Council - Regular Meeting

You will call the meeting to order. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republics for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, welcome everybody. This is the regular city council meeting for March the 23rd, 2026. We'll start with the roll call, please. Weber, yes. Hannah, yes. Moore, yes. Present. Maynor, present. Olaflin, yes. Applebee, yes. I need a motion to approve the agenda as presented. So move. Second. I have a motion. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? I

oppose. Passes 70. Uh, next we move to the proclamation. Um, April of this year is um, child prevention, child abuse prevention month. So, I have a proclamation that's been presented to us. Um, whereas child abuse and neglect are serious public health issues that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. And whereas prevention is possible through the implementation of effective policy, strategic investments, and community-based support that reduce the economic and human costs associated with child maltreatment. And whereas a child's early experiences profoundly shape their future, and children thrive when raised by loving caregivers in safe, stable homes with nurturing relationships. And whereas families that receive support before a crisis occurs are better equipped to provide safe, healthy, and supportive environments for their children. And whereas childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, can result in long-term psychological, emotional, physical consequences that may extend into future generations. And whereas strengthening families through access to concrete economic assistance, social services, and community-based support reduces the likelihood of abuse and neglect and builds a strong foundation for lifelong well-being. And whereas the effective prevention efforts are built upon partnerships among child welfare professionals, educators, health care providers, community and faith-based faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement, and families. And whereas communities ma must make every effort to promote programs and initiatives that foster strong thriving children and families and work collaboratively to increase awareness and promote social and emotional well-being and safe staple self sorry staple stable and nourishing uh environments. And whereas a a

prevention whereas prevention remains our most powerful strategy to protect ch to protect children and strengthen families. I now therefore on behalf of the city of Independence to hereby proclaim April 2026 as child abuse prevention month and urge all citizens to recognize this observance by dedicating themselves to improving the quality of life for children and families in our community. Together we can create a community where ch where every child grows up h happy, healthy, safe, and filled with hope for the future. And I'm going to sign this on behalf of the city of independence. Apparently they want your signature on on top of mine, but no. No, yours is only matters.

Thank you all for coming. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, next we'll move to the public comment section. Um Nikki, are you ready?

Yeah. I'll be really quick pass those around. Those are just housing um little pamphlets in case anybody wants to house uh or host any writers. Um we've got a good start going, but I'm sure we'll need a lot more. So, just wanted to give you guys a brief update. Um tomorrow night, if you don't know, tomorrow night at 6:30 at the 4 building, we're holding our first town hall. We'll really be covering um housing, uh volunteers, maybe a little bit of vendors if people ask some questions. We'll have another one down the down the line for that. Um and just uh general questions that the public has that we may or may not be able to answer tomorrow night, but we'll surely find out or get back to them on that. Um we do meet with RAGE on Wednesday morning and uh we will be going over it's our entertainment expo and there's one other um committee that will be there. So all of our committees have met so far. We have 18 committees, 18 committee heads, four executive um committee members which is myself, Lisa, Isabelle and Mark Crawford. And then on on our advisory committee, both Matt and Brian on our on our advisory committee, including Fred Smock, uh Craig Kaufman, um Don Vogle, Landing Gator, Paul Bachmann, um

Cynthia, trying to think who else. There's a few more in there. So, Cynthia from the Cynthia from from the school. Yes. So, thank you for that. Um so, we just kind of like starting to put things in motion. So, next next month, I hope we have our whole entertainment area down pat so we can come with our event application and then um our vendor fees, all of that for ordinances and things like that in in April. You still we're about two weeks away from finding out what the the actual route's going to be coming through.

Well, yes. I think he said when we went to the overnight it was like April 3rd. I thought they were going to announce um I know they're holding a town hall. They do an online town hall um through Ragbride. They're having one April 9th I believe it is. And so it did say um announcement uh of pass through town. So I don't know if that's a discussion of the announcement that has been made or I'm hoping maybe on Wednesday we will find out um what the pastor towns are going to be. So, um, but I don't So, we'll know which direction they come in and which direction they're going out from town. Yeah.

And we don't have we don't have people out there that are supposed to do a walk through or drive through and check things out. So, we don't have anybody following them around to make sure what's going on. Not right now. We don't. Uh, Bill Versus is our ride representative. So, he will be uh working with them on the route and we'll be working closely with probably our city streets, our county streets, um secondary roads, stuff like that for um to make sure everything is smooth as they come in or whatnot. I would assume I'm only assuming they're coming in from Jessup and then going to win. I mean, right, that makes

makes the most sense, especially um from here to Dyresville. The miles, if you put it into your Google Maps, it about matches up from here to to go right down 20 for here to Direville on Friday. We are the longest day at 81.9 miles and to include the Caris Loop, which is uh the optional 100 mile ride. Are you doing that?

