Bertrand Rayford.

Here.

Scott.

Here, please stand for a moment.

Silent prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Items two through 11 seed will constitute the consent agenda.

You can consider those items passed unanimously unless a separate roll call votes asked for by a council member.

Anyone wishing to speak on an item on the agenda, please come up as I read that item if you want to speak on an item not under not on the agenda, please come up under citizen concerns.

Remember to always state your name.

I'll move the consent agenda.

Second.

Two is the reading of the city council July 6th council minutes.

So we'll just move on.

Three is a motion reappointing Michelle Boston Ellis to the planning and zoning commission and board of adjustment for a five-year term upon due consideration of the circumstances.

Four is a resolution approving a project concept plans for the Big Sioux River levy extension that items have been asked to be deferred for a week.

I'll move that.

Second Rayford.

Six is a resolution awarding a purchase order to Trojan Technologies for 16 Trojan Sigma UV replacement parts and Sigma sleeve replacement kits.

Six are actions relating to grants.

B is a resolution authorizing police department to accept a 2025 bullet proof best partnership program funds to purchase body armor.

Seven are actions relating to street closures.

A is a resolution temporarily closing Cook Street from West 6 to West 7 on October 1st for the can do kids backpack giveaway.

B is a resolution temporarily closing various streets in the downtown area on July 25th for the historic Fourth Street Classic Car Show and Cruise.

C is a resolution temporarily closing various streets in the downtown area.

On July 29th to accommodate the River Cate Parade and Staging Area.

Can you explain the increase?

My name is Janet Fuller.

I'm the HR benefits manager.

Um the reason that's changing on year three is we're also adding what's called e-forms.

So it's another level to their product offering, and it allows us to capture all of our data electronically so we don't have to print out a hundred different forms and get them all completed.

So it just allows everything to be done electronically.

Then you note in the financial impact that there's about a ten thousand dollar savings over three years.

That's not per year, that's ten thousand dollars over the course of the three-year contract.

Correct.

The first two years have twenty thousand dollar savings each, and then we implement the e forms.

So then what would the what's the quote for the two-year extension?

I don't have those are just open for negotiation.

We didn't get quotes on those.

So there's really not an option with a price, it's just the option to extend based upon a quote.

Okay.

Thanks.

B is um resolution approving amendment number one to the consulting services agreement with JEO Consulting Group in connection with the Big Sioux River Levy Extension Project in light of deferring the other one.

Should this not be deferred as well?

Would make sense to me, but nothing makes sense to me anymore, so I thought I'd ask the question.

Gordon Fair City Engineer.

Uh yeah, it would make sense to also defer to the.

I'll move that.

Second.

Rayford.

Hi.

Aaron Stein.

Hi.

Bertrand.

Stay up here, Gordon, because I got one on this one.

C is a resolution approving a consulting services agreement with Snyder and associates with the Morningside Avenue corridor study.

We did one of these on the other side of Morningside Avenue and it kind of fell flat on its face.

So what are we going to gain by this traffic?

Gordon City Engineer.

How old are the utilities in this stretch?

In this stretch, they're about 130, 135 years old.

The sewer is in the all water main.

It's a 10-inch water main.

That's we've been very lucky so far.

Uh we've had some, but not not a huge amount, no.

Not no not during this stretch.

So is this gonna go like Riverside Boulevard where you're gonna try to make it a three-lane?

Uh that's a possibility.

I'd be we're we're looking at everything on this, not just three-lane.

We want to see what the public wants there and see what's best to accommodate our future in the whole area.

Did you bid this work or because it's quality-based, you you're not required to bid it?

We didn't bid it, but we did ask for uh qualifications, and we reviewed uh I think there was two or three, and then we took and we entered negotiations with that first one.

They're the highest ranked one.

Okay.

D is a resolution approving a modification to the military construction cooperative agreement with the National Guard Bureau to add additional funding for the warm-up holding pad technical appendix in connection with runway 1331 and 185th apron reconstruction project at the airport.

E is a resolution approving appendix three to the memorandum of agreement with the Iowa Department of Public Defense for the warm-up holding pad project in connection with runway 1331 and the 185th Apron Reconstruction Project at the airport and rescinding resolution 2026-0612.

F is a resolution awarding and approving a contract to Halstein Escavating for the Sioux Land Nexus Program Volume 5 tanker warm-up and holding pad project at the airport.

So G is resolution.

So I know that DE F and G all correlate to the same project.

I know that this is part of a much bigger project with the 185th.

The the whole steam contract is about 11 million dollars.

It's a little bit more than the engineer's estimate.

Um what I'm curious about is how we're gonna continue to manage these projects and phase them.

I know that the chamber of commerce is actively involved in helping lobby and generate additional funds.

Well, I it doesn't need to necessarily hold up what we're reviewing and approving today.

Can we get an update?

I know part of that within the presentation that was made 60 days ago, but I think it would just be helpful to get some additional commentary.

I know there's been some positive and some negative with regard to where we think we are with generating those the additional the funds that are necessary, and we're talking 100 to 150 million dollars.

Um so if we could get an update on that, that'd be great.

Uh yeah, so I think right now the dependents back in session now, so we're hoping uh here within the next month, and then hopefully if they finalize a bill, we'll know something, you know, by September.

Okay.

And then could we just get maybe a summary on how we're gonna phase the various projects, including I I think the phasing will depend on how the funding comes.

Okay.

So that this one was actually scheduled to be last, so we're doing it first.

That's why we would I thought this was a later project.

It was, but they approved the funding for this project and not the others.

So it really depends.

And what's that?

We'll switching around.

Yeah.

And you're comfortable that this is significantly more at 10 percent more than the engineers' estimates.

You're okay with this?

It is and I'm okay with it because the military is okay with it.

So we we had a phone call, okay, with National Guard Bureau, and that's the reason for the two modifications, because they increased the funding.

