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Council hears reports: golf course posts surplus, red‑light cameras active; council asked to revisit snake ordinance
Summary
At the Aug. 25 study session council members reported a roughly $75,000 surplus at the municipal golf course, said the new intersection cameras began operation with a 30‑day warning period, and agreed to place a review of city code 67.9 (dangerous animals) on a future agenda.
Council members used the Aug. 25 study session to deliver several brief reports and requests for future agenda items, ranging from a profitable golf season to traffic enforcement and a request to revisit the city’s animal‑control code.
A councilmember reported that the municipal golf course finished the season with an approximately $75,000 profit, the first surplus reported in living memory. The council credited management and staff for improved operations; no specific budgetary actions were taken at the study session.
City staff gave two operational updates. A staff member identified as James provided a reminder about Labor Day garbage schedule changes and reported anticipated bridge beam deliveries; he said the city will post exact timing on City of Waverly social channels. Councilmembers encouraged public viewing and the city said it would capture drone footage for public posts.
On traffic enforcement, the police chief (unnamed in the meeting transcript) confirmed the intersection cameras began operation Aug. 4 and are running a 30‑day warning period before issuing enforcement actions. The chief said the system captures right turns on red and that the department adjusted the speed buffer to allow routine rolling stops while still flagging higher‑speed right‑turn violations. The chief said roughly 80% of the captured violations have been by non‑Waverly residents; officers retain discretion on whether to move a captured event into the enforcement process.
Councilperson Berrigan asked staff to place the city’s animal‑control code (city code 67.9) on a future agenda for review. Berrigan said current city language prohibits “all venomous or constricting snakes,” which differs from state definitions and effectively prohibits common pet species such as garter snakes and corn snakes. Berrigan said she spoke with a biology professor who confirmed all snakes are either constrictors or venomous and requested the council consider aligning the city code with Iowa Code definitions so that low‑risk constrictor species could be allowed under city rules. The council did not take action at this meeting; Berrigan asked that the item be scheduled for discussion.
Councilmembers also requested a study session on electric bicycles to better understand categories, speed limits, and where e‑bikes should be permitted after several near‑misses were reported by residents. That item was requested for the September study session.
Other brief community notes included reminders about school openings, encouragement of sportsmanship at school athletic events, and praise for local cross‑country meet conduct. No formal votes were taken on these reports; they were delivered as updates and requests for future agenda items.
