Council - Regular Meeting

and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Join me for a moment of silent prayer.

Amen. All right. We will go to approval of agenda. I think everything is... on as it should be, so is there a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Agenda item four is the time that we provide at every city council meeting for citizens to address the council on any issues that are non-agenda items. I'm not sure if any of you guys need to do that. Good. Then we will go ahead to agenda item five, which is exhibit one in your packet. And that's approval of the minutes from May 18, 2026. If you have a chance to look those over, if you have any questions. Or entertain a motion for approval. Questions, anybody? All those in favor signify by saying aye. Motion carries. Agenda item six is resolution proposing to dispose of city-owned real estate exhibit two in your packet. Matt, you were going to... Yes.

This is a parcel that the college is, they're working on developing that site, that grass lot between Mulder Auto and Taco John's. And in the course of working through that, found that the city actually has a parcel there, a 30 by 90 parcel that we have. There are some utilities on that, but that really is of no use to the city. We propose transferring that to the college to do that, and we would maintain an easement where the utilities are on that. So it is a portion of a development that actually used to have lots that aligned Concord Place, it's called here on the Colorado, actually, but... I was going to say, Concord's down by... Yeah, the other direction there. So that is, for whatever reason, that was in the city's name. So the process for doing that is to set up a public hearing for the next meeting to dispose of that.

Questions from that?

They don't have anything around that, correct? They do, yes.

anything else so this requires a resolution um to set public hearing to dispose of the city-owned real estate for june 15 2026. is there a motion for that resolution okay good is there a second okay support and since it's a resolution we'll do a roll call andrew And then agenda item seven, a resolution proposing a dictation of utility basements, which is Exhibit 3.

You have all the lines on the page. Hopefully I'll get to that. The three highlighted lines are the original property lines for the originally planted development. Access Holdings built several duplexes on the properties there and divided up the lots accordingly. Through that process, it was overlapped with our three side yard easements here. duplex is actually being sold and during that process it was found that those easements are still in existence. So we propose setting up a hearing at the next meeting to vacate those easements. So that is not a property transfer, it's just an easement vacation.

Okay. But it requires a public hearing, is that right? Yeah. So we need a resolution for that to be a public hearing at June 15? Okay. Is there a motion to that effect?

Those get moved? I mean, do we still need easements on each side of that duplex? We do not, no.

A lot of times with the original plat, we're never sure if there's going to need to be access to the rear yard for like an electric line. And so a lot of times we'll put easements along every side yard. They're in the building setbacks anyway, so they're really... They're there if we need them, but we don't. Since it's all developed and utilities installed, we won't need these. It's good question.

Any other questions? And since it requires, we said resolution and we've had a first and second, I'll go ahead and do a roll call. Agenda item eight, access holdings, Dutch front reimbursement.

You want me to? I mean, they just reached out to me. Okay. And since Kurt's not here anymore and said that they didn't realize they needed to submit enough to get the full reimbursement. Okay. So they had an additional invoice that they submitted to get to their $100,000 that you guys approved back in April. Okay.

So they submitted the invoices then and the recommendation now is that the council approve the additional $26,033.70. Right. And that gives them to the $100,000 that they were... Okay. That they were awarded in April. Yes. Okay.

Did the committee look at these receipts or invoices at all?

Well, Kurt had looked at the first ones and then I had the

second one but I don't he usually does that on his own I don't think they go to the Dutch front I think the original but then he just takes care of the invoices in April yeah yeah okay any other questions and then this is I don't know maybe not the right time to ask it because it's more of a general Dutch front thing but like is the city reimbursing for the entire just front or is it for the Dutch elements of the front because every business has to have a front to the building I just caught some flack in the last three weeks about why did the city approve now $100,000 for four shutters and two pulleys? Yeah.

So as far as I know. I didn't know how to answer it. Yeah, you know, the Dutch elements are certainly reimbursed for that. That is really, I think, on the Dutch front committee to look at, you know, They will need windows either way. They'll need siding or brick, whatever it might be, you know, so like the facade. In this case, it was reimbursable. They could have done something different had it not been a Dutch front. That's really, yeah. It's kind of hard to know. Would there have been a window there anyway? Could be. But is there a Dutch element to that window, and how much of that window is Dutch? Is there an incremental dollar amount that they went up to try to match a architectural detail?

