Feb 24, 2025 City Council

[00:00:04]

WE DO NOT HAVE MIKE HELGERSON HERE TODAY. THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION'S FINAL WORK REVIEW.

[B.  Historic Preservation Commission’s Work Plan Review - Courtney Harter]

AND PART OF THAT IS A WORK PLAN. SO TONIGHT YOU ARE JUST FILING AND RECEIVING THE PLAN ITSELF.

BUT JUST A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS THAT CHRIS ASKED ME TO GO OVER.

PART OF THE WORK PLAN IS HOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR? AND THE BIG THING THAT THEY ARE WANTING TO TACKLE IS LOOKING AT OUR TITLE 16, WHICH IS OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE.

IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE LIKE 94. SO DEFINITELY OVERDUE.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO A THEY'RE GOING TO HOST AN EVENT ON APRIL.

EXCUSE ME, NOT APRIL. MARCH 29TH. TO HELP INTRODUCE WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, AS WELL AS MEET SOME WITH SOME OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

EXCUSE ME. THE HISTORIC DESIGNATED DISTRICT. SO THINK GIBRALTAR.

GLEN PARK AVE AREAS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE HPC CHANGES ARE PROPOSED.

SO WE'VE BEEN GETTING SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO WITH OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE.

SO HOW CAN WE INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS MIGHT FIND USEFUL SPECIFICALLY LIKE A CONSERVATION OVERLAY? SO NOT QUITE A HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUT GIVE SOME PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE.

BUT IT'S ALL VOLUNTARY. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WERE COMING BACK THROUGH THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PROPOSE.

YOU'LL SEE SOME MORE OF THAT AS WE'RE GOING. BUT THAT'S THE BIG THING THAT HPC WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR.

SO JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW. THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO DO.

AND TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE AND FILE.

THANK YOU. THANKS, COURTNEY. COURTNEY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[C.  Review Agenda]

DEVELOP ANY ORDINANCES FOR FIRST OR SECOND READING.

I HEARD. YOU SAY THAT THEY WANTED TO POTENTIALLY WAIVE THIRD IF WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE HERE.

YEAH. CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON? MAYOR, WILL YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON? OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ANYTHING ON THE RESOLUTIONS.

LICENSES FOR PERMITS AND APPLICATIONS. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU AT SEVEN. FOR THE RECORD BOOKS.

THANK YOU. PLEDGE OF 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.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. SO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE EXCEPT ROGER SANDAU.

[2.  CALL TO ORDER]

[3.  CONSENT AGENDA]

AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO EITHER ONE OF THESE, PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.

GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU WILL HAVE TEN MINUTES TO SPEAK.

[A.  Resolution 25-15 (Continued from 1-27-25)]

THIS WAS CONTINUED FROM JANUARY 27TH, 2025. THE RESOLUTION APPROVES THE PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND FORM OF CONTRACT FOR THE CLEANUP OF THE FORMER RELIANCE BATTERY FACTORY SITE. THIS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE.

YES IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED. NONE RECEIVED.

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? WE RECEIVED A GRANT BACK IN 2022 TO HELP CLEAN UP WITH THIS.

IT'S JUST, I THINK GREAT TO SEE US CONTINUE TO DEVELOP SITES ACROSS THE, OUR COMMUNITY.

AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT GOES IN THERE.

YEAH, THIS WAS A VERY POLLUTED AREA RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

[00:05:01]

SO GREAT PROJECT. YEAH. ALTHOUGH IS DO WE HAVE A MOTION YET? YEAH. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE, AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. NOW IT'S TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARDS TO RESOLUTION 2440.

[B.  Resolution 25-40]

IT'S PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECT 2605 IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER.

IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MADAM CLERK. ORDINANCE ON FIRST CONSIDERATION.

[A.  Ordinance 6631]

IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING.

[A.  Ordinance 6629]

OH, SORRY. I'M ONLY HALFWAY DONE. AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM.

AND TO FURNISH AND SELL ELECTRIC ENERGY TO THE CITY AND ITS INHABITANTS, AND PRESCRIBING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF AND AUTHORIZING THE COLLECTION OF A FRANCHISE FEE AND. ALSO AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 6149, WHICH ESTABLISHED AN ANNUAL CAP TO.

THE AMOUNT OF THE FRANCHISE FEE THAT COULD BE COLLECTED FROM A QUALIFYING CUSTOMER.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION TO WAIVE THE THIRD.

