OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - November 4, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, November 4, 2025
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 20:00

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

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

0:03

This is the meeting for November 4th of 2025.

0:06

I'm Mayor Bill Schickle.

0:08

Thank you for joining us this evening.

0:10

The first order item of business is the roll call.

0:13

Diana, would you call the roll?

0:14

Latham.

0:15

Present.

0:16

Yeski.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Simmons.

0:19

Present.

0:19

Lee.

0:20

Present.

0:20

Councilmember Adams is absent.

0:22

Let the record reflect that we do have a quorum present.

0:26

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

0:30

Is there a motion to adopt the agenda?

0:32

So move.

0:36

Councilman Mason.

0:38

Further discussion.

0:39

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

0:42

Aye.

0:43

All those opposed, same sign.

0:45

The motion carries.

0:46

The agenda is adopted for tonight.

0:49

We have two special items of business this evening.

0:53

First, I'd like to call forward Randy Sulsa, Norris Hughes, and Diane Casto with the Veterans Memorial Association.

1:03

And Randy is the chair.

1:08

Norris Hughes is the chair elect, and Diane is the longtime secretary of our Great Veterans Memorial Association in Mason City.

1:17

And it's an honor to present this proclamation, Randy, to you and your fellow members designating Veterans Day in Mason City.

1:30

And so good evening once again.

1:32

Tonight it is an honor to present a proclamation recognizing Veterans Day in Mason City.

1:39

In the heart of our downtown, as you know, 12 granite stones stand tall in Central Park, each one shining with the names of men and women who have served our community and our nation.

1:54

This past year alone, 26 additional names have been added, joining the more than 3,700 veterans from our community whose courage and sacrifice are forever remembered there.

2:08

The Mason City Veterans Memorial Association is more than stone and inscription though.

2:16

It's a place for reflection, gratitude, and inspiration.

2:20

And the best way that we can show respect and honor our veterans is not only by remembering them, but living up to the gift that they defended, and by dreaming big and striving to make Mason City a place worthy of your sacrifice.

2:40

I also want to extend my personal thanks to the Veterans Memorial Association and the members here today.

2:45

For more than a century, you've made sure that we always remember.

2:49

And now it's my privilege to proclaim Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 as Veterans Day in Mason City, and invite everyone to join us at Central Park by those granite stones at 1045 a.m.

3:04

Tuesday, November 11th in Central Park.

3:07

Can we show our appreciation to the Veterans Memorial Association?

3:25

Randy, thank you very much.

3:27

Thank you.

3:35

Next, we've got something uh fun to do.

3:38

It's the People's Choice Award for our great sculptures on parade in Mason City.

3:44

All of you have been casting your ballots for the uh choice that uh you'd like to make for the People's Choice Awards.

3:51

And uh Mary Mark Walder, the chair of the uh committee that organizes our sculptures on parade is here.

3:58

Mary, you've got an announcement, go right ahead.

4:00

I do.

4:00

Thank you.

4:01

Thank you, Mayor and Council.

4:03

Um, and thanks to uh Aaron and Brent, who are really supportive of the program and help us and the operations department, which really helps us a lot.

4:12

Um we appreciate that very much.

4:15

And uh they they do a lot of literally heavy lifting for us.

4:19

Um there are a couple of committee members here with me tonight.

4:22

Cheryl Schertz and Bruce McKee are here, and um that too is a very hard working committee.

4:30

Um Jim Zach, Linda Willkey, Terry Tell, and Ron Moeller are also on it, and they are very involved.

4:38

So to date, the we've sold um 90 sculptures so far since 2012 through River City Sculptures on Parade.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████36%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Zoning Regulations█████████████13%
Active Transportation█████████████13%
Veterans Memorial Association████████8%
Public Engagement████████8%
Arts And Culture████████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - November 4, 2025

The Mason City City Council held its regular meeting on November 4, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. Mayor Bill Schickle presided. Roll call showed Councilmembers Latham, Yeski, Simmons, Lee, and Massan present, with Councilmember Adams absent, establishing a quorum. The agenda was adopted unanimously. The meeting included special presentations, consent agenda approvals, a public hearing, and final action on multiple ordinances.

Special Items

  • Veterans Day Proclamation: Mayor Schickle presented a proclamation declaring November 11, 2025, as Veterans Day in Mason City, honoring the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Over 3,700 veterans are memorialized on 12 granite stones in Central Park, with 26 names added this year.
  • River City Sculptures on Parade People's Choice Award: Mary Mark Walder, committee chair, announced the 2025–2026 winner: "Owling at the Moon" by artists Gary Hovey and Jim Perrin (Hoveyware Sculptures), sponsored by Paul and Marcia Gordon, located on East State Street. Since 2012, 90 sculptures have been sold totaling $1,257,150; 62 are permanently displayed.

