Council - Regular Meeting

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. So agenda item number three is approval of tonight's agenda. I don't think there's any changes. So is there a motion for that? All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed? Motion carries. Agenda item four is a time that we allow at each city council meeting for citizen comments on any non-agenda items. I'm not sure if anybody's here to make any comments. Not seeing any, so we'll go ahead and move on to agenda item number five, which is exhibit one in your packet, and that is the approval of the minutes from July 20th of 2026. If you had a chance to review those, I'd entertain a motion for approval.

One thing in there, the minutes are right, but we talked about the stoplight without the side stoplight. I said it was Lincoln, which is in the minutes, but it's not Lincoln.

No. The minutes are correct. Okay. All right. Good. Is there a motion to approve? And all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Okay. Agenda item number six is the time for public hearing has been scheduled for today's meeting to consider the updates to the official Zoning map I said last time was what 2022? So I'm gonna go ahead and open the public hearing and I'm going to turn it over to Matt yeah, so a couple changes and

We'll just quickly walk through. One is the Tuscany area on the north side of town. That was changed from R1 to residential suburban. So it basically matches the existing use in that area already. And then we have the R Perry area that is behind the Dollar Fresh that was modified to R2 that was previously, I think, commercial and industrial. It's kind of a split zoning there. And then down on 14th Street where Vision and also the Willinga brothers are developing, we changed that from R1 to R2. So that happened, I think, earlier this year probably. We also then added Madison Place, which is under construction right now in the Puddle Jumper area. That was actually agricultural, and we changed that to R1. And then you'll see on the industrial area, we added the hatch marks there, which is the mixed-use overlay. So that industrial, the I2 didn't change at all, but the mixed-use overlay did. And then on the Grunewig property, which is west of town, we annexed that 40 acres and then also changed that north portion to residential suburban. So that is the development that is underway there. So those are the six changes that have happened over the last number of years and recommend updating that accordingly.

Are we required to do this every so often?

I think it's more than just a working document that we can change on the fly. I think it does require this process to go through.

It is a public hearing, so if anybody has questions or comments.

Anything else, guys?

I'll go ahead and close the public hearing, and then this does require an ordinance. I was talking to Janet about it. So it would be ordinance number 871. So this would be approval of the first reading. And then, of course, it's up to the council if you want to waive the second and third and then approve it, or if you want to do another, have it open for a while. Like you said, nothing will really change. It's just kind of updating the map. Things we've approved prior. Things we've approved prior, yeah. So, but we will start with approval of the first reading of the ordinance number 871. So moved.

Support.

All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. And then it's up to council if you want to make a motion to move that or waive that second and third reading, we can do that too.

Make that motion, yeah.

Second. Any questions or comments? All those in favor, signify by saying yes.

Yes.

Opposed? And then we need a motion to adapt it. Move. COLORS. SO AGENDA ITEM 7 IS PUDDLE JUMPER TRAIL 12th EDITION. THAT'S EXHIBIT 3 IN YOUR PACKET, AND MATT'S GOING TO WALK US THROUGH THAT ONE.

YEAH, SO THE DEDICATION AND FLATS IS ESSENTIALLY THE COVENANTS FOR THE PUDDLE JUMPER 12th, THE MADISON PLACE AREA. BASICALLY IT'S A COPY FROM THE PREVIOUS PIDDLE JUMPER EDITIONS. WE TWEAK THEM MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EVERY TIME. MOST NOTABLY, WE HAVE THE LOT PRICING IN THERE, AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE DO TO ESTABLISH THE PRICING ON THIS NEXT PHASE. SO THE MAP IN THE COUNCIL PACKET SHOWS THAT ACCORDINGLY. The addition, just for reference, of Puddle Jumper 10th, which is just to the west there, the lots were $22,500 and $27,500, so that those increased on this addition. Now, on 14th Street, which is where we just talked about Vision and the Willingas, those are $35,000 and $40,000 lots, so these fit, I think, appropriately for for pricing with the market, and it is still a subsidized lot, we call that in that area. So that is the proposal that we have here in the dedication plat. And by approving the disposal, these lots then are for sale and don't need any specific action on a particular lot if somebody is interested in that.