Okay.

Thank you.

G is the resolution.

What's that?

I don't know.

Do you go anybody from the guard or want to talk or no?

I appreciate the uh opportunity to speak.

So first of all, I just want to say thank you.

All the projects with Sioux Land Nexus are a huge uh tremendous future uh for the Y Fifth and the airport in Sioux City.

Uh the uh response we get from the local, the the state at the national level is has been incredible.

A couple questions you asked.

Uh you know, why is it higher?

The 11.8 is where we're our our final dollar amount is, and the bureau has uh provided the full 11.8.

We have that in hand locally.

Uh the phasing of the projects did uh change things change things tremendously.

You know, we planned on chewing up the concrete uh from the runway and using it as some of the fill out there, and we had to buy things that we would not have had to buy.

That has to do with the phasing.

Um but again, uh Sulein Nexus is two things.

It's really all the projects.

It's the runway, it's the ramp and the extensions and everything we've been talking about, but it's really the people behind it.

And then just want to say thank you to the council and everybody else that's made this possible because it's truly buying us a really great future.

Sir name for the record, please.

You name we need your name for the record.

Sure.

Uh Colonel Sean Straxx, sir.

Thank you.

Any questions?

Thank you.

No, thank you.

Thank you.

Five's a resolution approving work order number 2023 20 for RS and HIW for the volume five warm-up holding pad project, tied to the runway 1331 and the 185th apron reconstruction project, the airport.

I'm gonna vote move to defer at the request of the legal department, H I and J for one week.

Second.

Scott.

Barenstein.

Aye.

Ertrand.

Hi.

Rayford.

Aye.

Nine or actions relating to personnel.

A is a resolution suspending the requirements of the Iowa code for hiring of employees in the police department for one year.

Mayor, I would like to ask a question on that one.

I know that last year when the police department came and asked for this, I was serving on the civil service.

I remember uh wondering will we be able to go back and look to see what uh how the vacancies look versus last year versus this year.

Uh what do you you know do if you know what they were last year to this year, or how are we looking with those current vacancies and uh Rex Mural Police Department, Councilman?

I right now we're actually uh hiring less than our vacancies to give our field training program a bit of a rest.

So uh for one thing, obviously we want to hire the best candidates, which is what we always endeavor to do in any process, and this has facilitated that.

Um but I don't have the numbers in front of me if that's something you're curious about.

You've had the benefit that the other council members haven't of us uh discussing this in civil service and why the transition.

Um but uh uh right now uh more than anything, we're trying to not overtake our program, meaning that we have too many people in the training program, and we uh kind of exhaust our field training officers.

So we're we're getting up there, we're at a good level.

Uh we're gonna continue uh with the council's blessing test in this manner.

Uh and that way, uh as you're aware, we used to have uh you know a few years ago, it would have been a two-year list.

And so we were missing people that came out of the two-year colleges or that entered the workforce by uh one of the re uh one of the positive byproducts of doing this is that as we need a new list, we move to immediately uh start creating a new group of uh eligible candidates, and it's worked really well, and a lot of other communities have followed suit.

And as you know, the checks and balances that would have I mean nepism, things like that, uh, as you're aware, we have a lot of checks and balances, not only before hiring, uh, but after hiring and and through the training process to make sure that uh candidates are properly screened.

Okay, yeah, that and that was where I was going with it.

I I didn't know if this was going to become the new normal.

So I I think I think statewide it will.

Uh we're gonna come back to you every year if we see a downside.

I'll definitely disclose that.

Uh but just currently with hiring and the way and the not dynamic way that law enforcement hiring is happening, I just don't see a downside.

I think it's been positive for the city and for the department.

And again, any concerns of uh the new process, we're happy to answer to this council and the civil service commission to make sure everybody's comfortable with the way it functions.

Thank you.

Chief, this isn't directed necessarily at the request under 9A, probably more to 9B, and I don't know if Janelle or Janet want to maybe address this.

The question I've got is this is the third or fourth time that we've been asked to waive the rules, and I think it needs to be more to more of the exception than the rule to waive the rules because there's a reason there's a civil service process, right?

There's a civil service process, right?

I have no problem with what we approved prior.

I have no problem approving this.

And theoretically, I don't think I have a problem with 9B, but in the description of the request to waive rule or suspend the rule for 9B, it was that you were not able to attract parks and rec applicants, and you were losing that opportunity within say three weeks.

If you've got to get good candidates, you want to get good candidates, you want to be able to respond, but it's not unusual to be applying and applying elsewhere and go through a two or three week process.

So I'm not opposed to approving 9B under the consent agenda, but I want to make sure that we're using this this opportunity to suspend the rules for the right reasons.

Janelle Bertrand Human Resources Director.

It is because the list is good for one year, and you're making a hire, say you say you certified the list in October.

You could be making a hire in May.

So the person is confused as to why that's happening.

You may not have any people on the list.

It's to keep the list current to get it an act an active applicant pool that departments can move through the hiring list quicker instead of sitting on that same list for a year.

It's it's helpful with that explanation, you know, because you're giving the guardrails around the tip of the rule and the suspension of the rule, so that helps.

Right.

And we as an organization chose to bring them up department wide or department specific instead of doing a blanket request.

We chose to do it by department.

Thank you.

Yep.

Appreciate that by department too.

So these are resolution spending the requirements of the Iowa Code for the hiring of employees in the parks and rec department for one year.

Uh this is the end of the consent agenda.

Vote when we're ready.

Second.

Second.

Public hearings now open.

Is there anyone to be heard?

Seeing none, the hearing is closed.

Passes 5013 to hearing resolution accepting a proposal of Sioux Land Youth Hockey Association for lease of land in the Donner Park Urban Renewal Area, the property located at 3808 Stadium Drive for the IBP Ice Center shooting shed.

Staff recommends a deferral until July 27th.

I'll move that.

Second rule from the staff or from them guys.

