May 05, 2025 City Council

>> THEN SECONDLY, WE'VE GOT A PROCLAMATION TO CELEBRATE FOR CELEBRATE CB,

[B. Celebrate CB Week]

WHICH IS THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK IN THE PARADE NEXT WEEKEND, CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS I OFFICE OF THE MAYOR PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS, IN 1971, THE FIRST COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY PRIDE PARADE WAS LAUNCHED TO PROMOTE UNWAVERING PRIDE IN OUR CITY AND TO FOSTER A STRONGER COMMUNITY SPIRIT, ENCOURAGING GREATER CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, AND COUNCIL BLUFFS IS A VIBRANT AND ROBUST COMMUNITY THANKS TO THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF OUR CITY OFFICIALS, DEPARTMENTS, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CITIZENS.

WHEREAS THE UPCOMING CELEBRATE CB WEEK COMPRISES AN EXCITING LINEUP OF EVENTS, FEATURING OLD AND NEW FAVORITES LIKE THE WEEK LONG SCAVENGER HUNT, CLEAN SWEEP, FARMERS MARKET COUNCIL BLUFFS AND CELEBRATE CB PARADE, AND THESE EVENTS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS.

WE HAVE DEMON WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO ITS RESIDENTS.

THEREFORE, I AM MATT WALSH MAYOR, THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH, 2025 A CELEBRATE CB WEEK.

THE THEME CBS.

IN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS ISLAND, I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE EVENTS AND CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY'S ACHIEVEMENTS THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I HEREBY PROCLAIM.

YOU WANT TO A PICTURE. [BACKGROUND]

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS.

WE SPOKE WITH JOHN AND BOB MCCARTHY.

>> ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO,

[A. Representative Josh Turek - Update on House File 617]

THEY WANTED TO DO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUBDIVISION DOWN BY SOUTH OMAHA BRIDGE ROAD, TWIN CITY.

TODAY, THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE IS SO EXPENSIVE THAT WHEN I USED TO FINANCE HOMES, IF THE LOT COST MORE THAN $35,000, IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

TODAY, LOTS CAN BE A CHEAP LOT 70,000 AND AS MUCH AS 100,000 A LOT.

THEN I THINK THE LAST TIME I LOOKED AT IT WAS $170 A SQUARE FOOT.

IF YOU WANT 1,000 SQUARE FOOT HOME, YOU CAN DO THE MATH, AND PRETTY SOON IT GETS NOT AFFORDABLE.

BOB AND JOHN CAME IN AND SAID, CAN THE CITY HELP WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS? IT'LL BE CITY STREETS AND DONE THE CITY STANDARDS, AND WE STARTED LOOKING AT IT, AND NO, WE REALLY COULDN'T BECAUSE IT WAS GREENFIELDS, WHICH MEANT THAT WE COULD ONLY DO A 10-YEAR TIFF, AND 46% OF THAT TIFT MONEY HAD TO BE PUT ASIDE FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING.

THAT DIDN'T LEAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE PROJECT, AND SO WE PARTED WAYS WITH NOBODY BEING HAPPY.

[00:15:03]

WE RAN INTO THE SAME SITUATION WITH EAST MANAWA.

IT'S BEEN A CORNFIELD FOREVER.

THEN WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT DODGE PARK, AGAIN, GREENFIELD'S NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A TYPICAL IOWA TIF, WHICH IS 20 YEARS, 100%.

WE DON'T DO 100%, AND I DON'T KNOW WE'VE EVER DONE 20 YEARS, BUT I KNOW FOR SURE WE DON'T DO 100%, BUT THOSE ARE THE GENERAL PARAMETERS UNDER THE STATE OF IOWA.

WE REACHED OUT TO JOSH AND ASKED HIM TO REVIEW A PROPOSAL WE HAD, WHICH WE CALLED 2020, WHICH WAS ENDED UP BEING HOUSE FILE 617.

WHAT THAT DOES IS REALLY PUT US IN LINE FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMPARABLE TO COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, COULD BE UP TO 20 YEARS.

BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THEY CAME UP WITH THE GREENFIELDS IS AS DES MOINES GREW, THERE WAS KIND OF A LAND GRAB OF TRYING TO GET LAND FOR EACH DES MOINES COMMUNITY, WEST DES MOINES, URBANDALE, THE FARM BUREAU SAID, NO, DON'T BE GRABBING FARM LAND.

WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. THEY MADE A LESSER QUALITY TIFF, SO THE 2020 IS UP TO A 20 YEAR TIFF.

IF THE LAND HAS BEEN INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS FOR 20 YEARS, AND THEN 20% SET ASIDE THE LOAD OF MODERATE INCOME.

BEFORE AT 46, NOTHING WAS GETTING SET ASIDE BECAUSE NOBODY COULD DO THE DEAL.

WE THINK 20% WILL GET PROJECTS DONE AND ALLOW US TO PUT SOMETHING AWAY FOR THOSE IN NEED, LIKE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

JOSH IS HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT IT, SO THANKS FOR COMING IN.

YES, MAYBE.

YEAH, WHATEVER IS GOOD FOR YOU, JOSH.

>> IT'S ON?

>> THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME A MINUTE.

COUNCILMAN, MR. MAYOR, IN MY TWO TERMS OF BEING A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE IN LOCAL CONTROL.

I'VE TRIED TO DO THE SAME THING WITH THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I BELIEVE IN THE INDEPENDENCE OF EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT OPERATING.

>> BUT THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A MOMENT.

I THINK, MR. MAYOR, YOU PROVIDED AT LEAST SOME LEVEL OF CONTEXT ON THIS BILL.

SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT IS, I THINK WE ALL CAN RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT AND UNIQUE CHALLENGES TO BEING IN A BORDER COMMUNITY, AS COUNCIL BLUFFS IS GOING ESSENTIALLY AGAINST A BOHEMA WHICH IS OMAHA.

OMAHA RIGHT NOW HAS THE HOTTEST HOUSING MARKET IN THE COUNTRY.

IN MY LIFETIME, I'VE SEEN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

BASICALLY, I'M A LIFELONG MEMBER OF COUNCIL BLUFFS HERE.

WE'VE SEEN IT GROW VERY MINIMALLY.

RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT ESSENTIALLY NOWHERE TO PUT PEOPLE.

WE'VE GOT LESS THAN 1% OF VACANCY FOR HOMES, AROUND 1% VACANCY FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES.

WE LITERALLY HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IS WHEN YOU'RE IN THESE BORDER COMMUNITIES, IS REALLY WHERE YOU SEE THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY OF STATE POLICIES GOING HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST EACH OTHER.

NEBRASKA IN TRUTH, HAS A LOT MORE TOOLS IN THEIR DISPOSAL THAN WE DO ON THE IOWA SIDE.

THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO LAND BANKS. WE DO NOT.

THEY ALSO HAVE SEWER INVESTMENT DISTRICTS, SIDS.

US ON THE IOWA SIDE, WE DO NOT.

THEY'VE DONE A BETTER JOB ON TAX ABATEMENTS, AND THEY CERTAINLY HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB WITH TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.

ONE OF THE DISTINCTIONS, AS MR. MAYOR AS YOU POINTED OUT, IS THE DIFFERENCE IN BEING ABLE TO GENERATE DEVELOPMENT WHEN YOU'RE LIMITED TO ONLY HAVING A 10-YEAR TIF VERSUS WHAT WE CAN DO IN NEBRASKA, WHICH IS A 20-YEAR TIF.

THAT IS SOME OF THE CONTEXT IN THE BILL.

IN TRUTH, THIS IS ABOUT AS CLOSE TO A LEGISLATION FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PROJECT AS YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.

REALLY, WHEN WE WERE BUILDING THIS, WE WERE BUILDING THIS WITH THE IDEA OF TRYING TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME GENUINE DEVELOPMENT WITH DODGE PARK.

NOW, THE WAY THAT WE HAVE THE BILL NOW IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, 2020, WE WOULD ALLOW A 20-YEAR TIF, AS LONG AS IT HAS BEEN WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS FOR LONGER THAN 20 YEARS, THAT WAS TO APPEASE ANY LAND GRABS THAT YOU SEE WITH THE FARM BUREAU.

THEN ADDITIONALLY, A MAXIMUM OF 20% ON THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT THE TIF IS SET UP IS IT MATCHES YOUR COUNTY POVERTY LINE, WHICH FOR US IS NEARLY 50%.

YOU JUST CAN'T GENERATE THE INTEREST LIKE YOU HAVE FOR DEVELOPMENT AS YOU HAVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.

[00:20:01]

WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE PROCESS WITH THIS, WE HAVE GOT THIS UNANIMOUSLY THROUGH SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.

WE ALSO HAVE PASSED IT THROUGH WAYS AND MEANS.

WE ALSO HAVE THIS UNANIMOUSLY, BOTH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND WE'VE GOT BIPARTISAN EVEN SPONSORSHIP ON THIS.

MYSELF, BOBBY KAUFMANN, BRENT SIEGRIST, SEVERAL MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE HAVE SPONSORED THIS.

WE HAVE MOVED THIS THROUGH COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY, AS WELL.

LEADER WINDSCHITL, ALSO EVEN ATTENDED THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

HE HAS GIVEN ME EVERY ASSURANCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS GO TO A HOUSE VOTE BEFORE THE END OF SESSION.

I'M HOPEFUL THEN, ALTHOUGH WHO KNOWS WITH THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS NOW WITH THE INABILITY FOR THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE COLLECTIVELY, BUT I'M HOPEFUL ALSO WITH SENATOR DAWSON'S SUPPORT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THIS GO THROUGH THE SENATE.

WE REALLY DO HAVE SOME SUPPORT.

WE ALSO BUILT IN AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE THE WAY THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY BUILT THIS BILL WAS IT WOULD ONLY APPLY TO COMMUNITIES ABOVE 15,000.

WE'VE ACTUALLY REMOVED THAT WITH AN AMENDMENT, AND NOW THIS WOULD APPLY TO ANY COMMUNITY.

NOW THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY REALLY WITH THE BILL THAT WE INITIATED HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE GENUINE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THE PROCESS.

JUST TO FURTHER RELAY BOTH AS A STATE LEGISLATOR AND AS A MEMBER OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, I'M IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF THE DODGE PARK PROJECT.

I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.

LIKE, IN SITTING IN A MEETING WITH DEBI DURHAM, THIS REALLY IS MAYBE THE ONLY PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IN THE ENTIRE STATE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THIS.

I THINK ADDITIONALLY, WHEN GENERAL DODGE ENDED UP GIVING US THAT LAND, I THINK THE INTENTION WAS FOR THAT TO GO TO COMMUNITY USE.

WE'VE GOT A MAXIMUM, AND I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST GOLFERS OR GOLF COURSES.

MY DAD WAS SOMEBODY THAT WORKED IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY WAS A SCRATCH GOLFER. I LOVE GOLF.

ALTHOUGH, I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT MAXIMUM 10% OF PEOPLE END UP GOLFING.

FOR THE ONE AND FIVE DISABLED INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF, WE HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THE PARK OR GET ANY USAGE OUT OF THAT.

I DO REALIZE THAT THAT IS A GENERATOR, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE LONG TERM THINKING WITH ALL OF THIS.

I THINK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE AS MANY AS 10,000 ADDITIONAL RESIDENTS DOWN THERE AND AS MUCH OF 20 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE, THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR SCHOOLS, FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOSH?

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK JOSH, WITH THIS 2020 BILL? DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE ANYTHING UP? THERE'S GOT TO BE GIVE AND TAKE. DO YOU THINK ANYTHING'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE TAKEN AWAY?

>> WELL, ONE WE ALREADY HAD AT IN THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE RURAL COMMUNITIES DID NOT LIKE THAT WE WERE CARVING OUT THAN 15,000.

ACTUALLY, I THINK WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THE FRONT SIDE OF CONTACTING ANY POTENTIAL COMBATIVE ISSUES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FARM BUREAU, WE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH THEM.

THE ONE ISSUE THAT I COULD SEE IS THAT THERE ARE INEVITABLY, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG ISSUES LIKE TIF.

I CAN SEE ON THE SENATE SIDE WITH SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THE ABILITY FOR THIS TO BE ACROSS THE STATE, SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO ADDRESS THIS WOULD BE THAT WE COULD MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT THIS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO BORDER COMMUNITIES.

ONLY PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE WITHIN FIVE MILES OR 10 MILES OF AN ACTUAL FISCAL BORDER.

THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SIOUX CITY, BURLINGTON, OURSELVES, THE QUAD CITIES, BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN LIVING IN THESE BORDER COMMUNITIES WHERE WE'RE GOING HEAD TO HEAD WITH ANOTHER STATE POLICY.

THE OTHER IDEA THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH I HOPE WE DON'T ARRIVE AT, BUT THIS WOULD BE THE FAIL SAFE, WOULD BE THAT WE JUST CALL THIS A PILOT PROJECT.

THIS WOULD JUST ESSENTIALLY BE A ONE OFF.

AGAIN, IF INDEED WE HAD THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE DEVELOPING DODGE PARK.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ACTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY ISSUES GIVEN THE FACT OF HOW SMOOTHLY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RUN THIS IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FROM LEADER WINDSCHITL.

I'M CERTAIN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS THROUGH THE HOUSE WITHOUT ANY BARRIERS.

IF ANYBODY'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE THIS THROUGH TO THE SENATE, IT'S GOING TO BE SENATOR DAWSON.

THIS WOULD APPLY TO HIS COMMUNITY MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE'S.

>> TRULY DOES BENEFIT EAST MANAWA.

IT TRULY DOES BENEFIT JERKOVICH'S PROPERTY.

WAUKEE SAID, WE'VE GOT A PROJECT THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO.

SCOTT SANDERS FROM DES MOINES SAYS, THIS IS PERFECT FOR A PROJECT NEXT TO A GOLF COURSE THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO.

[00:25:01]

IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE WHOLE STATE IF IT PASSES THROUGH.

>> WITH YOU REMOVING THE SIZE CAP ON THE POPULACE, THAT ALSO WOULD THEN OPEN IT UP TO PACIFIC JUNCTION, FOR EXAMPLE, ANY COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT UP AND DOWN THE NOT SEABOARD, BUT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THE RIVER ON BOTH SIDES.

TO ROGER'S QUESTION ABOUT HAVING TO GIVE UP.

WHO WOULD WE GIVE IT UP TO? WHAT WOULD THE LOGIC BE? I STRUGGLE WITH WHERE SOMEONE WOULD FIND ANY LOGIC IN AN ISSUE OR TAKE ISSUE AT THIS BECAUSE THE ONLY THING I SEE IT ALLOWING US TO DO IS HELPING IOWA'S COMMUNITIES.

SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD COME UP AND SAY, WELL, HOW SOMEONE COULD COME UP WITH A REASON WHY THIS WOULD BE A BAD IDEA.

>> YOU'D BE FASCINATED IN MY LINE OF WORK. DETERMINE A BETTER IDEA. I AGREE. NONETHELESS, I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THE FRONT SIDE TO ENSURE THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE ANY ISSUES AS THIS IS MOVING THROUGH.

I THINK TO SEE THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT THIS UNANIMOUSLY THROUGH THE PROCESS THUS FAR.

THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, I THINK SPEAKS TO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE DID ON THE FRONT SIDE TO PREVENT ANY POTENTIAL BARRIERS.

>> I CAN SEE WHERE YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO MAYBE TIP SOMETHING INTO PERPETUITY, BUT EVEN IN THAT EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT WAS NOTHING.

PERCENTAGE BASED AT DAY 1 AT 20% OF A LARGE AMOUNT IS STILL MORE THAN CORRECT.

AT THE ONSET HOW DO YOU, [OVERLAPPING]

>> 20 YEARS? NO. I'M SAYING.

>> TWO THINGS JOSH.

>> IF IT IS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, THOUGH.

THE LEGISLATURE, THERE ARE MANY IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE VAST MAJORITY THAT DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

>> IF YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS, IT'S NO BRAINER.

>> IT IS ACTUALLY EXPANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF TIF AND THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW AND DON'T UNDERSTAND AND THINK IT'S A HORRIBLE THING.

COULD SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO EXPAND TIF.

>> THERE ALWAYS DOES SEEM TO BE SOME LEVEL OF CONFUSION BETWEEN TAX ABATEMENT AND THEN TAX INCREMENT FINANCING WHERE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FUNDS TO SOMETHING LIKE YOUR SCHOOLS AS THE PROJECT IS MOVING ALONG BEFORE THE 20 YEARS.

>> YEAH, IN A STATE LIKE IOWA, WHERE WE'RE RIGHT NOW 49 OUT OF 50 IN TERMS OF OVERALL GROWTH, WHERE THE ONLY STATE OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS THAT HASN'T DOUBLED IN SIZE.

WE NEED ALL THE DEVELOPMENT WE CAN GET.

WE NEED ALL THE TOOLS IN OUR SHEDS, PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS, WHERE WE'RE GOING HEAD TO HEAD WITH STATE POLICY.

LIKE I SAID, IN MY LIFETIME, I'VE SEEN OMAHA ESSENTIALLY DOUBLE IN SIZE.

THEY REALLY CAN'T ANNEX ANY ADDITIONAL.

HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS WE ALL SEE IT.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.

>> TWO THINGS, JOSH. I RAN FOR AGAINST DAWSON.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS FOREFRONT IN MY CAMPAIGN IS, COUNCIL BLUFFS IS A UNIQUE TOWN IN IOWA.

WE'RE A LARGE COMMUNITY THAT BUTTS UP TO A MILLION PEOPLE.

THE OTHER FOUR LARGE CITIES ON THE RIVERS, THEY'RE DOMINANT CITIES.

WE HAVE BEEN STAGNANT SINCE I WAS A KID.

WE HAVE NOT GROWN AS A TOWN IN 63 YEARS.

WE NEED EVERY TOOL.

I SAID THIS ON THE CAMPAIGN TREAT.

WE NEED EVERY TOOL THAT WE CAN GET COMING FORWARD TO HELP US AGAINST THIS GOLIATH NEXT DOOR.

THEY'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

BUT HERE'S THE THING.

AS WE'RE DISCUSSING DODGE PARK, PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WHAT HAS CHANGED THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT DODGE PARK FOR HOUSING OR DEVELOPMENT? TAX CODE IS DEVELOPED WHERE IN THE STATE OF IOWA. WHERE IS IT?

>> STATE?

>> AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THEN IT GOES TO WHERE COUNTIES?

>> COUNTY AT TIMES.

>> THE COUNTY HAS TO TAKE THE STATE POLICY, AND THEN THEY DEVELOP AN ASSESSMENT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR OUR TAXES.

THEN IT COMES TO THE CITY AND THE CITY HAS WHAT? WE HAVE MANAGEMENT OVER THE LEVEE.

WHAT DID THE STATE DO? THEY CAPPED OUR LEVEE.

THOSE ARE THE CHANGES AS WE GO FORWARD AND WE DISCUSS THIS DODGE PARK, THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LARGE CITY UP AGAINST A LARGE COMMUNITY WITH A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT, PAID POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, AND SPRAWLING TO THE EAST BECAUSE WE CAN'T DEVELOP GOING UP.

THAT'S MY QUESTION.

CLARIFY HOW THAT WORKS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THESE TOOLS.

[00:30:01]

AS FAR AS TAX CODE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING TO GET TO YOUR POINT OF THERE'S SEVERAL SHORTFALLS ACTUALLY FOR US.

WE'VE ALL HEARD THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT IT, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WITH OUR PROPERTY TAX AND OUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX.

YOU CAN BE LOOKING AT AS MUCH AS 200% MORE EXPENSIVE TO PUT A BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATION HERE ON THE IOWA SIDE THAN ON THE NEBRASKA SIDE.

THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

BUT AT LEAST FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT, THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST CHANGE, IT WOULD GIVE US THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH OMAHA IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT.

THAT MUCH IS CLEAR TO ME.

AGAIN, WE HAD BUILT THIS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN FOR ONE SINGULAR PROJECT, BUT THE WAY THAT WE HAVE IT WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, HONESTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A RISING TIDE FOR ALL BOATS, AND IT'S GOING TO HELP A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE WE NEED IT.

>> JERKOVICH AND MCCARTHY HAVE COME BACK AND SAY THEY'RE INTERESTED NOW, SO.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR JOSH?

>> I APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS SIR.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON IT. APPRECIATE IT.

REVIEW AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[B. Review Agenda]

>> YEAH, WE'LL NEED TO REMOVE 8D WHEN WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> THAT WAS EIGHT B JILL.

>> D IS IN DAVID.

>> D?

>> OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANY QUESTIONS ON THE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS? 5C.

BRANDY. CAN YOU COME UP AND TALK TO US ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO OVER AT NEW VISIONS AND SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD UTILIZE THE GRANT? WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT.

>> NOT DURING STUDIES SESSION.

>> COOL.

>> SHOULD BE OKAY.

>> COOL. THANK YOU.

>> I KNOW. I WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

I KNOW YOU GUYS. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY.

JUST A SECOND TO GO OVER WHAT WE'RE DOING AT NEW VISIONS AND THIS AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AS WE TALKED ABOUT, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

IT'S BEEN YEAR SINCE WE HAD A LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX PROJECT.

WE HAVEN'T GOT ANY EXTRA DOLLARS FOR HOMELESS SERVICES.

ACTUALLY, THE DOLLARS THAT I RECEIVED IN 2019 FROM OUR STATE GRANT HAVE DECREASED BY $30,000 JUST BECAUSE THERE'S MORE HANDS IN THE POOL OF WHAT DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE.

I'M ONE OF THE FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS OF THE IOWA HOMELESS COALITION.

THERE WASN'T NOBODY UP AT THE STATE LEVEL ADVOCATING FOR HOMELESSNESS AS IT'S GROWING IN NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY, EVERY COMMUNITY.

WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE A LOBBYIST.

FROM THAT, THERE WAS SOME EXTRA OPERA DOLLARS LEFT, ABOUT TWO MILLION DOLLARS, AND THEY DEDICATED ABOUT $425,000 COMING TO COUNCIL BLUFFS.

BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO RUN THROUGH THE CITY OF THAT 425,000, MICA HOUSE WILL RECEIVE 125,000, AND THEY COIN NEW VISIONS TO GET 300,000, WHICH WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR US.

THAT WOULD BE THE LARGEST OPERATION GRANT WE HAVE EVER GOT AT NEW VISIONS.

JUST SOME DATA POINTS, I WANT TO GO OVER FROM JANUARY 1ST UNTIL MAY 4TTH, 2025.

IN OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER, WE HAVE HOUSED OR PROVIDED SHELTER FOR 910 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.

261 OF THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS ASSISTED BY NEW VISIONS TO GET INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, WHETHER WE DID CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THEM, FILLED OUT HOUSING APPLICATIONS ARE PAID TO ASSIST THEM 73.8% WERE FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THIS IS HOT OFF THE PRESS DATA. STREET OUTREACH.

WE'VE ENROLLED 446 INTO OUR PROGRAM, AND ROUGHLY THE LAST 18 MONTHS MADE CONTACT WITH 791 INDIVIDUALS.

IN POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY, 791, AND 52% OF THOSE ARE WOMEN.

COUNCILS OMAHA AREA OUT OF ALL HUD AREAS, AND THE NATION HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF STREET OUTREACH RISING IN OUR COUNTRY.

184 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AGAIN, WE'RE ASSISTED IN DEPARTMENT HOUSING BY US AND 71.2% FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS.

SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF IS WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED DRE FUNDING, WHICH IS DIVERSION OR RAPID EXIT.

WE SPENT ABOUT $270,000 TO HELP PEOPLE GET HOUSED.

LIKE JOSH SAID, IN A MARKET WHERE THERE'S ABOUT 1.5% AVAILABLE RENTAL HOUSING.

MY TEAM IS WORKING VERY HARD TO GET INDIVIDUALS HOUSED,

[00:35:03]

AND WE JUST PULLED UP THE DATA THIS MORNING, AND 100% OF THEM REMAINED HOUSE, AND SO HAVEN'T CAME BACK INTO THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

THEN YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT COST.

THE AVERAGE COST FOR GEL IS ABOUT $175.

>> WE DO IT FOR $14.25 A NIGHT AT NEW VISIONS.

I WAS JUST ON A CALL WITH THERE'S ABOUT 15 SHELTERS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE DOLLARS.

THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF IOWA, I FOUND OUT THAT I IS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT TO GET AWARDED AT 300,000, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M AWESOME, WHICH I THINK I AM PRETTY AWESOME.

BUT ALL OF OUR INFORMATION GOES INTO THE DATABASE.

WE HAVE THE BEST OUTCOMES OUT OF THE SHELTERS, AND WE DO IT WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE GOT AWARDED SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING IN COUNCIL BLASS FROM THE HOP TEAM TO CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE ALL COMING TOGETHER.

I KNOW ROGER MET WITH ME, AND HE'S LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE HOMELESS PROBLEM.

I'M LIKE, ME TOO. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. IT IS HARD.

I KNOW, JUST LIKE YOU GUYS BEING IN LEADERSHIP, THERE'S A LOT OF PERCEPTIONS OUT THERE, A LOT OF NARRATIVES, PEOPLE TELL THEMSELVES THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING FOR THE CITY, BUT I COULD TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO GO AWAY.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE SERVICES HERE, PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

THESE DOLLARS WILL GO INTO 2026.

I'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH THE COUNCIL OF POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE HOSPITALS CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

I'VE BEEN GOING TO OTHER SHELTERS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO CHANGE BECAUSE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS A REAL THING.

ABOUT 80% OF PEOPLE I SERVE IN MY SHELTER NEVER HAVE RUN INS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THAT 20% OF PEOPLE THAT ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH ARE CONTINUOUSLY, NOT ONLY AT MY SHELTER ON THE STREETS.

NOBODY LIKES THE WORD INSTITUTIONS, BUT WE HAVE DONE AWAY WITH LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES.

I HAD SOMEBODY IN THE FOYER OF MY AREA, PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIC, AND YOU CAN SEE HE WAS TALKING TO HIMSELF, AND HE RAN STRAIGHT THROUGH MY DRYWALL.

THEN HERE I AM. HE'S DONE $1,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE.

WE'RE NOT THE RIGHT LEVEL OF CARE.

HE'S NOT HOMICIDAL, AND HE'S NOT SUICIDAL, SO HE CAN'T GO TO JAIL.

I GUESS I COULD HAVE CALLED, BUT THAT WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING.

WENT TO THE HOSPITAL, RELEASED IN A COUPLE OF HOURS, WENT TO A MENTAL HEALTH RESPITE PROGRAM WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY SAID HIS LEVEL OF CARE IS TOO HIGH FOR THEM AND THEY SENT HIM BACK TO MY SHELTER.

I KNOW I DO GET A BLACK GUY IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE DO GET A LOT OF CALLS, BUT I'VE RAISED MY HAND AND SAID, I'LL TAKE THEM ON.

I'M PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH THE COUNCILS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THIS MONEY WOULD REALLY HELP BECAUSE A PEER MODEL IS BEST PRACTICES, BUT WE ARE BECOMING UP AGAINST SOMETHING WE NEVER HAVE, AND SO I JUST GOT A GRANT.

I WAS ABLE TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL NIGHTTIME STAFF, WEEKEND STAFF, AND AN EXTRA MAINTENANCE INDIVIDUAL THAT WALKS THE PROPERTY FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND CLEANS NOT ONLY OUR PROPERTY, BUT FOUR BLOCKS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT WE'D HAVE FUNDING FOR THOSE POSITIONS NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE DOING SOME SECURITY THING.

CHIEF JAMES HAS BEEN AWESOME.

WE'RE UPDATING OUR CAMERAS THAT COULD ALSO GO INTO MILESTONES WHICH THE CITY USES, SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COULD GO IN AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IF WE HAVE A INCIDENT OR WHATNOT.

WE'RE REALLY DOING OUR BEST.

CHIEF DAVIS SENT SOME OF HIS OFFICERS OVER TO DES MOINES.

A SHELTER I WENT TO AND SEEN SOME OF THEIR BEST PRACTICES.

I KNOW WE GET ABOUT $20,000 A YEAR FROM THE CITY.

20,000, LET THAT SINK IN TO SERVE 910.

I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVEN'T GOT ANY MORE MONEY FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT BUT THE NEED IS VERY MUCH THERE.

IT IS HARD, BUT AS A COMMUNITY, WE ARE TACKLING IT.

THEN ALSO IS RESOURCING, I AM THROWING THE KITCHEN SINK AT INDIVIDUALS IN MY SHELTER, 40% OF THEM ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, WHICH MEANS THEY'VE BEEN IN MY SHELTER FOR A YEAR LONGER, AND I'M TALKING TO THEM.

I CAN'T BE YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MOVEMENT THROUGH MY SHELTER, YOU'RE SEEING INCREASED STREET OUTREACH NUMBERS, AND SO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH TONS OF PEOPLE. YOU CAN SEE IT ON THERE.

EVERY DAY, ALL CARE HAS INCREASED THEIR HOURS, SO WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY EMT CALLS.

WE'RE GETTING THE VA MOBILE CLINIC THERE.

THE IO WORKFORCE IS COMING WITH THEIR MOBILE WORK CLINIC.

WE JUST GRADUATED A CLASS FROM IO WESTON.

EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP INDIVIDUALS GET HOUSING READY WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

>> BRANDY, I DON'T THINK IT SEEMS SURPRISE TO YOU, THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WOMEN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND OUR HOMELESS PROGRAMS. WOMEN WITH FAMILIES CAN GO TO MICA HOUSE.

BUT WOMEN INDIVIDUAL HOMELESS OR WITH A SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

THE WOMAN GETS LEFT OUT IN THE CAR AT NIGHT.

I'M JUST SHOCKED TO SEE 52% OF THAT NUMBER ARE WOMEN, AND SO IT APPEARS TO BE IT'S A LARGER POPULATION THAN WHAT I ANTICIPATED, IS IT A GROWING POPULATION?

>> IT IS VERY MUCH SO. I THINK THE HOP TEAM AND CHIEF DAVIS COULD TALK TO THAT TOO.

MICA HOUSE DOES HAVE 26 BEDS FOR WOMEN, BUT IF YOU'RE NUMBER 27, YOU CAN'T GO IN, WHERE I WILL PUT DOWN AN EXTRA MAT OR WHEN IT GETS SUPER COLD CHAIRS AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO GET THEM IN,

[00:40:03]

AND SO MY CAMPUS REALLY ABSORBS THAT.

THEY COME AND SHOWER THERE, THEY GET FED THERE, THEY GET HYGIENE PRODUCTS THERE.

WE TRY TO PROGRAM I'M THERE, BUT SOMETHING ELSE WE'RE DOING IS REALLY LEVERAGING OTHER RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.

LIKE THE HARTLAND FAMILY SERVICE PEER CENTER.

WE GIVE RIDES EVERY MORNING AFTER THE WOMEN EAT BREAKFAST.

PLEASE GO TO HARTLAND BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

I'M ALSO LEVERAGING SOME FOR MY VETERANS CAMPUS IN OMAHA.

I HAVE SECURITY 24/7 THERE AND SO THIS NEW CAMERA SYSTEM WILL ALLOW THEM TO WATCH MY CAMERAS 24/7 OVER THERE.

I ALSO HAVE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE THERAPIST, AND ONE OF MY SHELTER ADVOCATES, SHE'S GOT HER PLAYBACK AND SHE WANTS TO GET IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SO HE'S GOING TO START COMING AND WORKING.

THAT'S A HUGE BARRIER IS WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS TREATMENT.

COULD WALK IN ON ONE DAY A WEEK AT A AGENCY AND YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET AN EVALUATION TO EVEN GET IT.

I'M TRYING TO LEVERAGE WHATEVER RESOURCES I CAN FROM MY AGENCY AS A WHOLE TO BRING OVER TO COUNCIL BLASS BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF MEAT ON THE BONES WHEN IT COMES TO MY PROGRAM.

WE DO IT FOR $14 A NIGHT.

THE FEMA STANDARD WAS 22.50 A NIGHT, AND THAT WAS SET 14 YEARS AGO.

WE DO IT WELL UNDER WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS ARE DOING PER SHELTER.

BUT WE DO GREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

CAN WE DO BETTER? YEAH. ARE WE TRYING TO DO BETTER? YEAH, HAVING THESE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS.

BUT THIS MONEY WOULD REALLY INFUSE US TO HAVE THE WARMING CENTER FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THAT WAS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

THEN, ALSO TO MAKE SURE THESE THREE NEW POSITIONS WILL REMAIN BECAUSE WITH FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS, WE JUST HAD OUR AMERICA OR POSITION, WHICH WAS A FULL TIME POSITION.

WE ENDED UP LOSING THAT.

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE OVER TIL MIDSUMMER, AND HIS LAST DAY IS MAY 9TH.

THAT'S LIKE A FULL TIME POSITION THAT WENT ON STREET OUTREACH WITH US.

WE CAN'T REALLY ANTICIPATE WHAT FUNDERS OR WHAT GOVERNMENTAL FUNDING IS GOING TO BE LIKE NEXT YEAR, BUT THESE DOLLARS WILL HELP TO HELP US.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS FOR BRANDY?

>> NOT A QUESTION, BUT THANK YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU DO.

I THINK WE ALL SEE THIS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES AND CONCERNS IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

I VOLUNTEER DOWN FOR THE CHRISTMAS AND JUST TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH TO GET A LOAF OF BREAD, A MEAL FOR CHRISTMAS, AND THEN PICK OUT A GIFT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I SAW ON YOUR FACEBOOK YOU GUYS LAST FEW MONTHS STARTED DOING CLOTHES WASHING AND TAKING PEOPLE DOWN TO WASH THEIR CLOTHES THAT WAY THEY'RE READY AND THEY CAN GO OUT AND HAVE INTERVIEWS AND CLEAN CLOTHES AND THAT HYGIENE PORTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT TOO, AND TO SEE 100% OF THE INDIVIDUALS REMAINED HOUSED IS JUST AN ABSOLUTE AMAZING STATISTIC.

>> THOSE ARE ONES THAT GOT THE FINANCIAL AND THE CASE MANAGEMENT.

I WISH I COULD SAY EVERYONE.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS WE SERVED 910 MEN IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND THERE'S NOT 910 MEN ON THE STREETS OF COUNCIL BLASS.

