All Meetings

City of Sioux City Council Meeting - May 4, 2026

The Sioux City Council tackled proclamations for Historic Preservation Week and National Foster Care Month, approved a consent agenda including a new Transit Director appointment and infrastructure projects, moved forward with drafting a UTV ordinance, and heard extensive citizen concerns about the warming shelter and homelessness services downtown.

Key Decisions13
  • •Historic Preservation Week proclaimed for May 4-9, 2026 (unanimous)
  • •May 2026 proclaimed National Foster Care Month (unanimous)
  • •Consent agenda items 2-19G approved 5-0
  • •Items 13A and 13B moved to end of agenda as hearing items (5-0)
  • •Jason Allen appointed Transit Director (part of consent agenda, 5-0)
  • •Hearing approved for MLK Jr. Transportation Center Elevator Modernization Project plans/specs (5-0)
  • •Hearing approved for Seeger Avenue Water Main Replacement Project plans/specs (5-0)
  • •$300 civil penalty assessed against Love's Truck Stop #479 for cigarette law violation (5-0)
  • •$1,500 civil penalty and 30-day suspension assessed against Sky High Smoke Shop for third cigarette law violation (5-0)
  • •Sanitary sewer rate increase of 27.4% for outside municipalities passed second reading (5-0), effective November 1, 2026
  • •Stormwater fee modification passed third and final reading (5-0)
  • •Staff directed to draft UTV ordinance options for city streets (5-0)
  • •90-day demolition delay recommended for 2818 Sergeant Road with bond
Topics Discussed18
Historic Preservation Week proclamationNational Foster Care Month proclamationTransit Director appointment (Jason Allen)IT managed services and cabling contractsNebraska Street Water Main Replacement ProjectMinimum assessment agreements at 3000 Outer Drive (Midwest Wheel)Downtown street closures for summer eventsSewer rate increase for outside municipalities (27.4%)Stormwater fee modification (third reading)UTV legalization on city streets — public input and drafting direction2818 Sergeant Road property restoration (90-day demolition delay)901 Nebraska Street redevelopment statusWarming shelter and homelessness services discussionNuisance property procedures presentationCivil penalties for tobacco law violations (Love's Truck Stop, Sky High Smoke Shop)185th Air National Guard state funding ($10 million)City permitting software updateGrading permit and variance process reform (future agenda)
Public Comments10
  • —Shayla Moore (Warming Shelter Executive Director) responded to recent council discussions, calling for collaboration over accusations and asking the council to be specific about what they want — relocation or closure — and work together on solutions
  • —Melden Carter spoke in support of the warming shelter and Dinosaur Park, urging the council not to take away community resources that serve people in need
  • —Joe Twidwell provided historical context on homelessness in Sioux City (roughly 300 sheltered/unsheltered since 2008), noted 37 agencies within one square mile of downtown, and urged collaborative solutions through the Siouxland Coalition to End Homelessness
  • —Dave Flores Marikwin (Nameless Project) criticized specific council quotes about the warming shelter as out-of-touch and called for working with established institutions rather than further criminalizing homelessness
  • —Lehi Tonga addressed the council about his 901 Nebraska Street 14-unit apartment project, requesting approval to begin work and disputing characterizations about lack of progress
  • —Brett Watchman requested the council direct the Fiscal Effective Public Policy Committee to consider moving meeting times to 5:00 PM for better public accessibility
  • —Tim Young, a formerly homeless community leader, urged better communication and funding for homeless services, noting agencies haven't received city funding for two years
  • —Hope Fawcett urged the council to keep homelessness visible in the public eye rather than pushing it out of sight
  • —Mo Salmosmi (Sky High Smoke Shop owner) appealed the 30-day suspension, saying employees aren't following ID scanning procedures despite his systems being in place
  • —Rachel Tudorhope (Neighborhood Services/HART team) offered to present resource gaps and solutions to the council

A Packed Agenda and Even More Packed Public Comment

This one ran long, Siouxland — and not because of procedural filler. The Council covered everything from historic preservation to sewer rates to whether UTVs should be street-legal, but the real fireworks came during citizen concerns, where the warming shelter debate took center stage again.

