Fire department job is on agenda

Monday, March 17, 2008 1:06 PM CDT

A resolution authorizing the fire department to hire an additional assistant fire chief will be on the agenda of the Watertown Common Council when it meets Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of the municipal building.

The additional position would allow fire Chief Henry Butts to solve all of his administrative problems and 30 percent of the department's response issues.

If the resolution is approved, approximately $52,000 will be expended on the new position this year.

Council members will look to act on a resolution creating a planned unit development for the new public works facility on South Second Street.

The purpose of a planned unit development is to allow for control of the site design, appearance, density and intensity of development.

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Last week the Plan Commission approved the planned unit development with the stipulation that the new street department building be exempt from river walk design and historic building design standards. The commission also decided the building can have driveways within 100 feet of an intersection.

The first reading of an ordinance amending the city's zoning code regarding exterior storage standards will be on the agenda of the council.

The exterior storage ordinance states that no more than two recreational vehicles may be parked or stored outside a fully enclosed structure in the rear or side yard. No more than one recreational vehicle may be parked or stored on a paved driveway in a front yard.

Multiple recreational vehicles mounted on a single trailer would count as a single recreational vehicle.

As defined by the ordinance, some of the recreational vehicles included in the zoning code are boats, motor homes, camping trailers, race cars, canoes and kayaks, snowmobiles, motorized dirt bikes and ATVs.

The ordinance also states that residents cannot park or store any vehicle parts or nonfunctioning items of lawn and exterior maintenance equipment on a lot in a residential district, unless if it is within a fully enclosed structure.

Trucks in excess of 20 feet in length or 26,000 pounds, tractors, flatbed trucks, dump trucks, semi trucks, Bobcats and other similar vehicles cannot be kept on a lot for more than 72 consecutive hours unless they are kept in a garage and out of public view.

The council had passed an exterior storage standards ordinance earlier in the year but a new ordinance is needed because of language issues.

The final reading of an ordinance modifying the city code regarding the distribution of recycling bins will be on the agenda of the council.

The ordinance states that each new residence in a one- to four-family dwelling will be provided with one city of Watertown authorized recycling bin. The container must remain at the residence if the tenant moves.

The replacement cost for a recycling bin is currently $8.

A resolution choosing the business that will carry out the sanitary sewer and water main program in 2008 will be on the agenda of the council.

The agreement would be with Forest Landscaping and Construction Inc. in Fort Atkinson for $393,734.

Council members will also take action on a resolution selecting a company to perform the city's landscaping program in 2008.

The contract would be with Watertown Evergreen Nursery for $18,713.

Aldermen are expected to take action on a resolution reimbursing city residents whose property was damaged when a storm siren collapsed in November 2007 because of high winds.

Ebert's Greenhouse will repair the damages for $950.

A resolution creating a file for the archiving of e-mails received and sent on the city system will be on the agenda of the council.

The city is looking to purchase a Barracuda message archiver for $10,624.

Council members will act on a resolution petitioning for state or federal aid for airport improvements.

The improvements that are in the petition are the marking of runways.

A resolution allowing street department employees to change their hours in 2008 from April 9 to Nov. 4 will be on the agenda of the council.

If the resolution is approved, street department workers would work from 6:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The hour change would give the street department the opportunity to complete more work.

The office staff of the street department would continue to work Monday through Friday.

Council members are expected to act on a resolution implementing a tax refund intercept program in the city.

The program will enable the court clerk to enter data on previous people receiving municipal citations into a state run data base.

The initial license fee, installation fee and training fee will cost $3,380 and there will also be on ongoing annual charge of $305.

The council will look to act on the final readings of ordinances that restrict parking on certain city streets.

Under the proposed ordinances, parking would be prohibited on the north side of Clark Street from South Twelfth Street to the east 117 feet and a 40-foot section on the west side of South Water Street in front of The Market Specialty Shopping Mall.

A resolution adjusting the 2008 budget for the wastewater treatment plant will be on the agenda of the council.

The resolution calls for $12,000 to be transferred from different accounts.