[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6375035,"mediaKeyId","2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01","parentId",2142521,"title","Council approves consent items including final pay and acceptance of Decorah 2024 Dry Run channel improvements","audioSeconds",74,"startMs",269000,"endMs",343000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01&start=269&end=343","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01/thumbnail_269000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6375035/Decorah/Winneshiek-County/Iowa/Council-approves-consent-items-including-final-pay-and-acceptance-of-Decorah-2024-Dry-Run-channel-improvements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375035-0328476659235b99866365feeefd6d01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177690&Signature=Xxlf6pGp~YTO8e0TfvQ-ckqJNFxSSHJabZiXown1kuRtkOscqCYh1sw-~CzFIi7IXGt96G-k9YPwZ-1Y9OcInPKfhcKj5LcoykygQfm08jGZLzZ0XnX1ij4m7fp9CQ6WFrajTDhU2HWtVXjIYR-CavXKaIKCrwwhGNKv1c1WtWyu7DJmA7iebk5GV6Ni65nhirtmi9qGN5oCcG4tcWVMAwIpdU~ByPlhnI54eKrrYeBoedwLfH0tIYCu69HByhgTFllDhWE8bxykdoqFj6tGUhtVpHUPdM8erezpcXLMEkRfGbvgKN8esCP8F~mgk-65GwYyYzL9udoXXC3s4eqedA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decorah, IA","date","2025-01-23T15:37:01Z","article","The council approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the Jan. 6, 2025 meeting, claims, change order No. 2 and final pay application No. 3 for the Decorah 2024 Dry Run channel improvements project, and a resolution accepting the project as complete.

Staff summarized the items for council consideration before the consent vote. The change order and final pay application related to quantity adjustments on the 2024 Dry Run channel project. The council approved the consent agenda by motion; the meeting record indicates the motion carried.

The resolution accepting the Decorah 2024 Dry Run channel improvements project as complete was part of the consent items approved. No separate debate was recorded on those specific items during the meeting minutes presented to council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Decorah Council Meeting 01-21-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Decorah approved consent agenda items that included change order No. 2, final pay application No. 3, and a resolution accepting the Decorah 2024 Dry Run channel improvements project as complete.","taxTitle","Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa","taxId",55664,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6375040,"Council discusses rules on public comment, decorum and motion-to-reconsider; staff to draft revised language",394,2028000,2422000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01&start=2028&end=2422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01/thumbnail_2028000.jpg","/articles/6375040/Decorah/Winneshiek-County/Iowa/Council-discusses-rules-on-public-comment-decorum-and-motion-to-reconsider-staff-to-draft-revised-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375040-91fb1001945d26dc9b010ee4db2b039e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177690&Signature=FxPKHTMOGVHoH3anee4VFbHQyQPCcujE-BMNZp68-DODT2~jzy5Ic0gz22NS-8tqlOP0pdSAh2E1AIOVGIer2i9fEvJ1YFzfzkxLvLF9K6-J0Raxp5zULKe17fRp8xc8Q6SsOZoSmi7nMlh6t84zy~6acUzVHWOiSPFUFHaeo~Ocnh9mbF8qBB8W1eSX01FtU7PEVERFG6u2kHqIkyXq2rwwp67S58YzenYQkErBzls1dLRDo5aH-sPu1AbMva2GLJ2Y9VCrohA6T40LZLKjCCkyg7ZOwg4YCfdGaru3C4SC1g~y5dFkpzHsascP~TEUnuS47DdcNUEBTuawFTxFHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and council members spent an extended portion of the meeting reviewing proposed amendments to council rules and procedures, focusing on public-comment time limits, speaker decorum, the motion-to-reconsider rule, and a possible waiver mechanism.

Staff described suggested language that would state each person “shall be given approximately three minutes” during public comment but allow the mayor to shorten time when many speakers are expected. “If you adopt it as hard and fast in the council rules… it’s 3 minutes,” a staff member said, but noted the mayor historically announces a time limit at the start of public comment and can adjust based on meeting circumstances.

Council members debated how prescriptive the rules should be. Some argued for clearer, consistently applied limits so speakers know what to expect; others cautioned against limiting speech and recommended phrasing that encourages decorum rather than criminalizing content. One council member proposed moving decorum language into a request or encouragement section rather than an enforceable prohibition, citing split federal appellate guidance on restricting speaker content.

