City Council - Regular Meeting

Berenstein? Here. Bertrand? Here. Rayford?

Here.

Shaner? Here. Gott?

Here. We stand for a moment of silent prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, Go to interviews for boards and commissions the airport Board of Trustees Chris Harbeck Chris here Chris may not earlier that said he might may not Tyler Cruz Come on up and tell us why you want to serve Tyler

following in your dad's footsteps on this one? I suppose, yes.

How are you guys? Yeah, so I want to join the airport board of directors. I've been a pilot for the last five years, and so I've got quite a few ties to the airport. Love aviation, love everything about it. Follow my dad's footsteps. He's been flying for 20 years, so I've been around aircraft and aviation for quite a while, so he obviously served on the board. I would like to continue that, so I heard there's an opening and I'm definitely interested in that, so I enjoy volunteering, giving back, and so I always like to make sure I do something that I have a passion for, and aviation's definitely one of them. Thanks, Tyler. Absolutely.

All right, thank you. Pat McElroy? How many openings do we have?

Hi, Pat.

I'm sorry, what's that? How many openings? Three.

There's three.

I got a little more prepared statement. Good afternoon. Nice to see some of you guys. I recognize some familiar faces. I'm here today as a candidate for the Gateway Airport Board of Trustees. My name is Pat McElroy. I was born and raised in Sioux City, and I've lived here my entire life. I grew up on the north side as one of 11 kids, which taught me early the value of hard work, community, and staying connected to where you're from. Today, I serve as CEO at Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company in Jackson, Nebraska. Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company is a vibrant co-op that was the first 100% fiber home company in Nebraska, and our customers have the highest internet speeds in Nebraska, and we're pretty proud of that. In this role, I've been fortunate to get to fly quite often out of Colonel Bud Day Field. It has given me great perspective on how important it is to have excellent air service right out of Sioux City. The crown jewel of the Siouxland and our airport is the 185th Air Refueling Wing. It must be at the forefront of every decision the board makes. Supporting the 185th and its long history in Siouxland is vital to our community. Similarly, the exciting aviation programs that are taking off at Morningside and Western Iowa Tech are excellent additions to our airport and can only help our community grow stronger. In my lifetime, I have focused my volunteer efforts on my church, my kids, schooling and sports. As I grew in the fiber industry, I focused on helping our trade organizations. In this role, I have served as president of both our Nebraska State Industry Trade Association and our National Trade Association. These roles have given me a broad perspective on infrastructure, connectivity, and how critical reliable services are to the success of our community and businesses. They have also taught me how vital being politically active can be to your cause. While much of my professional time has been focused in these areas, I've reached a point in my career where I want to give back more directly to the community that has given me so much. That's what led me to my interest in serving on the Sioux Gateway Airport Board of Trustees. I use the Sioux City Airport as often as I can, both personally and professionally. For our company, it's an essential resource. Having convenient, reliable flights out of our hometown makes travel significantly more efficient and productive. It allows us to stay connected, competitive, and responsive in our fast-moving environment. I see a lot of opportunity ahead, and I would value the chance to contribute to that progress, helping ensure the airport continues to serve our community effectively and grows in ways that benefit our region long term. Thank you for your time.

Any questions? I'll ask you, Tyler, you're welcome to come back up. Barbara, when you interview, obviously we recognize the importance of the 185th, and that's been a key component of every time we go to D.C., every time we're visiting in Des Moines, something that we're concerned about, both with regard to the support of the airport, the jobs that are created, 900 jobs at the 185th. But I'm curious, just from a commercial or general aviation perspective, what you all think we need to be doing. Barbara, you've got a much more regular, obviously with your position at the chamber, having been on the board, I'd be curious about your perspective. Again, Tyler, you're welcome to come back up, but I'd like to know what you think we need to do to better solidify our commercial aviation.

Well, when I was with Long Lines, we flew quite a bit privately. And that's an aspect that I don't really have a grasp on today, just haven't been involved with it. But today, I just generally fly United whenever I can. I don't have any real critiques of it, except for when you're the end of the line. And when you're the end of the line and I don't know how it operates as far as when you get slotted into flying in Chicago or when you get slotted into flying in Denver. But there's times when it gets canceled and you're stuck out here on an island. Or you're stuck in Chicago waiting to get off the island. So that would be, you know, but those are probably things that every small community battles.

It's a very competitive world, as Barbara knows. And I remember when we brought Frontier 2004, 2005, and we did a great job of attracting them to the community. They were part of our air service requirement. I think we paid them $600,000. and they were gone in six months.

Yeah.

And it's because they were going to provide air service to Fargo or Bismarck. It wasn't even, you know, it was a community that we didn't view that would have been at our level, and it's just a very difficult world, very difficult. I know Barbara might go to visit, make regular visits, and it's just very difficult and very competitive.

Yeah, I would, you know, I've read the minutes for the last couple of years just going through different things that, that are have come up on the agenda and Barbara was very generous the other day. I called her to ask about it because I thought she'd been there for a couple of years or probably a lot of years. But but yeah, there's a lot to learn and and I'm I'm willing and able to tackle that.

So I know you put in the time. Thanks, Pat.

Thanks.

Barbara Sloniker.

Okay, well good afternoon all. Obviously I love the airport. I've been there working with the airport for 28 and a half years, actually almost 29. So doing air service development and in answer to your question Craig, if we had that answer for sure we would have even more service at the airport. However, continually staying in touch, trying to find out when opportunities arise, making sure we all fly when we can. And that means us working on trying to get things like the timing of flights correct, right? Because we could have two flights a day at the wrong times when they don't work for our travelers. So that's kind of an important piece of that. We are coming up on essential air service, re-upping that again, if you will. So hopefully those conversations will will help towards some of that. I love the airport and the 185th, huge part of that. We understand that. I'm up against some really good candidates today. Just know that I have the passion. I have some time. Like I said, it's something I've been attending the board meetings for the last 28 years. I kind of have the gist of it. I know what's going on. I understand master plan. Very excited to see if I could be able to continue to give back to the airport in the future.

So have you technically been a board member or just a representative from the chamber working on air service issues?

Correct. I have never been a board member.

You have not been a board member? No. Okay.

No.

Thanks, Barbara. Thank you. Thank you. Transit System Advisory Board, excuse me if I don't pronounce his name right, Michael Dekarczyk. I hope I got it right.

Good afternoon everybody. My name is Mike Tokarsik. I'm a retired teacher from Sioux City Community School District. I've been on the transit board now for, I'm finishing my second term actually. I've lived in Sioux City my whole life and I've ridden the bus my whole life. So I have a real vested interest in the transit system. I'm proud of the accomplishments that have been happening here in the last few years with technology, with the buses, the mobile fare pay system. We've changed the routes a few years ago. And it's been an exciting and a learning experience for me to be a part of that. I'd like to continue doing that.

Thanks, Mike. So I have a question. So you had two terms. So if we decide to move forward on your election, we'd need to waive the rules to allow him a third term. Is that right?

Correct. When appointments are made, typically appointments will be made that first meeting in July. When you make the vote then, if you choose to, you can waive the rules.

Thanks, Mike. Thank you. Please, Sir Tyler, come on up.

Remember, there's three people applying, three people opening, so don't oversell. Oh, there is? I did not know that.

All right.

Well, good to know. We still want to know. Perfect. Yeah, just answer the question real quickly. I think a huge piece of the puzzle is general aviation, too. So you guys have a great relationship with the Morningside Aviation School. Continuing that, having more aviation in the community, I think is only going to help the airport overall. from my understanding that to keep the tower, you need to have a certain amount of touches and so much activity. And so general aviation is a huge piece of that as well. So I think having that, plus Barbara said it perfectly, is having the right schedule, working with SkyWest, just keeping that in line. So that's really what I would look at.

I remember right, and these aren't exact numbers, but at the last chamber meeting, Barbara, you shared that because of the Morningside touches, the takeoffs and the touches, our tower is going from, like, 358th or 258th to 235th or something when they recalculate those numbers. So the Morningside relationship has been incredibly instrumental in supporting in addition to the 185th. Absolutely. I think it's huge. Thanks, Tyler.

Tyler, I have one question while you're up there since you represent a certain demographic of our city. I've got to watch what I say. What's a tipping point for us? What would make a world of difference for our airport in your eyes for friends, relatives?

Truly, I think it's just working with SkyWest and having the right schedule. The pricing, I think sometimes we're just priced out. Another huge concern from a business traveler standpoint is if the pilots time out overnight, which happens a lot if they come in too late. They don't get their rest period. That morning flight gets delayed or canceled. You miss your connecting flight. So from that perspective, A lot of times you just go with the safer option, Sioux Falls or Omaha. So I think it's just really working on that schedule and the pricing is the huge kind of issue with the airline.

It sure can be at times. I mean, one time you look at it and it's 900 bucks and another time you look at it and it's 500. I mean, 100%.

