Jul 14, 2025 City Council

[00:00:08]

THIS IS OUR NEW HIRE TONY. IF YOU STEP UP TO THAT MIC OVER THERE AND JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE GROUP, YOU'LL PUSH THE BUTTON. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

MY NAME IS TONY CLOW. I HAVE SERVED AS A DOUGLAS COUNTY ATTORNEY OVER IN OMAHA FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS.

THIS IS MY FIRST DAY TODAY, SO I'M STILL KIND OF GETTING ADJUSTED TO MOVING OVER HERE, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING A LOT AND WORKING WITH EVERYONE.

WELCOME. NICE TO MEET YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR TONY? WE'LL KEEP YOU BUSY. THANK YOU. NICE TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.

ALL RIGHT. DANIELLE. PURCHASING POLICY. GOOD AFTERNOON,

[A.  Purchasing Policy & Ordinance Overview - Danielle Bemis]

SOME BEST PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED HERE AT THE CITY, AND THEN SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL THRESHOLDS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

EVERYTHING TIES INTO THE CITY'S MISSION, WHICH IS TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

WE DO THAT IN MANY WAYS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE PURCHASING POLICY AND ORDINANCE ORDINANCE CHAPTER 1.32.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE THE CITY THE ABILITY TO CREATE RULES TO ALIGN WITH BEST PRACTICES, STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS, AND THE ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO ESTABLISH DOLLAR THRESHOLDS FOR EACH METHOD OF PROCUREMENT.

WITHIN THAT ORDINANCE, WE DEFINE THE DIFFERENT PURCHASING METHODS.

AND WE ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE PROCESS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AS WELL AS SURPLUS PROPERTY.

AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S THE SALE OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES, NOT THE SALE OF LAND.

THIS ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EFFICIENCY AND TO PROTECT PUBLIC FUNDS.

IT WAS LAST, IT'S REVIEWED REGULARLY, BUT IT WAS LAST REVISED IN AUGUST OF 2023.

PRIOR TO AUGUST 2023, THE THRESHOLDS WERE NONCOMPETITIVE, SO MINIMUM THRESHOLD OF 70 UP TO $7,500.

GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO OBTAIN THREE QUOTES BETWEEN 7500 AND 25,000, AND THEN THE FORMAL BID PROCESS ABOVE 25,000.

DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, THE WORLD SAW INFLATION SKYROCKET AND A LACK OF COMPANIES BIDDING ON JOBS. SO THE CITY STRUGGLED TO MOVE PROJECTS FORWARD OR TO MAKE PURCHASES DUE TO THAT.

SO THE CITY'S PURCHASING OFFICER DID AN ANALYSIS WITH OTHER IOWA MUNICIPALITIES AND BASED ON THAT ANALYSIS, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SEE IN THE POWERPOINT, BUT WE WERE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR THE MINIMUM THRESHOLD OR THE NONCOMPETITIVE, AND THEN WE WERE THE LOWEST FOR THE BIDS.

SO AT THAT TIME, WE PROPOSED INCREASING THOSE THRESHOLDS TO THE NONCOMPETITIVE MINIMUM THRESHOLD OF UP TO $10,000.

THE GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO OBTAIN THREE QUOTES WAS 10,000 TO 40,000.

AND JODY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO POSTPONE THAT. SORRY.

AND THEN THE FORMAL BID PROCESS FOR GREATER THAN 40,000.

SO THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO KEEP COUNCIL BLUFFS ATTRACTIVE AND EFFICIENT IN THE PURCHASING REALM.

THIS IS THE CITY'S PURCHASING THRESHOLDS FLOW CHART.

THERE IS A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER, SO IT'S EASIER MAYBE FOR YOU GUYS TO READ.

THIS OUTLINES WHAT I JUST EXPLAINED TO YOU. THAT WENT INTO EFFECT AUGUST OF 2023, THIS WAS CREATED AS AN EASY TO FOLLOW FLOWCHART FOR CITY PERSONNEL TO UNDERSTAND IN A GIVEN YEAR WHAT THE ANTICIPATED SPEND IS AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO PROCURE. THIS SLIDE IS THE STATE PURCHASING THRESHOLDS SIMPLY FOR COMPARISON, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE CITY ALIGNS AGAINST THE STATE THRESHOLDS.

SOMETHING THAT IS NOT OUTLINED ON OUR THRESHOLDS IS THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THRESHOLD, AND THAT IS DEFINED AND REGULATED BY THE STATE OF IOWA.

WE'LL GO INTO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL LATER.

[00:05:03]

YEP. SO ION WAVE IS THE CITY'S ELECTRONIC BIDDING PLATFORM.

AND THAT IS, YOU CAN SIGN UP ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE TO BE NOTIFIED.

THERE'S DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OR INDUSTRIES TO BE NOTIFIED IF A CITY, IF THE CITY ISSUES A BID UNDER ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES OR INDUSTRIES, YOU'LL GET NOTIFIED SO THAT YOU CAN REVIEW IT AND POTENTIALLY SUBMIT A BID FOR IT.

SO WE'VE BEEN USING THIS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

IT ALLOWS US TO CUSTOMIZE OR USE STANDARD FORMAT SO THAT EVERYTHING IS SUBMITTED IN THE SAME FORMAT AND FASHION, AND THEN IS EASIER TO USE FROM A PUBLIC STANDPOINT.

BUT IF SOMEBODY IS IN THE BUSINESS AND SAYS. THEY WOULD.

I NEVER GET CONTACTED FOR A BID, BUT THEY'VE NEVER REGISTERED.

THAT'S ON THEM. THAT'S NOT ON US. YES. I'LL LET THE DEPARTMENT SPEAK TO HOW THEY APPROACH OTHER BUSINESSES, BUT YES. IF WE'RE NOT AWARE OF THEM WANTING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.

YEAH, IT KIND OF STARTS THERE. MAKES SENSE. THERE ARE SOME EXCLUSIONS OR DIFFERENT PROCUREMENT METHODS THAT WE'LL TALK THROUGH. THE FIRST ONE IS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

AGAIN, THIS IS DEFINED AND REGULATED BY THE STATE OF IOWA CHAPTER 26.

THEY DETERMINE THEIR THRESHOLDS FOR HORIZONTAL VERSUS VERTICAL, AND THEY RELEASE THOSE ANNUALLY.

AGAIN, THIS IS ALL DRIVEN BY THE STATE. MOST OF THE CITIES ENGINEERING PROJECTS ARE DONE THROUGH THIS METHOD OF PROCUREMENT IN WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THOSE BID AWARDS.

SOME OTHER EXCLUSIONS ARE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

SO THOSE ARE CONTRACTED IN A WAY TO ALIGN WITH THE STATE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS THE CITY'S PROCESSES.

ESSENTIALLY ANYTHING OVER 75,000 IS BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

THEIR SOLE SOURCE FALLS INTO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

WHAT? GIVE ME 3 OR 4. YEAH. SO, LIKE OUR AUDIT FIRM THAT WE DID AN RFP FOR LAST YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE FALLEN UNDER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

ALL ENGINEERING TOO? YES. LEGAL.

LEGAL? YEAH. REALLY A CONSULTANT THAT YOU'RE UTILIZING.

YEAH. SO IF IT'S UNDER 75,000, THEN WE FOLLOW OUR OWN PROCESSES.

YEAH. OKAY. THERE'S OTHER PROCUREMENT JUSTIFICATION ROUTES. SO SOLE SOURCE, SINGLE SOURCE, COOPERATIVE EMERGENCY, AND THEN AN EXCEPTION.

SOLE SOURCE IS I'LL READ THE EXACT DEFINITION.