No. So, yes. Um, but thank you to those of you who have put in applications for housing or have told us that you would house people. We do appreciate that. Um, we have a lot of people that have made their own connections, which is also good. Um, we met with charters and camp the charters and campgrounds people two weeks ago, scouted out independence. And so Mark Mark and I will be working to place all of our charters into different areas. So Okay, sounds good. All right. Thank you, Nick. Thank you.

Okay. Next, we move to item number six on the the consent agenda. I need a motion to accept and approve the consent agenda. Um, as read the minutes of the March 9, 2026 regular meeting. So moved. Second. I have a motion, a second. All in favor? I oppose. Passes 70. Next, we move to the financials. I need a motion to approve the claims for payment. So, move second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? I

oppose. Passes 70. Uh, next move to item number eight, which is revenues and expenses to date. This is information only. Anybody have any questions or comments with regard to that? Okay, hearing none, we move to item number nine, transfers. Again, this is information only. Anybody have any questions with regard to the transfers? Okay, hearing none, we'll move to item number 10 under hearings. I need a motion to set April 13, 2026 at 4:45 p.m. as the public hearing on the fiscal year 2027 budget. So move second. Have a motion and a second. Um this would be a roll call vote. Hannah, yes. Moore, yes. Yes. Mayor, yes. Olaflin, yes. Applebee, yes. Weber,

yes. Passes 70. Next, we move to item number 11. Uh, I need a motion to approve a second reading of the ordinance amending chapter 69 public parking regulations. So move. Second.

Have a motion, a second. Um, this this was um this previously came up um under uh work a work session. Um the address is the 200 block of 2nd Street Northeast. And what we're what we're um changing in the ordinances were originally the ordinance says that there's no parking on north or south side of the road um because of issues with the tenants of Dustin Dolan back on the north side. Um we've we've um looked at um modifying that ordinance so that it now only doesn't allow parking on the south side. It would allow parking on the north side. So that's what the that's what the um the ordinance change is about. um further discussion with regard to that.

I voted no last time and I sympathize with the tenants, but once you make a change, there'll be others coming up and it took years to clean this up. Okay, this would anybody else? Okay, this is a roll call vote then. Moore, yes. Brolder, yes. Mayor, yes. Olaflin, no. Applebee, yes. Weber, yes. Hannah, yes. Okay, that passes 61. Now, um I'll make a motion that we do the third and final reading. Suspend to the regular rules. I second it.

Okay, this is another roll call vote. I need six out of seven in order to have that pass. Pader, no. Mayor, yes. Olaflin, no. Applebee, no. Weber, yes. Anna, yes. Moore, yes. Okay, that fails then. So, um then our third our third and final reading would be April 13th.

April 13th. Okay, next we move to item number 12. Um pursuant to the agenda, I'll now convene a public hearing on the proposed um reszoning request. Um this is the the Steve G um property where we're looking he's looking to change the uh the zoning from agricultural to R3. That's at the end of Pine Drive. So um start with I need the motion itself. So there is no motion. Oh, I'm sorry. This public here you're right. It's public hearing. Thank you. Do not receive anything.

Okay. Okay. So then I'll now close the public hearing and the city uh there are no comments for the city clerk to make record of. So now we move to item number 13. This is a motion to approve the first reading of the ordinance amending the provisions pertaining to chapter 170 zoning regulations. So move second. I had one question about this. I have a motion and a second. Go ahead De. Is this then following this is it going to be that we're going to come back and attempt to take the two properties or is this totally separate from that? I'm not following what are you what okay you know where they wanted uh tempest and whoever the other person is. Oh no this is something completely different. This got nothing to do with those different

Thank you. Yeah, this this is only there. Um if you look at your ma if you look at your map um page 96. Yeah, you you're referring to an um not a resoning but a annexation that's pending. This is totally separate from the annexation. All right. Thank you. This is already in the city limits and it's 1.93 acres at the end of Pine Drive. Didn't we have um planning and zoning reviews approve it as well? Yeah, planning and zoning reviewed it and they recommended approval of it. Any further discussion with regard to that? And what was their number? So they I'll vote yes on that.

I don't know. Um I think so. I'm not I don't remember. And we didn't put it in the memo as far as for the first reading of the ordinance. Typically we put that in the first reading of the ordinance and we didn't put it in there this time. Well, it might have been when we put uh at the last meeting when we set the public hearing. It might have been in there. I don't remember for sure. Well, there were numbers on that. Remember, this is just this is just changing the changing the zoning itself. You're not approving any particular type of building or anything else at all. It is just the zoning itself.

