City Council - Regular Meeting

This is a regular meeting of the City Council of Waverly, Iowa. We are called to order. Please join me in a pledge of allegiance. Council, do I have a motion to approve the agenda?

I'll move the agenda as presented.

Second.

Second. Mr. Boyceville, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Passing unanimously. Welcome back. Dennis Hatfield, our guest council person for this month. I will come back to you at the end of the meeting for any... Maybe I'll come back to you for some thoughts at the end of this meeting. No, I'll come back to you at the end for any thoughts you may have. So, council, do you have a motion to approve the minutes?

Move to approve the July 6, 2026 regular meeting minutes. Second.

Any discussion? If it's a boycott, all in favor say aye. Aye. Public hearing. This is the date, time, and place for a public hearing to review the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the replacement of the Waverly Utilities boat ramp and parking lot improvements. The Mayor and City Council will entertain any comments. After all comments, the hearing will be declared closed and the following action will be considered. Have you received any written or oral comments? I have not, Your Honor. Are there any public comments? I see none. The public hearing is closed. Council, do I have a motion?

I move approval of resolution 26-151, resolution approving the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the replacement of the Waverly Utilities boat ramp and parking lot improvements.

Second.

Any discussion? Low public, please, Carmen. Carmen. Yes. Jones. Yes. Mackey. Yes. Myers. Yes. Rafi. Yes. Wolf.

Yes.

This is the date, time, place for a public hearing on the conveyance of certain real property to Bartle Luther Retirement Community and approving and authorizing execution of a related purchase and development agreement. The Marin City Council will entertain any comments. After all comments, the hearing will be declared closed and the following action will be considered. Have you received any written or oral comments? I have not, Your Honor. Are there any public comments? Seeing none, the public hearing is now closed. Council, do I have a motion?

I move to approve Resolution 26-153, a resolution approving and authorizing the conveyance of certain real property to Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community and approving and authorizing execution of a related purchase and development agreement. Second.

Any discussion? Paula, would you like to pop up here and say a couple things?

Hello, everyone. I'm Paula Geis. I'm the CEO from Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community. I would just like to say that I know that there has been a lot of talk in town about this transition. We feel very confident working with the city to make this a smooth transition. Know that change in ownership can raise a lot of questions and concerns. We have been serving seniors in this area for 72 years. And we feel like we do that really well. We most certainly have been talking with our board of directors for quite some time about adding some middle market to our different levels of care. We have eight other levels of care for people to choose from. And this would be another level of price point for people to choose from. You know, I think one thing I want to make sure that everyone understands is just that we're going into this with our eyes wide open and we want to make sure that this is something that is done well and that the residents and the families understand that we most certainly value them as we take on this project. Anyone has any questions for me?

You know, I'll just say I should disclose that I was previously a member of the board at Bartels. I can't think of a better partner to do this project with. I think that there's been a lot of chatter, apparently, online, which I only get information about that from spies that tell me what's going on there. But, you know, Bartels is a nonprofit organization. I did get an email from a constituent who was concerned that the sale was going to go to a tax-exempt quote-unquote entity. And to clarify, just because Bartels is a nonprofit doesn't mean that they don't pay property taxes. So they do pay property taxes on their current property other than the nursing care center, which bills Medicaid and therefore cannot, is not billed for property taxes. So um right now the city apparently is not paying property taxes right now on these properties because we're the city um and so we will find out what that burden will be for bartles but i would anticipate since they're not going to be billing insurance for this type of housing that they will be it'll be added to the property tax rolls that being said um I agree with what Paula said. I think that they know how to serve seniors. We made a commitment to the people who live out there when this discussion about selling the property started that we would make sure that we handed this project over to someone who was competent to do it and that their quality of life that they have there would be sustained. So I'm confident that will happen with Bartels.

Just to add on that there has been concern about, I hope people are reassured that Bartles is someone that is going to look at property management and tenant relations as equally important.

Jones? Yes. Matthew? Yes. Myers? Yes. Rothie? Yes. Wolf? Yes. Harmon?

Yes. Now is the time for public comments on items not on the agenda. Please limit your comments to five minutes unless additional time is granted by the presiding officer. All remarks shall be addressed to the council as a whole and not to any individual member. Does anybody rise for public comments? Seeing none. Moving on. A proclamation proclaiming August 4th, 2026 as a national night out in the city of Waverly. Whereas the National Association of Town Watch and ATW sponsors a national community building campaign on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, entitled National Night Out. And whereas the National Night Out campaign provides an opportunity for neighbors in Waverly, Iowa to join over 38 million neighbors across 17,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide. And whereas the National Night Out is an annual community building campaign that promotes strong police community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and work. And whereas neighbors in Waverly, Iowa assist the Waverly Police Department through joint community building efforts and support National Night Out 2026. And whereas it is essential that all neighbors of Waverly, Iowa come together with police and work together to build a safer, more caring community. And now, therefore, we do hereby call upon all neighbors of Waverly, Iowa to join the Waverly Police Department and National Association of Town Watchers in support for a national night out on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Council, do I have a... There's one more paragraph. What's that? One more paragraph. Further, let it be resolved that we hereby proclaim Tuesday, sorry, August 4th, 2026 as National Night Out in Waverly, Iowa. Council, do I have a motion?