Matt can speak to it.

I think that's what this ain't slowing them down, is it?

Matt Salvatore Parks and Recreation Director, we're just waiting on a certificate of insurance from USA hockey.

I don't there's some hold up with that.

As soon as we get it, they'll be able to move forward.

Good good project.

5014's building permits update.

Let's go, guys.

Aerobolic inspection services manager.

If you have any questions specifically, please uh ask away.

Um one of the things that we've noticed recently, there's been an uptick in the commercial um side of it requesting um sit-downs, which I think is great projects to before the applications are even sent in, or permits are even sent in to be able to go through and make sure they're uh complete um as can be done.

So it's a good move.

Um Marty Doherty, economic community development director.

Um just an update real quick.

We've been hard at it in the software uh implementation um effort.

There's as I said before, there's two sides to it.

There's planning and engineering, which relates to the plan review, basically.

And um the other part is the permitting, building permitting part, which which of course Daryl is involved in.

So we have these two tracks going on.

We've been spending many hours um in discovering probably a lot of things that we could have been doing different with the software we had, and then um implementing that, improving uh um the process and going forward.

It's gonna take uh a lot of work yet uh to get everything um adjusted and changed over to to the new software and and then everyone trained on it.

So um that we're right in the middle of that right now.

That's the best I can tell you.

So what do you think the time frame is, Marty?

Well, longer than than I than we thought, uh uh, in all honesty.

Um, we had a meeting this morning with the consultant to talk about that.

How can what can we do to speed that up?

And um, Mike, your thoughts on it.

But uh we um we're hopeful that we uh we're gonna have another meeting tomorrow morning and um on the planning side of it and uh identified the staff people who are the most critical to be part of that and not have too many people involved in it until we get to the training part of it.

Um but um Marty, what are some of the things that you're running into as far as issues or problems earning or um I don't know if it's problems so much as maybe we haven't in the past taken care taken full uh advantage of the capacity that the software has in terms of you know things that we do it this way manually or we we could have been doing it more efficiently in terms of the capabilities of software.

Things have changed over the years.

People have changed.

Um the people that first implemented that are not here anymore.

And um uh we're learning a lot about that.

And it's it's honestly it's a little painstaking going through the process of item by item.

Why do you why do you um why do you take so many days to do this?

Or why do you why do you notify people uh uh uh in that manner?

Um is there a way that we can um uh you co code you uh this is where I struggle here.

The codes that go into making up the decision that in the software, you know, are tied to um the data that we have and and um you want to take a shot at that.

Sure, I'd be happy to.

Uh it's complicated.

Our predecessors um you activated as much as they needed to on the programs to make them function for what they needed at that time.

Unfortunately, a lot of the communications and a lot of the parts that needed to be in place so that one thing would read off of another, read after another.

And so one of the frustrations we've had over the years of not being able to get reports printed out quickly and see you know, measure our our efficiencies and deficiencies, quite frankly, both.

Um those all those things are gonna take a lot of time.

You know, one of the things that have been frustrating for me, and I'll just give it an example.

It's gonna take a long time to get it fixed, but once it gets a fixed, it's going to save us an incredible amount of waste dollars down the road is rental permits, for instance, rental permits every single year.

We have to manually go in and change every single permit.

And we're talking thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of properties, and it takes about three to four screens to go through manually on each and every one of those.

So the amount of staff time to do that is is is huge.

It should have never been under the app permit side, it should have been under the business license side.

We're finding those things out, all those little things.

Contractor files, being able to have those informations in there for so for the permitting process.

There's a lot of things that will tie together that will make it much more efficient.

Unfortunately, it's going to delay our time in getting it set up and running.

We want to do it right.

We don't want to force it this time just to make, you know, just to make some reports quick, or you know, I mean ultimately we started this thing to be able to do online permits, let's face it.

That was the biggest thing we want to do is be able to make payments online and and submit permits online.

And it's blowing into this bl much larger project, unfortunately, that will take us more time, but I think in the long run it's well worth the investment of time to get it right.

Do you think that this that this will be the right uh uh uh product that we have, you know, versus getting down the road and saying this may not even be what we're doing.

Do you think that this will be the right uh uh uh product that we have, you know, versus getting down the road and saying this may not even be what you know if you'd asked me that question a month ago, I'd have probably had a completely different answer than I have today.

I think today I'm I'm I'm drinking the Kool-Aid.

Um it it's it's he wants more training.

I'm like, what?

Well, I just I don't want to, I don't want to fall in that same trap that we fell into decades ago.

And and that I don't want to see us fall into that trap.

We're we've got a lot of financial investment into this, we're gonna have a lot of wage dollars invested in this, and I want it to be a good product for many, many years to come.

And I think we're there with the right product.

We just have to get the right information in the right places to be able to do that.

Do we have our IT department working in conjunction with the other thing?

Oh, absolutely, yeah.

We have several meetings, and mostly at least once or twice a week, we have four hour or three to four hour meetings with them, getting our business plan in place on how this is going to function, how all these things tie together so that when you're reading this, it pulls information from everywhere.

This is not just gonna span just the building department and the engineering department and the planning and zoning departments.

We're gonna include fire in this, we're gonna include a lot of every other areas where all that information comes into one place.

Plus, it's going to allow the public to be able to view their case or the online as well, so they they can see where the progress is.

It might be it might not just be a building permit, it might be the nuisance case, um, for instance.

They can go in there and see what it was and what the inspector's notes have got on the case as well.

So it's gonna be a lot more open to the public.

Um so we won't we don't want errors, we want it right so when the public's looking at it, they're not gonna get frustrated and just walk away from it.

This this is gonna sound crazy to you, but actually the process we're going through step by step, item by item, they're they're asking, why are you doing this?

Why do you do it this way?

Well, maybe we don't have a great reason.

Maybe there's a different way we we could do it and we should have been doing it.