Separately, staff proposed adding language to allow waiver of council rules by a supermajority (recommended threshold discussed: three‑fourths of the quorum) to provide flexibility for exceptional situations. On motion-to-reconsider, council members discussed adjusting the timing so that a vote taken by a prior council could be reconsidered after a new council member is seated or after a subsequent city election; staff said the current rule allows reconsideration only by a member who voted with the majority or any member in the event of a tie.

Staff will return with revised wording that incorporates the council’s direction, including suggested language that public-comment time be “approximately three minutes unless otherwise designated by the mayor,” and a proposed waiver clause for the rules.","Decorah’s council debated adding a three-minute public-comment guideline (with mayoral discretion), decorum language, and a mechanism to waive rules by supermajority; members also discussed changing motion-to-reconsider timing to allow items to be revisited after subsequent city elections.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6375044,"Council approves additional MEU voter-education material with wording change on feasibility study",1185,820000,2005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01&start=820&end=2005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01/thumbnail_820000.jpg","/articles/6375044/Decorah/Winneshiek-County/Iowa/Council-approves-additional-MEU-voter-education-material-with-wording-change-on-feasibility-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375044-877fb3804f11ed3d2f998ca8ab843f9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177690&Signature=eoD7eCCV0i1XkkeQfpCI6mhCQ~yIPdLCs9rot2ZiFFcgEWJbPndKYbFr8cNafSHBahgFgnK7Y39-IIlUD7Xd9fp2ZauHY82M8VyrH4EIsje3oOz6nCiS2LmJ-ralcVdWEvlaUoV9uCUqocDp~pHaSv1sScgtVLYkgZG3MboVVpS-8KPVjh6bQ32vWNwcj2aQSfTHiJ60FDj1Rs7fHX~8parVwkbg6liKTEn9K5ohWLV1R510nvdZTq9-rMwIKcoOWxMNl8jekfvJzQOJIUnRL5gLZfZfB8Pi~pRb-7SyqePB9mVLXGKmxJHG4ZoxM~lQFa9iPDq1oeDqvyVHj36tDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Decorah City Council voted to adopt additional voter-education language about a potential municipal electric utility (MEU) referendum, and amended the text so the city “may conduct a feasibility study” rather than “will.”

Staff explained the proposed answers respond to frequently asked public questions and that the special legal counsel and the Iowa Ethics Board’s executive director and legal counsel had reviewed the language. A staff member said the question of whether the city would seek a certificate of authority from the Iowa Utilities Commission would be a policy decision for the council and is not established by Iowa Code text.

During discussion council members expressed differing views on how definitive the materials should be. One council member said voters needed as much information as possible; another urged caution because many next-step decisions would depend on the results of a referendum and subsequent legal and financial processes. Several council members emphasized that some answers must remain tentative because state processes and future council decisions cannot be fully predicted.

A motion to approve the additional materials — incorporating the change from “will” to “may” in the feasibility-study language — carried on roll call. The tally recorded five ayes and two nays (Chisel and Olson voted no); the motion passed.","Decorah’s council approved four additional voter-education answers for the municipal electric utility (MEU) referendum, changing instances of “will” to “may” regarding whether the city will conduct a feasibility study; the materials were reviewed by special counsel and the Iowa ethics board legal staff.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6375048,"Council accepts stormwater easement at 1111 Montgomery Street; easement may open option for city participation in repairs",339,465000,804000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01&start=465&end=804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01/thumbnail_465000.jpg","/articles/6375048/Decorah/Winneshiek-County/Iowa/Council-accepts-stormwater-easement-at-1111-Montgomery-Street-easement-may-open-option-for-city-participation-in-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375048-28d6c4208de3cec07ee86b2f945ce2f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177690&Signature=mXpkriYTainHT6o2OeaafD-O8e4v-i61-yPlhcyEGiqjGRe4pv2IIB69WPIQIZGGe~EZuOD2H-CclTt7~muzdSAiEV6S7YhdbOXhvOd8AYQJb4JZTyKlr06950XkuLgbS30tFiWKdonGdHeas-adsKgl0TnG7ymwMGWjJMwbjeufrKvhl1UDVaJKz8e8jznyYYar0SloW6BnSnEXN4~uyHrdLjuFD4M6zDKZCwZ4MJV8n5qJlG50gr4M~BM4CBIAa0TVLse0dGNaNTRaaltqGgD4NrFR2bSKX83UmeWCw~H3QEaVrS3GetMkbJbvFFBb-lj7WfW5i5EIBXykpwtRiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Decorah City Council approved a resolution accepting a stormwater utility easement at 1111 Montgomery Street, a property partly owned by Stone Ridge Church and a development parcel.

