Follow the roll.

Bernstein?

Here.

Bertrand.

Here.

Rayford?

Here.

Channer.

Here.

Scott.

Let's stand for a moment of silence in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Before we get started with the consent agenda, I would like to recognize a very important group of folks who are here.

Do you guys want to come up?

Oh good.

Love the uniforms.

Uniforms are great.

All right.

You'll be competing against Miracle League teams across the country who are all gathering in one place for a wonderful experience.

We're so proud of these athletes.

Just look at them in their new uniform.

We're so excited for them to represent our city on this national stage.

And we really want to wish them a good luck, and let's give them a big round of applause.

You guys can head back if you want to.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Mayor Pro Tem, City Council, and members of the community.

On behalf of the Miracle League of Sioux City, thank you for taking the time to send us off as we prepare to represent Sioux City at the Miracle Series in Cincinnati.

In just a few days, 17 of our athletes, along with their families, coaches, and volunteers will travel to play alongside Miracle League teams from across the country.

Throughout the weekend, they'll participate in skills, combines, opening ceremonies, baseball games, and unforgettable experiences that celebrate inclusion through America's pastime.

As we prepared for this journey, we knew we wanted a team name that represented where we came from.

That's why we proudly chose the Sioux City Packers.

Long before we took the field, the original Sioux City Packers represented this community, and the name pays tribute to our city's deep roots in the packing plants and stockyards that help build Sioux City into what it is today.

And it's that spirit that each of our athletes embody every single day.

So on behalf of every athlete, every family, and everyone at the Mirror League, thank you.

Thank you for believing in our mission for investing in inclusion and for giving us a city where we're incredibly proud to represent.

This weekend, we hope the Miracle League Packers remind this country exactly what Sioux City stands for.

Hard work, and a place where everyone belongs.

Before we head to Cincinnati, we'd love to recognize the reason we're all here.

Please join me in again.

A huge round of applause to the incredible athletes here today who will be representing not only the American League of Sioux City, but our entire community on the national stage.

We couldn't be prouder of each and every one of them.

Thank you.

Do you do you have a website for donations?

Sorry, I should have asked you before you left.

Is there a website or do you have some information on how we can make a donation?

Absolutely.

You can go to Miracle League Su City.com.

We're also on Venmo.

We'll you'll find all of that on our Facebook and socials as well.

Great, thank you.

And best it's not about best of luck, but about the experience.

So that's wonderful to represent the community.

Thank you so much.

All right.

Interview with planning and zoning.

Hi, Michelle.

You want to come on up.

Hello, Michelle Bostonellos.

And um I'm asking uh for a third term on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Um that I know that's in a special exception to the rule.

So I've already served two five year terms.

Um, also um served as chair for a while, currently the vice chair.

Um I have a background in planning, that's my education.

Um part of American Planning Association for Iowa, professional developers of Iowa.

So this is kind of my realm, and I don't get to do it every day, my everyday job, so it's kind of nice to come here and be able to kind of flex those planning muscles uh for the city to be able to to use what I learned.

Yeah.

Right in your wheelhouse.

Right?

Yes, yeah.

So I can answer any questions that you might have, but otherwise I would hope that you would consider putting me on for a third term.

Wonderful.

Absolutely.

I had a chance to visit with Michelle over the weekend and thanked her for her continuing interest and and really the expertise that you provide to the commission.

I know they respect and appreciate what you do, and and certainly as a city council, we do as well.

All right, thank you.

Thanks, Michelle.

All right.

Look.

Okay, we'll move to the consent agenda.

Item three through 14K, constitute a consent agenda.

Items pass unanimously, unless a separate roll call vote is request is requested by a council member.

Anyone wishing to speak on an agenda item may come to the podium at the time the item is being discussed.

Anyone wishing to speak on an item not on the agenda may do so at the end of the regular council meeting during citizen concerns.

Fill out a citizen concern card found outside the chambers and give it to the city manager.

All speakers shall speak their state their name for the record.

You no longer have to state your address and then provide their statement.

Motion and second to move the consent agenda, please.

Move it.

Second.

Right.

Item three, regarding reading of June 22nd and 23rd council minutes.

Resolution.

I do I have to say four and keep going.

Item four, yeah.

Want to make sure I'm in order.

Resolu item four, resolution amending the maximum limits of funds that can be held at city designated bank depositories.

Teresa, quick question on this.

So when you give us the increases, are those based upon the asset value of each bank, or is it based upon what you anticipate?

Because clearly that's well beyond what our deposit capacity is.

So are those based upon asset limits or asset values of the banks?

Trace if it's the city manager.

Um actually we're increasing um for the possibility in the case that um those banks have better um interest rates.

We have the ability to move funds there.

So we have uh a situation right now where we have a bank that's uh a couple of banks that have higher interest rates that we're not able to, we wouldn't be able to invest in because we don't have high enough um uh limits there.

Um the decreases that we are seeing here are because we had a banking change.

So Wells Fargo were moving down because we have already moved up um U.S.

bank, we need to change that authority.

All right, and one went to a non-approved entity.

What's that?

One move change to a non-approved entity.

Correct, yeah.

Credit union.

So those are really the updates.

We look at them every single year and make adjustments that we see necessary.

You'll probably continue to see us bring it year after year until we are completely transitioned to U.S.

bank from Wells Fogo.

So it's been a multi year.

So this gives you more capacity for deposit interest rates.

Correct.

Yep.

Benefit the city.

Good.

Thank you.

Item five, resolution amending the general fund balance policy to update the maximum unreserved general fund balance.

Number six, resolution authorizing an airport improvement grant application.

I just had a real quick question on that one, just for two.

On number five?

Yeah, number five.

Trace of Fetch assistant city manager.

And we are just uh mirroring what the uh the state um or the new uh legislation is.

Is that so is that like for every city or are any okay.

Yep, every city, and we're only um updating right now the general fund um policy.

It was um between 12 and 20 percent, and we've increased it to 35 just to be consistent with the state legislation.

So can you give a practical explanation of what the increase to 35 percent means?

Um, it would allow us the ability to have a larger um fund balance in the case because right now we have um limitations on property taxes.

So it in a sense allows you to keep funding there for the ability to have a larger project or a larger expense item later.

Um so that's kind of the way what the state um the state indicated is that you could set aside funds for the ability to have to have an additional or larger pot of funds for later.

Effectively reserves.

Correct.

Which is ironic because to increase the amount from 20 to 35 percent seems to be.

Well, we are currently at 20 percent, but there are currently school districts and cities and counties um that are uh well above the 35 percent.

So we ourselves were conservative.

I've always said the city is very conservative, but that doesn't mean across the state they have been.

Um and part of this um comes because there are some um municipalities that have very large large reserves, they're trying to control them.

This will actually bring their reserve balances down.

It allows us to bring ours up, uh, but we I mean it gives us some capacity to keep that in a reserve, but we have not in the past.

Typically what we do is we reprogram any um access to fund for the next year to keep our property taxes down.

So thanks, what is the state's maximum percent?

35% 35 percent maximum.

All right, in the past there was not.

Right.

So this is going to force those that had 60, 70 percent reserves, um, force them to use like we do.

Um we already um reprogrammers it will force them to do so.

Because what that means is they continue to tax their property owners when they already have tons of money in reserve.

So you're paying taxes for money to sit there until they find a gigantic project that they're trying to save this money up for.

So the city has never done that.

Sioux City hasn't.

So we use fund balances every year and we note that in our um budget book.

Um we use fund balances to keep the the levy, the levy down.

So some city could have a hundred million dollars sitting in their reserve because they're planning some big project someday.

It hasn't been programmed or necessarily a project hasn't been chosen.

So again, their residents are paying taxes, taxes, taxes when they have all this money in the kitty, like money in the checking account that they don't need yet.

So the government, the city or a state government doesn't think that's right in, nor do we, which is why we haven't done it.

So what we tax for, we spend.

And if we don't spend, we have a little left over, we pull it into next year, so we don't have to tax again for it.

Correct.

So I just want everybody to know that just in lay terms, that would what it means.

How does this impact funds that communities have been holding from COVID?

Um it will force them to use the to use those as well.

It will force them to use it down to that um so you should see them buying down the levy.

So the levy in those communities should start to decrease.

Um like we buy down each year, they may have a a significant buy down and forcing them to get down to the 35 percent.

Right.

Thanks, Teresa.

Yep.

Thank you.

Item six, resolution authorizing an airport improvement grant application to the FFA.

Excuse me, FAA to fund the purchase and installation of 20 vehicle movement area transponders at the airport.

What in the world does that mean?

So this is this is a tracking mechanism.

The FAA region actually contacted us, so they have a safety focus that they're reaching out to airports.

It allows the towers to electronically rather than just visually monitor the vehicles out of the air airport.

So you recently had uh at an airport a fire truck collide with an aircraft.

Yeah.

So all those things happen and they respond to those.

And this is one of those reactions.

Yeah.

Sounds like a great safety measure.

Number seven, resolution adopting plans and specs for the Pearl Street and Railroad Surface Improvement Project.

Number eight, resolution suspending the requirements of the Iowa Code for the hiring of employees for the wastewater treatment plant for a period of one year.

Can I yeah?

Go ahead.

Go ahead, Ike.

Go ahead.

Um I just was just curious about why.

Oh, we've got to find out if Vicky or Tom or someone's here.

Vicky?

Janelle's here.

And Janelle?

Somebody.

It looks like she Vicky's coming up.

Go ahead.

I guess my first question was just why uh why are we suspending those requirements?

Uh Vicky Baker, Assistant Public Works Director.

This would be our second extension.

So this would be our third year that we did it.

We do it because uh wastewater employees are very uh hard to find, and so it's hard to get qualified applicants, and it really uh allows us then to repost the job without having to wait the whole year, and it's really saved us some time on some previous postings.

So this is a civil service that we that came.

And they still need to be qualified under the civil service rules.

Right.

They just this advances the the period of time.

Right, and staff that's involved in the hiring had to take extra training, and then we also have a member of HR on the interview panel when we interview.

So Janelle Bertrand, human resources director.

Yes, this is part that that job is a civil service job.

They're asking for a waiver from you guys.

They've done it before.

We have other departments that also have this waiver.

That was my question.

Yep.

They still have to meet the minimum qualifications of the position, and they also have to take and pass all civil service related examinations.

Off the top of your head, you know, what other departments are you waiving the rule?

Uh police.

Well, you ask us police has the the waiver, um, I believe utilities water treatment plan underground utilities had the waiver.

Uh that might be it right.

Okay, thank you.

Traditionally, we've done these in year increments as well, just so we can bring it back to council and discuss it annually.

Economic development and community development have also had a waiver.

So thanks.

Number nine, resolution awarding a purchase order to add stevers forward for one 2027 Ford E350 cutaway van.

Is Spiro here?

Or is somebody Spiro?

The question I've got is invariably when you're bringing the purchase orders forward to us, we're getting relatively few proposals.

Is that because the specs on the proposal are so delineated that we're not maybe thinking to broaden the scope of who might be able to support a bid?

Uh Spiro who is purchasing manager.

I know we work a lot with uh CMG with Jeff, and he typically writes the specs.

He tries to write the specs that meet state bid.

So we try to meet them to their.

I mean, I know you know, obviously, I I think Ed Stiver seems like they have the state bid on a lot of them.

And it does give the vendors, it's all public information.

So I know a lot of times we'll have a couple local vendors that will bid.

Um so we typically most item vehicles we will get three to four.

Um this one was pretty unique, and that it sounds like it's just a very difficult piece of equipment to obtain.

Well, and to your point, maybe you can address this.

I do understand that there are few or relatively few vendors in the state that qualify for state bidding.

And what I'd like to see if if there aren't unique elements that are required for the purchase orders that we broaden that scope to allow for, especially for more local vendors to participate.

Because many local vendors will share that when they get the specs, they simply either can't get the product or they're not qualified to get the product from the supplier from the manufacturer.

And I just wonder can we broaden the scope of the specs so that they could be included?

Uh Jeff Udicker fleet manager.

So in this case, um there's not a lot of local vendors.

It takes rather large vendors usually that will deal with these cutaway type vans, then they have to work with the bodybuilder to get the box put on.

Um we did reach out to um one local one, and he couldn't find anybody local or any closer than Kansas City to put one on outside of Des Moines, obviously.

So I did not expect to receive more than maybe two or three.

I'm kind of surprised at the one on this one, but that's just kind of how it fell.

So and I don't know if their pricing, like in this case, if that really affects how the this the chassis itself, um, the availability, a lot of them I don't think really deal with the with the with cutaways.

They're just kind of a different difference.

The explanation seemed like it was quite specialized, so maybe this is a one-we did meet with the local vendors probably been about six months to a year ago about another vehicle, and we were told is that when they go to order, they're ordering off their what's the the government listing.

And we were told is that when they go to order, they're ordering off their what's the the government listing.

It's not like it's not like you're going there and buying your something off the lot.

They they each get certain slot when they order, so the bigger cities they get more.

The Des Moines vendors get more and out.

So I'm and we do get some local ones that will come in there every so often and beat those state.

I'm I'm Spiro, I'm glad you mentioned that in the past you've met with some of the vendors, especially with regard to the car dealers, because as I was visiting with some of them, I had suggested that maybe we needed to have an evening where we could sit down and explain to them what our parameters are.

So that might be something that you want to consider maybe for in the next three, four months.

That'd be great.

Thank you.

Okay.

Item 10.

10 A.

Resolution approving the second amendment to the agreement with Piper Sandler to extend the financial advisory services agreement for one year to include specific projects in the scope of services.

B resolution approving an agreement with Eagleview for aerial photography services.

I just have a question on that one, Julie.

Okay.

Gordon, I I pretty much just understand everything.

I was just curious why the rescinding of it.

Uh Gordon Fair, City Engineer.

Uh we had the uh incorrect agreement set up before where we were going to have um the county pay us.

City assessor.

What's that?

The city assessor.

The city assessor, that's right.

City assessor.

And they were going to pay us, but then they wanted their own agreement, so we had to rescind that uh redo it.

Start for the costs say the same for the city and everything.

Okay, thanks.

And the document, I know that when we approved it prior, I asked Nicole, you've had a chance to review the legal agreement, same agreement.

You're still comfortable with the document.

Same agreement, just the it's split out from the assessor's office.

No.

Thank you.

C resolution approving contract with RP constructors for South Bridge Drive emergency force main repair project.

D, resolution awarding service provider agreement with blank and chip paint and glass for the 26, 27, 28 fire hydrant repainting project.

E resolution approving a post-construction stormwater management plan, maintenance agreement, and easement with Morningside University on the Sioux City Community School District for a wallet water quality practices and accepting it permanent easement located on Morningside University campus.

So on both E and F is the reason that we're retaining an easement in the in the event that we need to maintain they don't maintain the property and we need to go onto the property.

Is that why we have the easement?

Aaron Montane Environmental Services.

It basically just says like if they don't uphold their agreement to clean or maintain their detention retention or any kind of water quality, the city can access that site and make sure it doesn't affect our infrastructure.

Thanks.

And we're not paying for that easement on either ERF.

Correct.

Morning side is going to do all the maintenance on these.

But on the we're not typically if we obtain an easement, we'll pay for the value of a temporary permanent easement.

We're not paying for that easement on either of these.

Okay.

Thanks.

F resolution approving a post-construction stormwater man.

Whoops, just did that one.

Oh no, it's the same one.

Resolution approving a post-water construction stormwater management plan, maintenance agreement, and easement with Family Worship Center for a detention base and accepting the permanent easement property at 1315 Indian Hills Drive.

Resolution G, resolution approving the submission of merchant services application with X4 pay for payment processing services for a five-year term with the option of a one-year extension for parks and rec facilities.

If any of the any of these um parks and rec facilities come offline for any reason, does will can the agreement be amended?

Justin, at last recruition, superintendent.

If one of our facilitat if for some reason we make changes to a facility, can would this agreement be amended?

Uh the agreement can be amended, yeah.

H resolution approving a settlement agreement and release regarding a claim by Stephanie Sotello.

I resolution approving service provider agreement, JCI Industries for pump removal repair and installation project.

On I and J, we've had issues before where we've pulled we've had work done on pumps.

They come and get the pump, they take the pump, and invariably when it gets to their location, we get increases in the purchase order.

Because of the location of this particular group out of Lee Summit, would it could it be reasonable to expect that they could come pull the pump, evaluate the pump, and tell us what we're really looking at now as opposed to having go to lease summit and then being held?

They do come and pull it, but they have to take it back to their shop to tear it apart.

So they can't do that here.

Okay.

Okay, thanks.

I apologize.

Could you just give your name for the record?

Thank you so much.

J resolution approving a service provider agreement to JCI Industries for a pump removal repair and installation project.

11 actions authorizing payments.

A a resolution authorizing the payment of retainage in 30 days to CW Suter and Sun for the Martin Luther King Transportation Center Retail Space HBAC replacement project.

B resolution approving fund transfers for April.

C motion approving the list of all claims, total expenses, and receipts for April.

12 applications for cigarette tobacco, nicotine, and vapor products.

See the list.

13 alcohol applications for alcohol licenses, see the list.

14 board, commissions, and committee minutes.

Review the list and come forward if you have any questions.

I'd yep, sorry.

Sorry, sorry.

The vote is for Mayor Scott absent.

Appointments to boards, commissions, and committees.

15 motion appointing Bruce Miller to the events facility and tourism advisory board to complete a balance of a three-year term expiring June 30th, 2027, and reappointing Bruce to the facilities, events, facilities, and tourism advisory board for his own three-year term.

