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Record of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - December 20, 2022

City Council — Tuesday, December 20, 2022
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 20, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:40

Good evening, everyone.

0:41

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council.

0:45

This is the meeting for December 20th, 2022.

0:47

I'm Mayor Bill Schickle.

0:49

We're delighted to have you with us this evening.

0:51

The first order of business is the roll call.

0:53

Diana, would you call the roll?

0:54

Lee.

0:55

Present.

0:56

Adams.

0:57

Present.

0:57

Yeski.

0:58

Here.

0:58

Simmons.

0:59

Present.

1:00

Massan.

1:01

Toma.

1:02

Yes.

1:04

Let the record reflect that all members are present.

1:08

The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda.

1:11

Is there a motion to adopt the agenda?

1:13

So moved.

1:14

Second.

1:14

We have a motion and a second discussion.

1:17

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

1:20

Aye.

1:22

All those opposed, same sign.

1:24

The motion carries.

1:25

We have two special items of business.

1:28

We're delighted to have the members of the active living and transportation commission with us this evening.

1:32

They are Cynthia Hansen, George Reeson, Jim Miller, Steven Schertz, and Tracy Cram.

1:39

Dr.

1:39

Steven Shirts will be presenting this evening.

1:41

Dr.

1:41

Schertz, uh good evening.

1:43

Welcome.

1:44

Thanks for all your great work.

1:45

Well, thank you.

1:47

Tom is working on getting the presentation up.

1:51

So I might be ad-libbing this.

1:54

But I'm glad to be here again tonight.

1:57

This is the sixth year of our commission and therefore presentation.

2:02

And you just named our members.

2:04

Cynthia's here.

2:13

The commission members, because they've done a lot of work this year.

2:20

The mission and vision that I would show.

2:23

But it's basically making Mason City an active micropolitan community.

2:30

Yeah, and when we're getting that set up on just behalf of the city council and the city, Dr.

2:34

Stephen and members of the commission, we just want to thank you for your great work.

2:38

You know, Mason City is really becoming a destination for outdoor recreation with our destination Iowa grant and a lot of other things.

2:46

And it's because of your group and others, the Active Living and Transportation Commission, that we've been able to do these things.

2:53

So thank you.

2:54

You're welcome.

2:54

If we could go to the next slide.

3:05

Next slide, please.

3:10

Okay, there's the list of our members and Aaron Burnett is our city administrator.

3:16

Um next slide, please.

3:18

Um our ex-officio members are listed there.

3:22

Um we have not had to call upon them this year.

3:25

Um I think that's a good thing for them.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Arts And Culture█████████████████17%
City Administrator's Report████████████12%
Environmental Protection████████8%
Historic Preservation████████8%
Budget Equity Analysis████████8%
Active Transportation███████7%
Public Safety█████5%
Vacant Building Management█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - December 20, 2022

The Mason City City Council held a regular meeting on December 20, 2022, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. Mayor Bill Schickle presided with all council members present (Lee, Adams, Yezek, Simmons, Toma, Mason). The agenda was adopted unanimously. The meeting included presentations, public comment, a city administrator report, consent agenda, a public hearing on a budget amendment, and action on a rezoning ordinance.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of Regular, Special, and Closed meetings of December 6, 2022 (approved)
  • Claims dated December 8 and 15, 2022 (approved)
  • Permits (approved)
  • Appointments: Arian Schuessler and Melissa Kay Evans to the Zoning Board of Adjustment; Amanda Ragan to the Planning & Zoning Commission (approved)
  • Promotions: Mason City Police Officers Terrance Prochaska ($41.99/hour) and Brandon Niedermayer ($41.26/hour) to Sergeant (approved)
  • Arena Property Transfer: Approval for SBMC to substitute a Title Commitment and Title Insurance in lieu of an abstract (approved)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jacqueline Arthur (Laird Law Firm, 114th Street NE, Mason City) spoke in support of Action Item 11, urging approval of both the ordinance and the conditional rezoning agreement for EVCO Manufacturing. She noted that Kurt Malcor of EVCO was available by phone for questions.

