Feb 23, 2026 City Council

[00:00:03]

THIS IS 3:45. HI, TONY. DO WE HAVE AMANDA HERE

[6.A) Women in Construction Week Proclamation ]

AND WHEREAS IN GREATER OMAHA, CHAPTER 116 HAS DISTINGUISHED ITSELF FOR 61 YEARS AS A LEADING VOICE FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE GREATER OMAHA AREA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AND WHEREAS THE WORK OF GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER 116 HAS POSITIVELY BENEFITED THE CITY OF CONSUL BLUSS AND SURROUNDING CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT IN PROGRAMS, AND WHEREAS CONSTRUCTION IN THE COMMUNITY, REPRESENTED BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION, GREATER. CHAPTER 116, HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN FOSTERING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RENOVATION AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS, PROMOTION OF SKILLED TRADE CAREERS, AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF STRONG AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE. AND WHEREAS THE GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER 116 HAS CONSISTENTLY WORKED IN A COOPERATIVE SPIRIT WITH THE CITY OF COUNCIL, BLUFFS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JILL SHUDAK, MAYOR OF CONSUL BLESS, RECOGNIZE THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION, GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER 116, AND ITS MANY DEDICATED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS TO THEIR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING WOMEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 1ST THROUGH THE 7TH, 2026, AS WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK.

IN THE CITY OF CONSUL BLESS, WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE ORGANIZATION'S MANY CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANK YOU GUYS. AND IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. REALLY, JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS. NEXT WEEK IS OUR WIC WEEK, AND IT'S A WEEK FILLED WITH A LOT OF ACTIVITIES CELEBRATING WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION. AND WE JUST APPRECIATE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH.

THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE A PICTURE OF THE COUNCIL? YES, SURE. SORRY. HERE, THE BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR 2027. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR SHUDAK AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 UNLEASHED COUNCIL BLUFFS BUDGET. WITH ME HERE TODAY ARE SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS FROM UNLEASHED COUNCIL BLUFFS. WE HAVE HERE TODAY ARIAN HADDOX, WHO'S VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, VANESSA DUBLAISE. ALONG WITH LEN FRIEDENBACH AND BRIAN SHEA JOINING ME HERE TODAY. AMANDA WAS SO KIND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A POCKET FOLDER WITH SOME INFORMATION IN IT.

THERE'S A COPY OF THE POWERPOINT SLIDES, WHICH WE MAY OR MAY NOT NEED, BUT THEY'RE THERE FOR YOU.

TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE INFORMATION A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, AS WELL AS TAKE NOTES.

BEHIND THAT, ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, IS THE ACTUAL BUDGET PROPOSAL, AND THEN ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE IS OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 ANNUAL REPORT.

WHICH HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION I WENT THROUGH IN SEPTEMBER, BUT IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF OUR PROGRAM OF WORK THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS. SO I START EACH PRESENTATION, IF THAT WILL GO FORWARD. YOU MIGHT NEED TO HELP ME, AMANDA. THERE YOU GO. MIGHT BE.

THERE WE GO. SPECIAL EFFECTS AND EVERYTHING. WE START WITH OUR FOCUS, WHICH IS NATURAL, AND I REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TWO NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, BUT WHAT WE DO IS BASICALLY ALL ABOUT ATTRACTING NEW CUSTOMERS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES. NEW CUSTOMERS IN THE FORM OF VISITORS THAT HAVE COME AT LEAST 50 MILES OR FARTHER FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM NEW. THEY'RE NOT COMING FROM GLENWOOD. OR

[00:05:01]

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY A CHUNK OF CHANGE THAT WE NOT ONLY WANT TO KEEP, BUT WE WANT TO GROW.

AS FAR AS WHAT NEW TAXPAYERS PRESENT TO THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IS 3.184 MILLION DOLLARS. IN HOTEL MOTEL TAXES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WHICH IS, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT OVER THE LAST FOUR FISCAL YEARS. WE'VE EXCEEDED 3.184 MILLION DOLLARS IN FISCAL YEAR 22, 23, 24, AND 25, AND YOU CAN SEE 11 FISCAL YEARS WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY SPRING BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC AND DELIVER REVENUE.

THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE RAISED THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES OR FEES ON LOCAL RESIDENTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. YOU MAY THEN NATURALLY ASK, AS I'VE TOUCHED UPON IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, WHAT DOES UNLEASH COUNCIL BLUFFS HAVE TO DO WITH THAT? WELL, SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE REALLY LEANED INTO DIGITAL MARKETING, AND YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE OF A DIGITAL AD IN THE LOWER LEFT-HAND CORNER.

WE PUT OUT THAT MESSAGE, THAT INVITATION TO HAVE VISITORS COME AND ENJOY OUR AMENITIES, STAY AT OUR HOTELS, PATRONIZE OUR RESTAURANTS, ATTRACTIONS, AND WHATNOT. THAT IS HOW WE DERIVED THAT $334 MILLION.

WE'VE ENGAGED IN SEASONAL CAMPAIGNS INITIALLY SUMMER, FALL, AND SPRING, AND FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, WE'VE HAD A WINTER CAMPAIGN.

WHEN WE NEED BUSINESS THE MOST, WHEN OCCUPANCY AT OUR LOCAL HOTELS IS THE LOWEST AND THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE IS ALSO THE LOWEST. AND IN THE COURSE OF CONDUCTING THESE CAMPAIGNS IN 2025, WE SAW OUR IMPRESSIONS FROM THESE DIGITAL ADS GO UP BY 20%, AND THEN ALSO THE CLICKS ON THOSE ADS GO UP, A CORRESPONDING 21%. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND EVERYTHING THAT WE PUT OUT IN TERMS OF A SOCIAL POST OR A DIGITAL AD, GOES BACK TO OUR WEBSITE. THAT SERVES NOT ONLY VISITORS, BUT ALSO RESIDENTS. AND OVER THE COURSE OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE SAW FOUR OUT OF OUR FIVE DATA POINTS GO UP BY DOUBLE DIGITS. OUR UNIQUE VISITORS TO THE WEBSITE WENT UP BY 22, SESSIONS 16, PAGE VIEWS 26, AND THEN EVENTS BY 16, AND THEN EVEN THE PAGES PER VISIT ALSO WENT UP BY ANOTHER 7%. THE NUMBER OF EVENTS. 1,835 WAS AN ALL-TIME HIGH, AND WE'VE ALREADY SURPASSED THAT, NOT EVEN BEING THREE QUARTERS AWAY THROUGH THIS FISCAL YEAR, SO WE'RE GROWING THE NUMBER OF EVENTS. IT'S AN IMPORTANT WAY THAT WE ATTRACT VISITORS TO TOWN, BUT ALSO A GREAT WAY THAT WE SERVE RESIDENTS. IF ANYONE SAYS, HEY, THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TO UNLEASH CB.COM. NOW, LET ME GET TO WHY I'M HERE TODAY, WHICH IS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THE INCREASES THAT WE'VE REALIZED FROM THE CITY SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2015. AND THIS IS JUST FULL TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE, IN TERMS OF FUNDING. YOU'VE SEEN A VARIATION BETWEEN 3% AND 12.5% IN TERMS OF INCREASES. A COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE THE CITY WASN'T ABLE TO BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC OR SOME OF THE NEW RESTRICTIONS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS PUT ON PROPERTY TAXES. BUT BY AND LARGE, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES, SO TO SPEAK, OUR COMP SET. SUCH AS THE CITIES OF WATERLOO AND WATERLOO, I SHOULD SAY, AND DUBUQUE. IN THOSE CASES, THEY'RE RECEIVING AS MUCH AS 50% OF THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX IN TERMS OF FUNDING TO APPEAL TO VISITORS. WE RECEIVE SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 28%. SO IN RETURN FOR WHAT WE DO WITH THAT 28%, YOU'RE GETTING 72% BACK FOR OTHER NEEDS THE CITY HAS.

AND WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF THOSE.

OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS, THAT INCREASE HAS BEEN ABOUT 5.1%. THIS YEAR, IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYOR SHUDAK, WE'RE ASKING FOR A 5% INCREASE, ESSENTIALLY TO COVER THE COST OF INFLATION. TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE WATERLOOS, DUBUQUES, OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE OF IOWA, AS WELL AS NEBRASKA AND BEYOND.

BASICALLY COMPETING AGAINST OTHER CITIES WITHIN ABOUT THREE AND A HALF HOUR DRIVE RADIUS, BUT EVEN FURTHER WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO LONGER STAYS AND LONGER VACATIONS. GOING TO, AND THIS IS OFF THE SCREEN, BUT GOING TO THE PROPOSED

[00:10:01]

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER HERE TODAY.

BUT I DO WANT TO, AGAIN, IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, SHARE WHAT... OUR BUDGET IS THIS YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.

THAT'S BASICALLY THE CENTER COLUMN. AND THEN THE NEXT COLUMN OVER IS THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET. THE 2027 BUDGET IS BALANCED BETWEEN REVENUE AND EXPENSES.

WE DON'T EXCEED THOSE REVENUES.

BUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ON LINE 124 UNDER FISCAL YEAR 26 IS A NEGATIVE NUMBER.

THAT'S A NEGATIVE APPROXIMATELY $145,000. SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH... WHAT WE DON'T EXPEND IN A FISCAL YEAR. BASICALLY, WE TAKE IT AND WE REINVEST IT TO THE NEXT YEAR. IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SPEND EVERY LAST PENNY OF THAT. WE TRY TO BE VERY JUDICIOUS AND NOT JUST SPEND MONEY FOR THE SAKE OF SPENDING IT. SO WE CAN SHOW THAT IT'S ALL BEEN EXPENDED.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TURNOVER IN STAFF AND YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THEM, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO UTILIZE ALL THOSE FUNDS, NOT TO MENTION WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE BEST DEAL FOR ALL THE DOLLARS THAT WE INVEST.

AND SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST... BUILDING A FUND BALANCE WITHOUT ANY BOUNDS TO IT, WE ARE THEN TAKING THOSE DOLLARS AND INVESTING THEM IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITH OUR COMP SET OF WATERLOO AND DUBUQUE. WITH THAT, I KNOW THAT I'VE PROBABLY EXTENDED MOST OF MY 10 MINUTES, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, ASK ANY OF THOSE. BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU MAKE IN OUR WORK, AND WE CERTAINLY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR KIND ATTENTION. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MARK? I WILL SAY ONE BEFORE WE DIVE INTO QUESTIONS. MAYOR WALSH SUBMITTED IN THE PROPOSED NUMBERS FOR THE BUDGET ACROSS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH DANIELLE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED.

BUT WHEN I REVIEWED THIS WITH MARK, I THOUGHT THAT THE 5% WAS RIGHT ON LINE. SO, MARK, ON THE WEBSITE. YOU'VE GOT 1.6 VISITS OR PAGES PER VISIT.

CORRECT. ARE THOSE EVENTS ON THE HOME PAGE THEN WHEN THEY GET THERE? SO THAT THEY'RE JUST GOING TO THE ONE PAGE, OR DO YOU HAVE TO CLICK THROUGH THERE TO GET TO A CERTAIN EVENT? YOU DO NEED TO CLICK THROUGH THERE. OUR HOME PAGE IS PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT IS ENTICING FOR A USER TO FIND THE SECTION WHERE THEY CAN CLICK IN AND FIND THE LISTING OF EVENTS. THERE'S AT LEAST A SET OF FOUR. THAT EITHER IF YOU'RE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR MAYBE A LAPTOP, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLICK THROUGH THOSE, SEE WHAT THOSE SAMPLINGS ARE.

WE USUALLY USE THE MOST APPEALING, THE BIGGER EVENTS, TO THEN DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE USER DEEPER INTO THE SITE TO SEE WHAT ELSE THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, AND THEN GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK UNDER A SPECIFIC DATE OR DATE RANGE.

EVEN THE UPCOMING WEEKEND IS ANOTHER OPTION THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT. OKAY. DO THE METRICS SHOW, LIKE, A TIME ON THE SITE OR JUST? WHAT PAGE IT'S GOING TO GO TO. THERE IS A TIME ON SITE, YES.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW THAT TIME ON SITE.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CERTAINLY THE WEB EXPERIENCE.

WE DON'T WANT SOMEBODY COMING TO THE SITE AND THEN, BOOM, THEY'RE OFF.

BUT I CAN SAY THAT WORKING WITH THE CITY, IF YOU'VE UTILIZED BLINK, WHEN YOU SIGN IN TO BLINK, THE LANDING PAGE IS ON OUR SITE. SO WE'RE CAPTURING A LOT OF GREAT TRAFFIC. WHETHER IT BE VISITOR OR RESIDENTS ALIKE.

AND ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE, WE WERE SHOWING THE SITE, SHARING THE SITE WITH A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT USERS, LIKE, I SAY, WHETHER THEY'RE A RESIDENT OR A VISITOR. GOTCHA. AND THEN ONE LAST QUESTION ABOUT THE TAX COLLECTIONS. ARE WE SEEING ANY TREND WITH THE CHANGES IN THE OMAHA CASINOS THAT HAVE OPENED UP? ARE WE ANTICIPATING THAT TO GO DOWN? IS THERE...

SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING DIFFERENT, OR DO WE ANTICIPATE IT TO BE THE SAME AS WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS? I CAN'T SPEAK TO ANY CHANGES THAT WE'VE SEEN RIGHT NOW. WHAT'S BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING IS THE INVESTMENTS THAT THE CASINOS ARE MAKING.

SOME OF THE PUBLIC FACING SIDES OF, LIKE THE PRE-FUNCTION AREAS OF LET'S SAY HARRAH'S HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED. THE MAJOR INVESTMENT THAT AMERISTAR IS MAKING IS I THINK GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER. I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW WHEN RIVERBOAT GAMBLING STARTED AND THAT WAS VERY EXCITING AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF. BUT THERE THEY REALIZED THAT THEIR CASINO, IT WAS PRIME FOR AN UPGRADE.

AND HAVING SOMETHING LAND-BASED IS CERTAINLY GONNA SERVE THE NEEDS. IT'D BE MORE ATTRACTIVE, APPEALING TO BOTH RESIDENTS AND AND AND VISITORS AS WELL.

THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. HOW BIG IS YOUR TEAM DOWN THERE? HOW BIG IS OUR TEAM? WE HAVE FOUR FULL-TIME, FOUR FULL-TIME, SO AND THEN YOU HAVE A COUPLE PART-TIMERS, OR NO? WE'VE HAD

[00:15:01]

FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, WE HAD A PART-TIME INTERN ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SHE WENT FULL-TIME OVER THE SUMMER AND THEN WE BROUGHT HER ON AS A SECOND PERSON IN MARKETING, WHICH HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE. WE'RE NOT RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT BRINGING SOMEBODY ON WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF OPERATIONS. SO THAT I CAN REALLY GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE. AND THEN WE MIGHT BE LOOKING BEYOND THAT SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD. SO HOPEFULLY FIVE WOULD BE ON THE TEAM.

THAT'S THE 41,000? YEAH, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.

WE'VE ACCOUNTED FOR THAT ABILITY THIS FISCAL YEAR TO HIRE THAT FIFTH PERSON HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR. AND THEN HAVING THAT PERSON ON NEXT FISCAL YEAR FULL-TIME THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MARK? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MARK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OUR NEXT ITEM UP WAS THE GEO BOND PROCESS FOR OVERVIEW. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING, SO WE'RE GOING TO SKIP THIS ONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. NEXT UP IS THE DISCUSSION ITEM HUMAN RESOURCE RESEARCH ON LEAVE POLICIES, AS DIRECTED BY RESOLUTION 26-50. SO I'LL HAVE BRENDA COME UP. THANKS, BRENDA. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO WHAT I PUT TOGETHER FOR YOU IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED ABOUT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND WHAT THEY OFFER. AND THEN LOOK TO YOU FOR DIRECTION ON HOW YOU WOULD LIKE US TO CRAFT A POLICY GOING FORWARD.

SO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CITIES ACROSS IOWA THAT OFFER UP TO FOUR WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR THE BIRTHING PARENT, OR PERHAPS BOTH A BIRTHING PARENT AND THE OTHER PARENTS IN THE HOUSEHOLD, INCLUDING THE STATE OF IOWA, DES MOINES WATER WORKS. YOU CAN SEE THE OTHERS THERE. THERE ARE ALSO SOME THAT OFFER UP TO SIX WEEKS. OF PAID LEAVE, INCLUDING LINCOLN AND OMAHA AND LANCASTER COUNTY AND DOUGLAS COUNTY. THERE ARE SOME VARIANCES IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, BASED ON BARGAINING AGREEMENT, AND THE CITY OF CLIVE AND GRIMES AND DES MOINES. ALL OFFER MORE THAN SIX WEEKS PAID LEAVE. CLIVE HAS EIGHT WEEKS, FOR THE BIRTHING PARENT, FOUR WEEKS.

FOR THE NON-BIRTHING PARENT, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENCES THERE.

DOES ANYONE ELSE OFFER NOTHING LIKE US? YEAH. OH, OKAY. YEAH.

I JUST, THIS IS LIKE ALL THE MAJOR CITIES IN THE AREA. YEAH. AGAIN, I'M GLAD, THANK YOU, I'M HAPPY WITH THIS, AND THIS IS WHY I ASKED, BUT I'M GOING. YES, THERE ARE PLACES THAT. TWO CITIES NOT LISTED, AMES ISN'T LISTED, IOWA CITY. SO SOME OF OUR BIGGER ONES STILL AREN'T LISTED, RIGHT? THEY MIGHT BE AS BACKWARDS. OR IT'S A GOOD STEP FORWARD THAT WE'RE WAITING. OR THEY DIDN'T ANSWER ME QUICKLY.

SURE. SO THAT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY AS WELL. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF UTILIZING PAID LEAVE IN THIS WAY, UM, YOU'VE ALREADY BUDGETED 52 WEEKS OF PAY FOR EMPLOYEE X. IF YOU SHIFT AND DECIDE, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OFFER FOUR WEEKS OR SIX WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, IF THAT EMPLOYEE HAS A BABY, ADOPTS A CHILD, YOU'RE NOT OUT ANY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN SALARY. YOU'VE ALREADY BUDGETED THAT AMOUNT. YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PAY THAT AMOUNT. THERE CAN BE INCREMENTAL EXPENDITURES WHEN IT COMES TO POSSIBLY OVERTIME COVERING

[00:20:03]

WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE PAYING LEAVE, THE PERSON'S GOING TO BE GONE REGARDLESS. SO SOMEONE WILL BE COVERING, WILL BE LIKELY WORKING OVERTIME IN THAT WAY. I ADDED SOME NOTES ABOUT... A FEW THINGS THAT SOME OF THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE PUT INTO PLACE AS FAR AS RESTRICTIONS, AND THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE. OUR BENEFITS, TEMPORARY OR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES, ARE NOT GENERALLY INCLUDED.

PAID LEAVE FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES WOULD BE PRORATED BASED ON THEIR AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK. A NOTE THAT IS... PRETTY COMMON THAT I FRANKLY HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT WAS THE LEGAL ADOPTION OF A NEW SPOUSE'S CHILD IS EXCLUDED. SO I GET MARRIED, MY SPOUSE HAS A CHILD, I'M GOING TO LEGALLY ADOPT THEM. THAT DOESN'T REALLY FALL UNDER THIS BUCKET OF LEAVE.

MOST PLACES STATE THAT PARENTAL LEAVE SHOULD BE TAKEN IN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS.

FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF A CHILD, THAT FOLLOWS THE FEDERAL U.H.

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT, 12 MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS, 12 12 MONTHS IS THE STANDARD. THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT I FOUND IT HAS TO BE IN THIS. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT, I'M SORRY. I WAS LIKE, NO, NO, IT'S THAT YOU, YOU'RE SAYING THIS TO ME. IT SAYS, YEAH, COOL. UM. THERE WERE A COUPLE WHO SPECIFIED THAT THE EMPLOYEE MUST HAVE SIX MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS OF SERVICE. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.

OTHERS DID NOT SPECIFY A WAITING PERIOD. THE FEDERAL FMLA REQUIRES 12 MONTHS OF SERVICE AND 1,250 HOURS. SO A PERSON WHO WORKS PART-TIME FOR A YEAR WOULD BE LIKELY ELIGIBLE FOR FMLA. SO THAT'S WHERE THAT 12-MONTH OFTEN COMES INTO PLAY. ON TOP OF THAT, MOST... MOST ENTITIES DO NOT ALLOW THE USE OF VACATION LEAVE UNTIL AFTER THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD EXPIRES, BUT THE USE OF SICK LEAVE IS GENERALLY AVAILABLE AS IT IS ACCRUED AND IS NOT TIED TO THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

CURRENT POLICY FOR US IN THE CITY DOES NOT ALLOW MOST EMPLOYEES TO UTILIZE SICK LEAVE UNTIL THEY'VE BEEN WITH US FOR SIX MONTHS. THE FIRE AND POLICE CONTRACTS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THE CURRENT FIRE CONTRACT FRONT LOADS 360 HOURS OF SICK LEAVE TO A NEW HIRE AND ALLOWS FOR USE IMMEDIATELY. AND THE CURRENT POLICE CONTRACT FRONT LOADS 40 HOURS OF LEAVE AND ALLOWS IT TO BE USED AFTER TWO MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT. EXCUSE ME. THE USE OF SICK LEAVE FOR THE CARE OF AN EMPLOYEE'S SPOUSE OR CHILD IS NOT ALWAYS CALLED OUT IN THE POLICIES THAT I'VE REVIEWED. THE ONES WHO DO CALL IT OUT HAVE A LIMIT, SORT OF LIKE OURS. CEDAR RAPIDS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIMITS THE USE OF SICK LEAVE FOR FAMILY CARE TO 80 HOURS IN A CALENDAR YEAR. DOUGLAS COUNTY LIMITS. TO 40 HOURS OR 80 HOURS, BASED ON THE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

AND OUR CURRENT POLICY ONLY ALLOWS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

AGAIN, THAT VARIES A LITTLE BIT ON THE FIRE AND POLICE CONTRACT. SO, IN GENERAL, THERE ARE PLENTY OF CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES WHO OFFER PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, STARTING AT FOUR WEEKS, UP TO AS MANY AS 12. I DON'T SEE A LARGE FINANCIAL IMPACT.

LIKE I SAID, IF WE WERE TO IMPLEMENT A PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, THE EMPLOYEE, THE BIRTHING PARENT IS LIKELY TO TAKE THE LEAVE ANYWAY. YOU MIGHT SEE ADDITIONAL NON-BIRTH PARENTS TAKE SOME LEAVE. TO BE WITH THEIR SPOUSE AND NEW CHILD THAT WE HAVEN'T PERHAPS SEEN IN THE PAST. BUT THE

[00:25:02]

THE COVERING, THE OVERTIME, THAT KIND OF THING LIKE WE'VE SEEN BEFORE. MOST OTHER CITIES ARE MORE GENEROUS THAN WE ARE WHEN IT COMES TO ALLOWING THE USE OF SICK LEAVE FOR AN ILL FAMILY MEMBER, A SPOUSE OR A CHILD. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER. YOU SAID IT'S A COUPLE DAYS. WHAT IS THE POLICY? SAY, IF YOUR CHILD GETS SICK AND YOU HAVE TO STAY HOME TODAY. I'M NOT UNION, SO MINE IS 16 HOURS. YOU CAN ASK FOR DISPENSATION. SO AFTER TWO DAYS... WE HAVE ALLOWED EMPLOYEES TO REQUEST PERMISSION TO USE ADDITIONAL SICK LEAVE.

WE'VE ALSO ALLOWED EMPLOYEES, OR WE ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO USE VACATION IN LIEU OF SICK LEAVE. JOE, I'LL... I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT LOOKING TO CHANGE HOW QUICKLY SOMEBODY CAN USE THEIR TIME. SURE. SO, UM, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, MY DAUGHTER'S HAD A FEVER SINCE OFF AND ON, SINCE, YOU KNOW, WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHE'S BEEN DOWN. SHE'S STILL OUT OF SCHOOL TODAY. RIGHT. LIKE, GRANTED, I GET, IF YOU'VE GOT TWO DAYS, THOUGH, WHAT DO YOU DO IN THAT SITUATION? YOU KNOW? YEAH. SO THERE'S OTHER ALTERNATIVES. SO WE DO ALLOW THEM TO USE. SAY, VACATION TIME OR SOMETHING IS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME. IF THEY HAVEN'T.

