Jul 25, 2023 City Council

[00:00:02]

THIS MEETING OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.

[Call to Order ]

OUR ONLY ABSENCE TODAY, I BELIEVE, IS COUNCIL MEMBER MARTY HOEGER.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY CLERK AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY, AND AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF FOR BEING HERE AND MAKING YOURSELVES AVAILABLE.

SHOULD THE FOLKS HERE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU? IF YOU'D LIKE TO TURN OFF ANY CELL PHONES OR ELECTRONIC DEVICES, WE WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND I'LL NOTE THAT ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AND AGENDAS AND VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE, AND REGULAR SESSIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE VIA LIVE STREAM RIGHT NOW ON FACEBOOK, AND THOSE SESSIONS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, AS WE ALWAYS DO HERE AT THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION.

I'LL INVITE PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAIN RICK GALE TO DO THAT FOR US IMMEDIATELY, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

FATHER, WE COME IN HERE AND JUST SAY THANK YOU.

WHAT A GREAT CITY THAT WE LIVE IN.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS COMMUNITY BEING LIKE IT IS, IS BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE.

GOD, I THANK YOU FOR THEM.

I THANK YOU FOR THEIR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO STEP FORWARD, AND GOD CAUSE THIS CITY TO BECOME BETTER AND BETTER.

GOD, THE CITY STAFF THAT IS HERE, HOW THEY WORK DAILY TO BRING IMPROVEMENTS INTO THIS COMMUNITY.

GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL HONOR THEM.

GOD GIVE GIVE OUR LEADERSHIP, WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL CAUSE THIS COMMUNITY TO BE BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT.

AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[Proclamations/Presentations ]

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO OUR ACCREDITATION.

SO DIRECTOR HAMMOND, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND CITIZENS.

THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR US BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE'VE BEEN ACCREDITED OFFICIALLY FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS, WE JUST HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRESENT BY AN APWA NATIONAL DIRECTOR FROM THE CHICAGO AREA.

SEAN O'DELL IS HERE.

I WANTED TO JUST NOTE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER PRETTY, PRETTY OUTSTANDING THINGS IN SEAN'S BIO.

HE'S ALSO BEEN SOUTHWEST BRANCH PRESIDENT AND CHICAGO METRO CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF APWA, AND AS A NERD, HE'S ALSO A WATER ENGINEER.

SO I'VE HAD FUN TODAY GETTING TO MEET HIM AND TALK WITH HIM ABOUT THAT STUFF.

SEAN WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF APWA AND THEN WE'LL INVITE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER TO JOIN US FOR THE PLAQUE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, BOB. MAYOR O'DONNELL AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

AGAIN, SEAN O'DELL FROM NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION.

TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ACCREDITATION.

A VERY FUN TOPIC, BUT IT IS REALLY THE HIGHEST MARK OF A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN OUR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION.

IT INDICATES THAT A PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY HAS MADE THE COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN THE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC WORKS OPERATION SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY AT WHICH IT SERVES.

ACCREDITATION RECOGNIZES AN AGENCY'S POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES WHICH HAVE BEEN EVALUATED AGAINST NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PRACTICES DETERMINED TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT AGENCY. A TEAM OF NATIONAL EVALUATORS CAME IN AND LOOKED AT OVER 322 DIFFERENT PRACTICES, WHICH THE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF DOES.

SO IT'S A PRETTY AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND THEY FOUND THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE PRACTICES WAS FOUND TO MEET AND OR EXCEED ALL NATIONAL LEVELS.

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE CAME BACK AND REPORTED 100% FULLY COMPLIANT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND FOLLOWING THAT RECOMMENDATION, BOB, THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL OF APWA CAME BACK AND GRANTED FULL ACCREDITATION TO THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE NOW ONLY FOUR WITHIN THE STATE OF IOWA.

SO THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND SMALL GROUP, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'D LIKE TO FULLY CONGRATULATE AND PRESENT THIS PLAQUE TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR BOB HAMMOND AND ACCREDITATION MANAGER KYLIE.

AGAIN, MAYOR O'DONNELL AND CITY MANAGER JEFF POMERANZ FOR THE AMAZING WORK DONE BY YOUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF.

SO WITH THAT, BOB, CONGRATULATIONS.

[00:05:01]

SO IF YOU'LL. YEAH, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HAMMOND I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY AND MR. O'DELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS WE HEAR ABOUT MORE THAN PUBLIC WORKS.

YES, EVERYONE GIGGLES BECAUSE IT'S THE TRUTH.

SO THANK YOU.

THIS MEANS AN ACCREDITATION.

WE KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO GET THERE, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A CITY TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE'RE DOING THAT, AND WE'RE ONE OF FOUR REALLY SPECTACULAR DIRECTOR AND WE KNOW YOU DON'T DO THIS ALONE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOUR TEAM, AND ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, I KNOW WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING TO BE THE BEST WE CAN BE AND APPRECIATE YOUR SHARED DESIRE FOR THAT AND YOUR RESPONSIVENESS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE DOING THINGS WE HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE.

SO APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LEARN WITH US AND TO RESPOND IN THE BEST WAYS, AND I KNOW OUR CITY MANAGER HAS SOME WORDS TO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. OF COURSE, CITY COUNCIL, SEAN AND BOB, WE'RE JUST VERY PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THIS WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS EFFORT, AS YOU KNOW, FOR REALLY A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND EVEN BEYOND.

DIRECTOR HAMMOND.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO, BUT IT REALLY TAKES THE LEADERSHIP TO ACTUALLY GET IT DONE, WORKING ON IT A LONG TIME, BUT WHEN DIRECTOR HAMMOND STARTED, I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS , AND BOB PUT A GREAT TEAM TOGETHER.

I KNOW KYLIE HAS JUST DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK ON THIS.

BRENNA, OF COURSE. MIKE DUFFY BUT REALLY THE ENTIRE TEAM.

SO WE'RE JUST PROUD OF THE TEAM WORK, PROUD OF THE PROFESSIONALISM.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS IT'S NOT THE END, BUT IT'S A BEGINNING.

WE HAVE MET THE HIGH STANDARDS OF APWA, BUT THIS IS A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT EFFORT.

SO WE CONTINUE.

THIS IS NOT THE END. IT'S SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AND BETTER AND DEVOTE OURSELVES TO PROFESSIONALISM AND CONTINUING TO MAKE THE DEPARTMENT SOMETHING WE'RE ALL VERY, VERY PROUD OF, BUT I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO THANK DIRECTOR HAMMOND BECAUSE I KNOW HE PUSHED HARD AND AND THEN KYLIE, I KNOW HOW HARD SHE WORKED TO DELIVER, BUT IT TOOK A TEAM EFFORT.

SO THANKS TO ALL.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY JENNIFER PRATT, AND THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES.

JENNIFER, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.

AGAIN, REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHY HAVING THESE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES IS SO IMPORTANT FOR STAFF AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO AGAIN, THE PURPOSE BEHIND DOING THIS EVERY YEAR IS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE IN CONTINUAL AND CONTINUOUS ALIGNMENT WITH ENVISION CR THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

ALSO, HAVING COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED REALLY DOES HELP IN THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE CLEAR MESSAGING TO THE PUBLIC.

IT CERTAINLY HELPS THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM BE ABLE TO BETTER PRIORITIZE RESOURCES AND THEN ALSO EMPHASIZE COMMUNICATION ON THE PROGRESS OF THESE PRIORITIES.

AGAIN, THE SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON APRIL 12TH AND IT DID SERVE AS A WORK SESSION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THAT WAS NOTICED AND IT WAS AN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING.

AGAIN, THE FIRST PART OF THIS SESSION IS TO REVIEW.

WE ASK COUNCIL TO IDENTIFY WHAT WERE THE TOP RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CITY, TO REALLY REFLECT ON WHAT THOSE WERE.

SO SOME OF THE BIG ONES THAT COUNCIL NOTED WAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO A NUMBER OF PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE FIRST AND FIRST WEST DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

ALSO THE RENEWAL OF THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX, AGAIN FOR OUR PAVING FOR PROGRESS PROGRAM THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

THESE IMAGES ARE OF MEMORIAL DRIVE AND SHOWING THE GREAT DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ALSO FLOOD CONTROL PROGRESS AND IT WAS ESPECIALLY NOTED THIS YEAR THE WEST SIDE PROTECTION.

SO A COUPLE OF PROJECTS HERE WITH THE TERRACING AT THE NATIONAL CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSEUM AS WELL AS THE DETENTION AREA AND THE RELOCATION OF THE SKATE PARK ALONG C STREET

[00:10:07]

SO HAVING THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE WHEN A NATURAL DISASTER HITS AND TO BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY.

IT WAS ALSO NOTED THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT.

SO AGAIN, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD, HIRING OF THE CITY'S DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION MANAGER.

IT WAS ALSO NOTED THE SLIGHT DECREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE AND THEN HAVING THAT FRAMEWORK IN PLACE TO CONTINUE PROGRESS ON THAT.

ALSO SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT, WHICH IS THE CITY'S BIGGEST PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, AND WE'RE GLAD TO NOTE THAT THE REMOVAL OF THE FORMER BRIDGE IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 31ST.

THE KIND OF THE KICKOFF FOR THAT, THE RECYCLE EVENT.

SO, AGAIN, MOVING FORWARD.

ALSO, AS NOTED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.

SO EVERYTHING FROM ARPA-FUNDED PROJECTS LIKE THE HEIGHTS, WHERE THE FORMER COLONIAL BUILDING WAS TO LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROJECTS SUCH AS THE CEDAR RAPIDS, BRICK STONES, AS WELL AS WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDITS LIKE THE FULTON LOFTS IN NEW BOHEMIA.

SO AGAIN, THROUGH THAT SESSION, THERE WERE SEVEN PRIORITIES ESTABLISHED.

THE FIRST FOUR ARE ONES THAT HAD ARE CONTINUING.

THEY HAVE BEEN NOTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

SO THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IN GREENWAY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRENGTHEN AND STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS AND QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCEMENTS, AND THEN THREE NEW ONES WERE ADDED HOMELESSNESS, CLEAN AND SAFE, CITY AND BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

SO I WILL JUST GO THROUGH THESE VERY QUICKLY.

AGAIN, FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM AND GREENWAY IS ONGOING.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURING THE REMAINING FUNDING FOR THE SYSTEM AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR THE GREENWAY AMENITIES.

WHAT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL SOON ARE UPDATES TO THE GREENWAY PARKWAY PLAN SO THAT PUBLIC OUTREACH ON THAT WILL BE STARTING THIS FALL.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A FOCUS.

SO AGAIN, INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SEEKING THOSE RESOURCES.

JUST NOTING THAT WE'LL BE IMPLEMENTING THE CDBG DISASTER RECOVERY FUND.

SO $9 MILLION IN MULTIFAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION, $15 MILLION IN THAT SINGLE FAMILY, OR WHAT WE CALL THE ROOTS PROGRAM AND 2.5 IN REHAB, AS WELL AS THE LEADERSHIP THE CITY IS TAKING ON ALLIANCE FOR EQUITABLE HOUSING AND THAT COMMITMENT TO END HOMELESSNESS.

IN STRENGTHENING AND STABILIZING NEIGHBORHOODS.

AGAIN, THERE ARE MANY NEW TRAILS THAT WILL BE BEING COMPLETE, AND HERE WE SEE THE TRAIL GOING THROUGH DANIELS PARK AND HOW IMPORTANT THOSE CONNECTIONS ARE.

ALSO, HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME UPDATES TO OUR ORDINANCE AND OUR DESIGN GUIDELINES, AS WELL AS NEIGHBORHOOD ART INITIATIVES.

THIS ONE HERE IS ACTUALLY A BASKETBALL COURT THAT HAS AN ART MURAL ON IT.

AGAIN. QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCEMENTS HAVE BEEN NOTED BY COUNCIL.

AGAIN, CRITICAL TO ATTRACTING AND RETAINING WORKFORCE AND ALSO THE FOCUS TO SERVE ALL AGES AND ABILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

SO AGAIN, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE SEEING ARE THE JONES PARK ENHANCEMENTS WITH THE PICKLEBALL COURTS AND THE DOG PARK, AND THOSE ARE ALWAYS THE TWO TOP THINGS WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AMENITIES AND PARKS AS WELL AS PUBLIC ART.

WE HAVE A NEW MURAL WALK WITH AUDIO, SO IT REALLY IS A SELF-GUIDED TOUR THAT STARTS WITH TOGETHER WE BLOOM.

ANOTHER NEW ONE IS HOMELESSNESS.

AGAIN, INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND OUR FAMILY.

SO REALLY THAT HOUSING FIRST WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND REALLY BEING OUTCOME DRIVEN IS IMPORTANT.

THIS IS ALSO THE MOMENTUM WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING FROM THE SYSTEM DESIGN CLINIC THAT WAS HELD IN JUNE AND AGAIN, ESTABLISHING THAT PATH TO ACHIEVE THOSE TOP THREE RECOMMENDATIONS AND KEEP THAT MOVING FORWARD.

CLEAN AND SAFE.

AGAIN, THIS IS TO REALLY BUILD ON COMMUNITY PRIDE.

PROVIDE WAYS FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AND REALLY INVEST IN ONGOING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TO KEEP THE CITY LOOKING GOOD.

AGAIN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE SEEING ARE EXPANSION OF THE GREEN SQUARE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM AS WELL AS LEVERAGING WITH OUR PARTNERS.

SO WHAT THE DOWNTOWN MED, [INAUDIBLE] AND CZECH VILLAGE, NEWBO SSMID'S ARE DOING AS WELL AS DOT, AND THEN FINALLY BUSINESS FRIENDLY. SO REALLY PROMOTING CEDAR RAPIDS, USING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TO REALLY FOCUS ON PROMOTING THE COMMUNITY.

[00:15:09]

SO NO SURPRISES FOR OUR DEVELOPERS AND THEN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND REALLY PARTNERING ON THOSE KEY INITIATIVES LIKE THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AGAIN, YOU'LL BE SEEING A JOINT WORKFORCE GROWTH INITIATIVE ALSO WORKING ON A NAVIGATION TOOL FOR OUR WORKFORCE RESOURCES, AS WELL AS THE SECOND ROUND OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS COLLEGE CAREER CONNECTION FUNDING.

SO ALL OF THOSE WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL SOON, AND THEN REALLY FOCUSED ON ENHANCING COMMUNICATION.

SO USING THESE PRIORITIES AS A FOCUS FOR A QUARTERLY UPDATE THAT WILL GO TO CITY COUNCIL.

THOSE WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS USING OUR COUNCIL AGENDA COVER SHEETS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING JUST AS WE DO THE FLOOD WORK. WE'VE DONE THE DURATIO OR PAVING FOR PROGRESS.

THESE WILL BE IDENTIFIED UNDER THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE SUPPORTING YOUR PRIORITIES.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNIFER.

