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Council to dissolve landfill subcommittee, reviews curb petition and fireworks code change; adjourns to closed session on real estate (7–0)
Summary
Staff recommended dissolving the interim landfill subcommittee and reported that state law SF303 requires changes to Marion’s fireworks ordinance; council then voted 7–0 to adjourn into closed session on real estate matters.
City staff said the landfill subcommittee appointed by the council earlier this year has completed its information-gathering work and will be recommended for formal dissolution at the council’s next regular meeting.
Staff also presented a resident petition asking the city to add curb and gutter along a portion of 20 Fifth Avenue. Public works staff said the city’s HMA overlay work and its $150,000 annual curb-and-gutter program guide prioritization; when street or subsurface utility work requires a trench at the back of curb, staff typically couples curb construction with the utility work. Staff advised that adding curb on every recently overlaid street would reduce the number of streets that can be completed each year given current funding.
On state law changes, staff said Iowa Senate File 303 (SF303), signed by the governor, removed local authority to prohibit consumer fireworks on July 4 and Dec. 31 and requires updates to the local code. "This bill prohibits local governments from restricting consumer fireworks on July, and December 31," staff said, and the city will propose ordinance changes to bring the code into compliance and will notify residents via social media and the city website.
The work session ended with a motion to adjourn to closed session "regarding real estate transactions as permitted under Section 21.5(1)(j) of the Code of Iowa." Councilmember Sarah Menser moved the motion; it was seconded (second not named on the public record). The city attorney/ legal counsel reviewed the agenda item and told the council he believed the topic was appropriate for closed session under the cited code provision.
A roll-call vote followed. The minutes record these votes in favor of adjourning to closed session: Councilmember Johnson — yes; Councilmember Harper — yes; Councilmember Miskaman — yes; Mayor Abu Asli — yes; Councilmember Menser — yes; Councilmember Brant — yes; Councilmember Sternad — yes. The motion passed 7–0 and the council adjourned to closed session to discuss real estate matters. No public action on the real estate items was recorded in the work session minutes.