Remind me what we're using, 20.25?

Those are detention ponds at this point. So in the future, they may move downstream. Right. So if this development happens to the south.

This might be a totally separate question, but all these lots will be in another TIF district, correct?

Correct.

And then does that get set up automatically, or how do we go about extending that? Yeah, that will be. I think it's an extension of the existing TIF district.

This is the last area for that puddle jumper TIF. Okay. And so this will be, this can then use some funds from the previous additions. It will generate a lot on its own, too, eventually.

So you have to pay for the improvements that way. Good question. Assuming the difference in the lot price between the $33,000 and $36,000 is because of $36,000 lots, they don't have anybody to the east of them currently.

There's that, and they're also west-facing that. And we have a list of, I don't know, four to six people already interested in lots.

Great.

Any other questions or comments?

So we just need a motion to approve the dedication and plat provisions. Any other questions or comments? All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. And now we do a public hearing to consider disposal of the city-owned real estate. So I'll go ahead and open the public hearing. Not hearing any, then we'll go ahead and close that. Then we need a resolution authorizing the disposal. So is there a motion for that resolution? And it is a resolution, so we'll do a roll call. Start with you, Andrew. Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Excellent. All right. And that takes us to agenda item number eight, which is the Missouri River Energy Service resolution to approve. And that's Exhibit 4 in your packet.

We do this every 10 years, correct? Yeah, every 10 years roughly. So this is a 40-year agreement that we have with Missouri River Energy. Specifically, it's our power supply contract, and the reason it's out so far is The organization goes out for long-term loans for 30-year borrowing. And then our contracts are used as security that they're going to be making money for all those years. So when you get to the 30-year roughly timeframe, we extend that another 10 years. And it's a very valuable organization. Number one is the power supply, affordable power supply. They also manage our WAPA. Our hydropower contracts, they provide energy efficiency services, very valuable with our billing system and meter reading software. So they just provide a lot of support for us here at the specific utility areas. So Jason and Kent and I have all been part of some webinars on this. There's very not a lot of changes to the agreement, so we recommend approving that.

So when you're all here in 2067, you'll be in charge. Okay, so we just need a motion to approve that resolution. And then since it is a resolution, we'll do roll call again, and I'll start with you, Mark. Yes. Olivia? Yeah. Dan? Yes. And Andrew?

Yes. Excellent.

Okay, Agenda Item 9, we received a renewal application for Class C retail alcohol license from Lost True Autonomous and Class E retail alcohol license from Dollar Fresh. And everything's in order with Janet, so we just need a motion to approve that. Support vote. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Great. At our agenda item number 10 at our July 20 meeting, we're discussing the potential of allowing golf carts on city streets. We have an ordinance, and we're going to hear just some input on that. Yeah. You and I think Trey is going to be our go-to police officer. Yeah, so there's some discussion on that.

Yeah, Trey can speak. thought as far as what the number of golf carts that we're seeing more and more of and we did a little comparison basically to look at other communities and so basically the the main The Iowa code, start with that, that basically permits cities to allow golf carts. There are certain requirements that they have. Primary roads, no highways or other areas, certainly no trails or sidewalks. They must obey all traffic laws, so the license We need to abide by that, so age restrictions there. Then you can see some of the other things, the time restrictions, sunrise to sunset, and then they also have recommended or required equipment for golf carts. So that's the baseline. Other communities that we've looked at have gone further than that, you know, requiring some other things. Some just default to the Iowa code. Looking at some of the other things and talking to staff, we are proposing to have no licensing process or no permitting process as a city. I think we did that with UTVs at one time. And, yeah, it requires our police to inspect each golf cart and to have a renewal process and a fee process that just isn't I don't think it's helpful for either the city or the residents. So proposed to restrict Highway 10. We've talked about Albany. Yeah, I guess it's something that we... Fred, if you want to add anything to that, feel free to come on up here. I don't know.

