(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, voted on readings of recently amended ordinances, and while the readings passed, some were met with opposition. The Council held the second reading of an amended Ordinance (#1021), with regard to panhandling, and passed it 7-0. The Ordinance (when passed after 3 readings) would ban panhandling in all public spaces. Panhandling on private property is handled through trespassing laws.

The Council then acted on the first of three ordinance changes relating to Code Enforcement. They voted to approve the first reading of an amended Ordinance (#1022), with regard to the mowing of properties. Councilman Lee Sisco suggested the Ordinance incorporate the removal of grass and/or weeds that completely cover a sidewalk, to the point where the sidewalk is fully visible, and not partially concealed beneath a mowed layer of grass or weeds. Mayor Grace Garrett said as written, the Ordinance simply covers mowing, and the costs of mowing assessed to the property owner, if the City has to handle the job.

The first reading of an amended Ordinance (#1023), pertaining to the removal of solid waster, passed by a vote of 6-to-1, with Councilman Sisco opposed. He was of the opinion the ordinance should be more specific about what constitutes an “accumulation” of solid waste. It was pointed out that the Code Enforcement Officer has the discretion on determining what is an excess/eyesore, and will issue a notice to the property owner as such. From that point, the individual has seven-days to take care of the mess.

And, the Atlantic City Council passed by a vote of 4-to-3, the first reading of an amended Ordinance (#1024), with regard to the removal of accumulated snow and ice. The “no” votes came from Councilmen Behrens, Sisco and McCurdy. Councilman Sisco asked if the Ordinance specified the width and depth of snow removal. Mayor Garrett said the Ordinance states snow and ice must be removed from sidewalks within 24-hours of the end of the precipitation. She said that means “The entire sidewalk,” down to the concrete – not just a single path – and the full width of the sidewalk(s) on your property. McCurdy, who owns several rental properties in Atlantic, said “We’re getting to nitpicky on this, I feel.”

In other business, the Council held a Public Hearing on a proposed amendment to the plan for the Atlantic Urban Revitalization Area. The Council previously passed a Resolution providing notice of the hearing on August 17th. The hearing  was followed by approval of a Resolution to Adopt the URP as amended. The only change would be to remove the expiration date, as the Council has not shown an interest in ending it, and “The sunsets are proving to be a bureaucratic burden,” according to Lund.

And, the Council passed a Resolution setting Sept. 17th as the date for a public hearing on [a] proposal to enter into a General Obligation Land Acquisition Loan Agreement, and to Borrow Money thereunder in a principal amount not to exceed $700,000.” Their action is with regard to the purchase of land intended for housing development. City Administrator John Lund said the actual borrowing amount would likely be closer to $500,000, with a locked-in 4% interest rate over a period of 20-years, to keep the costs down as much as possible.