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Ida Grove, Iowa The City Council of the City of Ida Grove met in regular session at the Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Dennis R. Ernst presiding. Councilmembers present: William Carnine was called on speakerphone so the Council could set the public hearing for notice of hearing on proposed revitalization plan, Paul Bargar, James Weary, Paul Cates. Councilmembers absent: Rick Heeren. Guests in attendance: Beth Wolterman, Mark Nielsen, Wade Harriman, Matt Salvatore, Kim Claussen, Melonie Ladwig, Dawn Young. The following items were added to the agenda for discussion only: Snow Removal. Moved to approve the agenda as amended. Approved unanimously.
Sheriff Wade Harriman presented a copy of the new Ida Grove Sex Offender map indicating where sex offenders cannot reside. He informed the Council there is one sex offender living in Ida Grove. The rules could change this year. Currently they cannot reside within 2,000 feet of a State registered day care or a school. He informed the Council he has finished his budget and overall there is a 3.7% increase. This year insurance stayed about the same. Ida Grove’s share this fiscal year is $246,957.00 and next fiscal year will be $254,408.00, off that amount $58,164.00 is for the Communications Center. He is asking that all deputies be paid 85% of his base salary. Currently they have been getting 82 to 83% of the Sheriff’s base pay. The Sheriff stated he felt he needed to pay the maximum to keep the deputies he has. Currently the new deputies have been staying from three to five years. He reported that jail revenue is up. They have already collected $12,029.00 which is 62% of what he budgeted. The Sheriff is preparing and annual report and Ida Grove’s number tickets in 2005 was 328 and in 2006 it was 314. Numbers of calls for 2005 was 2,203 and for 2006 were 2,069.
Kim Claussen, a member of the Heritage Days Committee, informed the Council that Heritage Days will take place June 22nd through the 24th. The event will be on the same line as last year’s event. They will have Family Fun Nite at Cobb Park on Friday and on Saturday they will have the Walk in the morning followed by the parade. They will be having rides like they had last year but a gladiator ride for older children. They are going to sell wristbands for the rides. The City Clerk reported the City had included $1,550.00 in the budget for the event. The Committee is going to be holding a fundraiser in February. They are talking about biscuits and gravy and a bake sale. The group also is going to apply for a grant from the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation this year. The City Clerk informed them they would need a copy of the City minutes sponsoring their application Moved to sponsor the Heritage Days application to the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation for a grant. Approved unanimously.
Matt Salvatore, Ida Grove REC Director, presented his 2006 Annual Report. He reported the membership is at 440. He also included the attendance totals and community room rentals and a program summary. Matt presented his proposed budget for fiscal year 2007-2008. The budget is showing a $21,500.00 deficit. The Board is reactivating the Fund Raising Committee and is going to planning some events. The donor wall is about complete and that should encourage additional giving. Matt reported he is working some new promotions to bring more individuals to the facility. He is applying for a grant from the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation. Moved to approve the proposed budget for 2007-2008 for the Ida Grove REC Center. Approved unanimously.
Matt presented a proposal to hire a Parks and Recreation Director. He recommended to combine the responsibilities of managing and maintaining the public parks, trail system outdoor swimming pool and the recreation center under one position. He included the benefits of having Parks & Recreation Director. He presented the proposed Park/Trail duties he would assume. He would explore grant-funding opportunities for park and trail improvements. He also would work with the Parents for Parks Committee. He would continue to have his summer intern and supervise and direct the seasonal mowing employee and he would use the current mowers and maintenance equipment. He isn’t recommending a raise he is asking for $7,500.00 to paid out of the Parks and Trail funds. Discussion was held on the proposal. The City Clerk presented actual expenses for the parks for the last three fiscals years and what has been spent in the first six months of this fiscal year. The Clerk noted the monies would come from the general fund to pay for the new position. The City would still have to maintain the flood control and other areas that are mowed that Matt didn’t have listed or add to Matt’s list. The Council decided to review the proposal during the budget process when better are figures are known. Moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. Approved unanimously.
