Lamar City Council approves three rezoning first readings, budget amendment and multiple service agreements

Lamar City Council on May 20, 2025 approved a package of land‑use and financing measures that included the first readings of three rezoning ordinances, adoption of a budget amendment increasing the city's FY2024–25 spending plan, approval of an airport hangar lease and authorization of professional services for a proposed firehouse and a 35‑acre commercial development.

The council approved first readings of ordinances to rezone 31 lots in Dogwood Fourth Edition (Ordinance No. 996), 22 lots in Dogwood Fifth Edition (Ordinance No. 997) and a parcel in the Holton Subdivision (Ordinance No. 998) to allow new residential and business uses, respectively. Councilmembers voted in favor in recorded roll calls or by voice vote; each motion carried.

Why this matters: the rezoning measures would change allowable uses for specific subdivisions and parcels and are the first formal step in the ordinance process. If adopted at second reading, they would alter the city's zoning map and enable the proposed developments to proceed under the new zoning designations.

The council also adopted Resolution No. 25‑20 amending the FY2024–25 adopted budget. City staff told the council the adopted budget had expenses of $100,426,025 and the amended budget would be $110,026,025, an increase of $9,600,000. During discussion staff and council described the amendment as a precautionary adjustment to ensure the city has budgeted funds available should large invoices arrive late in the fiscal year; no specific new projects were identified at the meeting.

On contracts and service agreements, the council: - Approved an airport hangar lease with C and D Aviation LLC as presented during the hearing. - Approved a master agreement (B121‑2018) and the first service order (B221‑2018) with FEH Associates to provide bond referendum planning and graphics for a proposed firehouse. City staff said the service order totals $13,750, billed at $2,500 per month, and the work is expected to take five to six months and be completed before the fall election. Council approved the agreement by voice vote; the motion carried. - Approved a professional services agreement with ISG to provide planning, design and construction‑related services for 35 acres near the South Interchange purchased by the Lamar Business Initiative Corporation (LBIC). The agreement covers phased work through concept, design and construction documents and carries a not‑to‑exceed cost of $310,600. Council and ISG representatives said the intent is for those upfront costs to be reimbursed with tax increment financing (TIF) once the property is annexed and an urban renewal area is established; staff said annexation is expected around June 17 and creating the urban renewal area would follow so costs could be submitted as debt by the December 1 reporting deadline. The motion carried.

Public comment and other business: Police Chief Shipper, speaking from the audience, summarized a recent state law change about consumer fireworks that, he said, restricts local governments' ability to prohibit fireworks on certain calendar dates. Chief Shipper said the new law does not change Lamar's local practice because the city already allows fireworks on July 3–5 and on Dec. 31 with a local time restriction. The council also approved the consent agenda including meeting minutes, bills, the April financial statement, a tax exemption request, a temporary premises transfer for a wedding event and surplus property.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance No. 996, Dogwood Fourth Edition rezoning (first reading): Motion approved (roll call recorded; motion carried). - Ordinance No. 997, Dogwood Fifth Edition rezoning (first reading): Motion approved (roll call recorded; motion carried). - Ordinance No. 998, PT Lot 3, Holton Subdivision rezoning (first reading): Motion approved (roll call recorded; motion carried). - Airport hangar lease with C and D Aviation LLC: Approved by voice vote. - Resolution No. 25‑20, amendment to FY2024–25 budget (adopted): Approved by roll call/voice; amended budget total $110,026,025 (from $100,426,025). - FEH Associates master agreement and service order (B121‑2018 / B221‑2018): Approved; service order cost $13,750 to be billed at $2,500/month; work to finish before fall election. - ISG professional services agreement for Southwest Commercial Development: Approved; not‑to‑exceed $310,600; funding intended to be reimbursed with TIF after annexation and urban renewal creation.

What council did not decide: All three rezoning items passed first reading; second readings and final adoption were not taken at this meeting. Council did not identify specific new projects that will use the additional budget authority created by Resolution No. 25‑20. The workforce housing item introduced near the end of the transcript (JG1 LLC seeking permission to apply to the Iowa Economic Development Authority) was introduced but the record in the provided transcript cuts off before final action.

The city is likely to return to several of these items on later agendas for final approvals, bond referendum planning and implementation steps for the commercial development and firehouse projects.