Council works through trio of resolutions

By Clint Brown

In a somewhat short meeting, the Pella City Council approved a resolution setting dates for a Consultation and a Public Hearing on a Proposed Amendment No. 4 to the Pella Business Corridor Urban Renewal Plan.

This resolution sets the dates for a consultation and a public hearing on a proposed Amendment #4 to the Pella Business Corridor. The Pella Business Corridor TIP District, known as the Pella Business Corridor Urban Renewal Plan, was adopted in February 2003. This Plan may be amended from time to time to respond to development opportunities.

Amendment No. 4 is being proposed to add rights-of-way that serve as primary corridors into Pella to the urban renewal area. The areas include Main Street from Columbus Street to Big Rock Park Road, which is approximately 9.81 acres, and East Oskaloosa Street (business Highway 163) from 240th Place east to the corporate limits, which is approximately 4.09 acres. The proposed Amendment No. 4 would also expand the proposed projects to include various general street improvements in the urban renewal area.

Amendment No. 4 was submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review and recommendation as to its conformity with the Comprehensive Plan. Iowa statute also requires the notification to all affected taxing entities as well as a Consultation in which designated representatives may attend. The consultation date is scheduled for February 12, at 10 a.m. at City Hall. In addition, a public hearing on Amendment No. 4 is scheduled for the March 2, 2010 Council meeting.

Council also approved a resolution approving the Mayor, the City Administrator, and the Administrative Services Director as Authorized Financial Institution Signers.

In keeping with the responsibilities of the Administrative Services Director position, it has been deemed appropriate to add Jenny Hesseltine as an authorized signer for the City. Since 2004, the authorized signers have been the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern, and the City Administrator. This resolution approves Mayor Darrell Dobernecker, City Administrator Mike Nardini, and Administrative Services Director Jenny Hesseltine as authorized signers for the City’s financial institutions.

With the final resolution of the evening, council approved the accepting of Deed and Dedicating Roosevelt Road Improvements and Right-of-Way for Public Use.

This resolution accepts the quit claim deed from Federated Fellowship Church and designates this new street segment on Roosevelt Road as right-of-way (ROW) for public use. As background on this project, the City Council previously approved a development agreement with ICE Technologies for their business expansion in Pella. One of the key aspects of the agreement was this extension of Roosevelt Road. Hence, ICE Technologies and Federated Fellowship Church have worked jointly on this project.

The engineer for the project. Garden and Associates, has certified the infrastructure improvements were constructed in accordance with City standards. Listed below is a summary of the improvements which will be added the City’s infrastructure:

-170 feet of 31’wide paved roadway

-278 feet of 18” storm sewer main

-1 storm sewer manhole

-254 feet of 8” water main

-1 fire hydrant

In other action:

-Council approved the first reading of, waived second and third readings and adopted an ordinance to add the rate for a Secondary Water Meter Outside the Corporate Limits.

On January 19, Council amended the water rates to fund necessary infrastructure. improvements for the utility. During this process, the rate.for a secondary meter (often referred to as a garden meter) outside the corporate limits was inadvertently omitted from the ordinance.

The charge for the secondary meter outside the corporate limits did not increase and remains unchanged at $6.83. Since this ordinance simply corrects an omission in the previously approved ordinance, staff had requested that the second and third readings be waived.

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