I'll move item 15.

Second.

The vote is four with the mayor being absent.

16 motion reappointing Joy Drightmeyer to the events, facilities and tourism advisory board.

I'll move item 16.

Second.

The vote is for the mayor being absent.

17 motion reappointing Matthew Scott to the Historic Preservation Committee.

I'll move seven.

Oh, sorry.

I'll move 17.

Second.

Bob would have abstained on this one anyway, so yeah.

Results are for the mayor being absent.

Four eyes.

18, a motion reappointing Terry McGaffin to the Human Rights Commission.

A move.

Second.

Oh, 4-0, sorry.

I need you.

Gotcha.

19 motion reappointing Michael to Karzik to the Transit Advisory Board for a three-year term upon due consideration the circumstances of council.

The city council waives the policy that no person shall give more than two consecutive terms.

I'll move it 19.

Second.

Vote is for aye.

The mayor scott absent.

20 motion appointing three of the following four applicants to the airport board of trustees for a three-year term, re-applicant David Kaplan, new applicants, Tyler Cruz, Pat McAlroy, and Barbara Slanaker.

Now I'll move this item, and as it's seconded, I'd like to have some discussion.

I talked to Nicole, and rather than moving this as slates, can we I would like I would prefer to move each individual based upon who we want to select, but that each individu that we have each individual moved and voted on.

And that's Nicole approved.

That's appropriate.

Yes, that's permanent.

Okay.

So it need we need a second?

For 20, 21 and 22.

It is for we don't need it for 22.

Each one separate.

But we need it for 20 and 21.

Yeah, and 22 would be fine too.

Second.

So was was that motion and second then for the first candidate on the list for Ms.

Kaylin?

The the motion was to for appointing three of the four.

We now need a s a motion to nominate each individual.

Correct.

So I will start by nominating David Kaplan.

Do we have a second?

Need a second.

Oh sorry.

That was for David Kaplan.

Yes.

So is your plan to run through all four?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

So on Mr.

Kaplan.

I have one here.

Barenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand?

Yeah, aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shayner.

Aye.

I'll move Tyler Cruz.

Second.

Do I have a second?

Still need a second.

You you have to move and second each individual.

And then it can be voted up.

And then we've got to do that.

But it will, but technically, if there's not a second, the motion fails.

For lack of a second.

Yes.

Okay.

Motion fails.

Yes.

Okay.

I'll move Barbara Slanaker.

Second.

Bernstein?

Aye.

Bertrand?

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shayner.

Aye.

Okay, so that's one.

Who's got Pat?

Pat McCalroy.

I'll nominate Pat McElroy.

Second.

Bertand.

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shanner.

Aye.

Bernstein.

Um I'm I will definitely support Pat.

He's oh he's a wonderful candidate.

The reason I had moved Tyler Cruz was because Tyler had applied last year and didn't was not approved.

This is Pat's first year.

I think Pat will do a great job.

I candidly I would have preferred that we support Tyler in this round, but I will support Pat with a yes.

Okay.

All right.

21.

Motion approving two of the following four applicants for the library board of trustees for a three-year term.

I'll move.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Did you do that for all?

I'm going to move 21 so that we can then do what we did for 20.

Second.

Are we caught up to where we need to be?

Are we where we need to be?

Yep.

Okay.

So we're approved to each read each one separately.

Yes, you technically don't need to move it.

You could just move each candidate separately.

So we'll just go ahead and if you'd like to start with.

I'll move the nomination of Linda Santee.

Second.

Bertrant?

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

Aye.

Bernstein.

Aye.

I'll move Terrence Feinstra.

Second.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shayner?

Aye.

Bernstein?

No.

Bertram.

Aye.

Okay.

And can we we can still submit the nomination of the other candidates?

And if they're equal votes, then we would have to re-vote, correct?

That's the intent.

Is to be able to vote on each candidate.

Typically at the at this time you've already filled both spots, so there's not another position to fill.

So we wouldn't normally do that.

I would defer to the city attorney.

Could they vote and then reconsider?

I was just gonna say you have the reconsideration.

I yeah, and my my intent would be to allow all the to be voted on, and if there's another candidate that gets three votes, then we would re-vote on those candidates.

What I'd like to move is that we also nominate Jane Vereen.

I guess would you like to have discussion prior to I mean you could have discussion to see if it's going to potentially I thought we would be able to vote on each candidate because it could it would be possible that multiple candidates could get four votes or three votes or two and two, but that the vote would be different amongst possibly the four of us, so that if there was a candidate, if there were two candidates that had equal number of votes, that those candidates would be revoted.

But I thought if this is the same thing, I think you could have discussion to see where people are going to fall publicly on the floor.

The problem is once the vote, once you voted, then technically the position is filled.

You could move to reconsider both of the votes that you just had and then open up the discussion on the floor to see which direction you would like to go.

So I can't motion, but on the winning, yeah, I can't vote.

Because I'm not on the voting side.

On the prevailing side, you can move to reconsidering the other.

I was in the one vote vote.

No.

But you would need four votes to reconsider.

It would take four.

Move on.

Well, I mean you could still reconsider if you choose to do that, but it would have to be moved by the other three.

Yes.

I'm good with what we have.

I don't think if we could stop you from nominating it.

Yeah, there uh this would be done.

Well saying that because we've already got two candidates that have been approved, we're not by rule, we cannot nominate or vote some of the other candidates.

So you'd have to either reconsider on Linda or reconsider on Pinter, right?

The procedural issue you would have is if you moved on to the next candidate and it was all that candidate was also approved.

If you didn't have four votes to reconsider the previous candidate, you're stuck right or duck in the water.

No, I re I think there's another vote on the vote, they're saying you know I respect I respect that there are three votes.

Yeah, well, I I yeah, go ahead.

Okay.

These are always complicated for some reason.

My understanding was that that each candidate would be able to receive a vote, regardless of whether a vote had approved that was simply a number.

That didn't necessarily mean they won, because we might find that if we nominate a third candidate or a fourth candidate, he or she gets four votes.

Well, and that's why if I guess in the future, perhaps a way to make sure that we're doing what everyone had envisioned, and I apologize for that if I played a part in no misunderstanding related to the code.

Well, Nicole and I had a chance to visit prior to the case.

Sure.

If you could have discussion if you moved and seconded and open it up, you could have free discussion, so can't so council members knew where each other sat related to that.

Before the vote.

Before the vote.

Right.

Okay.

Good to know.

Because the public needs to understand we don't get a talk about this.

That's correct.

Right.

That's the hard part is the public's looking up going, what's going on?

But the the hard part is we don't get to discuss these candidates together at all.

So it's you know, this is the first time really either nobody knows where about nobody else to sit.

So point taken.

Okay.

22.

Motion approving the following two applicants to Nyamanashi City Sister City Committee to complete the balance of a three-year term and reappointing the applicant to Yamanashi City sister city committee for the three-year term, applicants Linda Root and Matthew Johnson.

Does anybody want to nominate either one of them?

I move uh we nominate Liz Roop.

Oh Liz, I think I said Linda, I'm sorry.

Second?

I'll second that.

Rayford?

Aye.

Can I oh I'm so sorry, go ahead.

Is there additional discussion that you would like to have at this time prior?

Because it's only one of the two.

Both in the room.

I don't think so.

No.

Okay.

Okay.

Raford?

Aye.

Channer.

Aye.

Barrenstein?

Aye.

Bertand.

Aye.

Passes unanimously.

Recommendations of planning and zoning.

23.

Motion acknowledging June 23rd, Board of Adjustment Actions.

Can I get a motion?

So move.

Second.

Discussion.

We got Andrew Leicester planning.

It's only chair, just if you guys have any questions.

For uh we voted uh the Board of Adjustments passed.

We had one item in the past 7-0.

Motion passes 4-0 with the mayor being absent.

24 resolution accepting and approving the final plat of Crummans Habitat and replot of block 4, Crumman second edition to the City of Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa petitioner Sioux Land Habitat for Humanity.

P and Z recommends approval.

Can I get a motion?

Yep, second.

Anything exciting?

But it passed uh on our board seven zero.

Sentimental value by a owner or previous owner or neighbor?

Previous owner?

Previous owner and and neighbors too were they were had some of the things.

Or did they have a suggestion?

Like what would the alternative be?

Uh they were just uh they were just disappointed to see the house torn down, but uh the people with habitat um talked about they would spend way more money uh bringing it up to to date than they would uh to tear it down and build a new one.

But that's not one of the lots that they'll rebuild on.

It it is one of the lots that they will bring but that build up that there were two lots turning into six.

One of the properties is coming down and then four new properties.

So there's five new properties.

Yes, I believe so.

I'm sweating help me remember.

Which ult city planning?

Uh so there are two houses, two lots.

Originally when they did that, it was all one block as a parcel essentially, and so this is splitting it up into six parcels, and though they will tear down the one house on chambers and the one on Myrtle will remain.

And then will there be five new properties?

Five new properties.

Sounds great.

Ms.

Shaner, can you hit that button one more time for me?

Thank you.

Motion passes four zero with the mayor being absent.

25 hearing and ordinance rezoning 1213 Grammy Boulevard petitioner.

Bishop Healen Catholic Schools, P and Z recommends approval.

I'll move item 25.

Second.

So during the review process in the presentations, and I John Flanner and I were trying to be able to visit earlier today, and we were both busy.

And what I'm curious about is what the reclassification with the sale of the alley does to propose.

I need to open the hearing on this if you don't mind.

Moved and second edition, you'll just want to make sure and say the hearing.

The hearing is now open.

Let's start that again.

So my question is, and I see John in the back.

With the rezoning and the sale of the alley and the prior discussions that we've had, did discussion come up in P and Z regarding Healens short-term and long-term plans with regard to this property and other growth and development in the area.

Uh no, this this was really about you know their campus finally being the I think there's one more house in the area that that kind of is still within their campus and was kind of making their campus whole.

Okay.

Aye.

I'm sorry.

Nope, that's totally my fault.

Electronic first, and then I call it.

This is come back.

Um it would be three readings, which you could waive the rules.

That's what I was gonna say.

Wave it, can't we?

Yes, if there are four votes to waive.

First vote's got to go, then we can make a motion to waive second, make second.

I knew I was gonna be a motion to waive the rules.

It would take four votes, and then someone could move second and third together.

So where are we at?

Initial vote.

Okay.

Thank you.

That's okay.

Now I can make a motion to wave second.

The vote.

Okay.

You got to know how we just all know how important Bob is to you.

Yes.

Yes.

Gotta do this more than twice a year.

He's never gone.

The vote is 4-0 with the mayor being absent.

All right.

Now, yeah.

Wave second and third.

Do we have someone who wants to waive the rules?

Motion to waive the rules.

Correct.

I'll second that moment.

Thank you.

Barrenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand?

Aye.

Rayford.

I'll move second and third.

Second.

Barenstein?

Hi.

Bertrand.

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

So just for the record, they can go tear down, right?

That's where we're at.

That clears them.

Just the alley.

That's on the alley part of it.

We've rezoned just the alley.

Correct.

And the rezoning is not effective until publication on which should be on Saturday.

Should be on Saturday.

Yes.

Yeah.

All right.

Item 26.

Hearing and ordinance vacating a portion of the East West Alley in the Sioux City East Edition.

Petitioner Bishop Healen, Catholic Schools, P and Z recommends approval.

Hearing is now open.

Oh, I need a motion and second first.

Oh, sorry.

So move.

Second.

Public hearing is now open.

It's all good.

Same thing.

Gotcha.

Valley next to the house.

Yep.

Gotcha.

Hearing is now closed.

Vote is 4-0 with the mayor being absent.

Is there a motion to and second to waive the statutory rule?

Motion to waive the statutory rule, please.

Second.

Bernstein?

Aye.

Bertran?

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shaner.

Aye.

Motion for second and third reading.

Move second, third.

Second.

Bertran?

Aye.

Rayford.

Aye.

Shayner.

Aye.

Bernstein.

Aye.

Hearings.

Item one.

Real real quick, I I would be remiss if I didn't recommend Michelle Boston Ellis for another term.

Oh, that's great.

I think we agree with you.

I serve on MPO.

That's probably the straw that probably turned the tide built to this.

Very good.

That was it.

That Timus Chaos.

You know, it was two to two until then.

Hearings 27 hearing and resolution approving plans and specs for the long lines family recreant recreation center coal broom in field project.

Motion and second, please.

So move.

I'll second this.

The public hearing is now open.

So can we have some dialogue?

The frustration that I have with committing significant financial dollars to the long line center is that we don't know what our plans are for the long line.

And I'm fine if we want to approve plans and specs and get some bids, but is there any better sense?

You or to Matt have Mike, do you have any better sense what we're doing with the Long Line Center?

And candidly part of it evolves into the discussion that we'll have with the Walgreen site and is it moves to the west with regard to any activities on either that east lot or as we continue to go south and go to the to the northwest corner of these properties?

And I know that's throwing a lot at you, but it's it's a difficult conversation to support committing to significant dollars until we know a little bit more about what we're doing.

Even though this is a parks and a rec asset, it really the discussion is really about the Tyson event set.

Yeah, is really where the discussion is.

That's exactly right.

They don't really have much operation there anymore as parks and rec since the expo's been built.

But it's more of a long-term discussion about the Tyson and how integral this building is to the operation of that and the utility infrastructure all flows through the long line center.

That's right.

So it's not something that can be put off if we want to keep the Tyson operation.

It's not.

But if you want to have a bigger discussion or the budget cycle, that's I think that's a good idea.

I was gonna ask that, you know, how I mean when I look at the available funds, we don't have, right?

So how are we paying for this?

This is probably budgeted because it was in our budget discussion, right?

Oh, it's a negative.

Yeah, I think the this was an add-on, right?

This element of it.

Yeah, Trace of Fetch Finance Director, I'd have to look at it, but when I saw this come through, the when they sent the um RCA through, it indicates that they'll have additional funding in FY27.

Well, that it just it was a timing situation.

Now we're in 27 and funding was brought forward in the 27 budget.

So we're looking at 26's budget month balance.

They had not gotten their funding yet because they haven't submitted that prior to the um July 1 when the actual project funded with the current budget.

But we're in the positive here.

Yep.

So this was when it was, I just want to clarify when it was submitted, it was accurate information.

But now you know you have a 10-day lapse in between the when it has to be amended and when council occurs.

So there was additional funding that was submitted uh they they received on July 1.

So on paper.

Right.

Yes.

So then this will go out to bid tomorrow or next week.

My understanding is that we already have a contractor uh ready to go.

Yes.

All right.

Any more discussion?

Seeing none, the hearing is closed.

28 hearing and resolution, approving the proposal to sell part of the vacated.

Oh, sorry.

Oh, okay.

Volt results.

One no, three yes, one absent.

28 resolution approving the proposal to sell part of the east-west alley adjacent to the 1800 Sioux Trail, 3511, 335 3515, 3527 Orleans Avenue, petitioner, Morningside University.

Move 28.

I have a second.

Second.

Public hearing is now open.

Any discussion?

So is this for them to incorporate this section of property into their parking lot adjacent to the vacated?

Yes.

I think I just somebody walk out, Amy.

It is.

Can anyone Alex, do you want to say anything?

Just uh just to confirm.

Jeanette Fry, VP of Finance for Morningside.

Um, this piece, this parcel is is um part of our driveway on our greenhouse.

So it's just rounding off our our property.

Oh, okay.

Right, makes sense.

Anyone else to be heard?

Hearing is now closed.

Measure passes 4-0.

Mayor Scott being absent.

29 hearing and resolution approving the proposal to sell vacated North South Alley adjacent 2310 South Clinton Street.

Petitioner Clarence Gordon.

Move 29.

Second.

Public hearing is now open.

Is there anyone who wants to be heard?

Seeing none, the dis hearing is closed.

That should make it final for Mr.

Gordon, right?

He hopes so he.

The item passes for zero.

Mayor Scott absent.

Item 30, hearing and resolution approving the proposal proposal to sell part of the vacated East West Alley adjacent to 3503 Orleans Avenue, petitioner George and Randy Joe Sully.

Motion.

So move.

Second.

Public hearing is now open.

Is there anyone who wishes to speak?

Seeing none.

Hearing is closed.

Measure passes.

Ford zero.

The mayor absolutely.

Ordinances.

Ordinance amending chapter 13.0, sanitary sewer rates, the municipal code to increase rates for outside municipalities and outside improvement districts by 27.4%.

Effect of July 1 of 2027.

So was this an issue that we misunderstood the six-month window of when the municipalities were permitted to get notice?

Yes.

Do we need to move the item?

Yes.

I'll move the item.

Second.

Now we can have discussion, sorry.

Vicky Baker, Assistant Public Works Director, yeah.

We have to give them the whole fiscal year.

Um, but this is just changing the ordinance to match what you voted on.

But to also the wasn't the initial date of the case.

We are supposed to give them we an old draft said we gave them six months notice, but it actually is the whole fiscal year.

So it has to start July 1st of next year.

So that's 88.

So my question is, what's the notification we need to raise it next year?

This is gonna be no, this is already in.

We're gonna we're gonna we're adapting this to 27.

So what's the notification we need to get ahead of next rate?

Of 27.

So put that in your calendar.

Yes.

So we're gonna in December, we're going to give them notice, correct?

For 28.

So we're not gonna let that slide by like this, because we weren't here yet.

So that that's it's a fair, it's not a mistake, it's just a fairly window.

Bring an ordinance change and allow for time for three.

But that's got to be this in December.

So it'd have to be in November then.