THESE COME FROM THE STATE. SO SOLE SOURCE IS PROOF THAT ONLY ONE SUPPLIER POSSESSES UNIQUE THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO MEET PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS.

SINGLE SOURCE. COMPETITIVE SOURCES MAY BE AVAILABLE, BUT THE DECISION MADE FOR STANDARDIZATION, STANDARDIZATION, WARRANTY, OR OTHER SIMILAR FACTORS.

COOPERATIVE IS WHEN TWO OR MORE ENTITIES COMBINE THEIR REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN ADVANTAGES OF VOLUME PURCHASES, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE BENEFITS. EMERGENCY, PURCHASE THAT MUST BE MADE IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS OF THE CITY, AND WHERE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR RISK OF INJURY MAY RESULT IF THE PURCHASE IS NOT MADE.

AND THEN IN AUGUST OF 2023, WE CREATED THIS EXCEPTION POLICY, WHICH WE DISCOURAGE THE USE OF THIS POLICY BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE YOU GO THE OTHER ROUTES, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T QUALIFY OR DOESN'T FALL WITHIN ONE OF THESE OTHER THINGS, THE EXCEPTION POLICY COULD BE UTILIZED.

BUT WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH GOOD CAUSE. SO THERE'S, I THINK, 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET IN ORDER TO UTILIZE THAT EXCEPTION POLICY. DO YOU REMEMBER US EVER USING THAT? ONE TIME.

AND JUST TO NOTE, THE MAYOR APPROVES ALL SINGLE SOURCE AND SOLE SOURCE REQUESTS, AND THE PURCHASING OFFICER CAN APPROVE COOPERATIVE

[00:10:04]

FROM A COOPERATIVE STANDPOINT. IF IT HITS 75, IT COMES TO US? FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES YES. SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT LIKE A SOLE SOURCE, WE WE'VE GOT CERTAIN EQUIPMENT THAT WE USE AT THE SEWER TREATMENT PLANT.

WELL, IN PARTS THAT FIT THAT MANUFACTURER'S EQUIPMENT, THAT THEY'RE THE SOLE SOURCE THAT PRODUCES THAT THOSE PARTS.

A SINGLE SOURCE WE ONLY BUY TORO MOWERS BECAUSE ALL THE PARTS WE BUY WE DON'T HAVE TO STOCK PARTS FOR JOHN DEERE AND TORO AND NEW HOLLAND. AND SOMETIMES SINGLE SOURCE AND SOLE SOURCE CAN BE USED KIND OF INTERCHANGEABLY.

ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF A SINGLE SOURCE IS LIKE OUR CREDIT CARD MERCHANT PROCESSOR.

SO IF WE CURRENTLY USE A PRODUCT AND THEY ALSO OFFER THE CREDIT CARD MERCHANT PROCESSING, WE COULD JUSTIFY THAT AS A SINGLE SOURCE TO KEEP EVERYTHING WITH THEM INSTEAD OF UTILIZING TWO DIFFERENT VENDORS.

AND WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY THE STATE BIDS VEHICLE.

THAT'S COOPERATIVE. THAT'S A COOPERATIVE BID.

YEP. YEP. SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? OBVIOUSLY IT HELPS TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC FUNDS. IT ALSO ALLOWS US FOR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

AND IT ALLOWS FOR VENDOR COMPETITION AND FAIRNESS WHEN PROCURING FOR CITY PROJECTS OR PURCHASES.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR DANIELLE? WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU DOING IT.

IF YOU COULD EMAIL US THIS, THAT'D BE GREAT. JUST THE POWERPOINT. I HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE, MULTIPLE PEOPLE REACH OUT AND JUST ASK ABOUT IT.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING IT. I'M GOING TO REFER THEM TO THE VIDEO THAT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

GET ON THERE AND REGISTER. REGISTER WITH THAT, REGISTER.

SO IT'S IT'S GOOD INFORMATION TO HAVE. THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE IN PARTICULAR WITH DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

AND I SAID, WELL, I'LL FIGURE IT OUT. SO I APPRECIATE YOU.

THIS IS THIS IS SUPER GOOD INFORMATION. YEAH.

THANKS, DAN. YEP. ALL RIGHT. GOING TO THE AGENDA.

[B.  Review Agenda]

I THINK WE HAVE UNTIL AUGUST TO FILL THOSE. THAT'S ALSO THE ORDINANCE THAT'S ON SECOND CONSIDERATION.

WELL, I KNOW THAT, BUT WE DIDN'T, IT DOESN'T SAY IN THE ORDINANCE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO A FIVE PERSON OR A SEVEN PERSON.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THAT WAS A FIVE PERSON, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD TROUBLE FINDING THREE PEOPLE SO.

THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR BETWEEN 5 AND 7 AND SO I THINK AT THIS POINT WE WE'RE AT FIVE, ARE GOING FOR FIVE.

ARE WE GOING TO SET THAT OUT AS PERMANENT? I THINK WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW FOR THAT FLEXIBILITY IN CASE THE MAYOR OR THE COUNCIL HAS SOMEBODY ELSE THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN JOINING IT. THE NEW ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR 5 TO 7.

IF WE HAVE THAT HARD OF A TIME FINDING PEOPLE TO SIT ON A COMMISSION, WHAT WOULD THE QUORUM BE FOR A SEVEN PERSON? FOUR? AND SO DO WE WANT TO KEEP IT AT A LOWER NUMBER IF WE CAN.

WE CAN KEEP IT AT FIVE UNDER THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR THAT FLEXIBILITY.

SO WHEN THE COMMISSION NEXT MEETS, THERE'S FIVE, WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE CODE, WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR MUNICIPAL CODE. WE'RE GOOD.

OKAY A QUORUM WOULD BE THREE. I WAS JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY THAT.

OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH, IT'S A BRAND NEW STATE LAW, SO.

AND THERE ARE OTHER RELATED ISSUES WITH IT. I MEAN, THERE'S A POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR THE CITY PAYING EMPLOYEES, LEGAL FEES AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE.

YEAH, THAT'S PART OF WHAT HOPEFULLY TONY WILL DO AND THE OTHER NEW ATTORNEY'S IS EDUCATE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS

[00:15:10]

OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ON, I JUST NEED YOU TO MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO CHANGE THE YEAR ON THE ONE ON THE FIRST ONE? YEAH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION. QUESTIONS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS. ON THE 25-179, THE LOCKWOOD, DID WE RECEIVE ANY OTHER BIDS ON THAT ONE? THEY WERE THE ONLY ONE.

YOU CAN COME UP. I GOT A QUESTION ON THE NEXT ONE TOO. ON ON THE EAST MANAWA, SINCE WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE AND THE BID PROCESS IS DONE. SHOULDN'T THOSE BE MADE PUBLIC? CAN WE SEE THOSE? SO WE HAD ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

IT WAS MY INTENT TO PROVIDE THEM ONCE WE GOT ALL THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED TOO SO THAT WE COULD PROVIDE THAT AS PART OF THE PACKET. SO WE'LL GIVE THEM TO YOU AT THE NEXT ONE.

WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE IT SO THAT WE COULD MAKE SURE WE HAD ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED AND IT'LL ALL BE PUBLIC.

THEN THEY'RE DOWN IN MY OFFICE IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM, THOUGH. I HAD SOMEBODY ASK IF THEY COULD SEE THE OTHER ONE, SINCE IT'S CLOSED, SINCE IT IS OPEN NOW. AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL THEM, BECAUSE WHETHER YOU NEED MORE QUESTIONS OR NOT, THE BID PROCESS IS OPEN IS WHAT THEY KIND OF.

YEAH. SO I WOULD SAY THE SHORT ANSWER I MEAN I'LL LET MIMI WEIGH IN ON THIS, BUT IT'S TECHNICALLY WE WERE REQUESTING FOR PROPOSALS.

