It was a busy night at City Hall as the City Council of Webster City made decisions on a local zoning variation request, overnight parking regulations downtown and a new shelter for East Twin Park at its second meeting of 2026 last night.

Kassandra Walker, owner of Arachnid Ink, a tattoo parlor at 1505 Lynx Ave., will not be granted a variance allowing her to continue operating in an R-3 zoned residential neighborhood on the city’s west side. She previously asked the council to consider what would essentially be a “spot variance,” explaining her plans to invest in both the building and business.

The council referred the matter to the Planning & Zoning Commission, who, after reviewing the issue, voted 6-1 to deny the request. Webster City’s zoning laws do not allow commercial or retail businesses to operate in neighborhoods zoned R-3, multiple-family residential zones. City attorney Zach Chizek effectively advised the council if this variance was allowed, it would set a precedent opening up all R-3 zoned residential neighborhoods to commercial businesses.

The council also approved a first reading of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Webster City, Chapter 46, Article V, Division 1, section 46-207, concerning locations where overnight parking of motor vehicles is prohibited. The measure would extend the present ordinance, which prohibits overnight parking on Des Moines Street from the Union Pacific tracks south to Division Street another block to Bank Street.

The statute stipulates that no one “except physicians or other persons on emergency calls” may park on streets at 14 locations throughout downtown between 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. The measure must pass two additional public readings before becoming law.

At its September 15, 2025, meeting, the council approved the purchase of a building kit from ABCreative, DeSoto, Kansas, for a new shelter in East Twin Park. The 20-foot by 36-foot structure, which will be fully ADA-compliant, will look similar to the shelter put up in West Twin Park in 2021. It will have restrooms and an outdoor shelter for park patrons, replacing the present shelter, which was built in the early 1950s.

Parks & Recreation Director Breanne Lesher explained to the council that an estimated budget of $189,612 will be used to prepare the site, pour concrete foundations, rough-in and trim-out plumbing. Construction will begin as soon as spring weather allows, and as is the case with the new West Twin Park shelter, will be built with volunteer labor. It is hoped construction will be complete by May 15, 2026, in time for the opening of the busy summer season in the park.

In other action, Council:

• approved a first reading of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Webster City, Chapter 46, Article 1, Section 46-1, and Article IV, Division 1, Section 46-150 dealing with the use of engine retarder brakes in Webster City. The Traffic Commission has received complaints about noise caused by truck engine brakes on U.S. Highway 20. New signs advising truckers not to use the brakes while passing through Webster City on U.S. 20 could be provided by Iowa Department of Transportation. Signs elsewhere in town would be erected at city expense. Mayor John Hawkins, who owns a trucking business, said he felt it was up to individual truckers to refrain from use of engine retarder brakes when passing through cities or towns.

• authorized spending of $272,503.70 to buy a new single-axle Mack dump truck from Rees Truck, Ft. Dodge, and a new dump box, front and side snowplows, a tailgate salt spreader, and hydraulics systems to operate them, from Henderson Products, Manchester, Iowa. The equipment replaces the street department’s 2005 Chevrolet dump truck and plow, which is becoming less reliable as it ages. General obligation bonds will fund the purchase.

• agreed to appoint Woodruff Construction, Ft. Dodge, construction manager at-large for the rebuilding of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Along with the appointment, the selection committee recommended the city sign two standard industry contracts, both from the American Institute of Architects. One sets forth general conditions, and the other is a standard form of agreement between the owner (City of Webster City), and constructor (Woodruff). The construction manager-at-large approach to project management is being used for the first time in Webster City on this project.