SECOND. DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. RESOLUTION 2541. A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION INTEGRATED ROADSIDE

[A.  Resolution 25-41]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

[B.  Resolution 25-42]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

[C.  Resolution 25-43]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

[D.  Resolution 25-44]

FORM OF CONTRACT AND COST ESTIMATE FOR THE COUNCIL BLUFFS PUBLIC LIBRARY AUTOMATION UPGRADE.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

[E.  Resolution 25-45]

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM FOR THE EAST MANAWA PHASE ONE HOUSING PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,873.501. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? THERE HAS BEEN A FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO CONTINUALLY POSTS VERY INACCURATE INFORMATION ON LOCAL FACEBOOK WEBSITES. ONE OF THE TOPICS HE SEEMS TO TALK ABOUT REGULARLY IS THIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT

[00:10:09]

THIS MONEY IS A GRANT THAT THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS APPLIED TO THE STATE OF IOWA FOR, TO PUT IN STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN A SUB DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND IT IS A GREAT PROJECT THAT THE CITY IS VERY PROUD OF.

IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROJECT, AS THERE ARE 40 HOMES THAT WILL BE BUILT ALONG THIS STREET FROM A PRIVATE DEVELOPER SOLD BY LICENSED IOWA REAL ESTATE AGENTS. THIS GENTLEMAN APPEARS TO INSINUATE THAT BOTH THE DEVELOPER AND IN THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS INVOLVED WILL NOT BE IOWA REAL ESTATE AGENTS.

THAT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN BY LAW. ONCE THOSE PROPERTIES SELL, THAT MONEY WILL THEN BE ROLLED OVER INTO OTHER LOTS. THE STREET WILL CONNECT WITH OTHER STREETS.

IT IS A GREAT JUMP START FOR SOME 5 TO 700 NEW HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE VERY MUCH NEEDED.

COUNCIL BLUFFS HAS LESS THAN 1% OWNER OCCUPIED AVAILABILITY AND 1.7% RENTAL PROPERTY AVAILABILITY.

THE PRIVATE MARKET TYPICALLY WOULD BE INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

THEY ARE NOT. AND SO THE CITY IS TAKING SOME INITIATIVE TO USE ARPA MONEY TO BUY THE GROUND, TO APPLY FOR A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF IOWA TO PUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME MUCH NEEDED HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY GROW.

HELP BROADEN THE TAX BASE SO THAT PEOPLE'S TAX LEVY DOESN'T INCREASE.

LAST YEAR WE LOWERED IT ABOUT $0.40. THIS YEAR WE'RE NOT FINAL, BUT WE'RE GOING TO LOWER IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'S MY SPIEL. AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THERE WAS A GOOD I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY TOWN HALL, COMMUNITY OUTPUT, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WHERE DOWN IN THAT AREA, THE LOCAL CHURCH HELD LIKE AN OPEN HOUSE WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE DIFFERENT PLANS, YOU COULD TALK THROUGH KIND OF WHAT THE WHAT THE GOAL IS DOWN THERE.

TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A HOUSING SHORTAGE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO ANY PLACE WE CAN DEVELOP ANY ANYTHING THAT WE CAN BUILD NEW, I THINK IS GREAT.

I THINK MIXED HOUSING IS AMAZING. FOR THE PLAN TO GO FORWARD WITH SOME STANDALONE HOUSING, SOME, YOU KNOW, TOWNHOUSES, SOME APARTMENTS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THIS IS JUST A GREAT PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.

YES, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS. I JUST RECENTLY READ THAT OMAHA AND COUNCIL BLUFFS IS RIGHT NOW LEADING THE NATION IN HOMELESSNESS. AND THIS HAVING NO AVAILABILITY IN HOUSING IS A DIRECT CAUSE FOR HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE IT RAISES THE PRICES AND PRICES PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

AND SO THESE ARE ALL EFFORTS THAT WE WORK CONTINUOUSLY ON IN OUR CITY.

DEVELOPMENT WORKS CONTINUOUSLY ON TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS. AND WE WANT HOUSING AVAILABLE AND WE NEED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THESE ARE ALL GOOD PROJECTS. SO, THANK YOU.

AND I JUST SAY THE CITY IS AN OPEN BOOK. IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL MY OFFICE.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO RESPOND WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IT'S A GOOD PROJECT. IT'S A COUNCIL BLUFFS DOESN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO PICK IT UP AND PICK ITSELF UP AND CREATE HOUSING. WE HAVE APPROVED A GREAT MANY THINGS THIS LAST YEAR OR SO, BUT THIS BY FAR AND AWAY I WOULD SAY IS OUR BEST PROJECT.

