[00:21:37]
[00:21:39]
OKAY.[00:21:41]
OH, LOOKS[00:21:42]
LIKE WE HAVE MICROPHONES BACK.[00:21:43]
THANK YOU.AND NEXT UP, WE HAVE A LIME SCOOTER PRESENTATION.
THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO, MARK.
DO WE HAVE OUR LIME SCOOTER PARTNERS HERE TODAY? I DON'T THINK SO.
GET THEM RESCHEDULED TO A DIFFERENT MEETING.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS TO REVIEW THE AGENDA ITEMS FOR THIS EVENING.
SO THIS EVENING WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION FOR FOSTER CARE MONTH, SO THAT WILL KICK US OFF.
AND THEN WE HAVE CITIZENS' REQUESTS TO BE HEARD.
DOESN'T COME AROUND VERY OFTEN, BUT IT IS CITIZENS REQUESTING TO HAVE THEIR RENTAL REGISTRATION LATE FEES WAIVED.
SO WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL RESIDENTS HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT TOPIC.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER WAIVED ONE.
WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED, AND WE'VE NEVER WAIVED ONE PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE CITIZENS TO COME AND SPEAK.
SO IT'LL BE UP TO THE COUNCIL AS FAR AS WHETHER YOU WISH TO MOVE ON WAIVING THOSE LATE FEES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT ITEM? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT RODNEY WAS UP VISITING WITH US TODAY, AND HE DID HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THAT, AND CASE COUNSEL HAS QUESTIONS WHILE HE'S HERE.
QUESTIONS FOR RODNEY? I DON'T THINK SO.
THANK YOU, THOUGH, RODNEY, FOR BEING HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING? I JUST HAD A COUPLE ON D.
ON THE SIGNAGE WE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THEM DOING THEM SEPARATE WITH THE POLE SIGNS.
THIS ALLOWS THEM TO, SORRY, I'VE GOT A MILLION TABS OPEN.
SO THIS ALLOWS THEM TO REFACE EXISTING POLE SIGNS.
YEAH, NOT BIGGER, NOT TALLER, NOT...
AND THEN THE CAVEAT WOULD BE THAT THAT POLE SIGN WOULD HAVE TO GET REMOVED IN THE FUTURE IF THE SITE WERE EVER TO BE REDEVELOPED.
SO THINK ABOUT WHAT CHIPOTLE'S DOING ON BROADWAY.
THEY'RE COMPLETELY COMING IN, SCRAPING A SITE CLEAN, SO THEY'D HAVE TO...
IF THERE WAS A POLE SIGN IN THAT SITUATION, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND CONVERTED TO A MONUMENT SIGN.
OR IF THAT EXISTING POLE SIGN WERE TO BE DESTROYED...
BY 50% OR MORE OF ITS REPLACEMENT VALUE, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO GET CONVERTED INTO A MONUMENT SIGN.
SO WHAT THIS TEXT AMENDMENT HERE DOES IS ALLOW FOR ALL THE EXISTING POLE AND PYLON SIGNS ON BROADWAY TO BE REFACED, SIZE FOR SIZE.
MINOR MAINTENANCE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO IN THERE AND PAINT IT, YOU KNOW, DO TOUCH-UPS, BUT YOU COULDN'T ENLARGE IT, CAN'T MAKE IT BIGGER.
IF A CAR PLOWS INTO IT TOMORROW AND KNOCKS IT DOWN, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REESTABLISH IT.
THOSE EXISTING POLL SIGNS ON THERE, SOME OF THEM WHICH HAVE MULTIPLE TENANTS WHO CHANGE OVER TIME, WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT THEM ON THERE, SO IT WILL HELP THOSE SITUATIONS.
[00:25:01]
ALL RIGHT.SO WHEN WE TALKED, THE REASON I BROUGHT THIS UP AND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN YOUR OFFICE WITH JILL, AND KIND OF WANT TO DO IT IN TWO PHASES, RIGHT? SO THEY CAN REFACE, BUT ALSO, I MEAN, I SAID IT DOWN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID IT WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS.
I THINK IF CHIPOTLE OR SEVEN BREW, THE NEW BUSINESSES, WANTED TO PUT A PULL SIGN, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO.
AND I DON'T, MY OPINION IS IF ONE GETS KNOCKED DOWN.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO BACK UP.
SO I GUESS I DON'T KNOW WHAT COUNCIL'S THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT, BUT IT DOESN'T, I GUESS I DON'T SEE THE VALUE IN NOT ALLOWING THAT.
BECAUSE IF CHIPOTLE WANTED TO PUT A POLL SIGN AND THEY SAID, HEY, WE'RE, WE JUST TELL THEM NO.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S, I GUESS, MY RESPONSE TO THAT, MAYOR AND ROGERS.
YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAD THE WEST BROADWAY CORRIDOR DESIGN STANDARDS ON THE BOOKS FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
THE LAST 20 YEARS, IT'S BEEN CONSISTENT THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A PULL SIGN.
BUT MCDONALD'S KEPT THEIRS, BURGER KING KEPT THEIRS, BECAUSE THERE'S VALUE TO THEM.
OR THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN THEM DOWN.
THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE REASON WHY MCDONALD'S KEPT THEIRS.
NO, BUT IF THERE WAS MORE VALUE TO A MONUMENT SIGN, THEY WOULD DO IT.
AGREED? I AGREE BUT THE REASON WHY MCDONALD'S IS ABLE TO KEEP THEIRS I KNOW THERE'S A DIFFERENT YEAH YEAH YEAH YOU TOLD ME YEAH THERE WAS A THERE WAS AN IT THERE WAS AN ERROR WHEN THEY WENT TO REDO THEIR SIGN AND SO THEY HAVE THEIRS IN PERPETUITY AND I THINK WE GOT TO REMEMBER BACK WHEN WE PUT THIS TOGETHER 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS PART OF PLANNING AT THE TIME THE THE IDEA WAS TO TRY AND NOT HAVE A LOT OF CAR DEALERSHIPS ON BROADWAY THAT HAD POLL SIGNS AND THEY WERE CHANGING NAMES AND CHANGING OWNERSHIP AND IT JUST WAS I MEAN IT WAS A HODGEPODGE OF STUFF AND WE WERE TRYING TO LIMIT THAT IN A WAY THAT TOOK THOSE OUT IN SOME CASES BECAUSE WE PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS ON THERE AND THEN ALSO IF YOU WANTED TO DO IT YOU WERE GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE UP-TO-DATE SIGN AND A LITTLE BIT NICER SIGN RIGHT AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE GAME PLAN AND I I'LL COMMEND ROGER FOR BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE EVEN AS MUCH AS WE DISCUSSED IT BACK THEN, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES HAPPENED WITH THOSE SIGNS WHERE WE SAID, OKAY, YOU CAN'T DO X, AND THEN WE JUST ENDED UP WITH JUNKY SIGNS ANYWAY.
YEAH, NOW YOU HAVE 20-YEAR-OLD DILAPIDATED SIGNS.
CORRECT, AND THAT WASN'T WHAT WE WANTED AT ALL, BUT WE KIND OF PUT OURSELVES IN THAT SITUATION, SO I APPRECIATE YOU DOING IT.
AGAIN, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT REPLACING THEM, I KIND OF AGREE WITH YOU, CHRIS, BUT ONCE YOU GET TO THAT POINT OF IT'S 50% OR MORE.
NOW WE FALL INTO THE IDEA OF LET'S DO SOMETHING THAT FITS WITH WHAT THE PLAN WAS, RIGHT? INSTEAD OF GOING BACK AND SAYING WE CAN DO POLE SIGNS EVERYWHERE.
I GET WHERE ROGER'S COMING FROM.
THEY'RE USUALLY A LITTLE MORE VALUABLE FROM AN ADVERTISING PERSPECTIVE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE GOT AWAY TO MAKE SENSE FROM.
WELL, I GUESS I REMEMBER A DAY WHEN YOU LOOKED DOWN BROADWAY AND YOU COULDN'T SEE ANY OF THE BUILDINGS BECAUSE OF THE BILLBOARDS.
YEARS AGO, BUT THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE WENT TOWARDS THE DIRECTION OF GETTING THEM LOWER BEAUTIFY THE CORRIDOR, YOU KNOW AND IT DOES PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS IN THERE BUT HOW MANY HAVE WE HAD TAKEN DOWN AND REPLACED AND PUT AND LOWERED TO THE GROUND? TO THIS POINT AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SAY HEY, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
LET'S KEEP GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF BEAUTIFYING THAT CORRIDOR AND MOVING FORWARD.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M IN THE INDUSTRY, AND THIS COULD BE A ONE-OFF, BUT IF SEVEN BREWER CHIPOTLE SAID, I WANT A POLE SIGN, ARE WE GOING TO TELL THEM NO? I MEAN, THAT'S THE POINT WHERE A NEW BUSINESS WANTS TO COME IN AND INVEST MILLIONS, AND WE'D TELL THEM NO OVER A POLE SIGN.
I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU.
WELL, IT'S KIND OF LIKE SAYING ALSO.
WE USED TO HAVE A HOUSE WITH TWO FUSES ON IT, 30 AMP FUSES.
AND OVER THE YEARS, WE WENT TO A 40 AMP SERVICE, A 60 AMP SERVICE, NOW WE'RE A 125 AMP SERVICE.
AND IF YOU EVEN SELL A HOME, YOU HAVE TO UPGRADE YOUR CIRCUITS UP TO A BREAKER.
AND SO THIS IS DONE ALL THE TIME.
AND I DON'T KNOW YOUR COMPARISON BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S SAFETY, RIGHT? WELL, LINES CAN BE SAFETY.
YOU NAME IT, IT'S ONE OF THE BUSIEST STREETS IN OUR TOWN.
I'M JUST SAYING, AS WE MODERNIZE AND GO FORWARD, WE ASK CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES ALL THE TIME TO DO THINGS.
[00:30:01]
OF FACT, I REALLY DON'T AGREE WITH LETTING THEM RESURFACE.IF IT'S OUTDATED AND READY TO BE MOVED ON, THEN THEY SHOULD DO IT.
I'M GUESSING, AGAIN, LIKE CHIPOTLE, THEY'RE OPENING STORES IN HUNDREDS OF PLACES EVERY YEAR.
WE CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE SAYING, HEY, YOU CAN'T HAVE A POLE SIGN.
YOU'VE GOT TO DO A MONUMENT SIGN BASED ON WHERE WE'RE AT, RIGHT? RIGHT, AND THEY NEVER EVEN ASKED ABOUT A POLE SIGN.
NO, I'M NOT SAYING THESE GUYS WOULD OR SEVEN BREW DID EITHER.
I'M JUST SAYING IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO INVEST A MILLION DOLLARS ON A PIECE OF ONE OF OUR BUSIEST PRIZED POSSESSIONS IN TOWN, WE JUST REDID THE WHOLE THING.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HOLD THAT UP AND SAY NO BECAUSE THEY WANT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT'S LIKE YOU COMPROMISED ON SOMETHING ELSE ON THE BACKSIDE OF RENZA.
WE COMPROMISED WITH THEM, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE GLASS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE KITCHEN WAS OR MAYBE THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE.
I THINK THOSE ARE JUST THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE TALKED ABOUT.
YEAH, CHIPOTLE, RIGHT? YEAH, IT WAS CHIPOTLE.
SO IF THAT INSTANCE CAME UP ABOUT THIS SIGN, THAT IT'S A CONVERSATION I THINK SHOULD BE HAD LIKE I SAID BECAUSE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE GLASS NOW THEY DON'T IT'S JUST ANOTHER THING THAT I BECAUSE I'M IN THE INDUSTRY RIGHT IF I WAS IN BUILDING BUILDINGS I'D BE LIKE WELL THIS GUY DOESN'T NEED GLASS.
IT'S JUST IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME I DON'T I MEAN IT'S SOMETHING WHEN WE DO THE 2050 PLAN ON THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR PLAN MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT I DON'T KNOW I MEAN AGAIN.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT I REMEMBER BEING PART OF THAT PLAN FOR 2030 IN THE BROADWAY PLAN IS KIND OF DISCUSSED AT THAT TIME TO SAY, LET'S REALLY CLEAN UP BROADWAY AND MAKE IT LOOK A LOT NICER.
I THINK TO SOME EXTENT THAT HAS WORKED.
MAYBE I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK IN SOME CASES WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT.
HEY, WE DON'T WANT TO TURN AWAY BUSINESS BECAUSE OF A SIGN SITUATION.
BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO INVITE IT ALL AND SAY, WE HAVE RULES, BUT THEN YOU JUST PUT UP WHAT YOU WANT.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WHEN WE DO THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR PLAN THEY CAN TALK ABOUT, ROGER.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A, JUST TO CLARIFY, WE DON'T HAVE A BROADWAY CORRIDOR PLAN ON THE BOOKS, RIGHT? SO THIS CHANGE IS BECAUSE OF THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR PLAN THAT WAS COMPLETED.
YEAH, THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE OVERLAY, YEAH.
AND SO I THINK THAT IF SOMEBODY WERE TO COME AND THERE WAS A QUESTION, WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
HOWEVER, WE NEED TO HAVE ORDINANCES AND...
REALLY WHERE THIS UPDATE CAME FROM IS THAT YOU HAD TWO BUSINESSES ON THE WEST SIDE OF BROADWAY WHO WENT AHEAD AND REFACED THEIR SIGNS WITHOUT GETTING PERMISSION FROM THE CITY.
AND SO THE COMPROMISE IS TO ALLOW THEM TO REFACE WHAT'S THERE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALKED, IT WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE.
SO IF SOMEBODY COMES IN, I MEAN, IN THE COUNCIL COMMUNICATION, THERE'S 15? 16 PEOPLE THAT STILL HAVE POLL SIGNS.
AND I SAID, WELL, THESE GUYS CAN.
WHY CAN'T WE? ONCE THEIR SIGN GETS TO EITHER 50% OF NEEDING NEW OR WANT TO CHANGE IT, THEN THEY'LL NEED A CHANGE AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ALSO THAT IOS PAID FOR HALF OF THE COST OF EVERYBODY WHO SWITCHED OVER TO HELP THEM.
THE BUSINESSES PAY FOR THAT COST.
DESIGN LOOKED THAT THE CITY ENTERED INTO AT THAT TIME, AS WELL AS PLANNING COMMISSION WEIGHED IN AS FAR AS WHAT DO WE WANT THE DESIGN OF THE CITY TO LOOK LIKE ON OUR MAJOR STREET.
AND I, AGAIN, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE IN THAT INDUSTRY, BUT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THE COMMUNITY PRESENTS.
I THINK POLE SIGNS LOOK JUST AS GOOD AS MONUMENT.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I THINK.
I REALIZE THAT MIGHT NOT BE HOW COUNCIL GOES, BUT THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
AND I THINK, ONE, THOSE MONUMENT SIGNS SOMETIMES ARE BLOCKING TRAFFIC.
THEY'RE NOT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THEY'RE BEHIND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE ALL THE TIME.
I THINK THE POLE SIGNS IS A LOT SAFER THAN THE MONUMENT SIGNS.
BECAUSE I'VE ALMOST BEEN SMOKED A FEW TIMES WHERE SOMEONE, YOU DON'T SEE IT.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO, I THINK THIS COMPROMISE, AS YOU CALL IT, WHATEVER, IS A GOOD THING IN THAT I HONESTLY THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS WE DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTIES.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A GOOD THING.
I APPRECIATE CHRIS DOING THIS.
BUT I THINK THAT THE OTHER PIECE IS MAYBE SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, I FEEL LIKE.
WELL, THE ONLY REASON I BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE IT'S IN HERE.
SO OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T, RIGHT? I READ THE WHOLE THING AND IT TALKS SPECIFICALLY
[00:35:01]
ABOUT IT AND SO I IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT WE CHANGED IT AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS OR WHENEVER WE DECIDE, YOU KNOW.THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT DOING IT SEPARATELY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, REFACING, BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE SIGNS THAT THE BOOST MOBILE SUBWAY ONE, RIGHT? THEY'RE STILL THERE.
BUSINESSES ARE BOTH OPERATING, BUT THEY CAN'T CHANGE THEIR SIGN.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL, I MEAN, I ASSUME WE'LL MAYBE CONTACT THEM AND LET THEM KNOW, LIKE, HEY, YOU CAN NOW UPDATE THIS, RIGHT? UPDATE YOUR SIGN, YEAH.
YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S IN DISARRAY.
THIS IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT DOING.
AS YOU READ THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, IT'S MULTIFACETED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I WAS JUST GOING TO BRING UP SOMETHING.
I HAD TALKED TO MARK AUGUSTINE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VALLEY VIEW.
DID YOU MAYBE WANT TO CLARIFY? THE QUESTION I HAD WAS WE DIDN'T SEE HOW THAT WAS GOING TO BE LAID OUT.
WHAT VALLEY VIEW IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THE CURVING IN THE MIDDLE THERE AND IT'S A ONE LANE BUT THEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT FROM THE ONE LANE AND THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE TURNING IN FROM TWO DIFFERENT AREAS RIGHT SO DO YOU MAYBE WANT TO COVER THAT REAL QUICK USED TO HAVE A CRATER SIZE HOLE OVER THERE TAKE YOUR TIRES OVER THERE SO WE ARE RECONFIGURING THAT INTERSECTION TO BE MORE OF A PERPENDICULAR IT'S KIND OF SKEWED RIGHT NOW THERE WILL BE A DEDICATED LEFT TURN LANE AND A RIGHT TURN LANE COMING OFF OF FRANKLIN ON TO VALLEY VIEW WITH THE REDESIGN WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP A LITTLE BIT OF THE DRAINAGE ISSUE WITH THE APARTMENT COMPLEX THERE WE'RE ALSO PUTTING SIDEWALK IN DOWN TO VALLEY VIEW AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN A HAWK PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL OR NOT A HAWK RAPID FLASHING PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AT THAT INTERSECTION THAT'S GOOD YOU SAY I LOOKED AT I REALLY LIKED THE PLAN AND THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT THINGS TALKED ABOUT WHETHER A LIGHT WAS NEEDED AND WHETHER YOU DO A HALF A ROUNDABOUT OR SOMETHING BUT I LIKE THIS IDEA THE THE NEXT ONE ON VALLEY VIEW IS GOING TO BE GREENVIEW I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION THAT.
IT'S WITH THE APARTMENTS AND ALL THE HOUSES.
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT IT.
SO THE INTERSECTION AT FRANKLIN AND VALLEY VIEW IS A PIECE OF OUR VALLEY VIEW STUDY, AND THERE IS A SIGNAL PLAN THAT WILL BE COMING TO YOU GUYS LATER FOR GREENVIEW AND VALLEY VIEW.
ANY WAY TO MAKE VALLEY VIEW THREE LANES? I MEAN, I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE THROWING THINGS OUT TODAY.
EVERYONE ELSE IS THROWING STUFF OUT.
OH, IS THAT CORRECT? YOU FOUND IT, BUD.
AS THE COUNCIL MENTIONED, THESE TWO PROJECTS WITH THE TRAFFIC, THEY'RE WELL NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.
AND THANK YOU, MARK AND THE TEAM FOR LOOKING INTO THIS.
AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY, WHETHER YOU LIVE OFF OF THAT ROAD OR NOT, WILL BE EXCITED FOR THE SIGNAL PORTION TO COME IN.
YEAH, THERE ARE DEFINITE ARTERIAL FLOWS THROUGH THAT ENTIRE SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY NOW.
WHAT WAS ONCE THE PERIPHERY, I MEAN, GRANDMA USED TO BURN HER TRASH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE OF TOWN.
CHRIS, DO YOU WANT TO START US OFF? OKAY, ITEM 6A, SO THIS IS ORDINANCE 6674 AND 6675.
THIS IS A REQUEST TO AMEND OUR ZONING ORDINANCE TO ALLOW OUTDOOR RECREATION IN OUR C3 AND C4 DISTRICTS.
OUR C3 AND C4 DISTRICTS ARE PRIMARILY IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
THIS WAS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED AS THE HUB IS GOING TO BE UNDERGOING A CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS AND THAT NEW OPERATOR WOULD LIKE TO CONVERT THE PARKING GARAGE INTO AN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR.
GO-KART TRACK ON THE SECOND LEVEL.
THE THIRD LEVEL WOULD BE JUST OUTDOOR GREEN SPACE WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE PATIO CHAIRS, SOME ASTROTURF, YOU KNOW, BAGS, STUFF LIKE THAT.
RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT ALLOW OUTDOOR RECREATION IN EITHER ONE OF THESE DISTRICTS, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THAT.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIGURE OUT WAYS TO ACTIVATE SPACES IN DOWNTOWN AND MAKE IT MORE VIBRANT, MORE LIVELY, BRING PEOPLE DOWN HERE.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD ORDINANCE CHANGE THAT REALLY TRIES TO...
YOU KNOW ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF IT AND I WILL SAY YOU KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS UH WHEN IT FIRST CAME UP AND I DID GO TO PLANNING AND LISTEN TO SOME OF THEIR COMMENTS THEY THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED IT SOUNDED LIKE CHRIS WITH THE TOP OF THE PARKING GARAGE AND HOW WE WOULD KIND OF PROTECT THAT FOR SAFETY WHICH I UNDERSTAND AND I KIND
[00:40:01]
OF TALKED ABOUT THAT AS WELL BUT UH CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY MAYBE TOUCH ON THE, IT'LL BE NON-CONFORMING, IT'LL NEED ZBA APPROVAL OR IT WILL NOT NEED? IT WILL.SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO MAKE THEM A CONDITIONAL USE, WHICH IS A USE THAT'S NOT PERMITTED BY RIGHT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO GET A SPECIAL ONE IN ORDER TO OPERATE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, GIVES THE CITY THE FLEXIBILITY TO DETERMINE WHICH LOCATIONS ARE BEST SUITED FOR THIS TYPE OF USE.
AND THEN YOU CAN KIND OF CUSTOMIZE WHATEVER STANDARDS ARE NEEDED FOR THAT USE AT THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION.
SO IT'S NOT A BY RIGHT USE IT WOULD BE A SPECIAL PERMIT REQUIRED FOR THE USE RIGHT I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW I WAS ALWAYS HESITANT FROM A PLANNING SIDE TO APPROVE SOMETHING THAT WAS BASICALLY NON-CONFORMING RIGHT OFF THE BAT BUT LIKE YOU SAY THIS GIVES US A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY TO CONTROL EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS THERE SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GOING THROUGH THAT AND MEETING WITH THEM AND KIND OF WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
THEY DO HAVE SOMETHING OUT ON 144TH AND CENTER AT THE OLD SHOPKO BUILDING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO TURN THAT BUILDING INTO SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH A GO-KART AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, I THINK, OF RIGHT OFF THE BAT IT'S KIND OF A WEIRD SITUATION.
BUT AS YOU WORK THROUGH IT AND THEN COME UP WITH DIFFERENT PLANS, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GET TO THIS POINT WHERE, HEY, WE MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING NEW.
TO SHOW OFF OUR DOWNTOWN AND LET'S GIVE IT A TRY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
THE OTHER THING TO MENTION WITH THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS THAT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THE PARKING GARAGE COULD BE SOLD SEPARATELY BECAUSE IT IS A SEPARATE STRUCTURE, AND SO THAT GIVES US CONTROL THAT IF THEY WERE EVER TO SPLIT, THEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, OKAY, WHERE'S YOUR RESTROOM, WHERE'S YOUR THIS, WHERE'S YOUR THAT.
WHERE'S YOUR ABA COMPLAINT, YEAH.
FANTASTIC JOB TO CHRIS AND HIS TEAM, BUT ALSO RODNEY AND HIS TEAM, BECAUSE WE QUICKLY, OVER ABOUT AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF, ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SAT DOWN AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE MAKE THIS WORK.
ALONG WITH LEGAL WAS THERE AS WELL.
SO IT WAS A BIG GROUP EFFORT LATE ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK.
WHEN THIS COMES UP TO THE BOARD AT THAT TIME, THEN THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN SAY, OKAY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN THIS SORT OF FENCING OR THIS WHATEVER TO KEEP EVERYTHING.
THE KIDS ENCLOSED AND BECAUSE WHEN I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM THEY'D MENTIONED HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY FOCUS ON A LOT OF THE YOUNGER KIDS YOU KNOW FOR FOR THAT'S THEIR KIND OF TARGET AUDIENCE WITH THAT SPACE BUT IT WOULD ALL BE YOU KNOW SAFETY THEY PUT SAFETY BARRIERS AND THINGS UP FOR FOR HEIGHT BUT WHEN I MENTIONED TO SOME FOLKS THAT I'M FRIENDS WITH WITH SMALL CHILDREN THAT YEAH THIS IS COMING UP ON THIS WE HAD THE THING LAST LAST MEETING AND THEY SAID OH WELL WHO IS THIS OH THEY HAVE THE PLACE OVER IN OMAHA AND THEY THEY WERE VERY ECSTATIC YEAH THEY WERE EXTREMELY EXCITED YEAH SO UM SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE A REALLY GOOD DEAL FOR US SO EXCITING WORK WELL I THINK WE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADAPT WITH OUR ZONING LAWS RIGHT WHEN I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL USE IN C2 ZONING RIGHT THERE'S THINGS WE NEED AND SO TO REINVIGORATE DOWNTOWN LIKE THIS AND AND OTHER SPOTS OF OUR COMMUNITY SO THIS IS GOOD AND CHRIS LIKE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT LIKE APPROVING SOMETHING FOR NON-CONFORMING RIGHT AWAY IS TOUGH BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO THAT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT OKAY ITEM 6 B THAT'S RESOLUTION 26 132 THAT WAS A CONTINUATION FROM LAST MONTH THIS IS BEING PAIRED UP WITH ORDINANCE NUMBER 66 81 WHICH IS ITEM SEVEN B ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS DOES IS COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING THE URBAN VITALIZATION AREAS ON NORTH ANY RAIMENT JASON JAMES PROJECTS UH...
ESTABLISHES THE AREA AND BOTH APPROVED THE PLAN UH...
WITH THESE APPROVALS BOTH PROJECTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX ABATEMENT I BELIEVE THEY'RE BOTH SEEKING TEN YEARS A HUNDRED PERCENT WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT UH...
URBAN REVITALIZATION PLAN ALLOWS ANY QUESTIONS OKAY.
THIS IS A REQUEST TO DISPOSE OF TWO LOTS, 23 AND 24, IN OUR EAST MANILOW SUBDIVISION TO MIDWEST ARCHITECTS.
THAT'S OWNED AND OPERATED BY DARIAN. DARIAN USED TO BE ON OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, AND HE IS NOW IN THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD.
AND SO HE IS PROPOSING TO PURCHASE THESE LOTS FROM THE CITY AND DEVELOP EACH ONE WITH AN ATTACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
I THINK EACH SIDE WOULD BE VALUED AT $375,000.
GREAT INVESTMENT LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH DARIEN ON IT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TWO OF THE BEST LOTS IN THE WHOLE SUBDIVISION BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THAT PARK AND I THINK YOU'LL BE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN SELLING BOTH OF THEM ALL RIGHT.
THIS WOULD BE ITEM 6 E RESOLUTIONS 26 172 AND 26 173 THIS IS OUR REQUEST TO DISPOSE
[00:45:03]
A PROPERTY A CITY CURRENTLY OWNS OFF OF AVENUE F 4045 AVENUE F.THESE PROPERTIES WERE ACQUIRED THROUGH OUR 657A PROGRAM.
WE DO HAVE TWO COMPETING OFFERS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO US, AND THEY'RE BOTH FAIRLY SIMILAR.
ONE WANTS TO BUILD A DUPLEX THAT WOULD THEN BE LEASED OUT TO AMERISERVE.
THE OTHER ENTITY WANTS TO ACQUIRE IT AND BUILD A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE ON EACH LOT.
IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, ONE OF THEM IS OFFERING $36,000, AND THE OTHER ONE IS OFFERING $39,000 FOR BOTH LOTS.
WE DID NOT PUT FORTH A RECOMMENDATION ON THESE.
THEY'RE REALLY, IT'S A TOSS-UP.
THEY'RE SO CLOSE IN WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING VERSUS HOUSING, AS WELL AS REIMBURSING THE CITY BACK OUR COSTS.
SO WE KIND OF LEAVE IT TO COUNCIL FOR YOU GUYS TO DISCUSS AND FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.
HAS EITHER, I DON'T RECALL EITHER OF THESE DEVELOPING IN TOWN YET, RIGHT? MR. AVALOS HAS.
HE'S PURCHASED MULTIPLE LOTS FROM US.
WE'VE NEVER WORKED WITH HIM IN THE PAST BEFORE.
BUT AVALOS CONSTRUCTION, HE'S PURCHASED PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR LOTS FROM US.
INFILL LOTS? IT'S A BUILD INFILL.
HE USUALLY PARTNERS UP WITH MR. AL RUBY ON SOME OF HIS PROJECTS.
SO HE HAS ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
CHRIS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, MOST EVERYTHING AROUND THAT AREA IS ALL SINGLE FAMILY, IS IT NOT? CORRECT.
THERE'S THE DAY DUPLEXES, CORRECT? RIGHT.
THERE'S SINGLE FAMILY THAT OFFERS MORE.
HE'S DEVELOPED IN TOWN BEFORE.
WE UNDERSTAND HE'LL DO A GOOD JOB.
YEAH, BUT ISN'T THERE SOME FOURPLEXES JUST DOWN THE STREET? LIKE, I'M NOT TRYING TO THROW KINK IN YOUR WORKS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR DOWN.
OFF OF 40TH, I THOUGHT THERE WAS.
I MEAN, A BLOCK OVER, BUT MAYBE I'M TAKING THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD, I GUESS.
THERE'S A MIXTURE OF HOUSING OUT HERE.
YEAH, THERE'S A COUPLE FOURPLEXES THAT ARE SIDE BY SIDE, AND THERE'S ONE CANDY CORNER ACROSS THE WAY, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
I JUST REMEMBER HAVING TO MOVE A FRIEND OUT OF ONE OF THEM FROM THE BASEMENT.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER VALUE ON THE ONE, AND WITH THE SINGLE FAMILY, TO ME IT FITS DIRECTLY WHAT'S AROUND THERE.
AND IF WE'VE DEVELOPED WITH HIM BEFORE AND HE'S BEEN OKAY TO WORK WITH, THEN THAT WOULD BE MY IDEA IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
OKAY, ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ALONG.
THIS IS ALSO PARTNERED UP WITH ITEM 9E ON THE AGENDA.
THIS IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE PURCHASE SALE OF A PARCEL THAT WE OWN TO LOCKWOOD DEVELOPMENT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S ALSO APPROVING THEIR PR PLAN, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING THAT PROPERTY WITH 147 UNITS OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING.
SO COUNCIL WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
AGAIN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEEKING TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, 15 YEARS, 75%, MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF $5.3 MILLION.
7B, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION FROM COUNCIL'S LAST MEETING ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDITS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF IOWA, ECONOMIC...
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS LIMITED EACH CITY AND COUNTY TO A MAXIMUM OF FOUR APPLICATIONS THAT WE CAN SUBMIT RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR.
WE HAD PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO TALON CONSTRUCTION FOR THEIR SOUTH POINT PHASE 2 APARTMENT THAT WAS BACK IN FEBRUARY.
PRIOR TO US OBTAINING KNOWLEDGE IN THE STATE THAT THEY WERE LIMITING US TO FOUR.
SO WE WERE DOWN TO THEN THREE APPLICATIONS THAT WE COULD SUPPORT.
AND, CHRIS, I'M GOING TO PAUSE YOU RIGHT THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION ON THIS MATTER LATER WHERE WE CAN GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT QUESTIONS AND GET QUESTIONS FOR 9B.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO PAUSE THERE AND SAY THAT WE WILL DISCUSS THIS ITEM IN CLOSED SESSION LATER TODAY.
OKAY, THEN LAST ITEM ON HERE FOR ME WOULD JUST BE 9D.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT
[00:50:01]
PRELIMINARY PLAN APPROVAL FOR A 13-LOT SUBDIVISION TO BE KNOWN AS GRAPPLER'S GATE.THIS IS A PROJECT FROM SCOTT PORTER.
IT WAS APPROVED BACK IN THE DAY.
HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT, SO HIS PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION PLAN EXPIRED.
NO CHANGES TO THE LAYOUT, SAME NUMBER OF LOTS, STILL INTENDING TO DEVELOP IT WITH SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED HOMES FOR PHASE ONE.
PHASE 1, PHASE 2, WHICH IS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED WITH TOWN HOMES.
IN ADDITION, HE IS NEEDING SOME SUBDIVISION VARIANCES BECAUSE THE LOTS DO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM 3-TO-1 LOT DEPTH-WIDTH RATIO.
THIS IS REALLY JUST KIND OF A FORMALITY TO GET IT RE-APPROVED SO HE CAN NOW MOVE FORWARD WITH BUILDING THE ROAD.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF BOTH.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ITEM? PLANNING, THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS WATER RUNOFF, RIGHT? IT WAS, CORRECT.
BECAUSE IT'S COMING DOWN THE HILL AND RIGHT ON TO FRONTIER CREEK.
THERE'S NOT VERY GOOD SEWAGE OR ANYTHING DOWN THERE.
ON THIS SECTION, I KNOW WE'VE HAD ISSUES ACROSS THE STREET.
AND I DON'T, MAYBE IT'S ALL, IT'S COME FROM THAT SIDE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM BACK BEHIND, LIKE THE OLD SHANNON CLEAR AND STUFF, WHERE WE'VE HAD TO SEND A CRUISE OUT TO, I MEAN, THE MUD'S COVERED THE ROAD SO BAD IT'S DANG NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO PASS, YOU KNOW? YEP.
DEVELOPMENT IN HERE WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WATER ISSUE AND STUFF.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS MARK, HE HAD ALREADY WORKED WITH YOU ABOUT GETTING THE OUTLOT TOGETHER, AND THEY'RE GOING TO RETAIN IT.
IT'S REALLY TOUGH BECAUSE IT'S RUNNING DOWN THAT HILL SO FAST, BUT HE WANTS TO RETAIN IT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, BASICALLY.
AND SO IT'S LIKE, ALL RIGHT, CAN YOU COVER ENOUGH OF THAT? SO, BUT MARK WAS OKAY WITH IT, SO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS ON HIS ITEMS RIGHT NOW? THANK YOU, CHRIS.
WE'RE GOING TO JUMP BACK TO PUBLIC HEARING C, 6C, APPROVAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE RICHARD DOWNING AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION.
MARK? SO RESOLUTION 26-170 IS FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF RICHARD DOWNING FOR RECONSTRUCTION.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S DRIVEN OUT THERE.
THE ROAD IS IN PRETTY POOR SHAPE AND WE'RE WORKING TO IMPROVE THAT.
WE'VE BEEN IN COORDINATION WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND WE'RE TRYING TO PHASE IT SO THAT WE CAN GET PHASES DONE IN BETWEEN THEIR LARGE EVENTS.
JAKE? SO THIS JUST AMENDS THE EXHIBITION DRIVING CODE SECTION TO LINE IT UP WITH STATE CODE.
AND OTHER SIMILAR NON-SCHEDULED MOVING VIOLATIONS IN OUR CODE LIKE RECKLESS DRIVING.
RIGHT NOW IT'S OLD, I THINK, BUT IT SAYS IT'S A $100 FINE.
AND THIS WOULD MAKE IT A RANGE BETWEEN $105 AND $800, WHICH IS...
ACTUALLY HOW THE COURTS ARE TREATING THEM WHEN PEOPLE PLEAD GUILTY, SO I THINK IT JUST LINES EVERYTHING UP WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING HANDLED.
SO WE ONLY HAD A $100 FINE FOR THAT PREVIOUSLY? YES.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT PRECIPITATED? THAT'S WHY YOU WERE OUT IN THAT CONVERTIBLE WRECK.
WERE YOU RACING FOR PANICS, OR WHAT ARE WE DOING? WITH THIS THREE-HORSEPOWER, IT WAS CRAZY.
WHAT PRECIPITATED IT? DID WE JUST HAPPEN TO CATCH IT? I HAD A CASE THIS LAST WEEK WHERE SOMEBODY GOT A TICKET FOR EXHIBITION DRIVING, AND THE FINE WAS SET AS BETWEEN $105 AND $855, AND THEN I WENT BACK AND LOOKED, AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, TECHNICALLY, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE $100.
BUT, YEAH, SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO COME UP WHEN THESE KIND OF CASES COME UP.
AND SEE THAT IT'S LIKE NOT IN LINE WITH STATE CODE.
NEXT UP IS AA ORDINANCES ON THE SECOND.
AND WHILE WE WERE HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER BUTTON SENT AN EMAIL TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MYSELF.
I WANT TO REACH OUT TO YOU REGARDING TONIGHT'S SECOND READING OF PROPOSED TNR PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'M OUT OF STATE TONIGHT ON A TRIP THAT WAS PLANNED MONTHS AGO AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S MEETING.
HOWEVER, I WILL BE PRESENT AT THE NEXT MEETING WHEN THIS PROPOSAL WOULD COME FOR ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING.
BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE I CARE ABOUT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU STRONGLY CONSIDER VOTING TONIGHT TO CONTINUE THE PROPOSAL TO A THIRD READING.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE EACH MEMBER ULTIMATELY STANDS ON THE PROPOSAL, I BELIEVE IT'S ALLOWING IT TO PROCEED TO THE FINAL READING.
WE GIVE THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR A FULL DISCUSSION AND FINAL DISCUSSION.
[00:55:01]
COLE.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? I JUST READ THAT.
IS EVERYONE ELSE GOING TO BE HERE NEXT MEETING? I WILL NOT BE HERE NEXT MEETING.
ROGER WILL NOT BE HERE NEXT MEETING.
SO COLE HAD REACHED OUT TO ME AND ASKED ABOUT HOW PROCEDURAL ISSUES AND HOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
AND THEN HE SAID, OH, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A THIRD READING.
I SAID, NO, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH SECOND READING BEFORE YOU GET TO THIRD READING.
HE SAID, OH, I MISUNDERSTOOD BECAUSE I SAID LAST TIME, HEY, I'D LIKE THIS TO GO FULL TILT BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION OR GO FORWARD, WHATEVER, WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND THEN HE SAID, WELL, WELL, THEN COULD WE.
