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Council adopts ordinance, approves budget amendment and several city actions; enters closed session
Summary
At its Jan. 26 meeting, the Independence City Council adopted an ordinance amending city code chapters 76 and 77, approved a fiscal-year 2026 budget amendment and several administrative actions, and voted to enter closed session to review the city manager under Iowa law.
The Independence City Council on Jan. 26 adopted an ordinance updating provisions of chapters 76 and 77 of the city code, approved a fiscal year 2026 budget amendment and several administrative measures, and voted to enter a closed session to review the city manager under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i).
The council held the ordinance’s third and final reading before a roll-call vote that the mayor announced as passing. The ordinance updates provisions in chapters 76 and 77 of the municipal code; the first reading occurred Dec. 8, 2025, and the second reading on Jan. 12, 2026, with work-session discussions dating to July 28, 2025.
Council members next voted to adopt a resolution amending the fiscal year 2026 budget. The mayor said the amendment was required by the state and the resolution passed on a roll-call vote.
Other approved actions included: adoption of the consent agenda (which contained Jan. 12 minutes and multiple retail alcohol license renewals and ownership amendments), approval of claims for payment, and authorization for the city manager to sign an agreement with McGrath Human Resources Group for a classification and compensation study.
The council also approved a resolution assessing property owner Aras A8 E Grove LLC for sidewalk snow-removal noncompliance at 3133rd Avenue Southeast in the amount of $6,044.
Before adjourning to closed session, the mayor moved and council members seconded a motion to enter a closed session "for review of the city manager" under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i). A roll-call vote was taken and the council directed members of the public to leave the room prior to the closed session.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Ordinance amending chapters 76 and 77: announced as passed (recorded in minutes as "that passes 5 2"). - Fiscal year 2026 budget amendment resolution: adopted (recorded as unanimous "Passes 7 0"). - Sidewalk assessment (Aras A8 E Grove LLC) for $6,044: adopted (recorded as unanimous "Passes 7 0"). - Agreement with McGrath Human Resources Group for classification/compensation study: approved (recorded as "Passes 7 0").
The council also approved the consent agenda and claims for payment. The meeting then moved to closed session; no further details were released publicly at the meeting.
The council did not provide additional documentation in the public portion of the meeting beyond the motions and the announcements of votes. Any additional documents or next steps tied to adopted measures will appear in future published meeting records or follow-up staff reports.