The City Clerk presented the Standing Committee on Administration’s proposed changes in the City’s Personnel Manual. The Acknowledgment, Purpose and Jurisdiction, Affirmative Action Statement, and Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunity Employment) sections were approved. Under Section III - Definitions, Number 18 was changed from 90 days to 180 days. Under Section V - Records and Payroll Policy, Section 5.7 Pay Plan Administration, Section b. The Work Week was changed to 40 hours and the workday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Section g. Uniform Allowance: shall be changed from $100.00 to $200.00 for uniform allowance and anything ordered over $100.00 changed to $200.00 and the carry over from $150.00 to $250.00. Section h. Reimbursable Expenses: Section a. Private Transportation: changed from $.32 to a mileage allowance up to the amount allowable under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. Section b. Lodging and Meals: Per Diem - Changed from $20.00 per day to a maximum per meal of $10.00 Breakfast, $10.00 Lunch, and $20.00 Supper. Section VI – Vacation – Changed to 40 hours for all full time employees. And changed the accrued vacation to as follows: A full time employee can carry over up to 40 hours (one week) of accrued vacation to the next year. Permanent Part Time employees can carry over up to 30 hours (one week) of accrued vacation to the next year. Vacation is to be used in one (1) hour increments. Section VII- Holiday’s Section 7.1 Holidays – Presidents Day, third Monday in February was added. Number 7 the hours were changed to 8 hours. Section VIII – Leave Section 8.2 Jury Leave was changed to include fees to be turned into and give to the City (except meals and mileage to be retained.). Section 8.7 Enforced Leave – Number 2 and 3 - Removed city crew from the paragraph. Section XII Incompatible Activities – Section 12.5 Employee Evaluation: Changed to the City Clerk or City Crew Foreman is required to evaluate the performance of each new employee after 3 and 6 months of employment. Section XIII – Section 13.1 – Hospital-Medical/Surgical Insurance Group Plan: changed to – All full time permanent employees who are actively at work are eligible for this insurance. (This would be first day coverage.) Section VIII – Vehicle Policy – Section 16.4 changed $.32 to the following - to a mileage allowance up to the amount allowable under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. Councilman Carnine asked to have setting a minimum amount of time for the use of sick leave added to the agenda. He recommended that the sick leave minimum be set at 1 hour that same as the minimum use for vacation time. Moved to approve the proposed changes recommended by the Standing Committee on Administration and the changes recommended at the meeting. Approved unanimously.
City Clerk Alborn presented a letter from Laurel Boerner and Peter Goldsmith concerning the City’s appeal to IPERS concerning withholding IPERS from the retainer and their monthly bill for services. The purpose of the letter is to resolve some questions regarding the IPERS audit of the City and to offer a solution. They offered to negotiate or pay both the employee and the employer portions for the past. For the future, they offered reducing their hourly rate so there would be no charge to the City. The Council discussed the proposal and agreed to table any action until the City receives the IPERS ruling and what the League of Cities recommendations are on withholding IPERS. Councilman William Carnine is ill and at home and asked to be involved in the Council meeting, if needed by speaker phone. The City Clerk called Councilman William Carnine, and he attended the meeting by speakerphone. Councilman Carnine could hear the meeting and the Council and audience could hear him. The Council took up and considered the establishment of a proposed revitalization area and a proposed revitalization plan pursuant to Chapter 404, Code of Iowa. Whereupon, Council Member James Weary moved the adoption of the resolution declaring necessity and providing for notice of hearing on proposed revitalization plan. The motion was seconded by Council Member Paul Bargar, and passed by record vote as follows: Approved unanimously.
