[0:00] Welcome, everyone. It's 7 o'clock, Monday, December 2nd, 2024. It's time for the regular session of the Grinnell City Council. With that, we'll have call the meeting to order and have roll call. White. Yes. White. Davis. Yes. Ray. Yes. Absolutely. Yes.

[0:18] Yes.

[0:18] Carjolotti.

[0:19] Yes.

[0:20] Next item on the agenda.

[0:21] Perfecting and approval of the agenda.

[0:23] What is your final move?

[0:25] Second.

[0:26] Move to the seconded discussion.

[0:28] Oh, copper quiz.

[0:28] Roll, please.

[0:30] Thank you.

[0:30] White.

[0:31] Yes.

[0:32] Yes.

[0:33] Carjolotti.

[0:33] Yes.

[0:34] Davis.

[0:35] Yes.

[0:36] Ray.

[0:37] Yes.

[0:38] Next.

[0:38] Consent agenda.

[0:39] What is your pleasure?

[0:40] Move the consent agenda as presented.

[0:43] Second.

[0:43] Move the seconded discussion.

[0:45] Roll, please.

[0:46] Yes, please.

[0:46] Definitely.

[0:47] Yes.

[0:48] Point.

[0:48] Yes.

[0:49] Davis.

[0:50] Yes.

[0:51] Yes.

[0:52] Yes.

[0:54] Next we have a listing of meeting minutes and communications, finance committee, public works

[1:00] and grounds, public safety, planning committee, library board minutes, and those can all be found

[1:05] on the city's website for anyone who's interested in reading those notes.

[1:09] Next we'll move into public hearing.

[1:11] We have two public hearings tonight.

[1:13] right? First public hearing on the proposal to enter into a third amendment to the development

[1:18] agreement with Grinnell LLC. Any communications, Ann? No. Any comments? Any closing public

[1:26] hearing? Second. Moved in seconded discussion. Oh, for questions. Roll call please.

[1:30] Definitely, Worley. Yes. Yes. White. Yes. Davis. Yes. Ray. Yes.

[1:35] Cardiality. Yes. Next, we have a public hearing. We'll move into public hearing on the matter

[1:41] of the adoption of the amended and restated consolidated urban revitalization plan for the

[1:47] Grinnell Urban Revitalization Area. Anything, Ann? No.

[1:52] You'll propose public hearing. Second. Move in seconded discussion.

[1:56] Oh, for questions. Roll call please.

[1:57] Definitely, Warnley. Yes.

[1:58] White. Yes.

[1:59] Davis. Yes.

[2:01] Ray. Yes.

[2:02] Coach Laudie. Yes.

[2:04] All right, we'll move into committee business first.

[2:06] Report from Finance Committee, please.

[2:08] Thank you, Mayor Agnew. The Finance Committee,

[2:10] He meant just morning at 8 a.m., second floor conference room.

[2:13] There were five items on the agenda and there were no inquiries.

[2:16] The first is approval of a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a third

[2:22] amendment to the development agreement by and between the City of Grinnell and Grinnell

[2:26] Center LLC.

[2:28] On behalf of the Committee, I assume, move resolution 2024-284.

[2:33] Second.

[2:34] Second.

[2:35] In discussion.

[2:36] Call for the question.

[2:36] Roll call.

[2:37] please then.

[2:38] Ray?

[2:38] Yes.

[2:39] Why?

[2:40] Yes.

[2:40] Davis?

[2:41] Yes.

[2:43] And Jim, could you, I'm sorry, I interrupt, and could you make all the options, Jim?

[2:46] Okay.

[2:47] Yes.

[2:49] Cargillide?

[2:50] Yes.

[2:55] Okay.

[2:56] The next time is a resolution to transfer monthly funds in the amount of $55.33 from trust and agency

[3:04] on behalf of the committee. I so move resolution 2024-285.

[3:10] Second. Move to seconded discussion.

[3:12] Dr. Cruz, roll call please.

[3:14] Ray. Yes.

[3:15] White. Yes.

[3:16] Davis. Yes.

[3:18] F. Lee Worley. Yes.

[3:19] Carjolotti. Yes.

[3:22] Let me see. Let me get down here.

[3:25] The next is a resolution for monthly transfers

[3:28] for trust in agency in the amount of $44,599 in

[3:33] in 2022 since, and on behalf of the committee.

[3:38] I so move resolution of 2024-286.

[3:43] So I can't move in second in discussion.

