HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-15-Work Session MinutesWAUKEE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WORK SESSION MEETING
JANUARY 15,2007 )
A)Call to Order -The work session meeting of the Waukee City Council was called to order by Mayor
Peard at 7 :05 p.m.in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
B)Roll Call-The following members were present:Mayor William F.Peard;Council Members Don L.
Bailey,Jr.;C.Isaiah McGee;JeffV.Mertz;Darlene Stanton.Absent:Mike Watts.
C)Agenda Approval.Motion by Council Member McGee,seconded by Council Member Stanton,to
approve the agenda.Roll call:Ayes:McGee,Stanton,Bailey,Mertz.Nays:None.Absent:Watts.
Motion carried 4 -0 -1.
D)Open Forum.
E)Work Session:
1.Community Development Committee ordinance -Council Member Stanton gave a brief
overview of the process leading up to the proposed revisions to the ordinance,citing a lack of
structure or clear sense of direction for the committee.Council Member McGee stated that he
and Council Member Stanton had met regarding their different proposals for the ordinance and
agreed that the committee needed direction and increased citizen involvement.Council
Member McGee suggested that a comprehensive plan for economic development should be ]
considered and that a task force should be formed to research development issues.Council
Members Stanton and McGee referenced a "topics"memo written by Council Member Stanton
addressing the matter.Mayor Peard felt that a distinction should be made between
"community"and "economic"development,and that the Director of Community
Development's role required clarification.Council Member Mertz stated that he did not want
to interfere with any citizen board's right to discuss any topic they so chose.City
Administrator/Clerk Kooistra suggested the "topics"memo be reviewed by the
Comprehensive Plan Committee.Nick Gruber,Community Development Committee
member,addressed the Council and stated that the Committee had not seen any of the
correspondence regarding the proposed revisions to the ordinance and that no input from the
Committee was sought while drafting those revisions.He also expressed concern that the
revisions to the ordinance might stifle the Committee and render it ineffective;Mayor Peard
and Council Members McGee and Stanton replied that such was not the intent of the revisions.
The Council directed City staff to forward the matter to the Comprehensive Plan Committee
for their review.
2.Park System Comprehensive Plan -Director of Public Works Gibson gave a brief history of
park system development and issues and requested direction from the Council regarding the
necessity for a detailed park system comprehensive plan.Council Member Bailey stated his
preference that the City send out a request for proposal to interested firms and asked if City
staff had discussed the possibility with Gould Evans,the firm working on the city
comprehensive plan update.Mr.Gibson replied that Gould Evans would be contacted.
Council Member Bailey requested a report on city bike trail system improvements,specifically
along the abandoned Union Pacific rail line.Council Member Mertz asked that a signage plan
be implemented into a park system comprehensive plan,as well.The Council directed City
staff to draft an RFP for the project.
3.Southfork sanitary sewer -Director of Public Works Gibson restated to the Council that a
pressure system was the most viable sanitary sewer option and requested direction from the
Council regarding the percentage of the cost to be paid by the City and the affected
homeowners.Mr.Gibson reviewed the costs associated with the project and the possible
funding mechanisms for the project,including a sewer rate increase,GO bonds,or SRF funds.
Council Member Bailey voiced his support for the use of debt service funds to cover the City's
costs.Wayne Goedken,outgoing president of the Southfork Homeowner's Association and
member of the Southfork Sewer Club,addressed the Council.Also in attendance were Mel
Willits,Southfork Sewer Club member;Don Perschau and Becky McGowen,residents of
Southfork.Mr.Goedken stated that the general consensus of the Southfork homeowners was
in favor of a 50/50 split of the costs with the City;he also stated that the Walnut Ridge
homeowners had not yet been approached regarding the costs of the project.Council Member
Mertz suggested and informational meeting be held with the Southfork and Walnut Ridge
homeowners,City Council and staff.Mayor Peard thanked the Southfork Sewer Club for their
work on the project.
4.Clive issues -Director of Planning Deets updated the Council on the status of certain issues
connected with the City of Clive,specifically border issues along Alice's Rd.,Legacy Pointe
Blvd.and the Crate property,and sewer capacity.Council Member Bailey asked whether TIF
funds would be used to pay for the portion of the Legacy Pointe Blvd.within Clive city limits;
City staff will research the matter.
5.Sales tax option -City Administrator/Clerk Kooistra gave a brief overview of the various
sales tax options and asked the Council for direction as to the ballot question,if any,to be set
by March I.Council Member Bailey expressed concern over a lack of regionalism in the Des
Moines metropolitan area,and stated his interest in a county-wide sales tax option instead of
the Project Destiny proposal.Council Member McGee spoke in favor of allowing Waukee
citizens to vote on the Project Destiny proposal.Mayor Peard and Council Member Stanton
both agreed that there was a lack of regionalism in action in the Des Moines metro area.
Council Member Mertz stated that he did not favor an exclusive Dallas County sales tax;
Council Member McGee was skeptical that such a county-wide sales tax proposal could be
organized in time for a vote in summer 2007.Council Member Mertz requested a report on
the proj ected savings for the average citizen and stated that if the report was favorable,he
would support placing the Project Destiny proposal on the ballot.
F)Comments
1.V Avenue update -Director of Public Works Gibson stated a proposal regarding engineering
services for improvements to V Avenue would be presented to the Council at the next regular
meeting.
Adjournment.Motion by Council Member Stanton,seconded by Council Member McGee,to adjoum.
Ayes:All.Nays:None.Motion carried 4 -O.
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Meeting Adjourned at 9:29 p.m.
R.Schuett,Depnty City Clerk
Attest:
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