BUT WHAT WE DOING DOES MATTER AND DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU, ALSO, BRANDY.

IT'S A THANKLESS JOB.

I KNOW THIS AND HAVING PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH HOMELESSNESS.

MANY TIMES WE HAVE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HOMELESS THEY WANT TO BE THERE AND THAT.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCES, THEY JUST DO NOT HAVE THE COGNITIVE ABILITY AT TIME TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ONCE THEY HIT THAT STREET LEVEL, HOMELESSNESS, TO GET UP OUT OF THERE WITHOUT A LOT OF HELP.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

I'LL SUPPORT YOU ANY WAY I CAN.

ALSO, LOOK TOWARDS THOSE WOMEN BECAUSE THE WOMEN ON TOP OF BEING HOMELESS, MANY TIMES ARE VICTIMIZED.

>> SEVENTY SIX PERCENT HAVE REPORTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SO A LOT OF THEM HAVE.

I KNOW A PRICE IS GETTING PAID FOR THEM TO STAY OUT AND APART WITH A GENTLEMAN AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AS A COMMUNITY, THAT IS ALWAYS TOP OF OUR CONVERSATIONS AT CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WHAT ARE WE [INAUDIBLE]? I KNOW IT'S HARD.

I KNOW THE CARS IN FRONT OF MY CAMPUS DON'T LOOK GREAT, BUT CHIEF DAVIS AND I, IF WE TOW THEIR CAR, THEN WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE STREETS AND THEIR FOOTPUTS ON THE STREETS ARE VERY VISIBLE AND YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GET, WHAT ARE YOU DOING AS A CITY? WHERE YOU GUYS ARE SUPPORTING US AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

IT'S HARD DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE EVERY DAY, AND IT IS HARD WHEN YOU'RE GETTING SPIT ON AND CUSSED AT AND THREATENED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

EVERY OTHER BUSINESS COULD CALL 911, BUT WHEN WE CALL, THAT'S A TAX SUCK, AND WHY IS IT? WHEN AGAIN, IT'S SUCH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT JUST DO NOT FIT INTO COMMUNITY NORMS. AS I'VE TALKED TO INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE TO BRING BACK LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES FOR THEM TO GO.

>> ABSOLUTELY. HERE'S THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO REMIND OUR COUNCIL AND OUR CITY AND POLICE AND FIRE.

WE REPRESENT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHETHER THEY'RE LIVING ALONG THE RIVER OR THEY'RE TRANSFERRING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY,

[00:45:08]

WE'RE THERE TO SERVICE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND BE LEADERS FOR THEM AND SO WE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT AS WE LEGISLATE. THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S WHERE THE FRUSTRATION COMES AS YOU GOT EMERGENCY SHELTERS, EMERGENCY ROOMS, EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND WE ARE ALL HOLDING A LONG TERM SYSTEM FELL THAT NONE OF US ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND WE DON'T HAVE THOSE LONG TERM SOLUTIONS.

I'M A PROPONENT FOR ALL HOUSING BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE HOUSING TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT.

SOME OF OUR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOME OR WHATNOT CAN TAKE INTO SOME OF THE OTHER HOUSING STOCK.

>> BRANDY, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TOUGH THIS JOB IS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU GUYS ARE DOING SOME GOOD THINGS, A NEW VISIONS AND AT MICA HOUSE TOO AS WELL.

I DON'T THINK MORE MONEY BEING THROWN AT THIS, AND OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THIS WILL BE GOING TO SALARIES FOR SOME OF THESE NEW EMPLOYEES.

LIKE YOU SAID, WE GET CALLS FROM BUSINESS OWNERS FROM CONSTITUENTS ALL OVER TOWN FRUSTRATED WITH THE HOMELESS PROBLEM.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS, INCLUDING HOUSING THAT IS FACING, IT'S ONE AND THE SAME, ITS SIMILAR.

>> FRANKLY, IT'S NEVER THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOW IT'S OUR JOINT RESPONSIBILITY.

>> BUT STATISTICALLY, THE MORE MONEY WE GET, IN 2019, I SERVED 950 MEN IN MY SHELTER.

DURING THE COVID YEARS, I DID GET ARPA.

WE DID GET A USED NON CONGREGATE SHELTER.

MY NUMBERS WENT FROM 910-400 MEN IN MY SHELTER FOR 2020 AND 2021.

WE WERE SOLVING HOMELESSNESS.

WE WERE DOING RENT MITIGATIONS, WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSE AND SO IT IS MORE MONEY.

LIKE I SAID, I'M WORKING ON A STRU STRING BUDGET RIGHT NOW AND SO I COULD SEE WHY YOU THINK THAT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT STATISTICS AND EVEN IN DES MOINES, THEY GET OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THEIR CITY AND THEIR COUNTY FOR HOMELESS SERVICES AND ARE ABLE TO DO SOME MORE CREATIVE THINGS.

I COULD JUST SPEAK TO THE DATA I HAVE HAD.

I CUT MY NUMBERS IN HALF IN 2020 AND 2021 WHEN WE HAD THOSE TOOLS AND THOSE RESOURCES TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.

I'M JUST ASKING FOR SOME MONEY.

> THOSE RESOURCES INCLUDE HOUSING?

>> THEY DID INCLUDE HOUSING.

>> WHEN THEY ALSO INCLUDE, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE WARMING CENTER, AND I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN YEARS PAST.

MANY FOLKS THAT COME IN AND USE THAT, THE FACILITIES THERE AREN'T JUST THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

IT'S THE UNDERSERVED OR UNDERPRIVILEGED THE FOLKS THAT ARE OF A SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS THAT DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO SAY, MAYBE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR WATER BILL IN THE WINTERTIME, SO THEY'LL COME AND WASH THEIR CLOTHES THERE AND HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THEIR LAUNDRY OR WHATEVER THEY MAY NEED DONE, SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED THERE.

THERE'S A VERY GRAY LINE THAT SEPARATES THE PERSON IN YOUR SHELTER FROM THE PERSON OUT OF YOUR SHELTER THAT MAY BE IN A HOME BUT MANY WOULD CLASSIFY AS, THERE WAS A BOOK I ONCE READ IT SAYS THE WORKING POOR.

THEY AREN'T HOMELESS, BUT THEY ARE NOT FAR OFF.

>> I ALWAYS SAY $20 DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT OF MONEY UNTIL IT'S YOUR LAST 20 BUCKS.

>> EVEN AT THE LAUNDRY OF LOVE, WE HAD FAMILIES THAT WERE COMING THROUGH AND JUST WASHING THEIR CLOTHES AND I ENGAGED THEM.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DRY OUR CLOTHES.

I'M LIKE, I GOT QUARTERS, I'LL HELP YOU.

BUT THAT'S THE THING ENDED THE WARMING CENTER.

WE HAD TWO SENIORS THAT CAME FOR HEAT BECAUSE THEY OWN THEIR OWN HOME AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN HVAC SYSTEM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH CONNECTIONS.

BUT I GET IT, ROGER.

IT'S A HARD THING THAT PEOPLE HAVE PUT A LOT OF MONEY.

I THINK PUTTING MONEY IN THE RIGHT PLACES WORK.

I THINK THAT WE DID LEARN THROUGH COVID, WHAT WORKED IN SOME COMMUNITIES AND WHAT DIDN'T.

BUT I COULD TELL YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT DID WORK IS WHEN WE DID RENTAL ASSISTANCE WHEN WE HAD NON CONGREGATE SHELTERS, WE GOT SOME OF THOSE HIGH UTILIZERS OF MEDICAL OUT OF OUR SHELTER AND STABILIZED AND THEN ALSO TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND JUST BECAUSE I TOLD PEOPLE I WOULD ASK WHEN YOU CAME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME WHY IT'S A LOW BARRIER SHELTER, NOT A HIGH BARRIER SHELTER.

WHERE YOU DON'T DO DRUG TESTING OR TO SEE IF THEY'RE SOBER BEFORE YOU LET THEM IN, AND I WOULD SAY THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THE COMMENTS I GET FROM PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> THE EASIEST WAY TO DO IT IS WE HAVE REALLY AWESOME HOSPITALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AWESOME HOSPITALS THAT ARE CURING CANCER.

IF OUR HOSPITAL LOOKED AT SOMEBODY LIKE, HEY YOU HAVE LEUKEMIA, I HELP CARE CANCER, BUT I'M GOING TO NEED YOU TO HEAL YOURSELF FIRST BEFORE YOU COME INTO OUR HOSPITAL.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND YOU HAVE NOWHERE SAFE TO STAY.

IF YOU'RE A WOMAN AND YOU'RE ON THE STREETS AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET BEAT, RAPED, OR WHATNOT, YOU CAN EVEN ACCESS THE HIGHER LEVELS OF YOUR BRAIN.

[00:50:01]

YOU'RE LIVING OUT OF FIGHT, FLIGHT OR FREEZE.

BEING BORN AND RAISED IN COUNCIL BLASS, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN MY CAMPUS THAN IN THE STREETS ON THE PARKS.

DESPERATE PEOPLE DO DESPERATE THINGS.

I'D RATHER HAVE THEM BEING ABLE TO CONNECT INTO ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, GETTING IN EVALUATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND SO THAT'S THE EASIEST ANSWER YOU HAVE.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT IS HARD WORK.

I GET A BLACK EYE IN THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME, BUT I'VE RAISED MY HAND AND SAID, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THEM THERE.

>> WELL, AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THAT IS THAT.

>> I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BRANDY A LOT.

>> I APPRECIATE HIM.

>> WE EVEN SAT DOWN WITH BRANDY.

GOD, PROBABLY FOUR MONTHS AGO.

THE MAYOR ASKED ME ONE TIME WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING AND I TOLD HIM 30% OF MY TIME IS WORKING ON THE HOMELESS ISSUE, AND I'M NOT EXAGGERATING.

A GREAT DEAL OF TIME FROM POLICE AND FIRE IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET THIS ANSWER.

IT'S NOT AN EASY ANSWER.

I HATE SEEING THE STUFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF UNINFORMED OR UNEDUCATED PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE BECAUSE THE ANSWER, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DEALING WITH IT AT A LOCAL LEVEL, IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST US.

ONE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A JUDICIARY THAT DOES ITS JOB.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A STATE THAT HOLDS PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, AND EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, THE STATE IS TAKING TOOLS AWAY FROM US TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM CHILDREN.

SOME OF THEM ARE, BUT THERE'S SOME GREAT PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

WE WENT AND MET WITH BRANDY SOME TIME AGO WITH MY ACTUAL CREWS, MIKE GABO, CAPTAIN GABO, RESPONDS THERE A LOT.

WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH HAVING TO TAKE PEOPLE'S BELONGINGS.

WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO LEAVE THEM, SO WE WORK WITH BRANDY TO DEVELOP A LOCKER SYSTEM OR SOMEWHERE AT STORING THEM, SO THAT WE'RE NOT TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.

THEY COULD BE FULL OF BEDBUGS AND OTHER ISSUES.

OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS THAT BRANDY DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCES TO HAVE 24-HOUR STAFF.

WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE CREEPED TO THIS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE STAFF DOWN THERE THAT ARE PAID SEPARATE FROM THE HOMELESS POPULATION TO HOLD THINGS IN CHECK OVERNIGHT.

I WAS GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BY FIRE PERSONNEL OF GOING IN THERE AT NIGHT, AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL SAFE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS GOING.

THERE'S A MATTER OF TIME WHERE WE'RE GOING AND SOME OF THIS INVESTMENT IS WHAT EXACTLY WHAT BRANDY'S TALKING ABOUT.

WE WENT TO HER AND SAID, YOU GOT TO HAVE 24-HOUR COVERAGE INSIDE THIS BUILDING AND OUTSIDE OF IT.

BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT DEAL WITH THE ISSUES. NO BARRIER.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT TOUGHER FOR THEM TO BE NO BARRIER WHEN THERE'S SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BUILDING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS ACCESS TO.

THAT HELPS US GET AT LEAST THEM BACK IN FRONT OF THE SYSTEM.

>> OUTSIDE OF IT, WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT I AGREE WITH BRANDY. WE'VE TALKED A LOT.

YOU PUT NO PARKING DOWN THERE.

THE ONE THING THEY PROBABLY COULD USE IS SOME PARKING.

THESE PEOPLE ARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S WHETHER IT'S ON YOUR STREET.

I GO TO PALM SPRINGS A LOT FOR A DIFFERENT GIG, AND I SEE HOMELESS PARKED AND CAMPERS ALL OVER IN PALM SPRINGS AND INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA. THEY'RE OUT THERE.

THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY OR ARE GOING TO BE WHERE WE CAN TRY TO GET THEM SOME RESOURCES.

BRANDY IS MAKING SOME LOGISTIC CHANGES INTERIOR, STARTING TO TRY TO NUDGE THEM TO EITHER, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO STAY HERE DURING THE DAY, YOU HAVE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH ONE OF OUR RESOURCES.

HOP'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF TRYING TO COMBAT SOME OF THIS.

I THINK THEY HAVE START TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE TROUBLED ISSUES, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE WHERE DRUGS ARE COMING FROM.

HOPEFULLY, OVER TIME, WE'LL SMACK THAT DOWN.

THEN THEY BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE PEOPLE.

I WAS OUT ON A WARRANT SWEEP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, I HAD A WARRANT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL DOWN AT THE RIVER.

WE WALKED DOWN THERE, ME AND FOUR OTHER COPS AND SAID, "HEY, WHERE'S JOE?" I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME. JUST MAKING ONE UP.

THEY'RE LIKE, "JOE'S IN THE TENT RIGHT THERE." [LAUGHTER] IT WASN'T THIS JOE.

SOME OF THIS IS ABOUT BUILDING SOME LEVEL OF TRUST WITH THIS POPULATION.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.

I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS WE GOT TO WORK ON WITH BRANDY, AND I THINK BRANDY HAS A PLAN.

NOW WE NEED THE DOLLARS TO DO IT.

THANK GOD FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE IOS THAT TOOK A HAIR BRAIN IDEA ON A NAPKIN AT A LUNCH AND TURNED IT INTO CHASITY, AND THAT'S BEEN A HUGE HELP TO US.

IF YOU TALK TO FIRE PERSONNEL, THAT'S LIKE THEIR FAVORITE CITY EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THEY CAN JUST CALL HER AND SHE HELPS FIX THE PROBLEM, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX THEM ALL, BUT WE AT LEAST CAN GET GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE NEED SOME INVESTMENT IN THAT BUILDING TO ENSURE SECURITY.

ONE THING IS WE ARE BIG ON, WE WANT TO TRY TO KEEP THEM, AND SO THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS. WE WANT TO GET CARE TO THEM THROUGH ALLCARE.

>> ALLCARE, NEBRASKA METHODIST.

>> NEBRASKA METHODIST IS DOWN THERE NOW.

THEY HAVE A FACILITY, BUT WE NEED TO GET SOME INTAKE GOING ON IN MORE OF A SECURED AREA.

WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY CAN'T JUST RANDOMLY WALK IN.

BRANDY, ALARM DOORS THAT WERE GETTING PROPPED OPEN BEFORE THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH.

[00:55:02]

SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE THE DECISION.

BUT I UNDERSTAND, THIS AIN'T BRANDY.

THIS IS OUR PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE MAY BE COMING HERE, SOME ARE OURS.

BUT IN THE END OF THE DAY, THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO TAKE STATE INVESTMENT.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT WANTS TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, AND GET THEM CLEAN ENOUGH THAT WE CAN GET THEM THE HELP THEY NEED, BECAUSE EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, BRANDY, AND ALL OF YOU, WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.

WE WANT TO TRY TO GET THIS SOLVED.

THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE DEALING WITH A VERY UNSTABLE POPULATION, AND WITHOUT SOME ABILITY TO CONFINE THEM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND VOLUNTARILY, IT GETS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON SOME POPULATION.

THERE ARE SOME THAT COME IN THAT ARE GREAT PEOPLE THAT JUST ARE ON HARD TIMES.

I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, I'M THREE BAD DECISIONS AWAY FROM BEING RIGHT THERE.

REALLY, IF YOU TAKE THREE REAL BAD DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU'LL BE IN THEIR SHOES.

I'VE HEARD SOME CRAZY STORIES OF GOOD CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ENDED UP HAVING A TRAGEDY.

THEN ENDED UP THEY HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BEFORE.

THEN THEY SUFFER THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY, NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABUSING SOMETHING, AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOMELESS, AND WE'RE ON THE STREET DOING WHATEVER.

YOU GOT TO FIND A WAY TO BREAK THE CYCLE, AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS GOING TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BRANDY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

>> WELL, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US WORK ON AS A COMMUNITY OR IN HOMELESS IS A TRIAGE CENTER WHERE INDIVIDUALS LAND.

WE KNOW THE FREQUENT FLIERS WHEN YOU SERVICE THESE PEOPLE.

WHEN THEY LAND IN THE TRIAGE CENTER, THEN THEY'RE TRIAGED AND HELD FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, SAY, 90 DAYS.

IT TAKES 30 DAYS TO GET THEM DRIED OUT.

IT TAKES 30 DAYS TO GET MEDICINE TO THEM THAT MIGHT WORK, AND ANOTHER 30 DAYS, LIKE I SAY, TO SEE IF IT'S GOING TO EVEN WORK FOR THEM.

SOME OF THE MEDICINES THEY GIVE TAKE A MONTH BEFORE THEY TAKE HOLD TO SEE IF IT'S GOING TO WORK WITHIN THAT COGNITIVE ABILITY.

IF YOU CAN WORK IN A DIRECTION OF THAT, THAT MIGHT HELP.

WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL COMING INTO TOWN, MAYBE WE CAN GET A GOOD FOOTHOLD ON THIS AND START SEEING A SWING AND CHANGE IN DIRECTION.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT THE REGION THAT DOES MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL AND DISABILITY IS GOING THROUGH A BIG CHANGE.

IOWA PRIMARY CARE HAS TAKEN THAT OVER, AND EVERY COMMUNITY HAS TO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT SIT ON THE BOARD AND MYSELF AND CHIEF DAVIS WERE THE TWO SELECTED FOR POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY AND THIS SOUTHWESTERN PART.

THAT'S A LOT OF IT HAVING OUR VOICES THERE THAT ARE WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN IT AND SEEING THE BARRIERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WE'RE HOPEFUL. IT JUST STARTED.

WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING LAST WEEK, AND SO I'M VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM AND BRING WHAT WE'RE SEEING TO DO STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS, THE MENTAL HEALTH REGION, THAT IT WAS OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM.

PEOPLE WE PARTNERED WITH ALL THE TIME JUST GOT COMPLETELY WIPED.

THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

WE BASICALLY TOOK A SYSTEM THAT HAD AT LEAST ONE COUNTY HOME THROUGH HISTORY, TURNED IT IN TO BASICALLY REGIONALIZE, STARTED CLOSING COUNTY HOMES, AND NOW WE HAVE TWO IN THE STATE OF IOWA, AND THEY WANT TO RUN EVERYTHING OUT OF DES MOINES.

THAT'S THE INVESTMENT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

>> [INAUDIBLE] I DON'T KNOW, FOR A FACT, 42 BIDS.

>> THAT'S THE STRUGGLE WHEN I HEAR CITIZENS, AND I'VE SAID ON FACEBOOK BEFORE OR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA, LIKE, EVERYONE'S BLAMING THE CITY.

THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE HOMELESS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DOING THEIR JOB.

THAT PIECE OF IT. THE PROBLEM IS THE OTHER PART OF THE PIECE ISN'T THERE RIGHT NOW.

WE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

THEY TRIED TO PRIVATIZE A SYSTEM THAT I DON'T THINK THEY CAN MAKE MONEY ON BECAUSE IT'S NOT EQUABLE.[OVERLAPPING]

>> WELL, I READ NARRATIVES THAT SAY, JUST KEEP ARRESTING THEM TILL THEY LEAVE.

WELL, THAT ISN'T HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.

YOU CAN'T JUST ARREST SOMEBODY FOR BEING POOR.

>> LOOK AT THE COST.

>> ONE THING I CAN SAY IN RESPONSE TO CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY, OR CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE VISUAL EFFECT OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE COMMUNITY, THE HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM PROJECT STARTED WITH THE HELPING HAND.

THROUGH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COACH, OUR FIRST PHASE WAS GOING OUT, DOING OUTREACH, GETTING TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY, NAMES, FACES BUILDING THE TRUST.

BUT WHAT I CAN ALSO TELL YOU IS THAT THE HOP MISSION HAS BEEN FOCUSING VERY STRATEGICALLY ON DANGEROUS MEMBERS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

THROUGH THE HELP OF CHASITY, WITH THE GROWING POPULATION OF FEMALES.

WE'VE HAD SOME VERY SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES THAT HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED, SOME ARSON CASES, SOME VERY VIOLENT FELONIES, WITH COOPERATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MATT WILBUR'S OFFICE.

WHILE HOP HAS A VERY WARM AND FUZZY, IF YOU WILL, FEELING TO IT, WHAT I CAN TELL THE CITIZENS AND COUNSEL IS THAT WE ARE VERY

[01:00:03]

STRATEGICALLY WORKING TO GET DANGEROUS PEOPLE IDENTIFIED.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CASES JUST RECENTLY WHERE WE'VE HAD 3-5 YEAR SENTENCES.

NOW THAT'S NOT ARRESTING OUR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, THAT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS HERE TO STAY.

OUR JOB AS THE POLICE, I'VE TOLD THE HOP TEAM VERY CLEARLY, OUR MISSION CAN'T BE TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS.

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO.

BUT WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN DO IS MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFE FOR EVERYBODY, WHETHER YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER ON THE HUNTER BLOCK, WHETHER YOU'RE LIVING ON THE WEST END, OR YOU'RE LIVING IN A TENT DOWN BY THE RIVER.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY DELIBERATELY TO TARGET VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS AND MAKE THE COMMUNITY AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

A LOT OF THAT IS FLYING UNDER THE RADAR, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU'RE GETTING IN THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

>> IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SEE HERE THE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY HAS TO PUT IN TO HOMELESSNESS THAT WE NEVER HAD TO PUT IN BEFORE.

I'M BEATING A DRUM, BUT THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO SAY, YOU'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY, AND SO WE GET UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH, AND IT'S A STRUGGLE.

>> WELL, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BRANDY USE THE MONEY NOT TO DO DRUG TESTS TO LET SOMEBODY IN OR OUT, BUT TO ACTUALLY HELP SOMEBODY.

EVERYBODY HAS ISSUES, PROBLEMS, BUT TO YOUR POINT, LET'S HELP THE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN HELP, AND THEN WE TRIAGE THE OTHER PEOPLE.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? FINAL QUESTIONS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS?

>> BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, REAL QUICK, COURTNEY, CAN YOU COME UP AND TALK ABOUT VALLEY VIEW AND CAINSVILLE.

JUST WHAT I ASKED YOU BECAUSE IT DOES SAY IN THE PACKET, IT TALKS ABOUT THE HOUSING THAT'S GOING UP THERE AND THAT IS NOT HOUSING, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE URBAN REVIT. JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS.

>> A FEW YEARS AGO, WE WENT TO A CONSOLIDATED URBAN REVITALIZATION PLAN.

THAT WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE USED TO BRING TO YOU INDIVIDUAL AREAS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WORKS GREAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC AREA, AND YOU WANT TO JUST MOVE THAT FORWARD.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT EVERY TIME WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THE LANGUAGE, WE HAD TO BRING ALL OF THEM BACK TO YOU, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE CITY.

WE WENT TO A CONSOLIDATED PLAN WHICH COVERS ALL THE THINGS, WHICH INCLUDES THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL AND THE HOUSING.

THESE TWO SPECIFIC AREAS DO NOT HAVE HOUSING GOING INTO THEM, THEY'RE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS, BUT IT REFERENCES THE HOUSING BECAUSE IT HAS TO AS A CITYWIDE PLAN. PERFECT PLAN.

>> QUESTIONS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THE THREE ORDINANCES, ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE? HOW ABOUT RESOLUTIONS?

>> JUST BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T READ THE AGENDA.

MIMI DOBSON, MALINA DOBSON WILL BE OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY, EFFECTIVE MAY 12TH.

DICK WILL BE STICKING AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT HE'S RETIRED PRETTY MUCH THE 12TH. CONGRATS MIMI.

>> CONGRATS MIMI. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO APPLIED AND THANK YOU TO JOE AND ROGER FOR BEING PART OF THAT COMMITTEE.

APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DID ON THAT.

>> THANKS TO DICK.

>> THE 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.

>> BEEN WORKING WITH DICK FOR 30 YEARS, AND I CAN'T THINK EVER OF A TIME WHERE HE DIDN'T HAVE A WELL CONSIDERED ANSWER AND ACCESS TO THE RIGHT INFORMATION.

I APPRECIATE ALL YOU'VE DONE.

>> JUST HOPE HE CAN SHOW MIMI WHERE IT'S ALL AT.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE RESOLUTIONS? I THINK TONIGHT, USUALLY I DON'T BIFURCATE THE SPEAKERS, BUT I'M GOING TO DO FOR AND AGAINST RATHER THAN JUST LETTING PEOPLE TO COME UP RANDOMLY.

>> SHE'S GOT TWO WEEKS.

[LAUGHTER].

I THINK IF WE HAVE ANYONE HERE WHO'S IN FAVOR OF, I'LL LET THEM SPEAK FIRST.

I'M TALKING ON 8E.

>> YOU MEAN TO GO ONE THEN ANOTHER ONE?

>> WELL, IT'S AWFUL, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR FIRST [OVERLAPPING] AND THEN AGAINST AFTER THAT.

>> NOT ALL FOR AT FIRST?

>> WHAT DO THINK ABOUT ALTERNATING? I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT. DOESN'T MATTER.

[01:05:05]

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT MATTERS.

>> I DON'T THINK IT DOES.

>> IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THAT, I THINK.

IF THOSE AGAINST ARE UPSET BY THAT, I THINK IT REALLY GIVES THEM A DISTINCT ADVANTAGE IN THAT THEY CAN HEAR THE PEOPLE IN FAVOR PRIOR TO COMING UP SO THEY CAN TAILOR THEIR COMMENTS ACCORDINGLY.

THEN, OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO BE CIVIL.

PEOPLE AT THE PODIUM DON'T ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE TO SPEAK TO YOU, THE COUNSEL, AND WE'LL HOLD THEM TO THAT.

THEY GET FIVE MINUTES.

WE'LL HOLD THEM TO THAT.

I'M A LITTLE WORRIED THAT A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL MIGHT BE HERE AND SO WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE HIM LEAVE POST HASTE.

HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME I'M THE TARGET NOW.

>> WE ASKED CHIEF DAVIS TO HAVE A COUPLE OFFICERS HERE TONIGHT.

>> WE'LL MAKE IT GO VERY SMOOTHLY AND GET EVERYBODY'S INPUT IN A CIVIL MATTER.

FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE RESOLUTIONS OR THE APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS?

>> 9C.

I READ THE APPLICATION FOR THE NOISE VARIANCE AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE FIREWORKS.

>> JUST PRESIDENTIAL.

>> IT'S APPROVED FOR THE RUN.

>> I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT'S A GOOD BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

>> THEY MUST NOT GET IT, THEY DON'T NEED THAT. [LAUGHTER]

>> I KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH FIREWORKS, I WANT THAT. [LAUGHTER]

>> IT'S THE ONLY LAW ABIDING HOUSEHOLD IN COUNCIL BLUFFS ON THE 4TH OF JULY. [LAUGHTER]

>> I KNOW THAT. AS PER THE PERMIT. I LIKE IT.

>> MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE.

>> I'LL LET BRANDON ADDRESS THAT MAYBE AS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WE PROPOSE USE OF OR DOING A MASTER PLAN.

I THINK THERE'S SOME REAL MISUNDERSTANDING THINKING WE GOT WAY OUT AHEAD OF OUR SKIS, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK WE DID.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT FOR CHRIS.

YOU MAY THINK WE DID, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BACK.

I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT IN MY MAYOR'S STATE OF THE CITY FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS.

IN 2023, WE BROUGHT IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT WAS A 3:2 VOTE.

I DON'T THINK ROGER WAS IN FAVOR OF IT.

CHAD HANNAN WASN'T IN FAVOR OF STUDYING THE USE OF THE GOLF COURSE.

WE TOOK THAT TIME. WE STUDIED IT.

WE ASKED GAO WEST TO FINANCE A STUDY THAT WOULD DETERMINE THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY.

IT IS NOT THE FINAL PLAN.

THAT RUMOR HAS GONE AROUND THAT WE HAVE A FINAL PLAN, THAT WE'VE GOT A FINAL DEVELOPER.

IT WAS A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE AND WHAT THE PROJECTED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE COULD BE.

WE PUT TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON THAT STUDY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS ALL BY LAW, ALL WE CAN DO.

WE WENT THROUGH THAT STUDY, WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO YOU.

YOU GUYS SAW IT FIRST.

RAN AND I WERE DOING A DOG AND PONY SHOW, ALONG WITH CHRIS LAFERLA, HELPED OUT TO SHOW THAT THE CITY HADN'T GROWN SINCE THE 1920S, THAT THE LACK OF HOUSING WAS CAUSING SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR THE CITY.

>> FRANKLY, I DID THAT TO TAKE THE HEAT ON TO ME.

I TRIED TO DO THAT TO KEEP THE HEAT OFF OF YOU, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT DECISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BRANDON.

>> I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY.

THIS RESOLUTION, I THINK FURTHER CLARIFIES THAT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TEAM TO CONDUCT A MASTER PLAN THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY INCLUDE A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT COMPONENT AND BE FORMALIZED THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

JUST LIKE MANY OF OUR OTHER EXISTING MASTER PLANS,

[01:10:01]

FOR EXAMPLE, WEST BROADWAY, I THINK WE DID EAST MANAWA.

MID CITY IS ANOTHER ONE, RIVER'S EDGE.

THAT'S USUALLY HOW WE WOULD HANDLE A MASTER PLAN, HIRE THE CONSULTANT, CONDUCT MEETINGS, PUT TOGETHER THAT VISION FOR WHAT IT COULD BE LIKE AND GO FROM THERE.

>> WHICH REALLY ISN'T ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE DID THE ONE STUDY BECAUSE IF IT DIDN'T MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO THE PROJECT.

>> CORRECT. WE DIDN'T WANT TO DIVE INTO A MASTER PLAN IF IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE NUMBERS WERE GOING TO BE FAVORABLE.

WHAT WE HAD, YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD THE MAYOR FOR A FEW YEARS NOW TALK ABOUT THAT ONE BUILDING AT BROADMOOR AND WHAT THAT WOULD DO IF YOU DEVELOPED THE GOLF COURSE WITH JUST THAT ONE BUILDING.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL THE BACK OF NAPKIN VERSION OF DOING AN ANALYSIS ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

THAT LOOKED GOOD BY ITSELF, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE AREN'T REAL NUMBERS.

THAT STUDY HELPED US GET SOME OF THOSE REAL NUMBERS.

I ALSO INCLUDED A MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH HELPED FURTHER SOLIDIFY THINGS.

>> IT'S JUST A FICTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT HELPED HDR THEN TO ANALYZE THE COST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT HELPED THE OTHER PARTNERING CONSULTANT, SB FRIEDMAN, ANALYZE THE COST OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, ANALYZE THE POTENTIAL TAX REVENUE.

IT DOES MAKE SENSE.

WE WANT TO MOVE TO A MASTER PLAN FORMAT.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO MAKE A COMMITMENT NOW.

WELL, LET'S HEAR WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY TONIGHT, BUT THIS IS AN OPTION.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

THE SITE ITSELF IS OF SUCH SIGNIFICANCE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONDUCT THIS MASTER PLAN PROCESS.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST ADVERTISE THIS LAND FOR SALE FOR ANYTHING IN TERMS OF USES THAT WE WOULDN'T SELL THIS PROPERTY FOR MINI STORAGE AND RV PARKING, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE HAVE A BIGGER END GOAL AND POTENTIAL AT THIS PROPERTY TO BRING ON HOUSING AND LONG LASTING PROPERTY TAX VALUE.

I THINK IT IS WORTH THE CONSIDERATION OF A FULL MASTER PLAN.

>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS FOR RYAN,

[Executive Session]

WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE NOW.

>> PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> I'D LIKE CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER SO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE,

[2. CALL TO ORDER]

AND I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[3. CONSENT AGENDA]

>> MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE REMOVAL OF 8D.

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

NOW, TONIGHT, WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO ANY OF THESE, PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

NOW IT'S TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARDS TO RESOLUTION 25-127.

THIS RESOLUTION CHANGES THE STATUS OF RICHARD WADE FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS CITY ATTORNEY. AM I ON THE WRONG ONE? THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PAGE, SORRY.

CHECK SIGNALS, WE'LL GO BACK.

NOW IT'S TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARDS TO ORDINANCE 6645.

[A. Ordinance 6645]

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP AS ADOPTED BY REFERENCE IN SECTION 15.27.020 BY APPENDING A PR-2/PLANNED RESIDENTIAL OVERLAY ON PROPERTY, WHICH IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS THE WEST 110 FEET OF LOT 1, BLOCK 5, PARK ADDITION AS DEFINED IN CHAPTER 15.28.

IT'S COMMON LOCATION 1003 HIGH STREET.

IS PROOF PUBLICATION ON FILE?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED?

>> NONE RECEIVED.

>> ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER?

>> WILL YOU HIT THE BUTTON?

[01:15:02]

>> GOOD EVENING. ARE YOU READY FOR ME?

>> WE ARE.

>> GABRIEL DOWDY, 1003 HIGH STREET.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE UPPER ROOM, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS PR PLAN AND ASK YOU FOR YOUR FAVOR.

I KNOW I HAVE A LOT TO DESCRIBE OUR PROGRAM.

WE ARE NOT A SHELTER. WE ARE A GROUP HOME.

IT IS SCARY WHEN YOU START TO THINK ABOUT TRAFFICKING AND ALL THE DANGERS THAT COME IN WITH THAT.

WITHIN MY EXPERIENCE, WE'RE HERE FOR THAT LONGEVITY.

AFTER THEY HAVE TAKEN THE STEPS FOR THEIR HEALING JOURNEY, IT'S NOT IN THE EMERGENCY CASES.

