[1:14] Good evening. It is [clears throat]

[1:15] Monday, August 17th, at 7:00 p.m. This

[1:17] is a regular meeting of the City Council

[1:19] of Waverly, Iowa, and we are called to

[1:21] order.

[1:23] Please join me in the Pledge of

[1:24] Allegiance.

[1:28] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[1:30] United States of America, and to the

[1:33] republic for which it stands, one

[1:35] nation, under God, indivisible, with

[1:39] liberty and justice for all.

[1:45] » Council, do I have a motion to approve

[1:46] the agenda?

[1:48] >> Move to approve the agenda as presented.

[1:52] » Move to approve the agenda as presented.

[1:52] >> Second.

[1:53] » Second.

[1:53] >> Any discussion?

[1:55] » Any discussion?

[1:55] It's It's vote. All in favor say I.

[1:58] >> I.

[1:58] » I.

[1:58] >> I.

[1:58] » I.

[1:59] >> I.

[2:00] » I.

[2:00] >> Council, do I have a motion to approve

[2:01] » Council, do I have a motion to approve

[2:01] the minutes?

[2:03] >> I move to approve the minutes as

[2:04] » I move to approve the minutes as

[2:04] presented.

[2:08] » Second.

[2:09] >> Is there any discussion?

[2:12] » Is there any discussion?

[2:12] It's a voice vote. All in favor say I.

[2:15] >> I.

[2:15] » I.

[2:15] >> I.

[2:16] » I.

[2:16] >> I.

[2:17] » I.

[2:17] >> It passed unanimously. Okay, welcome

[2:19] » It passed unanimously. Okay, welcome

[2:19] back to our guest councilperson Steve

[2:21] Nuss. Thank you for joining us again

[2:22] tonight. I will come back to you at the

[2:24] end of the meeting if you have any

[2:25] comments or questions to go over.

[2:28] This is the date, time, and place for

[2:29] public hearing for review of the plans,

[2:31] specifications, form of contract, and

[2:33] estimated cost for the 2026 Cemetery

[2:36] Road and parking lot project. The mayor

[2:38] and the city council will entertain any

[2:40] comments. After all comments, the

[2:41] hearing will be declared closed, and the

[2:43] following action will be considered.

[2:45] Have you received any written or oral

[2:47] comments?

[2:48] >> I have not, Your Honor.

[2:49] » I have not, Your Honor.

[2:49] >> Are there any public comments?

[2:53] » Are there any public comments?

[2:53] I see none. The public hearing is now

[2:54] closed. Council, do I have a motion?

[2:58] » I move approval of resolution 26-168, a

[3:01] resolution approving the plans,

[3:03] specifications, form of contract, and

[3:05] estimated cost for the 2026 Cemetery

[3:07] Road and parking lot project.

[3:09] >> Second.

[3:11] » Second.

[3:11] >> Any discussion?

[3:13] » Any discussion?

[3:13] Roll call vote, please.

[3:15] >> Wolf?

[3:15] » Wolf?

[3:15] >> Yes.

[3:16] » Yes.

[3:16] >> Rafferty?

[3:16] » Rafferty?

[3:16] >> Yes.

[3:17] » Yes.

[3:17] >> Myers?

[3:18] » Myers?

[3:18] >> Yes.

[3:19] » Yes.

[3:19] >> Mackey?

[3:20] » Mackey?

[3:20] >> Yes.

[3:20] » Yes.

[3:20] >> Hengus?

[3:21] » Hengus?

[3:21] >> Yes.

[3:21] » Yes.

[3:21] >> Harman?

[3:22] » Harman?

[3:22] >> Yes.

[3:24] » Can I have Diana Blake and Elaine Maine

[3:27] meet me at the podium, please?

[3:38] » [laughter]

[3:39] >> Tonight, we get to recognize these two

[3:41] » Tonight, we get to recognize these two

[3:41] for their many, many decades of service

[3:43] on the library board. So, Elaine, I

[3:45] think 30 years, is that correct?

[3:48] >> I really, really appreciate anybody

[3:50] » I really, really appreciate anybody

[3:50] who's willing to step up and serve on

[3:51] any committee, especially for this long.

[3:53] So, thank you for your commitment and

[3:54] your dedication and the wonderful things

[3:56] that the library has done. So, thank you

[3:58] very, very much.

[4:02] Miss Blake, we go way back. Way, way,

[4:04] way, way back. I was the best trumpet

[4:06] player she's ever had.

[4:11] » [laughter]

[4:12] >> We don't lie in this room, Miss Blake.

[4:14] » We don't lie in this room, Miss Blake.

[4:14] Um, but 42 years, I think.

[4:15] >> 42 years.

[4:16] » 42 years.

[4:16] >> 42 years. So, thank you for your

[4:18] » 42 years. So, thank you for your

[4:18] dedication. You've had a long, long, um,

[4:21] history of dedicating time to your

[4:23] community and I appreciate that.

[4:24] >> Pretty much it's been a pleasure.

[4:27] » Pretty much it's been a pleasure.

[4:28] Not

[4:29] 42 years of meetings, but

[4:31] serving such a wonderful institution as

[4:34] the Waverly Public Library.

[4:36] >> Absolutely.

[4:37] » Absolutely.

[4:37] I appreciate everything you've done.

[4:39] Thank you. And congratulations.

[4:41] >> Thank you.

[4:44] » [applause]

[4:58] [laughter]

[5:04] » Okay.

[5:04] >> She's out the door.

[5:06] » She's out the door.

[5:06] If you ever want to go to a meeting, you

[5:07] can come here anytime you want.

[5:10] Okay, this month we have two

[5:11] proclamations. The first one is Al-Anon

[5:13] Family Groups 75th Anniversary.

[5:18] Whereas the City of Waverly strives to

[5:20] maintain the health and well-being of

[5:21] our residents and as such welcomes the

[5:23] opportunity to recognize institutions

[5:26] that pursue the worthwhile endeavor, it

[5:28] is therefore appropriate we acknowledge

[5:30] Al-Anon Family Groups on the occasion of

[5:32] its 75th Anniversary. And whereas the

[5:36] Al-Anon Family Group was founded in 1951

[5:39] to offer understanding, strength, and

[5:41] hope to families and friends of

[5:42] individuals affected by alcohol use.

[5:45] Al-Anon recognizes alcoholism is a

[5:47] family disease and healing must extend

[5:49] beyond the individual to loved ones who

[5:51] also suffer in silence. And whereas for

[5:54] 75 years Al-Anon has been a lifeline for

[5:57] those impacted by problem drinking

[5:59] providing peer-led support, healing

[6:01] tools, and a space to recover from the

[6:03] effects of alcoholism. And whereas the

[6:07] Iowa District 4 of Al-Anon serving

[6:09] Waverly has long played a vital role in

[6:11] helping individuals rebuild their

[6:13] emotional well-being, foster resilience,

[6:15] and strengthen family and community

[6:17] ties. And whereas through its commitment

[6:19] to inclusivity, confidentiality, and

[6:21] mutual support, Al-Anon has created a

[6:24] compassionate community where members

[6:25] can grow, heal, and support one another.

[6:28] And whereas the 75th anniversary of

[6:31] Al-Anon Family Groups offers an

[6:32] opportunity to honor its life-changing

[6:34] impact worldwide, especially in Waverly,

[6:37] and to raise awareness of the resources

[6:39] to those affected by a loved one's

[6:40] alcoholism. Now, therefore, I, Kristen

[6:43] Haffle, mayor and city council of the

[6:45] city of Waverly, do hereby Monday,

[6:47] August 31st, 2026 in the city of Waverly

[6:50] as Al-Anon Family Groups Day throughout

[6:54] the city. And I urge all people of

[6:55] Waverly to support families and friends

[6:57] of loved ones struggling with alcoholism

[6:59] or alcohol use disorder by sharing

[7:01] information about Al-Anon Family Groups.

[7:04] In witness whereof, I hereunto set my

[7:06] hand and cause the seal of the city of

[7:07] Waverly, Iowa to be affixed this 17th

[7:10] day of August, 2026.

[7:13] Council, do I have a motion?

[7:14] >> I move to approve the proclamation

[7:16] » I move to approve the proclamation

[7:16] proclaiming Monday, August 31st, 2026 as

[7:19] Al-Anon Family Groups Day in the city of

[7:21] Waverly, Iowa.

[7:23] >> Second.

[7:24] » Second.

[7:24] >> Is there any discussion?

[7:27] » Is there any discussion?

[7:27] This is a voice vote. All in favor say

[7:28] I.

[7:29] >> I.

[7:30] » I.

[7:30] >> Opposed?

[7:32] » Opposed?

[7:32] That brings us to our second

[7:34] proclamation of the month.

[7:36] Hunger Action Month Proclamation 2026.

[7:41] Whereas hunger is a vital concern in

[7:43] Northeast Iowa, where 12% of people,

[7:45] including one in every six children,

[7:47] experience food insecurity, and whereas

[7:50] every person deserves access to the food

[7:52] and resources they need to live a full,

[7:53] healthy life. Yet millions of people in

[7:55] the US experience food insecurity, and

[7:58] when people don't have enough to eat, it

[8:00] impacts their health, education, and

[8:01] future opportunities. Whereas the city

[8:03] of Waverly is committed to taking steps

[8:05] to combat hunger in every part of our

[8:07] community, and to provide additional

[8:09] resources that are needed. And whereas

[8:12] the city of Waverly, Iowa, is committed

[8:15] to working with Northeast Iowa Food Bank

[8:17] to educate people about the role and

[8:18] importance of Feeding America Network,

[8:21] and how it stands alongside neighbors

[8:22] facing hunger to ensure everyone has

[8:24] access to the food and resources they

[8:26] need to thrive. And

[8:28] whereas more than 2,300 individuals in

[8:31] Bremer County access food from Northeast

[8:34] Iowa Food Bank annually, and whereas

[8:37] Northeast Iowa Food Bank distributed

[8:39] more than 226,000 meals to more than

[8:42] 33,000 duplicated households in their

[8:45] most recent fiscal year through a

[8:47] network of agency partners, food

[8:49] pantries, meal programs, and other

[8:50] community organizations. And

[8:53] whereas the month of September has been

[8:54] designated Hunger Action Month to bring

[8:56] communities together to elevate the

[8:58] voices of people who experience food

[9:00] insecurity, and inspire everyone to take

[9:02] action in the movement to end hunger.

[9:04] And

[9:05] whereas food banks across the country,

[9:06] including the Northeast Iowa Food Bank,

[9:08] will host numerous events throughout the

[9:10] month of September to bring awareness

[9:12] and help end hunger in their local

[9:13] community.

[9:15] Now, therefore, I, Kristen Happle, mayor

[9:17] of the City Council of Waverly, Iowa, do

[9:19] hereby recognize September 2026 as

[9:22] Hunger Action Month in the City of

[9:23] Waverly, Iowa, and I call this

[9:25] observance to the attention of our

[9:27] citizens.

[9:28] Council, do I have a motion?

[9:30] >> I move to proclaim proclaiming September

[9:33] » I move to proclaim proclaiming September

[9:33] 2026 as Hunger Action Month in the City

[9:35] of Waverly, Iowa.

[9:37] >> Second.

[9:39] » Second.

[9:39] >> Any discussion?

[9:41] » Any discussion?

[9:41] This is a voice vote. All in favor say

[9:43] I.

[9:44] >> I.

[9:44] » I.

[9:44] >> I.

[9:44] » I.

[9:45] >> I.

[9:45] » I.

[9:45] >> Passed unanimously. This is the time for

[9:47] » Passed unanimously. This is the time for

[9:47] public comments on items not on the

[9:49] agenda. Please limit your comments to 5

[9:51] minutes unless additional time is

[9:52] granted by the presiding officer. All

[9:54] comments shall be addressed to the

[9:55] council as a whole and not to any

[9:57] individual member. Does anybody rise for

[9:59] public comments?

[10:02] Seeing no one,

[10:04] councillors, do I have a motion to

[10:05] approve the consent calendar?

[10:09] » I'll move approval of the consent

[10:11] calendar as presented.

[10:13] >> Second.

[10:14] » Second.

[10:14] >> Is there [clears throat] any discussion?

[10:19] This is a voice vote. All in favor say

[10:21] I.

[10:22] >> I.

[10:22] » I.

[10:22] >> I.

[10:23] » I.

[10:23] >> I.

[10:23] » I.

[10:23] >> Passed unanimously.

[10:25] » Passed unanimously.

[10:25] On to regular business.

[10:29] Resolution 26-165,

[10:31] a resolution awarding the citywide

[10:33] asphalt patching fall 2026 project.

[10:36] Councillors, do I have a motion?

[10:40] » I move to approve resolution 26-165,

[10:43] a resolution awarding the citywide

[10:44] asphalt patching fall 2026 project to

[10:47] Kluesner Construction of Farley, Iowa

[10:49] for the bid amount of $20,553.70.

[10:54] » Second.

[10:56] >> Is there any discussion?

[10:59] » Is there any discussion?

[10:59] It's a roll call vote, please.

[11:01] Rathje.

[11:01] >> Yes.

[11:02] » Yes.

[11:02] >> Myers.

[11:05] » Yes.

[11:07] >> Mackey.

[11:08] » Mackey.