HOLD IT TILL I GET BACK AND I KIND OF TOLD HIM I SAID YEAH, BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE IS GONE THEN ARE WE GONNA HOLD I MEAN ARE WE GONNA NEVER GET ANYTHING DONE OR? AND HE DID SAY WELL NO I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION AND THE EVENT SOMEONE ELSE WOULDN'T BE THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING SO GRANTED I KNOW THINGS COME UP AND SOMETIMES WE WE CAN'T MAKE IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE SPECIFICALLY HOLD IT BECAUSE HE'S NOT HERE BECAUSE NEXT WEEK WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, IN TWO WEEKS I'M MISSING SOMEONE ELSE.
DO IT THE WAY WE WILL, YOU KNOW.
HAVE WE HAD KIND OF A STANDARD ON THAT PREVIOUSLY? I MEAN, I KNOW WE'VE DONE KIND OF CONTINUATIONS.
I DON'T REMEMBER ANYBODY EVER ASKING US TO HOLD IT FOR A PERIOD.
TO HOLD IT BECAUSE THEY WERE GONE.
HISTORICALLY, IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN HERE AND THEY SAY, HEY, I'D LIKE MORE TIME THAN THIS, OR THEY MADE THAT REQUEST AND THAT.
IT'S KIND OF WHAT WE DID ON THIS ONE ALREADY, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU GOT TO ASK FOR MORE.
YEAH, WELL, I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND NO ONE WAS HERE FROM HUMANE SOCIETY AND LEGAL.
I KIND OF BEAT LEGAL UP, I GUESS, WITH MY QUESTIONS.
WE DO HAVE THE HUMANE SOCIETY HERE TODAY.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM? YES.
ARE HUMANE SOCIETIES HERE? I GUESS THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.
IT WAS VOTED TO GO TO THE SECOND SO THAT NIKKI COULD BE HERE AND YOU COULD HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
AND AGREED, WE'VE NEVER REALLY, LIKE I'M GOING TO BE GONE, THAT'S ON ME.
BUT IF YOU NEED MORE TIME TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION FOR THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S DIFFERENT TO CARRY IT OVER.
DID YOU GUYS HAPPEN TO WATCH LAST? YES.
SO I HAVE SOME ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTION.
SO THANK YOU FOR, SORRY I WASN'T HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TODAY TO LET ME SPEAK FOR A COUPLE MINUTES.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WHICH I THINK IS TOTALLY FAIR, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE EVEN LOOKING AT THIS BECAUSE IT'S JUST EXCITING NEW LENS, RIGHT? SO MIDLANDS IS KIND OF GROWING TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND HOW WE CAN MEET SOME OF THOSE NEEDS.
SO COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAMS ARE, THERE'S YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INSTITUTING THEM IN A LOT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
BASICALLY, WE JUST NOTICED THAT THERE IS A CAT PROBLEM, AND WE'RE SAYING WE HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS THAT ARE HUMANE TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
SO I HAVE STEVE ROHRER HERE FROM THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE.
I ALSO HAVE NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT DO THAT, THEY ARE HERE TO SPEAK IF YOU WANT THEM TO.
BUT OVERALL, WE TAKE IN APPROXIMATELY 1,500 CATS A YEAR, AND THAT'S KIND OF IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S JUST A SNAPSHOT.
THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER RESCUES.
THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE IN TOWN WORKING AND DOING THINGS.
SO THESE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAMS ARE SNVC IS ALSO WHAT THEY'RE CALLED IS SPAY, NEUTER, VACCINATE AND RETURN TO WHERE THEY WERE PICKED UP.
THESE ARE FOR MOSTLY ANTISOCIAL CATS THAT LIVE OUT.
IT'S NOT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE INSIDE-OUTSIDE CATS.
NOW THOSE CAN GET IN THE MIX DEPENDING ON HOW THE CALL IS WITH ANIMAL CONTROL.
BUT OVERALL, THESE ARE FOR THE ANTISOCIAL CATS THAT ARE ALREADY IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT TO HELP PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST OUT THERE REPRODUCING.
AND THIS PROBLEM ISN'T GOING AWAY WITHOUT TRYING TO FIX SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
AND SO ULTIMATELY, IF WE CAN SPAY AND NEUTER, RETURN THEM TO WHERE THEY'RE AT, THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE, AND IT KEEPS...
RIGHT NOW WITH JUST EUTHANIZING THEM, IT'S NOT WORKING.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.
THIS IS JUST A SOLUTION FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY PROBLEM.
THIS IS JUST AN OVERALL, THESE ARE CATS THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO AS FAR AS COST GOES, WE HAVE THE SHELTERING CONTRACT.
THIS IS NOT PART OF THE SHELTERING CONTRACT.
THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.
[01:00:01]
GRANTS AND DONORS THAT SPECIFICALLY HAVE THIS INTEREST IN MIND.SO THIS IS NOT A, THIS IS NOT ON THE CITY.
SO WHO WOULD DO THAT, WHO WOULD DO THE COLLECTION OF THE ANIMALS? SO ANIMAL CONTROL ALREADY DOES A LOT OF IT BECAUSE THEY TRAP A LOT OF CATS AND THAT'S PART OF THE CATS THAT COME IN ALREADY AND THEN WE WOULD FACILITATE WHETHER THEY'RE HEALTHY, IF THEY'RE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO BE SPAYED, NEUTERED, OR RETURNED, WE WOULD PROBABLY TAKE ON THE RETURN OR WE'D TALK IN PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS REALLY KIND OF A THREE-STEP PROCESS ORDINANCES FIRST RIGHT SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO DO IT EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY WORK WITH THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS AND THEN DO THE DO THE PROGRAMMING AND THE DATA COLLECTION FROM THERE ON BUT ULTIMATELY ANIMAL CONTROL BRINGS IN A LOT OF THEM BUT WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WOULD ALSO WANT TO PROBABLY TAKE PART IN THAT NIKKI JUST TO CLARIFY DID YOU SAY THE CITY IS RIGHT NOW TRAPPING CATS YEAH THEY HAVE YEAH THAT'S PART OF ANIMAL CONTROL I MEAN WE ACTUALLY NOT I MEAN, WE COULD GET INTO A BIG DEBATE HERE, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY ASKED THEM TO NOT BECAUSE OF CAPACITY ISSUES AND THEY'RE TRAPPING CATS AND WE DON'T HAVE CAPACITY.
SO THEN YOU HAVE THESE FERAL ON SOCIAL CATS THAT WE HAVE TO HOLD FOR MULTIPLE DAYS, WHICH AGAIN IS KIND OF IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CAT.
IT'S NOT A GOOD ENVIRONMENT AND IT'S A SAFETY RISK.
WE WORK WITH ANIMAL CONTROL REALLY WELL.
BUT IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
SO IF THEY BROUGHT HIM IN AND WE SPRAYED A NEUTER AND TOOK HIM RIGHT BACK OUT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HOLD HIM THOSE THREE DAYS AND THEY HAVE.
THEY HAVE AN OUTCOME AND THEY ALREADY LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S A BETTER DEAL ALL THE WAY AROUND.
BUT WE DO TRY TO WORK WITH ANIMAL CONTROL ON WHO THEY'RE TRAPPING AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WHAT IF THEY CATCH THEM AGAIN? THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BRING THEM IN, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW.
SO ALL THE ANIMALS WILL HAVE AN EAR NOTCH THAT SHOWS THAT THEY'VE BEEN SPAYED OR NEUTERED AND VACCINATED.
SO IF THEY CATCH A CAT THAT'S GOT THAT, THEY JUST OPEN THE TRAP.
THAT'S WHAT THE ORDINANCE CHANGES.
BUT SOMEBODY CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT, SO WE JUST PUT IT BACK IN THERE TO KEEP DOING WHAT IT WAS DOING? NO.
SO THEN YOU HAVE MITIGATION EFFORTS, RIGHT? SO THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH ANIMAL CONTROL AND MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY.
WE HAVE LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL COME IN AND HELP WITH THOSE TRAINING EFFORTS TO GET DETERRENCE MITIGATION EFFORTS.
AND, AGAIN, IF IT BECOMES A MAJOR PROBLEM, THEN WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON RELOCATION OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
LOTS OF NEW WAYS TO MITIGATE ANIMAL COMPLAINTS.
AND BECAUSE YOU'RE SPAYING AND NEUTERING THEM, YOU DON'T GET AS MANY COMPLAINTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO FIGHT, THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO REPRODUCE, THEY BECOME MORE QUIET, THEY DON'T BECOME AS BIG OF A NUISANCE.
AND SO OVERALL, JUST SPAYING AND NEUTERING ALONE CREATES YOUR NUISANCE ACTIVITY TO GO DOWN.
HOW MANY FERAL CATS DO YOU THINK OR ESTIMATE THAT THERE IS IN COUNCIL OF THE STATE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
IN DES MOINES, THERE'S ABOUT 12,000.
IN THE COUNTRY, THERE'S ABOUT 50 MILLION.
AND WHEN YOU DO THIS CATCH, THIS TRAP, SPADE, AND RELEASE, HOW MUCH OF THAT POPULATION DO YOU HAVE TO SPADE IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE? EIGHTY PERCENT.
SO OF THAT 12,000 IN DES MOINES, YOU'VE GOT TO CAPTURE A LOT.
YEAH, SO WE'VE BEEN DOING A TNR PROGRAM SINCE 2019 GOT PASSED IN 2018, AND WE'VE DONE ABOUT 04,500 CATS IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
YES, WE ESTIMATE 10 TO 12,000 IN THE CITY OF DES MOINES.
WE MADE A POSITIVE IMPACT, BUT WE'RE NOT AT THAT 80% RATE, AND THAT'S OUR GOAL.
SO WE GROW THAT GOAL BY GETTING MORE CAREGIVERS, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HELP TRAP, THAT BRING THEM IN IN THE MORNING.
WE GET THEM SPAYED OR NEUTERED AND PUT THEM BACK IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NIGHT OR THE NEXT MORNING.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRY TO GROW THE PROGRAM WITH VETERINARIANS BECAUSE WE NEED VETERINARIAN HELP WITH THIS TOO.
AND THEN, NICK, YOU'VE SAID IT SO WELL, BUT...
TAKING THESE CATS OUT OF THESE COLONIES AND BRINGING THEM TO SHELTER IS NOT A SOLUTION.
EUTHANIZING IS NOT A SOLUTION BECAUSE THERE'S A VACUUM EFFECT.
YOU TAKE THOSE 20 CATS OUT, GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN TWO WEEKS? THERE'S GOING TO BE 20 MORE CATS.
AND IF YOU DON'T CONTROL THE OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM, 25 CATS CAN TURN TO 100 CATS IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
AND THEY CAN REPRODUCE UP TO THREE TO FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
SO JUST HAVING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS WILL AT LEAST STABILIZE THE POPULATION, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN DES MOINES, AND THEN WE CAN EAT AWAY AND HOPEFULLY GET TO THAT 80% MARK SOMEDAY.
SO THEY'RE CONTINUING TO DO THIS AND PROLIFERATE.
AND AGAIN, I'VE SEEN THE SAME NUMBER WHEN I DID MY RESEARCH, 80%.
WHEN WOULD YOU THINK YOU WOULD GET TO 80%? WHEN WE GET THE CAPACITY OF VETERINARIANS AND CAREGIVERS TO HELP US GET TO THAT NUMBER.
WE'RE DOING ROUGHLY ABOUT 50 TO 75 TO OUR BIGGEST MONTH HAS BEEN 120.
OUR GOAL IS CERTAINLY TO DOUBLE THAT AND TRIPLE THAT IN YEARS TO COME.
SO WE'RE JUST WORKING WITH LOCAL VETERINARIANS.
WE HAVE OUR OWN VETERINARIAN STAFF THAT DOES THIS AS WELL.
CAPACITY IS A BIG THING, CAPACITY OF SUPPORT.
[01:05:01]
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT AND EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY.SO OUTSIDE OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY, AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, IS THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO FALL TRULY ON THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
SO LAST WEEK I MENTIONED TO YOU ALL THAT I MET WITH PROMISE TO PAUSE.
PROMISE TO PAUSE IS A GROUP THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THIS, AND THEY HAVE A VETERINARIAN WHO WORKS AT THE ONE ON VALLEY VIEW.
AND SO SHE HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING HER TIME AND EFFORTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT GROUPS AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND DIFFERENT VETS THAT ARE WILLING TO ASSIST HERE IN CONSOLABLES TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.
I WAS, EVERY PERSON I TALKED TO, THE AMOUNT OF FERAL CATS THAT ARE OUT THERE, IT'S SHOCKING WHEN PROMISE DEPOSIT SAYS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW OF 350 DIFFERENT COLONIES, OR NOT COLONIES, BUT CATS IN DIFFERENT COLONIES.
THAT WE COULD GO GET RIGHT NOW AND WE WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK THROUGH AND HELP WITH.
IT'S QUITE THE LARGE AMOUNT, AND AS YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IN THE EMAILS THAT I'VE BEEN FORWARDING TO YOU, MOSTLY PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR.
THERE'S ONE OR TWO THAT I FORWARDED THAT WAS AGAINST IT, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN EMPLOYEE CURRENTLY ON OUR STAFF THAT IS INTERESTED.
FORMER HEAD OF THAT DEPARTMENT WAS NOT, BUT THE STAFF THAT'S THERE.
AND I ASKED CHIEF DAVIS TO BE PREPARED TO SPEAK TO THIS TOPIC AS WELL, SINCE ANIMAL CONTROL NOW FALLS UNDER HIS PURVIEW.
AND SO HE WENT AND SPOKE WITH HIS STAFF AND HE'S WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL ABOUT WHAT IS OUR STAFF ACTUALLY, WHERE THEY SIT ON THIS TOPIC.
I GUESS PART OF MY BACKGROUND IS GOING TO BE COST WISE, RIGHT? SO CAN YOU BREAK DOWN WHAT ARE THE COSTS FOR YOU TO DO THIS? IF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PICK UP THE CAT.
SO A CALL COMES IN, LET'S JUST WALK THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, RIGHT? CAT'S A PROBLEM.
MRS. ROBBINS CALLS AND SAYS, HEY, I GOT A CAT IN MY BACKYARD.
I'VE BEEN FEEDING IT, BUT IT'S A PROBLEM NOW BECAUSE IT'S DIGGING UP ALL MY PETUNIAS.
AND HEY, WE NEED TO GET RID OF IT, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO YOU THEN GO INTO ACTION AND YOU SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO SET A TRAP FOR THIS LITTLE CAT AND MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T TEAR FLOWERS UP AND THEN GO THROUGH THE PROCESS FROM THERE FOR ME.
BECAUSE THE COST TO THE CITY DOES NOT CHANGE.
I'M THINKING MORE COST TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO SOME MONEY COMING BACK ON THE BACK END FROM OTHER GROUPS TO HELP WITH THIS PROGRAM, CORRECT? BUT THAT.
IT'S NOT OURS, BUT IT GIVES ME A WHOLE PICTURE OF THE WHOLE PROCESS IN MY MIND.
YEAH, WE HAVE MONEY THAT COMES IN FROM DONORS.
WE HAVE MONEY THAT COMES IN FROM.
OUTSIDE GRANTS FROM LARGE ORGANIZATIONS, PETCO LOVE IS A BIG SUPPORTER AS FAR AS THE VACCINES THEY PROVIDE THAT.
WE GET MICROCHIP GRANTS AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, WHEN THAT CAT COMES IN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AS NIKKI SAID, WE SEE THE AIR TIP, THAT'S ONE.
BUT IF IT'S MICROCHIPPED AND VACCINATED, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT GOES.
SO WE CAN PUT IT BACK IMMEDIATELY AND NOT TAKE IN SHELTER SPACE.
THE COST, IT'S ANYWHERE FROM $60 TO $70, DEPENDING ON YOUR VETERINARIAN COST AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE ASK OUR CAREGIVERS TO PAY HALF THEIR COST, AND THEN THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE COVERS THE OTHER HALF OF THAT.
AND WE COVER THE HALF THROUGH GRANTS, DONORS, AND SOMETIMES JUST OF OUR OWN GOOD HEART, WE'RE GOING TO DONATE OUR VETERINARY TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
AND IT'S BACK CAUSING THE PROBLEM.
YOU DON'T PUT IT BACK IN THE SAME SPOT.
I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY IT'S A PROBLEM.
IT'S A CAT WE DON'T WANT TO REPRODUCE.
BUT THE LADY WHO CALLED, IT'S A PROBLEM FOR HER.
AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEM CATS BEGIN WITH.
GETTING THE CAT SPAY-NEUTER WILL TEMPER THAT PROBLEM, TOO.
THERE'S OTHER WAYS WE TALK TO THEM.
YEAH, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT IT BACK IN MRS. JACKSON'S BACKYARD.
IT DEPENDS ON, THAT'S WHERE THE EDUCATION POINT COMES IN, RIGHT? SO, LIKE, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND WHAT EXACTLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN, IT'S THE CONVERSATION OF, HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO.
DO YOU WANT TO TRY THIS? IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEN, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE A CITIZEN SUPER UPSET.
BUT IS IT A CHANCE TO EDUCATE THAT PERSON ON, LIKE, HERE'S SOME DETERRENCE.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN WE MOVE ON, RIGHT? BUT, AND THE CAT WON'T GO THERE.
IF IT'S TRULY A FERAL, THEN YOU HAVE YOUR WORKING CAT PROGRAMS THAT HOPEFULLY WE COULD PLACE IT IN THE BARN.
IF YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK, THOSE ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE.
BUT YOU COULD ABSOLUTELY WORK WITH WHOEVER THIS PERSON IS, AND IF THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY DONE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FORCE IT.
WHAT IF THEY BRING IT TO YOU AND SAY WE'D LIKE IT EUTHANIZED? IF THEY JUST WANT TO FLAT OUT EUTHANIZE IT FOR A HEALTHY ANIMAL? YEAH, WHAT IF THEY BRING IT AND SAY IT'S A PROBLEM? I'D LIKE THIS CAT RIGHT NOW.
[01:10:01]
YEAH, SO IF THE CAT IS HEALTHY, THAT IS AGAINST OUR MISSION.SO OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF THE ANIMALS.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK US TO DO THAT, THAT IS JUST NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO UNLESS IT HAS A WARRANTED REASON.
BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY TO DO THAT, THAT'S AGAINST MISSION.
BUT YOU DID SAY WHEN YOU BROUGHT A FERAL CAT IN, THEY'RE NOT USUALLY.
READY TO BE ADOPTED OR THERE IS SOME ISSUES WITH THAT CAT, NO? YEAH, SO IF IT'S A FERAL CAT AND WE DON'T HAVE AN OUTLET, WE WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO EUTHANIZE BECAUSE LEAVING THEM IN A KENNEL IS INHUMANE.
BUT IF YOU BRING ME IN A FERAL CAT OR YOU SAY IT'S FERAL AND IT'S NOT, AND YOU WANT ME TO EUTHANIZE IT ANYWAY, THAT GOES AGAINST MISSION AND WE WOULD NOT DO SO.
SO HOW LONG DO YOU WAIT BEFORE YOU WOULD EUTHANIZE A CAT? SO THE FERAL, YEAH.
BECAUSE YOU FILL UP PRETTY QUICK, YOU SAID.
OUR IS A THREE-DAY HOLD, SO WE HAVE TO HOLD THEM FOR THREE DAYS, AND AT THAT POINT WE HOPEFULLY CAN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN ON-SOCIALIZED COMMUNITY CAT OR IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN REHAB.
SOMETIMES WE DO GIVE THEM A LITTLE LONGER TO SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME AROUND.
SHE IS WONDERFUL WITH OUR POPULATION AND HELPS MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, SO WE DON'T NEED TO TALK.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, I'M GOING TO ASK THE OTHER MEMBERS TO SIT DOWN, BECAUSE UNLESS YOU'RE CALLED ON, YOU CAN'T SPEAK.
ULTIMATELY LIKE DR FARRINGTON AND THE MEDICAL TEAM WOULD DECIDE HOW LONG THAT WOULD BE RIGHT SO THAT'S JOE ASKED HOW MANY ARE HERE AND WE DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER HOW MANY WE GOT A DES MOINES ANSWER I CAN LOOK INTO THAT I I DON'T HAVE ALL THE HOP I AND HONESTLY THAT'S MORE OF AN ANIMAL CONTROL QUESTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE CALLS I DON'T GET THE CALLS ANIMAL CONTROL GETS THE CALLS AND ALL THE CATS UM WILL WE SHELTER THEM YES DO WE HELP THE OWNER SURRENDERS YES BUT THAT IS MORE OF AND ANIMAL CONTROL.
PROBABLY A QUESTION THAT I DON'T HAVE DATA SETS TO.
A FERAL CAT OR A FERAL, THESE CATS, THIS IS A QUESTION MAYBE TO A VETERINARIAN, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT FED, WON'T THEY NOT PRODUCE AT A RATE THAT, IF THEY'RE NATURALLY NOT ENOUGH FOOD SOURCE OR WATER SOURCE FOR THE ANIMAL, THEY'LL NATURALLY NOT GO INTO HEAT OR THEY'LL...
BUT IF WE HAVE FEEDERS OUT THERE, THEN THEY GET FED AND THEN THEY GET.
THEY ARE JUST VERY GOOD AT FINDING IT.
DO YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, RACCOON NUISANCES, POSSUM NUISANCES IN OUR TOWN? SAME SCENARIO.
SO IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAD A SPECIFIC PERSON FEEDING THOSE ANIMALS.
THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD AT FINDING FOOD SOURCES.
SO THEN THAT'S WHY IT CONTINUES.
IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE, IF IT WAS JUST THAT, THEN WE WOULDN'T PROBABLY HAVE A PROBLEM.
BUT YOU HAVE LOTS OF OTHER NUISANCE ANIMALS THAT THEY'RE CREATIVE, THEY'RE GOOD AT FINDING FOOD.
YES, OUR CAREGIVERS CAN FEED THEM IF THEY DECIDE TO.
IT'S IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WAY.
AND AGAIN, THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
THEY'RE GOING TO FIND FOOD SOURCES.
SO ON THAT SUBJECT OF THE CAREGIVERS, I GUESS THAT WAS WHERE A LOT OF MY DISDAIN CAME UP LAST WEEK.
I'VE GONE DOWN A COUPLE RABBIT HOLES ON THE PROCESSING OF...
FELINE COMMUNITIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND HOW THEY'VE USED THAT UM AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE TAKE MUCH ISSUE WITH THAT IF YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT CITY DOLLARS TO IT YEAH THAT'S FAIR SWITCHES IF YOU WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO IT OR IN MY OPINION WE SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO WHATEVER YOUR FUNDERS WANT TO PAY FOR I DON'T CARE YEAH YOU KNOW THAT'S YOUR FUNDING SOURCE I'M NOT GOING TO PUT THAT ON THE TAXPAYER THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD AND WHAT WHAT CAME UP TO ME IS THE SECTION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER.
AND THE CAT AT, A COMMUNITY CAT WITH A NOTCHED EAR IS NOT CONSIDERED A CAT AT LARGE, WHICH, AGAIN, IN MY POSITION LAST WEEK WAS BY DEFINITION IS A CAT AT LARGE.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CAREGIVER.
IT IS A PERSON WHO PROVIDES CARE, INCLUDING SHELTER, FOOD SHELTER, MEDICAL CARE, TO A COMMUNITY CAT, IS NOT THE OWNER, HARBORER, CONTROLLER, OR KEEPER OF THE COMMUNITY CAT.
WHILE I WILL SAY THEY ARE NOT PROBABLY THE OWNER, THEY ARE THE HARBORER, AND THEY ARE THE KEEPER OF THAT COMMUNITY CAT.
THEY'RE PROVIDING A FALSE ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT CAT TO THRIVE IN, RIGHT? WHAT MY FEAR IS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS 100 CATS IN THE BARN OR SOMETHING.
I'M NOT RUNNING ANY SORT OF ILLEGAL BREEDING OPERATION.
AND HOW QUICK DO WE MOVE FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO A DOG ORDINANCE? NEXT, WE SAY NOW WE'VE GOT THESE DIRTY BREEDERS.
THAT'S NOT THE PROPER TERM, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL THEM.
RUNNING BACKYARD BREEDING HOGWASH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND
[01:15:01]
MAKING BAD DECISIONS AND DOING THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING.RIGHT? LIKE WE JUST WENT THROUGH A PROCESS RECENTLY OF GETTING A NEW ANIMAL.
AND I HAVE SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE VERY VESTED IN THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
AND I SAID, HEY, LOOK AT THIS.
AND THEY SENT ME ALL THE RECORDS.
AND THE FIRST THING THAT I GOT BACK WAS, JOE, THAT BREEDER NEVER SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
WHAT KIND OF, WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING AT? WHAT IS THE THING? OH, I'M ON THIS LEGITIMATE WEBSITE, WHATEVER.
AND SHE SAID, NO, ANYONE THAT BREEDS ANIMALS KNOWS IF THE MOM OR THE DAD HAVE THESE DIFFERENT GENETIC PROBLEMS, THAT WAS AN IRRESPONSIBLE PERSON.
YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS WHO BECOMES RESPONSIBLE IN THE EVENT THERE'S AN EVENT DOWN THE ROAD.
WE IN THE CITY HAVE TAKEN THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'VE ALLOWED YOU GUYS TO PUT TOGETHER, HAS DONE THIS.
THE CAT COMES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, AND SOMETHING HAPPENS TO IT.
OR FED WHATEVER BY HOUSE LETTER A, KID AT HOUSE B GOES IN THE BACKYARD, THINKS HE'S PLAYING WITH A NICE FRIENDLY CAT, GETS HIS EYEBALL SCRATCHED OUT.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE NOW? WHO PUT THAT CHILD IN THE DANGEROUS PLACE? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THIS IS SOMETHING I WAS BEATEN LEGAL UP ABOUT, AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I PUT OUT.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS BECAUSE I DO INSURANCE.
AND I'VE HAD THESE BITES, AND I'VE HAD THESE THINGS HAPPEN WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DOG BITES.
AND AGAIN, CATS ARE DIFFERENT FROM DOGS, BUT ALL THE SAME, ULTIMATELY, WHO BECOMES RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? IF YOU'RE PROVIDING CARE FOR IT, YOU'RE FEEDING IT, YOU'RE WATERING IT, I MEAN, WALKS LIKE A DUCK, QUACKS LIKE A DUCK, THAT'S A DUCK.
SO WHAT IF IT'S A RACCOON? CORRECT.
THEN IT'S WILDLIFE, RIGHT? THIS SPECIFICALLY STATES, THOUGH, IT IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED WILDLIFE.
SO WHAT ARE WE, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING, BUT OH, SORRY.
WELL, ALSO, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE STATE IT AS A COMMUNITY CAT, THAT PUTS US AS OWNER.
WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE, WE'RE REMOVING, IF IT'S WILDLIFE, IT'S WILDLIFE.
AND THEN NO ONE'S RESPONSIBLE, BUT WE'RE REMOVING THAT FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH YOU DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
I'M JUST NOT FINE WITH THAT PART OF IT.
I THINK GENERALLY WHAT YOU'RE SORT OF CIRCLING IS LIABILITY FOR THE PERSON.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO, IN TERMS OF THE CITY LIABILITY, AS LONG AS WE ARE NOT THE ONES.
I UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL IN THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHAT MY ISSUE IS GOING TO BE IS THE NEIGHBOR.
THE LOONY MS. JOHNSON KEEPS 100 CRAZY CATS OUT BACK, AND MY KID WALKS OVER AND GETS SCRATCHED UP.
YEAH, SO THAT'S JUST GOING TO END UP BEING A VERY SITUATION-SPECIFIC DETERMINATION THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE RULED ON BY THE KID.
CORRECT, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE'RE NOW PUTTING INTO THE CODE THAT IS ALLOWING IT.
YOU KEEP RAISING YOUR HAND OVER THERE.
IF THE CAT IS DETERMINED BY A JUDGE TO BE A COMMUNITY CAT, THE PERSON WHO IS FEEDING IT IS NOT GOING TO BE ALIVE.
NO, IF WE DO THIS, THAT'S AN OPTION.
WE'RE CREATING COMMUNITY CAT, CORRECT? AGREED.
BUT JUST BECAUSE I, AS A CITIZEN, SAY THAT IT'S A COMMUNITY CAT, THAT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MAKE IT A COMMUNITY CAT.
I KNOW, BUT IF WE DON'T CREATE A COMMUNITY CAT IN GENERAL.
MY POINT IS IF WE DON'T CREATE COMMUNITY CAT AS A CLASSIFICATION PERIOD, RIGHT? THEN A JUDGE IS NOT GOING TO COME BACK AND SAY, OH, WELL, THAT FALLS UNDER THIS CLASSIFICATION.
WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW IF MRS. JONES HAS A MILLION? WHAT HAPPENS TODAY? TODAY SHE WOULD BE CITED FOR VIOLATING THE STRAY CAT.
YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO HARBOR MORE THAN THREE STRAY CATS OR SOMETHING.
I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHETHER A JUDGE DETERMINES THAT IT'S A FREE-ROAMING CAT.
OR WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF I HAVE A CAT IN MY HOUSE WITH A COLLAR ON AND IT'S LIVING IN MY HOUSE, I MEAN, THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE AN OWNED CAT.
WELL, IT WOULDN'T BE FREE ROAMING.
YOU PROVIDE IT FOOD, SHELTER, AND MEDICAL CARE.
TO WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO, GO FOR IT, MAN.
I JUST DON'T LIKE THIS PIECE OF IT, I GUESS.
I DON'T THINK, I THINK THERE'S, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO WRITE AN ORDINANCE THAT, LIKE, TOTALLY GETS RID OF ANY GRAY AREA.
IT'S JUST, IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE FACTS OF THE SITUATION.
AND THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A WAY TO TOTALLY GET RID OF IT.
FREE ROAMING, I MEAN, COMMUNITY CATS ARE NOT WILDLIFE.
SO THEY'RE NOT WILDLIFE, BUT THEY'RE NOT PETS.
[01:20:01]
YEAH.SO RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT REALLY LIKE, I JUST, WE DON'T GIVE THE OUT TO LET SOMEONE, I MEAN, NOW IT WOULD GO TO, I WOULD IMAGINE, I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DO I KNOW? BUT YOU KNOW, IT GOES TO A COURT OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
AND THEY SAY, OKAY, WELL, HOLD ON.
THIS CAT, IT'S GOT ITS OWN LITTLE HOUSE OUT BACK AND YOU, YOU SHELTER IT, YOU GIVE IT FOOD, YOU TAKE IT TO THE VET EVERY SIX MONTHS.
ISN'T YOUR CAT BUT AGAIN BUT THAT'S IRRELEVANT YOU'RE CORRECT THAT THERE'S A THERE'S A GRAY CORRECT IT'S I THINK I IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER THAT'S GONNA SURE NO I KNOW BUT AGAIN I'M I'VE READ DIFFERENT STUDIES ON IT I I THINK GETTING TO 80 IS A STRETCH BUT I'M WILLING TO LET YOU DO THAT ON ON YOUR GOAL CORRECT I 100 THAT'S YOUR FUNDS THAT'S WHATEVER IF YOU GUYS YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT UPON YOURSELF AND OTHER OTHER VENDORS OR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GIVE YOU THE CASH TO DO IT AND GO DOWN THAT ROAD, THAT'S FINE.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO DO IT REMOVING SOME OF THE STUFF AT THE TOP ABOUT CREATING THE COMMUNITY CAREGIVER, HOW WE HAVE THAT WRITTEN DOWN AND SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT WILDLIFE BECAUSE IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE TREATING IT AS THOUGH IT'S WILDLIFE.
YEAH, SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE STILL.
THIS IS A WORK, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH.
LIKE I JUST, THAT'S SOME OF THE STUFF THAT I HAD.
I WANTED TO GO OVER LAST WEEK, BUT I WASN'T.
AND I KNOW SOME OF THAT, AGAIN, I'M KIND OF BEATING UP ON YOU AGAIN, AND I'M SORRY.
I MEAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS.
AND AGAIN, CITY OF DES MOINES, ABOUT 208,000 PEOPLE.
WE DEAL WITH ABOUT 50 ANIMAL BITES A MONTH.
80, 75, 80% OF THEM ARE DOG RELATED.
THE REST ARE CAT RELATED AND I CAN'T, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
I DON'T REMEMBER A COMMUNITY CAT INSTANCE COMING MY WAY SINCE I'VE STARTED.
DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, SURE, BUT THERE'S EDUCATION GOING ON.
THERE'S EDUCATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S EDUCATION FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S PART OF THE, THAT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, PART OF THE TNR PROGRAM.
AND THEN, WHICH AGAIN, IF THIS DOES ARISE, IT IS GOOD THAT THEY'VE GOT THE RABIES VACCINE BECAUSE THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD IS TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME SMALL CHILD GO GET A BUNCH OF PRICKS UP AND DOWN THEIR BACK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO ANYMORE.
BUT WHEN I WAS A KID, THAT'S HOW IT WORKED OUT.
SO ANY MORE QUESTIONS? I KNOW.
DON'T MEAN TO BOGART THE TIME.
BUT I HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION.
WHAT IF WE HAD A STRAY DOG PROBLEM? WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS DO WITH THE STRAY DOGS? WOULD YOU EUTHANIZE THEM? NO.
CURRENTLY, WE DO HAVE A STRAY DOG PROBLEM AS WELL, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE PARTNERSHIPS, TRANSPORTS, DIFFERENT THINGS TO WORK ON THE STRAY DOG POPULATION.
WE'VE BEEN OVER CAPACITY ON STRAY DOGS TOO, AND I'D LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE COMMUNITY DOGS THERE.
YEAH, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THEM THERE.
I KNOW, BUT I JUST, I ASKED, I MEAN, I'LL BE HONEST, SINCE THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, I'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE I'M DRIVING.
I LOOK, LIKE, AT NIGHT I GO OUT AND LOOK.
I TRY AND FIND THESE STRIKERS.
WE CAN DEFINITELY BRING IN SOME HOT SPOTS IF YOU WANT ME TO SEND THOSE TO YOU.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I ASKED A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY, LIKE, THEY JUST DON'T SEE IT AS A PROBLEM.
I DON'T FIND ONE PERSON I TALK TO.
I MEAN, WE HAVE E-MAILS, RIGHT? THERE'S PEOPLE THAT DO THINK IT'S A PROBLEM.
PEOPLE I ASK PERSONALLY, I HAVEN'T FOUND ONE THAT SAID THEY THINK IT'S A PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LIVE, FOR SURE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I LOVE CATS.
I'VE BEEN AROUND CATS MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CATS AT ONCE.
BUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S A LOT OF STRAYS.
DO YOU FEED THEM? I DON'T FEED THEM, NO.
NO, BUT THEY DO LIVE UNDER MY DECK.
AND IF WE DO A CATCH AND RELEASE, IF I WOULD CALL AND SAY, HEY, THIS CAT'S BEEN UNDER MY DECK FOR THREE WEEKS AND I DON'T WANT IT UNDER THERE, THEY'LL CATCH IT, THEY'LL SPADE AND NEUTER IT.
AND RETURN IT BACK AND IT'LL BE UNDER MY DECK.
AND THEN WHAT DO I DO? THERE'S DETERRENCE.
BUT I MEAN, IF YOU'RE HEARING PEOPLE SAYING IT'S NOT A PROBLEM, THAT IS IT A PROBLEM TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER BY VACCINATING THESE CATS AND SPAY AND NEUTER? OH, I AGREE.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS HOW DOES THAT SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR MY SAFETY? BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
AND NIKKI TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
WHAT IS THE DETERRENCE TO THAT? THERE'S DIFFERENT SPRAYS, THERE'S DIFFERENT SPRINKLER HEADS WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
[01:25:02]
TO DO.IS THE COMMUNITY GOING TO PAY FOR THAT OR IS THE HUMANE SOCIETY GOING TO PAY FOR THAT OR IS THE HOMEOWNER GOING TO PAY FOR THAT? CURRENTLY WE'RE WORKING ON PROGRAMS FOR THAT.
SO WE WOULD HAVE FUNDING FOR DETERRENTS AND TRAINING FOR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS TO HELP HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
SO SPAYING AND NEUTERING THEM TOO, DEPENDING ON IF THAT CAT WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND A SAFE SPOT TO HAVE A LITTER OF KITTENS.
TWO OF THE CATS THAT ARE LIVING UNDER MY DECK HAVE CLIPPED EARS.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THEM, I CAN TALK TO YOU.
AND I PUT FLEA COLLARS ON THEM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT FLEAS IN MY YARD.
DO YOU MICROCHIP THEM AS WELL? I DO NOT FEED THEM.
THESE ALL GET MICROCHIPPED AS WELL OR NO? SO THAT PROGRAM WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT.
SO A LOT OF THEM DO FOR TRACKING MEASURES JUST TO BE ABLE TO.
SO IF IT DID BECOME A PROBLEM, WE KNOW WHEN THAT CAT WAS FIXED, WHEN IT GOT ITS RABIES VACCINE, ALL THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT'S JUST AN IDENTIFICATION TRACKING SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, WHAT THEY'VE HAD.
THAT WOULD FOR SURE BE AN INCREASED COST.
THAT'S NOT $60 TO $70 TO PUT A MICROCHIP ON IT.
MICROCHIPS, THEY'RE NOT $5 AT COST.
THEY'RE JUST VERY EXPENSIVE AT THE VET CLINIC.
I MEAN, WE ONLY CHARGE $27.50 FOR THEM.
WE CHARGE $27.50 CURRENTLY FOR COMMUNITY MICROCHIPS, SO IT'S PRETTY CHEAP WITH REGISTRATION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE REGISTRATION.
I COULD SEE HOW THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
THE SCIENCE NERD IN ME WOULD LOVE TO SEE, OKAY, NOW YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A TON OF QUESTIONS.
ONE THING I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON, YOU KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THAT.
WHEN THEY GET SPAYED OR NEUTERED, IT DOES ADJUST THE ANIMAL A LITTLE BIT, CORRECT? THEY'RE MAYBE NOT.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE NUISANCE BEHAVIOR AS MUCH.
THE YOWLING, THE FIGHTING, ALL THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT, RIGHT, AT 2 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING? HOW ABOUT IN TERMS OF PROTECTION FOR THEM? YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I READ DURING MY RESEARCH IS AS YOU PUT THEM BACK OUT, CORRECT, THE HORMONES AND THINGS ARE DIFFERENT, AND NOW THEY ALMOST BECOME MORE OF A PREY FOR OTHER ANIMALS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE BOBCATS IN THE AREA, YOU HAVE HAWKS, YOU HAVE WHATEVER, ALL THE COYOTES, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THE PROTECTION MECHANISM MAYBE THAT...