COUNCIL, THOUGHTS FOR JENNIFER? THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE THAT, AND COUNCIL, AGAIN, WE ARE OFF AND RUNNING.

IT'S JUST A PRIVILEGE.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE CORPORATION ANNUAL UPDATE.

SARA BUCK IS HERE TO PRESENT ON THAT.

SARA, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

SARA BUCK WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND TODAY I HAVE WITH ME STEPHANIE MURPHY WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE CORPORATION, AND SHE WILL ACTUALLY BE PRESENTING TODAY.

THANK YOU, SARA. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

WELL, I HOPE AS I'M GIVING THIS SHORT PRESENTATION THAT YOU SORT OF SEE MAYBE SOME OF THE CONNECTIONS THAT WE MAKE TO YOUR GOALS.

I WAS THINKING OF A LOT AS JENNIFER WAS GIVING THE PRESENTATION, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

HOPEFULLY YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE CORPORATION.

WE'RE A NONPROFIT MORTGAGE COMPANY AND I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE WITH YOUR SUPPORT.

OKAY. AN UPDATE ON OUR LENDING.

THIS IS WHAT WE DID FOR LENDING IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR.

THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT I'D LIKE TO PULL FROM THIS BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY LIKES SPREADSHEETS IS THAT WE USED OVER $260,000 OF 28E MONEY FOR FORGIVABLE LOANS.

SO THAT'S YOUR FUNDS THAT WENT TO HOMEOWNERS AND HOMEBUYERS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO RENOVATIONS TO THEIR HOME AND ALSO TO HELP WITH CLOSING COSTS.

WE ALSO.

USE SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR A LOSS RESERVE, AND THEN WITH THAT, HOMEOWNERS AND HOMEBUYERS DID OVER A HALF $1 MILLION OF RENOVATIONS TO THEIR HOMES, AND WE PROVIDED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE OF OUR OWN MONEY TO EVERY PURCHASE BORROWER.

SO IN ADDITION TO YOUR FUNDS, WE PUT IN $10,500 FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE GET INTO HOMES.

NOT ALL NOT ALL BORROWERS GET THAT, BUT IF THEY MEET THE INCOME GUIDELINES, THEY DO, AND IT JUST IS A COINCIDENCE THAT ALL DID THE PAST YEAR IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE THROUGH THE LAST 28 YEAR AGREEMENT TO EXPAND THE LENDING AREA.

SO NOW WE COVER ALL THE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME CENSUS TRACTS AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY IN OUR LENDING AREA.

SO THIS IS A REAL GROWTH AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SERVE THOSE AREAS.

WE WILL BE GETTING OUT TO THEM AND SENDING POSTCARDS, BUT ALSO WE REALLY RELY ON YOU ALL WHEN YOU'RE GOING OUT TO VISIT NEIGHBORHOODS TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE CORPORATION LENDING AREA.

THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE MAP ON OUR WEBSITE.

THE UPDATED AREAS WILL BE UPDATED PROBABLY ABOUT NEXT WEEK, BUT THERE IS THIS PDF WITH IT ALL GREEN IF YOU NEED TO PRINT THAT OUT OR NEED US TO GET ONE TO YOU.

THE NEW IN 2023 IS WE LAUNCHED IT IS WITH THE ARPA MONEY.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED THE ENERGY ADVANTAGE PROGRAM, AND THIS PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.

SO WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO US AND THEY WANT TO DO ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS TO ONE, THE COMMITMENT TO LOWER THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND TO LOWER THEIR ENERGY COSTS, AND SO WITH THE ARPA MONEY, WE'RE ABLE TO DO A $10,000 DEFERRED LOAN AT 0% INTEREST.

PEOPLE CAN DO SOLAR, THEY CAN DO WINDOWS, THEY CAN AN HVAC IMPROVEMENT, AND THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE $15,000 OR UP TO $15,000 FORGIVABLE LOAN.

WE HAVE $400,000 TO ASSIST 42 HOMEOWNERS.

WE ALSO WILL DO SOME OF IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH LIKE MATTHEW 25.

SO WHEN THEY'RE SERVING VERY LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS, THEN THEY CAN ACCESS THE FUNDS AS WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW NOT EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO BORROW MONEY,

[00:20:08]

SO PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING AND REALLY ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT MAYBE THEY DREAMED OF BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO.

THIS IS FROM OUR ANNUAL REPORT.

HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU GOT THAT ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO IN THE MAIL, BUT JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE DID IN CALENDAR YEAR 2022, WHICH IS SORT OF HOW WE COUNT THINGS , BUT I REALLY WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT WE BRING.

SO FOR THIS IS FOR FEDERAL MONEY BECAUSE WE DO LEVERAGE FEDERAL MONEY, BUT FOR EVERY $1.43 OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE GET OR THAT WE INVEST, IT DOES THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF $7 BECAUSE WE'RE YOU KNOW, OUR HOME BUYERS AND HOMEOWNERS ARE HIRING LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO DO THE WORK. APPRAISERS ARE DOING THE APPRAISALS.

SO WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THOUGH IT'S IMPACTING INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, IT ALSO IS BRINGING CAPITAL TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAYBE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF CAPITAL AND GENERATING BUSINESS AND ACTIVITY, AND HOPEFULLY WE SEND A POSTCARD TO EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD EVERY TIME WE CLOSE A LOAN AND SO WE HOPE THAT IT GENERATES THAT MAYBE THEY'RE NOT EVEN COMING TO US FOR A LOAN, BUT THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, THEY FIXED UP THEIR HOUSE OR DID A GARAGE.

I SHOULD GET GOING ON THAT AS WELL.

SO WE REALLY LOOK FOR THAT AS WELL, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR JOURNEY TO HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS TO ADVANCE LOANS TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND WE SAW SOME GROWTH IN OUR FIRST YEAR OF THAT.

SO WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

ALL OF THIS IS ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER ABOUT US, AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAD, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT IT, AND THE CITY STAFF AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN REALLY GRACIOUS AND SUPPORTIVE OF OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, STEPHANIE AND SARA.

COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK AND HELP.

WE KNOW THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A GAME CHANGER AND THE PROMISE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND CERTAINLY PROTECTING THOSE INVESTMENTS AND MAKING THEM BETTER IS SO HELPFUL.

SO THANK YOU. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TODAY AT OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHETHER DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING OR DOING ONE OF OUR TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS OF A FEW MATTERS WE NEED TO HAVE TO ENSURE AN ORDERLY MEETING.

FIRST, A REMINDER TO REMAIN AT THE LECTERN.

IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US, JUST GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER OVER ON THE RIGHT AND HE WILL GET THEM TO US.

SECOND COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES, SO WHEN THE LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE IN FRONT OF YOU TURNS YELLOW, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

WHEN IT TURNS RED, WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT AGAIN, AND THEN FINALLY, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALL COMMENTS MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND THAT ABUSIVE, PERSONAL, LOUD OR THREATENING OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.

FINALLY, WE NEED TO HOLD AN ORDERLY HEARING SO WE ASK FOR NO APPLAUSE, BOOING OR OTHER NOISE OR CONDUCT FROM THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE RIGHT NOW.

DOES THE CLERK HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS IN REGARD TO ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON TODAY'S AGENDA? YOUR HONOR, FOR PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER FOUR, THERE WERE TWO LETTERS OF OBJECTION FILED AND NO OTHER WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS WERE FILED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[1. A public hearing will be held to consider annexation of land at 3241 Blairs Ferry Road NE as requested by Radiant Church, legally known as First Assembly of God Church (Jeff Wozencraft). CIP/DID #ANNX-033818-2023 ]

JEFF WOZENCRAFT IS HERE.

JEFF, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR JEFF WOZENCRAFT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

AS STATED, THIS IS A RESOLUTION FOR THE ANNEXATION OF LAND AT 3241 BLAIRS FERRY ROAD NORTHEAST.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW. THIS IS 100% VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF ONE PARCEL.

IT IS WITHIN AN URBANIZED AREA, WHICH IS MEANING IT'S TWO MILES WITHIN HIAWATHA OR FROM HIAWATHA OR ROBBINS.

THEY ARE APPLYING FOR ANNEXATION TO DEVELOP TO CEDAR RAPIDS STANDARDS, AND THE PARCEL IS AN EXISTING ISLAND OF COUNTY, WHICH YOU'LL SEE HERE.

SO THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT JUST CONTEXTUALIZING THE ANNEXATION HERE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE, JUST SOUTH OF HIAWATHA, THE LARGER IMAGE ON THE RIGHT SHOWING THE ANNEXATION IN DETAIL IN BLUE HERE.

SO CEDAR RAPIDS IS HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE.

HIAWATHA IS IN PURPLE.

BLAIRS FERRY ROAD NORTHEAST IS RUNNING THROUGH THE MIDDLE, AND SO STAFF REVIEW SEWER, WATER AND OTHER SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE AREA.

THIS DOES NOT CREATE AN ISLAND OF COUNTY.

IN FACT, REMOVES AN EXISTING ISLAND OF COUNTY AND CREATES MORE REGULAR BOUNDARIES AND THEREFORE STAFF RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

THE TIMELINE WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING RESOLUTION TODAY.

IF APPROVED, THIS WOULD THEN BE HEARD AT THE STATE CITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD IN SEPTEMBER, AND THEN IF APPROVED THERE, IT WOULD BE RECORDED 30 DAYS LATER IN OCTOBER, AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO THE MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF.

THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL?

[00:25:01]

SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY LOEFFLER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING HELD TO CONSIDER A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTIES AT 1003 AND 1007 SIXTH STREET SOUTHEAST FROM TRADITIONAL

[2. A public hearing will be held to consider a change of zone for properties at 1003 and 1007 6th Street SE from T-R1, Traditional Residential Single Unit District, to T-RF, Traditional Residential Flex District, as requested by Butterfield Holdings, LLC (Mathew Langley). CIP/DID #RZNE-033815-2023 ]

MATTHEW LANGLEY IS HERE.

MATTHEW, I RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SOME QUICK INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTY.

AS YOU SAID, IT IS TO GO FROM TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY TO TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL FLEX.

THE TOTAL LOT AREA IS ABOUT 14,000FT² WITH A PROPOSAL FOR FOUR UNIT ROW HOMES TO BE ORIENTED FACING 10TH AVENUE.

THE REZONING IS REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THIS MULTIPLE UNITS ON THE PARCEL.

A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WAS HELD ON JUNE 9TH IN WHICH IT WAS SUPPORTED BY THOSE THAT ATTENDED THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING.

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL UNANIMOUSLY WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THEM.

A QUICK MAP SHOWING THE PROPOSED AREA IS THE RED STAR.

THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS URBAN HIGH INTENSITY, AND YOU CAN SEE SOME URBAN MEDIUM INTENSITY IN THE DOWNTOWN.

CURRENT ZONING AND THE PROPOSED AREA OUTLINED IN DOTTED RED LINES, AND THEN AN AERIAL SHOWING THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ON SITE, AND THEN A QUICK STREET VIEW AS WELL TO HELP SEE THE OVERALL AREA.

THE APPLICANT SUBMITTED CONCEPTUAL BUILDING RENDERINGS FOR US AS WELL.

THIS WOULD BE THE SIDE FACING 10TH STREET AND THEN THIS WOULD BE THE REAR OF THE BUILDING FACING INTERNAL WITH GARAGES AND ABOVE PATIOS OR DECKS.

FOR THE REZONING CRITERIA ITSELF, THERE'S NO CORRECTION HERE.

THIS IS A REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO ALLOW FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS PERMITTED IN THE URBAN HIGH INTENSITY, AND IT'S NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ANY OF OUR PLANS OR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS AN URBAN AREA.

IT IS ABLE TO HAVE PROPER SERVICES AND SUITABILITY FOR THE AREA.

AS FOR CHARACTER, IT MAINTAINS THE TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL DESIGN STANDARDS.

THE PROPOSAL IS REALLY TO FACILITATE THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN THE OAK HILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD, AS IDENTIFIED IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, A SITE PLAN ISN'T BEING ADOPTED AS PART OF THIS APPROVAL, BUT STAFF DOES NOTE THAT BOTH THE SIXTH STREET AND 10TH STREET AVENUE HOMES ARE ORIENTED TOWARDS THEM.

SO ESSENTIALLY IT GOES BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ON THOSE SIDES, AND LASTLY, THE OWNER DOES OWN THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH AS WELL.

THE SIDE THAT WOULD BE FACING THIS 1011 WHERE THE PARKING SPACE WOULD BE BACK HERE.

BASED ON THIS STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REZONING REQUEST.

IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT, AND WE RECEIVED NO OBJECTIONS RELATED TO THIS PROPOSAL.

NEXT STEPS WOULD BE A SECOND AND POSSIBLE THIRD READING ON AUGUST 8TH, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MATTHEW, THANK YOU.

THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? AND I'LL JUST ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

HELLO, I'M DOROTHY D'SOUZA GEDDES.

I'M REPRESENTING OAKHILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND I ALSO LIVE ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE SITE.

WE WERE VERY PLEASED THAT JASON ROGERS INVITED THE NEIGHBORS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO LOOK AT THE PLANS BEFORE ANYTHING WAS STARTED THERE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WE'D LIKE TO HAVE WITH ALL DEVELOPERS, AND THAT JUST MADE US FEEL LIKE WE WERE BEING HEARD IN A WAY.

SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO LIVED AROUND THAT AREA BESIDES ME SHOWED UP AND THEN JUST SOME PEOPLE WALKING BY JUST LOOKED AT THE PLANS AND WE WERE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE PLANS.

THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS RENTALS.

WE REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES AND TOWNHOMES BEING BUILT, BUT WE LIKED HIS PLAN.

HE'S BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR AS FAR AS THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR, WHICH IS A SHORT TERM RENTAL WITH LONG TERM TENANTS, AND IT FACES 10TH AVENUE, NOT 10TH STREET.

[00:30:04]

THESE ARE LARGER, GOOD FAMILY SIZED UNITS THAT WILL BE BUILT WITH SOME REALLY EXCELLENT OUTDOOR SPACE OVER THE GARAGE AREA.

SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.

THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER POE. YEAH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I REALLY LIKE THIS DEVELOPMENT.

IT SHOWS SOME CREATIVITY.

I LIKE. GO BACK TO THAT OTHER PICTURE, WILL YOU, MATTHEW.

THAT'S JUST AMAZING.

I THINK THAT REALLY SHOWS SOME THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX THAT YOU'RE GOING TO INCORPORATE SOME OUTSIDE LIVING SPACE ALONG WITH THE GARAGES UNDERNEATH IN THE ORIENTATION.

IT REALLY IS LOVELY AND I LIKE IT SO MUCH.

I THINK I THINK TO DOROTHY'S POINT, IT'S REALLY GOING TO ADD A REALLY NICE FEATURE TO THAT AREA ON 10TH STREET.

