OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Council Bluffs City Council Meeting - September 22, 2025

City CouncilMonday, September 22, 2025
BodyCouncil Bluffs, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, September 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Um item A on the agenda was uh scratched, and so we're talking about EPA Brownfield grant, right?

0:14

Wrap-ups.

0:20

Okay, so we actually have two grants open right now, and this is just really a closeout that we're required to do just to give an update to the community about how we performed and all the things that would happen over the last five years, actually.

0:32

So the first grant was our um assessment grant, which is designed so that we can go in and actually look at properties to identify if they have a like if we think that we're going to do something with them or the community is and understand if there's just a perceived contamination or if there's actually something there that the landowner needs to mitigate before they were one would want to do anything with the property.

0:55

So that was a $300,000 grant.

0:57

It actually started in October of 2020.

0:59

We received two extensions on that.

1:00

So we're getting ready to close that out, hopefully, in the next um probably 60 to 90 days.

1:06

We may ask for an extension on that for the next grant that I'm gonna talk about.

1:11

But through that project, we did 11 phase ones, four phase twos, um, and two site specific cleanup uh plans were completed on that.

1:21

Um that's a little below than what we committed to with the city, but some of those were a little, we didn't actually have some of the cleanup stuff in there that we originally intended that specifically went to the battery factory and our rodent site that we've been assessing.

1:34

Um so overall, we've spent about 95% of that grant.

1:37

Our hope is that we'll be able to reprogram some of that money to the battery factory site that we have to do a little bit more testing on.

1:44

Um, but not sure if the EPA is going to approve that, but we spent almost all of our grant on that one on the brown fields for the cleanup grant, specifically the old reliance battery factory at 8th and 22nd Avenue.

1:57

Um, we received 500,000 from the state of I or from the EPA to do cleanup, and we matched that with a hundred thousand dollars of our C D BG funds in order to get that cleaned up.

2:07

Um through that, we actually um came in under budget.

2:12

Um, but we're probably gonna have to spend that if we can't get something because there's a little bit more testing that has to happen.

2:18

Um we I'm gonna get these numbers right for DESI.

2:21

Uh we cleaned up 660,000 cubic yards of lead and arsenic contaminated soil, and an additional um 1900 cubic yards were had to be excavated in backfield than we originally planned.

2:33

So the contamination was a little bit bigger than we expected, uh, but we were able to get all of that cleaned up, less a couple spots.

2:40

So as part of our enrollment into the land recycling program, we had to go out and do about 60, excuse me, 80 samples throughout that area to get some baselines for where arsenic is in that neighborhood, um, as well as some of the lead levels in the adjacent properties.

2:56

What we found is that we were pretty consistent, except for there's a three spots left, um, specifically in the right-of-way that we and one on a neighboring property that we really just have to figure out what levels are left, and we're hoping to do some additional testing with that.

3:11

Um, this stuff in the right-of-way we can test, but the one on the additional property, we just need to talk to that landowner and see what level they would like us to choose to if they decide they don't want us to do that testing, we won't.

3:22

Um, but that's where we're at with that program.

3:25

Uh, we had to do um several reports, including um an alternatives analysis, some quality assurance planning, um, as well as like I said, enroll in the land recycling program, and then our action report to close everything out.

3:40

So we are completely done with all of this, less those few spots that we have left.

3:44

Um, that grant is supposed to close at the end of the month.

3:47

Also, if we decide to do that additional testing and what that looks like, we may ask for a short extension just to get that cleared up as well.

3:54

Um, but overall, both projects are done, and actually, like I said, the brownfield cleanup for the battery factories that came in under budget.

4:01

For the battery factory one, we cleaned that one to commercial standard, right?

4:06

Residential residential, yes.

4:08

Thank you.

4:09

That was always our attempt.

4:10

We wanted to get houses back into that neighborhood.

4:13

Yeah, okay, great.

4:14

Thank you.

4:15

Other questions?

4:18

All right, thank you.

4:22

Review the agenda.

4:23

Any questions on the consent agenda questions on postpone the all public hearings?

4:40

Um, which works out okay.

