May 14, 2024 City Council

PROCEEDINGS HERE.

[00:00:01]

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

[Call to Order ]

SHOULD ANY OF THE CITIZENS HERE HAVE QUESTIONS, A REMINDER TO TURN OFF ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT MAY BE DISTRACTING.

TODAY. AND NOTE THAT ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AGENDAS MINUTES VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE AS WELL.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, STREAMING LIVE ON FACEBOOK.

SO, WE WILL BEGIN, AS WE DO AT EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH AN INVOCATION.

PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAIN JIM COYLE WILL DO THAT FOR US, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY STAFF.

A LOT OF BUZZ GOING AROUND IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A GREAT TIME OF YEAR.

SO, LORD, I JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE TODAY AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE.

I JUST PRAY FOR UNITY AND A CONTINUED BLESSING FROM YOUR HAND OVER THE LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO INVITE THOSE WHO WILL BE A PART OF OUR FIRST PRESENTATION TODAY.

[Proclamations/Presentations ]

MARK SEWELL AND AARON CALDERON FROM RSM ARE HERE.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

LIKE. LIKE YOU SAID, MY NAME IS MARK SEWELL.

I'M AN AUDIT PARTNER WITH RSM.

AND WITH ME TODAY IS AARON CALDERON.

HE'S OUR SERVED AS THE MANAGER ON THE ENGAGEMENT.

AND SO, I THINK IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OUR LETTER COMMUNICATING CERTAIN THINGS REQUIRED BY OUR STANDARDS TO THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE. WE'VE SUMMARIZED EVERYTHING IN A POWERPOINT HERE.

I'M NOT GOING TO COVER EVERYTHING ON THE POWERPOINT, BUT, YOU KNOW, TRY TO GET THE HIGHLIGHTS TO YOU AND THEN ALLOW YOU TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.

AND PLEASE INTERRUPT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT.

PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE AUDIT IS COMPLETE, AND WE'VE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDES VARIOUS OPINION UNITS WITHIN THERE, WE ISSUE LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON KIND OF EACH COLUMN WITHIN THERE.

THE ONLY THING IS WE DO REFER TO OTHER AUDITORS THAT AUDITED THE LIBRARY.

SO, THE CLEAN OPINION, THERE'S NO OTHER LEVEL OF ASSURANCE YOU WANT.

IT'S CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS YEARS.

SINCE YOU RECEIVE ALMOST OR YOU SPENT ALMOST $100 MILLION WORTH OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, WE ALSO DO WHAT WE CALL A SINGLE AUDIT, WHICH WE FOCUS ON THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THOSE PROGRAMS WE AUDITED, WE AUDITED BOTH THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND THE AND THEN SOME OF THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS AS WELL, WHICH WAS A LITTLE OVER $40 MILLION OF TOTAL FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THERE.

AGAIN, UNMODIFIED OPINION, CLEAN OPINION, NO OTHER LEVEL OF ASSURANCE YOU WANT.

SO, IF YOU TAKE ONE THING AWAY, THAT'S ALL THE VERY POSITIVE RIGHT THERE.

AND I'M GOING TO SKIP AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

OH, THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO MENTION IS THAT WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE CITY HAS ALWAYS SUBMITTED THAT FOR A CERTIFICATE AND EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING TO THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

SO, THEY WON THAT AWARD FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

BASED OFF OUR REVIEW, WE EXPECT THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO WIN THAT AWARD.

AND I THINK THEY'VE HAD IT FOR PROBABLY DECADES NOW.

SO VERY, VERY POSITIVE THERE.

SECOND SLIDE. HERE IS SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT IS KIND OF OUR IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES WITHIN ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE BASED ON THE TABLE, THERE'S REALLY NO ITEMS TO REPORT.

THE ONLY ITEM THAT WE'RE REPORTING HERE IS THAT THE CITY DID ADOPT A NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD, GASB 96, WHICH REALLY IS JUST REQUIRED THE CITY TO LOOK AT CERTAIN IT SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS AND EVALUATE IF IT MET CERTAIN CRITERIA AND PUT AN ASSET AND A LIABILITY ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IF IT MET THAT CRITERION.

VERY SIMILAR TO THE LEASE ADOPTION IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, BUT THIS WAS FOR IT.

NO, NO, REALLY ISSUES IN THE ADOPTION THERE TO REPORT EXCEPT THAT IT WAS PROPERLY ADOPTED.

SIMILARLY, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT WHAT WE THINK ARE SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES.