So I think just working with them and that's the part of the, I would have to learn because I would just say, make it cheaper so we can have it. I think another thing to push for, and I know there's probably been discussions, but have a larger aircraft come here possibly. And so that might help with the, we'd have the CRJ200. So it's the small little one. So if we get a little bit larger CRJ900 possibly, add a few rows of first class. I think there's different things that we could do and have conversations about that would make it a little more appealing to some people.

Now, I always want the impossible, but I dream big for Sioux City, and I will always continue to do that. I always want to know if we can market to, what's that airline, Mike, that goes to Vegas and Florida?

Allegiant. Allegiant.

market to them and see if we can get a touchdown once every two weeks on their way to Des Moines and pick up some passengers here. I mean, is that any way, shape, or form? I mean, it doesn't have to be every week if they don't think they can get enough people. But I think if people in Sioux City would know that every two weeks or once a month they could get that cheap Vegas flight. I mean, start with just Vegas or a cheap Florida flight. I mean, it's a different carrier, so we should be able to market to them.

I think so. I think destination would be huge is where's it going. And then it goes back to the schedule too. So, I mean, people looking at a quick long weekend, you got to kind of watch how that works. So a lot of those I know are like a Thursday, Sunday, that way you get that long weekend parameter in there.

I would go in. I've never flown with them yet. And I always say I'm going to try it, but.

It's an option so if we're going with my demographic they definitely it's price conscious, so yeah, they're not looking at $900 flights Yeah, you're right.

Yeah, you're absolutely right.

So all right Thanks our Items 3 through 15 H constituted consent agenda I don't pass unanimously unless a separate roll call votes requested by a council.

I'll move the consent agenda. I

Anyone wishing to speak on the agenda item may come to the podium at the time the item is being discussed. Anybody wishing to speak on an item not on the agenda should come up under citizen concerns. All speakers should state their name for the record and then provide the statement. Is there a second?

Second.

Three is a reading of the city council minutes of May 18th and 20th. Four is a resolution updating fees for production costs for advertising on city buses.

Jason, is this your item?

Yes.

Quick question. So you're talking about updating the fees for production costs. How about for the advertising costs themselves? When was the last time we reviewed that?

I think that was 2017. Let me look here real quick.

While you're looking, will you give your name and position for the record?

Sorry. Jason Allen, Director of Transit.

Last time they were approved were February 6 of 2017 Yeah, something that we need to revisit I think we talked about that we brought this forward and I think based on the demand right now We're I think okay on rates. We're not overly sought after but we have a good amount you're comfortable than the numbers Yep, the the only reason this the contract was up after three years.

So I We had to put it out for bid, and this new cost reflects what our cost is to pass forward.

I'm assuming that there's not a markup that we receive a portion of the production cost fee?

We just pass it through.

Okay. Thanks, Mason.

Five is a resolution approving change order number two and authorizing the payment to Subservco for the Nebraska Street Water Main Replacement Project. I need to abstain conflict of interest.

I have a couple questions. Sure. I didn't. Tom, are you or Gordon? Tom Fingal, Public Works Director. I just wanted to, I mean, you know, every time we have these contract or change orders, I'm just curious as to know if we had any foreseeable, did we see this as a possibility or, you know, and this is the second one, right?

This is the change order number two that really is the You're right. The largest component. And I'm glad that Ike asked that question because I think part of the oversight is that this was in large part related to the railroad, right? Yep. And to Ike's point, is that something we could have or should have known before the bidding was done? I can get the answers for that. I don't know that. I think Ike raises a good point.

I would say keep in mind these are quantity adjustments, so we've got quantity pricing.

But part of it was increased quantity as a result of not understanding where some intakes were, and it related to where the rail line was, right? Brittany, do you have some info?

Yeah, Brittany Anderson, senior civil engineer. So that large portion was brought up by the rail representatives that came on site during construction. And they felt it was safer to move further away. So we did review it during design and they permitted it. So that's how the design was. But on site, they wanted to see that further away, which then increased.

So had they given pre-approval and then felt something needed to be done?

Yes.

That's pretty typical of the railroad. Yeah, you don't get to argue either.

No.

Now is this, and this is in there right away? Yes. Up 50 feet on each side of the track? Yes. don't control.

And do we see any changes coming forward as we continue through this? Pretty close to the end, aren't we?

This is the final on this project, so this closes out this project.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Six is a resolution awarding a purchase order to Hogland Bus Company for one bus City Transit System. 11 is a Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program. A is a resolution supporting the submission of an IEDA application to the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program by Outer Banks Apartments. B is a resolution SUPPORTING THE SUBMISSION OF AN IEDA APPLICATION TO WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM BY TRI-STATE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. SEE AS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE SUBMISSION OF AN IEDA APPLICATION TO THE WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM BY HCI REAL ESTATE COMPANY.

MARTY, QUICK QUESTION. WE'RE PERMITTED TO ASK FOR FOUR PROJECTS OF THIS NATURE, IS THAT CORRECT? We're permitted to have annually four projects of this type?

Yes, that's correct.

And we don't have a fourth?

We don't. We had a couple developers that we were talking to, and they decided to postpone until next year. Okay.

Clayton, can you provide?

Yeah, Clayton Bankford, Economic Development Specialist. Thanks, Clayton.

Eight are actions relating to street closers. A is a resolution temporary closing a section of Virginia Street on June 5th, July 3rd, August 7th, and September 4th for Downtown Live. B is a resolution temporary closing a section of Larson Park Road on October 10th for the Opportunities Unlimited Irish Road Bowling Event. C is a resolution temporarily closing a section of Leech Avenue on June 27th for the Miles Inn Dirty Sioux Poker Run. 9 are actions adopting construction documents. A is a resolution adopting plans and specs for the Siouxland Nexus Program Volume 5 tanker warm-up and holding pad project at the airport. B is a resolution adopting plans and specs for the Highway 75 water main upsize project. 10 are actions relating to bonds. A is a resolution authorizing a form of loan agreement and providing for the issuance OF GENERAL OBLIGATION CAPITAL LOAN NOTES SERIES 2026A AND AMENDING THE LEVY OF TAXES TO PAY THE NOTES APPROVAL OF THE TAX EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE AND THE CONTINUING DISCLOSURE CERTIFICATE.

CAN YOU SHOW ME HIS ABSTAINING ON ITEM 10A, PLEASE?

B IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A FORM OF LOAN AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF TAX CALL GENERAL OBLIGATION CAPITAL LOAN NOTES Series 2026 B in amending a levy of taxes to pay the notes approval of the continuing disclosure certificate.

You show me is abstaining on item 10 B as well. Bob, I think you might want to abstain. On that you did when we approved the yeah, yeah, I will abstain on that. I'm not. I'm not telling you too. I just remember that you'd done that one, you know.

Just for clarification for a conflict of conflict of interest. Thank you.

11 are actions relating to agreements and contracts. A is a resolution approving an agreement for maintenance and repair of primary roads for the IDOT for fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2031. I move to amend the item correcting the fiscal year to FY 2027, FY 2031. Is there a second? Second. Call the roll, please.

Bertrand?

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shaner? Aye. Scott?

Aye.

Berenstein?

Aye. B is a resolution authorizing an agreement with IDOT for section 130 crossing closure incentive agreement for the Bruner Avenue crossing. C is a resolution awarding and approving a contract to subserve go for the Seeger Avenue water main replacement project need to abstain conflict of interest. D is a resolution approving a renewal option one to the service provider agreement for Meyer Towing Service for towing and wrecker services.

This contract was originally awarded in 2023. Is that right, Mike? Is there a reason why we don't re... I understand that we're authorized to extend for one-year periods. Is there a reason we don't want to re-bid this?

Spirit of the Hoolis Purchasing Manager. So initially it was a three-year contract with two one-year renewals. And I guess at the time the police department decided they wanted to extend it one more year. Extend the first option.

But it's our, it's our privilege to do that, right?

Yeah, Brexfield Police Department. I haven't experienced anything over the past year that would want me to discourage this. Any interruptions in services, any complaints from citizens or officers. So they seem to be fulfilling the contract with very little drama. So I have no reason to oppose this at this point.

Okay. Thanks. E is a resolution awarding a sales and service agreement to Access Systems for 42 sharp multifunction printers for IPDS license keys and a five-year maintenance agreement. F is a resolution awarding a sales and service agreement to Visual Edge IT for 17 HP laser jet color printers, two Lexmark XM7355 multifunction printers and a five-year maintenance agreement. 12 are actions relating to property. A is a resolution authorizing and directing the city manager to sign a release of mortgage for Centennial Manor Apartments for the Centennial Manor Apartments. B is a resolution authorizing and directing the city manager to sign a release of mortgage with Town View Partners for the Centennial Manor Apartments. 13 are applications for cigarette, tobacco, nicotine, vapor product permits. 14 are applications for alcohol licenses. 15 or board commission and committee minutes. Anyone to be heard on any of those items?