So if you're gonna if you have a deferral on uh one of the readings, then you could I would allow six.

October, you're thinking?

Is that what you're thinking?

I mean, I'm just I mean, let's just get ahead of it, so then we don't miss that same window.

Yep.

Because we want to go again, and the earliest we can go then is October for 28.

So this will catch up.

We lose 200 grand, which is fine, but but uh we still get the seven something, and then we'll catch them again in October for another rate increase.

And we can't amend this at this point, the dollar amount because the notification is already been given.

Or it didn't ordinance.

Right.

Yeah.

So this is you guys voted.

Yeah.

And this is just us changing the ordinance to match what you guys voted on to put the because the sewer rates go in the ordinance.

Right.

So this this one is this this amount is fixed.

Okay.

Just asking, you gotta ask.

Theresa, will this impact, will the delay in the rate structure increase impact any projects or any financial bonding?

No, because we didn't have it in the budget.

Wasn't it wasn't even the budget, uh, finance director?

No, we didn't uh sorry, this isn't city manager.

Um, no, we did not budget this um uh I mean in as revenue, so no.

I'm just mad.

That's what I'm mad about.

Opinion.

Should we still give them notice though?

Because in case they don't come off the system in February gave us their notice.

They gave their notice effectively indicating they will be done.

Yeah, but what happens if they don't?

They start fresh with a new concept.

I don't think you have to reconsider that.

Okay.

That's a fair question.

I mean, I'm just saying that I mean if we're gonna do this, I mean why not just leave them on there and then it doesn't matter if they're not on it anyway.

So we would still be there on there.

Yes, the connection point would still be there the 2080 agreement.

With the rating, we'll still be.

So we would still give them notice, yeah.

That's adequate.

Okay, thanks.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

The hearing is closed.

God, where are thirty-two?

Oops, I got a near mind.

Measure passes 4-0.

Absent.

And that is just the first read.

Yeah, wave that or you can.

We can we have a motion.

I'll move to wave the rules.

Second.

Rayford.

Aye.

Shaynard.

Aye.

Barronstein.

Aye.

Ertrand.

Aye.

Do we have a motion to wave the second and third?

I'll move second and third.

Second.

Aye.

Baronstein?

Aye.

Bertran.

Aye.

Rayford.

Aye.

32.

Ordinance amending Title 10, traffic of the municipal code regarding the operation of off-road utility vehicles on streets.

Good afternoon, Mayor Pro Tem and Council.

Doesn't need a motion and a second.

Sorry.

Motion.

So moved.

Second.

Caleb Chris Offerson, Assistant City Attorney.

Mayor Pro Tem and Council.

At the direction of Council City Staff and Legal collaborated on verbiage for an ordinance permitting and regulating operation of off-road utility vehicles on the streets in the city, pursuant to its authority granted under Iowa Code Chapter 321i, permitting cities to do so.

Among the considerations for safety to persons and property, along with uniformity with traffic laws for conventional motor vehicular traffic, this draft ordinance represents those efforts.

Well, first and foremost, thank you for getting this uh done and and moved and making those corrections and and all of those things.

So uh really appreciate that.

And uh absolutely so my first question is is uh is Dolly in the room in the journal?

Yeah.

The uh picture she put in the paper was a picture of an ATV, and that is not what we're talking about here.

We're talking about UTVs.

So it's a little misleading there on that that end of it, and we're trying to put out there that oh we're gonna legalize ATVs, we're not legalizing ATVs, right?

Sure.

Councilmember Bertrand, I would like to make an adjustment on the terminology.

You're correct.

The ATVs, we're not talking about that here, but uh being consistent with Iowa code, they use that.

Like to adjust it to off-road utility vehicles, uh, because that's a terminology used throughout that code.

So the ones that are four-wheelers that are the ones that are illegal are called what now specifically?

Sure, all terrain vehicles are the ones think think straddling the saddle.

That way those are called off.

Oh, I'm sorry, no.

Uh the all terrain.

Straddling, yeah, all train vehicles are you straddle the saddle, so to speak.

They're not legal.

Correct.

That's the biggest thing we want to make sure we're clear.

We're not talking about four-wheelers.

Correct, sir.

Okay.

So is there a size capacity for ATVs and UTVs, or are there different sizes of UTVs that we're permitting?

Uh again, for ATVs, we're currently they're not permitted uh because state although state law allows cities to regulate and permit those, we currently don't have an ordinance that permits those.

The direction was to address the off-road utility vehicles only.

Yeah, I think I think our thought from the very beginning was that ATVs possessed a safety issue that we felt was in that we didn't want to address.

It was the UTV issue that I think was was primarily focused.

Is there a size limit difference in UTVs or are they basically all the same size?

Well, the off-road utility vehicles, they there are different designations, I believe that's um in the definitions provided in Iowa Code Chapter 321i.

Um our ordinance will not make a distinction.

So the question I have is does this line us up with similar communities?

Are we doing anything irregular?

Does it put us kind of in line with what they're doing in like council bluffs and with other communities?

The public wants to hear that's we're not on our on a limb on our own.

In an attempt to give you the short answer to that, uh yes.

We're we are being consistent.

So when the public says why are we doing this?

We're gonna say because there was a change in Iowa code, correct?

In the past.

I wouldn't agree with that.

I think we've had the power to permit them and regulate them.

We have that power.

The country more of a change in practice in other communities, right?

Indeed.

Yeah, that would be I think.

Based upon state code when they basically that's what I'm saying, is that there was a waiving at one point that said now the local or local communities have their ability to do what they want.

Correct.

I would agree with that.

Yeah.

I'm just trying to make sure that what's what's what goes out to the public is that we're not on we're not roguing something.

We're not trying to you know chase another state or community.

This is happening across the state of Iowa.

These vehicles are becoming legal in communities with these certain with the almost the same restrictions, though the speed restrictions, those type of things.

Uh I I would generally agree.

I I wouldn't wouldn't know as far as a number of how many different Iowa communities have um have permitted these and regulated these.

Uh um, I know there are several, and um most of the communities are smaller than Sioux City that have done this.

I think we've done our due diligence and and and working and and having a great conversation uh listening session.

And so I I think you know, instead of making a quick decision, we we've we've made the right decision and and doing it the right way at least.

So let's go back to what was a big focus when you talk to the lot of the the the drivers, they say that they won't abuse these and that the that they're all for when the abuse it happens, that they support strict fines, they support harsh fines, and I floated the idea that they that we would then uh be able to confiscate or basically to impound like we impound a vehicle.

So if a kid gets on it tears across, you're gonna get a stiff penalty, and then we have the opportunity.

That was told like we couldn't do that.

Now when I read the ordinance, uh it says that we can do it.

Is that correct?

So is it fair to say I was right?

Okay.

I'll make sure we all heard that.

The so after that, the so now so walk us through the penalty phase of this.

So if a vehicle is ripping through a neighborhood, uh, what options do the does the police department have?

And are we gonna be strict on this enforcement?

Are we gonna have a no tolerance program?

I think that's what the public wants to hear is if we're gonna do this, it's kind of a split through the community.

We're gonna do this.

Is it a no tolerance policy?

Or is or we're we're what are we gonna do when the get when the the vehicle goes ripping through the neighborhood?

Could I ask you a favor?

I agree, I would like to understand what the enforcement or the penalty process will look like.

But I think it might be helpful for me to process what's being presented to better understand the rules, the limitations, and primarily how it's going to be enforced to get to Rick's question of what the penalties will look like.

Because I think there are parental aspects.

I'm curious about we we limit use to 18-year-olds.

How are the police how is the police department going to decipher between seeing what they think is a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old in the all-term vehicle or in the utility vehicle?

Uh Rex Mueller Police Department.

How are the officers going to determine?

Well, it's it's like any traffic stop.

Um as far as enforcement goes, uh officers still have discretion.

It's going to be based on the violation, the nature of the violation, what they're doing, officers are still going to have the authority and should still have the authority to decide how they're going to go about that.

I don't know that I would in any case necessarily mandate because every circumstance.

Now they can and will use the ordinance, and it does align with state law, so that should make it very clear as to what they need to do to be within compliance.

Um is it pretty standard across the other communities and the state that use be limited to 18-year-old and above, or do other communities allow 16-year-olds that have a driver's license.

Permitted drivers, right?

So 16-year-olds can or cannot anywhere else.

I've got a driver's license at 16.

I've and I've seen 18 as well.

I I don't recall if I if I've seen 16.

I don't think I've seen 16.

It doesn't um it doesn't register.

Hey, sorry.

That's good.

Isn't that a permit though at 16?

It's a permit at 14, right?

And license at 16.

The intermediate right, the intermediate license program.

Right.

But I was do clearly, I mean, I I combed through this thing.

You know, and and I do remember it saying 18 years of age uh somewhere in there, right?

Uh part of the operating requirements, right?

Yes.

Uh yes, Mr.

Rayford.

So you you've addressed the exception or the carve outs to make sure that those that should otherwise be permitted to use the vehicles can in certain areas.

We we have identified, yeah, and uh of course, you know, on the first draft identified where uh we did make exceptions for emergency services for using these things.

Uh uh real real quick personal story.

Uh had the fire department actually come to my house uh there for a grass fire that was uh in a in a lot next door, and they brought up their off-road utility vehicle with a 50-gallon tank in the back was pretty handy.

Uh and I you know we wanted to make sure that fire, you know, EMS, if they have them, they're allowed to use them.

I didn't uh quite uh account for other city staff, such as parks and recreation, to uh fall into that exception, so that that will come be available for second and third reading as well.

I know in visiting with the chief early in the discussions in the winter, one of his concerns was noise.

Is does the muffler requirement under the code 3212 address the noise issue, or how do we it's usually addressed by decimals, correct chief?

Well, the decibels is a tough one because it's subjective, yeah.

Somewhat subjective on the part of the individual.

I think that that noise may cons ca uh potentially be a source of complaints.

Uh part of the problem is not necessarily the muffler, but that the engine itself, uh the covering, it's it's it's a relatively exposed engine in comparison to an automobile that has firewalls that has a little a lot of things that hush the sound of that larger motor.

And so these are smaller, higher reving.

There's probably gonna be a little noise associated with them, but as the group that advocated for this commented on, there's pretty loud motorcycles out there.

Um we have just taken the approach that, and and one of the things when I reached out to other chiefs in other communities, similar size, and there's not a lot of them, surprisingly, but they did come back and they they said that in in legalizing them for in-town use, they haven't uh had a lot of complaints, uh, which would lead me to believe, or or at least they conveyed the fact that the uh users who seem to be doing it uh seem to be responsible users, and it's not really creating any issues for the community.

To me, that was kind of the turning point.

I think uh the listening session that Mr.

Rayford did was very enlightening.

Obviously, you had one side of the issue, but I think it was good to at least start the discussion.

I I've been clear that I think will we get concerns?

Will there be uh operators who who don't operate these properly?

Absolutely, but there's people who operate cars the wrong way.

There's people that operate motorcycles recklessly, and we will address that with enforcement.

Is this the ordinance doesn't have a dollar expectation on having financial viability?

Is there is it that covered under state code?

Uh yes, um, Mr.

Bernstein.

That would be then a regular um motor vehicle car insurance would be consistent with the automobiles.

Yes.

I know there I noticed there was a fine or a punishment for um double double writing.

How would I look on page I just didn't know how that would apply?

You look on the it's our page 332, but there's a uh section 10.54.030 says double writing is prohibited, and there's a fine of 135 dollars.

Okay.

So um uh Mr.

Bernstein, what we did in this ordinance is I kind of tried to do uh kind of kill two birds with one stone.

That is that falls under section two of the ordinance, which actually sort of uh backs off backpedals on the uh section or I'm sorry, the chapter that addresses personal transport vehicles, where uh we had a regulation about um all trained vehicles and motorcycles, off-road motorcycles.

And why it why it appears that way in this ordinance is when you change a part of a section, you have to list the whole thing.

Okay.

So this is the it was easier why it's in through these vehicles.

Correct.

Right.

And a point of clarification then DOT requires that the individual driving must be 18 years old with a valid driver's license, though it is under the state code.

That'd be why I didn't see 16.

Right.

Yeah.

Sorry.

I had to look it up.

Any more discussion?

Yes.

So now I'm gonna go back to I want to go back to the enforcement side of it which I think is gonna be the number one concern by the public, because I think the public is like you said, split on this.

So let's go back to the enforcement.

So you got someone ripping through the neighborhood.

What what is the officer?

Number one, are we gonna pursue?

Depends on whether or not it meets our threshold for our policy.

So if it's just traffic violations, no, we are not going to pursue.

So if we got somebody ripping through the neighborhood, we are not gonna pursue it.

Depends on the circumstances.

If there's other things that meet our threshold and officers are allowed to pursue, but um generally traffic violations we do not pursue for.

Okay.

It's a hard one, Mr.

Bertran, because these vehicles are capable of departing the roadway and then slipping between houses.

And you know, that's that's a tough that's a you know, that's a tough pill to swallow, you know, if you're gonna try to pursue when somebody is doing something like that.

You mean like an escalated I I mean higher speed pursuit.

I speed chase or would be going into areas that police vehicles will not be able to follow.

Or it's just anti-pursu.

Spe speed isn't a factor.

The justification for a pursuit uh has to be uh specific, and we set a high threshold uh for that because pursuits uh unless there's uh a lot at stake present a danger to the motoring public, the pedestrian and so we will follow our pursuit policy when deciding whether or not to do that.

Um I think that somebody uh behaving badly, clearly, I think the officers are gonna take strict enforcement action on this, and there's probably more than just the violation of the uh local ordinance that they're pulling, so they we didn't pursue but we got them pulled over.

So what what happens with the guy driving it?

Depends if it's if it's just it depends.

Uh a number of circumstances.

Like I said, what did they do?

Did they damage property?

Did they yeah, there's lots of options.

Did they damage property?

Uh did they commit another act in concert with operating this UTV in unlawfully?

There probably is gonna be citations.

There could be arrests potentially.

You could uh tow the vehicle.

It it just depends.

Depends on the thing, I think we're gonna have a window of opportunity here if we we launch this like anything else.

So either we're gonna come at this and we pass this, but we pass it with very clear expectations that if you jack around, you're gonna get the maximum fines and they need to be out there, and your your vehicle is gonna get impounded.

Because we we found a way that so I guess I just what I want to hear that from our from our from our our police department is to say, hey guys, this is our opportunity.

Number one, uh I do think you're gonna well, we'll come back to the ETVs.

I I that's what I want to hear.

I want to hear that we are gonna have strict enforcement, you're gonna lose your buggy, you're gonna lose your sticker, the way it says in the ordinance, and it's gonna cost you a whole bunch of money because there's a lot of good people that want to drive these.

And I think if we identify the bad apples up front, that's all I want to hear.

You know, does that make sense?

And I appreciate that.

But at the same time, not every circumstance.

You you're asking me to generalize about what we'll do in every situation.

And if it's one person that maybe doesn't have it registered and they're driving it on a city street, that is different from somebody who's tearing across a campus or driving through a city park and destroying property.

I uh to to say that we'll take one stance.

So are you gonna give direction and you're gonna give direction that that to your officers that from the top down and says if and early on in this process as we're educating the public that we're gonna have a strict no tile no tolerance policy or or I mean I mean I get it?

If somebody wanders out of then they're driving 30 mile an hour down a zone that they didn't understand they shouldn't have been in, it was identified, and we're trying to learn these zones that we've carved out.

But I mean, uh is the direction from the police department going to be you jack around on these things, you're gonna get fined.

Is that is that that is that that to me that's where I think the council wants to be.

I mean, maybe I don't want to speak for anybody else, but but that's what the public wants to hear.

And and we can definitely pass the word along to the officers that we do expect strict enforcement as we get the general public.

But you're asking me to comment on absent.

No, I'm just asking as a chief if you're gonna give direction that's gonna say, hey man, you didn't have to be a little bit more.

I'm we're happy, we're happy to do that.

No, no, I understand as we acclimate the public to it, we're happy to do so.

But at the same time, every situation is different.

For so CAST uh uh to paint this with a broad brush uh means that we're not giving discretion for officers to do at the time what they feel is.

So the next question I have been is on the ATVs.

Do you expect an uptick in AA TV activity of guys on the four-wheelers, the guys that are that are I think that that sounds funny, but I think you're gonna I I personally consider you're gonna uptick.

And what do our where are our enforcement codes and our dollar what's our the the fines?

If we we talked about revisiting those fines on the A TV side of it, because I think this would be an appropriate time to again, somebody's gonna pull somebody over who's gonna say, Well, I thought we just legalized these or whatever.

So okay, that's your warning, but then I mean what where are we at with the fine structure on the ETV?

Is that addressed at all in here?

Yes, sir.

Or can it be?

Yeah, it is.

It is.

Um the specific violation for ATV prohibited operation is a $200 fine.

Is that the maximum we can charge?

That's the maximum we can there on that part of it.

Okay.

And we won't pursue that either, probably.

Well, I I think uh I you bring up a good point, and I appreciate the fact that you did.

I really think that uh unless we do have a good public information campaign to go along with this, and I think our department, along with Anne Westra, I think we do a good job of trying to inform the public.

So I think if this ordinance were to pass, I think we need to be invested in a public information campaign that tells our citizens where these are acceptable, what they need to do to be lawful in the operation of that, and reiterate the fact that uh so-called ATVs, the tandem riders, the things that we've been talking about, are absolutely not allowed, that we're just talking about UTVs.

And I think uh I think our uh our folks and Ann have done a good job in dealing with the scooters and things like that, and trying to educate the public.

