Tag: City

Pet registration available at Muscatine Humane Society Clinic April 8

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 6, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – City of Muscatine staff will be at the Muscatine Humane Society Low-Cost Rabies and Microchip Clinic Friday (April 8), assisting pet owners in registering their pets. The Muscatine Humane Society event will be held from 3-6 p.m. in the Canine Activity Center located next to the Humane Society at 920 S. Houser Street.

The City of Muscatine suspended the first-year registration fee for neutered dogs and cats from March 19 through April 30 to promote pet registration within the city. The offer does not apply to non-neutered pets.

“The event is for dogs and cats,” Chris McGinnis, director of the Muscatine Humane Society, said. “Dogs must be on leash while cats must be secured in a pet carrier.”

The Muscatine Humane Society will be offering rabies vaccination for $10.00, and microchipping (including microchip registration) for $15.00. The Society will also offer $10-$12 identification tags that will be engraved while you wait. Dr. Robert Hathaway, DVM, will be administering the vaccine.

“We have done this event with the city for many years now,” McGinnis said. “Last year we had about 70 pets come through in two hours. This year we hope to have 100 pets during the three-hour event.”

Proof of spay or neuter must accompany all pets attending the clinic and/or registering with the city.

All dogs and cats six (6) months of age or older are required to be registered with the City of Muscatine.

A pet license runs concurrently with the pet’s rabies vaccination. The pet license is required to be renewed annually with each yearly rabies vaccination. If your pet has received a two or three year vaccination, you must renew your pet license annually or pay the multiple years of license fees at the time of registration.

It is the responsibility of the owner to present proof the pet being registered is altered. The pet licensing requirement applies to all pets over six months of age. It excludes owners of seeing-eye dogs or owners who are confined to a wheelchair. Both are exempt from paying the pet fee; however they are still required to register their animals with the Finance office at City Hall.

Owners must provide a certificate from a licensed veterinarian certifying that the dog or cat has received a rabies inoculation and the date that the inoculation occurred.

The annual cost of registration for a neutered pet is $5.00 but the annual fee is reduced to $3.00 for pet owners 65 and older. The fee for non-neutered pets is $25.00 per year with the annual fee reduced to $15.00 per year for pet owners 65 and older.

The neutered pet first year fee will be waived if the pet is registered prior to April 30 with the Department of Finance and Records at Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore Street, Muscatine.

The Department keeps a complete registry of all licensed dogs and cats, their breed, color and sex, along with the name and address of the owner, and the number of the license tag. The registry is used to verify compliance with City Code during investigations by the Muscatine Police Department Animal Control Officer.

Neutered pets who receive a two- or three-year rabies inoculation may be registered for two or three years (based on the rabies inoculation received) if the multiple year fee is paid at the time of registration (i.e., $10.00 for two-years; $15.00 for three-years). Multiple year registrations will receive the first-year discount through April 30 as part of the City’s pet registration promotion.

The license will be in effect until the anniversary date of the rabies vaccination of the animal and shall be renewable as determined by the animals’ vaccination schedule.

Revisions to Chapter 8 (Animal Regulations) of Title 6 (Police and Public Safety) of the City Code of Muscatine were recently approved by the Muscatine City County. The revised ordinance went into effect Sunday, March 13, 2022. Informative articles on changes to the Animal Control Ordinance will be published in the future.

For more information on pet licensing, call the Finance Department at 563-264-1550 or visit the Pet Licensing page on the City of Muscatine website.

Tags City, Humane, Iowa –, LowCost, Muscatine, Society, staff, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Positive outlook presented in State of the City address

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 31, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark is joined by City Administrator Carol Webb and Communications Manager Kevin Jenison for a unique 2022 State of the City address to the citizens of Muscatine in this week’s episode of “Muscatine In Focus”.

The video is available on the on the City of Muscatine website: MAYOR”S ADDRESS

The video is also available on the Muscatine in Focus YouTube page at STATE OF THE CITY.

Tags Administrator, Bark, Brad, Carol, City, Iowa – Muscatine, joined, Mayor, Muscatine, Webb

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Curbside bulky waste collection benefitting residents and City

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 25, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine implemented the Bulky Waste Collection Program in 2020 as a replacement for the annual Spring Cleanup Week and as an enhancement to the already established curbside waste pickup program.

Curbside bulky waste collection was previously offered to Muscatine and Fruitland residents for free three times a year, and a massive collection effort was staged in late April with a designated Spring Cleanup Week.

The current program eliminated Spring Cleanup Week and permits unlimited free curbside bulky waste collection throughout the calendar year from Muscatine and Fruitland residential refuse customers. Residents are limited to having two appliances collected free of charge per calendar year, however, with the Solid Waste Division picking up additional appliances for a fee that must be paid before collection.

The Curbside Bulky Waste Collection program has saved the city money and has, for the most part, eliminated the unsightly, oversized, and potentially hazardous piles of bulky waste that were normally scene throughout Muscatine prior to and during Spring Cleanup Week.

“The cleanup week collection required assistance from multiple divisions and the use of temporary workers,” Brian Stineman, Public Works Director, said. “And it took away resources that should have been used for roadway maintenance projects.”

In the past the City used 13 full time employees, nine temporary employees, and 14 pieces of equipment from the Department of Public Works along with eight full time employees, 17 temporary employees, and eight pieces of equipment from the Solid Waste Division to complete the collections during the designated Spring Cleanup Week.

“Going to a program where we schedule pickups on resident’s regular refuse collection day allows us to limit the workload to just two employees and one piece of equipment,” David Popp, Solid Waste Manager, said. “Having residents call in to schedule pickups makes better use of our time and of residents’ time.”

Residents wanting a curbside bulky waste collection will need to call 563-264-JUNK (563-264-5865) or email the Muscatine Transfer Station at bulkywaste@muscatineiowa.gov to schedule a pickup on the residents refuse collection day.

Please call by 3:30 p.m. at least two (2) days before your regular refuse collection day to schedule a curbside bulk waste pickup.

“If you call in and get the answering machine we will call you back,” Jennifer Calcott, Transfer Station clerk, said. “If you email us, we will call you. We are making every effort to talk with anyone who calls in to review the rules and set up a collection day. The most important thing for the public is to remember that you need to call in at least two business days ahead of your collection day to be put on the schedule.”

If residents have a large amount of bulky waste items they would like collected by the City, multiple pickups can be scheduled to keep the piles to a more manageable size for both the resident and City staff.

Once a pickup is scheduled with the City, residents will be permitted to place the unwanted items curbside the night before their regular refuse collection day or by 5:00 a.m. on the collection day.

Popp noted that scavengers are a problem when setting out bulky waste in terms of creating a bigger mess for his staff to cleanup and in terms of creating hazards in the taking apart of appliances and other items in the boulevard. Pieces of scavenged material such as nuts, bolts, and pieces of glass create hazards not only for the City workers but also for the residents.

“We may not see all the little pieces that the scavengers leave behind and that could create a hazard for the resident and their family,” Popp said.

Residents could also clean up the bulky waste themselves and haul the material to the Transfer Station where they would be charged a tipping floor fee.

A link to the Bulky Waste Collection page on the City of Muscatine website is located in the upper right half of the main page. You can also visit the Solid Waste Division page or visit the Transfer Station page for more information.

Tags 2020, Bulky, City, Collection, implemented, Iowa –, Muscatine, program, Waste

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Survey seeks public input on Downtown Muscatine

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 24, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine is partnering with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) on the first step to develop and implement strategies for a stronger community starting with an assessment of Downtown Muscatine.

“This partnership will assist us in defining the importance of downtown development and, specifically, how we can implement strategies to make the downtown more viable,” Jodi Royal-Goodwin, Community Development Director, said. “Downtown revitalization is a key ingredient in growing our community and a City priority.”

The City has contracted with the IEDA’s Downtown Resource Center to have the Downtown Assessment completed. The Assessment will be performed by an experienced team of professionals who identify local strengths and weaknesses creating the basis for recommendations on how to attract customers to the area.

The first step of the Assessment is a pre-visit online survey that will be followed by an intense, on-site study of the downtown area. The survey is open to the public and available at Downtown Muscatine Survey but will close on April 15. The goal is to have 100 residents and businesses complete the survey to give the assessment team an understanding of Muscatine before they hit the streets.

The short survey seeks public input on the strengths and weaknesses of Downtown Muscatine, how to improve the business climate, and what public amenities are most needed in the district.

A downtown or traditional commercial district represents a community’s history and helps define the community according to the IEDA. City planners will have a better understanding of the unique identity of the downtown district, and features and strengths that draw residents, visitors, businesses, and commerce through the survey and assessment team visit.

Tags Authority, City, Development, Economic, Iowa –, Muscatine, partnering, with

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Want to work? The City may have the job for you

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 22, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine currently has a variety of employment opportunities available for qualified individuals who have the desire for public service. From seasonal to part- and full-time opportunities, the City of Muscatine is the organization that you want to work for with great benefits a great staff to work with.

The City of Muscatine is actively seeking individuals within a 30-mile radius of the Muscatine city limits (including Iowa and Illinois residents) who would like to join the team as we work to make Muscatine a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Seasonal Job Fair set for April 2

The Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department is recruiting dependable, hardworking individuals to fill seasonal positions for the spring and summer of 2022. To ensure all qualified individuals have a chance to learn more about open positions and how to apply, a second seasonal job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, in the Clubhouse at the Muscatine Municipal Golf Course.

The Muscatine City Council recently passed an increase in the hourly rate for seasonal workers making these positions a great opportunity for individuals, including high school and college students, seeking seasonal work.

A variety of opportunities are available including Aquatic Center Manager, lifeguards, slide attendants, cashiers, equipment operators, office clerk, Golf Clubhouse supervisors, gas dock attendants, recreation program leaders, seasonal maintenance laborers, groundskeepers and College Search Kickoff program assistants. A complete list of opportunities is available on the City of Muscatine website at SUMMER POSITIONS.

Make plans to come out to the Muscatine Municipal Golf Course to talk with current staff, review open positions, and fill out an application. Interested persons may also fill out an application ahead of time by downloading a copy from the City of Muscatine website (Seasonal Job Application).

For more information, please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241.

Other opportunities for employment with the City of Muscatine include:

Clubhouse Supervisor – The Clubhouse Supervisor will be responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the clubhouse including, but not limited to, making tee times for golfers, checking in golfers, collecting daily fees for play, assisting the food and beverage team, maintaining the cleanliness of the clubhouse, keeping the outside cart staging area neat and organized, and selling merchandise in the pro shop. Open until filled.
Fire Fighter – The Muscatine Fire Department is compiling a list of prospective candidates for the position of firefighter. If you are interested in joining our premier team of firefighter-paramedics, please submit your application to be placed on the current selection list by the May 18 deadline. Click here to view our recruitment video.
Compost Site Technician (Part-Time/Seasonal) – This is a customer service, clerical position monitoring activity at the compost site. Work involves responsibility for greeting and directing customers, taking payments, and monitoring proper disposal of compost site materials. The position will be open until filled.
Substitute Refuse Collector – The Muscatine Transfer Station is accepting applications for individuals to serve as a substitute refuse collector on an as needed basis. Hours will vary depending on need. Individuals applying should be reliable, physically able to lift 75 pounds and be able to work flexible and early morning hours. The position will remain open until filled.
Transit Driver (Part-Time) – The Transit Division of the Department of Public Works is looking for a few people who love driving and providing excellent customer service to the community. Click on the link for more information on hours and qualifications. The position will remain open until filled. All applicants are welcomed.

