[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.