Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - September 19, 2023
Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - September 19, 2023
The Mason City City Council held its regular meeting on September 19, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Mason City Room of the Mason City Public Library. Mayor Bill Schickle presided, roll call established a quorum, and the council adopted the agenda. The meeting included special proclamations, a Best in Show announcement, the city administrator's monthly report, consent agenda approvals, two public hearings, and a final ordinance reading.
Special Items
- Mayor Bill Schickle proclaimed October as Breast Health Awareness Education and Screening Month, noting that breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women, there are 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., the five-year survival rate is 99% when caught early, regular screenings are associated with a 26% lower breast cancer death rate, and there has been a 43% decrease in breast cancer due to better screening, early detection, awareness, and improved treatments. Representatives Jerry, Penny, and Deb accepted on behalf of the Pink and Teal Warriors.
- The Mayor proclaimed October 8-14, 2023 as Fire Prevention Week, with the theme Cooking Safety Starts with You. Fire Chief Bollinger accepted. The proclamation noted unintended cooking accidents are the leading cause of house fires and promoted the Mason City Fire Department open house on Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
- Mary Mark Walter of the Mason City Public Library, coordinator of Sculptures on Parade, announced the Best in Show winner: sculpture #26, Voltoretta, by Colorado artist Shaheeny Ghosh, located on the library's front lawn. The winner received a $2,000 stipend funded by the Sculptures on Parade Committee. Judges were Edie Blanchard, Sue Wyborney, and Dean Swanson. The artist was sponsored by Mark and Diane Holt.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were offered in person or via Zoom on any agenda item.
City Administrator's Monthly Report
- City Administrator Aaron Burnett reported progress on housing: the federal row home project downtown is under construction; the West Downtown Pilot Program is moving forward with construction bids; Habitat for Humanity is converting three rental units to owner-occupied homes; and the North Iowa Corridor Housing Development Corporation is moving forward with the property sale on the agenda to preserve three housing units and fill vacant lots.
- Street construction updates: Winnebago Way has opened, a section of 12th Street North has opened, and the 12th Street project is expected to be completed in October, ahead of schedule. In response to Councilman Yeshewski, engineering confirmed the project remains on track for October completion.
- Additional updates: the hazard mitigation plan is being updated for FEMA eligibility; the Safe City Smart City project is being revised with about five new pole placements after delays from Alliant; the Destination Iowa bike park received Army Corps of Engineers permits for single-track trails; and the riverwalk design is expected to be ready for bid in late winter.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda included approval of the September 5, 2023 minutes; claims dated September 7 and 14, 2023; permits; appointment of Doug Alitz as Park Maintenance Worker; a resolution levying assessments for unpaid charges for collection with property taxes; a contract award to Tennis Services of Iowa of Marion, Iowa for East Park Pickleball Courts improvements (about a $20,000 capital improvement investment); adoption of the Mason City Public Transit Title VI Program update; a resolution proposing conveyance of vacated public property in the block bounded by 15th Street Southwest, South Taft Avenue, 16th Street Southwest, and South Wilson Avenue (with a public hearing set for October 3); and a professional services contract with Bergland + Cram Architects, Inc. for the Mason City Police Department remodel.
- A council member requested item 8 be pulled for separate consideration. The remaining consent agenda was approved unanimously by roll-call vote.
Item 8 - Community Service Officer Appointment
- The council unanimously approved appointing/hiring Benjamin Blumer as Community Service Officer at $19.78 per hour. Police Chief Bollinger clarified this is a civilian position responsible for parking enforcement, animal control, prisoner transfers, traffic direction, and assisting patrol; Blumer is a NIAC criminal justice graduate with conservation commission experience.
Public Hearings
- Public hearing on amending the FY 2024 budget: no public comments; Finance Director Brent Hinson described it as straightforward. The council approved the budget amendment unanimously by roll-call vote.
- Public hearing on the real estate purchase agreement between the City and North Iowa Housing Development Corporation for 1526 South Taft Avenue, 220 and 220 1/2 12th Street Southeast, and 316 5th Street Northwest: no public comments. The mayor noted this brings to about 48 the number of properties cleaned up in Mason City. Councilman Yeshewski asked whether more moves would be funded; Administrator Burnett responded that the ARPA funds dedicated to the Housing Development Corporation can be revolved because moving costs are expected to be less than sale prices, demand is strong in the $100,000-$200,000 range, no additional city funds are needed now, and future dedicated funding may be considered. The council approved the purchase agreement unanimously.
Action Items
- The council gave final approval (second reading) to Ordinance amending Title 9 Motor Vehicles and Traffic, including traffic definitions, stopping/standing/parking prohibitions, fines for parking violations, and alternate side parking, to comply with state code. The motion carried unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted the agenda and all consent items except item 8, which was approved separately.
- Approved two proclamations and recognized the Sculptures on Parade Best in Show winner.
- Approved the FY 2024 budget amendment.
- Approved the real estate purchase agreement with the North Iowa Housing Development Corporation.
- Passed the final reading of the traffic code ordinance.
- All votes on motions tonight were unanimous.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. This is the regular meeting for September 19th of 2023. We've got several special items of business on the agenda tonight. Breast cancer awareness proclamation, a proclamation for the 2023 Fire Prevention Week, and a special announcement regarding the sculptures on parade. All of that coming up in just a minute, but first item of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Lee. Present. Adams. President. Yeski. Simmons. Present. Here. Let the record reflect that we have a quorum. And the next item of business is the adoption of the agenda. Do we have a motion to adopt the agenda? So moved. Second. Motion and a second discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. At this time, it's a great honor to uh present a proclamation designating breast cancer awareness week. I'd ask like to ask Jerry and Penny and Deb representing breast cancer awareness week to please step forward. And I love your colors, by the way. And I will be uh reading this uh proclamation to you uh at this time. Whereas breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women, a one in eight women, and whereas there are three point eight million breast cancer survivors uh in the United States, and whereas when caught early uh stage in the early stages, the five-year survival rate is ninety-nine percent. And whereas women having regular screenings average twenty-six percent lower breast cancer death rate, and whereas the American Cancer Society recommends um uh screening for age 45 and over on a yearly basis. And whereas during the last 30 years there has been a 43 percent decrease in breast cancer due to better screening, early detection, uh efforts for increased awareness and improved treatments. Now, therefore, I Bill Schickle, mayor of Mason City, do hereby proclaim the month of October, designated as Breast Health Awareness Education and Screening Month, and ask you to join the Pink and Teal Warriors in the fight against uh breast cancer. And can we show our appreciation? Next, I'd uh like to ask uh Chief Bollinger to please step forward. It is also fire prevention uh month coming up in October, and Chief, it's an honor uh to present this proclamation to you uh and the entire fire department, the entire team uh at this time, and I understand you have an open house coming up soon on October fifteenth, I believe, and we're looking uh forward to that as well. Whereas unintended cooking accidents uh are the leading cause of uh house fires, and whereas Mason City residents should always keep a close eye on what they are cooking, keeping the cooking area clean of combustible items, and creating a kid and pet-free zone around the cooking area. And whereas the Mason City Fire Department is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through uh prevention and uh education, and whereas the 2023 fire prevention week theme is cooking safety starts with you, effectively serves to educate the public about the vital importance of reducing the risk of fire in the kitchen. Now, therefore, I Bill Shickle, mayor of Mason City, do hereby proclaim October 8th through the 14th as pre uh fire prevention week uh and encourage everyone to reduce the risk of fires in the kitchen by being proactive while cooking and to support the many public safety activities and efforts of the great Mason City Fire Department, including the open house coming up on Sunday, October 15th, 2023 from 12 to 3. Mark it on your calendar. And Chief, thank you very much for uh your great service. Let's show our appreciation to the fire department. And the next uh special item of business is an announcement from uh sculptures on parade. The announcement of the best in show. We're looking forward to hearing this. And Mary Mark Walter from the public library and the coordinator of Sculptures on Parade is with us. Mary. Thank you. Uh thank you to the mayor and council for having us and for the city administration who works with us on this project. Um the best in show award is determined by a panel of judges appointed by the sculptures on parade committee. Um there are three judges, and we thank them very much. They did a wonderful job.
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