Mar 26, 2024 City Council

[00:00:01]

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

[Call to Order]

I LIKE TO WELCOME OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY CLERK, AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

AND THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, TO CITY STAFF FOR ATTENDING AND BEING AVAILABLE AFTER THE MEETING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR CITIZENS MAY HAVE.

A REMINDER TO TURN OFF ANY CELL PHONES OR ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT MIGHT DISTRACT US FROM OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

AND NOTE THAT ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, AGENDAS, AND VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE, AND REGULAR SESSIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO WATCH LIVE AND ON REPLAY THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE.

WE WILL BEGIN, AS WE ALWAYS DO HERE AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WITH AN INVOCATION.

AND TODAY, PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAIN KEN GLANDORF WILL BE DOING THAT FOR US IMMEDIATELY, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

LET'S PRAY. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

WE PRAY FOR THIS MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER THAT THE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE, WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED.

AND ALSO, WE WILL REMEMBER OUR MEN AND WOMEN OVERSEAS THAT ARE IN HARM'S WAY.

IN YOUR NAME, 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.

NOW, WE'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH OUR PROCLAMATIONS.

[Proclamations/Presentations]

CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS AN INTELLECTUAL, INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES AFFECT MORE THAN 7 MILLION AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND WHEREAS PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ENHANCES THE COMMUNITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

AND WHEREAS PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES ARE VIBRANT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF US.

AND WHEREAS THE ARC OF EAST CENTRAL IOWA HAS ADVOCATED FOR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING AND INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES SINCE 1953.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ANN POE ON BEHALF OF MAYOR TIFFANY O'DONNELL AND THE ENTIRE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 6TH, 2024 AS DISABILITIES AWARENESS DAY IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, AND URGE THE CITIZENS OF CEDAR RAPIDS TO GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO THE EFFORTS ENABLING PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, DEVELOPMENTAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES TO LIVE A FULL AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES OF INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITY [APPLAUSE]. I'M A LITTLE GREEN.

I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY ANYTHING.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THE ARC IS AN AGENCY THAT IS IN OUR 71ST YEAR.

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT NEARLY 600 FAMILIES IN OUR IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND OUTLYING COUNTIES WHO FACE LIFE WITH A DISABILITY.

WE LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS A SAFETY NET AND A VITAL RESOURCE THAT NOT ONLY TAKES CARE OF THE PEOPLE WE CARE FOR, BUT WE CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.

SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE MEMBERS OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL.

AND WE THINK OF OURSELVES AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER.

WE HELP THESE FAMILIES MAINTAIN JOBS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY KNOW THAT AN AGENCY LIKE THE AAC IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT SUPPORTS FOR THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE.

SO THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS FOR SUPPORTING THE WORK THAT WE DO.

AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO, JIM.

WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

NEXT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THOSE HERE WITH THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

CEDAR RAPIDS.

CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS CEDAR RAPIDS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTER OF OUR CULTURAL AND MUSIC DIVERSITY, AND WHEREAS THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA HAS BEEN AN ASSET TO OUR CITY FOR TEN YEARS, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO GARNER THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF PLAYING MUSIC IN A GROUP SETTING.

[00:05:08]

AND WHEREAS THIS, THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA IS INCLUSIVE, ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND LEVELS OF MUSIC SKILLS TO MAKE MUSIC IN OUR CITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, DAVID MAIER, ON BEHALF OF TIFFANY O'DONNELL, MAYOR OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, DO RECOGNIZE APRIL 7TH, 2024 AS CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THE FREE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONCERT AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATER ON SUNDAY, APRIL 7TH AT 3 P.M..

[APPLAUSE] I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. COME TO THE CONCERT IT'LL BE GREAT TIME.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL.

A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY SO I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TODAY, WHETHER DURING A PUBLIC HEARING OR DURING ONE OF OUR TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS, OF A FEW MATTERS TO ENSURE WE HAVE AN ORDERLY MEETING TODAY.

FIRST, A REMINDER TO STAY AT THE LECTERN IF YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS YOU WISH TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL, PLEASE HAND THEM TO YOUR OFFICER ON YOUR RIGHT THERE.

THE OFFICER WILL GET THOSE DOCUMENTS RIGHT TO US.

SECOND, COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.

SO WHEN YOU'RE AT THE DAIS, YOU'LL SEE A LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE WHEN IT TURNS YELLOW, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO WRAP UP.

AND WHEN IT'S RED, WE'LL INVITE YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT ONCE AGAIN.

AND THIRD, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALL COMMENTS NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN ANY PERSONAL, ABUSIVE, LOUD, THREATENING OR RELEVANT COMMENTS WON'T BE ALLOWED.

AND FINALLY, WE NEED TO HOLD AN ORDERLY MEETING.

SO WE ASK FOR NO APPLAUSE, CHEERING, BOOING, ETC.

FROM THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

SO WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

DOES THE CLERK HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS IN REGARD TO ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY? YOUR HONOR, THERE WERE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS FILED.

THANK YOU. NO OBJECTIONS.

THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER ONE, WE'LL BEGIN WITH A PUBLIC HEARING HELD TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE SECTION EIGHT HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, PUBLIC

[1. A public hearing will be held to consider amendments to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Public Housing Agency Annual Plan and Administrative Plan (Sara Buck). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #OB363680]

AND SARA BUCK IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.

SARA, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SARA BUCK WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO JUST A PROGRAM OVERVIEW.

THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS HUD.

WE SERVE AS THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY OR PHA FOR LINN AND BENTON COUNTIES.

AND WE'VE BEEN ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM FOR APPROXIMATELY 48 YEARS.

WE PROVIDE RENT ASSISTANCE TO VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

WE ENSURE DECENT, SAFE AND SANITARY HOUSING.

HOUSING IS PROVIDED BY PRIVATE OWNERS AND RENTAL AGENTS, AND APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE GOES DIRECTLY TO THOSE LINN IN BENTON COUNTY LANDLORDS.

SO WHO BENEFITS FROM THE PROGRAM? 20% 22% OF THE FAMILIES ARE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD OVER THE AGE OF 62.

53% OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE A HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD WITH A MEMBER WITH A DISABILITY.

66% ACTIVE HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ANNUAL INCOME UNDER $15,000, AND A AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME ON THE PROGRAM IS APPROXIMATELY EIGHT YEARS.

IN OUR ANNUAL PLAN OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SAFETY AND SANITARY HOUSING OPTIONS FOR VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES, TO MANAGE RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY, TO PROMOTE PERSONAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL UPWARD MOBILITY, TO PROVIDE FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE TRANSFER OR TRANSITION FROM SUBSIDIZED TO NON SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

AND JUST AN UPDATE ON OUR PROGRESS REPORT.

WE WERE DESIGNATED AGAIN AS A HIGH PERFORMER BY HUD.

WE COLLABORATED WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE TO HELP OUR TENANTS FIND UNITS, LEVERAGING ALL AVAILABLE FUNDING IN THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE BARRIERS FOR THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.

WE ALSO ASSISTED HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, UTILIZED 44 EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS THAT WERE AWARDED TO US THROUGH HUD, AND WE SECURED AN ADDITIONAL FIVE STABILITY VOUCHERS ALSO FOR THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.

SO TODAY WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN CHANGES.

AND SO A COUPLE OF REGULATORY CHANGES.

HUD, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 50 YEARS, IS REALLY DOING A HUGE UPDATE ON HOW WE CALCULATE HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

WE SHOULDN'T SEE MUCH OF A CHANGE AS FAR AS WHAT THE TENANTS ARE SEEING.

HOWEVER, IT'S JUST A WAY THAT WE PROCESS THOSE APPLICATIONS IN THE INCOME.

SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF REGULATORY CHANGES IN THE, IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN THAT YOU'LL SEE.

AND ALSO ANNUAL UPDATE TO OUR FSS, THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY, EMISSIONS AND CONTINUED OCCUPANCY OR ACOP PLAN.

[00:10:05]

SOME DISCRETIONARY CHANGES.

WE WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE THE WAITING LIST PREFERENCES TO ALLOW THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL PREFERENCES TO REMAIN OPEN AND ACCEPT APPLICATIONS AS THE BUDGET ALLOWS.