And and this is basically some form of residential only, no commercial, correct? Um the R3 whatever would be allowed in R3 which is residential. R3 is multif family residential and includes triplexes and so on all the way down to a single family home. So no no commercial businesses at all residential only. Correct. It would be residential. Okay. Any further discussion on this? Okay. This would then be a uh this will then be a roll call vote. Olaflin. Yes. Applebee. Yes, Weber. Yes, Hannah. Yes, Moore. Yes, Brolder. Yes,

Mayor. Yes. Um, that passes 70. Then, um, does anybody want to uh make a motion to suspend the statutory rule to have it considered at two council meetings prior to the meeting in which it's finally passed? So, move. Second. Have a motion and a second. And again, this would require six out of seven. Sorry. Roll call vote. Applebee, no. Weber, yes. Hannah, no. Moore, no. Presser, yes. Mayor, yes. Olaflin, yes. It was a 50- vote. I haven't pulled the minutes

for planning and zoning meeting. Okay. So, so it fa it fails. And um it would then be second reading would then be on April the 13th as well, right? Okay. Um, are we on reports? Okay. So, council council reports. Um, Brad, do you have anything? Deb, do you have anything? Nothing. Ralph, do you have anything? Nothing at this time, sir. Right. Good. Mayor, thank you.

Today, Mike, um, as I handed out those, uh, my neighbor started a new business in town, and there's already some existing ones, but his is a portable detailing business. um Jamie Marcato and I think he's going to advertise like in the the supplement to the Bolton Journal whether it's a reminder or shopper news. Okay. So happy to see a new business starting. Okay. Anything? I guess he just talked about maybe us doing something the Starlight Cinema Building of any kind, but suggested maybe do a flea market. So there's mine. That'd be fun.

Well, yeah, if you want to run it, if you know anybody wants to. There's an apple. Not a confirmed volunteer. Applebee lady. No, I don't know. I'm not I'm not doing that. Okay. Moving then to the city manager report.

Couple things for everybody. Um myself and Susie will be out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week form. That's Iowa Municipal Management Institute in Iowa City. Um Dominic Sparrove reached out last week about the apartments that are above uh Full Circle or the Old Hearted Drug Building and he'd like to set up a time hopefully this week to do a tour or give a tour for anybody who's interested in that. Um I don't know if everybody has availability this week to do that or what you guys would like to do. But if you could let me know what you'd like us to do, um we can try to get something scheduled. What day are you possibly looking at? We can do it anytime. He he indicated he's got availability anytime this week. Does he have them all done now? He thought he had them all really close.

What does what does Matt say about um the I think when when Matt when Chzmore, our building official, and I talked, he indicated that he was he would be comfortable being able to do temporary certificate occupancy, temporary certificates of occupancy, but there's a few things that need to be wrapped up before he would issue final certificates of occupancy. So, he's pretty close. So, um, but if you guys would let me know sometime in the next 24 hours or so what you guys would like to do, I'll try to get something set up and scheduled with him for this week. Thursday or Friday this week, I'd be probably. Yeah. What days are you and Susie gone? We're gone Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

So, that's why I really need feedback from you like tomorrow so we can get something set up for you guys Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. One of those three days. Is there attentive on how long a time frame before he thinks he would have them all totally completed? Because I think I I myself would rather see the total completion rather than 90% completed. I don't have that information. But you know, we started that how many years ago to do that? And yeah, I think it's time that to it's been a while. Let him get to rent some out. He's probably got to have an income coming in to do some more of this. But that's not our fault and got it completed. It's not. But that was our goal is to get the uptown living and

that'll be something that we can discuss at a future council meeting also if we need to when it comes to releasing the right and what's left of things. Um then Leanne Harrison reached out to me and wanted to let me know that there is going to be an EP episode about the Wapsy Mill on Road Trip Iowa on PBS on Monday, May 18th at 9:00. That's 900 pm. And then again on Saturday, May 23rd at 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on again Iowa PBS. Um the only other thing I've got for you, Nikki messaged me after she left. She forgot to mention that independence ragbry.com is also now live. If there's information or anybody's looking for information about RagBry and Independence, it's independence ragbry.com. That's all I've got.

Okay. I don't have anything um uh other department heads. Nothing tonight, Mayor. Nothing from anybody else. Okay. Okay. Then I would like a motion to adjourn the meeting. Uh don't we have people from East Bean after the meeting? Oh, that's after the meeting. Okay. Um did I I got did I get a motion? Yes. Did I get a second? Second. Second. All in favor? I 70 and a journ to ask a question. Anyone?