March 27, 2010

What has the city council been up to?

March 3: Regular Session

Legislation for Second Reading

App. Ord. 10-01: Requesting appropriation of $149,512 from the Cumulative Capital Development Fund to pay for the city’s portion of the construction costs and the full inspection costs of the intersection changes at Atwater and Henderson St. City Controller Mike Trexler explained that the Cumulative Capital Development Fund derives its income from financial institution taxes, commercial vehicle taxes, airplane taxes, and property taxes. It has a current balance of $887,000. The construction is paid for 90% by the state and 10% by the city. However, the city has to lay out the full cost of construction inspection and be reimbursed at a rate of 90% for that portion by the state. So of the $149,512 appropriation, the state would pay us back $74,756.

Review of the major changes planned for the intersection:

• Addition of a stop light at Atwater and Henderson

• Regarding the left turn lane from Atwater onto Indiana Ave: The plans call for moving this lane so that it is adjacent to the other two eastbound traffic lanes on Atwater (currently it is separated)

• Widening Henderson a bit south of Atwater to make the car travel lanes and the sidewalks wider

• Narrowing Atwater at the curve to reduce speeds

• Narrowing the turn-off from Atwater onto Dunn St. and moving it further south

• Narrowing the turn-off from Indiana Ave. onto the Henderson St. stub

Dave Rollo brought forward an amendment to require the installation of “sharrows” (markings and signs indicating that either a car or a bike can use the full lane) on Henderson/Indiana from Hunter Ave. north to 10^th St. The amendment passed, and the amended ordinance passed as well.

Legislation for First Reading

Ordinance 10-05: To change the job classification of several positions in various departments of the city to reflect the determination of the internal job evaluation committee that those positions had changed substantially.

March 10: Committee of the Whole

Resolution 10-02: To approve the use of surplus bond proceeds for the wastewater utility on a new project with similar goals. Assistant City Attorney Vickie Renfrow explained that there were funds left over from a 2006 Sewage Works Bond after the project that was to be funded by the bond was fully completed. This project involved improvements at the Dillman Road Wastewater Treatment Plant and relining of sewer pipes. The leftover funds can be used for a new project with similar purpose. In this case $669,037 in leftover bond funds is requested to be used for further improvements at Dillman (replacement of filters).

Ordinance 10-05: City Employee Services director Daniel Grundmann explained that the responsibilities of several positions in various departments had changed, and that therefore the job evaluation committee recommends that their job classification be changed. Most changes were to a higher classification, but a few were a downgrade. In the latter case, it’s the city’s policy to not decrease salary unless the salary is way out of line with others in the job grade (not the case here). The ordinance would also create three new permanent positions: two parking enforcement officers to work in the parking garages overnight and one inventory coordinator in the fleet maintenance division.

The ordinance changes the job classifications but does not deal with budgetary impacts. No immediate fund appropriations are required, but there may be some funding issues to deal with before the end of the year.

Steve Volan was very concerned about approving the two new permanent parking enforcement positions. He felt it is more important to enforce parking rules on streets downtown and in adjoining core neighborhoods than enforcing parking rules in the garages.

March 17: No meeting, spring break

March 24: Regular Session

Resolution 10-02 was approved unanimously

Ordinance 10-05 was approved by a vote of 8-1. Steve Volan voted against the ordinance.