I think we can do the very same thing this way.

We we really try to to gain voluntary compliance by educating the public, and I think that will cut into the issues.

But uh, I believe you're right.

I think that once people hear there's an ordinance, I think people will be testing the waters, and we'll need to address that.

I think one thing that uh I appreciated in uh in the listening session uh was those that attended and wanted this uh agreed that you know we could be aggressive and we wanted to make sure that uh we we caught the bad actors if if if such.

And so um, you know, to Rick's uh uh point, I I do think, you know, now that you know, and I think one of the issues that um I I believe that hurt coming from the department uh the PD was identifying and being able to identify, you know, at one point you couldn't identify certain things, but now we know that we can identify the two the the different types of uh of those vehicles.

And so um, you know, we know that this is uh this can go away.

So, you know, if if people don't do what they're supposed to do and and do it, then you know we come back a year later and uh and we pull it.

So uh I I just appreciate that you know we've pushed this thing to uh where we need it to be, and so uh we'll we'll keep our eyes out and we're a great opportunity for the community.

Absolutely.

Great opportunity.

It's I'm excited for the the responsible drivers.

I think it's gonna be cool.

the the different types of uh of those vehicles and so um you know we know that this is uh this can go away so you know if if people don't do what they're supposed to do and and do it then you know we come back a year later and uh and we pull it so uh I I just appreciate that you know we've pushed this thing to uh where we need it to be and so uh we'll we'll keep our eyes out and we're great opportunity for the community absolutely great opportunity it's I'm excited for the the responsible drivers I think it's gonna be cool but uh they're expensive vehicles I I I have confidence that they're the the majority of these drivers are going to be responsible drivers yeah I I think the concern is less about passing this ordinance because I I think it's the right thing to do with responsible UTV owners and it it's those that we're trying to guard against right whether it's ATVs or UTVs but I think the significant issue continues to be scooters and e-bikes that are operated on sidewalks without helmets I think we've probably all had situations where somebody on an e-bike and Nicole and I were visiting earlier about e-bikes and if they're on a sidewalk and they're traveling and they don't stop at a an area where they're supposed to stop it's I'm comfortable with what we're trying to do here but Chief and your successor Mike I say to you we have got to get our arms around those that are on scooters and e-bikes and and and other um vehicles that are not operating them properly because God forbid one of these days somebody is going to get hurt or killed and that's gonna that's something that we're gonna need to address we have to enforce those rules I about a month ago I was telling Nicole as I'm traveling down 39th street on Hamilton guys on his e-bike and had no regard for the fact that I was stopped there and had I not stopped 10 feet short of the stop sign he would have hit me and and been badly damaged.

Same time I saw five kids on scooters no helmets traveling across Hamilton Boulevard and they you know they're traveling if one of those children were to fall with or without a helmet it could be catastrophic and I just we we need to make sure that whatever we can so certain things we can't do but whatever we can do whether it's enforcement ordinance or otherwise we need to make sure we're staying on top of that sir scobishop resident of Sioux City I've actually got a couple of things one of the questions I have and I was one of the first ones on the 26th of January that we we brought this up what's what are the DOT tire situation in the ordinance and the reason I bring that up is because from what I'm understanding is you're wanting us to put a DOT tire onto a UTV.

The issue with that is the UTV weighs 14 to 1600 pounds not four to six thousand pounds so you got closer voids in those tires did you did you say voids voids in the tires the grooves so the next thing that's gonna happen because now you got 14 to 1600 pounds instead of four to six thousand pounds to hold to push that tire down you're gonna get a lot of rocks so I recommend and I know I think this originated with golf carts in all seriousness this as far as DOT tires most of your UTV tires are not going to hold rocks they're not gonna tear the roads up so I I'm just I'm questioning I agree wholeheartedly what I what what's known as a crossbar or a tractor tread 100% does not need to be on any road this part of the country they don't run them even on UTVs.

You get over Platzmuth Nebraska where they're doing a lot of river riding that is an issue but that's not an issue here.

So other community what do other communities do they use this the the standard issue tires that are that are sold on it or what what do other communities do I I don't know.

Yes yes um most of the they come with a a tire but I mean other communities what are the other communities do they they just accept those or do they 100% where do we get the can I ask where do we get the DOT change out on the tires sure uh Mr.

Bertrand yeah the uh the DOT tires are the yeah the the dot tire is uh for design to be on streets the prepared services concrete and asphalt and they are uh have far less dramatic treads uh and there's literally more rubber that meets the road um also they have the the DOT uh stamp on them that they've been basically that's a design that's certified by the federal DOT and meets highway uh traffic safety standards the um do other communities do it i mean or did we steal this from some of another community or something where do we was just something that Sioux City thinks that we need to do it uh I that I and I don't remember the beauty of this is a hearings we can bring this up next time we get an answer for that question right and this is a suggestion for that kind of those considerations you can any practical yeah the public gets to read this and give you this as a first step so let it be the first one let's figure out why we we went with that in the the the factory wheels that come on on these devices are stamped NHS which is non-highway service means that they're not supposed to be on prepared surfaces.

Uh that I and I don't remember the beauty of this hearings.

We can bring this up next time we get an answer for that question.

Sure, and this is a suggestion for the council's considerations.

So you can see.

Yeah, the public gets to read this and give you this as a first step, so let it be the first one.

Let's figure out why we we went with that.

Right.

And the the factory wheels that come on on these devices are stamped NHS, which is non-highway service.

They're not supposed to be on prepared surfaces.

I'm I'm sure they stop great in the grass or on the trails in the mud, even probably because of the deep treads.

Um prepared surfaces, there's less rubber meeting the road, the slam on the brakes, and you still got your 1600 pounds of whatever with uh so let's find out what other communities are doing.

Let's let's find out if let's find find me some communities that you're using, and that's cool if everybody's using the more rubber hits the road, that's cool.

But but I I got this feeling that they probably don't, but look, let's it's a good good question.

Let's find that's number one the next year.

Go ahead.

My name's Penny Tobin.

Um they do make a tire that it looks just like a well, it's got better tread than my Jeep tires, because my Jeep tires are chunky, but they look just like a truck tire, and it's all surface.

Is that the original tire that's on the vehicle?

No, it is not.

It's it's an upgrade or it's an upgrade, yeah.

Yes, it is.

And if I could dress um like the education part, um, if this passes, I think we need to.

I don't know where to get a copy of the ordinance, but I would like to go to all the dealerships.

Let them read it.

And no, have it for customers.

So they know we've been pushing no ATVs at our dealership in another dealership, they will not be on the streets.

And people are bummed about it, but you know, it's it is what it is.

So but they do make a tire that is road friendly, pavement, because I don't want to drive knobbies on the street anyways.

They're gonna tear up really fast.

And yeah, they wear out fast.

And it's gonna be a rough, rough ride.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Sir with the DO2.

Can you tell us your name, sir?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Dennis Taylor, I'm a resident of also Sioux City.

Also own a business here and several properties with a lot of interest in a lot of properties.

Anyhow, DOT rating is basically for highway driving, not city driving.

So it's kind of a moot subject.

All right.

My U UTV weighs 3,500 pounds.

So it weighs just about as much as a Volkswagen or something along that line.

But with that, and in turn, my UTV cost me $52,000.

Not a lot of people buy UTVs.

You have a very slim amount of people in Sioux City or our communities, surrounding communities, that have them.

So I've been watching this for over two, maybe three years, from the first time that I entered into the UTV with Sioux City.

And nothing's really transpired to this point right now, these guys have come up with the different things that we can't do where the other communities have done.

There's no big commotion.

There's not thousands of people that are going to rate us here like Sturgis, South Dakota next month.

Okay.

So I mean, I see a lot of talk, but I really don't see a lot of action.

The biggest problem I've got is I have properties in Morningside.

I got interest in the north side, west side, downtown, South Sioux, North Sioux.

I have no way to get there with the proposed uh isolation areas that the city is proposing or have been recommended.

And I see no reason if you have bicycles traveling on streets in Sioux City, on narrow streets, uh Morningside Avenue, for instance, I don't know 141, where I live.

Uh it's barely big enough for two cars, and you have that as a bicycle route.

Somebody really thought that one out.

But with that in mind, I look at the fact that we that own these UTVs have a lot of invested.

I have uh uh full coverage, insurance, regular road coverage, without exception.

We have three of them, by the way.

And in turn, it's protected that way.

Bicycles aren't.

Downtown Sioux City, you got bicycles going every direction you can see, skateboards.

You know, uh, I just I don't understand all the hell blue, you know, worrying about all these different things when you have smaller communities that have been doing for years now.

And we are sitting here sucking our thumbs wondering how to pass this thing, and to get something that works, worrying about fines.

Well, the same fines would be the same thing as if I was speeding.

You know, what would be the difference?

Now what I see is the ATVs, if you allow them to hit the streets, I see them going over the curbs, going down through somebody's yard.

Uh the police aren't going to chase them because of the hazard type of thing.

And I see a problem there.

But UTVs, the people that own them have a lot invested.

They're not going to be out here yet, speeding up and down the road.

I heard uh the chief say uh the engines have a loud noise to them.

They do have a rep if you're doing 45, 50, 60 mile an hour.

At regular speeds, 20 mile an hour is very very much like uh I'm not gonna say a Honda, but pretty close.

Okay.

So you know, so but that's all I really got to say.

But I you know, I I love Sioux City, but at the same time, we're driving it dragging our feet on this, and I'm getting old.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Well, let's let's address the question then.

So, first, I think the this council is taking action, just so you know.

You're you're gonna get a vote.

Um, and then on the zones, let's address that part of it as a hearing.

So we I they identified these zones, and again, you guys are gonna be able to review this more and more when you take it home, throw it to the dealerships.

This isn't gonna pass tonight.

This is a process.

So walk us through educate the public on why we did the zones, do other people do the zones, what was the criteria that you came into it?

I mean, please.

Now, uh on it was council direction, I believe it was Mr.

Rayford that gave direction to say, you know, hey, carve out downtown exclusion zone.

We'll see what that looks like because there were considerations of vehicular congestion and pedestrian traffic that is uh heightened in the downtown area.

So um I drew up the zone and you know uh do you see any issue if if if it stays or doesn't stay, you know, from a policing or from a safe, you don't that it's just something that was suggested to draw what it would look like, and we'll make a decision from there.

Pretty much uh yes.

And for clarification, like four-lane divided highways and so forth, those are prohibited under the state code.

Under state code.

Those are our issues they have is is Floyd Boulevard is is it goes from 35 what to 40 right through that main stretch when you get past chestnut?

It's also four lanes.

So that it is a it's a double whammy on.

That'd be off.

That one's off period.

So even if you lower the speed limit, that one's off just because of the four lanes.

Okay, so what's the leads thorough?

What's the what's what do you suggest is going to be the the main route through Leeds to get to Leeds?

Can't go down 75.

I don't think we've considered the routes.

We've just I mean we haven't looked at the city.

Yeah, for us to consider that we have not considered that.

Yeah, but that's why I'm putting it out there.

I'm like, I mean, we can do all these restrictions.

Well, there's a very good point, is we can we can make this thing impossible to use too.

Um I guess my question is is you maybe in the next hearing show us how what are the what are the feeders for each part of town, if you guys don't mind, what the police thinks the feeders are.

So how do you get to north side?

How do you side?

You know, what are the what are the feeder routes that you think that these vehicles can take to get to where they got to go?

Please Scott Bishop, and that's where we are currently is people have them in town, but we don't have any way to get from point B.

Yeah, that's what we're talking about.

So that's where that's what we want.

We would like we would love more than anything to be able to go from the east side of the state.

Let's let them let's let them come up with some feeders and then let's evaluate.

We absolutely point is absolutely made.

He made it.

Let's find some feeders, let's see if we if the city's even got uh accessibility that they're even functionable in the town.

Absolutely, and and I like that Ike put together uh uh a beginning of a discussion on what uh with downtown and stuff, and uh, you know, this is this is the hearing process.

Any other questions on the before you guys take it home and review it, take it to the dealers, everything else.

Anything else you guys want to talk about, get out of this a kind reminder.

I think that we would be constrained, obviously, by state law because of the the layout of certain streets, right?

The truth be told, we're not the smaller communities that have apparently have it wide open.

So we'll do our best according to the council's direction.

That's a fair ask, don't you think?

You know, just like you know what gives people direction if maybe if we have to have ATV, you know, designated, you know, we have trails for everything else.

Seems like we're putting bike trails along roads these days, we maybe there's a TV trail or UTV trails.

So sorry.

Like you speak one more time.

I was like, no.

Sorry, Dolly.

Okay, and and you're not taking the ordinance to your shops yet, right?

Because it's not really just the discussion when it's done.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

I just want to let you know that this is still a discussion.

This is a good idea.

I think what would be feedback.

I think what's important is for us to have this discussion generate dialogue with all of you that understand the nuances better than we do better than Caleb does.

Take that into account.

Likely approve.

Well, I can't speak for the others, but likely approved first reading, not move second and third or waive the rules to move second and third and get additional input.

You know, I understand we deal with Iowa here.

But we have our neighbors, Nebraska.

We have our neighbors of South Dakota.

South Dakota has had this for a number of years.

They don't allow UTVs on uh federal highways, interstities, or four lanes.

Okay, that's the only place.

Uh Sioux Falls, you can utilize UTVs.

You can't use ATVs.

Okay, major major city.

You know, I hate to say, but they've grown quite a bit.

We haven't.

But uh a little more inventive as far as thought, I think.

So I just wanted to mention that.

First drop.

Thank you.

What do we need to do move and move?

The intent of the four-lane from my understanding was Iowa has a lot of four-lane highways, highway 20, highway 30, so forth and so on.

That was the intent at highway speeds.

There's a large difference between that in the state law versus four-lane here in Iowa in Sioux City.

Huge difference because you've already busted the speed limit down to 35 mile an hour, or some places 25 mile an hour.

Right, but I don't know what we can do about the state law.

I was gonna say, yeah, we we can't you know override that anyway.

So but my understanding was that was the intent at highway speeds.

Right.

There's are they do you see what I'm saying?

I mean, there's a huge difference at if you're outside of town where the speed limits 65, 70 mile an hour versus in town.

Well, it would have to say a four-lane that's only 30 miles an hour.

The state law would have to say that.

We don't get to do that.

Right.

So if there is, if that's in there somewhere and we don't know it, then we could do that, but I don't think it is.

So we'll follow up.

Okay.

What are we voting on?

Well, we're just it's the first reading.

Just first reading, that's the first reading, and just for clarification, Caleb had indicated we need to expand the city personnel definition.

So we'll bring that back.

We'll be adding a table of contents, just some clarification issues with it.

Um, nothing substantive as far as changes from us being proposed.

We'll provide an alternate and then any additional direction that the council gives.

So educate Nicole, educate us.

So from an amendment standpoint, let's say we went in there and wanted to amend any portions of this along the way.

Would that be done before the next hearing or done during the next hearing?

What I would suggest is if you want to go ahead and pass first reading tonight, if there's direction for us to come back with any alternatives or modifications, we can provide an alternate draft ordinance for consideration and the second reading.

And that wouldn't restart the the clock.

No, I I generally do not when you get to a third reading, we don't advise making drastic changes on the floor at a third reading, but at a second reading, there should be plenty of opportunity to discuss the alternate uh proposed language.

That should be next week or does it need two weeks?

Um weeks because we would request for staffing issues to be able to fully discuss this.

We have a few conflicts with attorneys to be present.

So we would ask that it would come back in two weeks for council's consideration.

Does the public have act the public has access to this?

Yes.

Okay, so you guys have access, get us the feedback in in writing.

Get it, get us pick it apart a little bit, give us back yet, two weeks.

Yeah, and and I think the feedback needs to go to Caleb.

I mean, I he needs to understand where the pockets are in the the draft ordinance, whether it's with regard to tires or speed limits or locations, share with Caleb.

He admittedly said, look, I'm drafting this based upon input that I'm getting from other communities and the restrictions based upon state law.

I think the practical impacts are going to be relevant.

I would encourage you to visit with Caleb, give give him some direction so that he can share that with us.

And if I could just request if there are council concerns or people are reaching out to the council, if it could perhaps be channeled that direction so we have clear direction because we're going to be able to do that.

That's why I'll say the C CS2, the council on everything.

Yes, that would be I think easier for us to manage if it's something directed by the council for us to look at.

We're moving all right.

That was a great discussion.

Good discussion, buddy.

Very good.

Um are we at here?

We're on ordinance traffic when it's supposed to be.

Do we need to vote on anything for that?

Yeah.

Motion for first reading.

Just one moment.

Okay, we just have to vote.

First reading only, and then we'll come back on the 20th with it.

Motion passes for zero with the mayor being absent.

All right.

Presentations, blight removal funds.

Teresa Finch, Assistant City Manager.

Last week it was well, two weeks ago.

I think Councilmember Bertrand requested that we bring um some information related to blight funds.

So you'll see several of us here today presenting different things related to the funds that we currently have, some of the history and trending, some of the other um alternative funding that we may have available.

So I will start.

You will all also received a memo that outlined this, but I'm just going to outline it for the public's purpose and for your purpose again.

This is kind of the project update.

Um as of July 1st, uh right now we have $537,756 available.

Um right now we have addition additional expenses for this this 11 homes that are um anticipated to be about $60,000.

Those are the FY26 home listings that are currently um encumbered and looking for demolition.

Um we have anticipated expense of additional 14 homes in the FY27 year, which are about 280,000.

Again, that's an estimate.

We estimated about 20,000 per property.

