The Code of Iowa requires public hearings be held before resolutions can be passed into law. They provide a forum for citizens to express support or opposition.

The outcome of the hearings tonight will help determine these three issues. 1). To approve a development agreement with Edible Gardens Prairie Hills, LLC; 2). Consider if the council should ratify staff-recommended amendments to the fiscal year 2026-27 budget; and 3). How new tax-increment financing (TIF) funds arising from the recently-enlarged Riverview Urban Renewal Area should be divided.

Up to now, council’s work regarding conversion of the former Natural Shrimp building, 401 Des Moines St., Webster City, into a factory making protein drinks for Edible Gardens, has focused on state and local incentives to support the firm’s planned $25,000,000 investment in the facility. Tonight, a formal development agreement between the city and company will also include a look at obligations Edible Gardens must meet to obtain the incentives.

The budget hearing is required by the Iowa Department of Management whenever a city budget is expected to exceed certified budget expenditures or if revenues may come in under budget estimates. It’s a careful balancing act, and this must be filed with the state prior to June 30 each year. This year, some very large amendments, covering both revenues and expenditures, are being proposed to align the budget for the start of a new fiscal year on July 1, 2026.

The third public hearing involves division of tax revenues from Tasler, Inc., Mary Ann’s Specialty Foods, and Webster City Custom Meats. All three firms are located in a neighborhood that’s just been annexed into the enlarged Riverview Urban Renewal Area. The hearing is required by the Code of Iowa and concerns only new property taxes generated by development or improvements in the urban renewal area.

A resolution is expected to be discussed that would set a public hearing for the council’s July 6 meeting to review potential environmental impacts of Webster City’s rebuilt wastewater treatment plant. This hearing is required for the city to qualify for state revolving fund loans needed to finance the expected $30,000,000 project.

This project has been in planning for the last year. Construction is projected to begin this fall if the Iowa DNR issues a permit certifying the newly-designed facility meets clean water requirements, including the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, an initiative to clean up excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the state’s rivers and streams.

The street department is asking for an additional $250,000 to add onto this summer’s concrete repair project now under way. This would be financed through the savings from last summer’s large concrete works on Beach and Brewer Streets, and Willson Avenue. The work would be completed by T.K. Concrete of Pella.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 400 Second St. The public is invited.