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Record of Proceedings

Sioux City Council Meeting Summary for November 17, 2025

Council Meetings — Monday, November 17, 2025
BodySioux City, Iowa
SessionCouncil Meetings
DateMonday, November 17, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

More.

0:06

Here.

0:06

O'Kane.

0:07

Shaner.

0:09

Scott.

0:10

Here.

0:10

Water.

0:11

Here.

0:11

Please stand for a moment of silent prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

0:18

I pledge by our United States America.

0:26

One nation.

0:27

Under God.

0:28

And the municipal.

0:33

We'll go right to the consent agenda today, which is items two through 7B.

0:38

That's the consent agenda.

0:40

You can consider all items to pass unanimously unless a separate roll call votes asked for.

0:45

If you want to speak on any of those items, please come up as I read it.

0:48

If you want to speak on an item not on the agenda, please come up under citizen concerns.

0:55

And all speakers must remember to state their name for the record and limit your comments to three minutes.

1:01

I'll move the consent agenda.

1:02

Second.

1:03

Two is a reading of the November 10th City Council minutes.

1:07

Three are actions relating to boards, commissions, and committees.

1:11

A is a motion appointing Sandra Bass to the Human Rights Commission to complete the balance of a three-year term expiring in June 30th, 2028.

1:20

B is a motion accepting the Library Board of Trustees' annual report.

1:26

And C is a motion accepting the Museum Board of Trustees' annual report.

1:30

Mr.

1:31

Hansen.

1:32

Thank you, Your Honor.

1:34

Normally I have the good sense not to get up on an annual report, but a couple of things I want to say, as you know, we had the uh representative from Closevol at the museum, and you and the Mayor Bo Cham were there.

1:47

We were talking about the museum, took them on a little tour and just told them about how we had a uh public facility and also with the library and the art center, how fortunate the city was.

1:58

And I showed him the timeline, our annual report, and he was impressed with that.

2:03

But I was reinforcing.

2:21

We've had a good council uh uh councilwoman Shaner and Mayor Scott.

2:26

So just thank you for that.

2:28

The uh gentleman was very impressed with what he saw on Sioux City, and uh he just was having a hard time figuring out about a public museum, public library and the public uh art center.

2:41

So it speaks well of our city and once again speaks well of the support you've given us through the years.

2:46

So thank you.

2:47

Thank you.

2:47

Thanks, Steve.

2:48

Thank you, Steve.

2:50

Four actions relating to agreements and contracts.

2:52

A is a resolution approving the intergovernmental transfer of public funds and approving the an intergovernmental transfer of public funds agreement for the fiscal year 2627.

3:04

B is a resolution granting a permit to Metro Fiber Net to maintain underground fiber in the four street corridor, C is a resolution granting a permit to Metro Fiber Net to maintain underground fiber in the 7th Street Corridor.

3:20

B is a resolution approving amendment number one to the service provider agreement with Metro Electric in connection with the purchase and installation of a two-car EV charging station at MLK Transportation Center parking ramp.

3:35

Five are actions authorizing payments.

3:38

A is the resolution approving the work and authorizing payment of ANF construction for the transit maintenance garage parking lot improvement project.

3:47

B is a resolution of authorizing payment to Steve Harris construction based upon the completion of the IDOT audit of the Dodge Avenue Reconstruction Project.

3:58

Go ahead.

4:04

I gotta read it.

4:05

He's got to read it.

4:05

Oh, I'm sorry.

4:06

C is a resolution approving a $60,000 contribution to the Sioux land initiative.

4:12

Just one second now.

4:13

And you want to offer an amendment.

4:15

Or uh motion to defer.

4:18

Motion to defer.

4:18

Yeah, I'd like to move we defer this item until next week, uh, November 24th.

4:25

Okay.

4:26

I'll second that.

4:27

Now go ahead.

4:28

May I speak on it anyway?

4:30

The representative William Burroughs um bylaws say you have to spell your name.

