[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299374,"mediaKeyId","2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475","parentId",2497240,"title","Council members split over proposed temporary‑sign rules; staff to take feedback before Planning Commission","audioSeconds",2367,"startMs",3592000,"endMs",5959000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475&start=3592&end=5959","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475/thumbnail_3592000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299374/Council-Bluffs/Pottawattamie-County/Iowa/Council-members-split-over-proposed-temporarysign-rules-staff-to-take-feedback-before-Planning-Commission","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299374-23aabbc02228ce742141ae07781f1c52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172199&Signature=aOdP7Xe6Um9CJLXM-PW~exQOyypBEw595MsQKdJlmMVG4uaVSpIiVCqhDRuCVwDsdlhcLi5YgxPNZMK~3L5L-bmYoIFOQq2z-ZFvx2MwulMeKGmtro0EXm04Ta6bTm00TvRd4PF85oJUMqPpXyhVVGYAGw69kTTITtvwPKGLKkVNPUqVkyVzIg4-iZ0pHOq3RtZvLqH7ciI~9Gi99MjNS6~tPVJNyTrABAEtoc9DnnhZxWXAQgDPH81RH7nw2T5PO3VzlXZQnJ~g8a9-pX-zgeTTQq5jeegjox14z1QWmO0JwKCbDXPtIjk1zFpMYgHzQCWtGtqPJkzEZ8IYns9HVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Council Bluffs, Iowa","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","City planning staff presented a revised draft to regulate temporary signage and sandwich‑board signs; councilmembers made extensive comments and asked staff to gather more feedback before sending the draft to Planning Commission.

What staff proposed: Courtney (planning staff) summarized eight main changes in the draft. Among them, the proposal would:

- Allow each business up to four temporary sign periods per year for a combined total of up to 56 days; Courtney said this could be taken as any combination across the year. She described the rule as \"each business is eligible for up to 4 temporary signs per year for a total amount of up to 14 days, so 56 days a year.\"

- Reintroduce placards for temporary sign permits so enforcement staff can quickly verify authorized displays during drive‑by inspections.

- Keep a 3‑foot height cap for temporary signs in C3 and C4 commercial districts and require right‑of‑way permits and a hold‑harmless indemnification for certain frame signs placed in the right of way.

- Limit temporary signs in strip‑mall settings to one sign per 100 linear feet of frontage or up to four temporary signs, whichever is less, to reduce visual clutter.

Council discussion and concerns

Councilmembers and staff debated enforcement logistics, business impacts and exemptions. Key points included:

- Roger Sandow and other councilmembers warned the proposed limits could hinder businesses that use frequent banners and temporary signage to promote sales and services; several members said many businesses “leave signs up” and asked whether the city should allow more flexibility for businesses that operate daily.

- Staff said that, under the current code, many temporary signs in rights‑of‑way are already illegal but are frequently in place; the draft would create a limited, permit‑based way to legitimize some sandwich boards and small A‑frame signs but would require staff time for education and enforcement.

- Council members raised specific operational questions about: (a) whether signs smaller than 3 feet would still count toward temporary sign limits; (b) how the city would handle trailer‑mounted advertising or large feather flags; and (c) whether making small A‑frame signs legal would create administrative burden.

Next steps

Staff asked council members to submit comments within two weeks and said the item would be pulled from the immediate Planning Commission agenda to allow revision. Several councilmembers asked staff for a ride‑along to observe current enforcement practices and to help the council shape a narrower set of changes rather than an overhaul.

