City Council – January 22, 2024

Posted: January 19, 2024 | Updated: February 27, 2024

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   JANUARY 22, 2024

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, FOSAAEN, McCONNELL, KRIENER

 

MAYOR’S LETTER OF RESIGNATION

 

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 January 8, 2024
  4. Approval of Minutes from January 16, 2024 Special Meeting
  5. Approval of Class E Liquor License to JAGDAMBE LLC d/b/a Cresco Mart
  6. Approval of Street Closing for Portions of 2nd Ave East East for the Notre Dame School Lasagna Supper on January 26, 2024

 

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. Public Hearing on Budget Amendment #2 for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024
  2. Resolution Amending the Current Budget for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024
  3. Oath of Office for Patrol Officer Dalton Rush
  4. Lieutenant Fotiadis and Andy Klien with Tree Town Kennels to Discuss Police K-9
  5. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to Enter into a 28E Agreement with Clean Energy Districts of Iowa
  6. Motion to Authorize the Mayor to Sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Clean Energy Districts of Iowa
  7. Motion to Declare a Public Purpose and Approval of $1,050 Payment to the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa in Accordance with the 28E Agreement
  8. Approval of Class C Retail Alcohol License (LC) to Cuautla Jalisco II, Inc Pending Dram Shop Insurance
  9. Discuss Vacant Mayor Position and Motion for Special Election or Appointment
  10. Possible Motion to Publish a Notice of Intent to Fill the Mayor Position by Appointment
  11. Motion to Approve the Updated Credit Card Policy
  12. Resolution Authorizing Signers on Depository Accounts
  13. Discuss Personnel Committee and Possibly Appoint Members
  14. Discuss Sewer Aging Equipment Project and Planning and Design Loan
  15. Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Apply for a Planning & Design Loan with the State Revolving Fund
  16. Discuss FY2025 Budget

 

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 JANUARY 19, 2024.

MINUTES

Mayor Pro-Tem Carman called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on January 22, 2024 at 5:30 pm. Council Members Carman, Fosaaen, McConnell, and Kriener were present. Council Member Bouska was absent.

Mayor Pro-Tem Carman read a letter from Mayor David Brenno resigning as the Mayor effective January 17, 2024 to take the Public Works Director position.

McConnell made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from the January 8, 2024 meeting; minutes from January 16, 2024 special meeting; Class E Retail Alcohol License to JAGDAMBE LLC d/b/a Cresco Mart; street closing for portions of 2nd Ave East for the Notre Dame School Lasagna Supper on January 26, 2024. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Brenno reported (a) there have been six water main breaks; (b) the Rotomat at the sewer plant has broken and are waiting on a part to repair it; (c) the John Deere loader needs a new turbo; (d) road signs and barricades will be moved around on 7th St W.

Police Chief Ruroden had nothing to report.

City Clerk Hill reported (a) busy with budget; (b) Downtown Crosswalk assessment letters have been mailed to affected property owners. Payments can be made until February 16th at City Hall; (c) rural housing grant surveys are available until January 31st. The website is https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_54HuVv21mue4H6S.

Mayor Pro-Tem Carman asked for comments from the audience and there were none.

Mayor Pro-Tem Carman opened the Public Hearing for Budget Amendment #2 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. There were no written or oral comments and the public hearing was closed. McConnell made the motion to approve the resolution amending the current budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Mayor Pro-Tem Carman administered the Oath of Office to Police Officer Dalton Rush.

Cresco Police Lieutenant Fotiadis and Floyd County Sherriff Deputy Luke Chatfield spoke about the need for a K-9 officer in Cresco. The department is interested in a floppy-eared, single-purpose dog which would be used for narcotics, public relations, and tracking missing people. The estimated cost including training the handler is $13,000. The Cresco Police plan to do fundraisers and collect donations for the cost. Deputy Chatfield gave a demonstration with his K-9 and explained how his department handles the training for the dog and handler. Fosaaen made a motion to reinstate the Cresco K-9 program for the FY25 budget to be funded through donations from the community. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made a motion to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a 28E agreement with Clean Energy Districts of Iowa to oppose Alliant Energy’s proposed rate increase. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Clean Energy Districts of Iowa. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made a motion to authorize $1,050.00 payment to Clean Energy Districts of Iowa to oppose the magnitude of the proposed rate increase with Alliant Energy and declared the public purpose is advocating for the interests of residents, businesses, public entities, and institutions in Cresco by reducing energy burdens. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made a motion to approve a Class C Retail Alcohol License (LC) to Cuautla Jalisco II, Inc pending dram shop insurance. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Hill explained that the Council must decide whether to fill the Mayor vacancy by appointment or by calling for a special election. The City would have to pay for a special election. If the position is appointed, it would be valid until the regular election in November 2025. Kriener made the motion to fill the vacancy by appointment at the Council meeting on February 19, 2024 at 5:30 pm. Fosaaen seconded and it passed all ayes. There will be a notice published in the newspaper. Applicants must live in the City of Cresco and fill out a short application that is due by February 14th at noon. Interviews with applicants will be conducted prior to the February 19th meeting. A special election will be required if a petition is signed and submitted by eligible residents of the City pursuant to Iowa Code Section 372.13.

McConnell made a motion to publish a Notice of Intent to fill the Mayor position by appointment. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made the motion to approve the updated credit card policy changing the cardholder name for the City Hall credit card to David Brenno. Fosaaen seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made the motion to approve a resolution authorizing signers on depository accounts replacing City Clerk Michelle Elton with Utility Billing Clerk Amber Yanes and Deputy Clerk Anthony Sturm with Public Works Director David Brenno. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Discussion on the Personnel Committee was tabled until February 19, 2024 and a full council is in attendance.

Hill updated Council on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Aging Equipment Project. The State Revolving Fund has a Planning and Design Loan to pay for project planning and design costs directly related to the project. The loan is zero percent interest for up to three years and can be rolled into the construction loan. McConnell made a motion to authorize the City Clerk to apply for a Planning and Design loan through the Iowa State Revolving Fund. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Council reviewed the revised budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 after several items were eliminated from the budget, moved to other years or by utilizing other funds. A few more minor changes will be made, including the Drug dog. The proposed budget needs to be finished by the end of February in order to set the dates for the public hearings and to comply with mailing notices to property owners.

Kriener moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 6:25 pm. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be February 5, 2024, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Pro-Tem Jan Carman
City Clerk Nicole Hill

Documents

2024 City Council Agendas, Minutes