4:34

Is that correct?

4:35

Go ahead.

4:36

No.

4:36

Okay.

4:37

All right.

4:42

I'm a little nervous, so uh you got this.

4:45

All right.

4:46

So I'm gonna make the sign at the cross because it used to help me make free throws.

4:51

Um it doesn't.

4:52

I was terrible shot.

4:54

Uh council.

4:55

I will be counting on each of you to vote.

4:59

No.

5:00

I will be counting on each of you to vote no on today's consent agenda item 5C resolution approving a $60,000 contribution to the Sioux land initiative for FY2026.

5:14

First of all, be it lost funds or a tariff, a tax is a tax, no matter how you try to sugarcoat it.

5:21

Or as we say here in this swine republic of Iowa, you could put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

5:29

It is not the responsibility of the taxpaying citizens of Sioux City to fund an organization that is already flush with cash.

5:38

Furthermore, it is not the taxpayers' fault that this nonprofit apparently can't control their spenses.

5:45

If they need more money, they should increase their membership dues and not burden the taxpayers with their shortfalls.

5:54

Number two, according to the IRS 990, the amount of this organization pays its leadership and salary and benefits is at least five times what the average salaried person is paid in Sioux City.

6:05

It is also interesting to note that the second command of this organization is a woman, but she only gets paid half of what the first in command makes.

6:15

Do you really want to fund an organization that pays women less than men for the very similar work?

6:21

Number three, this organization did not endorse two of their own members for city council.

6:26

One is a chair and one and one.

6:33

One is a chair of one of their committees, and one member is of the uh one member is a member of their board who happens to be a person of color.

6:42

DEI notwithstanding, if these gentlemen are good enough to serve with this organization, should they be worthy enough to merit an endorsement from them for city council?

6:52

With this lack of transparency and the apparent lack of loyalty to their own, can this nonprofit be trusted to spend 60K of taxpayer money without a detailed explanation of what the money will be used for.

7:08

Number four, finally, this organization has been stonewalling their participation in improving the renovation of Sioux City's wastewater treatment plant because the industrial users of the plant who are also members of the same organization don't want to pay their fair share of the cost in the future when they have been getting their water treated in the past for next to nothing.

7:31

I weigh close to 300 pounds, about as much as the average porky for slaughter.

7:37

I know how much waste I can generate in a day.

7:40

So if hog kills are 10,000 head a day or more, and the stock traders that transport them need washing, that puts tons more waste that stress our already overburdened system to the max.

7:54

Besides, it's way past time for these boys to buck up and fulfill their civic responsibility to equitably pay for clean water and stop begging for 60 G's, carte blanche.

8:10

Because the city has done so in the past, is no reason for doing so now.

8:15

Even the self-proclaimed cost cutter and councilman in waiting, Rick Bowstrand, may see this request as an unnecessary boondaco.

8:27

Therefore, on behalf of the average Joe, I say no and ask for a roll-call vote.

8:33

Thank you.

8:36

Anyone else?

8:37

Okay.

8:37

The item will be deferred.

8:39

We'll go to D, which is a vote on that.

8:42

And Alex was asking me.

8:44

My primary reason is I haven't reviewed the budget yet.

8:49

I didn't see a budget included, was there?

8:53

We'll we'll get that.

8:55

Okay.

8:56

We talked about that several months ago.

8:58

Yeah.

8:59

I didn't.

9:00

Yeah.

9:00

I would love to see a budget.

9:02

Okay.

9:03

On the deferral, Shanner.

9:05

Aye.

9:06

Scott?

9:06

Aye.

9:07

Waters?

9:08

Aye.

9:08

More.

9:09

Aye.

9:10

D is a um resolution approving it.

9:15

The repair assessment partial settlement of a tort claim and authorizing payment.

9:19

E is a resolution approving a partial settlement of a tort claim and authorizing payment.

9:24

Six are actions relating to property.

9:26

A is the resolution opposed proposing to lease property.