I guess our concern with Albany is just maybe a lot more truck traffic on Albany. But some of the stuff that we came up with is, yeah, the sunrise to sunset. 16 have a valid driver's license, headlights and taillights, and then crossing Highway 10 at certain intersections, kind of like the ATVs, I guess, and then have valid insurance as well. So that's a big one for us covering accidents and stuff. They won't have them in the rack be registered, so we at least have to have insurance and stuff. So that's kind of what we've talked about.

What were you wanting...

Albany added to that proposed list, Highway 10 and Albany. James said he was kind of on the fence with Albany, but he asked my opinion. I don't know. My concern is the truck traffic. There's a lot more truck traffic, but I think it'd be smart to add Albany. I agree. I just feel like it's easy for cars to get around a golf cart. It's a fairly wide road, but trucks trying to get around the golf cart just is a little iffy. I think that's our concern, but it's really all I have.

Cars could still cross, basically, at any intersection on Albany.

Yeah, crossing Albany I don't think is a problem. And then, I don't know, like the ATVs, if we just, certain intersections on Highway 10 where they can cross, I don't know. I mean, yeah.

So we're not doing, we're just gathering information.

Yeah, we just wanted to present it and then your thoughts. And we just brought it up last time at the end of the meeting, so I wanted to have some time for discussion. This is proposed.

You guys haven't had big safety issues over in Alton? No, I can't say we've ever had anything. I mean, I guess I don't work 24-7, but as long as I've been working, I can't recall ever having problems with the golf cart. Is it something that we want to bring to the golf course board?

We could. Just because our home carts don't have lights, don't have some of that equipment, we just renewed our lease.

I think Jim was saying that was like one of the bare minimum things that the state requires I think that's smart. Yeah.

And going forward, if somebody wanted a home cart away from... If the golf course would go that direction, then they'd just have to... With our lease, we can't renew it for four more years.

So we can't get any different carts for the next four years. Is there any option to amend it? That's why I was talking. I'd have to bring it to the... I'd have to ask.

Talked to staff at the golf course about any unforeseen effects of this, and they really didn't see anything, mostly because there was no private carts allowed on the course. But their policy is, yeah, where would they allow carts to be rented or taken home to?

I'm just wondering about the confusion of golf carts if our home carts don't have lights and we can't get them for four more years.

The Iowa code does, I think, Trey, correct me, but I think it only says that it needs a flag and a slow-moving vehicle sign on it. Lights are probably recommended.

Yeah, and talking to Jim today, he said that he didn't think that was a huge deal. Like, he didn't think that flags were a huge deal, so whatever you guys wanted to do. But, yeah, I think that is one of the baseline things in the Iowa code. Do you need headlights? Yeah. I'm not sure. We can look at that. Yeah, I think so.

Yeah, there's darker days, but if they're going to be sunrise to sunset, maybe the lights aren't as big of a deal. Yeah. I mean, if the golf course board's saying there's some people that live close that could potentially get a home car, right, then you would want to, I mean... If they were driving, obviously, at night or after dark, then I could see the headlights being more of a concern. But probably not going to be driving when it's rainy and dreary out.

No. I was just under the assumption that it was the Iowa code that they had to have headlights and taillights.

Yeah, that's what Jim was saying. I guess I haven't honestly looked at the code that closely.

That would be the only thing. Research that. Okay.

I'm just hoping. Who in Alton enforces the two-year, like ? Their city does?

They require registration at home. I don't know. I mean, if it's more headache, then it's worse. But I feel like 90% of the people are going to have one. So $25 if you got the money invested. But if it's a headache, then I don't want to add any more jobs to anybody.

But I don't know. Plus, it gives another touch point to say, hey, does it have all these things? If nothing else, just more of a handout. Like, just make sure, you know, this is what we used to do on your vehicle.