But, yeah, I don't know where you draw that line. Yeah.

but is that what the policy is that we're just reimbursing for the entire cost of the front of the building or is it the dutch features are the uh yeah so that that's where the

the line gets a little bit like in april correct me if i'm wrong janet but then they the proposal we got was from the dutch front committee right so it's kind of like planning and zoning whatever so they have their own um i don't know do we have an ordinance in our ordinance in there we could look at that maybe and see what it reads i'm not real sure mark how to

i didn't know how to answer that question i know that's that's a good question yeah because to that person's view they thought portion that's what they said they're quote two four shutters and two pulleys there's no way that costs two hundred thousand dollars it's like you're right that wouldn't yeah and but they have to have the receipts right well and the one i have i mean it's not detailed okay i don't know what kurt originally got i

We can dig into that. Yeah, if we need to.

That's a good question, though.

Sorry, you had to.

And it's hard to, yeah, I get it. I get it. It's a good question. Those are good to answer. I forgot where we were. If you want to wait.

If you want to wait for the

Or, you know, to not approve this this time, we can table it until June 15, too, if you want to.

Well, I just don't know what the process is. Obviously, the building's built and, you know, it's been approved. That's what we agreed in April, yeah. Agreed to. You're okay. Yeah, I'm okay with moving on, but it's almost like you've got to put the next building that's coming. Clean it up, the initial, yeah. The Dutch Front Committee can talk about that.

Yeah, yeah. How many are on that? I forget.

Four? I mean, Kurt was one.

Kurt was one, yeah, that's right. And you probably could answer that, but.

That was on the Dutch Front Committee. Okay.

Well, Andrew is from us. Who was?

Like who else in the community?

Mike Hoffman's on it. Norm Mulder's on it. John Bunzman. John Bunzman, yeah.

So we did not have a motion yet to approve that, right? Good question, though. Is there a motion to approve the $26,033.70 to access? I'll make that motion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Good. Agenda item number nine is a renewal application for special B retail alcohol license from Waldstrom Meat Market. Everything is in order. Janet makes sure of that. So is there a motion to approve that renewal application? All those in favor say yes. Agenda item 10, resolutions in support of workforce housing tax incentive program applications. I'm going to turn that over to Ryan.

Everybody should have the updated plan. local developers not just one that are applying for the iowa workforce housing tax credit out of des moines rock solid is joe vanderstelt and james courselman as well as the wheeling of properties both have multi-unit town homes rock solid has a single four-plex town home that actually it is by the resolution that the city, I just was reviewing that today, but this resolution that the city that is anything over three units can apply for the 10-year tax abatement. So it is approved according to the resolution. And then the Wheelinga Brothers, they've got their four units, four-unit, so 16 total multi-family units that they're applying also for the Iowa Workforce Housing Tax Credit. So we'd love to have both of those approved for consideration for the 10-year tax abatement. Did we get a year, Janet, on when that resolution was passed?

For the 10-year?

The resolution for the 10-year tax abatement. 10-year.

Yeah, that was... Well, our plan was updated in 2024. Okay, gotcha. Initially... But it's been around longer than that. Yeah, when we had...

Oh, didn't we do that with the apartments? Yeah.

They got it, yeah.

That was when we were kind of in need of housing.

There were some questions around when we actually started that program, and I was glad to do a little research and try and figure out exactly what that started, but it was the Hillcrest. Hillcrest, that's right. Where we began the 10-year tax statement for multi-unit housing, so just as an FYI.

And maybe that's something that council could re-look at at some point. At that point, we really needed housing.

I think that's a great suggestion. If we need to go attend. I mean, now, you know, it's... We have, I think it's been successful. We have a number of apartments now. do we need to have this additional incentive? I did check with Lamar's. I checked with a number of other localities around us. I only got one response. So I'm going to do a little research the next time we have this conversation because I do think it's my understanding is we have probably the higher end of what our other communities are offering for multi-unit. Granted, we're at that point where we're getting filled up. We've got a number of them, and this incentive is probably due to be considered.

