Mason City City Council Regular Meeting – April 2, 2024
Mason City City Council Regular Meeting – April 2, 2024
On April 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., the Mason City City Council met in regular session at the Mason City Public Library, Mayor Bill Schickle presiding. Roll call showed six councilmembers present: Lee, Adams, Massan, Latham, Simmons, and Yeski. The council adopted the agenda, recognized the Week of the Young Child, approved a consent calendar, and took action on permits, public works contracts, urban renewal and development agreements, a downtown parking lease, zoning text amendments, and the North Iowa Corridor Joint Comprehensive Plan. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Special Items
- Mayor Schickle proclaimed April 6–12, 2024 as the Week of the Young Child in Mason City. The proclamation cited a local coalition that raised nearly $2 million to raise child care worker hourly wages by $2, reduce waiting lists, and support early childhood professionals. Representatives from Newman, Charlie Brown Head Start, and other area programs accepted the proclamation. The council also welcomed Boy Scout Troop 1401 and Cub Scout Pack 22.
Consent Calendar
- The agenda was adopted unanimously.
- The consent agenda was approved for items 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 after items 4, 7, 11, and 12 were pulled for separate discussion. It covered minutes from March 19, 2024 and two special meetings from March 26, 2024; claims dated March 21 and 28, 2024; the February 2024 financial report; promotions of Lieutenant Gary Akins and Lieutenant Dustin Pillard to Fire Captain; purchase of one dump body from Highway Truck Equipment; adoption of a Master Schedule of Fees; award of a contract to UKG/Kronos SaaShr, Inc. for automated timekeeping and human resources information system services; and a resolution approving 2023 Downtown West Home Pilot Program applications and authorizing bidding. The mayor noted the program would support rehabilitation of a home at 422 North Washington Avenue with a $50,000 grant for windows, plumbing, and other upkeep.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the public forum.
- Public hearings for the Willow Creek Riverwalk, the 2024 Pavement Marking Program, the sewer revenue loan notes, and the urban renewal amendments drew no public testimony.
- Chad Schreck, President/CEO of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation, expressed support for the Stellar Industries urban renewal amendment and praised Mason City’s business-friendly environment and Stellar’s continuing investment.
Discussion Items
- Permits/Northside Liquor: The council separately considered a permit renewal after a prior denial. Police Chief Brinkley explained the earlier denial was tied to citations awaiting adjudication by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD), noted complaints had declined, and recommended approval with continued monitoring. City Administrator Aaron Burnett echoed that recommendation. Councilmembers clarified that ABD would continue oversight if the license were renewed. The council approved the permit.
- Item 7 – Dump body purchase: Public Works staff said the existing chassis would remain in service for about two years, that four new International chassis were in but awaiting box and plow suppliers, and a new chassis was expected in July. The council approved purchase and installation of the dump body from Highway Truck Equipment.
- Item 11 – Elks building: The council approved submitting a final IEDA Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program application for $100,000 on behalf of Foxtrot Properties, LLC for 122–124 North Federal Avenue. City Administrator Aaron Burnett noted possible additional city financing; owner Melissa Fabian was present. Councilmembers were told the owner would make a significant investment, though final financing was still being assembled.
- Item 12 – Bike Park Bid Package 3: The council approved the contract and bond for the Mason City Bike Park Bid Package 3. Aaron Burnett said construction would start immediately; package 3 includes shelter, restrooms, storage, parking, sidewalks, paths, fencing, and site work, while riding features are in Bid Package 2, which will attract national trail builders.
- Item 13 – Willow Creek Riverwalk: The council approved plans, specifications, the form of contract, bid tabulation, and award to Henkel Construction Company. The base project runs along Willow Creek from Washington to Pennsylvania; an approved alternate extends the path under the Highway 65 bridge through Interstate Park to steps on the east side. Aaron Burnett said bids were above estimates, with overages funded from local option sales tax and interest, and that rebidding carried no likely advantage due to timing and grant requirements. Architect Christy King of Bergland & Cram noted the project had been in development for several years and that Henkel was excited to proceed.
- Item 14 – Pavement Marking Program: The council approved plans, specifications, bid tabulation, and contract award to Weikert Contracting, Inc. of Cedar Falls, Iowa for the 2024 Pavement Marking Program.
- Items 15/16 – Sewer Revenue Loan Notes: The council approved resolutions authorizing $180,000 and $1,525,000 Sewer Revenue Loan and Disbursement Agreement Anticipation Project Notes through the Iowa Finance Authority interim loan program.
