OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - July 5, 2023

City Council — Wednesday, July 5, 2023
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 5, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 20:12

Transcript — Verbatim
0:42

Good evening, everyone.

0:43

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

0:46

Happy day after Independence Day.

0:49

This is the meeting for July 5th, 2023.

0:53

And we're delighted to have you with us this evening.

0:56

I'm Mayor Bill Schickle of the First Order of Business is the roll call.

1:00

Diana, would you call the roll?

1:01

Lee.

1:02

Present.

1:04

Adams.

1:04

Present.

1:05

Simmons.

1:06

Present.

1:06

Massan.

1:07

Yeski.

1:08

Here.

1:08

Councilmember Toma is absent.

1:11

Let the record reflect that a quorum is present.

1:14

Next is the adoption of the agenda.

1:17

Do we have a motion?

1:18

So move.

1:19

We have a motion by Councilman Yasheski.

1:22

Second by Councilman Mason.

1:24

A discussion.

1:25

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

1:28

Aye.

1:29

All those opposed, same sign.

1:31

The motion carries.

1:32

Thank you.

1:33

Next we'll have the public forum.

1:34

This is your chance to comment on any item on the agenda.

1:38

If there is an agenda item that you would like to comment on, please step forward to the podium or use the raised hand feature if you're tuned in online tonight.

1:48

Do we have any public comment at this time?

1:52

Jacqueline, Arthur, good evening.

1:54

Welcome.

1:54

Good evening.

1:55

Jacqueline Arthur, Laird Law Firm, 114th Street Northeast here tonight on action item number 20, final reading of the change of zone of the former Blackmoor property here in the audience.

2:04

Should you have any questions, but urge you to approve on final reading tonight.

2:08

Thank you.

2:09

Thank you, Jacqueline.

2:10

Additional uh discussion.

2:14

Additional comments at this time.

2:16

Mayor, no one seeks to be recognized via Zoom.

2:19

Hearing no additional comments, we will move to the regular consent agenda of the minutes, followed by the claims, followed by the permits.

2:28

Then several appointments, appointment of Kimberly Claven, and the reappointment of Dee Keenist, Angela Conrad, Les Saltoon, Peggy Cornick, and Julie Kim to the McNider Museum Board, and the appointment of Scott Curtis as the Merpcy representative on the Mason City Economic Development Corporation.

2:48

Thank you to those uh individuals to uh step forward and help out with public service here in Mason City.

2:55

Uh next uh item number five is the appointment of Leah Johnson and Juan Silva Orasco as police officers.

3:03

This will bring to 40 uh the number of sworn officers in Mason City for an offer authorized strength of 48.

3:11

It brings us to better than uh 80 percent of our positions uh uh hired uh for the police department.

3:18

Uh and so and that's better than a lot of communities in Iowa and across the nation are doing, but we want we're working hard and we appreciate those people stepping forward and joining our team, and uh um we're excited that to see that.

3:32

Item number six is the appointment of Bill Clausen as the position of water distribution worker.

3:37

Then the next item is an agreement between the city and the Iowa Department of Transportation.

3:42

This is um five-year agreement.

3:45

This is for uh state reimbursement to the city when we help maintain their primary roads, and then the item eight, it's kind of similar.

3:52

Um, and this has to do with uh maintenance of litter and mowing along Highway 122 and uh highway 65 south.

4:00

Then the next item nine through 14, really it's a lot of investment in infrastructure uh in Mason City.

4:07

Some people consider this a little boring, but it's really important work.

4:11

That number nine is uh flooding mitigation work actually.

4:14

124,000 from the capital improvement budget hiring short Elliott Hendrickson uh for the North Iowa for the North Federal Avenue Sewer uh storm study there, and that's uh continuing work on uh keeping our flows proper and and working on flood mitigation.

4:32

Number 10 is approval of a pre-design agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████35%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████████████████34%
Economic Development███████████████████19%
Personnel Matters█████████9%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - July 5, 2023

The Mason City City Council held its regular meeting on July 5, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. Mayor Bill Schickle presided. Councilmembers Lee, Adams, Simmons, Massan, and Yasheski were present; Councilmember Toma was absent. The meeting covered routine consent items, a public hearing on an urban renewal loan agreement, several ordinance readings, and appointments.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of June 20, 2023; claims dated June 22 and 29, 2023; permits.
  • Approved appointments: Kimber Kleven (new) and Dee Dienst, Angela Konrad, Les Seltun, Peggy Cornick, Julie Kim (reappointments) to the MacNider Museum Board; Scott Curtis as MercyOne representative to the Mason City Economic Development Corporation.
  • Approved hire of Leah Johnson and Juan Silva-Orozco as Police Officers ($30.16/hour); Bill Clausen as Water Distribution Worker.
  • Approved resolutions for supplemental maintenance agreements with Iowa DOT for primary roads and for mowing/litter removal along IA 122 & US 65.
  • Approved contract awards: Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. for North Federal Avenue Storm Sewer Study ($124,000 from capital improvement budget); purchase of one Batwing Mower from Red Power of Mason City; Young Construction for Georgia Hanford and Parker Woods Shelter Roofs; Heartland Asphalt for East Park Shelter 2 and Winnebago River Walking Trail repairs; WHKS & Co. for FY 2023-24 Sanitary Sewer Repairs.
  • Approved real estate purchase of 703 South Pierce Avenue for nominal fee to make available for development.
  • Approved resolution for 2023 Downtown West Home Pilot Program applications and bidding.
  • Item 17 was pulled for separate discussion and vote (see Discussion Items).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jacqueline Arthur (Laird Law Firm, 114th Street NE) spoke in support of action item 20 (final reading of rezoning of former Blackmoor property) and urged council to approve.

Discussion Items

  • Item 17 – Iowa Thriving Communities Designation: Councilman Adams asked whether the city was applying for both Federal Housing Tax Credit and Workforce Housing Tax Credit designations. Aaron (staff) confirmed both would be sought, but noted only four designations are awarded statewide and no guaranteed money is attached—only additional scoring points for developers. The motion carried unanimously.
  • Item 18 – Public Hearing on Urban Renewal Loan Agreement: Deputy City Administrator Brent Henson explained that the action blends previous proceedings to allow bond marketing, with a planned bond sale on July 18, 2023. Councilman Adams asked about the $1.5 million reduction from the budgeted amount, citing interest rate trends and potential federal funding for a new well project. Henson outlined backup plans (unified TIF fund balance if federal grant falls through). The financial advisor estimated bond rates around 3.65-3.75%, below 4%. No public comment was received. The motion carried unanimously.
  • Item 24 – First Reading of Ordinance on Nuisance Abatement Fees: Councilman Yasheski asked about the fee structure. Staff explained that the change would set fees by resolution to reflect actual costs (not adjusted since 2015), providing flexibility to keep fees current. Additional fees are being considered for future ordinance changes. The motion carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda (items 1-16): Approved unanimously, except item 17 pulled.
  • Item 17 (Thriving Communities Designation): Motion by Adams, second by Simmons; approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Item 18 (Urban Renewal Loan Agreement): Motion by Adams, second by Massan; public hearing closed; approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Item 19 (Setting date for GO LOST Bonds): Motion by Massan, second by Yasheski; approved unanimously.
  • Item 20 (Final rezoning – 1007 4th St SW/Blackmoor): Motion by Yasheski, second by Adams; approved unanimously.
  • Item 21 (Final rezoning – 15 North Taft Ave): Motion by Adams, second by Simmons; approved unanimously.
  • Item 22a (Council salary ordinance – final): Motion by Simmons, second; approved unanimously.
  • Item 22b (Mayor salary ordinance – final): Motion by Yasheski, second; approved unanimously.
  • Item 23 (Forest Park TIF ordinance – second consideration): Motion by Yasheski, second by Simmons; approved unanimously.
  • Item 24 (Nuisance abatement fee ordinance – first consideration): Motion by Massan, second by Simmons; approved unanimously.

Additional Notes

  • The July 20, 2023 public meeting on the IA 122 Corridor project was announced.
  • The city’s police officer strength is now 40 of 48 authorized positions.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. Happy day after Independence Day. This is the meeting for July 5th, 2023. And we're delighted to have you with us this evening. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle of the First Order of Business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Lee. Present. Adams. Present. Simmons. Present. Massan. Yeski. Here. Councilmember Toma is absent. Let the record reflect that a quorum is present. Next is the adoption of the agenda. Do we have a motion? So move. We have a motion by Councilman Yasheski. Second by Councilman Mason. A discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. The motion carries. Thank you. Next we'll have the public forum. This is your chance to comment on any item on the agenda. If there is an agenda item that you would like to comment on, please step forward to the podium or use the raised hand feature if you're tuned in online tonight. Do we have any public comment at this time? Jacqueline, Arthur, good evening. Welcome. Good evening. Jacqueline Arthur, Laird Law Firm, 114th Street Northeast here tonight on action item number 20, final reading of the change of zone of the former Blackmoor property here in the audience. Should you have any questions, but urge you to approve on final reading tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Jacqueline. Additional uh discussion. Additional comments at this time. Mayor, no one seeks to be recognized via Zoom. Hearing no additional comments, we will move to the regular consent agenda of the minutes, followed by the claims, followed by the permits. Then several appointments, appointment of Kimberly Claven, and the reappointment of Dee Keenist, Angela Conrad, Les Saltoon, Peggy Cornick, and Julie Kim to the McNider Museum Board, and the appointment of Scott Curtis as the Merpcy representative on the Mason City Economic Development Corporation. Thank you to those uh individuals to uh step forward and help out with public service here in Mason City. Uh next uh item number five is the appointment of Leah Johnson and Juan Silva Orasco as police officers. This will bring to 40 uh the number of sworn officers in Mason City for an offer authorized strength of 48. It brings us to better than uh 80 percent of our positions uh uh hired uh for the police department. Uh and so and that's better than a lot of communities in Iowa and across the nation are doing, but we want we're working hard and we appreciate those people stepping forward and joining our team, and uh um we're excited that to see that.

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