[11:08] >> Yes.

[11:09] » Yes.

[11:09] >> King.

[11:09] » King.

[11:09] >> Yes.

[11:10] » Yes.

[11:10] >> Harmon.

[11:10] » Harmon.

[11:10] >> Yes.

[11:11] » Yes.

[11:11] >> Wolf.

[11:12] » Wolf.

[11:12] >> Yes.

[11:18] » Resolution 26-166,

[11:21] a resolution approving change order

[11:22] number one, accepting the bituminous

[11:24] seal coat program 2026 as complete,

[11:27] approving pay application number one,

[11:29] and approving pay application number two

[11:31] as the final payment to the Prairie Road

[11:33] Builders Inc. of Hazleton, Iowa.

[11:35] Council, do I have a motion?

[11:38] >> Move to approve resolution 26-166,

[11:42] » Move to approve resolution 26-166,

[11:42] a resolution approving change order

[11:44] number one for a decreased amount of

[11:46] $5,396.60,

[11:49] accepting the bituminous seal coat

[11:52] program 2026 is complete, approving pay

[11:55] application number one in the amount of

[11:57] $128,182.98,

[12:02] and approving pay application number two

[12:04] in the amount of $3,964.62,

[12:08] as the final payment to Prairie Road

[12:10] Builders Incorporated of Hazleton, Iowa.

[12:15] » Is there a second?

[12:16] >> Second.

[12:17] » Second.

[12:17] >> Barden.

[12:19] » Barden.

[12:19] Is there any discussion?

[12:20] >> Just wondered why it was decreased.

[12:23] » Just wondered why it was decreased.

[12:23] Didn't cost as much.

[12:24] >> In the beginning, it's purely a

[12:26] » In the beginning, it's purely a

[12:26] guess on

[12:28] the footage of the the quantity that we

[12:30] have. In this case, it it was a

[12:32] reduction because we they actually used

[12:34] less product. So, we actually track the

[12:36] product by tickets

[12:38] and then and gallons that come off the

[12:39] truck.

[12:40] >> Okay.

[12:40] » Okay.

[12:40] >> Thanks.

[12:43] » Any other discussion?

[12:45] Roll call vote, please.

[12:47] >> Myers.

[12:48] » Myers.

[12:49] >> Yes.

[12:49] » Yes.

[12:49] >> Matthi.

[12:50] » Matthi.

[12:50] >> Yes.

[12:50] » Yes.

[12:50] >> Tangis.

[12:51] » Tangis.

[12:51] >> Yes.

[12:51] » Yes.

[12:51] >> Harmon.

[12:52] » Harmon.

[12:52] >> Yes.

[12:52] » Yes.

[12:52] >> Wolf.

[12:53] » Wolf.

[12:53] >> Yes.

[12:53] » Yes.

[12:53] >> Raffety.

[12:54] » Raffety.

[12:54] >> Yes.

[13:00] » Resolution 26-167,

[13:02] a resolution approving an agreement with

[13:04] Helland Engineering and Surveying LTD to

[13:07] complete a retracement survey of the

[13:09] alley and a portion of the street within

[13:11] block 15, original town of Waverly. Do I

[13:14] have a motion?

[13:16] >> I move to approve resolution 26-167,

[13:20] » I move to approve resolution 26-167,

[13:20] a resolution approving an agreement with

[13:21] Helland Engineering and Surveying

[13:23] Limited to complete a retracement survey

[13:25] of the alley and a portion of the street

[13:28] within block 15 in original town of

[13:30] Waverly for the amount of $2,100 plus

[13:32] recording fees.

[13:34] >> Second.

[13:36] » Second.

[13:36] Any discussion?

[13:38] So, it sounds like this was just sort of

[13:39] discovered

[13:41] by accident almost during a

[13:43] application.

[13:45] Okay. And we're using

[13:46] >> determine if a retaining wall that was

[13:48] » determine if a retaining wall that was

[13:48] built is actually on our property or

[13:49] not. And that's kind of why we're going

[13:50] through this process. We're seeing it

[13:52] more and more. And it's in the older

[13:54] section people start to redo things and

[13:56] all of a sudden you realize I don't

[13:57] think that's your property. So, this

[13:59] will kind of resolve that issue.

[14:01] >> So, the fence is new, but the retaining

[14:03] » So, the fence is new, but the retaining

[14:03] wall was already there.

[14:04] >> No.

[14:06] » No.

[14:06] Do you want to explain, Paige?

[14:08] >> The existing fence

[14:10] » The existing fence

[14:10] is likely over the property line as

[14:12] well, but they are going to take that

[14:14] out to redo a fence in its place.

[14:16] >> Okay.

[14:18] » Okay.

[14:18] Okay.

[14:20] I know we're just using a different

[14:21] surveying company than typical.

[14:23] >> Just trying to stay competitive.

[14:24] » Just trying to stay competitive.

[14:24] >> Okay.

[14:25] » Okay.

[14:25] Thanks.

[14:28] Any other discussion?

[14:31] Roll call vote, please.

[14:32] >> Mackey?

[14:33] » Mackey?

[14:33] >> Yes.

[14:33] » Yes.

[14:33] >> Cangas?

[14:34] » Cangas?

[14:34] >> Yes.

[14:34] » Yes.

[14:34] >> Harmon?

[14:35] » Harmon?

[14:35] >> Yes.

[14:36] » Yes.

[14:36] >> Wolf?

[14:36] » Wolf?

[14:36] >> Yes.

[14:37] » Yes.

[14:37] >> Rathje?

[14:37] » Rathje?

[14:37] >> Yes.

[14:38] » Yes.

[14:38] >> Myers?

[14:39] » Myers?

[14:40] >> Yes.

[14:45] » Just came off my straw. I almost choked

[14:46] on it. Did you see that?

[14:48] >> I was ready.

[14:50] » I was ready.

[14:50] >> I have these little silicone tips on my

[14:52] » I have these little silicone tips on my

[14:52] straw and I almost choked on one, so I'm

[14:54] going to take that off.

[14:55] Um okay. Third and final reading of

[14:59] ordinance 1181 an ordinance amending

[15:01] sections 105.4.09

[15:04] and 105.4.10

[15:06] of chapter 105 traffic of the Waverly

[15:08] code of ordinances. Council, do I have a

[15:10] motion?

[15:14] » Move to approve the third and final

[15:15] reading of ordinance 1181 an ordinance

[15:18] amending sections 105.409

[15:21] and 105.4.10

[15:24] of chapter 105 traffic of the Waverly

[15:27] code of ordinances.

[15:30] Second.

[15:32] Any discussion?

[15:36] Roll call vote, please.

[15:37] >> Kangas?

[15:38] » Kangas?

[15:38] >> Yes.

[15:38] » Yes.

[15:38] >> Harman?

[15:39] » Harman?

[15:39] >> Yes.

[15:39] » Yes.

[15:40] >> Wolf?

[15:40] » Wolf?

[15:40] >> Yes.

[15:41] » Yes.

[15:41] >> Rathje?

[15:41] » Rathje?

[15:41] >> Yes.

[15:42] » Yes.

[15:42] >> Myers?

[15:43] » Myers?

[15:43] >> Yes.

[15:44] » Yes.

[15:44] >> Mackey?

[15:44] » Mackey?

[15:44] >> Yes.

[15:45] » Yes.

[15:45] >> [clears throat]

[15:50] » Resolution 26-169,

[15:53] a resolution approving the removal of

[15:54] the fire hydrant installation

[15:56] requirement for parcel QQ 901 29th

[15:59] Avenue Southeast. Council, do I have a

[16:01] motion?

[16:04] » I'll move to approve resolution 26-169,

[16:07] a resolution approving the removal of

[16:09] the fire hydrant installation

[16:11] requirement for parcel QQ 901 29th

[16:14] Avenue Southeast.

[16:18] >> Second.

[16:20] » Second.

[16:20] Any discussion?

[16:21] >> So, I just got some clarification from

[16:23] » So, I just got some clarification from

[16:23] James about this before the meeting.

[16:25] This was something we first saw back in

[16:27] '18 when this subdivision was first

[16:29] proposed and um

[16:32] yeah, there's not there's not enough

[16:33] water pressure to support a hydrant and

[16:35] there's water supply right across the

[16:37] road, basically, it sounds like.

[16:39] >> Great. And will Jesse, if you will

[16:41] » Great. And will Jesse, if you will

[16:41] elaborate a little bit, kind of why

[16:42] we're stuck in this

[16:43] central pickle here.

[16:45] >> Uh Breezy Hill subdivision itself had a

[16:48] » Uh Breezy Hill subdivision itself had a

[16:48] um

[16:49] house was built recently. We looked at

[16:51] everything.

[16:52] In the agreement it said that it must be

[16:54] served by rural water and also the city

[16:57] had sanitary sewer in there. So, rural

[17:00] water brought in service for that home

[17:02] and subsequently put in taps for the

[17:04] other lots there.

[17:06] This other out lot here was brought up

[17:08] as

[17:10] some interest and we started looking

[17:11] into it and there was a requirement that

[17:13] a hydrant must be brought to this lot.

[17:15] Um rural water does not have a hydrant

[17:18] in that area. Um

[17:20] It would be a substantial investment to

[17:22] get a a hydrant from rural water there.

[17:25] And rural water's hydrants are not

[17:26] similar to what city hydrants are as far

[17:28] as fire protection.

[17:30] They can fit They can haul water off of

[17:32] it, but they don't hook a pumper to it

[17:34] or anything like that. Um, city

[17:37] water mains are uh roughly I think I put

[17:39] 2,200 ft or something away from there.

[17:42] Um, it would be a dead end system, so it

[17:44] wouldn't be a loop system. Um, not

[17:46] really uh conducive to firefighting. It

[17:48] would serve water to the one resident at

[17:51] that point, and not even the other ones

[17:52] cuz rural water was in there.

[17:54] So, there wasn't a lot of uh advantage

[17:57] for us doing that.

[17:58] >> So, if there's a fire there

[18:00] » So, if there's a fire there

[18:00] >> They would be hauling from city mains.

[18:02] » They would be hauling from city mains.

[18:02] And I talked to the fire chief as well,

[18:04] and that's what their plan would be even

[18:06] if a hydrant was there from rural water.

[18:08] They'd plan on hauling water from our

[18:10] city mains. So, it does not really

[18:12] change their approach.

[18:14] >> Okay.

[18:15] » Okay.

[18:16] Thanks.

[18:18] » Roll call vote, please.

[18:20] Harmon?

[18:21] >> Yes.

[18:22] » Yes.

[18:22] >> Wolf?

[18:22] » Wolf?

[18:22] >> Yes.

[18:23] » Yes.

[18:23] >> Rathje?

[18:23] » Rathje?

[18:23] >> Yes.

[18:24] » Yes.

[18:24] >> Myers?

[18:25] » Myers?

[18:25] >> Yes.

[18:26] » Yes.

[18:26] >> Mackey?

[18:26] » Mackey?

[18:26] >> Yes.

[18:27] » Yes.

[18:27] >> Tenges? [clears throat]

[18:27] » Tenges? [clears throat]

[18:28] >> Yes.

[18:33] » Resolution 26-170, a resolution

[18:36] approving contract, bonds, and

[18:37] certificate of insurance for the Waverly

[18:39] Utilities Boat Ramp Project. Council, do

[18:42] I have a motion?

[18:43] >> I move to approve resolution 26-170,

[18:46] » I move to approve resolution 26-170,

[18:46] resolution approving contract, bonds,

[18:49] and certificate of insurance from Baker

[18:51] Enterprises Inc. of Waterloo, Iowa for

[18:53] the Waverly Utilities Boat Ramp Project,

[18:56] and authorize the mayor to sign the

[18:57] contract.

[19:00] >> Second.

[19:01] » Second.

[19:01] >> Any discussion?

[19:05] Roll call vote, please.

[19:06] Wolf?

[19:07] >> Yes.

[19:07] » Yes.

[19:07] >> Rathje?

[19:08] » Rathje?

[19:08] >> Yes.

[19:09] » Yes.

[19:09] >> Myers?

[19:10] » Myers?

[19:10] >> Yes.

[19:11] » Yes.

[19:11] >> Mackey?

[19:11] » Mackey?

[19:11] >> Yes.

[19:12] » Yes.

[19:12] >> Kangis?

[19:12] » Kangis?

[19:12] >> Yes.

[19:13] » Yes.

[19:13] >> Harmon?

[19:13] » Harmon?

[19:13] >> Yes.

[19:19] » Resolution 26-171,

[19:21] a resolution approving a professional

[19:23] services agreement for design of the

[19:25] Waverly Golf Course Clubhouse remodel.

[19:27] Council, do I have a motion?

[19:29] >> I move approval of resolution 26-171, a

[19:32] » I move approval of resolution 26-171, a

[19:32] resolution approving a professional

[19:34] services agreement for the Waverly Golf

[19:35] Course Clubhouse remodel with Martin

[19:38] Gardner Architecture and GA in Marion,

[19:40] Iowa for design of the Waverly Golf

[19:42] Course Clubhouse remodel for the total

[19:44] amount of $333,000.

[19:48] » Do I have a second?

[19:49] >> Second.

[19:51] » Second.

[19:51] >> Any discussion?

[19:53] » Any discussion?