WITH THAT, WE HAVE A THREE LEVEL PROGRAM, ONE IS SIX MONTHS, ONE IS ONE YEAR, AND ONE IS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM.

WITH THE ZONING IN THE HOUSE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, WE COULD HAVE UP TO FIVE PEOPLE, ONE BEING STAFF, FOUR BEING CLIENTS, THAT WOULD INCLUDE WOMEN AND OR CHILDREN OR A VARIATION OF THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PARKING IS AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY OFF STREET PARKING.

MOST CLIENTS DON'T HAVE A CAR UNTIL THEY'RE CLOSE TO GRADUATING THE PROGRAM, AND SO WE HAVE ALLOTTED THE SPACE FOR A STAFF CAR AND POTENTIALLY ONE CLIENT CAR.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HOLD THE BUTTON. YOU JUST PRESS ONCE.

>> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]

>> YOU HAD YOUR FINGERS ON.

>> OH MY GOD.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> IT IS A SOBER LIVING HOUSE.

THEY HAVE TO BE SOBER FOR 30-60 DAYS, AND THEN WE DO HAVE PROGRAMMING WHICH ENCOURAGES THEM TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS INTO THEIR HEALING JOURNEY AS WELL AS STEPS INTO NEW LIFE.

AGAIN, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS SCARY, AND SO OUR INTAKE PROCESS IS VERY LENGTHY.

WE DO A PHONE SCREENING, AN IN-PERSON INTERVIEW.

BACKGROUND CHECK, WE REQUIRE DOCUMENTS STATING THAT THEY ARE NOT A HARM TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, AS WELL AS A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.

WE DO WORK CLOSELY WITH RESOURCES IN TOWN.

WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, THEIR SOBRIETY, THEIR SPIRITUAL HEALTH, AND THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES CHILDREN.

I'M MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW EVERYTHING.

WE ARE OPEN 24/7, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

AGAIN, STAFF ON SITE FOR OVERNIGHT, AND WE DO HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR ACCORDING TO THE OPENING OF THE HOME.

WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT OPEN.

IT'S JUST MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND IN THE HOUSE THAT WORK FROM THE HOUSE.

THE OWNER IS FROM DENVER, COLORADO, BUT MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RELOCATED FROM DENVER TO IOWA TO FOLLOW FAMILY, AND WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS COMMUNITY.

WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT AND OFFER A SAFE HAVEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL? CAROLYN, CAN YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

>> GREEN MEANS GO. CAROLYN STORM, 921 HIGH STREET.

OBVIOUSLY, I'M OPPOSING THIS, AND I HAVE TYPED UP.

AMANDA, FEEL FREE TO PROOF CAUSE I ALREADY SAW SOME ERRORS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SUBMIT THESE SO THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON TONIGHT.

YOU CAN READ THROUGH HOW WE FEEL.

>> A MOTION TO RECEIVING FILE.

>> RECEIVING FILE. CAROLYN, THEY'LL BE VOTING BEFORE THEY GET A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH IT.

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE SOME COMMENTS, IF YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

>> WHEN ARE YOU VOTING?

>> TONIGHT.

>> ON THIS, THEY'LL VOTE RIGHT.

>> I WAS THINKING [INAUDIBLE] THREE.

>> WELL, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE VOTING THE SECOND ONE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, SO IT WILL LIKELY HAVE A THIRD READING, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, AGAIN, THEY WON'T READ THIS UNTIL THEY VOTE THE SECOND TIME.

THERE WILL BE A THIRD TIME LATER.

>> EVERYTHING TAKES A COUPLE.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF INSTANCES OF FOLKS.

>> TAKES THREE MEETINGS, BUT THIS IS THE SECOND ONE, AND IT GETS THREE VOTES.

THEY VOTED LAST TIME TO MOVE IT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF THEY VOTE IT DOWN, IT WON'T GO ANY FURTHER THAN TONIGHT, BUT IF THEY MOVE IT ON, THERE'LL BE ONE MORE READING IN TWO WEEKS.

YOU'RE GOOD IF WE CAN JUST READ IT.

>> JUST TO NOTE.

>> I'VE HEARD. WE'LL DO THAT.

>> AMANDA CAN COVER.

>> SOUNDS GOOD. AMANDA,

[01:20:02]

NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

>> MY NAME IS AMBER MILLER, AND I LIVE AT 1009 HIGH STREET, WHICH IS THE HOUSE THAT IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 1003.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, I JUST WROTE DOWN MY THOUGHTS.

I CAN GO AHEAD AND READ THEM TO YOU.

I SAY THAT AS A HIGH STREET RESIDENT, I'M OPPOSED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS TYPE OF ORGANIZATION AT 1003 HIGH STREET FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.

FIRSTLY, I DO NOT THINK THAT A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN SLOWLY, BUT LOVINGLY RESTORED OVER MANY YEARS BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND ALSO HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTED IN BY THE 712.

IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT I DO THINK THAT PUTTING A GROUP HOME OR A SHELTER OR A SAFE HOUSE INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE CULTURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT HAS ALREADY INTRODUCED STRIFE INTO WHAT WAS AN OTHERWISE PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT.

I HAVE SEEN IMAGES OF THE PARENT ORGANIZATION THAT THIS NONPROFIT IS STEMMING FROM BASED OUT OF ARVADA, COLORADO.

THE ORGANIZATION SEEMS TO BE RATHER UNKEMPT, AND I FEAR THAT THIS DAUGHTER ORGANIZATION WILL FOLLOW A SIMILAR PATTERN OF NEGLECT.

SECOND, I WORRY THAT THIS PARTICULAR NONPROFIT DOES NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS OR EXPERIENCE TO SAFELY EXECUTE THEIR PROPOSAL.

NONE OF THE ADMINISTRATION NOR THE DIRECTORS SEEM TO HAVE ANY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THE 'TOUGH CASES' THAT THEY PROPOSE TO BRING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WORRY THAT THEY WILL BRING TROUBLED INDIVIDUALS, AND PERHAPS BY EXTENSION THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILY, OR ACQUAINTANCES, PEOPLE WHO NEED SERIOUS PROFESSIONAL HELP INTO AN UNDERSIZED GROUP HOME, THEREBY CREATING A VOLATILE SITUATION WHICH COULD JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF MYSELF OR MY CHILDREN.

THIRD, THIS NONPROFIT IS NOT TRANSPARENT.

THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE AN EIN NOR BE AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3).

THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE A DAUGHTER OF THE ORGANIZATION CALLED SHANNON'S HOPE IN ARVADA, COLORADO, BUT THAT ORGANIZATION DOES NOT LIST ANY SUBSIDIARIES ON ITS 990S GOING BACK TO 2019.

SHANNON'S HOPE SEEMS TO BE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.

THEY HAVE SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT.

THEY'RE OPERATING ANNUALLY AT A DEFICIT.

THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, BUT IT IS WORRYING TO ME BECAUSE THEY WILL BE OPERATING NEXT DOOR.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS A PREDATORY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT THEY'RE PREYING UPON A VULNERABLE POPULATION, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY COMBINED WITH THE REVIEWS OF THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH I HAVE PRINTED OUT AND BROUGHT HERE IS VERY CONCERNING.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, I CAN READ OFF JUST A COUPLE OF REVIEWS FROM THE COLORADO ORGANIZATION.

THIS IS FROM CHATTEL HARDWICK.

HE SAYS, WOMEN OFTEN COMPLAIN ABOUT RATS.

I KNOW SOMEONE IN THE PROGRAM, AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT MICE EATING RUBBER NIPPLES OFF OF HER BABY BOTTLES.

THE CRAZY RULES TO LIVE IN THIS PLACE, IF ANY NORMAL PERSON WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE HANDBOOK, THEY WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A MONEY TRAP.

YOU PAY RENT, FINE, BUT YOU CAN'T WORK BETWEEN CERTAIN HOURS, BASICALLY.

YOU ARE STUCK.

AGAIN, THERE'S SEVERAL SAYING THEY WON'T HELP YOU.

THEY WON'T CALL BACK.

THIS IS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

THEN THE LAST ONE HERE READS FROM TRINA GEIER, THEY NEED TO HAVE A CERTIFIED STAFF TO DEAL WITH THE SERIOUSNESS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF RESIDENTS.

MAKE IT ONE HOUSE MOTHERS ONLY OR SINGLE WOMEN, HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS, BETTER INTAKE PROCESS, DRUG TESTS UPON MOVING IN TO ASSURE SOBRIETY.

STAFF SHOULD BE MORE AWARE, AND THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYONE PARENTS THE SAME.

I DON'T RECOMMEND GOING THERE.

IT'S WORSE THAN PRISON, A HALFWAY HOUSE, NOT IDEAL UNLESS YOU ARE DESPERATE.

LIKE CAROLYN, I HAVE PRINTED OUT THE REVIEWS.

I PRINTED OUT THE L SCHEDULE FROM THE 990 FOR THE SHANNON'S HOPE ORGANIZATION IN ARVADA, COLORADO.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE FINANCIAL DETAILS WHICH ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON GUIDESTAR AND PROPUBLICA. THANK YOU.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR AMBER?

>> MOTION RECEIVING FILE.

>> WE SHOULD PROBABLY VOTE ON BOTH OF THOSE.

>> VOTE ON THE MOTION TO RECEIVING FILE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY.

[01:25:01]

>> IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> ANYBODY ELSE.

>> YEAH. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK?

>> PASTOR JOSEPH HALL FROM CROSS ROAD CHURCH, COUNCIL BLUFFS. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

THE UPPER ROOM WOMEN'S HOUSE IS A MINISTRY THAT CROSS ROAD CHURCH FULLY ENDORSES AND SUPPORTS FINANCIALLY.

THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER BUSINESS OR EVEN A SHELTER.

THIS IS A MINISTRY HOUSE.

THAT IS ALL ABOUT RESCUING, REFORMING, AND REHABILITATING WOMEN.

AFTER THE REHABILITATING THEM, OUR EFFORT WILL BE TO SEND THEM BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, INDEPENDENT, CONFIDENT, RESPONSIBLE, AND REHABILITATED.

WOMEN, THIS IS FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE FELL INTO GREAT MISFORTUNE, ADVERSITY, THE RESULT OF BROKEN HOMES, MAYBE EVEN BAD CHOICES.

SOME SIMPLY BAD LUCK.

THE BIBLE SAYS IN JAMES 1:27 THAT PURE AND GENUINE RELIGION, AND THE SIGHT OF GOD AND THE FATHER MEANS CARING FOR ORPHANS AND WIDOWS AND THEIR DISTRESS.

AND THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS MINISTRY HOUSE.

SEEKS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THESE WOMEN, THEIR CHILDREN, AND IN ESSENCE, WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY AND MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE.

AS YOU REPRESENT OUR CITY, WE KNOW THAT YOU LOVE AND CARE FOR OUR CITY, AND YOU WANT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY.

SO I ASK YOU TO TRULY CONSIDER THIS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 20 SQUARE FOOT, AND VARIANCES ARE ALWAYS AMENDED, RULES ARE ALWAYS AMENDED, SO WE ASK YOU TO DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> MOTION TO DENY.

>> IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

>> WELL, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY STAFF RECOMMENDATION FROM PLANNING AND ZONING IS TO DENY THE PR OVERLAY.

THERE'S SEVERAL OPPOSITION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAINST IT.

I WOULD TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK I'M AGAINST YOUR MISSION AND I THINK YOUR INTAKE PROCESS BEING THAT THEY'RE SOBER BEFORE THEY COME INTO THE HOUSE IS GOOD.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO WORK WITH STAFF TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE IN TOWN THAT WOULD WORK FOR THIS.

HEIDI, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME BACK UP AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID AND JUST, IS THIS BASED OFF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ARVADA, COLORADO? YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYBODY'S WRONG.

ARE THOSE STATEMENTS TRUE? IS IT BASED OFF WHAT'S GOING ON IN ARVADA, COLORADO?

>> IN ARVADA COLORADO, THAT IS OUR PARENT COMPANY, I DO HAVE THE 501C3 PAPERWORK THAT ALLOWS US TO RUN UP 501C3 IN IOWA.

BUDGETS ARE ALWAYS A BUDGET, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO GET A NEGATIVE REVIEW AT SOME POINT, 100% EFFECTIVENESS IS NOT ALWAYS DOABLE DEPENDING ON THE ISSUES, BUT WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS ABOUT 80% WHERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE BACK INTO SOCIETY.

THERE'S ALSO SOME GREAT REVIEWS ONLINE.

BUT OUR BUDGET IS WE ARE PRIVATELY FUNDED, WE HAVE MONTHLY DONORS, FUNDRAISERS, CHURCH BACKINGS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

I HAVE AN INCOME FROM DENVER, BUT I LIVE HERE, SO I PAY STATE TAXES HERE, AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE GET IS JUST MORE INTO THAT.

YES, WE DO HAVE A PROGRAM FEE OF $400 PER PERSON, BUT WE WORK ON THEIR INCOME AS THEY START WORKING BACK IN THE WORKFORCE.

>> ARE YOU OPERATING TODAY OUT OF THE HOUSE?

>> NO. I WORK OUT OF THE HOUSE JUST MYSELF, BUT WE HAVE NO CLIENTS.

>> THANK YOU. I JUST I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THE CLAIMS THAT WERE MADE UP HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.

I SAID, I THINK YOU SHOULD WORK WITH STAFF TO MAYBE LOOK AT SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT THIS COULD BE OPERATED.

BUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND AS IT SITS TODAY, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF IT.

>> [NOISE] THIS IS GREATLY NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE DO NEED HALFWAY HOUSES AND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE

[01:30:05]

TRYING TO GET BETTER OFF OF ADDICTION, ESPECIALLY WOMEN.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO HELP OUR WOMEN CLIENTELE, BUT THIS IS JUST A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT WHERE IT SITS DUE TO THE VARIANCES.

THAT'S WHERE I'M AT, BUT I FULLY SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AND SOBRIETY.

>> I AGREE, STEVE, WE HAD BRANDY IN EARLIER FROM NEW VISIONS HOMELESS SERVICES AND TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR ASSISTING WOMEN AND FAMILIES HERE.

BASED OFF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, THOUGH, OUR ZONING ORDINANCE IS NOT GOING TO ALLOW FOR ANYBODY TO STAY THERE PAST THAT 90 DAYS.

THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT IT SAYS IN THE NOTES THAT THEY TALKED TO YOU ABOUT GOING TO AN R3, BUT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE.

LIKE ROGER, I WOULD SAY THAT WE WANT TO GO BACK AND WORK.

YOU WANTED TO GO WITH THE PR2 INSTEAD OF THE R3 OVERLAY.

JUST BASED OFF OF THE SIZING, THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BOARD AND LODGING, ROOMING IN THE HOUSE, I AGREE.

I DON'T THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD WITH OUR CURRENT ZONING, THAT'S IN OUR LAWS.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE?

>> OPPOSE SAME SIGN, AND THAT IS TO DENY?

>> [NOISE] NOW IS TIME PLACED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARD TO RESOLUTION 25-123,

[B. Resolution 25-123]

THIS RESOLUTION APPROVES THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOUTHWEST PUMP STATION, TRACK RAC REHABILITATION PROJECT PUBLIC WORKS 25-17.

IS APPROVE 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?

>> IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

>> THIS WAS INCLUDED IN OUR FY 25 CIP.

IT HAS A BUDGET IN THERE.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS DEALING WITH THE SCREENING OF SOLIDS AND DEBRIS AND OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT, SOMETHING WE DESPERATELY NEED.

>> IT'S BEEN IN US SINCE '89, SO IT'S OUTLIVED ITS USABLE LIFE. TIME TO REPLACE IT.

>> FROM THE STORM SEWER SYSTEM THAT COLLECTS THE GARBAGE THAT FLOWS INTO THE CITY SEWERAGE SYSTEM.

>> YES AND DEBRIS.

>> NOW IT'S TIME PLACED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDS TO RESOLUTION 25-124.

>> OPPOSE SAME SIGN.

[C. Resolution 25-124]

THIS RESOLUTION SUPPORTS THE CITY'S APPLICATION TO THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, IEDA FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BLOCK GRANT COVID CDBG-CB, GRANT FUNDING, AND THAT THE MAYOR IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, COVID MONEY FUNDING, AND EXECUTE ANY RELATED CONTRACTS WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPON AWARD? IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> ANY WRITTEN PROTEST RECEIVED?

>> NONE RECEIPT.

> ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL.

>> BOTH THESE ENTITIES ARE VITAL TO THIS COMMUNITY, BUT BEING IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN, MY HESITATION ON GRANTS LIKE THIS IS GENERALLY WHEN YOU PUT INTO OPERATING COSTS THAT COVERS THE BULK COVERS SALARIES.

>>IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

>> GO ON.

I KNOW SALARIES, YOU NEED TO EMPLOY PEOPLE.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THESE MONIES IS LESS ON SALARIES AND MORE ON THE DELIVERABLES, HELPING THE CLIENTELE, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE AND LESS ON PAYING THE EMPLOYEES OUT OF THIS.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S OTHER POTS.

JUST OPERATING COST IS SUCH A BROAD TOPIC, YOU CAN USE IT ANY AND EVERYWHERE YOU WANT.

I JUST STRIKE CAUTION THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR IT.

AGAIN, I THINK BOTH OF THESE ENTITIES ARE VITAL TO THIS COMMUNITY, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOT SEE IT GO TO OPERATING COSTS.

>> AFTER THE STUDY SESSION EARLIER, WHILE I DO AGREE WITH SOME OF YOUR STATEMENTS,

[01:35:03]

IT WAS CONVEYED TO US BY BOTH THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE FIRE CHIEF THAT SOME OF THE STAFFING WAS ACTUALLY A VITAL SAFETY ASPECT FOR SOME OF OUR OFFICERS OF BOTH THOSE DEPARTMENTS, AND AND NOT A REQUEST, BUT IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO THEM AND SOMETHING THAT THEY SAW AS VITAL OF THEM BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVICE THE FOLKS HERE IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY.

AGAIN, I COULD SEE HOW HAVING AN OPEN ENDED LIKE THAT IS PROBLEMATIC, BUT IN THE OVERALL FUNDING OF IT, I BELIEVE IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD AND THE GREATER PUBLIC SAFETY AND SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AS FIRE AND POLICE.

>> THEY CALLED IT AN OPERATIONAL GRANT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT NECESSARILY IS WHAT IT IS FOR, BUT THAT'S HOW THEY TERMED IT.

IT WAS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR OPERATIONAL, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE USING IT FOR.

>> YEAH, I TALKED WITH BRANDY AND TALKED TODAY AT A STUDY SESSION.

I THINK THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST WE ARE FACING.

I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, IT'S A TOUGH PROBLEM, IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S DRUGS.

IT'S A TON OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

I JUST THINK THAT MORE MONEY, SOMETHING THAT ISN'T WORKING ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS UNTIL WE MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, AND I'M NOT SAYING I KNOW WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER.

BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY I DON'T FEEL IS WORKING.

I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS AS IS.

I THINK MICA HOUSE AND NEW VISIONS, THEY FOR SURE DO SOME GOOD THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT UNTIL SOME THINGS CHANGE, I THINK WE HAVE PEOPLE, CITIZENS, BUSINESSES IN TOWN THAT REACH OUT TO, I'M SURE ALL OF US THAT ARE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT LEAVING TOWN, NOT BEING IN OUR COMMUNITY ANYMORE, WHICH ISN'T ALL ON NEW VISIONS OR MICA HOUSE.

IT ROLLS UP. WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS CHANGED SOME THINGS A LONG TIME AGO.

BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT, I KNOW IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF THE CITY'S BUDGET.

IT'S A STATE GRANT, BUT I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT THROWING MORE MONEY AT A PROBLEM THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE SOLVING ANY ISSUES TODAY.

>> I'M GOING TO DISAGREE WITH YOU THERE.

AS LEADERS, AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT MEANS EVEN THOSE THAT ARE HOMELESS.

IF IT TAKES A GRANT FROM THE STATE, WHICH THE STATE HAS BEEN CUTTING US SHORT FOR YEARS AND YEARS, AT ONE TIME, WE HAD ONLY 46 MENTAL HEALTH BEDS AVAILABLE IN THE STATE OF IOWA, PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH BEDS.

WE CAN'T HAVE A CASTAWAY SET OF PEOPLE.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> THERE'S MONEY GOING TO MORE MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, STEVE.

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN JUST MENTAL HEALTH BEDS.

[OVERLAPPING] IT'S GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE TO WORK WITH THEM.

I DEAL WITH THIS ON A DAILY BASIS AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

ABSOLUTELY 100% DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

I HAVE SPENT THIS MUCH OUT OF MY OWN PERSONAL POCKET PLUS TO DEAL WITH ONE CHILD.

>> HOW CAN YOU SAY WE CAN'T AFFORD?

>> I DIDN'T SAY WE COULDN'T AFFORD.

>> OR SPEND THE MONEY TOWARDS THESE PEOPLE.

>> JUSTIN MAYBE CAN SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON IT BECAUSE HE WAS ON.

>> SORRY, ROGER, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE TO BE HONEST. I DIDN'T REALLY LOOK AT IT.

>> I JUST NEED TO KNOW THE SALARIES PART BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW THE SALARIES DOWN THERE.

>> I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT IN PARTICULAR.

>> THAT'S A BIG PART.

>> PROBABLY ABOUT, I'M GOING TO SAY SIX MONTHS AGO, WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS.

WE'RE HAVING A TON OF PROBLEMS AT NEW VISIONS, AND SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS ARE DERIVED BY WHAT SIENA FRANCIS HOUSE DID ACROSS THE RIVER, WHERE SIENA FRANCIS HOUSE HAS ARMED SECURITY THERE.

PEOPLE WITH GUNS, THAT AREN'T LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, ARMED SECURITY.

THEY HAVE 24 HOUR SURVEILLANCE.

THEY HAVE A GUY IN A ROOM, ACTUALLY, MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN A ROOM, JUST LIKE A 911 CENTER.

THEY CONTRACT THIS THAT WATCHES THE ENTIRE CAMPUS ALL THE TIME.

ALL THEY DO IS CALL THE ARMED SECURITY GUY, AND THEN THEY CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS OVER THERE, THEY CLEANED A LOT OF STUFF UP.

WE WERE HAVING A TON OF PROBLEMS AT NIGHT WITH NO STAFF, AND BRANDY DID NOT HAVE IT IN HER BUDGET TO STAFF THAT FACILITY 24 HOURS.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR PROBLEMS THERE IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL THERE AT NIGHT.

[01:40:01]

IT'S LITERALLY NEW JACK CITY TO GO IN THERE.

THERE'S 100 PEOPLE SLEEPING IN A ROOM WITH THE LIGHTS OFF, AND EMS AND FIRE AND POLICE ARE RESPONDING THERE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN THERE, AND SOME OF THEM AREN'T VERY HAPPY TO SEE US.

WE WENT TO BRANDY AND SAID, YOU GOT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

>> WHO CALLS 911 IF THERE'S A PROBLEM?

>> THIS WAS ANOTHER ISSUE WE ADDRESSED.

I HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF THE THINGS I WENT OVER WITH HER THAT WE BASICALLY TOLD BRANDY, EITHER YOU COME OUR WAY ON THESE THINGS, OR I'LL TAKE IT TO THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE IT CAN'T CONTINUE.

SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET HURT.

WE LITERALLY, WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE ON THE HOT PROGRAM, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE MULTIPLE TIMES, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ON THE RIVER LIVE AT THE RIVER BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE SHELTER.

BECAUSE AT NIGHT, IT'S CHAOS.

WE'RE GOING DOWN THERE ON CALLS IN THE MID-MORNING, AND THE PEOPLE IN THERE ARE LIKE, WE'RE UP BALL PARTYING ALL NIGHT.

THEY'RE SMOKING METH IN THE FACILITY.

>> THERE'S NO RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE THERE.

THIS MONEY, PART OF IT IS TO PAY FOR 24 HOUR PEOPLE AND TO GET CAMERAS AND TO SECURE THE BUILDING, THE VESTIBULE SO THAT EVERYONE HAS TO INTAKE IN, AND EVERYONE GETS THE LIST OF RULES.

WE WENT DOWN THE RULES WITH THEM FROM ALL CARE.

WE PUT SOME PRESSURE WITH ALL CARE SAYING, HEY, WE NEED YOU GUYS TO ACTUALLY DO YOUR MISSION THERE.

WE WORKED WITH METHODIST.

I THINK IT'S METHODISTS TO GET NURSES THERE OR NURSING STUDENTS THERE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE SO THAT THEY WOULD QUIT PROCESSING.

WE WERE DOING A LOT OF CALLS DOWN THERE THAT IS BASICALLY PEOPLE SHORT ON THEIR MEDS.

YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE TROUBLED.

THEY LOSE THEIR MEDS, THEY'RE LIVING ON THE STREET, AND NOW THEY'RE CALLING 911 FOR US TO TRANSPORT THEM, BECAUSE REALLY ALL THEY NEED, THEY'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR AMBUEREL, AND THEY HAVE COPD.

STUFF LIKE THAT, WE ARE LITERALLY PRETTY DEEP, AND I THINK THE POLICE CHIEF WILL VERIFY THIS.

>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE THAT, THOUGH.

>> WE NEED STAFF DOWN THERE, 24 HOURS A DAY.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THE COUNCIL SHOULD DEMAND IT.

IF THIS IS HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT FOR A WHILE, THEN WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO GET THIS IN CHECK.

>> WE SHOULD ONLY ALLOW HIGH BARRIER SHELTERS. THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO.

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT BRANDY IS FINALLY, I THINK, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HER AND SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE HAS TO BE RULES, AND THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TOO FAR.

>> THAT'S NOT WHY SHE HAS VACATED IN THE PAST. I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

>> WELL, I'M TELLING YOU AFTER MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH HER FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT SHE'S GOT A PROBLEM, AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE RULES, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT AT THE SHELTER, THEN THEY'RE OUT ON THE STREETS, AND THEY'RE MESSING WITH BUSINESSES, THEY'RE MESSING WITH HOMES.

THEY'RE IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS, THEY'RE IN THE ALLEYS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> ROGER, A PIECE OF THIS IS THAT IF YOU HAVE BASICALLY, LET'S SAY, A HOMELESS PERSON SUPERVISOR, SOMEBODY WHO'S STAYING DOWN THERE, BUT AT NIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE SUPERVISOR.

WE'RE PUTTING THAT PERSON AT PRETTY GRAVE RISK TO CALL US IF THERE'S A PROBLEM.

I THINK THE POLICE CHIEF WILL AGREE, THAT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT ON SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT PAID STAFF, THAT'S JUST COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS THEMSELVES, AND THEY'RE VOLUNTEERING DOWN THERE.

BRANDY HAS A BIG HEART.

WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HER LIKE, WE'RE OFF MISSION.

WE ARE NOT ON MISSION.

WE NEED TO GET SOME OF THESE PEOPLE CYCLED OUT AND INTO HOUSING.

WE ACTUALLY HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE DENYING HOUSING.

BECAUSE THEY LIKE IT THERE, BECAUSE EVERY HUMAN WANTS A COMMUNITY.

IF YOU GO DOWN THE RIVER, YOU'LL SEE IT.

>> I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE [OVERLAPPING] GENTLEMAN THAT DID IT.

>> NEW VISIONS HAS BECOME SOME PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, BRANDY'S FINALLY AT A POINT WHERE SHE'S SAYING, NO, YOU GOT TO GO.

YOU EITHER GO AND GET PLACED OR YOU'RE OUT OF HERE.

I THINK WE HAVE HER IN A GOOD PLACE TO BE, AND I'LL LET THE POLICE CHIEF ELABORATE ON ANYTHING YOU WANT.

>> WHICH IS WHAT THEY DO IN DES MOINES? YOU STAY THERE FOR X NUMBER OF DAYS AND THEN YOU'RE OUT.

>>THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS. THAT AND NO SUPERVISION AT NIGHT.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HAVING HUGE ISSUES BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THERE'S NO RULES, AND THERE'S NOBODY THERE TO ENFORCE RULES.

WE WANTED SOME TYPE OF SECURITY INTAKE WHERE THEY GET THE GROUND RULES.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> IF THEY'RE DRUNK OR HIGH ON METH OR ANY OF THAT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SEARCH THEM. SHE TOLD ME THAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO LET THEM IN ANYWAY. THAT'S THE ISSUE.

WHOEVER THEY HAVE STAFF, THEY STILL HAS TO CALL THE POLICE OR FIRE.

[OVERLAPPING].

>> I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY STAFF THERE.

THERE'S NOBODY THERE AT NIGHT.

>> I UNDERSTAND. IF THEY PUT STAFF, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO CALL YOU. THAT'S WHERE [OVERLAPPING].

>> HUNDRED PERCENT. WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM BECAUSE AT NIGHT THEY'RE DOWN THERE PARTYING ALL NIGHT, THEN THEY CALL.

THERE'S PROBLEMS DOWN THERE, AND YOU'RE EXPECTING SOMEBODY WHO'S JUST OUT OF HOMELESSNESS THEMSELVES TO RAT OUT SOMEBODY ELSE.

THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT WAS WE WANT THE ENTIRE FACILITY CAMERAED ON OUR CAMERA SYSTEM.

THERE'S NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY THERE.

IT'S A SHELTER.

WE WANT THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING

[01:45:03]

CAMERAED AND WE WANT THAT AS PART OF, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS PART OF THE GRANT SHE'S PAYING FOR THAT, BUT WE'RE DEMANDING THAT OF HER BECAUSE OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS, AND WE NEED SOMEBODY TO WATCH THOSE CAMERAS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES THAT, IF SHE CONTRACTS SOMEBODY TO DO IT.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE RUNNING A LARGE SCALE EMERGENCY, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN COMMAND THAT'S THE EYE IN THE SKY, AND THEY CALL OUT THE PROBLEM.

THEY GET LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THOSE TROUBLEMAKERS WILL EITHER END UP WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OR THEY'LL LEAVE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AFTER. WE WANT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE SHELTER.

>> THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT SHE SAID TODAY.

YOU'RE CONVEYING DIFFERENT THINGS THAN WHAT SHE SAID.

SHE SAID SHE'S HIRING THREE STAFF.

>> THOSE ARE THE OVERNIGHT STAFF.

>> EFFECTIVELY, THE PLACE TURNS INTO ANDERSONVILLE AFTER DARK, CORRECT?

>> IF THERE'S NO ONE THERE TO QUASH THAT OR TO SAY, HEY, I NEED POLICE ASSISTANCE OR WHATEVER. THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS SAYING.

SHE WAS SAYING, HEY, I'VE HIRED SOMEONE FOR THIS, THIS AND THIS BECAUSE THOSE JOBS HAVE TO BE FILLED.

OTHERWISE, WE GOT ONE CRUISER SHOWING UP WITH TWO OR THREE GUYS THAT ROLL INTO 100 DEEP [OVERLAPPING].

>> OTHER THINGS WHEN YOU KNOW THE ISSUE, ROGER.

THEY'RE CALLING FROM 911 ONLY PHONES INSIDE THE SHELTER, AND THERE'S NO RESPONSIBLE ADULT TO GET US THERE.

THEY COULD HAVE SOMEBODY STABBED IN THE BACK OF THE PLACE AND SOMEBODY CALLED AND THAT PERSON HAS NOW FLED BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT AND WE'RE WANDERING THROUGH A FACILITY WITH NO ESCORT AND NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO WHERE THE PATIENT IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO STAFF THERE.

>> I'D GO BACK TO BRANDY'S COMMENTS EARLIER.

I UNDERSTAND MONEY'S NOT GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING.

BUT HOMELESS IS A PROBLEM ACROSS OUR NATION, ACROSS THE WORLD.

JUST TO SAY WE NEED TO FIX IT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

BRANDY MADE THE POINT THAT DURING COVID, SHE GOT THE EXTRA FUNDS, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE NUMBERS FROM 900 PLUS DOWN TO 450.

THE MONEY DOES HELP THE SITUATION.

IT'S NOT THE END OF B. WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THOSE OUTSKIRT PEOPLE THAT SHOULD NOT BE AT THE HOMELESS SHELTER.

THEY SHOULD BE AT A BED SOMEWHERE AND A FACILITY SOMEWHERE.

BUT IF WE CAN HELP, JUST SOME OF THE STATISTICS REAL QUICK, CHIEF, THAT BRANDY MENTIONED THIS AFTERNOON IS EMERGENCY SHELTERS, THERE WAS 910 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.

73% OF THOSE ARE FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM THE RIVER OR FROM AN OUTSOURCE, THEY'RE COUNCIL BLUFFS PEOPLE.

SHE WAS ABLE TO GET 261 OF THOSE.

THAT'S A 29% SUCCESS RATE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

THEN ON THE STREET OUTREACH, THERE WAS 446 ENROLLED INTO THE PROGRAM, 52% OF THOSE BEING WOMEN, SO OVER 220, AND 184 OF THOSE WERE PUT INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

THAT'S A 41% SUCCESS RATE.

MONEY HELPS THE SITUATION, SO WE CAN GET THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY OR ONE BAD DECISION AWAY BACK ON THE RIGHT COURSE, SO THEN WE CAN FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THOSE THAT NEED THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

THAT'S WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. GO AHEAD, CHIEF.

>> JUST ONE QUICK COMMENT ON COUNCILMAN PETERSON'S INITIAL CONCERN OF IN A NONPROFIT WORLD THAT FUNDS GO MORE TOWARDS DELIVERABLE SERVICES THAN STAFFING CONCERNS.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE CASE AT NEW VISIONS, AND I DON'T MEAN THIS IN A DISPARAGING WAY ABOUT BRANDY'S WAY OF MANAGING HER BUDGET.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH GOODWILL AND SO MUCH POURING OF FUNDS INTO SERVICES THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN AS MUCH ATTENTION PAID TO THE STAFFING LOGISTICS, ALL THE SECURITY CONCERNS THAT CHIEF JAMES JUST ARTICULATED, THESE FUNDS WOULD REALLY ENABLE US TO RUN A SAFER, MORE PRODUCTIVE FACILITY.

WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH BRANDY AND HER STAFF OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS, PLANNING OUT ALL OF THESE LITTLE LOGISTICAL TWEAKS THAT WILL HELP US KEEP THE PLACE SAFER, CLEANER, ETC.