Did we have a walk-on? You would need to vote to waive the rules to walk it on. Okay.

You want us to work on the consent agenda and then bring it on? Would it?

It doesn't differentiate in the council rules whether it's a consent or a discussion item. It just indicates that the council would have to vote to waive the rules and allow consideration of the item.

What is it? Because I have no idea.

It's the liquor license for Buffalo Alice to use it during the June Jam event that's coming up. It's their event. And they just got it in. Wednesday Oh on Thursday morning, and so it just missed the deadline, but it's hurt like she sponsors the event.

So we're Yeah, is she here?

So somebody move it then I move it.

I'll second it This is the way the rules are actually the item itself it can be a combined smoke Okay, so we're gonna waive the rules and we're gonna put it in the consent agenda, correct? And then I could vote on it as part of the consent. Yep

Only comment I have on the consent agenda is item 15A. This is truly a nit. On 15A, on the airport board minutes, the word airport is spelled wrong, so I don't know if you want to re-spell that or not. If you just look at, it's on page, oh, I don't have my notes.

Oh, on their minutes?

Yeah, on their minutes. Okay. Board airport.

I'll let them know. On the motion, Rayford?

Aye.

Shaner? Aye. Gott?

Aye.

Berenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand?

Aye. Okay, now we'll vote electronically on the consent agenda.

Yes.

Passes 5-0-16's resolution approving a final plat of D.C. Floyd River Industrial Park addition. The petitioner is Tom Timothy LaPlante. B&Z recommends approval. I'll move it.

I need to go back. It's also the diving elk for the same person.

So it would have to be an additional motion to waive the rules. Did you get one for the diving elk?

Our deputy city clerk does those. To my knowledge, it was just one, but it's possible another one came in over the weekend and maybe it would have missed it too. I'm not sure. Typically the standard that the city requests is 45 days in advance as well. The state requests that also. So if it comes in late, Dan usually checks that report on Thursdays. To my knowledge, it was just the one.

Would probably make sense, though, to your point, Julie, because those same parties.

Let me take a quick look. Okay, I'm sorry. Just before we get too far away. One moment, she's texting me from the back room. And maybe it was.

We can vote on what we're on. We can always do that at the end. Okay, that's fine.

She says yes.

Okay.

We'll do that before we.

Do that at the end?

Yeah, you can do it after the discussion.

Okay. Sounds good. Thank you. That's fine.

Passes 5-0. 17 is an ordinance vacating a portion of the north-south alley of Budding Lots 10 and 23 in the block bounded by 5th Avenue, Glen Avenue, South Henry Street, and South Clinton Street. The petitioner is Clarence Gordon. P&Z recommends a denial. First consideration was approved May 18th. I'll move second reading. Second. Anyone to be heard? Passes 5-0. Anybody opposed waiving the statutory rule?

I'm not opposed. The only question I've got is we did get a communication from another neighbor, right, about the impact of approving this to her property.

They were supportive of it.

They were supportive, but... Gabriel Foggio, planner. The notice that we got from the neighbor was in opposition to the vacation of the alley. He said it's going to impact him negatively. Yep. And he been sent an email last week requesting for the minute, but that wasn't passed by council, so I'm still waiting to send him the minute once it's been approved.

But we determined, right, that that was not, in fact, the case. It would not negatively impact their property?

He was saying that he's going to build a garage in the future, and once it's been vacated, he cannot get access from the alley.

So... Clarence Gordon, 2310 South Clinton. The only person who affects... And I talked to you the 19th after I was here on the 18th. It was my neighbor, Ann Lentz. She didn't come today, but she has no problem with it. And she phoned you, and I gave you a paper with her signature on it. So that's the only neighbor.

That was the communication we got. So thanks for the clarification.

Thought she might build a garage in the future. No, not her.

No, she has no problem with it. I don't know who this other person is.

But she can't get back there anyway.

No, no. I'll move third reading. Thanks.

We have to waive the rules first.

I'll move to waive the rules.

Second. Chainer? Aye. Scott?

Aye.

Berenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand? Aye. Rayford?

Aye. I'll move second. Second.

Will there be a third reading of this?

No, we're doing it right now.

Okay, thank you.

Scott?

Aye.

Berenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand? Aye. Rayford? Aye. Shainer?

Aye. 18 is an ordinance naming a portion of the unnamed right-of-way of 200 Myrtle Street as Hamilton Boulevard's petition as the City of Sioux City. P&G recommends approval. I'll move that.

Second.

Well.

Things got a mind of its own.

Passes 5-0. Anybody opposed to waiving the statutory rule?

No.

I'll move it. Second.

Berenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand? Aye. Rayford?

Aye.

Shaner? Aye. Scott?

Aye. I'll move third. Reading? Second.

Bertrand?

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shaner? Aye. Scott?

Aye.

Berenstein. Aye.

19 is an ordinance dedicating and naming a portion of the unnamed right-of-way of 1200 West 2nd Street as Hamilton Boulevard. The petitioner's city is Sioux City. P&Z recommends approval. I'll move that.

Second.

Second reading. Passes 5-0. Anybody opposed to waiving the statutory rule? No. I'll move it.

Second. Rayford?

Aye.

Shaner? Aye. Scott?

Aye.

Berenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand?

Aye. I'll move third reading. Second.

I'm 19.

Well, this is how I got it printed. That's why I'm asking here.

Oh, that's my error. Just keeping on your toes today, Mayor.

Okay, I'm moving second and third. Perfect.

Do we need to... Second. Isn't that also relate to the prior item too? Because we moved...

Correct.

So do we need to re-vote on that item to second and third?

I believe it was right. It was read correctly. Okay. Shaner? Aye. Scott?

Aye.

Berenstein? Aye. Bertrand?

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye. 20 is a hearing an ordinance vacating a portion of the east west east west alley adjacent to the property is 3503 3511 3515 and 3527 Orleans Avenue the petitioners George Sully PNZ recommends approval. I'll move that Public hearings now open do you have anything for the good of the order I?

Michelle Bosnells, Vice Chair of Planning and Zoning. No, there were no comments. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. Unless you have any questions.

How can anybody be against Mr. Sully when everybody's... Okay, you can't vote against a class of 68 East High guy. I know that. I'm with him. That's a lot of pressure. Public hearing is now closed. Passes 5-0. Anybody opposed? Waving the statutory rule. I'll move that. Scott? Aye.

Berenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand? Aye. Rayford?

Aye.

Shainer? Aye.

I'll move second and third. Second.

Berenstein?

Aye.

Bertrand?

Aye.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shainer? Aye. Scott?

Aye. Now make your motion to waive the rules.

I want to waive the rules. And?

This is for diving elk. Second. For?

I'm trying to thought. For the diving elk. There you go. For the June jam coming up. Bertrand?

No.

Rayford?

Aye.

Shainer? Aye. Scott? Barron Steve. Aye.

Okay, Innovation Center. Mayor and Council, I guess I first need a handout.

You got one of those? Okay. Hand out some information. Skip and Ben.

My name is Skip Purley and I'm here to apply for the airport board.

It's my pleasure to introduce Skip Purley today. I think many of us know Skip, a long time leader and CEO of Thompson Solutions Group, retired I think a little over a year ago. And in that role with the company, Skip was known as an innovator and an entrepreneur in his own right and was able to grow that company, I don't know how many times over, tremendously. So not only did he lead the company, but he's been involved in many community leadership roles as well. We are fortunate to have Skip agree to help lead the new innovation center. And so please welcome Skip Hurley.

Thank you, Marty. And Mr. Knepler.

Hi, everybody. Skip. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to really update the Council on the Innovation Center. And my goal today is really just to share with you the what, the why, and the how. I have some of our team with us here to help in case I miss something or to answer some questions. But I'll try to be pretty brief and really just share with you what we're trying to do and why and why I jumped on board to get behind this. So what do we do? We're really looking at trying to build a facility that becomes the home of entrepreneurial and innovative activity. That's really the simple answer. And why, for me, and I'm just answering from me, I think the why is SUAN, for decades, has had a real spirit of entrepreneurial activity. And we have some massive success stories of people that started a business and you know, Ted Waite is clearly the sort of the most recognizable. But even before Ted Waite, Chuck Long, another entrepreneur, Jeff Arnold, another one. People that started with just an idea and grew it into a massive business. And so I think we have a spirit here for that. And we have over the years, Different organizations have tried to do something to support that activity with some success, but really not a sustainable success. And that's really the why. The why really is because we need to figure out how to do this and do it in a way that it is sustainable for the long term. What's different about this time than the other times? And I think one is we have several groups of people that are involved in this formally. This is a partnership with the City of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech, the Iowa West Coast Initiative, and Siouxland Public Media. All four of those groups have stepped up and are helping pull this together. But we're already having great conversations with several other people in Morningside College, Briarcliff University is another one. Several others that we think will be very supportive of this when we get it going. Where are we at? Thanks to you guys, you bought the building at 3rd and Iowa, formerly Office Systems, I believe was the name of it. If we can pull this off. you guys will donate that building to us. We appreciate that and thank you for that. We have a million dollar grant from MIRD. That is a match grant. We have a million, I think it's a million one or a million two from Iowa DEA or Iowa EDA. We have $250,000 from Gilchrist. The $250,000 We received that and we used that for architectural fees. We have the initial schematic design done and we have detailed cost estimates from Nathan Kelleher is our architect and we have that done and ready to go. And so at this point we are finalizing our materials to go out into the community and ask for some more money. We are finalizing our materials on the clients that we're hoping to get and how we immediately fill this building. Thanks again to the city, we applied for a USEDA grant of $7.6 million, and we've had quite a bit of communication with them.

