Sioux City City Council Meeting - September 15, 2025
Sioux City City Council Meeting - September 15, 2025
The Sioux City City Council met on September 15, 2025, to discuss a consent agenda, a major property acquisition for downtown redevelopment, a street vacation request, an alley collection strategy, and other routine items. The meeting included public comments and extensive deliberation on several items.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda (items 2 through 11C) was moved and seconded. Mayor asked a question on item 5 regarding the trade-in value of five vehicles with landscape dump and plow from IState Truck Center. Discussion ensued about the condition of the trucks, the plow standardization, and the trade-in value of $7,000 each. The mayor expressed surprise at the low trade-in value but was satisfied with the explanation from city staff. The consent agenda passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- John Williams (1613 West 17th Street) spoke in favor of the alley collection pilot program, describing his own difficulties with alley trash pickup and his desire to move to curbside service.
- Michael Bayala raised multiple complaints about city inspection practices, including a water line issue after a fire, a bill for a street light repair, rude behavior from inspectors, and grass cutting without prior notice. He urged the council to address these issues.
- John Williams (425 Buckwalter Drive) also commented on a median installed on West 14th Street near Chick-fil-A, stating it is too narrow for large vehicles and city plows, and that traffic is actually worse. He also questioned the city's management of empty downtown properties.
Discussion Items
- Resolution for Property Acquisition at 100, 112, and 124 Pierce Street (Item G7G): The council discussed a resolution to approve a purchase agreement and appoint an agent for the sale of four acres at the entrance to downtown. Councilman Moore expressed discomfort without a committed developer and noted a potential conflict of interest (friendship with a previous owner), indicating he might abstain. City staff explained the vision for mixed-use development, the 120-day due diligence period, and the use of funds from previous real estate transactions. Councilman Moore and others emphasized the need for public input and a clear plan. The resolution passed 5-0, with Moore abstaining.
- Ordinance Vacating Streets near 4510 Van Buren Street (Item 12): This item involved a petition to vacate a portion of 45th Street and Madison Street. Planning and Zoning recommended approval of Madison vacation but denial of 45th Street vacation. The council heard extensive testimony from the petitioners (Barry Bulkey and Melissa Einhorn) and a neighbor, Brian Reynolds. Discussion centered on access, utilities, snow plowing, and the historical use of 45th Street. The council moved to defer the second reading to the next meeting (September 22) to allow further engineering review and neighbor discussions. Motion passed unanimously.
- Hearing on Ordinance Amending Chapter 25.05 (Signs) (Item 13): The council held a public hearing on an ordinance related to digital billboards and off-premise signs. Council members expressed concern about large digital signs and agreed to a moratorium to study the issue further. The hearing was closed, and the ordinance passed 5-0.
- Resolution for Sale of Land to Global Foods Processing (Item 14): A resolution accepting the proposal of Global Foods Processing for the purchase of land at 506 Cunningham Drive was approved. The public hearing was held, and the resolution passed 5-0.
- Alley Collection Strategy Presentation (Item 17): Gill Hauling presented a plan to phase out alley pickup for approximately 146-147 homes in a pilot program, moving trash collection to curbside. The presentation cited safety, maintenance, and snow access issues. The council supported the pilot and noted that residents with mobility issues could apply for a waiver. No vote was taken; it was a discussion item.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda passed unanimously, including the vehicle purchase with trade-in.
- Resolution for Pierce Street property acquisition approved 5-0 (Moore abstained). The city will begin a 120-day due diligence period and seek developer proposals.
- Street vacation ordinance deferred to September 22, 2025, for further study.
- Sign ordinance passed 5-0, with a commitment to revisit the code for digital billboards.
- Global Foods land sale approved 5-0.
- HUD grant agreements (items 15 and 16) approved 5-0.
- Alley collection pilot will proceed with door hangers and mail notifications to affected residents; no formal vote but council consensus.
Meeting Transcript
That was weird. Yeah, I heard more. Here. Oh, Kane. Here. Chainer. Here. That's water standard. Stand for a moment of silent career, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Under the small library. We have no proclamations. We have no interviews, so we'll go to the consent agenda items two through 11 C. You can consider to pass unanimously, unless a separate roll call vote is requested by a council member. If you want to speak on an item, please come up as I read that item. If you want to speak on an item not on the agenda, please come up under citizen concerns and always remember to state your feet for the record. I'll move the consent agenda. Second. Two is a reading of the September 8th City Council minutes. Three is a motion approving Drew Parvoo for the to the environmental advisory board. Four is a resolution appointing Teresa Fitch's interim assistant city manager. Five is a resolution awarding a purchase order to IState Truck Center for five vehicles with landscape dump and plow for the streets division. Six are actions relating to street closures. A is a resolution temporarily closing. Sections of Grandview Boulevard and 13th Street on October 3rd for the Bishop Heel and Homecoming Parade. B is a resolution temporarily closing various streets in the Morningside area on September 29th for the East High Homecoming Parade. C is a resolution temporarily closing a section of West 19th Street on September 25th for the West High Homecoming Parade. Mayor. Yes. I forgot. I wanted to ask a question back on five. Okay. And Spiro, I don't know if this is a question for you or who would maybe be able to direct this to. I look, I'm glad that we're getting trade-in on these vehicles. I know nothing about the vehicles that we are as far as the numbers of what we're trading in on that. Um but I did want I did wonder, you know, if these are 200,000 vehicles, is a good trade in value seven grand a piece. I mean, it would would they get more at auction? Do we not want to worry about that? Again, I'm I'm ignorant. I'm just asking the question. I could probably I think Jeff these come with plows, you're selling them with the plows. So first question. Yeah. Uh the value that we're getting on was about what I estimated. Uh the engines with the amount of hours that they have on them plus the miles, really take them pretty much to their B10 life, their usable life before they need uh a major overhaul or rebuild. Uh part two of that is the condition of the bodies themselves, are a little lackluster if you've seen them around. Yeah. So right where we're at is right where we got offered was what I would expect to get out of Gov deals in this situation. Okay. I I look like I said, I trust you, I'm just surprised that expensive a vehicle, and I understand we deal more on you know the the amount of hours and then the expectancy of you know 10 years or how after however often we want to rotate through, and I know we're not gonna just be upgrading just to upgrade, but it just seems like a pretty drastic difference in my opinion. Um the only thing that I could yes contribute to maybe a higher uh trade offer would be the miles and conditioned overall when they're with their traded in.
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