ELY CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Mayor Jim Doyle called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Dale Stanek, Bill Grove, Kay Hale, and Bob Ballantyne; Stephanie Mai absent - excused. Also present: Jim Miller, Doug Rowland, Jim Strother, Dave Rasmussen, Jim Cozzie, Millicent Cozzie, Joel Miller, City Engineer Scott Pottorf and Clerk-Administrator Aaron Anderson.

Stanek, second by Ballantyne, moved to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of:

· Agenda.

· Minutes of the December 14, 2009 regular meeting.

· Treasurers Report for the period ended December 31, 2009.

· Bills Payable for December 2009 totaling $52,763.33.

· Renewal of the following appointments to the Ely Historic Preservation Committee through December 31, 2011: Eileen Jacobson, Katie Miller, Lois Cooling.

· Resolution No. 10-0111-01, Authorizing Delinquent Utility Payments to be Assessed to Property Taxes.

Motion carried – 4 to 0.

Treasurer’s Report (summary) for the period ended December 31, 2009

	Receipts	Disbursements	Transfers	Ending Balance
General	$ 6,329.07	$ 26,278.15		$ 492,663.48
Road Use	7,422.36	10,937.57		26,591.43
L O S T		6,822.46		-3,693.77
TIF Fund	975.48			156,010.18
Debt Service	181.85			19,985.31
Other Projects		5,420.00		-125,850.07
Library Project				2,749.22
North End Infra		9,218.31		-28,219.93
Water Utility	15,207.15	15,662.78		347,775.95
Water/Sewer Reserve				100,0000.00
Sewer Utility	23,292.06	9,289.69		69,565.42
Sewer Debt Service				-48,066.95
Sanitary Utility	8,421.47	6,389.13		48,977.11
PR Clearing	10,672.67	4,979.54		6,834.56
Totals	$ 75,502.11	$ 94,997.63		$1,067,321.97

Communications: Mayor Doyle welcomed City Council members Dale Stanek and Kay Hale to the City Council. Mayor Doyle reported receiving the following communications: minutes of the June 10, November 19 and December 30, 2009 Historic Preservation Commission meetings, annual activity report from Public Works Director Ron Stark, and monthly activity report from Deputy Clerk Teri Billick.

Citizen Requests. Doug Rowland, 1640 Walker St., stated safety concerns for parking on Walker Street in the 1600 block due to the street being narrow and non-resident parking on weekends. City Council discussed this matter, including referring the matter to the Sheriff’s Office for follow up and to include discussion of one-side of street parking on Walker Street in that area for the February City Council meeting.

Jim Strother, 1600 Ranmar Dr., introduced himself and reported he plans to open a new pizza restaurant called “North Dows Pizza” open February 1, 2010 with himself as owner.

Beginning of City Council Member Term

Designation of Mayor Pro-Tem. Mayor Doyle designated City Council member Bob Ballantyne as Mayor Pro-tempore.

Designation of City Council Members to: Streets, Finances, Public Safety and Public Works and Designation of City Attorney. Stanek, second by Hale, moved to designate Bob Hatala of Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC as City Attorney and confirm Mayor Doyle’s Council Member liaison designations as follows:

· Public Safety & Parks –Stephanie Mai

· Streets - Kay Hale

· Public Works - Bill Grove

· Finances – Dale Stanek.

Motion carried – 4 to 0.

Request for Property Tax Exemption Under Iowa “Slough Bill” – Jim Miller, 1200 Vista Rd. Mayor Doyle reported Jim Miller, 1200 Vista Road, is seeking City Council’s recommendation of approval of his application to the Linn Soil and Water Commission for property tax exemption under the Iowa “Slough Bill” of §427.1 State Code of Iowa. Clerk-Administrator Anderson reported the property has been under the “Slough Bill” exemption for at least ten years. Ballantyne moved to approve the request from Jim Miller, 1200 Vista Road, Ely, for property tax exemption for the parcel identified as T#1650 in Section 31 of Putnam Township, and more specifically identified as Linn County PIN 183115200200000, pursuant to §427.1 State Code of Iowa and recommend approval of same by the Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District, second by Stanek. Motion carried – 4 to 0.