4:43

And then so questions on the resolutions.

5:00

Um 5A, I went in to the master document and it referenced like exhibit A, big exhibit B, exhibit C that the dollars would and the information would be filled out in there.

5:10

But actually in exhibit A, B, and C in that section, everything is left blank.

5:23

This master document just references the format of those exhibits, A, B, and C.

5:28

Okay.

5:28

So when we actually after the masters approved, we then negotiate the scope and the fee associated with each task, and that's when those documents will be completed.

5:37

Got ya okay, cool.

5:38

Thank you.

5:38

So we have we're just not to that step yet.

5:41

So at the next level, that's when they're completed.

5:43

So we just put them in there as this is basically the format of those documents.

5:47

Okay, great.

5:47

Thank you.

5:51

Other questions on the resolutions.

5:55

Yeah, um, Courtney, can we talk a little bit about uh five F just kind of there's some things in there that um just talk about why we I know we're combining things, but talk about kind of the overall arc thing and then kind of our plan because I know some people have probably reached out to all of us on email.

6:20

Um what was kind of brought up was the public participation portion, how that's gonna look.

6:27

And you know it's fairly large sum of money, so just some clarification.

6:31

Sure.

6:32

Um, so this will be an update to our comprehensive plan.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████17%
Public Works███████████13%
Environmental Protection████████10%
Public Engagement█████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Council Bluffs City Council Meeting - September 22, 2025

The Council Bluffs City Council met on September 22, 2025, to discuss EPA Brownfield grant wrap-ups, approve multiple resolutions, and hear a citizen comment on sidewalk requirements. All council members except Roger Sandau were present.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved by unanimous vote.

Public Hearings (Continued)

  • Council voted to continue three public hearings (items 4A, 4B, 4C) to October 6, 2025, due to a posting problem. Motion passed.

Discussion Items

EPA Brownfield Grant Wrap-Up

  • Staff provided an update on two grants:
    • Assessment Grant ($300,000): Started October 2020, received two extensions. Completed 11 Phase I assessments, 4 Phase II assessments, and 2 site-specific cleanup plans. Spent about 95% of funds. May request an extension to reprogram remaining funds for additional testing at the battery factory site.
    • Cleanup Grant for Reliance Battery Factory ($500,000 EPA + $100,000 CDBG): Cleaned up 660,000 cubic yards of lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil, with an additional 1,900 cubic yards excavated beyond original plan. Three spots remain in the right-of-way and one on a neighboring property. Cleaned to residential standard. Grant closeout due at end of month; short extension may be requested for additional testing.

Resolution 25-246 – Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Master Plan Update

  • Staff explained the $600,000 budget (previously approved) to update the 2050 Comprehensive Plan (last updated 2014) and the Downtown Master Plan (20 years old). The process will include at least three to four public meetings and focus groups. Council discussed timing, noting the plan expires in 2030; the 18-month study would end in mid-2028, providing a buffer. Some council members questioned the early start, but the motion passed.

Resolution 25-242 – New Electrician/Controls Technician Position

  • Motion to approve with an amendment to correct the job title in the last paragraph to "electricians/controls technician." Approved.

Resolution 25-244 – Preliminary Plat for Stephen Ridge Subdivision

  • Approved for a 74-lot residential subdivision.

Resolution 25-248 – Job Title Change to Crime Scene Investigator I

  • Approved.

Noise Variance Request (Item 6B)

  • Motion to approve with amendment to end at midnight instead of 1 a.m., consistent with past practice. Approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John Avey (139 Happy Hollow Blvd), owner of a concrete flatwork company, expressed concern about new sidewalk requirements (thickened edge) adopted from the SUDAS manual. He stated these requirements significantly increase costs for residents (e.g., an extra $2,000 on a recent bid) and may not be necessary for residential areas. He suggested using rebar reinforcement as an alternative. Council member asked him to contact the city engineer for further discussion.

Key Outcomes

  • Brownfield grant wrap-up acknowledged; staff may request extensions for remaining testing.
  • Three public hearings continued to October 6, 2025.
  • Resolutions 25-241 through 25-248 approved (with amendment to 25-242).
  • Noise variance for Atherton convenience store amended to midnight and approved.
  • Liquor license applications approved.
  • Citizen concern about sidewalk requirements referred to city engineer for follow-up.

