The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.

Present: Mayor Porter; Councilmembers: Cauwels, Harvey, Kallsen, Woodley.

Absent: Councilman Dorhout.

Staff Present: Craig Coffey, City Administrator; Tom Sedgwick, Telecommunications Director; Tom Kane, Public Works Director; Jim Pickner, City Attorney; Mike DeBruin, Police Chief.

Standard Agenda Items

Item 1. Approval of the December 4 and December 7, 2000 Minutes. Moved by Woodley/Kallsen to approve the Dec. 4 and Dec. 7 Council Minutes. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 2. Approval of Claims for Payment. Moved by Cauwels/Woodley to approve the Schedule of Claims for payment. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 3. Open Business from the Community (limited to a maximum of 5 minutes per item.) There was no open business from the community.

Item 4. Staff Reports/Discussion.

• Tom Kane gave a brief report on the snow removal and told the Council that Clark Danielson was resigning his position with the City.
• Mike DeBruin, Police Chief, reported on the school parking at the Elementary and the High School.
• Tom Sedgwick, Telecommunications Director gave a report on the phone/cable outage this past weekend.
• Craig Coffey talked to the Council on the legislative rally to be held in Washington D.C. and who from the Council would attend this.
• A short discussion on the Alcester Fire District was held.

Item 5. Mayor’s Report. Mayor Ric Porter reported that he had received a thank you from the Akron Mayor and Fire Chief for assisting in the house fire in Akron this past week.

Other Agenda Items

Item 6. Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution No. 2000-41. A resolution to declare necessity and establish an urban renewal area, pursuant to section 403.4 of the Code of Iowa and approve Urban Renewal Plan Amendment for the 2000 Addition to the Hawarden Urban Renewal Area A.

Councilman Dorhout was recorded present via phone at 7:28 p.m.

The public hearing was opened at 7:29 p.m. There was no one present to provide oral comments. The public hearing was closed. The City Administrator, Craig Coffey, reported that no written comments were received. He further reported that the TIF District was presented to the Planning Commission and the Planning Commission recommended approval of the addition. No one was present for the consultation sessions but phone conversations were held with the representatives of all the agencies to answer questions and address concerns of these agencies, but that no negative or positive comments were received. He stated that he made a presentation to the West Sioux School Board at their last meeting. Moved by Cauwels/Kallsen to adopt Resolution 2000-41. Aye: Dorhout, Cauwels, Kallsen, Woodley. Nay: Harvey. Motion carried.

Item 7. Third Reading of Ordinance 589 (TIF District Crest Issuance of TIF A Addition Debt) on Emergency Basis. An Ordinance providing for the division of taxes levied on taxable property in the 2000 addition to the Hawarden Renewal Area A, pursuant to the Section 403.19 of the Code of Iowa. Waiver of the first and second readings for passage was recommended on an emergency basis due to time prior to the end of assessment year and to fund a development project with immediate deadlines. Staff recommended final approval of Ordinance 589 on its third reading on an emergency basis with the following findings:

1. The creation of the TIF Addition must be completed prior to January 1, 2001 in order to finance a economic grant towards the purchase of property for the relocation and expansion of existing business. The property purchases have options that will expire on January 15, purchase agreements and construction must take place as well as the relocation timeframe for businesses that must be met.

2. That the TIF Addition must be adopted prior to January 1, 2001 to capture the recently added revenues within the proposed Area.Moved by Cauwels/Kallsen to waive the first two readings of Ordinance No. 589 and pass Ordinance No. 589 to its third and final reading, with the findings and recommendations presented by staff. Aye: Dorhout, Cauwels, Kallsen, Woodley. Nay: Harvey.

Item 8. Resolution No. 2000-42, Establishing a Tax Increment Revenue Fund and Authorizing a Loan to that Fund in the Amount of $52,500. The City Administrator re-briefed the Council on the relocation and expansion of the business that would be assisted. Moved by Cauwels/Dorhout to approve Resolution No. 2000-42. Aye: Dorhout, Cauwels, Kallsen, Woodley. Nay: Harvey.

Councilman Dorhout left the meeting (via telephone) at 7:45 p.m.

Item 9. Resolution No. 2000-43, a Resolution Adopting a Revised/Updated Employee Cafeteria Plan. This Resolution will update the City with the current law. Moved by Kallsen/Cauwels to adopt Resolution 2000-43, Adopting a Revised/Updated
Employee Cafeteria Plan. Motion carried unanimously

Item 10. Request for Renewal of Class C Liquor License with Sunday Sales and On-Site Living Quarters. Moved by Kallsen/Cauwels to approve the request for renewal of Class C Liquor License with Sunday Sales and On-Site Living Quarters for Donald McManaman CBA Donnie Mac’s located at 911 Central Avenue. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 11. Request for Renewal of a Class C Liquor License with Sunday Sales. Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to approve the renewal of a Class C Liquor License with Sunday Sales for Truesdell Oil, Inc., DBA Quick Corner located at 901 - 10th Street. Motion carried unanimously.

Councilman Mike Dorhout was recorded present via phone at 7:55 p.m.

Item 12. Discussion/Planning Session Regarding Community Center. Mr. Coffey addressed the Council on various issues regarding the Community Center and stated that a structural study is being donated by licensed engineers that will be in town on the 22nd to do the study. Pictures were shown on the three community centers that were visited recently by various Council members and the Mayor. A letter was also discussed from In Vision Architects that stated the sagging trusses in the Library were only cosmetic and were nothing serious. Moved by Harvey/Woodley to revise plans and cost estimates with the architect in order to be presented to the Council by January 8, and to the public for a Public Bond Referendum to be held within 45 days. Staff was directed to pursue revising schematic plans for the community, coordinating with the County Auditor for an election date and checking with bond counsel regarding procedure, a ballot, etc. to carry out these tasks. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 13. Discussion of Natural Gas Prices. Staff explained the record high gas prices, where the City stood on purchase and operating funds. Additionally, long term price issues were discussed and various options to offset the high prices. Moved by Kallsen/Harvey to offset the gas prices for January and February with excess gas operating funds for up to $40,000 for residential customers
Aye: Cauwels, Harvey, Kallsen. Nay: Woodley.

Item 14. Strategic Planning - Facilitated by the City Administrator. A sheet of goals for the next 3 years was presented. The City Administrator stated he was planning on utilizing the goals as listed, pending any changes by the Council at the next meeting.

Item 15. Closed Session - City Administrator Performance Review. This item was postponed.

Moved by Kallsen/Woodley to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.

__________________________
Ricard Porter, Mayor

ATTEST:

_______________________________
Craig Coffey, City Administrator