But it's painstaking because you're going through every single every single code, every single line of um co uh of the way in which the software is written and customizing it to us.

Doesn't seem to me like there should have to be that much customizing, you know, because you would think approval of a building permit or whatever is a pretty standard practice.

But given the the city, the the history of it and all the data that's in there and um the processes that we've followed in the past, it it's it's it's coming becoming clear to us that we what we need to do, it's just taking a long time.

And and you know, you can't take away, we don't have big staffs, can't take them away from their everyday job at the same time.

And uh that's that's the only concern that I would have is that we we we keep doing this while we're doing everything else we're doing, as you can see on those weekly reports about how many permits or how many approvals take place or are pending at any given time.

We don't want to stop that at the same time.

So already with the complexity and the length that you're seeing you have a concern I don't put an idea in anybody's mind, but identified a consultant and advisors that are working on the project with you.

Any fear that you're gonna come forward with this change order.

Um that's not the plan.

Uh I I'm not the right answer.

Yeah, I I don't think so.

Honestly, I'd be I I'm not a big consultant fan in the first place.

I think you got experts in place that need to do their job, and we you have to give us the opportunity to do it and we'll do it.

So briefly, real quick, Daryl, first of all, um compliment you personally.

You're part of your you are a big chunk of Greece that is keeping the wheel moving right now when it comes to the the field, the uh the bridge between the field and the permitting.

Um, but are you getting tired of the phone calls of being having to be the Greece?

So my question to you is, and this is uh respectfully to the people that are there.

Yeah, I feel the residential side of it, um, that individual is making more decisions and pushing the stuff through.

I'm still a little concerned on the commercial side of it that we're having to go in there and say, you know, why why do I have to take the phone call?

Why do you got to take the phone call?

Is it is it a fear of I'm not of you know where I'm going with you?

Is it this fear of I'm not doing my job right?

Or at some point it's like is this is this is that department, is that employee being retrained to a point to say open your mind up and get it to the field.

Yeah, we're getting we're getting back.

You're pushing it, but yeah, that's exhausting.

And I'm not sure that a council member and a department had needs to be involved in a lot of work for you.

Yeah, I don't I don't think we're 100 percent there yet.

I mean I'm being very honest with you.

I don't think we're 100% there yet.

I mean, obviously, but I think we're we're making strides and there's a lot more communication.

We're well, I mean, there's a lot more communication too that's happening from from that from that end as well, coming to me and getting into the direction of which direction and and we're we are we are making strides.

We're not there yet, obviously, but we are making progress.

Thank you.

But I mean you know where I'm going.

Absolutely.

Yeah, let's at some point it's like, hey man, you get it to the field.

Okay.

Yes, my name is Melissa.

I like to have some some questions.

Okay, like uh name, please.

My name is Melden Carter.

Welcome through City.

Okay, every time I come to this meeting, y'all always make what y'all about five percent now, maybe ten, because no something.

What y'all talking about now?

Y'all should have been had it done.

Okay.

Why don't you get some of the ITEX students come in and hook up your computers so you can be back with everybody else here?

Because what y'all are doing now, y'all milking the kitty.

Okay.

See this stuff, what you're talking about now from last year to now, it should have been done.

See, by the other time y'all come in, y'all make it try.

But the pride ain't making nothing.

Yeah, I ain't telling nobody nothing how the private man made or what's going on with the private name.

Y'all just make and try.

In your mind, you're doing good.

Well, out here, y'all doing bad.

See, because nobody knows what you're doing.

People want to know what you're doing.

We make it try.

And we might we didn't understand a computer like this and that and the other.

Get some people in there who understand the computer for you.

So you can do what you gotta do.

Because what y'all doing now, y'all milking the kitty.

I mean, I'll say, I think Marty and Daryl, they're very transparent about this process.

Uh we talked about the permitting and the inspection and the oversight, and and the the direction of this council has been that we want to see modification and process.

They already and Darrell and their teams have been very candid, very forthright about progress that they're making.

It may be maybe a little bit delayed.

And I think that's to both of their frustration and their team's frustration as well.

But I think they've been very candid, and I think we're working towards a good solution.

Well, still when they come in, at least put something on the table so everybody can understand that side.

We didn't make it right.

See, so what are you doing now?

Don't make no sense to me.

Probably nobody out here don't make no sense to me.

If you haven't ever taken out a building permit, it probably doesn't make sense, but it's not a process that happens overnight.

I know building mid all that take time as a process.

I know.

Well, it takes time to computerize stuff that hasn't been.

I don't think anybody said can let me finish.

Now I talk.

My part.

Okay.

I don't think anybody sitting here thought this was going to happen in two or three months.

So they're making progress, especially in the home area.

That's a big step.

So you're, you know, it what I don't think anybody, I'm not involved with it.

Rick's involved more than I am, but I don't think there's a disappointment on their part of what how it's happening.

And at the end of the day, what we're trying to do is become more user-friendly.

You may not like that they don't speak in terms that everybody understands, but unless you had to take out a building permit, you're not gonna understand it.

So I appreciate what you're saying, sir.

Uh we're we're the time that we're trying to improve the process, at the same time, we're also working with builders and developers and issuing permits every day and doing what we've always done and trying to ensure safety uh for the public and for for the homeowner or the property owner, and we're still doing all that.

At the same time, we're trying to improve the process and and uh long take a long-term view that um Sioux City will be a uh great place, easy place to develop and get a permit, but at the same time we're protecting the public safety and ensuring that the rules are followed.

So uh I I wish we could go faster.

We're trying as fast as we can.

And I appreciate your point of view.

I I do.

Um I've seen you at a lot of the meetings, and I know you've been listening to this, so but um we we are at the same time every day doing our job of of people who are reviewing building plans and site plans and all that.

It we didn't stop doing that because of this.

That may make sense.

Okay, okay.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, guys.

Thanks, guys.