Um and that could vary up and down.

We aren't exactly sure.

But there are additional um commercial properties that we have identified as um safety hazards or concerns um that need to also be demoed.

Um you'll see here there's a listing of four of them.

Uh the first one is 901 Nebraska Street.

We have um that estimated at 120,000.

We do have a hundred thousand dollar bond um and it would be a twenty thousand dollar city expense.

Um 1804 a days, um, it's a vacant plant.

Um it's a 70,000 dollar expense.

Um 311 South Fairmont is a twenty two hundred thousand dollar expense.

And 1901 Pierce Street is an apartment um that has experienced a fire, and it um is a hundred and fifty thousand dollar expense.

Um with all of those items, um, we are estimated for this project or that the current project to be um a shortfall of $872,000.

So um that's just kind of right now where we stand with what we have uh what what our anticipated expenses are and what we see coming.

Um I'm gonna have um Darrell just give you guys an estimate uh an update on kind of the cost trending the updates that he's seeing.

Uh Darrell Bolock inspection services manager.

Um yeah, a lot of the costs that we've seen significantly change this year has been some changes that were um invoked on the utility disconnects.

Um instead of just cutting them off at the main.

Um it's actually a new saddle system saddle device that would actually straddle the main, plus it's an unknown factor of how much of that main because of this new requirement we would have to replace.

We may have to replace two feet.

We may have to replace 100 feet because it's crushed, it's deteriorating, and you can't clamp onto a pipe that's deteriorating.

So it becomes an unknown cost.

Um in the first round of of bidding for um some of the homes that are right now under under um the bidding process for uh demolition, some of them that are in the middle of it, you'll see then anticipated costs and so forth of the ones that are in the process right now.

Um we've seen them double in price.

Now, is that a significant number?

Not necessarily.

Most of our utility disconnects come in around 55 to $6,000, but we're seeing them 10 to 20 10 to 12,000 dollars now for those demolition costs.

We have seen some upticks, and I think it has to do more with some regulations that may have changed.

I don't know the exact specifications of it, but some of the asbestos costs are coming up in much higher numbers as well.

We are as a municipality required to abate asbestos in all demolition structures.

So we've done I've implemented uh some requirements that haven't necessarily been looked at before.

I found some some areas where we can do point counting on asbestos, which does take out certain sections.

So I'll just use example of uh joint compound.

Somebody's gone in and plastered a room or a couple of rooms in the house with wall texture, and instead of having to do it on a specific sample and have to take out all the drywall in there, we'll request additional point sampling, and it'll become an average of the asbestos that's in there, and then we may not have to abate that, which would reduce our costs at that point.

Um obviously we want to follow all those requirements out of the DNR, but that is a potential increase in costs as well.

We have a little bit of pushback um from some of the demolition contractors with frustrations out at the landfill.

Uh the new man new ownership out there has got some new requirements.

Um it's costing more for landfill fees because of that.

They have uh in most most times they've got what the the demolition contractors are calling a push-in-push-out clause where they have to wait for their trucks to be pushed in to and then dumped and then pushed back out by a dozer.

Um they are experiencing some damage to their vehicles.

Obviously, that's not our expense, but the the demolition contractor has to uh anticipate that.

Uh flat tires constantly because the area landing areas are not being maintained.

Um they're basically figuring in costs for a flat tire every time they take a load out.

So these are just additional costs that are coming up, and then of course they're gonna get passed on to the end user, which is us.

Um but we do obviously assess these properties uh with demolition costs if they're not paid for in advance.

So assess the properties for the cost of the demolition or any environmental work?

Yes.

Is that become a lien of the city against the property and does that have any value?

Yes, it does.

Um there are times, and maybe Nicole could explain explain this a little bit better than I can, but there are times that I know that during tax sales that do those get washed away, and we aren't able to collect on those.

But typically when there's a sale of property, we will get a check back from the county in the amount of the demolition costs.

We uh invoice them first.

Um and that has oh 15 plus years ago when I started really getting into getting my feet wet in the demolition process.

Um we were not even invoicing the demolition costs, which I found absurd.

And so we made sure we started a practice immediately then, and we've been invoicing them.

And we found that a lot of your a lot of the financial institutions that had deeds on these because they had been foreclosed on and then just neglected and not taken care of, or maybe there was a fire and they just took they took the best of the mortgage and they had that responsibility.

So they wanted a clean title to be able to sell the property.

So we were getting checks back from those folks to be able to cover those costs of demolitions.

Um for many years, the the insurance requirement that's set by the state of Iowa for 10 percent or of the demolition cost, or $10,000, whichever um whichever was smaller was or not smaller, but whichever was if the demo location's cost exceeded $10,000, it had to be 10%.

If it was otherwise, but there was a base model of $10,000 that was in reserve, and we started utilizing that.

We've gotten that back from insurance companies on several occasions as well, which has helped reduce those costs as well.

So we how do you how do you determine uh demolition versus rehabilitation?

Depends on the level of of deterioration, but the bigger part of it is the willingness of the property owner to take care of the properties.

Sometimes we just don't have, you know, you can do everything we can.

You'll see some of these on the uh um on our demolition list that have been out there for years.

We've been trying to get somebody to fix them up, and they're just not doing it.

And they're just not doing it.

These might be in areas where they're um they're not creating a public nuisance.

And I but I mean by that by the true definition of a placard of properties is a public is a nuisance, is defined as a nuisance.

But is it is is it dangerous to the to the air to the neighborhood?

Is it causing blight in that area?

Those kind of things were always taken care of as far or take looked at as far as priorities as well for how I move them forward on the list.

Fire gutted places, um, especially if they get uh weakened floor structures, rough structures, what have you.

Um we have people that like to break into them as soon as they see the tag on them.

And uh it's dangerous, and it's our job to protect the public from that.

So cross the street here at Douglas, we had bricks falling off, remember?

Yes, we did.

Um we actually had to go in and um hire a contractor to abate that and remove bricks off that structure and bring them down so that they weren't falling anymore.

So when we do that, and and like as I look at this and I'm seeing this estimated shortfall, uh, and I realize that sometimes you put the bonds up, but word does this the funds come for us to to demo or or I mean the the blight fund is funded by the um casino dollars currently.

Currently, currently yes.

So the next slides we will go over some other um opportunities for some funding and um some um alternative um options for some of these properties.

So that's why we have Marty here.

Um he's next up.

Real quick, three quick questions for Marty gets cut loose.

Uh Teresa, so this the list you gave us, um and Darrell, the list you gave us, that's I look at kind of the ones that are getting torn down, they're at bat, the ones that are the list you gave us, they're on deck.

Do we have a list that's like properties that are in the hole?

They're gone already?

No.

That was a really poor baseball analogy.

Come on, man.

Stay with me.

Baseball, I think.

Yeah.

They're at a bat on deck.

I think Phil has an ongoing list.

Um, these are just the priority items that he's brought forward.

I can give you a quick rundown.

Besides the properties, out of the 11 properties that are currently under the process of demolition, there's a lot of steps to demolition.

Our first step is of course to get an asbestos survey, then the asbestos abatement.

Then we start getting utilities disconnected, and then the actual physical demolition of the property.

You got other properties identified.

I have I have 17 other properties that are on the list that have been ordered demolished that are not active yet, but they will be on the next round as soon as I get through through these.

So that bridges into my next question for you is do you feel unshackled enough where you you've been able to I don't win we've carried these the city has carried properties for years and years.

Do you feel unshackled at a point where you that you're getting more aggressive on, you know what, you've had enough time, it's time that the community is is responding and seeing that we are taking properties down and cleaning this stuff up, and it's a good thing, and they're supporting us.

That's why I went to Trees and we went to Theresa about more dollars.

Do you feel unshackled?

Do you feel like you've got the tools you need, or we need to change some ordinances or what do you need to start taking these properties down quicker and and more consistent support in moving forward with it?

Okay.

Yeah, I mean I'll just be bluntly honest.

I don't mean any disrespect to anybody.

Um but when we make that determination, we don't take it lightly.

Um we are I am certified as a building official for this by the ICC.

All of my inspectors are certified, they're very trained in in looking at these hazards and evaluating the situations.

If at all possible, um prior councils, and I'm not just talking about the you know most recent councils, I'm talking about decades of councils before that um have asked that we take all due diligence and trying to get these rehabbed.

Um we've worked with that quite frequently.

You'll see me bring properties back to council to have it rescinded and give them 90-day stay of demolitions.

Your support of making sure they have that bond in place is a motivational tool for them to get it done.

It has to happen that way.

And we've been very we have been successful in that.

But typically those are properties that have gotten tagged for sanitation issues more than anything else.

Um sanitation is created, if you have lack of water, for instance, you can't flush your toilet, you can't prepare food, you can't bathe, you can't do any of that.

It creates an unsanitary and unhealthy situation.

And we're gonna tag those properties, but those are more candidates for rehab for being able to get them out there and get them flipped and get them back on those.

Last question.

Yeah.

So when these when the lot gets cleared off, you know, the county, I think somebody told me it's it takes anywhere between five and seven years for the county to return a lot of these lots back.

Am I missing something here?

Yeah, I think there's an opportunity sometimes, and I don't know all of the.

Yeah, one gal over there that just kind of you got to almost do it by request to get them pulled back off.

What's our communication with the county on this deal with with returning these things quicker?

Out of my department, we other than us doing the assessments, there is no other communication with them, to be bluntly honest.

But I think that's not point finger.

Do what you what do you suggest?

How do I how do we get these back quicker to the I think that there may be some opportunities for the city to acquire some that we can we can sell off some infill lots?

But you know, we're not good property managers or you know, on vacant lots.

It's just it's just a lot more expense on the city to maintain those kind of things.

And then you take the liability as well for ownership.

But when you have an area that you might have seven or eight houses that have been taken out in a two-block res area, it's an opportunity for redevelopment, in my opinion.

You could bring in some infill homes and maybe some smaller ones like some habitat for humanity type houses and things like that.

And enforcing some of our liens on that and these.

I get I get calls from some guys and they're like, you know, this lot will give me specific addresses, and then and then it goes back to the county, and this and the county won't release them and I don't know in the city.

I don't I don't get where this is coming from, and maybe we'll talk more offline, but I just wonder if the other council will hear this too, is that there's there's a fair amount of that out there, and anywhere from five to seven years to get these back on.

You'll see a lot of that.

I mean, for us, it would be great if they got redeveloped, because quite frankly, once these lots get abandoned like that, we have an additional cost in because we could constantly call for mowing them.

They get have to get mowed.

And so we end up having to go out and mow it, and then we assess those charges again.

We have to shovel the sidewalks to make it a safe passageway for people, and those costs then get assessed against the city.

It could be remote.

So I think that's an opportunity that we could look towards then filling some of those lots.

So thank you.

Yes.

Funding opportunities and options.

Um Marty, first to talk about some brownfield funds.

So, yeah, Marty Dorty, economic and community development director.

Um, first of all, I just wanted to say the way the way that I think that to look at it is we we don't want to tear down houses.

We need housing, right?

We need affordable housing.

Um sometimes those are the most affordable properties.

But at the same time, you risk losing other parts of the neighborhood if you don't if you let something sit there and deteriorate for so long, it drags down the neighborhood.

So it's not a good thing.

Well, more than useful as I do right now.

There's a list of guys that are looking for a blank lot in Phil right now.

So you want housing, let's get them down and let's agree.

I agree.

Um Teresa asked us if uh I know she's concerned we're all concerned about the fact of the latest property tax bill and and we're trying to be aware of cognizant of of of spending more money.

Uh and so she asked us to look at other other options.

Um we we do get federal money.

We get federal money annually, which Jill will talk about with C DBG, or sometimes we get grant funds.

And in the past, I'll go back in history a little bit here in the past.

Um, probably the most blighted area in Sioux City was the stockyards, right?

And so we've spent 20 years cleaning up the stockyards, we're not done yet.

But we were able to get different uh grants and uh EPA grants and brownfield grants, and we've used those funds off and on for 20 years, I think.

Uh I'm guessing here on the I don't know how far back it goes, maybe longer, but um in the course of that we have received funds that were specified they could only be used for certain purposes.

And one of the things one of the large sources of funds was when we had to tear down the KD stockyards station, if you remember that monster that was down there that took a lot of money, and there were some other cleanups, uh a lot of other uh buildings down there that had to be cleaned up.

A lot of those involved um asbestos related or environmental issues.

So we have a fund that we still have called the revolving loan brownfield revolving loan fund, and the intent of it is original intent and still the intent of the these are APA EPA funds.

The intent is to be loaned to someone to help clean up a site to help incentivize it to be re rebuilt on.

Um so uh over the years money's gone out and been paid back in.

And with the case of KD, we loaned it to ourselves and then for a number of years paid money back in.

We've also loaned it to a few uh development projects, even some in downtown where there was in a low interest loan.

So we continue to receive some money back from that even up till now currently.

So I think I was gonna verify with the amount of money, a million two, a million four or something.

We currently have 1.3 million dollars, but we still have some that are that are paying in back into the fund from loans.

So the current Brown's Brownfield's fund has 1.3 million dollars.

Correct.

Right.

And so um, but before we get too excited, I was gonna say there are tons of rules and regulations, and we have uh uh they keep changing the rules over the years, they've changed the rules, and we have an agreement that the council approved not that long ago.

Um anyway, um, and I we're gonna get you a more detailed breakdown of this because and I tried making a bunch of calls last week and with the holiday, I just they weren't getting returning calls.

So but we'll continue to look at that.

But um it can be used, it can't be used for straight out demolition.

You have it has to be used for um something like cleanup of of an existing site.

So so you say you have asbestos or some other environmental type issue, we could use it for that.

Um there's a lot of rules attached to that, but um we think maybe we could be a little creative in using those funds and helping with some of these challenges where we don't have enough money to to address all of these different particularly the commercial buildings.

But um anyway, um cleanup versus demo, we need to define that more clearly.

And again, the EPA prefers it be loaned.

Uh it can be loaned to a developer or to ourselves, obviously, we've done that.

So, but there's a lot of rules associated with that.

So we'll we'll try to get a breakdown of that in more specific detail.

We've also used it over the years for things like phase one and phase twos that we've done.

One time we had somebody almost worked on this exclusively in community development department that um, and we did you know dozen dozens of phase ones and phase twos over the years.

So um, but we do have these funds, we should use them if we can.

Uh, I believe we should use them and apply them to maybe lower some of these costs, but we'll have to be a little creative about that.

So next option is um Bill Wanderscheid for C B D funds.

Sure.

Jill Wunderside Neighborhood Services Manager.

So we are the administrators of the community development block grant funds.

Um these are we primarily use these for infrastructure, housing rehabilitation, um, those types of things.

They can be used for demolition also.

We did a fair amount of that um probably in the first part of the 2010s.

Um and so we would have approximately 75 to 100,000 available in this current fiscal year that we just started.

Um we would just need there's a few rules we have to follow, of course, because they're from HUD.

Um one would be it has to be in a predominantly residential area.

Another is that it has to be um determined to be spot slum and blight.

Obviously, if it's red tagged, it already meets that qualification.

Um and we do have to do a few environmental review type things beforehand.

Um, and one of that includes um a full historic review of the property, and our staff does that internally, and so um we would just want to work with Daryl and make sure that we're picking the right houses that will sail through all of that as easily as possible.

But um we're excited to partner and can definitely work on that this year with some of those funds.

So it doesn't need to be a broadly defined blighted area, the the property itself can be the blight.

Yep, exactly.

And there's no requirements of what the property has to be in the future, there's no ties with any of that, it just has to be placarded now.

You haven't spent any of it so far?

So what we do each year is when we do our action plan, um, which you all are review and approve.

We always put a placeholder in there, so HUD approves us to be able to use these funds for a demo.

Um, but and we just kind of see what comes to us from inspections, and so no, to answer your question, we haven't spent any.

So is any of your money overlapping with Teresa's right now?

No, no.

How do you prioritize demo versus rehabilitation?

Um, so typically the rehab that we're working on are homeowners, they have to be living in the property.

That's another thing with HUD rules, is you have to everything's income-based.

So we have to have someone physically living in the property to rehab to say that they're low to mod income.

It's kind of counterintuitive.

But the other way that we um so we can't rehab homes that are vacant.

That's a federal rule.

What's your preference?

Rehab or demo.

I mean, if it's blight in the neighborhood, 100% demo.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And uninhabited.

Yeah.

And we to answer your um questions before, we have met with the county to kind of start those conversations about how much is state law, how much is policy of the board.

So we're kind of flushing through all of that.

We are working on developing base there on that turnaround though?

Because I get calls all the time about that.

Isn't it like one lady over there that processes all caller and she'll put it on the list?

Yeah.

It goes, but that's that's not how that's supposed to work.

Yeah, it shouldn't work like that.

Yeah, but it's not a priority in their work day.

Right.

What pressure needs to come in from who I think it probably would help a council board conversation for sure.

We also have been working on a um a separate new nonprofit that would kind of fill the gap in the community where we're basically a land bank without the legislation.

That would not be a city board, that would be a separate thing we're kind of working on in the background here.

Um and we do think this would kind of fill the gap of holding on to some of these vacant properties and and flipping them that way.

So you got cash in hand right now, the hundred grand?

Let's go.

Great.

Uh the next item um is an increase in the FY28 budget because we're already in the 27 budget.

If we want to increase the increase um and accommodate um additional expenses here, um, it will reduce the amount of um casino revenue that um we utilize to balance the general fund.

So I just want to make you aware that if we do decide to increase it and we use um casino funds, it will reduce the amount of money that we we move towards our general fund.

