REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

February 18, 2020

     Prior to this meeting, at 5:30 pm, the council held a work session to discuss the items on the regular council meeting agenda and adopting a rental code.  The work session adjourned at 5:57 pm.

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at 6:00 pm in Fayette City Hall pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding.

     Roll call: Present - Council members Post, Potratz, Tenney, Tucker and Wulfekuhle. Absent - none

     Moved Potratz, seconded Tenney, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 2/3/20 and the claims list of 2/4/20 - 2/18/20. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to move agenda item #8A, discussion and consideration to make a donation to the Fayette County Ag Society for the 2020 Fayette County Fair, as the first agenda item. All ayes, motion carried. Moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the agenda as amended.  All ayes, motion carried.

     Andy Bilden with the Fayette County Fair Board was present and updated the council on the plans for the 2020 Fayette County Fair. They are asking cities for donations so they may offer free carnival rides again this year. They are hoping to receive more donations and add more rides and attractions. The donation would benefit all the residents in the City of Fayette because they would be able to ride the carnival rides at no cost. The last two years Fayette has donated $1,200. Motion Potratz, seconded Tucker, to increase the donation to the Fayette County Fair Board from $1,200 to $1,500 for the free carnival and use money out of the Bolger Fund. All ayes, motion carried.

     City Administrator/Clerk McGrane informed the council he has been working on the city's budget over the last few weeks.

     Police Chief Davis advised the council he has finished the annual Fayette Police Department Report for 2019. A few things the report included: 66 UCR Reported Crimes in 2018 and 2019; 54 Arrests in 2019, compared to 63 in 2018; 1,426 Calls for Service in 2019, up from 1,386 in 2018; 4 Drug/Alcohol/OWI/Sexual Assault Cases in 2019, up from 3 in 2018; 144 Traffic Stops in 2019, down from 180 in 2018; 110 Parking Citations in 2019, down from 146 in 2018; 21 Traffic Accidents in 2019, up from 13 in 2018; 30 Nuisance Abatement Cases in 2019, up from 13 in 2018; 1 Police Use-of-Force incident in 2019, down from 4 in 2018; and 240 Training Courses in 2019, compared to 208 in 2018.

     This being the time and place published for a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy for Fiscal Year July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, Mayor Wenthe opened the hearing and asked for comments. There being no comments, Mayor Wenthe closed the hearing.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to discuss Resolution 2020-03. Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to adopt Resolution 2020-03, the Proposed Property Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2021 with a total 384.15A maximum tax levy rate of $14.83830, a 10.39% increase from Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. McGrane explained the proposed budget estimate is finished and the rate is $13.90998, an increase of 3.48% from FY 2020. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to discuss the Water Street project. McGrane explained he did find out that they will not need to have an RFP to hire an Engineer for this project. Public Works Director Jerry Hildebrand recommends hiring Fehr Graham since they are close to Fayette and have done good work for Fayette. Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to move forward and reach out to Fehr Graham to help us with the Water Street project. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to adopt the Fayette Ambulance Service meeting minutes from 10/2/19, 11/6/19 and 12/11/19.  All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to adopt the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 1/9/20.  All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to adopt the Fayette Finance Committee meeting minutes from 2/13/20.  All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss purchasing two video laryngoscopes and two sets of CPR training manikins for the Fayette Ambulance. Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tenney, to approve purchasing two video laryngoscopes and two sets of CPR training manikins for the Fayette Ambulance. All ayes, Post abstained, motion carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Tenney, to discuss adopting the final proposed FY 2021 Budget Estimate.  McGrane included his FY 2021 Estimated Budget report reflecting the recommendations from the Personnel and Finance Committees in the agenda packet. A few highlights from the report include: 100% city valuation increased $1,648,193; regular taxable value is $26,900,437 which is up $572,418; the rollback on residential property is decreasing 1.8437% to 55.0743%; the rollback on multi-residential properties is going down 3.75% to 71.25%; township valuations increased so we will receive $740.93 more for the Ambulance and Fire Departments; the FY 2021 tax levy will go  up $0.17594.  The Finance committee recommended a cost of living allowance (COLA) increase for city employees of 2% for FY2021.  Health insurance is increasing 20.06% March 1, 2020. The city budgeted to decrease the Library Assistants hours by 3 hours per week, increase the Library Aids hours by 8 hours per week, increase the Deputy Clerk's hours by 4 hours per week, increase the Police part-time budget by $1,000 and to budget $5,000 to hire a part-time, seasonal employee to help with Recreation events. The budget includes purchasing a security camera system for the Police Department and City Hall, replacing the lights at Rainbowland Park, purchasing a new piece of play equipment for Klock's Island Park and purchasing in-car computer accessories and in-car cameras for the Police. The budget also includes removing steps on some city sidewalks, repairing some storm water drainage areas, purchasing a new tractor/mower and starting to resurface part of Water Street while also upgrading the water, sewer and storm water lines.  Tax levy will be $13.90998 (up from $13.73404).  The budget report will be available at Fayette City Hall, the Fayette Community Library and on the city of Fayette’s website. Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to adopt the final proposed FY 2021 Budget Estimate. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to discuss publishing the Budget Estimate and set a public hearing for March 16, 2020, at 6PM in Fayette City Hall on the FY 2021 Budget Estimate. Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to direct the City Administrator/Clerk to publish the Budget Estimate and set a public hearing for March 16, 2020, at 6PM in Fayette City Hall on the FY 2021 Budget Estimate. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Post, seconded Tucker, to discuss the American Tower Company contract renewal. Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to start talking to the cities attorney about the best way to start negotiating the contract with American Tower Company.  All ayes, motion carried.

     There being no further business, moved Potratz, unanimous, to adjourn at 6:48 pm.