Council members, you should have week 32 and 33 would have been the most recent uh information pulled from the heart team.

Uh they continue to do a good job.

One of the things I have encouraged them to do though is identify frustrations.

They've got barriers, but I want them to let me know where they run into barriers so that we can help them remove those barriers.

And so they have a meeting tomorrow, they have a weekly meeting.

And if there's anything that you want me to pass on to the HART team, uh the HART group, uh, tomorrow's meeting, please let me know.

Uh otherwise, hopefully those discussions will occur.

I want them to be effective, and as they address barriers, uh they seek guidance or assistance from us so that they can overcome those barriers.

But uh still remains relevant.

Obviously, we know that, and we predicted this, we talked about this, that uh the change in weather would uh have a change in issues, and we have seen uh things change a little bit.

Cook park has been a uh become a bit more of a problem with activity, and so we've seen uh some movement, and the hard team is appropriately identified that, and they're working uh to address that.

Obviously, one of the bigger frustrations with cleanups becomes uh private property.

So that's still an issue is trying to work with private property owners uh to help with uh in camp.

I have one, and it's not your fault from what I understand from talking to Daryl, it's the legal department's fault, but even sooner.

I think I know what you're doing.

There's a car been on Market Street now for at least a month and a half.

It is so full of garbage, it's garbage over the top, big bags of cans.

If that were my front yard, you would tag my house.

But because it's on a car, our legal department says we can't do anything.

If that's the case, an ordinance needs to be written.

Drive by it, guys.

It's unbearable.

I've been it's we've we've addressed the occupants.

We tried to deal with it because obviously, if it's if it's a vehicle that doesn't move, we can address it that way.

Officers have been in contact, they have subsequently moved the vehicles.

Uh, but you're right, mayor.

We're kind of acceptable.

No, ma'am.

You wouldn't let me have that in my front yard.

That car sitting in my front yard.

You would be there telling me to, but because he parks it on a public street, makes no sense to somehow he's moving it every 24 hours.

I don't care.

It still I don't get it.

No, we're aware of it, and I uh I know you are just off of West uh Stephen so he can uh figure out how to take care of situations like that.

Neighbors should not have to live with that in their front yard.

So anything else for heart.

Uh Chief, since you're here, I was gonna bring this up during citiz or council concerns, but since you're up, Mike, I can I get an update.

I sent a memo, an email to you and about seven other people, including the chief, on visiting about a campus concept to address the homeless and transient population issues, many of which Rick has raised as well.

Can I get an update?

That doesn't need to be tonight.

Yeah.

Marty and Renee were part of that.

Um can we just get an update?

Thank you.

No, Chief, you're gonna give us data too on the Yep, just got it uh today.

So we I think you I got copied there, but you're gonna get uh the radius data again around the Nebraska Street and all that up in there.

Just an update on what kind of activities getting better.

If it is, we'll we'll acknowledge it if it isn't.

Uh one of the things though, uh I'll I'll I'll caution you depending on how we run the data.

We might not have comparative data.

So uh I haven't had a chance to look at that, but I'll send it to you in its rare form.

If crime analysis has any comments for me, I'll provide those to you so you can at least know where they're coming from.

We're sometimes limited by what we can draw uh from our our systems as far as reports, but I uh as always they're gonna work their tail off for you, get your information.

So thank you.

All right, citizen concerns.

Hello, um, I'm Lilian Rodriguez, and I'm here today with Carlos Hurtado and Olga Guevara.

And we wanted just to uh inform you about uh Mexico en el corazón.

It's a folklorical group that we brought uh last year, and these dancers are from my hometown Guadalajara in Mexico, and they are about 80 dancers, and it was a great success.

So I'm going to have Carlos to talk a little bit about it, and then Olga is going to finish the details.

Thank you.

Hi, uh I'm sorry, as Lilian mentioned, my name is Carlos Hurtado.

So Mexico en el corazón is coming back for the second year.

Uh it's their 12th year on an international tour.

They've perform on over 40 cities across the US and Canada.

Um they've performed at Mount Roshmore, performed at uh Millennium Park in Chicago, um Times Square in New York.

So we're delighted to have them come back this year.

Um hopefully we can see all of you there on August 30th at the uh three o'clock in the afternoon.

It would be a free event at the Orphan Theater.

Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Olga Guevara, and I am the executive director for Unity in Action.

We are the host organization for this magnificent event, and I'm just gonna read our press release here.

Uh Unity in Action is proud to welcome the internationally acclaimed Mexico en el corazón 2026 to Sioux City for a free cultural performance at the historic Orpheum Theater, Sunday, August 30th at 3 p.m.

As one of the premier cultural exchange initiatives between Mexico and United States, Mexico in in the heart, Mexico and Corazon will travel to communities across the country throughout August and September.

The 2026 tour brings work-class performers and vibrant celebrations of Mexico, Mexico's rich artistic and cultural heritage to the Sioux Line community.

Audiences were will experience an unforgettable afternoon featuring timeless music of legendary Mexican composer Jos Alfredo Jimenez.

The production will showcase colorful dances and cultural traditions from the states of Durango and Jalisco.

And this highlights um the regional heritage of Mexico.

In addition to the mystical and dance performances, attendees will witness a remarkable demonstration of the Mayan Ball Game, one of the oldest and most significant cultural traditions of Mesoamerica.

This ancestral exhibition offers a unique opportunity to learn about the history, symbolism, and enduring legacy of indigenous civilizations.

The event is free and open to the public, and community members of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend.

Once again, um Sunday, August 30th, 3 p.m.

Orphean Theater, and it's of course free.

So you all have an invitation.

I'm also here to pass our impact report from 2025.

Just kind of gives you some stats of what occurred last year with this event.

So uh Bob Mayor Scott, thank you for attending last year, and we hope to see you again this year.

Thank you.

Thanks for your presentation.

Just a couple of things.