SO 10TH AVENUE.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO I LOVE HEARING THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS WORKED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I THINK FAR TOO OFTEN HERE AT COUNCIL WE END UP FEELING LIKE WE'RE DOING SOME CLEANUP WORK TO DO THE WORK THAT THE DEVELOPER REALLY SHOULD BE DOING, GOING DOOR TO DOOR, GETTING TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNING.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I ECHO THE COMMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBER POE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT ON DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ABOUT HAVING THAT OUTDOOR SPACE AND THIS IS A VERY DENSE AREA, BUT THIS STILL HAS A VERY NICE FAMILY FEEL, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE A HIGHER DENSITY.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. YEAH, I SUPPORT I THINK THIS IS A VERY CHANGE OF PACE TYPE PROJECT.

IT WOULD BE. I THINK DALE AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FACT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE OF THE TIGHT SITE TO HAVE A SITE PLAN WITH SOME LANDSCAPING SHOWN BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.

HOW DOES IT BLEND AND IS THERE A REASON WE DIDN'T HAVE A SITE PLAN IN THE PART OF THE PRESENTATION? SOME OF IT IS JUST WITH THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON SOME OF THE FINE TOOTH DETAILS, BUT THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED AS WE GO THROUGH SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR THE PROJECT AND THEY'LL HAVE TO MEET THE LANDSCAPING STANDARDS. OKAY.

THANK YOU. IT DOES MAKE IT A LOT EASIER WHEN WE SEE THAT TOO, BECAUSE OF WHEN WE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DO INFILL PROJECTS, WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A LOT OF BUILDING IN A VERY SMALL, LONG LOT, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT DESIGN.

SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

WE HAVE THE BUILDING THAT IS ADJACENT WITH RENTERS, ACTUALLY TWO OF THEM, AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT.

I WOULD NOTE COUNCILMAN OLSON'S COMMENTS ABOUT A SITE PLAN IN PARTICULAR.

WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING ON A BLOCK, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE, BECAUSE THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS WHEN YOU WHEN YOU INCREASE THE DENSITY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, SOMETIMES NEIGHBORHOODS PUSH BACK, AND SO IT'S HELPFUL TO SEE THAT ALL AT THE BEGINNING, BUT I THINK IT CORRECTS A TECHNICAL MISTAKE THAT HAPPENED PROBABLY TEN YEARS AGO WHEN WE ALLOWED THOSE ORIGINAL SEVERAL OF THOSE HOMES TO BE PUT TOGETHER PREVIOUS COUNCIL AND AND BASICALLY TAKE AWAY FROM THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF AN INTACT CITY BLOCK WHAT THAT WOULD BE THERE, AND SO I THINK IT'S SUPPORTIVE.

IT'S DIFFERENT, IT'S UNIQUE, AND I YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE AND WILL SUPPORT IT.

THANK YOU, AND WITH EVERY ONE OF THESE PROJECTS I KNOW DOROTHY'S BEEN HERE BEFORE.

IT MAKES OUR CASE EVEN STRONGER FOR A GROCERY GETTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OVER THERE.

YES, SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITS READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER THREE, A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 521 EIGHTH AVENUE SOUTHEAST FROM URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL DISTRICT TO URBAN

[3. A public hearing will be held to consider a change of zone for property at 521 8th Avenue SE from U-NG, Urban Neighborhood General District, to U-MF, Urban Medical Flex District, as requested by Williams Synergy Group, LLC (Mathew Langley). CIP/DID #RZNE-033846-2023 ]

THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS NOTED, GOING FROM URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL TO URBAN MEDICAL FLEX IS THE PROPOSAL FOR A MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING. THE LOT IS 0.7 ACRES IN SIZE.

THE REQUEST IS BY STAFF TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT CONSTRICTIONS OF THE SITE AND AREA.

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL UNANIMOUSLY WITH THIS PROPOSAL AS WELL.

FUTURE LAND USE MAP SHOWING ONCE AGAIN WITH A RED STAR WHERE THE AREA IS LOCATED.

ZONING MAP, BRINGING THAT IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, SHOWING THE CURRENT ZONE AS URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL AND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SITE OUTLINED IN A

[00:35:02]

STREET VIEW AS WELL.

JUST A QUICK GLANCE.

THIS IS THE STREET VIEW FROM THE CORNER OF EIGHTH AND REFRESHING MYSELF.

EIGHTH AND SIXTH STREET, AND THEN THE CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN THAT THEY PROVIDED, STAFF THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

IT WILL BE ORIENTED, FACING OUT TOWARDS THE STREET, BUT WE WILL HAVE THE ENTRANCES ALONG THE SIDE AS THE PROPOSAL AND THE REAR TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE AS THEIR PARKING WILL BE TAKEN OFF OF THE ADJACENT LOT BEHIND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ALLEYWAY, AND SOME CONCEPTUAL BUILDING PLAN RENDERINGS SHOWING THE VARIOUS ANGLES AND SIDES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A FRONT FACING GLASS AND SIGNAGE, GIVE IT A NICE LOOK OFF OF THE STREET, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS SIDE WHERE CUSTOMERS WILL BE WALKING FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THE BUSINESS.

AS FOR REZONING, STAFF ARE IDENTIFYING THAT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SETBACKS AND DEVELOPMENT ORIENTED TOWARDS THE EIGHTH AVENUE ARE CREATING A DIFFICULTY TO ACHIEVE AND STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING A REZONING TO MODIFY THIS REQUIREMENT FOR THIS PARCEL.

IT'S NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ANY OF OUR PLANS.

IT ALIGNS WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND STAFF HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED ANY ISSUES THAT WOULD GET IN THE WAY OF PUBLIC FACILITIES, SERVICES AND SUITABILITY FOR THIS SITE.

CHARACTER WISE, IT MAINTAINS THE URBAN STANDARDS AND OFFERS RELIEF FROM THE SETBACK BUILDING DESIGN, STREET ENTRANCE AND FENESTRATION REQUIREMENTS TO BETTER MATCH THE INTENDED DEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA, AS WELL AS THE MEDICAL FLEX DISTRICT BEING COMPATIBLE WITH NEARBY USES AS WELL.

THE APPLICANT IS ALSO WORKING WITH STAFF ON BEING ABLE TO PLANT MORE STREET TREES AND CREATE A SAFER SIDEWALK CONDITION ALONG EIGHTH AVENUE AS THAT SITE CREATED SOME CONSTRAINTS NATURALLY FOR PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL CANOPY AS WELL AS A BETTER WALKING SPACE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

ON THE CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE PATH THAT WAS PROPOSED JOGS IN AND OUT BETWEEN THE PROPERTY AND THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH SOME UNUSUAL SITE CONSTRAINTS.

WITH THIS STAFF DO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS REZONING REQUEST.

ONCE AGAIN, IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT ALONG EIGHTH AVENUE AND IT SUPPORTS THIS NEW MEDICAL OFFICE USE IN THE CORE AREA.

NOW, WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MATTHEW.

THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? PLEASE APPROACH AND GIVE US YOUR NAME.

MY NAME IS DOROTHY D'SOUZA GEDDES, AND I'M REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS OF OAKHILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I'M NOT CLEAR ON THIS AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ANSWER A QUESTION FOR ME RIGHT NOW NECESSARILY, BUT DOES THIS EXPAND THE MED Q? IF SO, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MED Q CREEP.

THEY'RE ALREADY ON EIGHTH AVENUE WITH THE GORGEOUS NEW PLUMB CENTER, AND THERE'S JUST SOME CONCERN THAT AS THAT SPREADS, IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE DECISIONS MADE BASED ON, WELL, THIS IS ALREADY HERE. WHY SHOULDN'T WE EXPAND IT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE? WE HAVE A CORE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

THESE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS DIRECT TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AS YOU KNOW, AND ALSO BRING MORE CARS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE ISSUES WITH TRAFFIC AS IT IS NOW, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

IT'S NICE TO HEAR THAT PERHAPS THERE'LL BE SOME TREES ALONG HERE, BUT BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPER HASN'T REACHED OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, AND SO WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO SAY THIS.

I UNDERSTAND WE CAN'T STOP COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT IF THIS IS MED Q CREEP, WE WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE SLOWED OR STOPPED.

IT JUST MAKES IT EASIER TO KEEP SPREADING LIKE A VIRUS.

NOT THAT I THINK THE MED Q IS A VIRUS, BUT SO THAT'S MAINLY WHAT I'M SAYING.

IT JUST I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE A BEAUTIFUL TREE PARK OR ANYTHING THAT'S BEING TAKEN AWAY.

IT'S A PARKING LOT, BUT IT DOES ADD TO THAT HEAT ISLAND FEEL OF THAT PART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO

[00:40:03]

I WALKED HERE, WHICH IS WHY I LOOK ALL SWEATY AND IT'S HOT WHEN THERE AREN'T ANY TREES.

SO WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO CLEARLY MARKED PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS THERE, PARTICULARLY DURING CONSTRUCTION WHERE PEDESTRIANS ARE OFTEN PUSHED OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC THAT'S MOVING TO GET AROUND CERTAIN THINGS. I'D LIKE FOR THAT TO BE A CONSIDERATION.

SO SLOW MED Q CREEP, THAT'S OUR MANTRA HERE, AND NO MORE STREET CLOSINGS FOR THE MED Q, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. SO, QUICKLY, THIS IS NOT AN OBJECTION, AN OFFICIAL OBJECTION TO THIS PROJECT? I'M. I'M OBJECTING TO AN EXPANSION OF THE MED Q.

IF THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

WHAT THIS IS IS NOT CLEAR TO ME.

NO. OKAY.

IF THAT'S. IF THAT'S IT, THAT'S FINE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.

COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

A COUPLE OF THINGS. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ZONING.

YOU KNOW THIS MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT PARKING LOT THAT BELONGS TO HORIZON, HAS THAT BEEN PURCHASED BY THIS DEVELOPER TO USE AS PARKING? BECAUSE I THINK THE PARKING LOT WHICH BUFFERS THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS JUST MENTIONED, SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWN IN THIS DRAWING AND WHERE LANDSCAPING IS, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY TIGHT SITE AND SO, AGAIN, THAT'S THE SAME CONCERN WE NEED TO BE SEEING SITE PLANS, PLEASE.

SECONDLY, AS WE GO ON THROUGH, THE PICTURES YOU SHOWED ARE NOT THE CORRECT PICTURES.

ALL THE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN OF THE EXISTING SITE.

SO YOU MUST HAVE PULLED THOSE OFF GOOGLE, BUT YOU DO SHOW THAT HOUSE RIGHT THERE THAT THEY DID NOT BUY, WHICH IS PILED FULL OF CARS, JUNK, ET CETERA.

MY ASSUMPTION IS THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO BUY THAT AND INCLUDE THAT IN THE DEVELOPMENT.

YEAH, AND I KNOW THEY TRIED, BUT AND SO THEY'VE GOT SOME BUFFERING.

SO I AGREE THAT THIS IS A VERY TIGHT SITE.

IT'S HIGH TRAFFIC ON EIGHTH AVENUE.

WE NEED TO BE SEEING WHERE IS THE LANDSCAPING AND AND YOU NEED TO SHOW PICTURES THAT ARE CURRENT.

THAT PICTURE IS NOT. THE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN GONE FOR THREE MONTHS.

YEAH, AND SO THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE ON HOW THAT SITE LOOKS.

SO AND AGAIN, THE PARKING, ARE THEY BUYING THAT LOT OR ARE THEY LEASING IT FROM HORIZON'S FOR PARKING BECAUSE YOU DON'T SHOW ANY PARKING.

THAT PART, I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A REVIEW THAT INCLUDED THAT.

I'LL MAKE SURE IN THE FUTURE THAT THE FULL PLANS ARE INCLUDED THAT WAY IT IS SHARED BUT I KNOW WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT PARKING LOT AS WELL AS PART OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEING LEASED OR PURCHASED THOUGH.

OKAY. WELL, TO ME, IT'S A PRETTY SIZABLE BUILDING AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KNOW HOW ARE THEY DOING THE PARKING AND ARE THEY LANDSCAPING THE LOTS? AND IT'S A NICE LOT, AND I JUST THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART THAT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED HERE BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY HIGH TRAFFIC AREA, HIGH WALKING AREA, RESIDENTIAL AREA ACROSS THE STREET.

WE NEED TO BE SEEING THOSE THINGS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT SEEING THEM ANYMORE, BUT NOW THERE'S TWO PROJECTS.

NOW I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.

THANKS, MAYOR. SO AS PART OF THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY, I WOULD JUST SAY THIS IS ONLY ABOUT 2 TO 3 BLOCKS FROM WHERE IT CURRENTLY EXISTS.

SO FOR PATIENT ACCESS, WE SHOULD JUST BE PROUD OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE GENERALLY SERVING ABOUT A TWO HOUR RADIUS IN EASTERN IOWA.

PEOPLE PRETTY MUCH ARE COMING TO CEDAR RAPIDS OR THEY'RE GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.

SO TO SEE THIS EXPANSION IN A FIELD THAT I WORK IN IS REALLY EXCITING.

IT JUST MEANS THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SERVED IN A SPACE THAT'S REALLY CONVENIENT.

THAT'S FIRST FLOOR, THAT'S FOR A LOT OF MOBILITY ISSUES FOR THIS PARTICULAR SPACE, BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE SOME OF THESE.

OTHERWISE, I KNOW THAT THE GOOGLE IMAGES WERE SHOWN, BUT A LOT OF THAT COMMUNITY, THERE WAS THIS BIG DISCONNECT WHERE THERE WAS THE OAKHILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD THAT LOOKED NICE AND THEN THERE WAS KIND OF LIKE JUST BLIGHT, AND THEN THERE WAS REALLY VERY NICE BUILDINGS, AND SO TO SEE THIS COME UP AND HAVE THAT BE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT CAN CONTINUE TO INCREASE THAT INFILL IN THINGS THAT WE NEED, WE NEED MORE OB OFFICES IN THIS AREA.

SO JUST REALLY PROUD TO SEE.

THIS COMMITMENT AND THEIR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER POE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO, MATTHEW, I THINK TO COUNCILMAN OLSON'S REMARKS, SO THIS PARKING LOT I KNOW WE HAVE

[00:45:06]

YES. SO IT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE WHETHER THIS PARKING LOT'S BEEN PURCHASED OR IT'S JUST BEING LEASED, BECAUSE THAT WILL TELL US WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO IN TERMS OF HELPING WITH WITH TREES AND RUNOFF.

ET CETERA. ET CETERA. SO I REALLY NEED TO KNOW THAT.

SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE CIRCLE BACK WITH US AND LET US KNOW, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HORIZONS IS DOING ANOTHER PARKING LOT OVER THERE AND SO AS BEST AS IT COULD HAPPEN, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER, IS A CONCEPT SO THAT WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PHASES MIGHT BE AND WHO'S INVOLVED.

COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY YOUR COMMENTS WERE I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON THOSE.