WHILE IT SEEMS THAT THE FUNDS GOING TO PERSONNEL MIGHT NOT BE THE PREFERRED COURSE, I THINK HERE, IT'S TOTALLY APPROPRIATE BECAUSE WE SENT OUR FOLKS FROM THE HOP TEAM TO DES MOINES TO SEE THE CIS FACILITY, SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING IT THERE IN TERMS OF STAFFING.

AS CHIEF JAMES MENTIONED, THERE'S 24 HOUR STAFFING, THERE'S OVERSIGHT.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME NECESSARY PERSONAL SERVICES COSTS THAT HAVE TO GO IN THAT MAYBE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE ALL ALONG, BUT I'M NOT CRITICIZING, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH BRANDY AND HER STAFF AS WE COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOP WHAT MAKES THE BEST SENSE TO HAVE A SAFE, STABLE FACILITY WHERE PEOPLE'S NEEDS COULD STILL BE MET.

>> THAT'S GOOD TO SEE BECAUSE FOR YEARS, I SAT ON THE COMMUNITY HOMELESS TASK FORCE, AND WE DID NOTHING.

WE SPUN OUR WHEELS AND THROUGHOUT HYPOTHETICALS, AND NOTHING WORKED.

YOU TWO COMING IN HERE, YOU UNLIFTED THE VEIL.

THERE'S A PRETTY PICTURE PAINTED DOWN THERE OF ROSES AND DAISIES FOR WHEN YOU GET THE PRESENTATIONS.

WHAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T GET IS THE PROBLEMS, WORKING DOWN THERE.

[01:50:02]

I SAW THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE DISPLAYED.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT SALARIES FOR THE PROGRAM STAFF THAT DELIVERS THE MIDDLE DOWN.

IT'S TOP UP BECAUSE IT DOES FILTER UP SOMETIMES.

I'M ALL FOR THE SECURITY.

I'M ALL FOR NOW THE TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON DOWN THERE.I KNOW THEY'RE DOING GOOD, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE STUFF GOING ON THERE THAT, AND I'M GLAD THERE'S A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE.

YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW.

BUT BY YOU GOING DOWN THERE AND DEMANDING SAFETY, THAT'S AN EASIER PILL TO SWALLOW.

THEN HOW WE TRACK THIS THING TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE THAT WAY BECAUSE THIS MONEY MIGHT NOT COME DOWN THE PIPE AGAIN.

IF YOU GUYS ARE HAVING THAT PROBLEM, I CAN SUPPORT THAT, AND I CAN SUPPORT PROGRAM STAFF. IT'S THE HIGH UP.

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW, IN THAT NONPROFIT WORLD, THE HIGH UPS GET THEIRS MORE TIMES THAN NOT.

I'M FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, PROGRAM STAFF THAT DELIVER THE NUTS AND BOLTS.

THAT'S WHAT I MEANT WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT SALARIES, SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU GUYS SPEAKING TO THIS BECAUSE IT DOES OPEN IT UP.

>> WHILE THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY, IT'S NOT LOCAL TAXPAYER MONEY.

IT'S FEDERAL MONEY THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE STATE OF IOWA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONEY.

>> YEAH. AS I SAID, I THINK THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS GOING ON.

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I HOPE IT WORKS.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE COUNCIL VOTING FOR IT.

I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT IT WITH WHERE IT'S AT.

AND THAT'S OKAY, I GUESS FOR ME.

>> IF IT DON'T WORK, I PROMISE YOU I'LL BE BACK, AND WE'LL PUT SOME [OVERLAPPING].

>> I GUESS WE'VE PUT A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT HASN'T WORKED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THE TRACK RECORD SHOWS IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, IN MY OPINION.

I HOPE IT DOES. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WHAT I CALL DICK, CAUSE I WAS LIKE, I'M FED UP.

WE WENT DOWN THERE. WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION, WE STARTED WORKING WITH BRANDY.

WE MADE SOME DEMANDS.

SOME DEMANDS THAT I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS GOING TO ACCEPT.

MOST PEOPLE WOULDN'T LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVING CAMERA COVERAGE.

IT WILL SAVE HER TIME.

THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS, IT HELPS THEM.

IT'S EFFICIENT.

IF WE DO IT THROUGH OUR MILESTONE SYSTEM, THEN WE CAN HELP IF THE CAMERA'S DOWN OR SOMETHING, AND WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE VERY GOOD WITH THE MILESTONE SYSTEM.

I THOUGHT, THIS IS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY WE COULD USE THIS MONEY ALONG WITH SOME STAFFING.

I HAVE THE SAME EXACT CONCERNS THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS DO.

I 100% AGREE WITH WHAT CHRIS IS SAYING.

BUT THE FACT IS, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT UNDER CONTROL THAT I THINK THEN WILL HELP CONTROL SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF WE'RE SEEING IN THE CITY.

IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. I TOLD YOU GUYS EARLIER, CHRIS WASN'T HERE, BUT I SEE TAXPAYERS OR CITIZENS SAYING HOW THE CITY'S NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

I TOLD THE MAYOR IN A CONVERSATION HE ASKED ME WHAT I DID ON SOMETHING I SAID, WELL, I BET YOU 30% OF MY TIME IS INVOLVED IN SOME MEETING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION OF TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT'S A FAR BIGGER PROBLEM THAN A CITY CAN FIX.

I'LL TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS MONEY GETS AWARDED.

WE'RE APPLYING FOR THE GRANTS.

I HOPE IN SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR, YOU CAN SAY, IT REALLY WORKED AND ROGER WAS WRONG, AND I'LL EAT CROW.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING IT. I HOPE IT DOES. JUST SO YOU KNOW.

>> TO CHRIS' POINT, IF WE DO GET AWARDED THE MONEY, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT DELIVERABLES AND HOW DO WE TRACK THIS AND CALLS TO 911 BEING DOWN.

I'M SURE BRANDY WILL WORK WITH US ABOUT HOW TO TRACK SOME DELIVERABLE TO MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL [OVERLAPPING].

>> I'VE MET WITH BRANDY MULTIPLE TIMES.

AS I SAID, I WAS ON THE RIVER WITH THE OUTREACH PEOPLE.

I WALKED FOR MILES.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK I'M INSENSITIVE.

STEVE, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT MANY TIMES.

>> THE THING IS, IS WE HAD THESE SAME FEARS AND DISCUSSIONS WHEN WE WANTED TO OPEN JUST A WARMING CENTER, THAT WASN'T GOING TO COST THE CITY ANY MONEY.

>> OUT OF THAT ALL TIME THAT THAT CENTER HAS BEEN OPENED.

THEY'VE MOVED PEOPLE TO HOUSING ALMOST EVERY YEAR.

THE LAST TIME THEY CAME HERE, YOU GAVE THEM A BLANKET PERMIT.

IT'S BECAUSE IT'S WORKING.

>> FOR THE WARMING SHELTER, YES, I DID. [OVERLAPPING].

>> THEY WERE INVESTING INTO PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE VERGE OF BEING STREET HOMELESSNESS AND THE STREET HOMELESSNESS.

IT WAS WORKING THERE.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO PUT OUT THERE IS I KNOW YOU CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I'M NOT SAYING THAT.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS AS A SOCIETY IN A WHOLE, WE HAVE MADE A CAST AWAY GROUP OF PEOPLE.

THERE'S NO MONEY IN CARE AND FORM.

THERE'S NO MONEY IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

IT'S HARD TO GET PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS.

YOU HAVE TO WAIT MONTHS TO GET IN TO SEE ONE.

IN THE MEANTIME, THEY DON'T GET THEIR MEDICINES.

THEY END UP IN BAD SITUATIONS.

WE CANNOT AS LEADERS, ALLOW A CASTE SYSTEM TO TAKE PLACE.

THERE'S NOT A PERSON THAT I KNOW UNLESS THEY'RE CRIMINAL, STRAIGHT UP CRIMINAL THAT WANTS TO COGNITIVELY LIVE ON THE STREETS.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE THE COGNITIVE ABILITY TO GET OFF OF IT.

[01:55:03]

>> I HOPE IT WORKS. I DO.

>> THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

>> QUICK SIDE NOTE. SHE DID ALSO MENTION THAT THE WARMING CENTER WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ON THE CHOPPING BOARD DUE TO FUNDING.

I THINK WE ALL AGREED THAT THAT FACILITY AND THAT PROGRAM ACTUALLY DID WORK OUT.

THAT WAS PART OF HER TALK EARLIER TODAY WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT IT ASIDE FROM THESE STAFFS.

>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION?

>> WE DO NOW.

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING,

>> OPPOSED, SAME SIGN?

>> NAY.

>> MADAM CLERK.

[A. Ordinance 6647]

ORDINANCE 6647 TO AMEND CHAPTER 3.62 SOLICITORS OF THE 2020 MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING CHAPTER 3.62.020 DEFINITION SOLICITORS.

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

ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2025 MUNICIPAL CODE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.

>> ORDINANCE 6648,

[B. Ordinance 6648]

>> IS THERE A MOTION?

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

>> ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING,

[A. Ordinance 6646]

ORDINANCE 6646 TO AMEND TITLE IX TRAFFIC ON THE 2020 MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING CHAPTER 9.72.357, OPEN CONTAINERS AND MOTOR VEHICLES TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER.

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

>> MOTION TO WAIVE THIRD.

>> IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE?

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING AGENCY IN SUPPORT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN.

>> RESOLUTION 25-125,

[A. Resolution 25-125]

>> IS THERE A MOTION?

>> IS THERE A DISCUSSION? THIS IS A SAFE STREETS ACTION PLAN, TRYING TO ENSURE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP THAT PROCESS.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE?

>> RESOLUTION 25-126, RESOLUTION

[B. Resolution 25-126]

APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF MALINA DOBSON AS A CITY ATTORNEY, EFFECTIVE MAY 12TH, 2025.

>> DISCUSSION.

>> RESOLUTION 25-127, RESOLUTION CHANGING THE STATUS OF

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> BOTH THE SAME SIGN.

[C. Resolution 25-127]

RICHARD WADE FROM THE COUNCIL BLUFFS CITY ATTORNEY TO ATTORNEY OF COUNSEL FOR THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

>> DAN, ARE YOU ALREADY TO DO THIS?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. [LAUGHTER]

>> IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

>> JUST AGAIN, DICK, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME ENERGY YEARS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR APPLICANTS.

THANK YOU TO JOE AND ROGER FOR SITTING ON THE COMMITTEE TO PICK OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY, AND WE WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST ELECTED.

>> ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION?

>> JUST SAME.

>> SAME COMMENTS, DICK.

FORTY YEARS IS A LONG WHILE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS OVER TIME.

WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOUR WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE ABILITY OF YOU TO SIT BACK AND SAY, "I BELIEVE THE INTENT AT THE TIME WAS." [LAUGHTER] THAT IS ONE PIECE THAT WILL NOT GO ON.

THOUGH YOU'RE ON THE HOOK.

IT SOUNDS LIKE FOR ANOTHER FEW MONTHS, HE HAD A SHORT PERIOD TO TRY AND TRANSFER ALL OF THAT KNOWLEDGE TO THE NEW STAFF.

I HOPE THAT IN SOME CAPACITY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REACH OUT, IF NEED BE, AS THE YEARS GO BY TO GAIN SOME OF THAT IS PERHAPS SOME EXPERT HISTORICAL CV, HISTORICAL EXPERT OF COUNCIL BLUFFS OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. AGAIN. THANK YOU, DICK.

>> PREVIOUS RESOLUTION, CONGRATS TO MIMI. SHE'S HERE.

>> HER FAMILY'S HERE WITH HER, SO CONGRATS.

>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> BOTH SAME SIGN.

[02:00:02]

>> RESOLUTION 25-129.

RESOLUTION TO RECLASSIFY CITY OWNED PROPERTY AS TRANSITIONAL PRESERVE.

>> THAT WAS THE ONE THAT WE REMOVED.

>> I'LL START OVER. RESOLUTION 25-129,

[E. Resolution 25-129]

RESOLUTION TO RECLASSIFY CITY OWNED PROPERTY AS TRANSITIONAL PRESERVE WITH THE INTENTION OF PURSUING DEVELOPMENT BY ONE OR MORE PARTIES.

>> IS THERE A MOTION?

>> I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT.

YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS.

TALK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.

WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE CIVIL DISCOURSE.

IT DOESN'T DO ANYBODY GOOD TO GET EMOTIONAL.

JUST TELL US WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.

WE'RE TRYING TO ORGANIZE IT, SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THOSE IN FAVOR.

WE ASKED THEM TO SPEAK FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW THOSE AGAINST BECAUSE IT WOULD APPEAR THAT MANY AGAINST ARE HERE AS WELL.

IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR, PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

>> MAYOR, THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, SO EVERYBODY GETS FIVE MINUTES, NOT 10.

>> PUBLIC HEARING, EVERYBODY GETS 10 MINUTES.

THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, IT'S A RESOLUTION.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M CHRISTA FURLA, 17582 GARRETT CIRCLE, COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I SERVE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COUNCIL BLUFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, AND THE MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SIGNED A LETTER OF SUPPORT, ENCOURAGING YOU TO CONTINUE EXPLORING THIS OPPORTUNITY AT DODGE RIVERSIDE.

COUNCIL BLUFFS NEEDS TO GROW.

FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS, OUR POPULATION HAS BEEN FLAT.

DURING THAT SAME TIME, THE OMAHA METRO HAS DOUBLED.

OUR POPULATION IS ALSO AGING.

IN 2000, ADULTS AGES 25-39 MADE UP 29.6% OF OUR POPULATION BY 2020, THAT DROPPED TO 24.8%, AND IT'S EXPECTED TO FALL BELOW 20% IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THERE IS ALSO A CORRESPONDING DECLINE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER THAT TIME.

THIS TREND IS CONCERNING TO ME AND MANY OTHERS.

A HEALTHY COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON A STRONG LABOR FORCE, SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, AND A BALANCED RATIO OF WORKING AGE ADULTS TO CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WE'RE ALSO FACING A SIGNIFICANT HOUSING SHORTAGE, AS YOU KNOW, CAUSING DRAMATIC INCREASES IN THE RENTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE LACK OF HOUSING OPTIONS HAS ALSO CREATED A SERIOUS OPPORTUNITY COST.

INDIVIDUALS IN HIGH QUALITY JOBS AND COUNCIL BLUFFS, SUCH AS TEACHERS, NURSES, POLICE OFFICERS, AND MANY OTHERS ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN OMAHA.

WITHOUT MORE HOUSING OPTIONS HERE, WE DO RISK LOSING THEM ENTIRELY WHEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES OPEN UP FOR THEM CLOSER TO WHERE THEY LIVE.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN DEVELOPMENTS THAT ATTRACT PEOPLE AND BUSINESS INVESTMENT.

JUST LAST WEEK, I ATTENDED AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COURSE IN KANSAS CITY WITH OVER 90 ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS FROM IOWA, NEBRASKA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, OKLAHOMA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA.

ONE REALITY THAT BECAME VERY CLEAR FROM THE SITE SELECTORS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS WHO PRESENTED TO THE CLASS, IS THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS COMPETING FOR A VERY LIMITED POOL OF POTENTIAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT AND WORKFORCE.

IF WE DON'T INVEST IN THE GROWTH OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY, WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO SECURE INVESTMENT FROM THAT SMALL POOL OF BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY HAVE PLENTY OF OTHER OPTIONS.

IF WE DON'T INVEST IN AMENITY RICH DEVELOPMENTS AND DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS, WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO CAPTURE WORKFORCE GROWTH AND NEW FAMILIES.

BUT THE ADVANTAGE THAT WE HAVE THAT MANY OF THOSE OTHER COMMUNITIES DON'T IS THAT WE'RE PART OF A REGION THAT'S GROWING.

OMAHA HAS MADE MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN ITS URBAN CORE, AND COUNCIL BLUFFS IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO GAIN A SIGNIFICANT RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

THIS PROJECT IS MORE THAN A DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A SIGNAL THAT COUNCIL BLUFFS IS PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE THAT WE WANT TO ATTRACT FAMILIES, GROW OUR WORKFORCE, AND INCREASE OUR TAX BASE.

ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER, I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GROW COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR

[02:05:01]

YOU IN THE ROLE THAT YOU'VE ACCEPTED IN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.

IT'S OFTEN A THANKLESS JOB.

I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.

I KNOW ALL OF YOU DO AS WELL, AND I THANK YOU GREATLY FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, CHRIS.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M KRISTIN BLOOM, 20527, 270 STREET AND MCCLELLAND.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY AS THE PRESIDENT OF CHI HEALTH MERCY COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TIME TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

THERE'S MANY CHALLENGES FACING HEALTHCARE, AND I THINK THE ONE THAT KEEPS MOST OF US UP AT NIGHT IS OUR WORKFORCE AND ATTRACTING FUTURE WORKFORCE, SIMPLY PUT THE DEMAND MUCH LIKE CHRIS SAID FOR WORKFORCE LARGELY.

THE DEMAND FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS IS GREATER THAN THE SUPPLY.

RECRUITMENT IS REALLY COMPETITIVE, RETENTION EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.

I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT WE'RE ATTRACTING TO WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ALSO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCREASES THEIR PERSONAL INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE IN ADDITION TO THEIR PROFESSIONAL ONE.

AVAILABILITY OF RENTAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP OPTIONS ARE REALLY LIMITED, AND JUST IN A VERY SPECIFIC CASE IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TRYING TO RECRUIT SOME OF MY NEW LEADERS TO LIVE AND WORK HERE, OPTIONS ARE REALLY LIMITED, AND THAT I'VE BEEN LESS SUCCESSFUL THAN I WANTED TO BE.

THIS IS SPEAKING TO ME QUITE A BIT RIGHT NOW AS I THINK THIS WOULD CREATE SOME FUTURE OPTIONS.

I WILL PERSEVERE. WE WILL GET SOME OF THEM HERE. DON'T WORRY.

IT'LL JUST TAKE LONGER THAN WE'D LIKE.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE BENEFITS OF THE POPULATION DENSITY AND GROWTH THAT THIS COULD CREATE SPECIFICALLY TO OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS. INCREASING THE OVERALL GROWTH OF THE POPULATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ECOSYSTEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'VE HAD TWO GREAT HOSPITALS SERVING COUNCIL BLUFFS FOR OVER 137 YEARS, AND IT MIGHT SOUND ODD FOR ME TO SAY THIS, BUT I THINK HAVING TWO OPTIONS FOR A COMMUNITY OUR SIZE FOR EMERGENCY AND ACUTE CARE IS A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO THIS COMMUNITY.

CHI HEALTH MERCY COUNCIL BLUFFS AND METHODIST JENNY EDMONDSON, ARE COMPETITORS, BUT THAT MEANS WE MAKE EACH OTHER BETTER, AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS A RESULT OF THAT.

IT ALSO DRAWS INVESTMENT FROM BOTH HEALTH SYSTEMS INTO THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR PURSUIT OF MAKING THE OVERALL COMMUNITY A HEALTHIER PLACE TO LIVE.

GROWING THE POPULATION THAT SERVED BY OUR TWO HOSPITALS WOULD BE A REALLY STABILIZING FACTOR AND WHAT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A CONTINUED UNPREDICTABLE FUTURE IN HEALTH CARE.

NOW FOR THE NEXT FEW DECADES AND PROBABLY FOREVER, BUT POPULATION GROWTH WOULD BE INCREDIBLY STABILIZING.

I'D LIKE TO ECHO CHRIS AND SAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR THANKLESS SERVICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR THE CITY.

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS?

>> QUESTION.

>> CHRIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STAFF? LIVES IN OMAHA THAT COULD LIVE HERE?

>> I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THAT.

I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT WORK OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS IN RULE, IOWA, BUT I'M SURPRISED BY THE NUMBER THAT LIVE IN OMAHA AND DRIVE HERE TO WORK.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT TESTAMENT TO OUR WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT'S GREAT.

I'M A TRANSPLANT PERSONALLY, 12 YEARS AGO.

TO THIS COMMUNITY AND EVEN WHEN I WORKED WITH CHI HEALTH AND OMAHA, WE'VE CONTINUED TO SETTLE ON THE SIDE.

I KNOW JUST OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, BUT THIS HAS CONTINUED TO BE OUR HOME, AND IT HAS STRENGTHENED MY AFFINITY TO LIVING AND WORKING HERE.

I HAVE A PERSONAL BIAS IN THAT REGARD, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF OUR STAFF BENEFIT FROM THAT.

>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, VICKY MORELLO, 23 PATRICK CIRCLE.

>> THANKS.

I'M THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUING TO EXPLORE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE DODGE RIVERSIDE.

IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE LACK OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR HOUSING AS A BARRIER TO FAMILIES, FACULTY, AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO WANT TO LIVE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

WE CAN AT LEAST IN PART, ATTRIBUTE THIS HOUSING DEFICIT TO THE SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN OUR STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

WHILE THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN UNUSUAL TREND IN OUR STATE SINCE COVID, WE BELIEVE THOUGH, THAT THE INVESTMENT IN NEW NEIGHBORHOODS, LIKE THE ONE PROPOSED FOR THE DODGE RIVERSIDE, CAN HELP REINVIGORATE OUR COMMUNITY.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPMENT AT THE DODGE RIVERSIDE WILL SPARK A RENEWED INTEREST FOR YOUNG FAMILIES TO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY, ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THAT COUNCIL BLUFFS HAS TO OFFER.

WE HAVE THE CAPACITY AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ACCOMMODATE MORE STUDENTS, AND WE'RE WILLING TO REVIEW OUR SCHOOL BOUNDARIES, IF NECESSARY TO ENSURE WE'RE NOT OVERCROWDED AT ANY ONE SCHOOL.

WE TRULY HOPE THAT EXPLORING THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL MOVE FORWARD.

[02:10:04]

I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH EACH OF YOU AND PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL AS YOU CONSIDER THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT. THANK YOU.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR DR. MORELLO?

>> DR. MORELLO, WHEN WE MET A FEW WEEKS AGO, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS ABOUT HOUSES IN THE APARTMENTS, AND THE AMOUNT OF APARTMENTS DON'T NECESSARILY BRING IN THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN INTO THE DISTRICT.

ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF STANDALONE HOUSING, OR ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT YOU'VE SEEN WHERE IT IS THERE WAS ONLY 64, 68 STANDALONE HOUSES THAT WAS PROPOSED DOWN THERE, AND THE REST 3,000 AND SOME WERE APARTMENTS?

>> I'M IN FAVOR OF SEEING THE REDEVELOPMENT.

I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THE HOUSING WAS ADDED, AND IT'S NOT JUST APARTMENTS.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THE NEED FOR HOUSING, AS KRISTA SPOKE IN FRONT OF ME, AS WE RECRUIT OUR TEACHERS, OUR GREATEST CONCERN IS THEY MOVE OUT TOWARDS MILLARD AND THAT.

THEN AFTER A WHILE, THEY START RAISING FAMILIES, AND WE START LOSING, I LOST TWO REALLY GOOD TEACHERS THIS YEAR TO MILLARD.

WHY? THAT'S WHERE THEIR HOMES ARE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND NOW THEY'RE RAISING CHILDREN THERE.

THEN THEY'RE BEING HIRED BECAUSE EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES.

I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HAVE THE HOUSING HERE FOR THEM, BUT ALSO FOR FAMILIES SO THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT GROWS IN ENROLLMENT, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

WE'RE LANDLOCKED.

IT'S A 50/50.

THE APARTMENTS WOULD DRAW THE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE, IF YOU ASK ME WHERE THE WORKFORCE, WE'RE ABOUT AT 55 45% SPLIT, WHO COMES ACROSS THE RIVER AND WHO LIVES HERE.

IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO HAVE MORE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT WOULD BE A TEMPORARY FIX, BUT WE DO NEED TO FIND MORE HOMES FOR OUR FAMILIES TO BUY.

I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU ON BOTH.

IT WAS A CONCEPT DESIGNED TO ASCERTAIN WHAT THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE INSTALLATION WAS VERSUS WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS FOR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

>> IT'S NOT A PLAN.

WE NEED TO DO A MASTER PLAN TO FIGURE OUT THE TRUE PLAN, BUT I THINK THAT THAT CONCEPTUAL PLAN WAS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 04,000 APARTMENT UNITS AND SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 1,000 OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS.

>> NOT 50 SOME, I THINK IT WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER.

>> IT SAYS 13 VILLAGE HOMES, 36 COTTAGE HOMES, AND 103 TOWN HOMES.

THE REST ARE MULTIFAMILY.

>> THAT AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY IS NOT THAT PLAN.

>> CONCEPTUAL MAX.

>> WE'RE DISCUSSING THE IDEA OF WHETHER OR NOT DO WE WANT TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE AND ACTUALLY FIND OUT WHAT THAT WAS, THINK SOMETHING ABOUT IO WEST THAT GIVES US AN IDEA OF WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE A PEG, SO TO SPEAK, OF WE COULD POSSIBLY GO MORE DENSE OR LESS DENSE, WHICHEVER WAY WE DECIDE AS A COMMUNITY, IN THE EVENT WE DECIDED TO GO DOWN THAT PATH.

I JUST TRIED TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT IS OR COULD BE POSSIBLE.

WE DO NOT HAVE A PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US AT THIS POINT.

>> WE HAVE A CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN.

>> IF I MIGHT ADD ONE MORE, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO RETAIN OUR STUDENTS AFTER THEY COMPLETE THEIR IRCS OR THEIR DEGREES, AND BRINGING THEM BACK AND FINDING A PLACE FOR THEM TO LIVE AS YOUNG PEOPLE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ALSO TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THE SONG. I AM ALLY NICHOLS, 635 SIMS AVENUE.

WHILE I AM A CITY EMPLOYEE, I'M HERE ON MY OWN TIME, EXPRESSING MY APPROVAL FOR A CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER PROPOSALS FOR POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT DODGE RIVERSIDE.

I'M REALLY JUST WANTING TO EMPLORE YOU GUYS.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF POLARIZING VIEWS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE.

I JUST WANTED YOU GUYS TO REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE ALSO SETTING THE FUTURE UP FOR THE PEOPLE FOR MY KIDS, WHO I HOPE, STAY HERE, FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO STAY HERE AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE A CITY THAT IS FLOURISHING AND A CITY THAT IS CHANGING.

THE CITIZENS HERE TONIGHT AND MYSELF INCLUDED, WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY, MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP OPEN MINDS AND THAT WE GROUND OUR OPINIONS AND REAL CREDIBLE FACTS, AND WE MUST RESIST THE URGE TO LET EMOTIONS OR FEAR OVERRIDE REASON.

WE NEED TO TRUST THAT WE ALL HAVE OUR BEST INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE.

[02:15:05]

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CITY OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LEADERS IN OUR CITY ARE THERE TO MAKE THE BEST INFORMED DECISIONS, TO USE THEIR FORWARD THINKING ABILITY TO RELY ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE THE BEST PROPOSALS, SO WE ALL AS A COMMUNITY CAN SEE THE POTENTIAL OF OUR CITY COME TO FRUITION.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT DODGE RIVERSIDE CLUB, IT'S ABOUT EVERY PROJECT OUR CITY TAKES ON.

GROWTH REQUIRES VISION, PROGRESS DEMANDS COURAGE, AND TRUE LEADERSHIP MEANS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT, EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT EASY.

PLEASE CONSIDER APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR ALLY?

>> THANKS, ALLY.

>> ANYBODY ELSE?

>> NEXT, JENENE VANDENBURG.

>> JENENE VANDENBURG ADDRESS 325 OAK RIDGE VIEW CIRCLE, COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I'M ACTUALLY HERE, I'M THE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER AT METHODIST JENNIE EDMUNDSON HOSPITAL.

I JUST WANT TO BRIEF SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT KRISTEN SAID.

AS SHE MENTIONED, WE ARE COMPETITORS, BUT WE'RE BOTH ON THE SAME AREA OF TRYING TO BUILD WORKFORCE HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, AND WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT PEOPLE AND WITHOUT PLACES FOR THEM TO LIVE.

WHAT WE SEE IN THE HOSPITAL TRENDS RIGHT NOW IS WE'LL GET SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND THEY STAY BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST GRADUATING FROM NURSING SCHOOL.

THEY STAY ONLY LONG ENOUGH TO GET SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDERNEATH THEM AND THEN THEY END UP MOVING OVER TO OMAHA.

WE SEE IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

OUR TURNOVER RECORDS ARE SHOWING THAT THEY'RE MOVING OVER TO OMAHA BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE HOUSING.

THEY HAVE THE AREAS TO MOVE THEIR FAMILIES THAT THEY ARE STARTING.

THESE ARE USUALLY VERY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE BEGINNING OF THEIR CAREERS, AND WE ARE LOSING THEM.

THEY'RE HERE LONG ENOUGH TO GET TRAINING, AND WE REALLY WANT THEM TO STAY AND INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN WITHOUT HOUSING, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET THEM TO STAY.

I JUST REALLY WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH IN SUPPORT WE ARE OF THIS AND HOW MUCH WE NEED THAT HOUSING FOR OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTHCARE. THANK YOU.

>> DON'T BE STARTING MY TIME EARLY, AMANDA.

JUSTIN JAMES 23009. WHAT'S THAT?

>> GIVE HIM FOUR MINUTES.

>> HEY, NO, DON'T BE STARTING THAT.

THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO REAL FAST. I'M THE FIRE CHIEF HERE.

I'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR 26 YEARS, AND I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE ALL OF YOU SAT DOWN WITH ME AND I TALKED TO YOU ON THE PHONE.

I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WHY.

I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER THIS.

TRULY, WHAT IS THE CITY'S REAL PROBLEM.

I OFTENTIMES USE THE WORD DENSITY, I'M REALLY TALKING ABOUT TWO THINGS.

DENSITY AND POPULATION AND DENSITY AND VALUATION.

OUR CITY HAS NEITHER, AND IT'S NEVER HAD IT.

THAT HAS BEEN OUR STRUGGLE, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE.

I TALKED TO THE MAYOR THE OTHER DAY.

IN MY CAREER HERE, WE'VE BEEN AT THE CAP OF THE 810 LEVY ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME.

THAT'S THE LEVY THAT PLAYS FOR POLICE AND FIRE.

WE CANNOT TAX ANYMORE.

THE ONLY WAY TO FIX OUR ISSUES IS TO BUILD TAXABLE VALUATION IN A VERY DENSE SPOT WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE.

DENSITY HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS, AND AS A CITY, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY ONE AREA WHERE THERE IS ACTUALLY A TON OF DENSITY.

I LOOKED UP THE DENSITY OF THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

IT'S 600 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE.

THE AVERAGE CITY IN UNITED STATES IS 1,600.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OMAHA, IT'S 3,433 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT ANKENY IOWA, IT'S 2,243 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE.

DES MOINES IS 2,428.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PAYS FOR WHAT.

IT'S ABOUT TAXABLE VALUATION AND DENSITY.

OFTENTIMES HERE, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE STREETS, THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE STORM SEWERS, AND THEY NEED REPAIR.

I'LL AGREE WITH THAT. OUR STREETS AND SEWERS ARE PAID FOR BY THREE THINGS.

NONE OF WHICH ARE PROPERTY TAXES.

WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SAY, THEY TAKE OUR TAXES AND PAY FOR STREETS.

THAT ISN'T HOW IT WORKS. PROPERTY TAXES DON'T PAY FOR THAT.

PROPERTY TAXES PAY FOR POLICE, FIRE, GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS PARKS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK INSIDE THIS BUILDING.

THAT'S ALL IT IS. THAT'S THE ONLY THING PROPERTY TAXES PAY FOR.

ROAD, STREETS AND SEWERS ARE PAID FOR BY THREE THINGS.

ROAD USE TAX, LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX, AND SEWER USAGE FEES.

ROAD USE TAX IS THE TAX THAT WE ALL PAY AT THE PUMP, GOES TO THE STATE OF IOWA, GETS REDISTRIBUTED BACK TO THE CITY BASED ON POPULATION.

IF YOU HAVE A POPULATION THAT DOESN'T EVER CHANGE,

[02:20:01]

BUT YOUR LINEAR FEET OF STREET AND SEWERS CONTINUE TO GROW, YOU GO BROKE.

BASICALLY, IN OUR CITY, WE HAVE 341 MILES OF STREETS.

WE COLLECT ABOUT 8.5 MILLION A YEAR IN ROAD USE TAX. THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SOLELY BASED ON POPULATION.

LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT PLAYS FOR STREETS AND SEWERS.

THAT'S ONE PENNY FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

OUR REVENUE ON THAT'S ABOUT 13 MILLION.

SEWER FEES FOR SANITARY SEWERS ANNUALLY CREATES ABOUT 14.5 MILLION.

THAT'S THE CHARGE YOU PAY WHEN YOU'RE CONNECTED TO A SEWER.

THE AVERAGE OR ROUGH ESTIMATE, WHAT I GOT FROM MATT ON A STREET IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, OR HOUSE ON THE WEST END, THEY PAY ABOUT 35-$45 A MONTH SO ABOUT $420 A YEAR.

YOU GOT A TOTAL OF $36 MILLION THAT COME INTO THE CITY TO FIX SEWERS AND STREETS.

OF THAT, ABOUT 13 MILLION OF IT IS USED FOR OPERATIONS, PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY WORK INSIDE PUBLIC WORKS.

IN A STUDY COMPLETED RECENTLY OR NOT TOO LONG AGO BY PUBLIC WORKS, IT SHOWED THAT WE HAD $360 MILLION WORTH OF STREETS TO FIX, IF WE WERE GOING TO BRING THEM ALL UP TO A VERY GOOD STANDARD.

WE HAD $600 MILLION WORTH OF SEWERS THAT NEEDED EITHER BE EXPANDED OR BIGGER WITH TREATMENT FACILITIES OR REPLACED, 600 MILLION, AND WE'RE THROWING $23 MILLION AT IT.

THAT'S ALL WE GOT. THAT DON'T WORK.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM. I'M GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK EXAMPLE.

I TOOK ONE CITY BLOCK AT THE WEST END AND LOOKED AT, WHAT'S THE TAXABLE VALUATION IN THE POPULATION? THERE'S 26 HOUSES ON A BLOCK.

I FIGURED THEM ALL AT 180,000 A PIECE.

