City Council - Regular Meeting

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Thank you. Welcome everybody. Is Kristen's on Zoom? Is that correct? Okay. Just want to make sure. Can we hear? Can you hear Miss Kristen? Yep, I can hear you. Okay, we're good. Thank you. First thing on the agenda to enter entertain a motion to approve the agenda as posted to the and sent to the news news media 24 hours prior to the meeting.

So moved. Second. Motion by Miss Fay, second by Mr. Holmstrom. All in favor? I I

opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Next, we have the maker mayor's leadership statement, and I'll just read that. Today's the city of Hampton endeavors at all times to promote and model principles of professionalism, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. in into conducting this evening's meeting. We expect that all participants will resp act in a respectful manner consistent with these principles. Thank you. Next, we have the council re workshop report uh from April 6th. Uh I won't read that for you u but it is available online if anybody would like to review. and it was a short one this this uh this week, but it is out there for you. And then we have a uh pro proclamation for AR Arbor Day and we'll go ahead and and get that going. So uh whereas in 1872 J Stirring Sterling Morton proto proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agricultural that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees and whereas the holiday called Arbor Day has was first observed with the planting of more than 1 million trees in Nebraska. And whereas ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar ar arbordee is now observed throughout the nation and through the and and the world. And whereas trees can be reduced the erosion of our pre precious top soil by wind and water lowering our lower our heating and cooling costs moderate the temperature lead clean the air produce oxygen and provide habitat habitat for wildlife.

Whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the the e economic vitality of the business areas and beautify beautify our community. And whereas trees wherever they are planted are a to are a s source of joy and p spir spiritual renewal. Therefore now I therefore I Steve Bertzil mayor of the Hampton do to hereby proclaim Friday April 24th 2026 as arbor day in the city of Hampton. And I observe and I would urge all citizens to celebrate our Arbor Day and to support experts to protect our trees and our wooden woodlands. And further, I would urge that all citizens to plant and care for trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations. Dated this ninth day of April, the year 2026. Thank you. Next item, we have public comment this evening. If there's anybody that has any public comment, please step to the podium, state your name. My name is Pat O'Donnell. I live at 123rd Street Southeast Hampton. Uh I hope you all had a pleasant uh Easter Sunday with family and friends. This is part of why I'm here this evening. uh to dis to talk with you. I provided you with a photo, rather disturbing photo uh of a garage at 13 4th Street

Southeast. It's across the alley from my house. Uh as you can see for yourself, it is inappropriate artwork used term loosely uh for public display. Um especially for Easter Sunday and young grandchildren. Uh, this showed up on March 31st, 2026. I disapprove. That night, uh, around 2 am, my pet woke me up for a disturbance in my backyard, and I got up and looked, and I saw Seth Johnson burning something in his backyard. I I don't know what. Um, I wasn't sure of the city guidelines for recreational fires. So, I came to the police department the next day and talked with an officer there. Uh, as I say, he may have been burning something that he should. I don't know. Um when I was talking with the policeman, the police officer, I asked him about the artwork and he said the problem was already addressed. Um Tom lost my place. That has already been addressed. Uh he said that he was given a warning to fix it and after 5 days the warning would turn into a citation and after the citation if still nothing was done it would come before this council. Um that is why I provided you with with a photo so when you consider it I hope you look at the photo and consider do you want that in your backyard? Do you want it to affect your property, your value, value of your property? Do you want it to affect your grandchildren? My grandchildren did ask me about it

that day on Easter. My young grandchildren did. The only thing I can think of to tell them is the guy must have been in the Navy because that's picture of his submarine that he had. I'd like to thank the Hampton Police Department for their rapid response to this and I'd like to thank you for your consideration. Good evening.

