Posted: November 1, 2019 | Updated: October 16, 2023
AGENDA
NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA
DATE OF MEETING: NOVEMBER 4, 2019
TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING: 7:00 P.M. AT CRESCO CITY HALL
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, McCARVILLE, 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.
- Approval of the Agenda
- Approval of the Claims
- Approval of Minutes from October 21, 2019
- Approval of Designated Snowmobile Trail for Driftrunners, Inc. from December 16, 2019 – April 1, 2020
- Approval of Pay Request #2 for $109,214.81 to Skyline Construction, Inc for the Vernon Road Watermain Improvements
STAFF REPORTS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.
- Public Works
- Police
- Administration
- Committee Updates
BUSINESS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.
- Bill Caffrey and Rick McCarville to Present the Annual Report for the Parks and Fitness Center for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2019
- Tessa Willie, from Helping Services, along with Cresco HEROES and Prevention 5, to Discuss Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle for our Youth
- Review Quotes for Snow Removal on City Sidewalks for Weekends or Excessive Snowfall and Possible Award of Contract
- Third Reading of Summary of Proposed Ordinance 480 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by Adding a New Chapter Pertaining to Solar Energy Systems
- Motion to Approve Ordinance 480 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by Adding a New Chapter Pertaining to Solar Energy Systems
- Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Funds for FY 2020 (November Transfers)
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE:
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 1, 2019.
MINUTES
Mayor Bohle called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on November 4, 2019, at 7:00 pm at City Hall. Council Members Brenno, McCarville, Fortune, Bouska and Carman were present. No council members were absent.
Carman made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes of the October 21, 2019 meeting; designated snowmobile trail for Driftrunners, Inc. from December 16, 2019 – April 1, 2020; pay request #2 for $109,214.81 to Skyline Construction, Inc. for the Vernon Road Watermain Improvements. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Public Works Director Freidhof reported: (a) everyone is still busy preparing for winter; (b) trimming trees and putting rock in the alleys; (c) Municipal Pipe was here and cleaned the lift stations and did some televising; (d) Vernon Road project is going good and hope to be finishing up the week of November 11th.
The police report for October was presented.
City Clerk Girolamo reported (a) Niki has been working with the Census Bureau on preliminary reports. We need to file a commitment letter that we will educate and encourage constituents to participate in the census; (b) Cresco Chamber & CIDC annual banquet is November 23rd with auction proceeds going towards new East Park covered bleachers; (c) Municipal Leadership training begins November 21st for anyone interested; (d) working on health insurance renewals with rates increasing 14% for traditional plans and 8% for HSA’s; (e) reviewing quotes for new computers and servers; (f) working on the budget; (g) finalizing the development agreement so a public hearing can be held on December 2nd. Bouska reported the Organization of the Year will be the Cresco Firefighters and will be recognized at the Chamber Banquet.
Park and Rec Directors Bill Caffrey and Rick McCarville submitted a report of projects completed over the past year including: Beadle Park Marquee (thanks to Chamber Auction donation); ice rink painted; Gaga Ball Court (Eagle Scout Project); small shelter in East Park; Kessel ballfield fence and scoreboard (Howard County Community Foundation Grant & Minnesota Twins Grant); Ash tree treatment and removals; resurface pool & spa (Thomson Foundation donation); painted interior of Fitness Center and tiled locker rooms by Fitness Center employees; installed storage shed loft; online registration program for swimming lessons, Kessel Lodge and Champlin Hall rentals; Twins bus trip. Kessel Lodge was rented 61 times for $12,370. They also discussed future projects/wish lists for the Parks and Fitness Center. The next big project is to put covered bleachers in the East Park ballfield.
Tessa Willie from Helping Services addressed Council about making the parks and trails in Cresco nicotine free. Several students from Cresco HEROES spoke in favor of adopting this. Renee Cuvelier, Notre Dame Principal, requested the Council to vote to make the parks and trails nicotine free. The Board of Health also supported this and thinks it would be sending a message to the public. A community health consultant with Iowa Public Health also spoke in support of this and offered free signage to Cresco. He also suggested that vaping be added to the policy. A parent spoke up that, if the policy was displayed on a sign, it would deter smoking. Council’s only concern is the enforcement and do not want to have the police or park personnel called every time there is a complaint. The people in attendance felt the signs would be the only enforcement needed for the public to persuade people not to smoke. Council thanked everyone for expressing their concerns and will consider the issue.
One quote was received for snow removal on City sidewalks for weekends or excessive snowfall from Courtney Lawn & Snow. The price will be $75 per time and salting $65 per time if needed. McCarville made the motion to approve the quote and award the contract to Courtney Lawn & Snow. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
Mayor Bohle performed the third reading of a summary of proposed Ordinance 480 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by adding a new chapter pertaining to Solar Energy Systems. Bouska made the motion to approve the second reading. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
Brenno made the motion to approve Ordinance 480 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by adding a new chapter pertaining to Solar Energy Systems. McCarville seconded and it passed all ayes.
Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing transfer of funds for FY 2020 (November Transfers). Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Mayor Bohle asked for comments from the audience. Lions Club Members Doug Welton from New Hampton and Steph Becker from Waverly are working to get the Lions Club in Cresco reorganized. The Cresco club disbanded in December 2018 and could be easily reinstated within 12 months. They talked to local community members and business owners and found they would be supportive of it. The Cresco club had done many good projects but the members were just tired and had difficulty getting new members involved. Lions Clubs do community service and are eligible for grants in time of need. All revenue must be put back into community support. The Club decides on meeting requirements and what fundraisers and projects they want to do. Council would support the club but acknowledged the difficulty of getting active members to enroll. Doug and Steph are willing to help get the club going again and are anxious to help with whatever they can do. They need at least ten members to get the club reinstated.
Carman moved to adjourn at 7:48 pm. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be November 18, 2019 at 7:00 pm at Cresco City Hall.
Mayor Mark Bohle
City Clerk Michelle Girolamo