MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Hawarden Public Library
Monday, July 16, 2001 at 7:00 P.M.

The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m.

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

Absent: Councilman Kallsen

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

Staff Absent: Jim Pickner, City Attorney.

Standard Agenda Items

Item 1. Approval of July 2, 2001 Minutes. Moved by Woodley/Dorhout to approve the Minutes of July 2, 2001. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 2. Approval of Claims for Payment. Moved by Cauwels/Harvey 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.

• Mr. Coffey reported to the Council that Police Chief DeBruin is working on a LLEBG (Local Law Enforcement Block Grant) grant to purchase additional police equipment.
• Bids are out for a wood chipper, new copy machine and a three-spool wire trailer for the Electric Department.
• It was reported that $2,600 was netted at the city auction that was held on Saturday, July 14th.
• He also reported that he had attended a grant seminar on July 12th and that Sharole Rens is attending Clerk’s School in Ankeny the week of July 16 through the 20th.
• Tom Kane reported that street seal coating would start Tuesday.
• Tom Sedgwick reviewed activities regarding phone, cable and internet.

Other Agenda Items

Item 5. Mayor Report. Mr. Porter read a letter from the United Good Neighbor (UGN) Organization announcing their last $1,000 contribution towards swimming lessons and the dissolution of group. He thanked the group for their years of service and stated that there good work would be missed in the community. A letter from Governor Vilsack was also read stating he will be in Sioux Center next week. Mayor Porter read a letter of resignation from Tom Sedgwick, Telecommunications Director. The resignation will become effective August 25, 2001.

Item 6. First Reading of Ordinance No. 595, Municipal Infractions Code. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAWARDEN AMENDING TITLE 1 BY UPDATING CHAPTER 1.12 AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 1.14 AUTHORIZING THE WRITING OF MUNICIPAL INFRACTIONS AS ADDITIONAL REMEDIES PROVIDED FOR VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES; PROVIDING REPEALER AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSES AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance will allow the City to write infractions for different violations as another option to the remedies we currently have. This should result in quicker action and may be a strong approach to property maintenance enforcement. Discussion took place on the issue of environmental violations as provided for by State Law. Staff recommended that if this concerned the Council that we strike that section. Moved by Dorhout/Woodley to approve the first reading of amended Ordinance No. 595 (removing paragraph 2 of Section 1.14.02). Motion carried unanimously.
Aye: Dorhout, Woodley Harvey, Cauwels. Nay: None.

Item 7. Resolution No. 2001-22 - Approval of Street Finance Report. This is an annual report the State requires each year to be approved by resolution. Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to approve Resolution No. 2001-22. Aye: Dorhout, Woodley, Harvey, Cauwels. Nay: None.

Item 8. Approval of the Write-Offs of Bad Debt. Craig Coffey announced that these debts have been turned over to collections and ultimately may wind up in small claims court. He stated that what we are doing now was simply an accounting procedure to balance the books. A question was asked about publishing a bad debt list. Staff said they would check into it. Moved by Harvey/Woodley to approve the write-off of bad debt for telephone & cable, ambulance, and the other utilities for the period of 7-01-00 thru 6-30-01. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 9. Changing of September and October Meeting Dates From Sept. 3 and 17 and October 1 and 15 to Sept. 10 and 24 and October 8 and 22. It was the general consensus of the Council to change these dates because of the conflict with Labor Day (Big Sioux River Days) and also the Latham Conference in Washington, D.C.

Item 10. Discussion of Housing Initiatives and Approval to Begin Pursuing Negotiations/Agreements to Move Forward. (Closed Session Discussion of Purchase of Property Under Iowa Code Section 21.5j if Necessary). Staff presented the following ideas for discussion: The City acting as conduit for information, increasing the enforcement of maintenance standards, creating new subdivisions for homes under 100K, hiring a general contractor to build starter homes, and providing financial incentives to individuals to purchase homes. Discussion ensued about these items. Concern was expressed over splitting up the units the City would build in different subdivisions, as well as the City contracting financially for building houses. The abatement of construction in TIF area was also discussed. A tour of houses was requested of Hawarden, Sioux Center and Orange City etc, to get an idea of the homes that would be built. No closed session was held.

Item 11. Discussion on Telecommunications Issues (Closed Session Under Iowa Code Section 388.91 if Necessary). At 8:43 p.m., moved by Harvey/Cauwels to enter into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing telecommunications issues. Motion carried unanimously. At 9:04 p.m., moved by Dorhout/Woodley to adjourn Closed Session and resume Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 12. Discussion of Hospital Debt. A memo from the City Administrator expressing his concern over the 1.2 million debt was presented to the Council. Discussion ensued about what steps we may need to take. The Mayor and City Administrator were asked to begin discussions with the hospital board in order to start looking at other options to solve this problem. No other action was taken.

Moved by Harvey/Woodley to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

The Council Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

__________________________
Ricard Porter, Mayor