For more information, visit the Employment Opportunities section on the City of Muscatine web site. The City of Muscatine is an equal employment affirmative action employer.

Tags available, City, currently, employment, Iowa –, Muscatine, Opportunities, qualified, variety

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City Administrator’s February report of City activity available

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 18, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The monthly City Administrator Report to the City Council and Citizens of Muscatine is now available highlighting the many accomplishments by the departments of the City of Muscatine during the month of February.

The City Administrator’s Monthly Report is intended to provide a brief summary of City activities, with links to additional information where possible. Due to the variety and complexity of City functions, however, the report is not all-encompassing.

Please always feel free to contact the City of Muscatine for more information or with questions or concerns. Any feedback can be provided to the City Administrator’s office by sending an email to feedback@muscatineiowa.gov.

You can also view past and upcoming events on the City’s calendar.

MONTHLY REPORT

Tags Administrator, Citizens, City, Council, Iowa –, monthly, Muscatine, Report

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Public Hearing on proposed City budget set for Thursday

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 16, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – A public hearing on the proposed City of Muscatine budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and a public hearing on Amendment 1 for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 City budget are on the agenda for the Muscatine city Council meeting Thursday (March 17).

A virtual meeting will be held in conjunction with the in-person meeting for those who want to view the proceedings or make a comment but do not feel comfortable in attending in person. Details for joining that meeting are listed below.

The proposed budget for 2022/2023 totals $62,172,479. This includes $36,568,089 in governmental fund expenditures and $25,604,390 in business-type/enterprise fund expenditures. Of the total proposed budget, $9,940,200 is for capital projects in both governmental and business-type funds. A public hearing on the proposed budget must be held before the Council can address the resolution adopting the budget.

The City Council recently completed the budget review process for the fiscal year 2022/2023 budget. As part of that review, revised estimate revenue and expenditure amounts for the current year (2021/2022) were also reviewed by City Council. Each year, these revised estimate amounts become Amendment #1 to the current year budget. A Public Hearing must be held prior to the Council considering the resolution to adopt Amendment 1.

The Council will also be asked to set a public hearing on a proposed ordinance that would strike Title 6, Chapter 9 of the City Code of Muscatine regarding the keeping of pit bulls. This is the first step of the process. The public hearing would be held on April 7.

Several other public hearings will be set by Council Thursday including five more on April 7 concerning an ordinance establishing vacant and non-residential property maintenance regulations, the use of Community Development Block Grant Funds for a Community Needs Assessment, the plans, specifications, and form of contract for the Tipping Floor Resurfacing Project at the Muscatine Transfer Station, on an ordinance change to allow residency outside of Iowa for Civil Service covered employees, and on the plans and specifications to widen a portion of the taxi lane at the Muscatine Municipal Airport.

The Council will be asked to schedule three public hearings on April 21 including one on an ordinance regulating cargo containers in residential areas, one on an ordinance revising weed and vegetation management regulations, on the 2023 Consolidated Funding Application for MuscaBus.

Thursday’s City Council meeting is open to the public. Citizens who do not want to attend the in-person meeting can watch and/or participate through the GoToMeeting virtual meeting portal. Information on joining the session and how to make a comment during the meeting is listed below. The session will also be broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel and on Muscatine Power & Water Cable Channel 2.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the March 17, 2022, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

The best way for the public to participate is to dial in to the GoToMeeting session, mute your device, watch the session on YouTube or Cable Channel 2, and, at the appropriate time, unmute your device to ask a question or make a comment. The public can also use the “chat” feature on the GoToMeeting virtual meeting to pose a question to the Mayor, Council, or staff member.

Muscatine City Council In Depth Meeting | Thu, Mar. 17, 2022 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

You can also use your phone by dialing +1 (669) 224-3412, follow the prompts, and type in Access Code 970-499-597 when prompted.

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/970499597

Please mute your computer or phone while listening to the proceedings (press *6 when using phone or mute button on computer). A chat window is available when you use your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Those wishing to speak or to ask a question are asked to use the chat box to post a message that will be seen by the Mayor who will address the questions or call on the speaker in turn. Those using their phones must wait until the Mayor asks for additional comments. The Mayor will recognize you prior to you addressing the Council.

Tags budget, City, Fiscal, hearing, Iowa –, Muscatine, proposed, public, year

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City waives first year neutered pet registration fee through April 30

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 16, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine will be suspending the first-year registration fee for neutered dogs and cats from March 19 through April 30 to promote pet registration within the city. The offer does not apply to non-neutered pets.

All dogs and cats six (6) months of age or older are required to be registered with the City of Muscatine.

Owners must provide a certificate from a licensed veterinarian certifying that the dog or cat has received a rabies inoculation and the date that the inoculation occurred.

The neutered pet first year fee will be waived if the pet is registered prior to April 30 with the Department of Finance and Records at Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore Street, Muscatine.

The license will be in effect until the anniversary date of the rabies vaccination of the animal and shall be renewable as determined by the animals’ vaccination schedule.

For more information on pet licensing, call the Finance Department at 563-264=1550 or visit the Pet Licensing page on the City of Muscatine website.

The City of Muscatine will be at two upcoming events to facilitate pet registration.

It Takes A Village Animal Rescue and Resources, along with national nonprofit Petco Love, will host the first of a series of “Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership” events from 1-5 p.m., Saturday (March 19), at the Salvation Army, 1000 Oregon St., Muscatine. Free canine DAPPv shots will be provided to 250 pets on a first come, first serve basis. Microchipping will also be available.

The Muscatine Humane Society, 920 S. Houser Street, Muscatine, will be hosting a low-cost event for dogs and cats from 3-6 p.m. on Friday, April 8, that will include rabies vaccination and microchipping on a first come, first served basis.