All right. Thank you. Is there any other public comment this evening? Okay, we will move on and thank you guys for coming in. Um, next item is prepare public hearings. We don't have any of those today. We have no old business. So, we'll move right to our new business. Uh, and this is the appro approval of the 2026 2027 goal setting report uh that we just completed uh here a while back. So I'll turn that over to Mr. Dunt. Thank you, Mayor. So uh we worked with Callahan Municipal Consultants to conduct goal setting session I believe was March 19th. He has submitted a report back um and tonight you will consider approving this report. This this pretty much is uh puts this goal setting report on record and also uh provides information to the public on the goals uh and initiatives that have been prioritized for the next few years by the city council. Um I will just summarize on page two under initiatives and programs uh the mayor and city council identified the following new initiatives and programs as the most urgent or important. One, initiate a master plan for updating parks, recreation areas, and equipment. Improve recreational facilities, soccer, baseball, and pickle ball. Adopt two, adopt a vacant building ordinance. Three, continuation of nuisance abatement, image of pride and community cleanup with program with the chamber and consider a community cleanup fix up program providing grants, loans, other volunteer assistance to homeowners uh to rehabilitate their properties, remove hazards, and enhance neighborhoods.

Four, work with the county on a potential recycling program, yearround appliance drop off, add bins and structures at new compost sites. Uh under capital improvement projects, the mayor and council identified the following new capital projects and equipment purchases as the most urgent or important. Number one, uh possible bodywn cameras in the future. Uh number two, improve downtown parking with additional parking lots and or imaginative reconstruction of street paths. Um that's it in summary. Any questions? Thank you.

Any discussion? Any questions from the council? I think it was a very worth worthwhile uh exercise that we do uh for our goal setting. I think that it gets us some focus um moving for the next couple years. And you know, and we do this every what's it been four years since we did one? So every couple four years anyway, we should uh probably continue to do this and keep us focused on what we're working on. So uh if there's any other furniture further discussion, I would entertain a motion to approve the 2026 2027 goal setting report.

So moved. A motion by Miss Grey. A second. Second by Miss Bay. All in favor? I I I opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Next item we have the consideration of the tenative agreed agreement between the city of Hampton and Teamsters local 238 police department employees and authorized mayor to sign file final con contract Mr. D.

Thank you mayor. Uh this is the tenative agreement uh to teamsters local 238 public depart public police department employees. Um the main article that would would be subject to change is article 13 wages and wage schedule. Um the wage schedule will have a different tier system. It will go a starting wage with no ILA a starting wage with ILA certification a one-year level, threeyear level, fiveyear level, sevenyear level, and a 10year level. Um that tier schedule would receive an across the board of 3% applicable to the steps starting through fiveyear and across the board of 4% for steps 7year and 10year and the secretary of classification shall re receive a 4% across the board uh increase that is for 71 of 26. 71 of 27 would be at 4% across the board. Also, the wages will be stated in the contract as an hourly rate as opposed to a annual uh rate, which is the way it is now. Um adding the following language, all employees payroll will be subject to direct deposit as as established by city policies. the duration of the contract. Uh the city proposed current contract language be maintained for article 17 except as noted section one 5-year contract with wages and insurance open for negotiations to be effective 71 of 28 71 of 29 and 71 of 30. Any questions?

Any questions from the council? I think we we pretty much have have had this uh ironed out. So if there's any no other questions, I would entertain a motion to approve the tenative agree agreement between the city of Hampton and Teamstster's local 238 police department employees and at the authorized mayor to sign file contra contract. I move we approve. I have a motion by Mr. Davies. I'll second. Second by Miss Roodie. All in favor? I. And opposed? Motion carries. Thank you.

Next, I would entertain a motion to approve the claims as submitted by the staff in the amount of 229,000. We got one more before that, mayor. Well,

I'm sorry. got that on your 14. Nope. Okay. All right. Sorry about that. Technical difficulties. All right. Okay, we need to set May 14th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. as the date and the time for public hearing to approve plans specifications form of form of pro contract and engineer's engineers estimate of the cost and set 108 10 a.m. for a May sorry set 10:00 a.m. May 7th, 2026 as the time for public bid opening and bid letting on 4 and 6 First Street Northwest stabil stabil stabilization product. Mr. Dun have that back.

Yep. You bet. I'll share. Yes. So, basically, we're setting uh we're setting May 14th at 6 PM as the date and time for public hearing on the plans and specs and then uh set 10 a.m. on May 7th as the bid letting the open opening for bid letting on on the project. Any questions? It's moving along. All right. So, we need a motion and a second. Yeah. Motion and a second on this one. So moved. Motion by M. Griefy. Second. Second by Miss Mr. Holmstrom.