Let's break it down.

Proclamations: Preservation Week and Foster Care Month

Mayor Bob Scott kicked things off by proclaiming May 4–9 as Historic Preservation Week in Sioux City. The Historic Preservation Commission highlighted their week of events, including Sioux City trivia at Sioux City Distilling on Wednesday and the Sioux City Star Award presentation on Friday for work preserving the Ogden (Wigman) Building. If you haven't been to Sioux City Distilling, sounds like you've got two chances this week.

The second proclamation declared May 2026 as National Foster Care Month. Emma Kroll and Jean Schneiders from Four Oaks Lutheran Services accepted the proclamation and reminded everyone that Woodbury County has a significant need for foster families. If you're interested: IowaFosterAndAdoption.org.

Consent Agenda Highlights

The consent agenda (items 2–19G) passed 5-0 with a few notable callouts:

New Transit Director: Jason Allen was formally appointed as Transit Director. He's been with the city four years as operations manager and has lived in Sioux City for 12 years. City Manager Mike Collett praised him as an easy pick. Allen was humble and gracious — the kind of moment that makes you feel good about city government.

IT Contracts: Staff got the green light to negotiate with Riverside Technologies for managed IT services at Oakview-managed facilities, plus MCP Management and Thompson Solutions for cabling. Councilmember Bertrand abstained on the Thompson item due to a conflict of interest.

Nebraska Street Water Main: Plans and specs were adopted for the water main replacement between 5th and 8th Streets.

Lewis and Clark Park Naming: Security National Bank secured naming rights for the baseball playing surface.

Minimum Assessment Agreements at 3000 Outer Drive: This one's worth understanding. The city's development agreement with W.B. Land splits minimum property assessments as new tenants (like Midwest Wheel, expected to break ground in 2027) take on portions. It protects taxpayers while helping developers with upfront infrastructure costs. Economic Development Manager Renee Billings explained it clearly — this model could be used with more developers going forward.

Street Closures Galore: Food Truck Fridays return downtown starting June 5th through August 7th. Sioux City Pride Festival and Parade are June 4th and 6th. Leeds Community Day is mid-June. Councilmember Bertrand also nudged staff about identifying a permanent food truck location — a conversation that apparently started a month ago and hasn't progressed. Worth watching.

Sewer Rate Increase for Outside Municipalities

The second reading of a 27.4% sewer rate increase for outside municipalities (Sergeant Bluff, the Dunes, etc.) passed 5-0. Before you gasp at the percentage: Public Works Director Tom Pingle noted it works out to about $4.40/month for a two-person household. The surrounding cities haven't objected — Jeff Dooley from Sergeant Bluff reportedly said they "completely understand." Councilmember Bertrand was emphatic that this is about sister cities paying their fair share for plant maintenance and conveyance systems. The increase takes effect November 1, 2026. This needed to happen years ago.

Stormwater Fee Modification — Done

Third and final reading of the stormwater collection fee modification passed 5-0. That one's officially in the books.

UTVs on City Streets: Moving to Drafting Phase

The council voted 5-0 to direct staff to draft ordinance options for legalizing UTVs (not ATVs — that distinction matters) on specified city streets. This is direction only, not a final decision.

Councilmember Rayford shared that the public listening session drew strong engagement — about 67% of the 826 survey respondents supported allowing UTVs, with 31% against. Police Chief Rex Mueller noted his department is divided internally on the issue, citing concerns about safety, noise, underage drivers, and enforcement challenges. But he also said communities that have legalized UTVs haven't reported major enforcement problems.

Councilmember Bertrand pushed for stiff penalties as part of any ordinance — suggesting impoundment plus fines up to $1,000–$1,500 for violations, particularly to deter kids from joyriding. City Attorney Nicole clarified they're limited by state code on maximum penalties but will explore municipal infraction options.