THEY HAD BEFORE THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE HORMONES THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROTECTION YEAH NO THEY STILL HAVE THEY DEFINITELY CAN HAVE THE THEY CAN STILL PROTECT THEMSELVES LIKE ULTIMATELY YES YOU'RE TAKING THE FIGHT THEY'RE NOT LIKE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO FIGHT RIGHT YEAH THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE FLEXING FOR WHO THEY'RE GOING TO MATE WITH YOU KNOW IF YOU IF YOU'RE IF YOU GET ATTACKED ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT I GOT ALL MY HORMONES OH, FAIR, FAIR.
BUT LIKE, ULTIMATELY THERE'S, THEY STILL LEARN THE WAY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT? LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN AND JUST BE LIKE, OH, NEVERMIND.
I'M JUST GOING TO ROLL OVER AND GET EATEN BY THE COYOTE.
AND THERE IS, IF THEY'RE GOING BACK TO WHERE THEY'RE AT, THERE IS OTHER CATS, LIKE THEIR COLONY.
SO BACK TO DES MOINES AT 45 PERCENT, WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S UNSUCCESSFUL? OH NO.
WELL IF 80 PERCENT IS THE NUMBER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
BUT IF WE DIDN'T SPAY NEUTER 04,500 CATS THERE MIGHT BE 10,000 MORE CATS IN DES MOINES OR 20,000 MORE CATS.
DIDN'T YOU SAY 80 PERCENT IS THE SUCCESS? THAT'S HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
WELL YOU CAN'T DO THAT OVERNIGHT.
THAT'S SEVEN YEARS A LONG TIME.
YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR LONG ENOUGH AND HAVE DONE LIKE A THOUSAND CATS.
SO I THINK WE'RE PRETTY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE PREVENTED PROBABLY 10,000 TO 20,000 MORE CATS FROM LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT COST.
DO YOU HAVE VETS TO SAY NO? I'M SORRY? DO YOU HAVE VETS TO SAY NO? I MEAN, VETS DON'T WORK FOR FREE.
WE HAVE VETERINARY CLINICS THAT SAY NO ALL ACROSS IOWA.
ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE SAVES ANIMALS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
SO WE'LL GET A CALL FROM SOME COMMUNITY HOURS SOUTH OF US.
WHAT CAN WE DO? WE'LL START CALLING VETERINARY CLINICS.
HEY, CAN YOU HELP WITH THE 16-HOUR? NO, NO, NO.
WE TRY TO HELP SAVE THEM OURSELVES.
SO, YES, VETS SAY NO, UNFORTUNATELY, OFTEN BECAUSE THEY ARE IN PRACTICE TO MAKE MONEY, WHICH I DON'T FAULT THEM FOR.
WE ALSO RELY ON RETIRED VETERINARIANS THAT ARE LOOKING TO HELP AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT'S WHERE WE GET SOME OF OUR HELP, TOO.
I'M JUST GOING TO ASK CHIEF DAVIS IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO WHAT YOUR STAFF SAID SINCE ANIMAL CONTROL REPORTS TO YOU NOW.
[01:30:02]
WELL, FIRST OFF, I WILL WORK TO GET THE ANSWER ON THE NUMBER OF CATS AND CALLS FOR SERVICE RELATED TO CATS.BUT THE TIMING OF THIS, I THINK, WITH THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AND ANIMAL CONTROL COULD BE A BENEFIT.
IN DISCUSSING IT WITH MY STAFF, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DETERMINING WHEN IS SOMEONE AN OWNER, WHEN IS SOMEONE A CARETAKER, WHAT'S A COMMUNITY CAT, WHAT'S AN OWNED CAT.
BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO ADAPT AND THIS IS MANAGEABLE.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT...
ANIMAL CONTROL IS ALREADY RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS FOR SERVICE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WITH COORDINATION WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
AND AS JAKE MENTIONED, WHEN ENFORCEMENT WOULD HAVE TO BECOME AN ISSUE, LIKE EVERYTHING WE DO IN ENFORCEMENT, IT'S A VERY FACT-SPECIFIC SCENARIO.
SO, YOU KNOW, IS IT A CARETAKER OR AN OWNER? WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE A QUESTION OF FACT THAT WE'LL WORK WITH OUR ANIMAL CONTROL PEOPLE TO DO.
AND IF IT'S A MUNICIPAL CHARGE, IT'S A CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND IS IT A COMMUNITY CAT OR AN OWNED CAT? SO LONG AS THEY'VE GOT THE...
THE DISTINCT MARKING WHICH THE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES, IT PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR OUR PEOPLE.
SO FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS IN BRIEFING IT.
THERE WERE SOME INITIALLY REPORTED, BUT I THINK ONCE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED AND PD PROVIDED SOME GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP, SHOULD THE COUNCIL CHOOSE TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION, THERE'S NO CONCERNS THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TAKE THE MISSION AND RUN WITH IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME ON THE SECOND READING? THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE FOR LEGAL.
IF WE MAKE, FOR INSTANCE, USING MY EXAMPLE, THESE TWO CATS HAVE BEEN HANGING AROUND FOR A YEAR.
I DON'T FEED THEM, BUT THEY GET FED SOMEPLACE.
IF WE GO WITH THIS ORDINANCE, AND WE GET INTO DOWN LOWER WHERE IT'S THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
WHAT IF SOMEBODY TURNS ME IN FOR BEING CRUEL TO ANIMALS? SO IN THAT SITUATION, SINCE YOU'RE NOT THE OWNER AND YOU'RE NOT FEEDING THEM AND THEY'RE JUST LIVING UNDERNEATH YOUR PORCH, YOU WOULD BE A COMMUNITY CAT.
BUT DOESN'T THAT KIND OF GO AGAINST OUR...
ORDINANCES BY RETURNING THESE ANIMALS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, I REALLY THINK THAT IT PUTS, IT GOES IN HERE AND IT SAYS WE GOT TO, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FRESH WATER, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FED EVERY 24 HOURS, THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ADEQUATE STRUCTURE IN THE SHADE IN THE SUMMER AND OUT OF THE WIND IN THE WINTER, AND NONE OF THAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO A COMMUNITY CAT.
YEAH, WHICH THAT IS THE POINT OF DESIGNATING SOMEBODY A CAREGIVER AS OPPOSED TO AN OWNER IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
SO YES, IF YOU WERE IN THIS SITUATION, NOT THE OWNER OF THOSE CATS, YOU HAVE NO LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SHELTER OR FOOD OR ANYTHING.
BUT THEN WHO DO I REPORT IT TO IF I THINK IT'S BEING CRUEL? ANIMAL CONTROL.
AND THEN THEY PICK THEM UP AND THEY HOLD THEM THREE DAYS AND BRING THEM BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MEAN, YOU WOULDN'T, LIKE, CURRENTLY, THEY WOULD JUST BE STRAY CATS, CORRECT? RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE STRAY CATS.
YEAH, SO NOBODY HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY.
SO IT WOULDN'T BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, NOBODY HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE STRAY CATS WITH SHELTER OR FOOD OR ANY OF THAT EITHER.
AND SO THAT WOULDN'T BE ANY DIFFERENT NOW.
AND IF IT'S NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO RETURN BACK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
RIGHT, BUT IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT NEGLECT OR CONCERNED THAT THE CAT IS.
SICK OR WELL THEY ARE I DO WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY ARE NEGLECTED THEY LIVE UNDER MY MY DECK THEY'RE NOT I DON'T GIVE THEM WATER I DON'T GIVE THEM FOOD YEAH BUT YOU WOULD SO THEY ARE NEGLECTED I GET TO GIVE THEM FLEA COLLARS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT FLEAS IN MY HOUSE AND SO BUT YEAH SO RIGHT NOW YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE CITED FOR NEGLECT EITHER BECAUSE THAT'S A STRAIGHT THEY'RE STRAIGHT CATS AND SO THIS THAT WOULD NOT CHANGE OKAY SO RIGHT NOW IF WE LET THAT PIECE OF IT ALONE WE DON'T.
NEGATIVELY IMPACT STEVE OR PEOPLE IN ANY SITUATION, CORRECT? LEAVE WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY LEAVE WHAT? IF JOE MAKES A MOTION TONIGHT AND SAYS MOTION TO GO FORWARD REMOVING THE LANGUAGE OF COMMUNITY CAT AND COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER FROM THIS ORDINANCE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO THE PROBLEM THERE IS THAT THEN THERE WOULDN'T BE A DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY CAREGIVER.
BUT THEN THAT MAKES IT ALMOST LIKE THE DEFINITION IS NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND THE ORDINANCE.
SO HOW WOULD A JUDGE RULE ON IT IF THEY CAN'T JUST MAKE UP A DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY CAREGIVER? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT MY POINT WAS, THOUGH.
I DON'T WANT A JUDGE TO HAVE THAT AS AN OPTION.
[01:35:01]
WELL, A JUDGE IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER SOMEONE IS OWNING IT, WHETHER SOMEONE OWNS IT OR IF IT'S JUST A FREE WILL.YEAH, SO THERE HAS TO BE A DEFINITION.
IF WE PASS THE ORDINANCE, THERE HAS TO BE A DEFINITION.
IF WE DON'T PASS THE ORDINANCE, THE JUDGE IS STILL MAKING THAT RULING.
TRAPPING SPAYED NEUTERING AND RELEASING.
BUT WE'RE TAKING ONE OPTION AWAY FROM THE JUDGE IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY.
I'M JUST SAYING I'M FINE WITH THE EAR TIPPING.
I'M FINE WITH THE TRAP NEUTERED RETURN.
I'M FINE WITH MOST ALL THE CHANGES EXCEPT FOR CATS BEING CONSIDERED NOT WILDLIFE AND THE COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LIABILITY OF ANY SORT OF ANY KIND.
I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YEAH.
A FERAL CAT, RIGHT? AND FERAL CATS, I'M SAYING WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO, I'M FINE WITH THE PROGRAM THAT THEY'VE SET OUT.
I JUST DON'T LIKE CLASSIFYING THEM AS A SPECIFIC CLASS.
I'D RATHER GO FORWARD WITH IT AS IT CURRENTLY SITS.
AND A STRAY CAT CAN BE PICKED UP AND ALLOWED FOR STRAY CATS TO BE RETURNED BACK AFTER THEY'VE RECEIVED REQUIRED MEDICAL CARE, WHICH IS A GOOD IDEA FOR SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY AND FOR LONG-TERM.
DECREASING OF CAT POPULATIONS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS CREATION OF A NEW CLASS OF ANIMAL.
SO THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S UNDER THE CURRENT CODES, THERE'S STILL GOING TO HAVE TO BE A DETERMINATION ABOUT WHETHER IT'S A STRAY CAT OR NOT.
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT REALLY GETTING RID OF THAT.
SO THEN WHAT DO WE DO? OKAY, SO MAKE IT A STRAY CAT.
I MEAN, IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A PERSON FOR TAKING CARE OF THE CAT, LIKE, IF THE PERSON NOW COULD JUST SAY...
IT'S NOT, I DON'T OWN THAT CAT, IT'S A STRAY CAT.
AND THEN THE JUDGE WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS A STRAY CAT OR NOT.
SO IF WE CALL IT A STRAY CAT, YOU'RE OKAY? SO IF WE REMOVE ALL THIS AND JUST PUT CAT DEFINITION, THAT'S A CAT, WHATEVER, AND THEN STRAY CATS ARE NOT OWNED CATS.
YOU CAN CALL IT A COMMUNITY CAT FOR ALL I CARE, BUT LET'S REMOVE THIS PIECE ABOUT IT NOT BEING WILDLIFE AND JUST ENTIRELY REMOVE THE CAREGIVER PIECE.
LIKE I DON'T SEE A NEED FOR IT, I GUESS.
WELL, YEAH, BECAUSE IF MY CAT'S A NUISANCE AND I JUST SAY, OH, THAT'S NOT MY CAT, IT'S A COMMUNITY CAT.
YOU COULD SAY IT'S A STRAY CAT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT OUR POINT IS.
WE COULD JUST TREAT THEM AS STRAY CATS AND GET RID OF THE COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER BECAUSE THEORETICALLY...
IT'S A STRAY CAT, SO TREAT IT LIKE WILDLIFE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST JOE'S...
ARE THEY NOT WILDLIFE? IT'S NOT.
NIKKI, CAN I HAVE YOU COME UP? IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY WILDLIFE BECAUSE IT'S A DOMESTICATED ANIMAL, RIGHT? NOT IF THEY'RE NOT INSIDE OF A HOME, THEY'RE NOT DOMESTICATED.
BUT YOU'RE ALL TALKING DEFINITION NOW, SO YEAH.
BUT IT'S TECHNICALLY A DOMESTIC.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, THE DEFINITION PAGE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING DEFINITION.
AND THE CAREGIVER, TOO, BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER THINGS IN THE ORDINANCE CALLING OUT WHAT CAREGIVERS ARE.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S IN THERE IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE PUNISHING CAREGIVERS ARE CURRENTLY.
SO THAT'S IN THERE TO SAY CAREGIVERS AREN'T GOING TO GET PUNISHED NOW FOR FEEDING A CAT.
LIKE THAT'S WHY THE CAREGIVER AND THE COMMUNITY CAT LANGUAGE IS IN THERE IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCES THAT ARE PUNISHING CAREGIVERS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY CATS.
DO WE WANT PEOPLE FEEDING STRAY CATS IN OUR COMMUNITY? THEY ALREADY ARE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT THEM TO.
IF I WAS TO WALK DOWN FIRST AVENUE AND SEE A CAT THAT IS.
IN ANGUISH BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN FED OR GIVEN WATER, ME AS A HUMAN BEING, I'M NOT JUST GOING TO WALK PAST THE CAT.
I'M GOING TO SAY, OH MY GOD, THERE'S A CAT.
LET ME FIND A LITTLE TREAT OUT OF MY PURSE BECAUSE I'M A HUMAN AND I'M NOT GOING TO WATCH AN ANIMAL SUFFER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
I'M GOING TO GIVE IT THE LITTLE TREAT AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE DOWN MY WAY.
CURRENTLY, I COULD BE PUNISHED FOR GIVING THE LITTLE TREAT AS I WALK DOWN MY WAY.
SO THIS JUST CLEANS IT UP TO SAY I'M NOT GOING TO BE PUNISHED AS I WALK BY AND GIVE A LITTLE TREAT.
HAVE WE EVER HAD ONE STRAY CAT? YOU GET A HOUSE THAT'S GOT 30 CATS THAT THEY'RE FEEDING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
YOU'RE RELEASING THAT PERSON THAT'S FEEDING 30 OR 40 OR 50 CATS OUT OF LIABILITY.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE CAT'S ONE, BUT 30 OR 40 CATS, WE HAVE THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S WHERE I HAVE A LITTLE TROUBLE IS A PROBLEM STARTS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING FED.
RIGHT, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STOP SOMEBODY FROM WE CAN ENFORCE.
ESPECIALLY IF WE WRITE IT OUT THAT THEY'RE NOT LIKE
[01:40:03]
JOSEPH, THAT THESE CATS ARE I MEAN THAT WE'RE LEAVING THEM OF ANY KIND OF CONSEQUENCES.SORRY, YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK.
I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM.
WE NEED TO FIND A COMMUNITY SOLUTION.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE ALL COMFORTABLE WITH IS WHAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT.
BUT ULTIMATELY, IF YOU HAD SOMEBODY WITH 30 CATS THAT THEY'RE FEEDING, ANIMAL CONTROL SHOWS UP.
THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR DUTIES AS ANIMAL CONTROL AND INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION AND DECIDE, ARE THESE, ARE THERE A PROBLEM? ARE THEY SICK? WHAT IS THIS? AND THAT'S WORKING WITH OUR MEDICAL TEAM, DECIDING WHAT THE BEST, IS IT NOT BRINGING THEM BACK? IS IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE COLONY IS REALLY SICK AND THEY SHOULDN'T GO BACK OUT THERE.
AND YOU COULD TALK TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE DECISION TO SPAY AND NEUTER, PUT THEM BACK OUT, TO HOPEFULLY REDUCE.
LIKE YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE ARL, IT IS NOT FAST.
BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS, IS THAT.
THEY ARE SEEING LOWER NUMBERS OF CATS COMING INTO THEIR SHELTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE 04,500.
NOW, THAT'S NOT GOING TO FIX THE WHOLE PROBLEM, AND THEY'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE CATS IN THEIR SHELTER, BUT IT'S A ROOT SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM.
IT IS NOT JUST A BAND-AID, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR YEARS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT BETTER.
IF WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, LET'S DO THAT.
LIKE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM SITTING DOWN AND FIGURING IT OUT TOGETHER, AND IF WE CAN'T DO IT IN THE NEXT TWO SESSIONS, LIKE, WHAT IS IT? WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE TO ACTUALLY GET ROOT CAUSE SOLUTIONS FOR SOME OF THESE ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY? SO, LIKE JOE SAID IN THE DEFINITION, IT SAYS A COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER IS NOT THE OWNER, THE HARBOR, CONTROLLER, OR KEEPER OF THE COMMUNITY CAT.
WHAT WOULD YOU CALL IT IF THEY'RE NOT THE OWNER, THEY'RE NOT THE HARBOR, OR THE CONTROLLER, OR THE...
THE KEEPER IF THEY'RE FEEDING THEM WATER WHAT WOULD YOU THEY'RE THE OWNER I MEAN YOU CAN ARGUE THAT OR THEY'RE JUST FEEDING CATS BECAUSE THEY FEEL BAD YEAH RIGHT ULTIMATELY THEY'RE JUST I MEAN NOT TO BE EATING THING YEAH LIKE THEY'RE JUST FEEDING CATS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO WATCH THEM DIE UNDER THEIR PORCH THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF NEIGHBORS DON'T WANT THAT RIGHT AND SO THEN WE AGAIN, THAT COMES DOWN TO THE MITIGATION DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ANIMAL CONTROL EDUCATION.
AND THIS IS NOT LIKE A SOLUTION.
IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS LANGUAGE, WE EXCUSE THIS PERSON FROM ANY KIND OF.
WE COULDN'T GO IN THERE AND SAY, YOU CAN'T DO THIS.
YOU CAN STILL COME IN AND SAY, HEY, THIS ISN'T.
BUT THEY STILL SAY I'M A COMMUNITY CAT FEEDER AND A COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER IS NOT THE OWNER, THE HARBOR, CONTROLLER, OR KEEPER OF THIS COMMUNITY CAT.
SO IF THEY WERE ACTIVELY ABUSING OR NEGLECTING THE ANIMALS.
AND I'M A COMMUNITY CAT GIVER, AND I'M NOT HARBORING THEM.
I DON'T KEEP THEM, BUT I'M FEEDING THEM.
MY NEIGHBOR'S FEEDING 50 CATS.
IF WE HAD THAT ISSUE, ANIMAL CONTROL WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT ONE-OFF SITUATION.
WE DON'T HAVE, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE...
BUT HOW COULD YOU PROVE IT WITH THIS LANGUAGE? WE DON'T HAVE...
SO WE COME IN AND TAKE THEM ALL.
SO IN THIS SITUATION, IT'S AN EXTREME.
CAN'T GUARANTEE WE'RE GOING TO.
WE DON'T TAKE THEM BACK THIS TIME BECAUSE IT'S NOT OKAY.
THAT'S JUST AN ANSWER TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO THIS PERSON IS HOUSING 30 CATS.
THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE NOT THEIRS.
ANIMAL CONTROL SAYS, WE'LL TAKE ALL OF THEM.
WE'LL BE TRAPPING HERE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
AND MIDLANDS AND ANIMAL CONTROL FIGURES OUT WHETHER THEY CAN GO TO BARN HOMES, IF EUTHANASIA IS WARRANTED, ALL THOSE THINGS.
A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE GET REALLY UPSET BECAUSE THEY DO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT.
WHY WOULD THEY GET UPSET IF THEY'RE NOT THE OWNER? HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN IN A STRAY CAT? AND TAKING CARE OF IT AND FOUND ANOTHER HOME? ANY ANIMAL? YES, I HAVE.
I LIVED WHERE THEY DUMPED CATS AND DUMPED DOGS AND I TOOK THEM IN.
AND I MADE SURE THEY WERE TAKEN CARE OF.
DID YOU FIND ANOTHER HOME? I TRIED TO.
BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS IF WE GET A NUISANCE PERSON, THIS ALLEVIATES THAT PERSON FROM ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY.
SO WE CAN WORK ON THE LANGUAGE FOR THAT PORTION BETWEEN NOW AND THE 18TH IF WE MOVE FORWARD TO A THIRD READING.
I CAN SIT DOWN WITH JAKE AND WE CAN SIT DOWN WITH NIKKI AND LEGAL WITH JAKE AND SAY WE WILL FIX THE LANGUAGE FOR THAT PORTION.
[01:45:01]
TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE THIRD READING ABOUT THE T&R SECTION, WE CAN FIX THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP.YEAH, I THINK THE MAIN CRUX OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS OBVIOUSLY THE REDUCE THE TNR SECTION.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE LANGUAGE.
AND WE JUST GOT TO WORK THROUGH IT.
I'M GUESSING THIS CAME FROM OTHER ORDINANCES, CITIES THAT HAVE THE SAME ORDINANCES.
AND JAKE? IT DID, DIDN'T IT? YES.
LIKE THE PERMITTED ACT SECTION, THAT WAS LIKE A DIFFERENT, LIKE AN ORDINANCE.
CITY, BUT THEN LIKE THE OTHER CHANGES I MADE BECAUSE THE PERMITTED X WOULD HAVE BEEN SO A LOT OF THE OTHER CHANGES WERE JUST CHANGES THAT HAD TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE PERMITTED X IF THAT MAKES SENSE THIS ORDINANCE AFFECTS OTHER ORDINANCE.
SO IT'S LIKE DROPPING A CAT LIKE RIGHT NOW.
I JUST DROPPED A CAT OFF THAT WOULD BE A ABANDONMENT.
SO IF YOU JUST DROPPED THE CAT WHERE? LIKE IF I BROUGHT IT BACK A FIXED CAT AND DROPPED IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE MIDLANDS SO SO YEAH HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO PUT THEM WHERE THEY ARE PICKED UP WHAT IF IT GOT PICKED UP IN MY BACKYARD IN YOUR BACKYARD AND YOU HAD TO GO PUT IT BACK YOU'RE COMING BACK SHE DRIVES TO YOUR HOUSE AND PUTS IN YOUR BACKYARD GO BACK INTO THE LOCATION MOST THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT UNLESS YOU SAY HEY MAN I DON'T WANT THIS THING BACK IN MY AREA SHE'S SAYING IF IF YOU CALL AND SAY HEY I GOT THESE CATS LIVING UNDER MY DECK I DON'T WANT THEM THERE YOU GOT TO GET RID OF THEM LIKE THEY'LL COME THEY'LL COME AND PICK THEM UP YOU DO THAT, AND THEN THEY'LL FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE TO PUT THEM SO THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING BACK TO YOU IF THEY'RE CAUSING PROBLEMS TO YOU.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE TO PUT THEM THEN IF YOU DON'T PUT THEM BACK TO THE SAME SPOT? SO WE WOULD DECIDE, LIKE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE BARN CAT PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN GO INTO BARNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE CATS ARE OUT OF THEIR TERRITORY.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND FOOD.
IT'S A TOUGHER, WE DO IT BECAUSE IT'S LIFE-SAVING.
SO IF WE PICK UP A CAT ON AVENUE B, 21ST, AND PUT IT BACK WHERE WE FOUND IT, THEY USUALLY ARE, THAT IS THEIR TERRITORY, RIGHT? LIKE, SO THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO.
THEY'RE BACK IN THEIR HOME STOMPING GROUNDS.
AND AS LONG AS THERE'S NOT NUISANCES, AND AGAIN, THAT'S AN EDUCATION POINT, RIGHT? YOU HAVE ADVOCATES THAT ARE TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO, HOW WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.
IT IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO MAKE IT BETTER AND WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
BUT YOU'RE KIND OF ADMITTING, SO IF I LIVE ON 21ST AND B, DON'T PUT IT BACK HERE.
YOU'RE SAYING, YEAH, BUT I'VE GOT TO PUT IT AROUND THERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S FAMILIAR WITH, SO I'M GOING TO DROP IT OFF ON 22ND AND B, AND IT JUST COMES BACK, AND IT KNOWS WHERE IT'S AT.
NOW I'M CALLING YOU AGAIN SAYING, HEY, I'VE GOT A PROBLEM, AND THEN WE JUST KIND OF CONTINUE THAT PROCESS.
I AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING BECAUSE THERE'S WAY MORE INFORMATION THAN WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY.
IN THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE AGAIN, THE 80 PERCENT DOES CONCERN ME BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE IT FOR SEVEN YEARS AND WE'RE STILL AT LESS THAN 50 PERCENT.
AND IT'S LIKE SO THE PROBLEM CONTINUES, WHICH IS IT'S LESS.
SO, AGAIN, REDUCING THE POPULATION, YOU TALKED ABOUT IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO 21 AND BE WHERE THE STREET WAS.
YEP, THAT CAT'S GOING BACK, IT'S ALTERED, IT'S VACCINATED, AND IT'S HEALTHY.
WOULD YOU RATHER IT NOT BE ALTERED AND VACCINATED AND HAVE 20 MORE CATS THERE IN TWO WEEKS, TWO MONTHS? AND THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR MINDSET, WHICH IS THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE AND THE FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO HAVE SAID THAT'S ACTUALLY, IN MANY CASES, LESS HUMANE FOR THE ANIMAL.
BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE IN THAT SITUATION.
AND SOME REALLY BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THE NUMBER OF CATS THAT GET HIT BY A VEHICLE, THE NUMBER OF CATS THAT ARE EATEN BY...
SOME OTHER ANIMAL, ANOTHER PREY, I THINK WE ALL WOULD AGREE THAT'S A MUCH WORSE DEATH THAN A EUTHANASIA.
MAYBE I'M, AGAIN, I JUST SEE THAT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, BUT WE'RE PUTTING CATS BACK INTO A SITUATION WHERE THAT VERY POSSIBLY COULD BE A WORSE OUTCOME.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FIX IS FOR THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THEM ALL.
AND THEY HAVE THAT FATE ALREADY A LITTLE BIT, A LOT OF THE TIME.
SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD ARGUMENT, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK ALSO THERE'S A HUMAN COMPONENT TO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO EUTHANIZE ALL THESE CATS, AND THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM
[01:50:03]
WITHIN OUR ANIMAL WELFARE THAT WE ARE BATTLING EVERY DAY.AND SO THAT BECOMES A WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION.
BUT YES, YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT COULD BE THAT WAY, BUT THEY ARE ALREADY THERE GETTING THAT FATE.
BUT WE DIDN'T SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY TO FIX THEM.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO SPEND MONEY.
AGAIN, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
COMING FROM MY WORLD, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ALWAYS, WELL, SOMEBODY ELSE WILL PAY FOR IT.
BUT MY TAKE IS THEN THERE'S ALWAYS OTHER OPTIONS FOR THOSE FUNDS AS WELL THAT MAY BE BETTER SPENT.
BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE WANTING THEIR MONEY TO GO TO THAT CAUSE.
AND WANTING THEIR MONEY TO GO TO.
THAT'S ALL VOLUNTEER AND THANKS BOY.
WE'RE TAKING ON ORDINANCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE, THAT NEED TO BE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS LANGUAGE BETTER BECAUSE IT'S IN ALL ACTUALITY.
ALL THE ANIMAL ORDINANCES NEED UPDATED, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
LIKE, THIS IS A FIRST TACKLE, BUT ALL THE ANIMAL ORDINANCES.
WELL, I'M JUST SAYING WITH THIS PARTICULAR ONE THAT I'M LOOKING AT FOR THIS MEETING, THE LANGUAGE DOES, IT EXCUSES PEOPLE.
THAT ARE CAUSING SOME OF THE PROBLEM.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN A GOOD PET OWNER.
I'VE WORKED TO KEEP GOOD PETS.
AND THEN THE PERSON DOWN THE STREET THAT THINKS THEY'RE DOING GOOD, AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE BAD PEOPLE.
THEY REALLY DO THINK THEY'RE DOING GOOD.
OUT TO THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IT IS STARTING TO BE A PROBLEM.
WELL, THEN THOSE ANIMALS ARE BROUGHT RIGHT STRAIGHT BACK AND PUT BACK INTO THE SITUATION THAT I GOT TWO CATS LIVING UNDERNEATH MY DECK.
I DON'T WANT THEM THERE, BUT THEY'RE THERE.
AND I CAN'T GET UNDER THERE TO SHOO THEM OUT BECAUSE IT'S A GROUND LEVEL DECK.
AND SO IT'S A VERY TOUGH SITUATION.
THE WORDING, I MEAN, I CAN'T ACCEPT IT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN HERE.
AND IT ALSO PUTS US, IF WE'RE GOING TO STATE THAT THESE ARE COMMUNITY CATS, WE'RE THE COMMUNITY, WE REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN WE'RE OUT IN ORDINANCE WHEN WE GO DOWN TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
AND SO IT REALLY PUTS US IN A SPOT.
I GUESS ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, I JUST STAY HERE, IF YOU SPAY A NEUTERUM, ARE THEY NO LONGER A PROBLEM? THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO BE NUISANCE PROBLEMS. LIKE YOUR ANIMAL CONTROL CALLS SHOULD GO DOWN, AND WE SHOULD HAVE LESS INTAKES, AND WE SHOULD SEE LESS ISSUES.
AGAIN, UNTIL YOU AUTHORIZE ME TO DO THAT, I CANNOT GIVE YOU THE DATA.
IF IT WOULD FEEL BETTER TO DO A PILOT PROGRAM, I'M OPEN TO DISCUSS WHATEVER, OKAY? BUT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.
THE CAT ITSELF IS STILL A PROBLEM.
BUT NEW CATS ARE NOT GOING TO BE INTRODUCED FROM THAT.
THAT CAT IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CATS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OKAY WITH THE CATS.
RIGHT NOW THEY CAN HAVE LITTERS TWO TO THREE TIMES A YEAR.
SO THAT WILL STOP THE LITTERS FROM CONTINUING.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T CARE IF THE CATS ARE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU'RE TALKING, WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF, THERE'S A HUGE SPECTRUM ON CARE.
THERE'S A HUGE SPECTRUM ON EXPECTATIONS.
THERE'S A HUGE SPECTRUM ON DO I WANT THEM THERE, DO I NOT WANT THEM THERE, DO I CARE? LIKE...
WE COULD TALK UNTIL NEXT WEEK ABOUT THIS.
FIVE OF US HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION.
RIGHT, AND SO ULTIMATELY I JUST WANT TO DO BETTER AND COUNSEL BLESS.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM.
THERE'S A COMMUNITY CAP PROBLEM, AND YOU MIGHT NOT SEE IT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT IN THIS BUCKET RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU DO WAY OTHER THINGS.
BUT THIS IS ONE WAY TO HELP TRY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM IF IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, IF WE NEED TO REWORD IT, HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT BETTER.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR HELP ON.
THANKS FOR COMING AND LETTING US POKE AND PROD A LITTLE BIT.
SO BACK TO REVIEWING THE AGENDA, WE ARE GOING TO RESOLUTIONS 9C, THE HOMELESS SERVICE COORDINATOR POSITION WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I SENT QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT LAWRENCE, KANSAS, AND THE SUCCESS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN, THAT THEY'VE SEEN A 60-PLUS PERCENT DECREASE IN THOSE LIVING OUT IN THE HOMELESS WITHIN A ONE-YEAR TIME PERIOD.
PERSON IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN 2024.
SO WITH BETWEEN 2024 AND 2025, WE ARE SEEING DRAMATIC
[01:55:02]
CHANGES IN WHAT THEY ARE SEEING.CHIEF DAVIS HAS SOME COMMENTS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE ON THIS ITEM.
SO I'LL WELCOME YOU CHIEF TO THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I APOLOGIZE I WASN'T HERE AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS WOULD BE A VALUABLE ADDITION TO THE CITY TO HAVE A WHOLE-OF-CITY APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM, KIND OF AN ALL-IN APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM.
AND IT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER CITIES, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, AND ESPECIALLY RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER.
THERE IS A HOMELESS COORDINATOR IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OVER IN OMAHA.
WHERE I CAME FROM IN ILLINOIS, IT WAS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE OFFICE TO END AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS.
AND YOU PROBABLY HEARD ME SAY A FEW TIMES IN BRIEFINGS ON THE HOP TEAM IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT I CAN'T DEFINE A MISSION FOR MY OFFICERS TO END AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE WE'RE JUST THE POLICE.
THIS TRULY DOES REQUIRE AN ALL-OF-CITY, AN ALL-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH.
FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, A SHIN KICKER IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHO CAN GET ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS WORKING IN CONCERT.
THIS ISN'T JUST A FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT PROBLEM.
IT'S LITERALLY AN ALL-OF-CITY APPROACH, AND I THINK IT'S INTELLIGENT TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC APPROACH TO THAT.
THERE ARE VERY UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN OUR AREA.
I MEAN, HOMELESSNESS IS A PROBLEM EVERYWHERE.
WE ARE IN A BI-STATE CONTINUUM.
THEY EXIST ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, KANSAS, KANSAS CITY.
SIOUX CITY AND ITS NEIGHBORING CITIES ON THE NEBRASKA SIDE.
BUT WE HAVE SOME VERY UNIQUE CHALLENGES, I THINK, IN OUR BI-STATE CONTINUUM, WHETHER IT'S POLICY AND DOLLARS IN OMAHA OR POLICY AND DOLLARS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.
HAVING SENIOR LEVEL POLICY LEADERSHIP ON THESE ISSUES AND TAKING A LONG-TERM APPROACH, STRATEGIC APPROACH, NOT A DAY-TO-DAY TACTICAL APPROACH, I THINK IS VERY WELL ADVISED.
FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, AND I'VE SAID THIS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH...
PARTNERS IN THE CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES GROUP, YOU KNOW, I'M SHORT-SIGHTED.
POLICE DEPARTMENT, I'M LOOKING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM TODAY, THE CALL FOR SERVICE TODAY.
SOMEONE SEES AN ENCAMPMENT, THEY WANT TO SEE AN ENCAMPMENT CLEANED UP.
BUT THIS DOES REQUIRE A LARGER, YOU KNOW, SYSTEMS-BASED APPROACH.
AND I THINK THAT GETTING A VERY TALENTED INDIVIDUAL IN A POSITION LIKE THIS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TO ALL OF GOVERNMENT, TO ALL OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY US MANAGING THE NONPROFITS, BUT IT'S US GUIDING CITY RESOURCES AND CITY DOLLARS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE INVESTMENTS MADE IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND OUR MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, YOU'VE SEEN SOME SUCCESS STORIES THERE WHERE GOVERNMENT KIND OF IS AT THE CORE OF IT.
NOW, GRANTED, THERE'S AUTHORITIES AND BOARDS THAT MANAGE IT.
BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THIS WOULD BE A HELPFUL ADDITION TO THE CITY IN ADDRESSING THESE LARGER STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, JUST OVER ACROSS THE RIVER IN OMAHA.
THE POLICE THERE HAVE SAID HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM.
WELL, I DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.
AND BY HAVING A SHIN KICKER IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHO CAN BRING ALL OF CITY GOVERNMENT TOGETHER FOR THAT ALL-IN APPROACH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, POLICE, FIRE, THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
AND I THINK THIS TYPE OF STRATEGIC GUIDANCE WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS LOOKING AT US AS LEADERS TO ADDRESS.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF NEEDED.
YOU KNOW, THE STATE LEGISLATURE, STATE LEGISLATION PASSED THEIR PROPERTY TAX CHANGES YESTERDAY, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SOME SIGNIFICANT HARD DISCUSSIONS AND CHANGES COMING UP.
AND SO EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IS REALLY GOING TO NEED TO BE IMPACTED, IMPACTFUL, AND SOMEBODY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THE COUNCIL BELIEVES IS A POSITIVE OUTCOME OR SOLUTION-BASED IS BEING FOLLOWED.
AND REALLY SAYING, WHEN I SAY BRINGING THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TOGETHER, IT IS GOING TO SAY...
YOU HAVE YOUR GOAL, YOUR MISSION, YOUR WHATEVER AS NEW VISIONS, AS THE PEER CENTER, AS JENNY ED, AS MERCY.
BUT IN ORDER TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CITY, YOU ALSO NEED TO HIT X. AND THAT WILL BE UP TO YOU AS A COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT THOSE X'S ARE IN ORDER TO SEE TRUE IMPROVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PERSON REALLY IS.
I KNOW THERE WAS CONVERSATION LAST TIME ABOUT DOES THIS PERSON BELONG UNDERNEATH THE MAYOR OR DOES IT
[02:00:02]
NEED TO BE IN FIRE OR POLICE? HAVING THE WEIGHT OF CITY HALL BEHIND THEM BRINGS A DIFFERENT OUTCOME WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE TO SHOW UP AND PARTICIPATE.IT ALSO PROVIDES ACCESS TO DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
TO THOSE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL AS TO THE POLICE AND FIRE.
AND IT IS TACTICAL AND POLICY-DRIVEN WHERE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH COACH IS BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
AND SO OUT DOING DAY-TO-DAY, GOING TO CAMPS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THIS IS A TACTICAL AND POLICY-DRIVEN SITUATION.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ALL SEEN, WE ALL BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT THIS IS STEP ONE.
IT IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE EVERYTHING, BUT IT IS STEP ONE TO HAVE SOMEBODY DEDICATED TO THIS DISCUSSION.
FOUR OF US WERE HERE IN THE FALL AND WE SAID IT WAS OUR NUMBER ONE ITEM THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON.
THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO BE NON-STOP WORKING ON THIS TACTIC.
JOE, I HEARD YOUR CONCERN ABOUT BUDGET, AND SO IN MY EMAILS, I DID RECOMMEND MOVING THIS DOWN TO A GRADE 28.
I WENT AND, AGAIN, LOOKED AT OTHER COMMUNITIES, WEST VIRGINIA, LAWRENCE, KANSAS, TO SEE KIND OF WHAT THEY MADE AND BROUGHT IT DOWN TO A 28 TO ALIGN NOT ONLY WITH THEM BUT ALSO IN OMAHA AS WELL.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THERE.