[19:53] >> So, I want to clarify quick that it's

[19:54] » So, I want to clarify quick that it's

[19:55] not just for architecture, that is

[19:57] general contracting, architecture,

[19:58] engineering, plan design. It's It's

[20:00] everything. It's all the

[20:02] Everything you're going to need. It is

[20:03] not just for architecture. So, you know,

[20:06] people look at that and panic sometimes.

[20:07] It is for everything. They're just the

[20:10] parent of what's going to be below them

[20:11] as well. So.

[20:12] >> So, they'll be supervising the

[20:14] » So, they'll be supervising the

[20:14] contractors?

[20:17] And what's the timeline on this?

[20:21] » I want to think we're looking October.

[20:24] Cuz like our big tournaments are about

[20:26] done by then.

[20:27] >> Right. We'd like to get stuff out, get

[20:29] » Right. We'd like to get stuff out, get

[20:29] bids back, and be able to start the end

[20:32] of October, beginning of November at the

[20:34] latest. Uh to work through

[20:37] >> [clears throat]

[20:38] » [clears throat]

[20:38] >> and then to be

[20:40] » and then to be

[20:40] you know,

[20:41] we realize we probably won't be ready to

[20:43] go at the end of March, beginning of

[20:44] April, but we want to be ready to go by

[20:47] the beginning of May.

[20:49] So.

[20:52] We're hoping to be all done by May.

[20:55] >> So, do we have a plan yet?

[20:57] » So, do we have a plan yet?

[20:57] Like a blueprint or

[20:59] >> a plan or are you asking?

[21:00] » a plan or are you asking?

[21:00] >> Just what are

[21:00] » Just what are

[21:00] >> That's what's getting finalized now

[21:02] » That's what's getting finalized now

[21:02] because they're going to reshape some

[21:03] areas, and walls are going to move some

[21:05] items. As it sits right now, it just

[21:07] doesn't flow. It never really has.

[21:09] >> Mhm. And so, we've been working with

[21:11] » Mhm. And so, we've been working with

[21:11] staff, Garrett, Jordan, myself,

[21:14] architects, engineers, you know, what

[21:16] does it look like to get a better system

[21:18] in there?

[21:19] Um by removing part of the course, the

[21:22] building will go from 11 doors down I

[21:24] think four.

[21:26] Which greatly enhance how you get in,

[21:27] how you get out. There's no question

[21:29] about which door you want to use cuz

[21:30] they're all over the place.

[21:32] And so, it's been that kind of movement

[21:33] to figure out what goes where, what

[21:36] can't fit here, have to move this here.

[21:38] How do you still seat 120 golfers?

[21:41] That's been the design the last month is

[21:43] getting that finished out, rough line,

[21:45] all of it so that it's a little more

[21:46] efficient. Uh so, it's very close to

[21:48] being finalized so we can get you an

[21:50] actual blueprint of what it will look

[21:52] like. Uh I was surprised by the

[21:53] limitations of what you can and can't do

[21:55] with some of these things, but it cuz of

[21:56] code and

[21:57] um certain size of things like

[21:59] bathrooms. We didn't know that was that

[22:01] size it had to be that way and you can

[22:02] only sit certain areas.

[22:04] Um so, the cooler we make her, I mean,

[22:06] all these things that you want to do to

[22:08] get it to a single level, it does change

[22:10] a lot of what happens.

[22:11] And so, that's been the unique side of

[22:13] seeing this. They've been very good to

[22:14] work with showing examples,

[22:16] demonstration of what this looks like in

[22:17] this clubhouse, and what it could be.

[22:20] So, I think we're all happy with where

[22:21] it sits.

[22:22] We just want to be able to get to you

[22:23] soon to be able to see what that

[22:24] layout's going to be and how it all

[22:26] work. But it's almost a lot more

[22:27] symmetrical now than it was with the

[22:29] large addition that was there that we're

[22:31] going to eventually remove.

[22:36] » Any other discussion?

[22:37] >> Will it be all ADA compliant, I assume?

[22:40] » Will it be all ADA compliant, I assume?

[22:40] >> Absolutely. We'll be down to

[22:41] » Absolutely. We'll be down to

[22:41] [clears throat] one level a lot easier

[22:43] as we take the end of that two-story off

[22:45] and we'll be right there. Everything.

[22:50] » Roll call vote, please.

[22:52] Brothy?

[22:53] >> Yes.

[22:53] » Yes.

[22:53] >> Myers?

[22:55] » Myers?

[22:55] >> Yes. [clears throat]

[22:55] » Yes. [clears throat]

[22:55] >> Mackey?

[22:56] » Mackey?

[22:56] >> Yes.

[22:56] » Yes.

[22:56] >> Kangus?

[22:57] » Kangus?

[22:57] >> Yes.

[22:57] » Yes.

[22:58] >> Harmon?

[22:58] » Harmon?

[22:58] >> Yes.

[22:59] » Yes.

[22:59] >> Wolf?

[22:59] » Wolf?

[22:59] >> Yes.

[23:04] » Resolution 26-172

[23:06] resolution approving two invoices from

[23:08] Martin Gardner architecture for the

[23:10] Waverly Golf Course Clubhouse.

[23:13] Do I have a motion?

[23:15] >> [clears throat]

[23:16] » [clears throat]

[23:16] >> Move approval of resolution 26-172

[23:19] » Move approval of resolution 26-172

[23:19] a resolution approving two invoices from

[23:20] Martin Gardner architecture for the

[23:22] Waverly Golf Course Clubhouse for the

[23:24] amounts of $22,515.50

[23:27] and $23,477.56.

[23:32] » Second.

[23:34] >> Any discussion?

[23:35] » Any discussion?

[23:36] >> And I presume that's coming out of the

[23:37] » And I presume that's coming out of the

[23:37] 333

[23:38] >> That's why it's on after not on consent

[23:40] » That's why it's on after not on consent

[23:40] like it normally would have been. So we

[23:42] had to wait and they were kind of

[23:43] pushing but not until the contract was

[23:45] done.

[23:46] >> Right.

[23:49] » Uh any other discussion? Roll call vote,

[23:51] please.

[23:52] >> [cough]

[23:52] » [cough]

[23:52] >> Myers.

[23:53] » Myers.

[23:53] >> Excuse me.

[23:55] » Excuse me.

[23:55] Yes.

[23:56] >> Matheny.

[23:57] » Matheny.

[23:57] >> Yes.

[23:57] » Yes.

[23:57] >> Pennington.

[23:58] » Pennington.

[23:58] >> Yes.

[23:59] » Yes.

[23:59] >> Harman.

[23:59] » Harman.

[23:59] >> Yes.

[24:00] » Yes.

[24:00] >> Wolff.

[24:00] » Wolff.

[24:00] >> Yes.

[24:01] » Yes.

[24:01] >> Rocky.

[24:01] » Rocky.

[24:01] >> Yes.

[24:07] » That brings us to mayoral appointments.

[24:11] Council, do you have a motion to approve

[24:12] the mayoral appointment?

[24:15] » Move to approve the following mayoral

[24:17] appointments. Josh Bear to be appointed

[24:20] to the Leisure Services Commission due

[24:22] to a vacancy for a term ending December

[24:24] 31st, 2026.

[24:26] >> Second.

[24:28] » Second.

[24:28] >> Any discussion?

[24:31] It's a voice vote. All in favor say aye.

[24:34] >> Aye.

[24:34] » Aye.

[24:34] >> Aye.

[24:34] » Aye.

[24:34] >> Aye.

[24:35] » Aye.

[24:35] >> Passed unanimously.

[24:38] » Passed unanimously.

[24:38] That brings us to discussion of code

[24:40] enforcement.

[24:42] James.

[24:44] >> So I'll let Paige get to lead us off.

[24:47] » So I'll let Paige get to lead us off.

[24:47] I'm going to start coughing again. So

[24:49] I'll be right back. [laughter]

[24:53] » [clears throat]

[24:54] [cough]

[24:56] >> Come on up Paige.

[25:00] Was I prepared to start with anything?

[25:02] Um, basically we've just seen a lot of

[25:05] uptick of different code enforcement

[25:07] violation things throughout the city in

[25:09] the last year or two.

[25:11] Um, this year we've been trying to be

[25:13] proactive with grass. There's been an

[25:16] untimely number of the long grass that

[25:18] we have made contact in one form or the

[25:21] other with

[25:22] um,

[25:23] signs right away, all of those things

[25:24] that we have tried to be proactive with.

[25:26] Um,

[25:27] seems to be there's an increased amount

[25:29] of different things like junk in yards,

[25:31] some of the

[25:32] potentially dangerous buildings, things

[25:33] like that. So we brought um, Maria

[25:36] Brownwell up with Alder Zinkune um, to

[25:39] kind of have a code enforcement

[25:40] discussion to see kind of what council

[25:42] wants to see done, where we go from

[25:44] here.

[25:49] » Nicely done, I think.

[25:51] Sorry about that.

[25:52] >> So So Paige, I'm just curious, what's

[25:54] » So So Paige, I'm just curious, what's

[25:54] the what's sort of the

[25:58] What? How does it usually occur? Does

[25:59] someone call about a neighbor property

[26:01] or they drive by somewhere and they call

[26:03] you or could you just tell us about the

[26:05] process and how your referrals come in

[26:07] and what you do?

[26:08] >> Yep. Historically we've been mainly

[26:11] » Yep. Historically we've been mainly

[26:11] complaint driven for all types of

[26:14] violations.

[26:15] Um,

[26:16] last year we started being more

[26:18] proactive especially with grass and this

[26:21] year we

[26:23] got other bodies helping look at items.

[26:26] Um, so long grass we really

[26:28] start with a courtesy phone call or

[26:30] letter, email, whatever contact

[26:31] information I have for that property

[26:33] owner to try to get it, just educate

[26:35] them on what code says. Um,

[26:38] then we sends out a lot of times a

[26:40] non-certified letter just to try to keep

[26:44] the mailing costs down. A certified

[26:45] letter is now like 10 something, I

[26:47] think.

[26:48] Um,

[26:49] if that still doesn't get done then we

[26:50] reach out through certified mail. That

[26:52] can take a couple of weeks um, before it

[26:55] comes back as undeliverable. Then we

[26:57] attempt the personal service.

[26:59] So, signs and right-of-ways, grass,

[27:01] we've been trying to be proactive on a

[27:03] lot of those.

[27:04] Some of the junk, easy items that are

[27:07] junk in the yards, then

[27:09] if it's really obvious and we drive by,

[27:11] we're trying to be proactive and reach

[27:13] out to that property owner.

[27:15] Otherwise, they come in through

[27:17] complaints from citizens.

[27:19] >> And so, citations have we done so far

[27:21] » And so, citations have we done so far

[27:21] this year?

[27:23] >> How many actual citations or we just

[27:25] » How many actual citations or we just

[27:25] make contact?

[27:26] >> Contact, complaints, how many we've seen

[27:28] » Contact, complaints, how many we've seen

[27:28] so far this

[27:29] >> we've probably had 200. I've just some

[27:31] » we've probably had 200. I've just some

[27:31] sort of contact or another.

[27:35] Higher than

[27:36] >> is very effective, but maybe not our

[27:38] » is very effective, but maybe not our

[27:38] best way to do it. I think it's some of

[27:39] our goal tonight, as Mayor Jim

[27:41] mentioned, as well as

[27:42] how aggressive do we want to get going

[27:44] forward? Because it's not getting a lot

[27:46] better in some areas. In fact, it's

[27:47] getting a little worse and

[27:49] you know, we're seeing properties we

[27:50] haven't dealt with in the past, we are

[27:51] now, whatever reason, whether it's

[27:54] different owners, um

[27:56] circumstances that we're not aware of,

[27:57] but we're seeing a lot more need for

[27:59] code enforcement, especially in grass.

[28:01] But even in a junk buildings, we're

[28:03] starting to see more of that, buildings

[28:04] that are starting to lean, they almost

[28:06] look dangerous, broken windows.

[28:08] So, how aggressive do we want to get?

[28:10] And that's going to be a manpower

[28:11] question, it's going to be a funding

[28:13] question.

[28:14] And that's kind of what brought us to

[28:15] have this overall discussion of, you

[28:17] know, there's certain things that we

[28:18] talk about that are common. I mean, tall

[28:20] grass is one of the big ones that we see

[28:22] everywhere. Uh what is junk? We had that

[28:25] long discussion with Maria earlier. What

[28:27] is junk technically? And that's kind of

[28:29] a perspective thing. It's It's

[28:31] everybody's got their own idea of what

[28:32] that is.

[28:34] You know, how often do we go after

[28:35] those? We've done them in the past.

[28:37] We've had some that we had to call in

[28:39] people to remove

[28:41] significant quantities of items, uh

[28:44] multiple times sometimes. And

[28:47] so, as we start to see it pop up more

[28:48] and more in Waverly more than we've had

[28:49] in the past, one of the main questions

[28:51] we'll want tonight for you to answer is

[28:53] how aggressive do you want us to get out

[28:55] to some of this?

[28:56] Cuz it's Paige, and then some other

[28:58] supporting staff, but

[29:00] it may take a little bit more effort on

[29:02] our end to figure out how that's going

[29:03] to be accomplished going forward.

