Friday, March 27, 2009

News Items - March 30, 2009

1. NEXT MEETING: The next council meeting is April 6.

2. RACE CAR ORDINANCE: According to attorney Hugh Cain, the plaintiffs have an opportunity to file another complaint on the Race Car ordinance after the council passes the new ordinance. Once that complaint is filed, Mr. Cain will be given a period of time to respond and then the judge will act on the new complaint. According to Mr. Cain, there should be no further hearings.

Final reading of the amended ordinance is scheduled for April 6.

3. MUNICIPAL BUILDING RENOVATION: A building walk-thru was attended by 19 contractors on Thursday the 26th. A good sign. Bids will be received on April 2 and a recommendation presented to council on April 6.

Estimated budget is $850,000 (includes architect/engineer) and there is 21 cents in the FY 09/10 tax rate to retire the anticipated debt.

4. MINIMUM LOT SIZE: A meeting was held on the 24th with Mark Schlenker to discuss his concerns about a proposed minimum 15-acre lot in agricultural zoning within the city limits.

Meeting results include:

· The proposed ordinance will not (cannot) have any affect outside the city limits due to state statute.
· An appeal process/criteria will be added if an owner can show undue hardship
· Purpose/intent of the ordinance will be added.

Setting a hearing date for April 20 will be placed on the April 6 agenda.

5. AMPHITHEATER ENGINEER: P&R Director Glen Cowan received five quotes for the Memorial Park Amphitheater design. Civil Design Advantage will be recommended at the April 6 meeting.

Tentative project schedule follows:

· End of April Topographic survey & preliminary design
· Mid May Final design
· May-June 30 Bidding
· July-September 15 Construction

Also, due to some conflicts with electric power poles, the $225,000 trail project from the Summerset trail (at Euclid) to Memorial Park will be delayed until spring of 2010 allowing the poles to be placed underground.

6. DEVELOPMENT: Community Development Director and I met with a local business owner, developer and banker on Tuesday the 24th to discuss potential development of the southwest corner of Hwy 65/69 and Hwy 92. The potential owner is considering an offer for this lot the city acquired during the intersection improvement project. The offer will be presented to council when received.

7. UNION NEGOTIATIONS: The Laborer’s Local #353 met and ratified the following contract terms on March 24th:

· Three year contract
· Across the Board increase – 2.5, 3.25 and 3.5%
· Change in health insurance deductibles and premium co-pay
· HRA contribution increase - $50 per year
· Clothing allowance increase $25 year one and three
· Waste Water employees to receive an additional $.50 per hour in year three

The contract will be brought to Council for consideration on April 6th.

8. D&D PROPERTY: Chuck sent request for proposals on March 26th to demolish 201 S. “D”. They will be received by April 15th and presented at the April 20th council meeting.

Friday, March 20, 2009

News Items - March 23, 2009

1. NEXT MEETING: The next council meeting is April 6.

2. LEGISLATORS: Staff was unable to schedule a meeting with Senator Appel and Representative Sorensen until April 13’s committee meeting given their busy schedules on the Hill.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS: There are several “Stimulus” grants for public safety purposes including:

· COPS Hiring Recovery Act: Provides 3 years salary/benefits for an additional officer and requires no local match. Chief Bonnett will approach council on April 6. If approved, the officer would be hired in January or February 2010.
· Block Grant (Office of Drug Control): Provides $10,000 to train officers. Local match is $2,500 and can be used to train an additional polygraph examiner. Our first examiner was trained under a similar training grant and I intend to authorize a second examiner under this program.
· Equipment Grant (Recovery Act): Provides up to $20,000 (no match) for equipment purchases. Chief Bonnett is reviewing equipment options and will have a recommendation for the April 6 council meeting.

3. INDIANOLA “GO GREEN”: The committee is working to get residents excited about the planned April events that include:

Indianola Chamber of Commerce Breakfast – April 2, 2009
Indianola Public Library – “Living Green” presentation – April 23, 2009 – 6:30 p.m.
Indianola Sustainability Fair – April 24, 2009 – 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (free lunch!)
Iowa DNR Mobile Education Trailer – April 24, 2009 – Irving Elementary
”Indianola Go Green” E-cycling Event – April 25, 2009 – 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Indianola Chamber Bike/Walk to work

Please tell friends and neighbors to attend and learn about living “green.”