Meeting Transcript

Um item A on the agenda was uh scratched, and so we're talking about EPA Brownfield grant, right? Wrap-ups. Okay, so we actually have two grants open right now, and this is just really a closeout that we're required to do just to give an update to the community about how we performed and all the things that would happen over the last five years, actually. So the first grant was our um assessment grant, which is designed so that we can go in and actually look at properties to identify if they have a like if we think that we're going to do something with them or the community is and understand if there's just a perceived contamination or if there's actually something there that the landowner needs to mitigate before they were one would want to do anything with the property. So that was a $300,000 grant. It actually started in October of 2020. We received two extensions on that. So we're getting ready to close that out, hopefully, in the next um probably 60 to 90 days. We may ask for an extension on that for the next grant that I'm gonna talk about. But through that project, we did 11 phase ones, four phase twos, um, and two site specific cleanup uh plans were completed on that. Um that's a little below than what we committed to with the city, but some of those were a little, we didn't actually have some of the cleanup stuff in there that we originally intended that specifically went to the battery factory and our rodent site that we've been assessing. Um so overall, we've spent about 95% of that grant. Our hope is that we'll be able to reprogram some of that money to the battery factory site that we have to do a little bit more testing on. Um, but not sure if the EPA is going to approve that, but we spent almost all of our grant on that one on the brown fields for the cleanup grant, specifically the old reliance battery factory at 8th and 22nd Avenue. Um, we received 500,000 from the state of I or from the EPA to do cleanup, and we matched that with a hundred thousand dollars of our C D BG funds in order to get that cleaned up. Um through that, we actually um came in under budget. Um, but we're probably gonna have to spend that if we can't get something because there's a little bit more testing that has to happen. Um we I'm gonna get these numbers right for DESI. Uh we cleaned up 660,000 cubic yards of lead and arsenic contaminated soil, and an additional um 1900 cubic yards were had to be excavated in backfield than we originally planned. So the contamination was a little bit bigger than we expected, uh, but we were able to get all of that cleaned up, less a couple spots. So as part of our enrollment into the land recycling program, we had to go out and do about 60, excuse me, 80 samples throughout that area to get some baselines for where arsenic is in that neighborhood, um, as well as some of the lead levels in the adjacent properties. What we found is that we were pretty consistent, except for there's a three spots left, um, specifically in the right-of-way that we and one on a neighboring property that we really just have to figure out what levels are left, and we're hoping to do some additional testing with that. Um, this stuff in the right-of-way we can test, but the one on the additional property, we just need to talk to that landowner and see what level they would like us to choose to if they decide they don't want us to do that testing, we won't. Um, but that's where we're at with that program. Uh, we had to do um several reports, including um an alternatives analysis, some quality assurance planning, um, as well as like I said, enroll in the land recycling program, and then our action report to close everything out. So we are completely done with all of this, less those few spots that we have left. Um, that grant is supposed to close at the end of the month. Also, if we decide to do that additional testing and what that looks like, we may ask for a short extension just to get that cleared up as well. Um, but overall, both projects are done, and actually, like I said, the brownfield cleanup for the battery factories that came in under budget. For the battery factory one, we cleaned that one to commercial standard, right? Residential residential, yes. Thank you. That was always our attempt. We wanted to get houses back into that neighborhood. Yeah, okay, great. Thank you. Other questions? All right, thank you. Review the agenda. Any questions on the consent agenda questions on postpone the all public hearings? Um, which works out okay. And then so questions on the resolutions. Um 5A, I went in to the master document and it referenced like exhibit A, big exhibit B, exhibit C that the dollars would and the information would be filled out in there. But actually in exhibit A, B, and C in that section, everything is left blank. This master document just references the format of those exhibits, A, B, and C. Okay. So when we actually after the masters approved, we then negotiate the scope and the fee associated with each task, and that's when those documents will be completed. Got ya okay, cool. Thank you. So we have we're just not to that step yet.

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