Whereupon, the Mayor declared the resolution adopted as follows: RESOLUTION NO. 2007-5 Resolution declaring necessity and providing for notice of hearing on proposed revitalization plan. WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 404, Code of Iowa (the “Act”) the City of Ida Grove, Iowa, may designate an area of the City as a revitalization area, if that area meets the criteria of Section 1 of the Act; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the Act, before designating any area a revitalization area, the City must prepare a proposed plan for the designated revitalization area, hold certain public hearings thereon, and otherwise comply with the procedures set forth in the Act; and WHEREAS, it has been proposed that the Hillcrest and West View Additions within the City be designated as a revitalization area pursuant to the Act (the “Hillcrest and West View Urban Revitalization Area”); and WHEREAS, a proposed plan (the “Proposed Plan”) for the Hillcrest and West View Urban Revitalization Area has been prepared and presented to the City Council for consideration in accordance with the provisions of the Act, said Proposed Plan being in a form and having the contents as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ida Grove, Iowa, as follows: Section 1. It is hereby found and determined: (a) The Hillcrest and West View Urban Revitalization Area is an area which is appropriate for public improvements related to housing and residential development or construction of housing and residential development, including single or multi-family housing, and, therefore, substantially meets the criteria set forth in Section 404.1 of the Act. (b) The Proposed Plan attached hereto as Exhibit A has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Section 2. This Council will meet at 6:30 o’clock p.m., on the 20th day of February, 2007, at Council Chambers, in the City, at which time and place it will conduct a public hearing on the Proposed Plan and the designation of the Hillcrest and West View Urban Revitalization Area as a revitalization area pursuant to the Act. Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to give notice of such hearing by publication once, in a newspaper published at least once weekly and having general circulation in the City, not less than four nor more than twenty days before the date on which the hearing will be held. In addition, the City Clerk is hereby directed to send notice of such hearing by ordinary mail to the last known address of the owners of record of real property located within the Hillcrest and West View Urban Revitalization Area, such notice to be mailed by the thirtieth day prior to the date set for the hearing. Section 4. As authorized by the Act, this Council hereby waives the mailing of notice to the “occupants” of city addresses located within the Hillcrest and West View Urban Revitalization Area, due to the lack of a reasonably current and complete address list and the finding of the Council that published notice will be sufficient to apprise such persons of the hearing. Section 5. Such notice shall be in the form substantially, as follows: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DESIGNATION OF THE HILLCREST AND WEST VIEW URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA AND THE ADOPTION OF A PLAN FOR SUCH REVITALIZATION AREA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That there is now on file for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk of Ida Grove, Iowa, a Proposed Revitalization Plan for the development of a proposed revitalization area (designated the “Hillcrest and West View Urban Revitalization Area”) within the City described as follows: The Hillcrest and West View Additions to the City of Ida Grove, Iowa The City Council will meet at 6:30 o’clock p.m., on the 20th day of February, 2007, at the Council Chambers, Ida Grove, Iowa, at which time a hearing will be held pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 404, Code of Iowa (the “Act”) on the proposal to adopt the Proposed Revitalization Plan and the proposal to establish the above described area as a revitalization area. At such public hearing all owners of record of real property, tenants, and all “occupants” of city addresses within the described area, and any other person having an interest in the matter may appear and be heard for or against the adoption of the Proposed Revitalization Plan or the establishment of the Hillcrest and West View Urban Revitalization Area. Once an area has been designated as a revitalization area pursuant to the Act, property on which certain improvements have been made will become eligible for certain property tax exemptions under the Act. Published by order of the City Council of the City of Ida Grove, Iowa. Diane F. Alborn
/s/ Dennis R. Ernst, Mayor
Councilman Carnine left the meeting. Compensation of the City Clerk – Changed payment from monthly to bi-weekly. Duties of City Clerk – 7. Public Facilities. – Added City Crew Foreman after the City Clerk on the last line. 9. Management of Facilities. Fifth line changed to council-manager for to mayor/council form is adopted. 10. Investigative Authority. Changed him to him/her and his to his/her. 14. Business Affairs. Changed he to he/she and his to his/her. Appointments. Removed the Airport Board of Adjustment. No action was taken.
The City Clerk presented a proposal from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for renewal of the City’s health insurance. The current cost is $383.94 per employee and the renewal rate is $363.71 per employee. That is a decrease of $20.23 per employee. Approved unanimously.
Mayor Dennis Ernst reported the Administration Committee discussed going back to a City Crew Foreman for the City Crew. They do not want to advertise for a new position they want to promote from within. The Committee felt the work would be done in a timelier manner and there would be someone in charge of the entire crew at the maintenance shop. Approved unanimously.
The City Clerk was directed to post a notice at the City Maintenance Shop that the City is taking applications for the City Crew Foreman position from current staff until February 1, 2007.
/s/Dennis R. Ernst, Mayor ATTEST: /s/Diane F. Alborn, City Clerk
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