THE REALITY IS THAT THIS WAS A BLIGHTED VACANT LOT FOR YEARS, AND IN TERMS ESPECIALLY NOW, WHEN WE'RE DOING ALL THE WORK ON MOUNT VERNON ROAD AND EIGHTH AVENUE DOES TURN INTO A GATEWAY AND THERE IS A SHORT TERM PAIN SIGNIFICANT, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT WAS A PRIORITY IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNCIL A WHILE BACK AGO AND IT'S GETTING DONE.

THE OTHER THING, TOO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CREEP, AT LEAST FROM THE MEDICAL DISTRICT.

OAKHILL JACKSON REALLY SUFFERED FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE OF SPECULATORS WHO BOUGHT LOTS IN THAT AREA IN THE HOPE THAT THE MEDICAL DISTRICT WAS GOING TO EXPAND ALL THE WAY TO 12TH AVENUE, AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, IN PARTICULAR, THE GUY THAT OWNED IT JUST LET THOSE PROPERTIES GO DOWNHILL, AND UNDER PAUL PATE'S ADMINISTRATION AND I SAID THAT THE CITY BOUGHT UP A LOT OF THOSE LOTS AND THAT WAS WHERE A LOT OF THE ROOTS PROGRAM'S LOTS WERE AT AND OTHER PROPERTIES, AND SO BASED ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN THIS DAY AND AGE, I DON'T SEE THAT MUCH MORE EXPANSION GOING OVER EIGHTH AVENUE BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS YOU HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

THE PLUMB CENTER WAS ONE AND I THINK ADDS SOME POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE HOSPITAL, THE MED Q, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AGAIN AND INCLUDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS BEST WE CAN TO TALK ABOUT WHERE ARE WE AT NOW AND WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE IN 5, 10 YEARS.

THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR, MATTHEW, THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS MORE ON THIS.

THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST READING, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR A VOTE WITHOUT ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR APPROVAL.

THE ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY VANORNY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING HELD TO CONSIDER A CHANGE OF ZONING FOR PROPERTY WEST OF EDGEWOOD ROAD, SOUTHWEST AND NORTH OF 76TH AVENUE, SOUTHWEST, FROM LIGHT

[4. A public hearing will be held to consider a change of zone for property west of Edgewood Road SW and north of 76th Avenue SW from I-LI, Light Industrial District, and A-AG, Agriculture District, to I-GI, General Industrial District, as requested by Iowa Growth and Development, LLC and Iowa Land and Building Company (Dave Houg). CIP/DID #RZNE-033803-2023 ]

DAVE, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU. DAVE HOUG, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR REZONING FROM A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO GENERAL, AND THERE'S ALSO SOME AGRICULTURAL, AGRICULTURALLY ZONED LAND WITHIN THIS.

IT'S ABOUT A 900 ACRE SITE KNOWN AS THE BIG CEDAR MEGA SITE.

AT THIS TIME, WE DO NOT KNOW OF ANY FORMAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS TO PROVIDE, AND WE NOTE THAT THE CPC DID UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL AT THEIR JULY PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS.

OUR FUTURE LAND USE MAP SHOWS US WEST OF EDGEWOOD, NORTH OF 76, COMBINATION OF INDUSTRIAL AND URBAN RESERVE [INAUDIBLE], AND THE ZONING HERE SHOWS THE EXISTING LIGHT, INDUSTRIAL AND A LOT OF GENERAL INDUSTRIAL ALL AROUND, AND THEN THIS THIS IS KIND OF THE CONCEPTUAL VIEW OF OF UTILITY ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AREA, AND THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THIS DEVELOPMENT READY LAND, AND THAT'S PART

[00:50:02]

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR HEAVY UTILITY USERS FOR THIS LAND, AND DID YOU WANT TO? YEAH, AND AS FAR AS THE REZONING CRITERIA ENVISION CR SPECIFICALLY CITES THAT THE BIG CEDAR INDUSTRIAL PARK IS A SPECIFIC INITIATIVE OF OUR INVEST CR AND IS IOWA'S FIRST CERTIFIED MEGA SITE.

ALONG WITH THAT, THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS LOCATED ALONG OUR ARTERIAL STREETS WITH NEARBY ACCESS TO RAIL 380 AND THE EASTERN IOWA AIRPORT.

UTILITY EXTENSIONS WILL BE REQUIRED AS PART OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND PLANS ONCE A APPLICANT OR DEVELOPER IS FOUND TO BUILD AND DESIGN ON THIS PROJECT.

THE CHARACTER ITSELF, THE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ARE ANTICIPATED TO INCLUDE LARGE INDUSTRIAL USES HERE.

STAFF DID RECEIVE SOME CONCERNS VIA TWO DIFFERENT LETTERS.

SPECIFICALLY, THERE WAS CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROCESS THAT WAS DONE REGARDING SIGNAGE.

STAFF DID RECEIVE CONFIRMATION.

WE PROVIDED FOUR SIGNS IN WHICH THE MINIMUM REQUIRED IS THAT STAFF WILL PROVIDE TWO SIGNS UNDER THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

FOUR SIGNS WERE PROVIDED AND DOCUMENTED VIA PHOTOGRAPHS AS HAVING BEEN POSTED PROPERLY, ONE ALONG EDGEWOOD, ONE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 76 AND EDGEWOOD, ONE ALONG 76 AND ONE NEAR THISTLE HOLLOW ROAD AND 68TH AVENUE.

ADDITIONALLY, ALONGSIDE THESE NOTICES, MAILINGS WERE SENT OUT ON 623 TO RESIDENTS WITHIN 300FT OF THE PROPERTY, PLUS ADJOINING PROPERTIES WERE NOTIFIED WHEN GETTING PREPARED FOR COUNCIL.

THE ITEMS ARE POSTED TO THE GAZETTE AND THEN ADDITIONALLY CPC AGENDA AND COUNCIL AGENDA ARE POSTED TO THE CITY WEBSITE.

STAFF FEEL THAT THE POSTING REQUIREMENTS WERE INDEED MET.

EVEN IF ONE SIGN IS DESTROYED BY A STORM EVENT.

THERE WERE STILL THREE OTHER SIGNS THAT WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF BEING DESTROYED.

IT APPEARS THAT THEY WERE STILL STANDING.

SO THE CODE HAS A SPECIFIC CARVE OUT THAT IF THERE IS A STORM, EVENT OR ACT OF GOD, THEN THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE DEVELOPER'S CONTROL AND THAT IS NOT THEIR FAULT.

IF A SIGN IS NOT CONTINUOUSLY POSTED DURING THE REQUIRED 13 DAY POSTING PRIOR TO CPC.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE CONCERNS REGARDING TRAFFIC.

EDGEWOOD ROAD IS INDEED A COLLECTOR STREET INTENDED FOR CONNECTING TO THE ARTERIALS AS WELL AS AT TIME OF SITE PLAN REVIEW.

STAFF WILL BE REQUIRING A TRAFFIC STUDY IF THE PROJECT GENERATES MORE THAN 100 TRIPS PER DAY AT PEAK TIMES.

IF IT'S A LARGE DEVELOPMENT COMING OUT HERE, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ANTICIPATING THAT'S GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT AT THIS POINT.

TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS WILL DEPEND A LITTLE BIT BASED ON WHAT THE SITE USERS ARE GOING TO BE, BUT THERE ARE SOME ANTICIPATED IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE EXPECTING WILL HAPPEN.

CENTER TURN LANES, RIGHT AND LEFT TURN LANES.

INTERSECTIONS OR ENTRANCES BEING SPACED APPROPRIATELY FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF VEHICLES COMING AND GOING, AS WELL AS ROADWAY LIGHTING TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL ACCESS AND VISIBILITY ALONG THIS SECTION.

LASTLY TO TRAFFIC CONCERNS.

THERE WAS A SOUTHWEST SIDE TRAFFIC STUDY PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED THAT PREDICTED AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC DUE TO FUTURE INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN THIS REGION.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AND CITY IS ACKNOWLEDGING WE'LL NEED IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE WAY.

LASTLY, THERE WERE CONCERNS REGARDING SCREENING AND BUFFERING.

DEVELOPMENT, ONCE AGAIN WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET THE STANDARDS FOR THE ZONING ORDINANCE REGARDING BUFFERING AND LANDSCAPE.

IN JANUARY, WE RECEIVED A CONCEPTUAL PLAN.

IT'S JUST A BROAD STROKES IDEA FOR GENERATING FROM THE APPLICANT.

THEY WANTED FEEDBACK FROM US ON WHAT TYPES OF THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO BE AWARE OF AS THEY'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT BUYERS TO THIS SITE.

THEY PROVIDE US WITH THIS AND WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM FEEDBACK ON TRAFFIC NEEDS, ACCESSIBILITY, SITE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS, FLOODPLAIN, ALL IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THAT STAFF REPORT TO PREPARE ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL.

AS NOTED, THIS IS CONCEPTUAL ONLY IT'S A DRAFT PLAN AND NOT ANY KIND OF FINAL PLAN AT THIS TIME BUT IT PROVIDES A SNAPSHOT OF WAYS THAT BUFFERING COULD BE DONE.

GREEN SPACE ALONG THE ROADS, VARIOUS CONNECTION POINTS AND ADDRESSES SOME OF THOSE OVERALL SITE PLAN PIECES.

STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS REZONING REQUEST, AND NEXT STEPS WOULD BE SECOND AND POSSIBLE THIRD READING AUGUST 8TH, AND THEN WITH THAT, TURN IT BACK TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

[00:55:02]

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? JUST MAKE SURE YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR US.

ALLIANT ENERGY.

OH, HE MENTIONED THE SIGNS AND I DID BRING THE PHOTOS.

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE THEM, I'M HAPPY TO PASS THEM AROUND.

THE PHOTOS THAT WE HAD TAKEN OF THE SIGNS THAT WERE PUT UP AND THEY WERE DESTROYED BY THE STORM, BUT WE DID HAVE FOUR AND WE ALSO HAD A MAP OF THE LOCATIONS THAT THOSE SIGNS WERE POSTED. DOES ANYBODY WANT ME TO PASS THIS AROUND? THANK YOU. SO ALLIANT'S BEING PRETTY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE TYPE OF BUYER THAT WE WANT FOR THIS PROPERTY, AND A FEW YEARS AGO, SOME FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED WHEN IT WAS ZONED AGRICULTURAL IS THAT THERE WAS CONCERN THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET A REZONING FAST ENOUGH.

SO IF WE WOULD REZONE IT AHEAD OF TIME, THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

SO WE REQUESTED THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND THEN WE STARTED RECEIVING SOME FEEDBACK, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE APPROPRIATE ZONING FOR THE TYPE OF BUYER THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WE OBVIOUSLY WANT SOMETHING THAT WOULD FIT IN AND BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE AREA, BUT WE ALSO WANT A HEAVY ENERGY USER.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR GOALS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE REQUESTING NOW TO CHANGE THE ZONE FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO GENERAL INDUSTRIAL.

I DON'T HAVE A BUYER RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFICS I COULD GIVE YOU RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHY GENERAL I HAVE SOME THINGS I COULD DISCUSS ABOUT WHY, BUT NOTHING SUPER SPECIFIC.

DO YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE? OKAY. SO I DID BREAK DOWN WHAT USES WOULD BE PERMITTED IN A GENERAL INDUSTRIAL THAT WOULD NOT BE IN A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL SO THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME IDEA, AND ONE OF THEM IS A SALVAGE YARD, OBVIOUSLY NOT THE KIND OF THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT SHOULDN'T BE A CONCERN , AND THERE WAS A RESOURCE EXTRACTION AND PREPARATION.

SO THERE'S QUARRY MINING, STORAGE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS.

ET CETERA. I THINK THE STORAGE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL FITS WITHIN THAT UMBRELLA, BUT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THIS NEXT BUYER MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT, AND THEN THERE'S THE INTENSIVE INDUSTRIAL, AND THIS WAS THIS IS THE.

MOST INTENSIVE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS LIME PAINT, COAL SLAUGHTER, OIL, REFINERY, NOISE AND ODOR.

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT TRYING TO RECRUIT ANY COMPANY LIKE THAT AND THAT IS A CONDITIONAL USE IN THAT ZONING DISTRICT.

SO IF FOR SOME REASON SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE A HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL, THEY WOULD BE COMING TO YOU FOR A CONDITIONAL USE AND YOU COULD APPROVE IT SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD APPLY TO THAT AREA, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DEAN SPINA.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH THE FIRM OF BRADLEY AND RILEY.

I KNOW MANY OF YOU AND MANY OF YOU HAVE KNOWN ME FOR THE 40 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN PRACTICE OF LAW IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

I USED TO THINK TO MYSELF THAT LIKE WILL ROGERS I NEVER MET AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR A ZONING MATTER THAT I DIDN'T LIKE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS ONE THAT I'D HAVE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME DEFECTS.

THE FIRST DEFECT OCCURRED WHEN THAT SIGN WAS ON EDGEWOOD ROAD BLEW DOWN.

NOW YOU CAN SAY IT WAS AN ACT OF GOD ON THE 26TH OF JUNE, BUT THAT WAS A LONG WAY TO THE JULY 6TH.

YOUR ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES.

THAT IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT.

TO MAKE SURE THE SIGNS ARE POSTED, AND TO FIX THEM IF THEY'RE NOT, AND THE ONLY EXCUSE THEY CAN HAVE IS WHEN THEY CAN SHOW THAT THEY WERE DILIGENT AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING BEYOND THEIR CONTROL THAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF THAT POSTING.

YOU CAN'T TELL ME. IT WAS DILIGENT TO LET TEN DAYS GO BY AND NOT HAVE A SIGN REPOSTED ON EDGEWOOD ROAD.

OUR CONCERN IS EDGEWOOD ROAD.

MY CLIENTS, KELLY HAUSER AND TIMOTHY HAUSER, LIVE AT 6262 71 EDGEWOOD ROAD, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PROPERTY THAT IS UNDER REZONING.

WE HAVE ASKED FOR A WE ASKED THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO STOP REQUIRE THE POSTING BE DONE ACCORDING TO YOUR ORDINANCE, AND THEY WENT AHEAD AND AND IGNORED THAT.

[01:00:01]

IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THE POSTING REQUIREMENT IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE IS SPECIFIC TO MEETINGS OR HEARINGS 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACTION BY THE DECISION MAKING BODY.

SO THERE'S BEEN NO POSTING AT ALL PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.

SECONDLY, WE THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME CONDITIONS.

THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL SHOULD BE MAINTAINED FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY OF EDGEWOOD ROAD.

I PROPOSE 500 FOOT DEPTH OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL.

THE EXTRA HEIGHT.

THE EXTRA BULK OF A GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND ONLY 35FT SETBACK FROM THE ROAD WILL IMPAIR OR IMPAIR MY CLIENT'S PROPERTY AND THEIR ENJOYMENT OF THEIR PROPERTY AND THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THEY RUN THERE.