The council consensus: be restrictive upfront, possibly with a one-year trial period, and ease up later if things go well. Staff will bring back multiple draft options. State restrictions on highways and speed limits (currently 30 mph max for UTVs) will factor in.

The 2818 Sergeant Road Property — A Restoration Story

A couple, Tanya and Jeff Vikolskis, appeared seeking a 90-day demolition delay for a property they purchased. They came prepared: contractors lined up, $10,000 cashier's bond posted, letter of financial means, and a $32,000 retaining wall project scoped. Jeff is an electrical contractor; Tanya has 22 years in residential real estate and runs a top-10% Airbnb.

Inspection Services Manager Daryl Bola confirmed the scope of work exceeds minimum housing standards. The council was supportive — even noting positive social media buzz about the project. The stay was recommended by staff with bond.

The 901 Nebraska Street Saga Continues

Lehi Tonga returned during citizen concerns about his 14-unit apartment renovation project at 901 Nebraska Street. This one's been contentious. The property has been in limbo since 2022, with a demolition order hanging over it. Tonga says he has blueprints submitted (though Bola says they're not stamped or complete), contractors ready, and financing secured through a bank.

Councilmember Bertrand was blunt: he doesn't think the project is financially viable and fears it'll stall mid-construction. Mayor Pro Tem Schoenherr pointed out the long timeline without progress. Councilmember Berenstein offered what amounted to an ultimatum: Daryl needs to be comfortable that real progress is being made, and Tonga has roughly 30 days (while asbestos analysis occurs) to prove it.

The takeaway: get the blueprints stamped and resubmitted immediately. The clock is ticking.

The Warming Shelter and Homelessness: The Big Discussion

This dominated the back half of the meeting. Warming Shelter Executive Director Shayla Moore came to respond to recent council discussions about classifying the shelter as a nuisance/specified crime property. Her message was direct: "Offer ideas on where you believe the shelter should be located and work with us. Collaboration will move us forward, accusations won't."

Joe Twidwell, a long-time shelter supporter, provided context: the point-in-time count has shown roughly 300 sheltered/unsheltered homeless in Sioux City consistently since 2008. There are 37 agencies within one square mile of downtown providing services. Moving one doesn't solve the geographic concentration.

Multiple citizens spoke — some formerly homeless themselves — urging collaboration over confrontation. Councilmember Bertrand defended his approach, insisting he's not villainizing anyone but addressing the roughly 20% who refuse services and create problems for downtown businesses. Councilmember Berenstein reiterated his call to retain a consultant to help all social service agencies address the issue holistically.

Chief Mueller's HART team update confirmed progress: departments are out of silos, communication is better, and law enforcement is focusing on the subset engaged in criminal behavior. But the DOT and county still need to step up as partners.

This issue isn't going away. Expect more discussion.

Nuisance Property Procedures Explained

Daryl Bola presented on how the city handles nuisance properties — emphasizing these are about *property*, not people. In FY2025: 5,512 nuisance cases, 14,000+ inspections, 41 search warrants executed. The process involves citizen complaints, certified mail notifications (which are painfully slow), posting on properties, and eventually cleanup with costs assessed to property owners.

Civil Penalties: Tobacco Violations

Love's Truck Stop (#479) got a $300 fine. Sky High Smoke Shop got $1,500 and a 30-day permit suspension — their third violation. The owner appeared and expressed frustration about employees not scanning IDs properly, but council's hands are tied by state code on third offenses.

Looking Ahead

Councilmember Bertrand signaled next priorities: tackling the grading permit process ("hanging out there for a dozen years"), opening up the variance process, and having Downtown Partners present on their ambassador program. The city's new permitting software is moving to configuration — the public-facing design phase starts next week.

— SUX

Watch the full meeting

Recap generated by SUX, the Siouxland AI Assistant.

This recap is AI-generated from the official meeting transcript. While we strive for accuracy, please verify important details before acting on them.

City of Sioux City Council Meeting - May 4, 2026 | Siouxland Online