By Clint Brown
The Chronicle
August 08, 2008 02:34 pm
—
Following a public hearing pertaining to background requirements for multi-tenant signs, the Pella City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending City Code by adding provisions pertaining to background requirements for multi-tenant signs.
On April 15, 2008, the City Council adopted a moratorium on the issuance of sign permits for elevated monument signs in the CC District where interior lit panels would be proposed. This moratorium extends until August 31 unless an ordinance amendment would be adopted prior that would address the matter:
The origin of concern which led to the moratorium was the lighting intensity associated with the interior lit panel of the De Winkelen Hof elevated monument sign. The Community Development Committee (CDC) reviewed and made recommendations on three specific options at their May 21 special meeting. The City Council at the June 3 Policy & Planning meeting directed that an ordinance amendment be prepared based on the recommendation from the CDC that any sign with more than four tenants be classified as a directory sign and whether it be an elevated monument or a monument sign they should have the option of externally or internally lighting the sign. If internal lighting is used, the background behind the business name or logo must be uniform and opaque for all the tenants.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the proposed ordinance at their July 14, 2008 special meeting.
Council approved a resolution adopting COBRA rates for FY 08-09.
Under current regulations the City is allowed to update COBRA insurance rates once per year. However, the City is not required to change the COBRA insurance rates.
The City’s COBRA rates had been $415 per month for single health coverage and $1,030 per month for family health coverage.
According to the accepted development of an aggregate, the factors contain a corridor over anticipated claims. Therefore, realistically the City’s expected costs would be somewhat lower. If the City used the reduced aggregate factor for medical claims, plus fixed expenses and next Rx claims, the expected costs would be $459 per month for single and $1,057 per month for family.
The City of Pella recommended that the COBRA rates for FY 08-09 reflect the aggregate contract that has been purchased and which is used to determine the anticipated costs. These rates are based on the aggregate, fixed expenses and net claims. Therefore, COBRA rates for FY 08-09 will be $543 per month for single medical coverage and $1,258 per month for family medical coverage.
The current COBRA rates for the City’s dental coverage are within range of the contract that has been purchased. Therefore, COBRA rates for FY 08-09 will continue to be $30 per month for single dental coverage and $60 per month for family dental coverage.
Council also approved resolutions approving the Third Amendment to the City’s Dental Plan and to the Third Amendment of the City’s Health Care plan.
Following annual review by Cottingham Butler/SISCO of the City’s insurance Plan Document, the City of Pella was told appropriate changes based on industry standards and recent legislative actions as well as any necessary policy or procedure clarifications were needed to be made.
With the final resolution of the evening, council approved a development agreement with Federated Fellowship Church.
The site plan for Federated Fellowship Church for their new church building was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission on-May 19., 2008 subject to Development Agreement for Roosevelt Road extension. The Comprehensive Plan identifies the extension of Roosevelt Road from its current terminus near Southeast 9th Street to the eastern terminus in Gateway Commercial Park adjacent the Country Inn & Suites hotel. The Zoning Ordinance requires that any future right-of-way identified in the Comprehensive Plan, at minimum, as part of a site plan has to be preserved.
The proposed Development Agreement provides for preservation of eighty feet of right-of-way as shown on the site plan except where Roosevelt Road is proposed to be constructed, in which case the street along with right- of-way would be dedicated to the City through acquisition plat. The street and associated infrastructure would be constructed to full City standards. Construction plans for this Roosevelt Road extension have already been submitted and approved by the Public Works Director. In addition, the agreement provides that City approval is required for any structure within thirty five feet of the future right-of-way to the west property line.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the proposed development agreement at their July 28, 2008 meeting.
In other action:
• Council approved the third reading of and adopted an amendment to a zoning ordinance by adding provisions pertaining to time limits for certain temporary structures.
This ordinance is intended to address the Planning and Zoning Commission’s concerns over temporary structures. These concerns are primarily with how long these structures are placed on a property. Section 165.29 of the City of Pella Zoning Ordinance allows temporary uses including model homes, development sales offices, construction site offices, along with other temporary structures. In general, this section permits the temporary use with minimal regulation of duration or other site considerations. The ordinance proposes the following specific amendments:
-Model homes or model apartments would be limited for a time period of up to three years with six month extension possible upon approval by the Planning and Zoning Director.
-Commercial circuses, carnivals, fairs, or similar festivals must be located on property owned or leased by the sponsoring organization.
-Construction site offices would be limited for a time period associated with the time of project construction.
-Temporary structures designed to arrive at the site for immediate occupancy by schools, churches, health care facilities, businesses and government office, excluding industrial uses, would have the following time limits:
1) Temporary structures other than schools would be limited to three years placement with one year extension possible upon approval by the Planning and Zoning Director.
2) Temporary structures for use with schools may be allowed to remain on the site for a longer than three year period provided approval is granted by the Planning and Zoning Director.
-Industrial uses are exempted from any time limits.
-Portable storage units or structures for residential intended only for temporary storage of personal household belongings shall be limited to 5 days placement.
• Approved the reappointment of Jerry Brummel, Mike De Wild and Robyn Van Berkum to the Community Development Committee.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.