City Council - Regular Meeting

Stand for a moment of silent prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

I pledge allegiance 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.

Interview for Boards and Commission, Mark Solheim, Civil Service Commission. Mark, come on up, tell us a little bit about yourself and why you want to serve.

So let me ask you a question. All of the boards and commissions that we have, we'd like to make sure that there's at least an interest, if not sort of an education background. If you apply to the Environmental Services Board, what's your interest in environmental affairs, right?

The question that I've got is, can you hear me now? Yeah. Typically when we get individuals that apply for boards and commissions, we look to see what their background is. If you apply for the Environmental Services Board, you generally have an interest in environmental services or the environment, right? Recycling or otherwise. Civil Service Commission is a very engaged, very complicated board with very difficult substance. What's your background to understand the civil service process?

So let me ask either Heidi or Nicole, With many of the boards and commissions, they're required to take a couple of ethics classes, right? They have to sign on and take an ethic. With civil service, is there a training session beyond just the ethics that we all take when we go on a board or commission?

You will have to do a... test or a training session that all board members have to take now in Iowa?

It's a class that you take. I think there's two of them. They're two-hour classes. For the Civil Service Commission, is there more training, Janelle?

Certainly. And this position is to fill Cindy Hansen's, is that correct? Yes. Is that correct? Yes.

Hey Mark, I'm just looking at your application and on your personal reference I I would. You I think listed yourself, but I would ask that you would refill that out with those references on there and then return that when this application back in OK. Any other questions?

Thanks Mark, thanks Mark. Brent watch corn. They would not hear. Well, we're moving on to the consent agenda, which is items E3 through 11 E constituted consent agenda items passed unanimously unless a separate roll call vote is requested by a council member. Anybody who wishes to speak on an agenda item, please come up to podium at the time I read it. If you want to speak on an item not under the agenda, please come up under citizen concerns. Remember to always state your name for the record. I'll move the consent agenda. Second. Three is a reading of the September 14th City Council Minutes.

Can we go back to item five on the human rights? Nicole, when we're approving on the consent agenda a motion to accept annual evaluation, we're not acknowledging the substance. We're only accepting the human rights commission's actions. Correct. Okay.

They did not provide a copy of the review. We don't get to see that, right?

Oh, Brett's here. Yeah, I know. Come on up, Brent.

Tell us a little bit about why you want to serve on this commission.

So Brent, I'm going to ask you the same question that I asked. Maybe Mark's already gone. With the boards and commissions we generally interview for, there's usually an interest in the fundamental of that board or commission. What's your background to understand the civil service process? Because it is very complicated.

Can you try to think of what you were meaning?

So right now you're on the effective fiscal management committee. Yes, sir. Our typical policy is that you can only serve on one board or commission at a time. We have waived that rule in the past, but typically we waive it when we have seats, spots that we don't, where we have a number of spots that we're trying to fill. If you were to get appointed, would you resign from the effective fiscal management committee?

Thanks, Brett. Thank you. It will go back to 6B as a motion appointing Christina Lecce to the Transit System Advisory Board. C is resolution amending resolution number 230471, establishing the Wastewater Treatment, Reconstruction, and Design Advisory Committee by extending the term expiration date of the committee as members to December 31st, 2026. Tom, question?

I know why you're extending it, and I know that we're starting to look at the new contracts and the new process. Do you think it makes sense to only extend this to December 31st of this year, or should we extend it for another year?

Well, understanding what the process typically looks like, and I realize that we have three, three and a half months, but my sense is that we should extend it for maybe another three or four months to maybe March 31st of 27 or April 30th.

That is the goal. I'm going to move that we amend. How do you want me to do this, Nicole, in the consent agenda? Just a normal amendment?

I'm going to move to amend item 6B to extend the term of the committee. 6C. I don't think. We're just trying to be safe so that we don't, on December 31st, Tom's not coming back saying we need a little bit more time. If they're done on December 30th, we can terminate the committee at that time. I just don't.

I know, but the committees who asked for this extension, so I think we should go back to the committee and ask them if they would stay until March 31st is what I'm saying.

You think there's an issue with them serving extra three months if we extend it to the 31st of March?

And if we have to dissolve the committee at the end of December or go all the way to March, it really... Well, I'm going to move that we amend item 6C to extend the term of the committee to March 31st, 2027. If it fails for lack of a second or on the vote, that's fine, but... I think it makes sense to extend it for three extra months. Second.

Aye. Seven are actions adopting construction documents. A is resolution adopting plans and specs for the fire station one bathroom remodel project.

Is Chief here? Or is anybody here on this project? Only question I've got, Mike, maybe you can just follow up. When we looked at this project during the budget process, I thought it was just an addition or modification for a women's locker room. I didn't think it included a men's locker room. So is this a bigger project or a different project?

I sent an email on that and asked the chief, and it's because the bathrooms have not been redone in the fire station since it was originally built, which was... I should know because the cranes tore up my parking lot and the city never paid me back, but the date escapes me, so I can't tell you for sure.

