Mason City Council Regular Meeting - February 7, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Mason City Council Regular Meeting - February 7, 2023
The Mason City Council held its regular meeting on February 7, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. The agenda included special presentations, public hearings, and approvals of several resolutions and ordinances. Key highlights included a Black History Month proclamation, updates from the Northern Lights Alliance for Homeless Shelters, a quarterly report from Visit Mason City and Main Street Mason City covering the 2022 RAGBRAI event, and final approvals for a development agreement with EVCO Holdings and a zoning change for the former golf course. The council also introduced a vacant building registration ordinance.
Special Items of Business
- Black History Month Proclamation: Mayor Bill Schickle presented a proclamation declaring February 2023 as Black History Month in Mason City, honoring Lionel J. Foster Sr. as a symbol of civil rights contributions. Special guests included Everett Jeffries, Eric Yangay, and Regan Banks.
- Northern Lights Alliance for the Homeless Shelters (NLAHS): Board President Barbara Hovland and Executive Director Jesse Germanson presented an update. NLAHS operates four facilities (New Beginnings House of Hope, Northern Lights Men's Shelter, Walters Sober Living, Courage Hall for Veterans) and shelters over 370 women, men, children, and veterans annually. They reported that they have never received city funding and requested the city consider including them in the upcoming budget, citing increased costs from inflation and COVID-19. They emphasized their collaboration with the Mason City Police Department to place homeless individuals 24/7.
- Visit Mason City and Main Street Mason City Quarterly Report: Director Lindsay James provided a comprehensive report on 2022 achievements. Tourism spending in Cerro Gordo County exceeded $125 million in 2021. The RAGBRAI overnight stop on July 27, 2022, brought 31,000 visitors and generated an estimated $4.6 million economic impact. Local sponsorships totaled $253,375, in-kind contributions $75,000, and event revenues $98,775, resulting in a net profit of $48,000 after expenses. Visit Mason City fulfilled 55,738 visitor requests from all 50 states and 32 countries, and large group events generated an estimated $24.3 million in spending. Main Street Mason City reported increased attendance at events and new businesses, and is focusing on management, staffing, and sustainability.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jaclyn Arthur (Laird Law Firm): Voiced support for Action Item #21 (final reading of the zoning change for the Mason City Country Club Golf Course to Z7-6 Golf Course Development) and urged the council to pass it.
Consent Calendar
The council approved the consent agenda (Items 4–18) with a single motion, excluding Items 13, 14, 15, and 17 which were discussed separately. Approved items included: minutes from January 12, 17, and 26; claims; permits; reappointment of Steve Weiner to the Airport Commission; hiring of Brian Garl as Utility Worker; resolutions for assessment levies, a public hearing on the Capital Improvements Plan (February 21), a property tax levy hearing (February 21), establishing funds, a DNR MOU for watershed nutrient reduction (Item 13), a professional services agreement for Bike North Iowa projects (Item 14), a real estate gift agreement for the Madison School site (Item 15), a Homeland Security grant application, a collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters union (Item 17), and a community catalyst grant for the YWCA.
Discussion Items
- Item 13: MOU with Iowa DNR for Nutrient Reduction: Administrator Aaron Burnett explained the watershed-based approach to reduce nutrient runoff from the wastewater treatment plant, funded by the Walton Family Foundation via Sand County Foundation. The MOU aims to potentially reduce capital costs of the required $20–$22 million plant upgrade, though phosphorus reduction will likely still require plant-based solutions. Councilman Adams and others discussed potential cost savings and the voluntary nature of working with upstream landowners. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Item 14: Professional Services Agreement with ISG for Bike North Iowa Projects: Administrator Aaron Burnett outlined that this agreement covers design for a bike park, pump track, single track trail system, and related amenities. ISG and Backyard Trails Group will partner. Other trail sections are being handled by WHKS and Bergland & Cram. Construction is planned to start in 2023, with funds committed by 2024 and expended by 2026. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Item 15: Real Estate Gift Agreement for Madison School Site: Council clarified that the property is the former Madison School site. The city will accept the donated property for community use. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Item 17: Collective Bargaining Agreement with Fire Fighters Association Local 41: The three-year agreement (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026) includes wage increases of 5%, 4.5%, and 3.5% each year. Changes include streamlined wage scales, improved paramedic recruitment incentives, and removal of the residency requirement from the contract (now city policy, maintaining a 10-mile radius). The department is currently fully staffed. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Public Hearing – Item 19: Development Agreement with EVCO Holdings LLC: The agreement redevelops the former SHOPCO building for assembly of electric street rods and other vehicles, creating 115 jobs at a minimum wage of $19.80/hour. The city will provide a 10-year tax rebate on new increment taxes up to $300,000. Chad Schreck of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation voiced support. The developer aims to be operational by summer 2023, with initial phase completion by March 31. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Public Hearing – Item 20: Zoning Change from Z3 General Urban to Z4 Multi-Use District: For property at 15 North Taft Avenue, recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission to enable future development. No public comment. The council approved the first reading unanimously.
