Remarks by Rick Bertrand
190 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 8
So, Renee, can we back up? Did the initial developers of the Siouxland Academy, did they have an MOI in place with Padmore?
Could you share with that what that means?
So is that really a shotgun approach where they decided, oh, we got this thing's up, going to roll, it's going to be successful. This was part of the original plan that the previous councils did, which was fantastic. It gave clarity around this thing. And it really kind of judged also kind of the size of what you guys sold too, wasn't it? The three acres, it kind of dictated the size kind of based upon that MOI. This is what they needed.
Yeah, so I was always brought up that you go home with the girl you brought. Yeah, they brought you there. Yeah, we have been. I fully support these guys. They've got a flagship hotel in place, it sounds like. It sounds like their financing is in place. Their stuff is going to fit. I mean, I think if anything brought out of this process is it maybe is going to up their game a little bit on maybe some of the amenities in their hotel. I like that idea, the conversations of spiffing up the restaurant, maybe expanding some of their outdoor stuff that's there. So I think this is a fantastic…
The RFP process were so I guess I look at it for the protection of the taxpayers perspective is when I when I when you see a proposal get Inserted into the process a couple things came to mind when I looked at this was number one. It's the same footprint right three acres Okay, how are you gonna go from? This is basically the same size hotel or a larger hotel and then throw in a freestanding restaurant and parking and and everything else in the same footprint. So to me, there was a flaw in the plan right there. I don't know the other developers. I want them to come to Sioux City and spend…
It's not as simple as... And I think that's why I made the case and I made the statements that I made to put it in the public record. I just don't think that the proposal that they put forth is a feasible proposal on the three acres. I also don't think that the number that they put for the purchase of the property was a realistic per acre price. I mean, I just think that when they... To me, it just seems like it's a number put out there to push the other guys out or to create this there. I don't disagree. So I feel very comfortable if they want to bring legal our way on that.
I guess I would look a little different at this project also. if the other player would have pursued this in years past. And I also would say that if they also owned the property that they're building adjacent to, and I don't want to create a situation that puts us as the city when leases get renewed and other things that they can leverage something like this against us to renew a lease or not renew a lease. So I just think there's more going on here that's not as straightforward as it is. And again, I have no issues with the other developer. I don't know them personally or anything. and I'd…
Yeah, but let's be careful. I don't know if that's, we want to put them in that spot. Right. I don't know if we want to put them in that spot. I get where you're going. It's their job. No, their job is to present us the data. They're presenting us the data, they're putting it forward, and then we make the judgment from there on our research. So I don't know if we want to put staff in that position, just my opinion.
All right, go ahead. I just got one question on the ag side of it. Teresa. Real quick, in the one section of the, it was pointed out, two people called me. So in the city of Sioux City, to be ag, you gotta have 20 or more acres, right? That's a county definition.
So it's determined on how the county- So is that why we can use 10 in this?
That's why. Yep, OK. So I was wondering, do you see the discrepancy there? Those land codes can be farming 10 acres. Right, but you can get OK. That's why it is. Yeah, got it.
Because the 20 acres is a city thing, isn't it?
Yep, yes. To be ag, you've got to be greater. It went from 10 to 20. Correct. Thanks.
Real quick, three things. Thanks, Mike, for bringing this. He wouldn't let you come in until at least the 1st of October. He said it would be a jinx. So thanks for coming in. Number two, I love the bomber runs that you're doing right now with the new people. I think that's really, really smart. That's really smart even for a city. A city that's smart so that they're out to get the feel for the routes. I love that. And then I guess the other thing I would have is... What should the public expect? So we'll staffing real quick. So just so we're clear going into this thing, we're fully staffed.…
Okay. So how short are we? What do we need to do between now and the first snow? Do we have backups on our backups or?
Just want to make sure right up front. So you're ready. We're fully locked and loaded. Pilots are ready. We're ready to go.
Okay. That's the expectation there. And then the third one is what's the expectation of the public on a snow? They're at home. They want to go to what? What's a realistic expectation? You hear people complain all the time. My road didn't get bladed. It's snowing, man. Sometimes you got to just stay home. What's a realistic expectation, Pat, for the public?
So the rumor is they don't start until the last snowflake falls. Exactly. What's the trigger that you guys are out there?
So people just need to realize that it's all the pre-salt stuff. Two inches hit, then you're going to see the plow. That's when you're going to see the additional stuff. That's great public information there.
It's just good communication that we're prepared. Everything's ready. We put ourselves in a position and that's all the public wants at times, to hear that we're ready and prepared and we'll let Mother Nature do what it's going to do. Great job. Looking forward to it.
You know what? There's going to be enough talking when the budget process starts, which I'm extremely excited for this second go around on the budget. So let's the sun is out. Farmers are in the field. Please be careful on the roads and let's have a good week.
Hey, Julie, can we pull that one out? Just because I don't think settlement should be in consent.
I'm start over. I'm trying to figure out what are you asking? I'm asking that when development agreements.
The only problem with that, and I get where you're going with this, but the only problem I have with that is that you bring in subjectivity pretty quick on scoring systems because we've all been involved in them. They're not objective. That's just my opinion. And then plus it's another step that it's like, why?
Except if there's a man who says I should a minute now that'll carry it into the next week. We're going to. It's going to be a de facto. That's why I say it's going to be de facto deferment anyways, because if I throw an amendment on it, we gotta wait only if correct.