Discussion Items

  • Active Living and Transportation Commission Annual Update – Presented by Dr. Steven Schertz. Key highlights:
    • Bike share program (12 bikes, 168 rides in the season, total revenue $122.75, maintenance supported by fees).
    • Friends of Willow Creek group formation stalled due to lack of leadership.
    • Fifth annual Lime Creek/Willow Creek float and cleanup on August 6, 2022: 30 volunteers collected 1,200 pounds of trash (3 tires), significantly less than previous years (46 tires in prior year).
    • Ongoing support for Destination Iowa grant projects (High Line Trail, Riverwalk, dam mitigation, bike lane maintenance).
    • Council members thanked the commission, noting Mason City's growth as a recreation destination.
  • Sculptures on Parade – People's Choice Winner – Presented by Robin Anderson (Chamber of Commerce) and Mary Mark Walter (Library). Highlights:
    • Winner: "No Time to Say Hello, Goodbye" (whimsical rabbit). The city will purchase it for $15,000 for permanent display at the library. The library foundation contributed $1,000 for a pedestal.
    • Second-place vote-getter: "Reflective Moments" (Best in Show). Third: "Self Made Man" by Barb Bobby Carlisle.
    • The sculpture program will transition to the public library after Robin Anderson's retirement. Councilman Lee thanked Anderson for her decade of work.
  • City Administrator's Monthly Report – Aaron Burnett reported:
    • Union negotiations beginning with AFSCME and fire department contracts for upcoming fiscal year.
    • Budget and CIP preparation underway.
    • Second year of "Buddy the Elf" campaign highlighting city departments.
    • Continued implementation of Destination Iowa grant.
    • Upcoming development agreement with EVCO to secure state incentives.
    • Winter weather preparations; nuisance abatement initiatives continuing.
    • Councilman Adams asked about Mohawk Square: the city's option to purchase is expiring; redevelopment faces challenges (building configuration, historic preservation, roof deterioration, fire code). City staff will discuss with the owner, likely leading to demolition. Councilman Lee confirmed the owner's responsibility to address blight.
  • Public Hearing on Budget Amendment (Item 10) – Brent Hinson (Finance Director) explained the resolution to amend the FY2023 budget per state law. Major items:
    • Carryover for Skywalk finalization (~$1 million).
    • Grant to hotel developer.
    • Airport T-hangar construction (rebidding).
    • Smart City/Safe City improvements.
    • Health IM pilot study (mental health).
    • Cemetery shop project (anticipated higher bids, to be rebid in spring).
    • Interfund transfers to align capital project funding. No public comment; council approved.
  • Action Item 11 – EVCO Manufacturing Rezoning – Ordinance to amend zoning from Z4 Multi-Use District to Z6-R Industrial-Restricted for property at 615 South Monroe Avenue, subject to a Conditional Rezoning Agreement. Final reading.
    • No public objections. Council approved the ordinance (unanimous roll call: Mason, Toma, Lee, Adams, Simmons, Yezek all yes).
    • Related resolution authorizing the Conditional Rezoning Agreement with EVCO Manufacturing, LLC and Paul Meyer. Also approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved unanimously.
  • Budget amendment resolution (Item 10) approved unanimously (roll call: Adams, Lee, Yezek, Toma, Mason, Simmons all yes).
  • Ordinance (final reading) and resolution for EVCO Manufacturing rezoning approved unanimously (roll call: all members yes).
  • The People's Choice sculpture "No Time to Say Hello, Goodbye" to be purchased and installed at the library.
  • City Administrator to continue discussions on Mohawk Square with the owner; demolition likely.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. This is the meeting for December 20th, 2022. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. We're delighted to have you with us this evening. The first order of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Lee. Present. Adams. Present. Yeski. Here. Simmons. Present. Massan. Toma. Yes. Let the record reflect that all members are present. The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. The motion carries. We have two special items of business. We're delighted to have the members of the active living and transportation commission with us this evening. They are Cynthia Hansen, George Reeson, Jim Miller, Steven Schertz, and Tracy Cram. Dr. Steven Shirts will be presenting this evening. Dr. Schertz, uh good evening. Welcome. Thanks for all your great work. Well, thank you. Tom is working on getting the presentation up. So I might be ad-libbing this. But I'm glad to be here again tonight. This is the sixth year of our commission and therefore presentation. And you just named our members. Cynthia's here. The commission members, because they've done a lot of work this year. The mission and vision that I would show. But it's basically making Mason City an active micropolitan community. Yeah, and when we're getting that set up on just behalf of the city council and the city, Dr. Stephen and members of the commission, we just want to thank you for your great work. You know, Mason City is really becoming a destination for outdoor recreation with our destination Iowa grant and a lot of other things.

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