Let us know what we can do to help.

I know you had a chance to visit with Reagan before the meeting started, and and I think we'd all encourage you to visit with Stacey Anderson and her team at Explore Siouxland.

I think they'll be a really nice resource for you to do some co-marketing, some co-branding of the city and the event itself.

And I look forward to seeing the t-shirt that says New York City Times Square and Chicago Millennium Park in Sioux City.

Orpian Theater.

Absolutely.

We'll be reaching out to her.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good luck.

And I would add that uh it's a great show.

Uh having worked uh with it last year.

Phenomenal opportunity uh for Sioux City, and and it's exciting to have it back at hand.

So yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Robin Shiro.

Um, I live at 311 East Washington Street in Elk Point.

Um today I'm here because I'm the secretary of the Sioux City Lions Club, and I'm asking for your help.

Um I contacted your environmental specialist um to ask if we could um go ahead and have a cleanup street in Sioux City.

Because most of our members are over 65 on the average, and um not able to do hills and things like that.

We um wanted to see if we could have a street that maybe was more level and also that's safe because a lot of them are 65 years old.

Some of them are even walkers and probably will help us um in that case.

Um I want to give you some information.

People have wanted to do that for six months.

Six months.

Get over it.

Thank you.

Um so uh I've been trying to work with your environmental specialist on this issue because, like I stated, we need specific requirements.

We had asked if the Cheyenne Boulevard might be an issue.

We went out and looked in your community and saw that there was no uh sign on that area, and and it seemed like it was a safe area for us and maybe flatter for uh those of us that need it.

And um, but in working with your environmental specialist, she stated that somebody already had that area.

What and so we're looking to find an area if it is taken.

It didn't have a sign on it.

So, and she said maybe it's uh church, usually churches do have signs.

So I guess I'm just looking for your help to find an area that might be a safe and flat area for the Lions Club to help.

That might be the easiest request we have all day.

Is it?

Absolutely.

Well, that's why I knocked your sign over.

Sorry.

I am familiar with your request for the Chiam Boulevard.

And if there's just another area.

It is taken, and it I believe it was taken by someone who doesn't care to have a sign up to have it made public.

And I can't say that it's a church, but we can appreciate that.

It's just that she she's not excited to work with us to find another area.

She very much is.

She she expressed to me she'll be more than happy to.

Well, when I left my message with her, I uh that's not what I heard back.

So I guess you know, I'm looking for your help to encourage her to help us find one.

I'm on the follow-up with her as well.

That's a flat one.

That's also I've already thought of something for you.

Good.

And then um, I just wanted to.

I know the last time I was here I mentioned about the Pierce Mansion and volunteering for that.

And I just want to let you know that um there's been two issues with the Pierce Mansion since then.

And one of them is we went ahead and worked with on the Master Gardener and I worked with the Wild Ones to do their what they consider to be volunteer hours required by the university to keep your continuing education hours for can uh master gardener was to have the wild ones uh do the uh landscaping there and and pruning of trees and shrubs, and I know that they're um they're uh what they consider to be they they do things different.

We should do things in certain forms to keep them so that they grow and they have more light and different things.

And so um I scheduled it with um I had talked to everybody that's our volunteers there, and I scheduled it with the wild ones, and then somebody at the Pierce Mansion cancelled it.

So since I was here, I worried that maybe it's because I made a comment and wanted your help that maybe they were now discouraging things like that.

I no longer received the emails as a volunteer since I spoke here.

So I'm wondering is this like a whistleblower thing that when somebody comes forward to your city council that then they are taken off the volunteer list because they wanted your help.

I mean, that's what it feels like to me in both of those areas.

So if you could check into those, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time again.

Since I was a county commissioner, I appreciate all that you do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Good evening, council, mayor.

Uh my name is Jeremy Harrison.

Um I serve as president of the NUSU City Community Development Initiative.

And um, over the past several days, um I have been speaking directly with residents uh throughout our community on the north side, west side, uh morningside area, and I've been asking them a simple question.

Um I've been asking them as the city moves forward with the process of selecting the new police chief.

Uh, do you believe that the citizens should have an opportunity to provide input before that decision is finalized?

And the responses that I received from those conversations that I had or what I would like to share with you this evening.

So the first thing that I found that was surprising to me is I had asked people whether uh they would like to have a more aggressive uh police force here.

And with that question, uh this city is actually genuinely split.

Um 38% of the people said yes, and 40% of the people said no.

And 22% said only in specific uh specific areas or specific situations.

You know, there's no clear uh preference for one approach over the other.

You know, the city is divided and divided almost exactly down the middle.

So if residents themselves aren't unified on tactics, uh that raises the obvious question, who should decide?

And that's where the third question I asked becomes the whole point of standing here today.

I asked the citizens, would you support a public engagement process before the next chief is actually hired for Sioux City?

And 98% of those citizens that I spoke to said yes.

Ninety-eight percent of the people who took the time to listen to what I had to say and actually sign on to my petition, um, are telling this council the same thing in one voice.

That we don't need you to guess what we want, just ask us.

So uh when I asked residents what they actually cared about, violent crime came up the most, uh, followed by homelessness, uh community relations was next, and then mental health in that order.

It was not one issue, but a cluster of issues that point to a chief who can hold enforcement and social services together at the same time, not one or the other.

So here's my request.

Before the council and city manager uh finalize a decision on the next chief of police.

Um I respectfully request that the council conduct a formal public engagement process.

It could be a citywide survey, uh, open forum, whatever format that you guys choose, so that the direction of this department reflects the priorities of the people it serves.

Um it's not a request to tie the council's hands on who gets hired.

It's just a request to make sure that whoever gets hired it's hired with a community's voice already in the room.

Uh the petition has shown that there is actually real citizen interest and having their input considered.

And if this council commits to that process, um, I believe hundreds more across the city uh will say the same thing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can I ask how many people you surveyed?