All right. So, Teresa, does this change the budget item at all then? Do you know?

Even with the addition of the additional work in the mid. Okay. Thank you.

B is a resolution adopting plans and specs to the Bruner Avenue access drive project. H are actions relating to agreements and contracts. A is a resolution awarding a service provider agreement to Holstein Electric for the collector well panel upgrade.

Does this item fit within the 2% rule? And do we have that latitude with this contract?

8A on the proposal to Holstein. The bid summary is that the Holstein bid was $88,230. The second bid was Thompson Electric of $88,624, so the difference was $394. Do we have the latitude under the 2% rule? Spiro?

So we have the latitude beyond just the underlying price or we don't? You do not on this type of agreement. Okay.

Okay. Thank you. That makes sense. B is a resolution approving a lease agreement with Tri-State Communications for the use of a portion of the telecommunications tower at 104 Bluff Street. C is a resolution approving change order number three to the contract with SubServCo to complete full width paving of Seeger Avenue in connection with the Seeger Avenue water main replacement project. I need to abstain conflict of interest.

And I would like to ask a question on that one. Me too. Gordon, you know I was gonna ask, right? Can you just kind of walk me through, I mean, this is the third change order, right? Yes. And help me understand full width and all of that.

OK, so so we well and I was just going to say so with the I mean second one did that did we not know that then or? The second with the second change order, because this is a third one, right?

And we didn't realize that we needed to or we wanted to extend that workout at that point. I guess I'm just trying to look at that. You know, when we look at a 22% increase. you know, why we don't budget for that or look for that, you know, in a timely fashion, I guess.

I think the question I've got, which I think is consistent with the question that Ike is asking, I get that there's mobilization. I get that they're on site. I get that this is something that they can do. But it's about a $1.1 million contract. In addition, this is the third change order. This is significantly more than the other two. For $164,000, I know what your answer is going to be, but I wonder why wouldn't we look at rebidding this?

So you're confident that the 164 would be more than competitive with other bidders?

They discover what they discover as they work on the project.

He is a resolution approving change order number six to this contract with Barkley Asphalt for resurfacing Hooven Drive in connection with the Lorain Avenue resurfacing project. He is a resolution approving a contract to L&L Builders for the Midtown Terrace project.

I don't have any issues with the project or approving the contract. Jill, what I am curious about is how are you going to... utilize this $4.5 million in this project to create revitalization in the neighborhood to support not only this project, but projects to the east, west, north, and south.

I just think we need to be very conscientious about how we're supporting commercial development as well as residential growth and development. You know, even when you consider one block to the west and going to the south, getting to the Heland campus and all the improvements they've made, I just think that both of these projects can be catalysts to improving the quality of that neighborhood.

That I understand, but what I'm just wondering is how are you going to materially benefit the neighborhoods to the east, west, north, and south? I think it's a great project. I'm glad to see what the Maverick, the grocery store that's already there, again, looking what Healan's already done, the great work they've done in their development. I just think it needs to try and come together and we improve the neighborhood, both residential and commercial.

Yeah, I think that's a great point. You've got your lead pipe funding and things like that. Yes, absolutely.

Once we start a lead paint project, it's not just limited to the paint. It ends up leaching out to windows and all kinds of other things that get fixed on the homes. Absolutely.

I have one question, and I don't know if this is the project, but I think it is because I talked to a contractor. And one of the electrical bidders bid not American-made equipment?

I know, and that's why I want to make sure that we're checking. Yeah, absolutely. We found out that even if you have nails from Canada, you reject the whole house.

I would like you to make sure that you're approving, whoever, who's got this? Nate, who's got this job? Well, make sure they submit their electrical equipment ahead of time. You can ask for shop drawings and data sheets on that to make sure, because that's kind of one of the, because nothing against the general, they were very low, but somebody said it was because the electrician was terribly low for what they, just make sure is all I'm saying. We don't need a problem. Absolutely. Okay.

Thanks for all the work you've done on this. Thank you. Yeah, we're really, really excited.

Nine are actions authorizing payments. A is a motion approving the total expenses for August. B is a resolution approving fund transfers for August. 10 are applications for alcohol license. 11 are boards, commission, and committee minutes. Review the list if you have any questions. This concludes the consent agenda. Please vote electronically.

Just a couple quick comments on the minutes that were submitted. The museum board recognized the call to arms project that they've got. It's a really nice project. If you haven't had a chance to be at the museum since that was initiated, it's a really nice project and I encourage people to go and observe that. Also, can we get an update on activities at the Pierce Museum and the Welcome Center? Can you just ask Steve to get us those updates? And they made mention of their strategic plan. I don't know if it makes sense to share that at this time or if they're still working on it, but can we get

5-0 passes recommendations of Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment 12's a motion acknowledging the Board of Adjustment actions of September 8th.

It's important you're prepared to answer. That's what we were like. Passes 5-0-13 to resolution approving the final plan of Maine Overlook. Petitioner to the City of Sioux City. P&Z recommends approval. I'll move it.

