West Liberty, Iowa — “What you are doing is great. You just don’t know what direction you have to take.”

That’s what West Liberty City Council Member Jose Elizondo told members of West Liberty’s Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday night during a work session that preceded the regular Council meeting.

The seven-member Commission — which is officially called the Parks and Tree Commission —was established in 2003 to take the place of a two-member City Council committee.

But the Commission’s role hasn’t always been clear.

The purpose of Tuesday night’s work session was to discuss the relationship between the Commission and the Council and with Ruben Galvan, Parks and Recreation Director.

Commission Chair Jason Thrasher told the Council that city code specifies the Commission is responsible for trees and right-of-way but otherwise doesn’t give much detail. Thrasher said Galvan brings proposals, and the Commission tries to make reasonable recommendations, but the Commission is in the dark about generating its own ideas.

“We’d like some direction,” Thrasher said.

The procedural issue is becoming especially timely as the Dutton Athletic Complex nears completion, and Commission members want to consider adding an activities director for the complex to city staff.

Council Member Gerald Wickham said communication and documentation are important — and everyone agreed.

Elizondo said, “We’ve done it with everyone else. We haven’t done it with Parks and Rec.” Elizondo said he doesn’t want the Council making decisions about things it knows nothing about. “We’re just here to govern. They’re here to make it happen,” he added.

Wickham said, “No matter who’s sitting on this side of the table or on that side of the table, this thing has to work.”

“We can hold hands if we want to,” he added — tongue in cheek — “But maybe not.”

“Obviously, it’s not a finished project,” said mayor Chad Thomas. He urged Council and Commission members to keep communicating and keep working.

In other business

During its regular meeting Tuesday, the Council:

- Approved paying a fine of $13,250 to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency for overflows at the wastewater treatment facility. The original EPA fine was $53,000, but city officials were successful in getting it lowered.

- Heard an update from Thomas about the Community Wellness Grant Award that was secured by the BiState Regional Commission. The city will receive $10,000 during the current fiscal year and the West Liberty School District will receive $10,000 in the next fiscal year for good health initiatives. A steering committee will conduct a strategic planning session to discuss possible projects, Thomas said.

- The Council went into closed session to conduct a performance review of City Manager Chris Ward.

The Council approved:

- $1.6 million dollars in bonding for the Elm Street Renovation and Trail Construction project.

- Payment of $86,449 to the Des Moines-based McAninch Corp. for the Dutton Athletic Complex. City Engineer Leo Foley said the project is near completion.

- Payment of $80,233 to WRH Inc. for wastewater treatment facility improvements. Foley said the project is close to completion.

n A certificate of completion to the Coralville-based Shamrock Construction Company for the North Calhoun Street Overlay Project.

n The second reading of an ordinance to place an additional stop sign at the intersection of Miller and Ninth Streets. The third and final reading is slated for the Tuesday, Dec. 1 City Council meeting.

n Setting a City Council Strategic Planning Session for 5 p.m. Tuesday,

Jan. 12, 2010, at the West Liberty Country Club.