So that'll cause further concerns.

Right.

I think we've got a good start with using the brown field and with using CBT.

So the brown field, I do want to be clear, the 1.3 million dollars is not a hundred percent available.

It is only for yeah, it's only for because they have new rules, we can't use it for demo.

Um, but we have questions out to whether or not we can use it to secure properties, because there may be a case in which we can secure the properties until we can get them demoed.

Um, or and or um use it for um some of that environmental type things, as best as remove all those types of things.

We could parcel out some of those expenses and utilize the brown field for that.

So we're trying to find any funding source, even though it may only cover a portion of it, then we're then that um that shortfall isn't just great.

I know you're in the process of getting us a summary of the state legislature's amendments to property tax and TIFF and otherwise.

For me, I mean, affecting the casino revenue and uh the impact to the general fund is on hold until we get some clarity there.

So I I realize that's it's a third option, but yeah, I'd like to get some clarity and and have better sense of our general fund, the impact to our general fund before we really start looking at this for demolition or or yeah, we still have not gotten very clear um direction.

In fact, always is telling us we need to wait for the state.

We're still reaching out to the state.

So that's who we really rely on typically they get the answers before we do.

So the legislative service agency still hasn't put this.

Still not putting it out contact to them, and they're still it feels like they're still exhausted from the session, so they're still recouping before they get that um fiscal note out there.

So two exit questions real quick.

So from uh if you were to eliminate one, that that $700,000 plant.

Here's it here's the next stop.

So we have some so alternate options.

Yeah.

So the alternate options are the $700,000 plant, um, whether or not we're determining if we can use the um brownfield funds to secure the property.

Could we secure the property, spend you know, $100, maybe $50 to $75,000 to secure the property until we later demo it, or we have it, whatever happens, that way it's secured.

It's not safe, it's not unsafe.

Um, I know Daryl's concerned about the safety.

We need to get it at a secured state.

Um, the other property, um, 1901 Pierce Street, um, it may be redeveloped.

We have um a developer that may be interested in redeveloping it, so that that property may soon not be a issue or uh a demo concern.

So if there is a developer for the Pierce Street property, which I I think we're all hopeful that will materialize, is the former bus barn on Fairmont?

Is that a property that you feel like needs to be?

I know already started.

I restarted.

Okay.

Um it's already started.

We've actually done the asbestos survey and and um thank goodness the roof was not hot.

Um I talked to the the um surveyor and I asked him, you know, the portion of the roof that's laying on the ground, there's a significant probably 80 percent of the roof is laying on the floor.

Um the rest is just dangling there, ready to fall.

I said, can you take your samples from that so we can not have to take this as a asbestos containing building?

And he did, he agreed to it, and thank goodness it was not hot.

So we brought our number down from probably 75,000 plus down to a number of right.

I think our um contract went out at 23,000 for abatement.

Just for asbestos, and that was for the basically the office section.

There's two, there's two stories above ground and one story below ground, and pretty much everything in that is hot with asbestos.

So it's all got to be taken.

So that was my first question.

I apologize.

This is my last one, I promise, but that was where we're gonna finish.

What I want to finish, this is what I actually wrote to finish was so right now the bid process, the biddings, the bids are coming in very aggressive, right?

For demo.

So my question is what can we do legally?

Can we can we um number one?

Can we package bids on demo house on on residential?

Is that legal to do?

I I do that.

You can already do that.

I do number two.

Can we uh what's the a time limitation that we can do on a bid?

Because I think some of these guys, if we were you know going into next year on some of these back, can we lock them in these rates, you know, give them a five or seven percent variance?

But it is are is there is there something that hold us back from that?

I would have to take a closer look at the code, but I believe there is an allowance for demolition bidding for a year.

I believe so.

Under chapter 26.

So we'll have to take a look at that.

We've never used that, but I think that's the same.

You know, and I'm here I'm going with this, Daryl and Teresa.

I'm going with this.

Okay.

There I I do bids now.

I mean, like my contract.

Why if they're in the hole, if they're the ones that are in the the you that's why we're asking to identify the ones that are not, right?

Okay.

In a whole correct.

So we can get them bid.

Yes.

And then lock them down.

We'll work towards getting um a list of the expenses that would be eligible for brown field too, so we can parcel out what we're really now the shortfall is after we have C BD funds and the um brown field, and then we can start moving forward with some bidding and get some direction from the my um path that I'm going to look at it taking here for 1804 Day Street, um, such it is a significant number, and that's such a vo it's such a hard one to lock down simply because we don't know the environmental impact portion of that is to actually get that survey done now.

Because the survey is probably going to cost us around $2,500.

It's uh it's something that has to be done anyway.

Um we'll get that con that survey out there, and that will determine how much we're gonna have to use.

And if it is a significant number, then I would suggest that we look back moving forward in using those brownfield dollars.

So that $700,000 number may come down significantly.

If if one, we can use brownfield numbers to take out the asbestos, or two, it doesn't come back as hot as I'm anticipating.

Being a packing plant of you know, turkey planking plant at one point, there's a lot of piping in there that's covered with asbestos and those kind of things.

Um so I'm guessing pretty high on that when I put that number out there of 700,000.

The 1.3 million in brownfield funds that are loaned either to the city or to private developers, are those loaned at zero percent or just a low interest rate?

We uh we used a low interest.

We used a low interest rate.

I think the restriction is low interest.

Right, but not zero, right?

Nicole, what was the I didn't hear what you said?

I I believe, and I don't want to speak out of term, but I believe there has to be an interest rate charge related to that.

Yeah, I think we used to do a low one.

One of the three or four percent.

I don't think zero is allowed.

I think that it but just not at zero.

I just had one question for Jill.

Um when you had talked about the 100,000, you know, that you had on so is that re-up?

How do you how do you get that?

I mean, is that re once a year or um so each time when we do our plan annually, we kind of lay out what we anticipate spending funds on.

The majority, I mean, these days we don't get nearly as much federal funding as we used to, so it's typically going to our housing rehab programs, our infrastructure projects typically over in the Isabella Square, or not Isabella Square, we'll sum.

Um, but mostly Lions Park area.

Um, and then whatever other little projects come up here and there, so we would just um take some funds that we have right available right now and do that.

But as an entitlement city, we get an annual.

Yeah, we get an annual amount between 1.5 and 1.6 million a year.

Thanks, guys.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up.

Now that the city managers properly noticed this, we can discuss it this week.

So thank you.

All right.

Um do you want me to go through this again?

Or I guess I'm open for discussion, or what how would you like to proceed?

Yeah, I I think just in general, uh, Janelle went through the slides last time on our expectation of the process in general is we're going through the assessment process next week.

Right.

Expect to have those results the week following.

We expect to start the interview process the first week or two of August.

We intend to have three panels on that interview process, a uh department head panel, a community panel, and a union panel.

A union panel.

And the council will be part of the community.

That's up for discussion.

That the council can be part of that.

Uh if we notice it as a meeting, you can decide to have individual meetings with those uh finalists and give feedback to me and the recruiter as we go through that.

So we can we don't have to decide that today.

And the 19 that applied, you anticipate having as you go through the review process, what's your intersection?

There is a nine coming for the assessment process that have been pre-screened.

Or off a nineteen down to nine.

Right.

Yes.

And that nine, Janelle, uh, you know, having said on like is that where you know they come in and they talk to the three or four different things.

It's the assessment center.

It's part of the civil service oral exam or exam.

And there like I said, there's an assessment center that will consist of a written examination, an oral examination, and a presentation.

And then will you you will weed it down from there that would then go to the as long they have to have a passing score of 70 to be placed on the all applicant list.

So if every if all nine have a passing score of 70, they all can be placed on the list.

The intent would be then that I'll go meet with the assessment panel after that process and get feedback from them to cut down for finalists with their feedback.

So the question is why we called this, why I really was excited about this because again, the part of this is the education part with the public and also to get input from the public, as this is a anytime you make a huge move, you know, you know, on a police chief retires, it just doesn't happen that often.

So this is an opportunity, and plus we as a council don't get an opportunity to have an open discussion about what are you hearing from your constituents, what are you hearing from the public?

What do we where do we want to go as a community?

And what I hear in the people that I talk to is people agree um where this council is taking it, is that law enforcement and economic development walk hand in hand, in my opinion.

If you don't have a safe committee or safe community for commerce, if you don't have a a presence, a police presence, um, it it hurts commerce, it hurts economic development.

So I started asking, I started going around asking questions.

What does the public want to see and where do they where do they want to go with this?

Um I do like I'm encouraged that it sounds like they're gonna have an opportunity to interview the finalists as a council together, which it which is fantastic.

Um the number number one thing that I got back, which was number one feedback was uh public safety is they want an increased uh visibility and public safety.

They want to see law enforcement becoming more visible in the community.

Um, not saying that they're doing any better or any worse job, is they want more visibility of law enforcement on the streets.

So as we recruit a new chief, we want to know is their for his philosophy or her philosophy, law enforcement visibility.

Um they also wanted they want to end the lawlessness of petty crimes.

They want to they want a police chief that basically at some point is gonna step up and go, no crime is too small, and that there's penalties and tight penalties behind small crimes.

We identify, we identify who the bad apples are.

The problem is at times this community we contain them.

We don't prosecute them.

We want to we want to we want a police force that's gonna go out there and go hardcore on the smallest of small, the thefts on the job sites, uh the drug trafficking where it's the small players.

That's that's what the community wants.

They want to see action a little more on that end of it.

Um they want to see one a police force that is felt.

I know it sounds crazy.

Law bodies, citizens want to feel and they want to see the police force out there maintaining it.

I know at times we've kind of been through an environment not just here but nationwide, where it's more uh community policing in the background, more of the the outreach type programs.

Um I think what you see is we want to be one as we move forward, we want to become a branded community that you mess around in this community, you're gonna feel it.

You know, the FOFA type atmosphere as we bring someone in, is in Sioux City is going to be known in the state of Iowa's.

You mess around in Sioux City, you're gonna get caught, you're gonna get prosecuted.

It's a toughness that I think that that the just nationwide is sweeping um across.

Does the it's it's not about uh hardcore police force, it's about a visible uh police force.

So I I did some research and I you start talking about how some um police forces have problems filling their forces versus other other police forces seem to have no problem filling their vacancies.

And they can't there was three things that I discovered across that was very consistent um why cities and municipalities struggle with getting their forces filled.

The first one is cops don't want to work for a city or a chief that is dominated but focused on perceptions of what they're doing versus policy versus policing.

They want they the cops want to come in and they want to work for, they want to do their job, they want to be police.

They don't want to be worried about what the perception is they're doing in there.

They want to they want to they don't want to feel uh coddled.

So cops don't the second thing was cops uh would don't want to come and work for a department um or they don't uh where they they have constant fear of being fired or being jailed for doing police work.

And again, that's another thing that's going across the country is is the fear of just doing their policing.

Um so do we are we gonna bring in a chief that is going to back their officers if if policing gets a little bit more aggressive um to to maintain the peace and the visibility we need.

Um and then last one is uh cops and chiefs don't want to come into a community where they feel a heavy hand of the administration.

And I think that's a fair question that we ask our our uh incoming police chief is either their previous interactions with legal, their previous interactions um with uh the community on that end of it.

So my first question, Janelle, to you guys is when when we're reaching out there is you know, what is what is what is what is the blue team?

What's the blue sheets?

What is the blue team when it comes to policing in this community?

What does that mean?

I believe that is a department.

The blue team is a department function that where they document all sorts of things.

I'm not able to speak on that.

Who can speak on that?

Yeah, Ryan.

Thanks, brother.

Captain Ryan Bertrand to CDPD.

Yeah.

Uh Blue Team is a program that we use to, it's a digital program.

Basically used to track many things, discipline being one of them, award nominations, etc.

Do all communities use blue teams?

No.

They don't.

Okay.

The can can blue team because when I did my research on that too, because you in talking to some field, does blue team is at times is it is it a deterrent for a police officer to do their job if if if it's used in certain ways, or is it is it helpful?

I mean, I can see it both ways, but I mean, if you got a guy that's in there and if they're they're they're truly reporting, you know, they get a f they get physical with somebody.

You know, they got the night shift, they're overnight, they bust a guy up, they gotta put it in the blue sheath.

They gotta they got they gotta document themselves.

Is that a deterrent?

I mean, how do you know I'm I'm where I'm going with this is that is do you think it should be a requirement for the next police chief to understand what blue team is, or are they gonna keep it or I mean you tell me.

Well, yeah, so you you're always there's always you're always gonna be at odds with a couple different things.

You've got accountability and control are always at odds.

Yeah.

You can let you can empower people, they can go out and have all the freedom to do whatever, uh, but you need to have balances as well.

Blue team has a historical base on our department.

Um you can go back to a time when Blue Team is a tool that helps administrators document successive and progressive discipline for ongoing and continued bad behavior.

So if you had a situation where somebody was not uh being disciplined, there was no write up, hey good old boy, you're good, just stop doing that, cut it out, quit roughing up people on the night shift.

And then eventually, let's say that officer hurt somebody and it became serious, and you wanted to then try to fire that officer, you'd have zero documentation.

So what blue team allows is in a professional entity, allows you to be able to document progressive discipline.

Now, one of the things that we're doing.

What do other communities do if they don't have blue team?

They would either do it, there's some other they have a process.

If they're professional, they should have a process.

You should have a progressive discipline process, absolutely.

So is blue team a decision from the department?

Is that a chief decision or is blue team?

Blue team is just illegal.

There's many other Lexapol has some, police one.

It's just a management, it's just it's an it's an administrative tool.

Is that part of uh certification process you that you go through as well?

Is it uh condition or an element of review?

Yes, um part of being accredited is having standards.

Uh Khalia set the standards, then we make the standards with policies.

Blue team is a system.

It's something that we were doing all along.

In fact, we look at anything like progressive discipline as saving careers, not taking them.

Uh officer might be heading down the wrong path, and by tracking this information, maybe we get them training, maybe we get them counseling, maybe we detect through uh early intervention system that there's something at issue at home and can get them on the right track.

It's not uh for whatever reason.

Some do.

Yeah, some do.

Some do.

But it's it but it it's it's a digital version of something that the department has done analog forever.

It's just a tracking system.

And as the captain mentioned, we put we put commendation letters on Blue Team.

And it basically it allows us to track the high liability of activity of officers.

Uh but again, it's we think of uh of everything that we do as employee preservation.

Uh any time we catch an employee heading down a negative path, it's it's meant to get them on the right path.

I mean, if they do prop somebody up, you know, too much, and even if you put them on there, they can be sued themselves for punishment.

Yes, if they if they exceed, if if their actions, if an officer's actions are are far are outside of policy to uh uh an egregious degree, then they can be sued themselves, and the city has would potentially not have obligation to advocate for them.

Trying to steer them away from such actions using that they might get from the And you know what?

And it's it's like anything.

I think uh I think setting standards is healthy.

If you don't know where the bar is, if you don't know the expectations, then you're left with a very wide road.

And I think setting being accredited as we are, a lot of these things are a function of accreditation.

But Blue Team is a uh a proprietary system.

There's probably dozens we've gone to tech conferences of different vendors who would say, okay, put your pursuits, put your use of forces in here, put your commendations in here.

It's our software system, it's just a software system.

But again, it's a it's a digital version of something that from an analog standpoint the department has been doing forever.

It's not a bad thing.

And I understand.

And maybe what we need to do is talk to our officers about how it helps us keep them healthy, keep them in the job, keep them trained, address their needs, because that's the way I look at it.

I don't look at it as a negative.

And if they don't like blue team, they probably don't like IA either, right?

So, you know, when it comes to the fact of the matter is there's a there was a culture shock that happened where it was very hands-off in the policing world, and then everything caught up to policing.

So accountability, public demand, body worn cameras, et cetera, et cetera.

Oh, you know, that that kind of effect, you know, from the Ferguson effect, maybe some of that that came came out.

So you're right, you've got people that are thinking about it.

Hey, Ryan, you're a cop, you're applying for a job in Sioux City, Iowa.

Yep.

And you're you're gonna you're gonna do your you're gonna do your diligence, right?

You're gonna figure out who what's what's who what's with leadership with legal lease.

Does is blue team is it a deterrent for that incoming officer, or is it a perk?

No.

Blue team is blue team is neutral.

Confrontation does not equal condemnation.

Uh, for a good for a good strong leadership, you need proper selection.

You also need high standards.

Any high tier unit needs standards.

And the people that want to do good work, if they want to be professional, they want to be respected as a go-getter and a cool cop, I'm gonna have them both ways.

I'm gonna give them a lot of training and I'm gonna give them a lot of standards, and it's gonna be both at the same time.

There's got to be a bad some people don't like it because they've never been told no, and when they finally get told no, then blue team for some of those folks, it's a bad thing.

Oh, we can't do policing.

I guess you don't want me to do any police work.

And and I'm say that sarcastically because I've heard that before.

Sure.

Some cops have that some cops have that uh fine, and fine.

Uh uh that person can go away.

Uh a cop that wants to get professional, hey, I did a pursuit, I drove too fast, I outdrove the car, I crashed the car, they get written up in Blue Team.

But again, as the chief said, that's to preserve their career.

We don't want them running over citizens.

Will power and skill power go very much together.

So we gotta have somebody that can do both at the same time.

And that's why this is a tough job.

So Blue Team is more a documentation database that they've digitized where other supervisors tend to keep their own, maybe it's a handwritten log, or they have folders for each of their employees that show I'm sorry, like a paper trail.

Right.