SO, WHEN MANAGEMENT PREPARES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THEY INCLUDE VARIOUS ESTIMATES WITHIN THERE.

I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THIS DETAIL TO YOU EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THERE'S ESTIMATES.

AND WE'VE INCLUDED HERE THE COUNTY, THE CITY'S POLICY.

THE WAY THAT THEY GO ABOUT ESTIMATING THAT, THAT ESTIMATE AND THEN OUR WORK THAT WE DID ON THAT.

SO, WE BELIEVE ALL THE ESTIMATES INCLUDED ARE APPROPRIATELY UNDER AND ARE REASONABLE AND WE KIND OF LIST THESE OUT.

SO, AS YOU'RE MONITORING THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE CITY, YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME JUDGMENTS MADE AND SOME OF THESE ACCOUNTS.

[00:05:04]

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, STOP ME.

THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE OF CAPITAL ASSETS ALL THE SELF-INSURANCE CLAIMS LIABILITY, THE PROJECTION OF WHAT THOSE ACTUALLY ARE GOING TO BE PAID OUT THE FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS, THE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS THAT GO INTO YOUR OPEB PLAN, THE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS THAT GO INTO YOUR PENSION PLAN, ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS, AND THEN THE UNBILLED UTILITIES, AND THEN THE DISCOUNT RATE USED IN THAT ADOPTION OF GASB 96.

SO, LOTS OF STUFF THERE.

AGAIN, THIS IS WE COMMUNICATE THAT WE DID HAVE AN EMPHASIS OF MATTER WITHIN OUR OPINION.

BUT JUST TO SAY THAT A NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD WAS ADOPTED THIS YEAR.

THE OTHER THING WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT IS IF WE HAVE ANY ACTUAL AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS AS A RESULT OF OUR PROCEDURES, WHICH THEN WE EVALUATE THOSE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CONTROL ITEMS TO REPORT AS A RESULT OF THOSE.

AND THEN WE ALSO KIND OF REFER TO THIS AS AN AUDIT TOOL IS IF THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCES THAT ARE NOT MATERIAL, WE ACCUMULATE THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T ADD UP TO BE MATERIAL.

A MANAGEMENT LOOKS AT THOSE AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT MATERIAL.

A LOT OF TIMES THOSE ARE A RESULT WE'RE SAMPLING OR WE'RE PROJECTING ERRORS USING STATISTICS.

AND SO NOT NECESSARILY WANT YOU TO RECORD THOSE.

IT'S JUST WE ADD EVERYTHING UP JUST TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T GET TO A MATERIAL AMOUNT.

NEXT COUPLE SLIDES.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE, BUT THERE WERE A COUPLE ADJUSTMENTS THIS YEAR THAT WE DID HAVE.

AND I'LL TOUCH ON THOSE IN A COUPLE MORE SLIDES.

THESE ARE THE SUMMARY OF THE CORRECTED ADJUSTMENTS.

AND THEN THESE ARE THE SUMMARY OF THE UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS THAT WERE NOT RECORDED THAT WE DO NOT THINK ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE MAJORITY OF THE STUFF IS TIMING DIFFERENCES FROM ONE FISCAL YEAR TO THE NEXT.

SO, WHEN WE DID HAVE THE AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS, WE DID EVALUATE THOSE.

A COUPLE OF THOSE WE DID REPORT AS A DEFICIENCY.

REALLY MOST OF THESE ARE RELATED TO TIMING ISSUES.

SO, THE FIRST ONE IS RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN GRANTS.

SO REALLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS THAT FOR CERTAIN GRANTS THAT THERE'S A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN WHEN YOU INCUR THE ELIGIBLE COSTS FOR THOSE AND THEN RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT IS A LONG TIME.

SO, THE CITY HAD BASICALLY JUST RECORDED THOSE MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED TO CASH BASIS AND THAT ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.

THOSE ACTUALLY WAS AN EASY ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE.

THE CITY RECORDED THOSE AMOUNTS.

I THINK GOING FORWARD IT'S AN EASY THING TO, TO, TO CORRECT.

SELF-INSURANCE LIABILITIES WAS KIND OF AN OVER ACCRUAL OF CERTAIN SELF-INSURANCE LIABILITIES.

THEY'RE BASED OFF CONFIDENCE LEVELS THAT THE CITY RECEIVED FROM THEIR ACTUARY.

IT JUST WAS OUTSIDE WHAT WE CALL THE REASONABLE RANGE.

AND SO, THEY REDUCED THAT.

