May 17, 2021

Posted: May 14, 2021 | Updated: August 29, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   MAY 17, 2021

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:  BRENNO, McCONNELL, FORTUNE, BOUSKA, CARMAN

 

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 May 3, 2021
  1. Approval of Owner Occupied Housing Contractor Request for Payment #3 – Final for $4,357.00 for Roy Prestsater
  2. Approval of Pay Request for $84,013.26 to CIT Sewer Solutions for Sewer Cleaning
  3. Approval of Application for Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Wemark Luxury 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:

 

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

 

  1. Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 489 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by Amending Provisions Pertaining to Water Rates
  2. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 489 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by Amending Provisions Pertaining to Water Rates
  3. Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 490 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by Amending Provisions Pertaining to Sewer Service Charges
  4. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 490 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by Amending Provisions Pertaining to Sewer Service Charges
  5. Discuss Request to Vacate Undeveloped Portion of 4th Ave SW and Possible Recommendation to Refer to the Planning & Zoning Commission to Study the Request and to Make a Recommendation to the Council
  6. Spiff Slifka to Discuss the Farmer’s Market and Possible Motion to Approve New Site
  7. Hawkeye Sanitation to Discuss Garbage Pickups
  8. Set Public Hearing for Budget Amendment #3 for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2021
  9. Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Funds for FY 2021 (May Transfers)
  10. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign an Agreement for Maintenance and Repair of Primary Roads in Municipalities with the Iowa Department of Transportation
  11. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign an Engagement Letter for Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated (2016) Cresco Urban Revitalization Plan with Ahlers & Cooney, PC
  12. Discuss Potential Raises for July 1st for Fiscal Year 2022
  13. Discuss Proposals for Capital Improvement Planning
  14. Discuss the Proposed Plans for the 7th St SW and Hwy 9 Storm Sewer Project
  15. Discuss Issues Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic

 

CLOSED SESSION pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5 (1) ( c ) to Discuss Potential Litigation Matters

 

OPEN SESSION

 

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 MAY 14, 2021.

MINUTES

Mayor Bohle called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on May 17, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Brenno, McConnell, Fortune, Bouska, and Carman were present. No council members were absent.

Fortune made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from May 3, 2021 meeting; Owner Occupied Housing Contractor Request for Payment #3 – Final for $4,357.00 for Roy Prestsater; Pay Request for $84,013.26 to CIT Sewer Solutions for Sewer Cleaning; applications for Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Wemark Luxury Rentals LLC. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Widell reported: (a) the Street Department planted 50 trees last week; (b) the 5th Ave SW watermain looping project will be started this week if all goes well;  (c) a storm sewer project on Charleston Ct and also on 11th Ave E and 8th St E was finished. A French Drain was installed to eliminate the flow down the streets; (d) interviewing this week for the wastewater operator position.

Police Chief Ruroden reported Officer Hillyer will graduate from the Academy on May 21st. Officer Brandau will be retiring and his last day of work is May 20th. STEP program will be at the end of May.

City Clerk Girolamo reported busy with the budget amendment and preparing for year end. The fire brush truck is finished. The final cost was $76,944.30 paid 1/3 by the Rural Fire, Firefighters, and the City. The extra $1,944.30 will be paid out of the City’s Fire Trust fund using donations received for the Fire Department. Alum Line also donated $2,751 of labor and materials.

Library Director Kay reported the Library Board met and agreed the number of members should be reduced from nine to seven. It will need to be put on the ballot for the November election. Fines will be reinstated in July. Parts for the elevator doors are back ordered but they are still hoping to get them installed in June. They are working to fill a Library staff position and the Library Director.

Brenno reported the Park Board decided not to do tackle football for the 5th and 6th graders this year. Brandon Kerian started today.

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

Mayor Bohle opened the Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 489 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by amending provisions pertaining to water rates. There were no written or oral comments and the public hearing was closed. The Mayor performed the second reading. Brenno made the motion to approve the second reading. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Mayor Bohle opened the Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 490 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by amending provisions pertaining to sewer service charges. The Mayor performed the second reading. Bouska made the motion to approve the second reading. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Letters were received from adjoining residents requesting the Council to vacate the undeveloped portion of 4th Ave SW. The Council determined that the property serves no public purpose and would never be used for a future street. McConnell made the motion to recommend the Planning & Zoning Commission study the request and make a recommendation to the Council. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Spiff Slifka discussed the Farmer’s Market and proposed moving it to the Southside parking lot. This would allow patrons to access it safely from the parking lot or the sidewalk. It would be easier for patrons to walk on the hard surface and the visibility would be great.

They will visit with vendors of fresh produce to register with the Farmer’s Market starting in 2022. Fortune made the motion to allow the Farmer’s Market in the Southside parking lot on Fridays from 1pm to 6 pm. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Hawkeye Sanitation brought a sample of garbage totes that they are considering purchasing for the properties in Cresco. They have difficulties collecting from residents when excessive garbage is picked up. They are also ordering a new truck for Cresco so this would be the time to get one that would allow the dumping of the totes. It would be semi-automatic with Hawkeye Sanitation employees wheeling the totes to the truck but it should be more efficient. It will keep the City looking cleaner. The totes will be purchased by Hawkeye Sanitation and registered to each property by serial number. They will also be limiting the recycling to three recycling bins to discourage stock piling.

Bouska made the motion to set the Public Hearing for Budget Amendment #3 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing transfer of funds for FY 2021 (May Transfers). Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement for maintenance and repair of primary roads in municipalities with the Iowa Department of Transportation. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an Engagement Letter for Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated (2016) Cresco Urban Revitalization Plan with Ahlers & Cooney, PC. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes. Bouska requested to inquire whether extra incentives can be made for energy efficiencies in the plan.

Council discussed raises for July 1, 2021. The Union contract is a 3% raise for union employees. Fortune made the motion to draft resolutions for 3% raises for full-time and permanent part-time employees not covered by the union contract or by Boards. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Council discussed proposals for Capital Improvement Planning from Pat Callahan from Callahan Municipal Consultants and from Elizabeth Hanson from Midwest Municipal Consulting. Mr. Callahan prepared the Strategic Plan for Cresco in 2012. Council was impressed with the proposals but wanted to see a sample and to review the proposals further. This will be decided at the next meeting.

Council discussed options for the 7th St SW drainage issues. Brenno removed himself from the discussion due to a conflict of interest. Fortune submitted pictures and analyzed the drainage problems during the 1¼ inch rainfall event. It appears that the Highway 9 storm sewer is not handling the water starting at Plantpeddler and it runs up 7th St SW. WHKS will be instructed to review the Hwy 9 contributing storm sewer issues. Everyone wants to make sure a good study is done to make sure the proposed project will actually fix the problem.

The CDC is relaxing the mask requirements. Bouska cautioned not making a lot of changes until it is determined if there is a big surge in new cases after the mask mandate was lifted. Carman reported RHS has fully vaccinated over 2,000 people. They are preparing for vaccinating teens.

Bouska moved to go into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5 (1) (c) to discuss potential litigation matters at 6:38 pm. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes. Council came back into open session at 7:10 pm.

Brenno moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 7:10 pm. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be June 7, 2021, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor: Mark Bohle
City Clerk: Michelle Girolamo

Documents

2021 City Council Agendas, Minutes