Regular City Council Meeting - February 18, 2025
Regular City Council Meeting - February 18, 2025
The Mason City Council held its regular meeting on February 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Mason City Public Library. All council members were present (Lee, Adams, Simmons, Yesheski, Latham) except Mayor Shickle. The meeting addressed consent agenda approvals, three individually considered items (tax abatements, a settlement agreement, and a hotel development agreement), and three zoning changes. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent agenda (items 1–17) en bloc, except for items 12, 15, and 17 which were pulled for separate consideration. Items approved included minutes of February 4 and worksession minutes of February 13, 2025; claims dated February 6 and 13; permits; appointment/hire of Angie Dickinson as Administrative Assistant – Housing/Safety (Grade G, Step 2, $22.74/hr.) and Jennifer Mericle as Finance Intermediate Accounting Clerk (Grade G, Step 8, $26.53/hr.); resolutions levying property assessments, setting a public hearing on the FY26 “Truth in Taxation” preliminary hearing, setting a hearing on the 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Plan, approving the collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local Union 238 (Police Department), supporting an Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant application, approving the purchase of an F250 pickup truck for the Parks Department, granting preliminary approval for Urban Revitalization Tax Abatements (subject to amendment of item 12), approving a development agreement with the North Iowa Corridor Housing Development Corporation (NICHDC) for 537 4th Street NE, approving competitive criteria for property disposition in Forest Park Urban Renewal Area, approving a settlement agreement with Merrill J. Fiala (item 15), and setting a public hearing on urban renewal plan amendments and a development agreement with ES 2024 Mason City Hotel Associates, LLC (item 17).
Discussion Items
- Item 12 – Tax Abatement Preliminary Approval: Councilor Erin noted that the Roller City property had already received a "DORA" or "CORA" and could not receive both. Staff confirmed the error. Council amended the motion to approve the resolution with the exception of Roller City. The motion carried unanimously.
- Item 15 – Settlement Agreement with Merrill J. Fiala: The agreement addresses property at 1408 South Delaware Avenue. Council discussed the background of Iowa Code 657A proceedings for abandoned property, the incentive for the owner to comply (avoiding title transfer to the city), and the required timeline (exterior work by September 2025). Staff explained that legal costs are rarely recoverable and that the agreement provides a last chance for compliance. The motion carried unanimously.
- Item 17 – Setting Public Hearing for Development Agreement with ES 2024 Mason City Hotel Associates, LLC: Aaron (staff) provided an update: the public hearing will allow final consideration of the development agreement for a downtown hotel. The developer, Kinseth, has received a brownfield tax credit from IEDA and is under design; breaking ground is anticipated by May 2025. Council discussed the timeline and the role of earlier downtown investments (River City Renaissance) in attracting Kinseth. The motion to set the public hearing carried unanimously.
- Item 18 – Rezone 500 Block N. Delaware from Z3 to Z4: Staff requested waiving the second reading to allow final approval at this meeting because the developer’s application for low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) is due the following day (February 19) and requires confirmed zoning. Council waived the second reading (unanimous) and then approved the rezoning on final reading (unanimous). Councilor Lee expressed concern about waiving readings becoming a habit.
- Item 19 – Rezone 100-200 Block 2nd St SE from Z5 to Z3: Approved on second/final reading unanimously.
- Item 20 – Rezone Southeast Corner of 4th St SW and Lark Ave from Z1 to Z4: Approved on second/final reading unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda adopted with exceptions of items 12, 15, and 17.
- Item 12 approved as amended (excluding Roller City). Unanimous.
- Item 15 (Settlement Agreement with Merrill J. Fiala) approved. Unanimous (4 votes recorded, all present).
- Item 17 (Set public hearing for hotel development agreement) approved. Unanimous.
- Item 18 (Rezone 500 block N. Delaware) – Second reading waived and final approval granted. Unanimous.
- Item 19 (Rezone 100-200 block 2nd St SE) approved. Unanimous.
- Item 20 (Rezone SE corner 4th St SW and Lark Ave) approved. Unanimous.
- No public comments were made during the public forum.
- Meeting adjourned after completion of all agenda items.
Meeting Transcript
Regular meeting, May City City Council, February eighteenth, twenty twenty-five. Uh first item in business is a roll call. Lee. Present. Adams. Present. Simmons. Present. Yeshewski. Here. Latham. Present. Mayor Shickle is absent. Next item adopted the agenda. Is there a motion and a second to adopt the agenda? So moved. Second. Motion by Yesheski. Second by Simmons. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Time for the public forum. City Council welcomes comments from the public on agenda items during the public forum. If you have comments, come to the podium or use the raise hand feature on Zoom, give your name, address, agenda item or topic that you are referring to. Nobody seeks to be recognized. One is the minutes, two is the claims, three. 11 resolution approved the purchase of a F 250 three-quarter ton pickup truck from Mesa City Forward for the Parks Department. 12 granting preliminary approval for tax abatements allowed under the May City Urban Revisation Tax Abatement Program for properties listed in Section 1 of the City of May City, Iowa. 13 approving and authorizing execution of the development agreement by in between the City of May City, Iowa, and the North Iowa Corridor Housing Development Corporation for development of 537 4th Street Northeast. 14 is approving the competitive criteria determining the proposals submitted by the North Iowa Corridor Housing Development Corporation satisfies the offering requirements, ordering public notice, publication of a notice of competitive bidding and soliciting competing proposals and fixing a date for a public hearing on the proposal to enter into the purchase sale and development agreement with the North Iowa Corridor Housing Development Corporation relating to the conveyance of property. That's 537 4th Street 527 4th Street Northeast and providing for publication of notice thereof. 15 approving and authorizing execution of a settlement agreement between the City of Mason City and Merrill J. Fiala for property locally described as 1408 South Delaware Avenue. 16 setting the date for a public hearing on the urban renewal plan amendment number seven for the Mason City Downtown Reinvestment Urban Renewal Area and on Urban Renewal Plan Amendment Number 4 for the Forest Park Economic Development Area and 17 is uh setting the date of meeting at which it is proposed to approve a development agreement with ES 2024 May City Hotel Associates LLC, including annual appropriation tax increment payments with the minor changes that have been presented in council uh in paper form that are in front of us. Any items that council would like to act on separately, 15 and I'll pull 12 uh with the exceptions of 12, 15, and 17. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? So moved. Second, motion by Masan, second by Yosheski. Comments. Diana, please call roll. Masan. Yes. Yes, Simmons, Latham, yes, Lee, yes, Adams. Yes. Number 12 is granting preliminary approval for tax abatements allowed under the May City Urban Revitalization Tax Abatement Program for properties listed in section one in the city of Mason City. Is there a motion and a second? So moved. Motion by Latham.
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