OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - October 7, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, October 7, 2025
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:44

Transcript — Verbatim
1:11

And good evening, everyone.

1:12

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

1:16

I'm Mayor Bill Schickle.

1:17

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

1:20

The first item of business is the roll call.

1:23

Diana, would you call the roll?

1:24

Adams.

1:25

Present.

1:25

Lee.

1:26

Present.

1:26

Yeski.

1:27

Here.

1:28

Simmons.

1:28

Present.

1:29

Latham.

1:29

Present.

1:30

Massan.

1:31

Here.

1:31

Let the record reflect that all members are present.

1:34

Next item of business is the adoption of the agenda.

1:38

Is there a motion to adjust adopt the agenda?

1:41

So moved.

1:42

Second.

1:42

We have a motion and a second discussion.

1:46

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

1:49

Aye.

1:50

All those opposed, same sign.

1:53

The agenda is adopted.

1:54

We have two special items of business.

1:56

It's an honor to be able to proclaim 2025 Fire Prevention Week as this week, and also a proclamation for community planning month.

2:07

I'm going to first ask Chief Eric Bullinger and the members of our outstanding fire department to please step forward.

2:24

And I'll be presenting this proclamation.

2:28

Um designating fire prevention week in Mason City.

2:34

And um this month actually marks a milestone for the Mason City Fire Department.

2:42

The first major renovation of the fire department headquarters since it opened 50 years ago.

2:48

And the ribbon cutting will be 10 a.m.

2:51

Monday.

2:51

Everyone is invited.

2:53

It's also fire prevention week.

2:55

And to celebrate the department, we'll be hosting an open house that'll be Sunday from uh one to three with demonstrations and hands-on activities and fire extension uh extinguisher training.

3:08

Our firefighters do an incredible job of keeping all of us safe and provide fire prevention week reminds us that safety starts first with uh each of us, and one of the themes this week is uh uh charge into fire safety with training on how to uh take care of your lithium eon batteries.

3:30

And so, Chief Bollinger and uh members of the department, it's just such an honor.

3:35

Thank you for your outstanding service and um congratulations.

3:54

Chief, congratulations.

3:57

And Chief uh Bollinger has a few remarks.

4:09

Thank you, Council Mayor, and thank you for support.

4:11

Uh really you nailed everything for me just about.

4:14

So just a reminder for Sunday and Monday for the open house and then the uh ribbon cutting again on Monday morning.

4:21

Uh look forward to seeing everybody there.

4:23

Um but I did want to take this opportunity to remind everybody about the battery safety.

4:27

Um this year's theme with the lithium ion batteries.

4:30

Um just a reminder not to throw those batteries in the regular trash, don't throw them in regular recycle bins.

4:38

Uh there is uh problem that we're having with lithium ion batteries in the last eight to ten years that seems to be growing uh nationwide where we're having fires in unexpected places.

4:49

Um so make sure you don't just throw them in the trash, put them in a uh a proper battery recycling bin.

5:00

And as you'll know, before uh a renovation, we had a recycling bin out front of the station, the front entrance that's no longer there in the front of the station, and we're proud to have it, or glad to have it on the north side of the building now.

5:10

So just so everybody's aware.

5:12

North side of the building, just out by the curb.

5:14

Um very easy access.

5:16

You can pull right off to the side of the street, walk a couple of steps and put your battery in that that bin there.

5:22

So any batteries are welcome to go into that um battery recycling bin and we dispose of it for you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Affordable Housing██████████████14%
Community Engagement██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - October 7, 2025

The Mason City City Council held a regular meeting on October 7, 2025, at an unspecified evening time. Mayor Bill Schickle presided with all seven council members present. The meeting featured proclamations, consent agenda approvals, and three first-consideration ordinance readings. Key decisions included adopting a new state-mandated variance standard and updating accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules, the latter generating council debate due to state preemption of local control.