I GUESS I WOULD SAY MY OWN THOUGHT PROCESS AND THINGS I LOOKED AT, I DID NOT HAVE IT AT 28.
JUST I WAS THINKING MORE LIKE, AND I PULLED DIFFERENT INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT CLASS CODES AND WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, PAY GRADES, STEPPING GRADES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THEN I LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS, THE EDUCATIONS AND THE THINGS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY ARE THEY GONNA HAVE SUPERVISING WHEN THEY'RE NOT DOING A WHOLE, THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE TO SUPERVISE SO THERE'S NOT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE UNDERNEATH THEM.
WE'RE REQUIRING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, RIGHT, AND PREFERRING A MASTER'S BUT NOT REQUIRING IT AND THEN WHEN I THINK OF A 28 FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE PEOPLE ON STAFF WITH MASTER'S DEGREES AND CERTIFICATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT ARE 27, RIGHT? I CAN SEE HOW THERE COULD BE USE FOR THIS.
I MEAN, WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY DIFFERENT TIMES AND WAYS THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THE END GOAL OF HELPING THIS PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT WITH WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT, AND THEN I LOOKED AT THE MEDIAN INCOME IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE FIRST...
ITERATION OF THIS AT NU 30 PUTS US AT HIGHER AND SOMEONE AT DOUBLE THE MEDIAN INCOME I LOOKED MORE LIKE NU 20 RIGHT UM I THINK WE CAN START AT ANYTHING AND IF WE DON'T HAVE UM I WOULD BE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ENTERTAIN THAT AND WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT APPLY THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND SAY HEY WE'VE DONE THE RESEARCH IOWA WEST, WE'VE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT POTENTIALLY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE CANDIDATES THAT THEY WOULD HIRE SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY DO AN ANALYSIS TO SEE WHAT THAT RATE SHOULD BE.
AND SO WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A POSITION NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT THAT MONEY UP FRONT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CORRECT STEP FORWARD.
SO YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO START JOE, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE 20, I'M ALL FOR IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO DIE ON A SALARY.
I THINK THAT THE POSITION IS NEEDED.
I JUST, LIKE I SAID, I'VE TALKED WITH SOME FOLKS, AND I SEE WHAT SOME OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE IN CITY HALL, WHERE THEY'RE AT, AND I GO, OH, BOY, LIKE I FEEL LIKE IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE THIRD.
I JUST FEEL LIKE 30 WAS DISRESPECTFUL TO OTHER FOLKS.
NO, I GET IT, AND THAT'S WHY I WENT BACK AND LOOKED.
IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AT A DIFFERENT GRADE, THAT'S.
THAT'S NOT THE HILL I'M GOING TO DIE ON.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS POSITION IS NEEDED GREATLY, AND IF WE NEED TO COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, WE HAD NOBODY APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, THEN WE DO A RESEARCH ANALYSIS.
ONE THING I COULD ADD TO THAT, THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, THE NATURE OF THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE'D BE LOOKING FOR, AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH IOWA WEST ABOUT EVEN ENGAGING A SEARCH FIRM TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR TALENT FOR THIS TITLE.
[02:05:02]
WHEN EVERYONE'S ACCOUNTABLE FOR A PROBLEM, NO ONE'S ACCOUNTABLE FOR A PROBLEM.AND BY HAVING ONE HIGH-LEVEL, VERY SKILLED PERSON BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, I THINK WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE CITY AND WOULD CREATE DIRE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE NEED ON THIS ISSUE.
AS CHIEF OF POLICE, IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE BUCK STOPS ON MY DESK.
AND I'VE ALREADY KIND OF STEPPED OUT OF THE WAY OF SOME BUCK STOPPING ON THE HOMELESSNESS DESK BECAUSE...
THAT'S NOT A MISSION THAT I CAN DEFINE SOLELY FOR MY PEOPLE.
SO I DO THINK IF YOU WANT THE RIGHT PERSON, YOU WANT THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE WILL BE SOME SALARY AND COMPENSATION THAT GOES WITH THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A TOUGH MISSION TO SIGN UP FOR.
SO I WOULD JUST ADD THAT AS RESPECTFULLY PART OF THE CONSIDERATION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ASK A LOT OF A PERSON AND YOU'RE GOING TO SUCCEED OR FAIL BASED ON HOW THIS PROBLEM WORKS OUT.
THERE WILL BE A LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT SHOULD BE IN WHATEVER THE COUNCIL DETERMINES TO BE AN APPROPRIATE SALARY, BUT IT SHOULD BE COMMENSURATE WITH WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK.
WELL, AND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS EFFECTIVELY A STARTING WAGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN, WHAT IS IT, 68 TO 87, SO EFFECTIVELY 70 TO 90, AND WE'VE WELL ESTABLISHED THAT WE'VE EFFECTIVELY, GIVE OR TAKE, A $30,000 BENEFIT PACKAGE.
I'M TALKING $100,000 TO $110,000.
AGAIN, WE MAY DECIDE THIS IS THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD.
PUT MORE INTO IT AND WE CAN ELEVATE FROM THERE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS HARD.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS OR ONE OF THE POINTS YOU MADE BEFORE, SOMEONE IN A POSITION HERE WAS STARTED THERE.
AND EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, NOW WE CAN'T TAKE THEM BACKWARDS, YOU KNOW, IT'S I FEEL LIKE I'D RATHER START US AT THIS POSITION, WHICH, AGAIN, STARTS US OUT AT, SAY, YOU'RE A ONE SINGLE INCOME HOUSE.
HOLD, THAT'S STILL THE LOW END MORE THAN THE MEDIAN INCOME IN THIS CITY.
I GUESS MY POSITION WHEN I LOOK INTO THIS IS, WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THIS PERSON? WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL, I GUESS? AND ALSO, YOU'RE USING LAWRENCE, KANSAS, FOR EXAMPLE.
WAS IT THAT POSITION ITSELF THAT CREATED? IT WAS.
IF YOU ACTUALLY GO OUT AND DO THE RESEARCH IN LAWRENCE, KANSAS, THE COUNCIL EVEN ATTRIBUTED IT TO THIS POSITION.
OKAY, BUT YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT.
THEY INCLUDED 600% INCREASE IN BEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITY OF HOMELESS BEDS.
AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT.
THIS COMMUNITY WILL NOT SUPPORT MORE BEDS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE AN ANSWER THAT THIS COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT.
I KNOW THIS, AND TRUST ME, I LIVE THIS PROBLEM, AND I HAVE GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE HOMELESS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS POSITION IS WHAT IS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME.
BECAUSE WE HAVE REALLY NO PLACE TO TAKE THESE INDIVIDUALS.
WE DON'T HAVE TREATMENT CENTERS THAT ARE CLOSE AT HAND.
WE DON'T HAVE GOOD SOCIAL SERVICES THAT CAN COME IN.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT DEPENDABLE.
THEY GO TO JAIL, THEY LOSE IT.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS. AND I KNOW THIS PERSON WOULD HELP WITH THAT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHERE WE'RE AT GOING FORWARD.
WITH THE TAX CUTS THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED JUST THIS WEEK.
AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO FALL OUT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT STRESSOR ON OUR POLICE AND OUR FIRE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY WEIGH OUT THIS POSITION, ITS COST AND BENEFITS TO THE CITY.
AND THE BENEFITS, NOT JUST TO THE CITY ITSELF AND ITS CITIZENS, BUT THE BENEFITS TO THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING THE HOMELESSNESS OUT THERE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY IT.
AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, STEVE.
AND YOU MAKE GREAT POINTS, RIGHT? SO WE DO HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL THAT'S OPENING UP LATER THIS MONTH.
SO WE WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL BEDS THERE.
IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON POLICE AND FIRE, I...
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO GET AHEAD OF THIS AT EVERY STEP FORWARD.
AND IF WE CAN SEE A REDUCTION, THEN THAT'S LESS TRIPS THAT THE FIRE AND THE POLICE ARE OUT DOING AND MAKING, RIGHT? IT'S JUST LIKE ADDING CAMERAS IN AT NEW VISIONS.
EVERY TOOL NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE IN THIS TOOLBOX BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ONE TOOL THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE IT ALL.
AND YOU DO BRING A GOOD PERSPECTIVE, STEVE, AS FAR AS THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES YOU FACE.
[02:10:01]
I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE ALL SAID THIS IS AN ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY AND EVERY DOLLAR IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS POSITION, WE ARE GIVING MONEY TO INDIVIDUALLY INTO INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM A GOAL THAT SAYS YOU GET MONEY NEXT YEAR.
IF YOU HIT X GOAL FOR THE CITY, IF YOU'VE DONE X, Y, Z.
OR YOU HAVEN'T DONE XYZ, YOU'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH FUNDING OR YOU'RE NOT GETTING FUNDING AT ALL NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S WHERE THIS POSITION IS REALLY GOING TO COME INTO PLAY.
AND WE, AND CHIEF HAS ALLUDED TO THIS, IT CAN'T BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S GOAL AND JOB TO RUN THIS.
AND SO WE ARE AT A POSITION THAT OVER 100 DAYS IN, I'M SAYING WE NEED SOMEBODY DEDICATED ON THIS PROJECT.
THAT I GO TO, IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE I'M NOT ABLE TO MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS OR I'M NOT ABLE TO MEET WITH OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE OF TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THIS.
SO SOMETHING WILL GIVE AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
AND SO DO WE WANT TO SEE A BACKSLIDE? AND WE STEP BACK BECAUSE THE COUNCIL DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S WORTH THE ATTEMPT AND THE FIGHT WHEN WE HAVE IOWA WEST SAYING WE'RE WILLING TO BE A FINANCIAL PARTNER FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS ON THIS AND TRY IT OUT JUST LIKE OUR OUR HEALTH.
COACH THAT WE'VE TRIED OUT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THIS IS A TEMPORARY POSITION THAT IF WE DON'T SEE THE BENEFITS AND THE CHANGE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, IT GETS PULLED.
SO IT'S LIKE A, IT WOULD BE LIKE A PILOT.
IT'S A PILOT, JUST LIKE, JUST LIKE THE HEALTH COORDINATOR.
IT'S A PILOT TO SEE DOES IT WORK, DOES IT NOT, AND IOWA WEST IS WILLING TO PUT IN THE MONEY FOR PART OF THE MONEY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
I THINK ALONG WITH THIS, WE REALLY NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT DISCUSSION WE HAD A FEW MONTHS AGO, THOUGH, ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THAT WOULD GIVE THIS POSITION MORE OF, IN THE EVENT WE DECIDE TO CREATE IT, THAT WOULD GIVE THIS POSITION TEETH.
IT WOULD GIVE THEM THE AVAILABILITY TO SAY, HEY, YOU'RE NOT TOEING THE LINE.
YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR LICENSE.
AND THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT IOWA WEST HAD US PUT INTO THE JOB DESCRIPTION, SO THAT WAY THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HITTING MILESTONES IN YEAR ONE, AND THEN YEAR TWO AND YEAR THREE ARE NEGOTIABLE, SO THAT WAY WE CAN PIVOT IF WE NEED TO.
IS SITTING WITH LEGAL AND HAPPY WHEN WE'RE READY FOR THAT ORDINANCE YOU KNOW WHEN THAT'S PREPARED TO COME FORWARD WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND SOMEBODY IMMEDIATELY THIS ISN'T EVEN SET TO GO IN UNTIL BEGINNING OF FISCAL YEAR SO THIS IS JUST SAYING YES THAT WE CAN PREPARE TO POST FOR FISCAL YEAR AND START THE SEARCH I THINK THAT WE WENT AND CHIEF YOU'LL CORRECT ME HOW LONG WE WENT BEFORE WE FOUND OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH COACH IT WAS A VERY LONG TIME SO THIS IS GETTING THE BALL ROLLING BUT 100%, I AGREE WITH YOU, THE ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE FINISHED AND COME FORWARD.
THAT IS NOT A, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS.
THERE ARE MANY TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN THE TOOL BASKET TO GO AT THIS ISSUE.
THE FOUR QUESTIONS, ONE, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, JILL, FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE BUSINESS PLAN.
AND AGAIN, I WANT EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE SITTING HERE AGAIN LATE, AND I APOLOGIZE.
COUPLE BIG THINGS COME THROUGH HERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THIS IDEA OF A BUSINESS PLAN IT REALLY IS NOT TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU GUYS AT ALL IT'S TO SET A BENCHMARK AND HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS WHERE ARE WE GOING WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM IT SO THAT WE HAVE SOME MEASUREMENTS GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT IT JUST SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS DONE THROUGH MY CAREER AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE AGAIN I UNDERSTAND JILL SAID WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE I GET IT BUT MY IDEA IS IF WE SET THE BAR UP HERE, THEN MAYBE WE ALL TRY AND ATTAIN THAT RATHER THAN JUST TRYING TO GET BY.
SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF CHANGES HERE RECENTLY.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE THEN IS, COULD WE MODIFY THIS WITH WHAT WE ALREADY HAD ON THE BOOKS? MAYBE MODIFY THAT POSITION TO FIT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, BUT ONE IS TACTICAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND ONE IS POLICY DRIVEN.
THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT AND THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE FOR THE OLD ONE AND WE'RE GOING TO HIRE FOR THE NEW ONE.
WELL, YOU GUYS NEED TO APPROVE THAT.
THAT WAS COMING INTO YOUR WE RIGHT NOW.
[02:15:01]
THE HEALTH COACH IS NOT A CITY EMPLOYEE.SO THE BUDGET THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED HAD A COMMUNITY HEALTH COACH, AND IT HAD THIS POSITION IN THE BUDGET.
SO BOTH POSITIONS WERE IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED.
WELL, THE NEW POSITION, IT WAS IN THE BUDGET.
I HAD DANIELLE ADD IT TO THE BUDGET REVIEW.
THE FIRST MONTH THAT I WAS HERE, WE ADDED THAT SALARY INTO THE BUDGET.
IT WAS WHEN WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION.
YOU DIDN'T CHANGE THE NAME, RIGHT? RIGHT.
THERE WAS MONEY THERE FROM BRANDON.
YEAH, AND WHEN I MET WITH THE ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR.
AND THEY JUST RETITLED IT, I GUESS.
THAT WAS NOT FOR THIS POSITION.
WE'RE USING MONEY THAT, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THOSE FUNDS COULD ALSO BE USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE RATHER THAN THIS PARTICULAR POSITION.
WE DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A NEW POSITION OUT OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF MONEY.
AND WHEN I MET WITH COUNCIL, THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
WHEN WE MET INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE BUDGET REVIEW, I SAID I WAS UTILIZING THAT MONEY FOR THIS NEW POSITION.
YOU KNOW, I WENT BACK, DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS AFTER WE HAD OUR DISCUSSION ON IT, CHIEF, AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, JILL'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, AND SHE RAN ON THIS, AND SHE WANTS TO.
MAKE A MOVE WITH THIS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE ALL ARE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS PROPERLY, BUT IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE ADDRESSED AND THAT WE WANT TO HAVE SOME MOVEMENT FORWARD.
AGAIN, PART OF MY DISCUSSION LAST TIME WAS NON-PROFITS, THIS IS THEIR WORLD, RIGHT? AND THEY DO THIS ON A DAILY BASIS.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT GROUPS, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT, WE'LL SAY, GOALS FOR EACH OF THEM AND HOW THEY GET THERE.
IN YOUR MIND, AS YOU SEE THIS, ARE THE NON-PROFITS NOT? DOING WHAT WE WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD DO OR WHERE DOES THIS POSITION COME IN TO MAYBE GET THEM MOVING FORWARD WITH US.
I THINK OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY DO DO AS BEST AS THEY CAN WITH THE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY THAT THEY SERVE I THINK PART OF THE FRUSTRATION IN THE SYSTEM AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 20 PLUS YEARS FEDERAL DOLLARS HAVE SHIFTED MORE TOWARDS DISBURSEMENTS TO SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, YOU KNOW, NON-PROFITS, ETC., ETC., AS OPPOSED TO THIS BEING, YOU KNOW, A CORE GOVERNMENT MISSION.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED MY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER, WE HAD THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THEY HAD THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CHICAGO HOUSING POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN KIND OF THE HUD PENDULUM SWUNG THE OTHER WAY, AND MONEY STOPPED GOING TO GOVERNMENT AND WENT TO SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.
I THINK THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
I THINK THEY SERVE, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT POPULATIONS AND PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU LOSE A SOURCE OF GOVERNANCE AND CONTROL, RIGHT? WHEN THE GOVERNMENT'S IN CHARGE, THAT CAN BE GOOD, THAT CAN BE BAD.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IS MAYBE THE PENDULUM SWINGING BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARDS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
EARLIER WHEN I SAID, I THINK IN THE ALMOST THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WHAT I'VE SLOWLY LEARNED MORE AND MORE IS THAT OUR BI-STATE CONTINUUM PRESENTS VERY COMPLEX CHALLENGES AS TO HOW THIS PROBLEM...
MANIFESTS ITSELF ACROSS OUR BI-STATE AREA AND WHERE FEDERAL DOLLARS LAND AND HOW POLICY, WHETHER INNOCENT, JUST HOW POLICY THEN TRANSLATES INTO WHAT REALITY IS FOR THE CITIZENS WHO LOOK OUT THEIR WINDOW, WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND GETTING GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP BACK AT THE TABLE AND IN A PRIMARY ROLE AT THE STRATEGY LEVEL THAT THE MAYOR IS TALKING ABOUT, I THINK IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
NOT THAT THIS PERSON CAN BE THE WRANGLER OF SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS OR GETTING THEM TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE IN LOCKSTEP.
BUT IN MY EARLIER COMMENTS, I MENTIONED, LIKE, THE ROLE OF OUR MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, YOU KNOW, SHIFTING MAYBE TO AN APPROACH, YOU KNOW, TO BREATHE MORE OXYGEN INTO THAT PART OF THE EQUATION.
AND TO COUNCILMAN GORMAN'S RESPONSE, THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CREATE BEDS AND HOUSING AND TREATMENT CENTERS AND TRIAGE CENTERS OVERNIGHT.
THIS IS A LONG-TERM SYSTEM STRATEGIC APPROACH AND WE NEED A COUNCIL BLUFFS SPECIFIC EXPERTISE AND STRATEGY AT THE TABLE.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUST BE YOU KNOW THE THE THE IOWA SIDE OF OUR CONTINUUM THAT JUST CATCHES THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF NEBRASKA AND OMAHA POLICY AND I THINK THAT'S WHY HAVING THE WEIGHT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE YOU KNOW THE THE DRIVING THAT ALL OF CITY GOVERNMENT APPROACH POLICE, FIRE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
[02:20:02]
PARKS, YOU KNOW.THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO SOLVE A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT THIS POSITION WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL WITH THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING WITHIN THAT OTHER POSITION THAT THERE MAY HAVE TO BE SOME CHANGES WITH THAT THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COVERING ALL BASES, OR DO WE JUST FORGE AHEAD AND SAY, WELL, WE KNOW WE THINK WE GOT THIS ONE, BUT I KNOW I'M GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES HERE? NO, I THINK, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THERE'S KIND OF A TACTICAL AND A STRATEGIC APPROACH HERE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS, EARLIER I SAID, LIKE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE TODAY'S PROBLEMS. THEY'RE THE PROBLEM THAT'S IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW, THE PERSON THAT PRESENTS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THE ENCAMPMENT THAT GETS THE PHONE CALL FROM THE CONCERNED CITIZEN.
WE'RE WORKING AT A TACTICAL LEVEL, ALMOST A REACTIVE LEVEL.
THIS POSITION IS MORE STRATEGIC AND PROACTIVE TO TRY TO GET TO HOW DO WE RIGHT-SET THE APPROACH TO THESE PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OMAHA AND THE FACT THAT WE FUNCTION IN A BI-STATE CONTINUUM? SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE MOVING ON BOTH THOSE FRONTS AT THE SAME TIME.
WE NEED THE DAY-TO-DAY TACTICAL RESPONSE.
WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE AND STILL CONTINUE TO SOLVE TODAY'S PROBLEM, BUT WE NEED TO GO UPRIVER AND TAKE A MORE STRATEGIC APPROACH, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO SAY, WHAT IS OUR APPROACH? HOW MANY...
HOMELESS SHELTER BEDS DO WE NEED? HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY HOUSING DO WE NEED AT DUDLEY AND REGAL? YOU KNOW, HOW MANY MENTAL HEALTH BEDS DO WE HAVE TO GET THAT RIGHT APPROACH FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS? AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS TITLE, THIS IS A UNICORN.
THIS IS A VERY SKILLED PERSON THAT WE WANT TO BRING.
INTO THE TABLE TO MAKE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE MISSIONS.
SO I HOPE THAT HELPS, AND I HOPE I ANSWERED.
AND AT THAT POINT, WHEN DOES THE COUNTY HAVE SAY IN SOME OF THIS? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO COUNTY SUPERVISOR FORUMS WHERE THEY SAY POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A HOMELESS PROBLEM.
WELL, THEN I HAD TO STAND, AND THEY REFERRED TO ME ON THIS.
AND I STOOD UP AND I SAID, WELL, THE LAST I LOOKED ON A MAP, COUNCIL BLUFFS WAS IN POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY, AND SO THAT IS A POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY.
SO IT'S A MUCH BROADER THING, AND ARE WE GOING TO DUPLICATE, OR IS COUNCIL BLUFFS CITIZENS GOING TO PAY FOR THE WHOLE PACKAGE HERE? AND THAT'S THE THING WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT.
THIS IS A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM.
THAN JUST COUNCIL BLUFFS AND IT'S A MACRO WIDE SITUATION I DON'T THINK BEDS AND ADDING BEDS IS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S VERY THIS IS THIS IS WEIGHING ON ME AND IT'S A VERY TOUGH DECISION GOING FORWARD BUT STEVE I AGREE WITH YOU THIS IS THIS IS NOT JUST A COUNCIL PROBLEM BUT WE THANK YOU.
UNFORTUNATELY ARE HERE TO TRY TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF CONSOLABLES.
I GET THIS, BUT WE CAN'T EVEN GET THE DRUG SETTLEMENT MONEY ADMINISTERED DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SUFFERED FROM THE DRUG PROBLEMS. WE JUST RECEIVED PAPERWORK ON THAT LAST WEEK.
I SENT IT OVER TO MIMI'S OFFICE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING IN MOST CASES IN THE STATE OF IOWA AND IN OMAHA, I THINK OMAHA DOES A LITTLE BETTER JOB.
BUT THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY DOESN'T EVEN GET DOWN TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.
AND SO ANOTHER LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY, I DON'T KNOW, IS THE ANSWER.
THIS IS THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO, NOT ONLY TO EVERYTHING THAT CHIEF AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT, THIS IS THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO FIND THE GROUP OR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN YOUR TRIAGE CENTER.
THEY'RE LOOKING, THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THE ROOM THAT SAYS, WE NEED THIS ASSISTANCE, WE NEED THIS ASSISTANCE, WE'RE GOING TO FIND...
FIRST OF ALL, THIS ISN'T MY TRIAGE.
NO, NO, I'M JUST SAYING THE ONE THAT YOU REFERENCED, RIGHT? THAT'S A DIRECTION THAT I PUT OUT THERE.
IT'S NOT MY, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT...
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TOO.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF A POSITION, ESPECIALLY THE PRICE THAT WE FIRST STARTED AT...
I'VE JUST BEEN IN THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND I KNOW THAT THE ROADBLOCKS AND THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE CONDOLENCES AND THE STATISTIC TAKING AND HOW IT NEVER SEEMS TO REACH DOWN TO THE PERSON THAT TRULY NEEDS IT.
AND SO I'M REALLY WEIGHING THIS OUT AND LOOKING AT IT.
[02:25:01]
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S A THREE-YEAR PILOT.AND SO IF IT DOESN'T WORK, JUST LIKE THE HEALTH COACH, IF THAT WOULDN'T HAVE WORKED, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY BACKFILLING THAT OR MOVING THAT TO THE CITY POSITION.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, MAYOR, IF I MAY, COUNCILMAN, THAT THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS A PERMANENT POSITION.
THE AGREEMENT WITH THE IOWA WEST IS A PILOT PAYMENT MOU FOR THE THREE MONTHS.
BUT THE CREATION, I JUST WANT COUNCIL TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE IT'S BEING, BECAUSE OF THOSE WORDS.
BUT IF IT DOESN'T WORK, I'M NOT KEEPING THIS POSITION ON STAFF.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE ABILITY AS YOU, AS A COUNCIL AT THE BEGINNING OF BUDGET EACH YEAR SAYING, I SEE VALUE IN THIS POSITION OR I DON'T SEE VALUE IN THIS POSITION.
AND SO YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER POSITION HERE AT CITY HALL TO SAY, I SEE VALUE OR I DON'T SEE VALUE.
ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY.
WE NEED TO TRY, AND WE NEED TO TRY, AND WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE NEEDLE MOVE AS IT SHOULD.
AND SO I'M ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY WITH THIS POSITION.
DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY TO FIT THIS POSITION.
I JUST WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK.
THE HEALTH COACH, MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WAS 75, 50, 25, JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
SO THIS PAST YEAR, IOWA WEST PAID FOR 25.
IF YOU APPROVE THAT JOB POSITION, WHICH WILL BE IN FRONT OF YOU IN 30 DAYS.
RIGHT NOW, THEY WERE AN EMPLOYEE OF JENNY ED.
THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF ISSUES WITH HAVING A THIRD PARTY THERE BECAUSE THERE WERE ADDITIONAL GOALS THAT WERE IN FRONT OF JENNY WANTED TO SEE X KIND OF OUTCOMES WHERE THE CITY HAD A DIFFERENT.
DESIRE FOR DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.
AND SO IN HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WITH CHIEF, MYSELF, IOWA WEST, IT WAS LET'S NOT HAVE A THIRD PARTY INVOLVED.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S JUST IOWA WEST AND THE CITY THIS TIME AROUND.
SEE, AND I GUESS, AS I SAID BEFORE, I THINK THE NONPROFITS ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THE FUNDS FOR THESE INITIATIVES, FOR THESE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WHEN I MET WITH A COUPLE OF THE NONPROFITS, THEY WEREN'T REAL EXCITED ABOUT THIS POSITION.
I WOULD ASSUME NOT BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SET DOWN NEW GOALS, AND IF THEY DON'T MEET THOSE GOALS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
I GUESS IF THAT'S THE CASE, I DON'T THINK WE NEED THE POSITION BECAUSE I DON'T THINK SOME OF THEM SHOULD BE FUNDED TODAY.
CAN'T WE JUST DO THAT WITHOUT THE POSITION? WE CAN JUST SAY WE'RE NOT FUNDING THEM? YOU CAN.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE CAN SAY WE'RE NOT FUNDING THEM UNLESS YOU DO THIS.
YEAH, AND A LOT OF THE FUNDING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, GUYS, IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PASS-THROUGH FUNDS, RIGHT? BUT THERE'S FUNDS THAT COME FROM THE CITY THAT ARE NOT PASS-THROUGH.
YEAH, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE CAN'T JUST, LIKE, TAKE PASS-THROUGH FUNDS AND BE LIKE, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE THESE OUT.
LIKE, WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO GIVE THIS.
JUST SO WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
ARE YOU GUYS DONE TALKING? I'M JUST KIDDING.
WE'RE TECHNICALLY TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
LET'S SAY THE GOVERNMENT GIVES, HUD GIVES US $200,000. IS IT SET OUT HEARTLAND GETS $150,000, NEW VISION GETS $50,000, WHATEVER THE NUMBERS ARE? IS IT SET OUT TO WHO? OR CAN WE SAY THAT $200,000 CAN ALL GO TO HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICE OR ALL TO JENNY? LIKE HOW IS THAT PASSED THROUGH FUNDING? HOW IS IT REGULATED TO US? IT'S GOING TO BE SPECIFIC TO THE FUNDING SOURCE.
IT MIGHT BE THAT THERE'S A GRANT THAT THE CITY COULD APPLY FOR THAT WE WOULD GET THE MONEY AND THEN WE COULD CHOOSE TO DISTRIBUTE IT.
THE MONEY WE HAVE TODAY, SORRY, JUST THE MONEY WE GET TODAY THAT'S PASSED THROUGH.
HOW IS IT DISTRIBUTED? IT DEPENDS WHERE IT COMES FROM BECAUSE SOMETIMES FEDERAL GRANTS REQUIRE A NONPROFIT TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY.
SO THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO BE AN AGREEABLE PARTNER AND THEN IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE NONPROFIT BECAUSE BUT THEN THE WAY THAT IT.
FORMALLY MOVES THROUGH THE SYSTEM IS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES IT TO THE CITY AND THEN THE CITY DISPERSES IT TO THEIR PARTNER SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT FUNDING MECHANISMS BASED ON THE ON THE FUNDING THAT WE GET AND AND YOU KNOW HUD HAS PROGRAMS SO IF THEY GIVE US A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR NEW VISIONS WE HAVE
[02:30:01]
TO GIVE IT TO THEM WE CAN'T DECIDE IT WOULD GO BETTER AT HOME HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICE OR VICE VERSA AGAIN IT ALL KIND OF DEPENDS ON THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IF IF NEW VISIONS IS APPLYING FOR FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT REQUIRES A CITY PARTNER, THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION TO PARTNER WITH THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE BEFORE THERE'S EVEN A GRANT AWARDED.IF THERE ARE SYSTEMS WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO APPLY WITHOUT OUR SEAL OF APPROVAL AND WE'RE JUST GETTING THE MONEY, THEN...
SO CDBG FUNDS, AND SO EVERY YEAR WE PUT TOGETHER AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT YOU GUYS SEE AND YOU APPROVE THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO GIVE TO EACH ONE OF OUR SUB-RECIPIENTS.
I KNOW, I'M ASKING, BUT YOU GUYS DECIDE THAT, WE GET THE REPORT, AND YOU DECIDED HOW MUCH WAS GOING WHERE.
IS IT DECIDED BY YOU? IS IT DECIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? SHOULD IT COME TO US? LIKE, THAT'S MY QUESTION.
WELL, WE HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO USE THAT MONEY ON.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GIVING IT TO US.
NOW, DOES IT SPECIFICALLY HAVE TO GO TO THAT ORGANIZATION? PERHAPS NOT, BUT DOES IT HAVE TO GO TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS OR MEETING AFFORDABLE HOUSING? YES.
SO IT'S NOT SPECIFIC FOR ONE NONPROFIT.
SO WHEN YOU HOMELESS, WHATEVER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WHATEVER.
AND SO THAT COMES TO THE COUNCIL.
SO THERE YOU COULD MAKE A CHANGE AND NOT GO WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
SO WE CAN DO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TODAY.
IF YOU DON'T HIT THESE GOALS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FUND YOU.
FOR THIS THAT'S GOING TO GO TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S ALREADY DOING THAT? YES, BUT DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, WHO IS GOING TO MONITOR THAT THEY ARE HITTING THOSE GOALS OR NOT? WELL, CHRIS IS DOING THAT TODAY.
HE JUST SAID HE'S DECIDING IF THEY HIT THE THINGS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES, THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING.
THE CITY DOES NOT PROVIDE SET GOALS THAT SAYS HAVE YOU HIT X, Y, Z, RIGHT? SO IT'S A DIFFERENCE.
WE ARE GIVING MONEY, AND I'M TRYING TO SIMPLIFY THIS, BUT WE ARE SPLITTING THAT POT UP AS WE SEE FIT WITH NO, I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT, THERE'S NOT A SET REQUIREMENT TO SAY, YEP, YOU HIT YOUR GOAL, YOU GET 100% OF YOUR FUNDING FROM LAST YEAR.
IT IS SUBJECTIVE AS TO HOW THAT MONEY IS OUT.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS ONE OF THE VERY...
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT THIS PERSON WOULD DO, NOT THE WHOLE GOAL, WOULD BE IS TO COME TO COUNSEL TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK TO SAY, WHAT DOES THE COUNSEL SAY AS SOMEBODY WHO'S SUCCESSFUL, A PARTNER THAT'S SUCCESSFUL? DID THAT PERSON MEET THAT GOAL, YES OR NO? THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD DO.
AND I WOULD DEFER TO CHRIS TO GET INTO THE DETAILS HERE.
BUT TO ME, EARLIER WHEN I WAS SAYING THAT THE CHALLENGE IS BEING IN A BI-STATE CONTINUUM, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST BE CANDID.
IF LOW BARRIER SHELTER DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE SPENT ANYWHERE AND THEY'RE SPENT ON THE IOWA SIDE, THAT'S A DECISION THAT KIND OF GETS BROKERED AT THAT LEVEL.
AND IF THAT'S A DECISION THAT WE WANT TO QUESTION AS A COMMUNITY OR TAKE A DIFFERENT STRATEGIC APPROACH TO, TO ME, THAT'S THE VALUE OF A POSITION LIKE THIS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GRANT MONITOR OR AUDITOR OR A SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER, YOU KNOW, WHISPERER.
IT'S GOING TO BE A POSITION TO HELP SAY, HOW CAN THE CITIZENS WHO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IT IS A COUNTYWIDE PROBLEM.
IT'S A BI-STATE PROBLEM IN OUR CONTINUUM.
BUT HOW CAN WE STRATEGICALLY BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR CITY WHO WANT TO SEE THE APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS TAKE A DIFFERENT PATHWAY SO THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE HAVE A MORE ROBUST RESPONSE HERE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAN JUST ONE OF THE MANY RESPONSES IN THE BI-STATE CONTINUUM.
SO, AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT CAN BE DONE OVERNIGHT.
BUT TO ME, THAT'S THE VALUE OF BRINGING IN STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AT THE POLICY LEVEL TO SAY HOW CAN WE TRY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO THIS PERSON WOULD, IN THEORY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MONTHS AGO, WE HAVE 50% OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION, YET WE GET 10% OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING TO THE AREA.
IT WOULD BE AT THE COALITION FIGHTING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
BUT THRESHOLD DECIDES THAT, CORRECT? WELL, THEY DO, BUT THERE'S CURRENTLY NOBODY FROM THE CITY ADVOCATING ON OUR BEHALF SAYING, HEY, WE GOT HALF THE MONEY.
OR COORDINATING THE RESPONSE FOR OUR NONPROFITS ON THIS SIDE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, COULD WE WORK WITH THIS GROUP TO MAYBE START A NEW PILOT PROGRAM TO GET FUNDING FROM THRESHOLD
[02:35:01]
TO DO X, Y, AND Z? AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT JOE HAS REFERENCED, AND I KNOW THAT JOE HAS REFERENCED THIS, KNOW ROGER'S WELL AWARE OF IS THE AMOUNT, THE CONVERSATION AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WENT IN TO SOME OF THAT DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, WHEN ALL OF THE COUNCILS RECOGNIZED THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT NOT AGREE ON WHAT THAT IS, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, AND ROGER HAD ASKED ME TO DRAW UP AN ORDINANCE AND, YOU KNOW, I CAME WITH SOMETHING PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE, BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT I MEAN, THERE IS A LOT OF LEGAL WORK THERE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF WORK THAT THIS PERSON SHOULD BE DOING.AND I COULD PROBABLY JUST GO DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I COULD HAVE CHASED FOR A LONG TIME.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT TO DO THIS, I HAVE EXPERIENCE GETTING INTO EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LOST CAUSES, RIGHT? AND THESE PROGRAMS USE EVIDENCE-BASED.
MODELS TO ACHIEVE VERY DESIRABLE RESULTS, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, REDUCING RECIDIVISM, REDUCING POLICE CALLS, REDUCING EMS CALLS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT THIS PERSON CAN DRIVE COST SAVINGS AND COMMUNITY SAVINGS, BECAUSE I THINK ONE THING THAT GETS LEFT OUT IN THIS CONVERSATION IS THE COST.
TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND COST TO OUR CITIZENS HAVING TO EXPERIENCE TRESPASSING, PROPERTY DAMAGE, PROPERTY STOLEN.
AND WHEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THOSE FRUSTRATIONS, THEY DON'T GO TO THE NON-PROFITS AND DEMAND TO KNOW, WHY AREN'T YOU DOING MORE? THEY HAVE TURNED TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR MAYOR, OUR POLICE CHIEF, OUR FIRE CHIEFS TO SAY, WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS DOING MORE? AND THAT, I THINK, IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON, YOU KNOW, I CAN THINK OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN SIMILAR ROLES IN OMAHA THAT I'VE WORKED WITH WHO WOULD BE INCREDIBLY QUALIFIED AND DO A FANTASTIC JOB AT THIS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY USING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING TO WORK WITH THIS POPULATION.
THEY KNOW ALL THE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THEY ARE WORKING IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE PROBLEM IS TO CURE THE PEOPLE AND TO CURE THE SYSTEM.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT MEANS EVALUATING THE SYSTEM TO TURN IT ON ITS HEAD TO SEE WHAT ARE WE DOING THAT'S WORKING, WHAT ARE WE DOING THAT'S NOT WORKING, AND HOW CAN WE ATTACK THIS DIFFERENTLY IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER.
ONE THING THAT CHIEF DAVIS COULD OBVIOUSLY SPEAK TO BETTER, BUT JUST IN TERMS OF THE COORDINATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE SPEAKS VERY HIGHLY OF OUR HOT PROGRAM, AND I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT COMING OVER FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY, WORKING WITH OPD, WORKING WITH THE DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I WAS SUPER IMPRESSED WITH THE INITIATIVE OF THE CBPD AND ALL THE STAFF THAT WORK ON THAT.
BUT THAT REQUIRES COORDINATION BETWEEN NOT JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY COORDINATE WITH PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TALKING TO.
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, DIFFERENT DIVISIONS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS, COORDINATING THE TRUCKS THAT GO OUT, COORDINATING WORKERS IF PUBLIC WORKS CAN SPARE ANY, OR IS IT PARKS THAT SOMETIMES PROVIDES WORKERS TO HELP CLEAN UP SOME OF THIS STUFF? AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE NUMBERS OF THE AMOUNT OF TRASH THAT THEY PULL OUT, YOU KNOW, AND THIS, AGAIN, ISN'T A BOOTS ON THE GROUND POSITION, BUT IT IS THAT HIGH LEVEL POLICY COORDINATION POSITION.
AND I GUESS WHETHER YOU WANT IT TO BE MORE OF AN ENTRY-LEVEL THING WHERE WE'RE HAVING SOMEONE IN AND TAKING THEIR BEST GUESS OR WHETHER YOU WANT IT TO BE SOMEONE WITH SOME EXPERIENCE COMING IN TO TRY TO REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE UP TO YOU GUYS.
