Sioux City Council Meeting - July 13, 2026
Sioux City Council Meeting - July 13, 2026
The Sioux City Council met on Monday, July 13, 2026, beginning at approximately 8:26 PM. The meeting opened with a silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council considered a consent agenda containing multiple routine items, heard public comments, and discussed updates on building permit software, the police chief hiring process, and various community issues. Several items were deferred for one week.
Consent Calendar
- Reading of the July 6, 2026 council minutes.
- Motion reappointing Michelle Boston Ellis to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment for a five-year term.
- Resolution approving purchase order to Trojan Technologies for 16 Trojan Sigma UV replacement parts and Sigma sleeve replacement kits (Item 6).
- Resolution authorizing police department to accept 2025 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program funds for body armor (Item 6B).
- Resolutions temporarily closing streets for: Can Do Kids Backpack Giveaway on October 1 (Cook Street from West 6 to West 7); Historic Fourth Street Classic Car Show and Cruise on July 25; River Cate Parade and Staging Area on July 29 (Items 7A-C).
- Resolution suspending Iowa Code requirements for hiring police department employees for one year (Item 9A).
- Resolution suspending Iowa Code requirements for hiring Parks and Recreation department employees for one year (Item 9B).
- Resolution approving modification to the military construction cooperative agreement with the National Guard Bureau for warm-up holding pad at the airport (Item 8D).
- Resolution approving appendix three to the memorandum of agreement with Iowa Department of Public Defense for the warm-up holding pad project (Item 8E).
- Resolution awarding contract to Halstein Excavating for the Sioux Land Nexus Program Volume 5 tanker warm-up and holding pad project at the airport (Item 8F).
- Resolution approving work order number 2023-20 for RS and HIW for the volume five warm-up holding pad project (Item 5).
The consent agenda was approved unanimously via voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Melden Carter criticized the slow progress of the building permit software upgrade, stating "y'all milking the kitty" and suggesting using IT students to expedite the process. Council members responded that the project is complex and that progress is being made.
- Lillian Rodriguez, Carlos Hurtado, and Olga Guevara presented the upcoming "Mexico en el corazón" cultural event, a free folkloric dance performance on August 30, 2026, at the Orpheum Theater. They invited the council to attend.
- Robin Shiro, secretary of the Sioux City Lions Club, requested help finding a safe, flat street for a cleanup project after experiencing difficulty coordinating with the city's environmental specialist. She also raised concerns about being removed from volunteer lists at the Pierce Mansion after speaking at a prior council meeting and asked the council to investigate.
- Jeremy Harrison, president of the New Sioux City Community Development Initiative, presented results of a 53-person survey on police chief hiring. He reported 38% wanted a more aggressive police force, 40% did not, and 22% wanted it only in specific situations. 98% of respondents supported a public engagement process before hiring the next chief. He requested a formal survey or forum. Council members noted that the hiring process already includes a community panel and expressed openness to a public survey.
Discussion Items
- Big Sioux River Levy Extension (Item 5) and related consulting agreement (Item 8B) were deferred for one week at the request of staff. Councilman Rayford moved the deferrals.
- Item 8C – Resolution for Morningside Avenue corridor study: City Engineer Gordon described the study, noting utilities are 130–135 years old. Council members asked about the process (qualifications-based selection) and whether the study would consider a three-lane configuration.
- Airport warm-up holding pad projects (Items 8D, 8E, 8F, 5): Councilman Scott inquired about overall project phasing and funding (estimated $100–150 million). Colonel Sean Straxx (National Guard) confirmed the $11.8 million contract is fully funded and thanked the council. The project was originally scheduled later but is being done first due to available funding.
- Building Permits Update (Item 5014): Daryl (buildings inspection) and Marty Doherty (community development) provided an update on the long-delayed permit software upgrade. They cited complexity, the need to customize many features, and a desire to get it right rather than force a quick fix. Council members expressed frustration but supported the thorough approach. A public comment from Melden Carter criticized the pace.
- HART (Homeless and Response Team) update: Councilman Scott noted increased issues at Cook Park and ongoing challenges with private property cleanups. The HART team meets weekly to address barriers.
- Police Chief Hiring Process: Councilman Rick requested an update; City Manager Mike indicated the panel meets that evening, assessments are Tuesday/Wednesday, and a list of candidates will be available next week.
- Other council concerns: Council members discussed Hamilton Boulevard medians (part of a reconstruction project), bus route requests from Sheriff Sheehan, railroad vegetation issues, the wastewater treatment plant update, riverfront activities, a homeless campus concept, entertainment district update, library board engagement, and a new branding/marketing campaign.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- Deferred items (one week to July 20): Big Sioux River levy extension (Item 5), consulting agreement with JEO Consulting (Item 8B), and lease for Sioux Land Youth Hockey Association shooting shed (Item 5013).
- Items 8H, 8I, and 8J were deferred at the request of the legal department (not specified in transcript).
- Police chief hiring process: City Manager confirmed a community panel will be involved; council expressed willingness to consider a public survey.
- Directions given: Environmental specialist to work with Lions Club on street cleanup; legal department to review options for enforcing vehicle-related nuisances; railroad to be contacted about vegetation; staff to provide updates on legislative update, entertainment district, wastewater treatment, and branding campaign.
- Future updates: Next meeting scheduled for July 20, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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