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    MUSCATINE CITY COUNCIL
      
     
    Gary Gray
    At Large
     
    Dick O'Brien
    Mayor
     
    Jerry Lange
    At Large
     
    Anne Lesnet
    2
    nd
    Ward
     
     
     
    Phil Fitzgerald
    1st Ward
     
    Bill Trent
    5th Ward
     
     
    2003 MEETING SCHEDULE
     
     
    Jerry Root
    4th Ward
     
    Scott Day
    3
    rd
    Ward
     
     
    (All meetings start at 7:00 PM
    unless voted upon by Council.)
     
     
    Lorrie Fry
    City Clerk Aide
     
    Harvey Allbee, Jr.
    City Attorney
     
     
     
    Regular Meetings In­depth Meetings
     
     
    A.J. Johnson
    City Administrator
    January 2 & 16 July 3 & 17 January 9 July 10
    February 6 & 20 August 7 & 21 February 13 (None in August)
    March 6 & 20 September 4 & 18 March 13 September 11
    April 3 & 17 October 2 & 16 April 10 October 9
    May 1 & 15 November 6 & 20 May 8 November 13
    June 5 & 19 December 4 & 18 June 12 December 11
     
     
     
    AGENDA
     
    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2003, 7:00 P.M.
    COUNCIL CHAMBERS ­ CITY HALL
     
     
     
    1.
     
    CALL TO ORDER
     
    2. ROLL CALL
     
     
    3. OPENING PRAYER
     
     
    4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
     
     
    5. COMMUNICATIONS ­ CITIZENS
     
     
    A. Swearing in of Police Officer Lonnie Mason
     
    At this time Muscatine Police Officer Lonnie Mason will be sworn in.
     
    B. Presentation of the Keep Iowa Beautiful Award to Lavene Payne and Debbie
    Yerington
     
    At this time there will be a presentation by Jerry Sneff from the “Keep Iowa
    Beautiful” program to Lavene Payne, Debbie Yerington and the City of
    Muscatine.
     
     
     
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    6. MINUTES ­ APPROVAL
     
     
    A. Regular City Council Meeting – November 6, 2003
    B. In­Depth City Council Meeting – November 13, 2003
     
    7. CONSENT AGENDA
     
     
    The following items are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be
    enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a
    Council Member or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from
    the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence from the Agenda.
     
    * 9 – A
    * 13 – A­G
    * Bills*
     
    *Approval of attached Bills for Approval totaling $1,057,099.49 is subject to the
    approval of any related agenda item(s).
     
    8. PUBLIC HEARING
     
     
    A. Proposed Lease of City Right­of­Way at 107 Roscoe Avenue
     
    Previously the City Council took action to establish a public hearing for the
    proposed lease of city right­of­way at 107 Roscoe Avenue. The city periodically
    receives and reviews requests from private property owners for the use of public
    right­of­way for private parking. The property located at 107 Roscoe Avenue
    currently has private parking in the public right­of­way; however, the lease for
    such parking has expired and needs to be renewed at this time. There are strict
    qualifications and criteria that must be in place for a homeowner to be eligible to
    make application for the use of public right­of­way for public parking. Because
    the proposed lease is in excess of three years, a public hearing is required.
     
    Now is the time for the public to comment on the proposed lease of city right­of­
    way at 107 Roscoe Avenue.
     
    B. Proposed Lease of City Right­of­Way at 715 Iowa Avenue
     
    Previously the City Council took action to establish a public hearing for the
    proposed lease of city right­of­way at 715 Iowa Avenue. The city periodically
    receives and reviews requests from private property owners for the use of public
    right­of­way for private parking. The property located at 715 Iowa Avenue
    currently has private parking in the public right­of­way; however, the lease for
    such parking has expired and needs to be renewed at this time. There are strict
    qualifications and criteria that must be in place for a homeowner to be eligible to
    make application for the use of public right­of­way for public parking. Because
    the proposed lease is in excess of three years, a public hearing is required.
     
     
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    Now is the time for the public to comment on the proposed lease of city right­of­
    way at 715 Iowa Avenue.
     
    9. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
     
     
    A. Request for renewal of a Class C Liquor License and Sunday Sales Permit for
    Plamor Lanes, 1411 Grandview Avenue – Muscatine Properties Inc.
     