We used to do, like, ATV inspections where we'd have to go up the list of, like, hey, do you have this?

I don't know about the inspection, but if that's what it requires, then maybe that's too much. But, I don't know. It's money. I do like the idea of the touch point.

Yeah. To say, hey, here's the sheet.

Make sure you know you need to have insurance on this. It'll be $16,000. $16,000, yeah. I think Alton signed off.

$18,000 in a driver's license. So, yeah. Well, Alton is. But, yeah. I think Jim was. $16,000 would be feasible. Okay.

Do we need to have any special restrictions for TULIP Festival? Like you're not allowed Second Street to Albany or Arizona to Albany?

There's one thing that I know Jim had mentioned. Yeah, because then all of a sudden we have... Everybody and their brother's got one downtown. Yeah, it's probably something to...

It's three days, but... It's a good question about parking your golf cart.

You can't... I mean, if you're going to put restrictions, you can't just... Yeah, like staying...

I mean, I think it's basically an automobile at that point.

Yeah, parked on the street. Yeah, just like a moped, I guess. I mean, to me, it's, yeah.

Excuse me.

Yeah. I was going to go, did we administer the registration for the ATVs and UTVs then before the state took over?

Yeah. Yeah. Will the state, I mean, our golf carts become more popular? Do you think the state will take over registering Golf carts? I don't honestly know.

I don't really see them when I go to other towns very much. I haven't really seen an old one that much, honestly, so I don't know how popular they actually be.

Only a few months out of the year. Yeah, exactly. Driving it in January. Put some chains on the wheels. The easy go. Better vehicles to use. Yeah.

Do we want to require breaks? I think it's funny that some of them are requiring breaks. Yeah, that is part of the I.O.

code.

Like, would you not have breaks?

The only comment that I had...

In regards to it, somebody just asked what we were discussing in regards to golf carts. I said, we're looking at what other towns are doing, reviewing ordinances. Said, sounds great. I just want to know if you guys are looking at a scooter policy. I think that's important as well. There's kids getting into accidents all over the place. I said, OK, we'll take it. That's all I have to add to it.

They are kind of out of control at some point. Makes sense.

look at that look at that another day just put an ordinance for what can be used in the park park area yeah good info yeah good information thank you yeah we appreciate it probably tell us something at the next meeting okay

And that would just be like an ordinance, correct? It would be an ordinance, yeah. Okay, good. So administrative reports?

Yeah, since we have a little bit thinner agenda here today, I would give a few updates, start with our strategic planning, our priorities, just give an update on some of these here. And I know Ryan and Jason have a couple other updates as well. Looking at the fitness recreation health facility, Ryan and I have been meeting with several committee members, been reaching out to them, and we hope to have that group finalized here in the next week and then begin meeting later this month. Good mix of community folks and college and health system people as well. So we're pretty excited about that potential, so other people that we know. The sidewalks and trails master plan, we have that slated for a little bit later this fall and winter to review that. We do intend to move forward with the trail that's along Lincoln Place, along that hospital and Blue Mountain there. So that, as you recall, that has been engineered before and we are moving forward with that here, at least taking some bids, perhaps a completed next string. The Tourism and Cultural Board and then also the partner with the Chamber of Commerce, number seven. I'll let Ryan touch on that in a little bit here. But that has kind of been working hand in hand thus far. The Highway 10 and Albany Avenue, we've reached out to the college to look at you know, some of their master plan or their tenure plan or whatever they have out there just to look at what might be happening there. The next steps would be including the DOT in some conversations and any very, very initial stages of that idea gathering at that point. So not a lot happening other than initial contact. Review of the swimming pool Noah's has contacted an engineer and we'll be working on an assessment To review where pool is at with existing equipment Existing basin and deck and just look at what what condition everything is in You know what can be added there if we are interested in that basically just Set an initial assessment and then look before we look ahead to what we might need to do there. So partnership with Alton. I think we've waited for some of the transition here with our council and staff, but we've been in conversations with their mayor for a meeting here with city staff and a couple of council in the coming month or two here, I think. I know that they're interested in continuing that and continue to communicate on the different services that are provided with their operations. Notably, Brian and I met with Dale just to bring him up to speed and gather more information on what the ongoing relationship is important with the city of Alton, of course. Number eight, partner with the private sector and Orange City Health System. That is basically, I think we're staying a little bit of a distance on that and just letting the health system and the potential developer work together on what's going to happen with the downtown campus there. And I know there's transition with with the CEOs of the hospital there that's part of that process as well. So we are hoping as needed, but not a lot thus far. A five-year capital improvement plan. Jason and Kent have been working pretty intently on that. And as some of these other projects come into play, probably fit them in at some point and present something around budget time as we prepare for budgets. But that plan is a long way, has done quite a ways already. So we've got a lot of projects on the list in the coming years. And finally, the police department, that has been pretty active with PEC engineering. We don't have a site secured yet, but we're working on that as well as a design for the you know, the needs of that facility. So we'll be coming forward with something probably in the coming weeks, month, to move to the next steps of that. So that's really all I have for reports, unless there's any questions. I'll let Ryan and Jason touch on a few things, too.