WE WEREN'T ASKING FOR BIDS. SO IT'S NOT LIKE A WHERE YOU THINK OF A BID TAB, IT OPENS UP AND EVERYTHING IS MADE PUBLIC.

THIS WOULD BE MORE OF A QUALIFICATIONS. SO WE DON'T TYPICALLY SHARE THOSE RIGHT OFF THE BAT WITH EVERYONE.

I'LL LET MIMI WEIGH IN IF SHE THINKS THEY SHOULD.

I WOULD AGREE. MY HUNCH IS TO AGREE. I CAN LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO THE SPECIFICS OF ROGER'S QUESTION.

I MEAN, I GUESS I'M NOT SURE WHY IT WOULDN'T BE PUBLIC AT THIS POINT.

YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, I GUESS. IS THERE A REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T MAKE IT PUBLIC, I GUESS.

I THINK THEY CAN BE. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO STOP IT. IT WAS MY INTENT.

ONCE WE ACTUALLY HAD SOMEONE THAT WE WERE GOING TO APPROVE OR SOME MULTIPLES THAT WE WERE GOING TO APPROVE INCLUDE THEM AT THAT TIME.

I JUST SINCE WE WERE STILL GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD ALL THE INFORMATION BEFORE WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. IT WASN'T AN INTENTIONAL THING TO LEAVE IT OFF. YEAH, I DIDN'T.

I GOT THE I MEAN, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES. I GOT THE CALL RIGHT BEFORE I CAME HERE ABOUT WHY CAN'T WE SEE THEM? AND SO I SAID, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'LL ASK. YEAH. SO I SHOULD I TELL THEM THEY CAN REACH OUT AND THEY CAN LOOK AT THEM IF THEY WANT.

YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. SO YEAH, FOR EVERYONE WE DID, WE DID RECEIVE SEVEN DIFFERENT GROUPS.

WHICH IS WAY MORE THAN WE NORMALLY GET. WHICH IS WAY MORE THAN WE NORMALLY RECEIVE. SO IT DID JUST TAKE US A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE WE GOT ALL THE INFORMATION.

FOR THE 28TH. YEAH. YEP. OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

ANYTHING ON THE ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS. AND THIRD CAN BE WAIVED ON THE ORDINANCE.

ANYTHING ON THE APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS.

THE, REAL QUICK, THAT 10,000 HIRING BONUS THAT WAS, WE'RE JUST EXTENDING THAT THAT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE, RIGHT? YEAH. WE'RE JUST MAKING SURE WE CAN CONTINUE THAT.

ARE YOU, HOW FAR AWAY FROM FULL STAFF? WE'RE CURRENTLY AT FULL STAFF, WE. PRESS THE BUTTON, CHIEF.

WE'RE CURRENTLY AT FULL STAFF, BUT AS WE KIND OF EXPLAINED AND THE AUTHORITY THE COUNCIL GAVE US WITH THAT LATITUDE A HEADCOUNT TO GO OVER, IT'S HARD TO STAY THERE WITH THE TRICKLE OUT, YOU KNOW, RETIREES THIS MONTH THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FOLLOWING MONTH. SO AS, AS AS WE SPEAK TODAY, WE WERE AT 125 NOW.

AND IT'S RELEVANT TO THE HIRING BONUS. WE ARE GOING TO LOSE ONE OF OUR NEW CADETS TO MILLS COUNTY,

[00:20:04]

SO THIS HIRING BONUS HELPS US WITH THAT CLASS OF OFFICERS, BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY CERTIFIED, IF THEY GET TO THE STREET QUICKER, WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND THEM TO THE ACADEMY.

AND LIKE THE OFFICER THAT WE'RE GIVING TO MILLS COUNTY, THEY ARE GOING TO OWE US FOR THE TRAINING EXPENSES THAT IT TOOK FOR THE CITY TO PAY THAT OFFICER. SO IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THIS ALLOWS AN OFFICER WITH MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO ON WITH ANOTHER AGENCY TO COME TO US BECAUSE THEY USE THIS MONEY TO PAY OFF THE CITY. SO WHILE WE'RE LOSING SOMEONE TO MILLS COUNTY, WE WE CAN GAIN OTHER CERTIFIED OFFICERS.

SO IT IS PART OF OUR ONGOING STRATEGY TO KEEP US AS CLOSE TO FULL STAFF AS POSSIBLE AS THE TRICKLE IN AND TRICKLE OUT GOES.

I THINK ALSO, SINCE WE ARE SO WELL STAFFED, IT WOULD NOT NEED TO BE UTILIZED AS FREQUENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR AS MAYBE IT HAS IN THE PAST.I THINK WE BROKE RECORDS THIS YEAR. IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF 2 TO 3 A YEAR IN THIS TRICKLE IN TRICKLE OUT WAY.

WE WON'T SEE 7 OR 8 CERTIFIED OFFICERS COMING IN, RESULTING IN AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF FEES.

IT WILL BE 1 OR 2 AT A TIME. AND IF YOU ANSWERED THIS, I APOLOGIZE.

BUT ROGER'S ASKING ABOUT THE $10,000 BONUS. I THINK IF YOU HIRE NEW, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO GO TO THE ACADEMY.

WE HAVE TO, WHICH I THINK IS MORE THAN 10,000.

SO IT'S KIND OF SIX ONE. HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER.

YEAH. IT'S GOOD FISCAL POLICY IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN STEAL SOMEBODY WHO'S ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE ACADEMY BECAUSE IT DOES, AS THE MAYOR SAID, COST IT'S ABOUT TEN AND CHANGE TO JUST PUT THEM THROUGH ILEA AND THEN THERE'S THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET THEM TRAINED AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANKS. OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE RESOLUTION OR RESOLUTIONS OR THE ORDINANCE? ANYTHING ON THE PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS? ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING, WE CAN BRING IT BACK UP.

ONE SECOND. AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO GO FIRST. NO.

OH, OKAY. DO WE HAVE MATT? DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATE? JUST, I KNOW WITH THE SINKHOLE WHAT'S GOING ON THAT WE CAN LET THE PUBLIC KNOW KIND OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT WATERWORKS AND THEN WATERWORKS, BUT, I MEAN OKAY. SO MANAGED BY COUNCIL BLUFFS WATER WORKS, NOT PUBLIC WORKS, DESPITE LOTS OF NEWS COVERAGE REFERENCING COUNCIL BLUFFS PUBLIC WORKS.

YEAH, IT'S ON THERE, BUT IT'S PUBLIC.

WERE HOPING TO HAVE AT LEAST A PARTIAL OPENING BY THIS EVENING, BUT THEY'VE RUN INTO SOME CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER UTILITIES.

THEY DO HAVE A CONTRACTOR ON SITE. THEY'RE ACTIVELY WORKING. BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE COLLEGE ROAD SIDEWALK DISCUSSION.

WE'LL GET TO THAT. SO IF YOU REMEMBER, THOUGH, IT MAY HAVE BEEN TWO MONTHS AGO.

[C.  College Road Sidewalk Discussion (Tom Mc Laughlin)]

AND THEN HE GOES TO SAINT PATRICK'S CHURCH, AND THE APARTMENTS HAVE A STREET OR A SIDEWALK, AND THE CHURCH HAS A SIDEWALK. BUT THE HOME THERE WAS GRANDFATHERED IN WITH NO SIDEWALK.

AND SO I TALKED TO MATT COX AND SAID, IS THERE A WAY TO GET A SIDEWALK THERE? HE SAID EITHER THE COUNCIL CAN DIRECT THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PUT IN A SIDEWALK.