OR PTO OR SOMETHING TO THAT EXTENT.

BUT WHERE I'M LOOKING AT IS AS A NEW EMPLOYEE, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IS PROBABLY SHORTENING THAT WINDOW. THAT IT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM, BUT THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE PARENTAL LEAVE. SO I JUST WANT TO GET THAT. THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS MORE ON MOM GETTING X AMOUNT OF WEEKS AND THEN. DAD BEING ABLE TO HAVE X AMOUNT OF WEEKS, WHETHER WE DECIDE HOW WE WANT TO DO THAT. THIS IS INTERESTING AS WELL, BUT THAT ISN'T THE EXACT CRUX OF WHAT WE WERE GOING AFTER HERE. ANOTHER THING TO TOUCH ON, IF WE WANT TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE, WHATEVER, THAT'S FINE. WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IS PERFECTLY FINE, TOO.

I JUST WASN'T EXPECTING THAT PIECE TO BE IN THIS OUTPUT.

THE DIRECTION WAS A LITTLE BIT... IT MOSTLY TALKED ABOUT THE PARENTAL LEAVE, BUT THERE WAS ALSO COMMENTS IN THE RESOLUTION ABOUT...

AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA INFORMATION. ALL GOOD TO KNOW. ABSOLUTELY. DID YOU FIND ANYTHING ABOUT ADDING ON VACATION TIME AFTER THE FOUR-, SIX-WEEK OR 12-WEEK PERIOD? THAT'S GENERALLY AVAILABLE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE CURRENTLY...

DUE FUNCTIONALLY, IF THE EMPLOYEE IS GOING TO BE OUT FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME, THEY USE WHATEVER PAID LEAVE THEY HAVE AVAILABLE, RUNNING CONCURRENT WITH FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE. ARE THERE ANY ROUGH APPROXIMATIONS ON THE PRICE DIFFERENCE TO THE CITY FOR, SAY, FOUR WEEKS VERSUS SIX WEEKS VERSUS EIGHT WEEKS? MINIMAL, BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOU'VE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR THAT PERSON'S WAGES.

FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.

OBVIOUSLY, OVERTIME CAN PLAY INTO THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY STUDIES THAT SAID CITIES OF COMPARABLE SIZE, THIS IS THE APPROXIMATE COST THAT THEY INCURRED. THERE REALLY ISN'T. WE VARY SO GREATLY AND HAVE A VARIETY OF CONTRACTS THAT WOULD COVER THAT OVERTIME.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF A MOVING TARGET. DO WE, IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, OFFER SOME EXCESSIVE AMOUNT MORE VACATION OR SOMETHING ELSE? UM, NO. THE OTHERS DON'T? OH, OKAY. I MEAN, I JUST COVERED MY BASES. YEP.

YOU SAID, WELL, WE OFFER TEN WEEKS OF VACATION RIGHT OFF. OH, OKAY, THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT STORY, MAYBE. MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL WOULD BE SIX WEEKS, BUT THAT'S COMPLETELY UP TO YOU GUYS. I WOULD... BACK YOU GUYS, AS FAR AS WHETHER YOU GO FOUR, SIX OR TWELVE, UM OR TEN, WHATEVER YOU GUYS. I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO MAYBE HAVE DEPARTMENT HEADS KIND OF WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT, TOO. EVERY JOB IS DIFFERENT. WELL, AND SO IF WE LOSE SOMEBODY IN A CERTAIN AREA, IT MIGHT NOT BE AS CRITICAL IN ANOTHER AREA. AND THEN YOU'RE LIKE, WELL, OKAY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING. SURE, SOMEONE'S GOT A IN TODAY'S WORLD. I MEAN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE IS OUR DAYCARE, FOR OUR WORK AND OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND SO I THINK IF WE CAN MAKE A BRIDGE THERE, ESPECIALLY WITH A

[00:30:01]

LIKE, CLIVE HAS EIGHT WEEKS FOR THE BIRTHING PARENT, BUT FOUR WEEKS FOR THE NOT.

JUST. SO, JUST THE ONES DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IS ALL JUST THESE TWO. PRETTY MUCH OKAY, SO ALL THESE ONES THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, GIVE FOUR WEEKS, THEY ALL, THEY BOTH GET FOUR WEEKS.

YES, OKAY. AND I'D EMPHASIZE THIS IS OUR FIRST GO AROUND.

IT DOESN'T SET IN STONE, SO I CAN KIND OF SEE HOW IT GOES. AND AGAIN, I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING SOME INPUT FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS TO SAY... YEAH, WE'RE NOT TAKING ACTION OR ANYTHING. I'M JUST COLLECTING INFORMATION.

WE GO THROUGH THAT. IT'S A GOOD DISCUSSION AND A GOOD PROCESS TO GO THROUGH, I FEEL LIKE, THOUGH. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DRAFT AN EXAMPLE AND, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, BRING YOU THOUGHTS FROM MY FELLOW DEPARTMENT HEADS? I THINK SO. I LIKE THAT. I MEAN, WE, AGAIN, WE PROBABLY ALL HAVE OUR OWN IDEAS OF WHAT WE THINK IS PROBABLY BEST, BUT DOUG'S PROBABLY GOT A GOOD POINT.

HAVING CONVERSATION WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AND HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT OR IMPACT THEM WOULD BE GOOD INFORMATION TO HAVE AS WELL. OKAY.

BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO, IT IS GOING TO AFFECT US SOMEWHAT FINANCIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OVERTIME, SHOULD THAT COME UP, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S REALLY NOT GOING TO BE AS BAD. IT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE'VE ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR IT. TO FRED'S POINT, RIGHT, IF YOU HAVE A CHILD, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE TIME OFF. YEAH, YOU'RE TAKING THE TIME OFF, EITHER WAY. IF WE'RE PLANNING FOR THAT, WE KNOW THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE ON FOR SIX WEEKS, THEN WE CAN PLAN FOR AT LEAST SIX WEEKS. AND THEN PLUS MORE, RIGHT? YEAH.

BUT IT'S PUTTING THE FOUNDATION DOWN SO WE CAN START TO PLAN FOR THOSE PEOPLE BEING OUT. WE HAVE THE MONEY AND THE BUDGET ALREADY FOR THOSE SIX WEEKS.

SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. IT'S THEN WORKING, THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO COVER AND FOR HOW LONG, A MINIMUM. YEAH. OKAY. WELL, IF YOU WANT TO TOUCH BASE WITH THEM, I GUESS, THEN, DOUG, WOULD YOU JUST WANT A REPORT BACK FROM HER NEXT MEETING, OR WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? YEAH, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

LIKE I SAY, IT IMPACTS THE DEPARTMENTS MORE THAN ANYTHING.

AND I HATE TO MAKE DECISIONS OUTSIDE OF THEM. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. SHE'S RIGHT. WE'VE ACCOUNTED FOR THE DOLLARS. WE HAVEN'T ACCOUNTED FOR THE PRODUCTIVITY. AND SO THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE EMPLOYEE IS WHAT ACCOUNTS HERE FOR. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SO HOW DO THEY PUT SOMEBODY ELSE IN PLACE? DO THEY HAVE PERSONNEL TO DO THAT? HOW LONG DO THEY THINK THEY CAN DO THAT? WHAT MAKES SENSE FROM THAT STANDPOINT? AGAIN, WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. NOW LET'S GET TO THAT MIDDLE GROUND THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO SAY WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO DO IN THAT RESPECT. SO, YEAH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. AND I THINK IT WOULD AT LEAST HELP THEM, FROM A DEPARTMENT STANDPOINT, HAVE A LITTLE SAY FOR HOW THEIR DEPARTMENT'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

BECAUSE JILL'S RIGHT. THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT PERSON NO MATTER WHAT. WELL, AND LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'RE TAKING THE TIME, WHETHER YOU'RE GIVING IT TO THEM OR NOT. I FOUND A JOB WHEN I GOT THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M HAVING A BABY. SO I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT ASPECT.

I WILL HAVE THAT FOR YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING. I WILL NOT BE PRESENT. I WILL BE ON A BOAT SOMEWHERE WARM, BUT I WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION

[00:35:01]

SO, CURRENTLY, THERE IS A DIRECTIVE FOR THE POLICY TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MARCH 9TH MEETING.

OKAY. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, DO YOU JUST WANT INFORMATION AT THE NEXT MEETING? DO YOU WANT ME TO THINK ABOUT BUMPING THAT ACTUAL PRESENTATION OF THE POLICY? DO YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY VOTE ON THE POLICY WITH THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAPPEN AT THE MARCH 9TH MEETING? I DON'T WANT TO KEEP PUSHING IT DOWN THE ROAD. I DON'T THINK WITHOUT THEIR INPUT, I CAN MAKE A VERY GOOD DECISION. WELL, I THINK SHE'S GOING TO MEET WITH THEM AND HAVE THEIR INPUT.

PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING WELL, DO WE GOT? WE WANT TO HAVE BRENDA, LIKE SHE HAD OFFERED, MEET WITH THEM, PUT A ROUGH DRAFT TOGETHER FOR US. WE'LL HAVE THREE READINGS, RIGHT? IS THAT CORRECT? THIS IS JUST A PERSONNEL. IT WOULD BE A RESOLUTION. GOOD CALL. RIGHT, JUST A PERSONNEL POLICY CHANGE.

YEAH. BUT IF WE DON'T LIKE IT IN THE NEXT MEETING, WE CAN TABLE IT AND MOVE IT DOWN TO THE NEXT ONE. THAT WAY, IT KEEPS EVERYTHING. WE'VE GOT TO KEEP IT ROLLING. AS IT IS.

YEAH. OKAY, I DON'T WANT TO SLOW IT DOWN. WELL, I MEAN, SHE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM, AND THEN IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, WE CAN BOUNCE THEM OUT. JUST ADD TO YOUR LIST DEPARTMENT HEADS, WHY NOT? DOES THAT SOUND OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO REVIEWING THE AGENDA. SO, CONSENT AGENDA, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? AND WE DID SEPARATE THAT FROM A AND B, SO WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AGENDA PART B.

CAN WE JUST REAL QUICKLY CLARIFY THAT? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL BE SOME PEOPLE HERE FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM. WE KIND OF HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY. HOW DO WE ANTICIPATE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA? CAN WE JUST MAYBE GO THROUGH THAT REAL QUICK? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS. CORRECT. AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE YOUR, IT'LL BE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ITEM, AND THEN YOU'LL DISCUSS IN VOTE. OKAY. SO THERE WILL BE A VOTE TONIGHT ON THAT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

OKAY. YOU GUYS ARE OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY. SIX WILL BE REMOVED AS WE DID IT TODAY. SO WE WILL NOT HAVE SIX. 7A.

7A IS THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PLANS AND SPEC FOR THE MID-AMERICA PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING. AND B IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PLANS AND SPECS.

THIS ALLOWS US TO TAKE BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS OUT TO BED.

AND FOR A, WE ANTICIPATE ONE MORE PHASE, CORRECT? SO THIS IS SIX OUT OF SEVEN. ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE TWO? OKAY, THANK YOU.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER ONES? I DO HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS.

RESOLUTION B, UNDER 8, IS THE BID FOR WESTERN ENGINEERING APPROVAL OF THAT ON OUR RESURFACING PROJECT ON 23RD. WE DID RECEIVE FAVORABLE BIDS, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THAT. AND THEN FOR C IS THE INDIAN CREEK.

LEVY FREE BOARD MAINTENANCE PROJECT. AND AGAIN, WE DID RECEIVE FAVORABLE BIDS AND WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVING THAT ALSO. ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE FOUR ITEMS 7A, 7B, 8B AND 8C? THANK YOU, THANKS MARK. DANIELLE, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO YOUR ITEMS, OKAY, SO 7C THROUGH I ARE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PURPOSES. SO WE HAVE ONE ESSENTIAL CORPORATE PURPOSE, LINE ITEM C, AND THEN THE REST OF THEM ARE GENERAL CORPORATE PURPOSE.

AGAIN, THIS TIES INTO THE FY27 CIP, WHICH IS WHAT WE USE AS A GUIDE TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. SO ANYTHING THAT IS LISTED ON... THE CIP IN THE GO BOND COLUMN IS WHAT WE

[00:40:02]

TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THOSE BOND PURPOSE HEARINGS AND JUST CONTINUES ON WITH THE NORMAL TIMELINE OF ISSUING OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS. OKAY, THE NEXT I HAVE A COUPLE MORE.

UNDER RESOLUTION SO, RESOLUTION A IS THE LIENS THAT WILL BE ASSESSED AT THE COUNTY FOR SOLID WASTE, WATER AND SEWER. TYPICAL STANDARD PROCESS THAT WE DO SEMI-ANNUALLY. THESE ARE PRELIMINARY FIGURES THAT ARE IN HERE. BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND PAY THEIR BILLS PRIOR TO US ACTUALLY ASSESSING THOSE AS LIENS ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

BUT THERE WILL BE A PORTION OF THOSE THAT ARE ACTUALLY LIENED.

AND THEN WE ALWAYS PUT THE PACKET OF INFORMATION FOR THE LANDLORD ACCOUNTS ON THERE JUST TO BRING VISIBILITY INTO THAT. WE CANNOT LIEN.

PROPERTY THAT HAS A LANDLORD AGREEMENT ON IT BY STATE CODE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE? WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THE LANDLORD COMPARED TO THE OTHER? OH, IT'S SMALL.

OKAY. YEAH, TOTALS ABOUT $45,000, YEAH. AND THEN RESOLUTION D IS OUR RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH SECURITY NATIONAL BANK FOR BANKING AND INVESTMENT SERVICES, WE WENT OUT FOR RFP, OUR FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT. WITH SECURITY, NATIONAL WAS UP FOR US TO START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN. WE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS IN OUR BEST INTEREST, THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST, THE TAXPAYER'S INTEREST, TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT. SO NOW WE ARE DOING A TEN-YEAR CONTRACT VERSUS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT.

AND SO WE WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE RFP PROCESS.

WE HAD AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE TO GRADE THE PROPOSALS, AND THEN WE INTERVIEWED THE TWO INSTITUTIONS, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SECURITY NATIONAL BANK WAS THE BEST OPTION FOR THE CITY.

TYPICALLY, TURNAROUND TO TRANSITION TO A NEW FINANCIAL INSTITUTION COULD BE UP TO TWO YEARS. AND THERE'S COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. WE DETERMINED THAT WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP. IT'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SECURITY NATIONAL BANK. WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSITION. THE INTEREST RATES ARE FAVORABLE, AND WE WON'T HAVE ANY DELAYS IN OPERATIONS BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE TO MOVE EVERYTHING FROM ONE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO ANOTHER. DO WE SEE THE RFP, OR IS THAT JUST HANDLED BY YOU? IT'S JUST HANDLED BY PURCHASING. PURCHASING? SO THERE'S A COMMITTEE THAT GENERALLY REVIEWS US. 10 YEARS IS A LONG TIME IN THE BANKING WORLD TO HAVE A CONTRACT. ARE THERE OUTS FROM EITHER SIDE IN THAT 10 YEARS? IS THAT WHAT IT IS? YEAH. OKAY. DO WE KNOW WHAT FEES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT, OR IS THAT JUST DECIDED BY THE COMMITTEE? JUST DECIDED BY THE COMMITTEE. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT ITEM? OR ANY OF DANIELLE'S ITEMS? THANK YOU, DANIELLE. THANK YOU. BACK TO 7J, RESOLUTION 2667. OKAY, RESOLUTION 7J THAT IS A FINAL PLAT FOR ONE LOT SUBDIVISION FOR JAMIE AUGUSTINE'S PROPERTY OUT ON COLLEGE ROAD. YOU GUYS HAVE REVIEWED THE REZONING REQUEST.

HE HAD TO FOLLOW UP WITH A FINAL PLAT IN ORDER TO CONSOLIDATE BOTH PARCELS INTO ONE TRACT OF LAND SO THAT HIS ACCESSORY STRUCTURE ON THE SAME PARCEL AS HIS HOME.

ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SO, JUST SO, I'M CLEAR ON THIS. IF WE APPROVE THIS AS IT IS,

[00:45:01]

IT STAYS THE SAME, AND IT ALL BECOMES ONE PARCEL.

YOU WILL HAVE A SPLIT ZONE PARCEL. OKAY. I FEEL LIKE THAT IS KIND OF A COMPROMISE TO OUR... LAST WEEK'S DISCUSSION, HONESTLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYONE ELSE FEELS, I GUESS. I'LL HAVE TO ABSTAIN AGAIN BECAUSE THERE'S NO MATERIAL CHANGE, AND WE ALREADY SAW THIS IN PLANNING. SO IT COULD BE A 2-2 VOTE AGAIN, BUT ROGER'S NOT HERE TONIGHT. WELL, THIS ISN'T CHANGING OUR ONE TO OUR TWO.

THIS DOESN'T CHANGE ANY. THIS DOESN'T COMBINE YOU. THIS JUST MAKES IT ONE ONE. RIGHT. IT JUST. MY QUESTION. HE HASN'T VOTED ON PREVIOUSLY. DOUG WOULD HAVE SOLVED IT ON THE PLANET PLANNING COMMISSION. CORRECT.

OKAY. CORRECT. SO THEN, AMANDA, WE'LL NEED A VOICE VOTE ON THAT ONE. OKAY. I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHY DIDN'T WE DO IT THIS WAY THE FIRST TIME? BECAUSE THE IDEA WAS TO HAVE ONE PARCEL OF LAND THAT HAS ONE SPECIFIC ZONING APPLIED TO IT, SO ALL THE CONDITIONS ARE THE SAME. I MEAN, YES, WE CAN DO A SPLIT ZONE PARCEL, BUT IT WILL CREATE DIFFICULTIES IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE EAST HALF OF THIS PROPERTY WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT WITH THESE STANDARDS. THE WEST HALF WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT WITH THESE STANDARDS. THE IDEA WAS JUST TO HAVE IT ALL, ONE CONSISTENT ZONING, SO IT'S JUST ONE SET OF STANDARDS MOVING FORWARD.

AND THE FIRST TIME HE CAME IN, IT DIDN'T MATTER TO HIM IF IT WAS R1 OR R3. AND SO NOW HE'S OUT OF THAT. IT SEEMED LIKE HIS PLANS EVOLVED AFTER THE FIRST DISCUSSION INTO THE PROCESS. AND SO IT MAKES ME WONDER, WHAT IS...

TRUE INTENTIONS WERE FOR THE PROPERTY. THE ONLY THING WE KNEW IS THAT HE WANTED TO BUILD AN ACCESSORY GARAGE ON THE PROPERTY IN ASSOCIATION WITH HIS HOUSE. THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GREENHOUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT NEVER CAME UP PRIOR TO GOING TO COUNCIL. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, 7K. SO, 7K IS TO APPROVE A FINAL PLAT FOR WHISPERING OAK SPACE 5.

THIS PLAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, WHEN IT WAS RECORDED, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF OUTLOTS THAT WERE INCLUDED WITH IT THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. WE THEN TRIED TO RE-RECORD A NEW PLAT TO CORRECT THAT LEGAL DESCRIPTION.

HOWEVER, AT THE TIME OF RECORDING THAT CORRECTED PLAT, SOME OF THE LAND HAD SOLD TO OTHER INVESTORS. AND SO LAST MONTH, YOU GUYS VACATED WHISPERING OAKS PHASE 5 FINAL PLAT. THIS NOW BRINGS IT BACK IN FRONT OF YOU TO APPROVE WITH ALL THE CORRECTIONS MADE, WITH ALL THE CORRECT LEGAL ENTITIES INVOLVED IN IT.

COUNCILMAN SOUNDOW DID REACH OUT AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS WOULD INCLUDE COMMERCIAL. AND CHRIS WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT THE COMMERCIAL SPACE IS STILL TO PLAN TO GO INTO LOT 3, THE CORNER OF THE FRANKLIN GREENVIEW. THAT WAS APPROVED WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN 2022. AND AGAIN, I'VE SEEN THIS. PREVIOUSLY, SO I'LL HAVE TO ABSTAIN TONIGHT.

ROGER SHOULD BE ABSTAINING FROM THAT ALSO. HE DIDN'T TELL ME THAT. SO HE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ASKING QUESTIONS. HE DID NOT STATE THAT WHEN HE REACHED OUT.

HE LIVES WITHIN 100 YARDS OF THE... THAT'S TRUE. HE PREVIOUSLY ABSTAINED ON THE VACATION OF THE PLAT.

SO I'M SURE HE KNOWS HE NEEDS TO ABSTAIN FROM THE REPLAT, BUT IT'S TRUE. HE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ASKING QUESTIONS. I'LL LET YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT.

OKAY. 7L. SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION PERTAINING TO THE AMENDMENT TO OUR WEST BROADWAY URBAN RENEWAL PLAN.

SO LAST MONTH YOU GUYS APPROVED A RESOLUTION OF INTENT. THIS IS NOW ADOPTING THE PLAN TO AMEND IT SO THAT WE CAN OFFER TAX INCENTIVES TO LOCKWOOD DEVELOPMENTS, MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR IN THE 2800 BLOCK OF 2ND AVENUE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? HAVE YOU SEEN THAT ONE, DOUG? NO, I HAVE NOT.

CORRECT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BACKING ME UP. IT'S GOING TO PLANNING COMMISSION NEXT MONTH. PERFECT. OKAY, RESOLUTION 8F, THAT'S TO ADOPT A SITE-SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR COBALT CREDIT UNION AND MARKETPLACE, LOT NUMBER

[00:50:01]

ITEM 8H, THIS IS TO ADOPT A PI PLANNED INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR A PARKING LOT THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE OWNED BY BLACK HILLS ENERGY. OUT ON COLLEGE ROAD. THIS IS MORE OR LESS FOR THE TEMPORARY USE OF THAT PARKING LOT, FOR THE CONTRACTORS, FOR PROJECT EDGE TO USE IT FOR A STAGING AREA. WHILE THAT DATA CENTER IS BEING CONSTRUCTED. AND THEN 8I, THAT IS FOR RESOLUTIONS TO APPROVE TAX ABATEMENTS FOR PROJECTS UNDER OUR URBAN REVITALIZATION PROGRAM. SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS PERTAIN TO THE ARCHIVE HERE IN DOWNTOWN, L&W'S SUPPLY OFF SOUTH 19TH STREET. THERE'S SOME CONTRACTOR SHOPS THAT WERE APPROVED IN THE BLACK SQUIRRELS BUSINESS PARK, OFF OF SOUTH 35TH, SOUTH POINT APARTMENTS, K&M TIRE, AND THEN THE ACADIA HEALTH CENTER. SO THEY ALL HAVE AGREEMENTS FOR TAX ABATEMENT FOR THEIR PROPERTIES. ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE FOR CHRIS? THANKS, CHRIS. 7M, THE TAP ON FEES. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS THE ORDINANCE, SO THE EXTENSION IS ALREADY OUT THERE, BUT THIS IS JUST IF THERE'S THE TAP ON THE ACTUAL FEE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? THEN WE JUST HAVE 8E AND 8G. SO, 8E IS THE MOU FOR THE DOG PARK ON THE WEST WET SIDE OF THE LEVEE, DOWN AT RIVERS EDGE. AND THEN 8G IS FOR THE DONOR PLAZA. SO, IF YOU REMEMBER, PETE ASKED FOR THESE TO BE PUT ON. SO HE HAS CLEAR DIRECTIVE AS FAR AS HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS BOARD. ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE? SORRY. HOW DID YOUR CONVERSATIONS GO WITH PETE ABOUT THE DRY SIDE OF THE LEVY? GREAT. THEY ACTUALLY WENT WELL. WE SHOWED HIM THREE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES. HE LIKED ALL THREE. IN SPEAKING WITH THE STATE ON ONE OF THE PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY THE STATE, THAT ONE IS, THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO SIGN THAT ONE OVER TO US.

SO HE HAS TWO PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT HE LIKES AND IS WILLING TO TAKE BACK TO THE BOARD. SO HE WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY.