[29:05] >> How much of that is repeat offenders?

[29:07] » How much of that is repeat offenders?

[29:07] Are these all

[29:09] new faces, new names, or are there some

[29:12] that frequent flyers that just seem to

[29:14] keep cropping up or

[29:16] >> There are repeat offenders. I wouldn't

[29:17] » There are repeat offenders. I wouldn't

[29:18] say that's the majority, though.

[29:19] >> Okay.

[29:21] » Okay.

[29:21] >> Is it mainly owned properties by someone

[29:24] » Is it mainly owned properties by someone

[29:24] living at the home who owns the

[29:25] property, rental properties, all of the

[29:27] above?

[29:27] >> It's actually really good mix.

[29:28] » It's actually really good mix.

[29:28] >> Mhm.

[29:29] » Mhm.

[29:29] >> Um of rental versus owner-occupied.

[29:33] » Um of rental versus owner-occupied.

[29:33] >> And of course the grass is growing like,

[29:35] » And of course the grass is growing like,

[29:35] you know, so I can totally relate to

[29:37] that, but um what do you hear from

[29:39] people when you end up speaking to

[29:41] somebody? What do they have to say?

[29:45] » Rentals actually are

[29:48] easier

[29:50] to get some of those done first because

[29:52] the landlord says the tenant's supposed

[29:54] to be doing it, and they're like, "We'll

[29:55] make sure it gets done within the

[29:56] weekend." kind of thing.

[29:58] Um

[29:59] so then the property owners say, "I

[30:00] don't have time.

[30:02] I

[30:04] >> Whatever.

[30:04] » Whatever.

[30:05] >> Things you can't say in public.

[30:07] » Things you can't say in public.

[30:07] >> Things you can't say in public.

[30:08] » Things you can't say in public.

[30:08] >> Yeah, okay.

[30:08] » Yeah, okay.

[30:08] >> It's my lawn, I can do what I want.

[30:10] » It's my lawn, I can do what I want.

[30:10] >> I didn't know if it was people, you

[30:11] » I didn't know if it was people, you

[30:11] know, who are elderly who can't do their

[30:13] lawn anymore or who can't afford to fix

[30:15] their garage that's falling over or

[30:17] I just wondered.

[30:18] >> I have not heard from that for the

[30:20] » I have not heard from that for the

[30:20] grass. I can see that potentially with

[30:22] some of the buildings,

[30:24] um but not so much with the grass, I

[30:26] think.

[30:27] >> And who's helping you look at these

[30:28] » And who's helping you look at these

[30:28] properties? Who goes out and checks

[30:30] things besides Do you Are you out

[30:32] driving around looking or

[30:33] >> I do sometimes.

[30:34] » I do sometimes.

[30:34] >> Yes.

[30:35] » Yes.

[30:35] >> I spend a lot of Friday out.

[30:36] » I spend a lot of Friday out.

[30:36] >> Um

[30:37] » Um

[30:37] we have two inspectors that do other

[30:40] jobs for the city, but they've been

[30:43] allowed to help point some out. Um once

[30:46] it gets the point of actually sending a

[30:48] certified notice to abate, I kind of

[30:49] want my eyes on those since the next

[30:52] step is for us to abate. Um

[30:55] >> And how nasty are people? And do you

[30:56] » And how nasty are people? And do you

[30:56] take law enforcement with you ever?

[30:59] >> Right now, they just really are dry ice

[31:03] » Right now, they just really are dry ice

[31:03] um that I don't have to stop too often.

[31:06] Um there's one that I sent out a notice

[31:08] to inspect an interior, law enforcement

[31:10] will come, but they'll have to stay on

[31:11] the outside of the building when I can

[31:13] go inside.

[31:14] >> Mhm.

[31:19] And what is the grass rule? What's the

[31:21] length of grass rule?

[31:22] >> Typically, your residential any

[31:24] » Typically, your residential any

[31:24] developed property is 8 in or less.

[31:27] Um your empty subdivisions or empty

[31:30] lots, they can apply for a property

[31:32] maintenance permit, a tier two what we

[31:34] call it, can be 24 in or less, just no

[31:37] noxious weeds.

[31:39] Um and then your waterways can be a

[31:40] little higher than that.

[31:42] >> Mhm.

[31:43] » Mhm.

[31:43] But we talked earlier, we fight No Mow

[31:45] May.

[31:47] Just not going to do it June.

[31:49] Um you know, it just keeps on going, and

[31:52] you just have a bit of that, and people

[31:54] think that's an excuse just not mow your

[31:55] yard.

[31:57] There are certain requirements to

[31:58] participate in that, such as wildflowers

[32:00] and things like that. I don't think

[32:02] thistles and other flowers are counted

[32:04] in that, and yet you see it, and it's

[32:06] just like I said, it's become an excuse

[32:08] just not take care of your

[32:10] By the time you have to mow it, it's a

[32:11] hayfield. It is not a good time.

[32:13] >> Right.

[32:14] » Right.

[32:14] >> Um so you're battling all these

[32:16] » Um so you're battling all these

[32:16] different things, and community-wide you

[32:18] want to be fair.

[32:19] >> Mhm.

[32:19] » Mhm.

[32:19] >> Just want to try and treat everybody the

[32:20] » Just want to try and treat everybody the

[32:20] same, so we try and get to these things

[32:22] as much as you can. Sometimes you just

[32:23] can't, so

[32:25] you know, while we have a ton of them

[32:26] from being complaint-driven, I'm sure

[32:27] we're not getting them all.

[32:29] Um it depends on how much your neighbor

[32:31] likes you, and how many times they want

[32:33] to call in on you, and it's

[32:34] >> Mhm.

[32:35] » Mhm.

[32:35] >> you can just expect it after

[32:36] » you can just expect it after

[32:36] [clears throat] certain rains, and days

[32:37] later, you're going to get a whole lot

[32:39] of calls coming in.

[32:40] >> Well, and that's being just proactive

[32:41] » Well, and that's being just proactive

[32:42] being just complaint driven on some of

[32:43] those, sometimes they don't get called

[32:45] in until it's well beyond it should have

[32:48] been. If we know about it, with the ones

[32:51] we've been proactive, we've seen it

[32:53] early enough that a quick phone call to

[32:55] them say, "Hey, your grass is long. Can

[32:58] you please get it taken care of?" That's

[32:59] a lot easier for them to go and get it

[33:00] taken care of within a day or two versus

[33:03] waiting until it's

[33:05] well beyond

[33:06] >> Right.

[33:06] » Right.

[33:06] >> And you need a baler.

[33:09] » And you need a baler.

[33:09] >> And what are the what's the definition

[33:10] » And what are the what's the definition

[33:11] of a dangerous property?

[33:13] >> There's multiple That's why Maria is

[33:14] » There's multiple That's why Maria is

[33:14] here. It's

[33:15] >> Probably. [snorts]

[33:16] » Probably. [snorts]

[33:16] >> Yeah.

[33:17] » Yeah.

[33:17] >> It depends on what we're looking at. And

[33:19] » It depends on what we're looking at. And

[33:19] so

[33:21] It depends on what we're talking about.

[33:23] So, the city code has a couple of

[33:25] different avenues for addressing

[33:26] properties. Um

[33:28] there's the the building code, which has

[33:30] the dangerous building

[33:32] um provisions in it. Um but your your

[33:35] main tool is your nuisance code. It also

[33:38] has an enumeration of nuisances

[33:40] including that dense growth of

[33:42] vegetation, tall grasses. Um it refers

[33:45] back to a more specific part of the code

[33:48] that addresses what uh the height the

[33:50] maximum height of that grasses can be.

[33:53] Um but generally speaking, when we're

[33:55] looking at your nuisance code, you have

[33:57] that enumeration, but the term nuisance

[33:59] is whatever is injurious to health,

[34:02] indecent, or offensive to the senses. Or

[34:05] otherwise an obstacle to the free use of

[34:07] property. So, it interferes with some

[34:09] someone else's comfortable enjoyment of

[34:11] their property. So, that's your classic

[34:14] definition. State code defines it that

[34:16] way. It's been around a long time. Um

[34:18] and so, to some extent, there has to be

[34:20] a measure of guidance from council on

[34:23] policy with respect to what uh what

[34:25] degree of enforcement is appropriate in

[34:28] a given circumstances.

[34:34] » I guess I think that the dangerous

[34:36] building or dangerous

[34:38] you know, things that present a danger

[34:39] to life and limb, but obviously go to

[34:41] the mat pretty quickly

[34:43] and consistently.

[34:45] >> That makes sense. And we usually say

[34:47] » That makes sense. And we usually say

[34:47] too, especially when it comes to

[34:49] buildings or structures,

[34:50] um that it's most beneficial, because

[34:53] city code actually gives two avenues for

[34:55] enforcement. One is administrative, so

[34:58] the grass is one example that's

[34:59] different than what you're talking about

[35:01] where um it's it's appropriate typically

[35:03] for administrative because there's

[35:06] there's usually less cost associated

[35:08] with it, um and it is a pretty quick

[35:10] fix. So, if the city needed to go in and

[35:13] abate itself, it could certainly do so

[35:15] after certain notices, and then it could

[35:17] assess those costs to the property

[35:18] without the need to go to the

[35:20] courthouse. On the other hand, there's

[35:22] those dangerous buildings or garages,

[35:25] and we do always recommend going to the

[35:27] court with that remedy. Simply many

[35:30] different reasons, but one of which

[35:31] there's going to be an a larger cost, as

[35:34] you might imagine, to addressing it.

[35:36] It's more complicated to address. It

[35:39] involves some someone's constitutional

[35:41] rights and property rights. So, going

[35:43] entering into someone's property and and

[35:46] trying to abate that as city staff, um

[35:48] presents a lot of challenges. So, we

[35:50] usually will go to the courthouse for

[35:52] that remedy. So, it's going to take a

[35:53] little longer, but um the courts usually

[35:56] do set a hearing uh fairly quickly if

[35:58] there's an emergency or if uh if the

[36:01] city has cause to believe that something

[36:03] is going to fall down imminently. Um

[36:05] there's also emergency abatement

[36:07] procedures. So, there's definitely an

[36:09] avenue when there's an emergency. Often

[36:12] times, these structures are around so

[36:14] long and they're deteriorating for so

[36:15] long, you don't really know when an

[36:17] emergency is going to come about.

[36:19] Typically, you know, you've got a

[36:20] deteriorating building, and then a

[36:22] weather storm a weather incident occurs,

[36:25] and now you have your emergency. It's

[36:27] really a function of two things, but you

[36:30] do have a tool in your toolbox for

[36:31] emergencies, but I don't know that

[36:33] that's What we try to do is get ahead of

[36:36] these structures before they put

[36:37] themselves in a position where an

[36:38] emergency

[36:40] is is is going to

[36:42] occur. So,

[36:43] so Paige is is is doing her department

[36:45] is doing a nice job just monitoring

[36:47] things and and making sure that, you

[36:49] know, if if things get to that

[36:51] extent and they think they need

[36:53] legal counsel, they they should give us

[36:55] a call and we try to address that right

[36:56] away.

[37:05] » So, Paige, you're saying you're seeing

[37:06] more of that lately, more dangerous

[37:08] buildings, broken windows? Like, is it

[37:10] vandalism? Is it just neglect of

[37:12] properties?

[37:13] >> Probably a combination of things. I

[37:16] » Probably a combination of things. I

[37:16] partly just overall deterioration over

[37:18] the years that there hasn't been any

[37:20] type of upkeep that's been done.

[37:25] » And some of these are residential, some

[37:27] are commercial, some are Is this a mix

[37:29] of the two? It's not just

[37:30] this part of the city or this part of

[37:32] the city. They kind of pop up all over

[37:33] the place. You just have a few here and

[37:35] there.

[37:37] We just don't want it to become a lot

[37:38] more than a few here and there.

[37:44] I mean, in the past we've used 657A,

[37:46] which is a common code section to seize

[37:48] a property that is seen as

[37:51] dilapidated or structurally going to

[37:54] cause harm.

[37:54] >> We did it for the Red Fox, too.

[37:56] » We did it for the Red Fox, too.

[37:56] >> That's the most recent one we all played

[37:57] » That's the most recent one we all played

[37:57] a part in.

[37:58] That was a good time.

[38:00] Um

[38:01] but there are cities that use that

[38:02] extensively and we're just not one of

[38:05] them that does. I don't know that we

[38:06] will get to that point, but that is kind

[38:08] of a final

[38:09] tool to say we are just going to handle

[38:11] this, take this, take it away, demolish

[38:13] it, whatever it may be done.

[38:15] It's an extreme one that I don't think

[38:16] we want to get to,

[38:18] but that is something else that we have.

[38:20] Um I could it'd helpful if we walk

[38:21] through just straight process. How do we

[38:23] get to the end result of a lot of the

[38:26] smaller infractions that we see or for

[38:29] areas that just simply will not correct

[38:30] themselves, what is our path to get that

[38:32] way?

[38:33] I don't know if Paige, Marie, if either

[38:34] one of you want to walk through that.

[38:38] » I have a memo as well that I can leave

[38:40] with you all um that walks through that.