THAT MAY CAUSE SOME CONSTERNATION AND SOME LEGAL EXPENSE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

OR THE COUNCIL COULD DIRECT PUBLIC WORKS TO PUT IN A SIDEWALK.

AND SO I'M BRINGING IT HERE TONIGHT TO SEE HOW YOU WANT TO PROCEED.

THERE ARE SO MANY SPOTS WITHOUT SIDEWALKS. IF WE DO IT FOR THIS GUY, EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN TOWN IS GOING TO BE HERE.

WE TALKED ABOUT SIDEWALKS IN MY FIRST TERM ON COUNCIL.

WE DON'T HAVE, LIKE, A SIDEWALK POLICY WHERE WE I MEAN, WE MAKE NEW DEVELOPMENTS PUT IN, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL AREAS IN TOWN THAT DON'T HAPPEN,

[00:25:04]

AS YOU STATED, NEW SUBDIVISIONS HAVE SIDEWALK.

WHEN WE DO A ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION, WE PUT IT IN AT THE CITY'S EXPENSE, BUT WE TYPICALLY DO NOT GO IN AND INFILL MISSING SIDEWALK SEGMENTS.

BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE PROPERTY OWNERS DON'T WANT TO PAY THAT BILL.

WHEN WE VISITED WITH THE COUNCIL MANY YEARS AGO, THERE WAS CONCERN THAT THAT IF WE DEVELOPED A POLICY TO GO FIND ALL MISSING SEGMENTS OF SIDEWALK AND REQUEST THAT THEY BE PUT IN, THAT WOULD CAUSE A LOT OF CONCERN AMONGST COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IT WAS ALSO POINTED OUT AT THAT TIME BY A MEMBER THAT'S NOT HERE TODAY THAT THERE ARE CITY OWNED PARCELS THAT DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS AND THAT WE NEEDED TO GET OUR OWN PARCELS WITH ALL THE SIDEWALK BEFORE WE EVER ASKED ANYONE ELSE TO DO IT.

THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE. SO AT THAT TIME, WE WE DIDN'T PURSUE ANY ADDITIONAL SIDEWALKS EXCEPT FOR THE TWO SCENARIOS I PRESENTED.

WE DO REGULARLY INSPECT SIDEWALKS, MOSTLY BASED ON COMPLAINTS.

WHEN WE SOMEBODY SAYS, HEY, THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE SIDEWALK, WE GO OUT, WE INSPECT THAT LOCATION AND USUALLY A BLOCK IN EACH DIRECTION.

IF WE IDENTIFY SIDEWALK, IT'S IN POOR CONDITION.

WE DO NOTIFY THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT THEY NEED TO CORRECT THAT, BUT WE DON'T ADDRESS MISSING SIDEWALK.

AND JUST AS THE MAYOR STATED, THIS HOUSE EXISTED BEFORE ANY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OCCURRED AROUND HIM.

SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO SIDEWALK. IT DIDN'T LEAD ANYWHERE WHEN THE HOME WAS BUILT, DEVELOPMENT OCCURRED ON EACH SIDE, SIDEWALK WAS PUT IN WITH THOSE DEVELOPMENTS, BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE CONNECTION OUTSIDE OF THEIR PROPERTY.

SO HE COULD PUT IT IN AT HIS EXPENSE IF HE WANTED.

HE COULD. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, HE DOES NOT WANT TO PUT IT.

I THINK HE'S AN ELDERLY PERSON AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT, AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO MAINTAIN IT.

JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS GENTLEMAN ISN'T IN THE HOUSE WITH NO SIDEWALK, RIGHT? HE LIVES IN THE APARTMENTS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

YEAH. THE PERSON REQUESTING IT PASSES THROUGH THIS PROPERTY.

RIGHT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY. RIGHT. AND HIS MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR.

RIGHT? NO. AND NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.

WHO'S JOE GABLER, WHO'S AN OLD MAN ABOUT MY AGE, AND BUT I THINK HE WINTERS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND SO AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT YOU HEARD IS A BIG DEAL.

[LAUGHS] LIKE YOU SAID THAT HE WANTS SOMEBODY THAT HE ISN'T AROUND TO MAINTAIN THE SIDEWALK.

AND SO HE THINKS IT'S A LIABILITY IF HE HAS A SIDEWALK THAT DOESN'T GET SHOWN.

HE'S RIGHT. AND WHEN WE TALKED A COUPLE WEEKS, MONTHS AGO, THERE WAS A POTENTIAL BECAUSE IOWA WESTERN RUNNERS RUN OUT THERE.

DID WE EVER HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH IOWA WESTERN IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED? I DON'T THINK THEY RUN OUT THERE. THIS IS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, NOT VALLEY VIEW.

THEY MAY, BUT I DOUBT IT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'D GO IF THEY RAN THAT WAY.

THERE'S NO SIDEWALK, I DON'T THINK, IN FRONT OF BLACK HILLS ENERGY OR I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH. SO THEY'D HAVE TO RUN IN THE STREET. AND THIS GUY SAYS THE STREET'S REALLY BUSY.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'D BE REALLY HARD TO GO PUT A SIDEWALK IN.

IF WE DO IT FOR THIS GUY EVERY SINGLE PERSON WILL BE IN HERE WHERE THERE'S NOT A SIDEWALK.

SO I HAVE A CALL DOWNSTAIRS RIGHT NOW ON CURB AND SEWER AND DOWN NORTH.

HOW MUCH WOULD IT BE, MATT, TO PUT IT IN? OH, I THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE 175 TO 200FT, SO. IT'D BE $10,000. I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S JUST THROWING A NUMBER OUT THERE, BUT.

BUT IT'S NOT A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS. IT'S GOING TO BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

WHICH IS WHY IT COMES TO YOU. IT'S A HARD YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF ISSUES WITH IT ULTIMATELY THAT IT SETS IT COULD SET A PRECEDENT FOR LOTS OF MISSING SIDEWALKS. I MEAN, WE JUST HAD THE PEOPLE IN DOWN THE STREET ON COLLEGE ROAD LAST MEETING, TALKING ABOUT NOT HAVING THE SIDEWALKS OR HAVING THE SEWERS AND DITCHES AND.

YEAH. SO. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO DO YOU WANT TO GIVE ME A DIRECTION ON WHAT TO TELL HIM? AT THIS TIME, IF HE WANTS TO, IF HE CAN TALK THE HOMEOWNER INTO PUTTING IT IN AND HOMEWORK, PUT IT IN FOR HIM. OR HE CAN HELP WITH THE COST WITH THE HOMEOWNER OR WHATEVER.

OKAY. YEAH, THAT'D BE MY DIRECTION. ALL RIGHT, I'LL DO IT.

[00:30:03]

AND I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE THAT OUR KIDS ARE ASKING ME.

AND SO I SENT IT TO YOU. I SENT TO EVERYBODY.

I SENT THE WHOLE COUNCIL I SENT TO BRANDON. WELL, AND I SEE THAT WE HAVE THREE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MAYOR THAT ARE MAKING AN ISSUE ABOUT HOMELESSNESS. AND I THINK IT'S UP TO US TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS HERE AND DISCUSS THEM.

WELL, YEAH, BUT YOU WERE NOT IN THE FIELD. RIGHT.

SO YOU WEREN'T AT THE SOFTBALL OR THE TEAM. I GET THAT, SO THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU DON'T KNOW.

OH, I KNOW THIS. BUT FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WAS FUNNY ABOUT IT? THERE WAS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT IT. WELL, YOU WERE LAUGHING. THERE WERE PEOPLE LAUGHING IN THE BACKGROUND. IT WASN'T ME. THAT WAS YOU LAUGHING. WE CAN PLAY IT IF YOU WANT. SURE.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WAS FUNNY ABOUT IT.