Tags City, dogs, firstyear, Iowa –, Muscatine, neutered, registration, suspending, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Three boards are seeking individuals to fill openings

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 11, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Three of the boards authorized by the City of Muscatine are looking for members to fill their ranks as the Muscatine Art Center Board of Trustees has two openings, the Public Art Commission one opening, and the Musser Public Library and HNI Community Center Board of Trustees has one opening.

The Art Center Board of Trustees meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the Muscatine Art Center. The Board of Trustees exercises change, control, and supervision over the museum and the art center. Members are appointed to three-year terms with a maximum of two full terms. Currently two positions need to be filled.

The Public Art Advisory Commission was established to promote and encourage programs to further public awareness of, accessibility to, participating in, and support for the artistic and cultural development of the City of Muscatine. The commission will meet at least four times per year. Five members will comprise the commission with one member representing or having an interest in public art from Muscatine County and the remaining four members being residents of the City of Muscatine. The members will be appointed by the City Council and serve a three-year term. Members can serve two consecutive terms. Currently one position needs to be filled.

The Library Board of Trustees meets at 4:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month in the Musser Public Library & HNI Community Center. The Board is responsible for overseeing management of the library by the Library Director, employing and removing the Library Director as necessary, approving the expenditure of money allocated by the City Council to the library, and approving the library budget for submission to the Council. Members serve six-year terms with a maximum of two full terms with one member a resident of Muscatine County appointed from a list of names submitted by the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors. Currently one position needs to be filled.

Anyone interested in joining one of these boards is asked to fill out an application and submit the form by Friday, April 15. Applications can be either emailed to the administrative secretary or mailed to Boards & Commissions, c/o Administrative Secretary, Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore, Muscatine, IA 52761.

Many areas to help the community

The City of Muscatine has 12 different boards and commissions that support and advise different departments and different aspects of life within Muscatine, and applications are currently being accepted for the Historic Preservation Commission and other boards and commissions. See BOARDS for list of the boards and commissions authorized by the City of Muscatine and the application in a PDF format.

Muscatine is a great place to live and work, and nothing demonstrates that fact more than how residents come together to serve for the betterment of the community as a whole. Whether that service comes by serving on the committee, volunteering for a project, offering to help on an organizational level, or in just helping out a neighbor, Muscatine residents are working together to make a great community even better.

The City of Muscatine is very thankful and grateful for the many residents who have volunteered their time and service to be a member on one of the many boards and commissions that assist in developing and monitoring City programs, policies and services.

How can I apply to volunteer my time?

Those interested in becoming a member of a board or commission can complete an application and either email the form to the administrative secretary or mail the form to Boards & Commissions, c/o Administrative Secretary, Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore, Muscatine, IA 52761. The City keeps applications on file in case vacancies occur. If you are interested and available in volunteering your time, please submit your application for a future term of office.

All applications are reviewed by the Nominating Committee to ensure applicants meet the qualifications to serve on a specific board or commission, to ensure there is no potential conflicts of interests, and to ensure that each board or commission has a gender balance as prescribed by Iowa Code. Those that meet the requirements are submitted to the full Council for approval. The nominating committee includes the Mayor, two Council representatives, and the City Administrator or a representative from city staff.

The City of Muscatine welcomes all residents to submit their names and resumes for a specific board or commission or a general submission for any board or commission. Most boards or commissions require some knowledge of the subject matter and the responsibilities for the specific board of commission.

Tags authorized, boards, City, fill, Iowa –, looking, members, Muscatine, Three

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Presentations on McKee Building, Love’s Project on Council agenda

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 9, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine City Council will hear a presentation on the future of the McKee Building and a presentation on the Love’s Project on Thursday (March 10) when the Council convenes for their in-depth session.

The Kent Corporation recently acquired the McKee Button Factory, 1000 Hershey Avenue, and are proposing renovating the existing building into office space that will ultimately house a significant number of employees. Tax increment financing (TIF), consisting of a 50 percent rebate for 10 years, is being requested for this project.

The parcel upon which the building sits is not large enough to construct a parking lot of the size necessary to accommodate the size of the proposed workforce. For this reason, Kent is proposing to acquire a 1.14-acre portion of the City owned parcel that directly adjoins their property.

A special regular meeting of the Muscatine City Council will be held five minutes after the conclusion of the in-depth session to set a public hearing on March 17 on declaring a portion of City owned property located at 1030 Hershey Avenue as surplus and directing for its disposal.

The second presentation will be on a new Love’s Travel Stop is being proposed at the northeast corner of the Grandview Avenue/U.S. 61 intersection. A Love’s Country Store, underground fuel tanks, fueling canopies for both passenger vehicles and trucks, and separate parking areas for both passenger vehicles and trucks in part of the proposal.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the March 3, 2022, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

Muscatine City Council In Depth Meeting | Thu, Mar. 10, 2022 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

Tags City, Council, future, hear, Iowa –, McKee, Muscatine, presentation, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Muscatine Community Survey available for citizen participation

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date February 25, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine is excited to announce the launch of a comprehensive quality of life survey through March 11. The survey is currently available online for randomly selected residents and will be available to all residents starting Friday (Feb. 25).

If a resident received a survey invitation in the mail, it is very important that the resident completes that version (accessing the survey using the URL provided in the mailed material). The community-wide open participation survey is available by clicking the following link: https://polco.us/sr4w8x. An email address and zip code are required to register for the survey that ensures that Polco receives only one response per person.

“We’re very excited to be conducting this survey,” Kevin Jenison, City of Muscatine Communications Manager, said. “This survey will help City staff and Council identify priorities for the community and improve the quality of life in Muscatine.”

Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark hopes all residents will participate in this survey.

“Muscatine is a great community and the results will help to create a better community for individuals and families to come live in, work in, and raise a family in,” Bark said. “I encourage everyone living in Muscatine to take the survey and help us chart our community’s future.”

City Administrator Carol Webb and Jenison have been working with independent consultant Polco to develop the survey over the past few months. The instrument, known as The National Community Survey™, allows City staff and Council to compare results and benchmark residents’ opinions against other communities across the country. The survey includes questions about quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by the City of Muscatine and priorities for the future. The survey is available online in English and Spanish.