BUT ONE THING I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT MIMI KIND OF ALLUDED TO IN TERMS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE STUFF, IT IS CURRENTLY, AS PROPOSED, GOING TO BE A PERMANENT POSITION, WHICH IS WHY IT QUALIFIES UNDER CIVIL SERVICE.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO CLARIFY THAT UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAWS, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST TERMINATING A POSITION.
AND SO IF WE WANTED TO INSTEAD, BECAUSE IT IS GRANT FUNDED CIVIL SERVICE, WE COULD MEET A CIVIL SERVICE EXCEPTION AND WE COULD MAKE IT A TEMPORARY POSITION.
THAT'S ON A TRIAL BASIS WITH WHETHER IT'S TWO YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO DO A THIRD OR THREE YEARS THAT IOS HAS AGREED TO.
CONTRIBUTE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, WE COULD PUT IT OR DESIGN IT IN A WAY TO BE MORE OF A TRIAL BASIS SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW,
[02:40:01]
IF YOU SUPPORT IT, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE IT, ANALYZE IT AND SAY, THIS IS WORKING OR IT'S NOT WORKING BEFORE WE EVER, BEFORE WE'RE EVER AGREEING TO KEEP IT ON A LONG-TERM BASIS.YOU KNOW AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT IT, TONY.
MAYBE THERE'S A PROJECT MANAGEMENT POSITION FOR YOU.
LIKE I SAID, ROGER ALREADY HAD ME DOING IT FOR A COUPLE MONTHS LAST YEAR.
I'M JUST GOING TO ADD, THE FUNDING THAT WE KIND OF PASS THROUGH THE CDBG FUNDS, THAT'S USUALLY DEALT WITH LIKE PROJECTS.
SO IF COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE NOT SURE WE WANT YOU TO FUND PROJECTS UNLESS THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOW DOING X, Y, Z.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK INTO LEGALLY.
WE CAN EVEN DO THAT PER FEDERAL GUIDELINES WITH THAT TYPE OF FUNDING.
SO JUST KEEP IN MIND, WHAT WE PASS THROUGH REALLY IS FOR PROJECTS, LIKE HELPING NEW VISIONS PUT IN A HOT BOX TO DEAL WITH BED BUGS, HELPING MICAH HOUSE DO SOME REMODELING WORK INSIDE THERE.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT OUR FUNDING, WHAT THE PASSING FUNDING IS GOING TOWARDS.
SO JUST KIND OF KEEP THAT IN MIND.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? OKAY.
I'M GOING ON TO RESOLUTION THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR MIXED-USE MULTIFAMILY ON 30TH AND 2ND. WE COVERED THAT ONE.
IT IS UPDATING THE RESOLUTION TO NAME MICHELLE AS THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE AND NEGOTIATING WITH BOTH CWA AS WELL AS THE FIREFIGHTERS.
AND SO BRENDA PREVIOUSLY WAS THAT POSITION.
AND SO WITH HER DEPARTURE, WE NEED TO RENAME OUR REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS THE LEAD NEGOTIATOR.
AND WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE CLOSED SESSION, WHICH WILL NOW BE AFTER OUR MEETING, BASED OFF OF TIME, I'M ASSUMING.
AFTER THE MEETING, YOU THINK? YES.
WE HAVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING, AND WE HAVE TWO CLOSED, AND SO WE WILL BE STAYING AFTER.
H IS A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH DOSSAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
YEP, 9H, THIS IS A RESOLUTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE BIG LAKE PARK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS.
BIDS WERE RECEIVED FROM TWO CONTRACTORS ON THIS, WITH DOSTAL'S CONSTRUCTION BEING THE LOW BIDDER.
IN ADDITION TO THE BASE BID, THEY SUBMITTED AN ALTERNATE BID TO INCLUDE AN OFF-STREET TRAIL CONNECTION FROM THE RAILROAD BRIDGE INTO THE PARK.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO ACCEPT DOSTAL'S CONSTRUCTION BID.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN I HEARD YOU SATURDAY, WE HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT BIG LAKE.
NO PERMANENT RESTROOMS THERE, EVEN WITH THIS PARTICULAR PLAN, BECAUSE OF WATER TABLE AND SOME OTHER THINGS, CORRECT? CORRECT.
NO PERMANENT RESTROOM BUILDING IS PART OF THIS.
SO, I GET IT, BUT IT'S LIKE, WOW, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND THEN WE GET A FAMILY DOWN THERE AND THE POOR KIDS DON'T.
HAVE ANY PLACE SOMETIMES TO GO SO YEAH WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE THE PORT-A-POTS UM AND IN COMPARISON WITH A LOT OF OTHER LOCATIONS THE PORT-A-POTS STAY IN GOOD CONDITION HOW OFTEN DO YOU CHANGE THOSE OUT THE PORT-A-POTTIES DOES IT DEPEND ON THE CLEAN THEM LOCATION OR SO THEY GET SERVICE THREE TIMES A WEEK IF THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU'RE ASKING OKAY YEP GOTCHA SO THAT SO THERE GENERALLY THE PORT-A-POTS DON'T HAVE TO BE CHANGED OUT REGULARLY LIKE OTHER PARKS THAT GET VANDALIZED AND THEY TAKE THEM AND RIGHT AND BRING NEW THESE THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE AND YEAH THEY'RE SERVICED THREE TIMES A WEEK OKAY THANK YOU AND I WILL SAY WE HAD A GREAT SUCCESS AT THE FRISBEE GOLF YESTERDAY UM OVER 100 PEOPLE SHOWED UP CORRECT YES YEP 109 PEOPLE POTENTIALLY PUTTING IN FRISBEE GOLF DOWN THERE TOO IN THE FUTURE RESOLUTION I THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO PROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH IOWA DOT FOR MAINTENANCE OF PRIMARY ROADS SO THIS IS JUST A STANDARD PRACTICE EVERY FIVE YEARS OUTLINES MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES IT'S GENERALLY THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ANYWAY BUT KIND OF CONFIRMS IT BY AGREEMENT.
JAKE FROM LEGAL LOOKED AT IT AS WELL AND FOUND THAT IT GENERALLY CONFORMS WITH STATE CODE, SO IT'S KIND OF JUST A REGULAR PRACTICE WE
[02:45:01]
DO ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.QUICK REVIEW SHOWS IT WAS THE SAME FIVE YEARS AGO AS WELL AS THE SAME AS TEN YEARS AGO, SO NO CHANGES.
BIKES ON BROADWAY OR BIKES ON THE 100 BLOCK 2026.
THE CITY, THE CLERK'S OFFICE RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR A SERIES OF SPECIAL EVENTS PERMITS FOR BIKES ON THE 100 BLOCK FOR 2026.
THEY'RE GONNA BE PUTTING ON EVENTS EVERY EVERY THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH.
AND SO IN REVIEWING THEIR REQUESTS.
AND THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER OUR CODE AS WELL AS STATE CODE.
I THINK I LAID OUT PRETTY MUCH MY LINE-BY-LINE REASONING, SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER IT.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE JULY 3RD CELEBRATION THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE, OR NO? YEAH, THIS ONE IS JUST FOR BIKES ON THE 100 BLOCK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO...
FOR THAT EVENT, SPECIFICALLY DEFINE THE OUTDOOR SERVICE AREA FOR ALCOHOL LICENSING PURPOSES, TEMPORARY CLOSING PORTIONS OF THE STREET IN THE VICINITY OF THE HUNTER BLOCK, AND THEN IT DOES PROVIDE A SPECIAL NOISE CONTROL VARIANCE, WHICH THEY HAVE SEPARATELY LISTED UNDER 10C. OKAY.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO A CORRESPONDING LICENSE TO OCCUPY THE AREA THAT WE ARE DESIGNATING.
AS AN OUTDOOR SERVICE AREA FOR THE ALCOHOL LICENSING PURPOSES SO IT REQUIRED MORE THAN JUST THE THAT.
THANK YOU OKAY, AND SO WE HAVE KLM AND AND THESE ARE OUR RESOLUTIONS FOR THE UPDATED POLICIES THAT WE REVIEWED IN THE LAST MEETING.
ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS ON THOSE FOUR? MICHELLE IS HERE, IF WE DO.
ON THE SICK LEAVE, I WAS READING, WE WENT FROM SIX MONTHS TO 30 DAYS.
IS THERE A REASON WHY WE JUMPED SO MUCH, NOT TO LIKE 30 OR NOT TO 90 OR 60 OR 90? BECAUSE THAT SEEMS, 60 OR 90 SEEMS PRETTY STANDARD FROM WHAT I SAW.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT FROM PEOPLE'S BACKGROUND THAT WITHIN 30 DAYS, YOU GENERALLY SEE IF SOMEBODY IS A GOOD EMPLOYEE OR NOT.
IN THIS CASE, WE ACTUALLY UTILIZED JAKE AS OUR TEST SUBJECT HERE, WHO CAME ON BOARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLU SEASON.
HE WAS GREAT, BUT HIS WHOLE OFFICE WAS RAMPANT WITH DIFFERENT VIRUSES, I SHALL SAY.
WHICH WERE DIRECTLY HIS FAULT.
WE COULD SEE THAT JAKE WAS A PRETTY GOOD EMPLOYEE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT AS PEOPLE COME ON BOARD, IF YOU GET SICK, WITHIN 30 DAYS YOU SHOULD SEE IF YOU'RE A SOLID EMPLOYER OR NOT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT BANK.
ALSO WITH POLICE AND FIRE, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR BANKS RIGHT AWAY, AND SO WE WENT WITH 30 DAYS.
AND REALISTICALLY, IN THAT 30-DAY PERIOD, THEY'D ONLY EARN LIKE SEVEN HOURS OF SICK TIME TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT.
I WASN'T HERE LAST MEETING AND THAT WAS JUST I LOOKED AT SOME AND THOUGHT IT'S A BIG JUMP FROM SIX MONTHS TO 30 DAYS I DID WANT TO SAY I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT SEVERAL BANKS WE ACTUALLY ARE GIVING MORE DAYS THAN BANKS EVERYBODY GIVES BANKERS A BAD TIME ABOUT YOU'RE ON HOLIDAY ALL THE TIME AND IT'S LIKE NO, THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE MORE NOW FOR HOLIDAYS I'M OFF TO GO TO THE BANK.
DON'T TRY AND DO IT AFTER 430 NOW.
QUESTIONS ABOUT 10A, B, WE WILL DO C SEPARATELY, AND WE WILL DO A VOICE VOTE THERE FOR C1.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOME ISSUES THERE WITH 1892.
YEAH, DID WE GET THAT, WHAT THE DETAIL WAS ON THAT? WHO DID YOU? TALK WITH ABOUT THAT.
SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT ON THIS, BUT IT WAS AMENDED, CORRECT? YEAH, IT WAS AMENDED TO ADD $18.92.
HOWEVER, THEIR LICENSE, I JUST GOT A NOTIFICATION TODAY, WAS CANCELED.
SO THAT'S WHAT IS ON OUR AMENDED THING, CORRECT? YEAH.
THE STATE CHANGED HOW THEY HANDLE LIQUOR LICENSES, WHICH HAS CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS FOR MOST FOLKS.
YOU HAVE TO TIMELY FILE YOUR LICENSE, RIGHT? SO FOR YEARS IT'S BEEN AS LONG AS YOU'VE TIMELY FILED BEFORE THE DATE
[02:50:01]
OF YOUR RENEWAL OF LICENSE, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL, IF IT'S THE NEXT MEETING OR NOT, WHATEVER, IT'D BE NO BIG DEAL.THEY DECIDED SOME, IN THEIR INFINITE DES MOINES WISDOM, AS ALWAYS, THEY DECIDED TO CHANGE THEIR PROCESS.
SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS YOU PUT YOUR APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL IN.
WELL, IF YOUR APPLICATION GOES THROUGH AND IT HAPPENS TO SIT ON A DESK AND DOESN'T GET HANDLED OR TOUCHED OR DEALT WITH UNTIL AFTER YOUR DATE GOES BY, THEY NO LONGER HAVE A WAY TO FIX THAT, RIGHT? SO THEIR SOLUTION NOW, THE WORKAROUND TO, THE LAW HASN'T CHANGED, BUT THE WORKAROUND IS THAT YOU HAVE TO RESUBMIT PAPERWORK, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR A NEW LICENSE.
WHAT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS, IS AGAIN, EVERYONE HAS OPERATED THE SAME WAY FOR SO LONG.
WHEN YOU CALL UP AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT THEY, THEY, THEY, IN MY CASE, THEY SAID, HEY, DID YOU, CAN YOU PROVE YOU DID THIS TIMELY? YES, I CAN.
I DID IT ON THIS DATE X, X AMOUNT OF DAYS BEFORE.
AND I SAID, WELL, WHILE I SEE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING IN OUR OLD SYSTEM, I COULD HAVE CORRECTED PRIOR.
AND NOW WITH THE NEW SYSTEM, BECAUSE IT'S THE WAY THAT THEY HANDLE IT USED TO BE THROUGH A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SET NOW IT'S ALONG WITH LIKE SALES TAX SO HE SAID IN THE IN MY EXPERIENCE THERE WAS THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THEY DON'T HAVE A FIX FOR THAT SO THE ONLY WAY THEY HAVE TO FIX IT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A TRUE DENIAL CANCELLATION REGULAR CALL IT THEY THEY DON'T THERE'S NO WORKAROUND THERE'S NO THEN THE NEW WITH THE NEW IN THE NEW SYSTEMS OR ANY FIX IT RIGHT WHICH IS A PROBLEM WITH JUST NEW BUT IN THE MEANTIME NOW THEY'VE STATED AND SENT OUT INFORMATION THAT SHE FORWARDED TO US SAYING THAT THEY NEED TO CEASE AND DESIST.
AND NOT ONLY DO THEY NEED TO CEASE AND DESIST, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO REMOVE ALL PRODUCT FROM THE PREMISES, WHICH I PERSONALLY FIND RIDICULOUS.
LIKE, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE EVERYTHING.
YOU HAVE TO SOMEHOW TAKE THAT AND GO, WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO PUT IT, YOUR HOUSE OR SOMETHING? WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO STORE ALL THIS STUFF? RIGHT.
BUT IT'S BECOMING A PROBLEM, AND THERE'S BEEN MANY DIFFERENT INSTANCES OF US TRYING TO GET THIS SQUARED AWAY.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S KIND OF A STATE-BASED ISSUE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE A WORKAROUND.
SO ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE, THEY SAID, HEY, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
SO WE CAN APPROVE IT? WE CAN APPROVE IT, AND THEN ONCE WE APPROVE, LOCAL AUTHORITY APPROVES, THEN THE STATE-LEVEL FOLKS CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO EXECUTIVE.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND GET ONE DONE BEFORE.
SORRY, WE HAVE TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON D, A, B, C, OR D? LET'S GO TO EXECUTIVE, AND AS THE ROOM IS CLEARING, THEN WE CAN TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE? SO MOVED.
CAN YOU TAKE THE VOTE? OH, SORRY.
YOU CAN DO IT WITH EVERYBODY THAT'S IN HERE.
YOU'RE STAYING HERE, RIGHT? YEAH.
[2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.IF YOU ARE WILLING AND ABLE, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
[3) CALL TO ORDER]
AND TO THE REPUBLIC STANDS ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE EXCEPT FOR COLE BUTTON WHO IS ON A SCHEDULED VACATION.
FIRST UP THIS EVENING, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR STARTING LATE.
OUR STUDY SESSION RAN RIGHT UP UNTIL THIS, AND THE COUNCIL NEEDED A BREAK.
AND SO JUST APOLOGIES FOR SNACKING AND STARTING LATE,
[1.A) Foster Care Month ]
[02:55:01]
BUT WE'RE ALL HUMAN, AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME FOOD HERE.SO FIRST UP, WE HAVE MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION, AND THIS IS FOR FOSTER CARE MONTH.
DO WE HAVE OUR PEOPLE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION? FANTASTIC.
SO FROM THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS RECOGNIZES THAT NOTHING IS MORE PRECIOUS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CHILDREN, AND EVERY YOUNG PERSON DESERVES A SAFE, LOVING, AND STABLE HOME, AND WHEREAS FOSTER CARE PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN AND THE YOUTH IN NEED, AND WHEREAS FOSTER, KINSHIP, AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND HOMES TO THE CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES ARE IN CRISIS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HEAL AND RECONNECT, THEREBY LAUNCHING YOUNG PEOPLE INTO SUCCESSFUL ADULTHOOD.
AND WHEREAS A STRONG NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING LOCAL NONPROFITS, VOLUNTEER MENTORS, EDUCATORS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HELP CREATE A SUPPORTIVE SYSTEM THAT UPLIFTS YOUTH IN CARE.
AND PROMOTES LONG-TERM STABILITY AND WELL-BEING AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS ACKNOWLEDGES THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND ENCOURAGES MORE RESIDENTS TO BECOME INVOLVED WHETHER BY FOSTERING, ADVOCATING, OR SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE I JILL SHUDAK, MAYOR OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2026 AS FOSTER CARE MONTH IN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA AND URGE RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOSTER CARE AND HONOR THE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE.
I HEREBY DO PROCLAIM MAYOR JILL SHUDAK WITH THE CITY SEAL.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STEP FORWARD AND SAY SOMETHING.
FOR RECOGNIZING OUR FOSTER PARENTS.
THEY DO NOT GET ENOUGH RECOGNITION.
THE VALUE THAT THEY PLAY FOR A CHILD IS IRREPLACEABLE, AND WE VERY MUCH NEED MORE FOSTER PARENTS WHO WILL STEP UP AND HELP KIDS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
NEXT UP IS OUR REQUEST, CITIZENS' REQUEST TO BE HEARD.
PRIOR TO JUMPING INTO 4A, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LIME SCOOTERS COME FORWARD FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.
AND SHE'S COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE.
IF YOU'LL JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
YEAH, KELLY HARROP, H-A-R-R-O-P 7847 BLACK WILLOW STREET, DUBLIN, OHIO.
WE'RE SORRY THAT OUR WIRES GOT CROSSED A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS WITH YOU GUYS AND PRESENT A PRESENTATION ABOUT LOOKING AT A MICROMOBILITY PLAN TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THERE'S A CLICKER IN, SORRY, I MEANT TO SET THAT OUT.
AND THAT SHOULD, THERE YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL GO THROUGH QUICK SINCE WE ONLY HAVE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN IN A LONG COUNCIL MEETING.
I'M THE SENIOR LEAD OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS IN THE MIDWEST.
I'M BASED OUT OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND LET MY TEAM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
I'M THE NORTH TEXAS OPERATIONS MANAGER IN GREAT PLAINS.
I WOULD BE ASSISTING IN MANAGEMENT OF THE ON-GROUND OPERATIONS OF THIS PROGRAM HERE.
I'M THE OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE WITH LIME FOR GREAT PLAINS AND THE AREA OF OMAHA, LINCOLN, AND COUNCIL BLUFFS.
I'M THE SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR U.S.
SO LIME'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A FUTURE WHERE TRANSPORTATION IS SHARED, AFFORDABLE, AND CARBON-FREE, AND OUR MICROMOBILITY DEVICES AID CITIES IN REACHING THESE GOALS, AS WELL AS SERVING AN IMPORTANT UTILITY TO RESIDENTS
[03:00:02]
IN THE CITY.SO WE ARE THE WORLD'S LARGEST MICROMOBILITY PROVIDER.
WE'RE ON FIVE CONTINENTS, 250 CITIES, WITH PROBABLY CLOSER NOW UPWARDS OF 275,000 VEHICLES OPERATING, AND WE JUST HIT ONE BILLION TRIPS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING.
BUT WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RIDERSHIP IN OMAHA AND SHOW WHY THAT TRANSLATES OVER TO COUNCIL BLUFFS.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR RIDERSHIP GROWTH IN OMAHA HAS BEEN QUITE STAGNANT.
HAS INCREASED QUITE A BIT, 15% INCREASE FROM 2024.
WE'RE FINDING THAT RIDERS ARE DEPENDING ON IT MORE FOR TRANSPORTATION, TO AND FROM WORK, TO DO HOBBIES, TO GO TO THE STORE, RUN ERRANDS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND OVER 90,000 OMAHANS HAVE HAD A KEY PART IN THE MOBILITY NETWORK.
SO WE IN OMAHA ARE SEEING 43 TRIPS PER HOUR, A NEW TRIP START EVERY 84 SECONDS, AND 213 NEW USERS TODAY.
AND WHAT WE KNOW WITH OMAHA AND COUNCIL BLUFFS IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE TWO VERY INTEGRATED COMMUNITIES, AND THAT A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE, AND I'LL SHOW YOU HERE.
SO WE HAVE HAD OVER 19,000 APP OPENS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS SINCE 2024.
SO WHAT THAT TELLS US IS THAT THERE'S A DESIRE HERE TO USE THE MICROMOBILITY DEVICES TO GO ACROSS THE RIVER TO ENGAGE.
AND SO WE THINK IT WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD FIT FOR THE MARKET.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR OPS TEAM TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON.
SO I'LL TAKE YOU GUYS THROUGH KIND OF WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING RIGHT NOW.
STARTING OUT, WE'D PROBABLY TARGET AROUND 250 VEHICLE PILOT, OBVIOUSLY ACROSS THIS KIND OF LIMITED OPERATION ZONE THAT YOU SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW HERE.
THIS WOULD BE PAIRED WITH DIFFERENT MANDATORY PARKING ZONES ACROSS THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY ALONG TRAIL ACCESSES.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE DIFFERENT PINS DROPPED ACROSS THE CITY.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BASICALLY BE DIFFERENT BIKE RACKS THAT ARE ACROSS THE CITY RIGHT NOW.
AS WELL AS LOCATIONS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED VIA SOME ON-GROUND SCOUTING AND SATELLITE THAT COULD FIT WHAT WE KIND OF CALL CORRALS.
WE WOULD ALSO POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY AS WELL WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE SCOOTERS WILL BE NEEDED OR NOT NEEDED.
WE WOULD DO THAT THROUGH DIFFERENT ZONING THAT WE CALL NOZS AS WELL AS PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO IN OMAHA.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS OUR PRICING FOR OMAHA.
THIS WOULD LIKELY TRANSFER OVER TO COUNCIL BLUFFS, BUT YOU CAN SEE WE OFFER A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PRICING OPTIONS.
YOU CAN DO BUNDLES, YOU CAN BUY IT BY THE MINUTE.
WE ALSO HAVE A LIME ACCESS PROGRAM.
SO ANY CITIZENS THAT MIGHT BE RECEIVING ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT ARE ABLE TO SIGN UP AND GET DISCOUNTED RIDES AND WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL TRANSPORTATION? WE ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENROLLING THE POPULATION THAT COULD UTILIZE THOSE SERVICES AND HERE YOU SEE THEY'VE SAVED $816,000 IN 2025 ALONE AND WE ARE SEEING THAT OUR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR AS RESIDENTS ARE BECOMING MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AND VIEWING IT AS INCREASINGLY RELIABLE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR VEHICLE SAFETY AND RIDER FEATURES.
THESE ARE WHAT COME UP A LOT WITH THE CITIES.
SO BASICALLY WE WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS.
THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN THIS MARKET.
THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE IF YOU CROSS THE RIVER INTO OMAHA.
AND 100% OF ALL OF OUR SCOOTERS ARE QUALITY CHECKED BEFORE LEAVING THE WAREHOUSE.
SO WE HAVE AN OPERATIONS TEAM THAT IS GOING THROUGH MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE PARTS ARE UP TO DATE.
IF THERE IS A SCOOTER THAT HAS SOME TYPE OF ERROR OR THE BATTERY ISN'T CHARGED, THEY'RE OUT SWAPPING THOSE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, ALSO MAKING SURE THE PARKING STAYS TIDY.
SO LIME ALSO HAS AN ID SCAN FEATURE.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN COMBATING IS UNDERAGE RIDING.
SO WHAT THIS ALLOWS US TO DO IS USERS SCAN THEIR ID AND IT DOES VERIFY IF YOU'RE 18 OR OLDER.
WE CAN GEOFENCE THAT SO IF YOU WANTED IT TO BE ONLY A CERTAIN AREA MAYBE A POPULAR STREET.
THAT HAS SOME BARS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU CAN GEOFENCE IT AND YOU CAN ALSO LIMIT THE HOURS AS WELL.
SO KIND OF CREATE A CURFEW WITH THE ID SCAN.
[03:05:02]
WE ALSO GO THROUGH A HOW TO RIDE TUTORIAL WITH ALL OF OUR RIDERS.SO BEFORE THEY GAIN ACCESS TO THE SCOOTER, ALL NEW USERS WILL GET BASICALLY A HOW TO ON HOW TO OPERATE THEM.
AND THEN IT'LL GO THROUGH THE SAFETY QUIZ JUST CONFIRMING.
YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON PARKING, THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST MAKING SURE THAT USERS UNDERSTAND.
WE ALSO DISCOURAGE OR DISALLOW TANDEM RIDING.
SO WE DO INCORPORATE ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS, ANY LOCAL RULES WE CAN COORDINATE INTO THE APP, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH RIDERS.
IF YOU WERE TO HAVE A STREET SHUTDOWN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE CAN ALSO COMMUNICATE THAT TO RIDERS AHEAD OF TIME SO THEY CAN PLAN THEIR TRIPS ACCORDINGLY.
AND WE HAVE A NEW FEATURE CALLED CAPTURE WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHICH IS BASICALLY AN AI LEARNING TOOL THAT SHOWS IF SCOOTERS ARE PROPERLY PARKED OR IMPROPERLY PARKED SO IF A SCOOTER IS IMPROPERLY PARKED YOU CAN SEE IN THE EXAMPLE IF IT'S CROSSING THE SIDEWALK SOMETHING LIKE THAT IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE USER TO END THE TRIP SO IT IT REINFORCES GOOD RIDER BEHAVIOR, AND THEN WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEVY FEES AND WARNINGS.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE IF IT IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH A RIDER.
AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT IN A PILOT PROGRAM WE'D WORK WITH THE CITY, AND WE SEE A LOT, TOO, OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF SCOOTERS CONGREGATED IN THIS AREA.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR US TO ADD A PARKING PIN? THINGS LIKE THAT THAT HELP ENCOURAGE GOOD BEHAVIOR AND HELP THE CITY TO HAVE TOOLS TO ENGAGE IF THERE ISN'T.
BUT DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? I, AGAIN, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SLIDING US IN.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
SORRY, WE DON'T ALLOW QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND PROVIDING THE INFORMATION.
I THINK THE NEXT STEP THEN IS FOR THE COUNCIL TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND THEY'LL SEND A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON, OR NOT THIS AFTERNOON, LATER THIS WEEK.
AND THEN WE WILL PROVIDE MATT COX WITH SOME FEEDBACK AS FAR AS HOW MANY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM AND WHAT AREAS OF TOWN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE PILOT PROGRAM.
IN THE PRESENTATION WE SENT YOU, THERE'S ALSO A MAP.
THAT MAP THAT HAS THE PARKING PINS IS CLICKABLE.
SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO KIND OF DIVE INTO WHERE YOU THINK IT MAKES SENSE, THAT'S AN OPTION FOR YOU GUYS AS WELL TO KIND OF PLAY AROUND WITH.
AND AGAIN, WHENEVER WE DO THIS, THIS IS ALL COLLABORATIVE WITH THE CITY.
IT'S NOT US TELLING YOU WHERE YOU HAVE TO PARK THEM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE WELCOME FEEDBACK AND THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM WOULD BE RECEPTIVE TO THAT FEEDBACK AS WELL.
[4) CITIZENS REQUEST TO BE HEARD]
SO WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM OUR FRIENDS? THANKS FOR RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, NEXT UP WE HAVE FOUR CITIZENS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT PROACTIVELY TO BE HEARD.
AND SO, MR. RANA, I BELIEVE YOU'RE FIRST.
IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MY ADDRESS IS 2216 27TH AVENUE, COUNCIL BLUFF.
I WAS ALSO HERE TWO WEEKS AGO.
BUT BASICALLY, I'M STATING I REASONED.
YEAH, SO IN NOVEMBER, I GOT THE CLOSING DATE FOR TWO RENTAL PROPERTIES.
THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, 100 SOUTH 1ST STREET AND 114 SOUTH 1ST STREET.
I GOT THE CLOSING IN NOVEMBER.
AND SO WHEN I PURCHASED THESE PROPERTIES, OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST THING I DID WAS TRANSFER ALL THE UTILITIES INTO MY NAME AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO THEN, LIKE, A FEW MONTHS GOES BY, I HAD NO IDEA, LIKE, I HAD TO PAY THIS REGISTRATION.
YOU KNOW LIKE I NEVER GOT ANY NOTIFICATION IN APRIL I FINALLY GOT A MAIL FROM CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFF HEY YOU OWE THESE REGISTRATION FEE I WAS LIKE OBVIOUSLY MAKE IT HAD NO PROBLEM AND WHEN I OPENED IT I GOT A LATE FEE ON THERE FOR SOMETHING THAT I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY CALL ANY EMAIL ANY MAIL TILL APRIL UM SO I'M HOPING TO SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST TIME I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE I'M HOPING ABOUT IF YOU COULD DO A ONE-TIME COURTESY JUST WEIGH THE LATE NOW I AM IN THE YOU KNOW MULTI LIKE A RENTAL BUSINESS THAT NOW I'M AWARE LIKE HEY EVERY YEAR I GOTTA PAY THESE REGISTRATION FEE WHICH I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BEFORE I GUESS WE WE HAVEN'T WAIVED THESE IN THE PAST TO BE HONEST WITH YOU AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU'RE IN THIS POSITION BUT IF HE STOPPED YOU AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD
[03:10:01]
TO WEAR A SEAT BELT YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT A LAW OR IT'S NOT IN PLACE, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK WE HAVEN'T SET A PRECEDENT OF WAIVING THESE FEES FOR ANYBODY.I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU SAY YOU BOUGHT THESE IN NOVEMBER.
WAS IT DISCLOSED TO YOU WHEN YOU BOUGHT THEM? PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE AN INSPECTION SERVICE AND AND REGISTRATION SERVICE IN THE CITY OF COUNCIL SO IT WASN'T UH SO WHEN I PURCHASED THESE PROPERTY IT WAS AS IS AND THEN UH LIKE MY BANK WAS I DID IT LOCALLY THROUGH MID-STATE AND WE LIKE DIDN'T NOBODY DISCLOSED THAT I HAVE A REGISTRATION FEE AND UH OBVIOUSLY LIKE I SAID LIKE WHEN I PURCHASED THESE PROPERTY IF THERE WAS A REGISTRATION FEE I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM YOU KNOW PAYING EVERYTHING ON TIME AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO YEAH, I WOULD NOT DISCLOSE ANYTHING.
EVEN IF LIKE IF I OWED, IF I HAD A FEE, COUNCIL OF LEFT SHOULD AT LEAST EMAIL ME OR SEND ME A MAIL LIKE WAY EARLIER THAN APRIL.
SO I FINALLY GOT A MAIL IN APRIL.
I THINK SOMEBODY IN THE OFFICE REALIZED, HEY, THIS GUY DIDN'T GET THE NOTIFICATION THAT HE OWED THE REGISTRATION.
LIKE THE LATE FEE IS MORE THAN THE ACTUAL REGISTRATION FEE.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DOES THE COUNCIL WISH TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS? MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU DID WISH TO TAKE ACTION, IT WOULD BE VIA A RESOLUTION THAT WE WOULD GET ON THE AGENDA NEXT TIME RATHER THAN JUST A VOTE TONIGHT PURSUANT TO 2.08.030.
SO IF THERE WAS DIRECTION, THAT WOULD BE HOW TO EFFECTUATE THAT.
SO YOU GUYS WILL GET BACK TO ME LATER ON OR HOW? IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO TAKE ACTION, IT WILL BE ON THE MAY 18TH ITEM.
SO DO I ATTEND THE NEXT MEETING? IF THE COUNCIL, IF THERE'S DIRECTION AT ALL, WE HAVE YOUR INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU REACHED OUT ALREADY, THEY WOULD INFORM YOU.
ADDRESS IS 2426 LOCKWOOD PLACE, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.
I THINK I PICKED UP ON YOUR SENTIMENT FROM THE FIRST ONE, BUT SIMILAR TO THAT GENTLEMAN, I PURCHASED MINE AT THE END OF 2024, AND I HAD ISSUES WITH THIS LAST YEAR WITH THE BILLING.
I'M AWARE OF HOW THE REGISTRATION WORKS.
I CALLED A FEW TIMES LAST YEAR.
I DON'T THINK WE GOT IT PAID UNTIL, LIKE, MAY OR JUNE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THERE WAS A BILLING ISSUE.
AND THEN THIS YEAR, SIMILAR THING, I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING.
I KNOW I CALLED A COUPLE TIMES, LIKE, END OF JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY, AND I TALKED TO A YOUNGER GENTLEMAN AND WASN'T ABLE TO PAY IT ONLINE.
I DON'T THINK A BILL WAS GENERATED FOR ME.
AND THEY SAID THEY'D SEND ME SOMETHING IN THE MAIL.
AND THEN END OF APRIL, I GOT A BILL WITH THE LATE FEE ON IT.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF I WAS IN THE WRONG.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A MAIL ISSUE OR IF IT DIDN'T GO OUT.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK WE WOULD HAVE COPIES OF WHAT WENT OUT.
YOU PROBABLY JUST DIDN'T PAY IT.
I DIDN'T GET THE FIRST INVOICE, BUT IT'S EITHER HERE NOR THERE.
UNFORTUNATELY I MEAN IT'S OKAY I JUST I'M GONNA SHOW UP AND I DON'T BLAME YOU I DON'T BLAME YOU THANK YOU SIR THANKS GUYS HAVE A GOOD NIGHT MISS SMITH MISS SMITH HERE OKAY SEEING NO MISS SMITH WE WILL MOVE ON TO MISS KRAMER MS. KRAMER, IS THE HALLWAY MIC ON? IT IS, YEAH.
OKAY, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING SOMEBODY.
WE WILL MOVE ON THEN TO OTHER CITIZENS' REQUESTS TO BE HEARD.
THIS IS THE TIME FOR OTHER CITIZENS TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE FIVE MINUTES OF JUST, IS IT FIVE OR THREE? EXCUSE ME.
THIS IS FOR TOPICS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC ITEM.
THAT'S ON THE AGENDA, YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THAT ITEM.
[03:15:01]
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT AN ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA, YOU CAN STEP FORWARD AT THIS TIME, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND THEN YOU CAN WATCH THE BUTTONS ON THE SIDE OF THE PODIUM.GREEN MEANS GO, YELLOW MEANS A 30-SECOND WARNING, AND RED MEANS YOUR TIME IS UP.
YEP, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
CHRIS MILLER, 1428 SOUTH 8TH STREET, COUNCIL PLUS, IOWA.
I DON'T KNOW, DID YOU TALK TO THEM, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU WERE GOING TO? I DID SEND AN EMAIL ABOUT THE CAMPERS.
THIS IS ABOUT CAMPERS WITH CHRIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT I WANT TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE ZONING STUFF, BUT I KNOW THAT FIVE MINUTES IS NOT GOING TO BE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TIME, SO I GUESS I BASICALLY WANT TO OPEN SOME KIND OF DIALOGUE WITH YOU ALL.
SO THAT I CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.
AND I KNOW THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S A LAW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I KNEW THAT THE PARKING OVER HERE THAT WE MOW ALL THE TIME WAS CITY PROPERTY.
WE HAD TO GET PERMISSION TO PLANT A TREE THERE FROM THE CITY, WHICH WE DID.
WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR CAMPER SEVEN YEARS AGO, I ASSUMED THAT OUR DRIVEWAY WAS OUR DRIVEWAY.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT I COULDN'T PARK THERE.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE PARKED IT THERE IS BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT STORED.
THE OTHER REASON IS THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMPER IS AN ALLEYWAY-TYPE PLACE THAT I GUESS NOBODY OWNS.
BUT TO GET DOWN INTO THAT ALLEYWAY, WHICH IS DIRT AND GRAVEL, BY THE WAY, THERE WAS, OH, AND BY THE SIDEWALK WHEN WE MOVED INTO OUR HOUSE OVER 30 YEARS AGO, DIDN'T EXIST ALL THE WAY TO THAT ALLEYWAY.
WE HAD IT PUT IN, AND THEN WE HAD THE DRIVEWAY PUT IN.
BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ALLEY, THERE IS ANOTHER SECTION OF GRASS AND A VERY SMALL SIDEWALK THAT MAY BE THE LENGTH OF THE PROPERTY ON THE HOUSE OVER THERE.
BUT THEN AFTER THAT, THAT SIDEWALK ENDS, AND THERE'S LITERALLY THE SIDEWALKS HERE, AND THERE'S A LIGHT POLE OR A TELEPHONE POLE.
THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT A TELEPHONE POLE ANYMORE.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL UNDERGROUND.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE'S A HUGE POLE HERE.
AND FOR THE REST OF THE BLOCK, THERE'S NO SIDEWALK.
SO I DIDN'T SEE, I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AS TO WHY I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THESE ZONING RULES AND ME PARKING MY CAMPER THERE.
THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND NOBODY HAS SAID A WORD.
AND THE YOUNG MAN THAT SENT ME THE COURTESY LETTER SAID THAT HE'S DRIVEN DOWN OUR ROAD PLENTY OF TIMES.
NOBODY EVER TOLD ME OR MY HUSBAND THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE.
I GUESS I DROVE THROUGH COUNCIL BLUFFS BECAUSE I WAS VERY AGITATED AND UPSET BY THIS.
AND I TOOK OVER 270 PICTURES OF VIOLATIONS WITH PEOPLE PARKING ON GRAVEL, WHICH THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND EITHER, BECAUSE GRAVEL HAS BEEN IN THIS CITY FOR A LONG TIME, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DRIVEN ON, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR DRIVEWAYS.
I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE ZONING THINGS.
AND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN THERE SEVEN YEARS.
AND LIKE THE YOUNG MAN TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY, SOMEBODY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I DON'T KNOW WHERE, BUT SOMEBODY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD GOT TURNED IN BECAUSE SOMEBODY GOT TORQUED ABOUT HIM HAVING IT OR THEM HAVING A CAMPER.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS HIM OR SHE.
HE GOT MAD, RETALIATED, TURNED HIM IN.
THEN HE'S IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT HERE, AND HE DECIDES, WELL, I BETTER GET THAT ONE TOO.