All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Sorry for the glitch. Sorry about that, Mayor. Just keeping you on your toes. Yeah, you got to do something. All right. Next, we'll try to pay some bills. So, with that, I would entertain a motion to approve the claims as submitted by Stash in the amount of staff in the amount of $229,2949. Can I ask a question first? Yep, sure.

Okay. And this is just itty bitty, but how come Herman Park electrical is so much higher than the other parks? Uh, well, we are running heating there all winter and lights because it it gets rented frequently. So, that's Yeah, the enclosed shelter. That's kind of what I wondered. Yeah. Okay. All right. A motion to approve the claims. All right. Got a motion by Miss Grey. I'll second. Second by Miss B. Miss Bay. All in favor? I

opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Next item, we have ordinance 410, an ordinance amending chapter 55 of the H city Hampton City Code for the purpose of adding regula regulations regarding the chicken keeping of chickens within the city city of limits. And we made some changes to this before our first reading and um we made some you know made aware there's one that were is going to affect one of our residents and I didn't know if you wanted to say anything tonight Mr. Meyer or

well

and step up here you so we can hear you. Well, I got you all know I live or I used to live out there. I still own it at 1208 and I got the sheep out there and we've had them there for as long as I've been there and I went to the to you guys. Oh, here I came in here and asked if it was okay if I put them in and it was fine. I got grandfathered in. I'm wondering if I sell that to my son if that's going to get grandfathered in because family whatever I don't know and if that's going to be in problem he won't get it I'll keep owning it cuz as far as I know I've always had sheep there so I can still keep putting sheep in that's the way it was told to me when I put the sheep in that as long as I didn't miss a They told me I keep

go ahead.

So if it changes ownership then your original request ends with with that in the change of ownership. So if your son purchase it purchases it then if the current ordinance was in place he would come and ask for permission. But the this new 410 ordinance is changing that language. And so, um, after this ordinance is in place, then he would not be allowed to request it on his property. I just I don't I mean, I don't know how anybody else would feel, but to sit there and have to mow five acres every time just because of chickens. Excuse me, please.

But you see where I'm coming. Yes. I mean, it's going to be a big deal mowing. I mean, you're going to be four to five more hours every time. Is there going to be a limit on the height of the grass for that five acres? Well, it's it's zon residential. Um, and so there's a 6 in limit on grass. Can that be zoned as an area that could be since I can't put sheep on to keep it down, can a guy mow it to bail it? I should say

you It would have to be zoned a. So, it'd have to be reszoned as a and uh none of the properties around it are agg. The only a zone is in the northeast corner on 12th Avenue. Um so it would be something that you could request of the planning and zoning commission, but typically an ask like that is viewed as spot zoning. uh which is you know they try to avoid that spot putting one section you know an egg zone in the middle of R1. Your property is currently R1 and probably was egg before it got zoned right.

Um decades ago probably. Yeah. I mean yeah I know it is because I got you know it was all farm. Yeah. And then sold it to the city. I was just I just think that's a lot. I mean, considering that I gota try to keep that at 16 at five. If I could sit there and at least let it grow to have somebody like Van Worth come and cut it, I'm not going to take money for it. Isn't I'm not going to make a profit off it. I haven't done it since I moved to town.

I'm just trying to keep it look nice. That's, you know, cuz uh I don't know. I think it's going to be Well, if I don't sell it to him, then I can keep the sheep on it, right? That's correct. Mhm. That's correct. Keep Thank you, Jim. Mr. Mayor.

Yes. I was just wondering since the current or ordinance is not in effect yet if Mr. Meer's son came in and asked that request to the council what it would be considered before the ordinance was passed whether we would approve or disapprove it as a council. Uh that currently Jim owns the property. So I don't know that his son who is going to p purchase it would be would be able to request it. This is it's not his property.

What if Mr. Meyer who's here right now requested that before a new ordinance comes into place if we could grandfather that into his it ends when the property changes hands. Yeah. So he could request it. I he doesn't he doesn't need to right now because he's allowed cheap there.