    B. Request for Use of City Property for 4
    th
    of July Activities
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is a request for the use of city property
    for 4
    th
    of July activities 2004. The Convention & Visitors Bureau of the Muscatine
    Chamber of Commerce has submitted an application for the use of city property
    for a Grand Excursion and Independence Day Celebration from Thursday June
    24, 2003 through Sunday, July 4, 2004. The proposed location for the activities
    would be on the riverfront, downtown on 2
    nd
    Street between Mulberry Avenue
    and Pine Street, and the traditional 4
    th
    of July parade route. There are a number
    of facts and logistical issues yet to be worked out on the project but the request
    has been submitted to secure the property for its use.
     
    At this time City Council could take action to approve the use of city property for
    the 4
    th
    of July activities 2004 by the CVB.
     
    10. FROM THE MAYOR
     
    A. Proclamation Declaring November 28, 2003 as “Shop Muscatine 1
    st
    Day”
     
    The above proclamation has been submitted for City Council’s consideration and
    approval.
     
    11. FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
     
     
    12. FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR
     
     
    A. Resolution Approving the Lease of City Right­of­Way at 107 Roscoe Avenue
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is a resolution approving the lease of
    city right­of­way at 107 Roscoe Avenue. Previously the City Council conducted a
    public hearing to receive public comment on this proposed lease arrangement.
    The lease arrangement would be for a period of one year with an automatic
    renewal option unless either party objects to that renewal. The annual fee for the
    lease will be $75 per year. All improvements and maintenance on the space will
    be that of the homeowners. The city reserves the right of easement across the
    property for public utilities and public projects.
     
    At this time City Council could take action by resolution approving the lease of
     
     
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    city right­of­way for the purpose of parking vehicles.
     
    B. Resolution Approving the Lease of City Right­of­Way at 715 Iowa Avenue
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is a resolution approving the lease of
    city right­of­way at 715 Iowa Avenue. Previously the City Council conducted a
    public hearing to receive public comment on this proposed lease arrangement.
    The lease arrangement would be for a period of one year with an automatic
    renewal option unless either party objects to that renewal. The annual fee for the
    lease will be $75 per year. All improvements and maintenance on the space will
    be that of the homeowners. The city reserves the right of easement across the
    property for public utilities and public projects.
     
    At this time City Council could take action by resolution approving the lease of
    city right­of­way for the purpose of parking vehicles.
     
    C. Resolution Authorizing the Assessment of Nuisance Abatement Costs
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is a resolution authorizing the
    assessment of nuisance abatement costs. Periodically the City Council takes
    action to approve assessments for abatement of nuisance costs that are incurred
    throughout the year. The proposed request before City Council involves the
    assessment request for a list of unpaid abatement costs to private property
    owners as well as the assessment request of unpaid abatement costs to private
    property owners for properties that are currently in a foreclosure status. There
    are 10 properties that will be assessed abatement costs to the private property
    owners totaling $2,546.43 and there are 27 properties total $7,591.21 for
    abatement costs of properties in foreclosure.
     
    At this time City Council could take action by resolution authorizing the
    assessment of unpaid abatement costs to private property owners.
     
    D. Resolution Supporting a Housing Project for the Disabled
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is a resolution supporting the housing
    project for the disabled. At last week’s In­Depth Meeting, the City Council heard a
    request from the Muscatine Welfare Association in association with Burns &
    Burns Architects Inc. of Iowa City for the construction of the “Fulton Place”
    housing units for developmentally handicapped individuals in the City of
    Muscatine. The housing project will contain up to 24 units with all units being
    handicap accessible. The units will be targeting people with disabilities and small
    families. This resolution of support is necessary for the project to be submitted to
    the Iowa Finance Authority for potential funding assistance.
     
     
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    At this time City Council could take action by resolution supporting the
    development of the rental units by Fulton Place Limited Partnerships for persons
    with disabilities and small families.
     