Polco is an innovative online engagement platform that lets residents provide direct input to the local government decision-making process. By using Polco, the City of Muscatine is making public participation easier for residents.

The survey questions in the open participation survey are the same as in the sampled survey, but with two small updates including a map at the beginning that asks where the respondent lives, and a question at the end that asks where they heard about the survey.

Both versions of the survey are scheduled to close on March 11. If a resident received a survey invitation in the mail, it is very important that they complete that version (accessing the survey using the URL provided in the mailed material). An email address and zip code is required to register for the survey that ensures that Polco receives only one response per person.

Residents with questions about the survey may contact the City of Muscatine by phone at 563-264-1550, by email at kjenison@muscatineiowa.gov or by visiting the City of Muscatine website.

About The National Community Survey™ (The NCS™): The NCS was among the first scientific surveys developed to gather resident opinion on a range of community issues, and has been used in more than 350 jurisdictions across 46 states. The NCS is a cost-effective survey of resident opinion and an important benchmarking tool that allows for comparison among communities. Communities using The NCS have reported that the tool improved service delivery, strengthened communications with community stakeholders and helped leaders identify clear priorities for use in strategic planning and budget setting. The NCS is the only resident survey endorsed by the International City/County Management Association and the National League of Cities.

About Polco: (www.polco.us) Polco was developed to quickly deploy and analyze surveys online, providing the agility to gather critical information from community stakeholders throughout the nation. We have created tools for governments, economic development organizations and nonprofits to measure community livability. Respondents to The NCS are asked to join the City’s Polco panel to see the survey results and continue to engage with the city on future research.

Tags a comprehensive, announce, City, excited, Iowa –, launch, life, Muscatine, quality

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Monthly Report for January 2022 available for review

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date February 24, 2022

You can also view past and upcoming events on the City’s calendar.

MONTHLY REPORT

Tags Administrator, Citizens, City, Council, Iowa –, monthly, Muscatine, Report

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Council to discuss revised revisions to animal regulation ordinance

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date February 16, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine City Council will review changes to an amended ordinance revising portions of Title 6, Chapter 8, of the Code of the City of Muscatine during Thursdays’ (Feb. 17) regular meeting in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall.

A virtual meeting will be held in conjunction with the in-person meeting for those who want to view the proceedings but do not feel comfortable in attending in person.

The first reading of an ordinance amending Title 6, Chapter 8, of the Code of the City of Muscatine regarding Animal Regulations was heard during the Feb. 3 Council meeting with council members requesting several changes to the ordinance language. The second reading containing those changes referenced by council members and members of the public will be heard this Thursday (Feb. 17).

The Council will also consider an ordinance revising Title 1, Chapter 2, Section 14 of the Code of the City of Muscatine regarding standard penalties. The revision will align City Code with Iowa code for penalties.

City staff will also be asking the Council to set a Public Hearing for March 3 on the Maximum Tax Levy for the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget. This is the first of two Public Hearings that need to be held prior to the FY 22-23 budget being adopted and filed with Muscatine County in late March.

The public is welcomed to attend Thursday’s City Council meeting that will be held in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore St., Muscatine. Meetings are aired live and recorded for re-broadcast on Muscatine Power & Water Civic TV (Cable Channel 2), and broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel.

Citizens who do not want to attend the in-person meeting can watch and/or participate through the GoToMeeting virtual meeting portal. Information on joining the session is listed below.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the February 17, 2022, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

Muscatine City Council Regular Meeting | Thu, Feb. 17, 2022 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

Please mute your computer or phone while listening to the proceedings (press *6 when using phone or mute button on computer). A chat window is available when you use your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Those wishing to speak or to ask a question are asked to use the chat box to post a message that will be seen by the Mayor who will address the questions or call on the speaker in turn. Those using their phones must wait until the Mayor asks for additional comments. The Mayor will recognize you prior to you addressing the Council.

Tags amended, changes, City, Council, Iowa –, Muscatine, ordinance, review, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City offices closed February 21; refuse collection delayed

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date February 15, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – City of Muscatine offices will be closed on Monday (Feb. 21, 2022) for the President’s Day holiday. All offices will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday (Feb. 22, 2022).

Muscatine Transit (MuscaBus) will not be in service on Monday with regular service resuming Tuesday. Please remember that a mask is required to ride MuscaBus. For more information visit the TRANSIT page on the City of Muscatine website, or call 563-263-8152. Be sure to visit and follow MuscaBus on Facebook.

The Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, but will resume regular hours on Tuesday. Transfer Station hours are Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with the last load on the scale at 3:15 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m.-12 p.m. with the last load on the scale at 11:45 a.m.

There will be no curbside refuse or yard waste collection on Monday. Residents on the Monday route will have their refuse collected on Tuesday, Feb. 22, along with the regular Tuesday route.

There will be no change to the curbside recycling collection.

There will be no curbside bulky waste collection on Monday or Tuesday. Curbside bulky waste collection is not completed on holidays or on “double” days when two-days of refuse collection are undertaken in one day.

Muscatine and Fruitland residents are reminded that they need to call 563-264-JUNK (563-264-5865) to schedule a curbside bulky waste collection by the Solid Waste Division or email bulkywaste@muscatineiowa.gov.

For more information, visit the SOLID WASTE DIVISION page on the City of Muscatine website or call 563-263-9689. Visit the CURBSIDE BULK COLLECTION page on the City of Muscatine website to schedule a collection or call 563-264-5865.

The Compost Facility is currently closed for the season. For more information about the facility, visit COMPOST SITE on the City of Muscatine website.