THERE'S THREE PEOPLE, I SAID LIVED IN EACH HOUSE.

THAT'S 78 PEOPLE, 4.7 MILLION.

WHEN YOU GO DOWN AND LOOK AT THIS PROJECT, THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE GROUND RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ON THE SAME LINEAR FEET OF STREETS AND SEWERS AS THAT BLOCK OF HOUSES.

THIS PROJECT ALONE IS $28 MILLION IN TAXABLE VALUATION AND 350 PEOPLE.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE FIX THIS PROBLEM INTO THE FUTURE.

IT'S PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I WISH I HAD MORE TIME. I COULD GO THROUGH IT.

YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS REPEATEDLY.

WHEN MY EMPLOYEES LEAVE THE STATION, I ASK THEM TO ASK THEMSELVES TWO THINGS.

WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITIZENS AS A WHOLE? WHAT'S IT TAKE TO WIN? WHAT I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO IS TO ASK YOURSELF THOSE SAME TWO QUESTIONS. WE NEED A WIN.

I AM NOT FOR PUTTING 16 APARTMENT BUILDINGS ON DODGE PARK.

WE NEED A PROJECT THAT CHANGES THIS CITY FOREVER, GIVES US REVENUE THAT WE CAN GO FIX THESE STREETS AND THESE SEWERS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT OTHERWISE. THANK YOU.

>> ANYBODY ELSE SPEAKING IN FAVOR?

>> JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME.

>> BRANDON GARRETT, 633 SPENCER AVENUE.

WHILE HE'S MAKING HIS WAY UP JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT ON THAT STUDY SESSION, THERE WAS A PROPOSED AMENDED RESOLUTION, SO JUST FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN ACCEPT THAT.

SOMEBODY CAN MAKE A MOTION FOR IT.

>> I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

>> THE RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> WE WOULD HAVE TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION IF THAT WAS WHAT WE DID.

>> YOU'D HAVE TO AMEND YOUR MOTION.

>> TURNER MORGAN, 533 CLARK AVENUE.

THANKS FOR THE TIME, THE ABILITY TO SPEAK, FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I DO COMMUNITY WORK.

I WORK WITH A LOT OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND I'M APPALLED AT THE THINGS YOU GOT TO GO THROUGH ONLINE.

I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE SAY OFF SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT IS A HORRIBLE BAROMETER FOR HOW YOU MIGHT FEEL ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF IT THAT ARE YOUNG FAMILIES LIKE MINE, PUTTING THEIR CHILDREN TO BED RIGHT NOW.

I'M LUCKY I GOT TO BE HERE.

THE OTHER POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS, ASIDE FROM MY COMMUNITY WORK, I ALSO SUBSTITUTE TEACH.

I PARTICULARLY SUB AT EDISON ELEMENTARY ONE DAY A WEEK AND WHEN I HAVE TIME.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT NONE OF THOSE KIDS CAN AFFORD TO GO GOLFING.

AS IT STANDS, YOU HAVE 60 ACRES OF PUBLIC GROUND THAT IS NOT EQUITABLE TO THOSE FAMILIES, AND I WOULD PROBABLY ARGUE A FEW OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, AND THEN THEY'LL NEVER SEE IT AND YOU HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY THAT COULD BE SO MUCH MORE FOR EVERYBODY.

I ECHO A LOT OF SENTIMENTS THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID.

I ALSO DON'T WANT TO SEE MAYBE 16 BROODMARES STACKED ON ONE ANOTHER, OF COURSE, BUT SOMETHING TO CHANGE THE FACE AND SOMETHING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT AND SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY COULD USE IS WHAT I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF.

I JUST IMPLORE YOU TO EXPLORE IT.

[02:25:01]

YOU GOT TO AT LEAST EXPLORE IT.

I THINK IT'S WORTH IT, INVALUABLE. THANK YOU.

>> GO BACK A BIT. TURNER, JUST SO YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY, THE KIDS THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT, IF THEY GO TO TJ OR AL, THEY GET TO GOLF DOWN THERE AND THE CITY PROVIDES THAT COURTESY TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

THE SCHOOLS PRACTICE DOWN THERE, THE BOYS AND GIRLS FROM BOTH AL AND TJ.

SO YOU KNOW. I'M SURE, MAYBE YOU KNEW THAT.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I'M GLAD THE CITY OFFERS SO MANY RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

POOLS, SO MANY PARKS THAT WE LOVE.

BUT THIS JUST FEELS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IF THERE WEREN'T ANY OTHER GOLFING OPTIONS AROUND TOWN. I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENT.

I'D BE LIKE, THIS IS A UNIQUE THING, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO JUST DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE A HUGE POSITIVE CHANGE.

PLEASE, I UNDERSTAND. I LIKE GOLF, BY THE WAY.

I LOVE TO GOLF. I'LL DO ANOTHER ROUND ON DODGE IF THIS GOES THROUGH.

>> IN MY RESEARCH, I TALKED TO WHISPERING WOODS, AND HE FELT THAT HE COULD ACCOMMODATE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. HE DOES SEVERAL ALREADY AND SAID IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, BUT HE FELT THAT HE COULD.

>> THAT'S GREAT AT LEAST FOR EVERYONE.

>> ANYBODY ELSE IN FAVOR?

>> HI, MAYOR WALSH, CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS SHELLEY WITCHER.

I LIVE IN OMAHA, FULL DISCLOSURE, 2820 SOUTH 99TH AVENUE.

I HAVE WORKED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS FOR APPROXIMATELY 16 YEARS.

I PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS AN ATTORNEY AT IOWA LEGAL AID.

I AM CURRENTLY A BOARD MEMBER AND HAVE BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS FOR THE POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY HOUSING TRUST FUND, AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS.

THE HOUSING TRUST FUND GRANTS ABOUT $500,000 PER YEAR TO ASSIST HOUSING RELATED ACTIVITIES.

BUT WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE ADDITIONAL HOUSING FROM THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK WITH.

CREATING NEW HOUSING WILL ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN OUR SYSTEM AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

AS A PREVIOUS ATTORNEY AT IOWA LEGAL AID, I SAW PERSONALLY CLIENTS WHO WERE FACING EVICTION, WHICH IS A BIG PIECE OF WHAT IOWA LEGAL AID HELPS INDIVIDUALS WITH IS FINDING HOUSING.

THEY HAVE AN EVICTION HELP DESK UP AT THE COURTHOUSE.

A LOT OF WHAT THEY DO CURRENTLY, THAT HELP DESK IS TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS TO NEGOTIATE WITH LANDLORDS TO FIND NEW PLACES TO LIVE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE JUST AREN'T NEW PLACES TO LIVE.

THEY DO THEIR BEST TO TRY TO KEEP TENANTS, EXCUSE ME, IN THEIR HOUSING BUT THIS COMMUNITY CLEARLY HAS A NEED FOR MORE NEW PLACES FOR FAMILIES, WHETHER THAT'S INDIVIDUAL HOMES OR THAT'S DENSER HOUSING COMPLEXES, JUST FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO IF THERE IS.

THE OTHER PIECE THAT I DID A LOT AT IOWA LEGAL AID WAS WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION ORDERS.

THAT ALSO HOUSING IS A HUGE PIECE OF THAT NEED BECAUSE IF INDIVIDUALS DO NEED TO GET AWAY FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS, THEY OFTEN NEED A PLACE TO GO.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE.

I IMPLORE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS AND TO SUPPORT THIS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE HOUSING IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

>> ANYBODY ELSE SPEAKING IN FAVOR? SEEING NONE AS WE TRANSITION, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SENT IN LETTERS, EITHER FOR OR AGAINST, DO YOU HAVE A TALLY OF THOSE?

>> YES. THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAS RECEIVED AND FILED NINE LETTERS OF OPPOSITION AND 18 LETTERS OF SUPPORT.

>> ANYBODY SPEAKING AGAINST? [LAUGHTER]

>> COME RIGHT UP.

>> AGAIN, NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

>> I'M DIANE STOREY.

I LIVE AT 148 IVY DRIVE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND NEIGHBORS.

I'M HERE TO ASK, RESPECTFULLY, BUT URGENTLY, DO NOT APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO DECLARE DODGE RIVERSIDE GOLF CLUB AS TRANSITIONAL PRESERVE, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THE SALE AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND ON WHICH IT SITS.

THIS IS NOT JUST ANY [NOISE] EXCUSE ME, ANY GOLF COURSE.

PART OF THIS LAND WAS DONATED BY GENERAL GRENVILLE DODGE AND HIS BROTHER NATHAN P. DODGE.

TWO MEN WHOSE NAMES ARE WOVEN INTO THE VERY FABRIC OF THIS CITY'S HISTORY.

SINCE IT OPENED IN 1927, THIS COURSE HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY TREASURE FOR NEARLY A CENTURY.

[02:30:01]

THE DODGE RIVERSIDE GOLF CLUB IS MORE THAN FAIRWAYS AND GREENS.

IT HOSTS OVER 20 TOURNAMENTS A YEAR, MANY RAISING FUNDS FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE ALL OF US, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT PROVIDES AN AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE PRACTICE COMPETITION SPACE FOR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL GOLF TEAMS, A RARE AND PRECIOUS RESOURCE IN TIME WHEN YOUTH ACTIVITIES ARE UNDER CONSTANT PRESSURE.

IT'S A GATHERING PLACE FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES.

[NOISE] EXCUSE ME, FOR RECREATION, COMMUNITY, AND MENTAL WELL BEING.

NOW, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO GIVE ALL OF THAT UP FOR A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF 3,900 PLUS RESIDENTIAL UNITS OF WHICH THE RESOLUTION STATES NO MORE THAN 30% OF THE UNITS AS LOW AND MODERATE INCOME.

OVER 200,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN A FEMA ZONE X SHADED AREA OF MODERATE FLOOD HAZARD.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S OWN 2020 STUDY TO EVEN MAKE THIS FEASIBLE, THE PROJECT WOULD REQUIRE MASSIVE FILL, THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO NEW PUMP STATIONS, AND THE ADDITION OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION LIKE A STREET CAR.

THAT'S NOT JUST A DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S A TRANSFORMATION OF LANDSCAPE WITH ENORMOUS FINANCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND LOGISTICAL RISKS.

WE HAVE TO ASK, IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR SUCH A GAMBLE? ONCE WE PAVE OVER THIS HISTORIC AND VIBRANT GREEN SPACE, THERE'S NO GOING BACK.

WE WILL HAVE LOST A RECREATIONAL GEM, A PIECE OF OUR CITY'S STORY AND A VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE, ALL FOR A PROJECT WHOSE COST, BOTH LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE MAY NOT EXCEED ITS PROMISES.

I URGE YOU HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE DODGE FAMILY, RESPECT THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY, AND PRESERVE THIS REMARKABLE PLACE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIANE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ANYBODY ELSE SPEAKING AGAINST?

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> DO I HAVE TO PRESS THIS BUTTON?

>> NO.

>> HERE YOU GO.

>> OKAY. RANDALL BAINE, 1007 EAST CARY STREET, PAPILION, NEBRASKA.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I VOLUNTEER IN SEVERAL COMMITTEES OVER HERE.

I HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOUR MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.

>> MOTION TO RECEIVE FILE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THAT?

>> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE?

>> YEAH. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> I LEARNED TO GOLF AT WESTWOOD PARK AND PLAYED FOR TJ'S GOLF TEAM.

>> VOTE SAME SAME.

THAT WAS A BENEFIT, BUT WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, I'M NOT IN OPPOSITION TO DEVELOPING COUNCIL BLUFFS.

IN FACT, I'D LIKE TO SEE COUNCIL BLUFFS DEVELOP MORE THAN WHAT IT HAS IN RECENT YEARS.

MY CONCERN IS DEVELOPMENT THAT MIGHT NOT BE COMPREHENSIVELY BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY AND TO THE RESIDENTS.

AS A PRIOR PERSON SPOKE THERE, I THINK THE GOLF COURSE IS A GYM.

IT'S THE OLDEST METROPOLITAN GOLF COURSE IN THE AREA.

WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN I-29 AND YOU LOOK OVER OR IF YOU'RE WALKING UP AND DOWN THE LEVEE SYSTEM, AND YOU SEE THAT OLD GROWTH COTTONWOOD TREES THROUGH THERE, IT'S REALLY A MAJOR BENEFIT.

ONE OF MY CONCERNS ARE IF YOU DEVELOP THAT AREA INTO RESIDENTIAL AND MAYBE LIKE COMMERCIAL, YOU'RE DESTROYING THAT GYM.

ONCE IT'S GONE, IT'S GOING TO BE GONE FOREVER.

THEN WHERE DO YOU TAKE THE PEOPLE TO BENEFIT WHEN THEY NEED MORE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES? ANOTHER CONCERN, WHICH I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD SPOKEN ABOUT TOO MUCH TONIGHT IS HOW THE DODGE FAMILY BACK IN 1910, DEEDED THIS LAND TO THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IN PERPETUITY TO BE USED AS OPEN SPACE RECREATION.

I DON'T THINK THEY MEANT TO BE USED AS A GOLF COURSE.

IN FACT, IN DOCUMENTS THAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE LIBRARY, THEY WANTED IT TO BE A WILDLIFE PRESERVE, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, BUT I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION OF PERPETUITY, IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT 115 YEARS.

I THINK THIS COUNCIL AND THIS ADMINISTRATION OUGHT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL ON THE DECISIONS YOU'RE MAKING, THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE SOMETHING LIKE THE LADY SAID, IS A HISTORIC THREAD BACK TO THE DODGE FAMILY THAT WAS

[02:35:02]

SO INTIMATE TO THE GROWTH OF COUNCIL BLUFFS BACK IN THE DAYS.

NOW, THE SECOND THING I REALLY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT, I'M AN ENGINEER.

I HAD 34 YEARS WITH THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OUT OF THE OMAHA DISTRICT.

I'M IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR NOW AS AN ENGINEER, AND MY CONCERN IS ALONG THE RIVER WAY THERE THAT THIS IS A FLOOD HAZARD AREA.

WE'VE SEEN THE FLOODS OF 1993, 2011, 2019.

WE'VE SEEN UP AND DOWN THE RIVER, EVEN THOUGH THE LEVEE SYSTEM STOPS HERE BY BIG LAKE PARK, YOU MOVE ON DOWN THE RIVER AND WE'VE SEEN LEVEES THAT HAVE OVER TOPPED AND THEY BREACHED AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

MY CONCERN IS, IF YOU DEVELOP THAT AREA, YOU COULD BEEF UP THE LEVEES, THE EARTH AND LEVEES.

YOU COULD MAKE THEM HIGHER, YOU CAN MAKE THEM WIDER.

IF YOU BRING IN A LOT OF FIELD MATERIAL, YOU'RE ALSO JEOPARDIZING ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL AREA THAT YOU'RE BRINGING SOIL FROM SOMEWHERE, AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DEGRADE THAT ENVIRONMENT? BUT LET'S SAY YOU DID. YOU BEEFED UP THE LEVEES.

WE KNOW THE FREQUENCY OF FLOODING ON THE MISSOURI RIVER HAS INCREASED.

WE'VE SEEN IT. IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE.

THE CLIMATE CHANGES.

THE LEVEE SYSTEM DOWN THERE STATIC, BUT THE CLIMATE IS DYNAMIC.

WHEN THAT RIVER FLOODS OR EVEN IF IT DOESN'T FLOOD, BUT IT INCREASES IN FLOW, THERE'S A HYDRAULIC CONNECTION TO THE FLOODPLAIN.

YEARS AGO BEFORE THERE WAS ANY LEVEE SYSTEM THERE BACK IN THE DAYS OF CAINSVILLE, INSTEAD OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, THAT RIVER WOULD SWING BACK AND FORTH, DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF FLOODING THAT IT HAD IN THE SPRINGTIME.

WHAT HAPPENS, THERE'S OLD RIVER CHANNELS BENEATH THE SOIL HERE, AND WHEN THAT RIVER RUNS HIGH LIKE IT DID IN 2019 AND 2011, THESE OLD CHANNELS GET SUPERCHARGED.

MY CONCERN IS, IF THAT LEVEE WERE TO OVER TOP OR IF IT WERE TO BREACH, YOU HAVE THE I-29 EMBANKMENT, THE UNION PACIFIC EMBANKMENT, AND THE 480 EMBANKMENT, AND YOU WOULD HAVE PEOPLE TRAPPED IN THERE LIKE A RESERVOIR WITH THE WATER FILLING AROUND THEM.

WHAT'S THEIR EGRESS ROUTE OUT OF THERE? NOW, YOU CAN ALSO, I THINK I'VE HEARD IT PROPOSED.

YOU CAN ELEVATE HOUSES IN THERE, AND YOU COULD PUT PARKING BELOW THE HOUSES AND PUT THE PEOPLE UP ABOVE IT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT ADA, DISABILITIES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT ALSO, BUT ANOTHER CONCERN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS THAT I REALLY THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO LOOK AT ALL THE ROOFTOPS, DRIVEWAYS, AND STREETS THAT GO IN THERE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A HECK OF A LOT OF STORMWATER RUNOFF.

YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOME TYPE OF SYSTEM.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET GRAVITY FLOW INTO THE RIVER.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM?

>> HOW LONG WERE YOU AN ENGINEER WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS?

>> ABOUT 34 YEARS.

>> THIRTY FOUR YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN FLOODING MORE FREQUENTLY, LIKE YOU SAY.

I WAS A CITY FIREFIGHTER AND NOT ONCE HAS IT COME OVER THE TOP OF OUR LEVEES TO THIS POINT.

>> IF WE DO LOSE A LEVEE IT'S MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE AT BIG LAKE, WOULD YOU SAY?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

THE NARROWS PARK JUST SOUTH OF THERE IS THE MOST NARROW PART, BUT I THINK THE RIVER STREAM BED EITHER DEGRADES OR AGGRADES.

IF IT'S AGGRADING, YOU'RE ALSO LOSING COMPACITY OF THAT RIVER SYSTEM IN THERE.

TO ME IT'S JUST A CONCERN.

I'D HATE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE.

>> IF WE DO LOSE THE LEVEE AT BIG LAKE, WHAT FLOODS?

>> THE WHOLE OF THE NORTH PART OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

>> YEAH. ALL THE WAY TO FOURTH STREET RIGHT HERE?

>> YEAH. THOSE ARE CONCERNS, BUT YET, THEY'VE BEEN BUILDING LEVEES AND DIKES SINCE GREEK, GREECE, 7,000 YEARS.

>> YEAH, BUT THEY DON'T ANYMORE THOUGH.

YOU'RE NOT SEEING IT ANYMORE.

THE IDEA OF ELEVATING BUILDINGS THAT'LL WORK.

>> WELL, I'M NOT SAYING THAT.

I'VE HAD CONSTRUCTION FOR 28 YEARS.

I UNDERSTAND IT.

AS AN ENGINEER WITH THE CORP, WOULD WIDENING THE LEVEES NORTH OF TOWN A HALF MILE OUT EACH SIDE OF THE RIVER TAKE PRESSURE OFF THIS PRESSURE POINT? LET THAT WATER LAY OUT UP THERE INSTEAD OF COME RUSHING DOWN THROUGH HERE?

>> IN 2011 YOU SAW THAT LOOKED LIKE A LAKE ALL THE WAY NORTH OF THAT.

>> YES, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S MEANT TO DO.

>> THAT'S WHAT THAT FLOODPLAIN WAS ABOUT.

>> IF I COULD SAY, IN 2011 IF YOU WERE DOWN THERE AT DODGE PARK, YOU SAW ALL THE GEOTECH FABRIC THAT WAS PLACED ALONG THAT LEVEE ON THE DRY SIDE OF LEVEE BECAUSE THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN THE STATE OF IOWA SCARED TO DEATH THAT THAT LEVEE SYSTEM WAS GOING TO BE LOST.

THE SAME THING ON YOUR PUMPING STATION ON NORTH 25TH STREET, YOU CAME VERY CLOSE TO LOOSING THAT, WHICH WOULD HAVE FLOODED THE PART OF TOWN THOUGH.

>> BUT SINCE THEN, I THINK THEY REINFORCED AND RECERTIFIED BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS. JUST RECENTLY.

[02:40:01]

>> YEAH, TO MEET THE HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT A FLOOD THAT COULD BE LARGER, WHICH WE'VE SEEN.

I'M NOT HERE TO BE CONTENTIOUS WITH THAT.

>> NO, I'M JUST TRYING TO EDUCATE.

>> THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO, BECAUSE WE GOT TO TALK IN FACTS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT.

>> WERE YOU AT THE CORP DURING 2011, 2019?

>> YEAH, I WAS OVER HERE FLOOD FIGHTING ALSO UP AND DOWN THE LEVEE SYSTEM. YEAH.

>> WHEN DID YOU RETIRE FROM THE CORP?

>> 2018.

>> OKAY.

>> TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY I'LL BE DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS TEACHING A WORKSHOP ON FLOOD RISK.

I HATE TO CALL IT THE ANNIVERSARY, BUT OF HURRICANE KATRINA.

IF YOU EVER LOOKED AT THE NINTH WARD AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT FLOODING DOWN THERE DURING KATRINA, THAT'S WHAT I'M SCARED COULD HAPPEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

>> WHICH AFTER THAT FLOOD EVENT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN FIGMA REQUIRED ALL CITIES PROTECTED BY A LEVEE TO BE RECERTIFIED.

COUNCIL BLUFFS IS STILL WORKING ON THEIR RECERTIFICATION.

WE HAVEN'T DONE THE VERY SOUTH END BY VETERANS MEMORIAL, BUT THAT AREA WHICH WE CALL TAB A IS RECERTIFIED AND AND KEEPS AS YOU SAID, EVERYTHING FROM ABOUT EIGHTH STREET TO THE LEVEES OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN, LEVEE PROTECTED.

>> ONCE AGAIN, REMEMBER THAT THAT CERTIFICATION IS FOR THE HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD, THE 1% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD.

THE LEVEES PROTECT UP TO 250,000 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND.

I FORGET WHAT FREQUENCY FLOOD EVENT THAT IS, BUT WE'RE SEEING THE FREQUENCY OF FLOODING INCREASE ON THE MISSOURI RIVER.

THEN YOU COULD ALSO SAY, HEY, THERE'S SIX MAIN STEM DAMS ON THE MISSOURI RIVER.

THAT'S GOING TO HELP KEEP THAT DOWN.

THOSE SIX MAIN STEM DAMS ONLY CONTROL 30% OF THE BASIN, 70% OF THAT BASIN COMES IN AROUND THOSE DAMS, JAMES RIVER, BIG SIOUX RIVER, LITTLE SIOUX RIVER.

IT'S JUST A CONCERN.

>> WE SAW THAT IN '19.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. ANYBODY ELSE SPEAKING AGAINST?

>> EXCUSE ME.

>> YEAH, I'M KEN MCGLAD.

I LIVE AT 2732 TERRA HILL STREET.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THERE'S AN IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF LAND AROUND TOWN TO BUILD HOUSES IN.

THE PROBLEM IS, PEOPLE ARE LEAVING COUNCIL BLUFFS, JUST LIKE MY TWO SONS.

THERE IS A LACK OF QUALITY OF LIFE HERE.

WE NEED THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO DO.

WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THINGS TO DO.

BOTH OF MY SONS STARTED PLAYING GOLF AT WESTWOOD.

I USED TO LIVE ON 11TH AVENUE, SATURDAY AFTERNOONS I'D TAKE THEM DOWN THERE, AND WE WOULD PLAY.

THEN SOMEONE DECIDED THE INTERSTATE WAS GOING TO GO THERE, SO THEY HAD TO CLOSE IT, AND THE INTERSTATE DIDN'T GO THERE, AND NOW IT'S A WHEAT PILE.

WITH THE LACK OF THINGS TO DO, PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE AREA.

THERE'S NOTHING TO HOLD THEM HERE.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM QUALITY OF LIFE THINGS.

I DON'T CARE WHEN THEY SAY, WELL, YOU BUILD A HOUSE, PEOPLE WILL COME HERE.

NO, THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE IN WEST OMAHA BECAUSE THEY KEEP BUILDING THINGS FOR THEM TO DO.

THERE'S LOTS OF GOLF COURSES OUT THERE.

THERE'S MORE AMUSEMENT PARKS.

THERE'S EVERYTHING FOR THEM TO DO.

THE KIDS HAVE BETTER FACILITIES FOR SPORTS.

IF YOU DON'T KEEP GOING WITH COUNCIL BLUFFS TO MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LEAVE.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I CAN SAY ON THAT THING IS, WITH NOTHING TO DO, I'M GOING TO FIND A TOWN THAT WILL FIND THINGS TO DO.

BOTH OF MY SONS HAVE LEFT.

I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE STAYED HERE BECAUSE NOW I GOT TO DRIVE FOUR HOURS EACH WAY TO WATCH MY GRANDSONS PLAY SOCCER IN BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA, BUT IF YOU'D EVER LOOKED AT THAT, THE UNIVERSITY OR SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOES AMPLE THINGS WITH KIDS FOR THEIR SPORTS.

I WISH WE COULD GET IOWA WESTERN TO DO THE SAME THING HERE.

WE CAN GET THINGS GOING AND WE CREATE THINGS FOR FAMILIES TO DO, THEY WILL STAY.

[02:45:04]

THEY'RE NOT JUST GOING TO COME DOWN HERE AND SAY, WELL, LET'S SEE.

DODGE PARK HAS ONLY FLOODED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

MY GOD, I COULD TAKE IT DOWN THERE AND BUILD A HOUSE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO GO.

WELL, I CAN GO DOWN THERE AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A GREAT SUMP PUMP, AND MAYBE THEY'LL BUILD SOMETHING ELSE FOR ME TO DO AROUND HERE.

IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.

COUNCIL BLUFFS HAS BEEN REGRESSIVE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY, BUT WE NEED TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT PROMOTES FAMILIES AND PEOPLE LIVING HERE.

IF YOU CAN DO IT IN BROOKING, SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE IT IS COLD UP THERE AND SNOW, YOU CAN DO THAT HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, BUT CLOSING DODGE RIVERSIDE IS JUST TO ME IS ONE OF THE DUMBEST IDEAS I'VE EVER HEARD OF.

YOU GO DOWN THERE, THAT PARKING LOT IS PACKED, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OMAHA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS THAT COME DOWN AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, THEY STAY THERE AT HARRIS, THEY BUY THEIR GAS FROM THE LOCAL GAS STATIONS, THEY BUY THEIR FOODS FROM ALL THE RESTAURANTS AROUND THERE.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON THAT.

WE CAN'T JUST SAY, THIS IS A DONE DEAL.

I WANT PEOPLE TO CONSIDER.

WE DO NEED HOUSING, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF LAND AROUND HERE THAT'S SITTING VACANT.

THE CITY CAN HELP DEVELOP IT.

PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS ARE BETTER AT DEVELOPING THINGS THAN CITIES.

IT HAS BEEN A PROVEN FACT FOR AS LONG AS I KNOW.

GET A PRIVATE INDUSTRY IN, THEY WILL MAKE THE THING, AND THEY'LL MAKE IT BETTER.

IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE A TAX INCENTIVE, SO BE IT.

IT'LL EVENTUALLY WORK ITS WAY AROUND, BUT IF WE DRAW IN THE RIGHT TYPES OF THINGS, PEOPLE WILL COME HERE.

IT'S NOT IF WE KEEP CLOSING DOWN OUR PARKS AND BUILDING SUBSTANDARD PLACES.

IF YOU LOOK DOWN THERE ON SOUTH 16TH STREET, ALL THOSE PEOPLE PUT IN BASEMENTS.

THE FIRST THING THEY DID, LEE'S & B SHUT OFF HIS GROUNDWATER PUMPS BECAUSE HE WAS DONE WITH THE SEWER.

EVERYBODY'S BASEMENTS FLOODED.

THEY HAD TO HAVE SOME PUMPS.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME THING RIGHT THERE BY THE RIVER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AS I APPROACH, BOB HAS BEEN TEACHING ME ABOUT THIS LIGHT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY IT WAS IT JUST LIKE THIS BIG IN FRONT OF YOU, TERRY. I DON'T KNOW.

>> HOW DOES IT START? DO I PUSH A BUTTON OR WHAT?

>> NO, YOU'RE GOING.

>> FORGIVE ME, I THINK YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS LIKE A PLANE, LIKE FOR TRAVELERS.

WE'LL TRY IT THIS TIME. I SEE THE LIGHT. DO I PUSH THE BUTTON?

>> [OVERLAPPING]. YOU'RE GOOD.

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, IT'S TERRY OSWALD, 1517 CHESTNUT DRIVE, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT 30 YEARS AGO, I WAS INVOLVED FOR TWO YEARS, CONTINUOUSLY AT SACRIFICING MY HEALTH, POSSIBLY LOSING MY JOB BECAUSE OF ALL THE TIME I SPENT ON WHAT ABOUT TO TELL YOU ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY TO, YOU NAME IT, BECAUSE I WAS ASKED TO STOP THE EFFORT TO PUT CASINOS NEXT TO HOUSES AT AK-SAR-BEN.

LET ME TELL YOU THAT TOOK A LOT OUT OF ME AND A WHOLE GROUP.

I WAS ONE OF THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT BASICALLY FOUNDED GAMBLING WITH THE GOOD LIFE, WHICH IS STILL OPERATING TODAY.

BUT I MOVED BACK HERE IN '98, TO MY HOMETOWN.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THE FACT THAT I'M STANDING HERE IN 2025, AND RATHER THAN ARGUING AND PERSUADING THAT WE DON'T PUT CASINOS NEXT TO HOUSES, NOW I'M PLAYING IT THE OTHER WAY.

LET'S NOT PUT HOUSES NEXT TO CASINOS.

WHAT'S REALLY ODD TO ME IS THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT TOGETHER THE DOWNTOWN OMAHA PLAN, OF WHICH THIS IS PART OF IT,

[02:50:02]

IT'S IN THEIR DRAWINGS FROM 2018, '19, ARE THE PEOPLE I WORKED WITH IN '95, AND '6 TO STOP CASINOS FROM BEING NEXT TO HOUSES.

I CAN TELL YOU, FOR AN ABSOLUTE FACT, PEOPLE ARE HORRIFIED.

THEY ARE TERRIFIED THAT THEY WILL WAKE UP AND THEY WILL BE LIVING NEXT TO CASINOS.

MOVING FORWARD, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE RESOLUTION.

AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BASED ON FACTS, DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO INTO THE REFERENCES TODAY, THERE ARE SOME REAL THINGS WRONG WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

FIRST OFF, IT SAYS WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF HOUSING STOCK BUILT BEFORE 1990. YOU BET.

I KNOW SOME OF US IN THIS ROOM.

HI, MATT, YOU BETTER THAN ME CAN REMEMBER WHEN WE BUILT NO HOUSES IN THE 1980S.

I LOOK AT THAT NUMBER.

THAT'S A BIG WIN.

OVER A THIRD OF THE HOUSES HAVE BEEN BUILT SINCE 1980.

I SEE THAT A RESPONSE OR OPPORTUNITY TO REVERSE THE POPULATION STAGNATION.

I HEARD THAT WE HAVE A 50-YEAR THING. NO, WE DON'T.

THE POPULATION WENT DOWN, AND THIS TOWN IS UNIQUE AMONGST HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS IN THE US.

WE TURNED THINGS AROUND IN THE 80S AND HAVE COME BACK.

THIS CITY'S POPULATION IS UP 17% SINCE 1990.

YES, IT HAS FLAT-TOED, BUT SO HAS THE CITY ACROSS THE STREET THAT WE WANT TO TIE OUR WAGON TO.

THEY ACTUALLY ARE FLAT AND GOING DOWN.

BEYOND THAT, WE HAD RETAIL SALES GO UP.

WE HAD A COMPLETE TURNAROUND OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF THINGS CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

LASTLY, WHAT PERPLEXES ME ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS REAL INCONSISTENCIES.

AND I LISTENED TO THE OTHER SPEAKERS HERE.

EVERYTHING; HOMELESSNESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, IT'S LIKE EVERY ILL IN THIS COMMUNITY NOW DEPENDS ON THE CONVERSION OF THIS GOLF COURSE THAT YOU HEARD THE ENGINEER SAY, PROBABLY HAS SOME FLOOD ISSUES.

I AM JUST FLABBERGASTED BY THIS.

BEYOND THIS, AGAIN, I'VE HEARD THIS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE'VE HAD THIS ON THE TABLE AS PART OF THE OMAHA PLAN.

CAN I GET A RECEIVING FILE? I WANT TO PASS ALONG TO YOU.

THIS COMES FROM THE CITY WEBSITE.

THESE ARE SELECT PAGES FROM A DECK.

THE REFERENCE IS ON THE LAST PAGE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT BRANDON GARRETT, ALL DUE RESPECT, HE'S WORKING HARD, AND OTHERS WITH PETE IN OMAHA SAID BACK IN 2018 AND '19, LET'S DO THIS.

AND ACTUALLY, THE TROLLEY RUNS RIGHT THROUGH DODGE PARK.

GOING BEYOND THAT, I GUESS I'LL JUST WRAP THIS UP. LOOK AT THIS.

I GOT 50 SECONDS LEFT, MATT.

[LAUGHTER]. AS I'LL SAY, I LOOK AT HOUSES.

WE'VE GOT THOUSANDS OF HOMES BEING BUILT, WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF APARTMENT UNITS.

I JUST FOUND OUT ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING COME IN THE PIPELINE, APARTMENT COMPLEXES OUT ON EASTERN HILLS ROAD, AND HIGHWAY 6.

THAT'S OUT BY ME. WE HAVE LAND.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING IN OUR COMMUNITY BOILS DOWN TO THIS PIECE OF GROUND, WHICH I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIVE BY CASINOS.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL WRAP IT UP. THANK YOU.

>> MOTION TO RECEIVE THAT.

>> [BACKGROUND] I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> WAIT. PUT ON A SECOND.

>> I'M HERE FOR QUESTIONS.

>> I'M SORRY. I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT.

>> SECOND. THAT WAS ME.

>> AYE. [OVERLAPPING]. THAT WAS IT.

>> THE GAMBLING INSTITUTE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS THAT AK-SAR-BEN RACETRACK IN OMAHA?

>> THERE WAS A GROUP.