Yeah, I was going to let Ryan touch on the number three and seven.

They're going to appreciate that.

Anything else for Matt? Janet, you have anything?

Ryan? And just to touch on number seven, tomorrow is actually the Iowa Downtown Resource Center is at the Gazelle. It's an all-day event. anyone is invited from council you can pop in it's a 830 to 4 p.m. event focused on downtown retail so they have four of these shops around the state of Iowa every year Warren City gets to host this year's one and it ties wonderfully to our downtown and retail visioning strategy that's happened over the last four months specifically so if you'd like I can forward you the invite that it's already been out from the chamber chamber email I think all of the council members have received that as well but if you'd like to get more information certainly let me know and or just pop in of several of us from the city are going to attend and It should be a pretty good event. It's focused on assessing feasibility of retail opportunities, using market data to inform decision making, support and retain existing retailers, and increasing traffic in our downtown. So it really ties in wonderfully to what we've been focused on the last four months, really, and then beyond. North Weiland. I want to give an update on North Weiland. Last time we had council meeting, it gave a grand overall view of our housing. North Weiland, just a couple of things that have happened over the course of the last couple weeks. Working with Beck Engineering on the 33 acres, the North Weiland is the plot of property that Orange City Area Health System has that Marlon Volink and Jay Skideman, that group, have been extending. So we have that 33 acres. The city owns it. And we're in process of defining what the plot looks like, defining the ways in which we'll progress over the years. And once we have that from back, We'll be going to planning and zoning, get that approved, and then bring in before council to review it, but then also set pricing on the lots. We've been meeting a little bit with Jay and Marlin also as well. They've just got some wonderful things going, some great progress, and we just want to continue that momentum. We will most likely have a bid letting. here in the next month or so regarding the extension of Frankfurt and then that would progress into potentially a fall winter build if there's a really nice winter otherwise it'd be a first thing in the spring that the Frankfurt would go in and then we would have seven lots available obviously priced by City Council That's North Weiland. Oh, tying to sidewalks. So we really want to have a holistic view of sidewalks. And in this North Weiland, we're also looking at various sidewalk ideas, connecting to Landsmere Trail, et cetera, considering golf cart, looking at going to perhaps the Landsmere board to evaluate potentially bringing in the idea of even landsmere golf carts from this area so we're just looking at a number of ways to push these Lots and they're going to be a little bit higher in lot in comparison to what we see on Madison but yeah looking forward in the next couple of weeks we should have a plat to be able to show off just a third item just got off the phone with a vision they're looking at breaking ground on their multi-unit here in the next couple of weeks three to four weeks on 14th Street but more exciting is the core homes their private road is in and I forget what the name do you guys remember the name of the private road that is it the Porsches anyway the private road is in So you have Salem, and that's a public road, but then the private road, that's in. And we should have some core homes going up in the next six to eight weeks. So just as an FYI, Vision's pretty excited about that area. So that's what I have in mind.