AND WHAT IS THIS COUNCIL AND CITY GOING TO DO ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS? RATHER THAN JUST RUN ON THE BACKS OF THESE PEOPLE OR RUN SAYING, HEY, IT'S A BAD WE KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE IN TOWN, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE NATIONWIDE. IT'S EXPENSIVE AND IT'S IN DEPTH FOR SURE.

AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE EARLY LATE 70S BECAUSE WHEN IT STARTED.

I'M NOT TELLING YOU I HAVE A SOLUTION. I DON'T THINK HE DOES.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THE ROOM DOES. ALL I'M TELLING YOU IS YOU WEREN'T THERE TO SEE IT.

ALL THESE KIDS WERE WALKING UP ASKING ABOUT HIM, LOOKING FOR HIM. AND I'M THE ONLY ONE THERE.

AND I'M OBVIOUSLY ON COUNCIL. PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND ASK ME. SO I INFORMED EVERYBODY HERE.

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, I TOLD HIM. NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

WHAT AM I GOING TO GO OVER THEN? TOM, LEAVE. NO.

HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO LIVE. I AGREE, THAT'S WHY I NEVER WOKE HIM UP I DIDN'T DO NOTHING.

HE LAID DOWN, HE ROLLED OVER. MAYBE HE WAS PASSED OUT.

DID YOU TALK TO HIM? WE TRIED TO WAKE HIM UP AND HE JUST GROANED AND LAID BACK DOWN.

OKAY, BUT I WASN'T GOING TO WAKE HIM UP AND HAVE HIM TRY AND FIGHT ME.

I MEAN, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BAD PLAN. AND IT MAYBE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE AND SAID, HEY, I'M JUST TIRED. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M NOT WILLING TO RISK THAT WITH 30 KIDS PLAYING T-BALL. I GET THAT. I MEAN, NOBODY WANTS TO HAVE A SITUATION.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT IF IT'S A CONCERN ENOUGH TO SEND AN EMAIL TO ALL OF IT, OR A TEXT TO ALL OF US, THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? AND IF IT'S TALKING ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT GOING FORWARD IN THIS UPCOMING CAMPAIGN.

WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS. OTHERWISE. I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR TEN YEARS AND I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.

I WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TALK ABOUT IT FOR TEN YEARS.

I WASN'T A BAD, IT WAS MORE OF AN INFORMATIONAL THING.

OKAY, BUT IT IS A PROBLEM. AND THESE KIDS ARE.

WHY IS THAT GUY SLEEPING ON THAT BENCH? WELL, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO SLEEP, AND I JUST. THAT'S THE TRUTH. YES.

RIGHT. AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THEY'RE LIKE, WHY IS HE SLEEPING THERE? WELL, I DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T. THERE'S SO MANY REASONS WHY THESE PEOPLE END UP HOMELESSNESS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

CORRECT. IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL THING. BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IF THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE? IT'S NOT GOING TO BEL, IT HAS BEEN FOR SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

I MEAN, WE'RE RUNNING. WE GOT A MAYOR'S RACE GOING.

WE GOT CITY COUNCIL RACE COMING UP. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WELL, NOBODY CAN.

I MEAN, THIS IS A SITUATION THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IF WE'RE GOING TO RUN ON IT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, I DO NOT, THIS IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. I DO NOT WANT THE HOMELESS TO BE VILLAINIZED OR USED AS A MEANS OF POLITICAL GAIN. THEY'RE ONLY VILLAINS IF THEY'RE DOING THINGS THAT ARE ILLEGAL.

IT WOULD BE MY ASSUMPTION. THEIR BEHAVIOR VILLAINIZES NEEDS THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T ACCEPT THEM.

WHO DOESN'T? WHEN I GET A TEXT AND THE FIRST THING I HEAR IS LAUGHTER ABOUT A PERSON PASSED OUT OVER THERE, THAT'S A NON-ACCEPTANCE. HOW DO YOU FIGURE? I COULD HAVE WENT OVER THERE AND BEEN LIKE, HEY, GET GONE. I DIDN'T DO THAT. I DON'T FIND IT FUNNY TO BE HOMELESS.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS HOMELESS OR NOT. HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TIRED, STEVE, BUT I TRIED TO WAKE THE GUY WHO WAS HOMELESS. RIGHT IN THE THING.

I ASSUME HE IS. YES. AND I'M NOT HERE TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT ASSUMPTION ON MY PART.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH YOU.

[00:35:03]

I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR TEN YEARS. WE'VE GOT THE HOT PROGRAM THAT'S NEW. YOU'VE BEEN WORKING. I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE PROBABLY MATT WAS ON COUNCIL 18, 20 YEARS AGO. I VOTED HIM ON THE FUNDING. YOU WERE FRUSTRATED WITH THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK MONEY IS THE ANSWER.

OH, IT'S A MULTI. AND I'M NOT I'M, YEAH I KNOW THIS. YEAH. WE GET ALONG FINE. WE DO.

YEAH. BUT IT IS A PROBLEM. AND THE KIDS. BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE KIDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW.

AND I DON'T HAVE A RIGHT ANSWER. EDUCATE THEM.

OH, I DID. I SAID HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO SLEEP. THAT'S THE ANSWER. MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

WELL, BUT I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. THAT PERSON CAN TELL MY KID IF THEY ASKED. HEY, WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING? THEY COULD TELL HIM WHY. I CAN'T.

IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. YEAH. WE'VE SHUT DOWN MOST OF THE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES WHERE YOU COULD HAVE THEM.

THIS COUNCIL APPROVED, IT'S ALMOST BUILT I CAN'T WAIT.

WELL, THAT'S A MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE. BUT COMMITTAL INSTITUTIONS ARE NON-EXISTING.

THEY STARTED CUTTING THEM IN THE 80S. I KNOW, AND WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND A DANGER TO THE SOCIETY, YOU CAN ONLY HOLD THEM FOR 72 HOURS IN IOWA. I MEAN, IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, BUT I WANT TO.

START TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT A COMMITTEE FROM THIS? FROM THIS COUNCIL. WE'VE HAD. TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS.

AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND A YEAR ON HOMELESSNESS? A LOT. WHAT IS IT? DON'T KNOW. WELL, WE JUST APPROVED FEDERAL FUNDING.

A LOT IS NOT AN ANSWER. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY SPENDS ON HOMELESSNESS.

WE THE NEW VISIONS BUDGET'S PUBLISHED. THAT'S A NEW VISION.

THAT'S THE HOP. THAT IS. THAT IS A NONPROFIT.

THAT'S NOT THE CITY. WELL, YOU SAID, WHAT DO WE SPEND? I DIDN'T KNOW YOU MEANT JUST THE CITY. THE CITY.

SO HOW'S THE COST TO IT? YES. YOU CAN PUT SOME NUMBERS TO IT AND POLICING.

BUT WHAT, AS A COUNCIL, HAVE WE SET FORWARD TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS BUDGET WISE? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN, WE CAN'T TAKE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND DO THAT.

AND WE'VE HAD A COMMITTEE. JOE CAME TO MEETINGS.

I WAS ON A COUPLE SOME OF THE MEETINGS AND IT DISSOLVED.

AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE TAKE LITTLE STEPS.

I NEVER DREAMED IT WOULD BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

AGREED. TO MANAGE HOMELESSNESS. THEY, I THINK WE'RE BETTER THAN SOME COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE WORSE THAN OTHERS. AND WE HAVE A PLAN WE'RE WORKING ON. BUT THERE I CAN TELL YOU, FOR 12 YEARS I WAS A TREASURER FOR MATCH, WHICH IS TODAY CALLED THRESHOLD. IT'S THE AGENCY THAT DISTRIBUTES OUT HUD FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS.