The Musser Public Library and HNI Community Center will be open to the public on Monday. Normal hours of operation are Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m-2 p.m.; Sunday 12-4 p.m.). For more information visit the LIBRARY website or call 563-263-3065

The Muscatine Art Center is normally closed to the public on Monday, and staff will have the holiday off. The Art Center normal hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 1-5 p.m.). The Art Center is normally closed to the public on Mondays. For more information, visit the ART CENTER website or call 563-263-8282.

The Muscatine Fire Department and Muscatine Police Department will be staffed, and the Department of Public Works will have staff on-call. For non-emergency issues during City office closures, please call 563-264-1550, Public Safety at 563-263-9922, or Public Works at 563-263-8933. In the case of an emergency, always call 911.

The Muscatine Municipal Golf Course is closed for the season. The Clubhouse and Pro Shop are observing winter hours of 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesdays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Clubhouse and Pro Shop are closed on Sunday and Monday.

Reservations for the Simulator may be made by calling the Pro Shop at (563) 263-4735. You can also visit the GOLF page on the City of Muscatine website. You can also follow the Muni on Facebook.

All City of Muscatine parks, including the Muscatine Dog Park, Muscatine Pollinator Park, and the Muscatine Trail System, will be available for the public’s use. The public is urged to use caution while enjoying City of Muscatine recreational opportunities.

For more information about City parks and amenities visit the PARKS & RECREATION page on the City of Muscatine website. You also follow Parks & Rec on Facebook and Twitter. If you have questions concerning Parks and Recreation programming or facility rentals, please call 563-263-0241 and leave a message, or email parksoffice@muscatineiowa.gov. A staff member will respond as quickly as possible.

Tags 2022, City, closed, Iowa –, Monday, Muscatine, offices, President’s, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

West Hill public information meeting scheduled for February 17

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date February 10, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine will host a public information meeting on Phase 5 of the West Hill Sanitary & Storm Sewer Separation Project from 5-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17, in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore St., Muscatine. This will be an open house format with no formal agenda for the meeting. Maps will be available for the public to review.

Representatives from the Department of Public Works, and general contractor Hagerty Earthworks LLC will be on hand to update the public on the schedule for the second year of the three-year project, and answer questions about any issues that the public may have.

Phase II of the project will replace the combined sewer along with other infrastructure improvements on Climer, High, Logan, and Lucas streets, and Knott Avenue.

A schedule of the work for 2022 and what is planned for 2023 will be available during the public meeting. The public, especially anyone in the affected construction area, is welcome to attend the meeting.

More information can be found on the West Hill page on the City of Muscatine website.

Tags City, host, information, Iowa –, meeting, Muscatine, Phase, public, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City to host public meeting on Grandview Reconstruction Phase II February 10

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date February 4, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine will host a public information meeting on Phase II of the Grandview Avenue Reconstruction Project from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Rose Bowl Bowling Center, 1411 Grandview Avenue. This will be an open house format with no formal agenda for the meeting. Maps will be available for the public to look at.

Representatives from the Department of Public Works, general contractor Heuer Construction, Inc., and the engineering firm of Bolton and Menk will be on hand to update the public on the schedule for the second year of the two-year project, and answer questions about closures or any other issues that the public may have.

Phase II of the project will remove and replace the pavement along with other infrastructure improvements from Musser Street to the South Houser Street/Sampson Street intersection. Heuer Construction tentatively plans to resume construction activity on February 28 when they will close Grandview Avenue from Brier Ditch to Musser Street. The detour will be Musser to South Houser (or vice versa) and will be posted.

Work on this section is expected to take three weeks and includes milling and removal of the existing pavement, sanitary and storm sewer installation, water main replacement, and replacement of the culverts at Brier Ditch.

Phase I of the project removed and replaced the pavement from Pearl Street to Musser Street. Most intersections have been repaved but the contractor still has work to do to complete the sidewalks and remaining intersections.

Anyone with questions about the project and/or timeline for completion of the project are urged to attend the meeting on February 10.

The City, the contractor, and consultants will resume their weekly meeting with business owners along Grandview Avenue on March 4. The meetings will be held at 9 a.m. every Friday in the parking lot at the Rose Bowl.

Tags City, host, information, Iowa –, meeting, Muscatine, Phase, public, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City Council to hold public hearing on revised Animal Control Ordinance

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date February 2, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine City Council will conduct a public hearing on changes to the Animal Control Ordinance, and then hear the first reading of that ordinance during Thursdays’ (Feb. 3) meeting in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall.

The Muscatine City Council directed staff to prepare changes to portions of Title 6, Chapter 8 of Muscatine City Code related to animal regulations during the October 14, 2021, in-depth meeting. Substantial changes were proposed by staff during the January 13, 2022, in-depth meeting, and the code was revised following feedback from City Council.

A summary of the changes can be found by clicking the link on the February 3 City Council agenda or download the file by clicking Animal Control Revisions.

“It is possible that additional resources will be needed to effectively enforce the proposed code changes,” Carol Webb, City Administrator said in her memo to the City Council. “City staff will seek to offset those costs to some degree through appropriate fees and penalties associated with animal control.”

The Council will be asked to set a public hearing for revisions to the Standard Penalties section of Muscatine City Code (Title 1, Chapter 2, Section 14). The public hearing will be scheduled for February 17 if approved by Council.

Three other public hearings will be held Thursday, each a part of the South End Improvement Project. The first of the three will be on the plans, specifications, form of contract, cost estimate, and bid opening date for the Taylor Park Improvement Project. The second concerning bid documents for the Taylor Park Splashpad Project, and the third on the High-Intensity Activated crosswalk (HAWK) Project.

Thursday’s City Council meeting is open to the public. Citizens attending the meeting are asked to follow current CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations for wearing a mask indoors whether vaccinated or not. The City of Muscatine does not require wearing a mask, but does urge the public to follow Public Health and CDC recommendations.

