City Council - Regular Meeting

All right. I'll call the August 3rd City Council meeting to order. Call the roll.

Ashley Allard, here. Abby Hanson. John Hawkins, here. John Marvel, here. Megan McFarland, here.

Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic of which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All for a motion to approve the agenda. Motion approved.

Second.

All those in favour say aye. Aye. Item one is petitions, communications and requests. This is a time of the meeting that a citizen may address the council on a matter not on the agenda. No more than five minutes per person. Except in cases of emergency, the city council not take any action at this meeting, but our city staff, the research matter, have the matter placed on the agenda for a future meeting. You got something for us tonight?

A few months ago, I was going to talk to John. Tell us your name. Mark Gillette. I love your name. I was going to talk to John about real estate. I was only needing 10 minutes. It took us an hour and it's gone. So around 2008, the council was asked to increase the permits of connections for new construction for a three-quarter inch line or $1,600. for a one-inch line, excuse me, $2,300. That was just the firm cost, which is pretty anti-verbal. Well, they, in 2011, they rescinded that ordinance. Everything was back to normal. So around 2007, the council was asked to adopt the international building codes. The codes were the same as ours at the time, so it was really no problem. It's fast, eight, five to zero. Unfortunately, it didn't tell us that every two years, they increased more grants, more money. So, a few years back, before John's time here, the mentor, and Daniel and Yahoo's to do higher down in Moana or Hope County, got together and they, Council changed the order. So instead of costing $6,000 to $8,000 to put in water and sewer, it went to $18,000 because of these, which that can be rescinded also. We're going to be carrying down $75,000. If you want growth, you're not going to get $18,000 with all the in-built lots we have. The other thing we talked about was granny houses. And where you could tie on to the existing house. There's room for the water and sewer. Save $1,000 doing that. Plus you could have either Airbnb, a small rental, or a granny house. So what I dropped off tonight for you is something to read. They have these little annexations in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Portland, Oregon. British Columbia, California of all places. Although it probably takes two years to get the plans. So I hope you consider it. I do have a lot next to my house, which I'd like to put in a sewer and water. Then I could sell it in the future if I wanted to. Or if I can't, because I'm not going to spend $18,000. Artificially up, that's crazy. So I won't be building there. If I can, and you can change the order and it takes three of you to buy into my house, I'd already had a house built for a Grammy house or a Airbnb or just the family to come say hi, you know? So it gives you something to think about. I hope you do. Yeah. All right. Thanks, Max. Thanks, Paul. Mark, don't do it. Paul. Paul, don't do it.

All right, the following items have been deemed non-controversial and routine actions to be approved by the Council on a single motion. If a Council member or member of the audience wishes to have an item removed from this list, it will be considered on its normal sequence on the agenda. I have A as the minutes of July 20 meeting. B is claims in the fund list. C is the issuance of beer and liquor licenses, but the Iowa Department of Commerce recommended for the following. Approve new Class C retail alcohol license, including outdoor service for wildcat products at 713 2nd Street. Approve a new Class E retail alcohol licence for now and forever at 1102 2nd Street. Approve a new Class E retail alcohol licence for now and forever at 1803 Superior Street. That's former Yes Way. And then D is a resolution authorising issuance of a cigarette, tobacco, nicotine, vapour device retail permits for Broon No. 7. and now and forever former yes way at 1803 and 1102 second street at any superior street and superior second street uh here's a resolution uh directing publication of gross wage salaries for the full-time and part-time city employees for the calendar year of 2025. that's it motion to approve collectively okay And then general agenda, we have a public hearing, public hearing on a proposal to renew the citywide urban revitalization plan for residential tax abatement. I'll open the hearing. Are there any written objections?

No, there are not.

Are there any oral objections? Okay, I'll close the hearing. Ariel, you're right on time.

Apology. Good evening, Council. So this item is just before you. The plan was adopted in 1993. What it does is on infill laws, it allows for three years of 100% tax abatement on new construction, and it does have to be reviewed every three years. We have had about 140 new dwellings that have taken advantage of this 100% three-year tax abatement. And we actually just approved one at the last meeting, so that would move it to 141. The Planning and Zoning Commission did review this and recommended to the council for it to be extended another three years. So tonight, I'm just requesting that you approve the plan for another three years.

