Council approves EPA grant, parking change, lease consent and other items; utility study referral sent to finance committee

At the Superior Common Council meeting on Sept. 2, councilors approved a package of routine and substantive items, including a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to advance waterfront access and restoration, a traffic-code amendment to add accessible parking at 2004 Baxter Avenue, and the city's consent to an assignment and assumption of a long-term lease for Superior Laundry Property, LLC.

Councilors also approved a land-sale waiver for a vacant-to-value new-construction application at the 1600 block of Ohio Avenue, appointed Kimberly Lehi as the agent for JKC Enterprises d/b/a Birds Bar & Liquor, and approved the minutes of the Aug. 19 regular council meeting.

Separately, the council voted to refer a recommendation to award a consulting contract to Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc., to evaluate a potential acquisition of utilities operated by Spier Water, Light and Power, to a special meeting of the finance committee for further review. The Raftelis proposal described a not-to-exceed amount of $150,000; the referral instructs the finance committee to review financial data and comparable municipal utility arrangements and report back.

Below are the actions recorded at the meeting with movers, seconders, outcomes and key clarifications from council discussion.

- Approval of Aug. 19, 2025 regular council meeting minutes: Motion by Councilor Herrick, second by Councilor Graskey. Outcome: motion carries (no roll-call tally provided). Note: routine approval of minutes.

- Plan Commission: resolution to set a public hearing concerning specified streets and alleys: Motion by Councilor Eric, second by Councilor Johnson. Outcome: motion carries.

- Vacant-to-Value: waiver of the land-sale process for Marilyn and Robert Gilbertson's application for the vacant-to-value new-construction program (property in the 1600 block of Ohio Avenue): Motion by Councilor Herrick, second by Councilor Moffett. Outcome: motion carries.

- Referral to finance committee (Item 9.1): recommendation from the Public Works Committee to award a consulting contract to Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc. to evaluate potential acquisition of utilities operated by Spier Water, Light and Power in an amount not to exceed $150,000. A councilor moved to refer the item to a special finance committee meeting for a more in-depth review; second by Councilor Johnson. Outcome: motion to refer carries. Notes: Councilors asked that the finance committee dig into Spirit/Spier financials and comparable municipally owned utility examples; the committee plans a special meeting next week and will report back to the full council.

- EPA grant agreement for expanded waterfront access, environmental restoration and community recreation: Motion by Councilor Dean, second by Councilor Ludwig. Outcome: motion carries. Note: Director Maruska recommended approval.

- Ordinance amending City Code chapter 112 (Traffic Code Schedule J) to add accessible parking signs at 2004 Baxter Avenue on both sides: Motion by Councilor Herrick, second by Councilor Ludwig. Outcome: motion carries.

- Resolution authorizing the city's consent to an assignment and assumption agreement regarding the city lease with Superior Laundry Property, LLC: Motion by Councilor Grama, second by Councilor Ladin. Outcome: motion carries. Clarifications from the meeting: the lease is the remainder of an original 99-year lease established in 1991 and, as discussed, 66 years remain on that original term; the lessee arrangement produces a payment amount equivalent to former personal property taxes, which staff estimated at roughly $15,000–$16,000 per year and which will vary with building value. Councilor Sweeney and others noted the lease terms are favorable to the developer compared with current practice but that the arrangement supports a business relocation related to the bridge project.

- Appointment of Kimberly Lehi as agent for JKC Enterprises (d/b/a Birds Bar & Liquor) for Class B alcohol and related retail licensing: Motion by Councilor LeDin, second by Councilor Graskey. Outcome: motion carries.

No roll-call vote tallies were read into the record for the items listed above; the meeting record shows voice votes with outcomes reported as "motion carries" when approved.

Several councilors asked for additional detail on the Raftelis contract recommendation and the lease assignment. Director Serk and the mayor responded to questions about lease term carryover and tax-equivalent payments; staff committed to providing further financial detail to the finance committee and council as requested.