Citizens who do not want to attend the in-person meeting can watch and/or participate through the GoToMeeting virtual meeting portal. Information on joining the session and how to make a comment during the meeting is listed below. The session will also be broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel and on Muscatine Power & Water Cable Channel 2.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the February 3, 2022, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

Muscatine City Council Regular Meeting | Thu, Feb. 3, 2022 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

Tags changes, City, conduct, Council, hearing, Iowa –, Muscatine, public, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Homeowners may still see savings despite proposed tax rate increase

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date January 27, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine, like most of us, will be facing a challenging budget year according to a presentation provided by City Administrator Carol Webb and Finance Director Nancy Lueck to City Council Thursday. The presentation provided an overview of the work that has gone on behind the scenes in preparation for the budget discussions with City Council.

“One of the central budget goals was to maintain service levels and to provide departments the resources they need to continue to provide those services to our residents,” Webb said.

Other goals through the budget preparation process were to provide funding for continued capital improvements, propose reasonable tax rates or other funding options, balance department budget requests with funding that is available, and further the city’s strategic plan and City Council priorities.

To meet these goals, City staff had several considerations to deal with including the increasing cost of providing current services, valuations that were essentially flat from the previous year, the first year of the phasing out of the State backfill reimbursement, a reduction of the estimated utility franchise fee revenue, and the change in the State property tax residential rollback factor (from 56.4094 percent to 54.1302 percent).

“We were able to maintain current service levels with the budget that we will be presenting,” Webb said.

Staff and City Council established five strategic priorities through strategic planning and goal setting sessions in October and November last year that include:

Providing excellent customer service to residents, businesses, and visitors through effective citizen outreach and engagement, employee training, and improved organizational processes;
Support a healthy community through the availability of quality affordable housing, outstanding recreational and cultural amenities, collaboration with community and healthcare partners, and opportunities for lifelong learning;
Provide reliable (and safe) public infrastructure that meets the community needs by continuing to update and implement the city’s Capital Improvement Plan;
Provide for a safe community that residents may live, work, and play in with exceptional public safety and community services; and,
Creating a vibrant community by enhancing and improving the vitality of the community core and gateways including the Grandview Avenue Corridor, Park Avenue Corridor, Riverfront, and Downtown areas to support a thriving economy, vibrant neighborhoods, and a high quality of life and place.

City department staff used these goals and priorities as they developed their department budgets in November and December. These preliminary budgets were reviewed with the City Administrator and Finance Director in December and January to form a budget proposal to be presented to the City Council over the next two weeks.

“I am very proud of the hard work from staff as we worked to present a balanced budget to the City Council,” Webb said.

With property valuations essentially flat, the City had to look for other revenue resources to meet the rising costs of providing essential services to the citizens of Muscatine. Use of one-time funds such as the State COVID Relief Funds and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to assist in balancing both the Revised Estimate and the FY 2022/2023 budget are included in the revenue recommendations.

“However, the use of these funds to help balance the budget are not sustainable,” Webb said.

Other revenue recommendations in the proposed budget include spending down the Emergency Levy balance from prior years and levy the maximum Emergency Tax Levy rate.

There are eight levies that are included in the property tax rate implemented by the City of Muscatine. The FY 2021-2022 rate of 15,67209 per $1,000 of assessed valuation has been the city property tax rate for the past 10 years. A slight increase is anticipated for FY 2022-2023 (1.90 percent) that will raise the rate to 15.97054 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

However, that does not mean that the portion of a homeowner’s property tax that is paid to the city will go up. In fact, due to the rollbacks from the State some residential property owners will be paying two percent less this year.

“It is a little complicated to understand but if a residential property owner’s valuation is virtually unchanged from a year ago, the rollback will reduce their taxable valuation four percent,” Lueck said. “With the proposed 1.9 percent tax rate increase, the actual savings to residential homeowners will be about two percent of the amount they paid to the city a year ago.”

While seeking out additional revenue options, City staff also are making several expense recommendations to the City Council. Among them are funding capital projects through Road Use Tax, Local Option Sales Tax, and other outside sources as appropriate, reviewing and reducing budget line items where possible, and funding only critical vehicle and equipment requests from various departments.

“We do want to provide departments with the resources to maintain service levels,” Webb said. “And that has been a key goal throughout the development of this proposed budget.”

The information presented to the City Council Thursday was a high-level preview of the proposed fiscal year 2022/2023 general fund budget. The proposed budget will be reviewed by the City Council starting Saturday (see meeting schedule). The finalized version will be presented during a public hearing in March.

Budget Overview Presentation

Tags budget, challenging, City, facing, Iowa –, like, most, Muscatine, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City of Muscatine budget discussions set to begin with City Council

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date January 26, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The final pieces to the puzzle of the City of Muscatine Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget were being put together Wednesday (Jan. 26, 2022) afternoon in preparation for the start of “Budget Season” on Thursday.

City Administrator Carol Webb and Finance Director Nancy Lueck have worked with department heads and members of each department’s staff over the past several months preparing the proposed budget for City Council’s consideration.

Webb will present an overview of the proposed budget to City Council at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 27) in the first of a series of budget sessions that will be held in the City Council chambers and virtually through a GoToMeeting link (listed below). Each session will also be shown live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel.

Council members, Webb, and certain staff members will be present in the City Council chambers for each session. All sessions are open to the public. Citizens attending the meeting are asked to follow current CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations for wearing a mask indoors whether vaccinated or not. The City of Muscatine does not require wearing a mask, but does urge the public to follow Public Health and CDC recommendations.

Public comment during the budget sessions will not be permitted with the public asked to make notes of any questions or concerns that they may have. The public can bring up those questions and concerns during the budget’s Public Hearing in March.

Thursday’s meeting will be followed by several weeks of presentations to the City Council by the various departments and outside agencies supported by the City of Muscatine. The first session will start at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29. Sessions will also be held on Feb. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, and 12. The February 12 meeting will be held only if discussions are not completed at the February 9 session.