Ending

Courtney asked for written comments in two weeks so staff could revise the draft; councilmembers agreed to follow up. The item will return to staff and the council before being scheduled for Planning Commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Council Bluffs, Iowa Study Session Agenda January 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City planning staff presented a revised draft temporary‑sign ordinance that would allow businesses up to four temporary sign periods per year (a combined 56 days) and require permit placards; several council members said the proposal could create enforcement burdens and asked staff to gather more feedback before sending it to Planning Commission.","taxTitle","Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa","taxId",25021,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299384,"Greater Omaha Chamber pitches ‘urban core’ plan that links Omaha and Council Bluffs with streetcar, bridge and large redevelopment projects",437,8000,445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475&start=8&end=445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475/thumbnail_8000.jpg","/articles/6299384/Council-Bluffs/Pottawattamie-County/Iowa/Greater-Omaha-Chamber-pitches-urban-core-plan-that-links-Omaha-and-Council-Bluffs-with-streetcar-bridge-and-large-redevelopment-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299384-3deedd5f82e38be6f88410c5b97e99f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172199&Signature=R9T-P03qhsFM1ptS-ZH4rRhG9mtekCCYw0qdP8CrHtuJjwmKrtat5h~EfpSD~VU9ZyniIj134jla3GY-Pki3ZIioQKDjv9CWycdMK24N4TkkOcNKBzNjJiw0~d5xfX0GkgDHtD9oW39wuHc2cnEdt~aviWI1WdufiZWkNxTMeBkq5YdwgrRKQaO8J9vo4QIFmQrKPD3jaaFl8WZtnOxV3wkHnktQbNxcS-mE7G6a1mNDfW-ssABLkHzZg7RJZk9AfvZdaYybMRj7xQZJTdCE9pYVb2aaOjzWDO3N2iIg9RGpq5hyFNIXRkWgJtK06QtIppG~fE3BQoKJ7faqP0p8pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, told the Council Bluffs City Council the chamber is promoting a multi‑jurisdictional “urban core” strategy intended to increase density and economic activity across parts of Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Mello said the plan, produced by the chamber and regional stakeholders from 2020 through 2022, aims to add 30,000 jobs and 30,000 residents to the designated urban core within 20 years. \"If there's an outcome and a goal that we think about every single day it's to bring people and jobs to our multi state metro region,\" Mello said.

Why it matters: Mello framed the plan as a coordinated, two‑city effort to spur housing and commercial development and to strengthen the metro’s image and competitiveness. He said transportation investments are central to the strategy and described a set of linked projects — some already underway in Omaha — that the chamber believes will drive additional private investment across the region.

Key projects highlighted

- Modern streetcar extension and multimodal Missouri River Transit Bridge: Mello described the modern streetcar project in Omaha as a foundational element of the plan and said one of the strategy’s signatures is a proposed multimodal bridge to carry the streetcar across the Missouri River to Council Bluffs. He said building that multimodal bridge would be a two‑city, two‑state effort requiring multi‑year coordination.

- Mutual of Omaha corporate headquarters and first‑block redevelopment: Mello pointed to the Mutual of Omaha tower project in Omaha as the first major block redevelopment spurred by the streetcar; he said the tower alone represents roughly $600,000,000 in redevelopment and that the full block will add “a couple hundred million more.”

- University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Project Health: Mello described Project Health — authorized by the Nebraska Legislature in 2020 — as a roughly $2,200,000,000 public‑private project on the west end of the urban core that the chamber expects to create thousands of jobs and to be a major economic driver.

- Dodge Park and other redevelopment sites: Mello said Dodge Park in Council Bluffs was singled out in the plan as one of the few large redevelopment parcels in the urban core and as an opportunity to deliver both housing and commercial uses that would help meet the plan’s density goals.

Chamber role and next steps

Mello said the chamber will continue work to rebrand the geographic area, attract new businesses to the urban core, and coordinate with partners including the Council Bluffs Chamber and Iowa West Foundation on housing and transportation studies. He offered to provide the council copies of the full plan and an accompanying urban core housing study.

Council response and context

Council members asked questions about local engagement and whether Council Bluffs would be “onboard” with pieces of the plan. Mayor Walsh and multiple council members emphasized that the plan is a partnership, not a unilateral Omaha proposal. Mello said the chamber’s urban core committee has included Council Bluffs participants and that the plan is intended as regional collaboration.

Ending

Mello offered to take questions and said the chamber will continue to work with local partners on housing, transportation and business recruitment as the region pursues the plan’s 20‑year targets.","Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, told the Council Bluffs City Council the chamber’s Urban Core strategic plan aims to add 30,000 jobs and 30,000 residents to a bi‑state urban core over 20 years and to link Omaha and Council Bluffs by investments including an extended streetcar and a proposed multimodal bridge.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299370,"Council Bluffs council approves multiple ordinances and resolutions, continues or denies several items — votes at a glance",598,5688000,6286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475&start=5688&end=6286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475/thumbnail_5688000.jpg","/articles/6299370/Council-Bluffs/Pottawattamie-County/Iowa/Council-Bluffs-council-approves-multiple-ordinances-and-resolutions-continues-or-denies-several-items-votes-at-a-glance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299370-4ab6326bd260aad0aa7d225af9772c9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172199&Signature=k6fg9L-nb64zbrRKJUFDsX9nBZwF3rjNAC1diJoO6l2LXN7XwJ7Gd9mk22YJo9Gfndeirrjzu4dAlOk6W4uUrhRrHfcxuKTUeEwS7NsYA7Pbxjg8qjg4eWjdw5wH25~IAUsMGcA0d2Ye7JYzs39iEUeowGKWNrrlv7IX4CVQYumuADCmEuc1PBeU0fh9oWZ7AfKuagwNfFsHPj~x888XynS33R7g4aRIYeWl4aLyRJOKXMEewnumWvXImFLHdKBGvOqxZwE~O5zOOHB9-bdX9RqaobTmfpp9ihgvl1MAxaH9Kii2cnzq2iQVWKPBFvd2WAn1~d20qNZWFM3MKJFzzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Below are the formal actions taken or scheduled at the Council Bluffs City Council meeting. This is a concise summary of motions, vote outcomes as recorded in the public meeting, and next steps for items that were continued or denied.