AGAIN, AN ENTRY THAT WAS MADE TO CORRECT THOSE PRETTY EASILY.

AND KNOWING WHAT THAT REASONABLE RANGE IS TO CORRECT THOSE GOING FORWARD SHOULD BE A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCESS TO THE LAST ONE IS A SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS, WHICH REALLY GOES IN LINE WITH THE FIRST ONE IS IT'S JUST WHEN IT WAS REPORTED, THE TIMING OF REPORTING THOSE EXPENDITURES ON THE SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES.

SO REALLY RELATED TO A TIMING, A TIMING ISSUE THERE.

THIS NEXT SLIDE IS SUMMARIZING REALLY OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE AUDIT PROCESS.

AND SO, YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING IN THE NO SECTION HERE, WHICH IS GOOD.

USUALLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT MEANS THAT WE HAD A DISAGREEMENT WITH AUDITING PROCEDURES OR ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS, OR WE ENCOUNTERED SOME SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES WHICH WE DID NOT. SO, WHEN WE REQUESTED INFORMATION MANAGEMENT PROVIDED THAT VERY TIMELY VERY FORTHCOMING VERY EASY AUDIT, VERY GOOD AUDIT CLIENT TO WORK WITH.

SO, NO ISSUES TO REPORT THERE EITHER.

NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS SLIDE ENTIRELY EITHER.

BUT WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT WHEN WE DO WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH MANAGEMENT, BUT ULTIMATELY, WE'RE INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY AND WE REPORT TO COUNCIL.

AND SO, THIS IS JUST KIND OF SUMMARIZING OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR INDEPENDENCE.

SO, WE HAVE LOTS OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T IMPAIR OUR INDEPENDENCE.

AND WE GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THE CITY TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T AS WELL.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE ONLY OTHER THING ATTACHED TO HERE IS THE MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATION LETTER THAT MANAGEMENT PROVIDED US TO IT AT THE END OF THE AUDIT.

AND WE INCORPORATE THAT WITHIN THIS, THIS PRESENTATION AS WELL.

SO, I'LL PAUSE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

IF NOT THAT'S A THAT'S A SUMMARY OF OUR PRESENTATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER.

THANKS FOR THE FOR THE PRESENTATION.

CAN YOU GO BACK TO PAGE 5 OR 6? IS YOUR MICROPHONE ON? I'LL MAKE SURE. THANK YOU.

THERE WE GO. CAN YOU GO BACK TO PAGE? I THINK IT WAS 5 OR 6.

THERE WAS A DATE. THERE IT IS, OCTOBER 11TH ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

YEAH. OH, THERE IT IS.

[00:10:02]

I JUST WASN'T SURE WHAT COMMUNICATION WAS ON THE 11TH, BUT THAT WAS BASICALLY YOUR ENGAGEMENT LETTER.

YEAH, OUR ENGAGEMENT LETTER THAT SETS OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AUDIT THAT SUMMARIZES WHAT WE'LL TELL YOU AT THE END AND WHAT WILL TELL YOU IMMEDIATELY.

IF WE COME ACROSS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE IMMEDIATE ITEMS WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO FRAUD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO. NO PROBLEM.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. THIS IS AN UPDATE ON ACTIONS REGARDING HY-VEE FIRST AVENUE CLOSURE.

WE FEEL AS A COUNCIL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE DAILY UPDATES ON THIS.

THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENTS OF HY-VEE'S DECISION TO CLOSE OUR FIRST AVENUE STORE THE CITY IS TREATING THIS VERY MUCH LIKE WE WOULD ANY UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY WHICH I APPRECIATE.

CITY MANAGER POMERANTZ AND DIRECTOR PRATT'S WILLINGNESS TO BRING US OUR UPDATE TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE WERE ASKED TO REPORT ON ACTIONS THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN.

COMMUNICATIONS THE CITY HAS TAKEN SINCE OUR ACTUAL INITIAL VISIT WITH HY-VEE REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF THE FIRST AVENUE STORE, AND THAT WAS THAT BEGAN AROUND A YEAR AGO.

SO, I'M JUST GOING TO, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS. I JUST WANTED TO SHOW THE COUNCIL AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS AWARE.

AND I SAY THAT ALSO KNOWING THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION SINCE IT SINCE IT BEGAN, WHICH HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO US AND IN PARTICULARLY IN RECENT TIMES AND OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

BUT IT'S REALLY BEEN A PROCESS OF ALL OF US BEING INVOLVED AND REACTING WITH GREAT CONCERN OVER THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS STORE CLOSING. SO, I'LL GO BACK TO 2023 AND ON OUR TIMELINE.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF KEY ISSUES THAT THAT OCCURRED.