    E. Request Authorization for the Issuance of a Purchase Order for CBD Snow
    Removal and Hauling Services
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is a request to approve the issuance
    of a purchase order for the Central Business District Snow Removal and Hauling
    Services. The city recently solicited bids for snow removal assistance in the
    Central Business District with one bid being received for the 2003/2004 snow
    removal season. There were a number of increases in per hourly costs for
    various activities that are performed under the contract. These costs however are
    within the anticipated range for providing this service. By approving this contract,
    the City Council frees up city work forces to work on the roadway surfaces within
    the community for snow removal purposes.
     
    At this time City Council could take action to approve the contract for the
    2003/2004 snow removal and hauling services between the City of Muscatine
    and Sulzberger Excavating Inc. of Muscatine.
     
    F. Request Authorization to Install Customized Street Sings in the CBD
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is a request for authorization to install
    customized street signs in the Central Business District. Previously a group of
    interested citizens had approached the City Council to inquire as to whether or
    not the city would be willing to pay for street historic signs within the Central
    Business District. At that time the City Council endorsed the idea of the signage
    but informed the group they did not have the funds available at this time and that
    they would either have to raise the money themselves or the request would have
    to go through the normal budget review process. The organization that is
    supporting this activity has raised the necessary funds for the acquisition of these
    signs. A total of $13,078.12 was raised for the installation of 35 different street
    signs and 26 posts for stop sign installation. The city will install the hardware and
    signage once it arrives.
     
    At this time City Council could take action to approve the authorization to install
    customized street signs in the Central Business District.
     
    G. Request to Establish 2004 City Council Meeting Dates
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is the request to establish the 2004
    City Council meeting dates. Specifically the dates in question will be the meeting
    schedule for January 2004. Because of the placement of the New Year’s holiday,
    it is being requested that the City Council meeting dates for January 2004
    incorporate the second, third and fourth Thursdays of that month with the
     
     
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    meetings beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Council meetings for the remaining
    calendar year 2004 will not change except for the month of August in which the
    Council does not conduct an in­depth meeting.
     
    At this time City Council could take action to establish the 2004 City Council
    meeting dates.
     
    H. Request to Authorize Expenditure for Deer Count
     
    At the City Council’s November In­Depth meeting, Council received information
    from IDNR officials concerning the process for establishing a local deer hunt
    within the community. It was suggested that prior to any formal action or
    consideration by Council on this type of matter, that they consider engaging the
    IDNR in an aerial review and count of deer in the Muscatine city limits. Other
    cities have used this process of assessing the magnitude of the problem prior to
    allowing any type of special hunt within the community. The estimated cost for
    this project is $200 to $300. In order to cover any unknown expenses, it is
    recommended that city staff be allowed to enter into arrangements with the IDNR
    and/or other communities to cost share this type of project in an amount not to
    exceed $500.
     
    At this time City Council could take action to authorize the expenditure of funds
    not to exceed $500 to assist in the assessment of deer population in the City of
    Muscatine.
     
    I. Request to Authorize Contract for Services
     
    Presented for City Council’s consideration is a request to authorize a contract for
    services. As part of an ongoing effort to identify areas in which the city can
    reduce expenditures and at the same time try to maintain service levels within
    departmental activities, contracting for particular services had been presented
    and accepted by City Council. It is anticipated that with a retirement within the
    Police Department there will be an ongoing need for public safety grant
    solicitation monitoring and administration. By providing this service through a
    contract opportunity, the city will provide for these services at a greatly reduced
    cost to the city.
     
    At this time City Council could take action to authorize a contract for services
    between the City of Muscatine and Torgerson Associates.
     
     
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    13. COMMUNICATIONS ­ RECEIVE AND FILE
     
    A. Muscatine County Board of Supervisors – October 27, 2003 & November 3, 2003
    B. Planning & Zoning Commission – October 14, 2003
    C. Bi­State Regional Commission – October 22, 2003
    D. Board of Water, Electric, and Communications Trustees – September 30, 2003
    E. Senior Resources
    F. City of Muscatine Financial Reports – October 2003
    G. Police Department Monthly Report – October 2003
     
    14. APPROVAL OF BILLS
     
     
    It is recommended bills totaling $1,057,099.49 be approved and that the City Council
    authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to issue warrants for the same. It should be
    noted that this listing is subject to the approval of any related agenda item(s).
     
    15. COMMUNICATIONS ­ COUNCIL MEMBERS
     
    16. OTHER BUSINESS
     
     
    17. ADJOURNMENT
     

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