CURRENTLY, OUR WAITING LIST HOW IT WORKS IS WE ACCEPT APPLICATIONS.

WE CLOSE OUR WAITING LIST.

SOMETIMES THAT WAITING LIST IS CLOSED FOR UPWARDS OF THREE YEARS.

SO AS PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE WAITING LIST.

AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THESE INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES OPEN.

SO AS PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS OR ANY OF THESE CRITERIA, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A VOUCHER.

SO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WE'D LIKE TO KEEP 30 OPEN PER YEAR BY REFERRAL THROUGH THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OVERSEEN BY WAYPOINT SERVICES.

SO AS PEOPLE COME IN ARE BECOMING HOMELESS, THEY WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO A VOUCHER UP TO 30 PER YEAR AS BUDGET ALLOWS FOSTER YOUTH THAT HAVE AGED OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE 15 PER YEAR BY REFERRAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND FOUNDATION 2.

THIS ADDS ON TO THE ADDITIONAL 25 THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THROUGH HUD AS THE FOSTER YOUTH INITIATIVE.

REFUGEE HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE FULLY UTILIZED THEIR RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A TWO YEAR TIME PERIOD UP TO TEN PER YEAR BY REFERRAL THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. AGAIN, JUST SO AS PEOPLE ARE COMING OFF CERTAIN TYPES OF ASSISTANCE THAT THEN THEY'RE NOT BECOMING HOMELESS.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THOSE THOSE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

SO ACTIONS TO DATE JANUARY 30TH.

THESE PROPOSED CHANGES WERE TAKEN BEFORE THE SECTION EIGHT RESIDENT ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS MADE UP OF SECTION EIGHT TENANTS.

ON FEBRUARY 9TH THROUGH MARCH 25TH IS WHEN WE HAD OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

MARCH 20TH THIS WENT BEFORE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR RECOMMENDATION.

TODAY WE'RE HERE AT CITY COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND THE RESOLUTION.

WE WOULD LIKE THE PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE WAITING LIST PREFERENCES TO HAPPEN TODAY, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THOSE CHANGES IMMEDIATELY.

THE REMAINDER OF THE CHANGES IN THE ANNUAL PLAN WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANKS SO MUCH, SARA.

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

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

THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.

THANK YOU MAYOR. SARA, JUST QUICKLY, FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND FOR US AS A REMINDER.

HOW MANY VOUCHERS ARE WE ALLOCATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT FOR THE OVERALL PROGRAM? SO FOR THE REGULAR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, WE HAVE 1,275 VOUCHERS.

TYPICALLY WE'RE RIGHT AROUND 1,000 VOUCHERS PER YEAR THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ALLOCATE WITH THE BUDGET AMOUNT THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.

THANKS, MAYOR.

SARA, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM ON BEING LABELED AS A HIGH PERFORMER BY HUD.

I KNOW THAT'S DUE TO THE DEDICATION OF CITY TEAM MEMBERS LIKE YOURSELF.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT PARTICULARLY ON DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

BUT HONESTLY, GETTING TO LIVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS WITH DIGNIFIED HOUSING OPTIONS REALLY IS A HUGE PART OF BEING A WELCOMING CITY.

ADDITIONALLY WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS AS WELL LAST WEEK THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T ANTICIPATE BECOMING UNHOUSED.

SO THE CHANGES THAT YOU'RE DOING TO ADAPT AND ANTICIPATE THOSE EVENTS WITH KEEPING 30 OPEN APPLICATIONS ALLOWS FOR BETTER ACCOMMODATIONS TO RESPOND IN REAL TIME TO THE REALITIES OF HOW HOMELESSNESS PRESENTS.

INCLUDING THE THE DISCRETION OF MAKING THAT EFFECTIVE TODAY.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO TO KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT THAT'S A LOT OF THE WORK.

IN ADDITION TO YOUR TEAM'S HISTORIC KNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE ALSO BEEN LEARNING WITH THE NATIONAL HOMELESS ALLIANCE THAT THE CITY INVESTED IN.

AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INTENTIONAL WORK TO TRANSITION PEOPLE FROM SUBSIDIZED HOUSING TO NON SUBSIDIZED HOUSING BY MOVING PEOPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

SO I KNOW THAT YOU'RE HELPING A LOT OF CEDAR RAPIDS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

WE DID HAVE A WONDERFUL DISCUSSION AT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY SAYS, BUT I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THESE DISCRETIONARY CHANGES ARE.

I THINK THEY'RE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.

SO THANK YOU SARA.

WE KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK TO MAKE SURE, TO ASHLEY'S POINT, THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE ADDRESSING HOMELESS NEIGHBORS YOU KNOW, THE THE FOSTER YOUTH ALONG WITH OUR REFUGEE POPULATION.

SO THEY'RE VULNERABLE, AT RISK COMMUNITIES.

AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.

I'M CURIOUS.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN, THE CHANGES TO THAT.

DID YOU DID YOU USE THE GUIDANCE OF THE ADVISORY BOARD TO COME UP WITH THOSE CHANGES?

[00:15:04]

YEAH. SO THE REALLY THE THE CHANGES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN ARE THE REGULATORY CHANGES.

SO THE THE BULK OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED BY HUD.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE RED LINE CHANGES, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE REDLINED BY HUD.

I WOULD SAY THE THE PREFERENCES CHANGES CAME OUT OF JUST THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE AND TRYING TO AGAIN REDUCE BARRIERS FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MAKE PROGRAMS WORK TOGETHER. SO AS WE'RE COORDINATING EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE REALLY BECOMING THAT ONE CLOCK LIKE THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE WANTS US TO.

SO WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE MAKE A HUGE CHANGE.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR CONNECTING THE DOTS, BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THAT PLAN IS.

SO APPRECIATE THAT.

AND ONE FINAL QUESTION IN LIGHT OF THOSE REGULATORY REGULATORY CHANGES, ARE YOU PROPERLY STAFFED? ARE YOU ADEQUATELY STAFFED? YES WE ARE. THANK YOU. OKAY, OKAY.

THANK YOU. JUST CURIOUS.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE, THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU COUNCIL. ITEM NUMBER TWO, A PUBLIC HEARING HELD TO CONSIDER A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 1630 1ST AVENUE NORTHEAST FROM TRADITIONAL MIXED USE CENTER DISTRICT TO

[2. A public hearing will be held to consider a change of zone for property at 1630 1st Avenue NE from T-MC, Traditional Mixed Use Center District, to U-NG, Urban Neighborhood General District, as requested by BCMT, LLC (William Micheel). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-000184-2024]

BILL MICHEEL IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.

BILL I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR BILL MICHEEL, DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REQUEST FROM TRADITIONAL MIXED USE TO URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL.

THE STRUCTURE SITS ON A 0.17 ACRE LOT.

THE PROPOSED CHANGE IS FROM A CURRENT MIX OF FOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS WITH SOME OFFICE SPACE TO SIX UNITS, CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS HAVE MADE THIS CONVERSION ATTRACTIVE.

NO EXTERIOR CHANGES TO THE BUILDING OR OTHER SITE IMPROVEMENTS ARE PLANNED AT THIS TIME.

THE EXISTING ZONE DISTRICT LIMITS THE SITE TO FOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS BASED ON THE LOT SIZE, AND THIS BUILDING HISTORICALLY HAS HAD NUMEROUS DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS OVER THE YEARS. IT'S HAD UP TO SIX OR MORE UNITS IN, IN THE PAST.

BUT OF COURSE, WITH THE CHANGE IN THE ZONING CODE BACK IN 2017 WE IDENTIFIED THE ZONING ISSUE AS A PART OF THE RENTAL REGISTRATION PROCESS AND INDICATED US THAT THE SOLUTION WOULD BE THIS REZONING TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

IT'S LOCATED IN THE URBAN MEDIUM INTENSITY LAND USE DISTRICT.

AND IN TERMS OF ZONING CURRENTLY TRADITIONAL MIXED USE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THIS URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD, GENERAL DISTRICT.

AERIAL VIEW OF THE STRUCTURE.

THAT'S THE IOWA EYE CARE CENTER OFF TO THE EAST.