And we hope to find out by June, right?

Yeah, June or July. There's been conversation with them, so we're feeling good about it. Will we get the 7.6? I don't know. That's probably a little bit pie in the sky, but if we could get 5, it would go a long, long way.

I know that when we were in D.C., they had commented that they did not see many $7.6 million applications or grants, but they did see in the range of that $5 million range.

So the total project is somewhere between 8 and 11. depending on what all we do, if we do the whole thing. So if we get, let's just say we get 5 million from the USEDA and the other 3 million, we still have a lift to do. And I'm not here to tell you that that will be an easy lift. This is an interesting nonprofit to raise money for because we don't, it's not starving kids or There's really no heartstrings in this. This is a business venture to improve Sioux City. But we think we can do well. We think we have some interested parties. We're putting that together to really go out and fill in the blanks before we start construction. Our intent is to not You know, really start spending money until we have this really really close. So. Again, one of the things that we're doing to make this different this time is all about activity. One of the things that the all of the other. Attempts to do this didn't have was I'm going to say people off the street connecting to the project and by way of some really great thinkers before I got involved. We're setting this up to get people involved. And in the building all the time and seeing what we're going, what's going on and hopefully wanting to get involved, whether that's in some sort of a support role. or they have an idea that they want to help grow. With that, I'm going to take a pause. Ben Kenefler is my vice president. And did I forget anything?

No, Ben Kenefler. Do we still do address 3829 Jones Street? I always love saying that. Okay. Yeah, I mean, all I'm going to do is mess up the nice things he said. But really, we're here to answer questions as well. We understand that this is a lot of money. And we understand that because it's a lot of money, we have a lot of responsibility. and the things that Skip talked about, sustainability, all of the things that need to happen for this to be a success. I can tell you that that's fundamental to what we're doing and how we intend to build this. I think for me, the exciting thing has been already hearing some communication that we've had with people around this project saying, oh, you guys are doing something like that? there was a nurse there was some a nursing program that's like we'd love to be involved if you guys get that up off the ground we'd like to be a part of that I was at a deal where high school kids had a pitch competition one of those kids walked up to me at the end of the competition and said hey here's my resume I need a summer job you know and so I think to your point this is a place where we have a lot of capability here and this isn't a maker space this is meant to generate business this is meant to fill storefronts this is meant to be that engine for Sioux City in the surrounding area. The thing I like about it being in Sioux City is more than you want to know, but I had my last colonoscopy over in South Sioux because that's where the building was. And so this is one of those things. We need that building here. We want that stuff, not colonoscopies probably, but we want that stuff to happen. We want the colonoscopies over here too. Absolutely, yeah, right on. Anyway.

You know, Skip, you had made the comment about the part, the... that we've already identified, but I think it's also important to note that Morningside University and Briarcliff University have shown significant interest in participating at different levels as well. So great partnerships.

Absolutely.

Yeah, thank you.

Also with us Michelle Boston else do a role here today from Simcoe. She is the secretary of the board and and she's been very involved from the beginning of this and has done an enormous amount of work. Also Nathan is here with us. So if there's any more detailed questions, I have a question for you if you wouldn't like coming up.

Sorry yes. I just want to know if we do get, I'm going to call it shorted because I already had a dream that we got $7 million flat out of that. So write that down. If we had to phase something, are you prepared for that mentally what it would be?

Phase something?

phase the building.

Yeah, I'm mentally and physically prepared for that. Nathan Kaler, 255 5th Street.

As I was trying to imagine myself, what would it be? Because obviously that first floor, that's not it.

Yeah, there's probably five or ten different ways we can skin that cat. I don't know about rooftop colonoscopies or anything, but I'm certain that we can phase it. Some obvious ways are the additional building versus the existing building.

Ben, what kind of businesses and jobs are we going to be prepared to enjoy in there? Give us some examples.

A lot of it's based off the programming. One of the things that this will have that makes this such a success and why the involvement with the colleges and the trade schools and everything are so important because they help with that aspect too, constant programming within the building. But it really can be as varied as the programming that we choose to put in there. Certainly, we talk a lot about this being an ag community, and that's always top conversation when we're talking about projects like this.

It's a trades community, big time.

Oh, yeah, for sure. Yep, yep, absolutely. And I think if you'll notice, when Skip was speaking, Western Iowa Tech was one of the first people to jump onto this project and say, oh, we would love the opportunity. to have another campus downtown.

Broadcasting.

And there would be some broadcasting, some things like that, yeah, for sure. But it's kind of an open book. What I want might be different from somebody else, but through the feasibility stuff, I think that's what we're coming to, is that we're finding that there's going to be a lot of innovation. We've identified stuff for prototyping. There's a space where people, when they get so far, they need some prototyping. So we've talked a lot about that and labs and stuff. Mentoring. Mentoring, absolutely. But just heavy programming. Give people resource, not only physical resource, but also institutional resource and that kind of thing to help them succeed. And it doesn't have to be just somebody that's starting something. There are a ton of businesses out in this community right now that will benefit heavily from something like this being available, and that's the hope is moving forward. Absolutely. Yeah, if there's a shortcut or we can help people come to a solution, that's also a main purpose for a building like this.

From the start of my getting involved in this last year, I, of course, I've been on Downtown Partners since 2016 as a stakeholder and now as the council rep for the last seven years. Storefronts are always a huge challenge in our downtown, whether it's a newly redeveloped building of mixed use or whether it's some little standalone. And I really feel like our downtown and any storefront within the city, not necessarily just downtown, because there's empty spaces in Morningside. on Hamilton, I think that that will be a great benefit to those potential small business owners to say, I have this fabulous idea or whatever it is. Help me get from here because I'm stuck here. Help me. And it could be writing a business plan. It could be a floor plan. It could be anything to do with that. It could be just getting them to funding or something like that, finding the path. And I think that would go a long way in these mixed-use buildings that have empty spaces. I think it's huge. That's one little leg of it. That's a small part of it.

We have a committee that's been working really hard the last couple months on programming and... trying to define exactly what your question was, and we're not quite ready to publish that. We have a draft that the board looked at last week, but we're narrowing in on that and exactly what that looks like. What's our ideal client? And we know we want to make it This is my words. I'm going to say more welcoming to a broader group of people than most of the attempts in this have in the past. And you mentioned the trades. There is just an explosion of technology in all kinds of fields besides, say, neuroscience or medical study or really university-level stuff. But there is a whole ton of other that we can be supportive if we get this done right and welcoming.

Yeah, I think there's a couple pieces. First of all, with what Nathan is doing, and you've provided great guidance with your design and the concepts, but part of the additional due diligence that we're doing is going off-site and looking at other properties, other innovation centers in Omaha, Lincoln. possibly Des Moines and other communications. I think that's very helpful, but I think the other key component is healthcare. I feel like with what the University of Iowa hospitals and clinics are doing, with what UnityPoint is doing in their system in Sioux City, I think we have a really nice opportunity to try and administered to the healthcare community as well. And Ben, you know, I go back to when you and I started visiting six, eight months ago, even before I was on council, and you were telling stories about entrepreneurs you knew that were in Sioux City and had no choice but needed to leave our community. They needed to go to the East Coast or the West Coast because that's where the resources were. And what we're trying to do is eliminate that jump. that create a facility that is going to provide them the opportunity, the resources, the guidance, and the support that they need so they stay in Sioux City, not just for their colonoscopies, but for other services as well.

It's interesting, Craig, that you mentioned health care because one, I don't know, Michelle, was it you that went to St. Louis or UnityPoint Health? in Cedar Rapids, they have kind of an innovation center. That's right. They were very excited about this.

Yeah, yeah, Michelle Bosnells. Yeah, we had a call with UnityPoint out of Cedar Rapids, and they were asking us about the innovation center because they have the idea of basically an innovation lab. And so when they have healthcare workers that maybe there's some equipment or different things that they need to adjust to meet their patients' needs, they go into this basically an innovation room, and they're able to take medical equipment or other things and make adjustments to it so it fits their patients better, works better for them. And so they're really interested in our innovation lab and our technology space to say, hey, is that something that we could put in your area? So that was exciting.