NOBODY COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, AND I WAS TOLD THE ONLY WAY THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN IS IF SOMEBODY CALLS AND TURNS THEM IN.
AND I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I COULD TURN ALL THESE PEOPLE IN, AND I TOOK THESE PICTURES OF 270 PICTURES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT FINANCIALLY YOU GUYS ARE, BUT I'M NOT.
I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO STORE MY CAMPER.
WE PAID WHEN, BEFORE HE RETIRED, WE TOOK MONEY OUT OF HIS 401K TO BUY IT AND ENLARGE OUR DRIVEWAY TO ACCOMMODATE OUR CAMPER.
AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD THAT I CAN'T LEAVE IT THERE AND IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.
ALONG WITH THE GRAVEL, IT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.
WHY ARE THEY MAKING THIS CHANGE NOW? I MEAN, IF YOU GUYS ENFORCE THESE RULES WITHOUT TALKING TO US, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HURT.
AND THERE'S PEOPLE WORSE OFF THAN I AM THAT ARE PARKING ON A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN SOME KIND OF CONVERSATION TO DISCUSS THESE ZONING ISSUES BECAUSE LITERALLY MY CAMPER'S NOT HURTING ANYBODY.
[03:20:01]
OF OUR PROPERTY.YOU, SIR, DROVE BY MY PROPERTY, RIGHT? AND IT'S NOT BAD, IS IT? AND WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO TAKE THAT CAMP, TO BUY THAT CAMPER SO THAT WE CAN GO TRAVELING IN THE SUMMER WHEN I'M NOT WORKING.
AND I JUST WOULD LIKE A LITTLE CONSIDERATION AND A LITTLE BIT OF TALKING, GIVE AND TAKE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, BUT I THINK THAT WE AS CITIZENS DESERVE TO BE HEARD, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
MY NAME IS JAMES BERRYMAN AND I HAVE BASICALLY THE SAME SITUATION.
I'VE LIVED AT 911 15TH AVENUE, COUNCIL BLUFFS.
I HAVE MY CAMPER ON MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO PORT A LITTLE BIT MORE, SO IT HAD A WIDER DRIVEWAY.
BUT CHRIS WILLIAMS SENT ME A COURTESY LETTER, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, GOT ME HERE.
MY HOUSE IS, AND THIS IS AN ALLEYWAY THAT I OWN HALF OF THE BLOCK, AND TOM, THE GUY THAT LIVES BEHIND ME, OWNS THE OTHER HALF.
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY MAINTAINING THIS DRIVEWAY.
RIGHT OUTSIDE MY FRONT DOOR, THERE'S A SINKHOLE, I GUESS.
EVERY TIME IT RAINS, IT FILLS UP WITH WATER.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TRUCKLOADS OF ROCK AND GRAVEL I PUT IN THERE TO MAINTAIN THAT.
I ALSO MOW THAT SO THAT THE CENTER AISLE DOESN'T GET FULL OF GRASS AND THAT.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S NO GRASS GROWING ON THAT.
AND WHEN I PARK MY CAMPER, I ALWAYS PARK IT SO THERE'S ENOUGH ROOMS FOR SOMEBODY TO...
THERE'S NO SIDEWALK ON ONE SIDE BECAUSE OF THE ALLEY.
THEN YOU CROSS MY DRIVEWAY AND THERE'S THREE SQUARES OF CONCRETE TO THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, THERE'S THREE SQUARES.
AND HALF A BLOCK, HALF THE REST OF THE BLOCK, THERE IS NO SIDEWALK.
SO PEOPLE DON'T WALK ON OUR SIDEWALK ANYWAY.
THEY WALK IN THE STREET OR THEY WALK ACROSS THE STREET WHERE THERE IS A SIDEWALK.
AND SO I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS FOR THE SAME THING AS WE GET SOME KIND OF DIALOGUE GOING.
HE SAID THAT I HAVE ROOM TO PARK IT IN THE BACK OF MY BACKYARD, BUT THEN I WOULD HAVE TO POUR EITHER A RIBBON OF CONCRETE OR MAKE A PAD FOR IT TO SET BACK IN THERE.
AND I'M ASKING IF YOU COULD VACATE THAT ALLEY SO THAT...
I WOULD HAVE A PLACE TO PARK MY CAMPER.
AND IF THAT'S AVAILABLE, THEN, YOU KNOW, CHRIS OR TOM, TOM CAN GET OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, AND I CAN USE MY DRIVEWAY AND ALLEYWAY TO PARK MY CAMPER.
CHRIS ALSO SAID THAT I COULD PARK IT IN MY BACKYARD, BUT AS I PULL DOWN IN FRONT OF TOM'S HOUSE, AND TRY AND BACK IT.
IF I CROSS HIS, HE'S GOT A GARAGE THERE, BUT HE NEVER USES STORAGE.
THERE'S TRASH UP AGAINST THE DOOR.
BUT HE SAYS IF I CROSS HIS DRIVEWAY THERE, THEN I WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THAT.
SO I CAN'T SOMEHOW JACKKNIFE THAT TRAILER SO IT WON'T CROSS OVER HIS PROPERTY.
PRETTY MUCH MEANS RIPPING OUT MY PEACH TREE AND TEARING MY FENCE OUT TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE WAY FOR IT.
AND SO I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING IS IF YOU GUYS COULD VACATE THAT SECTION OF ALLEY.
AND LIKE I SAY, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURES, IT'S WELL KEPT.
I MAINTAIN IT, KEEP THE TREES DOWN.
DOZEN TREES DOWN OFF ALONGSIDE THAT FENCE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THAT FENCE DON'T MOW BACK THERE THEY JUST LET TREES AND SHRUB AND WHATEVER GO IN THERE SO I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M HERE THANK YOU THANK YOU VERY MUCH THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP I'M SORRY CHRIS GO AHEAD STACY SOBBING UH 1406 SOUTH 8TH STREET
[03:25:02]
GOING BACK TO PARKING ON GRAVEL OR WHICHEVER, I PARK IN MY BACKYARD, WHICH WAS GRAVELED, BUT IT SINCE HAS BEEN PRESSED DOWN IN THE DIRT.AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MY CAR SITTING ON THE STREET AND CARS COMING DOWN AND TOTALING OUT MY CAR BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED TO OUR NEIGHBOR TWICE ALREADY.
SO I PARK IN THE BACK OF MY HOUSE, WHICH THAT BEFORE I, BACK IN THE 80S, WELL I ACTUALLY LIVE ON 1402, BUT MY MOM LIVES ON 1406.
BACK IN THE 80S WHEN MY MOM MOVED INTO 1406, MY HOUSE, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE WERE USING THAT AS A PARKING SPOT IN THEIR BACKYARD.
SO THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 40 YEARS.
AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN NOBODY'S SAID NOTHING, BUT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S A VIOLATION.
SO IF I'M NOT ALLOWED TO PARK THERE, I'M ALLOWED TO PARK, BUT I'M ALLOWED TO PARK ON CITY PROPERTY ON THE STREET, WHICH THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR CARS ON CITY PROPERTY OVER THE LINE OR WHATEVER.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME EITHER.
AND WHO'S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE IF SOMEBODY'S...
COMING DOWN THE STREET 50 MILES AN HOUR IN A 25 AND WIPE OUT MY CAR.
I'LL BE RESPONSIBLE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE.
IF THAT CAR, THAT DRIVER DOESN'T HAVE INSURANCE, WHY SHOULD MY INSURANCE HAVE TO PAY AND MY INSURANCE GO UP? THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY.
DOES ANY OTHER CITIZEN WISH TO BE HEARD AT THIS TIME ON AN ITEM THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA? I WOULD JUST TELL YOU I'VE TALKED WITH JILL AND CHRIS GIBBONS, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, ABOUT GRAVEL AND DIFFERENT SURFACES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, AND THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION HAD.
DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM, TO BE HONEST, BUT I THINK ALL OF US HERE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT TO US ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR ORDINANCES, DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT COME UP.
AGAIN, IT IS TOUGH BECAUSE UNTIL SOMEBODY CALLS AND SAYS, HEY, LOOK AT THIS, IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING, NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
SO WE HAVE NOTHING ON THE AGENDA AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
CHRIS GIBBONS, MYSELF, AND THE OTHER CHRIS WILL BE MEETING THIS WEEK TO TALK THROUGH THE POTENTIAL OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO BRING FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE.
I WOULD JUST REACH OUT TO JILL'S OFFICE AT THE END OF THE WEEK AND SEE IF THERE'S INFORMATION.
THANK YOU FOR COMING, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SPEAKING ON FRIDAY.
IF DURING COVID, EVERYBODY WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A CAMPER BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE AROUND ANYBODY.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I BOUGHT MINE.
AND SO NOW THE CITY'S FLOODED WITH CAMPERS.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PARKING CAMPERS IN CAMPER LOTS HAVE JACKED UP THEIR PRICES IMMENSELY.
AND SO, YEAH, I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SHE IS.
I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO STORE THE THING FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
AND THE FACT THAT I GO ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE, BUT I PULL IT OUT.
AND ONE THING CHRIS SAID WAS, WELL, I'M BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK.
WELL, IF I PARK TWO CARS IN MY DRIVEWAY, I'M BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK.
ANYBODY ELSE IN TOWN, IF THEY PARK TWO CARS IN THEIR DRIVEWAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK.
SO THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE, SOME KIND OF CASE-BY-CASE SITUATION THAT WE COULD WORK WITH.
I MEAN, I'LL PAY THE CITY TO LET ME PARK IT THERE, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT $100 A MONTH.
[5) CONSENT AGENDA]
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT IN TIME ON AN ITEM THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA?[03:30:03]
SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD.IS THERE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
UP NEXT IS PUBLIC HEARINGS AND I DO WANT TO STATE FOR CLARIFICATION I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL, MIMI DOBSON, AND THAT THE LONG DESCRIPTIONS DO NOT NEED TO BE READ FOR EACH OF THE DIFFERENT ITEMS AND SO IF WE CAN SUMMARIZE THEM, AND IT MAKES LEGAL SENSE WE ARE GOOD TO GO AS THE AGENDA, THE PRINT
[6.A) Ordinances 6674 and 6675 Ordinance 6674 to amend Chapter 15.16 C-3/Commercial District by amending Section 15.16.030 “Conditional Uses” to include “Commercial Recreation (Outdoor)”. Ordinance 6675 to amend Chapter 15.17 C-4/Commercial District by amending Section 15.17.030 “Conditional Uses” to include “Commercial Recreation (Outdoor)”.]
AGENDA IS WHAT GETS ENTERED INTO THE RECORD SO YOU MIGHT HEAR ME SHORTEN SOME OF THESE GOING FORWARD, WHICH WILL BE FANTASTIC.THE FIRST ONE IS ORDINANCE 6674 AND 6675.
THIS IS TO AMEND CHAPTER 15.16C3, COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, BY AMENDING SECTION 15.16-030, CONDITIONAL USE TO INCLUDE COMMERCIAL RECREATION.
AS WELL AS AMENDING SECTION 15.17.030 TO INCLUDE COMMERCIAL RECREATION.
IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON RECORD? YES, IT IS.
IS ANY WRITTEN PROTEST RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST REITERATE, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS THIS AFTERNOON.
WHILE WE DON'T LIKE TO DO A PARTICULAR PROJECT WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A NON-CONFORMING USE RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THIS GIVES US A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROJECT, AS IT'S PRESENTED, FITS OUR PLAN.
AND THEN IT LIMITS IT TO JUST THAT PROJECT.
SO IT'LL GO THROUGH ZBA PROCESS AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT THERE AS WELL.
BUT I THINK IT'S A REAL GOOD PROJECT TO GET THINGS MOVING DOWNTOWN.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
MOTION TO WAIVE THIRD ON BOTH ORDINANCES 6674 AND 6675.
[6.B) Resolution 26-132 (Continued from 4-6-26) Resolution approving the amended and restated consolidated Urban Revitalization Plan Amendment 4. URV-26-009]
IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON WAIVING THE THIRD? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES ON WAIVING THE THIRD.
RESOLUTION 26-132 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED PLOT FOR THE REVITALIZATION PLAN AMENDMENT 4 IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON RECORD MADAM MAYOR I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT GOING BACK TO 66 74 AND 66 75 SO FIRST READING WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA RIGHT AND THEN I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T SPEAK UP IN TIME SO THE FIRST LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT WAS UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SETTING IT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO NOW IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING, BUT INSTEAD IT'S UNDER THIS PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHICH IS FINE, BUT THIS IS REALLY TECHNICALLY THE FIRST HEARING.
SO YOU CAN WAIVE THE SECOND AND THIRD WITH A SUPER MAJORITY IF THERE'S UNANIMOUS VOTE AMONGST YOU FOLKS HERE, IF YOU WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE.
OTHERWISE, THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST READING.
THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS THE FIRST READING.
IT SETS IT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
WELL, THEN I'LL WAVE SECOND AND THIRD.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON WAVING SECOND AND THIRD? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[6.C) Resolution 26-170 Resolution approving the plans and specifications in connection with the Richard Downing Avenue Reconstruction. Project #PW26-07 ]
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES ON WAVING SECOND AND THIRD.I WAS GOING TO SAY, THANKS, MIMI.
AND SO WE DID VOTE ON B, RESOLUTION 26-170, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH...
DID WE VOTE ON THAT LAST ONE? I DON'T THINK WE VOTED ON THAT.
OH, WE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MOTION? YES.
YOU STARTED TO READ IT? YOU STARTED, YEAH.
YOU ASKED IF PUBLICATION WAS ON FILE.
ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY IT BY AYE.
NOW, RESOLUTION 26-170, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS IN CONNECTION TO THE RICHARD DOWNING AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION.
PROJECT IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON RECORD.
[03:35:01]
YES, IT IS ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED AND THEN RECEIVED ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM SEEING NONE IS THERE A MOTION MOTION? SECOND DOUG FOR THE MOTION AND JOE FOR THE SECOND IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL JUST THAT WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A SHISHO RICHARD DOWNING IS PACKED ALL THE TIME THERE IS EVENTS DOWN THERE EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY NIGHT.YEAH, MY FAMILY'S DOWN THERE TONIGHT.
AND SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE.
PUBLIC WORKS IS WORKING WITH OUR PARKS AND REC TO TRY AND WORK AS BEST WE CAN AROUND PROJECTS AND HOPEFULLY HAVE THIS DONE BEFORE HALLOWEEN HAVOC, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
IT IS WELL NEEDED, MUCH NEEDED PROJECT.
[6.D) Resolution 26-171 Resolution to dispose of city owned property described as Lots 23-24, East Manawa Subdivision. Location: Northeast corner of the intersection of Mohawk Street and Mallard Street. ]
THE ROAD'S BAD.ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
RESOLUTION 26-171, A RESOLUTION TO DISPOSE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF MOHAWK STREET AND MALLARD STREET.
IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON RECORD? YES, IT IS.
ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADJUST TO COUNSEL ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.
[6.E) Resolutions 26-172 and 26-173 Resolutions to dispose of City owned property described as Lots 36 and 37, along with the north 1/2 of the vacated east/west alley adjoining said Lots 36 and 37, all in Twin City Gardens, except a part of Lot 37, more fully described in the attached City Council Communication. Location: Immediately west of 4045 Avenue F. 26-0006-PZOTB and 26-0007-PZOTB]
IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
RESOLUTION 26-172 AND 26-173, A RESOLUTION TO DISPOSE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY LOCATION IMMEDIATELY WEST OF 4045 AVENUE F.
IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON RECORD? YES, IT IS.
ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? WELL, MOTION TO APPROVE THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO BY MR. AVALOS CONSTRUCTION FOR $39,500.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO.
WHICH IS THE HIGHER PURCHASE PRICE? THE HIGHER PURCHASE PRICE.
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T SAY WHICH ONE'S WHICH, I GUESS.
IT WOULD BE IN YOUR COUNCIL PACKET.
I'M LOOKING AT THE COMMUNICATION.
IT JUST SAYS PROPOSAL ONE, PROPOSAL TWO.
SO AVALOS CONSTRUCTION LLC IS THE ONE I WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? SO FOR EVERYBODY LISTENING, WE HAD TWO PEOPLE REACH OUT TO THE CITY WHO WERE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THIS LOT.
ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY THAN THE OTHER ONE, AND THEY WERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS.
SO THE COUNCIL IS OPTING WHICH ONE THEY WISH TO.
GOOD EVENING, DANIEL DORRANCE, 116 SHORELINE DRIVE IN CARTER LAKE, IOWA.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME ADDRESS THE COUNCIL WITH THE TWO COMPETING BIDS.
AND AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, I AM VESTED IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THIS OTHER PROPERTY ON HERE AND THE PROPOSED PLANNING THAT I HAVE ON THERE.
YOU KNOW, MY DESIRE TO HAVE COUNCIL BLUFFS JUST CONTINUE TO BE A BETTER LOCATION FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
I BELIEVE THAT MY PROPOSAL MAXIMIZES THE PROPERTY'S USAGE AND VALUE, THAT I'M LOOKING TO PUT IN A DUPLEX OF FOUR BEDROOMS, TWO BATHS IN THERE WITH A TWO-CAR GARAGE.
AND ALSO, I MEAN, IT PROVIDES MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING.
IT ALSO MEETS THE CHAPTER 15 REQUIREMENTS OF ALL THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT.
SO I THINK I HAVE THE BEST OPTION OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED FOR BOTH THE CITIZENS OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AND ALSO THE CITY BECAUSE I PROVIDE MORE TAX REVENUE FOR IT.
HAVE YOU CONSTRUCTED ANYTHING IN TOWN YET? NOT YET.
I DO HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PROPERTIES AND STUFF HERE AND I DO HAVE, I AM IN COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER BUILDERS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I GUESS I WOULD, JUST BECAUSE I'M RECOMMENDING THE OTHER PROJECT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU
[03:40:01]
TO STILL INVEST IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.THERE'S OTHER INFO LOTS THAT YOU CAN PROBABLY WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT HIGHER OFFER.
THIS GENTLEMAN HAS BUILT IN TOWN BEFORE.
I GUESS WE HAVE A PRIOR HISTORY WITH WE KNOW HE'LL DO WHAT HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO DO, AND THAT'S NOT A KNOCK ON YOU.
HONESTLY, NOT MUCH MORE, BUT IT'S MORE.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO US TO TAKE THE HIGHER OFFER.
SO PLEASE WORK WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO INVEST, COUNCILMAN.
AND APPARENTLY YOU ALREADY HAVE.
I PLAN ON CONTINUING TO INVEST.
I THINK IT'S THE BETTER LONG-TERM OPTION.
ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, SO JUST TO CONFIRM, WE ARE VOTING
[6.F) Resolution 26-174 Resolution approving and authorizing the conveyance of certain real property to First Avenue Freeze Out, LLC and approving and authorizing execution of a related purchase, sale, and development agreement within the West Broadway Urban Renewal Area.]
ON 26-173, OPTION NUMBER TWO.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
RESOLUTION 26-174, A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AVENUE FREEZE OUT AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE...
RELATIVE RELATED PURCHASE SALE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITHIN THE WEST BROADWAY URBAN RENEWAL AREA.
IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON RECORD? YES, IT IS.
ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? MOTION TO APPROVE.
ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL?
[7.A) Ordinance 6680 Ordinance to amend Chapter 9.72 Operation of Vehicles of the 2025 Municipal Code of Council Bluffs, Iowa, by amending Section 9.72.355 "Exhibition Driving"]
SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.MADAM CLERK, ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE 6680 TO AMEND CHAPTER 9.72 OPERATION OF VEHICLES OF THE 2025 MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING SECTION 9.72.355 EXHIBITION DRIVING.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.
ALWAYS WHEN THESE CHANGES OCCUR, IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE SOMETHING HAPPENS.
IT PRECIPITATES THE CHANGE, AND IT DID IN THIS CASE.
AND OUR LEGAL TEAM ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO CATCH IT AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE OFFERING A DIFFERENT FINE THAN WHAT THE STATE IS, AND WE NEED TO KIND OF LINE THIS UP A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING
[7.B) Ordinance 6681 Ordinance amending the Amended and Restated consolidated Urban Revitalization Area – Amendment 3. URV-26-009]
WITH HERE.ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
ORDINANCE 6681, ORDINANCE AMENDING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CONSOLIDATED URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA AMENDMENT 3.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, CAN WE WAIVE SECOND AND THIRD ON THAT ONE? THAT WOULD BE THAT MUCH LESS ON THE NEXT AGENDA THAT'S ALREADY FULL.
I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE SECOND AND THIRD.
I THINK BOTH ARE GOOD PROJECTS.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? YEAH, ON BOTH, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
MOTION TO WAIVE SECOND AND THIRD ON 6680 AND 6681.
YOU AGREE TO BOTH OF THOSE? I AGREE TO BOTH.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES TO WAIVE SECOND AND THIRD ON BOTH ORDINANCE A AND B.
THAT WAS ONE MATCHING OUR ORDINANCES WITH THE STATE ORDINANCES.
[8.A) Ordinance 6676 Ordinance to amend Chapter 4.20 Animal Control by amending Section 4.20.020 "Definitions-Animal Control"; Section 4.20.030 "Cruel Treatment of Animals Prohibited"; Section 4.20.050 "Animals at Large"; Section 4.20.060 "Impoundment" and enacting new Section 4.20.075 to be entitled "Management of Cat Population Pursuant to Trap-Neuter-Return; Permitted Acts" and by repealing Section 4.20.272 "Stray Cats". ]
YEAH, THAT'S THE EXHIBITION DRIVING.ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT, SAUL? YES.
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING, ORDINANCE 6676 TO AMEND CHAPTER 4.20, ANIMAL CONTROL BY AMENDING SECTION 4.20.020, DEFINITIONS ANIMAL CONTROL, SECTION 4.20.030, CRUEL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS PROHIBITED.
SECTION 4.20.050, ANIMALS AT LARGE.
SECTION 4.20.060, IMPOUNDMENT AND ENACTING NEW SECTION 4.20.075 TO BE ENTITLED MANAGEMENT OF CAT POPULATION PURSUANT TO TRAP, NEUTER,
[03:45:02]
RETURN PERMITTED ACTS AND BY REPEALING SECTION 4.20.272, STRAY CATS.I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE OR REMOVE THE SECTION 40.20.020, THE COMMUNITY CAT AND THE COMMUNITY CAT GIVER SECTION.
WOULD YOU LIKE IT CHANGED OR REMOVED? WELL, AT THIS POINT, REMOVED, BUT I GUESS IF SOMEONE'S GOT A VIABLE OPTION, I'M AMENABLE TO THAT, I SUPPOSE.
YOU COULD, MS. DOBSON, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE COULD MOVE FORWARD AS WRITTEN, AND WE COULD PROVIDE A NEW LANGUAGE BY THE NEXT MEETING WITH YOUR FEEDBACK IN IT.
SO IF WE MEND ON THE THIRD READING, IT WILL...
WE WILL BE AMENDING ON THE SECOND READING.
SO, YES, CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION? WE COULD APPROVE SECOND READING AND AMEND IT BEFORE THE THIRD READING SO IT WOULD HAVE NEW LANGUAGE FOR THE THIRD READING.
SO IF WE AMENDED BEFORE THE THIRD READING, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A FOURTH READING.
BECAUSE IT WOULD TECHNICALLY BE, YEAH, AN AMENDMENT THAT'S TAKING EFFECT ON THE THIRD READING, AND IN THAT CASE YOU DO NEED ANOTHER READING, WHICH YOU COULD THEN WAIVE BY SUPERMAJORITY.
WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE WORDING TONIGHT EXACTLY TO MOVE IT FORWARD TO THE THIRD ONE.
SO THE BEST, SO IF WE JUST REMOVE IT, REMOVE THE, WELL, THAT CAUSES US, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE US.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, IF YOU TOTALLY REMOVE THE DEFINITIONS, I MEAN THAT.
COMMUNITY CATS ARE MENTIONED IN THE OTHER CHANGES IN THE ORDINANCE.
SO, I MEAN, THEN THE WHOLE THING WOULD BE INOPERABLE AT THAT POINT.
REPLACE COMMUNITY CAT WITH NOT CAT AT LARGE.
WHAT DO WE CALL IT? STRAY CATS? STRAY CATS, BUT WE TAKE THAT OUT, DON'T WE? WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO DO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
ANOTHER OPTION, COUNCILMAN, IS TO, YOU CAN CONTINUE THE SECOND READING SO THAT YOU'RE RESPECTING COLE'S WISHES.
TO KEEP THIS ALIVE BUT YOU CAN CONTINUE JUST THE SECOND READING OH I JUST DON'T WANT THAT PART IN IT OKAY SORRY I I'M FINE WITH EVERYTHING I JUST THIS THIS IS THE PIECE THAT HAS WHEN WE SPENT AN HOUR ON IT THIS AFTERNOON I JUST DON'T LIKE THAT PIECE OF IT UM I THINK IT LEAVES A LOOPHOLE FOR THINGS SO I GUESS I WOULD OH SHOOT WE CAN'T DO THAT WE CAN'T YOU DON'T HAVE A MOTION OR A SECOND YOU DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION.
YOU WERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
YEAH, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE MOTION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
BUT THEN IF WE HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER READING TO IT, WHICH I GUESS IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO SECTION 4.20.020.
I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE CHANGES ARE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE.
OH, I THOUGHT YOU SAID WE WERE JUST GOING TO HAVE THEM, WE WERE GOING TO WORK ON IT FOR NEXT TIME, BUT THEN THAT MEANS WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A FOURTH READING.
SO YOU CAN EITHER TABLE IT OR YOU CAN APPROVE AS IS, AND WE CAN DO THE WRITING BEFORE IT COMES BACK FOR THE THIRD.
I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR ANYTHING TONIGHT.
AND SO IF IT'S GOING TO BE CHANGED, IT CAN BE CHANGED AND COME BACK AT A LATER DATE.
HOWEVER THAT NEEDS TO WORK, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW.
SO ARE WE BETTER TO TABLE, MAKE THE CHANGE, AND BRING IT BACK, MIMI? THAT WOULD WORK AS LONG AS WE HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION, AND I THINK WE DO ON OUR TWO THINGS.
I WROTE A NOTE FROM STUDY SESSION, SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I EMAILED JAKE, SO LET ME PULL THIS UP.
SO THE TWO THINGS THAT I THINK WE HAVE DIRECTION ON ARE UM COUNCILMAN GORMAN HAD CONCERN THAT THE LANGUAGE EXCUSES BAD BEHAVIOR, SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT CONCERN.
AND THEN YOUR CONCERN WAS WITH THE WILDLIFE LANGUAGE? THEY'RE BOTH, YEAH.
THE LIABILITY ISSUES THAT COME INTO PLAY AND THEN WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A SECOND OR A NEW LABEL FOR THESE ANIMALS.
THAT LEAVES YEAH, SO WE'RE, AS WE DISCUSSED BEFORE, A JUDGE SAID, OH, WELL,
[03:50:02]
IT'S THIS.SO IT GETS IT OUT OF THIS ONE AREA, WHICH WOULD BE MAYBE AN OWNED CAT OR A PET, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE WILDLIFE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SO WE CAN'T TREAT IT AS THAT EITHER.
THIS MAKES IT VERY, PUTS IT IN EVEN MORE OF A GRAY AREA THAN IT IS NOW, I THINK.
SO I THINK WE HAVE CLARITY ON THE TWO AREAS THAT YOU WANT FIXED, AND THEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING NEW UPLOADED.
PROVIDE YOU LANGUAGE TO MAKE THE AMENDMENT AT THE AT THE NEXT MEETING IN THE FUTURE DATE.
OKAY OKAY, THEN I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE FOR FURTHER LEGAL REVIEW AS STATED SECOND ANY DISCUSSION I'M GONNA VOTE.
I'M GONNA SAY NO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS LIKE YOU SAY QUITE A BIT THIS AFTERNOON AT THE AT THE STUDY SESSION I THINK ALL OF US HAVE DONE OUR OWN RESEARCH ON IT AS TO WHAT MAKES SENSE.
I UNDERSTAND MY VIEW IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, I THINK, THAN WHAT MOST PEOPLE HEAR AND MAYBE WHAT THE HUMANE SOCIETY SEES.
I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL GET TO THE NUMBER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
SOMEBODY WAS HERE EARLIER AND THEY SAID THAT DES MOINES HAS BEEN DOING THIS PROGRAM FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY NEEDED TO HIT 80% OF THE CAT POPULATION IN ORDER TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THIS.
AND THEY HAVE LESS THAN 50% HANDLED AFTER SEVEN YEARS.
AS I LOOK AT THAT NUMBER, AND THEN I LOOK AT, I GUESS, IN MY MIND, AGAIN, THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, I THINK, THAN HOW THE HUMANE SOCIETY MIGHT VIEW THIS, PUTTING A CAT BACK INTO A SITUATION THAT WE KNOW IT WAS.
A NUISANCE BEFORE CREATES PROBLEMS, I THINK, FOR SOME NEIGHBORS, AND THEN I THINK IT ALSO CREATES PROBLEMS FOR THE CATS.
AND AGAIN, I GET THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS ON THAT, BUT WHETHER WE ADJUST WORDING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT'S REALLY NOT GOING TO MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE ON MY END.
I DON'T SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD TEND TO AGREE WITH THAT.
I TALKED TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I JUST, AND AS I SAID THIS AFTERNOON, NIKKI, I DON'T SEE FERAL CATS AS A PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IF IT IS, I'M JUST NOT SEEING IT, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH.
WE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS THIS AFTERNOON.
I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS.
WE'RE JUST NOT, I'M NOT THERE.
I TOLD YOU TODAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IF, AS DOUG SAID, WE'RE NOT REALLY SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, AND I THINK MAYBE AT SOME POINT WE CAN GET FURTHER, BUT TODAY I'M NOT THERE.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, THIS IS NOW YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH.
AMANDA, CAN YOU ADJUST THE TIME? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE ALL GOING TO TALK, YOU CAN JUST WAIT UNTIL THE PERSON'S DONE AND GET UP, UNLESS YOU'RE GETTING IN LINE.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET IN LINE.
MY NAME IS ANDY HRASKY, RESIDING AT 89 PELICAN DRIVE.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME THIS EVENING, AND I KNOW YOU SPENT SOME GOOD TIME CONSIDERING IT IN STUDY.
JUST WANT TO SUPPORT FROM MY POSITION AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER OF THE MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY THAT COMMUNITY CAP PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE.
AND COMMUNITIES, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE COMMUNITY CAT POPULATIONS, AND THEY CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED IN THESE WAYS.
THAT'S WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS.
THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DO THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF ALIGNMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALIGNMENT ON THE HUMANE NATURE THAT IS A KEY MISSION POINT OF THE MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY.
IT'S THROUGH WAYS THAT WE'RE DESCRIBING WITH SPAY, NEUTER, VACCINATE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE, BUT WHAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND EVALUATE A CATCH AND KILL OPTION IS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE A, EXPENSIVE, B, INEFFECTIVE.
ONCE WE CREATE THAT VACUUM, ONCE WE REMOVE THE PRESSURE FROM A TERRITORIAL ANIMAL, IT'S GOING TO BE ABSORBED BY OTHER ANIMALS, AND THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO PERSIST.
[03:55:02]
WHEN WE PUT A STERILIZED ANIMAL BACK INTO THAT AREA, MAINTAINING THAT TERRITORY, THAT THE EVIDENCE DOES SHOW.I'M NOT UP HERE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A SOLUTION THAT IN SEVEN YEARS WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING THAT SUCCESS, BUT IT IS A SOLUTION AND IT'S PROVEN EFFECTIVE AND I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IF WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION ON SOME OF THAT DATA AS WE GO FORWARD.
I'LL ASK TO HOLD APPLAUSE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
OTHERWISE, WE WILL NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE REMOVED.
FOLLOW THE DECORUM OF THE MEETING, PLEASE.
MY ADDRESS IS 4122 PARKVIEW DRIVE, OMAHA, NEBRASKA, 68134.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN A SHELTER VETERINARIAN FOR 15 YEARS.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN THE HEAD VETERINARIAN AT MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY FOR THE LAST THREE.
I'M ACCUSTOMED TO DOING 30 TO 50 SURGERIES A DAY AND HAVE DONE WELL OVER 40,000 SURGERIES OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER.
SO I'M ALSO CERTIFIED IN VETERINARY FORENSICS SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR AND HAVE TESTIFIED IN MULTIPLE CASES OF NEGLECT AND CRUELTY THE THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN IN THOSE HOARDING HOUSES, I HAVE BEEN IN ALL OF THOSE SITUATIONS, I HAVE SEEN INTIMATELY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS WHAT IS COMING THROUGH THE DOORS, WHAT IS A REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S OUT THERE.
THAT ANIMAL CONTROL IS RESPONDING TO.
I WANT TO TRY AND ANSWER QUICKLY SOME OF THOSE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD DURING YOUR STUDY SESSION.
COMMUNITY CAT VERBIAGE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE WORD COMMUNITY CAT IS TYPICALLY UTILIZED AND HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE CATS, AS WE KNOW, ARE FRIENDLY.
THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THEIR CAREGIVERS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE, AGAIN THEY ARE A NICHE THEY ARE A SPECIES THAT, WHILE DOMESTICATED, DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO REVERT BACK TO ITS WILD TENDENCIES WHEN ASKED TO DO SO BY NATURE.
THE PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY AREN'T SEEN BY HUMANS.
THAT'S WHY THE BEST MATHEMATICAL FORMULATIONS THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH, THE STANDARD ONE IS TO DIVIDE THE POPULATION OF THE CITY BY SIX.
THE MORE CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE IS TO DIVIDE IT BY 15.
THAT MEANS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT AN AVERAGE OF ANYWHERE FROM 4,200 TO 10,400 FERAL CATS IN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS PROPER.
THAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, AND HISTORICALLY, THE AVERAGE OF 1 TO 2 PERCENT OF COMMUNITY CATS ARE COMING INTO SHELTERS RIGHT NOW.
IN ORDER FOR EUTHANASIA TO BE EFFECTIVE AS A POPULATION MANAGEMENT TOOL, IT HAS TO BE OVER 90 PERCENT.
YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE GOING TOWARDS THAT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WILLING TO TAKE THAT MONEY, AND WE KNOW, IS IT PERFECT? NO.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU LOOK AT THE POLICY THAT THE STATE IS USING.
AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAS PUT OUT.
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ IT ALREADY, IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
ADDITIONALLY, IT'S CALLED FELINE TRAP NEUTER RETURN PROGRAMS FOR COMMUNITY CATS, AND THIS WAS AT THE WORLD SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY ASSOCIATION CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS IN 2017.
WE KNOW THAT UNSTERILIZED COMMUNITY CATS ARE ESTIMATED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ROUGHLY 80% OF THE KITTENS BORN EVERY YEAR IN THE U.S., AND THEY ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF CAT OVERPOPULATION.
WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT 80% THAT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER, THAT IS A BALLPARK FIGURE AND IS HIGHLY COMMUNITY DEPENDENT.
WHEN YOU ARE UTILIZING COMMUNITY VETERINARIANS THAT ARE NOT TRAINED IN HIGH-VOLUME SPAY-NEUTER, IT IS GOING TO TAKE MUCH LONGER.
WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMITTED AND YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO TARGETED, RAPID RESPONSE, WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE USUALLY A TWO-BLOCK RADIUS THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN THESE.
WE'VE SEEN IT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, AND IT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE KNOW THAT THAT DECREASES EUTHANASIA RATES.
THAT HELPS ALSO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, ALL OF THE OTHER REASONS WE HAD DISCUSSED FOR WILDLIFE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS NO SINGLE SOLUTION, BUT RIGHT NOW, UNTIL THERE IS A NON-SURGICAL STERILIZATION OPTION, THIS IS THE BEST OPTION THAT WE HAVE.
THAT IS KIND OF THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS, IF YOU WILL.
I THINK THAT KIND OF COVERS EVERYTHING.
AND PLEASE KNOW I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AS YOU REACH OUT.
AND IF I CAN'T FIND THAT ANSWER FOR YOU, I AM WELL AWARE OF OTHERS THAT CAN GET YOU A SOLID ANSWER.
THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE THEM, WHICH IS WHY YOU WON'T.
[04:00:01]
HELLO, EVERYONE.MY NAME IS JACQUELINE HERNANDEZ.
MY ADDRESS IS 4106 STREET, OMAHA, NEBRASKA, 68131.
AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY IN SUPPORT OF MIDLANDS HUMANE.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF SHELTER OPERATIONS.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS LINE OF WORK FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SO I'LL SPARE YOU THE REST OF THAT.
AND FOR THE SAKE OF TIME AND FOR OTHERS, I JUST WANTED TO HIT SOME POINTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
I THINK I'VE HELPED START PROGRAMS IN OVER 12 SHELTERS ACROSS THE NATION FROM START TO FINISH TO INCLUDE FINDING SOME OF THAT GRANT FUNDING.
AND I THINK FOR ME THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT ALWAYS RESONATES WITH ME IS THE CAREGIVERS.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS, YOU KNOW, THAT LOOPHOLE THAT COULD DETER THEM FROM, YOU KNOW, HELPING PREVENT SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST QUICKLY WANTED TO MENTION WAS THAT IN OMAHA, WE STARTED THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM IN 2023.
AND WHILE WE ARE A SMALL GROUP, BUT WE ARE MIGHTY, AND WE'VE SEEN ALMOST OVER 03,000 CATS SPECIFICALLY FROM THAT, NOT INCLUDING BARN CATS, NOT INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING.
WHICH IS A HUGE NUMBER, BUT I THINK WHAT RESONATED MORE WITH US WAS HOW MANY PEOPLE STEPPED UP TO SIGN UP TO BE PERMITTED COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVERS.
WE WERE ORIGINALLY GIVING AWAY, PART OF THE GRANT WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO GIVE THE FIRST YEAR OF BEING A PERMITTED CAREGIVER FOR FREE, BUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM WANTED TO PAY FOR IT ON THEIR OWN OR PAY IT FORWARD.
SO WE'RE JUST ACROSS THE RIVER, AND I THINK THAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS EQUALLY, IF NOT MORE, LOVING.
AND SO THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER OR NOT CAREGIVERS EXIST.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY'RE PART OF A STRUCTURED SYSTEM OR OPERATING WITHOUT GUIDANCE, AND I THINK THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN OMAHA, WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS APPROACH WITH OUR OWN ORDINANCE FRAMEWORK ALONGSIDE ANIMAL CONTROL, AND IT WASN'T TO REMOVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT HELPED US CREATE MORE CONSISTENT AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO MANAGE A POPULATION THAT WE KNEW EXISTED.