>> I ASKED, IS THAT THE AK-SAR-BEN RACETRACK IN OMAHA?

>> AK-SAR-BEN HORSE TRACK OPERATED BY [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]

>> AND THAT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THAT WERE BUTTED UP AGAINST THERE BUILT WHILE THAT GAMBLING INSTITUTION WAS THERE TO THE EAST?

>> THEY WERE HORSE TRACK.

HORSE RACING IS MUCH DIFFERENT.

IT'S AN AGRARIAN [INAUDIBLE]

>> I GET IT, IT'S A GAMBLING INSTITUTION.

>> NO, NOT LIKE CASINOS WITH SLOTS AND THE LIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU DID GET A SHUTDOWN, AND CONGRATULATIONS, I'M NOT A GAMBLER. I DON'T LIKE GAMBLING.

>> I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CASINOS.

>> WHAT REPLACED IT?

>> WELL, DRIVE THE 72ND IN PACIFIC, AND YOU'LL SEE.

>> MIXED USE.

>> WHAT'S THAT?

>> MIXED USE?

>> YOU'LL SEE IT, IT TURNED INTO A UNIVERSITY.

>> FOR BUSINESS.

>> TURNED INTO A TECH PARK. CORRECT.

>> FOR BUSINESS, AND THEN IT'S MIXED-USE AND LIVING SPACES.

>> AND THEN IT TRANSITIONS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> AND A PARK?

>> AND AN ICE SKATING RINK, I BELIEVE.

AND IT IMPROVED THE AREA, I THINK.

[02:55:01]

>> IT DID.

>> THAT'S THE EXAMPLE WE USED.

>> BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE PRESERVED AK-SAR-BEN, DUNDEE MEMORIAL PARK, AND DANSON.

>> I'M NOT DOUBTING THAT.

>> THAT WAS WHAT DROVE THAT.

>> WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT'S THE EXAMPLE.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE EXAMPLE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING HOMES NEXT TO HARRIS, AMERICA'S STAR'S NEW $200 MILLION DEVELOPMENT, AND HORSESHOE, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE WE'RE GOING TO DO.

IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT BUSINESS.

>> WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS A CONCEPT.

WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN.

>> I DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE SINGLE-FAMILY OR APARTMENTS.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO CASINOS.

>> WELL, THEY BUILT RIGHT UP TO THE HORSE TRACK IN OMAHA.

>> HORSE TRACKS, STEVE, ARE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN CASINOS.

>>THANK YOU.

>> ACTUALLY, [OVERLAPPING] WE WOULD HAVE NEVER ROSE UP AGAINST SOLUTION.

>> ONE MORE QUESTION. COULD YOU DEFINE FOR ME WHAT FEAR PORN IS?

>> IF MR. GARRETT IS OUT SAYING, IF WE DON'T DO THIS, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE DOWN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE DOWN THE LIBRARY.

>> I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT.

>> ACTUALLY, IT WAS SAID AT THE LIBRARY MEETING WE HAD.

THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED REPEATEDLY, THESE THINGS.

IF WE DON'T DO THIS, LOOK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT ANYBODY.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THIS GOLF COURSE.

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE EARTH THE YOUTH PROBLEMS. IT'S LIKE IT ALL DEPENDS ON THIS 140 ACRES SITTING ON THE RIVER.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> WELL, NO. YOU ARE AGAINST A DEVELOPMENT ON THE END OF CHESTNUT.

[OVERLAPPING] YOU'RE AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT, WE WERE AGAINST TINY HOMES WITH FIVE-FOOT SETBACKS THAT DID NOT MEET THE CITY CODE.

>> THAT WAS THE DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU WERE AGAINST? YOU WERE AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT IN [INAUDIBLE]

>> NO. [OVERLAPPING] THERE WERE FOUR THINGS THAT WERE COMPATIBLE WITH COMPLIMENTARY TO WHAT'S THERE.

>> YOU SAID TO ME, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT I WORKED IN FOR 30 YEARS.

I REMEMBER THE COMMENT.

[OVERLAPPING]. I JUST WANTED THE DEFINITION OF FEAR PORN.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT FEAR PORN IS WHEN I'M MEETING WITH MR. GARRETT FOR AN HOUR, AND HE SAYS, IF WE DON'T DO CERTAIN THINGS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE THE LIBRARY.

>> DO YOU THINK FEAR PORN WOULD ALSO BE THAT WE'RE GOING AROUND THE COUNCIL, THAT WE'RE DOING THINGS UNDER THE TABLE, THAT WE'RE TAKING KICKBACKS AND OUR MAYOR IS CROOKED?

>> I HAVE NOT SAID ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

>> THOSE ARE ON SOME OF YOUR POST IN LIVE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, NOT.

>> I READ THEM ALL.

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

>> THOSE ARE ALSO FEAR PORN.

[OVERLAPPING].

WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT TO BE A FEAR PORN ALSO?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> APPRECIATE IT. TIME'S UP.

>> THANK YOU, GUYS.

>> ANYBODY ELSE WISHING?

>> JAY GOBLES, 21850 MARTIN WOOD DRIVE.

ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT.

I LIKE PLAYING AT THE GOLF COURSE.

THE QUESTION THAT I'VE BEEN JUST SITTING HERE LISTENING TO BOTH SIDES AND THE QUESTIONS I WOULD HAVE IS ONE, YOU GUYS ARE JUST BUILDING THIS NEW COMPLEX OUT BY THE OIL PLANT, WHATEVER, DOWN BY THE VETERAN'S HIGHWAY.

YOU'RE PUTTING UP HOUSES. I LIVE OUT BY THE AIRPORT.

THERE'S HOUSES GOING UP LEFT AND RIGHT OUT THERE.

WHEN YOU BUILD THESE NEW HOUSES, ARE YOU GOING TO OVERSATURATE THE MARKET? THEN THE VALUE GOES DOWN.

TWO, I HAVE A BROTHER WHO LIVES ON AVENUE G. HIS GARAGE HAS BURNT DOWN.

HIS SHED HAS BEEN BURNED DOWN BECAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS.

BUT THERE'S HOMELESSNESS ALL AROUND.

THERE'S HOMELESSNESS, SO THESE PEOPLE WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE, COME OVER TO COUNCIL BLUFFS, DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, AND THEY GO BACK OVER, WHATEVER.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO RESPOND, THE POLICE IS GOING TO HAVE TO RESPOND.

AND NOW YOU'RE BUILDING SOUTHEAST, WHICH I THOUGHT, FOR MY 60 YEARS OF LIVING HERE, WAS THE BEST THING TO DO.

HE CAN'T GO TO THE NORTH BECAUSE OF THE MARSHES.

HE CAN'T GO TO THE EAST BECAUSE OF THE HILLS.

YOU GOT TO GO SOUTH AND YOU GOT TO GO EAST.

MY QUESTION TO YOU GUYS WOULD BE PUBLIC SAFETY.

EVENTUALLY, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUT EAST PRETTY MUCH STAY OUT EAST.

IT'S THE ONLY PUBLIC GOLF COURSE IN THE CITY.

[03:00:03]

ALL THE REST ARE EITHER PRIVATE OR SEMI-PRIVATE.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS THE LAST ONE BEFORE THE PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR MOVED TO COLORADO, WHICH GETS MORE FUNDING, AND THEY'RE BUILDING PARKS LEFT AND RIGHT, WHERE THESE GUYS ARE TAKING AWAY PARKS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD ALMOST PAUSE AND THINK ABOUT.

THE CASINOS CAME IN.

THEY BUILT WESTWOOD PARK.

NOW, IT'S JUST AN EYESORE.

THEY COULD EASILY PUT THAT BACK A WHOLE NINE COURSE.

BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YOU GUYS RUSHED TO DO SOMETHING, AND THEN EVENTUALLY IT COMES BACK AND BITES YOU IN THE BUTT.

>> JAY, JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.

ONE, THERE WASN'T ANY SIGNIFICANT RUSH TO DO ANYTHING.

I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR FOUR YEARS.

THOUGHT ABOUT IT DAY 1, WHEN WE BROUGHT IN THE MANAGEMENT FIRM, LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED.

I TOLD THEM AT THE TIME, THIS IS TOO VALUABLE LAND TO BE A GOLF COURSE.

I PROMISED THEM I'D GIVE THEM A YEAR'S NOTICE BECAUSE THE GOLF BUSINESS REQUIRES THEM TO, AS SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, SO MANY TOURNAMENTS A YEAR.

WHEN THAT TOURNAMENT'S OVER, THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE TOURNAMENT SAYS, I WANT TO BOOK NEXT YEAR, I SAID, I'LL GIVE YOU TWO YEARS' NOTICE.

THAT'S PART OF THE RUSH.

THAT'S WHY WE WERE LOOKING AT IT THIS SPRING.

BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS COUNCIL IN 2023 SAID, INVESTIGATE IT, 3-2 VOTE.

WE INVESTIGATED IT.

NOW, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE GO FORWARD OR NOT.

OUR PARKS DEPARTMENTS PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN PARKS IN COUNCIL BUS.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO LOOK AT ALL THE NEW EQUIPMENT IN THE PARKS, THE NEW FIRST AVENUE BIKE TRAIL.

IN THIS AREA, IN THE MASTER PLAN, I'M SURE WE'LL INCLUDE PARKS THAT EVERYBODY CAN USE, NOT JUST GOLFERS.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT ELSE YOU ASKED ABOUT, BUT WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT AND PLANNING, AND WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK TONIGHT.

BUT THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT.

STILL MADE ONE OF THE GREATEST CATCHES I EVER SEEN IN SOFTBALL.

>> WHATEVER.

>> [LAUGHTER]. HE WAS YOUNG, LITHE, AND QUICK, AND HE WENT OVER THE FENCE AND CAUGHT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

>> WHAT WERE YOUR LAST WORDS? [LAUGHTER]. PLENTY OF ROOM.

>> [OVERLAPPING] I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO HIT THE FENCE, AND I JUST HOLLERED PLENTY OF ROOM.

>> DO I PUSH A BUTTON HERE?

>> IT'S GREEN. YOU'RE GOOD.

>> GOOD TO GO.

>> MY NAME IS JIM OLSON.

I LIVE AT 3111 MIDDLE FERRY ROAD, COLTS BLUFF, IOWA.

I'M A LIFELONG GOLFER, GRADUATING FROM TJ.

I'M JUST AMAZED THAT NOBODY HAS THOUGHT OF THE GOLF COURSE AS A GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY.

IT'S A GREEN SPACE LIKE CENTRAL PARK OR SOME OF THE OTHER PARKS IN TOWN.

WE HAVE KIDS, WE BUILD PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE KIDS.

THEN WE HAVE BASKETBALL.

WE HAVE BASEBALL COURTS.

WE HAVE SOCCER FIELDS.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING.

THEN, WHEN YOU GET TO BE AN OLD PERSON, AND YOU NEED THE EXERCISE, NO, WE CAN'T HAVE A GREEN SPACE.

NOW, THERE'S ONE OTHER THING, THAT WHEN WE HAD THE FLOOD OF 2018, YOU JUST GO UP AND DOWN, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS UP TO MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND LOOK AT THE TREES THAT ARE GOING.

THE DUCK HUNTERS CAN ALSO TELL YOU ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PONDS THAT ARE FILLED UP WITH SAND AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT CAN COME FROM NOT HAVING THE RIGHT MINERALS FOR THE TREES.

THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, MAYBE HE HAS SOME FIGURES OR HE COULD FIND SOME FIGURES, BUT AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS 990,000 TREES THAT WERE BETWEEN SIOUX CITY AND DOWN TO RULO, NEBRASKA.

[03:05:02]

BUT NOW IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, WE HAVE A GREEN SPACE, AND YOU CAN LOOK OUT.

I'VE LIVED AT 3638TH AVENUE AS A TEENAGER.

>> WHEN I LOOK OUT, WHEN I DRIVE OVER THE BRIDGE OR LOOK DOWN THERE, I RIDE MY BICYCLE ALONG THE LEVEES AND STUFF, YOU DON'T SEE THE TREES YOU USED TO.

THEY'RE GONE. YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IT, THAT THEY'RE ALL GONE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF A GREEN SPACE THAT CREATES OXYGEN.

QUALITY OF LIFE IS ALSO HERE.

BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CAN'T SUPPORT ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE TIME YOU'RE BORN AND YOU WANT TO PLAY IN A PLAYGROUND TO THE TIME YOU WANT TO GO EXERCISE IN A GOLF COURSE THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR 100 YEARS, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S SOME GROUND. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE, AND I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE.

I'LL BE BACK. I'VE GOT 70-YEAR-OLD KIDNEYS.

I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR MATT. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, YOU CAN GO AND TALK.

OR YOU CAN WAIT IF YOU WANT, EITHER WAY.

>> WELL, NO, THAT'S FINE.

HE'S NOT GOING TO VOTE ANYWAY.

MY NAME'S BOB WOMBLE AT 3342 AVENUE B.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING SHORTAGE THAT I KEEP HEARING ABOUT.

IN 1970, THE POPULATION OF COUNCIL BLUFFS WAS 60,000, ALMOST 400 PEOPLE, 60,400.

ESTIMATED IT'S 2023, 62,400, A 2000 INCREASE IN 65 YEARS.

NOW, YOU'RE TELLING ME, WE'RE GOING TO PUT 3,900 UNITS ON A GOLF COURSE WHEN THE POPULATION IS DOING THIS. NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.

WE HAVE A 1.5 TO 2% HOUSING SURPLUS.

I GOT A HOUSE THAT'S BEEN FOR SALE FOR 165,000, TWO BLOCKS FROM THE SCHOOL, SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2023.

THE SHORTAGE ISN'T THERE. I DON'T SEE IT.

NOW, LAST WEEK, I DROVE UP TO THE GOLF COURSE, AND I TALKED WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING ON AND OFF THE COURSE THAT GOLF THERE.

ONE THING THAT A LOT OF THEM SAID, I SAID, WELL, YOU'VE GOT ALTERNATIVES. THEY SAID, NO.

THEY SAID A LOT OF US ARE HEART PATIENTS, STROKES, HEART ATTACKS IN THE PAST.

THIS IS A FLAT COURSE TO WALK THAT HELPS US.

THE OTHER COURSES ARE TOO MUCH FOR OUR HEARTS AND STUFF.

THERE IS THAT NEED THAT WE'VE OVERLOOKED.

NUMBER 2, PEOPLE LEAVE COUNCIL BLUFFS, THE BRAIN DRAIN, THE TALENT DRAIN, THE KIDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES HERE.

THE JOBS, WE DON'T HAVE THE CLIMATE THEY WANT.

WE DON'T HAVE THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT WE WANT.

WE BUILT THE MED AMERICAN CENTER.

HOW MANY CONCERTS ARE OUT THERE A YEAR? I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING AEROSMITH OR ANYBODY LIKE THAT OUT THERE RECENTLY.

I DROVE OUT TO MANAWA THE OTHER DAY.

I SAT IN A LINE OUT THERE AT THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT, NOTHING BUT SIDE DUMP TRUCKS HAULING DIRT IN THERE.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT TO BUILD THAT LOT UP.

WHO'S PAYING FOR THAT? WHO'S GOING TO PAY TO HAUL THAT DIRT IN THERE? HOW MUCH IS THE STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SEWERS? WHAT'S THAT GOING TO COST? THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD TO THE PUBLIC ON THIS, AND I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO CEASE.

PERPETUITY ON THAT GOLF COURSE, PERPETUITY MEANS FOREVER.

WE HAVE NO BUSINESS TOUCHING THAT ON A PERPETUITY BASIS.

WE DID A LAND USE SURVEY ON ONE PROPERTY IN TOWN. THAT WAS IT.

AROUND TWIN LAKES, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT PROPERTY FOR BUILDING 100, 200, 300 HOUSES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE TRAILER COURTS ON SOUTH 24TH STREET, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO BLUFFS RUN? THERE'S ALL KINDS OF LOTS.

IF WE WANT TO GET RID OF A PARK, LET'S GET RID OF RIVER ROBERTS PARK UP ON 25TH STREET.

LET'S GET RID OF THE SOCCER FIELDS AND SOFTBALL FIELDS.

I DON'T PLAY THAT. I DON'T LIKE IT. I DON'T PLAY GOLF.

[03:10:02]

SOMEBODY ON ONE OF THE THINGS I SAW ON THE INTERNET SAID WE SPENT $200,000 PUTTING A WELL IN AND IRRIGATION ON THIS GOLF COURSE.

I PUT ONE IN ON MY FARM LAST YEAR, COST ME 40,000, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT WELL LASTED 49 YEARS.

THAT'S LESS THAN $1,000 A YEAR.

THIS IS CHEAP. THE CITY HAS NEVER PUSHED AND TRIED TO MARKET THIS GOLF COURSE. YOU KNOW WHAT? I LOOK AT IT, AND I THINK A MEMORIAL DAY MAYOR'S CUP TOURNAMENT.

I LOOK AT IT WITH OTHER GOLF COURSES IN TOWN, HAVING A MULTIPLE-WEEKEND TOURNAMENT ON FOUR DIFFERENT COURSES.

I SEE A LOT OF PROMOTION, PUTTING GOLF SIMULATORS OUT THERE, PUTTING THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN GET MORE USE OUT OF THAT PARK.

WE HAVE NOT PROMOTED THAT PARK.

THE LAST TIME I'VE SEEN A HEAVY RAIN OUT THERE, EIGHT OR NINE OF THE FAIRWAYS WERE UNDERWATER.

YOU COULDN'T USE THEM ANYWAY.

THAT WAS JUST AFTER RAIN.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE FLOOD LEVEES AND THE CERTIFICATIONS OF THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, WE'VE GOT A STANDARD.

HOWEVER, THAT STANDARD FAILED IN MISSOURI VALLEY, THE LAST FLOOD, IT FAILED AT HAMBURG, IOWA, THE LAST TIME.

DO WE REALLY WANT TO PUT 4,000 UNITS THERE THAT MIGHT BE EXPOSED TO FLOODS? ANOTHER THING, IF WE BUILD A $10 MILLION BUILDING ON THAT GOLF COURSE, MATT WILBUR, I JUST SAW A PRESENTATION FROM HIM HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

IF WE PUT THAT DOWN ON SOUTH OMAHA BRIDGE ROAD, A $10 MILLION BUILDING, OR A $10 MILLION BUILDING OVER HERE, IT'S GOT TO BE EVALUATED AT 10 MILLION AT BOTH PLACES.

REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE BUILD, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE TAX REVENUE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BUILD THERE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS, BOB. THANK YOU.

THE LEVEES ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER ARE FEDERAL LEVEES.

THE LEVEE IN MISSOURI VALLEY WAS A COUNTY LEVEE, I THINK, A DISTRICT LEVEE, THEY CALL THEM, AND THEN THE ONE IN HAMBURG, THEY ACTUALLY BUILT A LEVEE, AND THEY MADE HIM TAKE IT OUT.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL. YES, SIR.

>> JUST KEEP SPEAKING OR GO AHEAD.

TROY TECH, I'M FROM 509, REDWOOD DRIVE.

I'M JUST GOING TO CAP TRY NOT TO BE TOO REPETITIVE, BUT JUST RECAP WHAT SOME OF THESE GUYS SAID, BUT IT WAS NICE TO HAVE THE ENGINEER HERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT WHEN IT FLOODED IN 2000, 2019, WHEN I WENT TO HARRIS PARKING LOT ON BROKEN ASPHALT, IT WAS LIKE JUMPING ON THE WATERBED.

IT WAS SQUISHY. JUST THE LEVEES BREAKING ALONE ISN'T THE ONLY THING.

LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S THOSE SILT LAYERS AND THE WATER THAT COMES UNDER THERE.

YOU AND I, MR. GORMAN, HAD THAT CONVERSATION EARLIER IN THE WEEK, BUT I HAVE A FUTURE BROTHER-IN-LAW THAT LIVES ON THE WEST END DOWN THERE, AND EVER SINCE I BUILT PLAYLAND, IT FLOODS WORSE.

IT HASN'T SOLVED ANYTHING.

THEY'RE STANDING WATER IN THE STREETS ALL ALONG THE WEST SIDE DOWN THERE BY PLAYLAND.

I THINK THE ONE THING THAT FRUSTRATES ME AND GETS ME ANGRY IS JUST LIKE TERRY SAID, THE FALSE DICHOTOMY OF THIS [INAUDIBLE], THAT IF WE DON'T DO THIS AS ONE PROJECT THAT THE CITY FALLS APART.

THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE. YOU HAVE NEW APARTMENTS GOING ON RIDGE LINE, YOU HAVE NEW APARTMENTS GOING DOWN BY FOXBORO, WHISPERING OAKS, YOU HAVE THE HOUSING PROJECTS GOING ON ALL OVER, I KNOW.

I'VE SEEN TERRY'S PROJECT PLANS, THERE'S HOUSING PROJECTS, AND THERE'S NEW DEVELOPMENT BEING PLANNED ALL OVER THE PLACE.

BUT TO THE OTHER PERSON'S POINT, THE POPULATION IN THE LAST 10 YEARS HAS DROPPED 200, BASICALLY, EVEN.

I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE.

I WORK IN HEALTHCARE IT.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT, AND I DON'T KNOW A SINGLE PERSON WHO LEFT THIS TOWN BECAUSE OF A LACK OF HOUSING.

THEY LACKED PROFESSIONAL AMENITIES.

THIS GOLF COURSE IS REALLY THE ONLY FIRST-CLASS GOLF COURSE WE HAVE.

WHISPERING WOODS OR FOXBORO IS IN SERIOUS DISREPAIR.

BENT TREE IS A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD GOLF COURSE, BUT IT'S NOT TOP-NOTCH, EITHER.

THE OTHER PRIVATE GOLF COURSE IS PRIVATE, BUT EVEN IT'S ROUGH.

WHEN I USED TO SEND PEOPLE, WE HAD HOSPITAL PLANS COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, EVEN FROM WHERE I WORKED IN 168TH IN WEST CENTER, WE WOULD SEND CLIENTS TO THE CASINOS TO PLAY GOLF TO ENJOY THE ENTERTAINMENT, AND IT FIT NICELY WITH THE GOLF COURSE AND THE ENTERTAINMENT, AND THE GAMBLING.

IT DID FIT NICELY.

IF YOU TAKE THAT AWAY, YOU'RE TAKING A BIG PART OF THAT AWAY AS FAR AS THE WHOLE PUZZLE OF WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE HERE.

BUT THIS WHOLE IDEA THAT THE HOUSING ASPECT IS HURTING US OR EVEN FINANCES, AND I KNOW I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF DEBATE WITH CHRISA ROGER ON THIS ONLINE.

BUT EVEN THOUGH YOU DROPPED THE LEVY, CITY TAXES ARE GOING UP 1.7%. THAT'S JUST A FACT.

MY EVALUATIONS ON MY HOUSE HAS GONE UP ALMOST 100%.

[03:15:04]

YOU'VE GOT MORE MONEY COMING IN.

I PULLED THE BUDGET FROM 2015, 2016.

IT WAS $134 MILLION.

LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS OVER 180 MILLION.

IT WAS A 38% INCREASE IN NINE YEARS.

INFLATION CAN ACCOUNT FOR 32% OF THAT.

YOU'RE 6% ABOVE INFLATION AS FAR AS REVENUE GROWTH IN THIS TOWN, EVEN WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE.

AS FAR AS THAT GOES, I GUESS, I'LL JUST SAY I KNOW WE'VE HEARD OF A LOT OF THE CITY MARKETING PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT IF I JUDGE WHERE THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT ON THIS IS, IT'S OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST THIS.

I KNOW THREE OF YOU WERE ELECTED ON THE MEDIAN ISSUE.

YOU WERE ELECTED BECAUSE PEOPLE HERE GOT OBSESSED OR LOCKED IN ON A PROJECT THAT NOBODY WANTED.

YOU REMEMBER YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE I THINK THE PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU.

>> JUST TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT ON THE BUDGET.

REALLY, PROPERTY TAXES ARE WHAT WE MEASURE.

THE REST OF THE BUDGET FLUCTUATES DEPENDING ON FEDERAL LOANS, HOW MUCH THE CITY BORROWS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY THE LOWEST BORROWING MAJOR CITY IN IOWA, HAVE 11% OF OUR DEBT CAPACITY.

OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE DES MOINES 58%, SO WE'RE PRETTY LOW AS FAR AS BORROWING MONEY, BUT SOME OF THAT MONEY, AS I SAID, FLUCTUATES DEPENDING ON FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE, BUT THE ONE STABLE AREA IS PROPERTY TAX.

>> OVER A PERIOD OF 10-20 YEARS [OVERLAPPING]

>> IT WENT FROM 69 MILLION TO 62-ISH.

>> WELL, SO THIS EVER-EXPANDING BUDGET, I UNDERSTAND SOME OF IT COMES FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES.

YOU GUYS ARE RUNNING AHEAD OF INFLATION BY QUITE A BIT.

>> WELL, AGAIN, IF WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE, LET'S MEASURE FAIRLY, AND THAT'S THE PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED, WHICH PAY FOR OUR POLICE AND FIRE, 62 MILLION, 44 MILLION OF THAT, PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT DOES GO UP. OUR VALUATIONS GO UP AND AND RATHER THAN JUMP INTO THE THEATER OF THE ABSURD THAT'S IN FACEBOOK, WHAT YOU SAID IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT I DON'T KNOW.

EVERYBODY IN HERE, I ASSUME CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR VALUATION, INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY.

IT GOES UP EVERY YEAR.

YOU KNOW WHY THAT IS? BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOW HOUSING INVENTORY.

WHEN A HOUSE GOES UP FOR SALE, 03, 2 PEOPLE ON EVERY HOUSE.

OUR CHIEF JUST BOUGHT ONE, BID ON THE HOUSE, SOMETIMES THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE BID ON IT, AND THEY DRIVE IT UP OVER THE ASKING PRICE.

WELL, THEN THE ASSESSOR TAKES A LOOK AT IT AND SAYS, WELL, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SELLING FOR, BUT THE ONLY REASON THEY'RE SELLING FOR THAT IS THERE'S NO INVENTORY FOR PEOPLE TO BUY FROM.

WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING COME UP IN THEIR PRICE RANGE, THEY START A BIDDING WAR TO BID IT UP.

THEN WALK IN THE ASSESSOR, RAISES YOUR VALUATION, THEN WALK IN YOUR PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE, WHICH IS UP 60%, AND THEY'RE SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, THAT HOUSE WAS 325, TWO YEARS AGO.

NOW IT'S 425, AND SO WE HAVE TO INCREASE YOUR PROPERTY AND CASUALTY, ACCORDING.

THE COST OF LIVING GOES UP JUST BASED ON LOW INVENTORY.

WE'RE SEEING THE EXACT SAME THING ON A RENTAL PROPERTY.

>> YOU SPEAK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.

THAT'S A BUBBLE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO REAP THE REWARDS OF THAT VALUATION.

>> IT'S A BUBBLE THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AS LONG AS [OVERLAPPING].

>> THE HOUSING VALUATIONS ARE FAR EXCEEDING CITY EXPENSE INFLATION.

THE REGULAR INFLATION RATE ISN'T 100%.

I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

>> NO. YOU DON'T WANT THE TRUTH.

[OVERLAPPING] I'M TRYING TO MAKE A POINT TO YOU, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO ME, AND I'M VERY KINDLY LISTENING TO YOU.

>> WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, I DON'T WANT TO GET SIDETRACKED.

>> I'M NOT SIDETRACKING, I'M ADDRESSING YOU ON THE THINGS YOU SAID, SIR.

>> THE GENERAL BUDGET IS INCREASING FAR AHEAD OF.

AS TERRY POINTED OUT, TO BLAME, YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THE LIBRARY OR YOU HAVE TO FIRE POLICEMEN OR FIREMEN SOLELY BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT.

THAT INSULTS OUR INTELLIGENCE.

WE SEE THE REVENUES.

>> IT SHOULDN'T. THE STATE OF IOWA IS CURRENTLY REFORMING PROPERTY TAX LAW.

IT CAPS THE CITY'S GROWTH AT 2%.

I'VE GOT FIRE AND POLICE THAT ARE MAKING BETWEEN FOUR AND 5.5% INCREASE.

TO SAY THAT THAT ISN'T ACCURATE IS JUST NOT TRUE.

[03:20:03]

WE TRY TO LIVE WITHIN A BUDGET.

I TRY TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT IS DEVELOP HOUSING THAT CAN BROADEN THE TAX BASE THAT CAN HAVE MORE PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE TO THE TAX BASE, SO I DON'T TAX PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

AS I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU CAN LOOK RIGHT AT THE RENTAL PROPERTY.

DURING COVID, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIDN'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES.

THEY SAID, WE'LL PAY THE LANDLORD, BUT THEY PAID THE TENANT, AND THE TENANT DIDN'T PAY THE LANDLORD.

LANDLORDS WERE IN STRIFE AND INCOMES, INVESTMENT VULTURES TO BUY UP OUR RENTAL PROPERTY, AND THEY DID.

THEY OFFERED 1.5 TIMES THE APPRAISED VALUE.

THEN THEY TURNED AROUND.

THE REASON THEY COULD DO THAT, AND LANDLORD SAID, SURE, I'LL SELL IT FOR THAT.

IT'LL PAY MY CAPITAL GAINS, AND I'LL TAKE A PROFIT.

BUT THE REASON THEY DID THAT IS THEY KNEW THERE WAS A DEARTH OF HOUSING, A SHORTAGE OF HOUSING, AND THEY COULD RAISE RENTS.

THEY RAISE THE RENTS 34% SINCE COVID, 34.7 TO BE EXACT, ACCORDING TO ZILLA AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO SOLVE FOR THE HOUSING SHORTAGE.

I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING TIRED OF ME TALKING.

>> I'M CERTAIN EVERYBODY CAN GO HOME AND TRY.

GO TO APARTMENTS.COM FROM THE RIVER TO 24 STREET IN OMAHA.

THERE'S 1,220 SOME OPEN APARTMENTS RIGHT NOW.

IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, THERE'S ABOUT 250.

THAT'S 1,700 OPEN APARTMENTS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S JUST APARTMENTS.COM.

>> A COMMUNITY OF 1 MILLION PEOPLE.

>> I THINK SOMEWHERE, EVERYBODY SEES THAT THE MATH DOESN'T ADD UP BECAUSE WE SEE HOUSES GOING UP EVERYWHERE.

I SEE RIDGE LINE GOING UP, I SEE YOU THE NEW APARTMENTS GOING DOWN IN FOXBORO.

>> A HUNDRED. I'M WORKING MY TAIL OFF TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

IF SOMEBODY SAYS WE DON'T NEED MORE APARTMENTS.

WHEN WE DON'T NEED MORE APARTMENTS, WHEN WE DON'T NEED MORE HOUSING, BECAUSE THE BANKS WILL FINANCE THEM, AND THE INVESTORS WILL BUILD THEM.

WHEN WE DON'T NEED THEM IS WHEN THE LANDLORD SAYS, I'VE GOT A VACANCY.

I NEED TO LOWER MY RENTS TO GET PEOPLE IN, AND THEN WE WIN.

>> PUT THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU CAN PUT THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

YOU HAVE THEM GOING UP ALL OVER.

>> THAT LOCATION IS THE MOST PRIME LOCATION, MAYBE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> LIKE PEOPLE SAID, IT'S A GEM.

YOU CAN'T REPLACE IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO [INAUDIBLE].

>> NO.

>> IT JUST IT DOESN'T FIT.

I LOOKED AT THAT VIDEO, AND IT'S LIKE JONESTOWN CREEPY.

IT DOES NOT FIT.

>> NO, I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

YES, SIR. ANYBODY ELSE?

>> YEP. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> I'M GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> KIP PETERSON, 208, BANCROFT PLAZA, OMAHA.

THANKS FOR THE TIME. THIS IS TOUGH.

PEOPLE ARE PRETTY EMOTIONAL ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THIS TOWN, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO US.

ALSO, TANNER BACK HERE, ANYBODY FROM EDISON, THESE GOLF CLUBS, I GIVE AWAY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SETS A YEAR. THEY CAN CALL ME UP.

YOUNG OR OLD, I'LL GIVE THEM FREE CLUBS, BUT JUST SAY NO.

IT DOESN'T MATTER. BUT I'M HERE SELFISHLY BECAUSE OF THE GOLF, OF COURSE.

AT ONE TIME, I'M NOT TO BRAG, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FACE OF GOLF IN THIS TOWN.

I WON A LOT OF TERMITES, AND I JUST THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

I JUST SEE WHAT THAT COURSE MEANT TO ME, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WESTWOOD NOT BEING HERE.

WELL, INVESTORS WENT TO HARAS TO TRY TO BUILD A DRIVING RANGE, TRY TO DO THINGS ON WESTWOOD, AND THEY SHOT IT DOWN, SO THEY DON'T WANT TO DEVELOP THAT LAND BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON THERE.

BUT THE FACT IS THAT THIS PROPERTY OR THE GOLF COURSE WAS A GIFT TO ALL OF US, EVERYBODY HERE IN THIS TOWN.

I THINK THE PEOPLE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS SHOULD BE THE ONES TO MAKE THE DECISION IF THEY WANT TO GIVE THAT GIFT AWAY.

NOT THAT YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE A TOUGH JOB, BUT IT'S A GIFT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THE DODGE HOUSE WAS THE GIFT.

ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THAT APARTMENTS? BECAUSE WE NEED APARTMENTS OF COURSE OR NOT.

WE'RE NOT STUPID. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

BUT AS A SELFISH HOME GROWN BOY THAT JUST LOVES THAT GOLF COURSE LOVES EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.

I'M ALL FOR DEVELOPING.

I'M ALL FOR THIS TOWN IS BOOMING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BUT THE FACT IS THAT THIS GIFT WAS A GIFT TO ALL OF US, AND YOU GUYS SHOULD THINK REALLY HARD ABOUT LETTING THE CITY DECIDE IF THIS GIFT SHOULD BE GIVEN AWAY BECAUSE IT WAS A GIFT.

I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED THIS PLACE.

FOX RUN, WHATEVER.

THESE PLACES THEY'RE NOT DODGE PARK.

THEY'LL NEVER BE DODGE PARK.

IT'S A SHAME THAT GENTLEMAN HIS AGE WILL HAVE TO GO TO A HILLY GOLF COURSE TO WALK

[03:25:01]

BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR A CAR. THEY JUST CHOOSE TO WALK.