SO, ON MAY 1ST, JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, WE DID HAVE A MEETING DISCUSSION WITH HY-VEE CORPORATE REGARDING THEIR INTENT TO CLOSE WHAT WE'LL CALL THE FIRST AVENUE STORE.

THAT WAS MET WITH GREAT CONCERN AT THAT TIME.

WE HAD ELECTED OFFICIALS INVOLVED SOME STAFF OFFICIALS.

AND IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH HY-VEE, WE WERE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A REALLY SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE BLOW TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT IN OUR MINDS, CLOSURE OF THE STORE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE BEGAN THE DISCUSSION.

WE THEN GOT TO WORK THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF, AND WE BEGAN RESEARCHING THE, THE PROPERTY ITSELF, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE HY-VEE STORE ON FIRST AVENUE.

BUT WE FOUND OUT THAT HY-VEE DIDN'T OWN THE STORE, AND THAT'S, THAT'S A COMMON PRACTICE WHERE STORES SUCH AS COMPANIES LIKE HY-VEE WILL SELL THE REAL ESTATE TO ANOTHER INVESTOR, AND THEY WILL LEASE THAT REAL ESTATE FROM THAT, FROM THAT INVESTMENT GROUP.

SO, WE THEN DETERMINED AND WITH THE HELP OF HY-VEE, THAT WE NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH A BILL FLYNN, WHO WAS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT NET LEASE CAPITAL ADVISORS WHO WAS THE PROPERTY OWNER'S PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT AND REPRESENTATIVE.

SO THAT'S WHO WE WERE TO, TO DEAL WITH.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THAT WAS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALKED TO HY-VEE, WE WE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU KEEP THE STORE OPEN? BECAUSE THE CLOSURE WOULD BE A VERY SAD AND DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND SO, THEY DID HELP US AND PUT US IN TOUCH WITH AGAIN, MR. FLYNN. WE THEN CONTACTED MR. FLYNN, AGAIN REPRESENTING THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY, AND MR. FLYNN GAVE US A DOCUMENT CALLED OPPORTUNITY AND SUMMARY ANALYSIS FOR THE PROPERTY.

SO, WHAT WE DETERMINED THROUGH OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH HY-VEE, AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY OWNER, THAT THE LEASE WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

AND SO THAT WAS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HY-VEE WAS CONSIDERING WHETHER THEY WOULD KEEP THE STORE OPEN OR NOT.

[00:15:07]

AND ONE OF THE FIRST ISSUES THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY HY-VEE WAS THE LEASE NEEDED TO BE RENEWED. AND THEY ASKED THE CITY IF THE CITY COULD HELP ATTAIN FAVORABLE TERMS FOR HY-VEE TO REDUCE COSTS TO THE COMPANY.

AND SO, WE DIDN'T.

GET INVOLVED IN ANY.

NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING THE LEASE ITSELF.

WE NEVER RECEIVED THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, BUT WE DID HAVE A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH THE OWNERS OF, OF THE PROPERTY, AGAIN, REPRESENTED BY MR. FLYNN AND NOW MR. HORVATH. WE EMPHASIZE TO THE OWNERS THAT THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT SITE FOR CEDAR RAPIDS, ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO CEDAR RAPIDS AS A WHOLE.

AND WE STATED VERY CLEARLY, CEDAR RAPIDS DESIRE, STRONG DESIRE TO KEEP THAT STORE OPEN.

AGAIN, THEY ARE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY NEGOTIATING WITH HY-VEE.

THEY INITIALLY HAD A SERIES OF QUESTIONS FOR US ABOUT POTENTIAL FOR INVESTMENT OF THE PROPERTY, AND SO SOME OF THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GROCERY STORE.

THEY JUST ASKED, YOU KNOW, WOULD ADJACENT COLLEGE BE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPERTY FOR A DORMITORY OR FOR SOME OTHER KIND OF USE? THEY ASKED ABOUT OTHER KINDS OF GROCERY STORES THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

EVENTUALLY THEY THEY HAD THAT DISCUSSION.

THE REPRESENTATIVES ASKED ABOUT OTHER RETAIL OR OFFICE THAT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE.