9:29

I'm on communications for the right to maintain fiber optic cables in exchange for the city's use of the fiber.

9:36

B is a resolution inviting proposals for the lease of land in the combined central Sioux City CBD Urban Renewal Area announcing the intent to participate in the proposal of the urbane 2012 and scheduling a hearing.

9:50

The property is a portion of the parking lot at 1200 Fourth Street.

10:00

C is a resolution inviting proposals for the lease of land for farming purposes in the Donner Park Urban Renewal Area, announcing the intent to accept the proposal of Todd Godferson and scheduling a hearing for the property located west of 2271 Allison Avenue.

10:12

Seven are boards and commission and committee committee minutes.

10:15

Review the list come forward via questions.

10:22

Concludes that the uh consent agenda passes 408 hearing and resolution approving plans and specs for the rehabilitation of the old Bacon Creek Sanitary Sewer.

10:49

I'll move that.

10:50

Second public hearings now open.

10:54

Anyone to be heard?

10:56

Seeing none, the hearing is closed.

11:09

Passes 4-0.

11:11

Recommendations of P and Z.

11:13

Nine is an ordinance rezoning 3700 Jefferson Street.

11:16

The petitioner's Dolph Ivner, PNZ recommends denial.

11:20

Uh I'll move second reading, or uh do we even need to if the if there you can move for deletion Mr.

11:30

Iner, you're asking us to delete.

11:32

You want to come forward and tell us that for the record, please.

11:37

Do you want to move for a name's Dolph Five and I live at 3400 Talbot Road?

11:41

Um I'm asking to have it removed, and I'd like to thank you guys.

11:44

We've been working on a project trying to get something together, and I think we can make the whole neighborhood happy and have everything move forward.

11:50

I do appreciate it.

11:51

Move we delete.

11:53

Second.

11:53

Thanks, Dolph.

11:54

Thank you.

12:02

Second.

12:03

Thank you.

12:04

Second.

12:07

Scott.

12:07

Aye.

12:08

Waters.

12:09

Aye.

12:09

Moore.

12:10

Aye.

12:11

Shayner.

12:11

Aye.

12:12

That concludes concludes the agenda.

12:14

Are there any citizen concerns?

12:16

If so, please come to the microphone, state your name, please.

12:27

Paul Koskevich, I uh uh Bob called me this afternoon at lunch and uh we chatted about our tax abatement, and then I met with Dan here this afternoon.

12:35

Uh although I didn't still see eye to eye with Bob.

12:39

Uh I think I made some progress with Dan, and so I'm asking that uh some of you that voted no uh or weren't in supportive of 100% for Ben and I's project.

12:49

I'd like you to uh uh meet with Dan and hopefully he can provide some perspective of kind of where I at where I'm at because uh I felt like after our conversation that he better understood the reasoning and I'm hopeful that uh with some more conversations between your team that uh you guys can understand where at.

13:07

So that's all okay.

13:10

Thank you.

13:11

Thank you.

13:11

Anyone else be heard?

13:16

Julie.

13:19

Oh goodness.

13:20

I don't believe I have any citizen concerns.

13:22

I'm just very happy that we'll be moving forward on the leads property.

13:30

Um there'll be more to come on that.

13:33

Was uh great to move along.

13:35

Um I think everybody's gonna be happy.

13:38

Um I think we're gonna get some colder weather, so everybody get ready for it, check your furnaces and those kinds of things.

13:44

It's on its way.

13:45

And um, otherwise, that's all I have.

13:49

Alex Um no, I don't believe I have anything.

13:56

I would echo Julie's comments.

13:59

I know the council as well as city staff and Dolph, the property owner have worked pretty diligently to try to put something together and we'll make sure that we can do the best we can by the citizens and see what we can make happen.

14:15

So that's all I have.

14:17

Mr.

14:17

Moore.

14:18

Uh, there's scheduled a parade a week from tonight, November 24th, downtown.