[38:42] I anticipated that you may have want to

[38:44] have that background on the process. So,

[38:46] um I'll I'll distribute this. Um I don't

[38:49] know if you're visual people and you

[38:50] want to see that as we walk through it,

[38:52] but I can certainly do that if you want

[38:54] to take and pass. I'll I'll keep one.

[38:57] >> They also address this when you go to to

[38:59] » They also address this when you go to to

[38:59] new city council member training.

[39:00] >> have a way glasses.

[39:01] » have a way glasses.

[39:01] >> Yeah, they have a section on it.

[39:04] » Yeah, they have a section on it.

[39:04] So, generally speaking nuisances are

[39:06] going to be initiated pretty commonly

[39:08] across cities, but Waverly does have its

[39:10] own processes as well. It's chosen um

[39:13] what kind you know how to serve notice

[39:15] for example um and what is going to be

[39:18] enumerated as a nuisance. So, those are

[39:20] things that might vary community to

[39:21] community. So, um you'll want to take a

[39:23] look at the code with specific

[39:25] questions, but um generally the the

[39:27] process starts with just acknowledging

[39:30] that there's either by complaint or by

[39:32] direct observation that there is

[39:34] potentially a problem. And determining,

[39:36] you know, does that problem rise to the

[39:38] level of a nuisance or not? And the next

[39:40] thing that happens is um

[39:42] in in Waverly there's an informal um

[39:45] resolution process. So, in many

[39:47] communities there are there is. So, the

[39:48] next thing that might happen is Paige

[39:50] mentioned is she might call call call

[39:52] someone up, let them know there's a

[39:53] problem. Maybe they don't know. Maybe

[39:54] they don't know that it's um truly a

[39:57] nuisance um and a violation and and that

[39:59] it's the situation that it is. So, often

[40:01] times you get compliance that way, um

[40:03] but the formal process starts with a

[40:05] written notice to abate. It has to be in

[40:07] writing. Um it has to be appropriately

[40:09] served on the property owner,

[40:11] occupant, or person causing or

[40:13] maintaining the nuisance um to the

[40:15] extent the city knows. Um I don't know

[40:18] if if if um Paige has a

[40:21] habit or a policy in place on in terms

[40:23] of who gets notice, but typically you're

[40:25] going to notify both the landlord and

[40:27] the tenant if you know who that is and

[40:30] just the

[40:31] smoothest path to successful compliance

[40:33] is the goal. But it starts with the

[40:35] written notice. The notice has to be

[40:37] served by

[40:39] by certified mail.

[40:41] Now state law allows you to serve that

[40:43] by ordinance. I haven't had many clients

[40:45] take me up on that.

[40:46] Kind of

[40:47] wonder if some you're not getting some

[40:48] of the attention by phone call if

[40:50] they're going to pay attention to to

[40:51] council minutes and an ordinance is

[40:52] questionable. So I do think that mailed

[40:55] notice is the best call even though I

[40:56] think city code and state law allow

[40:58] allow differently.

[41:00] Yeah.

[41:01] >> So what do you do if they just don't

[41:02] » So what do you do if they just don't

[41:02] pick up the letter?

[41:03] >> That happens. So the code and in the

[41:05] » That happens. So the code and in the

[41:05] codes

[41:07] perspective

[41:09] it's delivered it's considered served

[41:11] upon mailing. So but if the city has

[41:14] knowledge that it hasn't been received,

[41:17] then you have you're on constructive

[41:19] notice that this person does not have

[41:20] notice yet. So it would be appropriate

[41:22] to take another step. So sometimes what

[41:25] do you what do you usually do Paige in

[41:26] that?

[41:26] >> I think our nuisance might say receipt

[41:30] » I think our nuisance might say receipt

[41:30] of certified mail or personal service.

[41:33] So I think we require it to be

[41:34] >> actually received. So you wait and and

[41:37] » actually received. So you wait and and

[41:37] sometimes you have to sit around and

[41:38] wait longer than what your abatement

[41:39] deadline is.

[41:40] >> I had one that was like three weeks that

[41:41] » I had one that was like three weeks that

[41:41] it the post office had it trying to

[41:43] deliver it and then it came back as

[41:45] undeliverable.

[41:46] >> So there's a lot you don't have control

[41:47] » So there's a lot you don't have control

[41:47] over on that.

[41:49] We just spoke about one.

[41:51] Typically we say if if the code doesn't

[41:53] provide for alternate service, you we

[41:55] default to whatever the Iowa rules of

[41:57] civil procedure would say is appropriate

[41:59] service. So either by personal service

[42:01] to the person hand delivered or

[42:03] publication. And again, publication is

[42:06] not

[42:07] it's not direct, but it is a lawful form

[42:09] of notice if you have to go that route

[42:12] just to make sure you're providing

[42:13] enough due process.

[42:15] So, the next thing that happens is they

[42:17] have an a person who received that

[42:19] notice, they the ball is in their court,

[42:22] they have a deadline, the notice has to

[42:23] give the deadline,

[42:25] um and then

[42:26] the person has the opportunity to appeal

[42:28] or to come to council, if it's an

[42:29] administrative,

[42:31] um and and I'll get to the other, but

[42:33] generally we're talking about

[42:34] administrative, um abatement. And so,

[42:37] the person can come and tell council why

[42:39] they don't think that this is a nuisance

[42:41] and why they shouldn't be held

[42:42] responsible. They have that right. Um

[42:44] the city council will then need to make

[42:45] a decision whether to

[42:47] um go forward with the nuisance um as a

[42:50] violation or not. Um if council goes

[42:53] ahead and upholds the determination of

[42:55] your code enforcement officer, um then

[42:57] the city will then um

[42:59] uh usually provide usually in council's

[43:01] order, it'll say, "All right, now you've

[43:03] got five more days or two more days."

[43:04] You give them another opportunity, let

[43:05] them know, "You've been heard, um you've

[43:07] had your due process, and now you need

[43:09] to abate." The person still has the

[43:11] ability to appeal further to the

[43:13] district court from there. So, they can

[43:15] still challenge the council's decision.

[43:17] Council's decision is on hold typically

[43:19] unless we take other measures to um

[43:23] to let the city take action pending the

[43:25] outcome of the case, but typically the

[43:26] the city's decision will be on hold

[43:28] until a district court or magistrate

[43:30] court gets uh to to make a the final

[43:32] decision. So, that's one route. Um

[43:36] if the person does not appeal further

[43:37] and the city has to abate because the

[43:39] person does not abate the nuisance, uh

[43:42] then the question becomes how does how

[43:45] how does one abate this nuisance? If

[43:47] it's junk, that's a little more

[43:48] complicated sometimes than grass. Um so,

[43:50] we have to look at what needs to be

[43:52] done. Um it usually you'll work with the

[43:54] property owner by um letting them know I

[43:57] and I'm sure Paige has a system for this

[43:59] as well that's specific to Waverly, but

[44:01] you usually let them know, "We're going

[44:02] to be at your home at this time and this

[44:04] is what we're going to do." And cost

[44:06] recovery, that's your last step. How are

[44:07] you going to recover those costs? Um and

[44:10] cities have um an excellent tool. Um

[44:12] you can send the bill to the property

[44:14] owner and sometimes that gets paid. Um

[44:16] if it does not, um the city may assess

[44:18] the cost to the property. So, you can

[44:20] actually in in situations where you have

[44:22] a lot of smaller abatement costs in a in

[44:25] a given season, you can collect all of

[44:28] those and assess and then go ahead with

[44:30] your levy procedures all at once. So,

[44:32] you do have to the city council has to

[44:34] follow the assessments uh requirements

[44:37] that you would for any kind of special

[44:39] assessment. It is a tax. And so, it's

[44:41] considered it's it's it's considered

[44:43] with the same priority as a tax. So, the

[44:45] good news is the city will be reimbursed

[44:47] um through the property tax system, but

[44:49] you also have to very closely uh follow

[44:52] the requirements by chapter 384 and

[44:55] chapter 364. So, um those are things

[44:59] that I you probably have those forms in

[45:01] place and that process in place already.

[45:03] Uh but we can also assist where there's

[45:05] ever any questions on that. So, that's

[45:08] your administrative process. It was a

[45:09] long-

[45:10] winded answer, but that's your

[45:12] administrative process. If it is a

[45:15] situation where the cost or the um entry

[45:19] onto property is a little bit more

[45:21] challenging or um it's more complicated,

[45:25] the first step of course is still you're

[45:27] going to be your notice to abate. You're

[45:28] still going to reach out to the property

[45:29] owner, uh I think have a conversation

[45:31] with them, um and see what may be going

[45:33] on, and then the formal written notice

[45:35] to abate will follow. But what comes

[45:38] after that will be a little different if

[45:40] it's a a building, a dangerous building,

[45:41] or a dangerous garage, um the matter if

[45:44] is not attended to by the property owner

[45:46] in the exact manner of the city requires

[45:48] it in its notice, the next step would be

[45:51] to refer the matter to the city

[45:52] attorney's office for filing a citation

[45:55] in court.

[45:56] And then the the due process

[45:59] takes over through the the rather than

[46:00] through the council first.

[46:04] The 657A's are

[46:07] um a good tool um as well and I do have

[46:09] cities that um I work with that either

[46:11] use them very routinely or they use them

[46:13] very purposefully, maybe not as

[46:15] routinely, but um in given situations

[46:18] where council has determined um this is

[46:21] a situation where taking title to this

[46:23] property is appropriate. That process is

[46:27] reserved for what the code call what the

[46:28] state code calls abandoned properties.

[46:31] So, not only is it deteriorated,

[46:33] dilapidated, but for 6 months or more,

[46:35] there's a set of factors in state law

[46:37] that are observed um on this particular

[46:40] property demonstrating that this

[46:42] property is in fact abandoned to the

[46:44] point where it is causing an ongoing

[46:46] nuisance and public safety and health

[46:48] concern. The city is expending costs and

[46:51] time um trying to help the property um

[46:56] be a in compliance with code. Um

[46:58] typically, you don't have utilities

[47:00] conne- or particularly water connected

[47:02] to the property, so it is not habitable

[47:04] to some degree. Sometimes, you have some

[47:07] crime that follows from having a

[47:08] property sit vacant and um unattended

[47:11] to. So, it can be an incredibly helpful

[47:14] tool to the whole community when

[47:16] appropriate. Um you should always have a

[47:18] plan for what the city might want to do

[47:20] with that property once you take title.

[47:22] Uh but it is a court process. The city

[47:25] will would file a petition um in

[47:27] district court.

[47:29] And um there would be numerous notices

[47:32] to all lien holders, tax sale

[47:34] certificate holders, owners, occupants

[47:36] if there are any. Um and yes, sometimes

[47:40] an abandoned property can be sometime

[47:41] can be occupied at times. It's not

[47:43] usually occupied full-time. It maybe

[47:45] shouldn't be occupied in some

[47:47] situations, particularly if it doesn't

[47:49] have water, for example, or uh if

[47:52] there's

[47:53] vermin or holes in the building and

[47:55] structure, so it's unsafe. Uh but that

[47:57] that can be a much more complicated

[48:00] process, but it is a tool in your

[48:01] toolbox if you think that's appropriate

[48:03] at any time.

[48:10] » So, you're looking for feedback from

[48:12] council about the process and whether we

[48:14] approve of the process or how aggressive

[48:16] we want to be.

[48:17] >> Um it was more to educate you the

[48:18] » Um it was more to educate you the

[48:18] process, you know, what it takes to go

[48:20] start to finish. It's not a simple we

[48:22] set out a sticker on the door and they

[48:24] mow the yard.

[48:25] >> Right.

[48:25] » Right.

[48:25] >> God, that'd be nice. Uh it doesn't work

[48:27] » God, that'd be nice. Uh it doesn't work

[48:27] that way. Sometimes it takes another

[48:29] month to get them to mow by then.

[48:31] I mean, you're getting lost in there.

[48:32] So,

[48:33] it is just not that simple. And a lot of

[48:35] people that call and complain think that

[48:37] well, you just simply go and tell them

[48:38] to mow and they mow it.

[48:40] And it doesn't work that way. So, a lot

[48:41] of it for us and

[48:43] whoever's watching, um

[48:44] is for them to hopefully hopefully

[48:46] understand what this does look like.

[48:48] All the way to us taking property, which

[48:50] we have done before because it was not

[48:52] kept up maintained. There was a few

[48:53] buildings now we've talked about we

[48:55] could do that right now.

[48:56] Should we? I don't know. We'll probably

[48:58] get to that at some point in time.

[49:00] But the key was for you to understand

[49:01] total process start to finish, what does

[49:03] it look like all the way to

[49:05] municipal fractions, you know, the last

[49:07] set of tools we have before it goes to

[49:08] court.

[49:10] Um the other piece we're wanting to

[49:11] discuss in is

[49:13] you know, based on what you're seeing in

[49:14] your neighborhoods. You know the people

[49:15] that are a little bit of the habitual

[49:17] offenders, they kind of your

[49:19] problem houses. Um whether it's paint,

[49:21] although I don't think paint's one that

[49:23] we can say is a nuisance, although some

[49:25] colors you don't need to see. I won't

[49:27] say the colors, but

[49:28] purple, I can't help it. I don't need to

[49:30] see a purple house next to me. That's

[49:31] offensive to me. So,

[49:33] I don't like the color myself. Um

[49:36] Purdue and I are panther, and that's

[49:37] terrible, too. I know.

