council Member Watts stated that he favored the route that would leave the existing homes
undisturbed,and that Knapp could purchase the properties if they so desired.Council Member
Stanton asked if Lamar Koethe had been contacted regarding the possible Alice's Rd.alignment;
Mr.Gibson replied that the City was currently looking to obtain rights-of-way on both the Koethe
and Beasley properties.Council Member Stanton asked about the possibility of shifting the
alignment so as not to remove the existing 1-80 rest stop;Jody Gunderson answered that the
IDOT would not allow such a shift and that the rest stop area will need to be removed and
reconstructed elsewhere.
5.Annexation Update -Sunset Ridge and R-22 Properties -John Gibson explained that he and
Jody Gunderson were working with the Sunset Ridge property owners regarding a pre-annexation
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agreement and hoped to hear from them soon.The R-22 properties proposal had been modified
and would be resubmitted to those property owners soon.Mr.Gibson then said that he had met
with Steve McCann ofthe City Development Board,and that annexation proceedings were
scheduled to begin in July.Council Member Stanton asked if the Hunter Hollow subdivision
could be annexed at this time;Mr.Gibson replied that it could not as it was not contiguous with
the other properties being annexed.
6.Council meeting schedule for July 2006 -Due to the July 4th holiday,the Council agreed to
hold the regular City Council meetings in July on the 10th and 24th.
7.City Council agenda format -City staff had recently begun introducing agenda items for the
Planning &Zoning Commission meetings.The procedure has streamlined those meetings,and
Council Member Stanton had suggested it be used at the Council level.Mayor Peard expressed
his support of the procedure;Council Member Mertz stated that the procedure would be very
helpful to those attending the meetings or watching at home.Joe Schmidt,a Planning &Zoning
Commissioner,addressed the Council and spoke about how well the procedure worked for the
Commission,as all outstanding issues can be addressed upfront.
8.Waukee/Clive border issues -John Gibson said that there was nothing to report;City staff were
in the process of scheduling a meeting with Ewing Development and the City of Clive to address
the Crate property;the City of Clive also had not yet been contacted regarding other border
Issues.
9.Community Development Committee -review and discussion -Council Member Stanton
began the discussion by stating that the Community Development Committee does valuable work
for the City,but expressed concerns regarding the Committee's advisory role.She referred to the
proposed Ambassadors Program,asking what the objectives of the questionnaire might be and
stating that the questions being asked were too leading.She also stated her preference for a
random sampling of businesses to receive the questionnaire,and that the Committee needed to
work directly with the Council on the program.Council Member McGee stated that,as the
Council representative to the Community Development Committee,he would prefer such
questions be asked of him first.He then explained that the intent of the Ambassadors Program
was to gauge the reputation and perception the City has among certain businesses and industries,
and said that he did not find the questionnaire leading.Council Member Stanton stated that City
committees have certain responsibilities and that any projects or programs planned by those
committees should be approved by the City Council prior to implementation.She then asked
which businesses would receive the questionnaire;Council Member McGee replied that Jody
Gunderson could provide the business list,and that other Iowa communities had conducted
similar surveys.Council Member Stanton suggested hiring a professional survey company to
create a more appropriate questionnaire and conduct the survey.Council Member Mertz said that
he had no issues with the program and that it was beneficial to find Waukee's strong and weak
selling points.Council Member Stanton stated that she did not support the program at this point
due to the open-ended nature of the questions;she also wanted the survey to be done randomly,
not from a list of selected businesses.Council Member Stanton then suggested "report cards"be
provided to developers after a project was completed in the City to discover the impression given
by the City during the development process;she again requested a professional survey company
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be contracted to conduct any surveys.Mr.Gunderson explained that the funds in the Community
Development budget were not available to hire a company to conduct the survey.Council
Member Stanton said she would rather not move forward with the project until the funds were
available to do it properly;she also asked for a listing of the proposed business contacts and the
industries in which they specialized.
F)Comments -John Gibson stated that the Iowa Department of Transportation had received very
favorable bids for the University Ave.widening proj ect.
Adjournment.Mayor Peard asked for a motion to adjourn.Motion by Council Member Stanton,
seconded by Council Member Watts.Ayes:All.Nays:None.Motion carried 4 -O.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:41 p.m.
R.Schuett,Deputy City Clerk
Attest:
n,Interim City Administrator/Clerk
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