A new office is needed because the current building at 1723 18th Street has foundation problems. The new office would also be located at the intersection of 18th and Steuben streets and include a new garage.

“The project shall include, but is not limited to, site work, concrete foundations, foundations, concrete floors, steel columns and beams, steel posts, steel beams and decks, insulated metal panels, TPO roofing, plumbing, plumbing, electrical, lighting, cameras and fencing,” it says in city documents.

The City Engineer’s estimate of probable construction cost for the work is $10,324,084. Site work is estimated at $1,968,137, the administrative office at $3,257,607 and vehicle storage at $5,098,340, according to the documents.

The project currently has an available balance of $6,518,074.32. The documents state that $2,200,000 is requested for the project in fiscal year 2026, as well as $1,000,000 in both fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

The notice to bidders was to be announced on August 28, with a public hearing on September 16. The project has an end date of October 1, 2026.

Field services include city streets, underground utilities and park maintenance.

Including Sioux City Advisory Committee reappointment

The council is also expected to vote on the reappointment of Glenn Moore Jr. to a four-year term on the inclusive Sioux City Advisory Committee.

Moore’s term expired Dec. 31, and he was not replaced on the committee, which provides guidance to the council on issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion. According to the Municipal Act, members whose term of office has expired continue to serve until a successor is appointed by the majority of the council.

The council can approve Moore’s reappointment or wait for additional applications to be submitted for vacancies on the committee. If Moore is reappointed, his term will expire on December 31, 2027.

During the council’s last meeting, City Manager Bob Padmore said there are currently six active voting members on the committee. They are Sara Berntson, Erica Carter, Trisha Rivers, Peggy La, Margarite Reinert and Angel Wallace.

The committee at full strength has a total of 12 members. City Manager Bob Padmore and Councilman Matthew O’Kane are non-voting members, according to the city’s website. The following voting members resigned from the committee at the time of the suspension and subsequent firing of Semehar Ghebrekidan, the city’s first Community Inclusion Liaison: LaShawna Moyle (April 12), Jim Jung (June 1), Ricardo Osorio (July 22).

Ghebrekidan, who was hired in 2021, had been on leave since February 21. She was ultimately fired on May 28 for violating general standards of conduct, work rules, Iowa code and city administrative policy, according to documents obtained by The Journal.

The city is seeking to hire a Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator to replace the Inclusion Liaison position. The coordinator will continue to oversee the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory Committee, but will “place greater emphasis on diverse recruitment” for the city. The job description changes were approved at the last council meeting by a vote of 3 to 1, with Mayor Bob Scott casting the lone “no” vote. O’Kane was absent from the meeting.

“Not because of anything that happened, but I think Mr. (Bob) Padmore can confirm that I said a long time ago, I question this position, and I don’t blame anybody. We all have responsibilities, we included as council members . We’re probably not giving the kind of direction that we needed to give,” Scott said. “I’m just not comfortable, especially at this age where you even have to be careful about doing these kinds of things, because the state has laws now. This position is going to have a really significant impact on our business. “