TRAFFIC IS A MAJOR CONCERN.

THE SOUTHWEST INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC STUDY SHOWS THAT TWO PARCELS ALONG EDGEWOOD ROAD WILL GENERATE SOME TOTALING 6800 DAILY TRIPS.

IS THE ESTIMATE ALONG EDGEWOOD ROAD.

SO THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

THE ABILITY TO GET IN AND OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY IS DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW WITH THE HEAVY TRAFFIC THAT'S ALREADY ON EDGEWOOD ROAD.

THE SPEEDERS AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW.

SO WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU.

POSTPONE ANY ACTION THAT YOU FOLLOW YOUR ORDINANCE AND REQUIRE THEM TO BE TO POST SIGNS BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGAIN AND CERTAINLY POST SIGNS BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY ACTION ON A PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE YOUR ORDINANCE DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO JUST IGNORE THAT, AND JUST PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA ON YOUR WEBSITE DOES NOT SATISFY THAT ORDINANCE REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE ADOPTED, AND WE ASK THAT YOU HONOR THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH ONE OBJECTION FOR THE RECORD.

THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.

WELL THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AND I THINK IT'S ALL OWNED BY ALLIANT ENERGY AND THEY'VE OWNED IT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THEY JUST HADN'T COMPLETED THE REZONING AND THEY HAD BIG DREAMS OF WHAT WAS COMING AND IT DIDN'T ARRIVE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER REASONS AND AGAIN, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO REEMPHASIZE WHAT IS THERE MOST OF THE PROPERTIES ACROSS FROM HERE, EXCEPT FOR ONE, ARE BASICALLY HEAVY INDUSTRIAL FROM THE PAVING PLANT TO THE QUARRY AND WE HAVE ONE PROPERTY THAT'S SORT OF SITTING THERE ALL BY ITSELF THAT WAS IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, AND I KNOW THAT WHAT THAT MEANS, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO JUST REINFORCE WHETHER IT'S LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, THERE'S ALREADY A POWER STATION THERE, RAILROAD TRACKS, AND SO I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED NOW WITH OUR NEW ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE, WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THERE'S NO WAY AN INDUSTRIAL SITE IS GOING TO HAVE 100.

TRIPS A DAY, IT'S GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THAT.

THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO EDGEWOOD ROAD AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.

NOW, AS WE ABUT TO THIS, THERE'S THE PROPERTY THAT'S IN FAIRFAX AND THEY'VE NOW GOT TWO DEVELOPMENTS GOING THERE.

IS THAT A SIMILAR ZONE, DO YOU KNOW? I MEAN, WHERE [INAUDIBLE] IS AND THAT RECYCLING WINDMILL RECYCLING COMPLEX THAT'S BEING BUILT IN FAIRFAX, OR IS THEIR ZONING SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY'RE REQUESTING? I'M UNSURE OF WHAT FAIRFAX ZONING IS WITH THAT.

YEAH. OKAY.

WELL, IT BUTTS TOGETHER. I WOULD ASSUME THAT FACILITY IS GOING TO HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THESE ROADS AND DESIGN AS WELL AS A PART OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET TO, YOU HAVE TO RUN DOWN THIS ROAD.

SO I THINK I THINK THE POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN.

I'M NOT A AND A SITE THIS SIZE, HAVING ONE, THAT LITTLE FREAKING SIGN ISN'T GOING TO SHOW MUCH THERE, WHETHER IT'S BLOWN OVER OR NOT AND THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE INDUSTRIAL.

IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENERAL INDUSTRIAL AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, AND SO THE DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OF SOME KIND, AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ALLOWS HEAVY TRAFFIC PROJECTS.

GENERAL INDUSTRIAL EXPANDS THE BASE, AND AGAIN, THE WORLD IS DIFFERENT TODAY.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT, AND I THINK ALLIANT HAS FOUND THAT OUT THAT BIG CEDAR IS THOUGHT WOULD BE THE LARGEST ONE IN THE STATE OF IOWA, WHICH IT IS, AND THAT WE'D

[01:05:05]

IT'S A HEAVY TRAFFIC AREA.

IT'S GOT TWO OTHER PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT THERE.

THE TIRE PLACE, IT'S GOT THE RECYCLING PLACE.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS ROAD IS GOING TO GET BUSIER AND BUSIER WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION GOING.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BE SENSITIVE TO OUR THE NEIGHBORS, BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE READY TO GO IF A BIG PROJECT COMES ALONG THAT DRAWS A LOT OF ELECTRICITY, AND SO AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND DEAN'S PRESENTATION WHETHER THE SIGN'S UP OR NOT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY OPINION NECESSARILY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN POSTED AND THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REZONED INDUSTRIAL.

SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE POINTS THEY BROUGHT UP ABOUT WHAT DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT AREA AND AND BE READY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AS THEY BECOME A NICE NEIGHBOR, WHICH I'M SURE THEY ARE; ALLIANT'S, GOOD TO WORK WITH, NICE NEIGHBORS, AND SO WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT INDUSTRIAL IS GOING TO BE INDUSTRIAL, AND THIS IS WHAT THAT SITE WAS DESIGNED FOR AND WILL PROBABLY BECOME IN THE LONG RANGE, AND SO THAT'S MY THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A QUESTION KIND OF ABOUT THE PROCESS.

GOING FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES RAISED WITH THE PROCESS TO THIS POINT, AND DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT IT UPON RECEIPT OF THE LETTER THAT WE ALL GOT, AND SHE FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCESS, BUT THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST COUPLE THAT WE SAW IN THAT THERE ISN'T A SITE PLAN, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE'RE NOT REZONING FOR A PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT OR SITE.

ASSUMING A REZONING GOES THROUGH OR REALLY EVEN IF IT DOESN'T, HOW DOES THE SITE APPROVAL PROCESS GO? ASSUMING ALLIANT GETS A BUYER, AND THEY WANT TO MOVE IN.

LIKE, HOW DOES THAT GO? DOES ANY OF THAT PROCESS COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL? I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC STUDY.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

YOU KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO FIT IN WITH THE NEIGHBORS.

I MEAN, IT'S ONE THING TO KIND OF SAY IT'S ALL GOING TO GET DONE.

IT'S ANOTHER THING FOR US TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT AGAIN AND HAVE ANY INPUT IN THAT PROCESS AND WHETHER OR NOT THE PUBLIC AND POTENTIAL NEIGHBORS WOULD. SO CAN YOU LET ME KNOW KIND OF HOW THAT WOULD GO? YEAH, SOME OF IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON WHAT TYPE OF USE IS PROPOSED.

IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT TRIGGERS A CONDITIONAL USE UNDER THE ZONE, THEN IT WILL GO TO BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FOR REVIEW, AND IT WILL REQUIRE THAT PUBLIC NOTICING PERIOD GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE STEPS, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ALLOWED BY RIGHT IN THAT ZONE, THEN WE'LL BE NAVIGATING JUST THROUGH THE ADMIN SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.

IT WILL BE MULTIPLE LOOKS AND ITERATIONS OF THE PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MEETING THE FULL STRENGTH OF THE ZONING CODE PLUS ANY TRAFFIC IMPACTS RIGHT AWAY.

ALL OF THOSE OTHER PIECES THAT COME INTO PLAY AS PART OF THAT REVIEW STORMWATER FLOODPLAIN, ALL OF THOSE WILL BE BUNDLED IN THROUGH THAT ADMIN SITE PLAN PROCESS, BUT THAT ALONE WON'T COME BACK BEFORE COUNCIL OR GO BEFORE A BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

SO THE USE TABLE THAT WAS REFERENCED BY HEATHER, IT SPELLS OUT WHAT TYPES OF USES WOULD TRIGGER THAT CONDITIONAL USE.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF OUR GUIDEPOST OF WHETHER IT'S GOING TO TRIGGER ANOTHER PUBLIC PROCESS.

OKAY. SO YOU ALL GO THROUGH AND MAKE SURE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT CRITERIA ARE MET GROUNDWATER ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, STORMWATER THAT'S BUT THAT'S A PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE, BASICALLY PROCESS AFTER THAT.

REZONE YEAH, IT'S A MULTI-TEAM PART.

WE'RE DRAWING ON PEOPLE FROM MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT PIECES ARE BEING MET AND CROSSED OFF PROPERLY, WHETHER IT'S FROM TRAFFIC TEAM IN RIGHT OF WAY OR RIGHT OF WAYS.

TEAM TRAFFIC TEAM OUR INTERNAL PLANS EXAMINERS REVIEWS THE ZONING TEAM.

SO IT'S A FAIRLY DETAILED PROCESS INVOLVING MULTIPLE PLAYERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CHECKING ALL THE PROPER CODE PIECES OFF AS WELL, BUT AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC PROCESS, ZONING WILL BE MAKING SURE WHETHER OR NOT IT TRIGGERS A CONDITIONAL USE OR TRIGGERS DESIGN EXCEPTION OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT THAT WOULD PULL BEFORE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CALEB MASON. CALEB I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

YEAH. CALEB MASON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.

ONE THING I WOULD POINT OUT, ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES CITY INCENTIVES, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REVIEWING SITE PLANS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

[01:10:08]

ANYONE ELSE. COUNCILMAN OLSON RAISES THE POINT THAT IRONICALLY, THE TWO PRIOR ONES, WE HAD A SEMBLANCE OF A SITE PLAN, OR WE COULD AT LEAST MAKE OUT AN IDEA OF WHAT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR TRANSPIRE DOWN THE ROAD.

IN THIS CASE, SOME OF THOSE.

APPROVED USES.

I'M NOT HUGE FANS OF, AND SO IN TERMS OF A CLAWBACK, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ONLY THING WE'VE GOT IS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, BUT EVEN IN THAT DO YOU IT WOULD BE STAFF INTERNALLY THAT REVIEWS OF BUILDING A SITE PLAN, IS THAT RIGHT? YES, FOR THE MOST PART.

SO IT'S THE MOST PART.

ONCE AGAIN, IF SOMETHING TRIGGERS A CONDITIONAL USE OR SOME HIGHER LEVEL REVIEW THAT'S NOT ADMINISTRATIVE, IT'LL COME BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE AGAIN.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.

YEAH, DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE A SITE PLAN? I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD ADD THAT TO THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE SEE IT, WHETHER THEY GET INCENTIVES OR NOT.

YEAH. SO RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT THE ZONING CODE WORKS IS ALL OF THOSE SITE CRITERIA ARE EMBODIED IN THE ZONING CODE.

SO THOSE DON'T COME BACK.

SO SITE PLANS ARE NOT REVIEWED BY CITY COUNCIL AT THIS POINT, BUT CAN WE ASK TO HAVE THIS SPECIFIC SITE BECAUSE OF THE SCOPE AND THE SCALE OF THESE TO SEE IT AS A CONDITION? YES.

WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ON.

THAT'S JUST A QUESTION, JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT IS THIS ANYTHING MAJOR THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THERE IS GOING TO BE BIG TIME.

RIGHT, AND YOU PUT THE YOU KNOW, THE AND I SUPPORT WHAT THEY'RE DOING OUT THERE.

IT'S GREAT WE NEED YOU KNOW IT'S POWER WE WANT ALLIANT ENERGY SO MY RATES GO DOWN WHEN THE BIG INDUSTRY COMES AND PAYS FOR ALL THE POWER.

RIGHT, AND SO I THINK THAT WE TRY AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY IN THE AREA AND THIS BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BIG PROJECT AND IT'S IMPACTING AG PROPERTY, IT'S IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR FOCUS.

IT'S THE MAJOR ROAD TO THE AIRPORT A LOT OF TIMES, AND SO HOW THIS LOOKS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AND THAT WE HAVE GOOD TRAFFIC, AND SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING AS BIG AS THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD SEE AGAIN, POTENTIALLY AS A SITE PLAN, IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO AS A CONDITION, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ITEMS ARE ADDRESSED. COUNCIL I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO POSTPONE SECOND? WELL, BEFORE YOU DO THAT, MAYOR, I GUESS I'D LIKE TO.

I MEAN, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND, SO MAYBE THIS IS OR I GUESS THERE'S BEEN A MOTION MAYBE.

I DON'T KNOW. ANYWAY, WHEREVER WE'RE AT IN THE DISCUSSION.

I MEAN, I GUESS I THINK, AND THIS IS KIND OF A BROADER ISSUE OF KIND OF HOW WE APPROACH REZONING.

WE REALLY HAVE TWO SEPARATE STEPS IN A PROCESS.

WE HAVE A REZONING AND THEN WE HAVE A SITE DISCUSSION, AND IN SOME CASES IT COMES TO US TOGETHER, LIKE WE HAD TWO PREVIOUS, RIGHT, WHERE WE HAVE BASICALLY IT'S REZONE FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT.

IN THIS CASE, WE DON'T HAVE IT THAT WAY.

RIGHT? IT'S JUST A REZONING.

WE'RE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO ALLOW EXPANDED USES ON THIS PARTICULAR SITE.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT.

I MEAN, THE WHOLE REASON THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE REZONED IS TO GIVE SOME CERTAINTY TO A POTENTIAL BUYER.

RIGHT? I MEAN, THE OWNER IS BASICALLY THE DEVELOPER HAS COME AND SAID WE WANT THE SITE TO BE SHOVEL READY.

IT NEEDS TO BE YOU KNOW, WE WANT A POTENTIAL BUYER TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND BE CERTAIN THAT THEIR USE IS GOING TO BE ALLOWED AND TO GET THIS DONE AND THE MORE CONDITIONS WE PUT ON IT, THE MORE REVIEWS WE PUT ON IT, THE TOUGHER IT IS TO GET THAT DONE, AND HONESTLY, IN THIS, IT'S COMPETITIVE, RIGHT? I MEAN, THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES ARE COMPETITIVE, AND SO.

I MEAN, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE REZONING.

I THINK WE SHOULD IN MY OPINION, I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT.

I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT AS CLEANLY AS POSSIBLE.

AGAIN, IF WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE DIFFERENT THINGS, IT JUST KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE, I THINK, OF HAVING A SHOVEL READY SITE AND BEING ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY IN ORDER TO CAPITALIZE ON THESE OPPORTUNITIES, AND I THINK OVERALL, TOO, WE WANT TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL IN OUR KIND OF REZONE VERSUS SITE PLAN PROCESS WHERE THE REZONE IS REALLY JUST

[01:15:10]

I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE RESOLUTION, I GUESS, OR I DON'T.

YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHERE WE'RE AT PROCESS WISE.

WELL, WE DID. I HAD A MOTION TO POSTPONE, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY HAD A SECOND, AND LET ME JUST EXPLAIN.

I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

MY BIGGER CONCERN WAS THE NOTIFICATION, AND TO YOUR POINT, I GET THAT IT'S A BIG SPACE.

I THINK IF WE AREN'T UNDER THIS IS ALL IN ANTICIPATION OF SOMETHING HAPPENING.