Yeah, which is good, but we sure don't want to discourage people either. We want to make it fair, I think.

Yeah, make it fair. Make it similar to some of the other committees. So I'm going to be pulling some information with that.

Do those need to all be built within a certain timeframe to get this? I mean, I'm willing that that was kind of going to be structured out over so many years.

Yeah, exactly right. Now, when they apply for this with IEDA, if they're putting all 16 units, they will have two years. Once they're awarded, they'll have two years essentially to be done with the project. So if they're putting all 16 in. Three years, you're right, which is actually two building years Because they get awarded in October, and then they'll start, and then they'll have essentially two building years to get it done. But you're right, it is three years from start.

I know we're wheeling as we're going. The Vander Stelten-Corsman property, where is that fourplex going?

It would be just directly south of Hillcrest. There's four lots that are multi-unit lots, R2, and they would take one of them. most likely the closest one to Hillcrest.

Other questions? Concerns? Two resolutions, do you think, Janet? Yeah. So if there aren't any, is there, we'll start with Rock Solid Rentals. Is there a resolution to approve that abatement? So moved. And it is a resolution. So I'll start with you, Brett. Yes. Darren? Yes. Andrew? Yes. Mark? Yes. Excellent. And then the willing of property. We also need a resolution motion for that. So moved. Support. Okay. And I'll start with you.

Did I start with you?

I'll start with you, Darren. Yes. I'm missing Olivia here. Andrew? Yes. That takes us to administrative reports.

Yeah? Yeah, you bet. Last Wednesday, everybody who showed up to the Wausau Park, the Wausau Family Park location, they unveiled a sign there. So that was a really nice event. So thanks to all who could attend that. And yeah, the park is getting a lot of views right now, I think. something that the council received in the city mailbox for retirement for Marty Gusmiller. That'll be June 10, so I'll pass that information on to you there. With the health system, keeping up with that, we had hoped to close on the property purchase from them here in the next couple days, getting the paperwork and the abstract indeed updated. that they've officially approved the sale. Now we're just waiting for the paperwork. So Sir Jason has an update on a few projects, but certainly that time of year where things are happening and a lot of construction and utility work, so lots to keep people busy with. And as you know, we have two ads out for staff. One is the code enforcement officer and then also park and rec assistant. So we'll continue to accept applications and move through the hiring process there.

Go ahead. Okay. Janet, do you have anything? Ryan?

Just for closed session.

Okay. Jim? Yes?

We're running some more water, but I think we got a good plan to get that all knocked out.

So it's been an ongoing project that will get checked off the list. 7th Street's kind of at a hold still right now.

Delos is a good spirit. Some stuff up so they don't want to open up a bunch of room. Right now we're still And then the west transformer, we were supposed to power that up last week. We ran into some mechanical issues. We had an actuator motor that failed on us when we were trying to bring it live. It was really separate from the project itself. So now we've got a couple weeks. We've got to wait until that part's coming in. We got going on this week.

Glad you could find stuff to do. Thank you. Dan, you have anything? No. Okay. Council? Andrew?

Really? Vote tomorrow.

That's right. Just follow up. Got that one. Yep. That's all I have.

Mark? I think Olivia's brought it up, too. I think maybe next meeting or one soon, it would be good to have a discussion about the hotel tax rebate. I just kind of thought the end of the year, fiscal year, might be a good time to address that. So next meeting would be our last chance. Just doing some looking. I think Orange City is the only town that accepts 4% hotel-motel tax instead of the full 7%. So. That would be good. Yeah. It would be nice to maybe talk about that at the next meeting.

Okay. Anything else?

No.

No? Okay. Brett? Nothing.

Nothing. Darren? Nothing.

The only thing I forgot to bring, I did have a thank you note from our queen in court just for the support from the city and the gifts we gave to Pella. Good for us. They take care of all that. But it was nice to get a thank you from them. So that's all I have. Now we go to Agenda 13, which is a closed session for Iowa Code Section 21.5.1J concerning real estate. So in order to go into closed session, we need to have a roll call vote. Yes. We'll be under motion. I'll make the motion. There you go. And a support to go into closed session? You did? I'm sorry. Now yes. Yes.