Um I got up to I think it was 53.

53.

Um yeah, it was a short process.

I had like four days.

I wanted to try to get it done as soon as possible.

But I think a public survey is not a bad idea.

We can you know discuss it in I think we may have time to be able to put something like that together that people can easily just do it from their home because a lot of times they can't get here or they don't have time or they're working or whatever, and a lot of times just being able to answer a survey questionnaire on your phone or from your PC or your tablet will work a lot better.

That's perfect.

Jeremy, I've a I've got oh, I'm sorry.

We had a quick question or comment and a question.

Mike, isn't there a community input aspect to the hiring phases?

There is.

We're intending to have uh individuals on a community panel that represent different uh demographics and populations of the community.

Oh that have been community leaders that we know we will go to as part of the process as well.

Okay, awesome.

And my question is can you give me a little bit of background?

Who who or what is the new Sioux City Development Initiative?

Yes, of course.

So uh the organization does focus on uh research and advocacy, um, community issues, um economic development, uh just trying to uh look for ways and opportunities that we could uh help Sioux City uh grow and um just uh taking advantage of uh opportunities that we have to make Sioux City better.

Thank you.

Yep.

Hey Jeremy, was it Jeremy?

Is it safe to say that what you've seen here in the last few months, though?

This isn't a reflection of any other kind that this this council, all five of us are extremely transparent in this process.

The conversations that we're having, sometimes painful, sometimes not.

And even the beginning of this process, we've started to talk um through the hiring of the chief, is it been I think it's been extremely transparent and inviting feedback from the public.

And I know that the feedback just walking through Walmart and Menards and everything else has been extremely positive.

I think to all of us that they appreciate that we're asking for feedback.

Yes, 100%.

And then when you get the feedback, sometimes you gotta be careful what you the answer you get.

But maybe it's just I'm a magnet for it, but the feedback I get it's that people are ready, they want they they they they want to feel safe, like you said.

They they want to be safe in the community, um, they want to be able to do commerce in this community um freely and safely.

So um it's just it's great conversation.

Thanks for what you're doing.

There's people that agree with that, and there's people on the other side.

It's just throughout you know, me having conversations with people, I just seen that the city is kind of really split on that.

There's people on both sides.

So that was just interesting information that I was able to gather, and I just felt like I should share it with the council.

Sure.

Thank you.

Yep.

Cindy Hansen.

I'm um I wasn't really planning to speak today, but um, in regards to the last speaker, I also uh thought it might be a good time to remind folks that there are lots of opportunities for city engagement for citizens, such as the Civil Service Commission, which has two positions currently open.

So you may want to encourage some of your folks to apply for those, and then other city commissions that are great avenues for citizens to provide input into what's happening at the city.

The other thing that I wanted to mention as I drove down from Brayercliff today, I encountered several areas of road construction.

And I could complain about that, but I looked at it and I said, I am thankful that you've made the decision to invest in our infrastructure.

So I know those are expensive projects, they make a difference.

Thank you for the decisions you're making.

I always tell people you complain when we tear streets up and you complain when we fix a mud sooner.

You complain because we're fixing a street than one.

Thank you.

Thanks, Cindy.

All right, Rick.

Quickly.

Nice meeting.

Uh first, uh Patrick, you still in here.

Good job with your communication up on Fremar.

Um, I think in the long run, it's gonna save us some money with all the issues we're having up there.

I know I haven't found all the issues yet, but let's stay on that and uh and don't drop the uh the bombs on the property owners that might have to do some stuff in their own properties.

Maybe go up knock on their door or let them know versus just send them a note that uh that might buffer a little bit of that to get a little more compliance, but let's stay on that.

I I think we're you're you guys are responding, and I very appreciated by the homeowners and the contractor.

So good job.

Uh second, on Jill, I know Jill's not here, she's gonna give us an update.

I think next week on uh I requested that she give us the dollar amount that's been collected year to date on those those foolish signs that were put up to don't give it to panhandlers but send it to a fund.

I'd like to have the the balance on that fund and how much money is given annually or monthly or weekly and what's what dollars are left in there.

If not, we have the polls we already paid to put the polls in.

I have a concept for another sign we could put on it, um, kind of that would reflect uh the bus program that we put in place before.

So she's gonna give us an update there next week on that, which is great.

Um third on the um the sheriff, you said you're gonna give us the update on the sheriff where you at with that candidates start tomorrow.

Or police chief starts tomorrow.

Yes.

That's a quick.

I'm meeting with the panel tonight after this meeting, and then assessments are Tuesday, Wednesday.

Um, and then we'll have a list next week.

And then on the bus route thing, I I requested the Sheriff Sheehan.

That's where I said Sheriff Sheehan, give us, don't you just come up here and tell us you need a route, tell us what you specifically need.

I don't know if you saw that email that I sent over.

He actually put together a bus schedule.

I said, you know, don't just bark at us, give us a schedule in hand.

I'll his credit, he did.

He put a schedule what he thinks it would they would we would need for that loop through there.

So thank you to Sheriff Sheehan for that, and uh we will evaluate that and see if it works.

Um, and then on the uh the railroad, I don't know if we have any contact with the railroad, but is it just me or we're really demanding a lot of our citizens to get the grass off the curbs and all these things, and I think our citizens are stepping up and doing it.

And the railroad right now looks like the wild west with the with the weeds and stuff.

And I know they're the all-powerful railroad, but uh let's let's if we're not afraid to send letters to everybody else.

Let's send it let's um let's let's kick the railroad a little bit and say they need to clean their act up a little bit along those roads.

It's time it's they do they mow.

City to spray is what they need to do.

They need them big old tumbleweeds are just right on the curbs up 75.

And if you go down there, um we can't get the Burlington, but the UP's been responsive.

They don't mow as often as you mow your yard, but they at least will mow.

So that's yeah, it's pretty pretty shady down in our neck of the woods.