Second. So is Marty here on this? Marty? Marty? On item 13, as we're accepting and approving the final plan for the main overlook, is there green space available in that location that you're contemplating within the development?

Well, your name with the weight is on it, so. Is there green space anticipated for this property?

Their individual homes, so they'll have their own yard.

Platt. There is. I just wondered, in looking at the Platt, I wondered if there was intended to be more park-like activity for the area, but it's just, that's fine.

Passes 5-0. 14 is a resolution approving the final plat of Outer Banks Subdivision, the petitioner's aftershock ventures. P&G recommends approval. The motion is requested by the petitioner to defer this item until October 5th. I'll move that. Second. Passes 5-0-15. The hearing and ordinance rezoning the property located at 4919 North Cleveland Street. The petition is Roger Dibble, ETA, AAL, and his family. P&Z recommends approval. I'll move that.

Hearing is now open. This is going to come off a gravel road, I'm guessing, right?

So are they going to have to pave within the site then? No.

Oh, so they're not subdividing it yet for houses?

But it changes it to two-acre lots if they do?

Anyone else to be heard? Hearing's now closed. Passes 5-0. Is anybody opposed to waiving statutory rule? Nope. I'll move it. Second.

Aye. 16 is a hearing and ordinance rezoning the property located at 401 7th Street. The petitioner is the city of Sioux City. The P&Z recommends approval. I'll move it. Public hearing is now open. Anybody to be heard? Seeing none, the hearing is closed.

Marty or Renee, as we're voting on this, no opposition to the hearing and ordinance, but curious what you anticipate for how you're going to develop the site and work with developers. And maybe more importantly, your time frame.

Thank you. Pass 5-0. Is anybody opposed to waiving the statutory rule? No. I'll move that. Second.

Aye. I'll move second and third. Second.

Aye. 17s an ordinance chapter 25 to ask you though five the municipal code and title site development to update the requirements of off-premise advertising signs and to repeal the interim sign ordinance of petitioners the city of Sioux City PNZ recommends approval the first consideration was approved September 14th I'll move second reading I Still have a problem with this Cap crap because what you're saying is we're only going to have 11 sign company in town.

Well and and to that point the question I was going to raise is that within the cap and replace model. I think you noted that there were 1,100 possible sites. We're not trying to fill 1,100 sites. But at the same time, if you do a cap and replace, especially if it's reducing two regular signs for one digital, you're going to eliminate that. I think you said we've got 180 faces or something like that amongst the various companies. But if there are 1,100 other locations, I'm a little concerned that a cap and replace is going to eliminate the ability to To put locations put to put signs in other

My biggest problem is I don't really care for outdoor vertical urban blight as I would call it. Sorry if you're in that business. You've got to have competition. I don't like these monsters. You should limit how many square feet a sign can have, in my opinion. You should limit what they can block. And I don't know how you pass an all-encompassing deal. We've tried to never get it right. But to say that I only get to do this and I only have one choice when I want to buy outdoor advertising forever doesn't make sense to me.

We have other companies now, and we just found out that Verde still owns how many locations that you? Three. You only found three?

Yeah, they had four total, and one of them is a piece of real estate that they don't have.

And they can sell those. Heidi's going to ask for your name.

But you say there's six others, or there's six of you, but how many signs do they have?

Well, listen, I don't like. right up the street, the aid center doing tax returns for free either. But guess what? I got to compete against them and there's nothing wrong with good old fashioned.

So help me understand a little bit. Did you say your name is Dave? David Helping. Dave, thanks. Help me better understand if we create a cap and replace, and it's either a one for one if it's digital to digital, which isn't going to happen if you want the digital signs, but it's a two static signs for one digital.

If we have 1,100 other locations, how do we manage, to Julie's question, which is a very fair question, how do we manage to demonstrate growth, create commercial opportunity for businesses in our community, whether it's your company or the other six, but eliminate the blight concern? It clearly isn't a cap and replace.

So 10% of that number would be viable locations that companies like yours would be interested in. would it be fair in your perspective, and I understand you've got a subjective perspective, but would it be fair in your evaluation for you and the other six sign companies to believe that if those 110 other locations were available, they would not create blight, they would not create the proliferation of commercial signs that we're trying to avoid? Right.

So last week I had commented and the city attorney looked at me like, She kind of questioned, but I had raised the question, not a suggestion, but I had questioned whether we can create in our sign ordinance that if a sign company comes in, builds a new sign, there's a two-year, three-year, five-year period where they cannot sell that board. They cannot sell that to a second party. And I know that Nicole was... You know, I don't know if that's constitutional and maybe it's not. I don't know. I was not a constitutional law lawyer. I can't comment on that. But there are restrictions in real esta

I was just saying, Chris is our, no, I just had a question with the 1100 partials. Is that based on because of the space and separation?

