MINUTES OF THE GILBERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING

GILBERT, IOWA

CALLED TO ORDER: 7:00 P.M. at City Hall, by Mayor Bob Jaquis

ROLL CALL: Present: Chris Benda, Helen Gunderson, Lynn Henn, Peg Uthe and Fred Vogtlin

Absent: None

    Council member Helen Gunderson asked for the floor to speak about the agenda and the consent calendar.

    Moved by Helen Gunderson that the agenda for September 24, 2001 be pulled from the consent calendar and considered separately for discussion and approval.

       Mayor Jaquis states that an item cannot be added to the agenda without being posted twenty- four hours in advance to notify the public.

    Council member Helen Gunderson clearly states that pulling the agenda from the consent calendar means that Council with make a motion to approve the minutes for September 10, 2001, the funds report for August 2001, the revenue and expense report for August 2001 and the claims list for September 24, 2001. Council will then have a separate discussion on the September 24, 2001 agenda.

    Council had discussion with Mayor Jaquis as to how to get an item on the agenda.

    Council member Gunderson withdraws her motion and ask to retain the floor to make another motion.

     I move the adoption of the following:

   Whereas, there is a lingering issue of conflict that is impeding the efficient work of city government and affecting the morale of the people involved; and

   Whereas, tension resulting from the conflict surfaced during the last council meeting in the discussion of the 2000-2001 budget; and

   Whereas, a memo regarding this was sent to the mayor, council members, and city employees on September 20; and

   Whereas, the memo instructed that the issue be placed on tonight's agenda but was omitted by the mayor; and

   Whereas, there is timely need to collectively discuss the issue around the council table before more side conversations take place, more tension arises, the conflict deepens and the work of city government is further compromised;

It is the intent of the city council, That tonight's tentative agenda be amended by deleting item #4 (the discussion of media guidelines) and inserting preliminary discussion about the issue of conflict after item #6 (regarding the date of trick-or-treating) but before item #7 (the general discussion among council members).

It is the intent of the city council, That a comprehensive discussion of the issue will be posted on the agenda for the next meeting.

It is the intent of the city council, That the purpose of tonight's preliminary discussion will be for:

1. hearing reactions from council members and other persons present at the meeting to the memo and the issues it raises

2. deciding how the issue will be worded and posted on the agenda for the next meeting,

3. deciding what recommendations should be made for how the item is moderated during the next meeting

4. determining what inquiries should be made prior to the next meeting regarding the availability of outside resources who could be called upon to

help in resolving the issue.

It is the intent of the city council, That tonight's discussion will not consist of defining public policy, nor committing the expenditure of public funds, nor designing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with the issue, nor reviewing the job performance of any employee since such discussion is not legal without prior public notice.

    Council member Chris Benda seconds the motion.

Council member Lynn Henn states that there is no time to prepare for an item added to the agenda.

 Mayor Bob Jaquis left the meeting at 7:10 p.m.

    Lynn Henn, Mayor Pro Tem confirmed that there is a motion on the table.

Vote on the motion 3-1. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem, Henn states item # 4 will be pulled from the agenda and insert preliminary discussion about the issue of conflict after item #6, but before item #7.

    Moved by Helen Gunderson, seconded by Peg Uthe to approve the amended consent calendar.

Vote on the motion 3-1. Motion carried.

No citizen's were present to speak at the Open Forum.

    David Dougherty from WHKS was present to discuss with council a review of the City of Gilbert's Water and Sewer Rate Study.

David goes over the City of Gilbert's current financial operations and states that the city's rates are adequately carrying our funds.

Going over the Capital Improvement Program, David points out that the City of Gilbert is currently operating with only one well and one pump with no reserve capacity. He strongly recommends that the city should consider another well since Gilbert continues to grow.

David discussed the Sewage Treatment Lagoon Capacity; David gave council some direction of methods for providing the necessary sewage treatment capacity.

Moved by Peg Uthe, seconded by Fred Vogtlin to adopt Resolution 372 approving the Iowa Department of Transportation Official Financial Report for the City Streets and Parking, 2000-2001.

Roll Call Vote: 4-0

Resolution 372 declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor Pro Tem and hereby made a portion of these minutes.

    Trick or Treat night will be October 30, 2001 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

    There was a preliminary discussion about whether outside resources should be called upon to help in resolving the conflict.

Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Henn suggested, and the council consented, that Gunderson call Tim Shields (from the Institute of Public Affairs) to check on his schedule of available dates so the council could act in a timely fashion at the next meeting if it approved a request for Mr. Shields help. By consent, the council decided that the issue of conflict should be placed on the agenda for the next meeting and be worded, "Review and Strategy for Resolving Conflict."

      In General Discussion Council Member Vogtlin asked to have "Discussion of donation to New York" on the agenda for the next meeting.

    Moved by Fred Vogtlin seconded by Helen Gunderson to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Motion declared carried unanimously.