4. NORTH “Y” PAVING: The city was notified on the 18th that the “Y” Paving project will be bid on April 28th instead of the 21st as originally scheduled. I am still trying to get an explanation from IDOT as to the change.

5. PARTNERSHIP DC TRIP: Bob Kreamer has a conflict and is unable to attend the June 10-12 event.

6. UNION NEGOTIATIONS: Union members will vote on the contract March 24.

7. RACE CAR ORDINANCE: The court allowed a stay (of decision) until 14 days after council takes action on the amendment clarifying fence requirements and language.

8. W EUCLID: V&K Engineers will have final assessments for the W Euclid Paving Project in early April. They will be presented to council on April 20.

9. LIBRARY: Library Board member Dick Kerr and Librarian Joyce Godwin presented the long-range plan to the County Supervisors March 17. Joyce reports it was a very positive process.

10. TAX REVENUE: March’s YTD receipts are about 1.5% less than this time last year.

11. COMMUNITY SURVEY: Laurie Hebl is preparing this year’s community survey with the help of the University of Iowa’s Institute of Public Affairs. This bi-annual survey is very important to get public input regarding city services and programs in addition to general public opinion. The survey will be sent to 800 households by the end of April.

12. SOD REQUIREMENT: Community Development Director Chuck Burgin will ask P&Z to consider the sod requirement for new residential construction in May.

13. MINIMUM LOT SIZE: The meeting on the 20th has been re-scheduled for March 24th at 2:00 p.m. in the council chambers.

14. COMP PLAN UPDATE: Chuck Burgin sent RFP’s to seven firms on Friday and will be due on April 15th.

15. “RED FLAGS” RULE: Council will consider a resolution at the April 6th meeting regarding the “Red Flags” rule. The Federal Trade Commission adopted a rule on identity theft requiring utilities establish a written policy identifying red flags such as: incidents of identity theft that they have experienced; alerts or warnings received such as a notice of address discrepancy; suspicious documents; suspicious personal identifying information; or, unusual use of an account. The written policy (resolution) is required by May 1, 2009.

Friday, March 13, 2009

News Items - March 16, 2009

1. LEGISLATORS: Staci Appel is not available April 6 so Diana Bowlin is trying to schedule April 13. If that is too late, we can try the 4th or 5th Monday in March. Elected officials can comment on preferred dates.

2. 19TH STREET: We have a tentative agreement with the contractor/insurance company to replace 19th Street by July 1, 2009, or, the bond company will reimburse the city. Great news and our thanks to Chuck Burgin for working with Attorney David Swinton to get this unfortunate matter settled.

3. S “Y” ENGINEER: Garden and Associates was the low proposal (of 3 received on February 19) to design/inspect the S “Y” Paving project. Chuck Burgin and I met with them on the 11th to discuss the project. They plan to review the options and potentially revise their engineering proposal. The item will be delayed till April 6.

4. BALLOON MUSEUM DITCH: Pictures were taken and sent to FEMA and our congressional delegation. We are hopeful FEMA will change their position on a more permanent solution given the recent settling.

5. N “Y”PAVING: 13 people representing 7 properties attended the informational meeting on March 10. There were many good questions and responsive answers by staff and Forrest Aldrich. The public hearing on assessments is April 6 with a bid letting on April 21 (by IDOT).

6. N HWY 65/69: Based on a meeting with Snyder and Associates, the developer, IDOT and city reps, the corridor study is proceeding. A proposal will be drafted for IDOT/city review and presented for consideration in April.

7. RESIDENTIAL TAX ABATEMENT: Per state code residential tax abatement is limited to 5 years on the first $75,000 taxable value/year. The city allows abatement for four years.

8. MINIMUM LOT SIZE: A meeting is scheduled on March 20 at 1:30 pm to discuss minimum lot sizes within residential zoning in the city limits.

9. ALLEY: The east/west alley immediately north of Casey’s East and Little Miracles Day Care was vacated many years ago. The sewer main is therefore on private property.

10. LIBRARY GRANT: Joyce Godwin applied for a $60,000 International City/County Management Association grant to initiate a sustainability program at the Library but unfortunately did not get awarded. The competition was extremely competitive.

11. DIVERSITY TRAINING: Tom Good, Iowa Civil Rights Commission, presented Diversity Appreciation Cultural Awareness to 71 municipal employees on March 12th.