I don't really have a problem with the capital in place except the fact that we can't grow from a revenue standpoint. So I agree. I applaud Julie's passion for trying to protect our skyline because she's passionate about it. I get it. I mean, it's a big deal. The question I have is then walk me through the memo that we got on, I've been proposing a permit fee. Walk us through, Nicole, why it's a good or a bad idea.

We brought the language in that it's an unfair tax. Nowhere along the line did I say it was going to be a tax. It's no different than if we're permitting a food truck or if we're permitting something else. I threw a number out there. I think there's reasonable, especially in light of the size of these boards and in light of Where they're going in and the maintenance that's around them that there's it's it's not unexpected They're sitting on public infrastructure that we should not have a permit We should not have a an annual type of inspection. I think is it is it $4 a sign is a $6 sign I don'

Yeah, but I don't know what their costs are, so we know what ours are.

Well, and to that point, whether we can mandate a hold period or not, I don't know. But to your comment about if we did have a hold period, your competitors would come in, they'd build a sign, they couldn't sell it for a while, it would go into disrepair. Part of what Rick is saying is we would have a process of inspection and oversight so that that can't happen. And Marty and his team, Darrell Bullock, do a great job of monitoring properties and we simply wouldn't allow that to happen. And again, I agree with Rick. I just think whether it's a revenue source or... an opportunity to continue to

They can ask for variants to have a sign if it's for their business, if Sioux City's growing you know, north or south or east or west, they can ask for that for the city to grant them permission to have a billboard or a large sign or whatever they want there. Correct. To open it up to a possibility of eleven hundred more when we're already fifty five percent higher than any other community, and I put the square of miles in for you by the way, we're still 7 out of all of those were higher.

There's only so so question Julie on would you support an ordinance? I'm not. I really don't have a fight. I don't have a fight. I really don't have a dog in this fight at all. I'm just kind of thinking I'm you guys know me. I'm all about revenue outside of taxes because we're taxed. So I'm but I'm with you. Do you think you? Yeah, we're we're on the same page. I'm just trying to ask would should we support something where? You're saying like almost like a like a buy-in variance like that allows so many signs of here you would define what you're saying about commercial and like industrial grow

If we're growing and they can't have a billboard by them advertising, hey, you know, come over here and go to Costco or whatever it might be. They can ask for permission to get one and ask. Is it a variance?

Or if they wanted it. They could say, hey, we're investing $10 million in your city. We want a billboard. We can grant them permission to do that.

If somebody wants a billboard, like if I wanted a billboard at my office, I can go to Board of Adjustment even under the cap and whatever?

I want to make sure I understand this. So just give me a minute now. I've let all you talk. Does it have to advertise my business or can it advertise your business?

I can get a sign at my office, and it can advertise off-premise deals.

But last week when we were visiting about the process and trying to create some defined rules, it was to eliminate the need to go to the Board of Adjustment or to go to Planning and Zoning to get any kind of a variance or a conditional use. It was to create clarity and define the process and not get it to Board of Adjustment, which we do not oversee, or to Planning and Zoning, which we do oversee. That was the discussion last week.

Well, it's only a couple hundred bucks to go to Board of Adjustments.

No, because what they're doing, no, they're buying a certain location for the value of that sign, doing nothing with that sign because it's got to come down, so they're incurring the purchase price, they're incurring the demolition cost or the takedown cost, and then building a new sign elsewhere.

I'm talking, can I still, today, can I go to Board of Adjustments, $250 fee, and say I want a sign at my office, or do I have to have a sign I'm taking down?

Let's don't get into schematics here. When this passes, can I put a sign on one of my properties by going to Board of Adjustment and getting approval, or do I have to take somebody else's sign down to get that?

That's if he's asking for a billboard, right?

We're hearing all kinds of different stuff. And I'm not the smartest guy I've learned through this process, because every time I think we have something, we don't. I just want to make sure that we're not saying no more new signs in the community without taking two down. I want to make sure we're not saying that.

They shouldn't be guaranteed. I get that. So let me ask you this question. So I go to Board of Adjustment, and they tell me no. Then it comes to the City Council, and what if two-thirds of them say yes? Then it's just like what we do now. We don't have to have two-thirds.

Wait a minute. I've got a rental property, and I get to pay them a fee, and they don't come inspect every year, but I get to pay the fee every year. So don't complain about a fee here because you've got the wrong guy if you're going to do that.

Yeah, and what do you get taxed at at the courthouse?

Hard to ‑‑ Sitting on public infrastructure.

I don't like paying for a rental house either, but I get to. Yeah, I know. No one loves taxes. We don't get a break on the taxes. We get to pay the full boat. So where are we at here?

Are the digital signs generally two and three-sided?

So if I wanted to amend, this is the point in the program?

No, we've got to do third, so you've got plenty of time to amend.

