Panora council adopts Ordinance No. 361, expanding Urban Revitalization Area to city limits

The Panora City Council on Feb. 9, 2026 unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 361, amending prior ordinances and updating the Panora Urban Revitalization Area to include all real property situated within the incorporated municipal limits of the City of Panora as of Feb. 1, 2026. Mayor Curtis Thornberry presided over the meeting.

Council Member Brian Dorsett introduced the ordinance, and a motion to adopt was moved by Dorsett and seconded by Roger Dorr. Council later moved to suspend the statutory rule requiring two readings and proceeded to final passage; all council members voted aye (Dorr, Dorsett, Flanery, Michelsen, Sheeder). The Mayor declared the ordinance duly adopted and signed it.

The ordinance recites earlier Panora ordinances (No. 145 and No. 218) and references Chapter 404 of the Code of Iowa as the enabling statute. Its stated purpose is to identify an area appropriate for public improvements related to housing and residential development and to promote economic development in the designated area. The ordinance states it will take effect after final passage, approval and publication as provided by law; the clerk's certificate in the minutes did not include the publication date.

The minutes record that the council previously adopted Resolution 26-07, which finally adopted the Restated Plan for the Panora Urban Revitalization Area; that resolution was considered and carried by roll call before the ordinance proceedings. The ordinance text in the minutes includes long-form recitals describing the scope of the renewed plan and the designation of the Urban Revitalization Area as described above.

The council's action formalizes the expanded boundary for the revitalization area; no implementing timelines or funding allocations were recorded in the minutes. Public comment was not recorded on this item during the meeting.