DODGE FITS THAT NEED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS IN THIS TOWN, BUT THAT FITS A LOT OF NEEDS FOR OMAHA PEOPLE, TOO.

I WAS HEARD SAID, "WELL, LOOK AT ALL THE LICENSE PLATES FROM OMAHA." WELL, BECAUSE THEY KNOW.

IF WE WANT TO DISCOURAGE OMAHA TRAFFIC WITH THE CASINOS, WOULD THEY WANT TO DISCOURAGE THE PEOPLE FROM NEBRASKA COMING? I DOUBT I THINK THEY WOULD ROLL RACE HOLY HECK IF THEY COULDN'T HAVE NEBRASKA CLIENTELE.

WE CAN PROMOTE WARHORSE TO GET THE PEOPLE FROM OMAHA TO STAY THERE, BUT WE'RE NOT STUPID. WE ENJOY THEIR MONEY.

DODGE PARK, WELL, WANTS THEIR MONEY ALSO. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A TOUGH DECISION.

REMEMBER, IT WAS A GIFT. THANKS.

>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE?

>> I'M MICHAEL GRAHAM, 3214, 5TH AVENUE.

GOING BACK TO WHAT HE SAID ABOUT IT BEING A GIFT FROM THE DODGE FAMILY, IT'S JUST TO ME, IT'S DISRESPECTFUL THAT WE WOULD EVEN CONSIDER SELLING SOMETHING THAT WAS A GIFT FROM THE GREATEST MAN THAT EVER LIVED IN THIS TOWN. THANK YOU.

>> I'M BRIAN CHRISTIANSON, 17997 VISTA LANE.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER BEING HERE.

I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GUYS VOTE ON THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING BIGGER THAN, JUST ANOTHER STEP FORWARD.

THIS SHOULD BE THE END OF IT.

IT WAS GIFTED TO US BY MR. GENERAL DODGE.

FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF AND TO KEEP IT. THAT SHOULD BE IT.

>> GENERAL DODGE GAVE US 40 ACRES, 400 FOOT WIDE, MILE AND A HALF LONG NEXT TO THE RIVER WHERE THEY PLANNED TO PUT THE UNION PACIFIC BRIDGE.

THE GOLF COURSE IS ABOUT 130 SOME ACRES.

THE 40 ACRES CAME FROM DODGE.

SOME ACREAGES CAME FROM A GENTLEMAN NAMED BEN MARK, WHICH HE GAVE FOR $1.

THEN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE LAND FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT OWN THE LAND DOWN THERE.

I'VE TALKED TO NATE DODGE, I THINK HE'S THE FIFTH IN LINE. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I DON'T THINK HE WAS THRILLED TO HEAR ABOUT IT, BUT HE SAID HE WANTED OPPOSE DEVELOPMENT.

HE WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE REMEMBER HIS FAMILY WHEN WE DO THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT SO IT'S NOT THAT WE'VE IGNORED IT AND THAT WE'RE IGNORING THE GIFT, AND WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THEY DID IT.

BUT AGAIN, 40 ACRES OF THE 130 SOME ACTUALLY WAS GIFTED THE CITY BY GRENVILLE DODGE AFTER HIS BROTHER DIED IN 1911, ASKING THAT THE CITY BUILD A LEVEE ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER, PUT A BOULEVARD ON TOP OF THAT LEVEE AND NAME IT NATHAN P DODGE BOULEVARD.

YOU LAUGH, RANDY, BUT IT'S THE STORY.

IT'S A TRUE STORY.

THAT'S WHERE THE GIFT CAME FROM.

>> MARY, CAN YOU CLARIFY SOMETHING? HOLD ON.

>> IT'S THE CITY OF COUNCIL BUSES.

YOU'RE CORRECT. YEAH.

>> CAN YOU CLARIFY SOMETHING FOR ME? YOU SAID YOU TALKED TO GENERAL DODGES DESCENDANT?

>> WHO IS GRENVILLE DODGE'S GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GREAT NEPHEW.

>> NATHAN DODGE.

>> DESCEND.

>> HE'S NOT THRILLED WITH IT, BUT WOULD BE OKAY.

>> [INAUDIBLE] YEAH.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO BE HONEST BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN DISHONEST IN THIS JOB.

I KNOW PEOPLE WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT I WANT TO BE HONEST, IF ANYTHING, I'M BRUTALLY HONEST, BUT I CALLED NATE DODGE.

I SAID, NATE, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING.

I LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK.

I DON'T WANT TO MISQUOTE HIM BUT HE SAID, "WE HAVE A LONG FAMILY LEGACY IN THE AREA, AND THAT WE HAVE MANY PLACES NAMED AFTER THE FAMILY." THEY GOT DODGE PARK AND NORTH OMAHA, THEY GOT DODGE STREET, THE DODGE HOUSE.

HE SAID, "IT WAS A GIFT FROM THE FAMILY.

[03:30:01]

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER SOME NAMING OPPORTUNITY WIN IF YOU DEVELOP IT."

>> BUT LIKE I SAID, YOU WASN'T JUMPING UP AND DOWN SAYING, ""YEAH, GET RID OF DODGE PARK." I DON'T WANT YOU TO [INAUDIBLE].

>> NO. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY ELSE WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE ALL FOR IT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE DON'T USUALLY DO IT RANDY.

>> THE CLARIFICATION.

>> GO AHEAD. YOU CAN DO IT FROM THERE.

>> I LOOK AT IT.

IT WAS A TWO WAY CONTRACT, NOT JUST A ONE WAY CONTRACT FOR THE DODGE FAMILY TO THE CITY.

>> YEAH. IT WAS A TWO WAY CONTRACT. [OVERLAPPING].

>> IT WAS SEVERAL OF THEM.

>> THE CITY TOOK MONTHS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONS TO BUILD THE LEVEE.

>> THEN THEY ACCEPTED THE CONDITIONS, AND IT'S BEEN UNDEVELOPED FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

IF IOWA DOT HADN'T TO PUSH 480 THROUGH THEIR PLAYLAND PARK MIGHT STILL BE THERE.

BUT MY CONCERN IS ON THIS, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CONTRACT, ARE POSSIBLY DESCENDANTS OF THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE FROM THE CITY OF COUNCIL BUS THAT SIGNED THAT CONTRACT.

MAYBE THEY OUGHT TO BE CONTACTED ALSO, NOT JUST THE DODGE FAMILY BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN CARRIED DOWN FOR YOU.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE LIKE THIS CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PARK BOARD AT THE TIME. [INAUDIBLE]

>> I THINK THE NAME OF THE GUY FROM THE PARK BOARD WAS GRAHAM THAT REPRESENTED THE PARK BOARD AT THE TIME.

BUT CITY LEGAL, BECAUSE WE LOOKED AT IT WHEN THEY DID THE BROADMOOR SUBDIVISION, WHICH IS VERY SUCCESSFUL, CONTRARY TO INACCURATE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN POSTED.

CITY ATTORNEY DICK WADE LOOKED AT IT, AND IOWA LAW DOES NOT ALLOW DEED RESTRICTIONS AFTER 21 YEARS, IS IT?

>> I DON'T HAVE THE CODE IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S CALLED THE MARKETABLE TITLE ACT IN IOWA, AND IT ESSENTIALLY CLEANS UP REVERSIONARY INTERESTS SUCH AS THIS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

>> REVERSIONARY MEANING THE LAND WOULD REVERT BACK TO SOMEBODY IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS WEREN'T MET.

ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS, COUNCIL? SE NONE? WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> I'M SURE I NEED TO USE THE RESTAURANT.

>> IF WE CAN WAIT. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR EVERYBODY.

>> WE'RE TIMING. 1001.

>> FROM THE COUNCIL FOR SURE.

>> ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO TAKE A BREAK.

WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE BREAK HERE.

>> SORRY, WE'RE GOING TO GET GOING.

I KNOW THERE MAY STILL BE SOME OUT, BUT EVERYBODY'S BACK UP HERE, AND WE WANT TO GET YOU HOME IN A REASONABLE TIME.

ANYONE FROM THE COUNCIL? I BELIEVE WE'RE DONE WITH PUBLIC HEARING, WE'LL CLOSE THAT AND THEN TAKE INPUT FROM THE COUNCIL.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ASK COUNCIL TO DEAL IN FACT.

THERE'S A LOT OF GAS LIGHTING AND MISINFORMATION THAT WAS OUT ON IN THE PUBLIC, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL OF THAT.

NOTHING HAS BEEN A SURPRISE TO THIS COUNCIL.

THE CITY HAS COME TO US.

OUR VERY FIRST MEETING THAT I HAD ON THIS COUNCIL.

FIRST OF ALL, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITY NOT HAVING HOUSING, AND I SAID THEN, WE HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH.

TO GET PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

A LOT OF YOU DIDN'T AGREE WITH ME, BUT THAT'S FINE.

I RAN ON DENSITY FROM THE VERY START ON CITY COUNCIL.

DENSITY WAS MY PLATFORM AND THAT WE NEEDED TO BUILD UP NOT OUT.

WE'RE URBAN SPRAWLING, AND IT COST US A LOT OF MONEY.

THIRDLY, THE SECOND MEETING I BELIEVE WE HAD, WE APPOINTED CHRIS PETERSON TO IOWA WEST FOUNDATION BOARD.

WE HAD REPRESENTATION ON THIS BOARD AS THESE PLANS CAME FORWARD OVER THE YEARS, THAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS FOUR YEARS AGO ON THIS COUNCIL.

WE KNEW IT WAS THERE.

WHEN JILL RAN, SHE SAT DOWN WITH ME BEFOREHAND.

I TOLD HER FIRSTHAND THAT DODGE PARK WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION OF GOING FORWARD. YOU KNEW IT.

>> I MET WITH YOU. BUT AS THE NEWEST PERSON ON THE CITY COUNCIL, I MET WITH EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT HEAD AND NOT ONE OF THEM TOLD ME.

>> WELL, YOU DIDN'T MEET WITH ME BEFORE YOU RAN.

>> THAT THIS WAS ON THE TABLE OR THAT DODGE PARK PROPOSAL WAS

[03:35:03]

BEING CREATED OR THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE COUNCIL WAS ON A BOARD TO REVIEW THIS.

>> THAT DODGE PARK WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> JILL IS PROBABLY 100%.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE STREET CAR.

WE TALKED ABOUT MANAWA.

WE TALKED ABOUT BUILDING OUT NORTH OF PLAYLAND PARK.

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THINGS, NOT THIS.

>> [OVERLAPPING] AFTER NOVEMBER OF 2023, BUT JILL YES.

>> I'M NOT SAYING YOU WERE HERE FOR THAT CONVERSATION.

BUT WHAT I AM SAYING BEFORE YOU RAN.

>> BUT JUST SAY THAT IT WAS A SURPRISE? THIS IS A COMPLETE SURPRISE TO ME WHEN THIS CAME UP SIX SEVEN WEEKS AGO.

>> BEFORE YOU RAN, YOU SAT IN MY HOUSE, AND I SPECIFICALLY TOLD YOU THAT DODGE PARK WAS PART OF A CONVERSATION OF THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY.

>> YOU DID. BUT YOU COULDN'T SHARE ANY PLANS WITH ME WHEN I MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEAD AND THE MAYOR. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLANS.

WE HAD A CONCEPTUAL DRAWING THAT CAME TO US ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS IN HEART SURGERY.

>> JUST AGAIN, TO CLEAR THE TIMELINE.

THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE CONCEPTUAL TO ASCERTAIN THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE VERSUS THE POTENTIAL TAX REVENUE.

I KNOW PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, WHAT IF THAT TAX REVENUE IS NOT RIGHT?" IT'S 22 MILLION. WHAT IF IT'S HALF RIGHT? IT'S NOT ALL REVENUE GAME, BUT WE MAKE LESS THAN 34,000 ON THE GOLF COURSE, IF IT'S HALF RIGHT, THAT'S 11 MILLION.

IF IT'S A QUARTER, RIGHT.

IT'S 5.5 IF IT'S A TENTH, IT'S STILL POSITIVE.

BUT AGAIN, THE PLAN THAT WE HAD WAS DELIVERED APRIL 1.

NOBODY SAW THAT PLAN UNTIL THIS CITY COUNCIL SAW IT.

THE IDEA OF THE PLAN WAS TO SAY, WE'VE DONE SOME INVESTIGATION.

WE BELIEVE IT'S ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.

DO YOU WANT US TO GO FURTHER, AND THAT'S ALL IT IS.

THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.

I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE OPEN MEETING CHRETS.

THERE'S NO SENSE IN HAVING THOSE IF IT WASN'T ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE. NOW WE HAVE IT.

WE WANT TO START DOING MASTER PLANNING, OPEN MEETINGS, CITIZEN CONTRIBUTION, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS GOING FORWARD.

THAT JUST STARTED APRIL 1.

THE DISCUSSION IN 2023.

>> WAS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> WAS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THAT.

>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW.

>> WELL, YOU DID.

WHAT I AM SAYING IS THIS COUNCIL? MAJORITY.

>> THAT'S THE KEY. THANK YOU.

>> THING ON THE COMMITTEE PART.

I AM A PART OF A COMMITTEE.

IT'S THE RACING AND GAMING COMMITTEE.

IF I'M ON THE GOLF COURSE COMMITTEE, I'VE MISSED ALL EMAILS.

I WAS INVITED TO THE CONCEPT MEETING.

I DID HAVE THE FLU.

IF I WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE, I'M SORRY BECAUSE I HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED.

I'VE BEEN A TERRIBLE COMMITTEE MEMBER.

I AM ON ANOTHER IOS COMMITTEE.

THAT'S THAT'S NEWS TO ME.

>> THERE WAS NO GOLF COURSE COMMITTEE.

IT WAS THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU MISSED.

>> I WAS SICK THAT NIGHT.

>> YEAH. I MEAN IT'S ONE NIGHT AND THEN YOU CAME TO THE NEXT.

WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS, NOT JUST TONIGHT.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING.

WE'VE ALL RECEIVED EMAILS FOR AND AGAINST PHONE CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES.

MUCH OF OUR TIME FOR ALL OF US OVER THE LAST WHILE, WE DID, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TWO YEARS AGO, REQUEST THAT WE GET THIS CONCEPTUAL, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID BEFORE.

IT'S A PEG THAT ALLOWS US TO SEE WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE, MORE OR LESS, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT IS CIRCLED AROUND WHAT IS PLANNED FOR THAT SPACE, AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT ISN'T ANY REAL PLAN.

THERE IS NO REAL PLAN.

THE FORMATION OF A PLAN OR A MASTER PLAN FOR THAT MATTER WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OPEN TO PUBLIC AND WE WOULD TAKE PUBLIC INPUT ON, AND THAT WOULD BE DOWN THE ROAD.

ALL WE WERE LOOKING AT IS THIS EVENING IS EFFECTIVELY IF WE DECIDE AS A COUNCIL, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OF OUR CONSTITUENCY THAT IN THE EVENT SOMEONE WERE TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE.

IN THE EVENT THEY BRING TO US A TERRIBLE PLAN, WE DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT ANYTHING AT ALL.

EVERYTHING THAT WOULD BE DONE IN REGARD TO ANYTHING WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK THROUGH COUNCIL AND WE HAD

[03:40:03]

A SLIGHT DISCUSSION AT STUDY SESSION AND WE'RE PRESENTED IDEAL THAT WOULD BE AN ALTERED RESOLUTION.

>> TO CONDUCT A MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS.

THAT'S A ROUTE WE CAN GO.

NO MATTER HOW IT WORKS OUT, WE WILL HAVE TO CREATE A MASTER PLAN, AND IF WE DECIDE TO GO THAT ROUTE, AND IN THE EVENT WE DO, THEN WE WOULD TALK WITH THE PUBLIC.

THIS WHOLE DEVELOPMENT CAN'T ALL BE HIGH-RISE APARTMENTS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT WOULDN'T FACILITATE THE NEED THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE USE AND WASTE OF SPACE.

AS MANY OF YOU HAVE SAID, BOTH FOR AND AGAINST, THIS IS AN AMAZING GEM OF A OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

IT'S AN AMAZING GEM OF A PIECE OF LAND TO BE USED FOR MANY THINGS.

WE COULD YET CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME EXECUTIVE GOLF COURSE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE IF WE PUT TOGETHER A MASTER PLAN.

WE COULD RETAIN 40 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE, AS WAS GIFTED BY THE DODGE FAMILY, SHOULD WE WANT TO.

THAT IS ALL WHAT THE PROCESS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT ON A MASTER PLAN WOULD BE.

WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS TONIGHT IN THIS PIECE OF IT IS JUST SAYING THAT IN THE EVENT THAT SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO PUT FORTH A TIME, MONEY, AND EFFORT, YOU TALKED ABOUT ENGINEERING, THAT WOULD HAVE TO DEFINITELY HAPPEN.

OBVIOUSLY, NONE OF US WANT TO JUMP INTO A RATHER LARGE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT ALL THE INS AND OUTS.

WE'RE NOT THAT FAR IN THIS PROCESS, YET, WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS PROCESS RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S, AGAIN, SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO FOR A WHILE IS TO SAY, HEY, IF YOU'LL GO SPEND THE MONEY AND THE EFFORT TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO SEE IT ALL, BECAUSE YOU'RE CORRECT, IT IS OUR CITY'S RESOURCE.

IT IS FOR OUR KIDS.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER IN THE LONG RUN.

WE DO HAVE LOTS OF DEVELOPMENTS GOING ON AROUND THIS TOWN.

WE'RE DOING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY AND MAKE THE CITY BETTER FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT LIVES HERE IN FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WHAT THIS TONIGHT THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IS ALL IT DOES IS IT GETS US TO A NEXT STEP TO SAY, HEY, WE CAN PUT IT OUT, SOMEONE CAN BRING US PLANS.

WE CAN DO AN RFP AND SEE WHAT COMES TO US.

WITH THAT INFORMATION, WITH THAT DUE DILIGENCE, THEN WE CAN MAKE A DECISION.

IF SOMEONE COMES AND SAYS, HEY, I CAN INCREASE YOUR INCOME AS A CITY AT YOUR GENERAL FUND BY 33% POSSIBLY, PLUS OR MINUS, TIME VALUE OF MONEY FOR ALL WE KNOW, 22 MILLION, THAT IS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS JUST, AGAIN, A PEGGING MARK, COULD BE MUCH HIGHER, COULD BE MUCH LOWER.

WE DON'T DO OUR JOB IF WE DON'T LISTEN TO AT LEAST ALL OF THE SIDES OF THE STORY AS WE DID TONIGHT.

WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS BECAUSE WE'RE VERY EARLY ON IN THIS PROCESS.

WE HAVEN'T DONE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT NEED DONE TO GET TO THE END OF THIS.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO OUR JOB.

WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE.

MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT SPOKE TONIGHT ARE IN A GREAT POSITION, AND THEY HAVE THE LUXURY OF SAYING WE SHOULD NOT DEVELOP ANYTHING ANYWHERE.

THERE'S LOTS OF CONTENT YOU SEE OUT, PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE APARTMENTS ARE BAD.

THIS IS BAD.

AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY TO DO ANY AND EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP MAKE COUNCIL BLUFFS BETTER.

WE'RE NOT SELLING THE GOLF COURSE AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE SAYING WE'RE OPEN TO HAVING AN OPEN CONVERSATION, AND TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION WAS EXTREMELY GOOD.

IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES.

IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THIS MANY PEOPLE VESTED IN INTEREST IN WHAT GOES ON IN COUNCIL BLUFFS'S FUTURE.

I WISH WE COULD HAVE THIS MUCH EFFORT IN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO.

WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, WE ALL, AS A COUNCIL, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OF A CONSTITUENCY HERE, HAVE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE TO ANSWER TO, BOTH FOR AND AGAINST, AND WHEN IT ALL COMES BACK AROUND, WHATEVER COMES UP WILL HAVE TO COME THROUGH COUNCIL.

THERE'S MANY PIECES OF THIS THAT GREATLY INVOLVED THE PUBLIC.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION LATELY THAT SAYS THAT THIS HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

WHAT'S BEEN DONE IS REALLY NOTHING.

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AT THIS POINT.

THE ONLY THING THAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR IS WE'VE HAD A CONVERSATION TO SAY, IS THIS PLAUSIBLE? DOES THIS WORK? COULD IT PAY FOR ITSELF? COULD IT BE HELPFUL TO US? I THINK THE NUMBERS SAY THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO EXPLORE.

WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE DO THE DUE DILIGENCE.

I'M SURE, SIR, YOU DID A GREAT JOB WHEN YOU WERE AT WORKING, BUT SOMEONE COMES IN AND HAS A FULL PLAN WITH ALL THE GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION, ALL OF THE DUE DILIGENCE OF WHAT WE HAVE TO BRING IN, IS IT PLAUSIBLE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES? RAIN RETENTION, HOW DOES IT WORK WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS? EVERYONE IS CORRECT.

YOU'RE ALL 100% CORRECT IN THAT ALL THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN, SHOULD WE EVER DO ANYTHING?

[03:45:02]

ALL WE'RE SAYING AT THIS POINT IN TONIGHT'S VOTE AND TONIGHT'S RESOLUTION IS THAT WE'D BE WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE EFFORT AND PUT FORTH ALL OF THE TIME, THE MONEY, DO THE DUE DILIGENCE, BRING UP THE STUDIES.

WHAT WAS PUT IN THE NEWSPAPER AND WHAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE IOWA WEST FOUNDATION, WE DON'T HAVE TO STICK TO ANY OF THAT.

WE COULD DO SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

THAT WAS, AGAIN, JUST A EXERCISE BY THEM AT OUR REQUEST TO SEE IF IT WAS PLAUSIBLE.

WE COULD GO MORE DENSE, WE COULD GO LESS DENSE.

IN THE EVENT WE DECIDE FROM THERE, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, TO GO IN A LESS DENSE MANNER AND PUT MORE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES OR ZERO ENTRY HOMES BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THE IDEA OF BASEMENTS IS A GOOD IDEA, THAT IS WONDERFUL.

AGAIN, WE COULD ALSO HAVE THE CONVERSATION TO KEEP A NINE-HOLE GOLF COURSE OR OPEN WESTWOOD BACK UP, LEAVE THAT, LET THE SCHOOLS USE THAT, LET THE COMMUNITY USE THAT, AND THEN CONTINUE ON, RENAME WESTWOOD.

ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS CAN HAPPEN.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS POSSIBILITY IS THAT IT PUTS IOWA FIRST, IT PUTS COUNCIL BLUFFS' RESIDENTS, IT PUTS YOU GUYS WORKING THROUGH US AND TOGETHER WITH US, AND THE DEVELOPMENT FOLKS IN THE CITY TO DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS AND WHAT WE DECIDE WHAT WE WANT TO DO, RELEVANT TO WHAT OMAHA DECIDES TO DO.

MANY FOLKS BROUGHT UP THE STREET CAR SITUATION AND HOW THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT AT SOME POINT.

EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE IN THAT THING THAT WAS PUT IN THE NEWSPAPER WAS DESIGNED IN A MANNER THAT IN THE EVENT THERE WOULD BE A STREET CAR AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IT COULD BE INTEGRATED IN.

BUT IT WAS DONE WITH THE INTENT OF A CAR FIRST COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL BLUFFS IS.

WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO GIVE US $150 MILLION FOR A BRIDGE, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO DO ANYTHING IN THAT REALM.

THAT'S ITS OWN SEPARATE ISSUE, AND JUDGING FROM THE THINGS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL, I DON'T SEE THAT THE FEDERAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY IS GOING TO HAVE $155 MILLION TO GIVE US FOR THAT ON ACCOUNT OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN BEING CUT LATELY.

IF IT DOES, IT DOES.

WE NEED TO PROCEED WITHOUT THAT AND NOT WORRY ABOUT.

IF THAT COMES TO FRUITION, THAT COMES TO FRUITION, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AT THAT TIME.

THIS IS TOTALLY AND SEPARATELY FROM THAT IN ITS ENTIRETY.

WE ARE LUCKY ON OUR SIDE IN THAT WE GET TO WATCH OMAHA DO WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT AND THEN MAKE THE DECISION WHEN THAT COMES UP IF IT COMES UP, BUT AS STATED, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT EVEN COMES UP.

ALL WE'RE DOING HERE, AGAIN, TONIGHT IS TRYING TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO US, GIVING A NOD TO PUT OUT A POSSIBLE RFP AT SOME POINT AND TO FORM A MASTER PLAN, TO HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND WE CAN STRUCTURE THINGS HOWEVER WE WANT.

WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE OF SHAREHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST WAY TO HAVE A MASTER PLAN IS.

HAVING THE MASTER PLAN OR BUILDING A MASTER PLAN INVOLVES NIGHTS LIKE TONIGHT, AND I KNOW EVERYONE'S HERE LATE, AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT, AND I DON'T MEAN TO KEEP YOU HERE ANY LONGER, BUT THIS DISCOURSE IS GREAT FOR US TO GO FORWARD.

GETTING EVERYONE'S OPINION, EVERYONE'S BUYING.

AS SOMEONE STATED, PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED FROM SMALL CHILDREN UP TO SENIOR CITIZENS.

EVERYONE USES ALL OF THE PARKS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, AND EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT CAPACITIES AND ABILITIES TO DO SO.

IN TONIGHT'S PLAN, I VIEW IT, AND THIS IS ME, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO HEAR EVERYONE SPEAK.

THAT'S WHY I MADE THE MOTION. STEVE SECONDED.

I THINK WE NEED TO LET THIS GO TO THE NEXT STEP, HAVE THE PUBLIC MEETINGS LIKE WE TALK ABOUT, AND EVERYONE'S BEEN ASKING FOR.

THAT'S WHERE I STAND ON IT, I GUESS.

>> THAT'S WHERE I'M AT ALSO.

THIS VOTE TONIGHT IS JUST THE NEXT STEP AND ABOUT 30 STEPS OR 40 STEPS, AND A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT.

WE HAVE TO DEAL, IN FACT, AND WHAT I TRULY LIKE ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY IS MOST OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS HAVE HAPPENED ON THE EDGE OF OUR TOWN IN ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

EITHER UNDERWOOD, TRAINER, OR LEWIS CENTRAL DISTRICTS.

THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, AS A WHOLE, WE'RE PAYING MUCH MORE IN SCHOOL TAX THAN THOSE OTHER DISTRICTS, BECAUSE WE'RE LANDLOCKED, AS DR. MORELLO SAID.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LARGE DEVELOPMENT,

[03:50:03]

WHICH COULD BRING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNCTION.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GETS THE MAJORITY OF THE TAXES THAT WOULD COME OFF OF THAT PROPERTY, AND THAT'S A FACT. THOSE ARE FACTS.

THE OTHER THING, LIKE I WAS TRYING TO SAY, NOBODY TRIED TO PUT ANYTHING UNDER THE TABLE.

THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL.

IT CAN BE REFUSED ALONG THE LINE MANY TIMES, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND OUTPUT.

TONIGHT'S VOTE IS TO MOVE IT INTO SURPLUS, SO WE CAN CONTINUE STUDYING AND SEE IF IT EVEN MATERIALIZES FROM THE CONCEPTUAL DRAWING THAT THEY PROJECT THAT WE WOULD GET OUT OF THE PROPERTIES.

IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE AFTER THIS COUNCIL ASKED THE MAYOR AND THE CITY TO GO TO IOWA WEST TO PAY FOR THIS.

WE ASKED THEM TO DO IT.

I BELIEVE, AND IN MY OPINION, WE NEED TO GO FORWARD TONIGHT, VOTE FOR THE FUTURE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

STUDY THIS MORE.

BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR IN THIS THING, IF WE NEED TO LOOK ALSO AT THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US EARLIER.

BUT I THINK, IN MY OPINION, LET'S NOT STOP EDUCATING OURSELVES BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A DECISION THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT US 50 YEARS FROM NOW, WHETHER WE DO IT OR WE DON'T DO IT.

IT'S GOING TO AFFECT US 50 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE HAVE TO BE THINKING LONG TERM. THANK YOU.

>> WELL, I GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DODGE RIVERSIDE NUMBERS, I GOT THESE NUMBERS FROM BRANDON GARRETT.

JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, FISCAL YEAR 2021, WE HAD A DEFICIT.

THE GOLF COURSE LOST $124,000, WITH A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OF $280,000 THAT YEAR.

2022, IT LOST $67,000 WITH A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OF $140,000.

IN FISCAL YEAR '23, IT PROFITED $105,000, AND THESE ARE ROUND NUMBERS.

IT GETS REAL DOWN, LIKE 105,588, BUT WITH NO CAPITAL EXPENSE THAT YEAR.

IN '24, IT PROFITED $17,786 WITH A $16,000 CAPITAL EXPENSE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS THAT I GOT WAS FROM JANUARY 31ST OF 2025, IT WAS PROFITABLE AT $39,259.

>> THOSE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT. FOR THOSE OUT IN THE AUDIENCE WHO AREN'T FOLLOWING THAT, THAT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ROGER IS TALKING ABOUT WAS THE IRRIGATION EXPENSE PUT IN THERE.

THE ACTUAL OPERATING REVENUE OF THE GOLF COURSE MADE MONEY, BUT WHEN YOU NET OFF THE COST OF THE-

>> MANAGEMENT FEE AND EXPENSES.

EVERYTHING. THOSE ARE REAL NUMBERS.

AS MATT SAID, I WAS NOT IN FAVOR WHEN WE ORIGINALLY DID THIS, AND WHEN THIS CAME ABOUT SIX, EIGHT WEEKS AGO, MORE INTO THE PUBLIC, LEAGUES STARTED SHOPPING AROUND, EMPLOYEES OF LANDSCAPE STARTED SHOPPING AROUND, DIFFERENT OUTINGS ARE GOING TO DIFFERENT GOLF COURSES AND SHOPPING AROUND, AND THAT 100% WILL DRIVE DOWN THE REVENUE OF THE GOLF COURSE.

>> CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING?

>> YOU CAN'T, I'M SORRY. WE CAN TALK AFTERWARDS.

IN THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS, THIS COUNCIL HAS APPROVED OVER 2,000 MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS COMING INTO COUNCIL BLUFFS.

>> LAST 3-5 YEARS.

>> WELL, FROM 2023 TO UP TO 2027/28, DEPENDING ON WHEN CONSTRUCTION GETS DONE.

>> ABOUT 1,800 UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND [OVERLAPPING] SOME STILL BEING PERMITTED THERE.

>> IN 2023, THE COHEN BUILDING DOWNTOWN HERE AT 530 WEST BROADWAY WAS 17 UNITS, AND IT WAS COMPLETED IN 2023.

THERE'S 17 DWELLING UNITS.

THAT PROJECT GOT 10 YEARS OF 100% EXEMPTION ON THE NEW INCREMENT, AND THE CITY AWARDED THAT PROJECT $150,000 OF ARPA MONEY.

THAT'S 17 UNITS. BLACK SQUIRREL FLATS, WHICH IS SHORT-TERM RENTALS DOWN ON 12TH AVE BETWEEN SOUTH 34TH STREET AND 25TH STREET,

[03:55:05]

GOT URBAN REVITE, 10 YEARS, 100% EXEMPTION ON THE NEW INCREMENT, WHICH NEW INCREMENT IS ANYTHING ABOVE WHERE IT WAS WHEN THEY STARTED THE PROJECT.

THAT'S 20 UNITS. THAT'S COMPLETED.

THAT'S MORE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

THE ARCHIVE MARKET RATE, IT'S THE OLD POST OFFICE.

DOWNTOWN GOT URBAN REVITE AND HDP FUNDS, WHICH IS THE HOUSING FUNDS THAT THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS WITH ARPA AND IOWA WEST FOUNDATION MONEY PUT IN.

THEY ALSO GOT 10 YEARS, 100% EXEMPTION ON NEW INCREMENT.

THAT'S 53 APARTMENT COMPLEXES OR DWELLINGS.

THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED TODAY.

>> I THINK IT'S DONE.

>> THAT'S 90-

>> LEASING.

>> NINETY ADDITIONAL UNITS.

TREEHOUSE, WHICH IS DOWN ON 34TH AND FIRST AVENUE, THEY GOT TIF.

THERE'S MULTIPLE PHASES.

MINIMUM ASSESSMENT OF 13.8 MILLION WITH A 15-YEAR REBATE OF THREE YEARS AT 95%, FIVE YEARS AT 85%, TWO YEARS AT 80%, AND $1.5 MILLION OF HDP GRANT FROM OUR HOUSING FUND.

THAT'S 224 UNITS TO BE COMPLETED UP TO 2029, DEPENDING ON THE PHASE. THERE'S THREE PHASES.

THAT WILL HAVE A MAXIMUM REBATE WITH THE TIF MONEY OF $10 MILLION.

RIDGELINE, BEAUTIFUL NEW APARTMENTS OF VALLEY VIEW, ALSO GOT 14 YEARS TIF, MINIMUM ASSESSMENT OF $10 MILLION, 14-YEAR REBATE UP TO TWO MILLION DOLLARS.

I WAS INFORMED TODAY FROM COURTNEY, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, THAT ONE IS ASSESSED HIGHER THAN THE MINIMUM ASSESSMENT, AND WILL GET PAID BACK ON THE TIF EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.

THAT'S 100 UNITS IN THOSE THREE BUILDINGS DOWN THERE ON VALLEY VIEW, RIDGELINE.

TO BE COMPLETED, HOPEFULLY, BY THE END OF THE YEAR, ALL THREE OF THEM.

BROADMOOR, DOWN AT RIVER'S EDGE, MINIMUM ASSESSMENT OF 8.5 MILLION, 16-YEAR 65% REBATE.

THAT'S 50 UNITS UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY.

IF YOU DRIVE DOWN THERE, IT'S GOING VERTICAL.

THAT'LL HAVE COMPLETED IN 2026. SOUTH POINTE.

>> THAT'S AT COUNCIL POINT ROAD AND VEST MORO HIGHWAY.

THEY GOT URBAN REVIT, TEN YEARS, 100% TAX EXEMPTION ON ANY NEW INCREMENT.

THAT'S 186 UNITS TO BE COMPLETED IN 2026.

UNION AT BLUFFS RUN THAT IS AFFORDABLE AT 60% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME ON NORTH 27TH STREET AND WEST OF SOUTH 19TH STREET.