But if he did request it and ask that specific question if I sell it to my family member, my son, would the council consider that approval? Would that be a fair request to the council from Mr. fire. In my opinion, I don't think that would be given the owner ownership of the land. You know, he has to if he's going to if he ch transfers ownership, then the sheep clause goes away. I don't think that's going to happen in two weeks. Um, that's just my opinion on it. Um, I think this is this is we're doing this be because of a chicken ordinance, but I think it is going to help us to clean up some of our exceptions in our in town. And we would rather manage through ordinance than into exceptions in my opinion.

Yeah. And I and I certainly agree that these exceptions have to go, but that point doesn't we don't cross that bridge for another two weeks is what I'm saying. We're still in kind of a gray area for two weeks until we cross that bridge. And I know the intent is to get rid of the exceptions, but when we drafted up the chicken ordinance and the exception ordinance, it was just by chance that Jim had mentioned the sheep situation, which I don't think any of us when we were talking about chickens even crossed our minds about,

right? So, I don't know. I just think we have two weeks to possibly do this. Should I don't I don't and I'm not trying to be a Betty Debbie Downer or anything like that. I don't think that's a good way good way to go move forward with our ordinance. Okay. Anybody else? Refresh my memory. Why did we put that in there making reference to livestock other than chickens? because it just opened us up to, okay, now the next person's going to come and request goats and the next person's going to come and request.

This puts a stop to that. But like I said, the current ordinance, they would come to council and ask do the requests, right? Ask. Yeah. And I guess I guess for me, I've never had a problem with them coming to council. I But look what happened with all the time we spent on chickens. The current ordinance, I don't see anything where it says anything about sheep. The one that we're reading right now. No, it doesn't.

Right. It doesn't it it it modifies the lo livestock chapter 550 saying we're removing the accept by written consent of the council. So, does that mean they could go to city zoning and ask for the exception? No. So, why is that even in So, what is what's the definition of compliance with the city zoning or regulations? Well, the only zoning district that allows any livestock at all is A1, which is egg. Okay.

Egg zone and that's up 12th Avenue. any other step up here if you'd like.

Um, then how did that one get zoned agricultural out there in gravel road? Cuz was that city before I I can't answer that for you. I don't know.

Yeah, it was so it's it's it's before my time when these zoning districts were redone, but um the idea back when they re reszoned things, um it was where do they want different districts to grow? They so they they decided that that would be the area that they would allow a you know, any type of egg activity. the rest south kind of where you are and where Faith Baptist Church and that area that's they decided they'd like to see residential growth in that direction. So, it's all about future land use, future growth, trying to control uh future uses. So, I keep it, but I can't let it grow up high enough to harvest.

Then, like to have hayfield or something? No. But you can have that right across the road. Isn't that Hampton? Across the road from me. Yeah.

And You got all the trees and all that laying there and stuff. And I've been trying to clean my place up for as many years as I've been here cuz it was pretty tough when I came in here cuz he had all the dead and I've cleaned that all up. I'm in the process of trying to clean it up more. It isn't like I'm trying to make it look worse. I'm trying to make that look better. And I thought that's what we're supposed to do in town. Any other discussion?

Well, I just want to say I'm disappointed that what the outcome of this ordinance is going to do to Mr. Meyer and I'm going to vote no.

Anybody else? I agree. It's a, you know, he's grandfathered in. Basically, the property's grandfathered in, right? As long as he owns it. Correct. Right. Anybody else? Well, just like with um I mean I feel bad for Jim also, but um just like with the chicken permits um not being transferable, it's kind of the same situation.

So you're just saying this is collateral damage? No, not at all. Oh, okay. But I mean, we can't make it transferable for one person when we're not going to make it transferable for all the people that that's when we start. We're going to change the ordinance to make them make it so that they can have chickens on their two acres. And we we've already discussed this at length and we knew what the implications would be. I disagree with you because we're just really finding out the situation on the sheep that I brought up before.

We learned last time we voted on this that that's how that would transfer. If that owner sold that land, that would not transfer over to the new owner. We knew that. We were told that, but we actually heard from the owner. I understand tonight. Yes. Can I say something? And I think about probably vote no on this.