WITH THE ORIGINAL THREE AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH US HAVING TO TELL HIM THAT THE THIRD ONE WAS NO LONGER AN OPTION. SO WHERE DOES THAT PUT US WITH THIS MOU, THOUGH? SO THIS IS FOR THE WET SIDE OF THE LEVY. SO THIS IS A VOTE ON WHETHER YOU WANT TO BUILD IT ON THE WET SIDE OR NOT. WHICH WAS A NO, RIGHT? WELL, YOU HAVEN'T VOTED. OH, I'M SORRY.

SO IF YOU VOTE, NO. HE WILL TAKE THE TWO OPTIONS THAT WE PROVIDED HIM ON THE DRIVE SIDE TO HIS BOARD, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.

PERFECT. AND THEN THE DONOR PLAZA, THAT WAS VOTED ON PREVIOUSLY? SO IT IS A LINE ITEM WITHIN THE CIP, BUT THE CIP IS A WORKING DOCUMENT. SO UNTIL THE ACTUAL PROJECT IS VOTED ON BY THE COUNCIL, IT WAS NOT APPROVED. SO THE FUNDS WERE THERE.

AT A HIGH LEVEL CONCEPTION, BUT WE PUSH PROJECTS ALL THE TIME, THINGS GET MOVED, THINGS GET CANCELLED, SO THIS IS A TRUE NEW VOTE. SORRY, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT JUST FOR A SECOND. SO WE'VE PUT OUT BONDS FOR IT, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE MONEY HAS BEEN COLLECTED FOR THE BONDS. SO WE HAVE INDEPENDENT BOND COUNSEL THAT WORKS WITH DANIELLE, SO WE WOULD NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT BOND MONEY. THE TERMS OF THE BOND WOULD DICTATE KIND OF WHAT THAT MONEY COULD, WHAT WE COULD DO WITH IT, WHETHER IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAID, WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW. WE'D BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR OTHER PROJECTS.

THAT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHAT KIND OF BOND IT IS AND THE TERMS OF THE BOND.

BUT YOU GUYS HAVE NOT VOTED TO BUILD THE PROJECT, AND IT HAS TO. THE REASON THE RESOLUTION IS SO WORDY IS BECAUSE THAT'S PUBLIC FUNDS BEING USED FOR A PROJECT. SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT FOR, BECAUSE OF THE THRESHOLD BEING OVER THE $100,000, BY STATE LAW. IT HAS TO GO OUT AND FOLLOW THE PUBLIC SORT OF SEALED BIDDING PROCESS. AND SO UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY VOTE ON IT. SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS A VERY STRANGELY DRAFTED, LIKE, YOU'RE NOT REALLY GOING AHEAD.

YOU'RE SAYING WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD WANT US TO TELL SYNC THAT YOU DON'T INTEND LONG-TERM TO GO AHEAD. SO THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO TAKE BACK TO THEIR BOARD.

BUT YOU CANNOT ACTUALLY AT THIS POINT VOTE TO APPROVE THAT PROJECT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT COMPLIED WITH ALL OF IOWA CODE CHAPTER 26 REQUIREMENTS FOR PUTTING THIS OUT FOR SEALED BIDS,

[00:55:02]

ACTUALLY APPROVING AND ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT ON THIS PROJECT. SO THIS IS TO GO OUT FOR BID? RIGHT. IT'S NOT EVEN REALLY TO GO OUT FOR BID. IT'S TO GIVE THEM A NOD THAT WE INTEND TO FOLLOW THROUGH DOWN THE ROAD. YES.

OKAY. I DELVED INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT AFTER LAST MEETING, AND I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THAT.

PART OF THIS IS THE A REPLACEMENT OF A PREVIOUS PROJECT THAT WE HAD DONE DOWN THERE. AND I THINK SOME OF THAT KIND OF GOT LOST IN THE MIX IN THAT. WE HAD SOMETHING FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DONE THAT DID GET DESTROYED BY THE FLOOD. THAT WE DO, I FEEL LIKE, HAVE SOME SORT OF OBLIGATION TO REPLACE IN SOME CAPACITY. IT SOUNDS LIKE... WITH FOLLOWING ALL OF THE IOWA CODE AND EVERYTHING, WOULD THIS NOT, THIS MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE $600,000, THEN? IT'D HAVE TO GO OUT FOR A BID, RIGHT? RIGHT, IT WOULD HAVE TO, WE'D HAVE TO GO OUT FOR BIDDING ON IT, YES. OKAY.

SO WHAT WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY? IT WAS ADDED FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. PUT IT INTO OUR FISCAL YEAR 26.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BUDGET. CORRECT. SO THEN WHEN WE PUT OUT BONDS BASED ON THOSE PROJECTS. SO IT CAME TO COUNCIL IN TWO SORT OF WAYS, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. AS A LINE ITEM IN THE ACTUAL BUDGET, THAT CAME WITH THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE FULL CIP BUDGET FOR THE YEAR. GOT IT. AND THEN IT ALSO IN THE, I BELIEVE IT WAS A 372-PAGE PACKET. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN 10 PAGES FROM PARKS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, ABOUT WHAT THEY INTENDED TO DO, AND THAT WOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN IN THE COUNCIL PACKET AT THAT TIME. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WHEN IT GOES OUT FOR BOND, WE IDENTIFY SORT OF THAT WE'RE GOING OUT FOR BOND FOR THOSE THINGS. SO THE PROJECT ITSELF HASN'T GONE THROUGH THE ACTUAL PROCEDURES TO APPROVE THE PROJECT. THAT'S NOT MAKING MUCH SENSE. YOU'RE SAYING WE BONDED FOR IT, WE JUST HAVEN'T A LOT. WE BONDED FOR IT. EARMARKED IT, WE HAVEN'T OFFICIALLY ALLOCATED IT YET, CORRECT? I MEAN, WHEN WE BOND FOR IT, WE SORT OF ALLOCATE FOR IT, RIGHT? YES, SO THE MONEY HAS BEEN MARKED. SURE, YOU HAVE NOT APPROVED THE PROJECT AND YOU CAN'T APPROVE GOING AHEAD WITH A CONTRACT FOR THE PROJECT. BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE CONTRACT IS.

AND WE HAVEN'T GOT IT OKAY.

AND SO THIS IS DIFFERENT AND IS BEING TREATED DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER THAN THE FIVE PHASES OF THE REVERSE EDGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. BECAUSE THAT IS PRIVATELY DONATED MONEY THAT HAD TO BE EXPRESSLY, IN ORDER TO GET OUTSIDE OF IOWA. CODE CHAPTER 26, HAD TO BE EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE DONATIONS THAT THAT WAS MONEY THAT WAS BEING DONATED FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINGENT UPON PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. AND NO PUBLIC MONEY COULD BE USED IN THE AMENITIES. SO WHEN THEY SAY THAT'S NOT COSTING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, THEY MEAN THE AMENITIES. I DO THINK THAT WHEN THEY SAID IT'LL COST NOTHING TO THE TAXPAYERS, NOBODY SAID CAVEAT, BUT ALSO THERE'S THE $600,000. THERE'S THIS, RIGHT. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST MEETING, HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THAT, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT HAD ALREADY BEEN, LIKE YOU SAY, WE'LL SAY APPROVED OR BUDGETED, OR ALLOCATED THROUGH THE BOND PROCESS, WHICH ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THAT AS AN APPROVAL.

YOU'RE AGREEING TO DO IT.

YOU'RE GIVING US THE MONEY.

YOU'VE ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR IT. SO, TO ME, THAT SHIP SAILED FROM THAT REGARD. NOW IT'S A MATTER OF... DO WE AGREE WITH WHERE IT GOES, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, THAT TYPE OF THING, WHICH THAT DID COME IN? A PART OF THAT LAST YEAR, IT SOUNDS LIKE, WHERE WE HAD KIND OF A CONCEPTUAL DRAWING OF WHAT THE PLAZA WOULD LOOK LIKE. IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T BELIEVE, I'M NOT POSITIVE ON THAT. I DO, I COULD PULL THE COUPLE OF PAGES AND HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THE SAME ROAD AGAIN. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S LIKE, NO, WE ALREADY DID THAT. NO, AND I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WHILE WE HAVE MANY PROJECTS THAT GO INTO THE CIP. AND SEVERAL THAT WE BOND FOR THAT WE NEVER MOVE FORWARD WITH. SO TO SAY THAT THE SHIP HAS SAILED, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S AN ACCURATE STATEMENT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT.

BUT WE'VE ALLOCATED THE MONEY.

YES, BUT IT CAN BE USED FOR OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE CIP.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, ASKING US TO APPROVE IT, I COULD SEE THEIR MINDSET WOULD BE YOU ALLOCATED THE MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT. I UNDERSTAND WE COULD

[01:00:02]

YOU KNOW, LOOKING CLOSELY AT IT, AT LEAST FOR THE...

THAT'LL BE A LONG MEETING THAT NIGHT. YEAH. RIGHT. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU GUYS HAD ALREADY GONE THROUGH THAT. SO WHEN I WAS READING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'M THINKING, WE'RE SEEING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND SO MY QUESTIONS WERE COMING FROM THAT STANDPOINT.

BUT AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK AND REHASH THINGS THAT ARE DONE. IT'S DONE. AND IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE CAN... TALK ABOUT IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN MAKE BETTER, I GUESS, IF WE NEED TO. AND JUST THE INFORMATION THAT WAS IN THE PACKET THAT ZACH IS TALKING ABOUT, THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT PETE TOULOUPAN HAD ASKED TO BE EMAILED OUT TO COUNCIL.

THAT I SENT TO YOU IN AN EMAIL AFTER THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. DANIELLE, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? I'LL JUST ADD THAT THE PURPOSE HEARINGS, LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING TODAY FOR FY27 CIP, THOSE WE WORK WITH OUTSIDE BOND COUNCIL. WE FIGURE OUT, WE UTILIZE THE CIP AS A GUIDE.

WE FIGURE OUT WHAT PURPOSES THOSE PROJECTS ENTAIL AND WHAT WE CAN USE THAT BOND MONEY ON.

SO WHEN WE OUTLINE THAT DIFFERENT VERBIAGE AND LANGUAGE WITHIN THAT, THAT IS GEARED TOWARD THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ON THE CIP SCHEDULE. IT GETS REALLY DIFFICULT TO PIVOT WITHIN THE TWO-YEAR TIME FRAME THAT YOU CAN SPEND THAT MONEY.

WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY REBATE AND ARBITRAGE RULES AND THOSE THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT GETS REALLY HARD TO PIVOT ON $600,000 DURING THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO SPEND THAT MONEY DOWN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A GENERAL CORPORATE PURPOSE PROJECT, WHICH, THAT IS, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO FIND ANOTHER PROJECT THAT QUALIFIES FOR WHAT IS OUTLINED WITHIN THE LANGUAGE OF THAT PURPOSE. HEARING. AND STILL MEET THAT SPENDING TIMEFRAME REQUIREMENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS WELL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? OKAY. AND PETE DID SAY THAT EACH ATTRACTION OR AMENITY DOWN THERE HAS ITS OWN PLAQUE.

SO THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THOSE. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? OKAY, SEEING NO QUESTIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW? YES, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS OVER THE BUDGET FOR DODGE PARK. I GOT A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT. AND I'VE BEEN ON THE BUDGET ON THE COUNCIL UP HERE FIVE YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PRESENTED BY DECEMBER 31ST OF EVERY YEAR, AND I GOT A COPY OF THE AGREEMENT OR THE RESOLUTION.

ANYBODY WOULD LIKE A COPY, I HAVE ONE. I'M SORRY, I HAVE ONE HERE. I'LL HAND THEM OUT. I BROUGHT SOME FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE'S SOME CONCERNING THINGS IN THERE I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO APPROVE A BUDGET

[01:05:01]

DANIELLE? AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS FILED TO. SO WHEN THEY SEND US THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET. IT COMES TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. WE ENTER IT IN WITH THE OVERALL CITY DEPARTMENT BUDGET, WHICH YOU THEN APPROVE VIA PUBLIC HEARING, TYPICALLY IN THE LATE MARCH, EARLY APRIL TIMEFRAME. THAT WAS PRIOR TO THE STATE CHANGING THE LEGISLATION. THAT DOESN'T ALLOW US TO DO OUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY PUBLIC HEARING UNTIL MARCH 20TH OR LATER. SO NOW IT'S TOWARD THE LATER END OF APRIL THAT YOU WILL SEE IT. IT IS INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S OVERALL BUDGET.

IT'S NOT A SEPARATE PRESENTATION THAT IS DONE. I BELIEVE IT IS OUTLINED IN THERE THAT THEY WOULD PRESENT SOMETHING TO CITY COUNCIL AS FAR AS THEIR BUDGET AND THE PLAN, I THINK, FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

BUT IT IS INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S OVERALL BUDGET, JUST NOT. WE DON'T PRESENT IT INDIVIDUALLY OR SEPARATELY.

YEAH, IN OUR BUDGET, I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED IT'S LIKE A THREE-LINE ITEM. BUT THERE IS REALLY NO OPERATING BUDGET THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND THIS IS GOING BACK TO 18. I DON'T, EFFECTIVELY, IT RAN OUT IN 21, I BELIEVE. BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BEEN EXTENDED. IT SAYS 22. OR 22. BUT THAT, WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT. LOTS OF CHANGE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE SINCE THEY TOOK OVER MANAGING IT DOWN THERE, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK INTO. WHAT DO YOU THINK, DANIELLE? DO YOU SEE THIS MORE OFTEN? YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT NEVER HURTS TO, LIKE, MARK ECKMAN CAME HERE TODAY AND PRESENTED THEIR BUDGET, MORE DETAILED LEVEL. I THINK THAT THAT IS AN OPTION.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK MORE TO IT THAN I WILL. I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU THE NUMBERS.

ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PRESENT AN OPERATING BUDGET BY DECEMBER 31ST EVERY YEAR, AND THAT'S AN OPERATING BUDGET.

YES. AND ALSO A REFLECTION OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR. YEAH, WHICH THEY GIVE THAT TO US.

THEY PROVIDE US THE FINANCE.

IT NEVER COMES TO THE COUNCIL, THOUGH, AND WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR ON THIS.

PROJECT WITHOUT EVEN A VOTE ON IT. PLUS, WE, I MEAN, IN THE CONTRACT, THEY GET A THREE PERCENT RAISE EVERY YEAR ON THEIR ON THEIR OPERATING FROM THEIR BASIC BASE OPERATING FEE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN A DIFFERENT READDRESS. PLUS, WE PAY FOR ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AND CAPITALS ON THE PROJECT, WE DON'T SEE THAT. HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND IN CAPITAL, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR UPKEEP ON THE PROPERTY? AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE ON THE MACHINERY AND THE BUILDINGS? AND THAT'S ALL ON US. I MEAN, WE DON'T SEE THAT I WILL TAKE IT BACK. WE DO GET THOSE NUMBERS. AS DANIELLE MENTIONED, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HASN'T BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL. IT COMES, IT COMES THROUGH, AND I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT MYSELF. BUT THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN US A DETAILED.

WE DO. WE GET THE DETAIL, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. WELL, WHY DOES NOT COUNCIL? I DON'T KNOW.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK MAYOR WALSH WHY HE DIDN'T PRESENT IT.

I'M ASKING HERE BECAUSE COUNCIL SHOULD BE APPROVING THIS STUFF EVERY YEAR. YEAH. IT'S PART OF THE OVERALL BUDGET, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF IT. SO I CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS CONTRACT.

CHANGE SINCE THEY'VE TAKEN OVER DOWN THERE. AND OUR EMPLOYEES DON'T GET A 3% RAISE EVERY YEAR AND 20% OF THE PROFIT. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE RE-LOOKED AT. SO WOULD YOU LIKE A DIRECTIVE AND YOU WOULD NEED A SECOND THEN, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT? I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO IT. THAT WOULD BE MY DIRECTIVE TO SEE WHERE WE'RE SITTING WITH THIS CONTRACT AND WHETHER...

WE SHOULD REALLY READ NEGOTIATED. WOULD YOU BE HAPPY, STEVE, AS A FIRST GO FOR US TO JUST TAKE A LOOK AT IT IN LEGAL? AND THEN WE CAN PUT SOMETHING ON FOR COUNCIL AT THE NEXT SESSION? WELL, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT BY THE 15TH, OR IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO INTO DEFAULT. IT WAS ALREADY APPROVED AS PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET? NO. THE

[01:10:04]

YES, THAT HASN'T BEEN CHANGED SINCE THE STATE LEGISLATURE CHANGED. SO THAT COULD BE MODIFIED TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHANGES IN LEGISLATION. IT APPEARS WE'RE WORKING OFF OF AN OLD CONTRACT RIGHT NOW.

THE FISCAL YEAR 26, WHICH WE'RE CURRENTLY IN, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET PAID UNDER THAT. I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT THE FISCAL YEAR 27 YOU WANT TO SEE BEFORE MARCH 15TH.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO. YEAH, THE LEGISLATURE JUST CHANGED THE DATE. SO, WELL, THE AGREEMENT THAT HE JUST HANDED US SAYS.

THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT TERMINATES ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2022, UNLESS SOONER TERMINATED, ACCORDING TO THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF. ALMOST ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS HAVE IN THAT THEY AUTO RENEW FOR A YEAR. AGAIN, THIS IS BEFORE THIS PREDATES ANYONE IN OUR LEGAL OFFICE EVEN BEING HERE. AND IT'S LIKELY THERE ARE MANY AGREEMENTS THAT. WE ARE NOT AWARE OF THAT, ARE AUTO-RENEWING. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION, BUT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TODAY. SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND LOOK AT IT FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

ALSO, IT WAS, I THINK, MAYBE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO THAT THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED THE DATES.

BUT IN TERMS OF SORT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE MEANTIME. YES, I THINK THE LEGAL SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS DRAFT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UP TO DATE ON IT AND THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING BEAT UP ON THIS.

BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THAT OUT IN TRANSPARENCY. NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT KIND OF MONEY WE'RE MAKING OR NOT MAKING ON DODGE PARK, AND I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ITEMS TO DISCUSS? I THINK I WOULD NEED A SECOND FOR THAT, WOULDN'T I? SO THERE'S NO ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. SORT OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVES, BUT THIS MAY FALL IN THAT LOOPHOLE OF THE IF IT'S LESS THAN TWO DAYS WORTH OF WORK. WE ARE HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT WITHOUT A DIRECTIVE, A FORMAL VOTE. OKAY, OTHERWISE THAT? OH OKAY, YEAH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU TONIGHT AT SEVEN.

[1) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

[2) CALL TO ORDER]

[3) CITIZENS REQUEST TO BE HEARD]

BUT I RECENTLY ACTUALLY PURCHASED THIS COMPANY. I AM FROM A 75-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS THAT WAS LOCATED IN UTAH. AND THIS PURCHASE CAME FROM, ANYWAY, LONG STORY, BUT I BOUGHT THIS COMPANY OUT OF NORTH DAKOTA. AND THEY HAD THE COVID EVENT COME THROUGH.

THEY HAD THE ARENA SET UP, THE DIRT WAS SET IN AND EVERYTHING. AND THAT YEAR PRIOR, THEY ALMOST SOLD OUT THIS BUILDING AT YOUR MID-AMERICA CENTER.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE TICKETS WERE ALREADY SOLD AND THE CANCELLATION OF THE EVENT, THE CITIZENS HAVE KIND OF SOMEWHAT FORGOT ABOUT THE RODEO, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH. SO WE'RE HERE TO TRY TO HELP GET SOME SUPPORT FOR THIS EVENT BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT. WE'RE GIVING AWAY CHILDREN'S TICKETS WITH A PAID ADULT ON FRIDAY NIGHT. WE HAVE VERY AFFORDABLE TICKETS AT $20. THERE ARE SOME RESERVED SEATS AT $40 EACH NIGHT, WHICH IS A VERY GOOD PRICE FOR THE MARKET. AND WE FEEL THAT THIS RODEO CAN ACTUALLY HELP THIS COMMUNITY A LOT, ESPECIALLY IN THE FASHION OF TOURISM AND STUFF, BRINGING PEOPLE.

WITHOUT OUTSIDE MONEY TO INTO THIS COMMUNITY. AND IF WE COULD GET SOME OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING TO DRUM UP AND KIND OF SUPPORT AND RALLY BEHIND IT, I THINK THAT IT COULD BE BENEFICIAL. WE ACTUALLY SOUGHT TO GO IN AND DO SOME ASSEMBLIES FOR THE KIDS TOO, AND WE KIND OF GOT SHUT DOWN ON THAT. MY WIFE WAS A TEACHER FOR 25

[01:15:01]

THAT'S YOUR SUPERINTENDENT AND YOUR SCHOOL BOARD RIGHT THERE.

SO HOPEFULLY THEY GOT A POSTER SO THEY CAN GET A HOLD OF US.

THERE YOU GO. ANYWAY, WE LIKE TO DO STUFF LIKE ANTI-BULLYING CAMPAIGNS AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND STUFF RELATED TO RODEO TOPICS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS WILL KIND OF CHECK IT OUT AND HELP US OUT. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT AND GIVE AWAY THE BUCKLES, THE CHAMPIONSHIP BUCKLES, SO THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

YEAH. AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY NEEDS FROM THE RODEO AUDIENCE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT. WE COULD MAYBE ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE THINGS WHILE WE'RE THERE, TRY TO DO SOME SORT OF SPECIAL PRESENTATION OR SOMETHING WHILE WE'RE THERE. SO, ANYWAY, DON'T WANT TO WASTE TOO MUCH MORE OF YOUR GUYS' TIME. SEEMS LIKE YOU'VE GOT A PRETTY FULL NIGHT.

AND YOUR DATES ARE? MARCH 20TH AND 21ST. THERE YOU GO. SO, FAMILY NIGHT OR KIDS NIGHT ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THE 20TH, AND THEN MORE OF AN ADULT NIGHT CROWD ON THE 21ST. WE ACTUALLY REALLY... FAMILY-FRIENDLY FOR EVERYBODY. YES. DISCOUNT TICKET, FREE KIDS TICKET.

COMING FROM UTAH, I AM A VERY FAMILY-ORIENTED TYPE OF GUY.

SO ANYWAY, I LIKE TO HAVE FAMILY, ORIENTATION, ENTERTAINMENT, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF IT IN THE WORLD. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU, CODY. THANK YOU, GRETCHEN. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD NOT ABOUT A TOPIC ON THE AGENDA? MADAM MAYOR, JUST SO I'M CLEAR, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE STEM SCHOOL.

WOULD THAT BE AT CONSENT AGENDA B? CORRECT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY.

NOBODY ELSE WISHING

[4) CONSENT AGENDA A]

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO. IS THERE A VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CONSENT AGENDA A PASSES. AND DO

[5) CONSENT AGENDA B]

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANYBODY FROM THE CROWD WISHING TO BE HEARD AT THIS TIME? AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

YEAH, ROBERT SCHLOTT, HOME ADDRESS IS 20237, MONUMENT ROAD, CRESCENT. I HAVE HANDOUTS THAT I'M GOING TO GIVE TO YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THEM, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH DEVELOPING A STEM SCHOOL, A STEM-BASED EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. AND COULD YOU PASS THESE AROUND? MOTION TO FILE THEM, SIR.

SECOND. ALL THOSE APPROVED? AYE. OPPOSED? IT'S A PACKET.

YEP. GO AHEAD, BOB. YOUR TIME'S GOING. I'M JUST GOING TO GO PEEL THROUGH THESE VERY QUICKLY AND THEN COME BACK AND GIVE A BIT MORE BACKGROUND.

THE FIRST SHEET IS... MORE OR LESS THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH FOR THE LAST 15-16 MONTHS IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING A STEM SCHOOL CONCEPT AND DESIGN. THE NEXT ONE IS A CASE FOR A STEM IMMERSION HIGH SCHOOL IN COUNCIL PLUS, DEVELOPED BY DR. MORELLO AND HER STAFF. THE NEXT ONE, THIS ONE, ESTABLISHING A HIGH-PERFORMING STEM SCHOOL, A SIMILAR THING, MORE DETAIL. THERE WAS A COMMUNITY SURVEY RUN, WHICH THIS NEXT SHEET SHOWS THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY, A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST AMONG PARENTS TO HAVE STEM EDUCATION FOR THEIR KIDS. THE NEXT ONE IS AN ANSWER TO A VARIETY OF QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP EARLY IN OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE CONCEPT FROM DR.