A significant change, approved by the Iowa Legislature in 2019, to the annual city budget adoption process is that municipalities are required to hold an additional public hearing to identify “a total maximum property tax dollars to be derived from certain levies in the budget for the next fiscal year”.

The public hearing and the passage of a resolution on the proposed maximum property tax dollars must proceed setting a public hearing on the adoption of the budget.

To help cities meeting the requirements of holding two public hearings, the State of Iowa moved back the deadline to file an approved budget with the county auditor for certification to March 31. The previous deadline was March 15.

A complete schedule of the meetings along with additional information can be found at 2021/2022 Proposed Budget on the Finance & Records page of the City of Muscatine web site.

CITY OF MUSCATINE FY 2022-2023 BUDGET SESSIONS

Virtual Meeting Information:

Please click the link below to join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-budget-discussions
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3112 Access Code: 138-111-853
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/138111853

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Thursday City Council 6:30 p.m. General Fund Overview

January 27, 2022 Chambers -7:30 p.m. to City Council

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Saturday City Council 8:00 a.m. City Council Budget Review

January 29, 2022 Chambers -3:00 p.m. Legal Services

City Administrator

Human Resources

Risk Management

Finance

Information Technology

Community Development

Airport/Airport Subsidy

Police Operations

Animal Control

Library Operations

Cablevision

Art Center

Fire Operations

Ambulance

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Tuesday City Council 5:30 p.m. Parks Administration

February 1, 2022 Chambers -9:00 p.m. Park Maintenance

Aquatic Center

Recreation

Soccer

Kent Stein

Wellness

Cemetery

Golf Course

Boat Harbor

Marina

Soccer Events

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Wednesday City Council 5:30 p.m. Public Works Administration

February 2, 2022 Chambers -9:00 p.m. Engineering

Roadway Maintenance

Traffic Control

Snow and Ice

Street Cleaning

Building & Grounds

Collection & Drainage

Equipment Services

Equipment Replacement

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Thursday Virtual 5:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce

February 3, 2021 Session Only -6:30 p.m. Marketing & Tourism

Senior Resources

Humane Society

MCSA

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Saturday City Council 8:00 a.m. Iowa Legislatures

February 5, 2022 Chambers -3:00 p.m. Transit

Parking

Refuse Collection

Landfill

Transfer Station

WPCP

Storm Water

Housing

Review & Discussion Begin-

General Fund

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Tuesday City Council 5:30 p.m. Capital/Dept/TIF/RUT

February 8, 2022 Chambers -9:00 p.m. Local Option Review

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Wednesday City Council 5:30 p.m. Review & Discussion

February 9, 2022 Chambers -9:00 p.m. Decisions for Public Hearing

(may continue on 2/12)

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Saturday City Council 8:00 a.m. Final Decision for Public Hearing

February 12, 2022 Chambers -3:00 p.m. (extra meeting if not concluded

February 9)

CITY OF MUSCATINE CITY COUNCIL SESSIONS

Virtual Meeting Information:

Please click the link below to join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412 Access Code: 970-499-597
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/970499597

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Thursday, Regular Council 7:00 p.m. Council Orders Notice of

February 17, 2022 Meeting -9:00 p.m. Maximum Property Tax

And Set Public hearing #1

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Thursday Regular Council 7:00 p.m. Public Hearing #1 on Maximum

March 3, 2022 Meeting -9:00 p.m. Property Tax and approve

Related resolution

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Thursday Regular Council 7:00 p.m. Set Public Hearing #2 for

March 3, 2022 Meeting -9:00 p.m. Adoption of Budget

Date Location Time Department/Agency

Thursday Regular Council 7:00 p.m. Hold Public Hearing #

March 17, 2022 Meeting -9:00 p.m. and Adoption of Budget

March 31, 2022 (Latest Day) Approved Budget filed with

County Auditor

Tags 20222023, City, final, Fiscal, Iowa –, Muscatine, pieces, puzzle, year

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Council to consider new forgivable loan program Thursday

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date January 19, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine City Council will consider the establishment of a small business forgivable loan program for businesses along the Grandview Avenue corridor when they meet Thursday (Jan. 20) in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall.

The loan program, once approved and funded, will support businesses that have been affected by both the pandemic and traffic restrictions due to the reconstruction of Grandview Avenue. The proposed program would provide up to $10,000 as a forgivable loan to businesses that were operating prior to the onset of the pandemic (March 1,2020), that were located at an eligible site prior to the start of the Grandview Avenue reconstruction (April 1, 2021), and can illustrate financial losses since March 1, 2020.

The program would be funded with $200,000 in tax increment financing to support forgivable loans for up to 20 small businesses that meet the parameters of the program.

The proposed program is similar to the program implemented by the City of Muscatine in 2020 that provided up to $2,500 to cover certain expenses if a business could demonstrate a loss of revenue or increase in expenses as a result of compliance with state mandates issued due to the pandemic. City Council approved using up to $400,000 in tax increment financing for the program that ultimately awarded 94 loans ($231,267) in two rounds of applications.

The first step in creating the program is the approval of an amendment to the Muscatine Urban Renewal Plan. A public hearing on the amendment will be held at the start of Thursday’s meeting with the resolution approving the amendment scheduled later in the meeting.

Also on the agenda is a request from the Muscatine Public Art Advisory Commission to approve the recommendation for public art in the Mulberry Avenue and East 2nd Street roundabout. The Commission conducted a public vote on four potential pieces of public art with Zenith by Nathan Pierce garnering the largest percentage of votes. The bulk of the cost associated with the creation and installation of the public art will be covered through grants and donations.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the January 6, 2022, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

Muscatine City Council Regular Meeting | Thu, Jan. 20, 2021 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/603588661

You can also use your phone by dialing +1 (646) 749-3122, follow the prompts, and type in Access Code 603-588-661 when prompted.

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/603588661

Tags business, City, consider, Council, establishment, Iowa –, Muscatine, small, will