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The Council Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Council Members: Woodley, Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman
Absent: Mayor Porter; Council Member: Nohava
Staff Present: Craig Coffey, City Administrator; Tom Kane, Public Works Director; Mike DeBruin, Police Chief; Jim Pickner, City Attorney.
Staff Absent: Sharole Rens, Finance Officer; Chris Myres, Telecommunications Director.
In the absence of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem Cauwels conducted the meeting.
Item 1a. Approval of September 8 and September 19, 2003 Minutes. Moved by Lubkeman/Woodley to approve the Minutes of September 8 and September 19, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 1b. Approval of Claims for Payment. Moved by Woodley/Lubkeman 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. Mayor's Report. Mayor Pro Tem, Cauwels read the proclamation declaring the week of September 17-23, 2003 as Constitution Week.
Item 2b. Staff Reports/Discussion. Mr. Coffey reported that eight housing grants still remain in the Housing Incentive Program. The search for an inspector on the Community Center Project continues. Mr. Coffey stated that he has received five responses and will have them for review at the next meeting. He also reported on the upcoming activities, which include a Conversational Spanish Class beginning on October 1st and a Zoo Trip on September 26th. The Hawarden community had 185 digi walkers for the “Get Fit Sioux County” Program. Mr. Coffey reported that the Mid-Sioux Office would be open on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, by appointment only. Travis Waterman, Electric Division Supervisor, will be deployed for duty in Bosnia from October 10, 2003 through September 2004. Tom Kane attended a meeting with Northern Natural Gas and stated that a 3% increase in all future gas purchases is expected. He also stated that the City has purchased a gas winter strip for one half of our gas load from November 3rd - March 4th for $5.25 at DeMarc point. We have requested the second half to be purchased at $5.05 per MCF at DeMarc. Mr. Kane also reported that portions of Highway 12 will be closed the week of September 22nd for repairs on the railroad crossing. Police Chief, DeBruin stated that a new part time police officer had been hired and he is continuing his search for another.
Item 3. Third Reading of Ordinance 617 - An Ordinance Amending End User Common Line Charge Rates. The approval of this ordinance will raise the FCC end user common line charge shown on the customer’s bill for residential and single line business from $6.00 to $6.50 per line and for businesses with multiple lines from $7.50 to $9.00 per line. These increases are due to the FCC’s decision to force local phone companies to collect more of their revenue from customers instead of long distance companies, who traditionally have accounted for the majority of this revenue. This will bring us up to or slightly below what other area phone companies have been charging the past year. Moved by Cauwels/Woodley to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance 617. Aye: Woodley, Cauwels, Lubkeman. Nay: Harvey. Motion carried 3 - 1.
Item 4. Second Reading of Revised Ordinance 616 - An Ordinance Amending Title 9, Chapter 9.03 “Additional Stationary Traffic Regulations (Parking)” by Adding New Prohibited Parking Areas. Parking distances have been developed by the Police Chief for certain areas in the City and “No Parking” signs will identify these locations. Two descriptions of each new “No Parking” areas were contained in the Ordinance. Council chose to approve the second description of the “No Parking” areas contained in the Ordinance. Moved by Cauwels/Lubkeman to approve the second reading of Revised Ordinance 616. Aye: Woodley, Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 5. Second Reading of Ordinance 618 - An Ordinance Amending Title 9, Chapter 9.04 By Deleting Section 9.04.05 in its Entirety and Replacing it With a New Section 9.04.05 With the Same Title “Snowmobile and All Terrain Vehicle Regulations”. The City Attorney requested that the words “and operated” in the first line of 9.04.05,8, be deleted. Moved by Harvey/Lubkeman to approve the second reading of Ordinance 618 with changes made by the City Attorney. Aye: Woodley, Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 6. Second Reading of Ordinance 619 - An Ordinance Amending Title 12, Chapter VI Rates, Section 6.6 "Electric Utility Rates" by Adding a New Section 6.6.7 Entitled "Renewable Energy Rates". This ordinance will adopt the rate for implementation of the voluntary Renewable Energy Program. Moved by Harvey/Woodley to approve the second reading of Ordinance 619. Aye: Woodley, Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7. First Reading of Ordinance 620 - An Ordinance Amending Title 12, Chapter VI Rates, Section 6.7 "Gas Utility Rates" by Amending 6.7.1 "Gas Utility Rates for all Classes of Service" by Increasing the Rates and by Amending 6.7.2 "Wholesale Gas Adjustment Charges" by Raising the Threshold Before Such Charges Shall Apply. This ordinance will make two changes to our gas rates. The first is an increase in the gas rate to cover the increased gas pipeline transportation charges (30% increase) that Mid America (Northern Natural Gas) will begin charging November 1, 2003. The second is an increase that will raise the rate by .75 per MCF. This increase should be seamless to the customer, as it will equally be offset in the wholesale gas fuel adjustment charges. The gas fuel adjustment threshold would be adjusted from a low threshold of $2.50 per MCF and high threshold of $3.25 per MCF to a low threshold of $3.25 per MCF and high threshold of $4.00 per MCF. Moved by Woodley/Lubkeman to approve the First Reading of Ordinance 620. Aye: Woodley, Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 8. Resolution 2003-61 - Authorizing Mr. Curt Sullivan With the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission to Submit a Grant Application to Fund the Development of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. This will apply for a grant to do an evaluation of our vulnerability to various natural disasters as part of a pre-disaster mitigation plan. Once written and submitted, this will allow us to apply for grant funds to address these vulnerabilities. Moved by Woodley/Lubkeman to approve Resolution 2003-61. Aye: Woodley, Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9. Resolution 2003-62 - Resolution Providing for Pre-Payment of Water Revenue Notes, Dated November 1, 1993. This Resolution will table Water Reserves earning approximately 1% interest and pay off Water Revenue Bonds we are paying 4 - 5%. The payoff will be five (5) years early and save the City over $20,000 net from the interest that would have been earned by early prepayment. Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to approve Resolution 2003-62, Recalling Remaining 1993 Water Revenue Bonds. Aye: Woodley, Harvey, Cauwels, Lubkeman. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 10. Request for Approval of the Renewal of a Class BC License With Sunday Sales - a Request by Krause Gentle Corporation, dba Kum and Go #767, Located at 504 - 10th Street to Renew Their License. Moved by Woodley/Cauwels to approve the renewal of a Class BC License with Sunday Sales for Krause Gentle Corporation, dba Kum and Go #767. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Woodley/Lubkeman to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The Council Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
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Michael Cauwels, Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST:
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Craig Coffey, City Administrator
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