MORELLO. THERE'S A BOOKLET HERE THAT WAS PROVIDED BY HDR. WHO HAVE DONE... DESIGNS, PRELIMINARY DESIGNS FOR THE SCHOOL, AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS JUST A PUBLIC INFORMATION REGARDING PAY LEVELS FOR STEM EDUCATION. I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST ONE, WHICH IS TITLED PATHWAY TO STEM BASED EDUCATION FOR HIGH SCHOOLS. AND AS I MENTIONED ABOUT 15-16 MONTHS AGO, DR.

MORELLO AND THE COUNCIL ON SCHOOL SYSTEM, STAFF AND SEVERAL OTHERS BEGAN TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF

[01:20:02]

AND OTHER COMMUNITIES, SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, THAT TAKE CARE TO COME TO THAT AS WELL. AND AS WE CONTINUED TO EXPLORE THAT AND TALK TO A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT IT, WE HAD VERY STRONG INPUTS.

THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. AND SO WE CONTINUED EXPLORING THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING IS ON THIS FIRST PAGE YOU'LL SEE A QR CODE, AS WELL AS A LINK TO A... WEBSITE. THAT'S A VIDEO THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY A BUNCH OF COMMUNITY LEADERS TALKING ABOUT STEM EDUCATION AND THE BENEFITS IT COULD HAVE HERE.

SO DURING EARLY CONVERSATIONS, IT WAS CONCLUDED THE COST OF THE SCHOOL WOULD BE 30 TO 35 MILLION DOLLARS. IT WOULD HAVE A CAPACITY OF 400 STUDENTS, A HUNDRED OF EACH OF THE FOUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADE LEVELS. WHAT WAS REALIZED VERY QUICKLY IS WE COULD FIND SOME FUNDING, PUBLIC FUNDING. THE SCHOOL BOARD FELT THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE $5 MILLION OF IT. THE STATE OF IOWA HAS SOME GRANT MONEY AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT JUST BECAME AVAILABLE TO THEM FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND DR. MORELLO AND HER STAFF HAVE AN APPLICATION FOR THAT.

IT'S UNKNOWN WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THAT. IT'LL BE A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THAT SHOULD BE KNOWN. BUT REGARDLESS, BEST CASE SCENARIO IS IT LOOKED LIKE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE.

ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THIS COST, OF THAT TOTAL $35 MILLION COST, COME FROM PUBLIC SOURCES, AND TWO-THIRDS WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM PRIVATE OR PHILANTHROPIC SOURCES, FOUNDATIONS, AND THAT KIND OF THING. SO WE BEGAN TALKING WITH MAJOR FOUNDATIONS.

INITIALLY, THE SAME FOLKS THAT HAVE... I'VE BEEN REAL SUPPORTIVE OF THE RIVERFRONT RESTORATION, MID-AMERICA ENERGY, GOOGLE, DOHERTY FOUNDATION AND THOSE FOLKS, AND OTHERS AS WELL. AND WHAT BECAME CLEAR IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE—IS MY TIME UP? IF YOU WANT TO FINISH UP, BOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AT ANY EVENT, WE CONTINUED EXPLORING. WE MET WITH THE CITY EARLY ON, IN MARCH AND APRIL. WITH MAYOR WALSH AT THAT TIME AND RECEIVED PERMISSION TO BUY THE LOT, BLOCK 7 ON THE RIVERFRONT. AND IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE OF EMAILS THAT WENT BACK AND FORTH SAYING THAT THE CITY WAS WILLING TO SELL THOSE. THE LATTER ONE ON THE BASIS OF COVERING THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.

WITH THAT INFORMATION, WE REALLY STARTED TALKING TO PEOPLE. I HAD TOURED THE SITE WITH POTENTIAL DONORS, AND THEY EXPRESSED VERY MUCH AN OPENNESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO IT.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM GOING. ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED, THE STATE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS, THAT HAS A FOUR-YEAR LIFE.

DR. MORELLO WILL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE MORE. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR, BUT THE MONEY HAS TO BE SPENT. WE FEEL SOME URGENCY, FROM A TIMING PERSPECTIVE TO CONTINUE. HDR HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS A GENERAL ARCHITECT FOR IT. SPENT ABOUT ALMOST $250,000 WITH THEM ON PRELIMINARY PLANS. WE HAVE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR THAT WAS COMPETITIVELY CHOSEN FOR THAT AS WELL. SO WE'RE REALLY PUSHING INTO THE FUNDRAISING, WHICH IS THE CRITICAL PART OF THE THING. AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN HAVE THE VERBAL AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD WITH THE CITY FROM LAST YEAR MEMORIALIZED IN A WRITTEN AGREEMENT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC? GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR. JARED TRIPP, 15. SCARLET OAKS, LANE.

TONIGHT, I'M HERE AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, A VOLUNTEER, A PARENT, AND PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, BOARD OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU, I WANTED TO SAY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE BEFORE YOU. REGARDING THE PROPOSED SALE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY

[01:25:01]

SITUATED AT THE FRONT DOOR OF OUR CITY, THIS SITE OFFERS A HIGHLY VISIBLE AND SYMBOLIC OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND PREPARING OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE.

A PURPOSE-BUILT INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL AT THIS LOCATION WOULD NOT ONLY SERVE STUDENTS, IT WOULD SHAPE FIRST IMPRESSIONS, SIGNAL PROGRESS, AND ANCHOR LONG-TERM COMMUNITY GROWTH. BASED ON PAST DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN CITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, THE CITY OBTAINED AN APPRAISAL AND WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE DISTRICT ON A PROPOSED SALE AGREEMENT.

THAT IS NOW BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.

IMPORTANTLY, THE DISTRICT HAS INVESTED REAL-TIME PLANNING EFFORT AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES INTO THIS PROJECT. IN RELIANCE ON THOSE GOOD FAITH DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE SALE OF THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY. THE DISTRICT IS FULLY PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD SHOULD THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE SALE. AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE IOWA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A CHARTER FOR A DISTRICT TO OPEN THE STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL. OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR HIGHLY CAPABLE AND EXTREMELY MOTIVATED DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE EAGER TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY INTO THE ARCHITECTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES OF THIS PROJECT.

MOMENTUM IS VERY STRONG, AS BOB POINTED OUT, AND TIMING DOES MATTER. I CANNOT OVERSTATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. A PURPOSE-BUILT INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL AT THE ENTRANCE OF OUR CITY REPRESENTS ONE OF THOSE RARE MOMENTS WHERE THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT COLLABORATE IN A WAY THAT MEANINGFULLY ELEVATES. NOT ONLY THE PERCEPTION OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, BUT THE LIVED EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND BROADER COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.

MAKING THIS VISION A REALITY FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? HI THERE. PAT PETERS, 1114, EAST WASHINGTON AVE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS DECISION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL. AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER MYSELF, A COUNCIL BLUFFS NATIVE, A FATHER OF CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT, AND ALSO AS A MEMBER OF THE TECH COMMUNITY. IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF OUR DISTRICT'S PLAN TO BUILD A NEW, CUTTING-EDGE, STEM-FOCUSED SCHOOL IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. TO GIVE A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON MYSELF, ALONG WITH MY TIME VOLUNTEERING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, I'VE BEEN WORKING PROFESSIONALLY IN TECHNOLOGY FOR OVER 15 YEARS. THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, I'VE NEEDED TO PURSUE MULTIPLE ACCREDITATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS TO STAY CURRENT, LEADING UP TO EVENTUALLY A FULL MASTER'S DEGREE IN CYBERSECURITY. SO, WHEN WE STARTED THE INITIAL PLANNING DISCUSSIONS AROUND THIS NEW SCHOOL, AND I GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CERTIFICATES THAT OUR STUDENTS WOULD POSSIBLY BE ABLE TO PURSUE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. YOU MIGHT SAY I WAS A LITTLE JEALOUS THAT A DEDICATED SCHOOL LIKE THIS WASN'T AROUND WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT 20 YEARS AGO.

ONE OF THE GOALS OF BUILDING THIS STEM SCHOOL IS TO BETTER PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THEIR FUTURE AND TO CREATE A HIGH-QUALITY, CUTTING-EDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAM. THAT ISN'T JUST CUTTING-EDGE IN SOUTHWEST IOWA, BUT THE ENTIRE STATE OF IOWA, THE MIDWEST, THE WHOLE COUNTRY. THIS SCHOOL WILL FOREVER BE PRIORITIZED FOR THE STUDENTS OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. IN BEING A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, THOUGH, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, TRAINER, GLENWOOD, UNDERWOOD, OMAHA, PAPILLION, LA VISTA, MILLARD, AND BEYOND. TO BETTER ATTRACT THESE STUDENTS, WE WANT TO OFFER A SCHOOL LOCATION THAT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE ENTIRE AREA, NOT JUST FROM WITHIN COUNCIL BLUFFS. AS A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, WE ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE MIDWEST.

TO HELP DEMONSTRATE TO OUR STUDENTS THE REAL WORLD NEED OF WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING AND WHERE THEY CAN APPLY IT. THIS ISN'T A NEW APPROACH FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WE'VE PARTNERED WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN THE COUNCIL BLUFFS AREA.

THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE OUR TRADEWORKS, MATCHING STUDENTS INTERESTED IN TRADES LIKE PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, WELDING, AND HVAC TO LICENSED INSTRUCTORS AND PROFESSIONALS WORKING PRIVATELY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'VE ALSO MAINTAINED STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOOGLE AND THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IN HELPING TO BRING FREE PUBLIC WI-FI TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND CITIZENS AT COUNCIL BLUFFS THROUGH THE B-LINK PROGRAM.

WHILE PLANNING FOR THE STEM SCHOOL, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO INDUSTRY-LEADING AND NATIONAL COMPANIES LOCATED RIGHT IN THE METRO AREA. BEING ABLE TO OFFER THIS HIGH-QUALITY STEM. PROGRAMMING WITH LOCAL, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FIELDS OF BIOMEDICAL, ENGINEERING, AND PATHWAYS AND TECHNOLOGY WILL BETTER CONNECT OUR STUDENTS WITH THEIR COMMUNITY AND PREPARE THEM FOR THAT FUTURE AS CONTRIBUTING ADULTS IN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS AROUND BROADENING OUR TAX BASE ON THE RIVERFRONT, AND HOW BUILDING A SCHOOL ON THE RIVERFRONT COULD INITIALLY MAKE THAT MORE DIFFICULT.

IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I COULD POINT OUT THE NUMEROUS STUDIES THAT HAVE SHOWN THAT QUALITY LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF ITS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. I COULD POINT OUT THAT A THRIVING LOCAL

[01:30:01]

ON AVERAGE, PROPERTY AND COMMERCIAL VALUES CAN GO UP BY ALMOST 20% WHEN A LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THAT PROPERTY OR COMMERCIAL VALUE. I COULD POINT OUT THAT. RESEARCH ON BUSINESS RELOCATIONS HAS SHOWN THAT LOCAL SCHOOL QUALITY IS A MAJOR QUALITY OF LIFE FACTOR FOR BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES WHEN PLANNING FOR RELOCATION. ALL OF THESE POINTS ARE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER, BUT I WANT TO CLOSE ON THIS SIMPLE POINT. WE WANT TO BETTER PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE. I THINK EVERYONE HERE CAN AGREE THAT WE WANT THAT FUTURE HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, PAT. GOOD EVENING, AMANDA. JENS, 1455 SOUTH LENOX CIRCLE. I AM HERE TONIGHT WEARING THREE DISTINCT HATS. I AM CURRENTLY THE PRINCIPAL OF KERN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I AM A FORMER MATH TEACHER AT ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, A PARENT OF TWO OPEN ENROLLED COUNCIL BLUFF STUDENTS. WHO WILL INHERIT THE RESULTS OF YOUR DECISION REGARDING THE NEED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE LAND PROPOSAL OF THE NEW COUNCIL BLUFF STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL. IN MY DAYS AS A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER, I TAUGHT STUDENTS HOW TO PROBLEM SOLVE FOR THE MISSING PIECE. THE VARIABLE. AS A PRINCIPAL, I LEAD THE HUMAN VARIABLES THAT MAKE THOSE EQUATIONS POSSIBLE.

AND TONIGHT, THE MISSING PIECE ISN'T JUST A VARIABLE ON A WHITEBOARD, IT IS THE ECONOMICAL AND EDUCATIONAL HEARTBEAT OF THIS COMMUNITY.

WE AREN'T JUST LOOKING FOR A PLOT OF LAND, WE ARE ASKING FOR A FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS OF OUR CITY'S ECONOMY. FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT VISIBILITY.

THIS RIVERFRONT SITE IS OUR CITY'S FRONT PORCH. BY PLACING OUR STEM SCHOOL HERE, WE AREN'T JUST BUILDING A SCHOOL, WE ARE MAKING A PUBLIC DECLARATION OF OUR VALUES.

WHEN FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES LOOK ACROSS THE WATER AT OUR SHORELINE, THEY SHOULD SEE A GLASS-WALLED HUB OF INNOVATION. THIS LOCATION SIGNALS TO EVERY PERSON IN THE NEIGHBORING METROPOLITAN AREA THAT OUR CITY IS THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT. SECOND IS ACCESS.

AS A FORMER MATH TEACHER, I KNOW THAT EQUATIONS ONLY COME TO LIFE WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED.

AND THIS RIVER'S EDGE... THIS RIVER'S EDGE SITE ISN'T JUST CONVENIENT, IT'S STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED WITHIN THE ECOSYSTEM OF OUR INDUSTRY LEADERS AND HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS. IT FACILITATES THE KIND OF BORDERLESS LEARNING THAT ALLOWS A STUDENT TO WORK ALONGSIDE A BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER.

IN THE MORNING AND BE BACK IN THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL BY LUNCH TO CONTINUE HER LEARNING AND INNOVATION. WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO SEE THEIR FUTURE FROM THEIR CHEMISTRY LAB WINDOW. WE AREN'T JUST BUILDING A SCHOOL, WE'RE BUILDING A BRIDGE TO A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY.

ONE WHERE OUR GRADUATES DON'T JUST ADMIRE THE SKYLINE FROM ACROSS THE WATER, THEY BECOME THE ARCHITECTS WHO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND OUR OWN. FINALLY, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THIS COUNCIL, IS ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY. WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT BRAIN DRAIN, THE IDEA THAT WE EDUCATE OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST ONLY FOR THEM TO TAKE THEIR TALENTS TO OTHER CITIES.

BY PLACING THIS INNOVATIVE STEM HIGH SCHOOL ALONG RIVERS EDGE PARK, WE CREATE A HOMEGROWN TALENT PIPELINE. WHEN STUDENTS LEARN ALONGSIDE LOCAL EMPLOYERS, THEY FORM ROOTS.

THEY SEE A CAREER PATH THAT STARTS IN A LOCAL CLASSROOM AND LEADS TO A LOCAL OFFICE. WE AREN'T JUST EDUCATING STUDENTS. WE ARE SECURING A FUTURE TAX BASE AND ENSURING THAT THE INNOVATORS OF TOMORROW CHOOSE TO BUILD THEIR COMPANIES RIGHT HERE, WHERE THEIR JOURNEY STARTED.

AS A PRINCIPAL, I SEE THE POTENTIAL. AS A FORMER MATH TEACHER, I SEE THE NEED. AND AS A PARENT, I SEE THE STAKES.

LET'S GIVE OUR KIDS THE FLOOR THEY NEED TO REACH THE CEILING THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, KATHLEEN SCHMETTING, 1319 NORTH ATLANTIC CIRCLE, AND I AM HERE AS I SERVE AS THE COORDINATOR OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT MORE THAN THAT, I AM AN EMPLOYEE. I'M A PROUD GRADUATE AND A LIFELONG SUPPORTER OF COUNCIL BLUFFS. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR DISTRICT REGARDING THE STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL. AND YOUR VOTE THIS EVENING TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED SALE OF THE RIVERS EDGE PARK AND A VOTE YES ON CONSENT. AGENDA ITEM B.

NINE YEARS AGO, UNDER DR.

MORRELO'S LEADERSHIP? WE BEGAN A MOVEMENT. ONE POWERFUL BELIEF MAKING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION INESCAPABLE FOR ALL STUDENTS, WITH A SIMPLE TAGLINE OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND A SECOND PIECE OF PAPER. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE TRANSFORMED HOW STUDENTS ENGAGE IN THEIR FOUR-YEAR PLANS, PARTICIPATE IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES, AND PREPARE FOR LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. AND OUR RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. 91% OF OUR GRADUATES EARNED THEIR DIPLOMA PLUS ONE, AND WE CELEBRATED OUR LARGEST GROUP YET OF 131.

SENIORS WHO COMPLETED THEIR IWCC CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA, OR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE BEFORE EARNING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. NOW, WE ARE ON TO BUILDING A NEW ERA, REIMAGINING THE HIGH SCHOOL

[01:35:01]

IT REPRESENTS INNOVATION IN ACTION. SO WHY THIS LAND, AND WHY NOW? COUNCIL BLUFFS, AS A RESIDENT, IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS PROUD OF ITS ROOTS, BUT WE ARE ALSO PART OF AN INTRICATE GREATER OMAHA METROPOLITAN AREA, A REGION THAT IS NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, COMPUTER, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

THIS LOCATION ALONG RIVERS EDGE PARK DOES MORE THAN PROVIDE VISIBILITY AS A GATEWAY TO IOWA. IT STRATEGICALLY PLACES OUR STUDENTS IN PROXIMITY OF INDUSTRY LEADERS, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, INNOVATION-DRIVEN EMPLOYERS, ALL ACROSS THE METRO AREA.

LOCATION MATTERS. PROXIMITY MATTERS. ACCESS MATTERS.

PLACING THE SCHOOL AT THE RIVER'S EDGE, AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, CREATES A BRIDGE, NOT JUST BETWEEN TWO STATES, BUT BETWEEN EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE, STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY, AND POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY.

AS SOMEONE BORN AND RAISED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE VISION YOU WANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHILDREN. THE DECISION IS MORE THAN JUST LAND. IT'S ABOUT INNOVATION AND ACCESS, AND PREPARING OUR NEXT GENERATION TO LEAD. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A VOTE YES ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEM B.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JUSTIN HECKMAN, 1413 SKYLINE DRIVE. I'VE BEEN A TEACHER AT ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL FOR 26 YEARS. IN THAT TIME, I'VE FOUND, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE STEM CHARTER SCHOOL, I'VE FOUND IN THAT TIME THAT I'VE WORKED THERE. THAT PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PRODUCE LONG-LASTING RESULTS IN EDUCATING STUDENTS AND TO GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT STEM IN PARTICULAR. THIS IS MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE THE STEM SCHOOL WILL DEDICATE TIME FOR PROJECT-BASED LEARNING THAT IS OTHERWISE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOLS. AS WE KNOW THEM. RIGHT NOW, WE SPEND EIGHT PERIODS A DAY TEACHING CURRICULUM, AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IS RELEGATED TO BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. THAT MEANS IT'S IN COMPETITION WITH SPORTS, AFTER-SCHOOL JOBS, AND POTENTIALLY CHILD CARE FOR FAMILIES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY IN MY CAREER. I HAVE COACHED KIDS IN BOTH ROBOTICS AND WORKED WITH THEM IN ENGINEERING CLUBS AND SEEN DRAMATIC SUCCESS AS THEY GO ON TO THE REAL WORLD. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES OF THIS SUCCESS, STARTING WITH A GRADUATE FROM 2015 NAMED ALEX, WHO WAS ON OUR ROBOTICS TEAM. HE WENT ON TO GET A COMPUTER ENGINEERING DEGREE AND NOW WORKS AS THE LEAD ON A GAS LEAK DETECTION GROUP.

ON THE ARTEMIS ROCKET SYSTEM AT NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE HAD A GRADUATE NAMED KEVIN IN 2016, ALSO IN ROBOTICS. HE WENT TO ISU AND GRADUATED IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS WITH AN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING DEGREE.

HE THEN WENT IMMEDIATELY TO MIT AND GOT HIS MASTER'S DEGREE, GRADUATING DURING THE PANDEMIC REMOTELY HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, WITH A DATA ANALYTICS DEGREE.

HE NOW, AFTER GRADUATION, HE WAS HIRED BY A COMPANY NAMED ACCENTURE, WHERE HE HELPED WORK WITH DISTRIBUTION OF COVID VACCINE TO DEVELOPING NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. AND STILL LIVES IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AND WORKS REMOTELY AS A WILDLY SUCCESSFUL DATA ANALYTICS PROFESSIONAL. BUT A VERY MEANINGFUL PROJECT THAT I WORKED WITH NEAR THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER HAS A SPECIAL PLACE. WITH RESPECT TO WHERE THE STEM CHARTER SCHOOL IS SUGGESTED TO BE LOCATED.

IN THE SCHOOL YEAR 2006-2007, I WORKED WITH A GROUP OF KIDS IN AN ENGINEERING CLUB WHO WERE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING AN ENGINEERING PROJECT THAT THEY WOULD BE PRESENTING.

TO A COMPETITION IN OMAHA THAT'S SPONSORED BY THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MILITARY ENGINEERS. THEY CHOSE TO DESIGN A PARK AT THE RIVERFRONT, WHERE THERE WAS ONLY BRUSH.

AT THE TIME, THERE WAS A BRIDGE BEING BUILT ACROSS THE RIVER THAT IS NOW THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.

IN THAT TIME, THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MENTORS FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND THOSE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. SORT OF PULLED THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THEIR FEET WHEN THEY FOUND THAT THEY COULDN'T BUILD A GIGANTIC AMPHITHEATER THERE

[01:40:01]

BUT THEY WENT AHEAD WITH THEIR PROJECT AND PRESENTED IT TO THE COMPETITION IN OMAHA AND DID QUITE WELL. LATER, THEY WERE SO EXCITED THAT THEY ACTUALLY CAME TO THIS VERY ROOM AND PRESENTED IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME, WHERE THEY WERE GIVEN PRAISE.

ONE SPECIFIC STUDENT FROM THAT GROUP NAMED JESSICA. WENT ON WITH A WALTER SCOTT SCHOLARSHIP TO THE PETER KIEWIT INSTITUTE AND GRADUATED WITH A CIVIL ENGINEERING DEGREE. SHE LATER WENT ON TO GET HER MASTER'S IN HYDROLOGICAL ENGINEERING AND NOW WORKS FOR THE VERY SAME AGENCY IN OMAHA, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, HELPING CONTROL THE WATERWAYS THAT SHE LEARNED ABOUT DURING THAT PROJECT AS A STUDENT. THESE ARE ALL VERY MEANINGFUL PROJECTS. THAT ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE THOSE KIDS WERE WILLING TO COME BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. I FEEL THAT THIS, I MEAN, IT'S MEANINGFUL TO ME THAT THAT TOOK PLACE DOWN AT THE RIVER. AND WHILE TOM HANNAFIN PARK NOW LIES IN THE SPOT WHERE THEY SUGGESTED THIS PARK, I HAVE NO IDEA IF THAT'S WHY, IF THE IDEA CAME FROM THEM.

HOWEVER, I'D LIKE TO THINK SO. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT THE SPOT FOR THE STEM CHARTER SCHOOL IS SPECIFICALLY MEANINGFUL.

FOR STUDENTS IN STEM, AND PARTICULARLY IN ENGINEERING, WHICH I ALSO TEACH AT ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL FROM TIME TO TIME. AND IF YOU WALK OUTSIDE THAT BUILDING, THERE IS JUST BASICALLY A STEM LAB. YOU CAN WALK ONTO A SUSPENSION BRIDGE AND LOOK AND SEE EXACTLY HOW IT'S CONSTRUCTED AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS. THEY'RE CURRENTLY BUILDING A LARGE ADVENTURE TOWER THAT I UNDERSTAND WILL HAVE A GRAVITY COASTER ON IT.

THAT JUST EXUDES ALL THESE PRINCIPLES AND IDEAS THAT WE TEACH IN THE STEM AREAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES TONIGHT TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PURPOSED SALE OF THE LAND BY THE RIVERFRONT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MARIA SOTILLO, 2315, AVENUE C. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS MARIA SOTILLO. I AM THE MOTHER OF FOUR DAUGHTERS WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS IN THE COUNCIL BLUFF DISTRICT.