[49:38] But it's in all seriousness, you know,

[49:40] you know the houses that are a struggle.

[49:42] You know your wards, you know who it is.

[49:45] What are we going to do with that? How

[49:47] aggressive do you want us to get? Again,

[49:50] we have Paige, we can try and make

[49:51] different

[49:52] jobs become a little bit more engaged

[49:55] and then get more people out there.

[49:57] We've talked about it. Talked to Justin

[49:58] before about do we

[50:00] have our

[50:01] gentlemen that are hauling our refuse

[50:03] start to spot. They'll see every single

[50:05] house in the entire city every single

[50:07] week. They're going to know them

[50:09] themselves. They could probably rattle

[50:10] them off the top of their head,

[50:11] addresses, problems, issues. Do we start

[50:13] to use that? Do we start to go with

[50:14] different routes to get more aggressive

[50:16] in how we're doing this?

[50:17] What are we going to be writing? Are we

[50:19] going to have that issue where people

[50:20] are coming in here more often? Are you

[50:22] yourself going to be challenged a little

[50:23] more because we're getting more

[50:25] aggressive? All those things are things

[50:27] we want to kind of understand and

[50:28] consider before this gets worse.

[50:30] Uh before you know it, we're going into

[50:32] the fall.

[50:33] You'll be having leaves drop and you're

[50:34] going to really start to see some things

[50:36] that you're not seeing now because of

[50:37] the foliage that covers it.

[50:39] And that's also a good time to start

[50:41] getting into this as well. And if it

[50:42] then the spring before it gets green

[50:44] again is another good time. So,

[50:46] we're just kind of debating on the

[50:47] timing of some of this. What can we

[50:48] accomplish throughout the summer? I

[50:50] think the grass issue's going to be a

[50:51] large one for us all the way

[50:54] this El Niño hits all the way into

[50:55] November.

[50:57] Um

[50:58] but your other issues are still hidden

[51:00] there at times. We want to make sure

[51:01] that we're able to address them when

[51:02] they come up. So, it's a very

[51:04] long-winded way to say, "What do you

[51:06] want to do?

[51:08] How hard do you want us to go after some

[51:09] of this so that we start to nip it

[51:10] before it gets to be a bigger problem?"

[51:14] Or do you have a priority

[51:16] that you want us to attack it? Maybe

[51:17] that's the better question.

[51:20] >> Well, I think safety, of course, is the

[51:22] » Well, I think safety, of course, is the

[51:22] top priority with buildings that are um

[51:25] well, of course, abandoned, but are

[51:27] being neglected and structurally are not

[51:30] sound. Well, whether you've got kids

[51:32] roaming the neighborhood who are going

[51:33] to get into a building they shouldn't or

[51:34] a garage. Um so, I think that's my top

[51:38] priority. Although, if your lawn becomes

[51:41] a hay field, that also can be, you know,

[51:43] spread weeds and and other issues. I

[51:45] think um

[51:48] you know, I was I was just gone for a

[51:49] few days and if my neighbors would not

[51:51] have mowed my lawn, I probably would

[51:52] have met your um mowing rule, right? And

[51:56] so, I think I think it's important that

[51:58] whenever we get a complaint that do just

[52:00] what you're doing, right? Is to try to

[52:02] investigate what are the circumstances.

[52:04] Um you know, I I had an email from a

[52:06] constituent who was upset that their

[52:08] neighbor didn't take their garbage cans

[52:10] in

[52:11] for like 2 days and I didn't even know

[52:13] there was a rule about that. But, I

[52:15] think so part of it is helping our

[52:17] neighbors out if they're out of town,

[52:19] could you haul their garbage cans in,

[52:20] right? If there's an issue, if someone's

[52:22] sick, cannot mow their lawn, etc.

[52:25] Helping each other out, right? But, I

[52:27] also think that you know, but there was

[52:30] a house, still is a house, I haven't

[52:32] walked by there lately, although I drove

[52:34] by it on the way to the meeting, that we

[52:36] had to call Junk King on multiple times,

[52:38] right? So, I think there are the people

[52:39] who have something come up who typically

[52:42] tend their property, something's come

[52:44] up, they cannot do it, or it changes

[52:46] hands or something. Then, there are the

[52:47] people who just chronically struggle

[52:50] with it. And I think it then becomes a

[52:53] safety issue. It also becomes a

[52:55] neighborhood issue. People were

[52:56] threatening to move out of that

[52:58] neighborhood

[52:59] >> Yep.

[52:59] » Yep.

[52:59] >> because of the smell and the the garbage

[53:02] » because of the smell and the the garbage

[53:02] piled around, etc. So, I think it it

[53:05] becomes a blight on the neighborhood. I

[53:07] think that it's it's important to be

[53:10] able to drive through our community and

[53:12] feel like

[53:13] properties are tended, right? That

[53:15] people care about this, neighborhoods

[53:17] care about it. And so, I'm I'm fine with

[53:20] this process. I mean, I think there's

[53:21] multiple steps to

[53:24] to talk to the homeowner. Um

[53:28] you know, you have the gentle approach

[53:29] and then you have the the more Wait, we

[53:32] see this a lot. I people Yeah, it

[53:34] surprises me people don't know that

[53:36] people are going to avoid this. When

[53:38] when we have patients who ghost us for

[53:40] months and I'm trying to figure out if

[53:43] they're coming back, are they

[53:45] terminating care? We send a certified

[53:47] letter, they don't come, they don't pick

[53:48] it up, right? Then you're just hanging.

[53:50] And so, people try to avoid

[53:52] confrontation.

[53:54] Um and the city doesn't want to be

[53:56] dealing with this if we don't have to,

[53:58] right? But I do think it's important and

[53:59] it it goes from just, I think, lowering

[54:03] morale um of a neighborhood and and

[54:06] causing tension between neighbors to a

[54:08] true safety issue. So, I think it's a

[54:10] nice process. I think this is very

[54:12] helpful handout. Right? Thank you to to

[54:15] sort of

[54:17] tell us um the definitions and our

[54:20] options.

[54:21] Um

[54:22] But it's concerning that you're getting

[54:24] more calls about unsafe buildings.

[54:26] >> Yeah, and then to go on top of not just

[54:28] » Yeah, and then to go on top of not just

[54:28] unsafe buildings, but stuff stored

[54:30] outside, too. That's another kind of

[54:32] common one that we've been seeing.

[54:34] Um

[54:36] They might be using some of it, but

[54:38] we had a talk to previously um with

[54:42] Maria about

[54:43] we don't have anything against storing

[54:45] stuff outside.

[54:47] Some of these places are

[54:49] right

[54:50] at what point does that become junk

[54:52] versus usable stuff that they are using

[54:55] outside?

[54:56] >> Yeah.

[54:56] » Yeah.

[54:56] >> Um one person calls it in as junk and

[54:58] » Um one person calls it in as junk and

[54:58] then gets upset if I don't do anything,

[55:00] but then the homeowner is using it. So,

[55:02] those kind of

[55:05] if we

[55:06] >> Yeah.

[55:06] » Yeah.

[55:06] >> have any thoughts on that kind of stuff.

[55:08] » have any thoughts on that kind of stuff.

[55:08] >> I mean, I think there's a reason you see

[55:09] » I mean, I think there's a reason you see

[55:09] more and more storage units to come up

[55:11] and they're so full and they keep

[55:12] building them and they're full and they

[55:13] keep building them and they're full.

[55:14] >> They got all that stuff.

[55:15] » They got all that stuff.

[55:15] >> People have stuff.

[55:16] » People have stuff.

[55:16] >> Yeah.

[55:16] » Yeah.

[55:16] >> And if you don't have a place to put it,

[55:18] » And if you don't have a place to put it,

[55:18] if you don't have a garage to put it, if

[55:19] you don't have

[55:20] we see it with single car garages,

[55:23] triple car garages, we see it with

[55:24] basements, we see it with slabs. Some

[55:26] people just have a lot of stuff.

[55:27] >> Yeah.

[55:28] » Yeah.

[55:28] >> And it's out and for some reason it

[55:30] » And it's out and for some reason it

[55:30] can't go in and I don't know what the

[55:33] situation is, but we see it in new

[55:35] neighborhoods, we see it in older

[55:36] neighborhoods. There is no rhyme or

[55:37] reason, it's just the individual has a

[55:40] lot of stuff and I don't think it's

[55:42] going to get any less stuff. And I think

[55:45] that's the hard part is as we accumulate

[55:46] more, it's more and more difficult to

[55:48] see some of these properties

[55:51] just get more and more overloaded with

[55:53] things coming in, pallets of things and

[55:56] uh that's the other side that we're

[55:57] seeing is is there's just more stuff.

[56:01] Uh you know, I see riding mowers for

[56:03] yards would fit this size. I mean, it's

[56:06] maybe a push mower would have been

[56:07] better, I don't know.

[56:08] But you can't fit that in your garage

[56:10] and so it sits outside, neighbor gets

[56:12] mad, weeds collect around it, which is

[56:13] ironic cuz it is a mower.

[56:15] But yet, you don't use it and then we

[56:17] start getting calls and what are you

[56:18] supposed to do and it becomes junk and

[56:19] it becomes Yeah.

[56:21] And then we're stuck in the middle of

[56:22] it, too, just because somebody didn't

[56:24] maybe make the best choice at some point

[56:25] in time or decide they can't

[56:27] take care of a property anymore and

[56:29] we're still here trying to get it just

[56:30] not working. And as you said earlier,

[56:33] and you know, you're not even people

[56:34] help as much as they might have or could

[56:36] or should or

[56:37] at some point, what do you do? And we

[56:39] don't want to be the bad guy to put

[56:40] people out, but

[56:42] at some point in time it is not fair to

[56:43] the others around them and so then you

[56:44] have to balance that out, too. So,

[56:47] that's kind of why I wanted to bring you

[56:48] to come here and give her a meeting to

[56:49] be able to really

[56:50] educate you on this cuz I think this is

[56:52] going to become more and more of an

[56:53] issue uh than we've seen in the past.

[56:55] Each year, I think it's going to get

[56:56] worse if we don't start to tackle some

[56:58] of these properties.

[56:59] >> So, I have a question. I feel like I

[57:01] » So, I have a question. I feel like I

[57:01] should know the answer, but I don't. So,

[57:02] some of the newer neighborhoods that

[57:03] have neighborhood covenants,

[57:05] who

[57:06] is in charge Does that give neighbors

[57:08] something to stand on or is that

[57:09] something city? Cuz it's not necessarily

[57:11] HOA, but the neighborhoods with

[57:12] covenants that say you can't have stuff

[57:14] in your yard or parked in your driveway.

[57:17] Is that something city enforces? Is that

[57:19] How does that even work? Or is that just

[57:20] a piece of paper that's like, well, we

[57:22] hope you follow this, but

[57:24] >> That's kind of on the neighborhood as a

[57:25] » That's kind of on the neighborhood as a

[57:25] whole to enforce. We as a city, we get

[57:29] the covenants when the subdivisions

[57:31] first created. Um and we'll review them

[57:34] they go in with all of our items, but

[57:36] over the years those change and we don't

[57:38] have to approve changes. We don't get

[57:40] copies of those that are changed.

[57:43] Some of them are only good for 21 years

[57:45] and then they completely go away. Others

[57:47] are continue auto renew, so they go on

[57:51] forever.

[57:52] But no, that kind of more falls on that

[57:54] neighborhood.

[57:55] >> It's as strong as the neighborhood wants

[57:56] » It's as strong as the neighborhood wants

[57:56] it to be.

[57:56] >> Yeah.

[57:57] » Yeah.

[57:57] >> A lot of times they're not willing to

[57:58] » A lot of times they're not willing to

[57:58] take down themselves and we don't enjoy

[58:00] it either. You'll just have things that

[58:02] just lax and just kind of go. Even if it

[58:04] isn't allowed by the covenants. So, it's

[58:06] as strong as the neighborhood wants it

[58:07] to be. They don't want to confront their

[58:08] neighbor even if it isn't allowed.

[58:10] They'd rather call and tattle to the

[58:11] city about it.

[58:13] That's what most of our calls are. It's

[58:15] the actual neighbor.

[58:16] >> Yeah.

[58:16] » Yeah.

[58:16] >> And we've asked, "Did you talk to your

[58:17] » And we've asked, "Did you talk to your

[58:17] neighbor?" No, no, I can't talk to them.

[58:20] Well, you call the police on them, but

[58:21] yet you won't talk to your neighbor?

[58:23] Okay, that's good to know. So,

[58:26] happens a lot actually.

[58:27] >> Oh, yeah.

[58:29] » Oh, yeah.

[58:29] Yeah, I mean I could give you an hour

[58:30] talk on hoarding.

[58:31] Right? And people stack things.

[58:33] >> still. I mean

[58:34] » still. I mean

[58:34] >> And it's it's a really common problem.

[58:36] » And it's it's a really common problem.

[58:36] The first time I ran for city council, I

[58:39] walked the whole town and

[58:42] it was really impressive how much stuff

[58:44] people had.

[58:45] >> Yeah.

[58:46] » Yeah.

