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Sioux Center council approves budget amendment, fireworks ordinance, $2.5M bond and housing support
Summary
The Sioux Center City Council on May 11 approved a FY2025-26 budget amendment, adopted a narrower fireworks window, authorized documentation for $2.5 million in electric revenue notes, and backed a Ridge Creek LLC workforce housing tax-credit application; the meeting also set public hearings on a water tower and a revitalization plan amendment.
The Sioux Center City Council met May 11 and approved multiple routine and substantive measures, including a budget amendment, two municipal ordinances, bond documentation for an electric generation project and a local endorsement for a workforce housing tax-credit application.
Finance Director Darryl Ten Pas presented an amendment to the FY2025-26 budget to reflect actual beginning fund balances and to adjust associated expenditures and revenues; Mayor Dale Vander Berg opened a public hearing, heard no comments, and the council approved RESOLUTION SC-R-15-26 by roll call (Aye: Cory Gotto, Mark Hulshof, Eric Moerman, Jennifer Vermeer, Randy Vreugdenhil; Nays: none).
The council approved final reading of ORDINANCE SC-O-4-26 to shorten the city’s summer fireworks window and reduce allowable Sunday evening hours. Under the adopted code change, summer fireworks use runs June 13–July 6 (previously through July 8), Sundays have an earlier end time, and July 4 and the immediately adjacent Friday and Saturday are governed by a 9 a.m.–11 p.m. allowance. The council first voted to suspend the Iowa Code 380.3 three-reading requirement before passing the ordinance on roll call (Aye: Gotto, Hulshof, Moerman, Verveer, Vreugdenhil; Nays: none).
The council placed the form of a Continuing Disclosure Certificate on file and approved RESOLUTION SC-R-16-26, authorizing a loan agreement and the issuance of $2,500,000 in taxable electric revenue capital loan notes (Series 2026A) related to the electric generation project. The disclosure form was placed on file following a motion by Councilmember Mark Hulshof and approval by roll call (Aye: Gotto, Hulshof, Moerman, Verveer, Vreugdenhil; Nays: none).
Assistant City Manager Dennis Dokter told the council that Ridge Creek LLC plans about 30 additional housing units (a mix of apartments and townhomes) and seeks Workforce Housing Tax Credits. The council approved RESOLUTION SC-R-17-26 supporting the IEDA application and local match (Aye: Gotto, Hulshof, Vermeer, Vreugdenhil; Abstain: Moerman).
The meeting also approved several procedural and infrastructure items, including: scheduling a June 1 public hearing on plans and cost estimates for a proposed water tower in southern Sioux Center; authorizing the mayor to execute a five-year Agreement for Maintenance and Repair of Primary Roads (Highway 75) with the Iowa Department of Transportation (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2031); and approving the second reading of ORDINANCE SC-O-03-26 to permit angled parking near two churches (the second-reading vote recorded Hulshof, Moerman and Verveer in favor; Gotto and Vreugdenhil abstained).
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes, bills, finance reports, liquor licenses for Pizza Hut and Chamber of Commerce summer event): approved (voice vote, all Aye). - RESOLUTION SC-R-15-26 (FY2025-26 budget amendment): approved (roll call: Aye — Gotto, Hulshof, Moerman, Verveer, Vreugdenhil). - ORDINANCE SC-O-03-26 (angle parking): second reading approved (roll call: Aye — Hulshof, Moerman, Verver; Abstain — Gotto, Vreugdenhil). - ORDINANCE SC-O-4-26 (fireworks code amendment, final reading): approved (roll call: Aye — Gotto, Hulshof, Moerman, Verveer, Vreugdenhil). - Agreement for Maintenance and Repair of Primary Roads (Iowa DOT; Highway 75): authorized (voice vote, all Aye). - RESOLUTION SC-R-16-26 ($2.5M taxable electric revenue notes): approved (roll call: Aye — Gotto, Hulshof, Moerman, Verveer, Vreugdenhil). - RESOLUTION SC-R-17-26 (support for Ridge Creek LLC Workforce Housing Tax Credit application): approved (roll call: Aye — Gotto, Hulshof, Verveer, Vreugdenhil; Abstain — Moerman). - RESOLUTION SC-R-18-26 (fixing date for public hearing on Amendment No. 5 to Multi-Residential Urban Revitalization Plan): approved (roll call: Aye — Gotto, Hulshof, Moerman, Verveer, Vreugdenhil).
The council entered executive session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(c) to discuss pending litigation and returned to open session. The meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m.