- Action Item 21 – Final Reading: Zoning Change for Legacy Golf Course (Z2 to Z7-6 Golf Course Development): The council approved the final reading unanimously.
- Action Item 22 – First Reading: Vacant Building Registration Ordinance: The ordinance establishes registration requirements for vacant commercial buildings, with fees starting at $250 (year 1), $500 (year 2), and $750 (year 3+). Exceptions exist for properties actively marketed or with renovation plans. The ordinance will go into effect July 1, 2023, after third reading. Councilman Simmons asked about notification and clarification of actively marketed properties. The council approved the first reading unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous Approvals: All resolutions and ordinance readings were approved by a 5-0 vote, with Councilmember Lee absent.
- Future Meetings: A public hearing on the 2024-2028 Capital Improvements Plan (estimated $159 million) and the proposed property tax levy (decreasing by 39 cents) will be held on February 21, 2023.
- Next Steps: The vacant building ordinance will return for second and third readings; the RAGBRAI net profit of $48,000 will be directed to Main Street Mason City for downtown projects; the city will continue working on the watershed nutrient reduction initiative with potential regional partners.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. This is the meeting for February seventh, twenty twenty-three. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. We're delighted to have you with us this evening. The forced order of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Simmons. Present. Yeski? Here. Missan. Here. Toma. President. Lee. Councilmember Lee is absent. Councilmember Adams. Present. Let the record reflect that we do have a quorum present. The next item of business is adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. All those opposed the same sign. Next we have three special items of business. The first is it's a very high honor to be able to proclaim Black History Month in Mason City. And I'm gonna ask uh the distinguished Lionel Foster to please step forward at this time. And as he's coming forward, I want to introduce some special guests that are with him to honor him this evening, Mr. Everett Jeffries, distinguished resident of uh Mason City, back in Mason City. Welcome back, Everett. We're delighted to have you back with us. Eric and Yangay is the host of the Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast. And Regan Banks is the director of the North Iowa Youth Center. Thank you for being with us uh this evening. Lionel, it's an honor to present this proclamation at this time. Whereas Iowa has a proud history of being ahead of the nation in the fight for civil rights, and whereas in eighteen thirty-nine, twenty-six years before the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution gave freedom to slaves, the Iowa Territory Supreme Court already had ruled that no man can be made a slave in Iowa. And whereas near nearly a century before the landmark Brown versus Board of Education decision, which made Iowa which made schools integrated national law, the Iowa Supreme Court ruling in 1868, integrated public schools in Iowa. And whereas Lionel J. Foster Sr. Achievements have been recognized with induction into the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. And whereas in discovering our path forward here in Mason City and in the nation, it's important that we glean the wisdom of these civil rights leaders and these civil rights pioneers as we move forward. And whereas Black History Month is an appropriate time to recognize those who shared so much to make the civil rights milestones possible. Now, therefore, I Bill Schickle, Mayor of Mason City to hereby proclaim the seventh day of February 2023 on this day to proclaim February as Black History Month in Mason City, and I invite all residents to join in Black History Month in Mason City celebrations and in honoring Lionel J. Foster Sr. as a symbol of all past and present who have given so much for our community. Let's show appreciation to Lionel and all.
openpublica.com