The Atlantic City Council met Wednesday evening and approved an Order to enter into an agreement with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), for Regional Taxi Service. The City contributes $8,000 per year from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Progress fund for regional public transportation. City Administrator John Lund says the funds have been budgeted for in Fiscal Year 2019, and carried forward into the FY 2020 proposed budget, as well as the city’s 10-year budget plan.

The Council also set November 7^th as the date for a Public Hearing on an updated Comprehensive City Plan. The Comprehensive Plan – which has been updated by SWIPCO – is intended to be a guiding document for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council, when it comes to major decisions on public policy, according to Lund, who says Atlantic’s last Comprehensive Plan was adopted in Dec., 2002. And, while the general practice is for the Comprehensive Plan to be updated every 10-years, but Lund says “Administrative conflicts related to the interpretation of the plan and how it was to be applied to development in the community, resulted in an extensive delay before the updating process was initiated.” The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the draft during their meeting on Sept. 20th, and made some suggestions for improvement. They recommend the Council adopt the plan as written, following the required Public Hearing on Nov. 7th.

In his report to the Council, Administrator Lund said he’s wrapped-up everything needed for a 28-E Fire Services agreement with the Atlantic Fire Department and other townships and/or communities they’ve been working with. The agreement, when finalized, will establish special taxing districts for Washington and Bear Grove Townships, and will help to pay for the purchase of a new Atlantic FD Pumper truck the department needs.

Lund said the City’s Department Heads met Tuesday to conduct the annual budget reviews, which he says is “Kind of the official kick-off to the budget season.” He also spoke with City Attorney Mark Bosworth with regard to rental property inspections, which Bosworth will research more, and a committee will follow-up on next month. The inspections, according to Councilman Chris Jimerson, would be conducted on a complaint basis if the plans move forward. Bosworth said he wants to take a closer look at the legal angle of the inspections before anything is written in stone. He wants to know whether other cities have seen the inspections used as retribution between the renters and landlords, rather than legitimate complaints. Jimerson said the committee has discussed what the course of action might be if a complaint by a renter turns out to be unfounded when an inspection is conducted.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council held the second reading of an Ordinance pertaining to speed regulations on Sunnyside Lane, from 10th to 22nd Streets, and the second reading of an Ordinance pertaining to trees in the City Right-of-Way, and the authority of the City Forester. They also approve a Resolution adopting the Building Permit Fee schedule. And, a Resolution pertaining to the City’s Personnel Policy.