[58:46] >> Just stuff that obviously had not been

[58:47] » Just stuff that obviously had not been

[58:47] touched in years. And it's a it's a huge

[58:51] it's a it's a very disruptive mental

[58:54] health problem

[58:56] um to families. Just breaks up families

[58:58] a lot, source of a lot of tension in

[59:00] families. And so you might Everybody who

[59:02] lives in the house with all the stuff

[59:04] might not want all the stuff there.

[59:06] Right? That's the other thing to

[59:07] remember is that that um it's very

[59:10] complicated. So, I give you guys a lot

[59:12] of credit for

[59:14] approaching these households and trying

[59:17] to figure out a solution because it is

[59:19] really complicated and can be

[59:22] a lot of anger can be directed at you

[59:25] guys, I'm sure. And so I feel for you,

[59:27] but

[59:28] um but I think at some point

[59:31] um and I've certainly had patients I'm

[59:34] not going to even say where they live

[59:35] cuz I serve a gigantic geographic

[59:37] territory, but I've had patients that

[59:38] have run into this um especially on

[59:40] rural properties. You know, so um that's

[59:44] at some point the county the city

[59:46] somebody comes in and just just clears

[59:49] it because it becomes too dangerous.

[59:52] Yeah, especially old rusty metal

[59:55] equipment in the 2-ft long grass and you

[59:58] can pretty easily especially in the

[1:00:00] summer tell if stuff is being used

[1:00:03] because it's surrounded like you said by

[1:00:05] really long grass that is not moved for

[1:00:07] a while.

[1:00:08] >> Be amazed at how many barbecue grills

[1:00:10] » Be amazed at how many barbecue grills

[1:00:10] that are still being used and the grass

[1:00:11] is 3-ft tall around them.

[1:00:12] >> But on the other hand you know people

[1:00:14] » But on the other hand you know people

[1:00:14] people are very attached to their stuff

[1:00:15] and it's their property and so it's

[1:00:17] really complicated. So I don't have a

[1:00:19] great answer. I just I'm rambling on,

[1:00:21] but I think this is a nice process and

[1:00:23] it gives people the right to appeal.

[1:00:25] They can come here. They can certainly

[1:00:28] go to court, right? And make their case.

[1:00:31] So it feels like it's a very fair

[1:00:33] multi-step process.

[1:00:35] Um

[1:00:36] and we can certainly give the case

[1:00:38] individual attention as a council if

[1:00:41] if it warrants that if people want that.

[1:00:46] » And so to appeal that they have to do it

[1:00:49] within that time frame too. I think a

[1:00:52] lot of them just let it go and don't

[1:00:55] appeal. So I don't think we've ever had

[1:00:57] one that

[1:00:58] has appealed so then it's

[1:01:00] >> Well, it's it's if you're having trouble

[1:01:03] » Well, it's it's if you're having trouble

[1:01:03] mowing your yard, right? If you're

[1:01:05] having difficulty clearing your stuff,

[1:01:08] um you're going to have trouble meeting

[1:01:09] a deadline. Of coming to a council

[1:01:11] meeting and appealing. It's it's not

[1:01:13] like it's

[1:01:14] it's not like it's a problem

[1:01:16] you know, in one area of life

[1:01:18] typically.

[1:01:20] But

[1:01:24] » Yeah, the

[1:01:24] >> thoughts, comments?

[1:01:27] » How challenging it would be to have more

[1:01:30] eyes out on things.

[1:01:33] >> I'd want to sit down with staff and see

[1:01:34] » I'd want to sit down with staff and see

[1:01:34] who we could allocate and kind of see

[1:01:36] what that looks like. I think we can do

[1:01:38] it.

[1:01:38] It's just to get how far do we go, what

[1:01:40] can we accomplish? We'd have to probably

[1:01:42] talk about that a little more. What does

[1:01:43] it look like, how often,

[1:01:45] things like that. Like I said, I'm sure

[1:01:47] we have staff that are out there enough

[1:01:48] that they can literally list stuff off

[1:01:50] the top of their head, 15 properties

[1:01:51] right now. Point to a map, they would

[1:01:53] just know. And then there's some brand

[1:01:55] [clears throat] new ones that just come

[1:01:56] out of nowhere. So, it's just kind of a

[1:01:58] mixture, but you may have a better

[1:01:59] answer, Paige.

[1:01:59] >> Yeah, and I mean, additional eyes will

[1:02:01] » Yeah, and I mean, additional eyes will

[1:02:01] help great with those easy ones, like we

[1:02:03] said, your grass. Those are really easy

[1:02:05] to abate either ourselves or contracted

[1:02:08] out to get it done.

[1:02:09] Um so, additional eyes for those, that's

[1:02:11] not a problem. And

[1:02:13] more towards those junker those

[1:02:15] buildings, then that's going to increase

[1:02:16] cost if we have to take that on. So, I

[1:02:19] think that's a big question moving

[1:02:20] forward with these others is

[1:02:24] what is the funding look like? What's

[1:02:27] do you only do one potential

[1:02:30] junkyard or dangerous building a year?

[1:02:33] So, due to the financial aspect of it.

[1:02:36] >> Do you know what that cost offhand,

[1:02:37] » Do you know what that cost offhand,

[1:02:37] Paige? A few that we've had done with

[1:02:39] junk kings that have come in. I mean, I

[1:02:41] know it varies by size, but do you have

[1:02:42] a ballpark?

[1:02:44] >> I want to say

[1:02:46] » I want to say

[1:02:46] one of them with junk kings, do you

[1:02:47] recall from any of it? Was like Was it

[1:02:49] like 1,500 or 1,600?

[1:02:51] Um and that was where he was just able

[1:02:54] to bring a tractor in, load it all up,

[1:02:56] and that they weren't having to sort

[1:02:57] through anything to determine what's

[1:02:59] junk and what's not junk.

[1:03:01] Um so, that was a pretty

[1:03:02] straightforward, come in, get it out.

[1:03:04] >> I think it's also important to to look

[1:03:07] » I think it's also important to to look

[1:03:07] at whether it's the the homeowner is

[1:03:09] living in the property or renting it.

[1:03:11] >> Oh, absolutely.

[1:03:11] » Oh, absolutely.

[1:03:12] >> Because, you know, and I don't know, we

[1:03:14] » Because, you know, and I don't know, we

[1:03:14] talk about this with our social worker a

[1:03:16] lot at the hospital is who who can a

[1:03:18] tenant go to?

[1:03:20] Right? If they are living in a property

[1:03:21] that is run down, is not being repaired

[1:03:25] then I don't

[1:03:26] I don't we never know what to tell them

[1:03:28] because I don't know that we have a

[1:03:29] tenant's rights

[1:03:31] ordinance. Do we in Waverly?

[1:03:32] >> rental property rights now. So we have

[1:03:35] » rental property rights now. So we have

[1:03:35] minimum standards that they all have to

[1:03:36] meet.

[1:03:37] So yeah, if there is concerns with it

[1:03:39] then I'll go in and inspect that

[1:03:41] property.

[1:03:41] >> Okay, so you would be the go-to person.

[1:03:42] » Okay, so you would be the go-to person.

[1:03:42] Okay.

[1:03:46] » Sometimes the tenants are in fear of

[1:03:48] them being evicted.

[1:03:50] We don't have a clause against that

[1:03:52] actually, but

[1:03:53] >> So I think I mean if law enforcement's

[1:03:54] » So I think I mean if law enforcement's

[1:03:54] going all over town, public works, you

[1:03:56] know, the sanitation guys are all over

[1:03:57] town. I think if they feel comfortable

[1:04:01] identifying certain properties to to

[1:04:03] assist Paige. I don't know that they're

[1:04:05] obviously the people who are going to do

[1:04:06] the notification,

[1:04:08] but they're they're seeing the whole

[1:04:10] town and you're I mean you can comment

[1:04:13] on you probably have your top 10 list,

[1:04:15] right? And

[1:04:16] yeah, so um

[1:04:19] But

[1:04:20] >> probably see more than what what's

[1:04:22] » probably see more than what what's

[1:04:22] we've got calls and complaints on that

[1:04:24] might not be as extreme as some others.

[1:04:27] >> Yeah.

[1:04:33] » Okay.

[1:04:34] >> Do you have any other help Paige or is

[1:04:35] » Do you have any other help Paige or is

[1:04:35] >> questions or

[1:04:37] » questions or

[1:04:37] anything for Maria Paige or any staff?

[1:04:39] >> any other comments that we should

[1:04:41] » any other comments that we should

[1:04:41] approach next?

[1:04:43] >> We're not the only one. Actually, the

[1:04:45] » We're not the only one. Actually, the

[1:04:45] only one I want you to know every city

[1:04:47] is fighting this all the time. It's not

[1:04:49] just us.

[1:05:02] » All right, that brings us to reports

[1:05:05] from boards and commissions. Council

[1:05:06] you've received the reports from boards

[1:05:08] and commissions. Is there any

[1:05:09] discussion?

[1:05:12] Okay, that brings us to staff updates.

[1:05:15] >> One quick one with the seal coat project

[1:05:17] » One quick one with the seal coat project

[1:05:17] being finalized tonight. Um, we'll see

[1:05:20] what how the adhesion is with the rock,

[1:05:22] but we'll be out with the sweepers here

[1:05:23] either just before the Labor Day weekend

[1:05:25] or just after.

[1:05:27] Um,

[1:05:28] kind of just we want to make sure it's

[1:05:29] stuck down good with the heat and the

[1:05:31] good warm temperatures.

[1:05:34] That's all we have tonight, Bill.

[1:05:38] » Okay, city council comments,

[1:05:41] councilperson Rafferty.

[1:05:44] >> So, you had asked me to comment on how

[1:05:46] » So, you had asked me to comment on how

[1:05:46] citizens can find out what we're all

[1:05:48] discussing up here.

[1:05:49] >> I did. So, I've been asked a couple

[1:05:51] » I did. So, I've been asked a couple

[1:05:51] different times, um, people who either

[1:05:53] watch the meetings or just have

[1:05:55] questions, how do we know what to talk

[1:05:56] about and how do we know how to vote?

[1:05:58] And Anne was just going to go over that

[1:06:00] a little bit because she's been on

[1:06:02] council for quite a while.

[1:06:03] >> Yeah.

[1:06:04] » Yeah.

[1:06:04] So, um, and I was telling Kristen, I

[1:06:06] think every people who've watched city

[1:06:08] council a long time, every mayor does

[1:06:09] things differently, right? Um, and so,

[1:06:13] some of us ask more questions than

[1:06:14] others. I tend to ask a lot of

[1:06:16] questions, but so, we Carla puts out the

[1:06:18] agenda for the meeting the week before

[1:06:20] the meeting, typically by Wednesday,

[1:06:23] give or take. [clears throat]

[1:06:24] And if people just go to the city

[1:06:26] website, they will find on there how to

[1:06:28] contact all of us, they'll find out the

[1:06:30] agenda, they'll find out videos from

[1:06:32] previous meetings. And when you go into

[1:06:35] the agenda section, you can look at the

[1:06:36] calendar, you can look at all the

[1:06:38] commissions agendas, you can look at our

[1:06:40] agenda, and then you'll find something

[1:06:43] that talks about the agenda packet. And

[1:06:45] then there's also just the agenda. The

[1:06:47] packet has all of the background

[1:06:49] documents that we see before the

[1:06:51] meeting. Now, occasionally, on rare

[1:06:53] occasions, we'll have something that

[1:06:54] pops up in the packet at the meeting or

[1:06:57] just before the meeting, but most of the

[1:06:58] documents are there a few days in

[1:07:00] advance. And so, that tells us Usually,

[1:07:03] there's a memo prepared by staff, uh

[1:07:05] especially if it's a budgetary item.

[1:07:08] And there's background maps, there's

[1:07:10] background survey results, there might

[1:07:12] be pictures, we love pictures of

[1:07:14] equipment, um and and all the background

[1:07:18] info we need. And so when I read that,

[1:07:20] oftentimes I have questions. So I'm

[1:07:22] going to reach out to department heads.

[1:07:24] If it's something big, I tend to CC

[1:07:26] James on my email just so he's aware of

[1:07:29] of what I'm snooping around about.

[1:07:31] Sometimes I'll just text Garrett or

[1:07:34] whatever, it's a simple question. And so

[1:07:35] I my first go-to is usually a city staff

[1:07:38] because they can answer my questions 99%

[1:07:41] of the time. And so if I have a a

[1:07:43] citizen who has a question for me, I'm

[1:07:46] you often asking them, "Have you called

[1:07:47] city staff? Have you asked them?"

[1:07:49] Oftentimes they have not, maybe they did

[1:07:51] and they're confused, and so then I will

[1:07:53] try to loop people in to my email to

[1:07:55] staff. Um and so we I try to get most of

[1:07:59] my questions answered before the

[1:08:01] meeting,

[1:08:02] um rather than springing them on a staff

[1:08:04] person um who might not be ready for a

[1:08:06] certain aspect of the project I have a

[1:08:08] question about. And so but but all of

[1:08:10] the info we see

[1:08:12] um is available to the public. We're

[1:08:14] required to have open meetings. Um

[1:08:16] the other thing I think the public

[1:08:17] should know is that we can't all discuss

[1:08:20] a topic from the agenda together as a

[1:08:23] group. That's that is in violation of

[1:08:25] the open meetings law. We can send out

[1:08:28] an informational email to someone. So

[1:08:31] let's say if it's um some recognition

[1:08:34] for somebody, hey, just information

[1:08:35] only, we're doing a recognition for

[1:08:37] Diana Blake at the meeting. But you

[1:08:39] can't discuss the library's budget,

[1:08:42] can't discuss um a certain resolution on

[1:08:44] the agenda

[1:08:46] um if you have a certain number of

[1:08:48] quorum of city council. So if I want to

[1:08:52] talk to people about a certain agenda

[1:08:54] item, then I have to limit my discussion

[1:08:56] to only two other council.