So our ask of you, we don't have a particular ask other than just would really like you to continue to support this project, and thank you for what you've done so far, and we'll keep you updated as often as you want.

I just have to tell a very quick story. Mike knows this. Renee's not here today, but on Friday, I was walking out of Sam's Club, and there was a gentleman that had his trunk open in his car, and it was the most meticulous, organization of stacking of items from Sam's Club I've ever seen. And it had to have been four or $500 worth of materials, products. So I went up to him and I said, that is absolutely masterful. And he looked at me, and so he introduced himself, and he said, well, this is my background. Well, long story short, when we introduced ourselves, I told him I was involved with the Innovation Center. He's got a background in innovation centers, entrepreneurships, and travels all over the country. His name is Wade, Drew Wade. And so I got his card, he's got my card, and I've got Rene following up with him. And I think he might be a tremendous resource.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I just had a quick question as you know as you look to raise money and continue to raise Are you considering making sure operating, you know after you get your bill?

Yes, ideally Well the bills the building will have some revenue Because we will be charging for some of the space and so forth. So so there will be some revenue but we also If we can pull it off, our goal is to set aside some money for operations to keep it going.

Ben, did you have one more thing to say about the risk of, what was that line you said?

I think, and Ben brought it up the other day, and it's what if we don't do this? Right. What if we don't do this?

It's not the risk if we do, it's the risk if we don't.

What if we don't?

Yeah, it seems to be something that people have done successfully. And I think as a community, it would be easy for us to get or has been easy. And thanks to you guys. But it's for people to see this working here. And that is that that feels very good to me is to have people say, oh, yeah, OK. And it is. It's yeah. OK, well, if we don't do it. And then here we are. But not that it's bad, but this thing has got a lot of traction with a lot of people, and I think it's going to be a big... More of a risk if we don't, in lack of investment in our own people and our own community.

The upside is significantly higher than the floor. Yeah, absolutely. That's... Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. Nathan, great job.

Good afternoon, Council. Chris Madsen, Planning Division Manager. So Council did ask for us to give a presentation on variances and the process for variances. This is great timing for that because there are two legislative items that have impacted how variances are reviewed and will continue to impact how variances are reviewed going forward. So with this kind of quick presentation, just wanted to give you an overview on variances, what are they, what's our current process. Also wanted to go over our 2015 zoning ordinance and some provisions we put in there essentially as alternatives to variances, some court cases that allowed some exceptions to be made and we took advantage of that in our 2015 rewrite of the zoning ordinance. And go over the two legislative items that are impacting variances and then next steps as we continue to review those changes and how that will impact these reviews and processes. So first what is a variance? Essentially it's a modification from the provisions of the zoning and site code. So that can be anything from the change in a setback or a use. Generally there's three different types. Use variances would be the land use of a property. So if an industrial use wanted to be in a residential zoning district as an example. say rezoning had been requested, was denied, a variance could potentially be the next step to change the use of that property. Floodplain would be to allow development within a regulatory floodplain. Those typically also require DNR approval prior to our review of those. So typically if a floodplain variance would be denied, it would probably be denied at the DNR level first. And then last is a dimensional variance. So this is your setback, your lot coverage, landscaping, parking, those kind of items. Marty said I was limited to two court cases to cite in this so I wanted to use two older ones Deardorff and Greenewalt those essentially set how cities would review variances essentially set the unnecessary hardship requirement and also set that a property would not be able to see a reasonable to use without a variance those are two very difficult hurdles and to jump essentially to show that that property is essentially useless without a variance being approved. And there's been a multitude of different court cases in the Iowa Supreme Court since then that have upheld those original two, but those are the two that somewhat set the standard for how difficult variances would be. It essentially made it so a variance was almost impossible to obtain in the state of Iowa. So our current process and application is received by planning and zoning staff. Board of Adjustment does review here that item after a public notice is sent per state code. That item is then acknowledged by city council, whatever the decision of the Board of Adjustment. The city council can send the item back to the board, but could not, under a current process, overturn. And then the applicant would have a 30-day appeal period to appeal that to district court as their next step. In my time here, we have not had any appeals to district courts. My understanding is that's a fairly unusual step to take.

Where would you guys see? No, we're good. Where are we at on the slide?

On this slide? Yeah. Because the local approval would be through the Board of Adjustment that is set by the city council. So that is a local decision right there. Then it stops. Correct. That's the subjective part. That's an item that we'll talk about when I get to the left plate because that does potentially change that. Thank you. So two different processes we have in the code today. One is minor modification that was actually added to the code in 1999 and did pull through to the 2015 zoning ordinance. We have expanded that over time so a minor modification essentially is a minor exception again with those two Supreme Court cases do allow some exceptions to code minor modifications are approved administratively by staff they are limited in scope so say a developer property owner wants to increase the height of a fence it's limited to two feet of what staff can approve to reduce a setback it would be limited to two feet of a reduction of a setback as an example so they are limited There is a public hearing, a seven-day notice. We work with the developer to set when that time and place would be. Typically, staff would approve unless there is a large amount of neighborhood opposition, but the vast majority, probably 99%, that we do review do get approved. And then I just have on there generally how many minor modifications we've reviewed the last couple of fiscal years.

How do you get neighbor opposition, or how does that come about?

So we do send out notice to all the abutting property owners. We don't send out the typical 200 feet for these. It's just essentially draw a box around the property, send it to them. They have that seven days to either call us, attend the meeting, let us know what their opposition is. A lot of times, if it's a neighborhood feud, that opposition would be, I just don't want my neighbor to have it. That's really not gonna meet our threshold for denying. But if there's a legitimate reason it blocks access, somehow severely impacts the neighboring property, we would look at that. In the 25 zoning code, we did also add site plans approved through the Planning and Zoning Commission. If you recall, prior to 2015, we had the plan development of Dash C. Essentially if your property fell within that zone you were required to come before City Council for a site plan We changed that in this code where essentially we made it more developer driven Where staff can approve the site plan as long as all the items for the zoning and sign code are met If there is a particular provision that they can't meet because of unique characteristics of the site Then they would be able to appeal to the Planning and Zoning Commission Planning Zoning Commission would do their review approve or deny Anyone either within the notice area or the developer petitioner would then be able to appeal to City Council. As you can see there for the last couple of years, how many site plans have been approved by staff at the Development Review Committee, how many have went to Planning and Zoning, and then the appeals that have come before City Council. And on the right is a site plan that was just reviewed last week by the Planning and Zoning Commission, 7BREW. Sunnybrook Drive in the lowest parking lot this was a requested reduction of the rear yard setback by about 15 feet and planning zoning did approve that site plan so this is somewhat our way to allow the exception without going through the full variance process and having to meet those more difficult thresholds that's the subjective

You guys have the flexibility to be subjective at that point. Don't force the variance is what I'm saying.

Correct. Planning and zoning has the ability to be subjective. Staff, we typically don't make a recommendation on this because it's a waiver to code. We just present this is what the petitioner is requesting, this is what code requires, and then it's up to planning and zoning. They would have that discretion.

And while there's a standard, there are guidelines, correct? I mean, they have a sense of...

It's generally a property-by-property, case-by-case basis on what's being requested. At the staff level, when we're talking to the developer, we typically try to say the fewer waivers that you request, the better when you get to planning and zoning. We can look at the past and say what items have planning and zoning approved. and maybe what other conditions have they added? Maybe they want to see more landscaping if it's a setback reduction.

Which are the standards, what you've done in the past, what would otherwise be acceptable.