CAREGIVERS DO NOT WANT TO YOU KNOW, GET THEIR PERMITS REVOKED.
SO IT HELPED US MONITOR THESE COLONIES, HAVE CONVERSATION WITH THE NEIGHBORS, BECAUSE WE DO, OF COURSE, STILL HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THESE CATS ARE NUISANCES.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO MORE DIRECTLY WORK WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD THAT ISSUE AND THEN BETTER ASSOCIATE OR GIVE THAT RESOURCE TO THE CAT THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE RELOCATED.
BUT WE CAN'T DO IT FOR EVERY SINGLE CAT.
IT'S JUST NOT HUMANE AND NOT SUSTAINABLE.
AND WITH TALKING TO THEM, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO TARGET HOT SPOTS, WHICH I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE 80% EARLIER.
THAT'S UNREALISTIC FOR A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS.
THAT 80% IS GOING TO BE FOR LARGER ORGANIZATIONS WITH A KNOWN SUPPORT SYSTEM.
FOR A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS, YOU'RE MAYBE TALKING 50%, AND THAT'S A BALLPARK THAT I'M THROWING OUT BASED OFF MY EXPERIENCES.
BUT IN OMAHA, WE HAVE SUCH A GROWING COMMUNITY.
AND BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO TARGET THESE HOTSPOT AREAS, WE'RE ABLE TO BETTER FOCUS OUR RESOURCES AND HELP REDUCE THE TRUE NUISANCES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I REALLY WANT YOU GUYS TO MAYBE TAKE BACK AND DO MORE RESEARCH ON.
I'M ALSO SUPER HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
LIKE I SAID, WE ARE ALREADY SUPPORTING MIDLANDS IF THIS PROGRAM WERE TO GO FORWARD, AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE MENTORS AND, AGAIN, JUST ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.
I LIVE AT 441 GRACE STREET AND I'M A PET PERSON.
I DEVELOPED THIS PRODUCT AND I FEEL THERE'S ALREADY AN OVERABUNDANCE OF CAT OWNERS WHO LET THEIR CATS STAY OUT, WHO DON'T OR CAN'T CONTROL WHEN THE CAT IS INDOORS.
BIRDS CANNOT SEE TO FLY AT NIGHT.
SO THEY'RE TARGETS FOR FOOD OR FOR FUN OR FOR GIFTS TO THEIR HUMAN.
I FEEL WE PROVIDE COYOTES WITH MORE MEALS THIS WAY.
THIS IS WHAT THIS PRODUCT WAS ABOUT.
TO SAVE ANIMALS FROM COYOTES, FROM OWLS, FROM HAWKS, FROM RACCOONS, FROM BIG DOGS.
SO THESE BIRDS, THEY CAN'T FLY AT NIGHT.
I HAD A NEIGHBOR THAT DIDN'T CARE IF HER CAT STAYED OUT AT NIGHT.
I ALWAYS KEEP MY CATS IN AT NIGHT.
THEY CAN GO OUT DURING THE DAY, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE IN AT NIGHT.
AND YEAH, IT TOOK EFFORT ON MY PART TO TRAIN THEM, BUT IT WORKS.
[04:05:03]
SO THERE'S ALL THESE PREDATORS OUT HERE.THERE'S OWLS IN THE DAY AND IN THE NIGHT.
AND THESE ANIMALS, THESE PREDATORS, LEARN QUICKLY WHEN THERE'S AN AREA OF FOOD.
AND I FEEL THIS PROJECT WOULD CREATE AREAS OF FOOD FOR THESE PREDATORS.
ALSO CREATES DEPENDENCY ON THESE ANIMALS THAT MIGHT GO TO HAVE THESE OASES.
THERE'S GOING TO BE TIMES WHEN SOMEBODY CAN'T MAKE THE WATER, CAN'T MAKE THE FOOD, OR GETS EATEN QUICKLY.
WITH AN ANIMAL THAT'S SPAYED OR NEUTERED, A SPAYED ANIMAL, A FEMALE, SHE'S STILL CONSTANTLY RAPED.
THERE'S UNTREATED INJURIES FROM FIGHTS AND MALES STILL SPRAY TO MARK THEIR TERRITORIES.
AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ROMANTICIZE A LACK OF SAFETY.
HIDING OUT DURING THE DANGEROUS DAYLIGHT HOURS WHEN THESE ANIMALS DO, THESE CATS DO.
AND THEN THERE'S THE DANGER OF NIGHT AND MORE PREDATORS COMING OUT AT NIGHT.
FRANKLY, I JUST PERSONALLY HAVE NOT SEEN A CALM FERAL CAT.
THEY'RE HIDING, FRIGHTENED, ALWAYS HUNGRY OR PREGNANT.
THE LESSONS OF A CONTROL PROGRAM NEED TO START WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE PEOPLE, NOT WITH THE CATS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE RESPONSIBILITY WITH OUR CITIZENS AND TAKE IT OFF, LET'S SEE, CORPORATE BREEDERS.
BREEDERS HAVE MEAGER LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN IOWA, AND THE ECONOMY IS BECOMING EVEN MORE CHALLENGING, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE SURRENDERS OF ANIMALS.
BECAUSE THERE'S FREE PROGRAMS WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, YOU KNOW, 50% OFF, STUFF LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HELP THE CATS OUT FROM OUR BAD BEHAVIOR.
BUT OUR BAD BEHAVIOR HAS TO BE CORRALLED.
THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO CARING, TWO BIG CARING FEMALES, GENERALLY FEMALES.
AN ADULT THAT DECIDES TO PERSONALLY GO WITHOUT SOME ESSENTIAL ITEM TO FEED MUFFY AND IT JUST DOESN'T IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME AND I ALSO AM I AM ALSO FOR EUTHANASIA I THINK IT PUTS THE POUND IN A IN A BAD POSITION THE HUMANE SIDE IN A BAD POSITION TO HAVE TO HAVE THESE ANIMALS AND WHEN THEY GET FILLED UP JOE BLOW'S GOING TO HEAR, WELL, THEY'RE FULL.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO DUMP THIS CRITTER.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST HARD DECISIONS ALL AROUND, BUT I BELIEVE IN EUTHANASIA AND I BELIEVE IN GOODNESS FOR OUR ANIMALS.
I LIVE AT 19715 SAGE LANE IN HONEY CREEK.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF PROMISE FOR PAWS, WHICH IS JUST DOWN THE STREET HERE ON 3RD STREET.
SO I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF TNR.
I GUESS THE THING IS, IS ALL THE, EVERYBODY, EVERYTHING I'M LISTENING TO...
UNLESS YOU'RE IN THE TRENCHES AND YOU KNOW WHERE THESE CATS ARE, UNLESS YOU'RE THE PERSON THEY'RE CALLING SAYING, HEY, I'VE GOT A MOM THAT JUST HAD A LITTER OF FOUR KITTENS UNDER MY PORCH, THOSE ARE THE CALLS WE GET AS A RESCUE.
I'M A SMALL RESCUE, AND I'M SPENDING A BOATLOAD OF MONEY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AN ORGANIZED PROGRAM TO HELP DO THIS.
IF SOMEBODY GOES TO NHS WITH THEIR PROGRAM, THEY MAY GET A $75 FEE.
TO GO THROUGH MY VETERINARIAN, AND IT COULD BE UP TO 300.
AND I MAY GET A LITTER OF FOUR KITTENS, BUT IF WE CAN GET THOSE KITTENS AND GET THEM NEUTERED AND SPAYED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, EVEN IF THEY GO BACK TO WHERE THEY ARE, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE I FOUND THIS OUT WHEN I GOT INVOLVED, A CAT CAN BE FOUR MONTHS OLD AND GET PREGNANT.
I MEAN, THERE'S SPOTS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IT'S INSANE.
THERE ARE SO MANY CATS RUNNING, AND THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP THEM, I GET IT'S NOT EVERYBODY'S THING AND EVERYBODY DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT, AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
IF MIDLAND CAN GET THIS UP AND GOING,
[04:10:01]
I CAN TELL YOU I'LL BE HAPPY TO KEEP CONTRIBUTING WHAT I'M DOING.AND WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER RESCUES THAT ARE HAPPY TO JOIN IN TOO.
BUT WE JUST CAN'T LOOK AWAY AND IGNORE IT.
AND IF ANY OF YOU, YOU KNOW, WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT, WE'LL TAKE YOU WHERE THE CAT COLONIES ARE.
AND WHEN YOU SEE ALL THESE CATS RUNNING AROUND AND KITTENS, IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING.
IF WE CAN GET THEM SOON ENOUGH, WE CAN GET THEM OUT OF THERE, GET THEM ADOPTED.
WE'VE GOT GREAT RESCUES AND COUNCIL OF US THAT ARE HELPING.
SOLUS IS A CAT RESCUE, AND THAT'S ALL THEY DO.
I DID NOT GET INVOLVED IN CATS UNTIL THE LAST PROBABLY YEAR AND A HALF.
I TAKE IN SENIOR OLD DOGS THAT ARE READY TO GO TO THE NURSING HOME, AND THEY LIVE WITH ME UNTIL THEY DIE.
BUT THERE'S SO MANY CATS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, AND PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO CALL THE HUMANE SOCIETY TO HAVE THEM COME HELP TAKE THEM OUT OF THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THEY'RE GOING TO BE EUTHANIZED.
SO THEY'RE JUST FEEDING THEM, AND THEY'RE CALLING PEOPLE LIKE ME, AND I'M TRYING TO DO THE BEST I CAN.
I CAN'T DO IT AS A RESCUE BY MYSELF ANYMORE.
AND ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS GIVE US A CHANCE.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY KITTENS THAT JUST KNOCKED OUT FOR US? SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, BUT I REALLY FEEL LIKE IF YOU HAVE ANY HUMANITY, YOU NEED TO AT LEAST GIVE THIS A SHOT.
AND AGAIN, CALL US AND WE'LL TAKE YOU WHERE THOSE CATS ARE.
YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT WHAT WE'RE SEEING OR WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I'M TERRY LARSON, AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF MUDDY PAWS SECOND CHANCE RESCUE.
WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST RESCUES IN THE MIDWEST.
CAN YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? 527 DELONG, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT, A COUPLE COMMENTS, ACTUALLY.
THE FIRST, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE STARTED A PROGRAM THAT WE TAKE IN ORPHANED KITTENS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS, WE HAVE TAKEN OVER 50 FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS, OVER 50.
THESE ARE THE ORPHANED KITTENS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE CALLED US ABOUT.
THIS IS NOT EVEN TO MENTION THE MANY, MANY MORE THAT WERE NOT ORPHANED, THAT WERE ALLOWED TO LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHER AND CONTINUE LIFE ON THE STREETS.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE, THESE 50 KITTENS, IF THEY WERE ALLOWED TO JUST LIVE OUT THEIR LIFE IN A MATTER OF...
FIVE YEARS THEY WOULD HAVE PRODUCED OVER 2,500 OR COULD POSSIBLY HAVE PRODUCED OVER 02,500 CATS AND KITTENS.
THAT IS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE HIGH MORTALITY RATE OF FERAL CATS AND STRAY CATS.
I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN IN RESCUE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
I'M ALMOST 70 AND I HAVE SEEN DIFFERENT CITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY, I HAVE SEEN SUCH GOOD PROGRAMS. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WE ARE BEHIND.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT IF WE PAIR...
THIS TNR PROGRAM WITH SOME RULES AND ORDINANCES ON FEEDING AND EDUCATION, I THINK HAND IN HAND WE WILL GET THIS, AT LEAST THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO START ADDRESSING THE SITUATION INSTEAD OF IGNORING IT BECAUSE IT'S THERE.
I THINK THAT AN ALTERED CAT HAS LESS PREY DRIVE.
THEY TEND TO STAY IN THEIR AREA A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THEY HAVE LESS OF A PREY DRIVE.
AND THEN IF YOU SET UP FEEDING STATIONS, THAT JUST KIND OF KEEPS THEM IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE ARE ABOUT 300 STRONG AT MUDDY PAWS SECOND CHANCE RESCUE.
AND WE COMPLETELY AND FULLY SUPPORT THE PASSING OF THIS.
AND WE WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP ANY WAY THAT WE COULD, EITHER FINANCIALLY OR BOOTS ON THE GROUND, TO GET THIS GOING AND MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL, LIKE WE KNOW THAT IT CAN BE.
MY NAME IS JACQUELINE, J-A-Q-U-E-L-I-N, ORTIZ.
[04:15:02]
BELLEVUE, NEBRASKA.I'M WITH STRAIT OF SPAY HERE IN SUPPORT OF MIDLANDS.
I'VE BEEN A TRAPPER FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT I GET REQUESTS THROUGH STRAIT OF SPAY OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND THE OMAHA AREA, AND I GO ASSESS, I EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON HOW TO TRAP THESE ANIMALS AND THEN GET THEM RELEASED BACK.
IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH STRAIT OF SPAY, I PERSONALLY HAVE GOTTEN MULTIPLE REQUESTS FROM CUNTABLOVES, WHETHER THAT'S ON MY PERSONAL FACEBOOK OR WITHIN OUR ALSO SOCIAL MEDIA.
LIKE PATE MANCHAN, WE JUST DON'T SEE IT SOMETIMES.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU A STORY OF TIGER.
TIGER IS THIS BEAUTIFUL ORANGE CAT, MALE CAT.
A NEIGHBOR SAW IT, SAID, I DON'T WANT THAT CAT IN MY PROPERTY ON THE DRIVEWAY.
HIM AND HIS SON CAME OUT AND SHOT THIS ANIMAL THAT WAS JUST ROAMING WITH PELLET GUNS FOR FUN.
THAT IS HAPPENING IN KUNZABLUV.
YOU GUYS MIGHT NOT SEE IT, BUT IT IS HAPPENING.
AND YOU MIGHT NOT BE A CAT PERSON.
I WASN'T A CAT PERSON UNTIL I BECAME A CAT PERSON.
NOW I HAVE MATCHING CAT TATTOOS WITH CRAZY CAT LADIES.
AND IT SUCKS AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO SEE.
ALL THESE REQUESTS COMING IN FROM CONSUL BLUFFS THAT THERE'S THIS NEED AND WE CAN'T HELP.
BUT WE ARE FULLY IN SUPPORT OF MIDLANDS THAT IF THIS PROGRAM GETS ESTABLISHED, STRAIT OF SPEY IS 100% ON BOARD WITH HELPING THEM WITH US.
IF I'M DRIVING FROM BELLEVUE TO TRAPPIN, CONSUL BLUFFS, WILLINGLY.
SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU GUYS REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS AND REALLY GIVE THIS PROGRAM A CHANCE BECAUSE THAT 50% THAT DES MOINES TALKED ABOUT VERSUS THE 80%, THAT'S MORE THAN IT WAS IF HAD THEY NEVER STARTED.
SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
DOTTY FILE, 1112 19TH AVENUE, COUNCIL BUFFS.
FIRST OFF, I'M OLDER THAN MOST OF YOU HERE.
I WAS YOUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER FOR 41 AND A HALF YEARS.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY FREEZERS FULL OF DEAD CATS I FILLED.
IF YOU CAN'T SEE THAT THERE IS A CAT POPULATION PROBLEM IN THIS TOWN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING OR IF YOU'RE DRIVING WITH SUNGLASSES.
THE WORST PLACES USED TO BE THE TRAILER COURTS.
MOST OF THOSE ARE GONE NOW EXCEPT FOR MALMORE.
YOU GO PICK A STREET IN MALMORE.
YOU CAN USUALLY SEE 10, 15, 20 VARIOUS AGE CATS.
OKAY, DON'T GO DOWN THE MAIN STREET.
GO UP GLEN AVENUE, PARK AVENUE, UP TOWARD THE HILL.
IF YOU CAN'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH CATS, THEN YOU'RE NOT LOOKING, OKAY? A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE CATS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T LIKE CATS, BUT THEY'RE THERE, AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE.
I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THIS THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE TNR, SIMPLY BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE WILD OUTSIDE ONES WHO ARE LIVING A LIFE DON'T GET TO ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET TRAPPED, THEY'RE GOING TO GET PUT TO SLEEP.
THIS GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO GO BACK AND BE WHERE THEY WERE AND BE WHAT IN MY GROWING UP DAYS WOULD HAVE BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD CAT.
THEY DIDN'T CAUSE A PROBLEM, THEY WANDERED THROUGH.
IF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT BIRDS AND STUFF, OH MY GOD, YOU GUYS, COME ON.
IF YOU'RE FEEDING BIRDS, YOU'RE ATTRACTING EVERYTHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO COME TO GET THOSE BIRDS.
OKAY? SO THE OBJECT OF THAT IS EITHER RAISE YOUR FEEDERS, PUT THEM UP SO THAT THE ANIMALS CAN'T GET TO THEM.
BUT FOR ANY OF YOU TO SIT HERE AND SAY YOU DON'T THINK THERE IS A CAT POPULATION PROBLEM IN THIS TOWN, OR GO OUT TO MIDLANDS AND MAYBE YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN THERE.
YOU SEE THE FRONT ROOMS, ALL PRETTY AND BEAUTIFUL.
ANIMALS FOR ADOPTED, AREN'T THEY ADORABLE? AND BE SURE YOU GO TO THE BACK ROOM WHERE THERE'S 90 THAT NOBODY'S EVER GOING TO SEE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM TO MOVE THEM UP FRONT, ALL RIGHT? GO BACK THERE.
GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE ANIMAL CONTROL TRUCKS THAT ARE BRINGING IN TRAPPED ANIMALS.
EVERY DAY, UNLESS NOW THE SHELTER IS FULL.
NOW THE SHELTER SAYS, OH, DON'T TRAP ANYMORE BECAUSE WE'RE FULL, WHICH PUTS THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE IN NEED STILL ON THE STREET BECAUSE THE SHELTER IS FULL, DOESN'T WANT
[04:20:01]
TO TAKE UP SPACE.WE LEAVE THEM OUT THERE TO DIE, TO GET SICK, TO GET INJURED, TO BITE SOMEBODY, TO HOWEVER PLETHORA OF THINGS YOU WANT TO SEE.
I ALSO VOLUNTEER FOR SOLIS RESCUE, CAT RESCUE.
AND WE, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, ARE FULL ALREADY.
BUT PART OF THEIR GROUP DIVIDED LAST YEAR.
THEY LIVE DOWN BY GLENWOOD, AND THEY OPENED THEIR OWN T&R FOR THE GLENWOOD AREA, WHICH HAS NOTHING DOWN THERE.
THEY DID OVER 250 CATS IN A THREE-MONTH PERIOD.
NOW THIS IS WITH THEM GOING WITH PERMISSION TO RELEASE THEM BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT SET, AND I HAVEN'T GOT TO HEAR THE SPECS ON ANY OF THIS.
YEAH, IT'S NOT JUST GO DUMP THEM BACK ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE YOU FOUND THEM.
IT'S JOE BLOW AND THESE 10 CATS, HE'S WILLING TO CONTINUE THEIR CARE UNTIL TIME'S UP, OKAY? THOSE 10 GO BACK THERE.
SO THAT SAME GROUP CAME UP TO WHERE THE PALLET PLACES ARE HERE ON SOUTH MAIN STREET BY THE TRAIN STATION.
YOU CAN'T SEE A CAT DOWN THERE, YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
SHE TRAPPED 35 OR 40 CATS AND KITTENS IN TWO WEEKS AND RELOCATED THEM WITH SOME, IT WASN'T SOLACE, IT WASN'T ANIMAL CONTROL, IT WASN'T MIDLANDS, AND FOUND PLACES FOR THEM.
NOBODY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT BARN CATS, BARN CATS.
YOU DON'T REALLY ALWAYS WANT BARN CATS.
YOU WANT SOMETHING TO GO MOUSE AND IF IT DIES, IT DIES.
THAT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT CATS WANT.
BUT IN SOMETHING WHERE YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING SET UP GOOD, AND I HOPE THIS IS, TO WHERE IT IS TO BE MONITORED, THEY'RE BEING VACCINATED AND BEING CHECKED ON, AND THEY'RE BEING FIXED.
INSTEAD OF DRIVING DOWN THAT ALLEY NEXT WEEK AND SEEING THE BLACK AND WHITE MOM AND THE BLACK AND WHITE DAD AND FIVE HALF-SICK KITTENS NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE FULL OF FLEAS, THEY'VE PROBABLY MAYBE GOT DISTEMPER OR THEY'VE GOT WORMS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A MOM AND A DAD.
IF THOSE OTHER FIVE OR SIX KITTENS LIVE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING EIGHT, PLUS HOWEVER MANY MORE.
THEY KEEP GOING AND GOING AND GOING.
WE HAVE TRIED TO DO THIS FOR 20 OR 30 YEARS.
IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO MONEY, SOMEBODY'S APPARENTLY OFFERED THESE PEOPLE THE MONEY TO GET THIS GOING, AND YOU OUGHT TO DO IT.
SANDRA MAYFIELD, I LIVE AT 1215 HARMONY STREET HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, JUST NORTH OF MERCY HOSPITAL, AT THE TOP OF THE HILL.
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I'VE LIVED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS FOR 12 YEARS NOW, AND 11 YEARS AT THE CURRENT PROPERTY.
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WE'RE ALL VERY FRIENDLY, SEVEN DIFFERENT LITTERS OF KITTENS WITH A TOTAL OF 32 KITTENS IN THESE SEVEN LITTERS.
AND THE REASON THAT WE SAW THEM IS BECAUSE THEY'RE...
YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU'D BE SURPRISED WHAT A CAT CAN GET INTO WHAT SMALL SPACE.
YOU THINK A MOUSE CAN GET IN A SMALL SPACE.
AND THEY WILL GET INTO THE SHED, AND THEY WILL GET INTO THE GARAGE.
THEY WILL HAVE THE BABIES, AND WHEN WE TRY TO ASSIST THEM, WE JUST CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE QUANTITY.
I KNOW THAT I HAVE CAMERAS ALL AROUND MY HOUSE.
I'VE DONE RESCUE FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT RESCUES OVER THE YEARS.
BUT I HAVE CAMERAS OUTSIDE OF THE HOME, AND IN A GIVEN EVENING, I CAN SEE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO TEN CATS JUST PERUSING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THROUGH MY BACKYARD IN THE WOODED AREA.
I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THOSE ARE FERAL CATS.
THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME TO TELL.
EVEN IF I SEE ONE OF THOSE CATS AND I WANTED TO TRY TO TRAP IT, I HAVE NO IDEA IF IT BELONGS TO SOMEBODY.
AND PART OF THE PROGRAM IS TO MARK THESE CATS SO THAT A PERSON DOES UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A FERAL CAT.
AND WE CAN ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM ALSO ONCE THEY'RE FIXED OR SPAYED.
SO I WOULD SAY IT'S DEFINITELY A PROBLEM, AND I COULD PROVIDE VIDEO IN THE EVENING.
USUALLY AT NIGHT, OVERNIGHT THAT WE SEE THAT.
AND ALSO ON VIDEO I HAVE SEEN, WE HAVE COYOTES UP THERE.
WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHICKENS.
[04:25:01]
AND THE FOX GO FOR THE CHICKENS OR TRY TO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE THE COYOTE IS CARRYING OFF A CAT.AND IT JUST ALSO PROMOTES DISEASE.
ACROSS THAT WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THOSE THAT DO OWN CATS.
SO IF YOU HAVE YOUR CAT OUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH THAT OTHER CAT, THAT THOSE DISEASE, THOSE FLEAS, ALL GETS TRANSMITTED.
SO I CAN SAY FOR A FACT THAT I HAVE SEEN MANY.
I DON'T KNOW OVER THE 10 YEARS, I WOULD SAY MORE LIKE 30 SOME DIFFERENT CATS THAT I BELIEVE TO BE FERAL.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO CATCH THEM AND BRING THEM TO YOU.
I'M NOT, AND I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION PROBABLY WON'T.
BUT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM WOULD ALLOW FOR AT LEAST SOME ATTEMPT TO TRY TO CONTROL IT.
WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THE SAME THING FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS AND EXPECT TO GET ANYWHERE.
YEAH, SURE, WE ONLY GET TO 50% OR YOU GET TO 30%, BUT BY GOD, WE'D MAKE PROGRESS.
HI, MY NAME IS SHELBY GOKENAUER.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY GIVEN YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.
I'M A VET TECH AT A LOCAL CLINIC.
I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT I DON'T ALSO THINK IT'S SUPER FAIR TO BE ASKING YOUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE TO EUTHANIZE HEALTHY ANIMALS, LIKE AS THE TECHS AND THE DOCTORS THAT ARE ACTUALLY DOING THIS.
WE CAN DETACH OURSELVES SO MUCH, BUT WE CAN'T.
DETACH OURSELVES FROM HAVING TO PUT DOWN HEALTHY ANIMALS THAT MAY LIVE PERFECTLY FINE LIVES THAT DON'T BOTHER ANYBODY.
YOU HAVE RESCUES READY TO HELP.
YOU HAVE THE HUMANE SOCIETY READY TO HELP.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER TAKE 50% OF A STRAY'S OFFSPRINGS OUT THAN JUST SAY, I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM, SO I GUESS WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
THAT'S KIND OF A CRAPPY ATTITUDE TO HAVE AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
LIKE WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA HAVE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS GET RID OF CATS THAT ARE HEALTHY FOR NO REASON.
I'M AT 316 NORTH 1ST STREET IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.
I'M ALSO A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN DOWNTOWN OMAHA.
I'VE BEEN IN THE PET INDUSTRY FOR 25 YEARS BETWEEN HERE AND CALIFORNIA.
I'VE WORKED WITH VETS WHO HAVE DONE THE TNR PROGRAM.
IT IS VERY HELPFUL IN COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE.
WE ARE VERY BEHIND AND MY BACKGROUND ALSO IS IN VIDEO PRODUCTION, AS SOMEONE ALREADY TOUCHED ON.
AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, YOU CAN FIND CATS HANGING OUT IN YOUR DRIVEWAY.
SOME OF THEM WON'T COME TO YOU.
IT IS VERY DESPERATE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE GET A TNR PROGRAM.
ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY, PHOTO EVIDENCE.
WOULD I BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU A PHOTOGRAPH? WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WASH IT OFF YOUR PHONE BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE...
THERE'S SEVEN CATS IN MY DRIVEWAY.
SO, MOST OF THESE FACES, IN CASE SOME OF YOU DON'T KNOW, ARE VERY WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE IN OUR ANIMAL COMMUNITY.
AND LIKE THE LAST PERSON JUST SAID, FOR YOU TO BE LIKE, I DON'T SEE IT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THAT'S A CRAP ATTITUDE.
A SHIT SHOW, AS I HEARD SOMEONE SAY EARLIER, UP HERE.
SO, MAY I GIVE YOU THIS PHONE? WE CAN'T...
WE CAN'T ACCEPT IT BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE YOUR PHONE INTO THE RECORD AND NOT GIVE IT BACK.
YEAH, I THOUGHT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS VIDEO.
BUT IT'S REALLY DISHEARTENING IF SOMEONE'S NOT GOING TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING.
NOPE, JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
MY NAME IS DEANNE NELSON, 19336 PERRY ROAD.
I DID ANIMAL CONTROL FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS FOR 27 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN A PARTY TO TRAPPING IN THIS CITY THE ENTIRE 27 YEARS.
ROGER, I THINK YOU SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT ANIMAL CONTROL TRAPS.
WE TRAP NUISANCE, SICK, INJURED, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
EUTHANIZED HUNDREDS OF CATS AND IT NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
EVERY YEAR YOU GO BACK TO THE SAME PROBLEM AREAS, THE SAME THINGS, YOU DO THE SAME THINGS OVER AGAIN, AND YOU REPEAT THE
[04:30:01]
PROCESS EVERY YEAR.I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS FOR MITIGATING THIS PROBLEM WITH CATS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A CONSTANT PROBLEM.
IT'S A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE HUMANS INVOLVED IN ANIMALS, THEY'RE GOING TO TURN THEM LOOSE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THEM FIXED.
THERE'S GOING TO ALWAYS BE A PROBLEM.
THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE FORWARD THINKING, WHICH IS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT HASN'T WORKED.
ANYBODY ELSE LISTENING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS TOPIC? BEFORE I TURN IT BACK OVER, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE COUNCIL.
I JUST WANT TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
I LIVE AT 34, NO, 3247 AVENUE J.
I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE SHELTERS OR ANY OF THOSE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT DOWN IN MY AREA IN THE WEST END, THERE IS AN ISSUE.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TAKEN UPON HAVING SEVERAL OF THE CATS SPAY OR NEUTERED ONLY BECAUSE EVERY YEAR THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE KITTENS.
IN THE TWO BLOCK RADIUS AROUND MY HOUSE, THERE ARE PROBABLY 100.
IN JUST THE FOUR HOUSES THAT I LIVE IN, WE HAVE GONE FROM 20-SOME TO 14, WHICH ISN'T HUGE, BUT THEY'RE NOT HAVING KITTENS ANYMORE.
WE NEED SOMETHING SO THAT IT'S NOT KILLING THEM OR CITIZENS ARE.
TAKING CARE OF IT, IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT IT DOES HELP.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT IN TIME ON THIS TOPIC? OKAY.
BEFORE TURNING IT BACK OVER TO THE COUNCIL FOR ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND THEN VOTING, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO SEVERAL OF THE POINTS THAT WE HEARD HERE TONIGHT FROM THE CITIZENS.
YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AS MAYOR, WE REPRESENT THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE CITY, AND I THINK THAT WE'VE HEARD SOME GOOD FEEDBACK.
FROM CITIZENS AND FROM OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE RIVER THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE HERE.
AND I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE AS THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE USING TAXPAYER MONIES PROPERLY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM IS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS BECAUSE THE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS THE FUNDING AND THEY'RE NOT ASKING THE CITY FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
AND I THINK IT WAS STATED SEVERAL TIMES, WE ARE BEHIND THE TIMES.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE MANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND ORDINANCES THAT ARE OUT OF DATE.
WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PARK ON GRAVEL OR CHANGING THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF DATE AND WE'RE NOT FORWARD THINKING.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT'S A WAY TO MOVE THE...
THE DIAL AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHERE IT DOESN'T COST THE TAXPAYER MONEY, IT'S JUST GIVING THE OPTION.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME HESITATION ABOUT THE LANGUAGE.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT THIS MOVES FORWARD TO A THIRD AND BEFORE THE THIRD THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THAT LANGUAGE.
AND YES, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A FOURTH READING.
BUT THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING NOT COMMON.
BUT WE DO HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS AND SO IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TABLING THAT'S SETTING A NEW PRECEDENT AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKED US TO TABLE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING AND SO THAT WOULD START A NEW PRECEDENT AS WELL.
THAT'S THE SECOND TABLE THOUGH WE'VE NEVER REALLY TABLED THINGS TWICE IN A ROW.
WE'VE NEVER TABLED FOR AN ABSENCE WE'VE TABLED FOR MORE INFORMATION.
EXACTLY WE DID LAST TIME FOR JOE WE HAVE A MOTION RIGHT NOW TO TABLE FOR WORDING FOR WORDING BUT NOT FOR AN ABSENCE BUT UH THAT'S NOT REAL ACCURATE THE FACT THAT WHEN WE WE HONOR IT THAT WAS A SPECIFIC MOTION ON UH WORDING
[04:35:02]
TO MEET THE THINGS UH SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO AMEND IT ON THE THIRD AND GO TO A FOURTH BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO TO A FOURTH ANYWAY SO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL? YEAH, TO BE FAIR, WE CAN ALL DISAGREE AND STILL BE CORDIAL.SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE A CAT AND A DOG AT MY HOUSE.
BUT WE CAN DISAGREE AND HAVE GOOD CONVERSATION.
I'VE SAID THAT TO NIKKI BEFORE ON OTHER THINGS.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPACT IS TO THE COMMUNITY FROM A COST STANDPOINT.
FROM IF IT'S GOING TO THE RESEARCH DOUG SAID TODAY AND THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS HERE EARLIER SAID TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE SPAY AND NEUTER TRAP PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE 80%.
MEASURING SUCCESS CAN BE 30%, IT CAN BE 20%, IT'S DIFFERENT, BUT HE SAID TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT NEEDS TO BE 80%.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY STRAY CATS OR FERAL CATS ARE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.
I THINK CHIEF DAVIS IS GOING TO ASK ANIMAL CONTROL.
I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET THAT INFO.
WE ASKED, YOU KNOW, JOE'S CONCERN IS THE DEFINITION.
I MEAN, IT SAYS A COMMUNITY CAT GIVER IS NOT AN OWNER, HARBOR, CONTROLLER, OR KEEPER OF A COMMUNITY CAT.
WELL, IF YOU'RE PROVIDING, IT SAYS A COMMUNITY CAREGIVER IS A PERSON WHO PROVIDES FOOD, SHELTER, MEDICAL CARE TO A COMMUNITY CAT.
THE NEXT SENTENCE SAYS A COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER IS NOT THE OWNER, HARBOR, CONTROLLER, OR KEEPER OF THE COMMUNITY CAT.
WELL, IF YOU'RE NOT THE OWNER, YOU'RE NOT THE HARBOR OR THE CONTROLLER.
YOU'RE FEEDING IT, YOU'RE SHELTERING IT, YOU'RE PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE.
THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AN OWNER TO ME.
SO I THINK WE CAN COME BACK AGAIN.
I THINK IF NIKKI WANTS TO WORK WITH STAFF AND DO IT, I DON'T THINK IT CAN GO TO A FOURTH READING AND WE CAN JUST HAVE THIS DONE.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF IT TODAY, BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT.
AND THAT'S THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY PROBLEMS IN THERE WITH THE WRITING AND THE WORDING.
WE TRIED TO DO THAT THIS TIME.
WELL, WE TRIED TO ADDRESS IT, BUT WE GET OURSELVES OUT OF COMPLIANCE BY PUTTING IT IN THIS WAY, AND THEN WE'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE HERE.
AND IT'S AGAINST ALL OF OUR, I MEAN, IT JUST IS A BACK-AND-FORTH THING.
GLEN AVENUE WAS MENTIONED, AND I'M RIGHT ON 5TH AND CLARK.
I LOVE ANIMALS AND I LOVE CATS AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM AND IT'S JUST THAT THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET IT DONE.
I'M NOT SURE EITHER BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE BEFORE WE TABLE IT IN TWO MORE WEEKS.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE STUFF TO BE DONE BEFORE IT COMES BACK.
AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT COMING BACK.
AND THE RESEARCH I DID IS 80% IS A MINIMUM.
A MINIMUM IS BETWEEN 80 AND 90 PERCENT BEFORE IT'S FULLY EFFECTIVE.
AND SO WITHOUT KNOWING THE NUMBER OF CATS, WITHOUT KNOWING THE NUMBER OF COSTS, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE COSTS.
THERE WILL ABSOLUTELY BE COSTS.
I MEAN, THERE'S COSTS NOW, BUT IT'S JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE REALLY CONSIDERED, COME AT DIFFERENTLY FOR ME TO SUPPORT IT.
TO BE FAIR, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF...
WILDCATS, BECAUSE THEY'RE WILDCATS BY NATURE.
SO THE NUMBER THAT HE GAVE US IS GOING TO GIVE US...
WELL, THE GUY TODAY SAID THERE WAS 12,000 IN DES MOINES.
HE CAME UP WITH THE EXACT NUMBER.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE WHEN THE TV IMPAIRMENTS ARE BETWEEN TODAY AND NEXT FRIDAY.
AS I STATED THIS MORNING, OR NOT IN THE MORNING, GOOD LORD, THIS AFTERNOON, JUST FEELS LIKE MORNING BECAUSE IT WAS HOURS AGO.
IF YOU GUYS WANT TO GET IT PAID FOR, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF HAVING SOMEONE ELSE PAY FOR IT.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEND CITY TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON IT NECESSARILY.
I'VE GONE DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE OF, I BELIEVE IT WAS AUSTRALIA THE FIRST TIME.
ANYWAYS, I'VE DONE LOTS OF READING ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO STERILIZING THE CATS.
[04:40:01]
MAKING SURE THEY DON'T HAVE RABIES SO WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO CLEAN UP WHAT WE HAVE AND SLOWLY PHASING THINGS OUT IF NATURE TAKES ITS COURSE.THE MAIN PROBLEM I HAVE IS HOW SOME OF THE HOW WE HAVE THIS WORDED AND THE NEW CLASSIFICATIONS THAT IT CREATES AND JUST WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS LEGAL LOOPHOLES.
THAT'S WHY THAT SECTION I DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PARTICIPATION, BY THE WAY, TODAY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS IN THE FIRST READING.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THE POSITION WE'RE IN.
HAD WE HAD THIS IN READING ONE, WE COULD HAVE MADE THESE CHANGES.
THIS THING WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE REASON I'M TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IT BACK AND TABLING IT, THIS CONVERSATION HONESTLY SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN READING ONE, RIGHT? NOT IN READING TWO, BECAUSE NOW WE'RE JUST PUSHING OURSELVES DOWN THE ROAD, I FEEL LIKE, NO MATTER HOW WE LOOK AT IT.
WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL BY ONE READING EITHER WAY AROUND IT.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE WILLING TO TABLE TO MAKE CHANGES PURSUANT TO A BUNCH OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD THIS AFTERNOON AND TWO WEEKS AGO.
BUT TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN I BADGERED LEGAL FOR 40 MINUTES, WE JUST SAID, HEY, JOE, THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW A LOT OF THESE ANSWERS WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK OR TWO WEEKS.
SO I SAID, OKAY, FINE, WE'LL PASS IT IN THE INTEREST OF TAKING IT TO A SECOND MEETING SO WE CAN SPEAK TO YOU GUYS ON THIS SUBJECT.
I MEAN, DOING SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN DOING NOTHING, AND IF YOU'VE GOT SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO PAY FOR IT, LIKE I SAID, IT DOESN'T CONCERN ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
BUT, AGAIN, WE'RE JUST IN THIS ODD SPOT NOW BECAUSE WE HAD NO...