12. DC TRIP UPDATE:
Highway 92 – “R” Street through R-63 intersection
· March 4, 2009
o Letter to Congressman Latham requesting a project description change that would allow the use of the $500,000 appropriation for design/construction (currently it can only be used for study/planning expenses)
§ Copy of the letter was sent to Congressman Boswell, Senator Grassley and Senator Harkin
o Dale Vander Schaaf (IDOT) contacted Congressman Latham
o Congressman Latham spoke with the Transportation/HUD Appropriations Committee requesting the technical correction

North Highway 65/69 Corridor Improvements
· March 10, 2009
o IDOT met with developer & city to discuss study & TEAP assistance
§ City will proceed with TEAP study request (w/ Snyder & Associates is preparing a proposal)
· April 4, 2009
o Myles Kappelman, IDA, is planning on attending the Transportation & Economic Development training/conference and hopes to speak with head of IDOT

Inflow and Infiltration Program
· February 25, 2009
o Iowa Finance Authority announced that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (i.e. Stimulus) included additional funds for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
· March 2, 2009
o City submitted Phase I & Phase III application for funding (some of the stimulus money is to be in the form of grants or no-interest loans)

“Y” Street Paving – Hwy 92 north to Euclid Avenue
o Council moving forward with plans, specifications, estimate of cost, etc.

National Balloon Museum – slope repair/reconstruction
· February 26, 2009
o Formal written appeal sent to the State Public Assistance Officer of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Public Safety/City Hall Renovations
o Laurie’s research concluded that the City would not be eligible for any of the USDA Community Facility Grants that may be available due to wording to the effect: "Applicants/Borrowers must be unable to obtain credit at reasonable rates and terms".

Lake Ahquabi Park Cabins Infrastructure
o Myles will research DNR & ask for an earmark from Harkin

Friday, March 6, 2009

News Items - March 9, 2009

1. MEDIATION: Mediation between union reps and the city negotiator will take place Monday March 9 at 1:30 pm.

2. “Y” PAVING: The property owner meeting is 4:00 pm Tuesday the 10th.

3. COMMUNITY ATHLETIC FACILITIES PARKING: A letter from School Supt Mike Tiegland requesting a reaffirmation of the city council’s parking lot extension requirement to 2011 has been received. It will be placed on the March 16 council agenda for your consideration.

4. COST CUTTERS: In an effort to save cost, Sewer Supt Dan Miers and Street Supt Ed Yando agreed to (temporarily) shift alley snow removal to Sewer employees. The shift will eliminate a truck/plow in the Street Department and allow more efficient snow removal.

Hats off to both departments for their innovation and creativity!

FYI—The arrangement will be probationary the rest of this season to determine effectiveness.

5. BLANK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: General Manager Todd Kielkopf is recommending a $10,000 in-kind contribution for Simpson’s Blank Performing Arts Center renovation/addition that includes a geo-thermal HVAC system. A resolution of support (packet) will be considered by both council and trustees because Simpson has applied for a Vision Iowa grant requiring local support. The resolution will be placed on the March 16 consent agenda.

6. HF 397: A bill in the House Local Government committee would allow the township fire and ambulance tax levy to increase from 40 ½ cents and 20 ¼ cents to 80 and 54 cents respectively. In your packet is a letter drafted by Laurie Hebl providing some of the rural-related fire equipment costs.

7. HEALTH POOL: A bit of good news in that pool premiums exceeded expenses by about $20,000 in February. Current balance is over $670,000.

8. AMBULANCE WRITE-OFFS: Below is a 3-year history of ambulance write-offs.

Date Total Write Off Medicare Sent to Collection
07/01/08-12/31/08 $96,241 $71,151 $25,090
01/01/08-06/30/08 $116,445 $71,162 $42,283
07/01/07-12/31/07 $103,008 $64,060 $38,948
01/01/07-06/30/07 $119,774 $52,861 $66,913
07/01/06-12/31/06 $69,485 $56,621 $12,764
01/01/06-06/30/06 $111,754 $64,419 $47,335

9. SQUARE BUILDINGS: North side property owners were sent letters to restore the properties.

10. IMMI: I am attending the Iowa Municipal Management Institute at the University of Iowa March 25-27.

11. TRAIL: The Memorial Trail Connection Phase 1 is moving forward. The following is the anticipated project schedule:

March 31, 2009 Check plans (98%)
April 21, 2009 Final plans
July 21, 2009 Letting date
Late August Construction begins