I'll do it. I want to do a little more research on that. I said, if you want to cab it, cab it. I'm fine with it. But I think there's got to be some... some skin in the game on from inspection standpoint everything so we got to figure that out if we could get a hard number you know I guess my gut's telling me somewhere in that that four to six hundred range I think that's a fair did you put the board it's going to cost us to do this it's up and just for clarification it was in the RCA but the moratorium runs through December 19th that correct

Did you put the vote up and I missed it? It's up now.

It passes 4-1. Bernstein votes no, and we won't do the third reading. It means a hearing and resolution accepting the proposal of the IDOT for the purchase of land. Don't leave, Marty. for the combined central Sioux City CBD urban dual area and is authorizing the sale a portion of 200 South Court Street. The motion requested to delete this item. When you bring, did you give us how much we paid and how much they're paying us? Because I bet they're paying us the exact same or less.

You know, it didn't look like they were giving us a lot of money for what we paid for that corner.

If I want to buy it, I want to know square footage, square footage.

We're voting to delete this item, correct? Correct. Yes. What are we doing? Item 18, delete or don't delete.

Passes 5-0-19, hearing resolution accepting the proposal of IDOT for the granting of a temporary construction easement for the portion of 200 South Court Street in the combined central Sioux City CBD urban renewal area. A motion is requested to delete this item. I'll move that. Second. Passes 5-0-20 is a hearing and resolution accepting the proposal of SkyWest Airlines for the lease of land in the Downer Park urban renewal area and authorizing a lease of a storage shed just south of the terminal building at 2403 Aviation Boulevard. I'll move that. Second. Public hearings now open. Anyone to be

Yeah, second. You're good. We just needed to move it and second it.

If we start so I think I was off it's all we're doing here is we're not pulling the rug out on the second year Right. We're just talking about extending the two years another one year or two year, right? So they locked into the this we do we did a two-year right to begin with Isn't that what we approved originally? Mr. Mayor That was the discussion Was but I mean originally what did we approve a two-year on the agreements that we sat with on the terms I?

about doing it, but I don't think we did. It's expiring.

Yeah, this is the agreement for approval. That was a budget hearing discussion, so we never approved the the process. So there they they they hit the goal, but we had. We were not under any obligate with the we approved this.

How we calculate how much we did that way back, right? But this is the agreement to do this for one year or locked down to two years. That's just what we're deciding now. It's nothing to do with money. The budget, nothing. We're just deciding.

So the 391 that they've banked, that is not under any obligation by the city right now? Not for the second year.

When it's hard enough. Yep, and she knew you like a placeholder almost correct.

There's an increment, and it's based upon two calculations of a benchmark of the hotel motel tax, and then another benchmark of the hotel motel tax. And the 391 is simply what it calculates to now. Yes.

So really all you're doing is you're approving to extend the second year of the calculation for one year on this calculation that we're doing?

That's what I'm going to follow Craig's lead on that one.

I'm not proposing a one or two year. What I wanted to do, the request I had was that because of dialogue that we've had at the sports commission meeting was when we were visiting about what Explore Siouxland should look like, could look like, would look like. Was there a broadened scope of responsibility? And we've talked, especially as it relates to the sports commission and what Explore Siouxland does, is rather than having the dialogue about year two, let's figure out now what Explore Siouxland looks like, which is why I asked Stacey to spend some time last week with Mike, have some dialogu

My goal was to have the dialogue about planning, about strategic planning, about vision. And within that, let's defer discussion on funding that second year because let's get a better idea of what Explore Siouxland could look like. That was my dialogue. Whether that's right or not, I don't know.

So, Stacey, I'd like to go back a little bit. You opened your comments by saying that you met with Mike but were, this is my word, not necessarily yours, that you were confused why you were there and still weren't clear. Mike and I talked the day before you met. I offered to attend the meeting, and I said to Mike, if you need me there to help provide some clarity about the thought process, and Mike said he didn't have any questions. So I'm confused where the confusion is.

And I think there will be fewer questions when you can offer us events that you have actually landed, have gotten to that convention center. Those dollars are what are the return on the investment with whatever your vision ends up being, what those videos that you're investing in produce. That handball tournament that you supported, you didn't land that. Corey Westra did. Would you agree with that? I would not agree with that. Well, I'm sorry, but that's not true.

Right. So let's go beyond that. The Sports Commission grant, we apply for a grant every year. Someone fills out the application, one person that's in the room, which Angela did, correct? Correct. This new format was new to everyone, every city. The money was different. The splitting of it was different. In the past, it's been a fixed amount. You apply for this $70,000, and that's how it is. the gates were opened up, the commission went back and forth with the whiteboard, let's ask for more money, let's elevate it, et cetera, et cetera. And you just stood before us and said that Explore Siouxla

It leads back to what people ask, the return on the investment.

How many events are coming to the convention center? Because that's what I get asked. That's what I get asked, and I'm responding to it. I say, well, I don't know if they have any booked events. Can you answer that question? Do you have anything on the books for the Sioux City Convention Center? Not at the moment for the Convention Center. That is what is super important that we get that Convention Center filled up.

