A wide range of resolutions and ordinances were considered by the Pella City Council at their meeting Tuesday.

They approved the 2019 fiscal year budget, which includes projected revenues and expenses of just over $38.7 million and leaves city’s property tax rate at $10.20 per taxable $1,000 of valuation for the 17th consecutive year.

Multiple resolutions were approved, including: a one-year contract with the Pella Convention and Visitors Bureau for distribution of 55% of the city’s hotel-motel tax funds, adoption of a new employee compensation and wage scale, continuation of a funding agreement with the City of Knoxville and Marion County for a long-term Red Rock Area to I-80 transportation corridor study, and a preliminary plat and site plan for 43 potential housing units in the new Bos Ridge development.

In addition, an ordinance for a planned unit development zoning change for a proposed townhouse project in the 400 block of Franklin Street was approved and adopted, as were ordinances to update the city’s International Residential, Building, and Maintenance Codes to 2015 standards.

Following regular business, the council discussed two potential ordinances limiting the use and sale of fireworks in Pella and street modifications along Independence Street for Central College during policy and planning.

In regards to fireworks, two ordinances will soon head to the Planning and Zoning Commission: the city looks to update the definition of consumer fireworks in city code ad establish a $250 fine for anyone violating the city’s ban in the first, and limit the sales of fireworks to industrial zones and only allow them to be sold as primary use in a structure for the second. Both ordinances would also apply to certain areas within the city’s two-mile jurisdiction outside the corporate limits in Marion and Mahaska Counties as well.

City Administrator Mike Nardini said at the meeting the city had considerable difficulties in approving peddlers permits for roadside fireworks tents last year, and many of the tents did not meet building code requirements. The Pella City Council will first look to set a moratorium on issuing peddler’s permits at an upcoming meeting, and then move the ordinances on for consideration by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission sometime in the next sixty days.