The council did not formally vote on any of those items during the roughly two-hour session moderated by Susan Parker, of Story City. But by placing stickers on big sheets of paper bearing lists of priorities and projects, the elected officials effectively gave City Manager David Fierke and his staff direction for the future.

Law Enforcement Center

The current Law Enforcement Center, owned by Webster County, is at 702 First Ave. S. It houses the city Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the 911 dispatching center, the county jail and a couple of courtrooms. It was built in 1982.

In 2023, Webster County voters rejected a plan to borrow $45.5 million to build a new 60,692-square-foot Law Enforcement Center that would include a 130-bed jail.

Police Chief Dennis Quinn told the council Monday that he is willing to talk to any of the elected officials to show them “how hard it is to do the things we do every day in the situation we’re in.”

Franchise fee

The city has always had the right to enact franchise fees. Those fees are essentially rent that the companies or individuals pay for the use of public property and rights-of-way where their cables, electric lines or pipelines are located.

In 2024, city voters rejected 5 percent utility franchise fees that would have paid for hiring eight more police officers.

Other priorities identified by the council include:

• Developing a demolition plan.

• Assessing downtown buildings to see which can be salvaged and which should be demolished.

• Housing rehabilitation.

• Finishing the riverfront plan.

• Developing a community brand.

• Exploring resources for sports tourism funding.

Street projects

At $10 million, replacing the Bridge of Fallen Heroes on North Third Street was the biggest project identified as a priority by the council Monday.

“The bridge is safe, but it needs to be replaced,” said Chad Schaeffer, the city’s chief development officer.

He said $2 million has already been received for the project. He added that he will be applying for another $3 million in federal and state assistance.

Other big street projects council members identified as priorities were:

• Reconstruction of 14th Street and Eighth Avenue South ($3.4 million).

• Downtown streetscapes ($4 million).

• Building a connection between Kenyon Road and Pleasant Valley ($1.5 million).

• Rebuilding First Avenue North between Seventh and 12th streets ($4 million).

Bond issue projects

The city government borrows money every other year through a general obligation bond issue to be paid off with property tax revenue.

Council members identified these priorities to be included in the 2027 general obligation bond issue:

• $1.2 million for acquisition and demolition of buildings.

• $485,000 for more improvements to Exposition Park at Seventh Street and 14th Avenue North.

• $350,000 for paving the Nature Trail near Snell-Crawford Park. Schaeffer said that section is the only part of the local trail network that is not paved.

• $300,000 for storm water control in Oakland Cemetery on North 15th Street.

• $100,000 for LED lighting on the main floor of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum.