HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes-05/11/2011 Tiffin Regular City Council Meeting
Wednesday May 11, 2011
Springmier Library CCA Middle School
6:30pm
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call of Council Members
III. Approval of Agenda
IV. Community Forum
A. Community
B. Sheriff Department Representative
C. Tiffinfest Report
V. Approval of Minutes April 13 and 27, 2011
VI. Approval of Receipts and Expenditures
VII. Old Business
A� Lot#48 Timber Ridge Estates
B. Drainage Issue Between Nightingale Dr& Goldfinch Dr.
C. The Depot Tiffin Variance Request
VIII. New Business -
A. Resolution 2011-17 KUM & GO Liquor Permit
B. Joint Meeting w/Johnson County Board of Supervisors
C. Burning Ban
D. Resolution 2011-18 Speed Limit Roberts Ferry Rd.
IX. Projects:
A. Ireland Avenue Extension Project
1.,IDOT Update
2. Property Acquisitions
3. City Owned Property Disposal
B. Trails Phase Four
C. Villages
D. Rolling Hills Phase Four
X. Reports
A. Tiffin Community Fund •
B. Parks, Recreation, Festivals,`and Tourism
C. Library Board Representatives
D. Attorney
1. LMR Development/ Bella Sala Agreement for Sign on City Property
2. Homeowner Agreements for Land Adjoining Retention Pond Woodfield Ridge
E. Engineer
F. Public Works
G. City Clerk
H. Mayor Pro-tem ,.
1. RAGBRI Accommodations
I. Mayor
1. Water Tower and Financing
2. Other
XI. Adjournment
TIFFIN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Phillips called meeting to order at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at Springmier Library.
Roll Call of members present: Chris Ball, Jim Bartels, Mike Gericke, Mark Petersen, Travis Weipert.
Also present were Attorney Steve Greenleaf, Engineer Doug Frederick and Clerk Ruth Demuth.
Motion by Council person Weipert and seconded by Council person Gericke for approval of agenda as presented. Any
following actions requiring a vote are approved by Ayes unless so noted other and absences noted.
Community Forum:
Council person Petersen requested to be heard on record to voice his displeasure of a comment that allegedly falsely
accused him of misspending city funds on a project not approved by the City Council. Petersen requested an apology
from the City Clerk. The City Clerk reminded Mr. Petersen that any alleged statements would have been made in a
conversation outside of the formal City Council meeting and that the City Clerk would not extend a formal apology to
Council person Petersen. Council person Weipert stated that he was the one who initiated the conversation, it was
outside of a formal City Council meeting, and the Clerk had added comments to the conversation. Council person
Petersen stated that the Clerk should not speak to a City Council member in that way.
The Johnson County Sheriff Deputy reported on activity within city. Inquiries were made by Council members on
reports produced from the Sheriffs Department. Mayor Phillips extended the city's gratitude for the law enforcement
services provided by the Sheriffs Department.
Darla Bartels, Tiffinfest Committee, reported on committee planning progress. Bartels presented two service contracts
for festival and asked council approval-for Mayor Phillips to sign contracts. Motion made by Council person Weipert
and seconded by Council person Petersen for approval of contracts. Motion made by Council person Ball and
seconded by Council person Bartels to direct Attorney to initiate legal action for the recovery and control of Tiffinfest
website and property.
Motion made by Council person Petersen and seconded by Council person Bartels to approve minutes from April 13
and 27, 2011 City Council meetings.
Motion made by Council person Gericke and seconded by Council person Weipert for approval of receipts and
expenditures. Council person Petersen questioned expenditures for electrical work at City Maintenance facility and
property acquisition for Ireland Avenue Extension Project. Ayes: Ball, Bartels, Gericke and Weipert. Nay: Petersen..
Old Business:
Discussion held on future plans for Lot'#48 Timber Ridge. Melissa Arery, presented ideas from group of neighbors
from Timber Ridge asking City Council to retain Lot#48 as Green Space,finish sidewalk off Oakdale Blvd, and
implement additional mowing on or near lot. Motion made by Council person Petersen and seconded by Council
person Ball to direct Mowing Contractor to restrict weed and over growth on Lot#48. Council person Ball asked
neighbors if they had considered making'a monetary purchase or a monetary commitment to retain area as green
space. Resident questioned type of buildings zoning allows. Mayor Phillips reported that if the Lot had not been
deeded over to the City as an outcome of the lawsuit, the zoning would have allowed zero lot duplexes and the lot
could have already been developed. Discussion held on alternative materials used to build temporary sidewalk.
Motion made by Council person Gericke and seconded by Council person Weipert to direct Public Works to install
temporary rock base sidewalk on Lot#48. Council tabled further discussion on Lot#48 until May 25, 2011 Work
Session. Mayor Phillips asked for information from Realtor on pricing of lots for Work Session.
Engineer Doug Frederick presented three sealed bids for drainage remediation on properties between Goldfinch Dr.
and Nightingale Dr. Frederick explained his findings from documentation from early 1990's when Songbird was
developed regarding the storm sewer construction. Council members,suggested tabling further discussion until
residents contact City.
