MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Hawarden Public Library
Monday, September 10, 2001 at 7:00 P.M.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

Present: Mayor Porter; Council members: Harvey, Cauwels, Woodley.
Absent: Council members: Kallsen, Dorhout

Staff Present: Craig Coffey, City Administrator; Tom Kane, Public Works Director; Jim Pickner, City Attorney, Chris Myres, Telecommunications Director.

Standard Agenda Items

Item 1a. Approval of August 20, 2001 Minutes. Moved by Woodley/Harvey to approve the Council Minutes of August 20, 2001. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 1b. Approval of Claims for Payment. Moved by Cauwels/Woodley to approve the Schedule of Claims for payment. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 1c. Open Business from the Community (limited to a maximum of 5 minutes per item). There was no open business from the community.

Item 2a. Staff Reports/Discussion.

• Mr. Coffey reported that Chris Myres has been hired as the City’s new Telecommunications Director and is starting work on September 17th. He has previously worked full time for Senator Harkin and currently was employed with a political consulting firm. He is originally from Moville, Iowa and will be moving to Hawarden soon.
• The City is working with the Superintendent of the schools to get both parking areas stripped and getting signs to these areas to finish the project. Once the signs are up, the police department will be working with the parents to use the spaces with the proper traffic flow.
• Mr. Coffey also reported that an agreement had been signed and sent on a State Maintenance Contract.
• A uniform proposal was also presented to the outside employees that would implement 100% employee participation, and also looking into neutral polo shirts for the office workers, council, etc.
• Direct deposit for the City employees’ paychecks is currently being implemented.
• Hawarden was one of five departments in the State of Iowa that received a grant for $17,820 from FEMA for a fire prevention program. With this grant, we will hold training seminars in English and Spanish, training of children on escaping a fire, and offering free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• “The Complete Community” emblem will be placed on City vehicles in the near future and will give a more positive image for the City.
• Police Chief, Mike DeBruin is in Des Moines at a police training meeting and Mayor Porter and Craig Coffey will be attending the League of Cities Meeting September 12 and 13th.
• The GFOA Certificate of Achievement Award for excellence in financial reporting for the previous fiscal year was awarded to the City of Hawarden.
• Water testing on the Hawarden Feed and Grain property is scheduled for September 11th.
• The AT&T case was won before the Iowa Utilities Board and Mr. Coffey is moving forward with a collection action.
• Refinancing of our Telecommunications/Electric debt was discussed along with the Housing Program and bidding process for them.
• The Frog Pond Park Project is completed and thanks to all who helped with this project was expressed.

Item 2b. Mayor Report. Mayor Porter welcomed Chris Myres to the Council Meeting. He told the Council that we received a very positive report from the Corps of Engineers on the inspection of the flood control dike. He also reminded the Council of the three open council seats in the upcoming City election, along with the Mayor position, one open position on the Park Board and two on the Hospital Board.

Councilman Kallsen was recorded present at 7:16 p.m.

Other Agenda Items

Item 3. Request for Renewal of a Class “C” Beer Permit with Sunday Sales. Moved by Cauwels/Kallsen to renew the Class C Beer Permit with Sunday Sales for Krause Gentle Corporation dba Kum and Go #767. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 4. Resolution No. 2001-24, a Resolution of Support for the Construction of a New Sioux County Public Safety Center. Moved by Cauwels to pass Resolution No. 2001-24 in support of the construction of the new Sioux County Public Safety Center. Motion died for lack of second.

Item 5. Permission to Pursue Additional Land With the School. Mr. Coffey requested permission to pursue three additional lots with the school district. He would like to see this area utilized for the continuance of the 8 ft. trail, outdoor pavilion and dance pad, and a portion of this for the Wee Care playground. Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to give Mr. Coffey approval to seek this additional property. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 6. Resolution No. 2001-25, Authorizing the Mayor and City Administrator to Sign a Contract for Engineering Service For a Sewer Plant Clarifier With Kuehl and Payer, Ltd. Both of the City’s clarifiers at the plant need to be replaced which is budgeted for June of 2002. The proposal submitted by Kuehl and Payer is providing better service at a fairer price. Moved by Harvey/Woodley to approve Resolution No. 2001-25, authorizing the Mayor and City Administrator to sign a contract for engineering service for a sewer plant clarifier with Kuehl and Payer, Ltd. Aye: Harvey, Cauwels, Woodley, Kallsen. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 7. Discussion of Restricting Certain Vehicles in Residential Districts. Discussion was held on this item. Discussion centered around the weight and different types of vehicles in the public right-of-way. The Council settled on drafting something that would prohibit vehicles over 10,000 lbs., non-motorized vehicles and recreational vehicles from the right-of-way. It was recommended that Mr. Coffey draft an ordinance on restrictions of vehicles in these residential districts and bring this back to the Council for review.

Item 8. Discussion of Code Revisions. Each of the Council members were provided with an old City code book to review some of the items that need to be redone. The City Administrator covered various questions asked by the firm hired to redo the code. Discussion ensued and no action was taken.

Item 9. Closed Session Discussion of Telecommunications Issues. (Closed Session Under Iowa Code Section 388.91 if necessary). At 8:08 p.m., moved by Woodley/Cauwels to enter into Closed Session under Iowa Code Section 388.91 for the purpose of discussing telecommunication issues. Aye: Harvey, Cauwels, Woodley, Kallsen. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.

At 8:26 p.m., moved by Woodley/Kallsen to adjourn Closed Session and resume Regular Session. Aye: Harvey, Cauwels, Woodley, Kallsen. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The Council Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

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Ricard Porter, Mayor