Committee of the Whole Meeting

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Community Center May 2, 2022 The Committee of the Whole met at the Community Center at 6:10 p.m. on May 2, 2022, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Robert Green and Councilmembers Susan deBuhr, Kelly Dunn, Dustin Ganfield, Daryl Kruse, Gil Schultz and Dave Sires. Absent: Simon Harding. Staff members from all City Departments and members of the community attended in person. Mayor Green called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the agenda, Storm Water Rate Increases and introduced Finance & Business Operations Director Jennifer Rodenbeck and Public Works Director Chase Schrage. Ms. Rodenbeck stated stormwater rates are being reviewed and the purpose of the study is to review current projects on the CIP, project increases in operating costs, and determine necessary revenue streams. She provided a brief summary of current projects and funding. Mr. Schrage provided a brief overview of current projects in CIP including: bridges and culverts; slope repairs; drainage studies to plan for future road construction; general erosion; permeable alleys; and major roadway projects. He gave a recap of stormwater regulations and the City’s current Iowa DNR permit (MS4) including DNR and EPA audits. Ms. Rodenbeck gave an overview of operating costs including: employee salaries and benefits; maintenance items; additional studies and future projects. She gave a brief history of the stormwater funding and fees; the fee needs to be self-supporting and provided the current rate structures for resident and commercial/industrial. She stated the rate proposal is a 7% increase each year for the next 5 years and provided a projection of increased rates; the proposal is to ensure adequate cash coverage for currently funded CIP projects while maintaining a residential rate below statewide average. Ms. Rodenbeck requested a motion to proceed with drafting a stormwater rate increase ordinance implementing 7% rate increase each year over the next five years. Mayor Green opened for council discussion. Council discussed: the rate increase applying to both residential and commercial/industrial properties; the use of stormwater funds; which cities current rates were compared to; the cost of, goals for, and determination of which permeable alleys are studied and constructed; the cost between concrete and permeable alleys; the maintenance of permeable alleys; potential of abandoning certain alleys and returning to property owners, current permanent easements for utilities would still exist; and how extensive previous studies have been, do they include all retention ponds. Mayor Green stated he would entertain a motion to proceed with drafting the stormwater rate ordinance with a 7% increase each year for the next 5 years; Councilmember Dunn so moved; Councilmember deBuhr seconded. Mayor Green asked for public comment; none. Mayor Green asked for additional council discussion; none. Aye: Councilmembers Schultz, Kruse, deBuhr, Ganfield, and Dunn; Nay: Councilmember Sires. Mayor Green moved to the second item on the agenda, Standing Committee Customary Procedures. Mayor Green gave an introduction and overview of the Committee of the Whole and Standing Committees; they would be held in Chambers, be public, televised, and with the option for public input. He stated Work Sessions would be held in a conference room, and be public with an audio recording but no public input. Mayor Green gave an overview of topics, most of which will be heard by a Standing Committee. Mayor Green opened for council discussion. Council discussed the difference between formal and informal procedure; which committee(s) certain entities and topics fall under; when Committee of the Whole and Work Sessions would be appropriate; when to take formal roll call; responsibility of taking meeting minutes; and televising versus audio recording Standing Committee meetings. Council consensus was: audio-record Work Session meetings and continue with no public input; televise Committee meetings and allow public input as appropriate. Mayor Green stated if approved in Council meeting tonight, would be implemented May 16, 2022. Meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m. Minutes by Katie Terhune, Administrative Assistant