Good evening, everyone.

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

Mayor Bill Schickle, we're delighted to have you with us this evening.

This is the meeting for May 20th of 2025.

The first order of business is the roll call.

Diana, would you call the roll?

Lee.

Present.

Adams.

Present.

Simmons.

Present.

Here.

Yeski.

Latham.

Present.

Let the record reflect that all members are present.

At this time, it's an honor to present three proclamations, the first of which is Memorial Day in Mason City.

I'd like to call forward the members of the Veterans Memorial Association right now.

We're honored to have you with us this evening.

Norris Hughes, Charlie West, and Diane Casta, would you please step forward?

Mr.

Mayor, as they come forward, can we adopt the agenda?

Excuse me.

Can we adopt the agenda as they come forward?

The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda.

Is there a motion to adopt the agenda?

So we have a motion and a second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, same sign.

The motion carries.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for being with us on behalf of a grateful community.

It's an honor to present this proclamation to these distinguished people at this time.

Whereas it's fitting that we pause to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in military service to our nation.

And whereas we also salute all the veterans who have been laid to rest at Elmwood St.

Joseph Cemetery and Memorial Park Cemetery in this past year.

They're added to the more than 5,000 soldiers from our community whose names who have been etched for eternity on these sacred grounds.

And whereas the best way we can show our gratitude is by not squandering the precious gift of freedom and by limiting ourselves and our community to small dreams.

Now, therefore, it's an honor as mayor of Mason City to hereby recognize and designate May 26th as Memorial Day in Mason City and urge all of our citizens to join me in thanking with all of our hearts those who have given the last full measure of sacrifice for our community and for our country.

And you're invited to the Memorial Day presentation that is sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Association on Monday, 9 30 at Elmwood Cemetery.

Can we show our appreciation to these?

Next, I'd like to call forward Lindsay James, the executive director of our visit Mason City.

And I have a proclamation this evening with uh designating Tourism Month.

And along with Lindsay is uh Blair Brody with the visit Mason City Board.

Welcome both of you.

It's an honor to present this proclamation to you at this time.

Whereas Mason City is celebrating 40 years of tourism growth, marked by transformative projects that have enhanced the quality of life and preserved our history and that we all take local pride in.

And whereas new tourism infrastructure projects, including the new Riverwalk District and Waterfront Plaza, the Prairie Rocks Trail and Bike Park are positioning Mason City as the new outdoor recreation capital of the Midwest, not to mention the Murphy Park Bridge and Trail that we dedicated earlier this week.

These outdoor attractions complement Mason City's world-class music and architecture heritage, offering visitors a dynamic blend of experiences that inspire exploration and connection.

And whereas downtown revitalization, including the recent opening of the new welcome center, downtown Mason City, continue to invest in public art and uh historic preservation, having drawn millions of dollars of investment uh and visitors to our area.

And whereas Mason City has been designated as a cultural and entertainment district by the State of Iowa Art Council and recognized as an Iowa Great Place, honoring them with the Main Street Game Changer Award, and named the only city in Iowa to be a finalist for the All American Award, underscoring the city's spirit of innovation and collaboration, and whereas tourism generates significant economic activity in our community, 113 million last year in uh paid to the hotel motel tax collection, increasing eightfold since we started that.

And whereas tourum strike tourism strengthens our local economy, supports small businesses, and brings people together through shared cultural, recreation, and artistic experiences.

Now, therefore, I Bill Schickle, mayor of Mason City, do hereby proclaim the month of May in 2025 as tourism month in Mason City.

Encourage all of our residents to celebrate and support our ongoing efforts of visit Mason City and our many partners who proudly welcome and serve visitors from near and far.

Lindsay and Blair, thank you very much.

Next, I'd like to call forward our chief building official, Kyle Peterson for a proclamation designating uh building safety month, and Kyle and the team just do such a fantastic job ensuring the safety of our buildings uh in Mason City.

And Kyle, it's an honor to present this proclamation at this time.

Whereas Mason City is committed to recognizing that our growth and our strength depend on safety and eventually our role of our homes and buildings with the safe infrastructure and to prevent uh disasters, and whereas these modern building code standards include safeguards to protect the public from all kinds of hazards such as uh tornadoes and floods, and whereas Building Safety Month reminds us of the protections of the public safety code officials who assume uh assure our safe, sustainable, afforder affordable building uh essential to our property.

Now, therefore, I Bill Schickle, mayor of Mason City, to hereby proclaim May 2025 as building safety month in Mason City.