Correct, that's typically what we try to communicate to the developer, but at the end of the day, it's up to them on what they want to submit and what the Planning and Zoning Commission would review. Correct, typically if the Planning and Zoning Commission were to approve, the developer is happy with that approval or any conditions they added to that approval, it's done at that point. They don't need to go to the next step of coming to city council. So to get into some recent legislation, House File 652 that was approved last year became effective on July 1st of 2025. This essentially removed that unnecessary hardship threshold for dimensional variances. So this would only apply to dimensional, would not apply to the use or floodplain variances. It did replace it with practical difficulty. Unfortunately, the legislation did not define what that means. So it's probably going to be a future court case. where the Supreme Court would tell us what a practical difficulty is. Generally though, the legislative body, when they approved that, stated they wanted more variances, more housing, infill development to be able to get approved. We've taken that as generally more variances to be approved as well. So you can see in the chart there, variance applications, we're averaging one or two a year. And then this year, since July, we've had 13 applications. One of those was withdrawn. just recently in the last couple weeks, but the Board of Adjustment, I believe, has approved all of those variances that has come before them, with that more latitude to be able to review those. Then this year we do have Senate file 2378 that has been approved by the Senate and House has not been signed by the governor yet. So we're waiting to see if she's going to sign that. The original intent of the bill was to remove the rezoning petition. So some of you are aware when a rezoning is requested, if 20% of the property owners the notification area, sign a petition, it would require a three-quarter vote of council to approve. That was the original intent, and that was still in the bill that has been approved. But during the House review, an amendment was added that essentially changed Varian's procedures. So any individual that's impacted, so it would be the developer, anyone within the notice area, can appeal the Board of Adjustments decision to the City Council. But it doesn't change the required vote? Or does it would require a city council? Well, the rezoning that's gone away. That's kind of a separate issue. But that was the original intent of the bill. So the petition for the rezonings would no longer be a thing. If you receive a petition, it would just be up to council to determine if you still want to vote yes or no on a rezoning. But for the Board of Adjustment item, it does require a two-thirds vote of the city council to overturn the Board of Adjustment. It gives more flexibility back to the locals and, yeah. There's some question with that because the board does act in a quasi-judicial manner that essentially if the council were to review or overturn that does make council quasi-judicial at the same time. So there's a little bit of process and different items that we still need to work through. I know the Iowa chapter of the American Planning Association has asked the governor to veto this portion of the bill just because there are a lot of questions still on how that would be done. So at this point, we're still waiting to see what Governor Reynolds will do if she will sign this bill. Can she do a line item veto? That's what they requested. Because it was added during the House review, my understanding is that the governor can line item veto. So either the individual impacted or city council can unilaterally decide that you want to review and overturn a variance as well. So it doesn't necessarily have to be someone appealing. City council could also decide that you would like to overturn. So next steps, especially if the second bill is signed by the governor, we will have to look at updating our procedures. Again, currently council would just acknowledge a variance, so we would have to look at how you would be able to have time to be able to review and decide if you wanted to overturn any decision. On a variance, again, this does not impact conditional use permits, interpretations, the other items that the Board of Adjustment would typically review. We would also have to differentiate the types of variances. Our code today just refers to all variances under the previous court cases. Now that does separate out the different types, so we're going to have to do the same as well. And we'll also be able to further discuss this during the Joint Planning and Zoning Commission Board of Adjustment on June 23rd. Hopefully by that time we'll know what the governor is going to do and be able to put something a little bit more together on next steps for that. But with that, that's what I have. If you have any questions, also we do have the chair and vice chair of the Board of Adjustment in the audience. If you have any questions for them on how they review any variances or any other Board of Adjustment items.

Chris, real quick. The reason we brought this was first grade education piece for everybody because I think it was pretty safe to say that in the last decade or so, the theme in Sioux City was don't even ask for a variance. And One of the purposes we have this tonight is to put the notice out to developers and to property owners that things have changed. I've lobbied for the last four or five years for the legislation that we're seeing right now to give more power back to the locals, take us off the hook with subjectivity, common sense. So as you see just in the early stats with some of this stuff, more variants are coming to the table. Do you think our attitude at the city is changing and adjusting with these new things. I mean, are we opening our minds a little bit? Are we part of the solution when somebody comes in? I mean, in the past, we wouldn't offer a solution being the variance. We wouldn't offer a solution outside of a variance. Do you feel like your department is now more solution and having more tools to do it? You feel like we're more business friendly, more variance friendly?

Correct. Yeah. I think a big part of that was it really wasn't a tool before. We would offer it as somewhat of a last resort if there was no other option to get to whatever the developer property.

So you're sitting there Thursday in design review and somebody comes in and you know used to be no can't do it now are we offering more options or is that part of our repertoire it's part of our dialogue with guys that are coming in and saying you know what apply for a variance or We can avoid the variance if we do this. Is that part of where we're at now as a city?

Yes. We always want to give them whatever process seemingly would be the easiest or various different options that could get there. Again, the site plan variance, the various different options. Some may view the site plan process is still a little bit easier because it ends at the planning and zoning commission. Others may view the variance process as.

Yeah. People got to remember those two planning and zoning is a great tool for communities. And I know there's some requirements, but this isn't a slam on the planning and zoning, but these are citizens. These aren't expertise. This isn't our experts. So again, P&Z can be very easily challenged and should be challenged by developers and by individuals. But again, I think this is a great education piece, and this new council is excited to push that business-friendly agenda, and hopefully the word gets out.

Rick, you're not the only guy that pushes friendly business.

Well, this new council seems to be the ones that are pushing it. I know it just rubs, but I'm going to continue to use that language because that's what it is. Yeah.

And I do want to point out, you're right that the members of Planning and Zoning that look at either zoning issues or variance issues are citizens, but they're extremely capable. You have a couple lawyers on the board. Oh, yeah. And they really understand the nuances of the request. So I want to recognize them as well.

We have a really good group right now that knows the items, knows the processes when we review those, always ask great questions.

Very valuable presentation. Thank you.

Citizen concern. Any citizen want to be heard?

Before we move to citizen concerns, I would like to ask for a motion for reconsideration of the diving elk vote for the liquor license. Council Member Bertrand would like to change his.

Yeah, to an aye.

Okay.

Please.

Can I get a motion?

I'm going to move. You'd have to have a motion and a second to reconsider by someone on the prevailing side.

I'll second the motion.

Okay. Rayford?

Aye.

Shainer? Aye. Scott? Aye. Berenstein? Aye. Bertrand?

Aye.

And now you would need a motion and a second to actually vote on the reconsideration.

Say that again. This is the item.

Yes, so now you would need a motion a second to actually vote on the item. Yep, so I move that we vote on the item.

I'll second that.

Shaner. Aye. Scott.

Aye.

Berenstein.

Aye.

Bertrand. Aye. Rayford.

Aye. Thank you, Julie. Go ahead.

Rich Horner, 3088 Isabella Street. I just wondered what status is on the UTVs. We took 60 days, and it's been three weeks ago today that you're going to do an ordinance, and we haven't heard a thing or a word about it.

It's being drafted at this time. City Attorney's Office is drafting it. You're going to get a vote.

How long do we have to wait?

Well, the draft has been done. We're circulating it with the police department and other city staff to make sure that there aren't any internal corrections. changes recommended changes for the council's consideration I would anticipate that it will be on for a first consideration probably in less than a month And when a month I would say in less than a month. We'll have it on the council's agenda Probably sometime in June.

Yes, because I got this from the state of Iowa and it pretty much explains what we can do and I don't know why the city we can't write on four-lane roads according to this and I think that's what you people do not want us to do and If we can't just follow the state law Like the other cities I guess do You know I'm on a mayor's Chain of emails there is no common not I'm not saying that but there's no common

Ordinance for you TVs. It's a big Ongoing here's what we do. Here's what we do. I must have a cookie cutter I must have had 35 emails from different mayor's last. Yeah. Well this right here's I Don't care that it gives the city's flexibility to do what they want to do. I understand what the state laws, but there's still Flexibility that's allowed to the different cities and I'm telling you every city has a different opinion. So we got to get the ordinance written and

then we can look at our city so it's in another month we have a first draft done but we need input from the police department and other stakeholders within the city to make sure it meets with their expectations before we present it to the council and then the council may have some revisions based on our draft it'll be on the agenda

Yeah, I keep checking and I haven't seen it. That's why I thought I'd come down and ask and find out exactly what's going on.

All right. Thank you.

Thank you. Thanks, Rich. Anyone else?

There wasn't a line this time, isn't that nice? Brett Watchorn, as you guys may know, probably just play a recording of me from now on, right? I say the same thing every time. Once again, don't remember there being a three-minute time limit on this First Amendment, but, you know, here we are. Meeting times needs to be adjusted still. I think 5 o'clock would be more than reasonable.

Did you name for the record, please? I did. He did. I've gotten it.

Getting old there, Bab. Let's see. The... Like I said, meeting time needs to be changed. 5 o'clock would be reasonable. 6 o'clock would be even more reasonable. But 5 o'clock is a mean, I think, good time. People are actually off work, could actually show up here on time, see the whole meeting. Makes sense to me, but if nobody else, I understand. Other thing I saw today. Oh, the... I saw on the job board the police chief has been posted. I was wondering if we've ever looked at turning that into an elected position. Is there a way we could do that? Could it possibly be done like the county sheriff? Why not?

State laws. It's a civil service job in the city of Sioux City.

Then why do we have a county sheriff?

Because the state law allows you to have... Well, we're the city.

We direct that. We should be able to elect... Okay, I'll ask my legislators next time, I guess. Anyway, it should be an elected position, absolutely. I don't think anybody here would disagree with that. If they do, enjoy your monopoly on violence. Let's see, what was the other thing? Oh, I only caught part of this, but the airline that I was familiar with that had cheap flights to Vegas, I believe they went bankrupt about a month ago.

Spirit? Spirit. Right. That's not the one I'm talking about. Oh, Allegiant.

I'm talking about Allegiant. Okay, okay. I didn't hear that part. But I think, didn't we have Allegiant before, too?

No. We've never had Allegiant.

Didn't we?