Consent Calendar

  • Unanimously approved via roll call (7-0) included: minutes, claims, permits, July Financial Report, acceptance of the Mason City Housing Authority annual report, hiring of Alex Avery (heavy equipment operator), Brienna Yarrow (lab technician), Stephen Kopp (water supply operator), acceptance and payment for the 2025 pavement marking program, and a resolution for an operation and maintenance agreement with ION Environmental Solutions of Muscatine.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public offered comments on any agenda item.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations: Mayor Schickle proclaimed October 5–11, 2025 as Fire Prevention Week, highlighting the Mason City Fire Department’s 50-year station renovation (ribbon-cutting Monday, October 13 at 10 a.m. and open house Sunday, October 12 from 1–3 p.m.). Chief Eric Bullinger emphasized lithium-ion battery safety and noted the battery recycling bin is now on the north side of the station. Councilman Yeski asked about identifying lithium-ion batteries; the Chief confirmed most new batteries are labeled. A second proclamation declared October 2025 as Community Planning Month, recognizing the Planning and Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment for their role in recent growth (200 new downtown housing units, bike park, river walk, and upcoming hotel groundbreaking).
  • Item 13 – Variance Standard Amendment (First Consideration): An ordinance to adopt “practical difficulty” as the variance standard, replacing the previous “unnecessary hardship” standard per state legislation. Planning Director Stephen Van Steenhouse explained the change simplifies legal approval for variances (e.g., oddly shaped lots) and reduces litigation risk. Councilman Simmons noted it gives more discretion to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Passed unanimously on first reading (7-0).
  • Item 14 – Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance Update (First Consideration): Mandated by state law (sponsored by AARP, Manufactured Housing Association, realtors, and home builders), the ordinance requires the city to allow at least one ADU on any lot zoned for single-family homes. ADUs cannot be more restricted than the principal dwelling in setbacks, parking, or size (minimum 1,000 sq. ft. or 50% of principal structure, whichever is larger). Ella Phillips from Planning added that ADUs cannot be required to have separate water meters and can be rented to anyone. Councilman Latham expressed concern about allowing large ADUs in backyards. Councilman Lee opposed the loss of local control, and Councilman Yeski voted no, criticizing the state’s removal of local authority over manufactured/mobile home ADUs. Councilman Simmons suggested drafting a resolution opposing the law for a future meeting. The motion carried 4-2 (Latham and Yeski voting no; Lee voting yes reluctantly).
  • Item 15 – “Parkway” Definition Clarification (First Consideration): An ordinance to define “parkway” in the zoning code as the area between sidewalk and curb. Passed unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Fire Prevention Week and Community Planning Month proclaimed.
  • Consent agenda approved 7-0.
  • First consideration of variance standard ordinance (Item 13) approved 7-0.
  • First consideration of ADU ordinance (Item 14) approved 4-2 (Latham and Yeski opposed; Lee voted yes with reservations). Councilman Simmons indicated a resolution opposing the state law may be introduced at the next reading.
  • First consideration of parking definition ordinance (Item 15) approved 7-0.
  • Upcoming events announced: Fire Department open house (Sunday, Oct. 12, 1-3 p.m.), ribbon-cutting (Monday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.), and downtown hotel groundbreaking (Thursday, Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m.).

Meeting Transcript

And good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. We're delighted to have you with us this evening. The first item of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Adams. Present. Lee. Present. Yeski. Here. Simmons. Present. Latham. Present. Massan. Here. Let the record reflect that all members are present. Next item of business is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adjust adopt the agenda? So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. The agenda is adopted. We have two special items of business. It's an honor to be able to proclaim 2025 Fire Prevention Week as this week, and also a proclamation for community planning month. I'm going to first ask Chief Eric Bullinger and the members of our outstanding fire department to please step forward. And I'll be presenting this proclamation. Um designating fire prevention week in Mason City. And um this month actually marks a milestone for the Mason City Fire Department. The first major renovation of the fire department headquarters since it opened 50 years ago. And the ribbon cutting will be 10 a.m. Monday. Everyone is invited. It's also fire prevention week. And to celebrate the department, we'll be hosting an open house that'll be Sunday from uh one to three with demonstrations and hands-on activities and fire extension uh extinguisher training. Our firefighters do an incredible job of keeping all of us safe and provide fire prevention week reminds us that safety starts first with uh each of us, and one of the themes this week is uh uh charge into fire safety with training on how to uh take care of your lithium eon batteries. And so, Chief Bollinger and uh members of the department, it's just such an honor. Thank you for your outstanding service and um congratulations. Chief, congratulations. And Chief uh Bollinger has a few remarks. Thank you, Council Mayor, and thank you for support. Uh really you nailed everything for me just about. So just a reminder for Sunday and Monday for the open house and then the uh ribbon cutting again on Monday morning. Uh look forward to seeing everybody there. Um but I did want to take this opportunity to remind everybody about the battery safety.

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