That show counts written counselings that they've had or verbal counselings they've had.

Um when they've told someone they've done a good job, so they just have a more formal digitized process where others just have a more manual process.

I guess where I'm going with this is we recruit a new police chief.

I like to know where they stand.

This council wants to know where they stand on those type of tools.

And is it a deterrent or is it a stick, or is it a is it a you know, what where are you at on this process?

What's their history behind it?

Because it doesn't have a good stereotype behind it.

It doesn't.

Some communities use it really, really well, and some don't.

And and in here, I don't think it's I don't think it's completely a positive thing when it comes to recruiting officers.

And again, it's not, we're just again, we're moving forward on the other one.

The other one's so in order that was we're having discussion as a council is so I when we talk to the fellow council members is you know the the community is gonna want are we do we want to bring in a chief or uh or um promote a chief that has a we need to ask them is their philosophy of enforcement or is it containment?

And that is a real question to ask the next police chief.

What's your philosophy?

Is it to contain petty crimes, contain uh law, a little bit of lawlessness because we can contain it, or is it strict enforcement?

Are we going to make a statement as a community that this community is no longer is not going to tolerate you know lawlessness?

And so that's a question I think it's very fair as as we as you guys begin this interviewing process.

Um and then again, I think I would just point blank ask them how do you plan on filling out this field for us?

You know, that's a fair question to them.

Is we've had problems, and it's not pay, is that correct?

Aren't we one of the most highest paid police forces in the state?

We just had a salary study and adjusted, especially the chief.

What are we from the from a cop or a street cop perspective?

What we're uh we were number one for a while back in 25.

Well, number one in pay.

Or the it's more complicated level.

It's more complicated than that because some of the entries are high, others were low.

All right.

And we did adjust the chief because there was pressure with that range.

So I'm just saying is that that I think that should be a priority when we start when we were talking about recruiting this next police chief, is what what tools do you need?

Because we're clearly we got pay, and we've got and we've got benefits and stuff.

So what else do you gonna have that we're gonna be able to fill this field for us up?

That's a fair question to ask the police chief coming in.

Um, and then you start talking about you know their leaderships, their attitudes.

We already covered that, you know, where what what they they envision for the community.

Um, and then we talk about comparative other mispath municipalities with the pay, we just discussed that.

Um, I'm gonna talk about re-org till we get to the next section, the next next round.

Um so the question I have is I would like us when you're in the interview process is to know the relationship with legal.

So when the their police chief comes in, you know, there's a lot of autonomy in a in a police force, but there's also a lot of um gray areas.

And I would like to ask is their attitude that that they take direction from legal or or do they take advice from legal or do they take direction from legal?

And I think that's a fair question.

Is that a fair question?

Sure, and I would say that we advise all the departments within the city.

Um they may ask for a legal opinion.

We provide that.

We try to help guide them.

And advised your side, yeah.

If there are legal considerations, we'll say these are places that you need to try to avoid.

We try to help, we try to find out a solution that's within the parameters of the law.

I would say it's always the department's decision.

Yes, always it's the same with the council.

We provide advice to the council.

You can choose to follow it or not.

I'm saying is we've got a point in time.

I think with a new police chief coming in, I'd like to see the uh a reset of the philosophy of our legal department is for advice.

We as a city, we are willing to accept some risk if it means a safer community and if it means safer things pull it forward.

So I just I guess if I can just ask for clarification as to what are you thinking is uh an issue with no, I'm just I just think it's a discussion as we're interviewing the next, because there's some police chiefs on the other gonna interview that are gonna say, well, whatever legal says, that's that's that's that's oh I see we're gonna run.

Okay.

And that's not always the case that I don't think that's the case we want in this community, right?

We want we want somebody coming in with a little more f with a free thinking and saying we're willing to take a little more risk because we have we want to change the the perception of this community and that part of the sure and I and kind of what councilwoman Chanor had indicated is there are potential issues where police officers would have to stand alone in a lawsuit for punitive damages that the city can't pay.

And so we always want to make sure that we're trying to be within the parameters of the policies as the chief had indicated and Captain Bertrand.

Yeah, I was just it's just I just think we have a a very very unique opportunity.

I look forward to the the candidates um coming forward.

Um I have a complete respect for the our our men and women right now that are in in office, but this is a unique opportunity.

I think from an economic standpoint to change the direction of this city with with stricter, more visible police uh presence, and and that's it for me.

Other input from council members right now.

No, I I I think I'm I'm anxious to watch the process evolve.

Um I think we need to be open-minded.

I think we're looking for a lot of different characteristics and parameters in our leadership.

I think the chief has done a great job.

I think he's got the respect of the city of the community and of his department.

And I think as we look for our new chief, I think things will always evolve in terms of expectations and understandings.

I think a lot of the things that that Rick brought up are relevant and and need to be considered in this process.

I think we all have different sense of of um the characteristics and the the personality that we're looking for.

But I look forward to the process and I'm anxious to meet the candidates and go through this effort.

Okay, thanks.

Good job, guys.

Thank you for citizen concern.

Hello, Monique.

That was a long wait, wasn't it?

Just in case, I I just want to hand these out to you all.

Monique Scarlet, uh, president of the Sioux City NAACP.

I do have something prepared.

Um, and I'm also going to add a few things on because now, based on what I just heard, kind of ended out, but based on what I just heard, I do have some concerns.

So let me start with this.

On what you received, um, first of all, I I knew the mayor was not going to be here.

I had conversation with him, and so I knew he was not going to be here.

So I do want to thank Mayor Scott for taking out the time to talk with me, and also uh Chief Rex Mueller um for taking out time to talk with me about the handout that you have received.

So I'm here tonight um in my capacity as the president of the Sioux City NAACP.

Um, as you are now aware, if you haven't been aware, I there was a press release that was recently submitted by the Iowa Nebraska NAAC president Betty Andrews addressing House File 2711.

Are any of you familiar with that prior to that press release going out?

Okay.

This House file removes requirements for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to consult with civil rights organizations and community stakeholders when developing certain training guidelines.

While the new law effectively, July 1st mandates de escalation training, it unfortunately eliminates bias awareness training, which is crucial in understanding the community we serve.

According to the press release, Iowa faces one of the highest racial incarceration disparities in America.

Furthermore, the recent elimination of the Iowa governor's justice advisory board, on which I did serve, representing Sioux City, represents a significant setback in gathering factual data and finding permanent solutions.

We made a lot of great ground, and when the governor dissolved that, that was a huge setback for Iowa.

I want you all as a council to be aware of that.

Despite these changes at the state level, I do want to acknowledge the chief of police, Rex Mueller.

Overall, the last decade that I've had the opportunity to work with him, he has worked with organizations such as Unity in the Community, neighborhood watch programs, the Sioux City and ACP, which he created community policing initiatives.

Community trust.

As a community leader, I have also had the opportunity to participate in the Kalia certification interview process, which he talked about, which ensures transparency and accountability within our police department.

These are things that are working.

You don't fix something that's not broken.

These are things that have been very effective in our city and has built relationships with our law enforcement and our citizens.

Sioux City has been proactive in building bridges and working together.

Our desire is to continue this collaborative spirit in which we serve and which we search now for a new police chief.

So I'm glad this discussion came up.

I asked that the community is a part of these interviews.

I'm glad to hear that we're going to have community interviews.

So in order to do that, we have to work together.

So based on what I heard tonight in searching for a new police chief, um, I want to say to this council specifically, Rick, you and I really need to do coffee really soon.

Um I understand you have constituents and people that come to you.

I also answer to this community.

And what I don't want is a chief police, and let me say this, let me back up.

My mind kind of wanders.

Um, Craig, thank you for your stance on saying, you know, doing things within.

I appreciate that because we understand what we're getting.

On the last time I was at a city council meeting, you had said that.

And the council voted to go on the outside and bring in a hiring.

Um pros and cons both ways.

But on the school board, I know the cons against that, okay.

But I do want to say that I am going to be responsible for community and answer to people also.

And we have to be very careful in the next chief of police that we bring in here because with removing House File 2711, and I'm worried about Sioux City, because this is where I live and breathe.

I'm also worried about a national perspective as well.

But I live here, and I want to keep our community safe.

And in order to do that, now that this has been removed from the academy, it is going to be vital for the police, the chief of police to be a person that's not always black and white.

Okay.

I don't want to strike three in Sioux City to begin happen.

That's on a national scale.

We have to take care of our community because what's happening on a national scale is not always conducive at home.

So we have to be sensitive to what's going on in Sioux City, what will make Sioux City successful.

And so I'm depending on this council as a community leader to do the right thing.

And if you're not quite sure what that right thing, reach out.

I'm here.

My number is public.

I am here, unity in the community's here.

These are things that we have worked hard for to build that community trust.

It didn't happen overnight.

But what I don't want to see is what a decade of togetherness is destroyed in a person coming to our Sioux City and unraveling all of that.

So I'm standing here tonight as president of the Sioux City and ACP and president of Unity in the community, saying I want to be one of those stakeholders.

I want to say so in this next chief of police, because I understand what it takes a community to be continue to be successful.

I'm tired of kind of stumbling awards.

This was a long meeting, y'all had.

I applaud to.

But I want you to know it's very important to hear the community, not one side of the tracks, listen to the entire community and what's going to keep us working together and our law enforcement safe.

Thank you.

No, Monique, I don't know that I'm looking for additional um input, but I am curious.

The house file, which eliminates the requirement, doesn't eliminate the opportunity to still provide the annual training.

So part to me, and that doesn't necessarily need to be addressed tonight, but I'm curious why the state legislation, the discussion about the state legislation, why it was passed, and what the intent of our department, both currently and as we process to interview new candidates, what their intent would be.

Sure.

And and we know that the climate of our national, I mean, it has set a different tone.

And so again, when it trickles down to our communities, we we still have leeway, we still have say so.

And what I appreciate about this police department, even though this is is done at the state level in the academy, Sioux City has been ahead of the game.

And that's what I will say with the CalEA program.

I mean, there's just things that I believe Bertrand said it best.

I mean, you have to have accountability.

You have to have measurements, you have to have action plans, and so the checks and balances, you have to have that.

And so uh, even though it's at the state level, we still have responsibility here at the local level.

So let's do coffee.

I'm open to any one of you all, and I appreciate when you all respond back to me.

But let's do coffee soon and let's just talk out some things.

Any other questions for me before I sit down?

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Thanks for your patience tonight.

Uh Chad Sheehan, Sheriff Woodbury County.

I live in Sioux City.

Uh it's a coincidence that they're talking about the chief job.

I'm not here to talk about that, but since it's brought up, Monique, um, I would like to just kind of piggyback off of what she said, and if there's any way that I can assist uh the city in in uh uh whatever part to select the right person uh to fulfill the chief's job moving forward, I'll make myself available.

I saw that it was next week.

I only have one conflict next week on uh Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock.

Other than that, uh I kind of kept my schedule open uh once I saw the the schedule.

So I'd love to be able to assist in any way that I can as if you haven't noticed over the last five years uh the most uh critical incidents that occur in our area, it ends up being uh the chief and the sheriff standing shoulder to shoulder and answering to the public.

And I think uh, you know, my uh career has uh has shown that uh I care about this community, I care about the the people who are maybe less fortunate and less cared for or less recognized in the community.

And I think uh, you know, my uh career has uh has shown that uh I care about this community, I care about the the people who are maybe less fortunate and less cared for or less recognized in the community, and uh and uh so in any way that I can help do that, I I want to offer my services and and I'll make myself available in any way that I can.

But that's not what I I came here to discuss.

Um I came here to tonight to address the council and specifically the transportation uh to the law enforcement center.

Uh the new law enforcement center, which isn't new anymore, we've been there since October of 2024, so over a year and a half, is located at 3701 28th Street in Sioux City.

Umfortunately, I believe that from my recollection, this is the first time that I have addressed the city council, and I'll take responsibility that I haven't been here uh in the past to discuss this this issue.

Um it's mostly been discussed at the law enforcement center authority level.

Um but the discussions are not new.

Uh the discussion, my first discussion with anybody in the city uh was um city administrator Mike Collette, I believe at the time you were the transportation director.

It would have been in the spring of 2023.

The initial um discussion was that it was going to require a uh a separate part-time bus route, and there was some other things.

And let me say, preface, I am not a transportation or public transportation expert.

I don't know anything about it.

So uh just take everything that I say with that uh up front.

I'm not an expert.

But the price that was quoted to me at the time was somewhere between 250 and 350,000.

Uh at the time I I found it hard to believe that that would be a number that it would cost to run a route from 7th and Lewis up to 28th Street, or from the Floyd uh Walmart, which is what I was told were the two nearest uh stopping points on the transportation uh the transportation route that had existed.

Um these discussions continued into 2024 when we were in the process of moving to the law enforcement center.

There were uh discussions at the law enforcement center authority meetings that previous councilman Moore was a representative for the city.

I believe he's still your current representative on the LEC authority.

So in September of 2024, October of 2024, and December of 2024, there were discussions.

You can go back, I reviewed them last week, um, where there where there were still discussions talking about how expensive public transportation or using the city's transit uh buses would be to extend either one of those routes.

Um in the in the meeting in December of 2024, it was discussed by uh uh board member Bittinger that uh Councilman Moore, uh Board of Supervisor Member Matthew Ung, we're still in in discussions with the city.

I spoke with uh Matthew uh last week.

Uh he said that basically the discussions stalled, and when the discussions stalled, the numbers were still being uh kicked around of 250,000.

Last week I was reading a news article that was on uh KSCJ.

Uh apparently two weeks ago in your council meeting, I I I watched them, but I skipped through a lot of the stuff, I'll be honest.

I I kind of try and pick the parts that are relevant to what's the good stuff might affect me.

Yes.

Um but in the news article from KSEJ, it said that during the board meeting there was discussion about increasing the routes uh to Sergeant Bluff in Sioux City.

And the uh when I read the news article, it said that Sergeant Bluff uh has uh I believe it's five stops on their route, stops daily on the hour throughout the day, and they paid 14,000.

I knew it had to be, it had to be a typographical air.

There's no way that you're running a route into another city that's only a mile longer than what it would take to go to 28th Street for 14,000.

It had to be a typographical air.

So I contacted the city of Sergeant Bluff, which is a great service.

I think it's great.

I hope I'm not here to bash the city of Sergeant Bluff.

I hope I hope you continue it.

But I reached out and talked to uh Aaron Lincoln with the City of Sergeant Bluff.

It's not a typographical air.

It is 14,000.

Um it's been going on for at least 15 years, maybe 20.

He told me that he thought it was goes back to the MCI days when uh MCI was rolling heavy.

Um there are five stops.

Apparently uh it's every hour, Monday through Friday, maybe it's different on the weekends.

So I'm here to ask this council to look into how do we provide a route so that the lower socioeconomic people in our community can have access, equal access to the criminal justice system in Woodbury County, just like anybody else that can afford a car to drive there.

It's been a concern that I've brought up.

I know everybody's worried about what the inmates do when they're released.

And while I'm I'm concerned about them as well, they've gotten themselves into a position where they're responsible to get themselves home or wherever they're gonna go.

I understand that.

But the other thing I would caution is in our in our justice system, somebody who's arrested and brought to jail and then bonded out, they're innocent until they've been proven guilty.

Okay.

But that's a small part of the the population that I'm concerned about.

I'm more worried about people who are trying to get out to the law enforcement center to serve on a jury, who have been a victim or a witness of a crime, who want to talk to a county attorney, who want to uh come out and maybe just sit in a public trial to find out that we're all doing what we're supposed to be doing the right way.

Maybe it's a family member who needs to come out and and bring a child to have a visitation with somebody that's that's incarcerated or locked up.

Um so I just want to bring this to the attention.

I know you probably can't have discussion since it's not an agenda item.

I understand that.

But if we're doing this service for a city that's not in our own city, I don't understand how we're not doing this in the city of Sioux City for a population of folks that need access to these services.

And if that's not enough, the trailer court I know is clamoring for public transportation.

Um you're gonna have the agape center that's gonna open on 28th Street.

A simple loop out to 28th Street.

I I've talked to a couple of the Board of Supervisors.

We'll we'll build a uh a bus stop right down at the end of our at our lane.

Uh if you want to, if you want to bring the bus into our parking lot and turn it around, we'll figure out a way to make it happen.

Um, but there has to be this has to be addressed.

I think the council needs to be you know, needs to be aware.

Um, I think the public needs to be aware, and there has to be some solution.

And it's not 250,000.

There's just there's no way.

Um so whatever we can do to to come to some resolution and solution.

I I'd like to hope that this council who uh and I'm not I'm not saying anything against other councils, but this council seems to be a council that you you guys get things done.

Um, and so that's that's what I'm asking you to do is try to work with us, work with the LEC authority, and let's get this done.

Let's finally just put this to bed.

This is this has gone on way too long.

Let's let's uh let's put this to bed and get it done.

How many times would you guys and supervisor talk about how many times have you what kind of route and that's five times into Sergeant Bluff, how many loops do you need in a day?

He's talking about AM like like eight.

Ideally, if you did one, I mean again.

This is just this is just me talking, right?

But if you did one sometime in the morning early, that gets people there for whatever services they need.

If they're if they're if you do one around lunchtime or at lunchtime, that's that gets them back if they're done for the day.

And then uh one shortly after lunch, and then one towards the end of the day, and that that should that should suffice.

Um now if you if you wanted to do it more, I don't know what the agape center's needs will be.

I don't know what the trailer court's needs would be, but from a from a perspective of our perspective, that that should be enough.