Okay, any questions? Resolution adopting the continuance of the urban revitalisation for residential tax abatement.

Move to approve.

Second. All those in favour say aye.

Aye.

Brian, would you like to come up? Did you want to talk on your request for the lower the lot prices at 2501 North Pembrokeshire?

I sent out an email, and I apologize to Joe, and you went on the website, so I didn't have your email address.

There was a problem with my picture.

Well, anyway, I laid out a lot of the points on this, and And the one point that I forgot and left out of it was during the time that we did these construction, we had these up for sale. The city had been redoing the streets in that area and had it blocked off and made it very difficult to get to that area. So it was tough for people. They can describe what was going on. They couldn't even get to it very easily. So that contributed, I think, a factor to that. We did lose a sale on one of the houses out there. when they did their budget, they figured out the property taxes were quite a bit higher than what they expected, so they were not able to put it together with their budget, so we lost that sale. And I imagine, we'd have to talk to the regulator, but I'm sure other people had the same situation when they looked at it. They combined that with the cost of lumber and all construction materials going up, and then environmental rates going hard to sell. There's a few other factors, you know, there's a lot of lots out there on the West End that you guys have experienced for years that aren't selling. A lot of that's directly related to the cost of the lot. You know, they're not a wooded lot or real scenic, you got the highway you're dealing with, so there's some challenges out there that, you know, need to be addressed to help sell them. And so with all those things combined with you know, a tough environment, it made it very hard to sell houses. We lost on average $34,000 a house is what we lost. This house here is in the same situation, especially when we've held it for over two years. So it makes it hard to do. And given the fact that the city is willing to incentivize another builder to try to build out there, you know, I appreciate that. I think that's the right step. We'd like to have ours reduced down to a lower rate to help us absorb some of the losses we've taken on that and also, you know, make it more incentivized towards us building more houses in the future. Getting questions.

This specific lot, when did you start construction? When did you sign the contract?

have to look I believe it was 2023 2023 that's what I found right I looked I could not find it yeah so 2023 and uh I would make full price on the other three lots that we did uh you know and we didn't carry them for quite some time to get them sold but we did finally get them sold yeah and with We have contributed a large amount of tax base to the city over the last six, eight years that we've been building here. So we want to continue that. We need to try to address costs so we can absorb those moving forward.

And the house currently, I've driven by, I've heard two or three different things. The house has been sold? Yes.

Has that completely gone through? And that's final. And that's okay. So I will tell you all, I'm not going to vote on this because I do work with Brian's wife very closely. And I don't, want that to be portrayed as a conflict of interest. But, you know, John and I have talked. You can tell me there's a contract in place because there is. Contracts get amended all the time. So I'm less concerned about there being a contract than anything else. I do think, you know, considering we're trying to build and expand the housing in Webster City and grow the tax base, that we did just allow this other company Significantly different lot rates and I think at this point, it would be the right thing to do. I realized this was several years ago. It's not like he signed it yesterday and now we're trying to change it. This was a couple of years ago. Different city administration, I think even possibly at that time. And so, while I'm not going to vote, I would say it's something I think the council should seriously consider looking at the price.

Eric, did you say that you've already paid $1,000 for this lot? There's already $1,000 paid for this lot? I believe so, yes. I mean, I'm prepared to, it seems you've already paid the thousand. I'm prepared to call that good myself. I think you've done enough stuff. I do like the idea that we're changing the contract now, but no, I don't. But at the same time, I can see why you're asking and we're doing a deal with somebody else, which is better than what you got. So I'm happy to do that, but I guess it's over to you, Megan, what do you think?

Go ahead, I'm sorry.

I think that's a good idea, too.

I appreciate everything you've done. And, you know, I am, you know, if you had come to us this year, and I think that you would have gotten a favorable price for those lots. I can't speak for the council then I wasn't on the council. You know, I do. And I know contracts have been amended. I worked in sports for 40 years and contracts get changed. I'm kind of a different mind. I, you know, I believe the contract is the contract and I do recognize that you've done a lot for our community. So.