Um so that's all I would ask is we give the the a friendly tap to the railroad on that end of it.

Um and then uh lastly, I know that uh next week um we're gonna get the update from Pingle on the wastewater treatment.

Julie alluded to that um last week.

Um I sat in a meeting with that.

Um we left abruptly, and I think we're gonna have uh we're gonna turn a loss into a win um in the next few weeks when it comes to that uh joke of a response that they gave us um from keywit.

So I look forward to that conversation.

Um and uh let's have a great week.

Uh I've got a number of items, but I'll try and go quickly, Mayor.

Um, first item is the Hamilton Boulevard medians.

Is there a CIP to either repair or replace the medions look very poor?

There is.

It's part of the reconstruction when we're we have a project.

Is it you for what year?

This this year this summer.

Okay.

Part of that one you approved today.

Okay.

That's 15th to 20th, right?

That's not all of it.

It's a portion of the case.

But it catches.

But these medians will be picked up in the CIP.

Very good.

Um, I know we've asked before for the 2026 legislative update.

I know that staff is still waiting to get some directions.

Encouraged to get that.

Was gonna ask about the wastewater treatment plant because I know Julie brought it up last week.

Rick, Rick's update is good.

Um, can I encourage Matt and his team to continue to work on developing activities on the riverfront?

I I think we need to be much more aggressive.

It's it's such a unique opportunity.

Um, and I think it looks great.

Uh, I think that that I think there's been some good recent cleanup, but I'd encourage additional use.

Um, I already mentioned the issue of the campus concept for the homeless and transient issues.

Um Julie and I had a really healthy meeting last week with uh Dustin Cooper and Corey Westra on the new arena and some opportunities there.

Mike, I shared those with you, and I look forward to continuing that dialogue.

I did want to mention a couple of weeks ago we didn't have a meeting on a Monday, and so the synagogue actually did some volunteer work at the warming shelter, had a visit, had an opportunity to visit with Sheila, and it was a really nice evening for us to provide some input, but to also engage with some of their residents and their citizens, and that was very productive.

Um I know we're supposed to be getting the entertainment district update shortly, so I just encourage you to continue to work with Marty and Renee and find out when Steve Watson's gonna get that.

Uh Rick, thanks for bringing up the route, the bus route issue.

I did have a chance to talk to Mike about that last week.

Hopefully, we'll see something soon.

Mike and have a meeting tomorrow on some health care items.

I've had a chance over the last two weeks to be visiting with a number of the library board members, and I'm encouraged by their input, their engagement, and their communication.

Um then I've also had a number of people that have asked me about my I had requested a couple months ago to talk about a new branding or marketing campaign.

I know Ann had mentioned she just didn't have the time when we visited earlier.

Can can we find out where that stands now, please?

And that's it.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Uh, as always, uh again, I just want to thank those that are out there, you know, for our citizens for your engagement uh and and showing up.

Uh this is uh how it happens and what needs to happen.

I also you know, have a few thank yous.

I want to thank you know, Mike and Patrick for uh cleaning the bag uh that was hanging on the skywalk up and uh also getting those wires tucked in.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

Uh I feel like I'm becoming the weed guy.

Uh and when I say weeds grass we might want to clarify that uh I'm getting contacted for those things, and so obviously, Mike, I sent you an email about that uh looking at some of those things.

I think there are some areas that we need to uh really make sure that we we stay on top of.

Couple things here.

Uh I had a young lady uh come into the coffee shop today, and uh she had moved here from Arizona about six or seven months ago, uh, and she chose Sioux City and she says she absolutely loves Sioux City.

Uh and that was music to my ears, and uh she she just thought that this was a phenomenal place and great place to live.

Her and her husband, they're empty nesters now, and uh they absolutely love it.

Uh so you know we're doing something right, and and and and I just want to you know let city staff and and and city administration know that uh we're doing something right and let's keep doing it right, uh, because that's the growth that we need, right?

And and we're looking at which to that point, uh I know Craig and Julie were both there.

It was nice to uh welcome the team uh USA handball uh committee to town and uh I love the fact that they're partnering with my uh alma mater Brycliffe University uh and and and those things and man, I didn't realize that handball was what it was, right?

Right, exactly.

Man, it is just yeah, team it is unreal, right?

Uh so I I'm happy and excited that we are continuing to get those things um uh into Sioux City uh Mike Jimmy and I nominated you to play gold I yeah, you know I'll decline respectfully, right?

Uh I I just love the fact that we're we're in movement, we're moving.

Uh this is what you know we uh uh were elected to do and and and keep Sioux City moving forward uh and with that, so I'm excited about those things.

So am I well everybody took everything I was going to say, so you guys lucked out today.

Um watch for adopt a street.

I'm starting a little campaign, I'm gonna put it on social media, and we need lots of families, businesses, churches, civic groups, whomever you are to adopt our streets just to do a little extra litter pickup and just to make this city very clean, and we want everyone who lives here and who passes through to be proud.

That's all I have.

I got a letter from a lady that was here in 1976 telling me how nice the city is.

I'll forward it to all of you guys.

I wasn't here last week, and I gotta tell you I didn't miss you one bit.

It was a great great vacation, but I do want to congratulate Mitchell Bettsworth, who once again did everything he had to do and the gold and got four gold medals in the special Olympics.

Unbelievable.

Hometown Hero.

Want to congratulate Caleb Lefaver for being drafted in number 10th round, 304, I think it was.

That's uh I almost hope he goes to Iowa, even though I'm an Iowa State fan, but uh whatever he chooses, God bless him.

I hope he does well.

And we want to wish Healing softball, baseball, and East Baseball.

I think they're the only ones left, but wish them luck.

The men are playing tonight, Sergeant Bluff.

They got a big week tonight.

Yep.

Move we adjourn.

Secondly, I think I'm here because they're trend.

I and East is playing here at home.