City Council to recognize Public Transit staff; July 21 to be MuscaBus Driver Appreciation Day – Voice Of Muscatine


The Muscatine City Council and Mayor Brad Bark will recognize the MuscaBus Driver and Dispatcher of the Year, and proclaim July 21 as MuscaBus Driver Appreciation Day during the Council meeting Thursday, July 20. The Council will also preside over two public hearings during the meeting.

The City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall. The public is welcomed, and encouraged, to attend the meeting in person. The City Council session will also be broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel and on Civic-TV (Muscatine Power & Water Cable Channel 2). A virtual meeting option is available upon request.

Muscatine’s Jada Peffer was named 2023 MuscaBus Driver of the Year and represented MuscaBus at the Iowa Public Transit Association (IPTA) Driver of the Year dinner last month in Coralville. Helen Cooper was also recognized as the MuscaBus Dispatcher of the Year. Both will be recognized at the City Council meeting and Mayor Brad Bark will proclaim Friday as MuscaBus Driver Appreciation Day.

Mayor Bark will also proclaim Tuesday, August 1, 2023, as National Night Out.

The first public hearing will be on an amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan for the Consolidated Muscatine Urban Renewal Area. The amendment includes six updates and additions including:

  • Update to the City’s Small Business Forgivable Loan program to extend this program for five years (FY 25 through FY 29); 
  • Update the Downtown Facade Program to extend this program for five years (FY 25 through FY 29); 
  • Update the Urban Renewal Administration and Professional Support Program to extend this program for five years (FY 25 through FY 29); 
  • Update the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Support program to extend this program for five years (FY 25 through FY 29); 
  • A Development Agreement and TIF Rebate with Kent Pet Group, Inc. for the construction of a new World’s Best Cat Litter production facility; and 
  • A Development Agreement and TIF Rebate with Musco Lighting for the expansion of their Muscatine facility – Phase I.

The second public hearing regards nuisances that are already covered in City Code but would be better addressed with direct and unambiguous code language. The more specific code as to what is required of property owners would make understanding, complying with, and enforcing nuisance regulations easier for property owners, community members, and city staff. To accomplish this, the proposed ordinance would add the following enumerated nuisances to be added to City Code.

Information on the other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download a PDF version of the City Council agenda and/or attachments. The agenda contains the link for the virtual meeting.