MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Hawarden Public Library
Monday, July 15, 2002 at 7:00 P.M.

Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Present: Mayor Porter; Council Persons: Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman, Woodley.

Absent: Councilman Nohava

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

Staff Absent: Sharole Rens, Finance Officer

Standard Agenda Items

Item 1a. Approval of July 1, 2002 Minutes. Moved by Cauwels/Lubkeman to approve the Minutes of July 1, 2002. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 1b. Approval of Claims for Payment. Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to approve the Schedule of Claims for payment. Aye: Cauwels, Lubkeman, Woodley. Nay: Harvey. Motion carried.

Item 1c. Open Business from the Community (limited to a maximum of 5 minutes per item). Mr. Lloyd Degen of 1016 Avenue O was present to request information on his tax abatement refund. He was asked to come by and discuss the item during the week with Mr. Coffey.

Item 2a. Staff Reports:

• Mr. Coffey reported that the Police Department hired a new part time officer.
• He also reported that the Police Department has been receiving noise complaints from various people and assured them that this problem would be addressed and that a new ordinance with decibel levels may be developed.
• Mr. Coffey also reported that he had received various pool complaints. Letters are to be sent out to various citizens asking for their participation in forming a pool committee.
• He reported that he had a meeting last Tuesday with some of the residents in regard to issues related to the Pork Plant.
• Sharole Rens will be attending clerk’s school to complete her final phase of city clerk certification.
• Digital TV has progressed well with 46 customer hookups.
• Mr. Coffey reminded everyone to attend the Wee Care Open House set for July 25th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and also the NW Iowa Community College Appreciation lunch grill-out set for the 25th from 11:30-12:30 p.m. for our appreciation to the college students, L. G. Everist workers, and our City employees for all their hard work in completing this phase of the project.
• Tom Kane reported that the Waste Water Clarifier Project will be completed by the end of the week and the dirt work on Dry Creek should be finished by the end of the month.
• Mr. Kane encouraged everyone to do only necessary watering from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. because of the dry weather.

Item 2b. Mayor Report. Mayor Porter thanked all the summer recreation and pool employees for their participation and hard work this year. He also encouraged citizens to bring their ideas and input for the new Community Center site and he also reminded everyone to attend the upcoming grill-out for NCC.

Other Agenda Items

Item 3. Discussion of Future Festivals on August 29th and September 7th. Discussion was held in regard to two upcoming events that involve closing downtown streets. August 29th is being planned by Hawarden Motors and HAPP for the start of Big Sioux River Days with a professional driver burnout. September 7th is being planned by Relay for Life to close 9th Street between Central and Ave. F in front of the Bistro Event Center for various events. Mr. Coffey reported that he would be developing a more thorough street closing policy to be used for future events. Mr. Coffey stated he planned on proceeding with the events with conditions laid out in his memo. No vote was taken. The Mayor moved to the next item.

Item 4. Third Reading of Ordinance 604 - Rezoning Property. A public hearing on an Ordinance to consider a request to rezone property from R-2 (Medium Density Residential) to B-2 (Commercial). The property is located east of Avenue L and north and northeast of Oak Hill Drive, totaling approximately 7.40 acres. It is commonly known as portions of the previous Sioux Empire College and more recently known as the LSS group home and gymnasium. Legally the property is a portion of the SW _ of SE _ of Section 26, T95N R48W with a full survey available for review at the City Offices. Councilman Harvey recommended postponing the rezoning to have more control over the use of the property to protect Mr. Zimmerman’s investment and the apartments across the street. Mr. Coffey asked that the rezoning be approved to settle the issues now and control what goes there thru the sale of the property. Moved by Cauwels/Lubkeman to approve the third reading of Ordinance No. 604. Aye: Cauwels, Lubkeman, Woodley. Nay: Harvey. Motion carried.

Item 5. Resolution No. 2002-27 - Approving the 2001-2002 Street Finance Report. This is a state mandated report that is required each year. Moved by Harvey/Lubkeman to approve Resolution No. 2002-27, Approving the 2001-2002 Street Finance Report. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 6. First Reading of Ordinance 605 - Water Conservation Ordinance. An Ordinance of the City of Hawarden creating a new chapter 12.30 entitled “water conservation/drought contingency”, by establishing water system shortage classifications; water restrictions associated with each classification; penalties; water allocation levels and other potable water protections associated with water shortages; providing Repealer and Severability clauses and an effective date. This Ordinance is based primarily on reducing water consumption in order to reduce strain on our shallow aquifers during a drought situation. Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to approve the first reading of Ordinance 605 with corrections. Aye: Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman, Woodley. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 7. Resolution No. 2002-28, Selecting and Approving Proceeding With a Golf Course Irrigation Project. Detailed project costs updates were presented to the council with costs running between $10,000 and $20,000 higher than previously estimated. Part of the cost increases involve better controls, road boring costs, and a pond, if necessary. This project will save the City money in the long run and will relieve peak water demands off our potable water system. In addition, this will save electricity at our wells and chlorine at our treatment plant. The golf course currently accounts for about 10% of our water load during the summer months. Moved by Cauwels/Woodley to approve Resolution 2002-28, Selecting and Approving Proceeding With a Golf Course Irrigation Project. Aye: Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman, Woodley. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 8. Discussion/Approval of Purchase/Acceptance and Demolition of Property. Mr. Coffey updated the Council on the properties of 705 Ave. D, 21st and Ave. F, and 1811 Ave. E. 705 Avenue D - Mr. Coffey advised the Council that he plans to pursue municipal infraction and demolition with Mr. Jeff Hartman, property owner from Maurice, Iowa. Public abatement would be a last resort on this property. 1811 Avenue E - Demolition is also necessary on this property. However, it is believed that public abatement will be required and no city funds are budgeted for this effort. Contact with the owner will be made to see if something can be worked out. Taxes are delinquent and underground tanks are not known. 21st and Avenue F - The property owner is willing to donate this property. The taxes are current. Staff is planning on taking the property and creating a new park.

Item 9. Closed Session Under Iowa Code Section 21.5i, Discussing a Personnel Matter. At 8:55 p.m., moved by Cauwels/Lubkeman to enter into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter with Mr. Coffey. Aye: Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman, Woodley. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. At 9:00 p.m., moved by Woodley/Cauwels to adjourn Closed Session and resume Regular Session. Aye: Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman, Woodley. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Harvey/Cauwels to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The Council Meeting adjourned at 9:01 p.m.

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Ricard Porter, Mayor