14:25

That's when the full light at the miracle on 41st Street will happen too.

14:29

That's exactly right.

14:30

That's all I have, Mayor.

14:32

We adjourn.

14:33

Second.

14:34

Waters.

14:35

Aye.

14:36

Moore.

14:36

Aye.

14:37

Chainer.

14:38

Aye.

14:38

Scott.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████37%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████████████████24%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████13%
Libraries███████████11%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Racial Equity██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Sioux City Council Meeting Summary for November 17, 2025

The Sioux City City Council convened on November 17, 2025, to consider a Consent Agenda comprising routine appointments, contract approvals, and property resolutions. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a public comment by a resident opposing a $60,000 contribution to the Sioux Land Initiative, which resulted in a motion to defer the item. Additionally, the Council accepted a request to delete a rezoning ordinance after the petitioner met with the Council to pursue a neighborhood consensus project. The meeting concluded with citizen concerns regarding tax abatement discussions and announcements of upcoming civic events.

Consent Calendar

  • Routine Approvals: Approvals for the November 10th minutes, board/committee appointments (Sandra Bass to Human Rights Commission), and trustees' annual reports for the Library and Museum were unanimously agreed upon (Item 3). Approvals for intergovernmental transfer agreements with the 2026-2027 fiscal year, fiber optic permits for Metro Fiber Net on 4th and 7th Streets, and an amendment to the Metro Electric service provider agreement for an EV charging station at the MLK Transportation Center were also included.
  • Deferral of Contributions: Item 5C, a resolution approving a $60,000 contribution to the Sioux Land Initiative, was moved to defer with a second. Councilors Shaner, Scott, Waters, and Moore voted in favor of the deferral. The item was removed from the agenda for review next week (November 24th) pending budget review.
  • Deferred Actions: The item was not voted upon as it was deferred; subsequent voting on related settlement resolutions (Items 5D and 5E) proceeded.
  • Property and Sewer Actions: Resolutions proposing fiber optic leases, inviting proposals for land leasing in the Urban Renewal Area (Items 6A, 6B, 6C), and approving plans for the Bacon Creek Sanitary Sewer rehabilitation (4-0 vote) were approved as part of the consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • William Burroughs: Spoke strongly against Item 5C ($60,000 contribution to the Sioux Land Initiative). He expressed full opposition to the funding, characterizing it as "a tax" regardless of terminology. His positions included:
    • The organization is "already flush with cash" and should increase membership dues rather than burden taxpayers.
    • The organization pays leadership salaries at least five times the average Sioux City salary.
    • The organization exhibits gender pay disparity, with the second-in-command earning half of the first-in-command.
    • The organization failed to endorse two city council members who are also members of its board, raising concerns about loyalty and loyalty to people of color.
    • The organization has stonewalled wastewater treatment renovation contributions from industrial members (specifically hog slaughtering operations), which Burroughs argued places undue stress on the city's water system.
    • He requested a roll-call vote of "no" on the contribution.
  • Dolph Ivner ( petitioner): Appeared at the microphone regarding Item 9 (rezoning 3700 Jefferson Street). He expressed support for the immediate removal (deletion) of the rezoning request to allow for further neighborhood collaboration, stating his goal was to make the neighborhood happy and move a project forward collectively.
  • Paul Koskevich: Under Citizen Concerns, he mentioned a conversation with Councilman Bob and Dan regarding a tax abatement for "Ben and I's project." He expressed a hopeful position that Council members who voted against or were not supportive of his project would meet with Dan to understand his reasoning, noting he felt they better understood his perspective after recent discussions.
  • Julie: Expressed enthusiastic support for the city moving forward with the "Leads property" project.
  • Mayor: Announced an upcoming parade on November 24th downtown and the "Miracle on 41st Street" light event, encouraging citizens to prepare for colder weather.