IT IS I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE TIME AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT SUGGESTING THAT THIS IS A LONG, DRAWN OUT AFFAIR.

I'M HOPING WE CAN HAVE SOME CLEAR ANSWERS AND MAKE THIS A MUCH EASIER DECISION TO MAKE EVEN BY NEXT COUNCIL.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE THIS WOULD TAKE LONG.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES THAT WE'VE REALLY HAD TO ADDRESS SUCH SPECIFICS ABOUT THIS.

AS YOU SAID, VERY PIVOTABLE, VERY, VERY PIVOTAL, IMPORTANT PROJECT, AND IT MERITS, I THINK IF WE HAVE ENOUGH QUESTIONS HERE, I THINK IT MERITS THAT LITTLE EXTRA BIT OF TIME THAT WE MAY NEED TO TAKE, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT NOTIFICATION OR EVEN WHAT, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO THERE AND MAKING SURE THE COUNCIL IS OKAY PUTTING THEIR NAMES BEHIND THAT SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO.

NO. SO THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.

SCOTT OVERLAND. COUNCIL MEMBER PATRICK LOEFFLER AND TYLER.

SORRY. TYLER OLSON, AND THE MOTION.

PASSES. ALL RIGHT.

THE MOTION TO DELAY, I SHOULD SAY.

OKAY. ITEM NUMBER FIVE, A PUBLIC HEARING NOW HELD TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS SPECIFICATIONS FORM OF CONTRACT ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE EIGHTH AVENUE SOUTHEAST AND MOUNT

[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 8th Avenue SE and Mt. Vernon Road from 8th Street SE to 14th Street Reconstruction project (estimated cost is $9,900,000) (Tim Mroch). CIP/DID #301956-02 ]

TIM MROCH IS HERE. TIM, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. TIM MROCH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS PROJECT IS A LONG TIME COMING.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ONE.

THE INTERSECTION OF 10TH STREET, MOUNT VERNON ROAD AND EIGHTH AVENUE.

PROJECT WILL RECONSTRUCT THE ROADWAYS, AS YOU SEE IN RED ON THE MAP INCLUDES A NEW ROUNDABOUT AT THAT INTERSECTION, STORM, SEWER, SIDEWALKS AND ALSO REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS.

THE PROJECT'S BEEN COMPLETED IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE MEDICAL DISTRICT, WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING MERCY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. A HIGH LEVEL OF STREETSCAPING IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE ALONG 10TH STREET AND 8TH AVENUE.

IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE CORRIDOR TODAY, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT MOUNT VERNON ROAD IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH TO MAKE SURE THAT BETWEEN WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT THIS PROJECT WILL DO WILL BE SEAMLESS.

ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST FOR THE PROJECT IS $9.9 MILLION.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES HERE.

WE'VE GOT TIF, THERE'S A SAFETY GRANT FROM THE DOT.

WE'VE GOT MED QUARTER FUNDING, STORM SEWER FUNDS, SANITARY SEWER FUNDS AND WATER FUNDING.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDES FUNDS SHOWN IN THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THIS BUDGET WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL DURING THE 2024 BUDGET CYCLE.

THE BID LETTING FOR THIS IS AUGUST 2ND AND CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO START THIS FALL WITH COMPLETION IN 2025.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM A CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TIM.

THIS IS THE TIME AND A PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? DOROTHY D'SOUZA GEDDES REPRESENTING OAKHILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

YOU MENTIONED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE MED Q, BUT WHAT YOU DIDN'T MENTION WERE THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT , AND MOVING FORWARD, WE'LL BE TRYING TO CROSS THAT STREET OR RIDE ON THAT STREET WITH THEIR BICYCLES.

[01:20:04]

THERE SHOULD BE AS MUCH EFFORT AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE THERE AS A SCHOOL, WHICH, OF COURSE I'M ALL FOR MAKING SURE THE SCHOOL IS SAFE OR A BUSINESS OR NONPROFIT DISTRICT.

THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS REROUTING TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVER CHANGING WAYS.

IT'S KIND OF A GAME.

HOW DO WE GET THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY? THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT A LOT WORSE.

WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING ARE CLEARLY MARKED FLASHING STOP SIGNS AND TEMPORARY LOCATIONS, JUST THE CONSIDERATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD WHO DON'T WHO USUALLY GO STRAIGHT DOWN THE STREET, AND THEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRYING TO DODGE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE THEIR WAY OUT, PLEASE, LET'S HAVE SOME MORE CONSIDERATION FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE IN THE PLANNING OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND THE ONGOING COMMUNICATION OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND THE RESULTING CHAOS FROM A COMMUNICATION FROM A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

IT HAS BEEN SUCH A HASSLE, I HEAR ALMOST WEEKLY FROM PEOPLE SAYING THIS HAPPENED AT MY INTERSECTION AND THAT INTERSECTION.

WE ASKED FOR HELP AND JUST BETTER SIGNAGE, FLASHING STOPLIGHTS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE BLOWING THROUGH STOP SIGNS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AS THEY'RE NAVIGATING THROUGH THAT, AND WITH THE OPENING OF THE HEART CENTER THERE, THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

IT'S JUST A CONSIDERATION, AND ALSO, THAT WHOLE PLAN SEEMS TO ME TO BE CREATING A MINI HIGHWAY, MOVING TRAFFIC THROUGH THE CITY RATHER THAN CONSIDERING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW DO WE SAFELY CROSS THE STREET, WHETHER IT BE IN OUR VEHICLE FROM ONE RESIDENTIAL SIDE TO ANOTHER OR FROM ONE RESIDENTIAL SIDE TO A BUSINESS OR ON FOOT.

SO. I OBJECT TO THE RESONANCE NOT EVEN BEING CONSIDERED IN THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.

IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS ARE NOT JUST WHATEVER THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT IS TO SEND A LETTER FIVE YEARS AGO OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND HAVE SOME KIND OF MEETING, BUT ALSO COMMUNICATION FROM CITY STAFF THAT'S ONGOING.

IT'S JUST A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT, AND THE NEIGHBORS, PARTICULARLY ON THAT SIDE OF OAKHILL JACKSON, WHICH IS WHERE OUR MOST OF OUR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE, ARE NOT REALLY HAPPY WITH THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND THE LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR OUR SAFETY.

SO. MOVING FORWARD PLEASE BE MORE CONSIDERATE.

IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF CHAOS THIS WOULD CREATE WHERE YOU LIVE.

IF YOUR STREETS WERE CONSTANTLY BEING CLOSED, OPEN, REROUTED, AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH YOUR STREETS AND OURS ARE PRETTY NARROW FOR THE MOST PART, WE CAN'T EVEN GET A STOP SIGN THAT'S REQUESTED ON SEVENTH STREET AND 10TH AVENUE THAT'S NEEDED.

WE'RE JUST TOLD NO.

WE SAT THERE ONCE AND WE SAID, NO, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR US.

WE WANT THESE REROUTED TRAFFIC TO BE WE WANT PEOPLE TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, WHEN THEY NEED TO STOP AND WHEN THEY NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR PEDESTRIANS, PLEASE.

AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M A LITTLE BIT PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO CROSS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S A CONSIDERATION.

SO PLEASE COMMUNICATE BETTER WITH NEIGHBORS, NOT JUST BUSINESSES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH ONE OBJECTION FOR THE RECORD.

THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL FOR COMMENTS CONSIDERATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER LOEFFLER.

YEAH SO RIGHT THERE, THAT'S A PRETTY BUSY INTERSECTION.

HOW ARE PEOPLE GOING TO CROSS THE STREET? IS THERE GOING TO BE ELEVATED CROSSWALKS? I HAVEN'T SEEN THE PLANS FOR THIS PERSONALLY.

NO, THE INTERSECTION WILL BE A ROUNDABOUT AND SO THE SPEEDS WILL BE A LOT LOWER.

AT EACH CROSSING THERE WILL BE A FLASHING BEACON FOR EACH LEG OF IT THAT WILL BE CROSSED.

I HEAR FROM OUR WEST SIDERS ABOUT SOME OF THE ROUNDABOUTS THERE, AND I LIVE BY SOME OF THEM, AND I SEE I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A BUNCH OF ACCIDENTS.

THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON JOHNSON AVENUE WHERE I GO GET MY MEDICATION OUT THERE AND ON WILEY BOULEVARD.

[01:25:01]

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF A ROTATION THIS IS GOING TO BE AT THAT HIGHLY.

I MEAN, THAT'S AN INTERSECTION THAT'S GOING THREE WAYS THAT ARE THAT'S PROMINENT TRAFFIC.

ALL THREE WAYS COMING IN RIGHT THERE.

I DON'T I DON'T LIKE THIS ROUNDABOUT AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE NEED I FEEL WE NEED A MORE OF A CONTROLLED.

INTERSECTION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING HURT AND DYING, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN CAR ACCIDENTS MYSELF.

SO THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY YEAH SO WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL WITH THE PROJECT LIKE THIS IS TO SHOW SOME OF THE GREAT VISUALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS SPECIFICALLY, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE ONES THAT WE HAVE PUT IN DISTRICT FIVE WERE PUT IN AS TRAFFIC CONTROLS TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC THAT WERE CAUSING A LOT OF ACCIDENTS.

THERE ARE NOT ACCIDENTS LIKE THERE WERE BEFORE.

THEY ACTUALLY ARE A DETERRENT FROM THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO JUST CLARIFY THAT PART.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS AREA COUNCIL MEMBER LOEFFLER IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT JUST FROM EVERY SINGLE DIRECTION THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF TRAFFIC, BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT TRAFFIC CONTROLS LIKE ROUNDABOUTS IS THAT THEY REALLY SLOW IT DOWN.

NOW, MY BIGGEST CONCERN WOULD BE HOW FAR TRAFFIC GETS BACKED UP, BUT THAT ROUNDABOUT WILL SLOW IT DOWN.

I'M JUST THINKING BACKING UP BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WILL BE SLOWER YOU DO HAVE SOME REALLY NICE CROSSWALKS THERE ON 10TH THAT ARE VERY NICE.

THE CITY'S DONE A NICE JOB OF THE FLASHING LIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE NEED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THOSE ALONG EIGHTH ALONG MOUNT VERNON ROAD.

THEY WORK REALLY WELL ON 10TH, BUT I THINK WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, JUST TO BETTER EXPLAIN THIS, THE NEXT TIME THAT WE SEE IT IS SHOWING SOME OF THOSE AERIALS BECAUSE WE'VE PUT IN A LOT OF ROUNDABOUTS SPECIFICALLY AROUND WHERE SCHOOLS ARE AND PARTICULARLY AROUND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT HAVING A PEDESTRIAN KIND OF ISLAND WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO INTO THE MIDDLE OF AND THEN THEY CAN CROSS SAFELY.

SO IT AVOIDS EXACTLY WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER LOEFFLER WAS FEARFUL OF.

SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE PRETTY CLEAR ON THIS.

MOUNT VERNON ROAD IS A MAJOR ARTERY INTO THE HEART OF THE CITY.

IT'S NOT 1960 AND KIDS AREN'T GOING TO MCKINLEY SCHOOL CROSSING THAT STREET.

IT IS A ESPECIALLY WHEN THIRD AVENUE IS CLOSED OFF TO PCI.

IT GETS A LOT OF TRAFFIC, AND YOU ADD TO THAT THE ADDITION OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS UP AND DOWN FIRST AVENUE, EIGHTH AVENUE, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE SINCE THE FLOOD OF 2008.

THE CITY IS IT HAS BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR TEN YEARS, AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE, AND WITH THAT COMES SOME HEARTACHE.

I CROSS AT THE STOPLIGHT.

OKAY, AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYBODY EVER CROSS EIGHTH AVENUE AT THAT LOCATION, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THINGS TO IMPROVE IT AND SLOW THINGS DOWN, LIKE YOU SAID, BUT AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING YOU'VE GOT 10,000, 20,000 PEOPLE COMING DOWN HERE AND GOING THE OTHER WAY, AND THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO CONTINUE AS WE GROW, AND SO IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS IT WILL WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, IT'S GOING TO CLEAN THINGS UP SO MUCH DOWN THERE, AND I HOPE I'M STILL ALIVE WHEN MOUNT VERNON ROAD CONSTRUCTION IS FINALLY COMPLETED BUT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT FOR EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? I TEND TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY AND COUNCIL MEMBER TODD'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE ROUNDABOUT.

I ALSO HEAR MS. D'SOUZA GEDDES ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION, AND IT IS REALLY TRICKY, AND THAT'S A GOOD WORD.

I MEAN, THAT'S A KIND WORD TO USE FOR THAT.

SO I HEAR YOU LOUDLY AND CLEARLY ON THAT, AND I'M JUST GOING TO ENCOURAGE CITY STAFF TO BE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS, AND I KNOW YOU ARE BE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT LISTENING TO SOME OF THE THOSE HIGH AREAS, THOSE AREAS OF CONCERN.

WE JUST HEARD FROM A COUPLE FROM MS. DE SOUSA GEDDES AND BE OPEN TO WAYS TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT GETTING AROUND BECAUSE IT IS TRICKY.

WE WANT GROWTH, BUT WE DON'T WANT GROWTH AT ALL COSTS, AND CERTAINLY PUBLIC SAFETY IS OF PRIMARY CONCERN.

SO ALL THOSE COMMENTS VERY WELL RECEIVED.

MAYOR, MAY I ADD SOMETHING? YES. AS AN EXAMPLE, THE CONSTRUCTION ON FIRST AVENUE HAS CHANGED THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THEY'VE DONE A FABULOUS JOB MARKING AND THE MARKINGS I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S A DIFFERENT CONTRACTOR OR WHATEVER, BUT THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB ON MARKING THE CHANGES AND THEY'RE ON THEIR FOURTH PHASE AND PEOPLE HAVE ADAPTED AND FIRST AVENUE IS BUSIER THAN WHAT THIS STREET IS AND PEOPLE HAVE SURVIVED.

[01:30:07]

OKAY, SO NOW WE HAVE PAVING FOR PROGRESS AND NOW IT'S THE REVERSE.

NOBODY WANTS TO CONSTRUCTION.

WELL, A STREET LIKE THIS.

IT'S BUSY. WE HAVE TO KEEP IT OPEN.

THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.

THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER, UNFORTUNATELY, THAN THE OTHER PART, BUT I JUST WANT TO I AGREE TOTALLY WITH THE SIGNAGE ISSUES AND ALL OF THAT.

WHOEVER THAT CONTRACTOR WAS HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB SIGNING ALERTS, FLASHING SIGNS, THINGS DOWN, AND I THINK THAT COULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE COULD MAYBE HANDLE THIS CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR A YEAR OR YEAR AND A HALF.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY VANORNY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND ONE NO.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 6, A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL

[6. A public hearing will be held consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Water Pollution Control Facility – DAFT Improvements project (estimated cost is $5,650,000 for the base bid) (Dave Wallace). CIP/DID #6150062-02 ]

DAVE WALLACE IS HERE. DAVE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON.