Key votes and actions (selection)

- Ordinance 66‑25 (first reading): Cryptocurrency ATM warning requirement. Motion to approve first reading carried on voice vote.

- Ordinance 66‑26 (first reading): Amendments to animal control provisions (including pit bull language clean‑up). Motion to approve first reading carried on voice vote.

- Ordinance 66‑27 (first reading): Amendments to general contractor registration. Motion to approve first reading carried on voice vote.

- Ordinance 66‑28 (first reading): Plumbing and utility trade licensing cleanup (state licensing integration). Motion to approve first reading carried on voice vote.

- Ordinance 66‑21 (second reading and planned residential overlay): Approved on council vote; motion to waive third reading carried.

- Ordinance 66‑19 (third reading): Cedar Lane redesignation (streets/house numbering). Approved on third reading.

- Resolution 25‑16 and 25‑17: West Graham Reconstruction — council approved both the Federal Aid Agreement addendum and a reimbursement agreement with the Board of Waterworks Trustees; council discussion noted updated design numbers and grant timing.

- Resolutions 25‑19 through 25‑22: Approved preliminary subdivisions and planned residential actions for Whispering Oaks Phase 6, Grappler’s Gate and accessory dwelling approvals; council granted preliminary plan approvals and plan amendments as presented.

- Resolution 25‑14 (Satt Brothers final plat): Council approved final plat for the four‑lot subdivision (Satt Brothers Truck Center); staff said the plat creates lots for future sale and phased housing/multifamily development.

- Resolution 25‑13 (vacate and dispose East‑West alley north of Lots 19‑23 Belmont Addition): Motion on record was to deny; council denied the alley vacation request.

- Resolution 25‑15 (cleanup of former Reliance Battery Factory): Public hearing and action were continued to the council meeting of 2025‑02‑24 for additional work; motion to continue was approved.

- Personnel and administrative resolutions: Council approved a set of staffing adjustments, including abolishing and creating payroll and talent acquisition positions as listed in the packet (Resolutions 25‑23 and 25‑24) and authorized a recruitment process for the next city attorney (Resolution 25‑22).

How votes were recorded

- Several routine items were approved by voice vote after motions and seconds were recorded in the meeting minutes.

- One rezoning item (Galesburg rezone to R‑1, referenced in the packet) recorded an abstention on roll call (Councilmember Steve Gorman recorded as abstaining). For many items the meeting minutes recorded only voice votes; detailed roll call or per‑member tallies were not provided for every item in the meeting transcript.

Next steps and continuances

- The public hearing for the Reliance Battery Factory cleanup was continued to the Feb. 24, 2025 council meeting for additional work and review.

- Planning‑related approvals (preliminary plats, PR overlays) will proceed with standard follow‑up steps in community development for final plats and permitting.