- Items 17/18 – Stellar Industries Urban Renewal: The council approved Urban Renewal Plan Amendment No. 11, gave first reading to the related tax division ordinance, and set an April 16, 2024 public hearing on a Development Agreement with Stellar Industries, Inc. The mayor described a $15 million investment adding 150,000 square feet and 18 acres; Councilmember Massan later stated the agreement involves at least $12.5 million invested, completion by the end of 2026, a minimum of 40 jobs, and a 100% rebate of incremental property taxes for 10 years up to $1 million. Aaron Burnett said Stellar had consistently outperformed job expectations. The council also approved Urban Renewal Plan Amendment No. 6 for the Downtown Reinvestment Urban Renewal Area.
- Item 19 – Dev Partners: The council set a future public hearing date for a proposed development agreement with Dev Partners, LLC for 36 downtown apartment units on North Delaware Avenue.
- Item 20 – Parking lot lease: The council authorized a parking lot lease agreement with rent payments not to exceed $3,150,000. Aaron Burnett explained a 20-year lease-back arrangement would create about 23 secure indoor parking spaces and 55 improved surface spaces; the city would lease the spaces to the public. The city had monitored lot usage for roughly two and a half months, finding four-hour spaces heavily used and two-hour spaces underused; parking time limits on Delaware would be adjusted. Estimated indoor lease rates were about $130–$150 per month; surface rates would increase from $25 to $35 per month.
- Item 21 – Zoning text amendment: The council gave final approval to amendments to City Code Title 12, sections 12-1, 12-2, 12-5, 12-7, 12-13, 12-15, 12-16, and 12-20.
- Item 22 – Joint Comprehensive Plan: The council adopted the 2024 North Iowa Corridor Joint Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Lee asked for clarification; city officials confirmed the council retains local control and can amend Mason City portions, while the area between Mason City and Clear Lake may require coordinated cooperation with other jurisdictions. The mayor noted the plan supports regional cooperation and cited Destination Iowa grants of $4 million for Clear Lake and $4 million for Mason City outdoor recreation projects.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the consent calendar and all consent items unanimously.
- Approved the Northside Liquor permit renewal after discussion.
- Approved the dump body purchase, the IEDA Elks building application, and Bike Park Bid Package 3.
- Awarded the Willow Creek Riverwalk contract to Henkel Construction Company.
- Awarded the 2024 Pavement Marking Program contract to Weikert Contracting, Inc.
- Approved the $180,000 and $1,525,000 sewer revenue loan anticipation notes.
- Approved Urban Renewal Plan Amendment No. 11, first reading of the tax division ordinance, and an April 16 hearing date for the Stellar Industries Development Agreement; also approved Urban Renewal Plan Amendment No. 6.
- Set a hearing date for the Dev Partners development agreement.
- Authorized the parking lot lease agreement not to exceed $3,150,000.
- Gave final approval to the Title 12 zoning regulation amendments.
- Adopted the 2024 North Iowa Corridor Joint Comprehensive Plan.
- All recorded roll-call votes were 6-0.
Meeting Transcript
And good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. This is the meeting for April 2nd of 2024. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle, and the first order of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Lee. Present. Adams. Present. Massan. Present. Latham. Here. Simmons. Present. Yeski. Here. Next item of business is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So moved. Second. You have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those of both mic. Same time. Next is an honor. We have a special proclamation designating the week of the young child. And I'd like to ask several people to step forward. And I'd like to ask several people to step forward. Representatives from Newman, Charlie Brown, Head Start, and others in Mason City. Would uh Kendra and Hillary and Nicole and Ashley and Trina and Diana please step forward at this time. And while they're doing that, I would also like to acknowledge that with us tonight are uh scouts. We have Leader Mark McMahonis from the Middle and High School Students and Boy Scout Troop 1401 in Mason City and Leader Matt Sparrow with Cub Scout PAC number 22 in Mason City. Welcome. We're delighted to have you with us this evening as well. And uh ladies, this is the proclamation that I'll be presenting to you, and I'd like to read it at this time. Whereas the number one reason that women and others leave the workforce is lack of child care. And well whereas while child care centers have the physical capacity to accept more children, a shortage of child care workers has caused waiting lists. And whereas to change this, a local coalition has come together and raised nearly two million dollars to boost the hour hourly wages of child care workers by two dollars. And whereas this initiative is already boosting the number of child care workers and reducing waiting lists in Mason City in North Iowa. And whereas we recognize and appreciate the vital work and performance by child care and education professionals like those that we have with us this evening. Now therefore, on behalf of the entire city council and with deep gratitude, I Bill Shickle, Mayor of Mason City, do hereby proclaim the week of April 6th through the twelfth, 2024 as the week of the young child in Mason City. Could we show our appreciation to these outstanding workers? Uh the floor is yours at this time. You have five minutes. Please state the number of the item on the agenda that you would like to comment on, and the floor is yours at this time. Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing and we'll move now to the regular consent agenda. We have the minutes followed by the claims and followed by the permits. And then item number five is the February 2024 financial report.
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