CITY COUNCIL DAVE WALLACE WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

THE DISSOLVED AIR FLOTATION THICKENING BASINS LOCATED AT WPC AND CIRCLED HERE IN RED IN THE AERIAL IMAGE WERE CONSTRUCTED IN 1978. THEY OPERATE IN ATMOSPHERES WITH VERY HIGH LEVELS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS, WHICH IS VERY CORROSIVE TO CONCRETE AND METAL SURFACES. SO THIS PROJECT INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT AND BASINS A AND B REPLACEMENT OF BASIN WALKWAYS AND CONCRETE REPAIRS TO ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES AND WET WELLS.

BASIN C HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR MANY YEARS, SO THIS PROJECT INCLUDES BID ALTERNATES FOR THE PARTIAL AND COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THAT BASIN.

THE ENGINEERS' COST OPINION FOR THE BASE BID IS 5,650,000.

THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST FOR ALTERNATE ONE, WHICH IS PARTIAL REMOVAL OF BASIN C IS 200,000 AND THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST FOR ALTERNATE TWO, WHICH WOULD COMPLETE THE REMOVAL OF BASIN C IS $510,000.

BIDS WILL BE OPENED ON AUGUST 9TH, WITH CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS SEPTEMBER AND CONTINUE UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2024.

THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROJECT.

WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, DAVE. THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

[7. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Linn County Edge of Field projects (estimated cost is $450,000) (Mary Beth Stevenson). CIP/DID #PUR0623-348 ]

MARY BETH STEVENSON IS HERE.

MARY BETH, I RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON.

COUNCIL MEMBERS MARY BETH STEVENSON, WATERSHEDS AND SOURCE WATER PROGRAM MANAGER WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

THE LINN COUNTY EDGEFIELD WATER QUALITY PROJECT IS PART OF A PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE CEDAR RIVER SOURCE WATER PARTNERSHIP, LED BY THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN AWARDED A COMBINED $15 MILLION FROM THE USDA'S NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE AND THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, WE WERE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP TEAMING UP WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP AND SIX SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS TO BUILD WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PRACTICES ON FARMLAND UPSTREAM OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

A 28E AGREEMENT WITH THE PARTNERS WAS AUTHORIZED BY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 8TH, 2022.

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REDUCE NITRATE LOADING TO THE CEDAR RIVER, HELPING THE STATE MEET NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY GOALS.

THIS PROJECT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS BECAUSE THESE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PRACTICES SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE NITRATE POLLUTION FROM TILE DRAINS.

OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT HELPS US TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF OUR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY.

THIS WATER QUALITY PROJECT UTILIZES A BATCH AND BUILD APPROACH WHICH STREAMLINES THE PROCESS FOR PROJECT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, ALLOWING FOR A GREATER NUMBER OF PROJECTS TO BE BUILT AT ONE TIME INSTEAD OF WORKING ON ONE FARM FIELD AT A TIME.

THIS PROJECT GROUPS PROJECTS TOGETHER AND CONDUCTS ALL THE OUTREACH, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION IN ONE BATCH.

[01:35:02]

IDALS PAYS 100% OF THE COSTS FOR DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND THE EASEMENT PAYMENTS TO LANDOWNERS.

LOCAL CONSERVATION STAFF PROVIDE THE OUTREACH TO LANDOWNERS AND CONDUCTS THE INITIAL SITE SURVEYS, AND CEDAR RAPIDS IS HANDLING ALL OF THE PROJECT ADMINISTRATION, SUCH AS PREPARING AGREEMENTS, PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT.

SHOWN ON THIS MAP IS THE OVERALL PROJECT AREA SPANNING PORTIONS OF THE MIDDLE AND LOWER CEDAR WATERSHEDS.

LINN COUNTY IS THE FIRST BATCH OF THE PROJECT.

ADDITIONAL BATCHES WILL FOLLOW IN GRUNDY, BLACKHAWK, BENTON, TAMA AND BUCHANAN COUNTIES.

THE LINN COUNTY EDGEFIELD WATER QUALITY PROJECT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF PARTNERS, IDALS AND THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS ARE THE PROJECT LEADS.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE ADDITIONAL PARTNERS THAT HAVE ALSO PLAYED A ROLE.

WE WILL BE INSTALLING TWO TYPES OF WATER QUALITY PRACTICES: BIOREACTORS AND SATURATED BUFFERS.

DENITRIFYING BIOREACTORS AND SATURATED BUFFERS ARE DESIGNED TO REMOVE THE NITRATE FROM DRAINAGE TILES UNDERLYING CROP FIELDS BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL MICROBIAL ACTIVITY. THESE ARE REFERRED TO AS EDGEFIELD PRACTICES BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE FIELD.

THEY DO NOT TAKE LAND OUT OF PRODUCTION BIOREACTORS AS SHOWN ON THE FIGURE TO THE LEFT ROUTE THE DRAINAGE WATER THROUGH AN UNDERGROUND WOODCHIP CHAMBER.

SATURATED BUFFERS AS SHOWN ON THE RIGHT ROUTE, THE DRAINAGE WATER UNDERGROUND THROUGH A STREAM BUFFER STRIP.

THE FARM FIELDS WHERE PRACTICES WILL BE BUILT ARE SHOWN IN THIS MAP, AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THIS PROJECT.

THE PROJECT WOULD CONSTRUCT 24 SATURATED BUFFERS AND 13 BIOREACTORS.

11 LANDOWNERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT.

ROUGHLY 1200 ACRES OF FARMLAND WILL BE IMPROVED AND AN AVERAGE 40 TO 50% NITRATE REDUCTION WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE TILE DRAINS THAT ARE TREATED BY THE PROJECT.

THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THIS PROJECT IS $450,000.

BIDS WILL BE OPENED ON JULY 26TH AND CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR BETWEEN AUGUST 2023 AND MARCH 2024.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, WATER POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, ADOPTING THE PLANS SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE LINN COUNTY EDGEFIELD PROJECT, AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, MAYOR.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, MARY BETH.

THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.

FOR THE RECORD, THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I THINK THIS IS A VERY EXCITING DEVELOPMENT TO HELP DEAL WITH OUR STORMWATER, I GUESS DIRTINESS WITH CHEMICALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT COST US ALL MONEY IN THE TREATMENT OF OUR DRINKING WATER.

THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, IS THERE ANY DOWNSIDE TO THE LANDOWNER TO PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM AT ALL? NO COST, ANY DOWNSIDE TO THEM? THERE IS NO COST TO THE LANDOWNER WHATSOEVER.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AG IS PAYING 100% OF THE COSTS, SO THERE ARE NO OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES , AND AS I MENTIONED, THE PROJECTS DO NOT TAKE LAND OUT OF PRODUCTION SO THE FARMERS CAN CONTINUE TO FARM RIGHT AROUND THE PRACTICES.

SO ESSENTIALLY IT'S JUST PROVIDING TREATMENT FOR THAT TILE DRAINAGE WATER WITH NO IMPACT TO THEIR OPERATIONS, AND PERHAPS AS WE KEEP GOING ON, THIS IS THERE CONTINUAL OUTREACH TO ADDITIONAL LANDOWNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND PERHAPS, AS MORE DO, OTHERS WILL FOLLOW ALONG BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU WANT TO GET THE MAJORITY OF THE LANDOWNERS THAT ARE WHERE RUNOFF IS ENDING UP ULTIMATELY IN THE WATERWAYS. SO IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN, TOO? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.

LIKE I SAID, LINN COUNTY WILL BE THE FIRST BATCH OF THE PROJECT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPANDING INTO THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, AND WE DO INTEND TO RETURN TO LINN COUNTY IN FUTURE YEARS.

IDALS HAS LET US KNOW THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO FUND PROJECTS AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE.

THEY'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE IN OUR AREA.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.

THANKS, MAYOR. SO I HAD THE BENEFIT OF GETTING TO TOUR THIS [INAUDIBLE] SITE WITH SECRETARY NAIG LAST YEAR, AND IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE THAT IT'S THERE, AND YET IT'S FUNCTIONING SEAMLESSLY UNDERGROUND, AND I THINK WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY REALLY IS THAT BECAUSE OF HIS TOUR AND HIS OUTREACH OF THIS, NOT ONLY IS THIS AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE, BUT THAT OPPORTUNITY WHERE HE WAS GOING OUT AND KIND OF PITCHING THIS, WHAT THIS WILL DO IS GENERATE MORE INTEREST, AND WE KNOW SPECIFICALLY, LIKE IN MY DISTRICT AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF CEDAR RAPIDS, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF AG THERE.

THERE ARE STILL SOME POCKETS THROUGHOUT CEDAR RAPIDS, BUT THE MORE THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND, THE MORE THAT WE CAN FIND THOSE PARTNERS TOO AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT AT NO COST

[01:40:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

ARE YOU THE MARY BETH STEVENSON FROM THE DNR? I DID WORK AT DNR FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.

GOOD, GOOD.

GOOD JOB. GOOD, GREAT PARTNERSHIP.

THERE ARE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THIS NATIONWIDE, AND SO I'M JUST INTERESTED AND YOU CAN DO THIS SEPARATE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS, CAN YOU SEND A NOTE ABOUT WHO'S DOING WHAT IN TERMS OF COSTS? I CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.

THANKS A LOT.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.

[PUBLIC COMMENT ]

A SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD COMES AT THE END OF THE MEETING FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK ON ISSUES GERMANE TO THE CITY, BUT NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE BEFORE AND AFTER EACH COUNCIL MEETING AT THIS TIME DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL THE MATTERS I ADDRESSED PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY APPLY TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AS WELL.

SO A REMINDER TO STAY AT THE LECTERN.

IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS TO SHARE, GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE AGAIN LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND ALL COMMENTS DURING THIS PORTION NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER YOU WISH TO ADDRESS.

NO ABUSIVE, PERSONAL OR RELEVANT COMMENTS WILL BE ALLOWED AND THERE SHOULD BE NO PARTICIPATION FROM THE AUDIENCE IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON TODAY AND I'M JUST GOING TO CALL IN ORDER AS I HAVE THEM ON MY LIST, AND THE FIRST IS ERIC GUTSCHMIDT.

HERE TO SPEAK ON GENERAL TOPIC, IT SAYS.

JUST REAL QUICK, I AM ON THE BOARD OF HORIZONS AND THEY DID SELL THAT PARKING LOT ON MOUNT VERNON ROAD TO THE DEVELOPER.

SO THAT IS SQUASHED.

YEAH. MY NAME IS ERIC GUTSCHMIDT.

I LIVE AT 1110 FIRST STREET SOUTHWEST, AND I'M THE SOLE OWNER OF GUTSCHMIDT PROPERTIES AND D TAGGART HOLDINGS.

THERE'S NO CONSPIRACIES THERE.

IT'S LITERALLY JUST TWO CORPORATIONS.

THAT'S ALL THAT IS.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 14 YEARS AND I NO LONGER SWING THE HAMMER DAY TO DAY.

I SPEND MY TIME ON THE BACK END BUILDING OUT SYSTEMS SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT AT WHAT WE DO IN WORKING ALONGSIDE THE CITY TOWARDS A SHARED VISION OF STRONGER, COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT I DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR APPEASING EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBOR EVERY SINGLE TIME, ALTHOUGH I WISH THAT THIS THAT WE COULD HAVE DISCUSSED THIS AS NEIGHBORS INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE MOST PUBLIC OF FORUMS. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE NOTES THAT MY NEIGHBOR GAVE AT PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

THE ONE THING I WILL SAY, THOUGH, IS THAT THIS MOST RECENT ATTACK OF MY TENANT IS SOMETHING THAT I DO WANT TO PUSH BACK ON A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY TENANT'S YARD.

SHE LIVES IN BETWEEN THE NEIGHBOR WHO EVERYONE GOT TO MEET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEN MYSELF.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS TYPE OF THIS IS THE TYPE OF TENANT THAT I WANT TO FOSTER.

SHE'S PUTTING DOWN ROOTS TO MAKE MY HOUSE HER HOME.

NEITHER MYSELF NOR THE CITY RENTAL INSPECTION STAFF SEES ANY ISSUE WITH THIS PROPERTY AS IT PASSED ITS RENTAL INSPECTION WITH FLYING COLORS THIS SPRING.

I'M PROUD TO BOTH LIVE NEXT DOOR TO AND RENT TO SOMEONE WHO REALLY FEELS LIKE A NEIGHBOR.

SHE'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR HOURS, EVERY SINGLE DAY, ALL YEAR, MAKING THE LAWN LOOK LIKE THIS.

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY A LABOR OF LOVE, AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M A BIG FAN OF BRIGHT, BOLD HOUSES, AND SO THIS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, DEFINITELY ALIGNS WITH OUR VISION ON THAT.

I THINK THAT DIVERSITY IS THE KEY TO STRONG, COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND I'M ENCOURAGING A CULTURE WHERE OUR GOAL IS TO GET OUR TENANTS TO STICK AROUND AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND DEFINITELY PLANTING THAT MANY FLOWERS ENCOURAGES SOMEONE TO STICK AROUND.

IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THIS, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MY TENANT SPOKE WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND OFFERED TO HAVE THEM COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THEIR ISSUES INSTEAD OF INSTEAD OF COMING HERE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS REBUFFED, AND THEN JUST IN CLOSING, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY LOVE A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE, AND SO I WOULD EXTEND AN INVITATION TO ANYONE PRESENT OR IN THE AUDIENCE IF THEY EVER WANT TO GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE.

I'M ALWAYS DOWN TO HAVE SOME COFFEE AND TALK.

THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

NEXT, DEB POWERS HERE TO SPEAK ON THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WE HAVE.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, I SHOULD SAY, WITH TREES FOREVER.

HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING US HERE TONIGHT.

I AM DEB POWERS.

[01:45:01]

I WAS JUST NAMED IN THAT POSITION YESTERDAY.

I HAVE WITH ME HERE TONIGHT.

FRIENDS OF OURS.

WE WORK WITH CAROL FROM THE CITY.

WE HAVE OUR FOUNDING OFFICER, SHANNON RAMSEY.

I ALSO HAVE OUR BOARD CHAIR AND I HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE RELIEF PROGRAM.

WE ARE HERE JUST TO ADDRESS YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AS YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS EVENING.

YOU HAVE WE HAVE HEARD IN THE AUDIENCE THE MANY TIMES THAT YOU ADDRESS LANDSCAPING AND TREES, THE MANY WAYS THAT TREES HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE HERE SINCE THE DERECHO.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THE DERECHO LED TO THE LOSS OF 669,000 TREES.

WE WILL NEVER IN MY LIFETIME BE ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE TREES, BUT WE HERE AT TREES FOREVER ARE COMMITTED TO WORK AS A SOUND AND SOLID PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS TO CONTINUE UNDER THIS MEMORANDUM TO DO THE SOUND WORK THAT WE DO.