[3:45] Of course, the roll call please.

[3:47] Ray, yes.

[3:48] White.

[3:49] Yes.

[3:49] Davis.

[3:50] Yes.

[3:51] Definitely.

[3:52] Yes.

[3:53] Carge Loddy.

[3:54] Yes.

[3:56] The fourth item was we discussed the water system improvements

[3:59] and water rate analysis.

[4:01] We're going to need a first reading of this ordinance on December 16th, 2024.

[4:10] We need to have this reading of the rate ordinance to satisfy the Iowa Finance Authority State Revolving Loan Fund.

[4:18] And we have to be able to demonstrate we are able to increase rates adequately to support loan and the loan that we are accepting from them.

[4:28] And so we do have to bring this first reading on December 16th,

[4:31] I'm going to go out for Michael Maloney with DA David Sen

[4:35] our financial advisor met with us through Zoom this morning

[4:39] and we went through all of the analysis the information given.

[4:46] And I guess I'm going to say a lot of this is tentative based

[4:52] upon our best calculation.

[4:55] We're looking at using...

[5:00] Some of gif and lost to help relieve the burden on the people who use our water. And so by doing this, it makes sense. But what we're looking at for fiscal year 25 is for a minimum of the 32 hundred gallons per month. We'll go to 1506.

[5:26] the in fiscal year 27 the minimum will go from 1641 to 4375 and in fiscal year

[5:36] 28 it will go from 1789 to 4769 and I don't I don't I don't I'm not reading

[5:48] Yeah, right. No, you're going across instead of yeah. Yep. Yep. So the minimum goes from 1506 to 1641 to 1780. Oh, okay. Okay. All right. Yeah. I did. I did that wrong. Thank you very much because right now are are 3200 is 36 dollars and 82 cents and then it'll go to 39. Yeah. Well, let's see 4769. It ends up in fiscal year 28 as 4769. And these are 9% increase.

[6:18] increases in each of the three years.

[6:20] Then after that, we're looking at 5% hopefully to reduce that rate, you know, somewhat.

[6:35] We're using TIFF and LOST, as it says in our notes, as a shock absorber, to limit the

[6:41] negative impact on these rates, increase its project beginning, their examples of large

[6:47] industrial customers that require a significant investment in water supply, and

[6:54] large diameter means for fire suppression that do not use high volumes of water,

[6:58] thus do not pay fees to support the necessary investment. And third, the plan is being built to support future residential

[7:06] commercial and industrial growth. And the community has identified this as

[7:12] improved water system as a high priority and build a better Grinnell report.

[7:16] So using such resources as loss to accelerate these improvements is supported by this report.

[7:23] We're going to borrow about 33.902 million with the potential of a $500,000 forgiveness.

[7:31] The term is just under 21 years based upon some calculations.

[7:36] and the IFA inflation, Iowa financial authority inflation fee and annual

[7:42] service fee would be about 2.88%. So we've got inflationary built-in and with

[7:51] using this we're hoping that these numbers they're, I'm going to say they're

[7:55] somewhat fluid, but we're hoping that they're sufficient. If we do not use tip and

[8:04] lost and this is very important. We'll be looking at three annual increases of 22% each year.

[8:13] And we are going to have to ask voters to renew the lost in 2027. And it's not approved,

[8:18] the council will need to adjust the water rates accordingly. So this is one thing that we want to

[8:23] stress with the lost election when it comes up. It really is very important to us to have this.

[8:32] And I believe I'm going to stop right there unless she had more that you I'm not going to go into the how much we use in lost and tiff unless you want.

[8:45] No, I think I'll just stress or reiterate something you said, which is, you know, there's certainly an argument to be made that, you know, these enterprise fund activities water wastewater sanitation should stand on their own.

[8:59] But I think there is a really strong case here for using local option sales tax and tax increment financing because the water system, you know, there are businesses where we have to make significant investment to serve those businesses, but they don't consume that much water.

[9:14] not justify that investment. And the nice thing about that for the for the rate payer is

[9:20] we're not asking for more money from local option sales tax or more money from tax and current

[9:26] financing. That's revenue or those are fees already being paid. We're just directing them from,

[9:32] for example, when the when the debt for the public safety building aquatic center library when

[9:37] that's retired, we're basically shifting it to other activities and using about 25% of it for

[9:45] basically to serve as a shock absorber so that the rate aren't that okay so I don't think I mean

[9:51] nobody loves you know having any rate increase but of this 9% you know we would probably be looking

[9:57] at 4% increase is just to keep up.

