CITY OF WATERLOO COUNCIL MINUTES

COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING – 136 N. MONROE STREET

Thursday, April 17, 2008

1.       CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL.  Mayor Thompson called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at approximately 7:00 p.m.  Alderpersons present – Forman, Quimby, Mosher, Perry, Cotting, Abell and Brey.  Absent- none. Others present – Police Chief Tim Thomas, Gina Covelli of the Courier, Tammy Krueger of the Watertown Daily Times, Videographer Gerald Bauman, Library Director Cecilia Wiltzius, Christopher Karls & spouse, and an unidentified man, Utility Superintendent Gene Weihert, Public Works Director Gary Yerges, Chris Saxby of Schreiber/Anderson & Associates and Clerk/Treasurer Hansen. 

2.       APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 3, 2008 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES. Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by Cotting to approve the April 3, 2008 meeting minutes as presented.  Voice Vote: Motion passed.

3.       CITIZEN INPUT. (1) Chris Karls, 442 Edison Street, stated that after reading a Courier article, he was concerned that general tax dollars would be spent for sidewalk repair and new sidewalk in 2008 when in previous years special assessments charges required property owners adjacent to the sidewalks to pay for the improvements.  (2) An unidentified man said the former millpond area was to be burnt annually as part of a maintenance program.  Gary Yerges commented that in previous years it was too wet to burn.  Perry confirmed that burns were to take place and provided background information on area.

4.       MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS  

a.      Mayoral Arbor Day Proclamation. Noted

b.      Resignation Of Mark Sillman From The Parks Commission. Noted.           

c.      Notice Of A Change In Municipal Impact Fees. Noted.

d.      Jefferson County Board Report, April 2008. Noted.

5.       COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS & BOARDS - RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS

a.      Public Safety & Health Committee

                                                              i.      Ordinance #2008-06 Amending Section 350-7K Of The Municipal Code Relating To Parking Restrictions And Snow Removal From Public Streets.  Discussion:  Perry stated that the ordinance purpose was to allow for temporary no parking areas so the Public Works Department could remove snow. Motion:  Moved by Perry, seconded by Cotting to adopt Ordinance #2008-06 as presented. Voice Vote: Motion carried.

                                                            ii.      Acceptance Of Resignation Of Sgt. Hoffhein. Motion:  Moved by Perry, seconded by Cotting to accept the resignation of Sergeant Roy Hoffhein with regret and wishing him well. Voice Vote:   Motion carried.

b.      Finance, Insurance & Personnel Committee

                                                              i.      Approval Of Department of Transportation Contract Modification For Highway 89 Reconstruction Project.  Discussion: Forman said he had researched the way the contract was written and approved of the mid-project change orders.  Chris Saxby, representing the City Engineer, explained how the change order for granular fill came about noting that the contractor initially had interpreted that fill wouldn’t be needed.  Thompson asked if the specification had been written improperly.  Forman commented that the specification was standard from the state transportation department.  Saxby’s noted that all bidders interpreted the bid items relating to granular fill in the same manner.  Saxby provided a handout containing project estimates change orders.  Cotting requested a reply to a question relating Saxby figures and streetscape funding. Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Cotting to approve the contract modification as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Forman, Quimby, Mosher, Cotting, Abell and Brey. Noes – None with Perry abstaining.  Motion carried.

                                                            ii.      Resolution #2008-18 Amending The 2007 Municipal Budget. Discussion:  Hansen reviewed the amendment. Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by Perry to approve the resolution as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Forman, Perry, Quimby, Mosher, Cotting, Abell and Brey. Noes – None.  Motion carried.

                                                          iii.      Resolution #2008-20 Authorizing Payment To Van Stenberg For Alleyway Improvements Agree Upon As Part Of Resolution #2007-43.  Discussion:  Forman stated that an agreement with the property owner was agreed upon in 2007 and he didn’t want to delay payment to Stenberg even though an access agreement hadn’t been formally approved.  Thompson stated that the property owner has already signed the easement agreement pending with the Public Works Committee.  Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by Perry to approve the resolution as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Forman, Perry, Quimby, Mosher, Cotting, Abell and Brey. Noes – None.  Motion carried.

6.       UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a.      Resolution #2008-19 Agreement For Wastewater Treatment Services Between The City of Waterloo And Briess Malting & Ingredients Company.  Discussion: Hansen reviewed the agreement noting resolution language permitting modification of the document after approval to expedite completion.  Forman raised a concern about the resolution provision granting permission to modifying the agreement after passage. In reply to a question from Forman, Gene Weihert stated that he was O.K. with the agreement. Motion:  Moved by Quimby, seconded by Mosher to approve resolution #2008-19 as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Quimby, Mosher, Abell and Brey. Noes – Forman, Perry and Cotting.  Motion carried.     

b.      Approval Of A Sign Permit For The Waterloo Fire Department.  Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Cotting to approve the sign permit. Voice Vote:  Motion carried.  

7.       NEW BUSINESS

a.      Approval To Grant Operator’s Licenses For The Period Ending June 30, 2009

                                                              i.      Christopher Hauptli, W11031 Hwy 19, Columbus

                                                            ii.      Katie Schlageter, 3286 Fernglade Rd, Verona

Note:  By consensus the Council took up both license applications together. Motion:  Moved by Forman, second by Quimby to approve operator’s licenses to Christopher Hauptli and Katie Schlageter for the period ending June 30, 2009. Voice Vote:  Motion carried.

                                                          iii.      Promotion of Police Department Sergeant.  Discussion:  Chief Thomas stated that the position had been posted, that three officers were eligible and that Officer Dennis Sorenson was recommended for promotion.  Forman spoke in favor of Sorenson’s promotion. Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by Cotting to approve the promotion of Dennis Sorenson to Sergeant starting April 20, 2008 with a six-month probationary period. Voice Vote:  Motion carried. 

                                                           iv.      Mayoral Appointment – Parks Commission, Bill Springer, 835 Herron Court To Complete The Unexpired Term Of Mark Sillman, Said Term Ending In 2009.  Discussion:  Perry stated that Bill Springer may have conflicts meeting as frequently as other members of the Park Commission would like.  He also raised concerns that the Mayor had already appointed Bill Springer as temporary chair, stating that the Parks Commission itself needs to decide who chairs the Parks Commission. Thompson replied that the appointment was temporary.  Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Mosher to appoint Bill Springer to the Parks Commission. Voice Vote:  Motion carried.    

8.       REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS & CONTRACT SERVICES PROVIDERS

a.      Clerk/Treasurer

                                                              i.      Approval Of Payroll For March 2008 - $64,557.86.  Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Perry to approve payroll in the amount $64,557.86. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Forman, Perry, Quimby, Mosher, Cotting, Abell and Brey. Noes – None.  Motion carried.          

                                                            ii.      Approval Of Pay Vouchers From March 21, 2008 through April 17, 2008. Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Perry to approve pay vouchers as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Forman, Perry, Quimby, Mosher, Cotting, Abell and Brey. Noes – None.  Motion carried.          

                                                          iii.      Approval Of Treasurer & Budget Reports For February & March 2008.  Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Perry to table the February & March Treasurer’s Reports. Voice Vote:   Motion carried.   

                                                           iv.      Shared-Ride Taxi Program Report For March 2008. Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Perry to table the Taxi Program Report for March 2008 to May 1, 2008. Voice Vote: Motion carried.     

b.      Waterloo Active Fire Department For March 2008. Noted.

c.      Building Inspector - Building, Plumbing, And Electrical Permits For March 2008. Noted.

d.      Public Works Director Gary Yerges For March 2008. Noted.

e.      Police Chief Timothy Thomas For March 2008. Noted.

f.        Library Director Cecilia Wiltzius For March 2008. Noted.

g.      Waterloo Water & Light Commission For April 2, 2008. Noted.

h.      Humane Society of Jefferson County For March 2008. Noted.

9.       FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. #Quimby noted that the Youth Board is to be made up of four members. She requested that the issue of changing the Board configuration from four to five members be considered.  Mayor Thompson asked that the issue be placed on the next meeting agenda.  #Perry highlighted a grant opportunity for riverfront planning.  Perry said the application was due May 15, 2008 and asked that the item be placed on the next meeting agenda.

10.   ADJOURN.  Motion: Moved by Forman, seconded by multiple Alders to adjourn. Voice Vote: Motion carried.  The Council adjourned at approximately 8:10 p.m.

Attest:

        Morton Hansen

       Clerk/Treasurer