FOR 12 YEARS. THEY SAID IN FIVE YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO END HOMELESSNESS.

IT NEVER GOT BETTER. IT PROBABLY GOT WORSE. IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

IT'S A PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. IN NEITHER OF THOSE TWO FRONTS SEEM TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

SO NOW IT BECOMES A CITY GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY.

THE STATE'S ABDICATED ANY RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS HELPING SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

IN FACT, THEY GAVE US THE PROBLEM AND WANT TO CUT OUR FUNDING SO I CONSIDER IT AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.

AS FAR AS WHAT IT COSTS, WHO KNOWS? BECAUSE WHAT THEFT OCCURS THAT THAT DOESN'T GET TIED TO THE HOMELESS? WHAT THEFT OCCURS THAT INCORRECTLY GETS TIED TO HOMELESSNESS? YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY A BIG NUMBER. SHE'S BEEN INVESTIGATING IT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

MAYBE A HOMELESS COURT, MAYBE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE PHOTOS IN QUESTION OR THE BALLPARK, BUT I HEARD, YOU KNOW, T-BALL, BASEBALL PARK. WE HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU WHAT I CAN TELL YOU THE HOP TEAM HAS BEEN DOING, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH MIMI ON THIS. EVERYTHING FROM SIGNAGE IN SOME OF OUR PARKS TO DUGOUTS TO OTHER AREAS OF POSTING, YOU KNOW NO SLEEPING, YOU KNOW, FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON AGGRAVATING TRESPASS AND EVEN GETTING SOME OF OUR JUDGES ON BOARD WITH RESPECT TO RECOGNIZING MULTIPLE CHARGES SO WE ARE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PARKS AND TRYING TO MAKE THE PARK SAFE FOR EVERYBODY WHILE NOT CRIMINALIZING

[00:40:08]

IT HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS, AND I KNOW MIMI COULD EVEN EXPLAIN YOU KNOW, GETTING THE JUDGES, GETTING THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS AND EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN MAKING PROGRESS. BUT TO THE SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT WAS RAISED, WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE PARKS.

THERE'S SIGNAGE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TO DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH WITH DUGOUTS.

IF YOU SEND ME PHOTOS OF THE THE PARK IN QUESTION, I CAN MAKE SURE IT'S ON OUR LIST AND THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT. BUT WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING AT A VERY TACTICAL LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE OUR SPACES SAFE? SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

WELL, THIS GUY WAS SLEEPING ON FIRST AVENUE. CLEANED UP AGAINST THE LIBRARY KIOSK.

THE NEW LIBRARY KIOSK DOWN THERE ON 22ND OR 23RD.

WHATEVER PARK THAT IS AT COCHRANE, COCHRANE PARK.

AND HE WASN'T HURTING NOBODY. BUT IT'S NOT A THING THAT A LOT OF KIDS SEE, RIGHT.

AND SO THEY DON'T KNOW. AND SO THEY ASK. THERE'S NOT REALLY AN ANSWER.

RIGHT. HE'S JUST HE'S JUST TIRED. HE'S SLEEPING THERE.

HE WASN'T HURTING NOBODY. BUT IT'S NOT A SOCIETAL NORM TO SLEEP OUTSIDE ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK.

RIGHT. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST NOT THINGS KIDS SEE.

EXACTLY. I AGREE WITH YOU. AND WE CAN'T MAKE IT A NORM.

I JUST SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SO. I DON'T LIVE WITH.

I'M PROBABLY THE HARDEST ON HOMELESSNESS THAT YOU WOULD REALLY WANT TO.

I'VE ADDRESSED IT PERSONALLY. I KNOW, AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS AS WE GO THROUGH A DISCUSSION THIS FALL, AND HOMELESSNESS BECOMES AN ISSUE THAT WE CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS.

THAT'S NOT. WHEN WE START TO CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS AND FINE HOMELESSNESS, AND MAKE IT EVEN HARDER FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO GET THE ASSISTANCE AND THE HELP THAT THEY NEED IT'S GOING TO BECOME WORSE. IT DOESN'T WORK.

WE KNOW THIS NATIONALLY THAT CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS DOES NOT WORK.

AND I THINK IF THEY'RE DOING.

THERE'S MANY THINGS THAT CAUSE US THE HOMELESSNESS.

IT'S THE LOW SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS, THE LOW WAGES.

IT'S. FOUR AND FIVE YEAR OLDS DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

SO HE'S JUST SLEEPING. THAT'S I MEAN THAT'S A LITTLE KID.

4 OR 5 YEAR OLD. BUT I KNOW THAT'S WHO'S ASKING.

THESE ARE LITTLE KIDS. YEAH. I MEAN BUT EVIDENTLY THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO SEND TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEETINGS.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD.

OF WHAT DIRECTION ARE WE GOING TO GO AS A COMMUNITY? I THINK IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE STEVE.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THE FUNDING.

I, WE DISAGREE. I DO THINK FUNDING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS MORE REGULARLY IN THIS TYPE OF FORUM. I GUESS I TOOK THE MESSAGE COMING FROM YOU AS WE HAD JUST TALKED.

I HAD ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT DO WE DO IF ONE ONE MEMBER SEES AND THE OTHER PERSON DOESN'T BASED OFF OF THE NEW, HOW DO WE GET COMMUNICATION THROUGH? SO THAT'S HOW I TOOK YOUR MESSAGE.

YEAH, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY WORDS. I JUST SENT IT TO INFORMING EVERYBODY.

AND SO THAT'S HOW I TOOK THE MESSAGE FROM THERE BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT OF VIEW.

THERE WAS NO CONTEXT. THERE WAS NO I DIDN'T, YOU JUST GOT THE VIDEO.

EVERYBODY GOT THE SAME EXACT VIDEO. NO. NO WORDS, NOTHING ELSE.

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? WE'LL SEE. I HAVE ONE THING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL. I THINK THERE WAS AN EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON FROM MIMI DOBSON.

SO PLEASE CHECK THAT OUT BEFORE THE MEETING TONIGHT.

THANKS. THANKS, BRANDON. ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU GUYS.

[1.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[2.  CALL TO ORDER]

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

[3.  CONSENT AGENDA]

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

[00:45:01]

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO ANY OF THESE ITEMS, PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.

GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. NOW IT'S TIME PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE RESOLUTION 25-177.

[A.  Resolution 25-177]

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER.

SEEING NONE IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.

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

AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. NOW IT'S TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARDS TO RESOLUTION 25-178,

[B.  Resolution 25-178]

THIS IS PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT 24-13. IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTEST RECEIVED. NONE RECEIVED.

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

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

SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. NOW IT'S TIME.

[C.  Resolution 25-179]

IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTEST RECEIVED.

NONE RECEIVED. ANYBODY WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER.

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

SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT.

REALLY GOOD PROJECT. WE ONLY HAD ONE BIDDER, SO I GOT IT.

SO GOOD. LOOKS REALLY NICE DOWN THERE. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. NOW IT'S TIME. PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARDS TO RESOLUTION 25-180,

[D.  Resolution 25-180]

MOTION TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JULY 28TH, 2025 AT 7 P.M..

SECOND, WE HAD A LOT OF. I GUESS. PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.

YEAH. ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER? ALL RIGHT, TAKE IT AWAY. WE HAD SEVEN, SEVEN PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE RFP WHICH IS MORE THAN WE NORMALLY GET, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. WE WANT A COMPETITIVE BID.

AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS ASKED THAT WE CONTINUE THE RESOLUTION TO THE NEXT MEETING.

THEY HAVE SEVERAL FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR ALL OF THE APPLICANTS.