Chad, before you comment, because I would like you to share your thoughts, because I know they'll be helpful. But Stacey, what you just spent the last couple of minutes describing, including your frustration, is exactly why I was raising my point last week. And that was, let's get some clarity on what Explore Siouxland thinks it can be. How is it gonna be most effective? How is it gonna work with OVG? How is it gonna help manage our facilities? How is it gonna attract activities? How is it gonna work with the sports commission? That's why I wanted to have the dialogue. This is much less about

And we were involved in that application. We know what that process looked like. My goal in the dialogue from last week, and it continues today, is not about the money. It is about what should Explore Siouxland look like? How can it be effective? You're making videos that are gonna be put on television. That's wonderful. You've got Denise, who's an incredibly capable marketing person. We wanna give her the latitude to be able to perform, but how is that gonna best be done? That's my goal in this whole dialogue.

This may be a question maybe Ike wants to address it, or Stacey, you're welcome. What is your total budget, and what are your revenue sources?

So I had asked before, are you having dialogue with the hotel partners and other communities to get other hotels and communities to become revenue sources?

Stacey, I don't have a lot of questions because obviously I sit on your board. I just have one comment. There's more than one coffee shop in town. You said something. Council Oaks, I think it was.

She was saying that one of the stories they're doing is to promote the entrepreneurship. I'll volunteer my time, if you need me. So, Mike, what are your thoughts?

Stacy probably doesn't remember, but I found out how stupid I was the last time in the budget process, so I'm going to abstain today because no one has ever reached out to me from your organization to ever even make a little piece that I thought was due at that particular point in time. You don't remember the budget hearings where you made me feel like I didn't know one thing about what you're doing? You don't remember that? Because if you don't, I'll get the tape for you. So I'm going to abstain today, so I don't care what you do.

So I guess today, are we approving? Right now, you're just approving the 27 payment.

No, the 27 and 28, right? Correct? It's a two fiscal year per two year.

status quo on one. The organization is going to operate on the same formula.

Second year would be the same, the increments of the additional revenue?

I don't know. I feel like we're a dog and a cat fighting over an empty bowl right now. I haven't lost this whole conversation. I just know we had a two-year discussion. I get it. We want more control behind it, but I don't think it's going to change the financing side of it. I like the idea, Julie and Craig, you're discussing more about the vision and you want more hard... I'm trying to read between the lines of this one. We need more tangibles? Is that what we're trying to do? That register under their notch? Is that what this is all about?

I think that's what the community is asking and the messages we get is for that.

Let's just move with the super. They hit the super running for one year.

I remember what he did. We talked about the budget part of it. It was the numbers that were thrown out there were obviously not all. They were pretty big numbers they had to blow through and they got them. So I don't know. I don't see the difference between doing a one year or two year. I'll do a one or two. I don't think it's going to affect you. Because if they throw you overboard this year or they throw you overboard next year, it's going to be one or two years. It's the same formula. So I don't think I'd read into it too much. Would you?

So so we'll do a year and then just come back and Do we have to move that?

So the alternative is we pay them now and we worry about next year. Next year, is that the alternative? I'll second that. That's what we're talking about? So they don't have any certainty in their budget now? We're paying them.

And then we have to come back anyway, right?

So is there, if Ike's motion to amend the two years to one year is approved, if we direct Mike to continue to have dialogue with Stacey, And again, that's what I was asking for last week and to come up with some clarity. And Stacey, you made some really good points about the role of Explore Siouxland with the Sports Commission and working with OVG. If we can get some clarity on those issues, I'm comfortable moving forward with a second year. I'm only trying to prompt the dialogue. That's all I'm trying to do. And it really is in large part in response to your confidence in what you shared at t

So there's a motion and a second this is to approve to approve the payment and to Have a one-year letter of understand is this to amend?

This is to amend and then we'll vote on the underlying item.

This is for what? This is for approving the one year as opposed to the two.

You know, I realize when you need it, but it says you got a million foreign assets. I would think you got a year in the bank already. I don't know the cash. You can argue that you need to know what the cash is. But if you got a million foreign, your budget's $879,000. God, I wish the city... The good Lord would give the city that kind of budget, so. I'm not voting for it anyway, but it doesn't matter. I don't know if it matters. Vote anyway.

So a yes is a what and a no is a what. This whole issue's got me completely confused. I don't do this very often.

But it's also the one you should understand.

Passes four to I abstain. Citizen concerns. Are there any citizens that would like to be heard?

It's a completely objective shout out, right? Yes, I promise.

It is. That's a great idea. Thanks, you guys.

Thanks, Legend. Thank you. Anyone else? Any other citizen concerns?

There was a formula that was put in front of them, and they performed, and they went through it, and that's how they got paid. There was matrices put up in front of them, and they went through them, the 2A. And then that's how they got the percentages. So don't come up here and act like we just handed them a check, because we didn't. You did. No, we didn't.