Just a second. I'm going to say I think this where the where we're headed with this, you know, if we if we want to do I guess and I and I feel bad for Mr. Meyer. I'd really do if you're going to sell the sell the land to to your son. But trans chains of ownership is chains of ownership and you know if we if we keep making m exceptions again we're manage managing and we're governing our tone by exception and not by ordinance. I think we need to get get headed the right direction. I'm sorry.

You know, so I've been here since day one. I I didn't come in because I got a letter. I didn't come here because um you know, I got found out or anything like that. I came to support my two neighbors who had chickens and that's how this whole thing started. how it's taken us since September, I believe, to barely get here over chickens. I don't think anybody who's listened to this whole debate could probably answer that. I will say though that and I was going to wait until hopefully this ordinance passed because I I was afraid that if I spoke my truth before the ordinance passed that this council would then vote no because they didn't like what I have to say. But since now that seems to be the direction of the council, regardless of how hard we have all worked together and how we have all come across the aisle to try to come to some sort of compromise. If this thing whole thing falls apart, it would be incredibly disappointing and I think it would reflect very poorly on the city council. That being said, I have tremendous issue with the proposal to um remove the phrase that you can seek special written permission from city council for livestock. I felt it was vindictive. Bill, you were the first one who brought that to the council's attention.

Yes. Yes. And I feel like I'm going to back interrupt you here for just a minute and I'm going remind of you everybody of the leadership statement that we say and then we're not going to start pointing out Councilman. No, I'm not. We're not going to we're not going to start doing this because No, but I think it is a I think it is important to pinpoint where this whole thing forked. And it was a bill's proposal that if we if we pass No, stop. Please let me just here where we are. Here's where we are. I see that backing up.

Okay. And but what I am saying is that I don't believe that I don't understand why it is such an issue for the city council to be approached by members of the city to ask for this request. I don't understand why that is such a time waste. You know, I mean, that's that's really how it feels. It truly feels like you guys are trying to clean up the rule book because it's a waste of your time. And we've spent so much time on chickens. And Jim's right. Jim shouldn't have to lose his sheep. His son should be able to approach the city council and asked for sheep again. I moved to Hampton with the promise that I was told by the real estate agent that Hampton is a pretty friendly town that they don't have problems with this kind of thing because I wanted to have horses. I had discussed at length Barry multiple times. I talked to you about what do I do about getting horses at my place and you gave me guidance. You helped me prepare. you helped me kind of look into it and I was waiting to get my property cleaned up before I approached you guys because I wanted to come to city council and say, "Hey, you guys look at this property that I'm working really hard to establish to get horse and now I can't even do that." And I don't feel like that is fair to the to the members of to this to the residents of Hampton to have that ordinance taken away from us. And if you do decide to not vote in favor of the ordinance to allow us to have chickens, then I think you guys need to put back the ordinance that we are allowed to approach the council with special permission. I think that's the way it goes. It's not a give give. It's a give and take. So if if if that's the way the

city council then I think we scrub the whole thing from start to finish and then we each individual chicken owner, sheep owner, whatever, then individually approaches the city council to have our our requests spoken about. I think that would be only fair. So before you guys vote yes or no or however it swings, then I think that it's no all the way around. It's no to the chickens and it's no to alternating the ordinance. It's it's one or the other. I don't think the council should be able to do both.

All right. I'll just add when when we started this whole thing back in Dece or September of last year um because I looked that up. Um we did talk about put taking this out of here and we didn't want to do it at that time. We had to leave it in there. But now we want to take it out. Now we're looking at for another reason. But I think that plays right into like I've said it a couple times tonight, managing by hips exception rather than by ordinance. I mean, we've got to clean our stuff up so that we know what we're doing, so that we can we can be fair to everybody. In my opinion, life's not fair. So any further discussion on this item? If not, we will entertain a motion and a second to approve the second reading of ordinance 410.

So moved. Got a motion by Miss Griefy. I'll second. A second by Miss Fay. This is going to be a roll call vote. We'll start with Miss Roadie on the phone. I Mr. Lamos. Nay. Miss Griefy. Hi. Miss B. Hi. Mr. Holmstrom. Hi. and Mr. Davies.

Nay.

