City Council – November 20, 2023

Posted: November 17, 2023 | Updated: December 12, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   NOVEMBER 20, 2023

TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING:             5:30 P.M. CITY HALL, 130 N PARK PLACE

 

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED

GOVERNMENTAL BODY WILL MEET AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SET OUT ABOVE.  THE TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR SAID MEETING IS AS FOLLOWS:

 

ROLL CALL:  CARMAN, BOUSKA, FORTUNE, McCONNELL, KRIENER

 

ACT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed under the consent agenda will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a request is made prior to the time council votes on the motion.

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Approval of Minutes from November 6, 2023
  4. Approval of Minutes from November 13, 2023 Special Meeting
  5. Approval of Minutes from November 15, 2023 Special Meeting
  6. Approval of Special Class C Retail Alcohol License (BW) (Beer/Wine) with Outdoor Service to Fat T’s Café LLC
  1. Approval of Class C Retail Alcohol License (LC) to Big Daddy Hideaway Corp d/b/a Sweeney’s Lounge
  1. Approval of Application for Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Bam Sam Jam Rentals LLC

 

STAFF REPORTS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.

  1. Public Works
  2. Police
  3. Administration
  4. Committee Updates

 

COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE: (This portion of the agenda is for comments that are not related to one of the items listed on the agenda.  Comments can only be received. No formal action by the Council can be taken.    Those making public comments will be asked to state their name and address, and to speak from the podium.)

 

BUSINESS:  There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.

  1. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C for 2023 Amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan
  2. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Amended Professional Services Agreement with Martin Gardner Architecture to Proceed with Renderings for the Scene Shop
  3. Abstract of Votes as Certified by the Board of Supervisors of Howard County, in the State of Iowa
  4. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance #507 to Amend Chapter 155 in the City of Cresco Code of Ordinances Pertaining to Building Permits
  5. Resolution Waiving the Second and Third Reading and Consideration of Ordinance Number 507 Pertaining to Building Permits
  6. Approval of Ordinance 507 Pertaining to Building Permits
  7. Request to Waive Late Fees for Community Chapel
  8. Motion to Set Council Meeting Dates in January 2024 due to Holidays
  9. Discussion on CIP (Capital Improvement Plan)
  10. Motion to go into CLOSED SESSION pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5 (1) (i) to Conduct Interviews if Requested
  11. Motion to go into OPEN SESSION
  12. Discuss Vacant Public Works Director Position

 

ADJOURN:

THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN AT THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 21, CODE OF IOWA AND THE LOCAL RULES OF SAID GOVERNMENTAL BODY.  POSTED NOVEMBER 17, 2023.

MINUTES

Mayor Brenno called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on November 20, 2023, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Carman, Bouska, Fortune, McConnell, and Kriener were present. No Council Members were absent.

Bouska made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the:  agenda; claims; minutes from November 6, 2023; minutes from November 13th and 15th, 2023 special meeting; minutes from November 15, 2023 special meeting; Class C Retail Alcohol License (BW) (Beer/Wine) with outdoor service to Fat T’s Café LLC; Class C Retail Alcohol License (LC) to Big Daddy Hideaway Corp d/b/a Sweeney’s Lounge; tax abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Bam Sam Jam Rentals LLC. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Deputy Clerk Hill reported: (a) 7th St W Reconstruction project will be mostly wrapped up by the end of this week for the winter; (b) Mehmert’s installed new sanitary sewer pipe and structures on 12th Ave and Prospect St that was in very poor condition. This was part of the findings from the cleaning and televising with CIT from this summer; (c) Street department has put up all of the Christmas lights and placed the planters downtown. There are a few businesses that didn’t want planters back out and will decide what to do with them in the spring.

Police Chief Ruroden had nothing to report.

Deputy Clerk Hill reported we are working on the budget but are still waiting for budget requests from three departments. We attended the budget trainings last week and there will be an impact on revenues, but won’t know the extent until end of December. The budget worksession with department heads will be November 29th at 1 pm.

Bouska reported on the Rural Housing Assessment Grant webinar. The City received a $10,000 IEDA grant to participate in a housing assessment with ISU. Questionnaires will be available in late December and will be available online, social media, a flyer in the utility bills and printed copies at several community locations. She presented information on solar Power Purchase Agreements at the Regional Clerk’s meeting in Decorah.

Mayor Brenno asked for comments from the audience and there were none.

Carman made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. for 2023 amendment to the Urban Renewal Plant. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Theatre Manager Wendy Lickteig presented an update on ideas that the Scene Shop Fundraising committee is working on. The campaign kickoff will be in January 2024. The amended Professional Services Agreement will provide an interior and exterior rendering of the proposed building to help patrons and donors visualize the new Scene Shop. McConnell made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an amended Professional Services Agreement with Martin Gardner Architecture to proceed with renderings for the Scene Shop. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

The Abstract of Votes as certified by the Howard County Supervisors for the recent election were read: Mayor David Brenno 446, 13 scattering; City Council At-Large Gary Kriener 437, 5 scattering; City Council Ward 1 Stan Fosaaen 12, 15 scattering; City Council Ward 3 Jan Carman 136, 3 scattering. The Board of Supervisors of Howard County duly nominated for the office of the City of Cresco: David Brenno Mayor; Gary Kriener City Council At-Large; Stan Fosaaen City Council Ward 1; Jan Carman City Council Ward 3.

Mayor Brenno performed the first reading of the summary of proposed Ordinance No. 507 amending Chapter 155 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, pertaining to building permits. Bouska made the motion to approve the first reading. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to approve the resolution waiving the second and third reading and consideration of Ordinance No. 507 pertaining to building permits. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 507 pertaining to building permits. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

A letter was received from Cresco Community Chapel requesting the Council to waive late fees of $9.90. They were not aware of a final bill when a new utility customer moved in despite receiving the bill in early November. McConnell made the motion to approve the request. There was no second to the motion so it failed and the request was denied.

Deputy Clerk Hill explained the January 1st meeting will need to be rescheduled due to the New Year’s holiday. It will be difficult due to the calendar year end, payroll processing, and the holiday. Bouska made the motion to change the January council meetings to the second and fourth Mondays on January 8, 2024 and January 22, 2024 due to the New Year’s holiday. Kriener seconded Fortune, Carman, Kriener, and Bouska voted aye. McConnell voted nay. The motion passed by majority vote.

Bouska explained that she felt that the Capital Improvement Plan “CIP” was not a correct way to vote on upcoming projects because their funding sources are not differentiated. Some will be funded thru donations, service fees, LOST, property taxes and potential bonds. Council would like to discuss further at a worksession at a future date and meet with department heads about their requests.

There was no closed session.

Discussion was held on the vacant Public Works Director position. Applicants will be contacted for a tour of the City facilities and Council may request second interviews with the applicants.

Carman moved to adjourn at 6:14 pm. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be December 4, 2023, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor David J. Brenno
City Clerk Michelle Elton

Documents

2023 City Council Agendas, Minutes