You did. And, Brett, so... to really understand how the, when we had the dialogue, Mike was tasked with looking at the numbers, the hotel-motel tax, and what were the increments that would support providing increased dollars. We give a base amount, and then there are two increment calculations. And they have to perform, they have to get bodies in the hotels and motels, and as long as they're doing that, that's where the return on investment is.

That's what their task, but that's that's I was just going to say exactly right Stacey and Denise and Angela. Their task is to make Sioux City a tourist.

Anyone else? And I do want to just share that Denise and I had a really nice conversation over the weekend at Art Splash. I was going to comment about Art Splash in our comments. The numbers were a little thin, but we had a chance to visit. I think it was on Saturday. And it was a very good conversation. I appreciate your input. I appreciate your direction. I appreciate the spirit that you bring to Stacey and the organization and to the city. And I think you've got a partnership with us to move forward. I encourage Stacey, Denise, you are welcome to visit with Mike as well. Let's get clarity o

And I had a chance to visit with Todd and his team. And I think they would welcome your input as well. 100%.

Tito, is there a service area? Is that, you know, throughout Sioux City? Woodbury County.

Tito and I had the chance to visit last week, and he started the meeting by saying, I need to know what you think. Do we need help on A, B, C, D, E, and F, and G? And I said, yes. He was thinking I was going to take one or two, and I said, yes. And we had a nice conversation, and my recommendation was just to simply make sure, as we talk about the homeless and transient population, as we talk about those in need with social service agencies, is to not function in a silo, to work with all of the organizations that are providing those services, And I think you'll do a great job.

Anyone else? All right. Let's go to Oakview. Oakview. I got a six o'clock volleyball game for a grandson that I would not want to miss.

I only got about five minutes to my hand.

So we want to introduce you to Stacey Anderson. Stacey, this is Jack.

For the shrine circus where you sold 22,000 seats, I know a number of the seats are are voucher gratis to students. Is that in that number?

Okay. So that's a revenue source for them?

So the spaces are leased by the teams, but you collect concession revenue for... Yeah, it's a split revenue, but they can sell those to large groups.

So we budgeted a $300,000 fund that we hope replenishes, right? What have you used the $300,000? Coming up. Sorry. Yep, it's coming up. Okay.

Plus the tickets are a lot more expensive.

People that go to a lot of those kinds of performances said unequivocally it was the best show they've ever seen.

You don't have to get away from that. Is there any dialogue about opening Momo's to more activity. When it opened 20 years ago, 25 years ago, it was a really good restaurant for lunch, for dinner. It wasn't just for evening events at the Orpheum. Any dialogue about any interest that somebody might have?

It was more of a delicatessen, but they brought in really high quality food. It would be interesting to have that dialogue with her.

Does the Orpheum in Omaha still function?

So going back. very quickly to your number. You budget a loss subject to the city subsidy? How about number works?

You said he was moving his family to Siouxland. Does that mean he's moving to Sioux City?

Do they base your insurance off of usage or what?

I would offer that I get an opportunity to work with TR, and you're right. You can definitely see his fingerprints and work that he's doing.

One question. Chad, real quick, have you shared your expectations with your parent company on the new GM hire? Actually, yes. And what the expectations of this council is? Yes.

That last exit statement I probably should say is with the two Iowa games that you landed, great, fantastic. We're there. Just want to make sure that from a performance standpoint that we're there. Expectations on the bathroom, cleanliness, expectations on concessions throughout the whole game. We don't want the feedback after this. We want to roll out the red carpet just to make sure that the expectations are there. Yeah. Keep the concession stands open. Make it clean. And that's part of the reason. Showcase this community.

Good. And I just want to make sure that we waited so long for this and this council got it. We got it done. You guys got it done. And I'm excited for that. It's going to be an interesting year, so good job.

Still waiting for that big thing you're going to bring to us, make us say no. I'm working on it. I think I've said that to about four departments now, and I'm still waiting. I haven't seen one. I'm working on it. Make us say no. I will do my best. Good job. Good presentation.

Within reason. Yes, within reason. Anything else?

Project number 611-001, City Share of New Residential Development.

So are the projects that are currently committed, are they subject to the 2% cap or because they're already closed in development, they're not subject to a cap?

Does the fund equally, I mean, does it equally fund each development equally or how does that work?

So how are you blending the availability of DIG funds with tax deferral or other incentives for each project?

Well, I'd like to know what your 10 projects are. You're asking us to vote on something that...

Those of us who don't have the luxury of knowing, you can give it to us in a... Because I'd read your economic development report and I don't think I've seen them in there. Am I missing that?

It goes to another... Listen, we're not part of the ED team anymore. I'm not. I get it. But are we getting... Is there 10 showing up there and I'm missing them?

Listen, it's hours late, and I'm tired. The question is, am I missing it on the weekly ED report? No. And if I'm not, you're asking me to vote for something or to tell you what to do, and you're not telling us what the projects are, at least 60% of us. I don't think that's fair to ask me how to vote when I don't know. Maybe I don't like the housing project. Maybe I do. Well, I think that's... Well, I mean, you can give confidential memos, right?