And I will say, I'll remind you that we did in 23 or 24 bring a proposal to the council and it was rejected then too.

Yeah. I think if you did that now in the future, I think that you would find that this council, in terms of economic development and the shortage of outage, would be more eligible than such as that. Do you want to make a motion to make the first note?

Thanks, Brian. Thank you.

I'll make a motion to make it $1,000. What's already been paid?

I'll second that. I guess you'll run actions of standing. You're a no. I'm a no.

You're a no? And you're both yeses? Yeah. Got it.

So, well, you know, you've paid for it too.

Thank you.

Is that right, Jack? Item C is a resolution providing for notice of hearing on proposed plans, specifications, proposed formal contract and estimate of costs for construction of Mary Ann's water main extension project for September 8th at 6.05pm. Read it.

Mayor and Council. Yes, we're ready to set the hearing on Mary Ann's water main extension. Prior to construction of the facility at Mary Ann's Specialty Foods, city staff and Mary Ann's, Kelly Karleski sat down and talked about how to assist them with water pressures and flows. And at that time, we kind of came up with a joint solution is to bring the water main where it previously had dead ended on the north side of their property all the way to the west along the property line back east along the railroad tracks where it currently is dead ended. And that's what here's where our portion of The project comes into play is where we would then tie on to where they left off. Under the railroad tracks into East second street, where it would become a loop system looping. This system has plenty of pros. For them, you know, increases pressure, water pressure flows, but also the biggest thing is for fire prevention with the new buildings, stuff like that. On our end, something we look at is if one of the facilities, Mary Ann's or Custom Eats, would have to be shut down for whatever reason, previously it would be we shut one of them down and so that's not with a big manufacturer or a big business in town, we don't like doing that. And so with this loop system, we will be able to separate the two. So we'll just send a hearing.

Motion to send a hearing. Second.

All in favor say aye. Aye. Item D, there's resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Plano Brothers Crushing LLC for 2027 concrete crushing services.

Yeah, so kind of a yearly contract. Thing we do last year, I know we kind of took some time off of this. We had a lot of, we had a big panel replacement project that we had going on. So we had a lot of material come in. So this year we decided to do something different. We decided to work in collaboration with Secondary Roads, with Ryan, with the county engineer. He had a lot of concrete that he didn't crush as well. So we put two contracts together, worked together, went up for one quote bid. And got some, had three people on tournament, Mobile Crushing, who typically does our crushing the last several years, Plano Brothers Crushing, and then Maxson Trucking Materials. It's kind of different, but several years ago, we were at like $7.25, and usually this goes the other direction. I just talked to Matt this morning with Mobile Corruption, and I think they're just getting into a bidding war, and we're down to $4. And so it's really good for us. And so obviously the rock that we use for projects, I appreciate that you work together with the county. I think that's a great way to. Ryan, I've been talking quite a bit lately on several things. So kind of happened quick and it went very well. Good.

Thank you, Brandon. Call for a motion. Motion to approve.

I'll second.

All those in favour say aye. Item E is a resolution approving the purchase of a 2026 Vermeer AX17 brush chipper from Vermeer, Iowa for the electric utilities. Ryan, good evening.

Good evening, Council. Staff is requesting to purchase this 2026 AX17 Brush Shipper from Vermeer, Iowa with a net cost of $2,900. We currently have a 2015 Mobart that we've had And that has become an issue. It currently has a bad clutch in it. With the future of us doing all this project upkeep and road clearances and all that stuff, this unit is going to get a lot of use in the next five years just to get caught up. Well, let's recommend the approval of this.

This is also set aside in the five-year forecast of the electric capital budget that you adopted earlier this year. That page was included as part of the packet material.

For the record... Can you explain for the record what a brush chipper is? I think I know. I'm fairly certain I know. Pat? I don't know.

I've heard of it, too. Whatever.

That's what I thought, too.

