City Council

Clarinda City Council Minutes Wednesday, June 14, 2023 City Hall – 5 p.m. The Clarinda City Council met at City Hall on June 14,2023 at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Craig Hill presided over the meeting with the following Council Members present: Jeff McCall, Austin Ascherl, Kaley Neal, and Jamie Shore. Absent 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 Neal. Vote was unanimous. Councilor Shore entered the meeting at 5:01 Staff Announcements Fire Chief Roger Williams thanked the library for hosting a program that taught 230 kids about First Responders. Library Director Andrew Hoppmann thanked Fire Chief Roger Williams for participating in the program. Consent Agenda Councilor Ascherl made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of (a) the May 24,2023 Regular Council Minutes, (b) May Warrants and May Financial Reports. Seconded by McCall. Vote was unanimous. Public Hearing on the Status of Funded Activities for the City of Clarinda Community Facilities Project Mayor Hill opened the Public Hearing at 5:03 p.m. Tammy DeBord from Southwest Iowa Planning Council presented information on the status of Community Development Block Grant projects 21-CF-002, the Community Facilities project. It was reported that the community facilities project was approximately 71% complete and the anticipated end date for the project is November 30,2023. For the community facilities project, to date, $1,560,299 has been spent, with $426,530 in CBDG construction funds expended, and $14,000 in CDBG administrative funds expended. There is $153, 470 remaining in CDBG funds for construction expense. The local match to date has been $1,119,769. The project beneficiaries for the community facilities project are the residents of the entire City of Clarinda, 51% of whom are of low to moderate income. There were no written comments received from the public prior to the meeting and nor oral comments made at the public hearing. Mayor Hill closed the Public Hearing at 5:05 p.m. Ask Permission for Street Closure for Street Dance/Bull Riding Event on July 1, 2023 Matt Degase, owner of MJ’s Comeback located at 218 North 16th Street, requested to close the sidewalk and parking area in front of his building from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. for an outside Street Dance/Bull Riding event on July 1, 2023. Mayor Hill stated that he is not in favor of shutting down streets for anything other than a civic event. Mayor Hill agrees that this is a compromise, but still believes the street and sidewalks should be available for public use. Police Chief Keith Brothers stated that he is not an advocate for closing off any part of the streets due to safety concerns. Brothers stated there is a slim margin of error and they need a bigger buffer zone. Brothers prefers, if the council approves the event, they close off the whole street to avoid traffic being allowed to drive on the street by the event. Chief Brothers stated the fence that they will use to close off the area will not protect the participants at the event. Chief Brothers would prefer it if they had Jersey barriers. Councilor McCall stated the precedent has been set by past events allowed to close off streets and this is not different than those events. Motion by McCall to Approve Permission for Partial Street Closure for Sidewalk/Parking area for a Street Dance/Bull Riding Event on July 1, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Seconded by Ascherl. Vote was unanimous. Action Regarding Temporary Outdoor Class C Alcohol License Motion by Ascherl to approve the Revised Temporary Outdoor Class C Alcohol License. Seconded by McCall. Vote was unanimous Ask permission to hold Fly Iowa 2024 Event at Clarinda Municipal Airport-Schenck Field Merlin Barr approached the council and asked permission to hold a Fly Iowa Event on August 31,2024 at Clarinda Municipal Airport-Schenck Field. Motion by Ascherl to Approve permission to hold Fly Iowa Event on August 31, 2024 at Clarinda Municipal Airport-Schenck Field. Seconded by Shore. Vote was unanimous. Action Regarding Request for City Funding for Fly Iowa 2024 Event Merlin Barr requested City Funding in the amount of $5,000.00 in Fiscal Year 2024 and $5,000.00 in Fiscal Year 2025 for Fly Iowa 2024 Event. Motion by Ascherl to Approve Request for City Funding of $5,000.00 for Fiscal Year 2024 and $5,000.00 for Fiscal 2025 for Fly Iowa Event. Seconded by Shore. Vote was unanimous. Action Regarding Pay Request No. 2 in the Amount of $188,699.79 to Bluffs Paving & Utility Company for East Washington Street Recreation Trail Motion by Neal to Approve Pay Request No. 2 in the Amount of $188,699.79 to Bluffs Paving & Utility Company for East Washington Street Recreation Trail. Seconded by McCall. Vote was unanimous. Actions Regarding Payment of Invoice No. 1055 in the Amount of $39,250.00 to Fine & Sons Home Builders for Downtown Housing Grant (22-ARPDH-009) Motion by McCall to approve payment of invoice no. 1055 in the Amount of $39,250.00 to Fine & Sons Home Builders for Downtown Housing Grant (22-ARPDH-009). Seconded by Ascherl. Vote was unanimous. Action Regarding Changes to Employee Handbook Manager McClarnon stated that the Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes an increase of $1.00 an hour for full-time employees, 50 cents per hour for permanent part-time employees, and a 3.75% increase for salaried employees. McClarnon also stated that the budget includes an increase in the employee share of the Health/Dental/Vision insurance from 12% to 13%. McClarnon stated that these changes are included in the proposed Employee Handbook effective the first payroll paid in July, 2023. Motion by Shore to Approve Proposed Changes to Employee Handbook. Seconded by McCall. Ayes: McCall, Shore, Ascherl. Nays: None. Abstain: Neal Motion carried. Manager Communications Manager McClarnon stated that the final numbers for cleanup days are not all in, but so far there were14 regular containers of garbage, 4 big containers of Metal, 2 big containers of TVs and Computer Monitors. Manager McClarnon thanked NSK volunteers for their time and effort for picking up items at the curb for residents and would like their help for future cleanup days. McClarnon stated the backup generator at the Lied Center is done and we now have a shelter if ever needed. Manager McClarnon stated that he was glad to see the Recreation Trail, Street Maintenance Projects, and Library Projects being completed before the end of the current fiscal year. Mayor Communications Mayor Hill stated the Lied Center and Library Projects look good. Mayor Hill hoped everyone enjoyed the car show and Glenn Miller festival. Mayor Hill expressed his thanks to Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Elaine Farwell, High Tech Electronics and the donors for the music on the square. Adjourn Motion by McCall to adjourn the meeting at 5:37 p.m. Seconded by Ascherl. Vote was unanimous. Mayor: Craig Hill Attest: Paula Gray