OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mason City Council Regular Meeting and Worksession - May 5, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 5, 2026
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
1:44

Welcome.

1:45

Um I'll call the we'll now call the meetings of the Mason City City Council to order.

1:50

Clerk, please call the role.

1:52

Adams.

1:53

Present.

1:53

Latham.

1:54

President.

1:54

Yeshewski.

1:55

Here.

1:56

Simmons.

1:56

Present.

1:58

Heinz.

1:58

Here.

2:01

It's a present.

2:02

Um is there a motion and second to adopt the agenda?

2:05

So move.

2:06

Second.

2:08

Clerk, call the role.

2:09

Yesky.

2:10

Yes.

2:11

Heinz?

2:11

Yes.

2:11

Simmons.

2:12

Yes.

2:12

Massan.

2:13

Yes.

2:13

Adams.

2:14

Yes.

2:14

Latham.

2:15

Yes.

2:16

We got a couple things on special.

2:17

Thank you.

2:18

Uh special items on uh business tonight.

2:21

Um kind of honored to do these here.

2:24

We'll start with the proclamation for child care aware.

2:28

Whereas child care aware of American organizations nationwide are recognizing child care providers on this day, and whereas a child care system supports children's growth, development, and educational advancement while creating positive economic impacts for families and communities.

2:44

And whereas child care providers are essential to the health of the communities by fostering safe, welcoming spaces, supporting working families, and creating enriching environments where children develop lifelong skills.

2:57

And whereas Mason City recognized that child care has been and continues to be a lifeline for families, communities, and the economy, and where I support for affordable, accessible, high quality child care represents a worthy commitment to help families work, support children's healthy and development and learning, and keeps our economy growing.

3:15

Now therefore I, John P.

3:17

Lee, Mayor of Mason City do hereby proclaim Friday, May eighth, twenty twenty-six as Provider Appreciation Day.

3:24

And I urge all citizens to recognize child care providers for their important work and how valuable they are to our communities.

3:31

Do we have a representative here?

3:35

Let's still show them appreciation for everything they do.

3:59

And whereas we also salute all veterans who have been laid to rest in Elmwood's St.

4:04

Joseph and Memorial Park Cemeteries in Mason City in the past year.

4:33

And urge all citizens to join me in thanking with our hearts those who have given their last full measure of sacrifice sacrifice for our community and country.

5:01

Thank you so much.

5:04

Thank you very much appreciated.

5:05

Thank you, sir.

5:07

Thank you.

5:08

And it's nine o'clock on Monday.

5:10

Yes, sir.

5:11

I'd urge everybody to get out to the cemetery at 9 a.m.

5:14

on Memorial Day.

5:15

It's a beautiful ceremony, and I'd urge everybody to get out there and pay their respects.

5:22

Now, another one that's truly dear to my heart.

5:25

My first commission public meeting was my appointment to the HPC many, many moons ago.

5:33

Whereas whereas historic preservation champions and protects places that tell the stories of our past, enhances our sense of community, and brings us closer together.

5:42

And whereas, well, I'm I should have learned from the last time.

5:45

Can I please have Chris and Derek come up here, please?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Economic Development█████████████████17%
Historic Preservation████████████████16%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City Council Regular Meeting and Worksession - May 5, 2026