[1:08:58] Um or else it becomes a meeting and

[1:09:00] people um have to be notified of that.

[1:09:03] And so we don't have a lot of back room

[1:09:05] discussions

[1:09:07] after City Council because it's illegal.

[1:09:09] And so

[1:09:10] so we're everything that that

[1:09:14] we

[1:09:15] deliberate about is public info and is

[1:09:18] easily accessible.

[1:09:20] We've also had questions now with

[1:09:23] I know I reached out to Gary a couple

[1:09:24] weeks ago with Waverly Utilities getting

[1:09:26] rid of cable. How do people watch now?

[1:09:29] And Gary, maybe you could comment on

[1:09:32] what you told me about YouTube access

[1:09:34] and cuz I have had some questions about

[1:09:37] that from people.

[1:09:37] >> Sure. Yep, it's there's [clears throat]

[1:09:39] » Sure. Yep, it's there's [clears throat]

[1:09:39] a city

[1:09:41] YouTube channel.

[1:09:43] And so you just go to city of Waverly,

[1:09:45] Iowa

[1:09:46] on YouTube and it'll pull that up and so

[1:09:49] you can watch those live or you or

[1:09:51] they're archived and you can watch, you

[1:09:53] know, historically whatever you want to

[1:09:56] watch.

[1:09:59] Yeah, not much more to it than that.

[1:10:02] There is a link from

[1:10:04] the city's website page. So if you go to

[1:10:07] look at

[1:10:09] the agendas or, you know, just to our

[1:10:11] meetings page, you can

[1:10:13] it links right to the YouTube page for

[1:10:16] you as well.

[1:10:17] >> So

[1:10:18] » So

[1:10:18] yeah, a couple different ways to get

[1:10:19] there.

[1:10:19] >> Good, thanks. So does that help, Mayor?

[1:10:21] » Good, thanks. So does that help, Mayor?

[1:10:22] >> Yes, it does. I I think the big question

[1:10:23] » Yes, it does. I I think the big question

[1:10:23] is always like, well, how come you guys

[1:10:25] don't talk about it? And the main

[1:10:26] takeaway is that we see this a week in

[1:10:28] advance and we have a chance to ask

[1:10:30] questions and do a little digging

[1:10:32] beforehand. So we're not just popping up

[1:10:34] here and everybody says yes cuz we have

[1:10:36] whatever, don't care, don't know what's

[1:10:38] going on. But so we do see this a week

[1:10:40] in advance. Roughly, maybe not quite a

[1:10:43] week, but and then we do get to ask

[1:10:45] questions ahead of time. So we come in

[1:10:46] prepared.

[1:10:47] So thank you for covering that.

[1:10:49] >> Sure.

[1:10:50] » Sure.

[1:10:50] >> Councilperson Kingis.

[1:10:52] » Councilperson Kingis.

[1:10:52] >> I would add to that that some of the

[1:10:53] » I would add to that that some of the

[1:10:53] discussion, a lot of the items are

[1:10:55] budgeted things that have discussed

[1:10:57] during budget session beginning of the

[1:11:00] year and so they've come up three, four,

[1:11:04] or five times by the time we're actually

[1:11:06] voting on them. We're not going back to

[1:11:09] go, "Oh, yeah, this what are we doing

[1:11:10] that week?" We've talked about this is

[1:11:12] something we want to do, this is what

[1:11:14] the budget's going to be roughly for, it

[1:11:15] comes in, we see whether it's coming in

[1:11:17] over budget, under budget. Those were

[1:11:19] our questions usually come in what

[1:11:21] >> Right into the change orders.

[1:11:22] » Right into the change orders.

[1:11:22] >> Yep. The change orders in the budget,

[1:11:24] » Yep. The change orders in the budget,

[1:11:24] but a lot of those things it's just

[1:11:26] simply, "Okay, this has been budgeted,

[1:11:28] came in under budget, here's the

[1:11:30] awarding the contract."

[1:11:31] So, there's not a lot for us to

[1:11:35] dig in on at that point because we've

[1:11:37] already kind of gone through that. So,

[1:11:39] >> So,

[1:11:39] » So,

[1:11:39] >> Thank you.

[1:11:40] » Thank you.

[1:11:40] >> My only uh my my commentary is we are

[1:11:43] » My only uh my my commentary is we are

[1:11:43] now end of August and teachers and

[1:11:46] students are getting ready to go back

[1:11:47] into school.

[1:11:49] Uh so, think of the teachers as they're

[1:11:51] doing workshops this week and

[1:11:54] uh

[1:11:55] be aware of students getting ready to go

[1:11:57] back to school next week. Um

[1:12:00] a lot of excitement for kids when they

[1:12:02] first start going back into schools, so

[1:12:04] they may not always be aware of their

[1:12:06] surroundings on streets and stuff, not

[1:12:10] with that. Pay attention there. Buses,

[1:12:13] do not pass a stopped bus with their

[1:12:16] lights on, flashing and stop arm out,

[1:12:20] even if it you're going the opposite

[1:12:22] direction.

[1:12:23] You may not pass a stopped bus.

[1:12:27] And with that, since I deal with middle

[1:12:29] schoolers, I just would like to note

[1:12:30] that this year is the 26-7

[1:12:34] school year.

[1:12:35] >> Oh, boy.

[1:12:37] » Oh, boy.

[1:12:38] >> 6-7

[1:12:38] » 6-7

[1:12:38] >> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[1:12:40] » Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[1:12:40] >> Could have went all night without that.

[1:12:42] » Could have went all night without that.

[1:12:42] >> [laughter]

[1:12:43] » [laughter]

[1:12:43] >> I appreciate that.

[1:12:46] » Uh Council Person Harmon.

[1:12:48] >> Um I'd like to say it's not cool to say

[1:12:50] » Um I'd like to say it's not cool to say

[1:12:50] 6-7 in middle school anymore.

[1:12:52] >> Oh, no.

[1:12:53] » Oh, no.

[1:12:53] >> [laughter]

[1:12:54] » [laughter]

[1:12:54] >> Stop it at Christmas.

[1:12:56] » Stop it at Christmas.

[1:12:56] I'll wait till Larry is in high school.

[1:12:59] She needs to

[1:13:01] I know and now they're like it's not

[1:13:02] cool anymore.

[1:13:06] Councilperson Myers.

[1:13:08] >> Uh yes, I just want to acknowledge as

[1:13:10] » Uh yes, I just want to acknowledge as

[1:13:10] may have been noticed that my seat on

[1:13:12] the dais has been empty for the past few

[1:13:14] meetings

[1:13:15] because I've been out of town helping a

[1:13:17] friend who's been very ill.

[1:13:18] I'm hoping to be back in Waverly very

[1:13:20] soon, but in the meantime I'm very

[1:13:23] grateful that I've been able to take

[1:13:24] part in all the meetings by phone and I

[1:13:27] encourage the public to still reach out

[1:13:29] to me any with any questions or concerns

[1:13:31] they might have about city issues.

[1:13:34] >> Thank you. Councilperson Mackey.

[1:13:37] » Thank you. Councilperson Mackey.

[1:13:37] >> Yeah,

[1:13:38] » Yeah,

[1:13:38] in reference to Councilperson Kangas'

[1:13:42] comments last week about

[1:13:45] nearly hitting the the young person on

[1:13:47] the

[1:13:48] scooter wasn't it or e-bike a bike like

[1:13:50] this. My wife and I were

[1:13:52] riding our bikes this morning and we

[1:13:54] both took a right. My wife went first. I

[1:13:56] was getting ready and just as I started

[1:13:59] leaning into a turn a shall we say

[1:14:01] octogenarian

[1:14:02] came screaming by me passing on your

[1:14:05] right.

[1:14:06] So, it seems that we have many people to

[1:14:09] educate not just

[1:14:10] not just our young and I'm just glad I

[1:14:13] screamed or anything like that or she

[1:14:14] didn't scream at me.

[1:14:16] And I will be at my Ward 3 brewery this

[1:14:19] this evening after the meeting today

[1:14:21] when we wish to visit.

[1:14:23] >> Thank you. Councilperson Wolf.

[1:14:24] » Thank you. Councilperson Wolf.

[1:14:24] >> I saw that it was uh

[1:14:26] » I saw that it was uh

[1:14:26] hunger action month and so I called

[1:14:29] Claire at Community Action to get some

[1:14:31] local stats to make it real because a

[1:14:33] lot of times it feels like oh, that

[1:14:35] doesn't happen in my neighborhood.

[1:14:37] Um

[1:14:38] Claire said that pantry has been very

[1:14:39] busy

[1:14:40] in July 185 unduplicated households with

[1:14:45] 526 individuals and they distributed

[1:14:48] over $10,000 or 10,000 lb of food.

[1:14:52] Compared to 2021, so 5 years ago, they

[1:14:55] served 232 unduplicated households and

[1:14:58] 541 individuals for the year.

[1:15:03] So, there's been a significant increase,

[1:15:05] and then

[1:15:06] um Bart and I uh volunteered the last

[1:15:08] summer meals, and

[1:15:10] uh

[1:15:12] the beauty of that is is I get to

[1:15:15] United Way and and Community Action get

[1:15:18] to hear the stories of people

[1:15:19] struggling, but we also get to see the

[1:15:22] people coming out and volunteering and

[1:15:24] working together to really meet the

[1:15:26] needs. Um and they served uh 16,212

[1:15:30] meals this year. The largest day they

[1:15:33] served 192 kids, and last year they

[1:15:36] served uh 8,896

[1:15:39] meals with the largest day of 122 kids.

[1:15:42] So, there's [snorts] an increase.

[1:15:46] » Thank you, Janet.

[1:15:47] >> And our guest councilperson,

[1:15:49] » And our guest councilperson,

[1:15:49] we had a little bit longer meeting for

[1:15:50] you tonight. What'd you think? Any

[1:15:52] questions or comments?

[1:15:53] >> No, it's not really a good opportunity

[1:15:54] » No, it's not really a good opportunity

[1:15:54] to kind of you see it from

[1:15:57] a

[1:15:57] different angle.

[1:15:59] >> Yeah.

[1:15:59] » Yeah.

[1:15:59] >> And how we're doing, so.

[1:16:00] » And how we're doing, so.

[1:16:00] And thank you all for having me.

[1:16:02] >> [clears throat]

[1:16:02] » [clears throat]

[1:16:02] >> For sure. Um I was kind of going to

[1:16:05] » For sure. Um I was kind of going to

[1:16:05] piggyback off the back-to-school thing.

[1:16:06] Although you said kids are excited to go

[1:16:07] back to school, I have three high

[1:16:08] schoolers.

[1:16:09] >> Yeah, high school.

[1:16:10] » Yeah, high school.

[1:16:10] >> Not a single one. I have one graduating

[1:16:12] » Not a single one. I have one graduating

[1:16:12] early, and I will tell the story

[1:16:13] [clears throat] until the day I die

[1:16:15] because it is so funny. He's graduating

[1:16:17] early.

[1:16:18] Um since his third day of kindergarten,

[1:16:20] I had to drag him into school, and he

[1:16:22] was screaming, "You're ruining my life."

[1:16:23] So, he was 5 years old, 3 days into

[1:16:25] kindergarten. And it has been a struggle

[1:16:27] for 13 years, but we are We have 90 days

[1:16:29] of school left. Um but yes, please pay

[1:16:32] attention to those kids who are walking,

[1:16:33] biking, parents

[1:16:35] driving in carpools and stop buses.

[1:16:37] Please, just pay attention as everyone's

[1:16:38] getting into a new routine.

[1:16:40] The

[1:16:42] food pantry can do a lot with money, a

[1:16:43] lot more with money than donations, so

[1:16:45] look at um

[1:16:46] donating money to the food pantry.

[1:16:48] United Way's little food pantry is

[1:16:50] always out or always in need of

[1:16:52] donations, so look at those. And with

[1:16:55] that, uh there's a lot of great things

[1:16:57] going on in our community, and if you

[1:16:58] cannot find the good things that are

[1:17:00] going on in our community, find a way to

[1:17:01] be the good thing that is going on in

[1:17:03] our community. With that, Council, do I

[1:17:05] have a motion to adjourn?

[1:17:08] >> Move to adjourn.

[1:17:09] » Move to adjourn.

[1:17:09] >> Is there a second?

[1:17:10] » Is there a second?

[1:17:10] >> Second.

[1:17:11] » Second.

[1:17:11] >> Is it a voice vote? All in favor, say I.

[1:17:13] » Is it a voice vote? All in favor, say I.

[1:17:13] >> I.

[1:17:14] » I.

[1:17:14] >> I.

[1:17:14] » I.

[1:17:14] >> We are adjourned.

City Council - Aug 17 2026

Transcript