WE DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE TO PLACE OUR QUESTIONS WITH YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BEST SOLUTION HERE IS AS AS MIMI HAD STATED I DON'T WANT A TABLE NECESSARILY BECAUSE COLE'S NOT HERE I THINK THAT'S HIS OWN PROBLEM UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE ABOUT IT BUT WELL IF YOU'RE GONE YOU'RE GONE HE'S GONNA BE GONE DO YOU TABLE IT AGAIN THEN YOU'RE IN TO THAT WHEN YOU DO THIS HERE'S WHAT HERE'S A GOOD OPTION PERHAPS WE WE TABLE IT FOR A PERIOD OF A MONTH OR SO AND THEN COME BACK IN THE INTEREST OF NOT HAVING TO COMPLETELY KILL THE THING AND RE-BRING IT BACK TO THE TABLE.
IF THE ISSUE DIES FOR LACK OF WHATEVER, THEN WE'RE STARTING FRESH OVER, RIGHT? WOULD IT NOT BE EASIER TO TAKE SOME TIME AND...
JUNE 22ND MEETING? WELL, I WOULD SAY TAKE SOME TIME PERHAPS AND MAKE SOME OF THE CHANGES WE'VE SUGGESTED AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS TO SOME PLACE WHERE WE ALL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT, OR HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THAT, I GUESS? WELL, WE GOT A MOTION.
YEAH, WE HAVE MOTION TO TABLE IT.
DO YOU WANT TO? THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
FIRST AND SECOND CAN AGREE ON A TIME.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND, YOU KNOW.
DOES IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO TABLE THIS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, OR DO WE NEED TO ACT ON THE MOTION? WOULD IT BE CLEANER TO ACT ON THE MOTION AND THEN MOVE FORWARD AND SAY, BECAUSE I AGREE THAT THE CONVERSATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
IF THIS DOES NOT GO FORWARD OR.
EVEN IF IT DOES, THE CONVERSATION IS GOING TO GO FORWARD BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IF IT DOESN'T GO FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY MUCH SAYING, HEY, WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING HERE.
AND WE'RE LISTENING TO THE FOLKS HERE SAYING WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
AGAIN, MY ISSUES ARE SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE CLEANEST METHOD TO GET THERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT A BIGGER PAIN.
SO WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ON THE 18TH AND WE'RE NOT WE WILL NOT HAVE ALL MEMBERS THEN AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING JUNE 8TH JUNE 8TH WHERE PRESUMABLY EVERYONE WILL BE THERE SO WE COULD TABLE IT TO A DATE CERTAIN OF JUNE 8TH OR LIKE LIKE COUNCILMAN DESALVO SAID JUNE 22ND I THINK IN TERMS OF CLEANLINESS AND EASE OF PROCEDURES THE PROBLEM JUST WITH CONTINUING IT BLESS YOU TO NEXT THE NEXT TIME IS THAT WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY GONE AGAIN AND THEN WE MIGHT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.
SO IF WE WANT TO BUMP IT TO A DATE CERTAIN WHERE WE KNOW EVERYONE WILL BE HERE.
BUT IT HAS TO GO ON THE AGENDA EACH TIME AND BE VOTED ON EACH TIME, RIGHT? WE CAN CONTINUE IT TO A DATE CERTAIN.
NO, WE CAN SKIP A MEETING OR TWO IF WE SAY.
NO, BUT I MEAN, DON'T WE HAVE TO, YOU CAN JUST CONTINUE IT AND NOT PUT IT ON THE AGENDA? NO, NO, NO, WE WOULD PICK A DATE.
NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO ON EVERY AGENDA TO CONTINUE.
[04:45:01]
AND IT WOULDN'T SHOW UP AGAIN UNTIL THE 22ND.NO, BECAUSE WE CAN TABLE TELL WHATEVER DATE WE SET, SO WE COULD PICK ONE THREE MEETINGS OUT.
THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO PLANNING, RIGHT? NO.
RIGHT, SO IF IT DOESN'T GO WHERE IT GOES, YOU JUST PUT IT ON AGAIN.
IT DOESN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHETHER IT'S TABLED OR NOT, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? WELL, THAT'S WORK FOR LEGAL, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RE-UPLOAD IT.
BUT IF IT'S TABLED, IT'S JUST AUTOMATICALLY ON THE...
BUT IT'S JUST A RE-UPLOADING OF, YOU KNOW.
JUST TO BE FAIR, JUST TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND WHETHER THIS GETS CHANGED OR NOT, BUT I'M OKAY WITH IT BEING EXTENDED OUT AND YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT IT.
AND AT THE END OF JUNE WE TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN.
SO WHAT DAY? DID WE HAVE A FIRST? WHO WAS THE SECOND? I WAS THE SECOND.
AND THAT IS TO EXTEND IT TILL THE 22ND? THAT WAS THE TABLE.
THAT WAS JUST A CHANGE OF THE WORDING.
FIRST AND SECOND NEEDS TO CONCUR ON A DATE.
SO WE HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO TABLE IT UNTIL JUNE 22ND, AND THE SECOND CONCURS.
ANY DISCUSSION ON TABLING IT UNTIL JUNE 22ND? JUST LIKE I SAID, I...
I'M WILLING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, BUT I DON'T, TODAY, DON'T SEE, UNLESS, LIKE YOU SAID, THE DEFINITION CHANGES, AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE, BUT I'M OPEN TO UNDERSTANDING.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REAL INTERESTING SITUATION AS I WENT BACK AND RESEARCHED IT, BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT, AND YOU'RE ALL INVOLVED IN THIS IN SOME MANNER, IN A LOT OF IT, YET THERE IS A WHOLE OTHER GROUP OUT THERE THAT IS ALSO INVOLVED IN IT, AND THEY SEE IT IN A VERY DIFFERENT LIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ALWAYS HEAR FROM THEM OR THEY MAY NOT BE HERE TONIGHT TO DISCUSS IT.
SO IT'S FUNNY HOW YOU BOTH COME FROM THAT BACKGROUND AND YOU BOTH WANT WHAT'S BEST.
BUT IT'S AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE SEEN VERY DIFFERENTLY FROM EVERYBODY.
AND AS TO WHAT MAKES SENSE AND KIND OF GETTING BACK TO ROGER'S IDEA OF IT'S OK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
IF WE WERE ALL THE SAME, IT'D BE AWFUL BORING LIFE FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE BAD PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
IT'S JUST WE SEE IT MAYBE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT MY OPINION WILL CHANGE, BUT IF WE THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NECESSARY, THEN I GUESS WE SHOULD.
AND TO YOUR EXACT POINT, TO BE FAIR, NONE OF YOU WERE HERE FOR THE FIRST READING EITHER.
SO I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? NO, YOU CAN'T.
BUT, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE.
WELL, AS WE TABLE IT, AS DOUG SAID, THE OTHER SIDE MIGHT COME AND SHOW UP TOO AND HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION HAPPENING AS WELL.
IT'S A, AGAIN, WE TABLE NOW, IT COMES BACK UP IN TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S THE SAME THING TO ME.
SO, I'M A, PEOPLE WHO AREN'T IN FAVOR OF THIS, PEOPLE WHO AREN'T IN FAVOR OF THE SPAY AND NEUTER IS THE OTHER SIDE.
THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AND TALKED IN FAVOR OF, AND THERE'S A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO TALKED AGAINST IT.
I'M OKAY WITH TABLING IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COME UP WHETHER WE TABLE OR DON'T.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES TO TABLE THIS UNTIL JUNE 22ND.
WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE FOR JUST ONE MOMENT IF THE ANIMAL PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE.
[04:50:02]
THANK YOU.[9.A) Resolution 26-123 (continued from 3-23-26 & 4-20-26)Resolution accepting the bid of Carley Construction, LLC for the Mid-America Center Parking Lots Rehab, Phase 6. Project # BM26-01]
LIKE I SAID, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING.WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING THIS TIME.
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE MOVING ON TO RESOLUTIONS.
RESOLUTION 26-123 CONTINUED FROM MARCH 23, 2026 AND APRIL 20, 2026.
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID OF CARLY CONSTRUCTION FOR THE MID-AMERICAN CENTER AND PARKING LOTS REHAB PHASE 6.
IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION? SEEING NONE, THIS RESOLUTION DIES.
HOW DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THE NEXT SET RULE? MIMI SENT THE LANGUAGE AS TO HOW TO READ IT.
AND SO YOU READ THE RESOLUTION, JUST THE TOP ONE WITH THE TOP LINE.
[9.B) Resolutions 26-157, 26-158, 26-159 and 26-160 9 (Continued from 4-20-26) Resolution 26-157 supporting the submission of an Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) application to the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program by 34th and 1st Holdings, LLC. Resolution 26-158 supporting the submission of an Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) application to the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program by Jilla Development. Resolution 26-159 supporting the submission of an Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) application to the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program by Arbor Creek, LLC. Resolution 26-160 supporting the submission of an Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) application to the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program by Lockwood Development at E Manawa Subdivision.]
AND THEN SAY OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
EACH INDIVIDUAL ONE, CORRECT? NO.
WE GET THE ONE AND THEN WE GET THE RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTIONS 26, 157, 158, 159, AND 160 CONTINUED FROM APRIL 20TH, 2026, SUPPORTING THE SUBMISSION OF AN IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY APPLICATION TO THE WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDIT.
WE'RE GOING TO STOP RIGHT THERE.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE 26-158, 26-159, AND 26-160.
SO, I ASSUME EVERYBODY'S HERE.
YOU ALL KNOW WHICH ONES YOU ARE.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD, A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY WE'RE GOING THE WAY WE'RE GOING.
THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE...
THE STATE, IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AND I MEAN, JOE, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THIS SINCE YOU REACHED OUT.
I MEAN, YOU GOT THE EMAIL AND STUFF.
I REACHED OUT TO THE STATE ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S DIRTY POOL WHAT THEY'RE DOING JUST TO BEGIN WITH, BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.
WE WERE GIVEN, FOR THOSE OF YOU AT HOME THAT MAYBE HAVE MISSED SOME OF THIS, WE WERE GIVEN FOUR DIFFERENT LETTERS TO SEND TO THE STATE IN FAVOR OF PROJECTS.
NOW, THE STATE CHANGED THIS POLICY AFTER WE'D ALREADY SENT ONE IN EARLY IN THE YEAR BECAUSE THAT WAS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE AT THE TIME.
BEING THEY MADE A CHANGE, IT KIND OF AFFECTED US RETROACTIVELY, WHICH IS WHY I TAKE ISSUE WITH IT.
THAT BEING SAID, THAT GAVE UP ONE OF OUR FOUR PROJECTS TO SUPPORT.
THE REALITY IS THAT IS A GREAT PROJECT, JUST LIKE EVERYONE HERE, BUT WE CAN'T UNDO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.
SO NOW WE HAVE FOUR PROJECTS REMAINING, THREE OF WHICH WE CAN GIVE LETTERS TO.
ALL OF THEM ARE GREAT PROJECTS, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT IS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE NOW HAVE TO PICK THREE OF THEM TO SEND OFF TO THE NEXT ROUND.
I SENT AN EMAIL OFF TO THE POWERS THAT BE UP IN DES MOINES AND I BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKING US TO EFFECTIVELY HERE LET ME GET IT PULLED UP HERE THEY'RE ASKING US TO PRE-QUALIFY ALL OF OUR LETTERS OR OUR PROJECTS BEFORE WE SEND THEM OFF THE INFORMATION THAT CAME BACK FROM MR. SORENSEN UP AT IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WAS THAT, GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT HERE, BUT LAST YEAR THERE WAS 139 APPLICATIONS FOR $84 MILLION IN REQUESTED FUNDS.
NOW OF THAT, ONLY $35 MILLION IS AVAILABLE, SO LESS THAN HALF.
THEY WERE ABLE TO AWARD 62 PROJECTS OF 139, SO LESS THAN HALF AGAIN.
BUT HE GAVE ME SOME INFORMATION BASED ON THE QUESTIONS I HAD ASKED, SO I'LL CONTINUE TO READ.
THE PROGRAM WAS NOT CREATED FOR OWNER-OCCUPIED SINGLE HOMES.
IT WAS CREATED TO HELP INCENTIVIZE ALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS IOWA.
HOWEVER, SINGLE-FAMILY OWNER-OCCUPIED HOMES GET EXTRA POINTS AND GENERALLY SCORE HIGHER, ALTHOUGH WE DO AWARD MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS EVERY YEAR.
THIS PROGRAM IS TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENT THAT POSSIBLY WOULD
[04:55:02]
NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT IT, A PROJECT THAT HAS STARTED BEFORE RECEIVING AN AWARD.WOULD BE VIEWED AS NOT MEETING THE PROGRAM AND THOSE FUNDS SHOULD GO TO PROJECTS THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT IT.
ALSO, AND EXPENDITURES BEFORE AN AWARD ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
IT DOES NOT MAKE THE PROJECT INELIGIBLE, BUT IT DOES REDUCE THE ELIGIBLE BASIS FOR THE TAX CREDIT.
IN THE THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN OVERSEEING THE PROGRAM, I CANNOT THINK OF A SINGLE PROJECT WE HAVE FUNDED THAT HAS ALREADY STARTED.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
RESPECTFULLY, NICK SORENSEN, BLAH, AND THAT GIVES US CONTACT INFO.
SO THIS KIND OF GIVES US AN IDEA OF WHAT AND HOW THEY GO ABOUT THE PROCESS.
WE'RE GOING TO SUBMIT LETTERS OF APPROVAL.
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THEY'VE CHANGED THE RULES AFTER THE FACT, WE'VE BEEN REQUESTED THAT OUR STAFF ASK US FOR A SPECIAL DISPENSATION IN AN EFFORT TO ALLOW US TO SUBMIT ALL FIVE.
IF THEY ALLOW THAT, THAT'S THE ROUTE WE'RE PLANNING ON TAKING IT, I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE.
BUT IN THE INTEREST OF THINGS BEING AS THEY ARE NOW, AS WE HOPE THEM TO BE.
WE HAD TO PICK THREE THAT WE THINK HAVE THE BEST SHOT OF GOING FORWARD.
GRANTED, GETTING A LETTER OF APPROVAL FROM THE CITY DOES NOT DICTATE ANYTHING TO THE STATE OF IOWA, AND IT'S STILL EFFECTIVELY A LOTTERY AS WE CLEARLY GAVE BY THE NUMBERS HE SENT TO ME.
AND IF WE NEED, I COULD SUBMIT IT FOR THE RECORD OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
IT'S IN MY RESEARCH, AND I'D SEND IT OFF TO...
BE SENT OUT TO COUNCIL SO WE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO GO FORWARD HERE.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS SUBMIT A PROJECT THAT I THINK THAT THEY MAY TURN DOWN FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.
AND AGAIN, IN ALL THAT INTEREST, THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE GONE THE DIRECTION WE HAVE GONE.
AGAIN, WE WANT EVERY PROJECT THAT COMES UP TO GO FORWARD, GUYS.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WORKING WITH THE TOWN THAT WE CALL HOME.
YEAH, ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE IMPORTANT, SO IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THEY'RE FOURTH AND FIRST HOLDINGS, RIGHT? LIKE THAT'S NOT THE GOAL.
AS JOE SAID, WE ARE GOING TO ASK THAT WE CAN SUBMIT ALL FOUR OF THESE, SO THE FIFTH ONE, FIFTH TOTAL, AS AN EXCEPTION SINCE THE RULES WERE CHANGED KIND OF MIDWAY THROUGH THE GAME.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
I THINK THE THREE THAT WE'RE DOING TODAY ARE GOOD PROJECTS.
WE'VE GOT SOME SINGLE FAMILY, MULTIFAMILY.
PROBABLY THE BEST OPTIONS FOR US TO GET THEM AND THEN IF WE CAN SUBMIT THE OTHER ONE AND WE CAN, THEY CAN ALL GET THEM, THAT'S THE GOAL.
BUT WE KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE, SO WE HOPE SOMEBODY GETS THEM BECAUSE THEY COULD SAY NO TO ALL FOUR.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO NICK MYSELF TO GET SOME INFORMATION, SO IT'S OBVIOUS HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO US.
HE'S HAD TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS REACH OUT TO HIM TO GET CLARIFICATION ON HOW THE PROCESS WORKS, MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS CORRECTLY AS WE DO OUR HOMEWORK.
AND A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS I WANT TO REITERATE FROM JOE THAT HE WAS PRETTY HIGH ON AS WE HAD OUR CONVERSATION WAS, REMEMBER, THERE WAS 139 APPLICANTS, AND THEY AWARDED 62 PROJECTS, AND THE FUNDS ARE ONLY $35 MILLION.
NOW THERE'S TALK THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO MAYBE INCREASE THAT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T.
AND SO IT IS A VERY COMPETITIVE MARKET OUT THERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
AND ONE THING THAT HE TALKED ABOUT WAS THEY LIKE TO SEE PROJECTS WHERE THERE WOULD BE SOME HOME OWNERSHIP IN THE END OF THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY HE TALKED ABOUT SINGLE FAMILIES GETTING A LITTLE BIT HIGHER SCORE, BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE AN OWNERSHIP COMPONENT AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS.
OBVIOUSLY, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY HERE THAT THIS DOESN'T MEAN ANY OF THE PROJECTS ARE BAD.
WE WERE PUT IN A REALLY TOUGH SITUATION, I THINK, WHEN THEY MADE THAT CHANGE.
WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE, AND WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE STATE SAYING, OKAY, HOW WOULD YOU LOOK AT THESE PROGRAMS AS YOU DO THAT? THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS SUBMIT THINGS THAT WE THINK MAY NOT GET THE BENEFIT RIGHT OFF THE BAT, AND THEN WE'RE SHORT.
[05:00:01]
SO I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT.WE HAVE DIRECTED STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD AND SAY, LET'S TRY AND SEE IF WE CAN GET IT BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE PUT OURSELVES IN OR THAT THE STATES PUT US IN, EXCUSE ME.
AND SO WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE ALL GREAT PROGRAMS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE TAKING AN INTEREST IN DOING THESE HERE.
AND I THINK THEY'LL ALL BE SUCCESSFUL, WHETHER THAT HAPPENS WITH THE TAX DEAL OR NOT.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE CAME UP WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE DID.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO FIRST OF ALL THANK EVERYBODY FOR PARTICIPATING AND WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
GOING FORWARD WITH THE WAY THE LEGISLATURE JUST DID OUR TAX CODES ON PROPERTY AND THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THIS TO OUR CITY, WE NEED DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO WE HAVE TO DEVELOP, AND WE NEED YOUR PARTNERSHIP, AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST.
TO BE FAIR PLAYERS AND TO MAKE IT WORKABLE FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DEVELOP IN ORDER TO AFFORD THIS COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY, WE ARE RECOMMENDING JILLA, WE ARE RECOMMENDING ARBOR CREEK, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING LOCKWOOD AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE STATE AND ASK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO SUBMIT 34TH AND 1ST HOLDINGS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH RECOMMENDING THE THREE ITEMS. SO IF ANYBODY WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT IN TIME, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I'M WITH 34TH AND 1ST. JUST UNDERSTANDING THE PROGRAM VERY WELL, WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH NICK SORENSEN.
BASED ON PROVIDING HOUSING AND THE DEVELOPMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THE HIGHEST PREREQUISITE FOR GETTING THIS AWARD.
UNBIASED, I KNOW I WORK WITH THE COMPANY, UNBIASEDLY I HAVE THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT OUR DEVELOPMENT WOULD GO UP THE QUICKEST.
GC, CAPITAL STACK, THIS WOULD REALLY HELP US TO DO AND THEY WOULD, WE HAVE OUR PARTNERSHIPS LINED UP ALREADY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORKFORCE HOUSING SECTION OF IT.
I'M PRETTY TAKEN BACK OF US GETTING PULLED OUT AND ARBOR CREEK, ARBOR LINKS GETTING INSERTED.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW, CAN YOU PROVIDE ME THE POINTS, THE SCALING SYSTEM THAT MADE YOU GUYS...
THE RECOMMENDATION AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN THE PORTION THAT JOE READ BUT THAT THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY SEE YOUR PROJECT SINCE IT'S A PHASE TWO AS A PROJECT THAT'S ALREADY STARTED AND SO BECAUSE IF A PROJECT'S ALREADY STARTED IT WOULD NOT QUALIFY.
OH I WOULD REALLY REALLY PUSH BACK ON THAT.
WE HAVE NOT STARTED AND WE HAD THE CONSTRUCTION FENCING UP JUST BECAUSE OF WHERE THE GENERAL CONDITIONS HAVE TO MOVE FOR THE NEXT PHASE.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT OUR PROJECT IS STARTED RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU DRIVE BY 34TH AND 1ST, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE PROJECT HAS STALLED BECAUSE OF STUFF LIKE THIS WHERE WE FEEL WE HAVE A HIGH CHANCE TO GET AWARDED.
I MEAN, THE FIRST PHASE, MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE YEARS AGO, WAS SUCCESSFUL IN WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND THEY HAVE ENCOURAGED US TO GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN.
I MEAN JUST GOING THROUGH THE SCORING, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO GET THE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
OUR APPLICATION IS INCREDIBLY STRONG.
IF YOU GO THROUGH THE POINTS BY POINTS, THE CAPS ON THE CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE THERE IN THE FIRST PHASE, WE'RE THERE IN THE SECOND PHASE.
EVERYTHING IS LINED UP FOR OUR APPLICATION TO BE VERY COMPETITIVE ACROSS THE STATE, NOT JUST IN COUNTS PLUS.
SO I'M JUST WANTING SOME CLARIFICATION ON WHY YOU CHOSE TO GO WITH US GETTING...
AND NOT THAT YOU SAY YOU WON'T RECOMMEND TO NICK, SAY, HEY, THIS SITUATION, WELL, CAN WE JUST SUBMIT EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE'RE JUST ONE MORE OVER THE THRESHOLD? OKAY, BUT CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN TO ME OR HELP ME UNDERSTAND SO I CAN GO BACK AND TELL THE COMPANY WHAT'S GOING ON? I THINK THE CONCERN, AT LEAST FOR ME, IS IF THEY SEE THAT PROJECT HAS STARTED, WHICH YOU'RE SAYING THEY WON'T.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
WHAT YOU SAY HAS STARTED, WHAT THEY SAY HAS STARTED, THERE CAN BE A DIFFERENCE.
WE GOT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T SUBMIT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE A NO AND LOSE IT.
SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT, AT LEAST THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM, AGAIN, YOU TAKE THE SURE STUFF IF YOU CAN THAT YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO QUALIFY AND GET THAT.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRY BECAUSE WE GET IT.
AND NORMALLY WE WOULD NOT EVEN
[05:05:03]
BE IN THAT SITUATION UNLESS THEY MADE THAT CHANGE, WHICH IS.AGAIN, WE CAN'T DO MUCH WITH THAT EXACTLY, BUT TRY AND MAKE IT WORK.
SO AT LEAST FROM MY STANDPOINT, THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
EVERYBODY ELSE CAN SPEAK ON THEIR OWN BEHALF.
I MEAN, I COULD CALL ON NICK AND ASK HIM WHAT'S GOING ON.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST PROJECT READINESS.
WE'RE AT THE HIGHEST THRESHOLD FOR PROJECT READINESS.
THAT'S WHY WE CAN SAY ALL DAY, WE HAVEN'T STARTED, BUT WE'RE READY TO GO.
EVERYTHING IN THE APPLICATION, WE TAKE SITE PICTURES, WE UPLOAD THE CAPITAL STACK, EVERYTHING.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'VE STARTED, OR ELSE WE KNOW WE WOULDN'T SUBMIT.
SO IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT, I'M JUST CONFUSED.
MAYBE IT'S A TECHNICALITY, BUT I DON'T WANT US TO BE THROWN OUT OF A RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE OF A TECHNICALITY THAT, FROM MY STANCE, HAVING PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM BEFORE, I WOULD CLAIM NOT TO BE TRUE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO ARGUE, I'M JUST TRYING TO GAIN CLARITY ON THE WHOLE DEAL HERE.
I MEAN, NOT PERSONALLY, BUT IT HURTS.
WE HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT'S MOST DATED, SO WE'RE COMING UP ON FINISH LINE PRODUCT, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE HOUSING AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE TO MEET THOSE DEADLINES.
IN MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU DID GET THE TAX CREDITS FOR PHASE 1, CORRECT? CORRECT.
IT WILL BE BACK IN 2022, 2023.
IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE, AS I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE, THERE'S NOT A CORRECT ANSWER HERE.
WE COULD PICK, THERE COULD BE 17 OF YOU IN HERE AND WE'D HAVE TO PICK THREE, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO THERE ISN'T A CORRECT ANSWER AND ALL 17 COULD BE GREAT PROJECTS.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS DOUG SAID, REACH OUT TO NICK.
CHRIS HAS WORKED WITH NICK BEFORE.
I THINK WE WANT YOUR PROJECT TO BE PART OF THE LIST, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
I MEAN, MAYBE HE'LL DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS THROWN ON US LAST SECOND.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I HOPE HE CAN DO SOMETHING.
I MEAN, IT JUST SHOCKED ME BASED ON HOW IT'S SCORED, WHERE THESE PROJECTS ARE AT.
NOT TO SAY THEY WON'T SCORE COMPETITIVELY, JUST KNOWING HOW COMPETITIVE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN AND THAT WE WERE IN THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FRONT
[9.C) Resolution 26-163 Resolution authorizing the creation and approval of the Homeless Services Coordinator position within the Mayors Office ]
OF THE COUNCIL OR FROM THE COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.RESOLUTION 26.163, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CREATION AND APPROVAL.
OF THE HOMELESS SERVICES COORDINATOR POSITION WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
MOTION TO AMEND TO MAKE THE POSITION AT ISSUE A TEMPORARY PARTIALLY GRANT FUNDED THREE-YEAR POSITION AND AMENDING THE PAY GRADE TO GRADE NU 20.
[9.D) Resolution 26-175 Resolution granting preliminary plan approval of a 13-lot residential subdivision to be known as Grapplers Gate, legally described as being a replat of Lot 4, Auditor’s Subdivision of the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 31-75-43, excluding City right-of-way along with variances to exceed the maximum 3:1 lot depth-to-width ratio. Location: Undeveloped land lying west of 901 Franklin Avenue. SUB-26-005]
IS THERE A SECOND? SEEING NONE, THE MOTION DIES.RESOLUTION 26175, GRANTING PRELIMINARY PLAN APPROVAL OF A 13-LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION TO BE KNOWN AS GRAPPLER'S GATE, UNDEVELOPED LAND LYING WEST OF 901 FRANKLIN AVENUE.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA TO UNDERSTAND STAFF AND EVERYBODY IS FULLY AWARE OF THE RUNOFF THAT OCCURS ON THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL AND THEY HAVE WORKED WITH THE DEVELOPER ON MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S COVERED AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS ON TO FRANKLIN.
I ATTENDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST ISSUES AS WELL AS THE RUNOFF THAT MIGHT COME FROM THIS.
AND JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE AND THAT THEY HAVEN'T JUST LET IT GO.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT, IT WILL BE ADDRESSED.
[05:10:02]
YEAH, THIS SHOULD, IN THEORY, IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS.WITH THE WATER RETENTION BASIN THAT WE PUT IN.
I MEAN, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ROAD, OBVIOUSLY, BUT 13 MORE HOUSES UP IN AN AREA THAT ALREADY HAS SERVICES.
[9.E) Resolution 26-176 Resolution to adopt a PR-1/Planned Residential Development Plan for a mixed multi-family residential and townhome development on property legally described as Lots 1 and 2, 30th & 2nd Avenue Development. Location: Undeveloped property located at the northeast corner of the intersection of 1st and 2nd Avenues and S. 31st Street. PR-26-001]
NEEDED.WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DENSITY IN AN AREA THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, ROWS, SEWERS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
RESOLUTION 26-176, RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A PR1 PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR A MIXED MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOTS 1 AND 2, 30TH
[9.F) Resolution 26-177 Resolution appointing Michell Houseton as the City’s Representative to negotiate a successor collective bargaining agreement with Communication Workers of America – Clerical and Technical Employees]
AND 2ND AVE DEVELOPMENT.IS THERE A DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
RESOLUTION 26-177, APPOINTING MICHELLE HOUSTON AS THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO NEGOTIATE A SUCCESSOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF AMERICA, CLERICAL AND TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES.
[9.G) Resolution 26-178 Resolution appointing Michell Houseton as the City's representative to engage in collective bargaining negotiations with the Council Bluffs Association of Professional Firefighters Local 15 regarding the wage reopener provisions of the current collective bargaining agreement. ]
THERE A DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE APPROVE? AYE.FAVOR? SORRY. I JUST SAID AYE.
DON'T WORRY. WE'RE ON HOUR 14.
WE STILL HAVE EXAMS. WE STILL HAVE EXAMS. MOTION CARRIES.
OH, SORRY. RESOLUTION 26178, APPOINTING MICHELLE HOUSTON AS THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 15 REGARDING
[9.H) Resolution 26-179 Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into an agreement and award a contract in the amount of $500,500 to Dostals Construction Company, Inc. for the Big Lake Park Playground Improvements, Phase II, Project R27-01.]
THE WAGE RE-OPENER. PROVISIONS OF THE CURRENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. RESOLUTION 26179, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT AND AWARD A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,500 TO DOSTAL'S CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. FOR THE BIG LAKE. PARK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 2. MOTION[9.I) Resolution 26-180 Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an Agreement for Maintenance and Repair of Primary Roads in Municipalities between the City of Council Bluffs and the Iowa Department of Transportation. ]
TO APPROVE. WE'LL BOTH SECOND.YOU CAN PUT ME IN WHATEVER ONE YOU WANT. JOE AND THEN STEVE. YEP, THAT SOUNDS GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. RESOLUTION 26-180, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
[9.J) Resolution 26-181 Resolution approving a series of special event permits for the "Bikes on the 100 Block 2026", temporarily defining the outdoor service area for alcohol licensing purposes, temporarily closing portions of streets in the vicinity of the 100 Block, providing a special noise control variance, and approving a corresponding License to Occupy]
OF THE PRIMARY ROADS.IN MUNICIPALITIES BETWEEN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AND THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
RESOLUTION 26181, APPROVING A SERIES OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS FOR THE BIKES ON THE 100 BLOCK 2026, TEMPORARILY DEFINING THE OUTDOOR SERVICE AREA FOR ALCOHOL LICENSING PURPOSES.
TEMPORARILY CLOSING PORTIONS OF STREETS IN THE VICINITY
[9.K) Resolution 26-182 Resolution amending City Personnel Policy No. 504 "Holidays" ]
OF THE 100 BLOCK, PROVIDING A SPECIAL NOISE CONTROL VARIANCE AND APPROVING A CORRESPONDING LICENSE TO OCCUPY. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. RESOLUTION 26182,[9.L) Resolution 26-183 Resolution amending City Personnel Policy No. 709 "Sick Leave"]
AMENDING CITY PERSONNEL POLICY NUMBER 504, HOLIDAYS. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.[9.M) Resolution 26-184 Resolution creating a new City Personnel Policy No. 714 to be entitled "Paid Parental Leave"]
RESOLUTION 26183, AMENDING CITY PERSONNEL POLICY NUMBER 709, SICK LEAVE. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.RESOLUTION 26184, CREATING A NEW CITY PERSONNEL POLICY, NUMBER 714, TO BE ENTITLED PAID PARENTAL LEAVE. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? GOOD WORK TO THOSE WHO WORK ON THIS.
[9.N) Resolution 26-185 Resolution amending City Personnel Policy No. 806 "Personal Appearance of Employees"]
APPRECIATE IT. AND MICHELLE.JOE AND STEVE TO BRING IT TO LIGHT. YES, ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. RESOLUTION 26185, AMENDING CITY PERSONNEL POLICY NUMBER 806, PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF EMPLOYEES.
[05:15:01]
MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. I HAD ONE. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? SORRY, JUST REAL QUICK. MAYBE BECAUSE I'M NOT THAT HIP. DO WE NEED TO DEFINE WHAT F? ATHLEISURE WHERE IS I MEAN IS THERE THERE IS A DEFINITION OF CERTAIN YOGA PANTS AND STUFF IS THAT WHAT IT IS YEP SWEATPANTS YOGA PANTS SO ATHLEISURE IS THE CATCH-ALL FOR ALL OF THAT YEAH AND IT'S ACTUALLY A DEFINED WORD IN THE DICTIONARY NOW COULD YOU TELL I DON'T WEAR IT IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOOD QUESTION YES IT IS IT IS AN ACTUAL DEFINED WORD OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AYE OPPOSED AYE MOTION CARRIES[10.A) Liquor Licenses1. Big Kel's Pizza & Wings, 40 Arena Way Ste 112. Bottoms Up, 2800 Twin City Dr3. Caddy Shack, 1426 4th Ave4. Council Bluffs Country Club, 4500 Piute St5. Council Bluffs Farmer’s Market - Winetime, 100 Pearl St (Temporary)6. J & B'S Lounge, 16 S 19th St7. Mega Saver, 1305 N 25th St8. The Salty Dog Bar and Grill, 2411 S 24th St Ste 6 9. 7 Days Mart, 501 S 21st St 10. Hy-Vee Food Store #1, 2323 W Broadway 11. 1892 German Bier Haus, 142 W Broadway Ste 142]
[10.B) Retail Tobacco Permit Renewals (6)]
[10.D) Special Event Applications1. Celebrate CB Parade - May 9, 2026 2. Black Squirrel Triathlon - May 17, 20263. Block Party at 2016 S 12th St - May 23, 20264. Memorial Day Ceremony at Bayliss Memorial Wall - May 25, 2026 5. Bikes on the 100 Block - May through September 2026 6. Farmers Market - May through September 20267. Slumpbuster Baseball Tournament - June 11 & 19, 2026 (Fireworks)]
FOR TEN SEE NUMBER ONE. YEAH, WE'RE GONNA GO. OKAY COOL APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS 10A1-11, 10B, 10C2, AND 10D1-7. MOTION[10.C) Noise Variance Requests1. The Dock Bar & Grill, Live Music May 1 - October 5, 2026, 5:00 pm - 12:00 am2. Bikes on the 100 Block + America's 250th Celebration May - September 2026, 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm]
TO APPROVE 10A1-11, 10B, 10C2, AND 10D1-7. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS 10C1. MOTION
[11) CITY COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS]
TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, VOTE PLEASE. THE WHOLE BUTTON IS ABSENT. JOE DISALVO? ABSTAIN.STEVE GORMAN? AYE. DOUG RUE? AYE. ROGER SANDOW? AYE. MOTION CARRIES. IS THERE ANY CITY COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS? THE FARMERS MARKET. LAST YEAR WE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE ASK ABOUT THE PORTA-POTTIES. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO HAVE YOUR STAFF, THEY'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM PUT OUT ON THURSDAY AND PICKED UP ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY MORNING, VERSUS LEAVING THEM OUT FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE IN THE PROBLEM IN THE BAYLESS PARK AREA AND THEY GET DESTROYED. THERE'S SOME BAD THINGS HAPPENING IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS SO IF WE COULD PUT THEM OUT FOR THE FARMERS MARKET, I THINK IT'S NICE TO HAVE IT FOR THAT EVENT BUT PICK THEM UP FRIDAY MORNING. IS THERE A WAY FOR US TO DO THEM ON A MOBILE PLATFORM ON A TRAILER OR SOMETHING? I DON'T KNOW. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE ADA AND STUFF LIKE THAT WELL A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS ONE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE OWN THOSE PORTA POTS OR IF WE CONTRACT. OH AND IF WE CONTRACT THEM, THERE WOULD BE A FEE
[12) OTHER BUSINESS]
TO TAKE AND PUT BACK EACH WEEK.SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL TAKE THIS AWAY, AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU BY THE END OF THE WEEK. YEAH, I JUST KNOW THAT LAST YEAR THERE WAS ISSUES. IF WE CAN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND IF THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT, WHAT IS THAT COST? OKAY. BECAUSE EVEN IF THERE IS A COST, I'D STILL LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT'S AN OPTION.
THAT MAKES SENSE. OKAY. ANY OTHER BUSINESS? ONE ITEM IS THAT WE HAVE TALKED IN THE FALL ABOUT THE HUNTING ORDINANCE, AND THEN IT KIND OF DROPPED WITH THE ELECTION. ARE YOU GUYS OKAY IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DISCUSSION AND BRING A RECOMMENDATION AS FAR AS EITHER THE AMOUNT OF YARDAGE TO HUNT IN OR NOBODY HUNTING IN? I THOUGHT WE SETTLED THAT. I THOUGHT WE SQUARED THAT AWAY, YEAH. WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT IT FORWARD BECAUSE MAYOR WALSH DIDN'T BRING IT FORWARD, AND SO IT'S I THOUGHT WE HAD AN ORDINANCE WHERE WE MADE THEM FACE THEM TO, THEY HAVE TO FACE INTO THE PROPERTY. WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY TAKE IT. WE VOTED ON IT. DID WE? NO. ARE YOU GUYS SURE? I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT ONE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY VOTED ON. I THINK IT WAS SENT BACK FOR US TO CONSIDER SOME THINGS AND THEN IT NEVER WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AGAIN. WE AS A COUNCIL GAVE THE RECOMMENDATION, BUT IT NEVER ACTUALLY CAME FOR A VOTE. AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S THE PROPERTIES INVOLVED CALLED ME LAST WEEK AND SAID, WHERE ARE WE ON THIS? WELL, IF WE DIDN'T, WE STILL NEED TO.
AND IF WE DID, THEN LET'S JUST.
I'M PRETTY SURE WE DID. I THOUGHT WE DID TOO. EITHER WAY.
SO I'LL GO BACK AND LOOK, AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LAST TIME. JODY OR AMANDA, WHOEVER, VERIFY WHEREVER THE HECK WE'RE AT. IF WE DID NOT, WE ALL THOUGHT WE DID, I THINK. FANTASTIC.
OKAY, GREAT. AND SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO MOVE INTO. EXEMPT SESSION.
SO MOVED. YEAH, I ALMOST SECONDED. YEAH, SECOND. I ALMOST SECONDED YOUR MOTION,
[05:20:02]
NOT HIS. CORRECTION, I AM SECONDING DOUG'S MOTION. THERE YOU GO. SO WE'VE GOT TO SHUT OFF ALL THE MICS. SO DO WE NEED TO END THE ORIGINAL MEETING, PROBABLY? MOTION TO CLOSE, ADJOURN, WHATEVER? MOTION TO ADJOURN THE ORIGINAL MEETING.MOTION TO ADJOURN THE OPEN COUNCIL MEETING. IS THERE A SECOND TO? ALL RIGHT. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED, AND WE ARE OPENING AND WALKING INTO EXEMPT SESSION. PERFECT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.