(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council will meeting in regular session, 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, at City Hall. Action items on their agenda include the following:

• The 2nd Reading of an Ordinance “Vacating that Portion of Country Oaks Right-Of-Way (ROW), between 2703 Country Oaks and 2605 Country Oaks. The first hearing was held Oct. 16, 2022 and passed without public comment.
• The Council will hold the 1st Reading of an Ordinance that amends the City’s Code of Ordinance, with regard to Storm Water Utility Billing,” and a change of bi-annual billing to annual billing, beginning in early 2023, with no change to the rates.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a Public Hearing on an amended Ordinance with regard to Zoning Regulations, specifically affecting the area of 4 State Street, which is owned by Gary Richter, with Richter & Son Towing, and Richter Properties LLC. Mr. Richter wishes to demolish a portion of his industrial building on the south side, and replace it with a large addition. The problem is, that part of the property is zoned Heavy Industrial, and as such infringes on the front yard property setback. City Administrator/Zoning Commissioner John Lund, said after much discussion with the Planning/Zoning Commission, they recommend the Zoning Ordinance be amended, to remove the front yard setback in the I-2 District.

A public hearing will be held on the amending of another, Ordinance, followed by the 1st Reading of the Ordinance, pertaining to the construction of six-foot fence around the side of a property to the back yard at 601 E. 8th Street, in Atlantic. Because this is a corner lot, any fence on that type of lot, cannot exceed 4-feet in height, unless certain requirements are met.  The P&Z Commission met Oct. 11, 2022, and are recommending to the Council, the Zoning Ordinance be amended to remove the street yard setback prohibiting six-foot fences.

In other business, the Council will act on passing a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Southeast Urban Renewal Area Revenue Fund for Appropriation to the Payment of Annual Appropriation Tax Increment Financed Obligations Which Shall Come Due in the Next Succeeding Fiscal Year.” Essentially, it means that it will allow the City to utilize TIF money to repay its internal debt, which is an authorized part of the annual appropriation process.

On a related note, the Council will act on passing a Resolution allowing the City to capture taxes paid by the Whitney Group, using TIF. The appropriation is an annual feature until the City either pays-off the $750,000 maximum payment or 20-years expire, whichever comes first. An identical Resolution was adopted by the Council in Nov., 2021.

The final order of business, is a report on the Atlantic Animal Shelter, which as we’ve mentioned, was given a State Inspection Score of A++.