Friday, October 28, 2011

News Items - October 31, 2011

1. NEXT MEETING: The next council meeting is November 7 at 6:00 pm. John Sirianni is unavailable for the meeting.

2. CANDIDATE FORUM: Simpson College is holding a council candidate forum on November 1 in the Pioneer Room at McNeill Hall beginning at 7:00 pm.

3. C STREET FORUM: Simpson is scheduling a forum on November 10 at 7:00 pm with the location yet to be announced. The format will include reps from the city, V&K, school and Simpson answering questions from the audience. Chief Bonnet and I plan to attend as will Forrest Aldrich from V&K.

4. BOND SALE SCHEDULE: Finance Director Jean Furler plans the following bond sale schedule:

Nov 7 Set public hearing on sewer/street Bonds
Nov 21 Public hearing for sewer/street bonds and direct advertisement of sale for sewer/street bonds and YMCA bonds
Dec 5 Bond Sale
Dec 12 Authorize issuance of both series (special meeting prior to committee meeting). This is necessary to close by Dec 31 and stay within the $10 million limit

The bonds will be used for the following:

1) YMCA
2) South “B” Sewer Emergency Repair
3) Sewer plant flare and boiler emergency repair
4) Street project ($500,000 in 2011 and the remaining issued in 2012)

5. SOUTH B SANITARY SEWER: We are in the process of obtaining IDNR permits and the survey was complete on the 28th. A recommendation will be to reroute the collapsed sanitary sewer (see map) in the 400 block of South B. A recommendation will be placed on the November 7 council agenda.

6. RECYCLING: City Clerk Diana Bowlin and Information Technology Manager Kurt Ripperger met with Waste Management reps on the 26th to discuss the recycling options that include:

• WM will offer a 48 gal. cart but prefers to provide 96 gal. carts initially because the 48 gal. may be too small for a two-week period
• Picking up carts at the house (no charge) will be offered only to residents who are physically unable to roll the cart to the curb
• Carts will be distributed beginning the week of December 12 and pick up will begin the week of December 26 with the city being divided into four sections (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday)
• Residents can keep their current bins or may place them on the curb and Waste Management will collect them. In the past Waste Management has donated used bins to area schools who like to use them in classrooms for their recyclables collections.
• Advertising/information will be provided on the city’s cable channel, web page, weekly flyer, utility bill, January quarterly update, posted on the community sign and RH&T

7. LIBRARY OPENHOUSE: The Friends of the Library are celebrating their 10th anniversary on November 4 from 6-8 pm. at the library.

8. UNION PROPOSAL: In the packet is the union’s opening proposal for July 1, 2012 thru June 30, 2015. Human Resource Director RoxAnne Hunerdosse estimates the initial proposal increase of $175,000 - $200,000 of new money per year of a 3-year contract not including FICA, IPERS or MFPRSI. The city’s response provided by Labor Negotiator Jim Hanks is in the packet.

9. 15TH STREET CLOSURE: A Middle School subcontractor requested closing 15th (see map in packet) between Hwy 92 and Plainview for utility work related to the Middle School. It will be closed from November 3-5 and the subcontractor will be responsible for all signage.

Friday, October 21, 2011

News Items - August 24, 2011

1. NEXT MEETING: The next council meeting is November 7 at 6:00 pm.

John is unavailable for that meeting.

2. “C” STREET PETITION: In the packet is the petition submitted by Charlotte Guilford and the committee in opposition to closing “C” Street. It has 600 signatures.

3. 2012 STREET REPLACEMENT: Public information meetings are scheduled for November 9th at 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm at the Activity Center. Approximately 180 notices of the meetings have been sent. These meetings are held to provide a project preview and answer property owner questions.

Staff is working with the engineer to phase the project to minimize impact on community events that normally take place. A project phasing will be placed in council packets within the next week or so.

4. PAUL SPEER: Meter Reader Paul Speer is retiring October 28 after 32 years of service. An open house will be held in the upstairs meeting room at the IMU Office on October 28 from 3-4 pm. Paul started in March 1979 and will be missed. We wish him the very best!!

5. RECOGNITION: In the packet is a letter from Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Larry Noble thanking Chief Seymour and the staff for “professional assistance provided by our Department during the loss of Trooper Mark Toney”. Hats off to Brian and the staff!!

6. JOINT STREET PROJECTS: Chuck Burgin, Jerry Kelley, Jason White and I met with Supervisor Dean Yordi on the 19th to continue discussions about potential joint city/county paving projects. We plan to meet again in December or early January. At this level priorities remain East Iowa Avenue and 150th from Hwy 92 to Hillcrest. Dean also indicates the bridge on Hoover just west of the Sewer Plant is in the 5-year plan.

7. TAX RECEIPTS: Tax revenues thru September are nearly 42% of the amount budgeted. At this time last year revenues were 45%. We’ll monitor closely.

8. WCEDC: Warren County Economic Development Corp will hold an open house Thursday, October 27 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in their new office at 111 N. Buxton.

9. J/K RE-ALIGNMENT: Chuck Burgin will receive an engineering proposal for the J/K Re-Alignment project that will be presented to council in November.

10. D&D PROPERTY: The Dangerous & Dilapidated Committee will meet November 1 to discuss the purchase of 301 N. Jefferson Way (northwest corner of Hwy 65 and Boston Ave). A recommendation will be brought to council on November 21.

11. LABOR NEGOTIATIONS: The Local Laborers #353 rescheduled their opening proposal meeting from October 19 to October 28 for both the council and trustees.

Friday, October 14, 2011

News Items - October 17, 2011

1. VISION IOWA: Mark Vickroy and I attended the Vision Iowa meeting in Sioux City on October 12. Mark presented additional information (see packet) about the city’s private funding but the board was insistent that additional fundraising be part of the funding.

The committee will meet and discuss options in the next couple weeks.

2. MCVAY TRAIL: In the packet is an erosion repair report from V&K’s Forrest Aldrich. I have asked Finance Director Jean Furler to place it in the Storm Water Utility budget.

FYI—One of the areas involves the High School’s storm water drain from the parking lot. I forwarded the report to Building/Grounds Director Rick Branson for his review.

3. SIMPSON PARKING: In the packet is a letter from Simpson’s Ken Birkenholtz requesting Simpson be allowed to asphalt a portion of the parking on C Street adjacent to the Kent Center (see concept drawing). Staff has reviewed and will authorize the temporary asphalt.

4. SOUTH Y UPDATE: Chuck has scheduled Tuesday, October 18th for a final walk through with the engineer and contractor to develop a punch list of items needed to be completed or repaired.

5. STORM WATER PROJECT UPDATE: All three areas, Easton Park, South Buxton and West Iowa Avenue have been completed. Final restoration of properties (sod) should begin within the next couple of weeks.

6. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In the packet are city accomplishments over the last 10 years.

7. STORM SHELTERS: P&Z discussed the addition of storm shelters for single and multi-family dwellings at their October 11 meeting (see minutes) and voted to take no action. Community Development Director surveyed 12 cities and found none that requires shelters.

8. ELECTRIC FRANCHISE: When reviewing the recently adopted ordinance, MidAmerican reps noted a couple text issues. There may be a slight change in the wording (involves dates) that will be presented to council in a few weeks.

9. SLUDGE HAULING: The contractor is at our plant and started the sludge hauling process. Supt Dan Miers anticipates over 1 million gallons will be hauled in the next 3 weeks (weather permitting).

10. ELECTION: In your packet is a letter from Darwin Curl stating he will be withdrawing from the race. His name will remain on the ballot.