TODAY, I AM HERE IN FAVOR OF THE STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL BY THE RIVERFRONT. STEM CAREERS, AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, TOUCHES EVERY INDUSTRY, FROM HEALTHCARE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MANUFACTURING. AND THESE FIELDS, AS PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED AS WELL, ARE GROWING RAPIDLY. AS A HEALTHCARE LEADER, I SEE FIRSTHAND THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE IN STEM-RELATED CAREERS, PREPARING STUDENTS EARLY THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING AND DIRECT CAREER CONNECTIONS.

HELPS GROW LOCAL TALENT, STRENGTHEN OUR REGIONAL AND LOCAL ECONOMY. AS A MOM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD BRING FOR OUR KIDS, ALL OF OUR KIDS. NOT EVERY STUDENT THRIVES IN A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM, AND THIS MODEL WILL OFFER STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO LEARN IN NEW WAYS, DISCOVER THAT STRENGTH, AND GRADUATE IN A CLEAR PATHWAY INTO COLLEGE AND HIGH-DEMANDING CAREERS. I ALSO VALUE THAT THIS WOULD BE A TUITION-FREE PUBLIC CHARTER, ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS, WHILE KEEPING ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT OPENING A NEW SCHOOL.

THIS IS ABOUT EXPANDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CHILDREN, BUILDING OUR WORKFORCE, OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE, AND GIVING OUR STUDENTS INNOVATIVE PATHWAYS TO SUCCEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS DR.

VICKI MORELLO, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COUNCIL BLUFFS SCHOOLS.

I LIVE AT 23. PATRICK CIRCLE, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, 51503.

WELL, THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A CONVERSATION ABOUT A PLOT OF LAND. IT'S A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO WE BELIEVE COUNCIL BLUFFS CAN BECOME. WHEN WE BUILT THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER, WE DID IT TOGETHER.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS ALIGNED AROUND A SHARED BELIEF THAT INVESTING IN CHILDREN STRENGTHENS AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTS THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY, BUT AT THE NEXT LEVEL, PREPARING STUDENTS NOT TO JUST GRADUATE, BUT TO LEAD, TO INNOVATE, AND TO FUEL THE WORKFORCE OF THIS REGION. THIS LOCATION GIVES US SOMETHING WE CANNOT REPLICATE ELSEWHERE.

VISIBILITY TO THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA, PROXIMITY TO INDUSTRY PARTNERS, AND A DAILY REMINDER TO OUR STUDENTS AND TO THE REGION THAT COUNCIL BLUFFS IS SERIOUS ABOUT INNOVATION. WE'RE NOT STANDING ON THE SIDELINES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN IT. WE SECURE,

[01:45:01]

BUT IF THE COUNCIL VOTES DOWN THIS CHANCE FOR A SIGNIFICANT AND POSITIVE ACTION TO INVEST IN THIS VISION, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER THIS VISION WILL NOT DISAPPEAR.

THE NEED WILL NOT DISAPPEAR.

THE DEMAND FROM FAMILIES AND INDUSTRIES WILL NOT DISAPPEAR.

WE WILL BE LEFT WITH ONE REMAINING OPTION, TO ASK OUR TAXPAYERS TO CARRY THE FULL WEIGHT THROUGH A BOND. THE DECISION IS NOT ABOUT BEING FOR OR AGAINST A STEM HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S ABOUT WHETHER WE POSITION IT IN A LOCATION WHERE IT CAN THRIVE, WHERE IT CAN ATTRACT PARTNERS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITY.

AGAIN, I WILL REPEAT WHAT WAS STATED BEFORE. LOCATION MATTERS, PROXIMITY MATTERS, AND ACCESS MATTERS, BUT SO DOES VISION. TONIGHT, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE A LANDMARK, NOT JUST A BUILDING ALONG A RIVERFRONT, BUT A SYMBOL WHERE COUNCIL BLUFFS IS HEADED. A STATEMENT THAT WE BELIEVE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO LEARN AT THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY.

A DECLARATION THAT WE'RE INVESTING BOLDLY IN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE. THE QUESTION BEFORE ALL OF US IS SIMPLE. WILL WE DO IT HERE AT THE GATEWAY TO IOWA, WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS VISIBILITY AND VISION MEETS ACTION? I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE EDUCATION IN COUNCIL BLUFFS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. TO POSITION OUR STUDENTS NOT JUST FOR GRADUATION, BUT FOR LEADERSHIP IN A REGION THAT'S GROWING, INNOVATING, AND COMPETING NATIONALLY.

TONIGHT, YOUR VOTE FOR SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING IS NOT JUST ABOUT LAND. IT'S ABOUT ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT BETWEEN EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE.

BETWEEN VISION AND EXECUTION.

BETWEEN THE FUTURE WE TALK ABOUT AND THE FUTURE WE'RE WILLING TO BUILD. A YES VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA B.

STATES THAT COUNCIL BLUFFS BELIEVES IN BOLD PARTNERSHIP.

IT SAYS WE'RE READY TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA AND CLAIM OUR PLACE IN THIS REGION'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.

IT SAYS WE VALUE OUR STUDENTS ENOUGH TO PLACE THEM AT THE CENTER OF OPPORTUNITY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT RECOGNIZES THAT THIS LOCATION IS THE CATALYST FOR THE ENTIRE VISION. ITS PROXIMITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND CONNECTION TO THE REGIONAL ASSETS MAKES IT UNIQUELY THE POSITION TO GENERATE. ECONOMIC IMPACT FAR BEYOND WHAT ANY SINGLE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COULD ACHIEVE. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT CAN BE BUILT HERE.

IT IS ABOUT WHAT THIS PLACE MAKES POSSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR WORKFORCE, WITH LASTING IMPACT ON A LONG-TERM PROSPERITY.

OF COUNCIL BLUFFS. THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT WILL OUTLAST ALL OF US. NOT JUST BRICK AND STEEL, BUT A BELIEF. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC TONIGHT? LUCILLE WOLF, 343, GLEASON AVENUE. HELLO, MY NAME IS LUCILLE WOLF AND I'M AN EIGHTH GRADER AT... CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL, I'M A THREE-TIME VEX IQ ROBOTICS WORLD QUALIFIER. I PLAY THE CELLO AND ORCHESTRA, AND ALSO PLAY COMPETITIVE SOCCER, RUN CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK AND PLAY BASKETBALL. I AM ALSO A STRAIGHT A STUDENT. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, AS I'M INTERESTED IN STUDYING ROBOTICS AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING WHILE ALSO PLAYING SPORTS FOR ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON RESOLUTION 2657 TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS LIKE ME, THE SCHOOL AND THE CITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ED WOLFE. I LIVE ON 343 GLEASON AVENUE. I'M A SOPHOMORE AT AL. I RUN VARSITY, CROSS-COUNTRY, AND TRACK, AND ALSO PLAY JV BASKETBALL. I'M A TWO-TIME VEX IQ ROBOTICS WORLD QUALIFIER, AND I'M CURRENTLY PREPARING FOR VEX V5 HIGH SCHOOL STATE QUALIFICATIONS THIS WEEKEND, WHO MY COACH IS, MR. HECKMAN.

I'M CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN IOWA WESTERN'S EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY WITH AN ENGINEERING FOCUS.

WHILE THE STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL WILL NOT BE OPEN BEFORE I GRADUATE, I AM HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON RESOLUTION 2657 TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS THAT HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS LIKE ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC TONIGHT? I DO

[01:50:02]

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE? MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE. SECOND.

THIS IS COMING FROM MIKE WOLF AT 343 GLEASON AVENUE, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING TONIGHT DUE TO TRAVEL. SO THE LETTER READS, GOOD AFTERNOON, OR, EXCUSE ME, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON THIS EVENING DUE TO PREVIOUS SCHEDULED TRAVEL.

BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE MY STRONG SUPPORT IN RESOLUTION 26-57. SELLING THIS LAND TO THE COUNCIL BLUFFS PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPRESENTS MORE THAN A SIMPLE EDUCATIONAL DECISION. IT'S A CRITICAL LONG-TERM ECONOMIC STRATEGY THAT WILL SHAPE AND HIGHLIGHT OUR CITY'S DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEXT THREE DECADES. AS A RETIRED CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE OPPORTUNITIES, AND I THINK YOU DO AS WELL, THAT CAN SHAPE THE CITY'S SUCCESSFUL FUTURE FOR THE NEXT THREE DECADES. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOUR CRITICAL REASONS WHY THIS PROJECT IS ESSENTIAL.

ONE, A RESOURCE FOR ALL OF COUNCIL BLUFFS. THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL IS DESIGNED AS A CITY-WIDE RESOURCE, DELIBERATE, DELIBERATELY LOCATED AT RIVER'S EDGE, TO SERVE AS A CENTRALIZED HUB FOR INNOVATION. THIS OPPORTUNISTIC, OPPORTUNISTIC LOCATION ENSURES EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, HAS EQUAL ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGH DEMAND, HIGH-WAGE CAREERS WITHIN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH. TWO, ECONOMIC DATA AND JOB GROWTH.

THE DATA IS CLEAR. IOWA STEM OCCUPATIONS ARE PROJECTED TO GROW BY 8.1% THROUGH 2034, TRIPLING THE GROWTH OF NON-STEM JOBS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE MEDIUM WAGE OF THESE ROLES IN IOWA IS OVER $103,000, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE MEDIUM FOR NON-STEM OCCUPATIONS. THIS SCHOOL WILL ENSURE COUNCIL BLUFFS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, EXCUSE ME, TO EARN THOSE HIGH WAGES.

WHILE ALSO DRIVING ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. THREE, REGIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE OMAHA SIGNAL.

BY ESTABLISHING THE STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL, WE ARE SIGNALING TO THE ENTIRE OMAHA COUNCIL BLUFFS METRO AREA THAT COUNCIL BLUFFS REMAINS ON THE LEADING EDGE. WE HAVE A PROVEN ABILITY TO TAKE INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND DELIVER ON THEM TO TRANSFORM OUR CITY, JUST AS WE HAVE WITH SO MANY OTHER PROJECTS THROUGHOUT OUR LONG HISTORY. WE'RE NOT MERELY KEEPING UP WITH OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE RIVER. WE ARE SETTING THE PACE AND INVITING THEM TO WITNESS ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. AND FOR ACTIVATING RIVERS EDGE 24-7. THE RIVERS EDGE HAS BECOME A CROWN JEWEL OF OUR CITY'S LEISURE AND NIGHTLIFE.

THIS SCHOOL WILL INTRODUCE A MUCH NEEDED DAYTIME LIFE.

BY DRAWING STUDENTS, STAFF, INDUSTRY PARTNERS, AND WILL BOOST ACTIVITIES DURING THE DAY IN TIME THAT ARE CURRENTLY SLOWER.

FURTHERMORE, IT TRANSFORMS THIS EXISTING BEAUTIFUL PARK INTO A DYNAMIC LIVING LABORATORY FOCUSED ON AI, MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, AND ROBOTICS.

FINALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECALL THAT THIS IS A FIRST-IN-IOWA OPPORTUNITY.

WITH FULL BACKING OF THE IOWA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO CHARTER SCHOOL INNOVATION, COUNCIL BLUFFS WILL BE WATCHED AS A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE STATE. WITH $24 MILLION ALREADY PLEDGED TOWARDS THE $34 MILLION VISION, THE MOMENTUM IS UNDENIABLE. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION 26-57 AND HELP US BUILD A FUTURE THAT REPRESENTS ALL OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AND COMMANDS THE ATTENTION FROM THE ENTIRE REGION. THANK YOU, MIKE WOLF, RETIRED CONSUL MEMBER. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT TO THE COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION. I LOVE THE IDEA OF A STEM SCHOOL, AND I THINK WE ALL LOVE THE IDEA OF A STEM SCHOOL. THE ONE THING THAT I'M NOT POSITIVE ABOUT IS PLACEMENT, I WOULD SAY. I'M ON THE FENCE ON THIS. WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A DIFFERENT COUNCIL THAN WE HAD A YEAR AGO OR TWO MONTHS AGO, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. I MEAN, THIS SCHOOL WAS EFFECTIVELY SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE UTILIZED AT THE TIME. I USED TUCKER CENTER AT THE TIME. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL WITH 35 COLLEGE CREDIT HOURS. I STARTED COLLEGE AS A SECOND-YEAR SOPHOMORE.

GRANTED, I GOT C'S FOR THE MOST PART, BUT THEY STILL GET DEGREES. I GOT THREE OF THEM. IT'S FINE. AND I ENDED UP WITH A B.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE DISCUSSION WITH US. THERE'S MANY GOOD

[01:55:02]

THE CAVEAT AGAIN, THERE BEING THE INITIAL DESIGN OF THIS AREA WAS ONE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER PRE-COVID. MANY OF THE DESIGNS AND THINGS PUT IN PLACE AT THE TIME ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT. THE WORLD IS IRREVOCABLY CHANGED BY COVID.

SO AGAIN, FOR ME, IT'S A BIT OF AN INTERNAL BATTLE.

OF WHICH IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT WAS INITIALLY SET OUT FOR THIS AREA DOWN HERE ON THE RIVERFRONT. OR, YOU KNOW, TO GO THIS ROUTE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALL BEEN DISCUSSING.

AND I DON'T KNOW, PERHAPS THERE'S ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE LOCATION THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FROM WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING.

THAT IS NOT SO MUCH THE CASE.

AND YOU MAKE SOME GOOD POINTS AS TO WHY THAT IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW. CORRECT. TRUE.

THAT'S, I GUESS, WHERE I KIND OF SIT ON THINGS. I'M A BIT TORN ON, YOU KNOW, WEIGHING THE LONG-TERM RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS. I'D LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE TO SEE SOME TAX INCOME COME IN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ARE WE CUTTING OUR NOSE OFF TO SAVE OUR FACE? IF WE CAN DO THIS, DO WE BRING IN POSSIBLY SOMEONE DOWN THE ROAD THAT BUILDS UP, MAYBE NOT THIS? SECTION, BUT A DIFFERENT SECTION OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AT A RATE 10 TIMES THE EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROPERTY VALUE THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT DOWN HERE.

THERE WAS A PROJECT RECENTLY THAT PREVIOUS MAYOR WALSH HAD DISCUSSED THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT IN LINE WITH SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE THAT WOULD HAVE INVOLVED, WHAT WAS IT, $100,000 TO $140,000 A YEAR SALARIES FOR SOMETHING LIKE YOU, 150 PEOPLE. IF THAT WOULD HAVE GONE TO PASS AND COME TO FRUITION, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING FOR WHAT IT WOULD HAVE DONE TO THE REGIONAL ECONOMY. AND NOT ONLY WOULD IT BE THE PROPERTY TAX THAT WOULD GO IN THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION HAD IT COME TO PASS, BUT THE OVERALL REACHING EFFECT INTO THE REST OF OUR POCKETBOOKS. WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR SPENDING MONEY IN THE STORES, THEIR SPENDING MONEY IN THIS, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER IT MAY BE THERE. BUYING CHEESEBURGERS, THEY'RE BUYING GASOLINE, THEY'RE PAYING THE ROAD TAX, THEY'RE BUYING NEW CARS.

THEY'RE A CLASS OF FOLKS WITH EXPENDABLE INCOME, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MOST OF US DON'T HAVE. I'D LOVE TO MAKE $150,000 A YEAR. MAYBE SOMEDAY, I WILL. BUT TO HAVE 150 OF THOSE FOLKS DUMPED INTO YOUR COMMUNITY IS A GREAT THING, ASSUMING THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL, OBVIOUSLY. SO. I JUST SEE THAT I CAN SEE YOUR POINT IN THAT THERE IS GREAT VALUE IN IN USING THIS AS A FLAGSHIP.

I GREATLY SEE THE THE VALUE IN BEING FIRST IN IOWA, BUT EVEN MORE SO I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE MAY BE FIRST IN THE REGION. AND POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, THE NATION. IT'S NICE FOR PEOPLE TO THINK OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IS SOMETHING THAT'S A LEADER. WE FOR VERY LONG HAVE LOOK DOWN ON OURSELVES AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

AND THIS WOULD BE A EXAMPLE OF A SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO LOOK AT OURSELVES WITH PRIDE. I ALWAYS JOKE WHEN PEOPLE CALL US NAMES THAT I LIVE IN BEVERLY BLUFFS, NOT COUNCIL TUCKY, SO, UM, AGAIN. AND I KNOW EVERYONE ELSE HAS THEIR OWN THOUGHTS, SO I SUPPOSE I'LL LET YOU GUYS TALK.

FIRST OF ALL, WE JUST RAN THROUGH A CAMPAIGN AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS. WE NEED TO GO IN A DIRECTION THAT'S GOING TO BRING POPULATION

[02:00:01]

WHAT DO WE THINK OF THE LOCATION. AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN WITH, WELL, IF WE DEVELOP IT HERE, THEN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IS THAT THE BEST UTILIZATION OF THAT SPACE? FOR POPULATION GROWTH? AND FOR, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I THINK IT COSTS MONEY. WE'VE GOT TO RAISE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IN ORDER TO FUND, YOU KNOW, OUR POLICE AND OUR FIRES AND ALL THAT. BUT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS, I WILL SAY. I DO SEE A LOT OF BENEFIT TO PUTTING IT IN THIS AREA. I INITIALLY HAD SOME RESERVATIONS, GIVEN THE, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOOKING, YOU KNOW, WITH VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS.

BUT JUST AS, YOU KNOW, I WAS DOING MORE RESEARCH AND LOOKING AT THE DATA, I DO AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP DURING THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION WITH, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS THAT A STEM SCHOOL CAN. INCREASED NEIGHBORING AREA ATTRACTIVENESS AND INCREASE THE PROPERTY VALUES OF THE AREA. AND I DO AGREE THAT WE WANT TO PROJECT A GOOD IMAGE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS. PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL TUCKY, COUNCIL TUCKY. WELL, I THINK A STEM SCHOOL AND INVESTING IN OUR EDUCATION SHOWS THAT THAT'S NOT US. I THINK THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE, WE HAVE GREAT STUDENTS, WE WANT TO INVEST IN THEM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CREATING GOOD JOBS AND WE'RE CREATING GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE JOBS.

MY WIFE IS A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, SO I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF STEM. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE STEM SCHOOLS STATEWIDE AND NATIONWIDE. SO RIGHT NOW, LOOKING AT THIS, I'M RUNNING A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS FROM GETTING TO MY NERDY...

YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL ANALYST HISTORY BRAIN FROM MY PAST LIFE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO SEE A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT I THINK OUTWEIGH THE COSTS OF THAT LOCATION.

AND I DO SEE THAT IF WE POTENTIALLY INVEST WITH THIS LOCATION FOR THE SCHOOL, I DO SEE THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR IT. INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES CITY-WIDE, FOR NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR OUR CITY AS A WHOLE. SO I'D LOVE TO CONTINUE HEARING. YOU KNOW, DOUG AND ROGER'S TAKES ON THAT, BUT I DO SEE A LOT OF BENEFITS TO THIS IDEA.

WELL, I'LL GO IF ROGER'S NOT GOING TO SPEAK UP, I GUESS.

I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT VIEW OF THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL AND THE PLANS THAT GO WITH IT. BACK WHEN THAT WAS DIRT, I THINK THOSE OF US THAT HAVE LIVED HERE OUR WHOLE LIVES UNDERSTAND THAT WAS PLAYLAND PARK, RIGHT? PLAYED BALL DOWN THERE. IT HAD THE TENNIS COURTS, THE BASKETBALL COURTS, HAD THE FIELDS. PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT I'M NOT EVEN OLD ENOUGH FOR. BUT IT'S STEVE WILL KNOW, YES. BUT I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE ORIGINAL SUBCOMMITTEE WHEN THAT GROUND WAS DIRT.

THERE WAS FOUR OF US INVOLVED FROM THE CITY. I WAS CHOSEN FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DECIDE. WHAT SHOULD GO IN THAT AREA? REMEMBER, THIS IS JUST DIRT. THE BRIDGE WAS BUILT AT THAT TIME. AND I THINK THOSE OF US REMEMBER, RIGHT? THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE. AND VICKI, I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT. WHAT

[02:05:04]

THE NUMBER ONE OVERRIDING FACTOR WAS WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES THAT WAS MENTIONED.

WE SAW THREE OR FOUR ORIGINAL PLANS FOR THIS AREA, BUT NONE OF THEM ENCOMPASSED EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. WE SENT THOSE PLANS BACK, RECEIVED TWO OR THREE OTHER PLANS. WE SAID, WE LIKE PARTS OF THIS PLAN, PARTS OF THAT PLAN, PARTS OF THIS PLAN. CAN SOMEBODY PUT THOSE THINGS TOGETHER? AND THEY DID. AND WHAT YOU SAW COME BACK. WAS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW.

NOW, IS IT COMPLETED? NO. I THINK ALL OF US WOULD AGREE IT'S NOT DONE. ONE THING I WANT TO REITERATE, AND EVERYBODY...

I THINK HAS THE SAME FEELING ABOUT THIS. NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION THIS IS, WHETHER THE SCHOOL IS THERE OR POSSIBLY SOMEPLACE ELSE, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE STEM SCHOOL HAPPEN.

SO I THINK NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION, WHETHER IT MOVES FORWARD HERE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND. ALL OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY WE WANT TO SEE THE STEM SCHOOL HAPPEN.

IT THEN GETS TO A MATTER OF WHERE DOES IT FIT. THE BEST.

AGAIN, HAVING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, BEING PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THIS IS WHAT WE WERE THINKING AS WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

OKAY. WE REVIEWED THE PLANS.

AS I SAID, THE IDEA WAS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING SPECIAL, JUST LIKE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE WANTED THIS TO BE A DESTINATION, PLACE FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS THAT PEOPLE COULD BE PROUD OF, THAT PEOPLE FROM OMAHA WOULD LOOK AT AND SAY, THEY DID IT RIGHT. LOOK WHAT THEY DID OVER THERE. THAT'S A GREAT JOB. WE KNEW WE DIDN'T WANT TO MESS IT UP. I THINK WE'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB, EVEN IF IT'S NOT COMPLETED.

SOME PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE WITH ME ON THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU GO DOWN THERE AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE, IT'S A PRETTY NICE AREA. AND I THINK A LOT OF US COULD BE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THERE.

BUT I WOULD AGREE, IT'S NOT DONE. WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO. THAT GETS TO MY SECOND PORTION, WHICH IS, OKAY, IF WE HAVE WORK TO DO, HOW DO WE GET THERE? IN THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD, IN THE PLANNING WORLD, THINGS TAKE... TIME SOMETIMES, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE INVOLVED, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TIMING INVOLVED. WE APPROVED SOMETHING, WELL, I WASN'T BECAUSE I HAD VOTED ON PLANNING, BUT THEY APPROVED SOMETHING AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OFF OF NORTH BROADWAY. AND SOME OF YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS, BY IVY DRIVE. THAT GROUND HAD SAT VACANT FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT 100 AND SOME.

SENIOR LIVING APARTMENTS THAT FIT THAT END OF TOWN, THAT FIT THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA. SURE, SOME NEIGHBORS WERE UPSET.

UNDERSTANDABLE. I GET IT. IT'S A CHANGE. NOBODY WANTS IT IN THEIR BACKYARD. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT THAT PROJECT TOOK SOME TIME. I LOOK AT THIS VERY SIMILARLY IN THAT WE HAVE A PLAN. THE CITY HAD A PLAN. THE CITY AGREED TO THE PLAN. IT'S BEEN, IT WAS DECIDED. I UNDERSTAND SOME THINGS CAN CHANGE, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP AT THE END AND JUST FINISH SOMETHING, WHETHER IT FITS THE PLAN OR NOT. AND I KNOW EVERYBODY SAYS, WELL, YOU WORRY ABOUT THE PLAN SO MUCH. WELL, I DO, IN SOME RESPECTS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PLAN, IT'S HAPHAZARD. IT'S CHAOS.