AND WE EMPHASIZED VERY CLEARLY AND VERY STRONGLY TO THEM THAT THE CITY HAD INVESTED REALLY THROUGH OUR TAX INCREMENT DISTRICT WELL OVER 22 YEARS AGO IN THE UPGRADE OF THIS FACILITY, AND THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS INVESTED IN HAVING THIS I'VE AT THIS LOCATION AND THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FIND ANOTHER TENANT.

WE'RE NOT REAL ESTATE BROKERS OR AGENTS, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S OTHER NEARBY PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN EMPTY FOR A WHILE AS WELL.

AND SO, WE REALLY EMPHASIZED AND PUSHED HARD ON THE CONCEPT THAT WE NEEDED THAT NEGOTIATION TO OCCUR, AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO WORK WITH HY-VEE AND MAKE THIS FACILITY MAKE SENSE TO ALL PARTIES FOR THE FUTURE.

SO THOSE LEASE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOW IN JULY OF 23, AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH AGAIN, THIS REPRESENTATIVE EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT TO THE COMMUNITY.

AROUND SEPTEMBER OF 23RD SEPTEMBER 13TH, WE WERE INFORMED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THEY DID REACH A LEASE IN PRINCIPLE WITH HY-VEE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS NOT AN ABSOLUTE THAT RENEWAL FOR FIVE YEARS.

BUT THEY TOLD US THAT IT LOOKED GOOD FOR A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL AND THAT YOU KNOW, STAY POSTED.

WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS COMING.

AGAIN. THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY WITH HY-VEE.

THEY'RE WITH THEIR LANDLORD, THEIR REPRESENTATIVE.

BUT WE THOUGHT THAT WAS EXTREMELY POSITIVE.

WE DID OTHER THINGS TO INVOLVE OURSELVES IN THE PROCESS.

AS WE GOT TO THIS POINT THAT I JUST MENTIONED.

SO, ONE OF THOSE WAS WE MET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL.

SO, THIS WASN'T JUST EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS OR WE ACTUALLY WENT AND MET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES.

WE WENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL SHOPPING CENTER CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS, AND WE MET THOSE INDIVIDUALS AT THAT TIME AND AGAIN, HAD SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE VITALITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE SUPPORT OF THE NEIGHBORS FOR THIS, FOR THIS STORE, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THIS ACTIVE AND CRITICAL RESOURCE OF FOOD THROUGH THIS GROCERY STORE, IN THIS LOCATION.

[00:20:02]

WHILE WE WERE RECEIVING UPDATES BACK AND FORTH, WE HAD SOME SOME GOOD NEWS TO TO REPORT.

AND SO I'LL JUST QUOTE FROM THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD.

BUT ON NOVEMBER 15TH AGAIN, WE'RE IN 2023 STILL.

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EXTENDED THE LEASE WITH HY-VEE FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS.

YOUR WORK AND SUPPORT BEHIND THE SCENES MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN GETTING THE DEAL DONE.

BILL FLYNN, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OWNER OF THE FACILITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.

THIS WAS A PROCESS WHICH WE HAD LOTS OF INPUT ON THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VARIOUS CITY STAFF, ALL INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION.

AND IN THIS CASE, WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO SEE KIND OF THIS DEAL CULMINATE WITH THIS GOOD NEWS FROM MR. FLYNN THAT THEY HAD REACHED A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE.

ACTIONS AND REACTIONS.

NUMEROUS THAT TOOK PLACE.

AGAIN, WORKING INITIALLY WITH HY-VEE.

LISTENING TO THEIR NEEDS.

WORKING WITH THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING AND GETTING TO THIS POINT OF NOVEMBER 15TH, SAYING WE'D RECEIVED THIS FINAL NOTICE OF THE OF THE FIVE-YEAR LEASE BEING CULMINATED.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SKIP ALL THE WAY TO 2024.

AND HERE WE ARE AT MAY 9TH AND MAYOR O'DONNELL RECEIVED A VERY UNFORTUNATE PHONE CALL FROM HY-VEE STATING THAT THEY WERE CLOSING THE FIRST AVENUE STORE.

SO, I'D SAY THAT THE LOOK ON THE MAYOR'S FACE WAS ONE OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND SHOCK, BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN WORKING THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS ALL ALONG, AND NO ONE ANTICIPATED THAT WE WOULD JUST RECEIVE THIS NOTICE FROM ONE OF THE.

LEGISLATIVE VICE PRESIDENTS INFORMING US OF THIS FAILURE.

WE HAD OTHER PHONE CALLS.

