Committee of the Whole

COLUMBUS COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AGENDA TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 1. Roll Call: Council President Gray called the meeting to order at 8:06 pm. Present: Council President Gray, Mayor Arnold, Alders: Albright, Motiff, Reid, Roelke, Steiner; Staff: City Administrator Ellefson, City Clerk Goebel, City Attorney Johnson, City Engineer Lietha, Weiner, Meyers, Lang, Anding, Lentz, interested citizens. 2. Notice of Open Meeting: Noted as posted. 3. Approve Agenda: Motion by Motiff, second by Roelke to approve agenda. Carried voice vote. 4. Citizen Comments: Pete Skalitzky, requested the Council keep the ordinance moving since the referendum passed; sunset clause is not necessary, Quad Runners willing to purchase signage, Happy Thanksgiving; Molly Finkler, requested meeting agenda items be more specific, sunset clause is not necessary; Aaron Lyons, many people voted against the referendum, draft ordinance is good; Marcus Meier: sunset clause not necessary, agree with Pete & Molly; Scott Allain, glad referendum passed, not in favor of sunset clause; Todd Hornbacher, small business owner and the little extra cash AVT/UTV riders would bring in is welcome. 5. Department Reports: placed on file: DPW, Fire, Library, Lifestar, Police, Treasurer, WWTP 6. Presentation of Stormwater Report – Ruekert Mielke: City Engineer Lietha presented a summary of the stormwater report Ruekert Mielke conducted. It is a very comprehensive study throughout the entire city with 94 projects identified and needing assessment, with the highest targeted areas costing approximately $5.5m. A suggestion to create a committee with businesses, residents, staff, to review the report and make recommendations and look for funding in grants or other resources. Other suggestions to go back to referendum. Concerns there is no plan in place for referendum and which projects to start with and how it would be paid for. Need to review the ordinance and have a plan in place before a committee is started. Education is a big step. Should have a plan in place when the report is released and examples of ordinances to work with. Ellefson said he could have potential funding resources report ready by February. 7. Discuss Hwy 73 Plat Signing Authority: Past practice is the clerk have signing authority. Forward to December 6 Regular meeting. 8. Discuss Pool Rates 2023: Based on the wage assessment report to bring targeted wages to a minimum, there is a shortfall in the pool budget. Discussions with Pool Manager revealed he thought he could make up the difference without rate increases. Council would like to see a report with different rate increases vs possible additional classes offered. Return to December 6 COW. 9. Discuss ATV/UTV Ordinance: Motiff suggested section 93-138 be changed to allow for city services, not recreation use; Albright suggested the sunset clause was a compromise and it no longer necessary; Atty Johnson stated the shortened version of the ordinance mirrors state law and the ordinance would not have to change when law does but does not mirror surrounding communities as they are all different. Gray suggested sending back to referendum in 2024 and the sunset would be May 1 to review. Steiner stated the back and forth is waste of time – was sent to referendum, residents voted, stop wasting time. Consensus to send back to referendum for 2024. Forward updated ordinance to December 6 Regular meeting. 10. Nutrition Site 2023 MOU – Columbia County: Only change to the MOU from previous years is they are paying nearly double the rent for the facility. Forward to December 6 Regular meeting. 11. Discuss re-naming Columbus Area Senior Center: Discussion to rename the Columbus Area Senior Center to the Columbus Community Center and rename the Community Center to the 161 Building. Forward to December 6 Regular meeting. 12. Convene to closed session per §19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investment of public funds, or conducting other public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically to discuss potential sale of property in the City of Columbus.: Motion by Motiff, second by Arnold to convene to closed session at 9:23 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 13. Reconvene to open session: Motion by Steiner, second by Arnold to reconvene to open session at 9:40 pm. Carried voice vote. 14. Adjourn: Motion by Arnold, second by Motiff to adjourn at 9:40 pm. Carried voice vote. Submitted by Pat Goebel, Clerk