Consent Calendar

All items were approved unanimously via a single motion:

  • Approved minutes of October 21, 2025.
  • Approved claims dated October 23 and 30, 2025.
  • Approved permits.
  • Accepted August financial report.
  • Approved appointment of Erick Nganyange to the Library Board.
  • Approved hiring Jeremy DeBattista as Transit Supervisor (Grade H, Step 1, $25.43/hour).
  • Approved resolutions levying assessments for charges and tree removal, certifying to County Treasurer.
  • Approved FY 2025 Financial Report and Street Finance Report.
  • Accepted work and ordered payment for Downtown Pedestrian Ramp Compliance Program.
  • Awarded contract to Pigeon Consulting, LLC for intensive survey grant.
  • Awarded contract to Rite Way Lawn Service for nuisance snow/ice removal.
  • Authorized submission of DOJ Body Worn Camera Digital Evidence Management grant.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearing – Item 17: Resolution for Water Revenue Loan and Disbursement Agreement Anticipation Project Note ($1,328,250). No public comment. Approved unanimously.
  • Action Items:
    • Items 18 (Trees and Shrubs ordinance – final), 19 (Variance definition and Zoning Board of Adjustment – final): Approved unanimously.
    • Item 20 (Accessory Dwelling Units ordinance – final): Approved 4-1; Councilman Latham voted no.
    • Item 21 (Nuisance definition – second reading): Approved unanimously.
    • Item 22 (Z3 General Urban District small box definition): Councilman Yasheski questioned the urgency of waiving the second reading. City Planner Aaron Burnett explained the change was needed to correct a discrepancy (2,500 sq ft restriction vs. 5,000 sq ft definition) for a previously approved rezoning project. The waiver of second reading and final reading both passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda items 3-16: Approved unanimously.
  • Item 17: Approved unanimously.
  • Item 18: Approved unanimously.
  • Item 19: Approved unanimously.
  • Item 20: Approved 4-1 (Latham opposed).
  • Item 21: Approved unanimously (second reading).
  • Item 22: Waiver of second reading and final reading both approved unanimously.

Additional Remarks

  • Mayor Schickle announced the soft opening of Prairie Rock Trails bike park (first world-class bike park in Iowa) on Wednesday, November 12, at 3:00 PM.
  • Mayor reminded that polls close at 8:00 PM on election night.
  • Police Chief Jeff Brinkley, retiring after 30 years (Mason City Chief since 2016), addressed the council, thanking them for their support. The council and mayor expressed appreciation for his service.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. This is the meeting for November 4th of 2025. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. Thank you for joining us this evening. The first order item of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Latham. Present. Yeski. Here. Simmons. Present. Lee. Present. Councilmember Adams is absent. Let the record reflect that we do have a quorum present. The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So move. Councilman Mason. Further discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. The motion carries. The agenda is adopted for tonight. We have two special items of business this evening. First, I'd like to call forward Randy Sulsa, Norris Hughes, and Diane Casto with the Veterans Memorial Association. And Randy is the chair. Norris Hughes is the chair elect, and Diane is the longtime secretary of our Great Veterans Memorial Association in Mason City. And it's an honor to present this proclamation, Randy, to you and your fellow members designating Veterans Day in Mason City. And so good evening once again. Tonight it is an honor to present a proclamation recognizing Veterans Day in Mason City. In the heart of our downtown, as you know, 12 granite stones stand tall in Central Park, each one shining with the names of men and women who have served our community and our nation. This past year alone, 26 additional names have been added, joining the more than 3,700 veterans from our community whose courage and sacrifice are forever remembered there. The Mason City Veterans Memorial Association is more than stone and inscription though. It's a place for reflection, gratitude, and inspiration. And the best way that we can show respect and honor our veterans is not only by remembering them, but living up to the gift that they defended, and by dreaming big and striving to make Mason City a place worthy of your sacrifice. I also want to extend my personal thanks to the Veterans Memorial Association and the members here today. For more than a century, you've made sure that we always remember. And now it's my privilege to proclaim Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 as Veterans Day in Mason City, and invite everyone to join us at Central Park by those granite stones at 1045 a.m. Tuesday, November 11th in Central Park. Can we show our appreciation to the Veterans Memorial Association? Randy, thank you very much. Thank you. Next, we've got something uh fun to do. It's the People's Choice Award for our great sculptures on parade in Mason City. All of you have been casting your ballots for the uh choice that uh you'd like to make for the People's Choice Awards. And uh Mary Mark Walder, the chair of the uh committee that organizes our sculptures on parade is here. Mary, you've got an announcement, go right ahead.

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