[10:00] So, considering the investment we're making, I'm glad we're able to keep them at 9%, as opposed to 22%.

[10:09] Because people have to remember, we already have built-in inflation rates in our stuff. So, the one question I asked this morning, which I want to clarify. And this is not going to affect, it's the usage like in the water.

[10:31] for the sewer that equates to this,

[10:35] but these will not receive the 9%.

[10:37] It's based upon your gallons of usage,

[10:41] not the rate of the water.

[10:44] So the 9% is not going to apply to them,

[10:48] but they will have inflationary rates increases.

[10:51] Right, so if you're utility bill for the city's $100,

[10:54] it's not going with $9.

[10:55] It only applies to the water.

[10:57] I think sometimes people think of my water

[10:59] of people just paying activities on the same bill.

[11:03] And that's where our job is when people stop us on the street, we need to educate the

[11:09] public and explain that kind of fine point.

[11:13] Yeah, because they've got a water, what they call the water bill in their hand.

[11:17] And they look at the total.

[11:20] I see the total and you're going to, you're going to jack it up.

[11:23] Yeah.

[11:23] Well, I don't think many people understand that the sewer and storm, that's a rate against the

[11:31] gallon usage. It's not a percentage of your water usage. I'm sorry,

[11:43] our interest rate has decreased

[11:45] just a tad bit but still very I was very good and obviously you know the property tax is

[11:55] coming in from the Treasurer's office so it's looking stable I'll put it that way and that

[12:02] completes my report. Thank you very much. Next report from Public Works and Grounds. Thank you

[12:08] Your Honor Public Works and Grounds Committee met in here in the Council Chamber at 445. We took up

[12:13] six items and had no inquiries. Our first item was a resolution approving the construction contract

[12:19] and bond for the construction of the water treatment plant with the committee's recommendation.

[12:25] I move resolution 2024-287. I get moved in second in discussion.

[12:30] Oh, for questions. Roll call please.

[12:32] Absolutely. Willie. Yes.

[12:33] Carves LaDee. Yes.

[12:34] White. Yes. Davis. Yes.

[12:37] Ray. Yes.

[12:39] Our second item was a resolution approving pay request number four in the amount of $475,588.62 cents to Cahoy pump service for Jordan, well number 10.

[12:55] Russ indicated he would try to have Keegan stop in before our next pay request from them and give us an update on the actual progress so that we know where they are.

[13:07] So the committee's recommendation, I move resolution 2024-288.

[13:13] Second.

[13:13] Moved in seconded discussion.

[13:15] I'll request roll.

[13:16] Please end.

[13:17] Definitely.

[13:17] Yes.

[13:18] Our third item was a resolution of approving pay request number one in the amount of $106,590

[13:25] to call the well-tanks incorporated for the South Water Tower project.

[13:29] With the committee's recommendation, I move resolution 2024-289.

[13:35] Second.

[13:36] Move the second discussion.

[13:37] Oh, for questions.

[13:38] Roll call, please.

[13:39] Absolutely.

[13:39] Yes.

[13:40] Congratulations.

[13:40] Yes.

[13:41] Yes.

[13:44] Great.

[13:45] Our fourth item is a resolution accepting the work on the 2024 Street Improvement Project for a total of 274,923 dollars and 30 cents.

[13:56] and paying a re-teenage of $13,746.16 to Monroe's LLC with the committee's recommendation.

[14:06] I move resolution 2024-90.

[14:09] Second.

[14:10] Moving the second in discussion.

[14:11] Yes.

[14:13] Great.

[14:14] Yes.

[14:15] Our fifth item was a resolution approving a project for 50 cents for the testing and special inspections for the water treatment plan.

[15:00] With the committee's recommendation, I move resolution 2024-291. So I got moved in seconded discussion. Go for a question. Roll call, please. Absolutely. Yes, our July. Yes, quite. Yes, Davis. Yes, Ray. Yes. Our sixth and final item was a resolution, approving change order number two in the amount of $20,971. The constructors were incorporated for the raw water main project. This is an increase with the committee's recommendation. I move

[15:29] resolution 2024-292. Second, seconded discussion of request.

[15:35] The roll call, please.

[15:36] Absolutely. Yes.

[15:38] Coach Laughty. Yes.

[15:39] White. Yes.