The Mason City Council held a worksession at 6:00 PM on lead line abatement and policies (no transcript available), followed by the regular meeting at 7:00 PM. The regular meeting included three proclamations, unanimous approval of a consent agenda, public hearings on urban renewal amendments, two CDBG grant programs, and two rezonings, along with action items on a bond loan, speed regulations, and a zoning agreement. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of April 21, 2026 approved.
  • Claims dated April 23 and 30, 2026 approved.
  • Permits approved.
  • March Financial Report received.
  • Appointment/Hire: John Barlow as Heavy Equipment Operator (Streets) at $31.13/hour approved.
  • Resolutions (items 9–17) approved: levying assessments for property charges and tree removal; approving contracts and bonds for 19th Street SW HMA resurfacing and downtown pedestrian ramp compliance; approving amendments with WHKS & Co. for 12th Street NW Trail and 19th Street SW projects; preliminary approval for 12th Street NW Turn Lane Improvements (plans, necessity, hearing); setting hearing on budget amendment #2; and authorizing quit claim deed for an alley to Sandra K. Whitt Revocable Trust.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 20 (CDBG Roofing Program): Heidi Nielsen (Housing Services Director, NIACOG) presented the grant application details: $180,000 in federal funds with $18,000 matching from TIF in Forest Park Urban Renewal Area, total hard cost $198,000. The program serves low-to-moderate income owner-occupied homes in Forest Park (excluding floodplains), covering roof replacement, fascia, soffit, gutters, lead hazard remediation, and radon remediation. No displacement expected. Council members asked about the competitive nature (6 awards statewide) and noted contingency on award.
  • Item 21 (CDBG Exterior Home Improvement Grant): Heidi Nielsen led discussion on the required housing needs assessment. Council ranked all seven proposed activities (e.g., develop rental housing, code enforcement, street paving, park development, economic growth) as high priority.
  • Item 22 (Rezoning – Mercy Medical Center area): Shelley Ultman (resident, 11 Boulder Road) testified on behalf of developer Cating, which plans a 200-unit affordable townhome community (80% area median income, ~$1/sq. ft., garages). She confirmed the rezoning from Z7-1 Specific Use to Z3 General Urban for ~33.58 acres west of N. Eisenhower, north of MercyOne West Campus. No other public comments.
  • Item 25 (Rezoning – Legacy/Black Dolphin): Matt Sedlock (representing Legacy and Black Dolphin) explained that the 17.7-acre parcel (current rental property) is being rezoned from Z2 Sub-Urban to Z3 General Urban to allow flexibility for retention ponds, drainage, and future development. The existing house will remain a rental. No other public comments.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations:
    • Child Care Aware: May 8, 2026 proclaimed as Provider Appreciation Day.
    • Memorial Day: Urged attendance at 9:00 AM ceremony at Elmwood/St. Joseph/Memorial Park Cemeteries.
    • Historic Preservation Month: May 2026 proclaimed; Best in Preservation Award given to Trisha Sandal (not present) for work on ordinances, certificates of appropriateness, and demolition review.
  • Public Hearings (Items 18-19): No public comments. Resolutions approving Urban Renewal Plan Amendment No. 9 (Downtown Reinvestment) and Amendment No. 12 (Unified Urban Renewal Area) adopted.
  • Item 20 (CDBG Roofing): Council approved the resolution selecting technical services providers for the 2026 CDBG Housing Rehabilitation – Roofing Program, subject to grant award.
  • Item 21 (CDBG Exterior Home Improvement): Council approved the resolution authorizing the grant application, naming NIACOG as administrator, and ranking all identified needs as high priority.
  • Item 22 (Rezoning): Council adopted the ordinance rezoning ~33.58 acres from Z7-1 to Z3. The developer will apply for workforce housing tax credits (due June 10, 2026; award announcement September/October), with construction likely starting late spring/summer 2027 in phases.
  • Action Items:
    • Item 23: Resolution setting May 19, 2026 as public hearing date for the General Obligation Urban Renewal Loan Agreement (bond issuance) related to mall renovations and Mohawk Square redevelopment. Adopted.
    • Item 24: Final passage of ordinance updating Title 9, Chapter 4 (Speed Restrictions). Adopted.
    • Item 25: Second/final passage of ordinance rezoning 17.7 acres from Z2 to Z3, subject to zoning agreement with Legacy/Black Dolphin. Adopted.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous (7-0).
  • Proclamations issued for May 8 (Child Care), Memorial Day, and Historic Preservation Month.
  • Consent agenda (items 4-17) approved without pull.
  • Urban renewal plan amendments (items 18-19) adopted after public hearings.
  • CDBG Roofing Program application authorized (item 20); CDBG Exterior Home Improvement grant application and needs assessment approved (item 21).
  • Rezoning for affordable housing near Mercy Medical Center approved (item 22).
  • Public hearing set for May 19 on bond loan for urban renewal projects (item 23).
  • Speed regulation ordinance updated (item 24).
  • Rezoning for Legacy/Black Dolphin development approved (item 25).

Meeting Transcript

Welcome. Um I'll call the we'll now call the meetings of the Mason City City Council to order. Clerk, please call the role. Adams. Present. Latham. President. Yeshewski. Here. Simmons. Present. Heinz. Here. It's a present. Um is there a motion and second to adopt the agenda? So move. Second. Clerk, call the role. Yesky. Yes. Heinz? Yes. Simmons. Yes. Massan. Yes. Adams. Yes. Latham. Yes. We got a couple things on special. Thank you. Uh special items on uh business tonight. Um kind of honored to do these here. We'll start with the proclamation for child care aware. Whereas child care aware of American organizations nationwide are recognizing child care providers on this day, and whereas a child care system supports children's growth, development, and educational advancement while creating positive economic impacts for families and communities. And whereas child care providers are essential to the health of the communities by fostering safe, welcoming spaces, supporting working families, and creating enriching environments where children develop lifelong skills. And whereas Mason City recognized that child care has been and continues to be a lifeline for families, communities, and the economy, and where I support for affordable, accessible, high quality child care represents a worthy commitment to help families work, support children's healthy and development and learning, and keeps our economy growing. Now therefore I, John P. Lee, Mayor of Mason City do hereby proclaim Friday, May eighth, twenty twenty-six as Provider Appreciation Day. And I urge all citizens to recognize child care providers for their important work and how valuable they are to our communities. Do we have a representative here? Let's still show them appreciation for everything they do. And whereas we also salute all veterans who have been laid to rest in Elmwood's St. Joseph and Memorial Park Cemeteries in Mason City in the past year. And urge all citizens to join me in thanking with our hearts those who have given their last full measure of sacrifice sacrifice for our community and country. Thank you so much. Thank you very much appreciated. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

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