THEY GOT 15 YEAR TIF, 100% REBATE UP TO 10 MILLION WITH NO MINIMUM ASSESSMENT.

THERE'S 192 UNITS GOING THERE TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027.

THOSE ARE ALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY.

PERRY REED, WHICH IS OUT AT WHISPERING OAKS, WHICH WAS, WHO WAS THE DEVELOPER FOR IT? I CAN'T THINK OF HIS NAME.

>> IT WAS JERRY TARZAN.

>> JERRY TARZAN. PERRY REID PROPERTIES IS DOING THE APARTMENTS AT WHISPERING OAKS.

THAT'S AT GREENVIEW AND FRANKLIN.

URBAN REVITE AND HDP FUNDS, 10 YEARS, 100% EXEMPTION ON NEW INCREMENT, AND $750,000 IN HOME FUNDS FROM THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AND IOWA'S MONEY.

>> ALL URBAN REVITE IS 10 YEARS.

>> ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITS TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027.

WE HAVE CORNERSTONE, WHICH IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 60% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, 35TH AVENUE POWER DRIVE, THAT'S OUT BY SAM'S CLUB.

THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE HAVE NOT NEGOTIATED ANY TERMS. THAT'S 280 UNITS.

CORNERSTONE, THAT IS CORNERSTONE.

VOLKER, WHICH IS AFFORDABLE AT FIRST AVE AND 22ND STREET IS 45 UNITS TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027.

THEN WE HAVE APPROVED DEVELOPERS FOR SPIN LOFTS AT 32ND AVE AND SOUTH EXPRESSWAY.

URBAN REVITE, 10 YEARS, 100% EXEMPTION.

THAT'S 45 UNITS. BROADMOOR, 2024 RIVER'S EDGE IS 91 UNITS.

THAT'S A NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX DOWN A RIVER'S EDGE TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027.

LOCKWOOD AT 30TH AND FIRST AVENUE.

264 UNITS TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027, AND THEN THE HOP DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS ON THE COUNCIL'S PACKETS NIGHT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 80% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AT 28TH AND FIRST AVENUE.

[04:00:05]

THAT'S 89 UNITS. FOR A TOTAL OF 1,806 UNITS.

IF YOU INCLUDE OUT BY THE ROUNDABOUT, THERE'S ANOTHER 200 THERE.

YOU'VE GOT 2000 NEW DWELLINGS OR APARTMENT COMPLEXES, MIXED USE GOING INTO THE NEXT THROUGH TO FIVE YEARS.

>> [OVERLAPPING] TO MAKE HAPPEN.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORT.

>> YOU BET. HAPPY TO DO IT.

>> YEAH, I'M JUST GIVING [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE WORKED HARD WITH IOS FOUNDATION.

THERE ARE 50 MILLION HOUSING UNIT SHORTAGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S A NATIONAL CRISIS.

COUNCIL BLUFFS IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND WE OUGHT TO BE PROUD ABOUT THAT, I THINK.

>> I'M NOT DISCOUNTING IT. I'M NOT TOUTING IT.

I'M JUST TELLING PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE 2000 MORE APARTMENT UNITS COMING IN THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS ARE COMPLETED FROM 2023-2029.

THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS OWNS MORE LAND THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, AND YOU WERE PROBABLY ON COUNCIL WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

WE OWN THE BAS PRO BUILDING.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GREAT DEAL.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD SAY IT'S A GOOD DEAL TODAY OR NOT.

>> I'D SAY IT'S NOT A BAD DEAL TODAY.

THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT BASS PRO.

WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH BASS PRO.

THEY ESTIMATED 40 MILLION IN SALES.

OPEN UP CABELA'S, NOT AT THAT TIME, AFFILIATED WITH BASS PRO, AND THEN BASS PRO OPENED THE PLACE IN ANCONE.

THEIR SALES NEVER HAVE MET WHAT THEY PROJECTED THEM TO BE.

BUT THEY PAY ABOUT, I'M PULLING THESE NUMBERS OUT OF THE [OVERLAPPING] THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE CLOSE.

THEY PAY ABOUT $630,000 A YEAR IN RENT TO THE CITY.

SINCE WE RENT IT TO THEM, IT'S TAXABLE.

THE CITY PAYS 611,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES.

>> ABOUT COVERS THE PROPERTY TAXES.

>> THE GROSS NUMBER IS 20,000 PROFIT FOR THE CITY, BUT THEN THE CITY GETS 41.5% OF THOSE PROPERTY TAXES.

WE PULL IN CLOSE TO 250,000.

AGAIN, MY FLAW IS BEING TOO HONEST, I COULD STOP THERE AND EVERYBODY SAY, THAT'S A BAD DEAL.

THE BAD DEAL IS IT'S NOT WHAT THEY CALL TRIPLE NET LEASE.

THEY PAY THE INSURANCE, I BELIEVE, BUT WE PAY THE TAXES AND THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

AT SOME POINT, THE ROOF IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED OR THE HVAC, AND SO THOSE EXPENSES COULD EASILY TURN THAT UPSIDE DOWN.

BUT SO FAR AFTER 20 YEARS, IT HAS NOT LOST ANY MONEY.

>> IT ABOUT PAYS THE PROPERTY TAXES.

>> THEN WE GET 41.5% OF THAT BACK IN PROPERTY TAXES.

>> WE OWN THE PARKING LOT AT MAC AVENTURES, WHICH IS THE WEST FIELD HOUSE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE OWN SEVERAL PARKS, GRAND PARK, VALLEY VIEW PARK, BAHNSEN, ROBERTS.

WE'VE OWNED LAND UNDER THE VIDAC, SINCE THE EARLY '90S OR THE LATE '90S, EARLY 2000S, THAT LAND HAS SAT EMPTY FOR ENTIRELY TOO LONG.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO ON SURPLUS, IF I'M BEING HONEST.

UNDER THE VIADUCT, WE OWN A TON OF LAND.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> NORTH AND SOUTH?

>> YES. NORTH AND SOUTH, UNDER THE VIDAC.

WE OWN A TON OF LAND. THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK SHOULD GO TO SURPLUS, IF I'M BEING HONEST.

>> IT HAS DEVELOPMENT ISSUES BECAUSE IT IS ACTUALLY IN THE FLOODPLAIN AND IT IS BIFURCATED OR SEPARATED BY RAIL.

THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SELL, BUT POINT TAKEN.

>> WE OWN THE PARKING LOT ON SCOTT STREET NEXT TO THE BUILDING WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.

>> IT SAYS IT ON THE POTT COUNTY WEBSITE. I WAS LOOKING AT IT.

>> THE 712 OWNS THE OLD SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDING.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE IS THERE, AND THEN 712 ALSO OWNS THE OLD IOWA CLOSED BUILDING.

>> I'M JUST LOOKING AT PACO.

>> PARKING LOT [INAUDIBLE].

>> PARKING LOT?

>> JUST THE PARKING LOT. I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING WE OWN THE APARTMENTS.

>> NO. WE OWN THE PARKING LOT.

>> WHICH WE WERE LEASING UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST WHEN THE TENANT GAVE IT BACK.

>> WE OWNED SOME PROPERTY ON BROADWAY ACROSS FROM TRAINER STATE BANK.

WE OWN SOME PROPERTY AT 38TH STREET BEHIND 35TH AND WEST BROADWAY.

[04:05:03]

SOUTH ASONIC AVENUE, WE'VE OWNED SINCE 2015.

THERE'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THOSE APARTMENT BUILDINGS YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT.

>> SOME OF THEM. WE'VE OWNED A PROPERTY AT 34TH AND SECOND AVENUE SINCE 2015.

IT'S SEATING EMPTY TODAY.

FROM 2005-2015, WE COLLECTED $286,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

BUT SINCE 2015, WE'VE OWNED IT WITH NO PROPERTY TAXES; 32ND AND 12TH AVE, WE'VE OWNED SINCE 2010.

WE GO BACK TO PARKS, OLD KERN, WE OWN THAT.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE MID AMERICA CENTER WE OWN, WHICH LOSES MONEY EVERY YEAR.

THE RIVER'S EDGE PAVILION WHERE YOU CAN RENT THE SPACE HAS LOST MONEY SINCE IT'S BEEN PUT IN.

>> RIVER'S EDGE PAVILION OPERATING MAKES MONEY, THE FLAWS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER FEATURE CAUSE IT TO LOSE MONEY.

>> WHICH WE JUST HAVE THAT.

>> IT'S A PARK AMENITY THAT IS COMPARABLE TO FIXING THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM AT DODGE PARK.

>> THE GENTLEMAN SAID TODAY ABOUT THE TREES.

COUNCIL BLUFFS PROUDLY IS A TREE CITY USA.

I JUST GOOGLE TREE CITY USA COUNCIL BLUFFS.

IT SAYS, RECOGNITION IS AWARDED ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION, IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING FOREST RESOURCES AND DEMONSTRATING THE VALUE OF TREES.

CITY COUNCIL BLUFFS IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN TREE PLANNING AND CARE AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE EFFORTS.

BUT I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT TILL WHAT THE GENTLEMAN TODAY SAID ABOUT THE TREES.

I HAD A GUY REACH OUT TO ME AND ASKED ABOUT FAIRMOUNT PARK.

FAIRMOUNT PARK IS SUPER HILLY, AND IT WOULD BE TOUGH TO GET INFRASTRUCTURE UP THERE.

BUT THE GENTLEMAN SAID, I WANT FIRST RIDE A REFUSAL, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT A RESTAURANT UP THERE THAT OVERLOOKS ALL OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT AND MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS, MATT.

HAVE WE TALKED TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AT ALL?

>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE THAT FAR ALONG.

FROM A 10,000 FOOT PERSPECTIVE, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE NORTH SIDE OF BROADWAY.

IT'S CONCEIVABLE, WE HAVE TO ANYTHING THAT'S 500 FOOT BACK FROM THE LEVEE HAS TO HAVE CORE APPROVAL.

THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE PROCESS TO MEET WITH THEM, BUT AT THIS POINT, OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CORPS.

IT'S THREE, FIVE YEARS BEFORE THEY ANSWER THE PHONE.

I HATE TO SAY THAT TO YOU, BUT THAT'S HOW IT WORKS ANYMORE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. [OVERLAPPING] DOING THE SAME THING.

>> WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT EXERCISE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.

>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD THE GOLF COURSE APPRAISED TODAY AS IS WITHOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> NO, NOT TO THAT POINT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IS ADDED APPRAISE TO SEE WHAT IT'S WORTH TODAY WITH NO INFRASTRUCTURE AS SITS AS IS.

>> IN 30 YEARS AS A COMMERCIAL BANKER, THE VALUE OF THE LAND WOULD BE DEPENDENT ON THE INTENDED USE.

WE HAVEN'T GOT TO THAT POINT YET TO SEE WHAT THE INTENDED USE IS.

>> WE'VE GONE FROM SURPLUS TO TRANSITIONAL PRESERVE TO A MASTER PLAN IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

BRANDON TOLD CHRIS AND I IN YOUR OFFICE THAT IT HAS TO GO TO SURPLUS OR DEVELOPERS WON'T TAKE THIS.

>> A TERMINOLOGY, DICK TOLD US IT WASN'T THAT THAT IS SEMANTICS.

IT DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

INCLUDED IN THAT ORIGINAL RESOLUTION WAS TO DO A MASTER PLAN.

WE FELT THAT FROM CONVERSATIONS WE'D HAD THAT THE COUNCIL WANTED THE MASTER PLAN ELEVATED, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

>> I DON'T KNOW. YOU'VE SAID THAT 80% OF THE GOLFERS AREN'T FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

A NUMBER OF THEM ARE NOT.

>> BACK WHEN I TOOK OVER AS MAYOR, THE GOLF COURSE CONSISTENTLY LOST A LOT OF MONEY.

UNDER THE OLD CITY MANAGEMENT, WE KEPT TRACK OF WHERE THE GOLFERS CAME FROM.

AT THAT POINT, ACCORDING TO TOM PUTMAN, ABOUT 20% OF THE GOLFERS WERE COUNCIL BLUFFS RESIDENTS,

[04:10:06]

80% WERE OMAHA RESIDENTS.

I DIDN'T ASK LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED.

I DON'T WANT TO FREAK THEM OUT.

>> I DID ASK THEM. THEY DON'T COLLECT ANY DEMOGRAPHICS FOR THE GOLF COURSE.

BUT A LOT OF GOLF COURSES AROUND THE COUNTRY DO.

THEY ASK WHERE YOU'RE FROM IF YOU'RE VISITING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING LANDSCAPE SHOULD DO, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOLS BEING ABLE TO USE IT.

MAYBE WHISPERING WOODS OR OLD FOX GROUND COULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY AND YOU'LL SAY IT'S NOT IN THE PROCESS YET.

NOBODY HAS TALKED TO ANY OF THE GOLF COACHES OR MAYBE YOU'VE TALKED TO DR. MORELLO.

>> I'VE NOT TALKED TO THE GOLF COACHES.

I'VE TALKED TO WHISPERING WOODS.

AGAIN, JUST BEING HONEST, HE SAID, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT TEAMS, BUT HE DOES LEWIS CENTRAL TRAINER, FELT THAT HE COULD ACCOMMODATE THE TEAMS THAT PRACTICE AT DODGE, BUT IT WOULD TAKE SOME SCHEDULING.

>> I TALKED TO A COUPLE DEVELOPERS.

BRANDON SAID, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS DONE IS PEOPLE TAKE A SERIOUS.

I THINK A LOT OF DEVELOPERS HAVE CONTINGENT THINGS.

THEY PUT OUT BUDGETS, NUMBERS, AND THEY SPEND MONEY ALL THE TIME WITH PROJECTS THAT DON'T COME TO FRUITION.

I THINK THAT HAPPENS A LOT.

I WOULD TELL YOU, I THINK EVEN LAND THAT THE CITY'S PUT OUT FOR RFP, WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE BID ON IT.

THEY SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND WE ONLY PICK ONE OR WE PICK NONE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] HOUSING TYPE.

IF THERE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, MANY TIMES ARE RELIANT ON LITE TECH MONEY, WHICH IS LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED BY THE STATE, AND THOSE FUNDS ARE AWARDED ON AN APPLICATION BASIS.

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, A LOT OF TIMES SOMEONE WILL SAY, I'LL TAKE THAT LAND.

I WANT TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSES.

I'LL PUT AN OPTION ON IT.

THE STATE DOESN'T GET THEM LITE TECH MONEY, AND SO THEN THEY WITHDRAW.

BUT THESE WOULD NOT BE LITE TECH QUALITY HOMES, AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S HOW THIS PROCESS WOULD GO.

>> I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WE NEED MORE HOUSING.

WE NEED THE POPULATION TO GROW.

WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> A LOT OF HOUSE UNITS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE AFFORDABLE.

I AGREE, I HAD PEOPLE COME TO ME AND SAY, YEAH, THESE ARE GOING TO BE 1,200, MAYBE $1,500.

>> WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE.

>> WE DON'T. BUT THEY SAID, YOU TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE, AND THEY SAID, WELL, THESE AREN'T AFFORDABLE.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS SOMEBODY IN A $1,300 UNIT MOVES INTO THE $1,500 UNIT, AND THEN SOMEBODY IN $1,000 UNIT MOVES IN TO THE $1,300 UNIT, AND THEN SOMEBODY FROM AN $800 UNIT MOVES INTO THE $1,000 UNIT.

THERE'S A CASCADING EFFECT THAT LIFTS PEOPLE UP AND OPENS HOUSES DOWN BELOW THAT ARE AFFORDABLE.

IT HELPS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT DESIGNATED TO BE AFFORDABLE.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

>> I THINK I CLEARLY SAID IT WASN'T AFFORDABLE.

I JUST SAID IT WOULD OPEN UP AS PEOPLE MOVE UP INTO NICER APARTMENTS, IT OPENS UP AFFORDABLE HOUSES AS THEY MOVE OUT AND UP.

>> ALL THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR US TO STUDY.

>> I CONTINUOUSLY HEARD FROM MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT THIS WAS A DONE DEAL.

I ASSURED THEM IT WASN'T.

I ASSURED THEM THAT THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, THE COUNCIL MAKES THESE DECISIONS.

NOBODY ELSE MAKES THE DECISIONS.

AS MATT SAID, CHRIS SAID, STEVE SAID WE DIRECTED IOWA WEST TO DO THE STUDY.

I WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT.

THREE PEOPLE WERE, AND SO IT GOT DONE.

I THINK POTENTIALLY THE GOLF COURSE COULD BE DEVELOPED, AND IT COULD BE GREAT FOR THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NOW.

I DON'T THINK IT'S TODAY, I THINK THIS CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN THAT WE WERE PROVIDED HAS A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS.

SOME OF THE ASSUMPTIONS ARE RIGHT HERE.

[04:15:04]

THE HARRAH'S CASINO SELLS OFF THE PART 3 TRIANGLE PARCEL FOR DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S AN ASSUMPTION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE TALKED TO THEM OR NOT.

BUT THAT'S IN THE DOCUMENTS WE PROVIDED AS AN ASSUMPTION.

>> ASSUMPTION FOR ADDITIONAL AVAILABLE DEVELOPABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE, BUT NOT INCLUDED IN THAT PLAN, I DON'T BELIEVE.

>> IT SAYS IT IS.

>> WELL, IT TALKS ABOUT IT.

>> IT TALKS ABOUT THE SITE BUILDS OUT WITH PROGRAM AND PREFERRED CONCEPT AT THE PACE WE HAVE ASSUMED, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LAND THAT'S DEVELOPABLE BESIDES THIS.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE THAT'S NOT BEING UTILIZED TODAY, AND TO PUT MORE DOWN THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF TODAY.

>> AGAIN, I GET IT.

IT'S CONCEPTUAL.

THE SB FRIEDMAN, WHO IS EXPERTS IN DEVELOPMENT FINANCING, ESTIMATED 22 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE THAT COULD HELP ALL OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.

NOW, WHAT IF THEY'RE WRONG? I SAID THIS EARLIER.

WHAT IF IT'S HALF? WELL, THAT'S 10 MILLION.

THAT IS ONE-SIXTH OF WHAT OUR PROPERTY TAX ASKING WAS LAST YEAR.

WHAT IF THEY'RE A QUARTER? THAT'S 5.5 MILLION.

YES, THEY MAY BE WRONG.

YES, THE NUMBERS HAVE SOME FLEX IN THEM.

I CAN'T DENY THAT.

>> WELL, THE OTHER THING IS, AS I SAID, WE HAVE OVER 2,000 NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX COMING IN, THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER 3,200 MULTIFAMILY POTENTIAL.

>> LIKE I SAY, IT'S IN THE PERFECT SCENARIO, THAT LANDLORD SAYS, WE'VE GOT VACANCY, WE NEED TO LOWER OUR RENTS.

>> BUT IF THEY SPEND SO MUCH TO DO IT, THEY CAN'T LOWER THEIR RENTS. THAT'S PART OF IT.

>> HE'S TALKING ABOUT RENTAL HOUSES IN THE WEST END.

HALF THE WEST END IS RENTAL HOUSES.

IF THOSE LANDLORDS CAN'T FILL THEIR HOUSES, THEN THEY'LL BRING RENTS DOWN, AND THAT WILL CAUSE A CHANGE.

>> WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THAT I DON'T THINK THESE APARTMENTS WILL BE LESS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YES, THEY WILL. EVEN IN NEW HOUSING, IF APARTMENT SITS VACANT, THEY DON'T JUST SAY, LET IT SIT VACANT AND NOT EARN ANY MONEY.

THEY SAY WE WANTED TO EARN 1,200.

LET'S SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO RENT IT FOR 1,000 JUST TO GET SOMEBODY IN THERE.

THEN THE RENTS START COMING DOWN.

I KNOW YOU HAVE CONCERN BECAUSE YOU'VE EXPRESSED IT BEFORE THAT WE MAY HAVE TOO MANY RENTAL HOUSES.

LIKE I SAY, THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

IF THEY BUILD THEM, WE GET PROPERTY TAX.

REVENUE FROM THE PROPERTY.

IF THEY BUILD TOO MANY OF THEM, LANDLORDS ARE FORCED TO LOWER THEIR RENTS TO GET THEIR UNITS LEASED UP SO THEY CAN CASH FLOW.

IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE, AND I'VE FINANCED THEM FOR 30 YEARS.

EVERYBODY CAN SAY THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS.

I'M GOING TO GO QUICK AND THEN I'M GOING TO GET OUT OF EVERYBODY'S WAY.

>> CHRIS AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE.

>> I KNOW, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD. IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

>> CHRIS HASN'T SPOKEN.

>> NEITHER HAVE I, AND SO I'LL DO THAT.

CURRENTLY, COUNCIL BLUFFS HAS A HOUSING SHORTAGE.

THE MOST RECENT CENSUS DATA SHOWS VACANCY AT 0.6% OWNER OCCUPIED, AND 1.7% RENTAL VACANCIES.

STATISTICIANS BELIEVE THAT HOUSING VACANCY RENTS BELOW 8% CONTRIBUTE TO HOMELESSNESS.

THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN HOUSING DEMAND EXCEEDS HOUSING SUPPLY, LANDLORDS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THEIR RENTS AND STILL GET TENANTS.

AS RENTS INCREASE, SOME WORKING RESIDENTS ON THE FRINGES OF THE OVERALL POPULATION NO LONGER CAN AFFORD TO PAY THESE HIGHER RENTS, AND THEY GET EVICTED.

LOSING THE ABILITY TO SECURE SAFE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

DODGE RIVERSIDE IS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED NEAR DOWNTOWN COUNCIL BLUFFS AND DOWNTOWN OMAHA MAKING IT VERY DESIRABLE LOCATION FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

SIGNIFICANT INTEREST AMONG LOCAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY OCCURRED, AND I BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WILL EVENTUALLY ATTRACT INTEREST FROM MAJOR REGIONAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS.

IF THE CITY ULTIMATELY DECIDES TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL, ANY RESPONSES TO THAT REQUEST WILL HELP TO DEFINE THE ACTUAL LEVEL OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INTERESTS, AND THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

[04:20:02]

>> CHRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?

>> YEAH, I'LL. I'LL KEEP IT SHORT.

THANKS EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.

I LIKE TO THANK THE CITY STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS.

IT'S A MAJOR DECISION.

COUNCIL IS MOVING FORWARD.

I'VE APPRECIATED ALL THE CALLS, EMAILS, TEXT.

I'VE MET A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE, SO IT SHOWS THAT THE CITIZENS STILL DO CARE, WHETHER THEY'RE FOR OR AGAINST.

SOMETIMES YOU'RE UP HERE AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE CARE BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOBODY IN THE AUDIENCE.

PRIOR TO ME GETTING ON COUNCIL, I HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT FROM THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT I SAW WITH NO AMBITION OF BEING COUNCIL AT THE TIME.

BUT I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.

I ASKED ROGER A LOT OF QUESTIONS BEFORE I GOT IN COUNCIL.

WE SHARE A LOT OF VIEWS ON THE CITY SURPLUS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS, AND WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW, I VOTED FOR THE CONCEPT BECAUSE I WANTED THE CONCEPT TO COME OUT, THEN I WANTED TO ROLL IT OUT TO THE PEOPLE.

I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE A DECISION WEEKS AFTER.

I WANTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS HAD A THOUGHT BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES IN OTHER CITIES, WE HEAR IT THAT THEY FELT THEY WERE UNHEARD.

THE NUMBER 1 THING IS, I WANT TO HEAR THE CITIZENS FOR IT AGAINST.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN 5, 6 WEEKS, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT, AS OF YESTERDAY, HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.

THEN THEY WANT TO KNOW.

WE'RE STILL NOT EDUCATING.

EVERY TIME WE ROLL SOMETHING OUT, WE SAY, LET'S EDUCATE THE PEOPLE.

I STILL THINK WE FALL SHORT IN GETTING IT OUT TO THE MASSES.

WE CAN DO BETTER EVERY SINGLE TIME, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.

ONE OF THESE THINGS, LIKE ROGER SAID, WE WOULD LOVE TO HOLD ON TO THE GOLF COURSE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS IN REALITY, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE TRENDS.

BUT WE DON'T NEED TO BE RUSHED INTO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE THERE. IT'S GOING TO GO UP IN VALUE, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS.

AS OF TODAY, I AM A NO FOR NOW, BUT YOU NEED TO HEAR THAT STATEMENT.

I AM A NO FOR NOW.

I'M NOT DONE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY STAFF, THE CITIZENS FOR AND AGAINST, BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR DECISION, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN THAT WE CAN'T UNDO.

I KNOW WE CAN UNDO THINGS, AND THEY HAVE TO COME TO US.

I TAKE WHAT THESE TWO SAY VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT THAT'S JUST HOW I'M FEELING AT THE PRESENT TIME, BUT JUST KNOW WHEN YOU WALK OUT OF THIS, ISN'T GOING TO BED.

BUT KEEP EDUCATING YOURSELVES.

AS I'M GOING TO KEEP EDUCATING MYSELF, I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH THE CHIEF ON FRIDAY.

PUT A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON IT.

THAT'S WHERE I'M AT CURRENTLY, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR TONIGHT.

>> I HAVE A FEW THOUGHTS WRITTEN DOWN.

FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHORTEN THIS AND NOT TO OVERLAP POSITIVES, NEGATIVES ON THIS PROJECT.

BUT ON TOP OF THE EMAILS THAT CITY HALL HAS RECEIVED, MANY PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO US DIRECTLY VIA EMAIL THAT WEREN'T COPIED ONTO THE CITY OFFICE, ALSO FACEBOOK, STOPPING US WHILE WE'RE OUT AND ABOUT.

THERE'S A PETITION WITH OVER 900 SIGNATURES TO SAY NO TO THIS.

AS COUNCILMAN DISALVO SAID EARLIER, THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL TOPIC, BOTH WAYS, SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING OUT.

I MENTIONED EARLIER, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THIS CAME UP.

THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT THIS WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE APRIL WHEN I HEARD AND MR. GARRETT WAS OUT SHOWING THE CONCEPTUAL PLANS TO DIFFERENT GROUPS, AND AFTER SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS, THEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE BEING RUSHED TO THIS VOTE TONIGHT, AND I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT IT BEING RUSHED, BUT HERE WE ARE WITH IT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THIS PROJECT ON TOP OF THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT WE OWN THAT ROGER MENTIONED, OR THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING IN FEW OTHER CONCERNS I HAVE IS NO ONE HAS REACHED OUT TO THE CORP OF ENGINEERS.

I CALLED THEM. THEY CALLED ME BACK 48 HOURS LATER AND SAID, NO, NOBODY FROM THE CITY HAS REACHED OUT ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

THE NUMBER OF APARTMENTS BEING CURRENTLY BUILT, THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE ECONOMY.

WE SELL THIS PROPERTY, AND THEN IT SITS EMPTY.

THERE'S TWO THINGS YOU CAN'T MAKE MORE OF BLOOD AND LAND.

AND SO WHEN WE ARE GOING TO SELL OUR PROPERTY HERE IN THE CITY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND MOVING FORWARD.

I ALSO MET WITH CHIEF JAMES LAST WEEK, AND I TOLD HIM I'M NOT AGAINST BUILDING.

I'M AGAINST DOING THIS RIGHT NOW, BUT IN FACT, I'M IN FAVOR OF BUILDING, AND I'M IN STRONG FAVOR OF BUILDING, USING THOSE IN EITHER APPRENTICE PROGRAMS OR SKILLED LABOR, AND THAT'S JUST HOW I FEEL.

I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THE CITY DIDN'T HOLD COMMUNITY MEETINGS BEFORE WE GOT TO THIS PART.

[04:25:01]

I'M NOT SURE WHY WE JUST HAD A PRESENTATION ABOUT TOURISM AND GETTING PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR CITY.

BUT IN THE CASE OF THE GOLF COURSE, IT'S A BAD THING THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM OMAHA COMING OVER AND SPENDING MONEY IN OUR TOWN.

I'M CONCERNED THAT IF WE START TO BUILD OR START TO MOVE TOWARDS DOING THIS ON THE RIVER FRONT, THAT DEVELOPERS OVER ON FIRST AVENUE ARE GOING TO JUMP SHIP AND SAY, HEY, I'D RATHER BUILD ON THE RIVER THAN ON FIRST AVENUE AND LEAVING FIRST AVENUE OUT THERE BY ITSELF.

I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT THE STREETCAR SEEMS TO BE TIED TO THIS IN EVERY WHICH WAY.

IN FACT, WWT DID A PIECE ON THIS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THEY QUOTED SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY THAT THEIR GOAL WAS TO HAVE A CONSULTANT HIRED BY THIS SUMMER TO START LOOKING AT THE STREETCAR.

I'M CONCERNED THAT MOVING FORWARD, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS WAS TO PUT IT ON A SURPLUS THEN WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

IT WAS CHANGED TO A TRANSITIONAL PRESERVE.

TODAY, NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY THAT WE COULD DO A NEW RESOLUTION.

ALL OF THIS COMBINED TELLS ME, WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AT THIS TIME.

WE AS A CITY SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING BUILDINGS OR PROVIDING HOUSING.

US VOTING NO DOES NOT STOP A DEVELOPER FROM COMING FORWARD TO US AND OFFERING $1 AMOUNT FOR THE LAND.

LET THEM PAY FOR THE CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN.

LET THEM BRING US FORWARD A PLAN IF THEY WANT TO BUILD THERE.

TO QUOTE THE MAYOR EARLIER TONIGHT, THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF LAND IN AMERICA.

WHY ARE WE THE ONES SPENDING THE MONEY? WHY ARE WE ASKING IOWA WEST TO SPEND THE MONEY WHEN THAT MONEY CAN BE PUT INTO OTHER COMMUNITY PROJECTS? LET SOMEBODY ELSE COME TO US.

COUNCILMAN GORMAN, YOU SAID EARLIER TONIGHT WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING, WE ASKED IOWA WEST TO PAY FOR THIS, SO WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

MY LAST QUESTION IS, WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SAY NO? IF WE DON'T SAY NO RIGHT NOW AND SLOW THIS DOWN, WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SAY NO? THANK YOU.

>> IF WE DON'T GET THE PRICE FOR THE PROPERTY, THEN WE CAN SAY NO.

[APPLAUSE]

>> I THINK EVERYBODY'S UNLESS YOU GOT SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY, LET'S GO HOME AND VOTE. LET'S VOTE AT THE COMFORT OF OUR HOME.

>> FOR CLARITY, THE RESOLUTION IS THE ONE AS WRITTEN. CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AS EVERYBODY SAID, WE SIT HERE A LOT ON MONDAY NIGHTS, AND THERE'S NOBODY HERE, EXCEPT THE OFFICER IN THE BACK.

>> SOMETIMES, EVEN HE'S NOT HERE.

>> SOMETIMES THEY'RE ON CALLS.

WE DO APPRECIATE THE OFFICERS COMING IN.

TO HAVE THIS PLACE FILLED IN IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY STAFF, EVERYBODY.

WE'RE UP HERE REPRESENTING YOU.

THE ENTIRE TOWN OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I WOULD TELL YOU, WE HAD THE HOMELESS CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY.

WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, JOE, STEVE, CHRIS, MATT, MYSELF, JILL.

THE STAFF HAS THE BEST INTERESTS OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IN OUR HEARTS.

I REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE THAT, WHETHER IT'S A DIFFERENT VISION OR A DIFFERENT THOUGHT, NOBODY UP HERE IS NOT UP HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

I WANT EVERYBODY KNOW THAT.

I THINK ALL OF US RESPECT EVERYBODY'S OPINION AND THOUGHTS, AND WE RESPECT YOUR OPINION AND THOUGHTS. I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY ONE THING TO THE MAYOR AND TO COUNCILMAN SHUDAK.

THE NEXT TIME I'M SPEAKING, DON'T INTERRUPT ME.

I HAD THE FLOOR, AND I WAS TALKING, AND I WAS INTERRUPTED AS I WAS TRYING TO CLARIFY MY POSITION.

THEN YOU POINTED IT RIGHT BACK AT ME.

WHEN I HAVE THE FLOOR, DON'T INTERRUPT ME, PLEASE. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.

>> POINT WELL TAKEN.

>> AGREE. DON'T MAKE STATEMENTS THAT INCLUDE ME IN SOMETHING THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

>> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] HERE'S THE THING.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ON THE VOTE, WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> WE'RE NOT DONE YET. WE STILL GOT NINE.

>> NAY.

>> THE RESOLUTION FAILS.

[APPLAUSE]

WE GOT APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS FOR CANCELLATION.

[A. Liquor Licenses]

[B. Special Event Application]

[C. Noise Variance]

>> MOTION TO APPROVE CANCELLATIONS AND PERMITS.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE 9 A, B, AND C.

>> OPPOSE, SAME SIGN. ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WANT TO TALK?

[11. CITIZENS REQUEST TO BE HEARD]

>> CITIZENS REQUESTS TO BE HEARD?

>> CAN I JUST SAY?

>> YEAH, YOU CAN.

>> FINE. IT'S ALREADY 10:31.

>> ONCE AGAIN, DIANE STOREY, 148, IVY DRIVE.

[04:30:02]

I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF ISSUES ABOUT THE USE OF WHISPERING WOODS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

I WAS THE HIGH SCHOOL COACH FOR BOWLING WHEN WE LOST OUR LIGHTNING BOWL.

ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS, ALONG WITH IOWA WESTERN, HAD TO GO TO THUNDERBOWL.

I WENT FROM FIVE DAYS A WEEK, BEING ABLE TO PRACTICE WITH MY COMPETITIVE TEAM TO DOWN TO THREE, TO TWO SOME DAYS BECAUSE OF COMPETITIONS WITH ALL OF THEM.

BEING ABLE TO MAKE, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT AREN'T AWARE, I TOOK MY TEAM TO STATE FIVE YEARS IN A ROW.

WE WERE THIRD PLACE ONE YEAR.

MY GIRLS WERE SECOND PLACE ONE YEAR, AND MY BOYS TOOK STATE.

IN THE TIME THAT I WAS THERE, I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT, EVEN WITH TWO DAYS A WEEK.

IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MY KIDS THERE.

I'M TJ COACH.

SAYING THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH SPACE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THEY HAVE, IS GOING TO BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE TEAMS.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]