I move to approve the proclamation proclaiming August 4th, 2026 as National Night Out in the City of Waverly, Iowa. Second.

Any discussion? this is the event that they do across the common park is that right they should do like inflatables and fun stuff like that when you're growing up um this is a voice vote all in favor say aye aye aye opposed unanimously council you received the consent calendar the following title to be acted upon by a voice vote on a single motion without separate discussion unless going to the council or public requested a specific item be considered separately Council, do I have a motion?

I move approval of the consent calendar as presented.

Second. Any discussion? If there's a voice vote, all in favor say aye. Aye. Any others leave? On to regular business. Resolution 26-152, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a letter of support for Waverly Medical Park LLC's application for the Iowa Economic Development Authority for an extension of the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Award. Council, do I have a motion?

I'll move approval of Resolution 26-152, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a letter of support for Waverly Medical Park LLC's application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for an extension of their Workforce Housing Tax Credit Award, Application 24-WHTIP-056. Second. Any discussion?

That's Kevin Fitzgerald, Panther Builders, Waverly Medical Park, LLC, here to answer questions and thank the council and the city of Waverly for supporting the tax credit. Hopefully you enjoyed the construction that has gone on. We're on agenda tonight to have the subdivision accepted by the city. We have 16 lots sold in there, 14 houses under construction. As you all know, the first year kind of got off to a tough start with weather development. We got the first part of the phase in. We were able to start homes, then got the second phase in the following year and we were able to start the duplexes. Now we're in a motion where we can go consistently with homes every month. We're looking at two to three starts a month as long as sales and The market stays the way it is, so our hopes that with the extension, excuse me, with the extension we'd be able to complete the tax credit and get the city away with the 40 houses. And then the second one would be following it with the 18 homes, so we'd have the 58 homes in there. So any questions, happy to answer.

That was just my question, Kevin, is I was getting confused about the two separate projects.

Two applications, yep, the 40 comes up for extension right now. We still have a year and a half to two on the 18. Okay, gotcha.

Any more discussion or questions? We still need housing.

Yeah, we do.

So we'll call both of these parties. Mackin?

Yes.

Myers? Yes. Raffi? Yes. Wolf? Yes. Harmon? Yes. Jones?

Yes.

Resolution 26-154, a resolution authorizing the submission of a state recreational trails program grant application for the Waverly Rail Trail Interurban and Ivanhoe Bridge Replacement Project. Council, do I have a motion?

I move approval of resolution 26-154, a resolution authorizing the submission of the State Recreational Trails Program grant application for the Waverly Rail Trail interurban and Ivanhoe Bridge replacement project.

Second. Any discussion?

You have approved this once already, but there is a very specific language they want approved. Ours was not that specific language, so we are running it through again. Okay. Get them that very specific language that they requested. So this will accomplish that. It should not delay anything.

So we don't have to approve the application itself like we sometimes do?

That's what this kind of was.

Okay.

But we don't have to look at the form?

No. Okay. At the form? Okay.

Meyers? Yeah. Rafi? Yes. Wolf? Yes. Harmon? Yes. Jones? Yes. Mackey?

Yes.

Resolution 26-155, a resolution approving the low bid for the City Hall parking lot from Baker Enterprises Inc. of Waverly, Iowa. Council, do I have a motion?

I move approval of resolution 26-155, the resolution approving the low bid for the City Hall parking lot from Baker Enterprises Inc. of Waverly, Iowa in the amount of $49,526. Second.

Any discussion? I feel like I'm having deja vu. Did we already do part of the parking lot?

For the last two or three years, we've been doing a piece of it. Doing a section at a time. The entire parking lot, which is very expensive. So this will be two portions of it done at once, crossing into the fiscal year. So we have funding for two sections of it. So about $60,000, is that correct?

Yeah, that's what we have.

So we came in at $49,000 and change. So if we can extend further, we will. But this will get a good chunk of it done.

Okay, thanks. Okay. Will, how about this? Rocky?

Yes.

Will?

Yes.

Carmen? Yes. Yes. Jones? Yes. Mackey? Yes. Myers? Yeah.

Resolution 26-156, a resolution accepting the public infrastructure for the Stone Meadows addition in the Stone Meadows subdivision. Council, do I have a motion?

