A project that will transform the appearance of some buildings in a part of downtown Fort Dodge will come before the City Council this evening.

The council will consider awarding a contract for a building facade project when it meets at 6 p.m. today.

The project is possible because of a $500,000 grant awarded to the city last year by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. That money will be used to pay for improving the facades of 12 buildings in the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Central Avenue.

Cornerstone Commercial Contractors, of Corning, submitted the apparent low bid of $870,000 for the work.

Also on Monday, the council will take action to extend some property tax abatements now only available in the urban renewal area to the rest of the city through the end of this year. The change is part of a city economic stimulus plan intended to boost the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other elements of the plan, such as a one-time $25 reduction in water bills and reduced fees for building permits, have already been approved by the council.

Additionally, the council will consider borrowing $324,000 for a variety of purchases and projects. Police vehicles and equipment ($120,000) and demolition of abandoned buildings ($100,000) are the two biggest elements of the proposed borrowing.

After weeks of purely electronic meetings, the council will have a kind of hybrid meeting tonight as restrictions imposed to curtail the spread of coronavirus are being eased. The elected officials and a handful of staff members will be in the meeting room in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S. City department heads and other staffers will participate electronically.

There will be very limited seating for the public at the meeting. Anyone planning to go to the meeting is encouraged to wear a mask. No one should go to the meeting if they have fever of 100 degrees or more, are coughing or sneezing, are experiencing shortness of breath or have flu-like symptoms.

There will still be an electronic way to watch the meeting or participate in it, and city officials are encouraging the public to do that.

To view the meeting online, go to https://us02web.zoom.us and enter password 948411.

To listen to the meeting on the phone, dial (312) 626-6799 and enter password 948411.