YOU COULD GET ANYTHING GOING ANYWHERE. AND I LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL AND LOOK WHAT WE'VE DONE BEHIND IT. THERE'S A PARKING GARAGE, RIGHT? AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A DOG PARK DOWN IN THAT AREA. FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE AND A DEVELOPER PERSPECTIVE, NO DEVELOPER WOULD EVER COME TO THE CITY AND SAY, I WANT YOU TO PUT A HIGH SCHOOL NEXT TO A PARKING GARAGE, NEXT TO A DOG PARK. IT WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE. NONE OF THAT,

[02:10:02]

BUT HERE WE GET TO THE END OF A PROJECT AND WE SAY, WELL, WE GOT THE GROUND. LET'S JUST PUT IT IN THERE. I GET IT. I UNDERSTAND IT'S VALUABLE GROUND. QUITE HONESTLY, THAT A PART OF THE OFFICE BUILDING WE HAVE DOWN THERE IS THE ONLY CLASS A. AND WHEN I SAY CLASS A, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF OFFICE SPACE, CLASS A BEING THE BEST. THAT'S OUR ONLY CLASS A OFFICE SPACE IN THE ENTIRE CITY. SO IF WE ONLY HAVE ONE CLASS A OFFICE SPACE, AND THEN WE GIVE UP GROUND RIGHT NEXT TO IT, WHERE WE RECEIVE NO TAX REVENUE, JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO FILL IT IN, WE'RE NOT ADHERING TO THE PLAN. WE'RE NOT STICKING TO WHAT WE HAD DECIDED. THE TAX REVENUE IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME, AND I UNDERSTAND THE PIECE ABOUT GOING FORWARD AND SAYING, HEY, WE MAY GET SOME BENEFITS.

FROM THIS. KIDS WILL HAVE BETTER JOBS. THEY'LL BE MORE EDUCATED. WE GOT A LOT OF STEPS IN THERE FOR THEM TO BRING THAT MONEY BACK IN.

THEY COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY STAY HERE. THEY GET THEIR JOB HERE.

THAT MEANT WE ATTRACTED OTHER BUSINESSES TO WORK HERE. WE USE THAT GROUND. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD AN OFFICE BUILDING THERE, ARE THEY? THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE TAX BASE THAT WE GET ON THAT OFFICE BUILDING WE CURRENTLY HAVE DOWN THERE IS $400,000 A YEAR.

ONE YEAR. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FROM A TAXPAYER PERSPECTIVE.

SCHOOL, NOTHING. SO, AGAIN, AS I WENT THROUGH THIS AND I'VE...

THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT. I GUESS FROM MY OWN PERSPECTIVE, I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON THAT PLAN YET. I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON RIVER'S EDGE YET.

WE HAVE SOME REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OMAHA TO SEE US DO IT WELL AND DO IT RIGHT. AND MAYBE THAT MEANS WE NEED TO GET A NEW DEVELOPER. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE TIME AND GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN HERE. I THINK THERE'S SOME OTHER LOCATIONS THAT MIGHT FIT FOR THE SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME, A SCHOOL IS NOT PUT ON THE MOST VALUABLE GROUND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ASSETS OF A CITY. IT'S PUT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S PUT NEAR. CERTAIN LOCATIONS, IT'S PUT NEAR CERTAIN PEOPLE.

BUT IN TERMS OF IF WE WERE TO HAVE OUR HIGHEST VALUE GROUND BE GIVEN TO AN ENTITY THAT WILL NOT PAY TAX FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, WE'LL SAY. YOU MENTIONED HAVING THE SCHOOL FOR 50 YEARS.

WE'D BE GIVING UP $20 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE. THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT TO ME. AGAIN, ALL OF US, I THINK, WANT THE SCHOOL, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE DONE CORRECTLY, AND I WANT IT TO FIT WITH THE REST OF WHAT WE HAVE HAPPENING.

AGAIN, ALL OF US, WHETHER WE'RE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR FROM THE CITY, WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY. I AM, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE MAY SEE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, BUT I'M HOPING WE CAN COME TO SOME MIDDLE GROUND.

TO SAY, HEY, MAYBE WE CAN FIND SOMETHING THAT THIS WILL WORK WITH. AGAIN, IT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WHERE YOU GUYS ARE GOING, BUT I ALSO WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND MY THOUGHT PROCESS AND WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

AGAIN, I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, BEING INVOLVED FROM THE BEGINNING, AND THEN KIND OF SEEING THIS THROUGHOUT TIME. I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE BETTER, ABSOLUTELY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S BEEN 10, 12 YEARS. WE'VE GOT TO GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.

BUT IF WE COULD GET A COMPANY IN THERE THAT USED THAT GROUND.

THAT'D BE A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS THAT WE'D RECEIVE. ANYWAY, DID

[02:15:03]

I'M COUNTING PAGES. I'M PRETTY SURE... LEGION SUPER VALUE.

IT'S HARD TO, AGAIN, ALL OF US IN FAVOR OF STILL BE IN THE COUNCIL SCHOOL DISTRICT. GREAT ACCESS. ALSO, RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, THIS TO ME ISN'T. IF IT WAS SAFE, WE HAVE TO WORK...

THANK YOU, ROGER. ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION FROM THE COUNCIL. YEAH, KIND OF LIKE ROGER SAID, IN THIS INSTANCE, WE'RE NOT... I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PUSH IT ON TO THE NEXT ROUND TO GET THE PUBLIC...

TO GET THE PUBLIC COMMENT, I GUESS. OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT IS OF THE SAME OPINION. YOU GUYS WANTED TO GO FORWARD, BUT I...

I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE POPULATION OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AS WELL, TO SOME EXTENT. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE A PASS TONIGHT AND THEN GET IT TO THE PUBLIC AND SEE WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, I GUESS. GO AHEAD, COLE. I'M SORRY. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, DOUG, FOR EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND YOUR EXPERIENCE. OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T HAVE... EXPERIENCE ON PLANNING AND COMMISSION, PLANNING, COMMISSION, LIKE YOU DO.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO, BEFORE WE VOTE, TO KIND OF REITERATE A LITTLE BIT OF WHERE I'M AT TONIGHT.

AFTER DOING A LOT OF THE RESEARCH BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS MEETING AND TONIGHT.

AND HEARING FROM, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HERE, AND HEARING FROM YOU KNOW KNOW, DIFFERENT STUDIES AND LOOKING AT THE FACTS. AND YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, I HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, VOTE MY CONSCIENCE, VOTE WHAT I THINK WILL BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE. AND I DO SEE A LOT OF VALUE IN THE STEM SCHOOL, I DO SEE A LOT OF POTENTIAL. I DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH HOW LONG THAT LOT HAS BEEN SITTING VACANT, AND I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WITH, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR 12 YEARS.

GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE TIME, AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS WONDERING, HOW MUCH MORE TIME ARE WE WILLING TO GIVE IT? BEFORE WE SAY, OKAY, IT'S BEEN SITTING NOW, IT'S BEEN SITTING VACANT FOR 15, 20, 30 YEARS. HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE WILLING TO LET IT SIT EMPTY? BEFORE WE PULL THE TRIGGER AND SAY, OKAY, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY VALUE IN IT SO FAR. LET'S PUT

[02:20:02]

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PARK OR WHATEVER IT WAS PRIOR TO THAT. SO AS I LOOK AT THAT, I SAY, HEY, MAYBE WE NEED TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GET SOMETHING IN THERE.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. CAN WE GET SOMETHING IN THERE THAT'S, WOW, HEY, LOOK AT THAT. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT OFFICE BUILDING DOWN THERE IS BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T IT? I MEAN, IT'S A REALLY WELL-DESIGNED, BEAUTIFUL OFFICE BUILDING THAT'S DOWN THERE. I THINK THAT'S GOOD. COULD WE GET SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT? I DON'T KNOW. YOU KNOW, AT THE MINIMUM, TALKING TO DEVELOPERS, YOU COULD PUT APARTMENTS DOWN THERE ALL DAY LONG, AND WE KNEW THAT GOING INTO THE PLAN. WE COULD HAVE SAID, LET'S JUST FILL IT UP WITH APARTMENTS. EVERYBODY THAT WORKS IN DOWNTOWN OMAHA WILL LIVE IN THOSE APARTMENTS, AND WE'LL GET OUR TAX BASE.

AND WE SAID, NO, DON'T DO IT.

MAKE THIS A DESTINATION. MAKE IT A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE. THE PARK IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT REALLY IS WELL DONE. WE SPENT, ROGER'S RIGHT, WE SPENT A TON OF MONEY DOWN THERE. I'M JUST NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON IT, I GUESS, AS I LOOK AT IT. AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WOULD SAY, HEY, I DON'T WANT THE SCHOOL. SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND. LET'S JUST FIND THE RIGHT SPOT, WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR EVERYBODY. I'M STILL WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON THIS GROUND BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING FOR 50 YEARS ANYWAY. I'LL GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. SOME OTHER AREAS, YOU'RE RIGHT, I'D PROBABLY BE THE FIRST ONE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE TORE THOSE BUILDINGS DOWN.

WE WERE GETTING SOME TAX BASE FROM IT, AND NOW WE GOT NOTHING, AND WE'RE JUST SITTING HERE WAITING FOR 15 YEARS. A LOT OF THAT HAPPENS ON FIRST AVENUE RIGHT NOW, DOESN'T IT? SECOND AVENUE, THE OLD ECHO ELECTRIC, INTERSTATE ELECTRIC BUILDINGS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. IT TAKES THE RIGHT PEOPLE, IT TAKES THE RIGHT PLAN, IT TAKES THE RIGHT MINDSET.

AND, AGAIN, WE KNOW GOING FORWARD WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE. WE WOULD HAVE A SCHOOL. WE WOULD HAVE NO TAX BASE FOR HOWEVER LONG THAT SCHOOL IS SET THERE. SO, ANYWAY, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, JOE, ABOUT TALKING TO PEOPLE. I'VE KIND OF DONE MY HOMEWORK AS WELL, TALK TO PEOPLE.

TO BE QUITE HONEST, AND I KNOW THE CROWD WON'T LIKE THIS, BUT EVERYBODY FROM EDUCATION, YES, I GET IT. YOU'VE GOT YOUR STAKE IN IT, YOU PUT YOUR MONEY IN IT, AND THIS IS YOUR DEAL.

YES, YOU WOULD LIKE IT. THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THE CITIZENS, EVERYBODY I TALK TO HAVE SAID, DOUG, THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. WHY WOULD YOU GIVE UP OUR MOST VALUABLE GROUND TO A NON-TAXPAYING ENTITY? SO FROM MY STANDPOINT, WHETHER WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE AND DO ANOTHER ONE.

NEXT MEETING, OR WHETHER WE DO IT TONIGHT, I'M A NO EITHER WAY RIGHT NOW.

[02:25:05]

GIVE EVERYBODY A MOMENT TO CLEAR OUT. I KNOW. ALL

[7.A) Resolution 26-58 Resolution approving the plans and specifications for the Mid-America Center Parking Lots Rehab, Phase 6. Project # BM26-01]

[7.B) Resolution 26-59 Resolution approving the plans and specifications for the Kanesville Pedestrian Bridge Repairs. Project # PW26-10]

OKAY, IT MATTERS FOR THE RECORD. YES, WELL, HE SAID. SO MOVE, WHICH WOULDN'T FIT FOR A SECOND. THAT'S WHY, UM, ANY DISCUSSION? I'M SORRY, CAN SOMEBODY ASK THEM TO BE QUIET, PLEASE? WE'RE SO QUIET IN HERE. THANK YOU. GO DOWNSTAIRS, IF POSSIBLE. ALL

[7.C) Resolution 26-60 Resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $5,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026 (ECP-1).]

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

RESOLUTION 26-60, RESOLUTION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $5 MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND SERIES 2026. IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTEST RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE

[7.D) Resolution 26-61 Resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $969,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026 (GCP-2).]

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[7.E) Resolution 26-62 Resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $969,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026 (GCP-3).]

RESOLUTION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION IN THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $669,000 OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS SERIES 2026. IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED. ANY, IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? YES.

WANT TO MAKE CLEAR? THAT'S 969, 000. OH, SORRY, I APOLOGIZE. IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG DAY. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT

[7.F) Resolution 26-63 Resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $825,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026 (GCP-4).]

IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED, NONE RECEIVED. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE, SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? DOUG, THAT WAS 825, 000. THAT IS CORRECT. MY NUMBERS ARE COMING OUT OF ME, I KNOW, RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE

[02:30:02]

IS PROOF OF? I THINK WE MISSED.

GO BACK UP. OH, I APOLOGIZE.

[7.G) Resolution 26-64 Resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $685,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026 (GCP-5).]

IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL

[7.H) Resolution 26-65 Resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $925,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026 (GCP-6).]

IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE DID 66. WE DID NOT. SORRY. I NEED

[7.I) Resolution 26-66 Resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $775,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026 (GCP-7).]

IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.

EITHER ONE. PUT IT IN ANY WORD. ANY DISCUSSION

[7.J) Resolution 26-67 Resolution granting final plat approval of a one-lot minor subdivision to be known as Hawkeye Heights Subdivision Replat 1, being a replat of Lot 2, Hawkeye Heights Subdivision, and part of Lots 2 and 3, Auditor's Subdivision of the NW 1/4 NW 1/4 of Section 29-75-43, being more particularly described in the attached city council communication.  Location: 280 College Road. SUB-25-013]

OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. RESOLUTION 2667, A RESOLUTION GRANTING THE FINAL PLOT APPROVING OF ONE LOT MINOR SUBDIVISION TO BE KNOWN AS HAWKEYE HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION. REPLAT 1 BEING A REPLAT OF LOTS 2 HAWKEYE HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION AND PARTS OF LOT 2 AND 3, AUDITOR SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST 1-4TH, NORTHWEST 1-4TH, SECTION OF 29-76-43. AND BEING MORE PARTICULAR, DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE. YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? JAMIE AUGUSTINE, 280 COLLEGE ROAD, AGAIN. THERE'S REALLY NOTHING NEW TO LIGHT OTHER THAN, AGAIN, STEVE, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE'S A ANOTHER OPTION FOR ME, WHICH I'M NOT IN FAVOR WITH, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY. I GUESS I CAN COMBINE AN R3 LOT AND R1 LOT AND CALL IT A DAY. AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I COULD DO THAT UNTIL AFTER THE LAST MEETING, WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I LEFT OFF WITH THIS. I'M BEATING A DEAD HORSE. I MEAN, I'D SEE, I REALLY, IT BEATS THE ALTERNATIVE. WHAT I DON'T WANT IS TO BE LIMITED AND, YOU KNOW, BE ALMOST TIED BEHIND MY BACK. ANYMORE THAN I ALREADY FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN AS FAR AS WHAT I BELIEVE. AND EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION, WHICH, FRANKLY, FROM ALL THIS OTHER STUFF THAT WAS GOING ON, I'VE KIND OF GAINED A RESPECT FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.

BECAUSE I KIND OF WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE, I GET IT. SO, IF I CAN'T GET R3, I WOULD LIKE TO COMBINE THE R1 AND THE R3, I GUESS, AS AN ABNORMAL LOT, WHICH ZONING DOESN'T LIKE TO SEE, I GUESS, SO IT WASN'T BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT IT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS AN R1 AND R1.

I'D RATHER JUST NOT EVEN DO ANYTHING AND JUST TAKE MY $10,000 AS A LOSS IF THAT'S THE CASE. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO TALK ABOUT, I GUESS, AND HOPEFULLY MY FAVOR.

BUT THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SO HIS OR NO ONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT? OKAY.

SORRY. THIS EFFECTIVELY KEEPS EVERYTHING AS IT IS. IT KEEPS THE NEIGHBORS HAPPY WITH THEIR THE R1 ABUTTING THEIR PROPERTY.

IT ALSO ALLOWS HIM TO BUILD HIS GARAGE, AS WE'VE ALL STATED WE BELIEVE HE OUGHT

[02:35:01]

OBVIOUSLY, THEY DON'T HAVE A, THERE'S NO LETTERS THEY SUBMITTED AND THEY'RE NOT HERE OPPOSING IT. KEEPS R1 NEXT TO THEIR PROPERTY, WHICH WAS THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN. IT REALLY CHANGES NOTHING FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN JAMIE, ALLOWING HIM TO BUILD A GARAGE ON THAT PORTION OF HIS LOT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OH, EXCUSE ME, SORRY, WE NEED TO ABSTAIN, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. OKAY, JOE DISALVO? AYE. STEVE GORMAN? AYE. DOUG ROWE? ABSTAIN. ROGER SANDOW? AYE.

[7.K) Resolution 26-68 Resolution granting final plat approval of a three-lot mixed commercial-residential subdivision to be known as Whispering Oaks, Phase V, being legally described as part of the SE1/4 NE1/4 of Section 5-74-43, and part of the SW1/4 NW1/4 of Section 4-74-43.  Location: Undeveloped land lying north of Greenview Road between Forest Glen Drive and Franklin Avenue SUB-24-007        ]

LOCATION, UNDEVELOPED LAND, LAYING NORTH OF THE GREENVIEW ROAD, BETWEEN FOREST GLEN DRIVE AND FRANKLIN AVENUE. IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NO. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE. SORRY, I WAS OFF.

WE WILL NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS ONE. YEAH. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MISSED EARLIER TODAY, THIS IS JUST... CLEANING UP ALL THE LANGUAGE AND GETTING EVERYTHING SQUARED AWAY. THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THE COUNTY AND HOW THINGS WERE RECORDED. SO WE PULLED EVERYTHING BACK AND WE'RE PUTTING IT IN PLACE. BUT EVERYTHING SHOULD STAY AS IT OUGHT TO BE, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.

BUT WITH THE RIGHT SUCCESSION OF WHO OWNS WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. MIMI, I HAVE A QUESTION. YES. WHEN WE FIRST DID THIS, I HAD TO ABSTAIN FROM THE REZONE, I BELIEVE, OR I DON'T REMEMBER, BECAUSE I WAS TOO CLOSE. I DON'T KNOW THAT I, DO I HAVE TO DO THAT THIS TIME? I DON'T RECALL.

YEAH, I WOULD ADVISE THAT YOU DO THAT. AND I ALSO, AT STUDY SESSION, WHEN YOU WEREN'T HERE, YOU HAD MAYBE SUBMITTED A QUESTION OR AN EMAIL OR SOMETHING. SO, I WOULD ADVISE YOU ALSO ABSTAIN FROM DISCUSSION ON THIS. DO DO WE NEED TO STRIKE THE CONVERSATION FROM THE RECORD, FROM THIS? NO? NO. WE'RE COOL WITH THAT? OKAY. IT'S A STUDY SESSION.

OKAY. IT'S FINE. I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT IN A LEGAL SLING LATER. YEAH.

WE DID NOT GET TOO DEEPLY INTO IT BEFORE WE TALKED ABOUT THE CONFLICT. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, WILL RECALL, PLEASE.

STEVE GORMAN. AYE. DOUG, RUE.

ABSTAIN. ROGER SANDOW. I'M ABSTAINING. COLE BUTTON. AYE.

[7.L) Resolution 26-69 Resolution determining an area of the city to be a blighted area, and that the rehabilitation, conservation, redevelopment, development, or a combination thereof, of such area is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety or welfare of the residents of the city; designating such area as appropriate for urban renewal projects; and adopting the 2026 Amendment to the West Broadway Urban Renewal Plan. URN-26-001]

THEREFORE, SUCH AREAS NECESSARY IN INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE TO THE RESIDENTS. DESIGNATING SUCH AREA AS APPROPRIATE FOR URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT AND ADOPTING THE 2026 AMENDED TO THE WEST BROADWAY URBAN RENEWAL PLAN. IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED. IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? ALL THOSE

[7.M) Ordinance 6669 Ordinance to establish tap-on fees for the Kanesville Sanitary Sewer Extension, Phase I project.]

[02:40:02]

[8.A) Resolution 69-70 Resolution certifying the FY2026 water, sewer, and refuse collection lien schedule for nonpayment to the County Treasurer to be assessed against the owner’s property.]

RESOLUTION 2670, CERTIFYING THE FY2026 WATER, SEWER, AND REFUSE COLLECTION LIEN SCHEDULE FOR NONPAYMENT TO THE COUNTY TREASURER TO BE ASSESSED.

AGAINST THE OWNER'S PROPERTY.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE

[8.B) Resolution 26-71 Resolution accepting the bid of Western Engineering Co., Inc. for the Pavement Resurfacing.  Project # PW26-03]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION? NO, NOT ON THAT.

SORRY, IT'S JUST A, WE'LL VOTE AND THEN I'LL ASK.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, BACK ON THAT 26. 69. YEAH, 69, 70.

YEAH, IT SHOULD BE 26, 70.

OKAY, THAT WAS ALL I WAS.

YEAH, THANK YOU. I THINK THE 6-9 CAME

[8.C) Resolution 26-72 Resolution accepting the bid of Ashland Road Excavating LLC for the Indian Creek Levee Freeboard Maintenance.  Project # PW22-06A    ]

THERE'S A LOT OF 6-9S. OKAY, RESOLUTION 2672, ACCEPTING THE BID OF ASHLAND ROAD EXCAVATING LLC FOR THE INDIAN CREEK LEVEE FREEBOARD MAINTENANCE.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION

[8.D) Resolution 26-73 Resolution approving an Agreement with Security National Bank for Banking and Investment Services for the City of Council Bluffs. ]

[8.E) Resolution 26-74 Resolution approving an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding authorized by Resolution 21-44 between the City of Bluffs and Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact (SINC)]

NONPROFIT FOR COLLECTIVE IMPACT. MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? AND TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS VOTING ON PUTTING THE PROPOSED DOG PARK ON THE WET SIDE OF THE LEVY.

FOR THE SINK PROJECT. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, DID WE, DID WE NOT FIND ANOTHER? NO, WE DID, BUT WE GOT TO SHOOT THIS DOWN FIRST. AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT FIRST. YEAH, SO YES. SO P ASKED TO BRING THIS ONE FORWARD AND THE DONOR PLAZA FORWARD, WHICH IS GOING TO BE IN TWO.

ROGER. SO THAT WAY HE KNOWS DEFINITIVELY WHAT WHAT TO TAKE BACK TO HIS BOARD. SO THIS IS THE ORIGINAL REQUEST TO BUILD ON THE WET SIDE OF THE LEVEE, THE DOCK PARK.

WELL, OUR ORIGINAL MOU IS IT WAS GOING TO BE ON THE DRY SIDE OF THE LEVEE.

THIS IS THE ALTERED ONE THAT JUST CAME BACK MOST RECENTLY.

RIGHT. THIS IS THE CURRENT ONE THAT'S OUT THERE. YEAH, BUT WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND ALREADY. YES. YOU CAN RECANT IF YOU'D LIKE. I DIDN'T DO IT. OR WE CAN STILL VOTE. NO, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE. THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE IT.

CORRECT IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? OUR, OUR? OUR INITIAL MOU FROM THE PAST WAS THAT THIS WOULD BE ON THE DRY SIDE. THERE WAS DISCUSSION EARLIER TODAY WHEN I HAD ASKED HOW THAT HAD GONE, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT HAD GONE WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT. IT'S WISE FOR US TO APPROVE THIS IF THERE'S OTHER ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS THAT MAY BE BETTER SUITED ON THE DRY SIDE.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR ORIGINAL THOUGHT PROCESS OR PLANS FOR THIS. SO I THINK WE SHOULD, I'LL BE VOTING, YOU KNOW, NAY, ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE, NOT BECAUSE I'M AGAINST THE DOG PARK, BUT BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. OR PUT TOGETHER IN A MANNER THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN IT'S CURRENTLY BEEN DESCRIBED. AND JUST CLARIFICATION, I WAS SECONDING IT TO CALL TO QUESTION SO WE COULD VOTE.

SO I COULD VOTE NO ON IT. I'M

[02:45:01]

WE WANTED IT, SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION. AND I APOLOGIZE, IT WASN'T IN THE STUDY SESSION. NO WORRIES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY AYE.

[8.F) Resolution 26-75 Resolution to adopt a PC/Planned Commercial development plan for a new ‘financial service’ use on property legally described as being part of Lot 5, The Marketplace Replat 2.  Location: Undeveloped property located immediately east of 3245 S. 24th Street PC-26-001]

MOTION DOES NOT CARRY.