Discussion Items

  • Sioux Land Initiative Contribution (Item 5C): Detailed deliberation occurred regarding the $60,000 contribution. Councilor Waters requested to see the organization's budget, noting it was not included in the materials provided months prior, reinforcing the need for deferral to review financial details.
  • Rezoning Deletion (Item 9): Discussion shifted from a potential denial by the Planning and Zoning Commission to a unanimous motion to delete the ordinance. The Councilor and the petitioner discussed the viability of a joint project to satisfy the entire neighborhood, leading to the withdrawal of the rezoning request.

Key Outcomes

  • Deferment: The Council voted to defer Item 5C ($60k contribution to Sioux Land Initiative) until November 24, 2025, for further budget review and discussion (4-0 vote on deferral).
  • Adoption of Ordinances: The resolution approving plans for the rehabilitation of the old Bacon Creek Sanitary Sewer passed with a 4-0 vote.
  • Deletion of Rezoning: The ordinance rezoning 3700 Jefferson Street was moved to delete and was unanimously approved (4-0 vote) at the request of the petitioner, Dolph Ivner.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following citizen concerns and public announcements.
  • Unrecorded Vote: The transcript contains a discrepancy regarding the final vote on the deferral; the text states "Shanner. Aye. Scott? Aye. Waters? Aye. Moore. Aye" for the deferral, but the final line of the transcript lists "Waters. Aye. Moore. Aye. Chainer. Aye. Scott." for the adjournment, suggesting all members present voted in favor of key motions, though the specific tally for the deferral is explicitly listed as 4 "Ayes".

Meeting Transcript

More. Here. O'Kane. Shaner. Scott. Here. Water. Here. Please stand for a moment of silent prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I pledge by our United States America. One nation. Under God. And the municipal. We'll go right to the consent agenda today, which is items two through 7B. That's the consent agenda. You can consider all items to pass unanimously unless a separate roll call votes asked for. If you want to speak on any of those items, please come up as I read it. If you want to speak on an item not on the agenda, please come up under citizen concerns. And all speakers must remember to state their name for the record and limit your comments to three minutes. I'll move the consent agenda. Second. Two is a reading of the November 10th City Council minutes. Three are actions relating to boards, commissions, and committees. A is a motion appointing Sandra Bass to the Human Rights Commission to complete the balance of a three-year term expiring in June 30th, 2028. B is a motion accepting the Library Board of Trustees' annual report. And C is a motion accepting the Museum Board of Trustees' annual report. Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Your Honor. Normally I have the good sense not to get up on an annual report, but a couple of things I want to say, as you know, we had the uh representative from Closevol at the museum, and you and the Mayor Bo Cham were there. We were talking about the museum, took them on a little tour and just told them about how we had a uh public facility and also with the library and the art center, how fortunate the city was. And I showed him the timeline, our annual report, and he was impressed with that. But I was reinforcing. We've had a good council uh uh councilwoman Shaner and Mayor Scott. So just thank you for that. The uh gentleman was very impressed with what he saw on Sioux City, and uh he just was having a hard time figuring out about a public museum, public library and the public uh art center. So it speaks well of our city and once again speaks well of the support you've given us through the years. So thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Steve. Thank you, Steve. Four actions relating to agreements and contracts. A is a resolution approving the intergovernmental transfer of public funds and approving the an intergovernmental transfer of public funds agreement for the fiscal year 2627. B is a resolution granting a permit to Metro Fiber Net to maintain underground fiber in the four street corridor, C is a resolution granting a permit to Metro Fiber Net to maintain underground fiber in the 7th Street Corridor. B is a resolution approving amendment number one to the service provider agreement with Metro Electric in connection with the purchase and installation of a two-car EV charging station at MLK Transportation Center parking ramp. Five are actions authorizing payments. A is the resolution approving the work and authorizing payment of ANF construction for the transit maintenance garage parking lot improvement project. B is a resolution of authorizing payment to Steve Harris construction based upon the completion of the IDOT audit of the Dodge Avenue Reconstruction Project. Go ahead. I gotta read it.

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