Committee of the Whole Meeting

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE City Hall – Council Chambers August 5, 2019 The Committee of the Whole met in the Council Chambers at 5:10 p.m. on August 5, 2019, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Jim Brown, Tom Blanford, Frank Darrah, Susan deBuhr, Rob Green, Daryl Kruse, Mark Miller, and David Wieland. Staff members attended from all City Departments. Jon Forster from Wantman Group, Inc. (WGI) and Charles Blair-Broker also attended as well as members of the community. Mayor Brown called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the agenda, Library Board of Trustee Interview – Charles Blair-Broeker. Mr. Broeker introduced himself and stated he has been a member of the community since the 1970’s. A brief discussion was held. The Mayor introduced the second item on the agenda College Hill Parking Study. Mayor Brown introduced Jon Forster from WGI. Mr. Forster reviewed the College Hill Parking Study; he stated they have held two public input meetings, taken an online survey, taken parking counts prior to the end of the school year for UNI. He stated the parking demand is market driven by UNI; the center of campus is closer to city owned parking than UNI parking. He reviewed the current parking conditions. He stated good policy and enforcement are key to a good parking enforcement program. Mr. Forster reviewed the recommendations and stated these should be phased in through short term and long term plans. Mayor Brown opened it up for discussion from Council. Mr. Forster answered questions from the council stating a goal should be to get students to use the UNI parking lots, he stated the UNI parking ramp is metered only and otherwise available to UNI staff only. He also stated the City will have software to help do periodic parking counts to monitor the situation. Jennifer Rodenbeck, Director of Finance & Business Operations stated they will receive help from Community Main Street, and College Hill Partnership will create a subcommittee for parking. Daryl Kruse motioned for staff to implement the recommendations in the College Hill Parking Study. David Wieland seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Brown introduced the third item on the agenda Information Systems Update. Julie Sorensen, Information Systems Manager stated the City of Cedar Falls has a mobile app to connect the city to its citizens and visitors. She explained it now available for download for both Apple and Android users. She gave a demo of the mobile app. Ms. Sorensen introduced Cory Hines, GIS Analyst. Mr. Hines reviewed information on the park and recreation maps. He stated there was a lot of work done for the migration of the three cemeteries and people will be able to do research on the maps. A brief discussion was held. The Mayor introduced the forth item On-Street Parking of Trailers. City Attorney Kevin Rogers stated this was last reviewed in February 2018 and at that time no changes were made. He reviewed the current city ordinances. He also explained what other municipalities do. He reviewed the recommendations, adding definitions as defined in Iowa Code 321. He stated there should be a time limit and to allow for loading and unloading. He stated Section 23-372 is vague as currently written not defining the types of vehicles or what gross capacity is referring to hauling or towing capacity. He also explained what other municipalities prohibit from parking on streets and their time limits. Mr. Rogers reviewed the staff recommendation to the Code of Ordinances; which includes a list of specific types of trailers from State of Iowa Code Section 321, which will be prohibited from parking on a public street or right-of-way, unless they are in the act of loading or unloading or actively engaged in an authorized service or activity. Mayor Brown opened it up for discussion from Council. They discussed an exception for loading and unloading recreational vehicles. It was also discussed prohibiting in residential and mixed use zoning. Mr. Rogers stated monitoring a distance and time enforcement will be hard to enforce and monitor. Daryl Kruse reviewed his recommendation which will continue to be enforced by complaints and should eliminate the games people are doing by moving the vehicle a few feet to reset the 48-hour clock. Jeff Olson, Director of Public Safety Services/Police Chief, reviewed the process his staff uses to monitor the complaints they receive. Daryl Kruse motioned to have staff amend the Code of Ordinances Section 23-366 for parking restrictions of trailers to change the continuous period of no more than 48 hours on a public street or right-of- way and after this time the trailer must be moved no less than 2500 feet from the original location. Frank Darrah seconded the motion. After council discussion on what does a vehicle include, Daryl Kruse amended the motion to remove section 23-372 from the ordinance, which references the vehicles with a gross capacity of one ton or more shall not park upon the streets or municipal parking lots of the city. Mark Miller seconded the amendment. Council discussion was held concerning the parking fines. Chief Olson stated a ticket is issued with a minimal fee as well as towing is an option. The Mayor put the question on the amendment. The motion passed as amended. (Aye: Blanford, Darrah, deBuhr, Kruse and Miller; Nay: Green and Wieland) The Mayor put the question on the original motion. The motion passed. (Aye: Blanford, Darrah, deBuhr, Kruse and Miller; Nay: Green and Wieland) Mayor Brown introduced the final item on the agenda, bills and payroll. David Wieland moved to approve the bills and two payrolls as presented, Daryl Kruse seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. There being no further discussion, Mayor Brown adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m. Minutes by Lisa Roeding, Controller/City Treasurer