IN THAT REGARD, IT WILL ALLOW FOR MOBILITY IN THAT, YOU KNOW, SECTION OF TOWN AT AND OVERALL IS A GOOD USE OF THE FUNDS. AND MOST OF THE FUNDS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT HAD VERY STRICT CONSTRAINTS.

SO BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THEM AND UTILIZE THEM IN A TIME AND TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE MANNER WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO DO.

IN FACT, IF I RECALL, THESE FUNDS WERE ORIGINALLY PROMISED TO US THEN IN FACT GIFTED ELSEWHERE, AND THEY COULDN'T USE THEM IN TIME. SO THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, HEY, IF YOU CAN MEET THE REQUIREMENTS,

[00:15:06]

AND WE SAID, YEP, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING, LET'S GET IT DONE.

SO IT'S A TIGHT TIMELINE, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME FOLKS THAT ARE WILLING TO SAY THAT THEY CAN GET OUT THERE AND GET IT DONE.

SOME, SOME COUNCIL BLUFFS DEVELOPERS ACTUALLY.

YEAH. IT'S NICE TO SEE. SO, IT'S A GREAT PROJECT I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE.

I WOULD SAY I BELIEVE IT IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE FOR THAT AREA DOWN IN MANOA.

I LIVED THERE FOR A LONG WHILE AND I REALLY I REALLY ENJOYED IT DOWN THERE. AND CREATING MORE SPACES LIKE THAT IS A GREAT, YOU KNOW, WAY TO, TO SPUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW ONE COULD COME OUT AND SAY THAT USING THIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IS MISPLACED.

IT'S IN THE NAME, FOR PETE'S SAKE. SO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

[F.  Resolutions 25-46, 25-47, 25-48 and 25-49]

OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. RESOLUTIONS 25, 46, 25, 47, 25, 48 AND 2549 RESOLUTIONS GRANTING APPROVAL OF TAX ABATEMENT ON IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO REAL PROPERTY WITHIN URBAN REVITALIZATION AREAS DURING THE 2025 TAX ASSESSMENT YEAR.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

[G.  Resolution 25-51]

OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. RESOLUTION 2551, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONSENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN 34TH AND FIRST HOLDING, LLC AND ENTERPRISE BANK, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ASSIGNMENT BY THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

[H.  Resolution 25-52]

OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. RESOLUTION 25-52 A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE CURRENT SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR 2025, VERSION ONE DATED FEBRUARY 24TH, 2025. MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

[I.  Resolution 25-53]

A RESOLUTION TEMPORARILY VACATING PORTIONS OF WEST BROADWAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHAMROCK SHUFFLE SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

[A.  Liquor License]

[B.  Noise Variance]

AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS EIGHT A1 AND EIGHT B.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE.

[10.  CITIZENS REQUEST TO BE HEARD]

THERE YOU GO. MY NAME IS DAVID WILHELM. I LIVE AT 102 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, RIGHT OVER HERE.

SEVENTH STREET IS A ONE WAY STREET. ABOUT THREE TIMES.

FOUR TIMES A MONTH. SOMEONE'S GOING THE WRONG WAY DOWN THE STREET.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN ACCIDENTS ON THIS STREET.

THE BIG ONE IS BECAUSE IT'S A ONE WAY STREET.

PEOPLE ARE IN THE RIGHT LANE, BUT THEY'RE TURNING LEFT ONTO FIRST AVENUE.

I'VE TALKED TO POLICE OFFICERS. I'VE TALKED TO FIREMEN BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE.

I'VE HELPED A WOMAN WHO REALLY GOT SMASHED UP IN HER CAR.

WE NEED MORE SIGNS ON THE STREET. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE SIGNAGE OTHER THAN THE ONE WAY STREETS.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL TALK TO THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYONE FROM THE COUNCIL? YEAH. I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT. ON FRIDAY EVENING, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ANNUAL FUNDRAISER.

AND JUST WANT TO DO A PUBLIC THANK YOU TO THAT GROUP FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY PUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE FIRST ROUND OF TRIVIA WAS ALL ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE THAT OVER 90 HOUSES HAVE BEEN BUILT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WAS A SLOW GOING PROCESS TO GET UP AND GET GOING, BUT NOW THEY'RE I THINK THEY SAID THEY HAVE 15 ON THE BOOKS FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS REALLY NICE TO SEE. SO I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THEM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND ALL THOSE NEW HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE PUTTING IN THE SWEAT EQUITY AS WELL. AND JUST A GREAT JOB TO THAT TEAM AND THE FUNDRAISER THAT THEY DID AND, EVERYTHING THEY DO.

VERY APPROPRIATE. ANYBODY ELSE? IF NOT THANK YOU.

[00:20:06]