Okay. So, with a vote of four to two, the sec second reading of this ordinance passes and we'll move resume next two weeks. Thank you everybody. I thank everybody for their comments, for your discussion. That's what we need to get it done. So moving on the consent agenda. Okay, this will would include or approve the med previous meet minutes from Thursday, March 26th, 2026 regular session and schedule the next regular session for Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 at 66 PM in the city council chambers. I'd entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda.

So move. I'll second it. Motion by Miss Fay, second by Miss Griefy. All in favor? I I opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Brings us down to our staff reports. Chief Morrison.

Yeah. On the newsenda stuff, uh we have four corridor cleanups coming up. Um we have been sending out the Hampton cleanup days flyers along with all the notices and we kind of ramp up uh some of the enforcement leading up to that event. Um sometimes people complain a little bit about some nitpicky stuff. We do get a little more nitpicky this time of year just because the opportunity is now to get the stuff out to the uh cleanup. And those cleanup days are April 20 17th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, and 25th. It is noted that it's at the new uh compost site at 1236 Olive Avenue, and that uh the pickup days are on the 17th and 24th, but you must schedule those through Center Juan. And then the Goodwill truck will also be there on April 17th and 18th. So that's the cleanup. In other news, uh we are moving along with the hiring process and hoping to have somebody hire in the next week or so. So we're hoping for that, but that's all I've got unless there's questions.

All right. Any questions for Chief Morrison? Who who does the interviewing? You and the Captain Holly. Thank you. Yep. Anybody else? Thanks, sir. Mr. Tar is not with us tonight, so we'll forego him. And Mr. Dunt,

thank you. I I think I mentioned Monday that I had an unoff unofficial notice uh from the state regarding a community catalyst grant um award that we received. And yesterday I did receive the official notice. It's a contract um as well as uh a cover letter and so we'll be reviewing that and likely have it on the April 23rd agenda um for consideration of acceptance by the city council. Uh it's for $100,000 and it is for um for First Street Northwest. I don't have anything else unless anybody has any questions. questions for Mr. Don this evening?

Yeah, I got a question. Off and on you see stuff about the legislature dealing with property taxes. Now I see they want to do a study with artificial intelligence on where they can save money. Is that going to affect cities or just counties? From what I've read, uh, the con the company they are considering doing a contract with would be an analysis of school district budgets and county budgets. There was no mention in the article that I saw of city budgets, but I don't know. Thank you. Anything else for Mr. D? Thank you, sir.

Go to council reports. We'll start with Miss Roadie on the phone. I don't have anything tonight. All right. Thank you, Mr. Lamo. No comment tonight. Thank you, Mr. Davies. I attended the tourism board meeting just prior to this meeting and the band shell benches have been refinished and they're being reassembled now by city employees. And I want to thank the city employees, the city of Hampton for really making this happen. The design committee of the chamber for getting this organized as well as the Barma Trust for financing the project. That's all I have.

All right. Thank you, Miss Bay. Um, we had an exciting week this week out at the hospital. We um had our first total joint replacement surgery done in decades out at Franklin General Hospital. Um we have um some specialists coming in now and and a couple of those are um orthopedic surgeons and we had had a a partial shoulder done earlier in the month or last month I guess was um but this was the first total joint replacement. So now people don't have to go to Clarion or up to um Mason City or wherever to have those kind of surgeries done. They can have them right here.

That's in town. So that's exciting. Yes. Very exciting. All right. Very good. Good internet. Good news. Thank you, Mr. Holmstrom. I just wanted to thank um Sean Deetsz, the manager at Radio on the Go and his new venture with Hampton Chronicle. It was a quite a demonstration of pride in our city with that venture that he's taking on. And I just want to wish him the best of luck and thank him again. All right. Thank you, Miss Grepy. You knew I'd have something to say.

