Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - April 4, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - April 4, 2023
The Mason City City Council held its regular meeting on April 4, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. The meeting included proclamations, approval of a consent agenda, public hearings, and several action items. Key decisions included adoption of the FY2023-2024 budget, approval of a downtown revitalization grant partnership, and sale of a blighted property.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously: Minutes of March 21, 2023; claims dated March 23 and 30, 2023; permits; appointments of Adam Young, Kyle Lockey, and Seth Kipp as Wastewater Operators; Alex Avery as Street Maintenance Worker; Robert Paulus as Refuse Collector; lease of a Police Department motorcycle from Harley-Davidson for $1.00; resolutions for notice to bidders for the 2023 Street Rehabilitation Program ($1.4 million), award of professional services to WHKS & Co. for 12th Street NE Bridge Replacement, supplemental agreement with Stanley Consultants for Water Distribution System Master Plan, award of contract for grass/weed mowing to Rite Way Lawn Service, Downtown Facade Grant agreements for 13 and 15 North Federal Avenue, and proposal from Cerro Gordo County Public Health for HOME Grant administrative services.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were offered during the public forum or via Zoom.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations: Mayor Bill Schickle proclaimed April 1–7, 2023 as "Week of the Young Child" and April 22, 2023 as "Earth Day" in Mason City. For Earth Day, he noted that 135 volunteers collected 2,600 pounds of trash in 2022.
- Item 11 – 12th Street NE Bridge Replacement: City Engineer Mark Ram reported the project will start within two weeks, with 120 working days (through early fall). The official detour uses Illinois Avenue south to 122nd Street, then to California Avenue. A secondary project on 12th Street from Federal to Kentucky will adjust the detour later. The council approved the contract with WHKS & Co. (motion carried unanimously).
- Item 15 – Downtown West Revitalization Program: City Administrator Aaron Burnett explained the program uses a $1 million grant from the Iowa Finance Authority, partnered with Habitat for Humanity, 43 North, and Cerro Gordo County Public Health (CG Public Health) to administer the grant. The program targets the area west of downtown, focusing on converting rentals to owner-occupied homes, improving housing quality, and upgrading public infrastructure. Applications have already been received. The council approved the resolution (motion carried unanimously).
- Public Hearing – Item 16 (Park Place Lofts): Myrtle Nelson from NIACOG presented a status update on the CDBG-CVN grant for three apartments at 15 North Federal Avenue. Construction is 41% complete, with $402,080 expended ($203,190 developer, $121,301 federal grant, $13,681 administrative). Original bids exceeded estimates by $264,074; the developer increased their construction loan and used City Brownfield grant and tax credits. Completion is expected in May 2023. No motion required; hearing closed.
- Item 17 – 2023 Pavement Marking Program: The council approved plans, bid tabulation, and award to Select Signing, Inc. (motion carried unanimously).
- Item 18 – Sale of 313 S. Louisiana Avenue: The city acquired the dilapidated property through a 657A action. The highest bid was accepted, with the buyer planning rehabilitation. Councilman Adams noted this was the first property with multiple bids. The council approved the sale (motion carried unanimously).
- Item 19 – FY2023-2024 Budget: Finance Director Brent Henson presented the budget with a maximum tax levy of $13.988 per $1,000 taxable valuation, slightly down from the current year. Councilman Adams highlighted that Mason City's levy is lower than comparable cities (Clinton, Burlington, Marshalltown, Muscatine, Ottumwa, Fort Dodge) which range from $15.34 to $21.20. He also noted Mason City's local option sales tax of $6.175 million annually, 50% of which goes to property tax relief, far exceeding the $3.3–5.2 million range of comparable cities. The budget is based on January 1, 2022 assessed values, not the recent reassessment notices. The council approved the budget (motion carried unanimously).
- Item 20 – Historic Preservation Commission Ordinances (Final Reading): Two ordinances were adopted: (a) amending Title 2 to add definitions and revise powers of the Historic Preservation Commission; (b) amending Title 12 zoning regulations for the Central Business District. Both passed unanimously.
- Item 21 – Forgivable Loan for 213 1st Street SE: The loan supports rehabilitation of the former Toepfer Auto Electric building into office/retail space. Councilman Lee recused himself, stating he and his wife own the building. He explained plans to white-box the space due to a renter backing out, and that he will proceed with construction to avoid a fine. Councilman Simmons noted this loan scenario is not unprecedented. The resolution passed with Lee abstaining.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously (all items 3–15 except 11 and 15).
- Item 11 (12th Street Bridge contract) approved unanimously.
- Item 15 (Downtown West Revitalization partnership) approved unanimously.
- Item 17 (Pavement marking program) approved unanimously.
- Item 18 (Sale of 313 S. Louisiana Ave) approved unanimously.
- Item 19 (FY2023-2024 Budget) approved unanimously.
- Item 20a and 20b (Historic Preservation ordinances) both approved unanimously.
- Item 21 (Forgivable loan for 213 1st St SE) approved with Councilman Lee abstaining (6-0-1).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. Welcome. We're delighted to have you with us this evening. The first item of business this evening is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Lee. Present. Adams. Present. Toma. President. Simmons. Present. Mason. President Yusheski. Yes. Here. Next, we have 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, the same sign. The agenda is adoption. We now have two special items of business. I'd like representatives from the week of the young child. I'd like to invite you to uh step forward at this time because we have a proclamation designating the week of the young child in Mason City. I'd like to welcome Diane Casto and representatives from our child care providers in Mason City. We're delighted to have you with us this evening so I can uh present this uh proclamation to you. Whereas the Iowa Association of Education of Young Children and other local organizations are celebrating the week of the young child, April first through the 7th of 2023, that's this week. And whereas by highlighting the needs of high quality early child education, these groups are committed to ensure every child is healthy and successful. And thank you for that. And whereas we fully support the need for access to high quality early care and educational services, and whereas investment in child care means a stronger local economy in Mason City, it also ensures a better future for our children and more productive working adults. And whereas we must recognize the vital work performed by early child care education profession professionals, express our gratitude and our thanks for their service and support these uh important efforts that they are fairly compensated. Now, therefore, I Bill Schickle, Mayor of Mason City, to hereby proclaim April 1st through the 7th as week of the Young Child Day and Week of the Young Child Week in Mason City. Let's extend our appreciation and congratulations. Whereas we recognize the 30th anniversary of the citizens of Mason City celebrating Earth Day with a community-wide cleanup effort and a festival. And whereas for the last a hundred and thirty-five last year, a hundred and thirty-five volunteers collected, listen to this gang, twenty-six hundred pounds of trash. And whereas Earth Day is an appropriate time to consider our role in preserving our natural heritage and the precious resources that st sustain us. Now, therefore, I Bill Shickle, Mayor of Mason City, do hereby proclaim April 22nd, 2023 as Mason City's Earth Day. That's on a Saturday, and invite all citizens to participate in special celebrations that day, including a great event out at the uh Lime Creek Nature Center, and invite you to uh participate in making Mason City sparkle uh during uh Earth Week uh in Mason City. And for more information on that, you can go to uh Mason City. And for more information on that, you can go to uh MasonCity.net and get all of the uh information and let's say extend our appreciation to Missy and the entire Earth Day Committee. Thank you, Missy. Next, we'll move to the regular uh consent agenda, starting with a minutes that's followed by the oh thank you. Uh next we'll go to the public forum.
openpublica.com