Expand Magazine - Volume 6 Issue 1

Council
Connection
By Alex Watters
EXPAND | DO MORE / 33
Perspectives and Respect
Having served on the city council
since 2017, I have worked through
my fair share of contentious topics
and dealt with misinformation and
frustrations. There have been debates
on whether individuals should be allowed to have certain
breeds of dogs, what elements need to be required when
rebuilding our infrastructure, whether fireworks should be
allowed, etc. However, it seems that divisive language and
misleading rhetoric are becoming more commonplace than
rare occurrences. It is certainly my hope that with the latest
election behind us, we can get back to working together
despite different perspectives and perhaps more importantly,
disagree respectfully.
Warrior Hotel renovation project downtown.
We have a lot of great things happening in our community,
but there continue to be pain points we need to work
through. Downtown Sioux City boasts several great
examples of buildings that have been rehabilitated and are
getting a second chance. Perhaps the most extensive is the
Warrior Hotel, but others would be the Badgerow building,
the Riviera Theater, and soon, the Benson, Aalfs, and Francis
Canteen buildings. However, many other projects experience
delays, difficulty working through inspections/regulations,
and struggles with the supply chain. No matter the reason
for these delays, I have heard loud and clear the frustration of
entrepreneurs and developers with the process and lack of
flexibility with our code. On the contrary, as a city, we have a
vested interest in working with our inspectors and ordinances
to make sure that we are producing quality projects that will
last. While this perspective is imperative, we must also be
certain that our ordinances and applications are not so rigid
that limited funds are not spent on a requirement when a
much more affordable option would suffice.
Large projects undoubtedly come with more complicated
processes, more organizations involved, and more at stake.
Projects such as the wastewater treatment plant include the
Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection
Agency, residents of Sioux City, multiple sister cities, and
industries ranging in size and usage. Projects like the Gordon
Drive viaduct include the Iowa Department of Transportation,
the Army Corps of Engineers, and many other entities
mentioned above. These projects cost hundreds of millions of
dollars and affect everyone. If you ask any involved parties about
a particular project, you will get a different perspective. Again,
while there may be multiple perspectives and ideas about how
to approach these projects, it is imperative that we respect each
other and keep in mind the overall goal: the betterment of our
community. In some of these cases, our hands are tied, but in
most, we need to work with each other to ensure the safety and
future of our community.
It is this breakdown in communication and lack of collaboration
that I have been so disappointed in recently. The level of anger
and the amount of name-calling I have witnessed in multiple
meetings over the last few months is staggering. What’s
unfortunate about this line of communication is that it breaks
down constructive dialogue and causes people to dig their
heels in further. It is my hope that as we go through this holiday
season and into the new year, we think of what is at stake, what
we love about our community, and how we can work together
for a better future.
Alex Watters, City Council of Sioux City
awatters@sioux-city.org