WE'RE VERY CLOSE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, AND SO WE HAD AN IN-DEPTH PHONE CALL WITH MAYOR QUENTIN HART FROM THE CITY OF WATERLOO.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD INFORMATION ABOUT THE DAVENPORT STORE CLOSING.

NONE OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME RELATIONSHIP THERE AS FAR AS JUST JOINTLY EXPRESSING OUR CONCERNS.

BUT OUR FOCUS IS ON OUR STORE AND OUR NEEDS.

BUT WE ALSO WERE, I GUESS, QUITE INTERESTED IN WHAT WAS BEING CLOSED AND IN DAVENPORT AND IN WATERLOO. AND THERE SEEMED TO BE A SIMILARITY IN THE STORES THAT WERE BEING CLOSED.

AT ANY RATE, WE THEN PLANNED ON CONTACTING HY-VEE, BUT WE.

DECIDED TO CALL THEM.

SO, ON FRIDAY, MAY 10TH, I DID TALK TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR AT HY-VEE, AND WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION.

BUT NO DIFFERENCE IN OUTCOME.

SO, I MEAN, THE CONVERSATION REVOLVED AROUND.

OPERATING MARGINS AND CONCERNS FOR THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THAT PARTICULAR STORE.

THERE WAS I THINK, AN EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE OTHER STORES AND THE IMPACT OF HY-VEE ON THE COMMUNITY.

SO, IT WAS IT WAS A CONVERSATION OF.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO LOOK FORWARD.

IN THE MEANTIME, ON MONDAY THE 13TH, THE MAYOR RECEIVED A TEXT FROM HY-VEE SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF HY-VEE AND OTHER OFFICIALS WISHED TO SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR.

AND THAT CONVERSATION DID TAKE PLACE YESTERDAY AROUND MIDDAY.

AND WE WERE ALSO INFORMED BY, FOR INSTANCE, THE CITY OF WATERLOO THAT THEY CALLED WATERLOO AS WELL THE SAME INDIVIDUALS AND HAD A CONVERSATION.

SO, IT'S AT THIS POINT WE ARE STILL TALKING WITH HY-VEE, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE AS PROACTIVE AS POSSIBLE.

AND IN FACT, WE HAVE BEEN, AS I'VE SAID, VERY PROACTIVE OVER THE LAST YEAR.

BUT IT'S TRULY A TIME FOR BEING PROACTIVE BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY I KNOW EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, THE CONVERSATION WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, AND

[00:25:06]

SO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD? WHAT CAN WE DO TO POTENTIALLY KEEP THE STORE OPEN? WHAT CAN WE DO TO LOOK AT NEW OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.

AND SO, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE BEING STUDIED.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO JENNIFER PRATT, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH NOT JUST HY-VEE, BUT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AGAIN, JUST THAT UNDERLYING THEME, UNDERLYING THEME THAT ACCESS TO FOOD, ACCESS TO FARMING, PHARMACY IS SO CRITICAL IN OUR CORE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO AGAIN, SOME OF THE PROACTIVE STEPS WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IS WE DID COMPLETE A GROCERY MARKET STUDY AND THAT WAS COMPLETED BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023.

IT REALLY IS STUDYING ESPECIALLY FOCUSED ON THE CORE AREA OF THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFYING WHERE IS THE STRENGTH OF MARKET.

AND AGAIN, WHAT THIS BECOMES IS A TOOL WHEN WE GO OUT TO PROMOTE AND TO ATTRACT THAT TYPE OF RETAIL TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO WERE JUST ABOUT READY TO LAUNCH OUR FIRST AVENUE EAST MICRO AREA PLAN.

THIS HAS BEEN A COUNCIL PRIORITY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD ALREADY SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH TOMORROW AT THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.

AND BECAUSE OF THE NEWS WITH HY-VEE LAST WEEK, WE DECIDED TO ACCELERATE THAT FIRST STAKEHOLDER MEETING, AND WE ACTUALLY WILL BE HOLDING THAT AT 3:00 THIS AFTERNOON.

AGAIN, REALLY WANTING TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THOSE IMMEDIATE NEEDS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE SO WE CAN START HELPING MATCH THAT.

AND, AND I WILL JUST SAY, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO TELL COUNCIL HOW AMAZING THIS COMMUNITY IS, BECAUSE AS SOON AS WE REACH OUT TO PEOPLE, WE HAVE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. SO AGAIN, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, THAT FIRST AVENUE EAST STUDY AREA IS SHOWN HERE ON THE MAP.

I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT ALL OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE REINVESTMENT THAT WE'VE HAD IN THIS CORE AREA, MOST RECENTLY WITH THE HEIGHTS THAT WE JUST DID THE RIBBON CUTTING ON, BUT ALSO COMMENTS ON FIRST, THE COMMONWEALTH.

WE HAVE AN ANNUAL PROGRAM FOR HISTORIC REHABILITATION IN THIS AREA.

WE ALSO JUST HAD THE EXPANSION OF THE EASTERN IOWA HEALTH CARE CENTER WITH THEIR DENTAL FACILITY.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME REALLY FOUNDATIONAL NONPROFITS IN THE AREA WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HOMES.

SO, BETWEEN HOPE CDA IS AS WELL AS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NETWORK, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN HOMES IN THIS AREA, AS WELL AS SOME EXCITING PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON WITH THE FLOURISHING NEIGHBORHOOD INDEX THAT IS JUST KICKING OFF, AS WELL AS A 15TH STREET ART PROJECT TO AGAIN HELP THAT WALKABILITY IN THE AREA. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

AND THE REASON THIS IS SO, SO IMPORTANT, IN ADDITION TO JUST THE CONTINUED DEVELOP AND REDEVELOPMENT OF OUR CITY WHEN WE MET WITH HY-VEE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY EMPHASIZE IS I ALREADY SAID WAS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEIR LANDLORD AND HOW THE CITY COULD HELP IN THAT, BUT ALSO, THEY WERE HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO WE INFORMED THOSE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE TIME THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE ARE COMMITTING OURSELVES TO THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS AREA OF OUR CITY.

SOME OF OUR ACTION STEPS.

AND THIS IS.

ALL A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT WE ARE WORKING AND COMMUNICATING WITH HY-VEE.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE GOAL OF KEEPING THE STORE OPEN, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ON BASED ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY HY-VEE.

SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK FOR AREAS AND OPPORTUNITIES WHERE HY-VEE CAN SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. SO, I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO ALL THOSE DETAILS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE HY-VEE DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

BUT WE THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY WAYS, WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION OR WHETHER IT'S SUPPORT TO RECEIVE GROCERIES OR GET TO OTHER STORES AND BACK IN A COST FREE OR VERY, VERY COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO HELP THE RESIDENTS WE THINK THAT'S OWED TO THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS STORE.

[00:30:02]

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE BRINGING THE GROUP TOGETHER TO DISCUSS IS, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE, BUT ARE THERE IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WAYS THAT HY-VEE COULD SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF OUR CITY? JENNIFER MENTIONED THE, THE GROCERY MARKET STUDY.

AND SO THAT WAS COMPLETE IN SEPTEMBER OF 23.

SO, IT WASN'T DONE SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS STORE BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF AREAS WHERE WE'D LIKE TO SEE NEW GROCERIES EXPAND, DEVELOP.

BUT IT WAS DONE AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IN CASE THERE WERE AREAS WHERE WE HAD TO FURTHER NEGOTIATE WITH HY-VEE, WE WOULD HAVE THE DATA TO DO THAT.

SO THAT STUDY CONTINUES.

AND THE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR THIS STUDY WILL HELP US AS WE GO.

NEXT WEEK TO THE INTERNATIONAL SHOPPING CENTER CONVENTION.

SO, WE HAVE SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL BE JOINING US AT THAT AT THAT MEETING.

AND HAVING THIS STUDY AND THE DATA IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

AND SO, THERE'LL BE, AGAIN, DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND NEEDS FOR EXPANSION.

WE'LL CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THE LOSS OF THE STORE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE BENEFITS OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND WE DO HAVE AT LEAST ONE MEETING SET UP WITH A GROCERY STORE.

AND SO, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE, AS I SAID, TO MEET WITH WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS.

AND WE CALLED THIS GROUP TOGETHER TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS, AS I SAID, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE.

CITIZENS OF CEDAR RAPIDS SEE, IS AS THE NEED.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT IS OBVIOUS, BUT THERE MAY BE NEW INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING AND SHARING THAT COMMUNICATION SO THAT WILL OCCUR.

WE'RE INVOLVING OTHERS IN THAT PROCESS.

THERE'LL BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT CAN HELP US, WHETHER IT'S IN WASHINGTON, DC OR IN DES MOINES.

WE WILL APPRECIATE WHATEVER HELP WE CAN GET IN THE FUTURE AFTER THIS GROUP COMES TOGETHER AND SAYS WHAT, WHAT THE NEED IS AND HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS, JENNIFER SAID, IS REALLY THE GOAL.