Move to approve Resolution 26-156, a resolution accepting the public infrastructure for the Stone Meadows addition in the Stone Meadows subdivision.

Second.

Is there any discussion? Roll call vote, please. Wolf? Yes. Harmon? Yes. Jones? Yes. Mackey? Yes. Myers? Yes. Rothy?

Yes.

Second reading of Ordinance 1180, an ordinance amending the Waverly Municipal Code, Section 67.91, Definition A, dangerous animal means. Do I have a motion?

I move to approve the second reading of Ordinance 1180, an ordinance amending the Waverly Municipal Code, Section 67.9-1, Definitions A, Dangerous Animal Means.

Second.

Any discussion? Roll call, please. Harmon? Yes. Jones? Yes. Mackey? Yes. Myers? Yes. Rothie? Yes. Wolfe?

Yes.

First reading of ordinance 1181 and ordinance amending sections 105.4.09 and 105.4.10 of chapter 105, traffic of the Waverly code of ordinances. Council, do I have a motion?

I move approval of the first reading of ordinance 1181 and ordinance amending sections 105.4.09 and 105.4.10 of chapter 105, traffic of the Waverly code of ordinances. Second.

Any discussion?

My only question is, where are these streets? Are these up in that new subdivision? Because I couldn't find them on Google Maps.

Internet is out. Can you pull up there? They're in the stone. I think it's a brand new intersection.

That's what I thought. And at the police department.

Yeah, they are in the new subdivision. Okay. What's that?

And at the police department for the, no, for the handicap.

Correct.

Oh, right. Yeah. And the courthouse. Yeah.

Jones. Yes. Matthew. Yes. Myers. Should have. Yeah. Rothy.

Yes. Wolf. Yes.

Harmon. Yes.

Cancelation of July 27th, 2026 study session meeting due to lack of agenda items. Council, do I have a motion?

I'm in approval of the cancellation of the July 27th

I do have just a couple. The Iowa State University Department of

Agronomy will be in town probably starting this first week of August. They're going to do some soil testing, so they're going to be taking some soil borings, giving them access to a few different public properties in town to do that, about a dozen properties where they'll be taking that from. And then they are also hitting some private properties with the permission of the landowners as well. So just in case you see them around and wondering what they're doing, that's what they're doing is they're taking some soil tests. Then the other thing is we had the mural celebration last Thursday. Very nice day, maybe a little hot for it, but we had about 40 or 50 people that were there to enjoy it and listen to a couple of speeches and just a really nice turnout overall. So it was really good to see and yeah, I think people really enjoyed the mural. So thank you to those of you who were able to come out and share that with us.

Jared, what would be the point of the soil for them?

They are looking for how the, what's the best way to put it, they're doing deep soil properties and so it's all about the lawn drainage and how things have changed over the years from kind of what may have used to be fields is now developed because that was their main focus was trying to get into folks' yards and things like that. So they're just seeing how construction has, you know, kind of manipulated how the soil is made up and how that's affecting drainage over the years.

Okay.

That's all we have tonight, ma'am.

That brings us to City Council updates. Councilperson Raffi.

I want to thank everybody who was involved with Heritage Days, all of the volunteers, city staff, police department, the parks employees, public works, et cetera, all of the business sponsors. Pete, we missed you out there doing security, but that's okay. It was time to retire. But it was a little bit hot, but people that came out had a great time. So I appreciate everybody's efforts.

Nothing tonight. Council President Myers? Nothing for me tonight.

I would just like to thank all the volunteers at the Revive Christian concert last night, including the city staff.

leftover from heritage days it's a good turnout and it's a beautiful weather so blessed to have it i'm just going to reference garrett and thank you for all the you know doing your department for all the nice thing on thursday for the mural and i said well attended and just just the right length for the heat so council person nothing today guest council person apple

I'd just like to thank Brent for the invitation and for allowing me to sit in. It's interesting sitting up here. I've been on that side of the podium numerous times, but not on this side, so thank you very much.

And that is my comments, up to my comments. Okay, so also I want to say thank you to Heritage Day's committee and the people who came out and supported it. Heritage Day was a lot of fun, so thank you to whoever put work in. And now we've got the Fair coming up, so please get out and support your communities, support all the efforts that are going on. I was at United Way today, and they actually need people yet to help serve the meals for kids, and they need help delivering senior meals. So council, we had talked once about maybe serving lunch meals. They need somebody for this Thursday. I think they need people yet for Thursday. So if anybody's interested in helping me Thursday, we just meet at the United Way building and hand out food to kids. Otherwise, please look up those opportunities. There's some days left to fill. And as always, if you're looking at our community and you can't find anything good in our community, be looking at our community. Council, do I have a motion to adjourn?

Move to adjourn.

Second?

Second.

All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye.