Tag: year

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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Muscatine selected Meeting Town for RAGBRAI L

MUSCATINE, Iowa – RAGBRAI L is coming to Muscatine this year with the announcement that the City of Muscatine will be a Meeting Town for riders on the final leg of the event on July 29. The 67.1 final leg of RAGBRAI L begins in Coralville and passes through Iowa City and West Liberty before riders see the Mississippi River for the first time in Muscatine’s Riverside Park.

Vendors and support vehicles will be lined up inside Riverside Park as riders have the opportunity to take a break from the ride and/or dip their tires into the Mississippi River before beginning the final 27-mile ride along the river up to Davenport.

The last 4 miles of the 2022 route along the Mississippi near Lansing stunned riders with its beauty after one of the most challenging days of the week, Phippen said. So the stretch between Muscatine and Davenport will give riders a longer view of the river they worked all week to reach for the traditional front-tire dip.

“This year, I wanted that same feel, to hug the river as much as possible,” Ride Director Matt Phippen said. “For that entire stretch out of the corner of their eye, they’re going to see the river that they’re going to eventually dip into.”

Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark noted that the community is excited to have RAGBRAI back in Muscatine.

“We have been working hard for the past several months to have RAGBRAI back for the first time since 2016,” Bark said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us but I know this community is ready for the challenge.”

Muscatine was the ending town for RAGBRAI in 1976, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2016.

Visit the RAGBRAI L home page to find out more

Continue reading “Muscatine selected Meeting Town for RAGBRAI L”
Categories
City of Muscatine Press Releases

Muscatine Fire responds to record number of calls in 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – It was another record setting year for the Muscatine Fire Department, but it is not one of those records you like to break at all. The Muscatine Fire Department responded to a record 5,909 calls for service in 2022, breaking the previous record of 5,709 calls that was answered in 2021. If you thought that the Muscatine Fire Department was busy in 2021, you were right. The Department responded to 5,238 calls for service in 2019.

The record call volume continues a steady upward trend in service calls with the number of calls climbing 47 percent over the last decade. The Department has seen the number of service calls top 5,000 annually in each of the last six years including 5,100 in 2017, 5,027 in 2018, 5,238 in 2019, 5,034 in 2020, and 5,709 in 2021.

Medical calls made up 86.2 percent of the service calls in 2022, down from 91 percent of service calls in 2021 and 92 percent in 2020. The Department responded to 817 fire incidents in 2022, a 37 percent increase over 2021 (521 fire responses).

Five of the 12 months in 2022 saw the Department respond to over 500 calls with December leading the way with 591 calls followed by November (537), July (523), June (519), and May (504. February had the highest fire responses at 79 with April next at 75, and December with 74. December had the highest number of medical calls at 373 with November second at 338.

MFD Fast Facts:

  • Every fire call category was up in 2022 including the most building fires in the last 10 years.
  • The top five fire responses in 2022 were structure fires (51), vehicle fires (15), vegetation fires (15), trash fires (11), and cooking fires (7).
  • Training continues to be a main ingredient for the life of a Muscatine firefighter with the department conducting 11,586 hours of training in 2022.

Click on the following link to download the 2022 Annual Report as a PDF. 

Continue reading “Muscatine Fire responds to record number of calls in 2022”
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City of Muscatine Press Releases

BUdget season for Muscatine Council, City staff

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The final pieces to the puzzle of the City of Muscatine Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget were being put together Wednesday (Jan. 25, 2023) afternoon in preparation for the start of “Budget Season” 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 FY 23-24 budget to the City Council during a special Council session at 6:00 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 26). This is the first of a series of budget sessions that will be held in the City Council chambers over the next several weeks.

Council members, Webb, and City staff members will be present in the City Council chambers for each session. All sessions are open to the public. 

Public comment during the budget sessions will not be permitted. The public is urged to make notes of any questions or concerns they may have and bring up those questions and concerns during the Public Hearing for the proposed budget that will be held 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. 28. Sessions will also be held on Jan. 31, Feb. 1, Feb. 2, Feb. 4, Feb. 7, Feb. 8, and Feb. 11. The February 11 meeting will be held only if discussions are not completed at the February 8 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 meet 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 2023/2024 Proposed Budget on the Finance & Records page of the City of Muscatine website.

CITY OF MUSCATINE FY 2023-2024 BUDGET SESSIONS

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

Thursday                           City Council                      6:00 p.m.                                           General Fund Overview

January 26, 2023             Chambers                         -7:00 p.m.                         to City Council

*Can be seen on MPW Civic TV Channel 2, City of Muscatine YouTube Page, and by following the GoToMeeting link on your computer, laptop, or smart phone.

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting
 
You can also dial in using your phone.
 Access Code: 970-499-597
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412
 
 
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

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

January 28, 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

                                                                                                                                 Housing 

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

Tuesday                            City Council                      6:00 p.m.                                           Parks Administration

January 31, 2023             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                      6:00 p.m.                                           Public Works Administration

February 1, 2023             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                          City Council                      7:00 p.m.                                           Chamber of Commerce

February 2, 2023             Chambers                         -9:00 p.m.                                           Marketing & Tourism

                                                                                                                                 Senior Resources

Session to be held following the City Council Regular Meeting                                           Humane Society

                                                                                                                                 MCSA

*Can be seen on MPW Civic TV Channel 2, City of Muscatine YouTube Page, and by following the GoToMeeting link on your computer, laptop, or smart phone.

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting
 
You can also dial in using your phone.
 Access Code: 970-499-597
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412
 
 
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

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

February 4, 2023             Chambers                         -3:00 p.m.                                           Transit

                                                                                                                                 Parking

                                                                                                                                 Refuse Collection

                                                                                                                                 Landfill

                                                                                                                                 Transfer Station

                                                                                                                                 WPCP

                                                                                                                                 Storm Water

                                                                                                                                 Review & Discussion Begin

                                                                                                                                 General Fund

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

Tuesday                            City Council                      6:00 p.m.                                           Capital/Dept/TIF/RUT

February 7, 2023             Chambers                         -9:00 p.m.                                           Local Option Review

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

Wednesday                      City Council                      6:00 p.m.                                           Review & Discussion

February 8, 2023             Chambers                         -9:00 p.m.                                           Decisions for Public Hearing

                                                                                                                                 (session may continue on 2/11)

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

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

February 11, 2022           Chambers                         -10:00 a.m.                                           (extra meeting if not work is not

                                                                                                                                 concluded on February 8)

CITY OF MUSCATINE CITY COUNCIL SESSIONS

Virtual Meeting Information:

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting
 
You can also dial in using your phone.
 Access Code: 970-499-597
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412
 
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

Thursday,                         Regular Council               6:00 p.m.                                           Council Orders Notice of

February 16, 2023           Meeting                            -8:00 p.m.                                           Maximum Property Tax

                                                                                                                                 And Set Public hearing #1                                      

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

Thursday                          Regular Council               6:00 p.m.                                           Public Hearing #1 on Maximum

March 2, 2023                 Meeting                            -8:00 p.m.                                           Property Tax and approve

                                                                                                                                 Related resolution

                                                                                                                                  Set Public Hearing #2 for

                                                                                                                                 Adoption of Budget                                         

Date                                  Location                            Time                                           Department/Agency

Thursday                          Regular Council               6:00 p.m.                                           Hold Public Hearing #2

March 16, 2023               Meeting                            -8:00 p.m.                                           and Adoption of Budget

March 31, 2022 (Latest Day) for approved Budget filed with County Auditor

Continue reading “BUdget season for Muscatine Council, City staff”
Categories
City of Muscatine Press Releases

Seasonal employment positions open for 2023

MUSCATINE, Iowa – A new year arrives and with it comes opportunities to join a staff dedicated to providing the best recreational opportunities for residents of and visitors to Muscatine. 

The Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department is recruiting dependable, hard workers to fill 2023 seasonal positions at a variety of locations including the Muscatine Soccer Complex, Kent Stein Park, Greenwood Cemetery, Park Maintenance, Muscatine Municipal Golf Course, and the Muscatine Aquatic Center. Opportunities are also available to lead and/or assist in various recreation programs sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Current opportunities available include:

  • Golf Course Clubhouse Supervisor ($13.00/hr)
  • Seasonal Equipment Operator ($12.00/hr)
  • Seasonal Groundskeeper ($12.00/hr)
  • Lead Groundskeeper ($14.00/hr)
  • On-Site Supervisor ($12.00/hr)
  • Office Clerk ($11.00/hr)
  • Lifeguard ($12.00/hr)
  • Slide Attendant ($11.00/hr)
  • Cashier ($11.00/hr)
  • Recreation Program Instructor ($14.00/hr)
  • Sand Volleyball Supervisor ($12.00/hr)
  • Recreation Program Aide ($11.00/hr)

To apply for any of these positions complete an application on the City of Muscatine’s Career Center webpage. 

Please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241 for more information. 

Continue reading “Seasonal employment positions open for 2023”
Categories
City of Muscatine Press Releases

Celebrate the New Year safely; use caution with fireworks

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The use of consumer fireworks in the celebration of the New Year is limited in the City of Muscatine to 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 31, 2022, to 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 1, 2023. Only the use of first- and second-class fireworks is permitted during this time period.

The City of Muscatine encourages residents to be good neighbors. Please be considerate to any neighbors who may have a sensitivity to fireworks noise, be mindful of pets who may become frightened by the firework explosions, and be mindful of the property lines of others who may not want fireworks on their real property.

Consumer fireworks may only be used on a residents’ personal property or on the property of a person who has consented to the use of consumer fireworks on his/her property. Fireworks are prohibited on public property including city streets, public parking lots, parks, etc. Persons 17-years-old and under are not permitted to discharge fireworks except under direct adult supervision.

Using fireworks outside the designated dates and times listed below is considered a violation and can result in fines of no less than $250 per violation. Anyone discharging fireworks or allowing the discharge of fireworks on their property assumes responsibility for that discharge and the consequences, if warranted.

To report illegal use of fireworks, call the non-emergency line at the Muscatine Police Department (563-263-9922).

Report any fires in buildings, vehicles, or greenspaces by calling 911 immediately!

More information can be found on the City of Muscatine Firework Safety page.

Highlights from the Muscatine City Code …

  • Current Muscatine City Code sets the time for the legal discharge of consumer fireworks during the New Year’s Day holiday between 9 a.m. on December 31 and 12:30 a.m. on January 1 on real property that they own or on property where consent has been given by the property owner.
  • Persons 17 years or younger are not permitted to discharge fireworks except under the supervision of an adult who is within sight and sound of the minor(s) as they discharge fireworks. 
  • It is a violation of City Code for any parent, guardian, or other adult having custody of a minor to allow the minor to discharge fireworks without direct supervision by the parent, guardian, or other adult having custody.
  • Any person discharging a fireworks device or any person permitting the discharge of a fireworks device on their property assumes the responsibility for and the potential consequences from the discharging of fireworks.
  • It is a violation of City Code to discharge fireworks in a reckless manner or a manner that is likely to cause death, injury, fire, or property damage, and to discharge fireworks while showing visible signs of, or determined to be, intoxicated or under the influence of a drug or narcotic.
  • It is against City Code to alter, remove, or discharge components of a fireworks device from its intended method of discharging.
  • Snakes, sparklers, or caps can be discharged in a public place unless specifically prohibited by the owner of the public space, and as long as all trash, wrappers, and wires are properly disposed of.
  • Sky lantern open flame devices are not permitted unless the device is tethered by a retrievable rope that provides the individual control over the sky lantern.
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City of Muscatine Press Releases

New Year’s message from the Mayor of Muscatine

Dear Friends,

It is the most wonderful time of the year when we share special moments with our family, friends and loved ones, and look forward to brand-new opportunities with optimism and enthusiasm for this coming year. 

As I reflect on my first year as your mayor, I have seen great strides of collaboration between public and private entities. I’ve also seen individuals and groups go from ordinary to extraordinary for the betterment of the community. The Norbert F. Becky bridge is symbolic in our community. Not only does it represent two states connecting to each other, but it also represents connections that are being built each day and shining their light to represent something bigger than themselves. 

I also express my appreciation to all the City of Muscatine employees for your dedication, commitment, and service to our community. The outstanding work that all the departments perform is why we have a vibrant and forward focused community. Some of the accomplishments include reconstruction of major streets, additions to our Parks and Recreation amenities, being financially responsible, increased construction of housing, improved relationships with all entities that live within our city limits and plans for growing Muscatine. 

In the spirit of the season, I commend all those neighbors and employees who have made a special effort to give back to our community. Thank you to the men and women for keeping our community safe this past year and finding time to give back to help others. 

We are extremely fortunate to have a wonderful large business and small business representation to help with our economy and growth of our city. There have been awards received by some of the corporations recently and in the past years to show why Muscatine is a great place to work. 

Let us not forget 2022, as it has set the foundation for this next year.  As the new year approaches, it is truly an exciting time to be in Muscatine. We have been increasing our housing stock and have plans to continue, we are committed to adding amenities for families to take pride in, tourism is on an amazing pace to continue to add events, and we have had increased inquiries on people and businesses wanting to move to Muscatine. 

As we look forward to new and exciting opportunities that are before us, we are committed to leaving no part of Muscatine behind and will work cooperatively with all facets of our community to make Muscatine, Iowa the place to live, work, play, visit and raise a family. We will continue to listen, show value, be proactive and work together as a team. 

Muscatine, Iowa is officially the longest place my wife, Candice, and I have ever lived, and we are extremely blessed to be part of the community. On behalf of the City of Muscatine, I extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones to have a Merry Christmas, a joyous holiday season and with many blessings in the New Year.Christmas Tree Merry Cuttable Design PNG DXF SVG & eps File image 1Happy new year Royalty Free Vector Image - VectorStock

Shine your light and Be Your Best!

Dr. Brad Bark                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 Mayor of The City of Muscatine

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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Red Cedar Chamber Music to perform on Mother’s Day at Art Center

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend this year at the Muscatine Art Center with a special performance of Brinton Surprise, a Red Cedar Chamber Music production, at 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day (May 8) in the Muscatine Art Center’s Music Room. The performance is free and open to the public.

 

Red Cedar Chamber Music’s Directors and core ensemble, violinist Miera Kim and cellist Carey Bostian, present the third in a series of programs featuring early silent films and magic lantern slides accompanied by chamber music. The core ensemble is joined by flutist Claudia Anderson and guitarist John Dowdall in accompanying these rare films. Historian Michael Zahs will narrate the program.

 

This is Red Cedar’s third program built on the Brinton Collection. Red Cedar produced Brinton Silent Film Project in 2015, and followed that up a year later with Music and Magic Lanterns. Each project featured multiple commissions, some of which are present in today’s Brinton Surprise program. In all, 10 new works have been commissioned to accompany and enhance the incredible films and slides selected from the collection. In addition to performances in Eastern Iowa, the ensemble has presented in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, and at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Washington state.

 

Red Cedar group (JPG)BRINTON SURPRISE is a multi-media extravaganza featuring magic lantern slides and early silent films from the Brinton Collection of early entertainment materials. Michael Zahs, who rescued the collection from the garbage heap in 1981 and gifted the entire collection to the University of Iowa Special Collections, was the subject of the 2017 documentary Saving Brinton. Red Cedar will reprise several commissioned works from previous programs and have commissioned three new works to accompany six more films from the collection.

 

Philip Wharton has created a magical score for The Fairy of Springtime, a 1902 French film which features hand-painted color. Michael Kimber has scored Venetian Tragedy, a nine-minute drama with a surprise ending. New to Red Cedar for this project is a duo of French composers, Jean-Francois Charles and Nicolas Sidoroff, who have teamed up to create a major multi-media work (A Méliès Voyage) that explores the life of the great French filmmaker Georges Méliès, known by most from the 2011 film Hugo. 

 

The Brinton Entertaining Company Papers, housed in a dedicated room at UI Special Collections, is over 50 linear feet and includes films, projectors, glass slides, 78 rpm records, wax cylinders, memorabilia from travels, patent applications with drawings, plans for flying machines, posters, and tickets. 

 

“The Brinton Entertaining Company Papers provide inspiration for students, faculty, and the curious alike,” Elizabeth Riordan, lead outreach and instruction librarian for the UI Libraries Special Collections and Archives, said. “The collection’s rare films and film ephemera are enough to make it special, but the story of Frank and Indiana Brinton’s journey across the central swath of the United States showing early film is what makes it remarkable.” 

 

Red Cedar’s founding directors, flutist Jan Boland and guitarist John Dowdall, began their partnership with historian Michael Zahs following Red Cedar’s first Rural Outreach concert at the Ainsworth Opera House in 2001. Over the years, they have collaborated with him on several concert programs featuring Michael’s collection of original civil war letters dating from 1861-1865, as well as two bus trips celebrating Red Cedar’s 10th Anniversary Season. Zahs had been showing some of the films from the Brinton Collection at the opera house since 1998. 

 

While the three had talked about the collection, it was not until Humanities Iowa and the University of Iowa Special Collections partnered with Michael Zahs to preserve, digitize, and develop the collections that the idea of a concert program came about. In August of 2013, Jan, John and Carey traveled to Ainsworth to meet with Michael and the project was officially launched. Accompanying them was Red Cedar’s videographer and filmmaker John Richard, and the idea of a documentary about Michael and the collection took shape. 

 

John Richard teamed up with Andrew Sherburne and Tommy Haines, and began documenting the project and Michael’s other endeavors. The feature length documentary Saving Brinton was premiered in 2018 and in part documents the journey that Zahs and Red Cedar undertook together to highlight the incredible life of Frank Brinton. 

 

This series of concerts is made possible by support from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, AEGON Transamerica Foundation, the McIntyre Foundation, the Grandon Foundation, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, and Hills Bank. Additional support comes from the City of Marion, the Giacoletto Foundation, Farmers State Bank, CRST International, United Fire Group, and the Iowa Arts Council (a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts).

 

Special thanks to Artist Sponsors Juanita Dennert and Don & Irene (Naxera) Hamous.

 

To find out more about Brinton Surprise and all Red Cedar Chamber Music events, visit 

http://www.redcedar.org/performance-schedule/

 

Visitors to the Muscatine Art Center encounter paintings made by artists recognized around the world, fascinating objects connected to Muscatine’s past, beautifully crafted decorative arts, charming period rooms, and a Japanese Garden installed nearly a century ago. Learners of all ages can pique their curiosity through changing exhibitions, classes, and events. The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m-5 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.  Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. For more information, visit the Muscatine Art Center website, visit the Art Center page on the City of Muscatine website, or follow the Art Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram,  Please contact Katy Loos, Program Coordinator, with any questions about upcoming programs at (563) 263-8282 or email her at kloos@muscatineiowa.gov.

 

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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Public Hearing on proposed City budget set for Thursday

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.

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City of Muscatine Press Releases

City of Muscatine budget discussions set to begin with City Council

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

Continue reading “City of Muscatine budget discussions set to begin with City Council”