(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council will meet 90-minutes earlier than usual when the meet Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 1st). The Council will gather for a 4-p.m. session in their Chambers at City Hall. Among the action items on their agenda, is:

• A resolution “Obligating funds from the Southeast Urban Renewal Area (URA) Revenue Fund for Appropriation to the payment of annual appropriation Tax Increment Financed (TIF) obligations,” which are due in the next succeeding fiscal year. City Administrator John Lund notes “This is bureaucratic red tape relating to [a TIF] for the Redwood Subdivision.” Action on a similar resolution will take place, with regard to the Hotel Whitney URA.
• Action on a resolution “Granting [an] extension on the maximum accrued vacation hours for Assistant Police Chief Paul Wood.” Wood has served the A-PD for 19-years. City Administrator John Lund reports that due to ongoing staffing issues with the Police Department, Assistant Chief Wood has had to delay the use of his Paid Time-Off (PTO) hours and fill shifts for other officers, sometimes swinging between day and night shifts. At the end of October, Wood will have nearly 250 vacation hours on the books. He is requesting an extension of his vacation accrual bank until the end of January, 2024, so that he does not lose nearly 90-hours of vacation accumulated over the 160 hours allowed for City employees with 10-or more years of service. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee recommend the Council approve a formal extension be given until the end of March, 2024, for Wood to use his vacation time over 160 hours.
• The Council will act on a Personnel and Finance Committee recommendation to approve the job description, FY2024 compensation and posting of an Assistant Code Enforcement and Animal Control Officer position. The committee recommends the full-time position would be compensated at $22.74/hour, or $47,299.20 annually. The position would be overtime eligible, have City health insurance, and IPERS benefits.
• The Atlantic City Council will also act on approving an amended ordinance with an updated position description for “City Administrator,” to include (but not limited to):
  • Preparing the City’s annual budget and related components;
  • Reviewing and recommending change to the City Council on the City’s annual compensation for all employees not covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement;
  • Managing the development and administration of labor contracts, in accordance with Iowa law;
  • Directing and coordinating activities of City departments of Finance & Administration, Public Works and others, as determined by the Council. The hiring, promoting and discipline of employees of departments directly supervised, and the overseeing of Department Head meetings;
  • Acting as the City Zoning Administrator;
  • Acting as the City’s Flood Plain Manager;
  • Advising the Council on insurance matters;
  • Performing other duties as may be required by the Council, not inconsistent with the City charter, law or ordinances.

And, the Council will act Wednesday on approving the Annual Urban Renewal Report as required by the Iowa Department of Management. The report details everything relating to TIF Districts and projects. Failure to submit the report would prevent the County Auditor from collecting property tax revenues from the URA’s for the City’s TIF obligations. The Council approved the 2022 Urban renewal report during their meeting Nov. 16, 2022.