If you've seen Fargo, you know what one is. That's a wood chipper, right?

It's got clutch issues. It's had clutch issues.

It's not the use of it.

Have we spent quite a bit then trying to repair this, or have we repaired it ourselves?

We have had a local company do it one time, and I think the company for Mobart did it the other time. But yeah, it's about $5,000 every time that happens.

And we did discuss simply replacing the clutch. We're at a tipping point with the trade-in value, it seemed like, when we talked with the folks that we got the quotes from. And the manual clutch... seems to be problematic with the crews. Not that they can't operate them, but it just adds a complexity to a dangerous job already. If I'm reading the comments I've received from staff back correctly.

The mayor does have a few more safety things, and the last one I had is a knee guard that

for safety he's involved with it no i appreciate that well it's 11 years old yeah so you got you got a good run out of it i'm also very curious what's the average life of one of these i mean this one's 11 years old so that's great but i'm just curious No, I'm still laughing at that or longer.

Okay.

Well, we, I do, I think a lot of, or used to pick a lot of them up for Asplund all over the place. And most of them weren't, they were about 10 years old. And they were a lot worse off than this one. But I had to say whether they used them more or less. They're pretty well doing the same thing you guys are doing.

I'm excited to say this. A motion to approve the purchase of the brush chipper. Thanks, Ron.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

And then item F is a resolution approving task order number nine with DGR engineering professional engineering services related to the city's municipal electric system arc flash assessment update and authorizing city manager to execute the agreement.

Welcome back.

So this is a request to approve task order nine with the DVR for the arc flash assessment. The last time this was done was back in 2015. It is recommended to do it every five years. It's an NFPA East standard.

What it is, is... What is that group, NH? What does that stand for?

Federal... Electric. Yeah, it's fire... So with this, it gives us the available ARC flash ratings at different points in our system. And with the last year's system upgrades, all that needs to be updated with the new Reisner substation and all that. And what this does is the available full parent is to sign their equipment

It was last updated 10 years ago. Industry standard is occasionally five. And it was recommended as part of the broader capital plan adopted by, well, completed by DGR and that informs our capital recommendations to you all. I think the safety aspect of this is considerable given that we've added a new substation and we'll continue to make improvements to the system.

Motion to approve.

Second. All those in favour say aye. Aye. Thanks Ryan. Item G is a resolution accepting and approving acquisition of property generally located at 1111 3rd Street in the City of Webster City Hamilton County.

So this property was deemed abandoned and unsafe so this is just the formality that we bringing it to council to accept this property. So we have been into the property and it is pretty far past its usefulness.

This one had a lead line. The one across the street had a lead line, didn't it? It's across the road from that one we had trouble with. You know, we had that patch in the street there for years. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Move to approve.

I'll second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Okay, are there items to come? Zach, do you want to tell us about your work?

Oh, yeah. I'd love to. 128 Apple's closed now. We got that done. They've combined the lots. That's the one where they have three years. Three years? Little shed on it, or garage on it, so that one's moving along nicely. We just talked about 1111 3rd Street. 1111 3rd Street, that one's done now, so it's taken advantage. We have three more in the pipeline coming down that you guys will probably own in the next month as well. And then... Just a bunch of FOIA requests, Freedom of Information requests that we've been receiving. So, Beth and I and John and city staff have been working on responses to that. Just in the last couple weeks, we've been getting a handful. So, which is good, I guess. Might get more tomorrow. People want to know what's going on in town. Question on the FOIAs. Do we charge them for copy? Good question. So, the answer is maybe. They changed the law in the last year. So it's actual cost only. And it's supposed to be reasonable in the sense of like, if they're simply asking for something specific and it takes us 10 minutes to get it, we don't charge. If it's something that's going to spend hours, we are authorized to send them a response that says, hey, we're estimating this actual cost to be Y or X, whatever. And then they can say yes or no on it. Yeah.

And then copies and stuff like that. Yeah. Yeah. But so far it's been pretty not right. Got it. So. Okay.

Cool. Promotion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Second. We'll let him say hi. Hi. Thanks everybody.