AND IT'S ALSO OFF TO THE WEST IS THE WILSON AVENUE [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S OUT OF OUT OF FRAME HERE.

AND THIS IS A STREET VIEW OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.

REZONING CRITERIA ARE RELATED TO THE THE TECHNICAL ISSUE.

THE PROPOSED REZONING WOULD RESULT IN CONFORMANCE OF THE EXISTING HISTORIC STRUCTURE WITH THE ZONING CODE CONSISTENCY WITH COMP PLAN.

THIS ZONING DISTRICT IS PERMITTED WITHIN THAT FUTURE LAND USE DISTRICT.

AND OF COURSE, WE CAN OBVIOUSLY SERVE THIS BUILDING.

THOSE SERVICES EXIST TODAY.

IN TERMS OF CHARACTER, AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.

IT'S ALL INTERIOR.

AND IT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE STRUCTURE TYPE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE MULTI-UNIT STRUCTURE.

IN TERMS OF RECOMMENDATIONS, CPC UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS REZONING ON DURING THEIR MARCH 7TH MEETING.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

AND, OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TODAY AND POSSIBLE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, FIRST MEETING IN APRIL.

THANK YOU. EXCELLENT.

AND, BILL, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S THE 1ST AVENUE [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SORRY. THANK YOU.

NO, I JUST JUST TO BE JUST SO THOSE WHO MAY BE JUST LISTENING IN MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD.

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

DOES ANYBODY HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.

THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL. ITEM NUMBER THREE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 4TH STREET SOUTHEAST

[3. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 4th Street SE from 1st Avenue E to 5th Avenue SE East Central Quiet Zone Improvements project (estimated cost is $510,000) (Ken DeKeyser). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #306299-04]

THIS HAS ESTIMATED COST OF $510,000.

KEN DEKEYSER IS HERE.

KEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

[00:20:01]

HERE'S A LOCATION OF THE PROJECT.

THIS IS LOCATED IN WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE 4TH STREET CORRIDOR DOWNTOWN.

EVEN THOUGH THAT'S A MORE OF A RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY, USED TO BE A STREET RIGHT OF WAY AT SOME POINT BETWEEN 1ST AVENUE AND 5TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST. ALSO LOOKING AT THE AERIAL HERE ON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SLIDE THIS IS LOCATED WITH WHAT'S KNOWN AS PHASE A OF OUR QUIET ZONE PROGRAM AND THE CIRCLED AREA, SPECIFICALLY THE THE CROSSINGS THAT ARE IN IN THIS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

SO FOR AN OVERVIEW, WE'RE ADDING OR COMPLETING THE QUIET ZONE IMPROVEMENTS ON THOSE HIGHWAY RAILROAD GRADE CROSSINGS, INCLUDING THE SIDEWALK AND TRAIL IN ANY MEDIANS AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND SAFETY RAIL TO COMPLETE THOSE CROSSINGS.

THE BID IS APRIL 3RD WITH A $510,000 COST OPINION.

AND WE HAVE A LATE MAY START WITH 45 WORKING DAYS.

WE ANTICIPATE THIS SHOULD BE COMPLETE THIS SUMMER.

THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU EACH CROSSING AND JUST SUMMARIZE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT EACH OF THOSE.

THIS IS AT 1ST AVENUE I NOTE HERE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE THAT UNION PACIFIC HAS INSTALLED THE SIGNALS AND CROSSING GATES THIS MONTH.

THEY SHOULD BE FINISHED UP WITH THAT.

AND AS THEY'RE DONE WITH THEIR CONSTRUCTION NOW, WE'RE GOING TO COME IN BEHIND THEM AND FINISH UP AROUND THE AROUND THE CROSSING INSTALLATION.

SO THIS INCLUDES THE ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALK DETECTABLE WARNING PANELS FOR THE CROSSING, A LITTLE BIT OF MEDIAN WORK, AS WELL AS SOME SAFETY RAILS FOR PEDESTRIANS.

MOVING ON TO 2ND AND 3RD AVENUES.

AGAIN, ON 2ND AVENUE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SIDEWALK ACCESSIBLE ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS.

3RD AVENUE IS GOING TO BE PRIMARILY PAVEMENT MARKINGS FOR CYCLISTS.

IN BOTH OF THESE CASES, THE RAILROAD HAD PREVIOUSLY COME IN AND COMPLETED THEIR SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

THE CITY IS WELL, WE CAME IN AND DID STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

JUST NEEDED TO TO CLEAN THINGS UP WITH THE SIDEWALK AND THE BICYCLE.

MAKE PAVEMENT MARKINGS.

AND THEN WITH THE 4TH AND 5TH AVENUES, AGAIN, THERE IS MORE OF THE ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS AS WELL AS SOME ACCESSIBLE TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION IN THE BLOCK BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH AVENUES.

WHILE THIS IS NOT PART OF THE CONTRACT YOU'RE CONSIDERING, HERE'S JUST SOME RELATED QUIET ZONE ITEMS JUST FOR AN UPDATE FOR THE COUNCIL.

WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH CANADIAN NATIONAL.

TO COMPLETE THEIR SIGNAL WORK FURTHER TO THE NORTH OF DOWNTOWN AT STICKLE DRIVE.

SO WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM IN A IN A BI WEEKLY CALL TO GET THEM MOVING ON AN ENGINEERING AGREEMENT.

AND WHEN WE GET THAT AGREEMENT TAKEN CARE OF, THEN THEY CAN INSTALL OR AT LEAST DESIGN AND GET INTO OUR CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE, THEIR THEIR SIGNAL AND GATE IMPROVEMENTS TO STICKLE DRIVE, AND THEN WE CAN GO IN THERE AND FINISH UP WITH THE THE STREET IMPROVEMENTS AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS.

AND WHEN THAT IS DONE, WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH THEIR WORK AND WE'RE DONE WITH OUR WORK, THAT WOULD COMPLETE PHASE A OF THE QUIET ZONE.

SO THE WHOLE SECTION HERE IN THE YELLOW WITH THE A, THAT SHOULD BE DONE.

AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION TO GET THE QUIET ZONE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED IT UP AND RUNNING.

THE OTHER THING WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS WORKING AGAIN WITH, WITH UNION PACIFIC TO GET THEM STARTED ON THEIR ENGINEERING FOR PHASE B HEADING SOUTH THROUGH NEWBO AND THEN ON TO CARGILL AND OTIS ROAD AND FURTHER SOUTH.

SO WE WE'VE WE HAVE A BI WEEKLY MEETING WITH THEM AND TRYING TO GET THEIR ENGINEERING AGREEMENT FINALIZED SO THAT THEY CAN START DOING SIGNAL DESIGN. WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT WOULD TAKE MUCH OF THIS YEAR.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE WOULD BE WORKING ON SOME OF OUR OWN GRADE CROSSING IMPROVEMENT DESIGNS.

AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR TO START GETTING SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION.

THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE, MANY MORE GRADE CROSSINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT DOWN HERE IN PHASE B, SO THAT COULD TAKE SOME TIME TO WORK ON THAT.

SO WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO PROACTIVELY GET ALL THAT COORDINATED RIGHT NOW.

ALSO NOTING THAT IN PHASE B WITH CARGILL AND THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM, ONE OF THE GRADE CROSSINGS DOWN THERE ON OTIS ROAD HAS TO BE COORDINATED IN CONNECTION WITH NOT ONLY CARGILL, BUT THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE RAILROAD.

SO THERE'S, THERE'S THERE'S A FEW MOVING PIECES THERE AS WELL.

AND WITH THAT, WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THESE PLANS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU KEN.

THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.

COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

YEAH, JUST A REAL QUICK QUESTION, KEN.

SO WILL YOU BE DOING ON PHASE A? WILL YOU BE DOING STARTING THAT? I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME OF THAT CONSTRUCTION, BUT IS THIS SLATED FOR THIS SUMMER AND WHAT IS THERE A COMPLETION DATE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

[00:25:07]

SO THAT'S THE LATEST.

THEY CAN GO IN THERE.

THERE'S 45 WORKING DAYS.

SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT UP TO THREE MONTHS.

SO BETWEEN MAY AND AUGUST TIME FRAME THEY WOULD BE WORKING ON THESE CROSSINGS.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.

THANK YOU MAYOR. YEAH, ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'VE HAD IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO WAIT UNION PACIFIC.

AND I GUESS NOW CANADIAN NATIONAL, YOU KNOW, THEY INSTALL EVERYTHING WE HAVE.

WE CAN'T PUSH THAT ALONG OR USE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS.

SO YOU KNOW THE 1ST AVENUE WHICH IS DELAYED, THIS PHASE OF IT IS BEEN DELAYED FOR OVER TWO YEARS BECAUSE IN QUOTES OF CAN'T FIND EQUIPMENT OR CAN'T FIND MATERIALS, HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE WITH CANADIAN NATIONAL TO GET A DONE? BECAUSE WE GOT ALL THE REST OF THIS DONE, WE'RE SPENDING $500,000.

WE SPEND LOTS OF MONEY, BUT YET WE DON'T GET THE QUIET ZONE TILL THE A AVENUE IS DONE.

SO ARE THEY GOING TO PUSH THAT OUT WHERE WE WAIT 2 OR 3 YEARS AND WE SPENT THE MONEY AND STILL CAN'T HAVE A QUIET ZONE? WE ARE PUSHING IT.

OUR DISCUSSIONS SEEM PRETTY OPTIMISTIC.

THEY THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT THEY CAN GET MOVING ON THAT.

BUT WE HAVE TO GET THIS AGREEMENT AND IT'S, IT'S IT'S JUST AN ONGOING DISCUSSION JUST GETTING THEM GOING ON IT.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS QUIET ZONE IN PLACE FOR PHASE A THIS YEAR.

THAT'S STILL THE PLAN.

THAT'S THAT'S LIKE, YEAH, FINGERS CROSSED.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

KEN IN REGARDS TO SECTION A.

AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A CRITICISM, BUT THAT THAT SEGMENT OF THE TRAIL FROM 1ST AVENUE TO QUAKER WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN UPDATE.

AND SO IN TERMS OF THE COORDINATION AND THE HAVE YOU TOOK THAT INTO ACCOUNT IN THIS.

SCOPE OF THE PLAN.

YES. THE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS YOU SEE HERE ARE JUST NEEDED IN VICINITY OF THE CROSSINGS.

WE HAVE A SEPARATE PROJECT CALLED THE 4TH STREET TRAIL THAT IS IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. AND SO AND MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT THAT WOULD BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATION.

CORRECT. SUPER. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.

YEAH. SO MY LINES MY QUESTIONING COMMENT IS REALLY ALONG THE LINES OF COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.

SO I APPRECIATE THE OPTIMISM, BUT IN MY SEVENTH YEAR OF COUNCIL SERVICE WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE QUIET ZONES, HOPING OPTIMISTICALLY THAT IT WOULD BE DONE IN 3 TO 4 YEARS THEN.

RIGHT. SO I JUST, I KNOWING THAT THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT AGENCIES SEVERAL DIFFERENT RAIL COMPANIES, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WE'RE IN OUR 175TH YEAR OF CEDAR RAPIDS BECAUSE WE WERE FOUNDED AND BROUGHT TOGETHER BY RAIL.

SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT THAT THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, COLLECTED IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.

BUT I KNOW THAT THEY ALSO MOVE ON THEIR OWN TIMELINE.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO TEMPER THOSE EXPECTATIONS A LITTLE BIT AND ASK FOR THAT REGULAR FEEDBACK, TOO, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SO IF WE FIND THAT THERE'S A STALEMATE FOR WHATEVER REASON, MAYBE THERE'S A BIG PROJECT COMING UP OR A BIG MOVE FROM ONE OF OUR PROCESSING COMPANIES, JUST PLEASE LET US KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE BEEN HEARING THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET UP ON OUR OWN TENACITY, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY LET YOU KNOW IF THINGS ARE GOING TO GO AWRY HERE.

THANK YOU.

ALL REALLY RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT COMMENTS.

I WILL SAY I KNOW I AND ALONG WITH THE CITY MANAGER HAVE HAD SOME REALLY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME NEW LEADERSHIP AT CANADIAN NORTHERN.

SO I'M I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.

THEY HAVE VISITED HERE AND SEEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES SPECIFICALLY FACED DOWNTOWN.

SO I HAVE A REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

AND, KEN, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.

IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY MAIER, SECONDED BY HOEGER.

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 THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE FCS.

[4. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the FCS Modifications Along 1st Street NE project (estimated cost is $160,000) (Rob Davis). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3315552-01]

ROB DAVIS IS HERE. ROB I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, ROB DAVIS WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SMALLER FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM PROJECTS WE'VE BROUGHT TO.

THIS LOCATION IS IN THE CEDAR RIVER TOWER PARKING LOT.

SO IT'S KITTY CORNER FROM THIS BUILDING OR ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE TREE OF FIVE SEASONS PARK.

AND IN THAT PROJECT, WE REPLACED STORM SEWER AND RAISED THE SURFACE OF THE PARKING LOT.

[00:30:03]

AGAIN, IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE A FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT.

IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE A AVENUE PUMP STATION OR THE TREE OF FIVE SEASONS PUMP STATION.

A LOT OF OUR PUMP STATIONS, WE HAVE DETENTION BASINS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

WE DID NOT WANT THE PARKING LOT HERE TO TURN INTO A DETENTION BASIN.

AND WORKING WITH THE IOWA DNR AND OUR MODELING, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME PONDING ASSOCIATED WITH OUR PUMP STATION HERE.

SO THIS REQUIRES US TO RAISE THEIR INTAKES AND ADD ABOUT A FOOT OR SO TO THEIR PARKING LOT THERE.

SO AGAIN, THIS RAISED IT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH OUR PERMIT TO OPERATE THE PUMP STATION.

SO THIS IS AN IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES REQUIREMENT TO RAISE THE PARKING LOT.

IT WILL UPSIZE THE STORM SEWER TO THE PUMP STATION ALSO FROM THE PARKING LOT.

AND THAT WILL KEEP THE CEDAR RIVER TOWERS PARKING RAMP OPEN ALL TIME DURING CONSTRUCTION AND OPEN WHEN THE PUMP STATION IS OPERATING, BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE A BACKUP AND WATER IN THE PARKING LOT. THE CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATE, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IS $160,000.

BID OPENING IS TOMORROW, MARCH 27TH.

THE START DATE THE CONTRACTOR HAS BETWEEN AUGUST 1ST AND SEPTEMBER 30TH TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT THIS YEAR.

AND WITH THAT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THESE PLANS.

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

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

COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

SORRY, ROB, I JUST ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

AND THE REASON WHY IS IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL THESE THESE CONTRACTS ARE, WE'RE GETTING THE WORK DONE.

AND AFTER YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, SOMETHING EVEN THIS IS NOT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY COMPARED TO WHAT WE'VE SPENT IN THE PAST ON FLOOD CONTROL.

BUT IT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT PIECE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 2024 ON CALL CONCRETE

[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 2024 On Call Concrete Repairs project (estimated cost is $125,000) (Brandon Jennings). CIP/DID #PUR1123-141]

BRANDON JENNINGS IS HERE.

BRANDON, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, BRANDON JENNINGS WITH UTILITIES.

THIS PROJECT WILL REPLACE DRIVEWAY APRONS AND SIDEWALK AT TEN ADDRESSES AT FOUR DEAD END STREETS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AS REQUESTED BY THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION.

DRIVEWAY APRONS WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED WITH THICKER CONCRETE, WHICH WILL ALLOW COLLECTION TRUCKS TO SAFELY TURN AROUND WITHOUT DAMAGING THE DRIVEWAY OR SIDEWALK.

REPLACEMENTS ARE SCHEDULED AT WILLIAM COURT, NORTHWEST, 26TH STREET SOUTHEAST, IRIS AVENUE NORTHWEST, AND H AVENUE NORTHWEST, AS SHOWN IN THE MAP HERE.

PARDON ME. THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THIS PROJECT WAS REVISED PER ADDENDUM NUMBER ONE, TO BE $71,000.

BIDS WILL OPEN ON MARCH 27TH.

CONSTRUCTION IS ANTICIPATED THIS SPRING WITH SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION BY JUNE 30TH.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WATER DIVISION STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, ADOPTING THE PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 2024 ON CALL CONCRETE REPAIRS PROJECT.

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

THANK YOU BRANDON.

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

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

SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU COUNCIL.

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE REPLACE NORTH NORTH

[6. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Replace North Elevator in City Hall project (estimated cost is $265,000) (Jason Stancliffe). CIP/DID #PUR0224-198]

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $265,000.

AND JASON STANCLIFFE IS HERE.

STANCLIFFE RATHER, JASON, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M JASON STANCLIFFE WITH FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SERVICES.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR THE CITY HALL NORTH ELEVATOR REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

THIS PROJECT WILL REPLACE ALL THE OPERATING CONTROLS, MACHINERY, HOISTING EQUIPMENT, AND THE CAB IN THE NORTH ELEVATOR.

BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT WERE ISSUED ON MARCH 13TH OF THIS YEAR.

A PRE-BID MEETING MEETING WAS HELD ON MARCH 20TH AND THE BID QUESTION DEADLINE WAS MARCH 21ST.

LET ME ADJUST THAT. BIDS ARE DUE TOMORROW AT BY 11 A.M., AND THE ESTIMATED COST IS $265,000.

FACILITY MAINTENANCE SERVICES RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF THESE PLANS AND SPECS.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE.

THANKS SO MUCH, JASON.

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

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL?

[00:35:02]

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS 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 THAT ARE GERMANE TO THE CITY, BUT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE ON OUR AGENDA.

TODAY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE BEFORE AND AFTER OUR MEETINGS.

AT THIS TIME, DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

WE ARE HERE AS A COUNCIL TO LISTEN.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT OF ALL THE MATTERS I ADDRESSED PRIOR TO THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIODS APPLY TO THIS ONE AS WELL.

REMAIN AT THE LECTERN.

IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS, GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER.

COMMENTS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.

COMMENTS NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTERS YOU WISH TO ADDRESS.

NO ABUSIVE, PERSONAL OR RELEVANT COMMENTS WILL BE ALLOWED AND NO PARTICIPATION FROM THE AUDIENCE.

IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE HERE ON YOUR RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO CALL THE NAMES IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE ON MY SIGN UP SHEET.

SO WE'LL BEGIN FIRST WITH DOUG.

LET ME ASK YOU TO TELL ME YOUR NAME WHEN YOU GET DOUG BEGINS WITH A B HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SIDE BY SIDE.

I THINK THEY LEFT.

DOUG IS NOT HERE ANYMORE.

ANDY? IS ANDY HERE? TO TALK ABOUT SIDE BY SIDES.

ANDY, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO JUST GIVE ME YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY WHERE YOU'RE FROM, WHEN YOU GET TO THE MIC.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANDY SHAW FROM CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

I THINK IT'S.

YOU NEED TO GIVE US KIND OF A CHANCE.

I'VE BEEN ON SEVERAL UTV RIDES AROUND HERE.

I TRAVEL FROM MARION THROUGH ROBINS, HIAWATHA.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF GOOD REVENUE THAT WOULD BRING INTO THE CITY.

I MEAN, WE HAD OVER 300 MACHINES TWO WEEKENDS AGO.

NOBODY. EVERYBODY GOT ALONG REAL WELL.

NOBODY CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS.

NOTHING. I MEAN, IT'S JUST IT'S JUST A LOT OF REVENUE.

THESE LITTLE SMALLER TOWNS THAT DON'T GET THE REVENUE AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, THEY ENJOY ALL THE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE TO ALWAYS HAVE NEW PEOPLE COMING IN AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, WISCONSIN, YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE UP THERE.

DELAWARE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF PLACES YOU CAN GO TO IF YOU JUST GIVE US A CHANCE TO RIDE AROUND.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE ON BLAIRS FERRY ROAD.

WE CAN CROSS BLAIRS FERRY ROAD JUST LIKE WE DO IN MARION.

YOU CAN'T. YOU CAN'T RIDE ON 151.

YOU GOT TO CROSS IT.

I MEAN, JUST PICK AND CHOOSE THE STREETS THAT WE CAN BE ON TO, YOU KNOW, TO MODIFY IT.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'LL WILLING TO OBEY THE RULES, YOU KNOW, MOST OF US WILL.

I'M NOT MUCH OF A SPEAKER, BUT BUT I MEAN, OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN.

I GOT. I WILL ADMIT THAT ONE DAY I DID GET I DON'T SEE I WANT TO GET BUSTED FOR IT, BUT I MEAN, I SEE PEOPLE RIDE AROUND THEM ALL THE TIME. I WAS OUT PLOWING AND THE SHERIFF PULLED ME OVER ON 33RD AVENUE.

OKAY, I PROBABLY WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE ON THAT ROAD, BUT 35 MILE AN HOUR, 35 MILE AN HOUR.

YOU KNOW, MOST CARS, YOU KNOW, YOUR LITTLE VOLKSWAGEN CARS, THEY'RE SMALLER THAN SIDE BY SIDES AND THEY'RE STILL ON THE ROADS.

YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE LITTLE BOX ONES, I MEAN LIKE.

YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH PICK UP BY YOUR HAND, YOU KNOW? BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN, IT'S JUST.

IF WE OBEY THE RULES, AT LEAST GIVE US SOME TYPE OF A CHANCE.

MARIAN, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT THEIR OPEN POLICY RIGHT NOW THAT.

THEY TRIED IT OUT FOR A YEAR AND IT WORKED OUT JUST FINE.

I MEAN, THERE'S STILL LETTING US RIDE AROUND ON THEM OVER THERE.

SO. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ABOUT IT FOR ME.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDY.

NEXT ON MY SIGN UP SHEET IS ROGER SLADE.

ROGER SLADE HERE TO TALK ABOUT CLIMATE ACTION.

THIS IS AGENDA ONLY.

THAT'S OKAY. OKAY, SO KEVIN KAZIMER HERE TO TALK ABOUT SIDE BY SIDES.

KEVIN. NOPE.

[00:40:01]

WELL, AND THAT CLOSES OUT THEN OUR VERY FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

SO THANK YOU.

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON ANY OF THE ITEMS OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. THAT BRINGS US TO A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE, THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU COUNCIL. THAT BRINGS US TO CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU COUNCIL.

MOVING ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA WITH ITEM NUMBER 24, WHICH IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE J AVENUE WTP STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

[24. Report on bids for the J Ave WTP Storm Sewer Improvements project (estimated cost is $200,000) (Terry Tiedemann). CIP/DID #PUR0224-215]

TERRY TIEDEMANN IS HERE.

TIEDEMANN IS HERE. TERRY, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, TERRY TIEDEMANN WITH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

THIS PROJECT WILL REPLACE THE STORM WATER MANHOLE, A JUNCTION BOX WHICH IS PART OF THE STORM SEWER SYSTEM AT THE J AVENUE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

SEVEN BIDS WERE RECEIVED ON THIS PROJECT ON MARCH 13TH.

BIDS RANGED FROM $127,843 TO $301,470.

DAVE SCHMITT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCORPORATED, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, WAS LOW BIDDER.

THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THIS PROJECT WAS $200,000.

CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO OCCUR PRIOR TO JUNE OF 2024.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS AWARDING THIS CONTRACT TO DAVE SCHMITT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $127,843.

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

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU TERRY.

COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER.

HEY, TERRY, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE? I HAVE A QUESTION ON THESE BID RESULTS, BUT IT'S ALSO A BROADER QUESTION.

AND IT RELATES TO WHEN WE HAVE A ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE LOWEST BID THAT COMES IN SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE ESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, AND AND IN THIS PARTICULAR BID RESULTS, THE LOWEST IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE SECOND LOWEST BID.

SO I'M ASSUMING THAT YOUR TEAM WILL GO THROUGH THAT BID TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S COMPLETE A ND THE SCOPE OF WORK ADDRESSES WHAT ALL NEEDS TO BE DONE.

BUT DO YOU ALSO DO SOME TYPE OF COMPARISON OR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN WHAT THIS ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST VERSUS WHAT THE ACTUAL COST IS? AND I GUESS THE WAY I THINK OF THAT IS WHEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN I DO CONSTRUCTION WORK ON MY OWN HOUSE, YOU KIND OF GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, RIGHT? AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GO FOR THE LOWEST COST YOU MAY NOT BE GETTING THE BEST WORKERS ON THE JOB, OR THE BEST MATERIALS, OR THE BEST QUALITY. SO YOU'RE YOU'RE FORTUNATE TO GET MY QUESTION, BUT I THINK ABOUT THIS A LOT WHEN I SEE THESE BIDS COME THROUGH.

SO I HOPE YOU CAN SHARE SOME SOME CONTEXT FOR ME.

THANK YOU. YES. SO ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, I WAS THE ENGINEER ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, I HAD ASSEMBLED A CAST IN PLACE CONCRETE BOX, CULVERT OR CONCRETE BOX. AND DURING THE DESIGN, ABOUT TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE BID, A A SUBMITTAL OR A QUESTION WAS ASKED BY ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS, CAN WE BRING IN A PRECAST BOX? AND SO A PRECAST BOX IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY HEAVY.

BUT THEY ASKED IF THEY COULD SHORTEN THE BOX SIZE UP.

SO RATHER THAN BEING AN EIGHT BY EIGHT, THEY'D GO TO SIX BY EIGHT.

SO THEY WOULD BE LIGHT ENOUGH TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE ROADWAYS.

SO I LOOKED AT THAT.

I FELT THAT THEY COULD PROBABLY REDUCE BYPASS PUMPING COSTS CONSIDERABLY BY HAVING A CAST IN PLACE TO DROP IT IN, RATHER THAN BYPASS PUMPING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WHILE THIS IS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND OR CAST IN PLACE.

SO WE ALLOWED THIS CONTRACTOR AND WE ALSO RELEASED THOSE DRAWINGS BACK OUT TO ALL CONTRACTORS HAD THE SAME ABILITY TO BID ON A PRECAST BOX.

SO THAT THAT'S WHY WE FEEL THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS HERE IN, IN THIS PARTICULAR JOB.

AND THEN JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WAS IT DAVE SCHMITT THAT CAME FORWARD WITH THIS PRECAST? JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S THE LOWEST BID THAT WAS THAT WAS SUBMITTED, IT WAS ACTUALLY FORTERRA THE, THE, THE CONSTRUCTION OR THE CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

GOT IT. SO THE CONCRETE MANUFACTURING COMPANY ACTUALLY CAME THROUGH.

[00:45:03]

IT WAS MORE OR LESS THE SUPPLIER THAT SUBMITTED THE QUESTION.

GREAT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 25 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE ADA COMPLIANCE AT MCGRATH AMPHITHEATER PROJECT WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $492,000.

[25. Report on bids for the ADA Compliance at McGrath Amphitheater project (estimated cost is $492,000) (Jeff Koffron). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #PUR0224-218]

JEFF, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M JEFF KOFFRON WITH FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO REPORT ON THE BIDS FOR THE MCGRATH AMPHITHEATER ADA COMPLIANCE PROJECT.

THE BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT WERE ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 28TH.

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD TWO WEEKS AGO ON MARCH 12TH.

BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND OPENED ON MARCH 13TH AT 11:00 AM.

THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PROJECT WAS $492,000, AND THE PROJECT COMPLETION IS SET FOR JUNE 15TH, WITH CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.

WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE SEVEN BIDS FOR THIS WORK.

THOSE BIDS RANGED FROM [INAUDIBLE] $394,900 TO $632,000, WITH THE LOW BID BEING FROM B&M CONSTRUCTION LLC. AND THEY ARE OUT OF BELLE PLAINE, BY THE WAY.

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SERVICES RECOMMENDS AWARD TO B&M CONSTRUCTION, LLC AS THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.

RECOMMENDS THAT THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AS DESCRIBED.

BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCIL QUESTIONS? OKAY. A LONG TIME COMING.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THAT NOW BRINGS US TO THE ORDINANCES.

[26. Ordinance repealing Chapter 61 of the Municipal Code, Traffic Regulations, and enacting a new Chapter 61 in its place to include new and updated definitions; regulate the use of all-terrain vehicles, off-road vehicles, golf carts and snowmobiles; add or increase parking fees; and comply with current practice and relevant law. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #FIN2024-10]

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 27 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE ZONING TO UPDATE ZONE DISTRICTS USE SPECIFIC STANDARDS, DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, REVIEW AND APPROVAL

[27. Ordinance amending Chapter 32 of the Municipal Code, Zoning, to update zone districts, use-specific standards, development standards, review and approval procedures, nonconformities and definitions. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CD-0048-2018]

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

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.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 28 IS AN ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 32 B OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 32 B IN ITS PLACE TO CONTINUE

[28. Ordinance repealing Chapter 32B of the Municipal Code, Floodplain Management, and enacting a new Chapter 32B in its place to continue participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, qualify for increased premium discounts for property owners, and adopt higher protection standards within the Special Flood Hazard Areas and for critical facilities in the shaded X Flood Zones. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #DSD-001-24]

THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO IN THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU COUNCIL. 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.

THANK YOU. THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY MAIER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

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

[PUBLIC INPUT]

AS WITH THE EARLIER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS ADHERE AT THIS TIME WE ARE HERE AS A COUNCIL TO LISTEN, SO I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY TO REMAIN AT THE LECTERN.

COMMENTS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.

NO ABUSIVE, LOUD, THREATENING, IRRELEVANT OR PERSONAL COMMENTS.

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

AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS HEATHER SHANE.

HI MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS HEATHER SHANE.

[00:50:01]

I LIVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE CEDAR RAPIDS AREA DSA, AND A MEMBER OF JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE, EASTERN IOWA.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE IN JANUARY, YALL WERE PRESENTED WITH A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION FROM ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND I AM WOULD LIKE TO RENEW.

I WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE FOR THAT MEETING, BUT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH MYSELF IF I DIDN'T RENEW THE CALL FOR YOU ALL TO PASS THAT RESOLUTION AS IS.

I KNOW YOU HEARD VERY COMPELLING TESTIMONY FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT HOW THIS IS A LOCAL ISSUE AND HOW THIS AFFECTS THEIR LIVES.

AS CEDAR RAPIDIANS AND I READ YOUR RESPONSES.

BASICALLY SAYING THAT IT'S NOT THE JOB OF THE CITY COUNCIL, NOT YOUR JOB.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, GROWING UP JEWISH, LIKE I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AWAY FROM AN ATROCITY AND A GENOCIDE, SAYING, THIS ISN'T MY JOB AND MY RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THEN LATER THEY'RE ASKING, WOW, HOW DID 12 MILLION PEOPLE AND 6 MILLION JEWS GET SYSTEMATICALLY MURDERED AND SLAUGHTERED? ADDITIONALLY OUR STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED HR HOUSE RESOLUTION 101.

THEY'RE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS PASSING RESOLUTIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

AND DIRECTING THE CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT ISRAELI AMERICANS AND ALL SUPPORTERS FROM THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

I FIND THIS ALARMING ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS, BUT I KNOW, LIKE, NOW I KNOW MAYOR O'DONNELL SAID THAT AT SPECIFICALLY THIS IS A FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE, BUT NOW WE HAVE THE STATE HOUSE TELLING THE CEDAR, OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT THEY GET TO DECIDE WHO SUPPORTS ISRAEL AND WHO GETS PROTECTED.

AND I'M SOMEBODY WHO WAS LITERALLY JUST MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, 100% NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND HAD A CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE OFFICER APPROACHED ME AND TRY TO GET ME TO SHOW HIM MY IDENTIFICATION FOR LITERALLY NO REASON.

AND THEN HE LEFT ME ALONE.

SO NOW I'M SUPPOSED TO TRUST THEM WITH MY PROTECTION AND MY SAFETY WITH A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS? AND THIS IS HOW NOT PASSING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION HERE AND NOW.

AND TAKING A STAND ON THIS ISSUE IS WHAT EMBOLDENS.

ANTI-SEMITES. IT'S WHAT EMBOLDENS ISLAMOPHOBES.

I CAN TAKE OFF THIS KEFFIYEH, RIGHT, AND INCREASE MY SAFETY MANY TIMES OVER.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, FOR A LOT OF REASONS, CAN'T.

CEASEFIRE IS AN INCREDIBLY POPULAR ISSUE ACROSS PARTY LINES.

THERE IS MAJORITY SUPPORT, AND OUR WILL IS NOT BEING REPRESENTED BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

TRUSTEE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT THE FIRST PLACE I WOULD WANT TO GO FOR THIS.

I'VE BEEN CALLING WRITING LETTERS, RIGHT TO MY CONGRESS PEOPLE STOOD OUT IN SOLIDARITY WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE ON THIS.

AND EVERY YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD MORE AND MORE AID, MORE AND MORE, YOU KNOW, ISRAEL RUNS OUT OF WEAPONS TO COMMIT THIS ATROCITY WITH.

AND WE JUST SEND MORE.

THEY RUN OUT OF MONEY AND WE KEEP FUNDING THEM.

AND THOSE ARE MY TAX DOLLARS AS A LOCAL CITIZEN AS WELL NOT BEING SPENT ON YOUR BUSINESSES.

AND YOU KNOW, WHERE I'D MUCH RATHER SPEND THEM IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ON PROGRAMS FOR OUR CITIZENS.

SO WE'VE TRIED ALL THESE TRADITIONAL CHANNELS OF MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD, AND OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT LISTENING TO THE VERY CLEAR WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

THIS GENOCIDE BY ALL EXPERTS, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IS EXTREMELY IMMINENT.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE BOMBING AND THE WEAPONS, IT IS THE STARVATION OF 1.2 PEOPLE.

AND I KNOW FROM THE HOLOCAUST THAT ONCE YOU STARVE A POPULATION, THAT'S IT.

EVERY SINGLE DAY LIKE COULD BE THE LAST DAY.

SO I THINK THAT YOU HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY AT A SECOND CHANCE TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.

HONESTLY, TODAY COULD HAVE TWO WEEKS AGO.

TODAY COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR LAST CHANCE.

WE DON'T KNOW, LIKE, THIS COULD BE IT.

BUT I REALLY URGE YOU TO PASS.

TO FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY THAT WE ARE GIVING AND PASS THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION AS WE SUBMITTED IT.

[00:55:06]

NEXT UP, LIZ SWIRSKY.

AND, LIZ, I'LL ASK YOU TO GIVE US THE CITY WHERE YOU LIVE TOO.

HELLO. MY NAME IS LIZ SWIRSKY.

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION IN JANUARY.

DID I SAY I LIVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS? I'M SORRY. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION IN JANUARY, AND YOU WERE IGNORED YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND SAID THAT THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE ISN'T A LOCAL ISSUE.

IT'S AN INSULT TO SAY THIS ISN'T A LOCAL ISSUE WHEN A MEMBER OF MY OWN FAMILY AND COUNTLESS OTHER FAMILIES IN CEDAR RAPIDS WORKS FOR COLLINS AEROSPACE, A COMPANY OWNED BY RAYTHEON, WHICH SENDS WEAPONS TO ISRAEL TO KILL INNOCENT PALESTINIAN PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS.

AND WHEN MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TO AID ISRAEL, AND WHEN IOWA SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS VOTE TO DEFUND UNRWA.

IT DISGUSTS ME THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY, AS WAR CRIMES AND ATROCITIES ARE CARRIED OUT EVERY DAY BY US BACKED ISRAELI FORCES.

FOR THE PAST 170 PLUS DAYS, MY SOCIAL MEDIA FEED HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF DEAD PALESTINIANS, DEAD CHILDREN DYING THE MOST GRUESOME WAYS.

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF IT WAS YOUR FAMILY BEING BLOWN UP AND RUN OVER BY TANKS? OVER 100 CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE PASSED CEASE FIRE RESOLUTIONS, AND I DEMAND THAT CEDAR RAPIDS JOINS.

CHOOSING NEUTRALITY IS CHOOSING THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSOR.

TO QUOTE MLK, THE HOTTEST PLACE IN HELL IS RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN NEUTRAL IN TIMES OF GREAT MORAL MORAL CONFLICT.

WE ARE WITNESSING A GENOCIDE, AND I REFUSE TO BE COMPLICIT IN THESE MASSACRES ANY LONGER.

AND I URGE YOU TO STOP LOOKING AWAY AND PASS THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION PRESENTED TO YOU IN JANUARY, AS IS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TONY SAKURA.

TONY 0IS NOT HERE.

JOSH BAKER.

HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF [INAUDIBLE] OR ABOUT [INAUDIBLE].

YOU CAN YOU CAN CLARIFY FOR ME, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST GIVING US YOUR YOUR CITY TOO PLEASE.

BUT I DON'T LIVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

I LIVE IN LOUISVILLE, [INAUDIBLE].

BUT I'M JUST HERE ON BEHALF OF ASKED ME TO SEE A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS HERE GATHERED FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, AND WE'VE MET A FEW OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS OUT AND ABOUT RECENTLY IN THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY AND INTRODUCE US, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY WORKING FOR YOU GUYS IN THE FUTURE.

AND WE'LL BE SETTING UP MEETINGS AND SENDING OUT INVITES, AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN ALL JOIN US ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SO THAT'S THE POINT OF THAT.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY.

ADDISON BREITBACH.

MY NAME IS ADDISON.

I LIVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, BORN AND RAISED HERE.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

NEVER EVEN BEEN INSIDE OF CITY HALL.

BUT I WAS COMPELLED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK TODAY WITH HEATHER AND LIZ.

THE REASON WHY I'M COMPELLED TO SPEAK TODAY IS I AM CALLING FOR THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.

IN JANUARY, YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.

IN JANUARY, YOU IGNORED THE CONSTITUENTS, AND YOU SAID THAT IT ISN'T A LOCAL ISSUE.

I ASSURE YOU THAT THIS CONFLICT IS SEEN, AND IT IS FELT BY EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN ANYTHING TO COME OUT OF GAZA.

WE ARE ALWAYS FACED WITH THESE HORRIFYING IMAGES COMING OUT EVERY DAY THAT THIS WAR CONTINUES, AND I CAN'T LET MYSELF TURN A BLIND EYE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GAZA.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE COULD.

I'VE NEVER FELT MORE POWERLESS AND HELPLESS SINCE THE BOMBARDMENT ON GAZA HAS STARTED.

I'M USING MY VOICE TODAY TO SHOW THE TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND HERE IN THE CITY.

AND I CALL YOU TO REFLECT ON YOUR CHILDREN AND ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN YOUR LIVES TODAY THAT COULD BE LIVING WITHOUT PEACE AND THE COMFORT OF YOUR LIFE LIVING HERE WHILE PEOPLE EVERY DAY ARE DYING AND THE MOST HORRIFIC FASHIONS.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT APRIL 6TH WAS JUST ESTABLISHED AS DISABILITIES AWARENESS DAY IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REMIND YOU OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN GAZA LIVING EVERY DAY IN A WAR ZONE WITH DISABILITIES, AND ALSO NOT TO MENTION THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE LEFT PERMANENTLY WITH DISABILITIES AFTER THE DUST HAS SETTLED.

I THINK IT'S TIME THAT CEDAR RAPIDS TAKES A STEP FORWARD IN LASTING PEACE.

AND I INVITE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION AND PASS THIS AND PASS THE RESOLUTION AS IS.

[01:00:05]

THANK YOU. ROGER SLADE HERE TO TALK ABOUT CLIMATE ACTION.

OH, I'M ROGER SLADE.

I LIVE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE AND ON THE CITY WEBSITE, THERE'S A LINK TO A ZOOM MEETING FROM FEBRUARY 2ND, 2021.

THE CEDAR RAPIDS CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE AND THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE IN MINNEAPOLIS MET FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE INSTITUTE EVEN HAD A NEWS STORY ON THEIR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT BETTER ENERGY.

ORG EXPLAINING THE ACTION PLAN.

ONE PART OF THAT ARTICLE STATES AT THE START, IT WAS THE ACTIVISTS WITH THE LOCAL SUNRISE MOVEMENT CHAPTER WHO COLLABORATED WITH THE CITY TO PASS A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE URGENCY FOR COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION.

I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, AND ESPECIALLY THE CITY MANAGER TO REVIEW THE YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER'S WEBSITE AT SUNRISE MOVEMENT.