RESOLUTION 2675 TO ADOPT A PLANNED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR... A NEW FINANCIAL SERVICE USE ON PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS BEING PART OF LOT 5, THE MARKETPLACE REPLAT 2, LOCATION UNDEVELOPED, PROPERTY LOCATED IMMEDIATELY EAST OF 3245 SOUTH 24TH STREET. SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? YEP. YOU MAY APPROACH THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS DON HEINE. I'M WITH TD2 ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING. 10836 OLD MILL ROAD, OMAHA, NEBRASKA. HERE TONIGHT, REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT, COBALT CREDIT UNION. THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO BRING THEIR FIRST STANDALONE BUILDING INTO YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS.

CARE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE? CAN I ASK A REAL QUICK QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE STILL THERE? SURE. FIRST OF ALL, I'M SO GLAD TO SEE SOMETHING GO DOWN IN THAT AREA, SO, MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR CLIENT THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, THEY COULD GO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES. WHAT DREW THEM TO THAT AREA AT THIS TIME? I THINK IT'S A VERY EASY, ACCESSIBLE AREA FOR THEM.

THEIR CLIENTS WERE VERY INTERESTED IN HAVING A LOCATION THAT HAS A DRIVE-THRU LOCATION THAT'S CONVENIENT FOR THEM.

THE ACCESS OFF 24TH STREET IS GREAT AT THAT LOCATION. I LOOK FORWARD, TOO, TO SEE THAT.

SOMETHING NEW, A CATALYST, BRING A LITTLE BIT OF ENERGY IN THERE. RIGHT. I AGREE. AND WE'VE SAT FOR A LONG TIME WAITING FOR THIS TO MATERIALIZE DOWN THERE. IT'S JUST WHAT I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, RIGHT? SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO WAIT AND YOU GOT TO WAIT.

AND THEN THE THING, RIGHT THING HAPPENS WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE. I JUST WAS CURIOUS, WHAT WAS THEIR THOUGHT PROCESS AS THEY WERE GOING IN THERE? CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO, THEY'VE CHOSEN OTHER LOCATIONS.

AND I KEPT THINKING, THIS IS A GOOD LOCATION FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO. IT IS. THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT TO A LOT OF AREAS.

THEY ARE GROWING. THEY WERE FORMERLY THE SAC CREDIT UNION, LOCALIZED IN BELLEVUE. THEY'RE EXPANDING OUT TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES AROUND. I THINK THEY ALREADY HAVE TWO NON-STANDALONE LOCATIONS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. THIS JUST IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

WELL, THANK YOU. TELL THEM THANK YOU FOR THE INVESTMENT.

APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED?

[8.G) Resolution 26-76 Resolution granting preliminary and conditional approval for the River's Edge Donor Plaza, subject to the Iowa Code Chapter 26 process including the need for a public hearing and final City Council approval.]

SORRY, SKIPPING AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK WHAT JOE WAS GOING TO SAY, THIS HAS TO DO SPECIFICALLY, AGAIN, THE SINK PROJECT FOR THE DONOR PLAZA. ANYONE WISHING TO PUBLICLY COMMENT? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

DEBORAH PETERSON, 7355, STAFFORD DRIVE, COUNCIL BLUFFS. AS YOU ALL PROBABLY REALIZE, MY HUSBAND AND I OWN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, AND SO WE ARE SOME OF YOUR BIG TAXPAYERS. WE DON'T PAY AS MUCH AS ON THE RIVERFRONT, AND THAT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE IT WAS THE $600,000 NUMBER THAT JUST JUMPED OUT AT ME AND SAID, WHAT IS THIS? WELL, YOU KNOW, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO, YOU GUYS APPROVED A $600,000 EXPENDITURE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE USE PLAN.

AND THE CONSULTANT CAME, GAVE AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.

LOTS OF THINGS WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THAT. I'M VERY EXCITED THAT I HOPE THEY CAN GET THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THAT WE REALLY NEED FOR THAT.

BUT YOU'RE GETTING SOMETHING THAT YOU, A, ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE. B, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF STAFF, TIME AND MONEY FROM THE CITY, AS WELL AS YOUR STAFF AND EXPENSES HERE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. SO YOU'RE GETTING A LOT FOR THAT. AND AS I SAID, IT'S REQUIRED. I DIDN'T ASK FOR A COPY OF ANY CONTRACT WITH THAT CONSULTANT, BUT I'LL JUST KIND OF BET YOU ON THE SIDE. THERE'S GOING TO BE A WRITTEN CONTRACT WITH THAT CONSULTANT FOR THAT $600,000. AND THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

NOW HERE WE COME BACK. NOW WE GET ANOTHER $600,000. SYNC IS

[02:50:02]

IT SAYS SEVEN YEARS, ONCE IT'S THREE YEARS, ONCE IT'S FOUR YEARS, WHATEVER. BUT THEY NEVER GOT AROUND TO NAILING THAT DOWN TO A CONTRACT. OR GETTING AN APPROVAL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY RUN THE PURSE STRINGS HERE OF THE CITY. AND I REALIZE THIS HAPPENS, BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING COUNCIL METERS LONGER THAN SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN ALIVE. AND IN ALL OF THOSE YEARS, ANYTIME I HAVE A CLIENT WHO HAS SOMETHING, AND IF IT GETS APPROVED, I NEED TO FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT GETS IN WRITING SO THAT MY CLIENT HAS SOMETHING TO RELY ON. I KNOW THE OTHER DAY THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WHO'S TO BLAME. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHO'S TO BLAME. THAT'S OVER WITH. THE CONCEPT IS THAT IT'S NOT DONE. WHAT IS AN MOU? THAT'S SOMETHING WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL WE NEVER HEARD OF.

IT'S A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. IT'S SOMETHING WE, YOU KNOW, SIT DOWN AT THE RESTAURANT OR THE BAR AND WE SHAKE HANDS AND WE GO, THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE'LL DO.

BUT EVERY MOU I'VE EVER SEEN SAYS, THIS IS NOT A BINDING CONTRACT, BUT IS RATHER A STATEMENT OF INTENTION OF THE PARTIES.

FINE. SO IT DOESN'T GET TO THE POINT OF ENFORCEMENT.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND FROM THAT, IN THAT MOU, THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF A DONOR PLAZA OR THE CITY PAYING FOR THAT. SO WHEN THE DEALS ARE MADE, THE DEALS NEED TO BE DOCUMENTED. AND I'M HEARING TODAY IN THE STUDY SESSION, MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER DEAL THAT SOMETHING ELSE GOT DONE. I HEAR IT AGAIN TONIGHT. MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER DEAL. SOMEBODY PROMISED SOMETHING AND IT DIDN'T GET DONE. YOU? THERE ARE RULES, AND IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL. SO WE HAVE TO FOLLOW UP. YOU CAN'T RELY ON A STAFF MEMBER OR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO OBLIGATE THE CITY UNTIL YOU HAVE A CONTRACT, UNLESS IT FALLS WITHIN THE MAYOR'S JURISDICTION TO SIGN A CONTRACT UNDER X DOLLARS, OR WHATEVER THAT IS. AGAIN, LIKE I SAY, IT'S NOT ABOUT BLAME, BECAUSE THE CITY CHANGES ADMINISTRATION ALL THE TIME. BUSINESSES CHANGE THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, MANAGERS ALL THE TIME. AND THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING HAS TO BE... DOCUMENTED, SO WE CAN GO FORWARD. THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CONTRACT. NOW, SINK SAYS, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO RELY ON THAT CIP. WELL, I WAS TELLING MATT COX TODAY, I COULDN'T REMEMBER THE CASE, AND HE COULDN'T EITHER.

BUT EVERY YEAR, I WOULD ASK, ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS DONE? HE'S LIKE, NO, DEB, THAT WENT DOWN A COUPLE MORE YEARS. SO THAT'S A PLANNING DOCUMENT.

AND YES, IT'S A GREAT THING.

AND THE COMPREHENSIVE USE PLAN IS A PLANNING DOCUMENT. IT'S THINGS WE WANT TO HAVE. THE RIVERFRONT. PROJECT DOUG TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT. THAT'S A PLANNING THING. WE WANT TO USE THAT. THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO GO. BUT IT ISN'T SET IN STONE. AND THE CIP IS REALLY FLUID. IT'S FOR FUTURE PLANNING. AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS COME IN. THEY SAY, HEY, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE WANT TO GET DONE. WE ALL LIKE THAT. SO HERE WE GO. THEN WE HAVE A FLOOD. THEN WE GOT TO USE THAT MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE. OR SOME OF YOU GET UNELECTED OR YOUR TIME RUNS OUT. AND THE NEXT GUY OR GAL COMING ALONG DOESN'T WANT THE PROJECT AND IT DOESN'T GET APPROVED. SO GUESS WHAT? IT DOESN'T MAKE IT THROUGH.

THAT'S NOT APPROVAL. SO, AND I HAVE VISITED, YOU KNOW, I'VE LOOKED AT THIS. I'VE TALKED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY STAFF ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'M LIKE, WHERE'D THIS COME FROM? THE OTHER THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT HERE IS THEY TALKED ABOUT, SING, TALKED ABOUT THIS WAYFINDING. WELL, IF THEY NEEDED WAYFINDING, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT ON THE PLAN SEVEN YEARS AGO.

IF IT'S THAT CONFUSING, YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR WAY AROUND WHERE YOU NEED TO GO, THEN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT. THE WAYFINDING IS CLEARLY FOR THE AMENITIES. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TAXPAYERS AND THEIR OBLIGATION.

AND I WILL AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RUE THE OTHER DAY WHEN HE MENTIONED...

DONORS USUALLY ARE NOT LOOKING, NOT EVERY DONOR IS LOOKING TO HAVE THEIR NAME UP IN LIGHTS. A LOT OF US, I MEAN, MY HUSBAND AND I DONATE, ALL OF YOU PROBABLY DONATE TIME AND MONEY TO ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE DO THAT FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION, THE PROJECT THEY HAVE, OR OUR COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

WE THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, I DID RECEIVE THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD, AND IF YOU READ ABOUT THAT, I SAID, I DON'T DO THIS FOR AN AWARD. I DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S REWARDING TO ME TO HELP PEOPLE AND TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THIS IS ABOUT HERE. SO WE'RE NOT VYING FOR RECOGNITION. AND THEN I WAS LAUGHING TODAY, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS SIGN THAT GOT DESTROYED IN THE FLOOD. I GUESS THAT WAS IN 2011. SO HERE WE ARE, 15 YEARS LATER. MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, DID SOMEBODY CALL AND COMPLAIN WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT SIGN? BUT NO, IF YOU WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DONORS, THAT'S FINE. BUT I THINK SYNC SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT AS PART OF THEIR ORIGINAL PLAN. WHEN YOU'RE GOING OUT ASKING PEOPLE

[02:55:01]

YOU? I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ON SYNC FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE AMENITIES THEY'RE SUPPORTING, AND NOT ON U.S. TAXPAYERS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM FROM THE PUBLIC? COUNCIL? THIS IS KIND OF WHAT SPURRED MY QUESTIONS LAST TIME WAS, WHERE WERE WE AT IN THE PROCESS TO SAY, HEY, ARE WE ABLE TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THIS? AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH IT. AND KIND OF WAS TOLD AFTER THE FACT THAT, OH, HEY, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS, AND WE KIND OF ALREADY AGREED TO IT, AND IT WAS ALREADY HANDLED, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. NO.

SO. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A VOTE ON THIS TOPIC. I, YEAH. I THINK COUNCIL EXPLAINED THAT THE LAST SESSION, AND I THINK THEY TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT AGAIN THIS SESSION EARLIER TODAY. ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THIS TOPIC? TO ME, WE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS AT THAT LOCATION. AM I CORRECT? LET'S SAY TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT. LET'S SAY, YOU GUYS, WE MOVE FORWARD. WE STILL HAD DECIDED THE CORPS HAS TO GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT BEFORE WE CAN DECIDE TO PUT ANYTHING WHERE THEY HAD IT. AM I WRONG ON THAT? IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT... WHERE THEY WANTED TO PUT, IT HAS SO MUCH BACKFILL ON IT. THAT IT WOULDN'T MATTER? THAT IT WOULDN'T MATTER AS FAR AS THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE CORPS. IT'S IN THE EASEMENT OF THE CORPS, BUT THERE'S ENOUGH BACKFILL IN THERE THAT IT WOULDN'T MATTER.

SO WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR A CORPS STUDY OR A CORPS APPROVAL? LET WHITNEY ADDRESS THE ANSWERS. OKAY. SHE'S GOT THE BACKGROUND ON THIS TOPIC.

THANKS, WHITNEY. SORRY, I DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT EARLIER, AND THAT'S A GOOD POINT. WE HAVE NOT APPLIED TO THE CORPS FOR... APPROVAL OF THIS PROJECT ON THE LEVY RIGHT-OF-WAY. THE APPLICATION HAS NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED FOR IT. THANK YOU. I WILL SAY, THOUGH, THAT THAT'S TIME AND EFFORT AND MONEY. SO IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL, RIGHT? DO WE NEED, AND I COULD HEAR... NOT ALL OF WHAT DEB WAS SAYING, BUT DO WE NEED A CONTRACT IN PLACE, MIMI OR WHITNEY? SHOULD WE DRAW UP A CONTRACT SEPARATE FROM THE CIP AND FROM THIS? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD, SHOULD WE DO A CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL FROM THE CORPS? YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY, BASICALLY, THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST LIKE A PRELIMINARY GUIDE FOR SINC. IT IS SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR IOWA CODE CHAPTER 26, AND THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE A VERY LONG PROCESS.

SO IF YOU'RE AGREEING TO GO FORWARD TODAY, IT'S REALLY JUST TO GIVE DIRECTION TO SINC. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS SET OUT IN THE RESOLUTION, THEY ARE MANY AND VARIED. AND IT REQUIRES COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND ALSO REGULATIONS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE FOOD. THE CORE.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION WITH REGARD TO THAT ROADWAY AND THINGS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THINGS KIND OF WITH THEIR HANDS IN IT, AND SO THIS IS NOT DESIGNED TO.

WE ARE NOT AT A STAGE WHERE WE COULD GO FORWARD WITH AGREEING TO A CONTRACT AT ALL. NO, NOTHING CAN BE AGREED IN A CONTRACT FOR A PROJECT THAT'S GOVERNED BY IOWA CODE CHAPTER 26 FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

IT CAN'T BE DONE UNTIL YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND SO THIS IS NOT SIGNING A CONTRACT.

THIS IS NOT PUTTING DOWN FIRM TERMS FOR ANY KIND OF A CONTRACT WITH THE PROPOSED DEVELOPER.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT YET, AND WE ARE NOT AT THE STAGE WHERE WE ARE READY TO DO THAT. WE WOULD APPLY FOR CORE APPROVAL. THAT WOULD TAKE HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES, HONESTLY. ONCE THAT CAME BACK, THEN WE WOULD PUT IT OUT TO BID. THEN WE WOULD GET THE BIDS IN. THEN THEY WOULD PICK A CONTRACTOR TO DO THE WORK. AND THEN IT WOULD GO FROM THERE.

WOULD IT BE A SITUATION THAT THEY WOULD PICK? WE WOULD PICK, YEAH? RIGHT. I'M SORRY, WHEN I SAY IT WOULD GO OUT TO BID, PARKS WOULD PUT IT OUT, RIGHT? THE CITY WOULD PUT IT OUT TO BID. BECAUSE THIS IS PUBLICLY FUNDED, THIS CAN'T BE DEVELOPED BY SINK OR THEIR CONTRACTOR. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE. IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC BIDDING PROCESS. SO IN THAT PROCESS, SORRY, IN THAT PROCESS, WOULD WE HAVE ANY CONSTRAINTS

[03:00:02]

IS IT PLAUSIBLE THAT, AT SOME POINT, WE COULD PUT OUT TO BID SOMETHING THAT MIGHT VARY SLIGHTLY FROM WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT? THAT WOULDN'T BE ON THAT QUITE LEVEL, BUT WOULD STILL FACILITATE RECOGNIZING THE DONORS. AND DOING ALL THE THINGS, ALL THE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. CAN WE PUT OUT FOR BID SOMETHING? LESS THAN $600,000, I GUESS, IS MY... YOU COULD DECIDE NOT TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS AT ALL.

IT IS UP TO YOU TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW... BASICALLY, WHEN WE TALKED AT THE STUDY SESSION, MR. TULIPANA WAS LOOKING FOR A VOTE, AND HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET THAT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ON FOR ACTUAL COUNSEL. BECAUSE IT WAS A STUDY SESSION, NOT A... AND SO WE HAD TO PUT SOMETHING ON IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION, SO YOU COULD TALK ABOUT IT AND DECIDE, AND THIS IS WHAT WE CAME UP WITH, BECAUSE... WE HAD TO MAKE VERY CLEAR IT WOULD BE PRELIMINARY AND CONDITIONAL UPON X, Y, AND Z ALL HAPPENING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

AND SO IT'S REALLY TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO. IT IS YOUR DECISION HOW MUCH MONEY YOU DECIDE TO SPEND, IF YOU DECIDE TO FUND IT, IF YOU LIKE THE LOCATION, YOU DON'T LIKE THE LOCATION. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE UP TO THE CITY TO DECIDE. THIS QUESTION, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WHITNEY, IS, IS THERE AN APPETITE OF ANY TYPE FOR A DONOR PLAZA? IF THERE'S NOT AN APPETITE, THEN WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CORE APPLICATION AND ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT FROM THE STAFF. IF THERE IS AN APPETITE, WE CAN GO DOWN THAT PATH OF THE APPLICATION AND THEN DECIDE.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IF IT GETS APPROVED BY THE CORE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO SEND OUT TO BED? THE OPTIONS ARE NOT THIS DONOR PLAZA, $600,000 OR NOTHING. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SURE, OKAY. YOU GUYS, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW.

BECAUSE THIS HAS NOT BEEN BEFORE COUNCIL, THERE'S NOTHING, YOU KNOW, AS WE SAID AT STUDY SESSION, IT'S ON THE CIP. WE'VE PUT IT OUT FOR BOND. WE WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THE BOND PROCESS IS FOLLOWED. AND THAT IF WE CAN REUSE THOSE FUNDS THAT WE DO, OTHERWISE, THAT THEY'D BE REFUNDED, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO COORDINATE.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE CIP THAT SAYS IT HAS TO GO ON THIS EXACT LOCATION AND IT HAS TO BE THIS DONOR PLAZA. IF YOU'RE SAYING WE WANT BOARDS ON EVERY BUILDING OR WHATEVER OTHER THING, YOU'RE DECIDING THAT YOU WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DONORS, THAT STILL IS A USE OF THAT FUND. OKAY. WELL, I GUESS THIS SEEMS LIKE THE ENTIRE THING, THE DONOR PLAZA, ALL OF IT IS COMPLETELY UP TO THE COUNCIL. SO WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE AN MOU WITH SYNC ABOUT THE DONOR PLAZA? WE DON'T HAVE AN MOU WITH SYNC ABOUT THE DONOR PLAZA, AND THE MOU THAT IS REFERENCED IN THE OTHER RESOLUTION AT 2674, THAT IS THE MOU.

FOR THE FIRST FIVE PHASES OF THE RIVER'S EDGE DEVELOPMENT.

SO FOR THE AMENITIES, FOR THE DOG PARK, FOR THE PLAYGROUND, NO MENTION OF THE DONOR PLAZA IS IN THERE, AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN, BECAUSE THOSE WERE PRIVATELY FUNDED AMENITIES. SURE. WHO SPENT $27,000? SYNC DID. NO.

OH, WE DID. SORRY. THE CITY SPENT $27,000 PAYING FOR HDR OR... I BELIEVE IT WAS HDR, I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT, PAYING FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL WORK TO BE DONE TO DESIGN THE PLAZA. WHICH ZACH WAS WITHIN HIS RIGHT TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE CIP. SO HE'S ABLE TO THEN SPEND THE MONEY FOR THE DRAWINGS. SO WE'RE ALREADY 27, 440 INTO THIS.

YEAH. YES. YES. I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE VOTING ON THIS IF IT'S ALL IN OUR...

IT'S ALL, LIKE ROD SAID, IT'S ALL IN OUR WHEELHOUSE.

IT'S ALL IN OUR, YEAH, WHAT ARE WE AGREEING TO ANYTHING WITH SYNC FOR? WHEN THEY FINISH IT, THANK YOU, WE'LL PRESENT SOMETHING, LIKE WE'LL PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

I'M JUST KIND OF CONFUSED AS TO WHY THEY'RE INVOLVED, I GUESS. BECAUSE PETE WANTS TO TAKE THIS BACK TO THE DONORS AND SAY, I'VE GOT THEIR APPROVAL, SAYING, HEY, THEY'RE WILLING TO DO X AMOUNT. THEY'RE WILLING TO DO IT HERE. HIS ISSUE WHEN HE CAME THROUGH THAT TIME WAS, WELL, I'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO PRESENT TO THEM. NOW, AGAIN, THIS GETS BACK TO MY ISSUE, WHICH WAS TAXPAYERS ARE ON THE HOOK FOR IT. YEAH. AND IS IT IN THE RIGHT LOCATION? I MEAN, YOU GOT A PAVILION DOWN THERE. MAYBE YOU THROW IT BY THE PAVILION. I DON'T KNOW.

THAT THING'S AT THE, AT REALLY AT THE, WHERE THE BRIDGE COMES ACROSS.

YEAH. WHERE HE WANTS TO PUT IT IS UP ON THE LEVEE, A LITTLE BIT FURTHER UP, WHICH MIGHT BE BY THE SCHOOL, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. DOES THAT FIT THERE? I MEAN, GET BACK TO THE WHOLE PLANNING THING OF EVERYTHING ELSE. AND YOU'RE LIKE. WE'RE JUST THROWING STUFF WHEREVER NOW. IT'S LIKE, AH, PUT IT IN THERE. IF THE SCHOOL GOES IN LOT THREE, IT IS THAT CURVE IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL. SO WE'VE GOT DOG PARK, DONOR PLAZA, A SCHOOL, A

[03:05:01]

OH, SORRY, ROG. GO AHEAD. THE WAY THIS READS IS THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR INCLUDE PROPOSED FUNDING OF $600,000 FOR THE DONOR PLAZA. IF WE APPROVE THIS, AS IT READS, AND WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO SPEND $100,000, NOT $600,000, AND... PUT EVERYBODY'S NAME ON A PLAQUE THAT GOES ON THE SIDE OF THE PARKING GARAGE, WHEREVER WE WANT TO PUT IT, RIGHT? OR WHEREVER. IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO? I MEAN...

SO IF YOU WANT TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S SPENT, IF YOU WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I DRAFTED THIS RESOLUTION JUST SO THAT YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DISCUSS.

IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU DIDN'T DO WAS APPROVE A PROJECT THAT HASN'T, THAT IS NOT... AT A STAGE WHERE IT CAN BE APPROVED AS AN ACTUAL PROJECT, RIGHT? AND I KNOW THAT THE SPENDING OF THE $27,000, I KNOW THAT THAT SEEMS CONTROVERSIAL, BUT ANY TIME A PROJECT COMES TO YOU, WE'VE PUT OUT, RIGHT, BY THE TIME EAST MANAWA CAME TO YOU, WE HAD DESIGNS, WE'D DONE ARCHITECTURE WORK.

BY THE TIME YOU APPROVE IT, WE'VE ALWAYS EXPENDED MONEY.

AND SO THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALWAYS, BY THE TIME A PROJECT GETS TO YOU, THERE'S BEEN SOME MONEY SPENT ON IT. SO THAT'S NOT ANYTHING NEFARIOUS OR ANYTHING PARTICULAR TO THIS PROJECT.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PUT OUT MONEY FOR ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS BEFORE WE CAN PRESENT IT TO YOU. BECAUSE UNDER THE CODE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND A CONTRACT, AND IT HAS TO HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED TO ANY POTENTIAL BIDDERS SO THAT THEY CAN BE SURE THAT THEY WANT TO AGREE TO THAT CONTRACT AND THE PROPOSAL. BUT YES, IF YOU'RE LIKE, I ONLY WANT TO GO $100,000, YOU CAN CHANGE THIS RESOLUTION. YOU CAN PROPOSE. ALTERNATIVE THINGS? YOU CAN SHOOT IT DOWN ENTIRELY. IN PEACE, WHATEVER I WANT TO BE, SHOW OUR, YOU KNOW, THAT. WE'RE THANKFUL TO THE FOLKS THAT DONATED AND, UM, TO THIS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO DO IT IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY, I GUESS. JOE AND JUST A REMINDER, I THINK TONIGHT WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT WHETHER WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT. YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT JOE WAS SAYING BEFORE. CONSIDER THE FACT THAT DO WE WANT TO HONOR THESE DONORS. WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOT AN IDEA TRULY OF WHAT THIS COULD POSSIBLY, THIS COULD BE ANYTHING THAT WE DECIDED TO BE FROM THAT POINT ON. WE COULD SPEND MORE THAN $600,000, OR WE COULD SPEND LESS THAN $600,000. ALL WE'RE SAYING IS, ARE WE CONSIDERING TO SHOW RESPECT TO THE DONORS TO THE RIVERFRONT TONIGHT AND WHETHER WE HAVE ANY APPETITE TO DO IT. AND PETE IS PUTTING... PLAQUE, THAT EVERY SINGLE AMENITY, TAKING THOSE DONORS.

