REGULAR CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, March 5, 2013 – 5:00 P.M. Council Chambers – Denison, Iowa

The first regular City Council Meeting of the City of Denison, Iowa was held pursuant to law on the above date and hour; Mayor Fineran called the meeting to order with the following members present: AHART, HOUGH, LEINEN, MAHRT, RODRIGUEZ

Motion Leinen/Mahrt to approve the agenda . Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Motion Ahart/Hough to approve the following items on the consent agenda: a) approve and waive the reading of the minutes for 2/19/13; b) approve the bills as presented; c) PCE #4 for KWS for 2012 Signalization Project in the amount of $20,729.00 Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Motion Mahrt/Ahart to re-appoint Doug Wiebers & Jodie Hast to Childcare Board; re-appoint Troy Gehlsen to Boulder’s Conference Center Commission; re-appoint Rory Weis to P&Z Board; appoint Roger Schmiedeskamp to the Library Board to fill the vacancy. Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Public hearing was held at 5:05 p.m. on the 2013 Street Projects. There were no written or oral objections. Mayor Fineran declared the hearing closed.

Public hearing was held at 5:10 p.m. on the 2013-2014 Budget. There were no written or oral objections. Mayor Fineran declared the hearing closed.

Resolution #2013-6 was introduced Approving and Adopting Final Plans, Specs & Form of Contract for the 2013 Streets Project. Motion Leinen/Hough that the resolution is adopted. Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Resolution #2013-7 was introduced Awarding Contract for the 2013 Streets Project to Carley Construction for $330,495.24. Motion Ahart/Mahrt that the resolution is adopted. Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Resolution #2013-8 was introduced Approving the 2013-2014 Budgets for the City of Denison & DMU. Motion Mahrt/Leinen that the resolution is adopted. Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Resolution #2013-9 was introduced Approving Bond Purchase Agreement, Loan Agreement & Escrow Agreement & Authorizing Issuance of General Obligation Corporate Purpose & Refunding Bonds. Motion Leinen/Rodriguez that the resolution is adopted. Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Mark Ramthun, DMU Manager, was present to discuss installing LED Street lights for the upcoming streetscape work. DMU would install 16 lights on a trial basis. He asked council to let him know if the City receives comments about the lights, as they give off a different light than the high pressure sodium lights. If there is no objection from council after the trial, DMU would like to install the LED lights in the streetscape project this spring. It takes less light fixtures to use LED lights as the light is brighter, LED lights use less electricity and last longer. Eventually DMU would like to replace all lights with LED lights. Denny thanked the DMU board for their efforts on this project.

Discussed DMU Board Appointments. Discussed the fact that the Mayor needs to get board appointments made in a timely manner. Mayor will do his best to get at least one appointment on the DMU board for the next agenda.

Motion Ahart/Mahrt to approve the proposal from Alvine Engineering for Aquatic Center Improvements. Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Discussed old utility building. Some council members, Mayor, Public works, and fire dept. did a tour of the building 2 weeks ago, the building is in bad shape. DMU owns the building and they are currently working with public works on getting all the windows covered. Public works is building a loft in their building to store barricades, fence, etc. so won’t need to use the building anymore. The building is a significant training area for the fire dept. City attorney, Franck, is working on an agreement to bring to council for use of the building. Rodriguez is concerned about safety issues on the outside of the building as well.

Mike Siemer & Tim Stuart were present to ask if the city can give them assistance in building a new hotel in the new Oak Ridge Heights Development. When they built Boulder’s Inn & Suites, the City gave them a tax abatement. City Attorney, Franck, explained that David Reisz agreed to a minimum assessment on the property, so the City won’t be able to do a tax abatement. City will have to contact Bob Josten, TIF Attorney, to discuss what our options will be in that TIF area. The hotel is asking for help with things such as the water main for the fire hydrant to the sprinkler system, the parking lot, engineering, dirt work, etc. City will look at our options and get back to them.

REPORTS: MAYOR: Concession stand work continues. Jerry Bryan is doing electrical work and John Koch is going to help with the plumbing. CITY MANAGER: Crawford told council we are having problems with Community Room rentals: City Clerk explained that we are having problems with people not following the rules. They aren’t cleaning the room; having alcohol, which is not allowed; not getting out of the room by 10:30 p.m.; the door has been left unlocked; people have made copies of our key; in summer the thermostat was turned down to 45 degrees so we put a cover over the thermostat which is already broken, and the list goes on. It becomes a bigger problem when we have it rented more than one day over the weekend as we are not here to check the condition of the room between rentals and we get into a he said/she said situations. Wants council to think about not renting the room any more. We own Boulder’s, people can use that facility. Will put on the next agenda. DEPT. HEADS: Police Chief, Bradley, said continuing to work on the fiber project, and they should begin laying fiber this month. Crawford introduced the new Library Director, Monica Walley.

Public Forum: Evan Blakely, CDC, was present to ask council for support on an “Uptown Market” event they want to hold every Saturday in May for vendors to sell items on the sidewalk outside the businesses on Broadway. Consensus of the council was they will support it, will be on the next agenda for action.

Three DMU board members were present to approach council about the amount of time it is taking to get appointments to their board. DMU Board feels it is important to keep continuity on the board. DMU Board would like the Mayor to re-appoint Brad Nelson and appoint one of the women that have applied for the board.

John Granzen, Fire Assoc. President, expressed his concern about the hiring for the SAFER Grant position. Asked council to strongly consider this position when they go into closed session.

Rodriguez had seen a nice letter from a student that took a tour of the police station and would like to see us expand our hiring of Hispanic officers.

Motion Leinen/Ahart to enter into closed session at 6:00 p.m., per the request of Blake Deiber, to discuss hiring for the SAFER Grant position per Iowa Code 21.5(i). Ayes: 5 Motion carried

Returned to open session at 6:25 p.m.

Motion Ahart/Leinen to hire Blake Deiber for the SAFER Grant position beginning Apr. 1, 2013 at a starting salary of $41,500.00, with a salary increase to $42,500.00 upon proof of his meeting the requirements for his B.S. degree. The next percentage raise would not be until July 1, 2014 and would be the same increase as bargained with the collective bargaining unit. He will receive the same benefits offered to all employees of the City. Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Motion Leinen/Rodriguez to enter into closed session at 6:28 p.m. to discuss the purchase of particular real estate per Iowa Code 21.5(j). Ayes: 5 Motion carried.

Returned to open session at 6:45 p.m. with no action taken in closed session.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Signed ______

Dennis Fineran, Mayor

ATTEST: ______Lisa K. Koch, City Clerk