[15:40] Davis. Yes.

[15:42] Ray. Yes.

[15:44] And you're under the completion of the report.

[15:46] Thank you very much.

[15:47] Next, we'll move to a report from public safety.

[15:49] Thank you, Your Honor. We met tonight at 530,

[15:52] had one item and no inquiries on our ongoing discussion of

[15:58] animal control. The committee has directed staff to look into a consultant and to look at

[16:10] licensing and fees and fines for animals that have been picked up. What do we do? How do we do it?

[16:19] why do we do it? All these things that questions that people have been having about animals,

[16:28] so, and if there is a consultant or someone who has some type of authority in this,

[16:37] that we would investigate that to see how much it costs to go forward with this. So, we are

[16:44] of ongoing animal control and with that being said, that concludes my report issue.

[16:55] Thank you very much.

[16:56] The next report from Planning Committee.

[16:58] The Planning Committee made it, excuse me, 615 tonight here in the council chambers.

[17:04] There were four items on the agenda and no inquiries.

[17:09] The first is approval of a resolution adopting the proposed amended and recited consolidated

[17:14] urban revitalization plan for the Grinnell urban revitalization area on behalf of the committee on some move resolution

[17:20] 2024-293.

[17:22] I get moved in seconded discussion.

[17:25] I'll close the roll call please.

[17:27] Ray. Yes.

[17:28] Coach Ladi.

[17:29] Yes.

[17:29] White. Yes.

[17:30] Davis.

[17:31] Yes.

[17:33] Emily Wolley.

[17:35] The second item was approval of the first reading of an ordinance designated consolidated Grinnell urban revitalization area for the city of Grinnell on behalf of the committee.

[17:44] the ISO move ordinance number 1559.

[17:47] Second, moving to the second discussion.

[17:49] Call for the question.

[17:50] Roll call please.

[17:51] Ray, yes.

[17:52] Carjolotti, yes.

[17:54] White, yes.

[17:55] Davis, yes.

[17:57] Definitely, Worley.

[17:58] Yes.

[17:59] The next item was resolution approving a tax evapment application

[18:04] for 2013's central urban revitalization

[18:06] for James Miller LLC at 801 State Street.

[18:11] on behalf of the committee as no committee did not your committee did not take

[18:17] action that's right I got that circled yeah yeah thank you you're fine you're fine thank you

[18:26] for saying that yeah we passed on that okay the last item then was discussed well you know

[18:33] you think it's so presented we just have to have a whole council vote on it right oh that's right

[18:38] Yeah, because we didn't you abstain. I had to it was the appropriate thing to do. Okay, so it didn't get out of committee because early to you right now. We can bring it to the full. Right. Yeah, okay.

[18:52] We have a motion to approve that resolution from from the full council. Second. No, I don't have a motion yet.

[19:00] Oh, goodbye.

[19:01] OK, Joe, move to your Saturday.

[19:04] I'm calling for the Queen's Sheet.

[19:05] Roll call, she may get that down.

[19:09] Ray.

[19:10] I'm left out of the record.

[19:12] History will forget me on this issue.

[19:15] Ray?

[19:16] Yes.

[19:17] Point?

[19:17] Yes.

[19:18] Davis?

[19:19] Yes.

[19:20] F. Lee, Worley?

[19:21] Yes.

[19:22] Carves the line.

[19:22] We're seeing for conflict of interest.

[19:25] OK.

[19:26] Hey, thank you, Mr. Kergelani.

[19:30] You're welcome, ma'am.

[19:31] It's my pleasure.

[19:33] Thank you, duty.

[19:35] I have no choice.

[19:37] That way, though, that choice is bad.

[19:39] Anyway, discuss the consideration of vacant building

[19:43] registry regulations.

[19:45] The staff gave us the information.

[19:47] There were three lots buildings on this.

[19:53] We moved into vacant lots.

[19:55] We just did a lot of discussion, took no action or anything.

[20:00] I just had a very good discussion about this. And, you know, considering this, a tool available in the future if we decide to get forward with it. And that completes my report. Thank you very much. Next item on the agenda is a second reading of an ordinance ordinance number 1558 an ordinance prohibiting parking on Bliss Street from sixth avenue to eighth avenue on both sides to move. Second, moved and seconded. Discussion?

[20:36] All right, next we're open for inquiries. Do we have any inquiries

[20:44] hearing none we're closed folks. Thank you.

Regular City Council Session

Transcript