Any questions for Ryan?

few project updates so west substation uh we powered up the new transformer today and electrical distribution is all back to normal now so it's been a long time coming there's a lot of work that went into that so um yeah just worked through some startup issues had a few issues in the community losing power last couple weeks but we got that all straightened out today and everything's looking good right now so Next step out there, see some footings being dug to the north of that building, the substation building. We have new switch gear that'll be installed, so we'll get the footings in, new conduit ran in, new building around it, and then four will be poured, and then new switch gear will come in. So, footings hopefully end of this week will start, and then the shed or the building will go up. in August, and then September, switch gear will be installed. So a lot of work this fall out there coming up. So you guys will be busy. They did a lot of work, pre-work already. There's percent. Seventh Street, so we're paved through Florida. They're finishing the intersection up this week, some of the handwork through the intersection, getting the radius, they widened some of the radius out on that. Milling from Florida East will actually start tomorrow, which has some impact, but pretty minor impact on residents. It's like an inch and a half down. The only real hiccups would be when the equipment's going through, but it's a pretty quick process. Wednesday, Arizona, north of 7th, they will lose access for the day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. We've hung door hangers. Last week, we're going to hang them again tomorrow. Let everybody know, like, get out of there before 7, and you won't be able to get back in. We gave them parking options. We have to actually... tear out all the sub-base there is probably bad. So we'll relay the new asphalt then. We have to redo all that. So one day. So we're trying to communicate the best we can to everybody what's going on there. Madison Place, utilities are done. I don't have a scheduled date for paving yet. I'm hoping it's coming up here pretty soon. I would think by the next meeting I'll have a date when Vanderbilt will be in to finish up that paving there. And our Perry first building is done, and it's sort of over, so we can have a floor filled already. I think there's . Any questions for me on other projects or these projects?

All right. Thank you, Jason.

Thank you. Thanks, sir.

Do any of you have anything else from the police?

I do not. OK.

This week on Wednesday, we actually have training for the department as well as on Thursday. So if anybody wants to stop by, we are going to at a later date, probably in September, sometime we'll have an open house for the public to come see the truck. So we're getting trained on Wednesday and Thursday. We still have a celebration for Diamond Vogel in the park on Wednesday. And then on Friday, Salix is coming to pick up the truck, so we'll bring the payment for the truck. And then on Saturday, we're having probably four of us go down and train Salix for the day down in Salix to transfer the truck. So that will end that chapter and start in the winter.

Signed in the house, signed in there. Thank you for the support.

You're welcome any time. I've talked to a couple of council members before, but normally Saturday mornings we're there, coffee pot's always on, so bring yourself or leave the kids home or bring the kids along, it doesn't matter.

Drop the kids off?

We have lots to watch out for.

Watch out, Brett.

How many do you want? We're trained professionals.

Thank you.

Might be some fingerprints on those shiny wheels. Thanks, Ben. Council, Andrea, anything?

Thanks to Jason's crew. Everybody stayed cool, I think.

Oh, good.

And thanks for everybody for the appreciation thing. That was a lot of fun, I thought. Of course, I worked the easy shift, I think. We planned it. Okay. Well, good. I can't handle too much. That was good.

Thanks. Mark? Okay. Brad? Thanks to Jackson Miller for his time on the parks department, keeping our parks looking great. Other than that, nothing?

Nope. Nope.

I came here with Andrea. It was fun. It was nice weather. It wasn't beastly hot. So it was very well attended and very early. People came really early, didn't they? Yeah.

I don't have anything else. Darren got to be a gopher.

Yeah, he did. He kept buying chips.

He got that new hip the way he was running.

Lifting all the way over there. Oh, entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved. Support. Yes. Good.