City Council

Clarinda City Council Minutes Wednesday, February 28, 2024 Clarinda City Hall – 5:15 p.m. The Clarinda City Council met at City Hall on February 28, 2024, at 5:15 p.m. Mayor Craig Hill presided over the meeting with the following Council Members present: Mike Allbaugh, Austin Ascherl, Kaley Neal, Todd Reed, and James Shore. Mayor Craig Hill Asked for all to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Adopt Agenda Motion by Ascherl to Adopt the Agenda. Seconded by Reed. Vote was unanimous. Public Comment Jay Lininger of 201 North 21st Street expressed his opinions about the Ordinance regarding Truck, Accessory Trailers and Recreational Vehicle Parking. Lininger does not feel that the City has a right to tell them where they can and can’t park on their private property. Frank Orr of 424 East Nishna Street communicated that he has a new camper and parks it on a newly poured concrete pad at his residence. Loren Foster of 121 West Nishna Street wants to know why there is an issue with where campers are parked in the City Limits. Amy Gray of 412 East Lincoln Street communicated that she does not want traffic speeding by on 12 th Street. Gray wants a traffic study completed on 12th Street before any ordinance is passed. Gray also wants the water issues and bad intersections on 12th Street addressed as well. Consent Agenda Councilor Reed made a motion to Approve the Consent Agenda consisting of (a) February 14, 2024 Regular Council Minutes. Seconded by Allbaugh. Vote was unanimous. Public Hearing on proposal to enter into an amended Sewer Revenue Loan and Disbursement Agreement Mayor Hill opened the Public Hearing at 5:28 p.m. Manager McClarnon stated there have been no oral or written comments. Mayor Hill closed the Public Hearing at 5:29 p.m. Resolution authorizing and approving an amended Loan and Disbursement Agreement and providing for the issuance and securing the payment of $14,015,186.94 Sewer Revenue Improvement and Refunding Bonds, Series 2024 Motion by Shore to Approve Resolution Number 2085, Authorizing and Approving an amended Loan and Disbursement Agreement and providing for the issuance and securing the payment of $14,015,186.94 Sewer Revenue Improvement and Refunding Bonds, Series 2024. Seconded by Reed. Roll call: Aye: Shore, Reed, Neal, Ascherl, and Allbaugh Nay: None Motion carried. Resolution Approving the Preliminary Plat of Walter Subdivision Manager McClarnon explained that the Preliminary Plat of Walter Subdivision was originally approved in 2018 but had never been recorded at the Court House. McClarnon stated that the process had to be started over due to the oversight. Motion by Ascherl to Approve Resolution Number 2086, Approving the Preliminary Plat of Walter Subdivision. Seconded by Neal. Roll call: Aye: Allbaugh, Ascherl, Neal, Reed, and Shore Nay: None Motion carried. Discussion/Action regarding Second Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Clarinda by Amending Provisions Pertaining to No Parking Zones by Changing Designated No Parking Zones Frank Orr and Amy Gray once again expressed their concerns regarding excessive speed on 12th Street getting worse if there is no parking. Gray asked again that a traffic study be done on 12th Street. Gray also said that the constant flow of truck traffic during harvest is very noisy. After further discussion, Councilor Reed made a motion to approve the Second Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Clarinda by Amending Provisions Pertaining to No Parking Zones by Changing Designated No Parking Zones. Seconded by Neal. Roll Call: Aye: Shore, Reed, Neal, and Ascherl Nay: Allbaugh Motion carried. Discussion/Action regarding First Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Clarinda Amending Provisions Pertaining to Trucks, Accessory Trailers, and Recreational Vehicle Parking. Manager McClarnon stated that he had made changes to the original Ordinance per the City Council’s wishes. Jay Lininger once again expressed his dislike of the Ordinance and stated that there are other trailers parked in his neighborhood that shouldn’t be and once again stated that everyone has rights. He stated that he has a right to park a trailer in his front yard and leave it there for a week if he wants to. After further discussion, Councilor Reed made a motion to Approve the First Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Clarinda Amending Provisions Pertaining to Trucks, Accessory Trailers, and Recreational Vehicle Parking. Seconded by Shore. Roll Call: Aye: Shore, Reed Nay: Neal, Ascherl, Allbaugh Motion Failed. Budget Workshop Manager McClarnon recapped the last budget workshop for the proposed FY 2025 Budget. McClarnon proposed the budget to increase the Levy Rate from $16.75 up to $18.00, but the residential taxpayers would still see a decrease in their property tax amounts. The most affected by this increase will be Commercial and Industrial that are valued at $300,000 and above. McClarnon stated that he changed the annual pay increases in the budget to reflect a $2.00 hour raise for all Full-Time employees, including Salaried employees, and $1.00 raise for permanent part-time employees. McClarnon said that by changing the salaries, the General Fund Reserve would drop down to the $400,000 mark. McClarnon said that the Employee Benefit Committee would meet again before June and make a final recommendation to the Council regarding wage increases. McClarnon stated that for this meeting, the council needed to focus on the levy rate. No action was taken. Resolution to Set Public Hearing Date for Proposed Property Tax Levy Motion by Neal to approve Resolution Number 2087 to Set March 27, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. as a Public Hearing Date for Proposed Property Tax Levy. Seconded by Ascherl. Roll Call: Aye: Allbaugh, Ascherl, Neal, Reed, and Shore Nay: None Motion carried. Manager Communications McClarnon stated that a Notice to Proceed has been issued for the Alley Improvement project and that a Pre-Construction Meeting has been scheduled for next week. Mayor Communications Mayor Hill thanked Clarinda and Shenandoah Fire Departments for their prompt response to the fire at the American Legion building in Clarinda. Hill said that he is pleased to see the two communities work together. Hill also communicated that the Clarinda School PPEL special election vote is coming up on Tuesday, March 5th at the Lied Public Library from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Hill stated that Congressman Nunn was in Clarinda last week and met with him and other community members. Hill thanked community members for coming to the meeting and expressing their opinions on the items on tonight’s agenda. Adjourn Motion by Neal to adjourn the meeting at 6:19 p.m. Seconded by Ascherl. Vote was unanimous. Mayor: Craig Hill Attest: Gary McClarnon