We had Frontier. Allegiant's totally different than any airline we've ever had at the city.

Okay. I thought I could have sworn we had, but I'm wrong. Let me see. What's the other?

There's one more thing I wanted to address.

Oh, yes, on this building project that was just last. I was about five minutes behind in the video. I apologize. What is the city's out there if the project falls apart? What do we get back?

We keep our building, and if the building is sold, we get our revenue, every penny of it back, plus a small percentage for any value growth that the real estate might.

Okay. And then either way, what did the taxpayers get for the money we paid for it?

What do they get? Yeah, like monetarily. They own a building. They own a building. And if we sell the building, that money goes back into our general fund.

But it doesn't go back to the people that paid for it.

Yeah, it does.

No, it doesn't. Julie, when's the last time you gave out a refund check?

When's the last time you listened to what someone is telling you at this podium? I listen a lot. Don't even let me answer the question. Please go on then. We're already arguing with you.

Because you stole this money to pay for it. So how do we get it back? Or what do we get back?

The money was not...

Extorted, whatever you want to call it.

You can call it what you'd like as well. The citizens own the property.

If we own it, then why haven't we voted on it?

Because you've entrusted us with that authority, that's why.

And you've failed that many, many, many times.

And we are elected. That's your opinion, but we've all sit here for elections and we've won. You haven't done that yet, so don't say I've failed the citizens because I haven't or I wouldn't be here.

Then you talk to all the people that signed my petition, Bob.

But?

Talk to all the people that signed my petition. Everybody complained about you more than anybody.

Well, that's good.

Good. Why didn't they vote for you and get you up here?

They did. All 88 of them. And I'm appreciative for every single one, and I hope to have more next time. And I certainly will for either of your positions specifically.

I think the concept in what you're discussing, the contribution that the city made to this project is a larger vision with a group that is trying to create an opportunity with an innovation center for entrepreneurs that while there may not be a, as you described, a refund check to the citizens, the The project itself has incredible upside to attract entrepreneurs, attract business owners, attract... And that was a citywide decision? It was a decision that the council made because they acquired the property. They donated it to this project. The project is...

So, if I may, sorry. Excuse me. My bad. So did we buy this property?

The city acquired this property from the previous landowner. He donated it to the city? No, it was purchased.

There's my thing. So where'd that money come from?

The general fund, I assume.

Bang, see, and that's... All extorted money from the taxpayers, 100%.

That's a pretty harsh allegation.

It's either stolen or it's extorted. Those are your options. There is no in-between. Tell me what happens to your... That's a pretty significant acquisition. My point is there is no ROI for the general people. That's my point.

But there is an ROI, and that's where you're missing the discussion. It's not monetarial. All right. You got anything else?

Once again, I implore you to adjust the meeting time one more time. I say it again. I'll say it every time I walk up here, and I'll see Julie, I think, and Rick, and I'll say the same thing in committee this week.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, ma'am.

Hi, my name's Leticia Garcia. I'm from here in Sioux City, born and raised, and I have a business opened at 509 8th Street, which is my concern, the construction. Since it started, it started on April 27th, and since then, I WANTED TO ASK YOU GUYS TO REVIEW THE BOTH SIDEWALKS ARE THEY TOOK OUT BOTH SIDEWALKS SO THERE'S NOT REALLY A WALKWAY ON EITHER SIDE WHICH I THOUGHT BY LAW THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT LEAST ONE SIDE OPEN ALSO THERE'S NO SIGNAGE DIRECTING TRAFFIC IT'S BEEN A MONTH IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DUE That block, it was supposed to be done the 28th. I'm thinking there's that stage one and then stage two moves on.

Can I ask where on 8th Street?

509 8th Street between Pierce and Nebraska. It's Estilo Garcia Vintage Swap Meet and Consignment. We recently opened January and we've been doing great until this happened. And I mean, even the customers are still making their way through, but it's not a good, you know, site and everybody's telling me, well, they should have had a walkway. So I requested the walkway. I talked to the engineer. I talked to construction. They put a concrete sidewalk that went up to halfway. The rain knocked it out from the alley. So it fell, you know, so it was really kind of dangerous. I asked them again, they put some more and then they blocked off halfway. So people coming from pier street couldn't no longer walk to my business. They have to go all the way around the alleyway, come down. I mean, we still have people coming, looking, you know, it's just frustrating that I thought there was a certain rule that the city had for construction. So I've been asking the engineer, the construction people, you know, Friday I was kind of upset because I see that Pioneer Bank has a sign that's been up since almost the beginning of the construction that says Business Access Pioneer Bank, which they're on a whole other block. If you drive down, there's no construction blocking them. I'm like dead center in the construction and they have had no regard for me, for my business.

Leticia, I am on the public works team. What was that?

Nope. I'm sorry. No, no, no.

I'm not. I'm on the public works team. So I will look into getting you assigned. She's exactly right. Thank you.

I don't know why we took sidewalks out on the side.

I'm not sure why either. I'll follow. Mike will follow.

Also, yeah, I did. Thursday I called someone here and voiced my opinion because I was like, I've been being patient. I've been doing the proper chain of commands. Right. But it's just getting, like, I see other businesses have signs. I don't have nothing with my name on it. So they did. I got Bridget from Engineering came and talked to me. And then from Steve Harris came that day.

Oh, good.

Which is great. And I expressed everything to them. But I told them, I was like, I was calling first because I was going to come here to voice my opinion. Because it's just, I'm a small business owner, just open, female, minority, all that. But... No matter who you are, you should have the same treatment. I'm struggling right now. This month, I have vendors.

What's your business do? Oh, this month, it's- No, no, no.

What is your business? It's a swap meet consignment. We sell different things. I rent booths out, so I have vendors. I've lost three vendors this month due to the construction because they said that there was another valve that needed to be replaced, and that was going to add on two more extra weeks. Plus, we've had some rain. Right, and that wasn't on the plan. So, I mean, I understand all that, too, but I'm like, I have to voice my opinion. You do. Speak up for myself, because if not... But you did get... They did come out on your site, so that's great. Thank you. Did they say they'd get you a sign? It's just not fair to me, I believe. And if I didn't come here and say anything, I'd be like...

Did they say they'd get you a sign on Friday?

They got me a sign Saturday. Good. And I told them, because I'd been asking it from the beginning, and they kept saying, both of them kept telling me, yes, we'll do it, yes, we'll do it. And so finally, I mean, basically I told them, I'm going to come to this meeting. And so Friday, the construction has been going on. You know, I even came Sunday. I see one guy there from the construction, you know, because before that, honestly, I have videos from my, you know, social media saying no movement. I come in on Monday and like, am I here? Is it Sunday? You know, I'm like, there's nobody here working. I'm like. you know, I'm like, you guys can go to the next block and take your time or whatever, but I'm, or the next one, you know, there's, I'm the only one that has a business legit right front, you know, storefront. And there just wasn't, you know, today, honestly, I'm not going to lie there. I'm grateful that they Friday, they've been working all day. They were even there when I left at five Sunday, I seen someone there. I got a little sign, you know, but I'm just thinking like it is not fair that maybe they need to, which is good.

Let's get Tom up there tomorrow.

Plan it ahead for the business that is there.

You know, we'll get, we'll get the head of public works up there tomorrow to talk to you.

Right, because I see the one sign on Pure Street, but coming up Nebraska, there's nothing.

He'll be there tomorrow, and you talk to him about some of your needs, okay? Yes, thank you. Appreciate it. Before you leave, make sure Mike's got your phone. Okay, I will. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thanks for coming. All right, anybody else?

My name is Milton Carter. I'm here again about Dinosaur Park. The last time I heard you, I probably sent out a letter, but nobody hasn't received a letter yet. You know, so how long is it going to take?

You haven't received a letter about Dinosaur Park?

Nope. Nobody in the neighborhood has.

Well, we're not doing anything with it right now. We decided to...

Yes, send out letters to see who's going to show up, but no letters have been sent out.

Well, we're not doing anything, so there won't be letters until... A year from now is what, it was a year, right?

So it'll be a year from now. Why don't y'all patch it up so the children can have something to play at instead of playing in the mud? You know what I mean? The free set, the sliding board, all that stuff been worn out of that circle. You see, it's hard for a little child to get up to the free set because it's so deep down in there. And the step is so high. You need to lift it up or do something. This park hasn't been taken care of since it's been there. That park is over 20-something years old and hasn't been nothing changed in it.

I thought you said the neighborhood was taking care of that.

Yeah, I'm taking care of it. But I ain't got the money to fill it and everything needs to be filled in it.

Oh, okay. Gotcha. All right. Well, I'll speak with Matt about it, our Parks and Rec Director, and see if they can get that on a repair schedule. Would that work for you?

Yes.

All right. Thank you.

Appreciate it. Anyone else?