Of course I do. I just want to take this opportunity um and I wrote this all down so that I wouldn't forget anything to address the rumors, the cruel remarks, and the bashing of the city council that's been circulating on social social media and beyond. I'm to be clear, I'm not speaking on behalf of my fellow council members. I'm speaking for myself. Uh I want to go back to I am not against food trucks. I am not against transit vendors. I acknowledge that they're fun. They can bring things to the town that we don't normally have access to, and they serve a real purpose during large community events. I am, however, against transient merchants parking on our main street of the downtown district. My first loyalty lies with our downtown um permanent business matter uh members. Now, a few years ago, the city council did look at our transient merchant ordinance. We did so because of complaints from citizens of the noise and the smell from generators that these food trucks have to use to operate. And then we also looked at the potential negative impacts that it could have on our local restaurants. And I think one business owner did a really good job. She cinched it. She compared transient merchants to the mistress and our permanent businesses to the spouse. The mistress is new and exciting, but she's only here for a short duration. The spouse most often lives in the community and provides loyal and stability through her dedication to the community and its citizens, payment of property taxes, care and maintenance of her real estate, and spending her hardearned dollars in the community and donating to community events and fundraisers. And I feel I

really feel it's important the council does not waffle on our commitment to our spouse businesses. The city and the chamber have done a great job providing electrical access to transient merchants so that generators are not necessary not necessary. And this addresses some of the citizen complaints. But if we have a food truck on the main street of our downtown district, that food truck is going to have to run its generator. We do not have electrical access for that. And we have to remember that we do have residents in downtown apartment dwellings and they deserve our consideration. And we all know that main street parking is hell and it's it's an issue and we're going to address that in our our gold tra planning strategies. And I do agree that Saturday afternoon parking may not be an issue for a food truck. But I don't think it's fair to say yes to one merchant because it's Saturday and no to the next merchant because it's a different day of the week. So again, just to be clear, I'm not against food truck trucks or transient merchants. I am against them on Main Street of our downtown district and I will remain committed to this regardless of who requests um who requests council approval. And I'd like to say that Pitro Pub was given approval for their outdoor event because they are a spouse business and they are not bringing in food trucks. They have hosted this event numerous times without citizen complaint. Turning down a food truck request on our main street does not indicate that I do not support my fellow downtown businesses. I support my fellow downtown businesses many ways. Through my work with the city

council, through my work with the Chamber of Commerce, hosting pop-up markets, which I do not profit from. And last summer, I sponsored Faith and four-letter words at the Windsor Theater and Wine Slushies in Peace Plaza. I do not belong to the Specialty Shop group as my budget does not allow the $400 membership fee. I decided to use that money to uh become a chamber member to be a member to Iowa Antique Network to advertise locally and to support community events and fundraisers. I applaud this group. They do great work for the downtown district. I benefit from their spring, fall, and and holiday open houses. But being a sole business owner, it's difficult me difficult for me to juggle my time between my two locations, the estate sales that we hold, time invested with the city council, time invested with the chamber, caring for my mother, and then taking care of my own home. Something had to give, and I decided I wanted to leave the specialty shop group. Not everybody in the downtown district belongs to the specialty shop group. So, please don't single me out and judge me because I don't belong. And last but not least, I I can't even believe I need to address this, but this is what's being said. I mean to kids. My entire nursing career has been dedicated to pediatrics. Um, if I wasn't teaching OB class or delivery classes, birthing classes, I was in the delivery room. And if I wasn't in the delivery room, I was in the nursery or the NICU. And if I wasn't in the nursery or the NICU, I was in the pediatric emergency room or the pediatric intensive care unit or the pediatric cancer floor or just a general

pediatrics floor enjoying that for a change. And in addition, I've taken I've taken in a young man in our community when he felt he had nowhere to go and I have provided him with stability, emotional, and financial security. I am not mean to kids. However, if children come into my shop without an adult and they misbehave, it is my right to instruct them to leave and not return unless they come in with an adult. Enough being said about all of this. I hope I never have to defend myself in this way again. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. I was going not going to have a report tonight for the mayor's reporter, but I just want to add one thing because you brought up our food trucks and I and I just want to put it out there so everybody knows that any request for food trucks needs to go through our city hall because they they have all the forms they need. They need all they know all the requirements and and there's just been some place out there where we've you know saying well we don't allow them on city on Main Street. Well we do with council approval. So I just want to make sure if we got a request for a food truck let's direct them to the city hall which is where it belongs and um let's let it let the process do its thing. That's all I got. With that, I would entertain a motion to adjourn this regular session of the Hampton City Council.

Second. Motion by Mr. Lamos, second by Miss Crey. All in favor? I opposed. We're ajourned. Thank you.