RESPECTIVELY, FOR EACH. SO THE ONLY THING THAT'S MISSING IS THE ORIGINAL FROM THE GREAT LAWN. JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN, YOU WOULD BE APPROVING THAT.

THEY CAN USE THE CIP FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $600,000, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE $27,000 SPENT. SO, IF YOUR INTENTION IS TO NOT APPROVE THE USE OF THAT $600,000 FOR THIS DONOR PLAZA, YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR IN YOUR VOTING. YEAH, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, WE DON'T KNOW THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW.

RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND YOU'RE NOT APPROPRIATING $600,000 OR NOTHING. SURE.

WE'RE PUTTING IT IN THE CIP AGAIN. YOU'RE SAYING THE COUNCIL HAS LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT AS PART OF THE... THE COUNCIL IN FUTURE MEETINGS CAN COME BACK AFTER WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS.

AND REVIEW. OR, YEAH. AND DECIDE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO A WHOLE THING WITH THE COUNCIL, RIGHT? SO LIKE... WE COULD HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES EVERYBODY FEEL COMFORTABLE? DOES THERE NEED TO BE A SEPARATE PLAQUE? DO WE JUST NEED TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE GRAY LAWN? AND IF IT'S MY LIFE. AND SORRY TO INTERRUPT. THIS IS REALLY JUST GIVING ZACH $600,000 FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. AND IF WE SPEND $150,000 ON A DONOR WALL AND THEN WE USE THE OTHER $450,000 ON WHATEVER WE USED ON. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. THIS IS GIVING PETE. THE YES OR NO TO GO BACK TO HIS BOARD TO SAY, IS THERE GOING TO BE A PLAZA? YES OR NO. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

AND WHAT DOES THAT GIVE PETE? YES, THERE'S A PLAZA. NO, THERE'S A PLAZA. DOES HE GET LESS MONEY? DOES HE GET MORE MONEY? WHAT'S THE VALUE TO HIM? THE INVESTMENT'S ALREADY MADE. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT, I GUESS.

THAT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME EITHER. WHAT, YOU KNOW, IF ANY, OF THE DONATIONS

[03:10:02]

THAT HAS NOT BEEN SHARED WITH ME. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID TO ME. I'M NOT SURE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAS BEEN SAID TO ANY DONORS.

AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, BECAUSE THIS WAS A WHOLLY SEPARATE PROJECT AND IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET THAT IT HAD TO BE WHOLLY SEPARATE. IF ANY PUBLIC FUNDS WERE GOING TO BE USED, THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE PHASES. THIS WAS NOT PART OF THOSE OPERATIONS. IF IT GOT YOU, IF IT WAS USED AS A SELLING POINT, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED. SO WE'VE ALREADY, IN OUR DISCUSSION TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT, AND YOU MENTIONED HERE THIS EVENING EVEN, HOW BONDS HAVE GONE OUT, AND TO KIND OF ROGER'S POINT, IT SOUNDS LIKE, AND JILL SAYING, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THESE DONORS? YES, I THINK WE PROBABLY SHOULD DO SOMETHING FOR THE DONORS. IF WE DON'T USE THE $600, THEN THE REMAINDER COULD BE USED ON ANOTHER PROJECT, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO FIT THE DIFFERENT...

REQUIREMENTS OF THAT INITIAL BOND THAT WENT OUT.

BUT IT'S ALREADY THERE. SO WE'RE EITHER GOING TO GET HAMMERED ON IT FOR GIVING IT BACK WITH FINES AND FEES OR WHATEVER, OR WE FIND OTHER USE FOR IT WITHIN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. I DON'T THINK IT HURTS US TO, I GUESS, FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, TO SAY, YES, I THINK WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING.

DO I THINK WE SHOULD SPEND ALL $600,000 ON, FROM WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, SIX MONUMENT SIGNS? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

BUT AGAIN, HOW I UNDERSTAND IT, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING EVERYTHING CORRECT, RIGHT? THIS RESOLUTION IS $600,000 FOR THE DONOR PLAZA, NOT LESS THAN. AND FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WITH THE REMAINING MONDAY. SO THIS RESOLUTION IS $600,000 ON THE DONOR PLAZA. I THOUGHT WE JUST SAID THAT IT WAS... IT WOULD HAVE TO BE... YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE...

TO CHANGE IT TO... OR TO INSTRUCT US TO TABLE IT AND THEN COME BACK WITH A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL NEXT TIME FOR... A LOWER AMOUNT. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BUT YOU DON'T, IF YOUR INTENTION IS NOT TO SPEND $600,000 ON THE DONOR PLAZA, AS PRESENTED, YOU DON'T, THEN YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO CLEAR. I'M SORRY FOR MUDDLING IT THE FIRST FIVE TIMES. LIKE YOU SAID, THIS IS, YOU HAVE THIS IN HERE, TOO, BUT IT'S NOT READY TO BE A PROJECT OR CONTRACT WORK. IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE PUTTING THE CART AHEAD OF THE HORSE HERE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO, I MEAN, THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, I THINK EVERYBODY APPRECIATES THE $50 TO $60 MILLION INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE FOLKS IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, THE Y.M.CA HAS A...

WHEN YOU WALK IN, FROM $50 TO $10,000 OR $10 MILLION, WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS, THEY HAVE A TV SCROLLING THROUGH EVERYBODY WHO'S DONATED.

BUT THAT'S JUST A TV, RIGHT? AND IT'S $100 AT A WALMART.

YOU HANG IT ON THE WALL. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE, AND THIS IS A HUGE INVESTMENT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT. I'M READY TO SAY WE SHOULD SPEND $600,000 ON THAT RECOGNITION. I THINK...

WE SHOULD TABLE THIS. NO. WE SPENT $27,000 ON DESIGN WORK.

WAS THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, AND MAYBE I DIDN'T GET THERE, WAS THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE $600,000 FOR THE DESIGN WORK THAT THEY CAME UP WITH? THE ENGINEER DESIGNED THE PLANS THAT WERE PRESENTED AT STUDY SESSION LAST WEEK.

THAT'S WHAT THE $27,000 WAS SPENT ON, WAS THE PLANS THAT WERE PRESENTED. THEY DON'T.

THEY AREN'T BIDDING OUT THE PROJECT OR TELLING YOU WHAT THE PROJECT BID IS GOING TO BE.

THEY'RE JUST TELLING YOU, THAT'S JUST THE COST FOR HAVING THE PLANS DRAWN UP AND HAVING THE PLANS. NO, I KNOW THAT'S THE COST FOR THE DESIGN. DID THEY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT DESIGN WOULD COST? NOT AS FAR AS I'M AWARE. SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE, IT LOOKS NICE. IS IT REALLY GOING TO COST $600,000? WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT. WE WON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST UNTIL WE PUT IT OUT FOR A PUBLIC BID, AND THEN THE BIDS COME IN. AND THEN ONCE WE ARE LOOKING TO SELECT A BIDDER, WE WOULD HAVE AN IDEA ON WHAT THE BIDS ARE. WOULDN'T YOU THINK, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BE APPROVED? YES. THE REASON THAT IT'S HERE NOW IS ONLY BECAUSE LAST WEEK, WHEN MR. TUPANO WAS HERE, HE SAID, I WANT SOMETHING PUT ON FOR COUNCIL SO THAT YOU GUYS COULD CONSIDER IT. BECAUSE AT STUDY SESSION, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT YOU COULDN'T GIVE HIM A DIRECTION VIA A VOTE.

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A... FEELING. I KNOW WHICH WAY YOU'RE GOING, BUT I WANT TO HAVE A VOTE SO I CAN TAKE IT BACK TO MY BOARD.

SO THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE CHANCE TO SAY, YOU KNOW,

[03:15:02]

YOU COULD TABLE IT. YOU COULD SAY WE'D LIKE TO LOOK DIFFERENT. WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT NOW. WE UNDERSTAND YOU WANT GUIDANCE, BUT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT IT UNTIL IT GOES OUT TO BID.

THOSE ARE ALL WITHIN YOUR ABILITY AS COUNSEL. I THINK WE SHOULD. SAY, YES, I MEAN, THIS IS MY OPINION, WE SHOULD SAY, YEAH, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DONORS.

BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO IT UNTIL WE HAVE ANY SORT OF CLUE AT ALL OF WHAT THIS WOULD COST. AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN COMMIT THIS, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. SO DO WE TABLE? NO, I THINK WE SHOULD PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT OUT OF THERE. I SAY, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A DONOR CLAUSE IN, WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING, A DONOR. WALL OR DON'T SOMETHING, WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING IN THERE. SO PETE CAN TELL HIS FOLKS FROM HIS BOARD THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF RECOGNITION, BUT I THINK WE JUST TAKE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OUT. THEN HE CAN SAY, LOOK, THE CITY IS GOING TO, IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, RECOGNIZE THE INVESTMENT AND THEY APPRECIATE IT. THEY HAVEN'T ALLOCATED THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IT'S GOING TO COST. IF I'M HEARING YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOW, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO, EITHER? YOU GUYS CAN MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO FACILITATE THAT, OR I COULD PREPARE SOMETHING AND PUT IT ON FOR NEXT COUNCIL TO ALLOW A DECLARATION TO BE MADE ABOUT THE INTENTIONS OF COUNCIL FOR A DONOR PLAZA OR WALL.

WITHOUT ANY DOLLAR FIGURES IN THERE, BUT SHOWING AN INTENTION TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE, BUT NOT PUTTING ANY KIND OF DOLLAR. FIGURE ON IT JUST SAYING IT IS OUR INTENTION, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, OR WHATEVER TIME FRAME YOU'RE HAPPY WITH, TO LOOK TO DO SOME KIND OF DONOR RECOGNITION. WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE WHERE I'M AT. JUST WE WANT TO THANK THEM, BUT WE CAN'T.

THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE, YES. BUT I'M ONLY ONE OF FIVE. AND WE MAY WANT TO DO A LOCATION IN THAT AS WELL, AND THAT MAYBE WHERE THEY PROPOSED. IT WAS NOT EXACTLY WHERE WE WANTED IT. I GUESS THE ONE THING I WANT TO GET BACK TO AGAIN, ME JUST STEPPING IN HERE, WHAT'S BEEN DONE ALREADY, AND AGAIN, I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT THINGS, WE'RE NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT WITHOUT A CONTRACT. CORRECT.

OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR. AS MS. PETERSON SAID. CORRECT.

YOU KNOW, IT IS. IT'S ONE THING FOR IT TO BE IN THE CIP AND FOR BONDS TO GO OUT. IT'S ANOTHER FOR THE COUNCIL TO HAVE APPROVED THE PROJECT.

OR FOR THERE TO BE A WRITTEN CONTRACT FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH THERE HAS NOT BEEN A WRITTEN CONTRACT SIGNED OR EVEN DRAFTED FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.

ALTHOUGH THEY'VE SEEN A PLAN, WE HAVE NOT GONE TO THAT LEVEL YET TO HAVE THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING IT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE, BECAUSE IT IS VERY DIFFERENT NOW AS WE LOOK AT IT. SO WE DON'T KNOW THE DOLLAR BECAUSE NOBODY'S ACTUALLY DONE A BID, AND WE REALLY DON'T KNOW LOCATION FOR SURE, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE CORPS IS GOING TO GIVE THE APPROVAL OR WE EVEN WANT IT IN THAT LOCATION. AM I RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. THE ONLY THING WE AGREE ON IS THAT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DONORS, NOT A PRICE, NOT A LOCATION. AND WHEN WE SAY WE, ARE WE SAYING AS A COUNCIL OR AS TAXPAYERS? I'M SAYING, AS A COUNCIL, MYSELF. I OVERSPOKE THERE. THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS IS WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DONORS.

OKAY. BUT WE DON'T WANT A DOLLAR AMOUNT PUT ON IT, AND WE DON'T KNOW THE LOCATION AT THIS POINT. DO WE KNOW THAT WE WOULD PAY TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DO IT? ARE WE AGREEING TO DO THAT? BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS AS WELL, I THINK.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S IN FRONT OF US. YES, THIS IS A TAXPAYER-FUNDED PROJECT.

OKAY. SO MY RECOMMENDATION AS MAYOR WOULD BE TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM AND TO DIRECT WHITNEY TO COME BACK NEXT TIME WITH A STATEMENT OF INTENT.

THAT THE COUNCIL WILL, WITHIN THREE YEARS, BUILD SOME SORT OF RECOGNITION. RIGHT. AND THEN THERE CAN BE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS AT THAT POINT IN TIME ABOUT DOLLAR AMOUNT AND WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.

BUT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY $600,000 FOR A PLAZA. SO THE MOTION AND SECOND HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE ON THIS, SO WE HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THIS.

AND THEN PROCEDURALLY, HOW DO WE? OR YOU CAN AMEND IT IF YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OR THE TIME FRAME. YEAH, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE SAFER BET IS TO LET LEGAL DRAFT US. WE'RE NOT LAWYERS. I WILL SAY YOUR LAWYERS LET YOU DOWN IN

[03:20:05]

BUT THAT WOULD GIVE HER TIME TO WRITE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD COME BACK, KILL THIS, AND THEN GO. YEAH, BUT WE COULD DO ALL THAT. I MEAN. AND I'M SORRY, I'M TALKING WAY TOO MUCH AND OUT OF TURN, AND I APOLOGIZE ABOUT THAT. GO AHEAD. YOU KNOW, IT'S ZACH'S PROJECT. IT IS NOT A LEGAL DEPARTMENT PROJECT. IT IS A PARTS PROJECT. SO HE PROBABLY HAS MUCH BETTER IDEAS ABOUT LOCATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT OUR CITY STAFF, MAYOR AND HER STAFF DECISIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS THINKING OF, BUT IN TERMS OF DRAFTING THE DOCUMENTATION, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, SO WHEN I SAID, GIVE ME DIRECTION, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEARER THAT, YOU KNOW. GIVE YOU DIRECTION TO CHECK WITH THEM AND THEN COME BACK AND WRITE WHAT WE ASKED YOU TO WRITE? YES. BUT WITH THEIR, YOU KNOW, WITH THEIR INPUT.

WITH THEIR INPUT, YEAH, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ALTERNATE LOCATIONS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO KNOW THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ZACH AND HIS TEAM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO MOVED ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION

[8.H) Resolution 26-77 Resolution to adopt a planned industrial development plan for a new parking lot on property legally described as being a portion of the NW1/4 NE1/4 of Section 28-75-43, and being more particularly described in the attached city council communication.  Location: Undeveloped land lying northeast of property at 2287 College Road. PI-26-001    ]

[8.I) Resolutions 26-78, 26-79, 26-80, 26-81, 26-82, 26-83, 26-84 and 26-85 Resolutions granting approval of tax abatement on improvements made to real property within Urban Revitalization Areas during the 2026 tax assessment year (2025 calendar year.)]

SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

[9.A) Liquor License Renewals1. CVS Pharmacy, 545 W Washington Ave.2. The Porch House, 2327 S 24th St.     3. Bluffs Elks Lodge 531, 380 McKenzie Ave.]

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS A1 THROUGH 3. SO MOVED.

SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

[10) OTHER BUSINESS]

MADAM CLERK, IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS? I HAVE NONE.

COUNCIL, ANY OTHER BUSINESS? I THOUGHT THERE WAS, AND MAYBE I MISREAD IT, WAS THERE NOT GOING TO BE A STANDING SPOT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BRING UP ITEMS THAT THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO BRING? THERE WAS, ROGER. I THINK WITH JODY GOING OUT ON BEREAVEMENT LEAVE.

UNEXPECTEDLY, IT WAS NOT ADDED IN, SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT HERE IN OTHER BUSINESS. OKAY, SO.

YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WAS THERE. IT JUST ISN'T HERE. YEAH, TYPICALLY THERE WOULD BE A STANDING. OKAY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. YEAH, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. THOUGHTS AND PRESSURE WITH JODI AND HER FAMILY, WITH HER GRANDPA PASSING. SO ONE THING THAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE COUNCIL IS TODAY ON THE WEST BROADWAY OVERLAY, AND I HAD A MEETING WITH JILL AND CHRIS ABOUT THIS. TODAY, ANY NEW BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRED TO PUT IN A MONUMENT SIGN.

YEARS AGO, BEFORE I WAS EVEN ON COUNCIL, THEY STARTED TO PUT MONUMENT SIGNS IN.

TODAY, UNDER THE WEST BROADWAY OVERLAY, IF A POLE SIGN IS THERE AND IT NEEDS A NEW FACE OR ANY SORT OF UPDATE, IF THE S IN SUBWAY IS BROKEN, THEY CANNOT REPLACE IT. AND IF THEY DO, IF THEY DO ANY MODIFICATIONS, ANYTHING CHANGING TO A POLE SIGN, IT IS REQUIRED TO TAKE IT DOWN TO A MONUMENT SIGN. SO I THINK UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WE HAVE SEEN POLL SIGNS THAT ARE STILL ON BROADWAY NOT BE UPDATED AND KIND

[03:25:01]

AND I THINK WHEN WE TALKED TO CHRIS, HE SPECIFICALLY WAS IN FAVOR OF A REFACE. ROGER, I DON'T THINK WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING CHANGES TO THE SIZE OR DIMENSIONS, BUT AN ACTUAL REFACE. HE THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS VERY REASONABLE. AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SHOW MY AGE BECAUSE I WAS ON PLANNING WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WAY BACK WHEN. AND WHAT'S THE... WEST BROADWAY CORRIDOR. THE IDEA AT THAT TIME WAS TO TRY AND LIMIT HOW THINGS WOULD GET RUN DOWN, BUT NOT FIXED. BUT THEN ALSO TRY AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WERE USING THAT. SO YOU'LL SEE IF IF THE BUSINESS GOES OUT OF BUSINESS. THEY DON'T USE THE SAME THING FOR SIX MONTHS, THEY CAN'T COME IN AND PUT THE SAME BUSINESS IN THERE. SOMETIMES LIKE A CAR, CAR LOT TYPE OF THING. I THINK THE SIGNAGE WAS MEANT TO BE, HEY, LET'S GET THESE UPDATED AT THE SAME TIME TO MAKE IT LOOK A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THIS, TO ME, WOULD BE AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THAT, WHERE WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE FROM MAKING THEIR SIGNS LOOK BETTER BECAUSE WE'RE FORCING THEM INTO SOME DOLLARS OR SOME CHANGES THAT THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO DO. THAT, REALLY, IT WOULDN'T MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE, OTHER THAN... THE SIGN THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE JUST LOOKS BETTER NOW IF WE ALLOWED THEM TO REFACE IT. SO, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THE PARTICULARS. I HAVEN'T READ IT FOR SO LONG, BUT I THINK IT'D BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CERTAINLY GO BACK AND LOOK AT. AND SAY, HOW COULD WE MAKE THIS BETTER TO AVOID THAT? BECAUSE IF THERE ARE BUSINESSES NOT FIXING THE SIGN, BECAUSE NOW I GOT TO DO A WHOLE NEW SIGN. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT IN OUR.

WELL, AND IS THIS THE ONLY, I MEAN, IS THIS THE ONLY AREA WHERE THIS. THIS COMES INTO PLAY, IS THIS SOMETHING CITYWIDE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT? IT'S ONLY IN THE WEST BROADWAY? IT'S JUST WEST BROADWAY. I THINK IT'S JUST WEST BROADWAY CORRIDOR. GOTCHA. I THINK THE INTENT WAS TO GET RID OF THE BILLBOARDS AND THE...

IT WAS. JUST TO THINK OF AN OVERALL CLEANUP, RIGHT? MAKE IT LOOK BETTER. HEY, LET'S, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FORCE SOME OF THOSE BAD ACTORS TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN... IF A BUSINESS WENT OUT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT WAS A BUSINESS THAT DIDN'T FIT THE CORRIDOR, WE'LL DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO ROGER'S LOOKING FOR A SECOND SO WE CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. AND HAVE THESE GUYS. YEAH, I'LL SECOND THAT.

I'LL SECOND THAT. MADAM MAYOR, THIS ISN'T ON THE AGENDA FROM THE GET-GO. OKAY. SO WE NEED TO BUMP IT. BUMP IT.

OKAY. TO THE NEXT ONE. OKAY.

WHAT ARE WE DOING? NOTHING.

CAN'T DO ANYTHING. BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA. OH, WE'RE JUST LISTENING TO HOW WISE ROGER IS. YEAH, IT'S REALLY JUST DISCUSSION SO THAT WE CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. I THOUGHT, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THIS SEEMS LIKE.

YOU'RE RIGHT, ROGER. IT WAS, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A STANDING ITEM ON THERE SO THAT YOU COULD DO THIS EXACT THING. AND THAT'S AN OVERSIGHT THAT IT'S NOT ON THERE THIS WEEK. TONY CLOW, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I'VE ALREADY LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE AND I THINK THAT THIS WILL BE UNDER OUR TWO-DAY MINIMUM. SO I WILL PRODUCE SOMETHING FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

FANTASTIC. THANK YOU, TONY.

THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP OVER THE YEARS THAT I'VE COME ACROSS WITH THE CITY THAT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE. I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT AT THE ONSET WAS ONE WAY, BUT SOMETIMES WE GET IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE MAINTAINING THEIR OWN PROPERTIES. YEP. I MEAN, A LOT OF FOLKS JUST WANT TO MAINTAIN WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE, AND IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO DO THOSE THINGS AS A BUSINESS.

SOMETIMES, SO I CAN SEE HOW THIS WOULD BE AGGRAVATING IF YOU WERE IN THAT CORRIDOR. AND I'M GOING TO STICK UP A LITTLE BIT WITH PLANNING. THEY TRY AND

[03:30:02]

BUT YOU'RE TRYING TO COVER A TON OF VARIABLES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND TRY AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION YOU CAN. I THINK THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS JUST LIKE THIS. THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN, AND WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND FIX THAT.

AFTER THE FACT AND SAY, THAT WAS NOT OUR INTENT. WE DID NOT MEAN FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY, JUST KEEP YOUR OLD SIGN UP FOREVER. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

THEN AGAIN, WHERE DO YOU GET INTO THE POINT WHERE, AS BEING A JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN, THERE'S MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY THINGS THAT BECOME OUTDATED THAT WE'RE FORCED TO FIX WHENEVER WE GO IN TO DO SOMETHING. SURE. AND SO... WHEN DO YOU SAY THAT SIGN'S CONDEMNED AND YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT? RIGHT. I MEAN, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT POSSIBILITY. ALSO BECAUSE THERE WAS AN INTENT OF CLEANING UP THE AREA, BECAUSE THERE WERE SIGNS ALL THE WAY DOWN THAT STREET. WHEN I WAS A KID, YOU COULD HARDLY LOOK DOWN THE STREET. IT'S A MUCH BETTER CORRIDOR. AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK INTO THIS, WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THE FACT IS. ARE WE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO JUST WAIT US OUT UNTIL WE DECIDE THAT, OKAY, IT'S BAD ENOUGH NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU JUST REFACE IT. AND SO SOMEBODY HAS TO SAY NO, AND SOMEBODY HAS TO BE THE REGULATOR ALSO.

THAT'S WHERE I'M AT ON THAT. I THINK GOOD POINTS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DISCUSS AND VOTE ON AT THE NEXT MEETING. YEP. ANY OTHER TOPICS FOR THIS EVENING? CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.

SECOND. WE ARE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.