ORG. I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU'D AGREE TO ANY OF THEIR LISTED DEMANDS.

I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE A FEW HERE FOR YOU.

THIS IS GOING TO SOUND FAMILIAR.

NUMBER ONE, AT LEAST 40% OF DECARBONIZING INVESTMENTS EQUATING TO AT LEAST $1.6 TRILLION OVER FOUR YEARS AND $4 TRILLION OVER TEN YEARS MUST GO DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITIES ON THE FRONT LINES. WE KNOW WHO THOSE ARE.

TWO USE CLIMATE ACTION AS A FORM OF REPARATIONS.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT, RIGHT? THREE ABOLISH THE POLICE.

WE CANNOT ACHIEVE CLIMATE JUSTICE WITHOUT MOVING AWAY FROM THE POLICE AND PRISONS.

THIS IS HOW WE KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.

GENIUS, RIGHT? REMEMBER THEY PARTNERED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ON CLIMATE ACTION.

THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY HELPED MAKE SURE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD LOSE THE ELECTION IN 2020, AND THEY PLEDGED TO KEEP DEMOCRATS IN POWER.

THERE'S A LINK ON THE WEBSITE UNDER ELECTORAL ORGANIZING WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.

WE ARE TIRED OF AN EXTREMIST MINORITY HAVING A SAY ABOUT OUR BODIES, OUR LIVES, OUR RIGHTS, AND WE ARE GONNA THE F WORD IS ALL OVER THEIR WEBSITE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK THAT OUT.

THESE ARE POLITICAL ACTIVISTS, PERIOD.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS. IN 2021, SUNRISE MOVEMENT IS LISTED AS A COMMUNITY LEADER ON THE CITY WEBSITE RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S A LITTLE TERRIFYING.

JASON SNELL, ONE OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND PART OF THE SUNRISE, STATED ON THAT ZOOM CALL CITY CITY LINK RIGHT THERE.

I WANT TO SEE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS JUST CLEAN AIR AND WATER, AND NOT JUST FOR WEALTHY WHITE PEOPLE.

IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT RACE.

THE CURRENT CEDAR RAPIDS CLIMATE ACTION SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR ERIC HOLTHAUS SPOKE ON THE PODCAST PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

HE STATED THAT HE'S A SOCIALIST AND HE BELIEVES THAT ANY CAPITALISM BASED ON GROWTH ECONOMY IS VERY DANGEROUS.

THINK ABOUT THAT. THAT PODCAST IS ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE IF YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT.

JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ACTUAL CLIMATE ACTION SHOULD BE.

HERE'S A NEWS STORY FROM LAST WEEK.

THE TENNESSEE STATE SENATE PASSED A BILL TODAY THAT WOULD BAN THE SPRAYING OF CHEMICALS FOR GEOENGINEERING IN THE SKIES.

THAT'S THOSE PLANES THAT ARE FLYING OVER THE CITY EVERY DAY SPRAYING, SPRAYING US WITH CHEMTRAILS.

THE BILL WOULD BAN THE INTENTIONAL INJECTION, RELEASE DISPERSION BY ANY MEAN OF CHEMICALS, CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS, SUBSTANCES OR APPARATUS WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THE STATE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF AFFECTING TEMPERATURE, WEATHER, OR THE INTENSITY OF SUNLIGHT.

YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME.

THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES FROM.

THAT'S HOW YOU PREVENT ALL THE CLIMATE CHANGE.

PARTNERING UP WITH GROUPS THAT WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE AND PUSH THEIR POLITICAL AGENDA DOES NOTHING.

I REALLY HOPE YOU CONSIDER THIS WHEN YOU START REVIEWING YOUR APPLICATIONS FOR YOUR NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

I KNOW YOU'RE HIRING BASED ON DEI AND AND NOT ON CHARACTER QUALIFICATIONS, BUT I AT LEAST ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR POLITICS OUT OF THE WHOLE SITUATION.

IT'S NOT SAFE FOR OUR CITY.

ONE MORE THING.

LAST WEEK YOU HAD YOUR DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AND THE PRESENTER RIGHT HERE EXPLAINED THAT ON EDGEWOOD ROAD, YOU'RE PLANNING TO PAINT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ON THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOXES.

ANN POE AND VANORNY ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THE PRESENTER SAID THAT BUTTERFLIES REPRESENT IMMIGRANTS, SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW DO TRAFFIC BOXES REPRESENT TRAFFICKING? I MADE THAT CONNECTION INSTANTLY, BUT NOBODY ELSE SEEMED TO CATCH ON AT THAT MEETING.

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES HAVE ALSO BEEN USED AS A SYMBOL BY PROTESTERS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO HAVE AN OPEN BORDER, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OPEN BORDER RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS PAINTING, YOU'RE SIGNALING THAT THE CITY SUPPORTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER CRIMES YOU PLAN TO ENDORSE, BUT THIS WASN'T AN ACCIDENT.

THIS WAS DONE ON PURPOSE.

THERE'S AN AGENDA, JUST LIKE THE SUNSHINE MOVEMENT.

THEY HATE THIS COUNTRY. THEY HATE THIS CITY.

AND MY DISTRUST IN MY OWN CITY GOVERNMENT JUST TOOK ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL LAST WEEK, AND I HOPE ONE OF THE OFFICERS IN HERE INVESTIGATES THIS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, BECAUSE I KNOW

[01:05:05]

THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

AND IF NOTHING HAPPENS, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THE AGENDA THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PUSH.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE THAT IN THE CITY.

DONE. THANK YOU.

ASA BEATY HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A SPORTS COMPLEX.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT A SPORTS COMPLEX POSSIBILITY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 380 OVER HERE BY WHERE COOPER MILLS HOTEL USED TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW, SOME OF YOU GUYS REMEMBER WHERE THAT IS.

I KNOW THAT LAND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SET ASIDE FOR A CASINO, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE HAVING A HECK OF A TIME DOING THAT.

AS FAR AS THE CASINO GOES, I THINK OUR TALENTS WOULD BE BETTER USED IN GOING FOR A SPORTS COMPLEX OR SOME SORT OF ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX DOWN THERE IN THAT AREA, BECAUSE WITH ROCKFORD ROAD, I KNOW WE HAVE THE COLONEL STADIUM, WE HAVE THE ICE ARENA, BUT THERE'S REALLY NO LAND THERE TO DEVELOP ANY EXTRA ADDITIONAL AMENITIES SUCH AS HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, BARS, BECAUSE IT'S IN A SEMI PRETTY MUCH RESIDENTIAL AREA, LANDLOCKED ON ALL SIDES.

A SPORTS COMPLEX DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAPIDS WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO BRING IN REVENUE BY HAVING PEOPLE COME OFF OF 380, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT EASY TO GET AN OUT OF THE PARK SPORTS COMPLEX.

IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEND THEIR HARD EARNED DOLLARS AND MONEY AT THE 1ST AND 1ST WEST COMPLEX THAT IS BEING BUILT HERE.

ALL THE BUSINESSES, DOWNTOWN, NEWBO AND WHATEVER ELSE CAN BE BUILT ALONGSIDE THAT SPORTS COMPLEX DOWN THERE.

ALSO, IT WOULD HELP WITH THE CITY BETTERMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IF YOU HAVE A STADIUM DOWNTOWN, ALL MAJOR CITIES DO, AND IT'S A BIG BUSINESS BOOM FOR ALL OF THEM. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE INSTEAD OF USING THE LAND OUT HERE BY 380, MAYBE PUTTING IT UP AT THE AIRPORT, BECAUSE IF YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BUILD A CASINO.

SO THAT WAY PEOPLE COULD FLY IN, SPEND THEIR MONEY AT THE CASINO.

WE ALREADY HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE DEVELOPED FOR HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND THEN THEY COULD JUST FLY BACK HOME ON THE SAME PLANE THEY GOT IN AND NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THE AREA VERY MUCH.

SO THAT WOULD BE ALL.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU ASA.

I BELIEVE THAT IS OUR LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER.

LET ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK HERE.

THAT IS OUR LAST PERSON.

OKAY, SO.

THAT CLOSES OUT OUR SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ THAT LEADS US TO YOU.

[CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS]

OKAY. SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER POE MOVES TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU COUNCIL. WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.