City Council

Clarinda City Council Minutes Wednesday, February 22, 2023 Clarinda City Hall – 5 p.m. The Clarinda City Council met at the Clarinda City Hall on February 22,2023 at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Craig Hill presided at the meeting with the following Council Members present: Jeff McCall, Austin Ascherl, Kaley Neal, Jamie Shore, and Matt Ridge. Mayor Craig Hill asked for all to recite the Pledge of Allegiance Adopt Agenda Motion by McCall to adopt the agenda. Seconded by Ascherl. Vote was unanimous. Public Comment Clarinda Resident, Dave Koets, offered suggestions and complaints to the council about the ordinance amendment requiring dogs to either be in a fenced yard or on a leash when not in a residence. Koets pushed for the city to allocate a space or dog park where residents could have their dogs off-leash. Koets suggested a certain time dogs could be off leash at the city park or allow dogs to be off leash in between the city works building and the airport. Koets suggested grant funds could be available to build a dog park within the city limits. Koets stated the ordinance punishes responsible dog owners, says his dogs would violate the amendment while bringing them from his house to his vehicle. “Basically in that seven feet and nine inches, I am subject to a $213 fine for letting my dogs go from my garage door to my pickup to get in it,“ said Koets. “Yeah, I could put them on a leash, but for seven feet and I also don’t like to take them in my truck on a leash because it is too easy for them to be tangled and get hurt. So, my dogs, in my opinion, in those seven feet and nine inches, they are not at-large, and they are off leash. There is a big difference there because my dogs are under my control.” Consent Agenda Councilor Ridge made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of the (a) February 8,2023, Regular Council Minutes, (b) Alcohol license for Dugout Bar, LLC Seconded by Neal. Vote was unanimous. Permission to block streets for All-School Reunion Pam Williams is requesting to close part of 6th Street and East Grant from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday September 1,2023 and Saturday September 2,2023 for an All-School Reunion. Motion by McCall to approve permission to block streets for All-School Reunion. Seconded by Ridge. Vote was unanimous. Permission to hold 5K run for CRHC on May 11,2023 CRHC employee Maddie Hartley is requesting to cross Hwy 2 bypass for a May 11,2023 5k glow run. Manager McClarnon stated it is the DOT’s decision to allow the runners to cross Hwy 2 bypass. Chief Brothers will present approved minutes and provide a map to the DOT resident engineer to get permission to cross Hwy 2 bypass. Motion by Neal, pending the approval of DOT, approved permission to hold a 5K glow run for CRHC on May 11,2023. Seconded by Ridge. Vote was unanimous. School Bond Referendum Clarinda Economic Development Director Amy McQueen presented to the council the School Bond Referendum information for 2023. The Clarinda Community School District has called for a special election on March 7,2023 to authorize using Voted PPEL funds and issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000 to provide funds to be used together with sales tax revenues to build, upgrade, renovate and create secure entries to the elementary school and the middle/high school. No action was taken. Acceptance of Engineer’s Statement of Completion for Wastewater Treatment Facility Motion by Ascherl to Approve Acceptance of Engineer’s Statement of Completion for Wastewater Treatment Facility. Seconded by Shore. Vote was unanimous. Approve Final Pay Request to Building Crafts, Inc. in the amount of $10,000.67 for Wastewater Treatment Facility Motion by Neal to Approve Final Pay Request to Building Crafts, Inc. in the amount of $10,000.67 for Wastewater Treatment Facility. Seconded by Ridge. Vote was unanimous. Approve Change Order No. 1 in the amount of ($30,610.45) to Omni Engineering for Glenn Miller Avenue Improvements Motion by Ascherl to Approve Change Order No. 1 in the amount of ($30,610.45) to Omni Engineering for Glenn Miller Avenue Improvements. Seconded by McCall. Vote was unanimous. Approve Engineering Services Agreement with Snyder & Associates, Inc. for Updating Airport Layout Plan at Clarinda Municipal Airport-Schenck Field Motion by McCall to Approve Engineering Services Agreement with Snyder & Associates, Inc. for Updating Airport Layout Plan at Clarinda Municipal Airport-Schenck Field. Seconded by Shore. Vote was unanimous. Third Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances by Amending Provisions Pertaining to Animal Protection Control Mayor Hill stated that he and the council members are all pet owners and have not taken the decision to implement a leash law lightly. Mayor Hill stated it could be an inconvenience to an individual in this community at some time, “he said, “I would rather have a conversation with someone who I’ve inconvenienced for a short amount of time, rather than have a conversation with an individual where I must explain how or why something happened to their family member that we could have prevented or tried to prevent. McCall stressed to Koets this ordinance isn’t for responsible pet owners. “The police are not going to be looking for pet owners like Koets to write tickets to and that’s not why we’re passing this,” said McCall. “If you have your dog out in your yard and you’re playing fetch, I don’t see the cops coming to write you a ticket. If your dog doesn’t cause problems, you’re not going to be cited I wouldn’t think because that’s not why we’re doing this”. Motion by Ridge to approve the Third Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances by Amending Provisions Pertaining to Animal Protection Control. Seconded by Ascherl. Roll Call: Aye: Shore, Ridge, Neal, Ascherl, and McCall Nays: None Motion Carried Adopt Ordinance #907 Amending the Code of Ordinances by Amending Provisions Pertaining to Animal Protection Control Motion by Neal to Adopt Ordinance #907 Amending the Code of Ordinances by Amending Provisions Pertaining to Animal Protection Control. Seconded by McCall. Roll Call: Aye: McCall, Ascherl, Neal, Ridge, and Shore Nay: Motion Carried Council Communications Councilor McCall thanked everyone for coming forward with their suggestions about the ordinance on animal protection control. The council is not able to please everyone in the community, but they do listen before making their decisions. Councilor Ascherl thanked Public Works for snow removal on the square and around the city. Manager Communications Manager McClarnon thanked Public Works for the removal of all the snow. They were able to remove all the snow very quickly. Senate File 181 did pass in the House and the Governor signed it. It will now go to the Department of Revenue to issue the new order lowering the residential rollback amount. It will then go to the County Auditors who have until March 9th to publish the new residential taxable valuations. Manager McClarnon will have to start a new budget process and will have until April 30th to certify the budget. This budget will not have to be re-published due to not raising the levy rate, but all the new final budget numbers will have to be published. McClarnon stated that House File 329 addresses allowing chickens in cities and counties, but has been tabled for now. Mayor Communications Mayor Hill encouraged the community to use their constitutional right to vote on March 7,2023 for the School Bond Referendum. Mayor Hill thanked Public Works for the snow removal and complimented the community managing the inconvenience of the snowstorm. Adjourn Motion by McCall to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 p.m. Seconded by Ascherl. Vote was unanimous. Mayor: Craig Hill Attest: Paula Gray