City staff said the pipe beneath that property appears to have been installed by a developer in the 1980s and no easement was recorded at that time. The private culvert currently conveys stormwater from Commerce Drive into the city’s storm system. “The property owner has requested that the city assist with repairs and replacement of failing sections of that private culvert since it does convey stormwater from Commerce Drive,” a staff member explained.

Council members sought clarification about the city’s obligation. One council member asked whether accepting an easement would create a sense that the city is obliged to participate in repairs in the future. Staff replied, “The short answer is yes, … there is probably some level of city participation in the near future,” but emphasized that any action beyond staff’s spending threshold would come back to council for consideration.

A motion to accept the easement was made and seconded; the council approved the resolution by roll call with all members voting aye. Staff noted Plan & Zoning reviewed and recommended acceptance. The council’s approval grants the city rights to access and maintain stormwater infrastructure on the parcel; it does not, by itself, create an immediate funding obligation for repairs, though staff and council acknowledged repairs are likely to be needed and would require separate council action for funding.","Decorah accepted a stormwater utility easement at 1111 Montgomery Street that grants the city access to a private culvert conveying city stormwater. Staff and council discussed that acceptance does not legally obligate city repairs but can create an expectation of future participation.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6375053,"Council approves first reading to tighten site-plan threshold for larger multifamily projects",149,329000,478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01&start=329&end=478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142521-e1fe2562bc4e9d5c3561f17b9725dd01/thumbnail_329000.jpg","/articles/6375053/Decorah/Winneshiek-County/Iowa/Council-approves-first-reading-to-tighten-site-plan-threshold-for-larger-multifamily-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375053-475ffb291b49a69ac1d557fabd5f4119/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177690&Signature=j1PObpJZI5ytkXrkwtakhbyN9aTQ892rF-p9SmDv7Fd1b1cgbg9t5XZAcfeYVAQ3ETC0B5EyJokrSzG9WsESpwNn17BT2Dd7Tboc-B~hCxpgt7t3zGQsmFnv-A4M7iOapb0qrQpXnVlAqhY7eIbiUR6AnjNcR5MDQv2CwZe3Aj9Txg7MCcGZhRLUgwFbjk-zdNfb6OTW7DwyI3rVx8kmnPQKQzfv52oZtS3yzdGiF8hCD~fZxtmr1EkEHEghM8xN6-Bv8ed6dKu3vpT9qJ5BT-xaYjQCBU28Xx9b~V2D1aU5XVUwJNU6tu5hBNNUIzhL0GZK1NccG8ACqr1HZjZ-aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Decorah City Council on first reading approved an amendment to section 17.36.020 of the Decorah Municipal Code that changes the city’s site-plan review threshold for residential projects.

City staff told the council the proposed ordinance would revise the existing code so that the site-plan requirement would apply to developments larger than a four-family dwelling instead of anything larger than a duplex. “The only change proposed is the requirement threshold,” a staff member said, noting Planning & Zoning recommended the change after staff observed the same site-plan standard applied to both small multi-family infill and very large commercial projects.

The measure cleared first reading after a motion by Council Member Chisel and a second by Council Member Zittergruen. In roll call votes during the meeting, Chisel, Zittergruen, Missalinich, Olson, Whittle, Neal and Parker voted in favor and the motion carried.

Supporters said the amendment would align review requirements with project scale and reduce unnecessary process for small multifamily projects. Staff pointed to a previous presentation about a four-unit project on Washington Street to illustrate why the threshold was under review.

Because this vote was the ordinance’s first reading, the item will return for a final reading and adoption at a future meeting if the council moves forward. The proposed ordinance, as discussed, limits the site-plan review trigger to projects larger than a four-family residential dwelling rather than anything above two units.","The Decorah City Council adopted the first reading of an ordinance amending Municipal Code section 17.36.020 to raise the site-plan review threshold so only residential buildings larger than four units require a site plan; the change was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent items including final pay and acceptance of Decorah 2024 Dry Run channel improvements

Council discusses rules on public comment, decorum and motion-to-reconsider; staff to draft revised language

Council approves additional MEU voter-education material with wording change on feasibility study

Council accepts stormwater easement at 1111 Montgomery Street; easement may open option for city participation in repairs

Council approves first reading to tighten site-plan threshold for larger multifamily projects