Charles City meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Charles City Council to consider CDBG water system application, fire equipment purchase

The Charles City Council will hold a public hearing and consider a resolution to apply for state funding for water system improvements at its Aug. 17 regular meeting. The agenda also includes an ordinance amendment, a quote for a biosolids storage structure, and the purchase of fire department breathing equipment. Minutes for this meeting and two recent planning sessions have not yet been published.

Aug. 17 regular meeting

The council will open with a public hearing on a proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for water system improvements and the city's Community Development and Housing Needs Assessment. Following the hearing, the council will consider Resolution 114-26, which would approve submitting the CDBG funding application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Also on the agenda:

• **Ordinance 1201** – Third reading of an amendment to dimensional variance standards in the Unified Development Ordinance.
• **Resolution 115-26** – Approval of a quote from Popp Excavating for a reed bed biosolids storage structure.
• **Resolution 116-26** – Approval of the purchase of SCBA equipment from Feld Fire for the fire department.

All items are listed as agenda items; no votes have been recorded.

Recent planning sessions

The council held two planning sessions earlier in August, both listed as discussion-only with no formal votes.

• **Aug. 10** – A utility rate study presentation by Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH), followed by discussion of utility rates.
• **Aug. 12** – Discussion of replacing fire department SCBA air packs, cylinders, and facepieces; Pay Request #18 and substantial completion for the City Hall/Police Department project; cleaning services proposals for that project; and an updated Business Incentive Program.

These sessions were open to the public in person and via Zoom.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the city's official meeting calendar for future agendas.

Charles City Council faced water deal, alcohol license, and development agreement in July meetings

The Charles City Council had a busy July, with three meetings scheduled between July 6 and July 15 covering topics ranging from a water usage agreement with Valero Renewable Fuels to a Class C retail alcohol license for VFW Post 3914.

Minutes have not yet been published for any of the three meetings, so only the agendas — what the council was scheduled to consider — can be reported. What was actually decided is not yet part of the public record.

July 6: Water deal, facade grant, transit pact, and closed-session evaluations

The council's regular meeting agenda included several consequential items:

• An amendment to the water usage agreement with Valero Renewable Fuels LLC.
• A facade improvement grant for Lou James & Company at 413 N Main Street.
• The FY 2027 transit services agreement with the North Iowa Area Council of Governments.
• Setting a public hearing on a Unified Development Ordinance amendment regarding variance standards.
• Library Board appointments.
• Vacation of an alley on Kenwood Avenue.

The council was also scheduled to enter closed session to discuss performance evaluations for the city administrator, city clerk, and city attorney, followed by votes on amended employment contracts for those positions.

July 13: Ordinances, Cambrex development agreement, and utility study

A planning agendas meeting was set for review of several pending policy items:

• Options for beverage container redemption services.
• Revisions to recreational vehicle parking rules.
• A draft urban chicken ordinance.
• A development agreement with Cambrex Charles City, Inc.
• A Southwest Bypass urban renewal plan amendment.
• Audit engagement letters.
• A UDO variance amendment.
• Plans for a utility rate study.

The agenda also included the mayor's comments and a city administrator report.

July 15: Class C alcohol license for VFW Post 3914

A special meeting was scheduled with two agenda items: approval of the meeting agenda and a motion to grant a Class C retail alcohol license to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, doing business as VFW Post 3914.

The meeting was open to the public in person at the Zastrow Room of the Public Library and via Zoom.

What residents should know

Because minutes have not been published for any of these meetings, residents cannot yet confirm which items were approved, tabled, or rejected. The agendas show what city officials intended to take up, but the official record of votes and outcomes will come only when minutes are posted.

Residents interested in any specific item — particularly the Valero water agreement amendment, the Cambrex development agreement, or the VFW alcohol license — should check with the Charles City Clerk's office or the city's website for published minutes.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should monitor city announcements for any newly scheduled special meetings or committee sessions.

Charles City Council set to vote on Valero water agreement, facade grant; recent meeting outcomes still pending

Charles City Council is scheduled to vote today, July 6, on an amendment to the water usage agreement with Valero Renewable Fuels LLC, a facade improvement grant for Lou James & Company at 413 N Main Street, and a fiscal year 2027 transit services agreement with the North Iowa Area Council of Governments. Outcomes from three recent council meetings remain unavailable because minutes have not yet been published.

