ELY CITY COUNCIL

SPECIALMEETING

JUNE 4, 2008

6:00 p.m.

Mayor Jim Doyle called a special workshop meeting of the Ely City Council to order at 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday June 4, 2008 in the Council Chambers at Ely City Hall. Council Members present: Bill Grove, Mark Banowetz, Stephanie Mai and Bob Ballantyne; Tom Winkowski absent - excused. Also present: City Engineer Cary Solberg of MMS Consultants, Ron Stark Public Works Director and Aaron Anderson City Administrator/Clerk.

The City Council met in special session, pursuant to notice as required by State Code, to conduct a workshop session regarding planning for improvements to the Ely water system and annexation boundary agreements with neighboring cities.

Workshop re: Water System Improvements.

The City Council discussed matters related to improvements to the water system to increase water pressure for property and homes at higher elevations and increase water storage capacity with City Engineer Cary Solberg, Public Works Director Ron Stark and City Administrator Aaron Anderson. The discussion centered on the two principle options of becoming a bulk water customer of the City of Cedar Rapids by connecting to their water system or increasing Ely’s local capacity by building new water towers with roughly 525,000 gallons total capacity and possibly new well and treatment system in the future. Items discussed include, but are not limited to: cost estimates for both options prepared by City Engineer Cary Solberg, maintenance and operational issues such as testing and distribution system maintenance, preferred timeline to complete the improvements and have them operational, status of acquiring land for a potential water tower site, and status of a request to find if Cedar Rapids is willing to re-open discussions on a bulk water purchase agreement.

It was the general consensus of the City Council to direct City Administrator Anderson to draft a letter to the Cedar Rapids City Manager to inquire the status of an earlier request regarding Cedar Rapids interest in, and willingness to, discuss a bulk water purchase agreement with the City of Ely. The letter should include that Ely seeks to be able to determine the preferred alternative by July 14, 2008, and be ready to commit to ordering detailed construction engineering by September 8, 2008.

Workshop re: Annexation Boundary Agreements.

The City Council discussed matters related to annexation boundary agreements between cities, focusing on the 2005 version of a proposed agreement between Ely and Cedar Rapids that was not approved by either city. Matters discussed include, but are not limited to: recent area growth and development trends and patterns, advantages and disadvantages of established annexation boundaries between two cities, and whether Cedar Rapids would discuss such an agreement if a bulk-water purchase agreement is not a viable option.

It was the general consensus of the City Council to direct Mr. Anderson to include language regarding an annexation boundary agreement that does not include a water purchase agreement in his correspondence to the Cedar Rapids City Manager.

The City Council took no other direct action on any matter discussed during the meeting.

Grove, second by Mai, moved to adjourn. Motion carried – 4 to 0. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

James E. Doyle Jr., Mayor

Attest:

Aaron Anderson, Clerk/Administrator