I DID ASK COURTNEY TODAY THAT ALL OF THE PROPOSALS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE THEM, THEY CAN. BUT WE'LL WAIT UNTIL JULY 28TH AT 7 P.M., NEXT COUNCIL MEETING FOR TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION. AND COURTNEY DID SAY THAT THEY WOULD BE ONLINE NEXT WEDNESDAY WHEN THE PACKET BECOMES AVAILABLE IF YOU DON'T WANT, IF ANYBODY DOESN'T WANT TO CALL IN OR COME IN TO GET THEM.

YEP. YOU CAN WAIT. IT'LL BE, THEY'LL BE IN THE NEXT PACKET. BUT IN THE MEANTIME YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE THEM, THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND OBVIOUSLY WE EXTENDED IT AS WE DON'T HAVE A NAME YET.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE BUILDERS WHO MAYBE WEREN'T CHOSEN TO CONTINUE AND SHOW INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT.

THERE'LL BE LOTS OF PHASES AND OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD.

SO PLEASE, OF THOSE SEVEN BUILDERS, STICK AROUND.

WE CAN USE YOU ON ON FUTURE PHASES. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE, AYE.

OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MADAM CLERK. ORDINANCE 6653, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TITLE ONE.

[A.  Ordinance 6653]

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

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

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE?

[00:50:01]

OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. RESOLUTION 25-181 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

[A.  Resolution 25-181]

OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. RESOLUTION 25-182 A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID OF BUILDING CRAFT, INC.

[B.  Resolution 25-182]

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

OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. RESOLUTION 25-183 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO CERTIFY ASSESSMENTS AGAINST PROPERTIES TO THE POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY TREASURER FOR

[C.  Resolution 25-183]

MOTION. GO AHEAD. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? AND THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WE HAD LOTS OF RAIN.

IF YOU ARE CAPABLE AND ABLE, PLEASE MOW YOUR YARD AND KEEP YOUR WEEDS TRIMMED BACK.

THE CITY DOES HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN THAT NECESSITATES YOU PAYING A CONTRACTOR TO DO THE WORK.

SO IF YOU DO THE WORK YOURSELF, YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF SOME MONEY.

SO PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND AND HOW YOUR PROPERTY LOOKS.

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

AYE. OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. RESOLUTION 25-184, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO PAY A $10,000 HIRING BONUSES TO THOSE

[D.  Resolution 25-184]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN STUDY SESSION. THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION.

AND IT HELPS TO OFFSET THE COST OF IF SOMEBODY COMES IN FROM ANOTHER CITY TO PAY OFF THEIR TRAINING OR IF WE NEED TO SEND THEM INTO TRAINING.

SO. IT COULD BE MOVING EXPENSES TO THINGS OF THAT NATURE JUST ALLEVIATES THEM TO MAKE IT SO THEY CAN MAKE A TRANSITION TO A DEPARTMENT SUCH AS OURS FROM PERHAPS A SMALLER AREA WHERE THEY HAVE MORE UPWARD MOBILITY, BUT IT DOESN'T HURT SO HARD WHEN THEY COME OVER.

SO. FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS 7.A.

[A.  Liquor Licenses]

[B.  Retail Tobacco Permit - Renewal (2)]

[C.  Retail Device Permit per SF345 (9)]

MOTION APPROVE SEVEN A, B AND C. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MADAM CLERK, ANY OTHER BUSINESS? I HAVE NONE. ANY CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD.

[9.  CITIZENS REQUEST TO BE HEARD]

AND THEN WE ALSO OPERATE A CHURCH AT 517 SOUTH 32ND STREET.

AND SO, ACTUALLY, I WAS IN A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON WITH CHIEF JAMES AND TARA SLAVIN FROM CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND A COUPLE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AS MY PHONE STARTED TO BLOW UP BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENED AT COUNCIL JUST SAYING THAT I MIGHT NEED TO COME AND VERIFY SOME THINGS.

SO FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS, I KNOW THIS IS HARD.

I KNOW WHAT IS FACING OUR COMMUNITY IS HARD ON EVERY SINGLE, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HEAR IT TOO, BECAUSE I HEAR IT. YOU GUYS HEAR IT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT IS THE CITY ARE WE DOING? NUMBER ONE, ALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE FACING THIS.

I JUST CAME FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.. I ACTUALLY WENT TWO TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF WHERE I'VE HAD FOUNDATIONS ACTUALLY PAY FOR ME TO GO AND SIT ON PANELS AND TALK ABOUT MY EXPERTISE. I'VE DONE THIS WORK FOR 21 YEARS. IF I COULD HAVE SOLVED HOMELESSNESS BY MYSELF OR NEW VISIONS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED. NOBODY WANTS TO SOLVE HOMELESSNESS MORE THAN I DO, BUT THERE ARE 19,000 PEOPLE ENTERING INTO HOMELESSNESS EVERY WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY WEEK. LET THAT NUMBER SIT IN.

IT IS NOT A COUNCIL BLUFFS ISSUE. IT IS NOT AN ART ISSUE, A NEW VISIONS ISSUE.

IT IS A SYSTEMATIC FAILURE OF HOUSING. AND WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS PEOPLE FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.

AND IT HURTS MY HEART WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AS THERE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS BEHIND IT, BECAUSE THERE ARE THAT AS EVERYBODY'S SON AND DAUGHTER THAT WALKS THROUGH THEIR NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE NOT ASKING ANY OF OUR PERMISSIONS TO STAY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHEN WE REJECT FUNDING, LITERALLY, PEOPLE LAUGHED OUT LOUD AT THE STATE LEVEL WHEN THEY HEARD WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBERS REJECTING THAT $300,000 THAT WE HAVE WORKED OUR

[00:55:03]

I WAS RUNNING ON LINES OF CREDIT. I HAD 14 DAYS OF OPERATING CASH.

I HAD NO MONEY TO HIRE STAFF. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I COULD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO CHANGE THAT TO WHERE I HIRED EIGHT NEW STAFF, AND I AM MORE THAN A SHELTER. I DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN IT, AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE TOOK NOTICE AND SAID, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY AND SAYING THAT CRIME IS ON THE RISE, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE $20,000 TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SOLVE.

YOU KNOW, CRIME IS RIDICULOUS. I GET $20,000 TO SERVE 15,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY A YEAR FROM THE CITY.

AND IT'S NOT EVEN AN ALLOCATION DIRECT FROM THE CITY.

IT IS THROUGH THE CDBG, WHICH IS A FEDERAL ALLOCATION TO OMAHA THAT COMES TO US.

AND SO I AM JUST PLEADING HERE, NUMBER ONE, I KNOW THAT IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND I SEE IT EVERYWHERE HOMELESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS, AND NOBODY'S TALKING, NOBODY IS GETTING IN THE ROOM WITH US AND TALKING OR COMING TO CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES ARE COMING TO MIDYEAR CHAMBER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER AS A COMMUNITY BECAUSE I CANNOT SOLVE IT.

I AM MORE THAN HOLDING MY PORTION OF THE PIECE OF PIE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR HOMELESS SERVICES.

I HAVE SERVED IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, 1100 MEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

HAVE I ALWAYS DONE EVERYTHING GREAT? NO. BUT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT, YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

AND I JUST CAME FROM ANOTHER CONFERENCE TWO WEEKS AGO IN WASHINGTON, D.C, AND IT WAS CALLED FROM CHARITY TO CRITICAL MISSION.

THE REALITY IS WE STARTED AS A CHURCH. WE STARTED OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF OUR HEART TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT I AM DEALING WITH NOW IS NOT JUST HOMELESSNESS, IT IS MENTAL HEALTH.