Upon review of documentation on The Depot Tiffin Variance Request Application regarding the proposed Canopy in
the front setback restrictions for the re-construction project of the Depot Tiffin, motion made by Council person Weipert
and seconded by Council person Ball to recommend favorable approval to Board.of Adjustments of Variance
Application.
New Business:
Mike Husmann, Kum and Go, detailed plans for liquor sales effective July 1, 2011. Motion made by Weipert and
seconded by Petersen to read Resolution 2011-17 by Title only. Motion made by Council person Weipert and
seconded by Council person Gericke to approve Resolution 2011-17 Approving the Addition of a Liquor Permit to
the Alcohol Permit for Kum &Go Store#137 Located within the City Limits of Tiffin, Iowa at 101 Village Dr.
Discussion held on request by Johnson County Board of Supervisors for joint meeting with City Council. Motion made
by Council person Ball and seconded by Council person Bartels to invite Board of Supervisors to June 22, 2011 Work
Session. Mayor Phillips to contact Board of Supervisors.
Brief discussion held on the burning ban approved by the City Council in 2010. Council suggested moving further
discussion to June or July 2011 Work Session.
Discussion held on speed limit on Roberts Ferry Rd north of intersection of Roberts Ferry Rd and Goldfinch Dr..
Deputy Sheriff suggested leaving the speed limit at current 25mph. Motion made by Council person Petersen and
seconded by Council person Gericke to leave speed limit at current 25mph. Ayes: Gericke and Petersen. Nays: Ball,
Bartels and Weipert. Motion failed.
Motion made by Council person Ball and seconded by Council person Weipert to raise speed limit on Roberts Ferry Rd
north to Oakdale Blvd to 30 mph contingent on Attorney's comments on the legality of such change. Ayes: Ball,
Bartels and Weipert. Nays: Gericke and Petersen. Motion passes but Council requests delay of implementation until
receipt of Attorney's opinion on legality of change. Resolution 2011-18 approval tabled until opinion received from
Attorney.
Projects:
Engineer Frederick reported on update of Ireland Ave Extension Project. Frederick reported on discussions with Iowa
Department of Transportation regarding the Hwy 6 design plans. Council members voiced disagreement on IDOT
suggestion of round-about at Ireland/Roberts Ferry Rd and Hwy 6 at intersection. Mayor Phillips questioned timeline
with revised preliminary plans with IDOT. Frederick estimating IDOT review back at end of June 2011. Inquiries were
made regarding cost of stop lights at intersection and amount of parking lot needed for project from Grace United
;Methodist Church. City Council requested Frederick to continue with'design plans for project.Attorney Greenleaf
reported that property acquisition of Ted Spivey would close on Thursday, May 19, 2011 for$95,000. Greenleaf
updated Council on progress of obtaining additional properties for project. Mayor inquired of Attorney of any conflicts
in title search regarding the former alleyway. Attorney reported that title search continues on the ownership of land
along the railroad property. Discussion held on vacate of city owned property at 301 W Marengo Rd. Motion made by
Council person Petersen and seconded by Weipert to extend the lease on 301 W Marengo Rd until June 27, 2011.
Mayor and Clerk directed to continue progress of removing trees and property for Project.
Engineer Frederick reported on progress of Trail Phase Four and June 21, 2011 IDOT bid letting still on schedule with
construction beginning by end of July.
Inquiries were made of progress of Villages. Reported that Villages passed'the Federal requested Train Noise Study
and Villages in process of obtaining proposals for the site and buildings.
No new updates received on the final plat of Rolling Hills Part Four. Completion of punch list still in progress.
Reports:
Tiffin Community Fund will hold fundraiser concessions at the City Park Picnic Shelter on June 2, 2011 during ball
games..Residents and contributors are encouraged to forward contributions to Tiffin Community Fund for additional
picnic shelters.
Library Board members had no new business information.
Mayor Phillips inquired of City Attorney Greenleaf of progress of sign lease agreement with LMR Developers/Belles
Sala for permanent electric sign in future Soccer Fields and of the Homeowner Agreement for land around Woodfield
Ridge retention pond. Greenleaf would check into inquiries and report back to Mayor and Council.
Council person Ball updated Council on RAGBRI passing near city during annual ride in July 2011. Council suggested
Public Works check into costs of renting portable restrooms in City Park on Friday, July 29, 2011. Reported that one
non-profit group interested applying for food vendor permit on that day.
Mayor Phillips updated Council on meetings with bonding companies for financing of Capital Improvement Projects.
Northland Securities will present to Council at May 25, 2011 Work Session on financing options.
Mayor Phillips expressed his frustration of the continuing unprofessional negative campaign staged by Steve Berner
and the Solon State Bank against the City of Tiffin regarding the investment of city funds. Phillips stated that he will ,
continue to obtain investment information from various financial institutions within the area and bring back information
to the Investment Committee for review for the best Return of Investment for the city funds within the guidelines of
Iowa Code Chapter 12 and the Investment Policy adopted in February 2011.
Motion by Weipert and seconded by Petersen for adjournment at 9:10pm.
Attest: Royce Phillips, Mayor: ,v. • si
.
Submitted by: Ruth Demuth, City Cler A It