IF YOU KNOW THE WORK WE DO.

YOU HAVE MENTIONED MANY OF OUR PARTNERS HERE TONIGHT, THE DNR, THE DOT.

WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK WITH THE DNR.

WE HAVE MANY CONTRACTS BRINGING MONEY INTO THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

WE ARE EXCITED TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND HOPE THAT YOU PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND WE CAN CONTINUE THE SOLID WORK WE'VE DONE.

I WILL BE WITH THE COMPANY BEHIND ME PRESENTING TO THE ROTARY IN THE COMING WEEK TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE THUS FAR.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? THANK YOU, DEB.

THANK YOU. KELLY [INAUDIBLE] HAUSER.

OH, THAT'S RIGHT. SHE SPOKE ON THAT.

DOROTHY D'SOUZA GEDDES ON NEWBO LOFTS.

WAS THIS AN ITEM FROM THE AGENDA TODAY? IT'S OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] OKAY.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DOROTHY D'SOUZA GEDDES, AND I REPRESENT OAKHILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I'M UP HERE A LOT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, NEWBO LOFTS' WATCH GROUP ARE AN EXAMPLE OF DEVELOPERS WHO DID REACH OUT TO US AND PRESENT TO US AND LET US KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THEIR SPACE AND ALSO WITH THEIR SINCLAIR ON 16TH, WHICH IS FURTHER DOWN ON THE AGENDA.

MY ONLY COMMENT WITH THIS IS I DON'T KNOW FROM THE PLANS THAT I'VE SEEN AND FROM GOING BY THERE.

IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS SINCE I'VE WALKED IN FRONT OF NEWBO LOFTS WHEN THERE IS DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS THAT WEREN'T PREVIOUSLY RESIDENTIAL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE WALKING DOWN 16TH, WHICH I KNOW SOME OF YOU DO REGULARLY BEHIND GEONETRIC THERE, THERE ARE THERE.

IT'S JUST WEIRD. IT'S SIDEWALK GRASS, PAVEMENT.

YOU CAN'T WALK ON THE SIDE THAT'S NOT BEING DEVELOPED AND STAY ON A SIDEWALK.

THAT'S A CONSIDERATION FOR PEDESTRIANS, MOMS PUSHING STROLLERS AND PEOPLE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET WHERE THE NEWBO LOFTS ARE.

I'M NOT CLEAR IF THERE WILL BE A SIDEWALK THERE, BUT I CERTAINLY HOPE SO, AND THE SAME WITH THE SINCLAIR ON 16TH AS THEY DEVELOP THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT SHOULD HAVE STREET ON THE STREET SIDE SHOULD HAVE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE CONTINUOUS AND AND NOT BROKEN UP BY PARKING OR SOMETHING ELSE.

IF WE WANT TO HAVE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO IT SAFELY.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS I WANTED TO ADDRESS, AND JUST QUICKLY ON THE D TAGGART HOLDINGS, WE FIND ERIC GUTSCHMIDT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

HE'S ALSO A DEVELOPER THAT REACHES OUT TO US WHENEVER HE'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE LIKE THE PROJECTS WHERE HE'S HE'S BUILDING THAT DENSITY INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT BUILDING MULTI 4, 5, 6 STORY BUILDINGS ON LOTS WITH NO GREEN SPACE.

SO WE FIND HIM TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, AND WHEN NEIGHBORS ON EITHER SIDE OF HIS NINTH STREET PROJECT EXPRESSED CONCERNS, I JUST REACHED OUT TO HIM AND I KNOW HE'LL GET ON IT. SO IT WAS WITH A SUBCONTRACTOR ISSUE.

SO WE LIKE HIM AS A NEIGHBOR AND THAT'S IT.

THANKS. THANK YOU, AND I DO HAVE DEAN SPINA ON HERE, BUT I BELIEVE HE ALREADY SPOKE ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

THAT CLOSES OUT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

[01:50:03]

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ]

WE'RE ASKING STAFF IS ASKING TO REMOVE NUMBER 20, WHICH IS SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER VACATION AND DISPOSITION OF A PARCEL.

ITEM 21, WHICH IS RESOLUTION, ALSO CONSIDERING VACATION AND DISPOSITION OF ANOTHER PARCEL AT 33RD AVENUE SOUTHWEST BETWEEN WILLIAMS AND WEST SEQUOIA, AND WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT WE TAKE SOME TIME TO REVIEW ISSUES REVOLVING AROUND ITEM 30J.

30J IS THE TAGGART HOLDING PROJECT, AND WE JUST, AS CITY STAFF, WOULD LIKE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO WORK WITH MR. GUTSCHMIDT. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT TO BE REMOVED ALSO.

THANK YOU, AND COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO REQUEST THE REMOVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TEN, WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF $75,000 TO THE CEDAR RAPIDS METRO ECONOMIC ALLIANCE FOR OUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR US FOR THE COMING YEAR. SO WE'RE MOVING NUMBER TEN.

DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS OR MAKE CHANGES? COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WILL RECUSE MYSELF ON 30H.

30H, GOT IT.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, CLERK, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED? OKAY, ALL RIGHT, THAT BRINGS US TO A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LOEFFLER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA ]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.

[31. Report on bids for the for the Demolition of the Former CRANDIC Railroad Bridge over the Cedar River project (estimated cost is $650,000) (Brenna Fall). CIP/DID #327002-01 ]

THIS IS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $650,000.

BRENNA FALL IS HERE, BRENNA.

I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. THIS IS THE REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE FORMER CRANDIC BRIDGE OVER THE CEDAR RIVER AS SHOWN ON THE MAP HERE.

AGAIN, THIS IS DOWN BY CARGILL AND THE SOLID WASTE AGENCY.

THE BRIDGE WAS DAMAGED IN THE 2008 FLOOD AND IS BEING REMOVED FOR THE LIGHT LINE BRIDGE PROJECT, AND PARTS OF THE BRIDGE WILL BE SALVAGED FOR USE AS INTERPRETIVE PANELS IN THE FUTURE.

WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS ON JULY 19TH.

THE LOW BID WAS $631,700.30.

THE HIGHER BID WAS $830,815.

THE WORK IS PLANNED FOR LATER THIS FALL, AND AS JENNIFER MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE IS AN EVENT TO CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE ON AUGUST 31ST.

WITH THAT, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO BOOMERANG CORP IN THE AMOUNT OF $631,700.30.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BRENNA.

COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER TODD.

WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE BIDS IN TERMS OF SCOPE OR NO DIFFERENCE IN SCOPE? JUST DIFFERENCE IN PRICING.

ANY PARTICULAR ITEM? I LOOKED THROUGH THE BID TABS AND DIDN'T SEE ANY ONE THING THAT WAS HIGHER OR LOWER.

YEAH, JUST CUMULATIVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.

YEAH, BRENNA, ARE THEY GOING TO REMOVE THE BRIDGE PIERS WELL BELOW THE WATER LINE, YES.

SO THAT THEY DON'T BECOME FORGOTTEN, AND THEN LOW WATER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND SUDDENLY SOMEBODY HITS.

YES. THE RESIDUAL BRIDGE PIER.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? CAN I GET A WOO HOO? WOO HOO! YEAH. [CHUCKLING] SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.

HAPPILY, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THAT NOW BRINGS US TO THE ORDINANCES.

[32. Ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 1627 Hamilton Street SW from U-VG, Urban Village General District, to U-VR, Urban Village Residential District, as requested by KN Properties 18, LLC. CIP/DID #RZNE-033782-2023 ]

[01:55:01]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE THE RULE REQUIRING THREE READINGS ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS BE SUSPENDED AND THE ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING.

THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THAT CLOSES OUT OUR FORMAL BUSINESS TODAY AND BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.

[PUBLIC INPUT ]

I'LL REMIND EVERYONE TO REMAIN AT THE LECTERN AND COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.

THERE SHOULD BE NO ABUSIVE, LOUD, THREATENING OR PERSONAL COMMENTS.

IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON.

AJ DITTMER. HELLO.

FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN EMINENT DOMAIN IS USED TO ACQUIRE A HOME OR A BUSINESS, THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY DESTROYS THE VALUE. OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO AFTER PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM LOW BALL OFFERS.

I KNOW CATHY'S NOT HERE TO STICK UP FOR HERSELF, BUT I JUST WANT TO READ SOMETHING THAT WAS SENT TO HER BY A NEIGHBOR.

YOU HAVE NO CREDIBILITY WITH THE COUNCIL.

THEY LOOK AT YOU AS A NUISANCE PERSON.

YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? SPEAKING THREE TIMES IN ONE MEETING WILL DEFINITELY NOT WIN YOU ANY BATTLES WITH THEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE AGAINST A BUSINESSMAN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TAX RELIEF EITHER.

YOU GUYS MIGHT WANT TO WATCH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT PEOPLE WHEN WE'RE NOT AROUND, AND THEN KIRA, SHE WANTED ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE ALL CONNECTED AS PEOPLE.

NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CITY, WHAT AFFECTS ONE AFFECTS US ALL.

REMEMBER PLAYING RED ROVER AND ONLY WHEN THE CHAIN OF TWO PEOPLE WERE BROKEN, BUT EVERYONE IN THE CHAIN FELT THE IMPACT OF THAT BEING BROKEN. HOMELESSNESS IS LIKE THAT.

WE MAY ALL BE IN HOUSES OR APARTMENTS, BUT IT'S FELT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY HELPING OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.

A HOMELESS AND ELDERLY IS IMPORTANT.

THIS IS HOW WE PROGRESS.

SHE SAID BUILDING FANCY BANKS AND CONDOS IS LIKE PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG.

SHE ALSO SAYS THAT SHE INVITES YOU ALL TO ART IN THE PARK, AND SHE HOPES TO SEE YOU THERE.

HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.

DOROTHY D'SOUZA GEDDES.

I'LL WATCH MY TIME THIS TIME.

MY NAME IS DOROTHY D'SOUZA GEDDES, AND I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT, AS A VOTER AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OAKHILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

WHAT I PASSED OUT FOR YOU TO HAVE ARE INVITATIONS TO OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT.

YES, THERE ARE SEVERAL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, PLEASE COME TO ANOTHER ONE.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MEET CONSTITUENTS AND RESIDENTS AND JUST SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

OURS WILL FEATURE A TACO TRUCK AND PIZZA AND SANDWICHES, ALL IN NEIGHBORHOOD VENDORS AND BOUNCY HOUSES IF YOU HAVE LITTLES, ALSO A NEIGHBORHOOD VENDOR, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO DO.

THAT'S ALSO SPORTING OUR NEW LOGO DESIGNED BY A RESIDENT, RUSS [INAUDIBLE].

I KNOW HE 20 YEARS AGO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE ORIGINAL GROUP TO GET NEW BOHEMIA AS AN ARTS DISTRICT, AND SO WE HAVE OF COURSE, THE CEDAR RIVER, WHICH IS THE EDGE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WHICH ARE TRADITIONAL PART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN THESE BUILDINGS REPRESENT THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESSES AND APARTMENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN OAK LEAF, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY TREES LEFT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE'RE WORKING TO CHANGE THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT OUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD IS, AND THIS PRIDE SIGN, WHICH WE'VE BEEN KNOCKING ON DOORS AND ASKING TO PUT PEOPLE UP, ARE BECAUSE OF THE HATE MESSAGES THAT WERE TOSSED ABOUT

[02:00:10]

IT'S A NATIONAL THING.

IT WASN'T NECESSARILY PARTICULAR TO ANYBODY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW.

WE'RE INCLUSIVE.

SO THAT'S HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY, AND SPEAKING OF, DID YOU KNOW FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO SPEND MONEY YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO BE IN REIMBURSED SO TO DO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT BIG, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR.

I'M SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF MY OWN POCKET AND WILL WAIT SEVERAL MONTHS TO BE REIMBURSED.

SOME NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS LIKE WELLINGTON HEIGHTS HAVE AN ENDOWMENT SO THEY'RE ABLE TO TURN THAT MONEY OVER ON THAT QUARTERLY CYCLE WITH REIMBURSEMENTS.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

IT'S A LOT, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE HESITATIONS THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS MIGHT HAVE AND NOT HAVING BIGGER EVENTS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

IF WE HAD MORE PEOPLE POWER, WE WOULD OF COURSE SOLICIT DONATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH WITH OUR BUSINESSES, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THAT TIME.

SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS RATHER THAN HAVING US DO ALL OF IT OUT OF POCKET AND WAITING FOR UP TO FOUR MONTHS FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

THAT'S MY HUSBAND IS GRIPING AT ME ABOUT THIS, BUT MY PASSION ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

IT'S WORTH IT TO ME TO DO THIS MAYBE HAVING A PORTION OF THE MONEY UPFRONT SO THAT WE CAN TURN THAT OVER ON A QUARTERLY BASIS RATHER THAN HAVING TO DIG INTO OUR POCKETS AND THEN WAIT.

SO IT'S A LOT.

SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT.

I ALSO WANTED TO SAY A THANK YOU TO, TO COUNCIL AND THE CITY STAFF.

WE HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES AT EVERY MEETING, AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS BEFORE I GOT INVOLVED.

I FIGURED SOMETIMES A LIEUTENANT POLICE LIEUTENANT WOULD SHOW UP OR SOME OFFICER WOULD STOP BY, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WE'D HAVE BRENNA FALL FROM PUBLIC WORKS AS OUR LIAISON WHO'S USUALLY THERE.

WE USED TO HAVE JEFF WOZENCRAFT.

NOW WE HAVE BETSY BURKHART, WHO COMES TO OUR MEETINGS.

WE HAVE MATT FROM SAFE CR WHO COMES AND USUALLY OTHER PEOPLE, IF WE ASK THEM TO SHOW UP, THEY DO.

IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT RESOURCE AND I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND HAVE THAT CONNECTION RATHER THAN WALKING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT WE AREN'T DOING WHEN WE AREN'T DOING ANYTHING, WE ARE.

WAIT FOR MY ANNUAL REPORT.

IT'S GOING TO COME OUT SOON.

SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT, AND PLEASE CONSIDER INVESTING IN SOME ELECTRICITY AND SOME OF OUR PARKS PLANNING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

I LEARNED OUT. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THAT'S USABLE WITHOUT AN ADAPTER AT VIOLA GIBSON, WHICH IS WHERE A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WILL BE.

WE DON'T HAVE ELECTRICAL AT [INAUDIBLE] PARK.

WE DON'T HAVE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AT POETS PARK.

WE CAN ONLY HAVE THAT ACCESS AT VAN VECHTEN, WHICH ISN'T IN THE CORE PART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE FOUND THAT LAST YEAR OUR RESIDENTS DIDN'T ACTUALLY SHOW UP FOR A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT THERE, SO WE DECIDED NOT TO HAVE IT.

SO I'M OVER.

THANKS. THANK YOU, AND THAT CLOSES OUT OUR SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS TODAY? NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON MOVES TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.