Exactly. And that's why I'm asking you to be involved.

Some awareness. I think some awareness will be helpful.

You're asking how you want to fund things. I'd like to know the magnitude of the projects. Sure.

How much, I mean, and I know you threw out some numbers here, but I guess how much are we thinking we need or we want?

I guess if you go back three or four slides, it outlines what they hope to have per year.

You know, I guess, and to your ask, you know, I mean, obviously I support residential growth and those things, but I would like to see us a little bit more predictable, a little bit, you know, obviously transparent. And then how does it affect the whole community as a whole, what that really looks like? Ultimately, I guess what our exposure is, you know, as a city.

Nothing would happen until the time. I guess I just would like to know a little bit more and I want to make sure what you're proposing is legal. Cause I don't think legal has been involved. I mean, you got a lot of,

Question marks for me before we get to the stage of how you're gonna do it But I might be the only one so if the rest of them no, I think that's I think we all have the same questions I think we go through this very deliberate process and gather some more information and look to other sources look at other options I know there's considerable sensitivity to raising rates and

Well, the reality of it is that what the community wants, and we always talk about what we want to be like, grow to other communities, the reality is we've got to find revenue sources that are going to get infrastructure in. And so this starts the dialogue there of what we currently have on the books is not acceptable if we actually think we're going to develop as a community. So you know what, everything and everything's gotta be on the table for infrastructure, it just does. And I think you're starting to see a large wave, and Mr. Mayor, I think you're completely appropriate by asking that l

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you council concerns mr.. Bertram I

30 seconds real quick. I'm just excited that the wastewater treatment plant was going back out to bid. We should have some numbers in October. I think preliminarily the community should be excited. I think we're going to save at least $100 million, looks like, on first pass. I think it's going to be more than that. I also want to thank American Natural on Floyd Boulevard. I'm sure you guys drove by that. You have the new sidewalks in. We've been watching people tromps through that mud for years. Thanks to those guys. They're great partners in that community, in that neighborhood. People don't

Then put it on the agenda and let's vote it. And the public can see who's against it and the public can see who's for it.

I'm fine with that, but that's what needs to happen.

I mean, we have the signs up, right? But we're just talking about replacing. He's asking for a different.

No, it's a different, it's a different feel. Yeah. Not this, you know, don't give to them and give to a website and they don't do it anyway. And it's, you know, we need to be more direct. And what other, when we're copying what other communities are doing, they're having success with it. So it's basically the, you want to stop panhandling, stop giving campaign is really what it is. So, and then Mike, I know you're going to get, I think Patrick in here for snow. Yep. So for the council, we're going to get Patrick in here, see that he's locked and loaded for, snow is right around the corner and we want to make sure that we're doing our dil

Very quickly. I know in the public works update we got last week. There was mention of the Big Sioux study. I Was visiting with some residents in South Dakota live in off in and off of McCook Lake They were talking about the study. Can I just get an update on a little more detail? We're not going to participate How does that affect the work that we've already committed to?

It won't impact that at all. Okay. Real quick comment on Arc Splash. It was a great event. I think because of the weather, their numbers were a little bit lighter than they would have liked. But Todd and his team, Summer, they do a great job. I think we need to encourage. Art Splash, I've offered to sit with Todd, and I know others would as well, to talk about through what they're seeing, what their vision is, and I look forward to that dialogue, but it was a good weekend. Did we resolve the issues for the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and that Irish Crawl? There were some concerns about I did, but I didn't understand the memo, because they talked about flexibility and changing some times. Did we get clarity on...

Okay, because when Andrea sent an email, I said, well, my understanding is that before we sign off on closing a street, we make sure that notices are provided and that we get, so, okay. It got worked out. Okay, very good. Quick comment. A good friend of mine has had some medical issues, Steve McFarlane. I just want to wish him the best, he and his wife Amy. I know others know them as well. And I want to wish Steve and his family the best in his recovery. And, Mayor, I'm as anxious to get out today because today is Yom Kippur. I've been fasting, and I am ready to eat dinner tonight.

Thank you. I missed my soccer game, so we can stay a while now so you don't get deep right away. Go ahead.

Just, you know, Mike and staff, I just want to commend you guys on the work that you do. Thank you for being diligent and getting out there and taking care of things for our community and those things. Just along with what Legend said, and thank you, Legend, for pointing that out, I do appreciate us looking at downtown as a whole. And also that 5th and Nebraska, I saw that the traffic pattern at least changed, and I know... Big Mama, I think that's her name. Mary.

Mary, I couldn't remember. I went to visit with Mary after our meeting and had a nice visit, so I'm glad things have changed.

Yeah, so happy with that. The last thing is that we had our meeting a couple weeks ago with the WCIC WIC IT team, and they do such a great job, and I just wanted to recognize them and that staff. They're doing some good things, even with the county, so we share those And so John and his team is doing a great job.

Freddie is always there to help me because he knows it's always user error on my part. Move we adjourn. Second.