HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_City Council Work Meeting_11212023 CITY OF IONA
CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING
IONA CITY HALL
NOVEMBER 21,2023 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Daniel Gubler, Council President Rob Geray, Council Member Michael
Thompson, Council Member Peter Wadsworth, Council Member Evan Mann, Public Works
Director Zech Prouse and City Clerk/Treasurer Keri West.
ABSENT: City Attorney Andrew Rawlings.
VISITORS: Kirsti Cook,Janell Fullmer, Bill Koester and Rylea Farrens.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
Discussion of 2024 City Council Meeting Dates—Clerk West stated she has drafted a proposed
City Council Meeting schedule for 2024 for the Council to discuss for approval at the December
meeting. She continued and stated as discussed in previous meetings, she has initially scheduled
the Council Meetings to take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except for months with
conflicting holidays. Clerk West then stated Janell Fullmer of Eleve Dance had expressed
concern over the current proposed schedule and is here to discuss her suggestions with the
Council. Mrs. Fullmer stated her company is considering not holding classes on the evenings of
City meetings, but the Planning & Zoning Meetings and City Council Meetings are held on
different nights of the week. She continued and stated if the City could have all meetings on the
same day of the week,they would be willing not to schedule classes those nights to allow for less
noise and congestion during City meetings. Mrs. Fullmer stated if the P&Z and City Council
could both meet on Thursdays on different weeks, they would not schedule their weekly classes
on Thursdays. Clerk West stated Thursdays would be difficult from an administrative
perspective because the City Office is closed on Fridays and there are many tasks that need to be
completed after the meetings. Council Member Thompson suggested holding the P&Z Meetings
on the second Tuesday each month, instead of Wednesdays. All agreed. Mayor Gubler suggested
moving forward with that schedule, subject to approval by the P&Z Commission. Clerk West
stated she will draft the Resolution for City Council approval in December.
Discussion of Iona City Code § 10-1-24: Open Park Space; pertaining to developer
requirements — Mayor Gubler stated the City Council recently updated the Code to require
green space in each development. He continued and stated a developer has approached the City
and has asked if they could make a monetary contribution to the City for use in developing a new
park, or maintaining current parks, rather than having a small green space in individual
developments. Council President Geray stated he is not in favor of amending the City Code to
allow developers to contribute money to City parks. He continued and stated he believes the
objective of the Open Park Space section of the Code was to provide green space in each
development. This gives the local children a place to play, rather than traveling to a larger park.
Council Member Thompson agreed and stated there will be a lot of organized sports and
activities that take place in the City Park and will take place in the new park on 49th North.
Neighborhood parks will be used by those neighborhood residents where they don't need to
worry about other activities to schedule around. Mayor Gubler stated he doesn't see a problem
with this option for developments that are adjacent to a City park. Council President Geray
agreed, but said that should be considered as a variance, rather than automatic approval in the
IONA CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING -NOVEMBER 21, 2023
City Code. Director Prouse agreed and stated the Code already has the variance process
stipulated for that type of situation. He continued and stated he agreed with Council President
Geray's statement about the intention of the green space for the neighborhood residents to
utilize. All agreed.
Discussion of Iona City Code § 6-4-10: Installation of Mailboxes within Public Rights of
Way —Mayor Gubler stated this topic was brought up in a previous Council Meeting and it was
decided to postpone a determination on how to amend the Code until more data had been
reviewed. He continued and said he has discussed this topic with Director Prouse and they have
determined that all mailboxes should be a minimum of 18" off the road. Mayor Gubler stated
they agreed that the current requirement of 6" off the right-of-way is too close to the road. He
then stated if a resident wants to create a masonry mailbox it needs to be even further from the
road. Director Prouse suggested adding an engineering consistency to those structures that
includes some sort of breakaway component to the structure. Mayor Gubler stated if the
structures are further off the road and the resident is responsible for their own snow removal in
front of the mailbox, he doesn't feel a breakaway structure is necessary. Director Prouse stated
he is concerned about vehicles hitting the masonry mailboxes and the damage that could cause to
the vehicle itself and the people inside the vehicle. Council President Geray stated he has mixed
feelings about that requirement. Discussion continued regarding various ways to achieve a
breakaway structure. Mayor Gubler suggested having residents sign a liability waiver if they
choose to install a mailbox different than allowed by the City Code. Director Prouse expressed
concern over this option since the City is responsible for the right-of-way. Audience member Bill
Koster suggested a requirement that all masonry mailboxes need to be placed on private
property, rather than the right-of-way. Council Member Mann stated the post office would not be
able to deliver the mail if the mailbox was 15-20 feet off the road. Mayor Gubler agreed. Council
President Geray asked if anyone from the City had communicated with the residents that had
voiced concern over this topic. Mayor Gubler stated he and Director Prouse had discussed this
together and took into consideration the residents' concerns that were mentioned during that City
Council discussion. Director Prouse summarized his suggested amendments to include a
minimum and maximum setback, as well as the caveat that residents who choose to utilize the
maximum setback are responsible for maintenance and snow removal. Council Member
Thompson stated he would like to allow certain types of masonry mailboxes because they are
aesthetically pleasing and can break away if hit. Director Prouse stated the City will need to
communicate with the post office to make sure they approve of the parameters the City is
considering. All agreed. Council Member Wadsworth asked if this would affect new homes that
are required to have curb and gutter. Mayor Gubler stated the updated Code that requires curb
and gutter addresses this issue independently and is addressed in the development agreement.
Clerk West stated the post office no longer allows individual mailboxes in new subdivisions. She
continued and stated they are requiring all new subdivisions to have community mailbox units.
Mayor Gubler stated he will discuss this with Attorney Rawlings and will request that he drafts
an amendment for approval at the December meeting.
General Fiber Project Discussion — Council President Geray asked if the City has had any
contact with Direct Communications. He continued and stated he is concerned they are not
contacting residents that have opted in for their service. He further explained they completed the
drop to his house, but they did not communicate with him prior and therefore the box was not
installed in the location that he would have preferred. Clerk West stated she has not talked to
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IONA CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING -NOVEMBER 21, 2023
anyone directly recently. She then read the zone updates as posted on Direct Communications'
Facebook page. Clerk West further explained Direct Communications posts project updates on
their Facebook page once or twice each month. Council President Geray asked if the City has
received any feedback from residents that have the service. Clerk West stated she has not heard
from anyone at the City Office. Audience member Rylea Farrens stated she has friends that are
using the service and are very happy with it.
Director Prouse stated Fybercom has finalized their open Right-of-Way Permits to begin their
one year warranty period. He continued and stated they are done for the winter with all their
main line work.
Meeting Adjourned: 6:37 p.m.
COUNCIL APPROVED: December 19, 2023
Damel Gubler, Mayor
ATTEST: &is
W./at-
Keri West, City Clerk/Treasurer
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