And we can when possible, coordinate release times to coincide with the bus.

But again, that's a that's a population that I'm not as concerned about having access as the other folks.

But we're willing to do whatever we can to help share the cost.

Yes, we might be willing.

Well, because that's I think where the stickler has been that we have tried to do a cost share.

If if the quote would have been 14,000 three years ago, we would have already paid for it.

I've never seen that number before.

Not 200 and something thousand dollars.

Well, okay.

So the initial discussion was what would it cost to add a route?

And that's that's the general number to add a route.

The further discussions were much less than that.

Right.

We met several times with county supervisors, Mr.

Moore and I.

Um, so there was lots of numbers and discussions throughout the world.

Were they ever down to 14,000?

No, but they don't go right by your front door on an existing route.

That's the difference.

You go five times and you go to five spots in Sergeant Bluff already on your route.

It's on an existing path.

That's the difference.

Okay.

Well, this is in Sioux City.

This doesn't have to go outside the city.

So let's do this.

Let's type up two paragraphs and what you think it should not need to build, just two paragraphs.

Send an email to the council, and we'll engage that discussion.

If it's something as simple as I like the idea of the trailer court, be honest with you.

I I do know that there is a I get that it's my neck of the woods.

So I get that that that would be having a stop at the top of the hill again.

It'd be great for those guys.

And Agape is going to come online at some point.

So maybe something we you know, if we do an in and out right there, let's let's let's talk about it.

We discussed it three times a day exactly what you're talking about for options.

So let's just jump in on on paper real quick and we'll run it through the system.

I'm sure if you're you're absolutely to Rick's request, you're absolutely entitled if you want to send us.

I don't feel like I need that because I feel like the dialogue that we're having uh with the updated awareness of that of what that route might be able to be is enough to ask Mike to work with his team in transit to to get us a sense of whether there's a business plan that works.

I'm guessing that there was not prior dialogue to include the trailer park.

Agape was not part of the previous dialogue.

So I think we're looking at a population that I think probably expands the business plan.

So a separate route, I don't think I didn't ask for that.

I wouldn't even know to ask for a separate route.

So if that's the way the discussion was steered, that didn't come from that didn't come from the sheriff's office and didn't come from the LEC authority.

All right, you know what?

We're there.

Yeah, okay.

I do again well, I mean, just be honest.

Yep, okay.

Yep, new council gonna let's let's address it.

Let's give me get us two paragraphs and let's let's get her out.

Thanks.

Thanks, Sheriff.

Thanks, Sheriff.

Nobody else.

All right, we have a citizen concern, Brenda Lewis.

Thank you for waiting, Brenda.

Brenda Lewis, thank you for this opportunity.

I mostly was not aware of how to get a hold of the ordinance and about the uh ATVs, UTBs, and the differences.

Um so my concerns were about the impact of accidents on the hospital system.

I'm a retired nurse, used to work at Mercy Trauma 2 level.

So I was more concerned about the license drivers being 16 and above, and you have clarified that it's 18 and above.

So that concern has been um addressed.

And so most of now what I what I was uh the public just needs more access to what it is.

If the pay newspaper gets it wrong, what an ATV or UTV is, the public really needs to also be aware of the exact things that we're talking about.

Um other terms are side by sides and things like that.

So it needs to be delineated and more clearly expressed to the public about what the issues actually are.

And that is absolutely our intent from the first reading tonight to get clarity from legal to get clarity from the the public, including what you're providing is the goal, which is why we didn't pass try we didn't move second and third reading tonight.

Right, and I appreciate that.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Miss Lewis.

Yes.

Um, the city of Cleric can show you where the ordinances online if we weren't.

I finally found it.

Okay.

When I was looking, all I got was this.

So I didn't see the expandable part where you could look at each item.

I finally found it.

Okay, good.

But um, I don't know if there's any way to make it more accessible or whatever, but but I appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I hope we still have interest on die off there.

All right.

Uh we will move to council concerns.

If there are no more citizen concerns out there, I only got an hour's work.

But they're not going to be able to do that.

You only have an hour?

About an hour.

Okay.

Well, I'm going to go first on citizen terms.

Right.

And the reason being is this one.

I want as many people to hear and see what I'm going to talk about quickly as we can.

So that's why I'm trying to get in a little bit earlier than being the last one.

Um what I want to talk about is what's coming on the city council's agenda next week, and you're going to see a discussion about the wastewater treatment plant.

This project has been on the forefront for many years.

Um it's the biggest expense I think we've ever had in the history of city, um, upwards of 465, 470 million dollars.

Um, and I just want to let everybody know that it's coming on to the agenda next week, and it's because we've reached kind of our phase one of our consulting contract and our design.

Finally, we're 100% design.

Um, our engineering firm, Hazen and Sawyer, uh got us uh involved with another consult or uh engineering firm, Kiwit, who are world-renowned designers, etc.

of wastewater plants.

Their contract, um they've been under contract since last February.

They're supposed to provide pre-construction services, which they have done.

Now their job is done to this point, they're paid in full.

And the next question, we're at the fork in the road.

Do we want to continue with Kiwit at the price that they've quoted us to oversee the construction of our plant, or do we want to put it back out for bid to other firms?

We have the legal right to do either way, and I think we're leaning towards second, but the council will decide that next week, and that's what we're gonna discuss, and that's we're gonna vote on.

I just want everybody to know that this is what's coming.

We're to our phase that the whole thing has been designed, the project is ready to move forward, we're ready to leap into construction late summer, maybe fall, it'll probably be the fall.

Um, but we're to the point right now that we say, what are we gonna do?

They've they've done their contract or not, or we're gonna go off in another direction and put it back out for bid.

And I think personally that prices have settled down a little bit from all of the shortages that we had due to COVID and transportation and some of the tariff things have stopped.

So I think that we can get the price lower.

I really do.

And uh Rick and I are both team leaders on the public works team, and I'm not gonna speak for him, but I'm sure he kind of thinks the same thing being in the construction and development industry that prices have simmered down somewhat.

So I just want to let everybody know that that's happening.

However, we have got a short timeline because the city of Sioux City is under a do we call it consent order from the attorney general?

Part of the settlement agreement.

Right.

The state of Iowa.

Right.

So we are under order by the Iowa Attorney General to follow the work order plan that the DNR via EPA has given us.

So we have a very tight timeline of when we have to get this project started, what process is done along the way, and when it must be completed.

They gave us the size that the plant must be, how long it should take to get it done, and when it's gonna be completed all the way.

So we have to build to their specification and to their sizing.

I just want everybody to know that.

I don't think that that was clearly stated in the beginning.

We don't have to say so.

The DNR decides what size that plant's gonna be.

Um I guess that's really all I want to say about that.

Is just that we're coming to a really important fork in the road next week, and this council will decide which route we take.

Do we stay on the path that we're on?

And they're they're perfectly qualified company, they're one of the best in the world, but it all comes with the price tag.

Or do we put it back out and try to get a rebid and see if we can get it in a little bit lower, which we believe we can.

All right, the next thing I want to talk about real quickly is this 250th anniversary.

For some reason, I'm overwhelmed with patriotism.

It just feels like so much more to me than I ever thought it would.

I started doing a little decorating on the outside of my home back in for Memorial Day, and it just grew because I just kept feeling more and more patriotic along the way as we got closer to the 4th of July and the actual anniversary.

We had a huge blowout of a celebration this year.

I really love that.

Um, but I also feel like it could be a time for our community as a whole and as neighborhoods and civic groups and clubs and committees and ourselves individually, can take a look at ourselves and ask is this a perfect time for a little bit of a reset?

How can we be better?

People, neighbors, parents, kids, um, community members.

I just think it almost feels like New Year's, like a New Year's resolution time or a new year goal setting time, and it does for me especially.

I have 18 months left in my term, and it's very undetermined what I'm gonna do after that.

And I'm just I just really want the projects that I've been working on to come to fruition.

So I'm I'm doubling down, I'm working extra hard, putting the time in, doing what I need to do to make sure that these things are really embedded and ingrained.

Um, but I just want everybody to think about what can we do for our community.

Um can we adopt a street and pick the litter up?

I got a guy who I didn't even know did it out on Singing Hills by uh Walmart, Jake Jungers, an individual has his name on one of the adopt the street signs.

Just an individual.

You don't have to be a business, you don't have to be a 501c3.

You can do it yourself, you can do it with your family.

Um, and I think I'm gonna adopt a street.

I'm always stopping all the time anyway.

I keep plastic bags in my car all the time to put it in.

So I might just adopt a street and opt off one myself, and I'm thinking about doing an adopted street challenge.

So we have like seven hundred miles of streets.

So as little as something like that is something that you're giving back to the community, and that's a that's a total reset, even though it doesn't seem that big.

So anyway, I just want to tell everybody to please stand up, be proud of your community.

Think about what you're saying in public online, and the things that you're typing, is that something that you would say to a stranger at the drive up who delivered your you know sandwich a little bit late, and they say, I'm so sorry, and we say, Oh, that's okay, but we don't you know forgive our own community things.

So anyway, that's that's I just I want us to think about a reset, a positive reset for this community.

And I think that we're all working on it very hard up here, and I don't think anybody realizes that, but we are, and it's not for anything other than the betterment of our community and our constituents.

All right, Rick?

Oh, good.

I'll go out.

I can go this way.

I'll back cleanup.

That's what I talk about, a change.

You're in the hole.

Yep, it is a change.

So thank you.

As always, I I want to thank the citizens for their engagement.

Uh, you know, I love when we have meetings that people come out and and and talk, whether it's you know, for or against anything.

I also, you know, and and this young man, he doesn't live in Sioux City, he goes to Woodbury Central, but uh the last couple years he has done a phenomenal job.

The Sioux City uh or the Sioux Land Chamber does a civics B every year, and uh this young man has won the local Civics B and then proceeded to go to regionals, and now he's at nationals.

Uh and so uh I just want to congratulate him for representing Sioux Land uh and and he just does a phenomenal job.

He you know wants to be an attorney and then uh be in city or not city but but government.

So uh I just think that that's uh phenomenal.

And I know Mike, you're probably already thinking about it, uh, but you know, as it came up tonight about having some public information uh with maybe Ann and such are putting something out there for you know, as as things proceed and and go with the U TV ordinance and and and passing.

Um, I I just wanted to point out, you know, this weekend obviously it was the 4th of July weekend and uh started in the park and all those things were going on.

Uh you know, one thing that we get to notice, uh you know, most of you know I have a local coffee shop here in town in downtown.

Uh but Saturday in particular, we had uh just an enormous amount of of visitors to the city.

Uh and I mean they it was it was crazy.

So I just appreciate uh, you know, when we get those visitors to the city, you know.

I uh legend he works for me, and uh I don't know if he could keep up with these uh when I tell you guys it was just unreal.

Uh but it is just a thing because people were just uh remarking how they they like Sioux City, you know, and uh we had people talking about vacationing here in Sioux City.

Uh and so I think that that's a uh a good positive thing that that we can build on, you know, sort of in those lines.

And and with that, I I just again, you know, I can't thank Mike and your your staff and city employees enough uh for your responsiveness uh to you know our request and and things that you you know we see going on in those things, and so again, thank you, and please, you know, continue to pass the word that uh it's appreciated, you know, when when things are getting done with that, and so uh that's all I have.

I'm gonna limit my comments because I know Rick has got a couple in in uh respect of time.

The really the only thing I want to mention is Saturday in the park.

Um my family, we had parked at a friend's driveway on um Ridgeview, and we were walking down and around, and when you come the back way, and you see the magnitude of the work that has been done, both on the stage in the back area and all of the trazer trailers, and and in particular Joe Bonamasa's trailer, and you realize the logistics and the organization that are necessary, and I think not that we take it for granted, but I think we we don't fully respect and appreciate what Dave Bernstein and his teams go through every year to make that event work and the magnitude of the event and the impact to Sioux City to Ike's point and those that come to the I know a number of the channels interviewed um visitors from Omaha and other communities, and they come and they show so much respect and so much appreciation for what David and his team have done, and I just think it's important that we as a community continue to recognize David and his efforts, and like I said, when we came around the back way.

And the magnitude of the event and the impact to Sioux City to Ike's point and those that come to the I know a number of the channels interviewed visitors from Omaha and other communities, and they come and they show so much respect and so much appreciation for what David and his team have done.

And I just think it's important that we as a community continue to recognize David and his efforts.

And like I said, when we came around the back way off of Ridgeview along Solway and looked at all of the trucks to the what would be the west side of the park, it's just an incredible endeavor.

And I congratulate them for another job well done.

Rick.

Briefly, only an hour.

The uh good meeting tonight.

I think it was great discussions all the way around.

Um weeks since you've been here.

So first I wanted to thank Brad with water.

Um the work they did up on Fremar.

I don't know if you saw that.

Um great job.

And we had a situation where we had some pretty good sinkholes that were starting in some of that new development up there.

And uh Citizen reached out and a developer reached out, and the city was spot on.

They got out there and I look at it and say, not only did they address the concern of the the builder and the people around it, but they probably prevented uh you know a couple hundred thousand dollar issue that could have been down the road if we if it was going to get kicked down the road.

So great job up on Fremar.

Um and the property owners that are up there.

If you get a letter, don't freak out.

There might be you might be asked to fill in a hole or something along your driveway.

And I just want to make sure that they know that uh it's it's a bigger, a bigger plan up there.

So good job there.

Also, uh Mike, I think you get a little update with Tom.

I know he's gonna be back this week on the uh the retention pond.

Um I know I keep pounding that, but that is so big to development, so we get there.

Um I know that I know Daryl talked about the demo at 9 13 Nebraska.

We're in the asbestos phase.

Great job.

Keep that moving across from the warming shelter.

That's gonna be a big win for the city.

Um, Mid American with Gordon, that turning light.

Remember, we talked about out there.

I mean, I know they said they ordered it, but I until I see it it's here.

Status, yep, let's get a status on that turning light out there on the bypass because uh we've been alerted and we just don't need liability on that turning lane.

Um the grading permit.

I did see that I think Steven and you guys got that put out the original draft on the the grading permit.

I encourage my uh fellow um uh council members to take a peek at that.

That is going to be historic.

If we can get a real grading permit in place on the changes there, and uh please reach out to if you have any relationships with your with the the dirt guys and try to get some some feedback there on the grading permit.

We want a lot of feedback.

Also, um, real quick, and this is not a negative thing, but uh it was brought to my attention online that there's a little bit of uh uh some type of a uh let's call it a petition or something down the warming shelter.

There they're trying to to rally and stir the pot against the donors of the that are supporting the warming shelter, saying that they are facilitating some of the activities that are going on at the warming shelter.

I do not support any type of boycotts of any of the businesses that have decided to send to send their money towards the lowering center.

I do strongly encourage those businesses that when it's time to be asked for more money to ask themselves am I facilitating some of the homeless issues downtown, but by no mean am I uh trying to support any type of a boycott of you know bomb guards or sneakies or their chestermans or any of those businesses that is not part of this.

Um, but I do uh strongly encourage uh them to think about that the next time they write a check.

And then lastly, Mike, um the water quality issue and with Brad.

I would like us, we're gonna change gears a little bit.

I think in the chamber with the water quality issue.

I'd like to see Brad present us present us some data on what's what's the big buzz on this cancer and water.

Is it in our water?

What what are the the toxins that everybody's scared of?

Let's get some measurements and get that out to the public.

I want to start the awareness on that.

Maybe it isn't an issue, maybe it is.

Um, but we're gonna find out, and this council's gonna get to that bottom of that.

And then lastly, um, I'm being exposed to some of the I'd like to see um Jane Arnold with Unity Point.

I would love to start, and if she wants to bring a team in, I would love to see an update in this chamber that we can have a discussion as a council.

I know that the Unity Point has just purchased Mercy.

I like to get an update.

This council would like to get an update on the status of health care in this community um and and what's going on in there.

Next to what her then let's let's get her in here, and I like to get her in front.

I I got a ton of questions I'd like to ask on the status.

It's it's for a city our size.

Um, I think that we uh should have higher expectations of what's going on in this community when it comes to uh our hospital care and and some of the drag that's come across the river on our our Sioux City Healthcare, and I would love the opportunity to have some questions for her and her experts as they transition and and join um yeah uh that discussion.

So I sooner than later.

I'd love to have uh Jane and her team in front of the council.

So other than that, had a great 4th of July.

I want to do a shout out.

So anyway uh let's have a good week and I thank my boys for doing that.

Council member I thank you um just to address your comment um we've actually been visiting with Jane since virtually the first day that we got sworn in um during my campaign I talked about healthcare being in a a critical issue and having been on the Unity Point board for a number of years um I have a nice relationship with Jane and her team we've been working with her the dialogue to this point has been to allow them to go through their process um to evaluate their opportunities the merger of the the the mercy facility and we've got a meeting with her next Monday or Tuesday Mike and we're looking for an update from her on on in terms of their short term and long term plans and the intent is to bring that information to the full council and to the community.

Would love to have her team in here though I just I'd love to have her and a couple of her her execs in here we I think Jane would welcome that and good these are all good people good intentions I just I really really want to start dialogue I've started that dialogue last hoping I think she's waiting to get to a point where they have the information to share they've got a consultant route doing our facilities well it's always healthy if we can provide questions back.

It's always healthy if we can provide questions back too as they're talking to consultants and like I said I I've gotten a ton from like the starting to get a ton from the community.

So it'd be it'd be great to get in front of that a little bit so thank you for that I will move to adjourn second Baronstein hi Bertrand Rayford Chainer aye I thought the mayor adjourned