Ending

City staff will carry forward final documents and engineering updates for funded capital projects (West Graham) and return continued items at the Feb. 24 meeting.","At its meeting the council approved a slate of routine ordinances and resolutions (zoning, rights‑of‑way, planned developments and personnel changes), denied or continued a small number of items, and recorded several procedural votes; staff will follow up on items continued to February 24, 2025.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299379,"Advanced Southwest reports 54 active projects in 2024, highlights local developments and grid constraints for large power users",1288,1470000,2758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475&start=1470&end=2758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497240-e565471555591a3352fa3fd29fe46475/thumbnail_1470000.jpg","/articles/6299379/Council-Bluffs/Pottawattamie-County/Iowa/Advanced-Southwest-reports-54-active-projects-in-2024-highlights-local-developments-and-grid-constraints-for-large-power-users","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299379-e02805d0b8d8e7e3153be5b3202a23cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172199&Signature=dlZjBPICTKvjT3XVAcBvcRh5SqRI4JZcLnPhLN84CrYc1aGcw4PA1U~2aYMMV7lgeYHtrMEcvGNDfTAqrB2E1yrpj-DsphYQkGKMZEflclbk6BxkyRousOcbBxJyYIr25wJR1W9Xkxb2fsHt0P2FUKbuYP5UseBadoDk9~gOCRPYlbUZgUJrePLRyg-FAJ4Kq76rtIFIO3828MO5i7EigGXYmaRTMbD-m3aMZkXkwMfdihfLvc9bFrNSlJElNeNg19ZEYXvN35OvjVwFMXGqbSqGiQJuRd0xEGp4HYvKsvNbhlWCBTcYwF4QoxEwrYyfUa06NRRCgs45MhPhc1YYXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paula Hazelwood, president and CEO of Advanced Southwest (the regional economic development and chamber partner), briefed the Council Bluffs City Council on the organization’s 2024 activity and current pipeline.

Hazelwood said Advanced Southwest ended 2024 with 54 active projects across urban, rural and entrepreneurial portfolios and reported 15 projects closed during the year. “We ended 2024 with 54 active projects, meaning that we're still working with those 54,” Hazelwood said.

Why it matters: Hazelwood described projects and investments that affect Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County and raised concerns about electric‑grid capacity for planned “megawatt‑scale” facilities, a potential constraint for data centers and other large power users the region is trying to recruit.

Local projects and numbers Hazelwood highlighted

- Acadia: a mental‑health and substance‑use facility at 20 Fourth and Richard Downing — described in the presentation as a 90,000‑square‑foot project with approximately $64,500,000 in capital investment and 44 full‑time equivalent positions. Advanced Southwest assisted with site identification and incentive connections.

- Barton Solvents: existing facility on Ninth Avenue built a new 5,000‑square‑foot office in a roughly $1,600,000 investment; the company declined incentives at the corporate level, Hazelwood said.

- Nestory Park project: an 89‑acre site adjacent to Iowa Western Community College that closed in late 2024 and where Hazelwood said an end user recently closed on the property; she said details would be announced at a future meeting.

- Leading Edge and Echo Electric: Hazelwood described a chain of local moves and leases that allowed a local firm to expand while keeping businesses and jobs in Council Bluffs.

- TSL: Hazelwood said a multi‑phase project begun in 2019 is nearing completion of phase 1 (cited as roughly $11,500,000 in capital investment) and that phase 2 is expected to start soon.

Entrepreneurship and facilities

Hazelwood reported that Advanced Southwest maintains a “kitchen council” with 17 current members, engages 67+ food entrepreneurs, and has reactivated its REV pitch competition with $20,000 in prize money raised in 2024. She said the organization has raised about $750,000 of the $1.9 million needed to construct a new co‑working space at 20 Arena Way and is still soliciting funding to begin construction.

Energy and recruiting large power users

Hazelwood and council members discussed grid capacity and interconnection timelines. Hazelwood described interest from large “megawatt” users and said the city has seen requests for very large hookups; she said Advanced Southwest is pursuing alternative and interim energy solutions and working with partners to accelerate project timelines. Council members and Hazelwood cited utility timelines: Hazelwood said MidAmerican Energy previously estimated an 18‑month substation build time but that study times have stretched to several years; she also described the chamber and partners bringing in a small modular nuclear company as one of several potential alternatives to ease supply constraints.

Council reaction and next steps

Council members thanked Hazelwood and Advanced Southwest staff for regular coordination on economic development. Hazelwood said she will return with additional updates and possible announcements as pipeline projects progress.

Ending

Hazelwood closed by reiterating Advanced Southwest’s role as a connector for public‑private projects and by offering to brief council members again on energy and major pipeline opportunities as they advance.","Paula Hazelwood, president and CEO of Advanced Southwest, told the council the economic development nonprofit closed 15 projects in 2024, reported more than $110 million in capital investment tied to those projects, and warned that power‑grid capacity and substation lead times could slow recruitment of large data center and AI customers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council members split over proposed temporary‑sign rules; staff to take feedback before Planning Commission

Greater Omaha Chamber pitches ‘urban core’ plan that links Omaha and Council Bluffs with streetcar, bridge and large redevelopment projects

Council Bluffs council approves multiple ordinances and resolutions, continues or denies several items — votes at a glance

Advanced Southwest reports 54 active projects in 2024, highlights local developments and grid constraints for large power users