Request for Handicapped Only Parking Space on Broadview Court near 1520 Broadview Crt. Mayor Doyle and City Council members discussed a request from Russell Starks, 1520 Broadview Court, for a handicapped only parking space on Broadview Court near his driveway. Clerk-Administrator Anderson reported Mr. Starks requested the parking space because he is afflicted with a chronic medical condition that leads to high probability of need for emergency medical services. Ballantyne moved to table the request for more information, second by Hale; motion carried - 4 to 0.

Water Tower and Water System Improvements Project. City Engineer Scott Pottorf updated the City Council on progress on the Water Tower project, noting that the IDNR does not support the total storage capacity presented in the submitted preliminary engineering report instead recommending roughly 375,000 gallons storage. Mayor Doyle noted that the City needs to provide guidance to engineering on the pressure zones and number of towers design question. Stanek moved to schedule a workshop meeting for 6:30 p.m. Monday January 25, 2010 on the water tower project, second by Hale; motion carried – 4 to 0.

Updated Flood Insurance Rate Map & Flood Plain Management Ordinance.

Schedule Public Hearing re: Ordinance No. 217, An Ordinance to Update and Revise Flood Plain Management Regulations. Mayor Doyle reported the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has completed updating the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s) for Linn County, including Ely; and that Ely needs to adopt an updated Flood Plain Management Ordinance to continue participating in the national flood insurance program. Stanek moved to schedule a public hearing regarding proposed Ordinance No. 217, “An Ordinance to Update and Revise Flood Plain Management Regulations” for 7:00 p.m. February 8, 2010, second by Hale. Motion carried - 4 to 0.

Preparation of FY 2010-2011 Budget. Clerk-Administrator Anderson reported on budget preparation related matters including taxable valuation information. Mayor and City Council scheduled a budget preparation workshop for Monday January 25, 2010 to follow the water tower workshop session.

Annual Business

Resolution No. 10-0111-02, Designating Official Newspaper. Stanek moved to approve Resolution No. 10-0111-02, Designating Official Newspaper, second by Grove.

Aye: Stanek, Grove, Hale, Ballantyne

Nay:

Absent: Mai

Mayor Doyle declared the motion carried and the resolution approved - 4 to 0.

Authorize Soliciting Quotes for Mowing Service. Stanek moved to solicit quotes for mowing services for all City properties, including the “Ely City Park and except the WWTP area, second by Ballantyne. Motion carried – 4 to 0.

North Entrance Sign.

Authorize Filing Work Permit Request to Work in Right-of-Way with Linn County. Clerk-Administrator Anderson reported Linn County Secondary Roads requires an application to work in the right-of-way to be submitted and approved before any work can be performed in the County right-of-way for the north entrance sign project, and that filing the application does not commit the City to conducting the project. Hale moved to submit a Work Permit Request to Work in Right-of-Way with Linn County Secondary roads for the north entrance sign project, second by Ballantyne. Motion passed – 4 to 0.

Use of Tax Abatement for Economic Development/Business Incentive

Resolution No. 10-0111-03, Proposing to Designate an Urban Revitalization Tax Exemption Area and Finding the Rehabilitation, Conservation, Redevelopment, Economic Development, or Combination Thereof of Said Area to Be Necessary and In the Interest of the Residents of the City or Ely, Iowa, Pursuant to Chapter 404, Code of Iowa, 2009. Ballantyne moved to approve Resolution No. 10-0111-03, second by Stanek.

Aye: Stanek, Grove, Hale, Ballantyne

Nay:

Absent: Mai

Mayor Doyle declared the motion carried and the resolution approved - 4 to 0.

Discussion Items

Ballantyne moved to adjourn, second by Stanek. Motion carried – 4 to 0. The meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

James E. Doyle Jr., Mayor

Attest:

Aaron Anderson, Clerk/Administrator