Government : City Council Notes from 4/9/19

The Mayor joked that the council was now in their Season 1 and Episode 2 of the City Council on Zoom for the year. As a viewer from home, this is definitely not the way for the council to have to conduct business, but it will have to do for now!

The council went through the usual approving of the agenda, looking at the expenditures, and other normal business of the council.

The Hy-Vee project came up in a discussion. Nathan Edwards wanted to make it clear that the company was not going to get a break from the city. The company had asked for a 10 year 100% tax abatement however the city has an ordinance addressing new businesses and the city only allows a that the first three years are taxed at 80% of the improvements. As the Mayor explained, the city cannot pick and choose how to handle this. The city will still collect taxes on the property. As Chris Ward, City Administrator explained that the Hy-Vee will pay in addition to the original taxed amount another 20% on top of that which will cover the improvements to the property for three years, and on the 4th year it will go to 100% of the new property value.

The council then approved a new TIF district for the Braille School property, which allows the owners Hobart Historic Restoration to create incentives or other projects as they move along in the project. Urban Renewal District then you can have the area as a TIF district or tax abatements can apply or business incentives.

The council also voted to authorize a loan to the tax increment revenue subfund ECICOG and any bank that participates in the program concerning the Anderson Creek Estates.

The council also discussed and approved a resolution to establish appointment procedures to boards and commissions.

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The council also approved a CDBG Community Development Block Grant to provide funds to Virginia Gay Hospital to purchase ventilators and PPE Personal Protection Equipment. There will be a public hearing for the grant at the next meeting.

The council also approved a resolution to temporarily waive any late fees for customers of the Vinton utilities that will extend through the end of the Governors declarations of an emergency allowing businesses to reopen.

The council also made a motion to approve a GIS Geographic Mapping System for the city. This would map everything in Vinton including things for sewer and water, manhole access, fire hydrant locations for the fire department and allow any city departments access to the system to better conduct their business. There will be a meeting prior to the next council meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. to discuss this further.

The Mayor also read a proclamation declaring it Child Abuse Prevention Month declaring the need to protect our children.

A date was set for the mandatory IPIB Iowa Public Information Board training session for May 21 at 7:00 p.m.

The Agenda can be seen here

Click to view the meeting recorded with my camera while the council met on ZOOM, I apologize for the quality, it's the best that can be done for now...