Recent meetings: agendas only, no minutes yet

The council held a planning session on June 24 covering several municipal matters. Agenda items included amending the Cambrex urban renewal plan, transferring city-owned properties at 1701 and 1705 Kenwood Ave., and continuing deliberations on poultry operations within city limits. Staff were also scheduled to provide updates on the City Hall and Police Department renovation project and review employee benefits consulting contracts. Additional items listed were an amendment to the Valero water usage agreement and a facade improvement grant review for Lou James & Co.

A separate special meeting on June 24 was scheduled to consider a request from North Iowa Brewing LLC, doing business as Tellurian Brewing, for a temporary outdoor service area extension. The agenda contained no other substantive items.

On July 1, the council held a special meeting for a public hearing on a nuisance abatement order for 400 Ferguson Street. The council was to review evidence from both the city and the property owner before voting on whether the property violates city nuisance ordinances. If a violation were found, the council could grant the owner time to fix the issues or direct staff to prepare a written resolution and findings based on the vote.

Because minutes for all three meetings have not been published, no votes, decisions, or outcomes can be reported.

July 6 regular meeting

The council's regular meeting today includes several items scheduled for formal action:

• **Valero water agreement amendment** — an amendment to the water usage agreement with Valero Renewable Fuels LLC.
• **Facade improvement grant** — approval of a grant for Lou James & Company at 413 N Main Street.
• **FY 2027 transit services agreement** — approval of an agreement with the North Iowa Area Council of Governments for transit services in the upcoming fiscal year.
• **Unified Development Ordinance** — setting a public hearing on an amendment regarding variance standards.
• **Library Board appointments** — council consideration of appointments to the board.
• **Kenwood Avenue alley vacation** — consideration of vacating an alley on Kenwood Avenue.

The council will also enter closed session to discuss performance evaluations for the city administrator, city clerk, and city attorney, followed by votes on amended employment contracts for those positions.

Coming up

• **July 6 (today):** City Council Regular Meeting — scheduled votes on the Valero water agreement amendment, the 413 N Main Street facade grant, the FY 2027 transit services agreement, and closed-session employment contract votes for the city administrator, clerk, and attorney.

Council to vote on Valero water deal, facade grant Monday

The Charles City Council is scheduled to vote Monday on an amended water usage agreement with Valero Renewable Fuels and a downtown facade improvement grant, following two weeks of discussions on property transfers, poultry regulations and a nuisance property.

No formal votes were reported on any of the recent agenda items, as minutes had not yet been published. The council held planning and special meetings on June 24 and a nuisance hearing July 1.

In recent meetings

June 24 planning session

The council reviewed several items without taking action, including an amendment to the Valero water usage agreement, a facade improvement grant for Lou James & Co., continued discussion on poultry operations inside city limits, conveyance of city-owned properties at 1701 and 1705 Kenwood Ave., and an amendment to the Cambrex urban renewal plan along with a property tax abatement review for 807 5th Street. Staff also updated members on the City Hall and Police Department renovation project and employee benefits consulting contracts.

June 24 special meeting

In a separate meeting the same day, the council considered a temporary outdoor service area extension for Tellurian Brewing (North Iowa Brewing LLC). No outcome was available from the agenda-only document.

July 1 special meeting

The council held a public hearing on a nuisance abatement order for 400 Ferguson Street. Officials were expected to hear from both the city and the property owner, then vote on whether the property violates city nuisance ordinances. The agenda indicated a possible motion granting the owner time to correct conditions or directing staff to draft formal findings. Minutes have not been released.

Coming up

The City Council meets in regular session on Monday, July 6. Key agenda items include:

• A vote to approve an amendment to the water usage agreement with Valero Renewable Fuels LLC.
• A vote on a facade improvement grant for Lou James & Company at 413 N Main Street.
• Approval of a FY 2027 transit services agreement with the North Iowa Area Council of Governments.
• Setting a public hearing on an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance concerning variance standards.
• A closed session for performance evaluations of the city administrator, city clerk and city attorney, followed by votes on amended employment contracts for those positions.