Mr. Bertrand. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First, Mike, I got a call on 4th and Hoven that 4th, if they could add a couple of stop signs there. They got them stopped on Hoven. They were wondering if they could put two stop signs because that's got pretty good traffic going through there. They're flying up. They're pretty good. And they're having some cross traffic issues. Actually, I had two calls on that. It was kind of weird. It's almost the same time. So that was one call I got. met first of all, first on a positive note, um, if you have not had an opportunity, Trinity Heights last week, um, open formally opened up their brand new chapel. Um, if you had not had a chance to get up there yet, I would highly encourage it.

It was about a friend of mine went to mass that it was absolute.

Yeah. It's a four year project. Uh, my brother, Russ, I want to give him a lot of the kudos in the world. Uh, uh, he knew how to embrace my brother and I, he knew how to embrace that vision and I want to applaud the board and, uh, our executive director, Terry Hagerty. And if you have not had a chance to get up there, please do. It really is a true pilgrimage opportunity. And, you know, it doesn't matter what your religion is or anything, go up there and take a walk around that facility. It's been a truly an amazing experience. journey up there. Second, on the met with Tom, we talked about he gave us an update today on the retention pits and just the rest of the council knows we're about three to four months out is all for that plan to be presented to us, which is huge for developers. Food trucks, we did a little research on there, Mike, and Sioux Falls charges 350 plus their health department fees and Omaha charges 850 plus their health department fees. So again, I'm not proposing anything for this year, but it's something that we should look at. And then also get a head count of what's the percentage of trucks that are from Sioux City or they're coming from out of town We cut an in-town or a little bit of slack. This goes back to fairness and they don't pay any. A permitting fee. Yeah, just a comparable fee. Again, they don't pay any property tax. And again, I love food trucks. I get it, stuff like that. But again, we look for more revenue for downtown. And from a fairness issue, I think it's something other cities do. We should entertain that opportunity with the food trucks. Noise ordinance. This is for my mother. All those cars that come up behind her and have those really loud bases. Do we have a noise ordinance in place? Can we review that? It's kind of getting out of hand a little bit. You guys all know those ones come up when they throw your pacemaker off when they come up behind you, those really heavy bass ones.

Vibrating.

Technology is changing, and maybe our ordinance around noise should be considered. That was brought to my attention. The other one is Reagan. Is Reagan still in here? I met with the Block to Block people this past week. What an amazing organization. They're a downtown ambassador organization. They are currently extremely accessible in 220 municipalities from all sizes from 30,000 to 3 million. They are a mission-based. They came in and did a discrete evaluation of our downtown, and they're going to be presenting us what it would look like to have a block-by-block program. When we start talking about filling the storefronts, they have proven results on how they, over 18 to 24 months, they have a program that brings more people downtown. They They develop a perimeter when it comes to safety. They're not afraid of talking about the homeless program, homeless populations. They know that's why they're being brought into a lot of these communities. So I look forward to that formal presentation. It really was an eye opener. These guys are the real deal. It really was. Third of all, it's going to keep my foot on the gas. Again, I want to keep my compassion towards the homeless, the 70% of the people in this community that want help, and we're continuing to get them record levels of help. If they want help, if they want a ride, whatever they want, we're giving it to them, but that 20% to 30% that, again, is really... hampering and hampering in the facility called the warming center. I'm going to continue to work to declare this a nuisance. This is a public nuisance. I can tell you that today was the official day for one of their neighboring tenants. I don't want to name them by name. But it was a medical clinic. They officially moved out and moved into their new facility. They were not shy at all, saying the reason that they left was the warming center. It was they were not safe. Their clientele and their employees don't feel safe. And again, they're not shy why they did that. That happened today. They moved out with smiles. to start their new adventure also um i've been passing along the public knows i've been passing it's a it's a 25 to 1 issue of support of uh cleaning up downtown been getting a ton of emails that i've been sharing with my fellow council members um from Business owners from every regular people saying that we're over the target. This has to be done. It's sometimes it gets a little sticky, but this is what we need as a council. Our main concern is not to find new buildings and new locations and to house the homeless. Our job is to create a safe environment downtown. to promote commerce and cleanliness. That's it. And that's the mission that I'm on. With that being said, I did receive an email and a phone call from, I don't want to call him a whistleblower, but they did want to become anonymous, which I do believe is going to prompt some type of an investigation on the site. He wanted, he still has to, he was very valid. I spoke to him for a You got to kind of sort through what's valid, what's not. But he currently does have a job, but he's been in and out of the warming shelter for a couple years. He says that we're over the target. He says that the shelter from a.m. to p.m. is a very different facility than what it is from 9 p.m. to in the morning. I don't enjoy giving these details, but the reality of it is that after 9 p.m., it takes on the role of a small kind of a prison atmosphere. He pointed out things of the staff and others turning their heads to drug use, drug exchange in the tier one, two tier system very rapidly. It's kind of a take-all facility. It's happening. Also, he pointed out there's a thing, I've never heard of this term, grooming, which is very, very alarming when it comes to the female young mothers, the young women that come in there, or single women. There's a process of protection that happens in these facilities overnight, which I think is appalling. They also pointed out that there's a deflection process. It's called TAC. I've never heard of these TAC houses, which are apartments that rotate on the perimeter, that if they need to go shoot up or they need to go do something or any type of prostitution-type activities, that there's an informal direction towards those facilities in the perimeter. Um, so he really kind of validated, I think what a lot of us knows is I'm not blaming the facility at times, but the reality of it is this is a, uh, I don't want to use the word attractive nuisance. I know it's not the appropriate term, but there's a reality that it's just, it's just not good for downtown. Um, I also want to put pressure on the donors. Uh, the people that are propping this thing up, they need to get, they need to look and ask themselves, is this, uh, where my dollars are going? Uh, and they should maybe do some internal investigating on this again because let's clean it up. So I'm just doing my diligence as a council member again to promote safety, commerce and cleanliness. Other than that, let's have a good week. Craig.

Just a couple of quick things. Mike and I have followed up on a couple of the more external opportunities we have for dialogue on the homelessness, the transient population issues. Mike and I are going to continue to hold those discussions. I think once we learn a little bit more, we'll share more with what we're learning, trying to get an idea of the path moving forward. Certainly, I'm Rick will take into account some of the things that you've shared. I'm assuming that this will trigger some additional dialogue, but I think we've got a lot of dialogue, a lot of discussion ahead of us, and I look forward to engaging in that dialogue. On the food trucks, I did get a couple of calls and there was some concern shared about some of the pricing that was discussed. I assured people that we would have good candid dialogue with the community and the public and those that were affected. So in the food truck discussion, triggers itself for fees or other regulations. I thought that would be a good time to be able to have that discussion. I already mentioned the comment about Mr. Wade, as I've shared with Mike and Renee. I look forward to those conversations as they affect the Innovation Center and we'll keep everybody posted. And then just lastly, my participation over the next week or so could be a little spotty. My daughter in Kansas City is gonna have a baby any day. Every time she calls, we think that she's calling to say come down. But if I'm not in attendance at a meeting, it's for that reason.

Mike? Just a couple things. I appreciate hearing about the electronic recycling bin that's placed down in the lobby. I think it's always nice to have some of those options for our residents. And also hearing about kids. which I know is a program we've done before, but just making sure that our citizens know that the kids are riding free this summer, age 5 to 18. So those are the things that I like, and giving back to our citizens and making sure that they are aware and know those things. So that's it.

I do. I apologize to add one more thing. I did get a I had a reach out from a friend of mine who lives in the Leeds area. She shared some concerns about beautification and that it's not being cared for like her recollection of how leads has always been because I was commenting to her how I think it's such a wonderful community part of our community. She was sharing that as she travels in the area. So I told her I would mention to you, Mike, if you could maybe ask somebody to maybe follow up, I'll give you some names.

What specifics?

She didn't have particular, I said to her, do you have particular areas or street address? And she said, no, it's just kind of the entire needs area. And I said, well, keep in mind that we're working with headed to relocate the ball fields to the east. And she was encouraged by that, but there were some other areas. So I'll follow up with Mike and get it. It could be, it could very well be.

barely mow one time a year.

I think that's a fair point. She didn't say that it was mowing or maintenance. She said it was more trash and garbage. So I'll follow up with Mike.

I really don't have much just Mike. How do they ride the bus the kids for free show their ID their student ID? Yep, they come in and get a pass that's given out with a parental signature, and then they'll get a car They only go up and get that pass once and then you're good for the summer I just want to let everybody know that that's how you ride for free is get that pass sign up at transit or the libraries and Yep, very good. Nothing I'm excited about the Innovation Center's information to get out there. If you work with the trades, with entrepreneurs, if you have anything to do with high schools, colleges, anything, small businesses, banking, we're interested in having anyone and everyone find out as much as you can about this and to really get the word out and you'll know more about it the more questions you ask. Second. Scott?

Berenstein? Aye. Bertrand? Aye. Rayford? Aye. Shaner? Aye.