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COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING – 136 N. MONROE STREET Thursday, October 4, 2007 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL. Mayor Thompson called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at approximately 7:05 p.m. Alderpersons present – Pieck, Perry, Springer, Van Holten, Forman and Kent with Hennessy absent. Others present – Chief Tim Thomas, Katya Szabados of the Courier, Tammy Krueger of the Watertown Daily Times, Brent Kinney, Bob Rehm, Gerald Bauman, Linda Sornson and Clerk/Treasurer Hansen. 2. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2007 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES. Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by Kent to approve the September 6, 2007 meeting minutes as presented. Voice Vote: Motion passed. 3. CITIZEN INPUT. None. 4. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS. None. PROCEDURAL NOTE: Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by Kent to take up agenda item 7a at this time out of sequence. Voice Vote: Motion passed. (See action below.) 5. COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, AND BOARDS RECOMMENDATIONS & REPORTS a. Finance, Insurance & Personnel Committee Recommendations i. Ordinance #2007-19 Amending Section 53-11 Of The Municipal Code To Require 33% Of Undesignated/Unreserved Funds To Be Reserved Rather Than 25%. Discussion: Thompson said the effect of the change is to require the equivalent of four months of expenditures for reserves rather than three months. Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by Springer to approve Ordinance 2007-19 amending the municipal code as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Pieck, Perry, Springer, Van Holten, Forman and Kent. Noes – None with Hennessy absent. Motion carried.
i. Land Use Rezoning For The Property Located At 173 N. Monroe Street To Allow A Change In Land Use From Existing C-1, General Commercial District To R-2, Single-Family Residential District. To Amend A Non-Conforming C-1 Lot To An Existing Non-Conforming R-2, Single-Family Lot. ii. A Conditional Use Permit For The Property Located At 173 N. Monroe Street To Allow For A Non-Conforming Three Unit-Family Dwelling In An R-2, Single-Family Residential District. NOTE: items 5b(i) and 5b(ii) were considered together. Discussion: Perry noted that the Comprehensive Plan likely would categorize this parcel as something other than residential. Perry noted that other examples exist of C-1 zoned areas where residential homes exist and no changes are proposed. He raised concerns of favoritism. Pieck stated that the property owner wishes to rehab the structure and in the spirit of encouraging downtown improvements, the body should support the Plan Commission recommendation. Perry and Kent stated that they felt it is much harder to go from residential to commercial at a later date than from commercial to residential now. Perry opposed spot zoning. Thompson stated that the empty downtown storefronts could be the focus of commercial use. Forman stated that once the Comprehensive Plan is done zoning changes can be tied to it. The property owner stated that refinancing would be easier with the property zoned as R-2. Motion: Moved by Pieck, seconded by Van Holten to approve a land use rezoning request for the property located 173 N. Monroe Street to allow a change in land use from existing C-1 to R-2 amending a non-conforming C-1 lot to an existing non-conforming R-2 single-family lot. The motion further moved to approve a conditional use permit request for the property located at 173 North Monroe Street to allow for a non-conforming three unit-family dwelling in a R-2 single-family residential district. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Pieck, Springer, Van Holten and Forman. Noes – Perry and Kent with Hennessy absent. Motion carried. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. None. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Consideration Of Agent Approval And License Applications For Lowkin LLC, 688 West Madison Street, Brent L. Kinney, Agent, 4660 Baxter Road, Cottage Grove (Tabled From 09/20/2007 Council Meeting) i. Brent L. Kinney As Agent For Lowkin LLC ii. “Class A” Beer License For The Period October 28, 2007 To June 30, 2008 iii. Soda Water License For The Period Ending June 30, 2008 iv. Granting A Cigarette And Tobacco Products Retail License For The Period October 28, 2007 To June 30, 2008 Discussion: Discussion: Motion: Moved by Van Holten, seconded by Forman to approve Brent L. Kinney as agent for Lowkin LLC; to grant a “Class A” Beer license for the period October 28, 2007 to June 30, 2008; to grant a soda water license for the period ending June 30, 2008; and to grant a cigarette and tobacco products retail license for the period October 28, 2007 to June 30, 2008 to Lowkin LLC. Voice Vote: Motion passed. b. Renewal Of The Shared-Ride Taxi Service For 2008 (Tabled From 09/20/2007 Council Meeting). Discussion: Hansen outlined project expenses for the program. Forman stated that the service is in the 2008 budget, but the expenses were increasing and the ridership increase was nominal. Perry stated that the community was small and walking and bike riding should be encouraged. Van Holten said the taxi serves riders in the winter. Mayor Thompson said hauling kids to school should be addressed by the school district, and said that we are already paying taxes for school bus service. Pieck and Thompson noted an interest in having service for late evening riders. Van Holten said early in the program service was reduced to lower costs. Thompson suggested a trial period to serve late night service. Pieck suggested a vegetable oil powered vehicle. Springer described areas where kids are being picked up by the bus service. Thompson asked if a consensus of the Council exists on the continuing the service? Kent suggested communicating to Marshall that Waterloo was interested in capping its costs in the area of $5,000 or $6,000 per year, and to inquire if Marshall wanted to take on the administration of the program. Motion: Moved by Van Holten, seconded by Perry to table the matter to October 18, 2007. Voice Vote: Motion passed. c. Resolution #2007-52 An Easement Agreement With The Property Owner At 127 East Madison Street (Tabled From 09/20/2007 Council Meeting). Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by Springer to table this item to October 18, 2007. Voice Vote: Motion passed. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. # Chief Thomas announced that the community Trick-or-treat would be held, Sunday, October 28 from 2 – 5 p.m. # Forman noted upcoming meetings. # Kent provided information about the state Main Street Program in reply to a question from Perry. # Van Holten asked that Bob Rehm and the issue of a liquor license be placed on the next agenda. 9. ADJOURN. Motion: Moved by Springer, seconded by Van Holten to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. Time of adjournment was approximately 8:15 p.m. Attest: Morton Hansen Clerk/Treasurer
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