IT IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE. IT BROKE DOWN IN SYSTEMS, AND WE ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A CITY AND COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE REAL QUICK WITH SOME OF THESE FUNDING CUTS.

I'M GOING TO BE IN DES MOINES THE NEXT TWO DAYS TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE FROM HOMELESSNESS GOES AWAY.

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT GOES TO BLOCK GRANTS? WHAT HAPPENED TO PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING GOES AWAY WITH MEDICAID? WHAT HAPPENS IF PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO FILL IN THE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FOR MEDICAID? AND NOW THE CITY IS PICKING PEOPLE UP FROM THE RIVER AND NOT GETTING PAID FOR THE TRANSPORTATION.

AND SO, LIKE I SAID, I AM NOT MAD AT ANYBODY.

I LOVE THE PASSION AND THE ADVOCACY, BUT WE AS A CITY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND WE HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS, BUT THERE HAS TO BE AN INVESTMENT FOR IT. AND SO WHEN PEOPLE COME AFTER NEW VISIONS, IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE I HAVE RAISED MY HAND AND SAID I WILL HELP THIS POPULATION WITH VERY LITTLE INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY. AND AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE.

COMMUNITIES THAT AREN'T EVEN HALF OF OUR SIZE HAVE HOMELESS OUTREACH WORKERS ON STAFF AND HAVE DOLLARS GIVEN IN COUNTY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND I REALIZE THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN GREAT AT ASKING WHEN WE GIVE $120,000 TO THE MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY, AND I GET 20,000 FOR MY SHELTER AND 15,000 FOR MY FOOD SECURITY, THAT I SERVE 15,000 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT.

AND SO, AGAIN, WE DO ALL NEED A WAKE UP CALL.

BUT I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE POLITICIZED. I WANT WHAT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR IT, TO HAVE IT BE DONE IN THE CITY, BECAUSE THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOVING OFF THE MARK.

AND I COULD SIT THERE AND TELL YOU FOR HOURS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE DO, BECAUSE NOBODY IS MORE PROUD OF COUNCIL BLUFFS THAN ME. BORN AND RAISED HERE.

THIS COMMUNITY FED MY POTENTIAL WHEN NOBODY ELSE COULD.

WE ARE BETTER THAN CALLING PEOPLE BUMS AND THIS AND THAT AND THEY'LL JUST GO AWAY.

AND I MEAN IT'S HORRIBLE. SO SOME THINGS I JUST WANT TO DO A QUICK OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

I WAS ABLE TO GET US TURNED BACK AROUND BECAUSE FOR SOME FOUNDATIONS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE SIX MONTHS IN OPERATING RESERVES, YOU CAN'T EVEN GET FUNDED IF YOU DON'T HAVE THREE MONTHS. SO YOU'RE POOR, BUT YOU CAN'T BE TOO POOR.

BUT I FINALLY MADE IT TO WHERE I WAS ABLE TO HIRE A COUPLE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND THAT'S WHY THAT $300,000 IS SO CRUCIAL, BECAUSE I'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM. BUT SOME NUMBERS FOR YOU GUYS TO MULL OVER.

WE JUST MET WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE, CHIEF, JUSTIN JAMES.

LAST MONTH, SINCE I'VE BEEN FULLY STAFFED, I'VE HAD FOUR EMS CALLS.

ONE OF THEM, THE GUY, PASSED AWAY IN FRONT OF US AS MY STAFF DID CPR BECAUSE HE WAS DETOXING.

I'M NOT A MEDICAL FACILITY. I'M NOT. THIS IS OVER MY HEAD, AND I WATCHED A GUY DIE IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO DETOX.

AND THEN I ONLY HAD THREE INTERVENTIONS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAST MONTH.

I KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT WE NEED FUNDING AND WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER.

AND WE HAVE TO REALIZE THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS NOT ASKING ANY OF OUR PERMISSION TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WITH THAT I AM OPEN TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I CAN'T DO THIS BY MYSELF AND NEW VISIONS CAN'T.

AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I'M A LITTLE BIASED. BUT EVEN OUR PREVENTION, WE JUST DID A PET CLINIC FOR 300 PETS BECAUSE WOMEN CAN'T GO INTO SHELTERS WITH THEIR PETS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED. WE HAD 300 PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY COME OUT, ABOUT 60 THAT WERE HOMELESS AND 240 OTHER PEOPLE THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO VACCINATE MY DOG.

PLEASE DON'T THINK I'M A BAD DOG PARENT. THERE'S A LOT OF POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHERE THEIR $1 GOES FROM, AND WE ARE IN A DESPERATE, CRITICAL TIME THAT IF WE DON'T GET HOUSING ON RIGHT NOW,

[01:00:01]

I HAVE WENT AND TALKED TO MILWAUKEE. THAT'S A SIMILAR METRO SIZE, OTHER SMALLER COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE TO BRING MULTI-UNIT FAMILY HOUSING ON BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD, WE JUST CAN'T BUILD THEM CHEAP ENOUGH FOR OUR FIRST HOME BUYERS TO BUY THEM.

AND SO THEY'RE DOING CREATIVE THINGS WHERE NOW ALSO, I WAS TALKING TO MR. BUNTON ABOUT ELDERLY. MY SHELTER IS FULL WITH SENIORS THAT CAN'T AFFORD.

THEY JUST CANNOT AFFORD. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE MONTH AND I HAVE SENIORS THAT HAVE NOWHERE TO GO HOLDING VOUCHERS.

AND SO NOW THEY'RE STARTING TO DO DEVELOPMENTS WHERE YOU HAVE LIKE A FAMILY DWELLING AND A MOTHER IN LAW SUITES AND APARTMENTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET THESE UNITS UP AND WE HAVE TO GET THEM FAST.

BUT ALSO, I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO BE LIKE ALL DOOM AND GLOOM.

I BELIEVE IN. I BELIEVE IN OUR CITY. I BELIEVE IF WE COULD PARK OUR BIASES, IF WE COULD PARK THAT NEGATIVE TALK.

I TELL YOUTH ALL THE TIME, IF YOU TALK BAD ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE, THAT'S TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

WE COULD PARK ALL OF THAT AND COME TOGETHER. THERE IS SOLUTIONS AND THERE IS COMMUNITIES MOVING IN, OR WE'RE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE RUSH OF PEOPLE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S FACING HOMELESSNESS, MAKING WHAT WE HAVE NOW LOOK LIKE NOTHING. SO THANK YOU.

ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FROM RANDY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANYBODY ELSE? GENEVIEVE PITZER, 2912 AVENUE COUNCIL BLUFFS.

I WAS COMING. I SENT YOU GUYS EMAILS LAST WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY READ THEM. ABOUT TEENS OF TOMORROW AGAIN IN THE SOLICITATION ORDINANCE.

I WAS JUST COMING TO ASK FOR HELP, LIKE, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY READ THE EMAIL OR NOT.

I DID NOT GET AN EMAIL. BUT I SENT IT TO THE EMAIL THAT JODY SENT TO ME.

BUT IT JUST SAID, MAYOR, I DIDN'T HAVE YOUR NAME.

I READ YOUR EMAIL. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE'RE ALL TAKEN IN UNDER REVIEW.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL THINK ABOUT CONSIDERATIONS, BUT THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU AT THIS TIME.

IS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATION WE CAN PROVIDE? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

I MEAN, I DON'T. OKAY. HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT FOR IT TO BE UNDER CONSIDERATION? LIKE, WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME TO REACH BACK OUT? I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE A NO, I DON'T HAVE A TIMEFRAME, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYONE FROM THE COUNCIL? SEEING? NONE. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

HAVE A GOOD, SAFE WEEK. THANK YOU. YEAH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.