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Clinton council approves advancing month‑to‑month lease for parking lot used by Mike's Fun Food
Summary
Council advanced a month‑to‑month lease for city‑owned lot at 405 7th Avenue South, used by Mike's Fun Food, as an interim measure while staff develops a revisioning plan and explores sale options; council directed staff to present the block revisioning to the full council next month.
The Clinton City Committee of the Whole voted to move forward with approving a month‑to‑month lease for the city‑owned parcel at 405 7th Avenue South, the vacant lot formerly occupied by the Salvation Army and currently used by Mike's Fun Food.
Community Development Director Johnson told the council the lease is meant to formalize use of the lot, ensure maintenance and reduce the city's liability for accidents on the property. "We are now trying to formalize a parking lot lease agreement for this to ensure the safety of the city as well as to ensure get maintenance under control," Johnson said. Staff said the lease would prohibit subleasing and could be terminated by either party with 30 days' notice.
Business owner Mike, whose food operation uses the lot, told the council he prefers to buy the property but said he would accept a month‑to‑month lease while the city completes a block revisioning plan funded through a grant. "I bought it after that," he said when discussing a nearby parcel he purchased; later he agreed to wait one month to review the consultant's proposals. Johnson said the consultant will be ready to present at the next council meeting.
Council members and staff also discussed zoning and vehicle‑storage rules that require vehicles to move periodically. Johnson noted that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources had sent a letter to a nearby gas station owner requiring removal of underground tanks by March under Iowa code, a factor that could affect redevelopment timelines.
A council member moved to advance the lease; another seconded and the council conducted a roll call vote. Councilwoman Turpin and other members responded in the affirmative when polled. The council asked staff to modify the existing lease to a month‑to‑month form (staff suggested $35 per month as an interim rent) and to bring the revisioning presentation to the next regular meeting before any final sale decision.
Next steps: staff will present the consultant's revisioning plan at the next council meeting and return a modified month‑to‑month lease for formal approval as needed.