WITH THAT. THAT'S SOME OF THE STEPS WE'VE TAKEN.

AND JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE JUST HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO US, AND HOW SERIOUSLY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS EACH HAVE TAKEN THIS FROM THE BEGINNING. NOT FROM THURSDAY, BUT OVER THIS LAST YEAR.

THAT'S BROUGHT US TO THIS UNFORTUNATE POINT.

BUT WE ALSO SEE A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL IN THIS CORRIDOR, AS IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE TO BE MADE AND INVESTED IN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.

AND I'M SURE COUNCIL HAS THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS.

IF YOU'RE UP FOR IT, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST REITERATE IF YOU THINK THERE WAS SHOCK ON MY FACE, THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS EQUALLY OR MORE SO SHOCKED TOO.

AND THAT WAS MY FIRST TEXT AFTER I GOT THE CALL WAS LITERALLY 911 TO COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER TODD WAS WITH ME.

IN THAT VERY FIRST MEETING A YEAR AGO.

SO, COUNCIL MEMBER TODD THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AGAIN, NOT JUST THIS WEEK, BUT YOU'VE BEEN ALL IN ACTUALLY, FOR DECADES.

FROM THE BEGINNING. YEAH, FROM THE BEGINNING.

DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS TO OFFER HERE? YOUR MAYOR? YOUR HONOR, THANK YOU.

YEAH, WE WERE IN A COLLEGE DISTRICT MEETING.

AND YOU SENT A TEXT AND IT SAID 911.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN.

BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

JEFF, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE FACTUAL.

ANALYSIS OF WHAT HAPPENED.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY AND IN RESPONSE TO AT LEAST THE CITY'S EFFORTS.

WE WERE ASKED BY HY-VEE LAST YEAR TO KEEP THIS QUIET.

AND THAT WAS DONE PARTICULARLY.

WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRAUMA THAT IT WOULD CAUSE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO THEIR STORE EMPLOYEES IF THEY FOUND OUT THAT HY-VEE WAS EVEN CONSIDERING CLOSING THE STORE. AND AS A CITY, WE'RE NOT EXACTLY GREAT AT KEEPING SECRETS.

[00:35:07]

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WERE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT'S THESE ARE SENSITIVE ISSUES.

AND WE DID A DAMN GOOD JOB OF KEEPING AT LEAST DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND DOING WHAT THE OTHER PARTY ASKED US TO DO.

MAYBE I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, TOO, THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION NOW.

AND SO, IN ORDER TO GET THE HY-VEE HERE TO BEGIN WITH, THAT WAS A TEN-YEAR PROCESS TO GET THEM TO DO WHAT IT WAS, WHAT THEY DID DO.

BUT I FOUND THE OLD DOCUMENT AND REALLY WHAT AROUND THAT TIME, WHAT WE DID IN TERMS OF THE CITY, WE CREATED A CONSOLIDATED CENTRAL URBAN RENEWAL AREA BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, WE WERE DOING A PROJECT FOR HY-VEE, AND THE DOWNTOWN YMCA, WHICH WAS A NONPROFIT, WAS ALSO BUILDING A BUILDING.

AND WE HAD TO, WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FINANCE THAT AND WHAT WE DID.

AND IN TERMS OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, IT WAS 975,000.

WE HELPED WITH THE LAND.

376 FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

WE HAD AN $18,000 CONTINGENCY, AN $18,000 CONTINGENCY.

CAN ANYBODY IMAGINE THAT NOWADAYS? AND THEN SOME INTERIM FINANCING, AND IT WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN TYPICALLY, BECAUSE THE COST TO DEVELOP IN THE URBAN CORE WAS MORE THAN HY-VEE GOING OUT AND BUYING A FARM FIELD SOMEWHERE, A GREENFIELD AND DEVELOPING OUT THERE.

SO, IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL BACK THEN.

BUT IN TERMS OF LOOKING BACK, IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND I HAVE REAL I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE TEAM AND THE LEADERSHIP AND GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE'LL HAVE SOME OPTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE THOUGHTS? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. YEAH.

SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES CERTAINLY FOR THEIR, THEIR RAPID SUPPORT STRATEGY STRATEGIZING AND JUST FOR HOW SERIOUSLY THEY'RE TAKING THIS ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, IN 2022, WHEN I RE-UPPED MY COUNCIL TERM IT WASN'T SEXY ENOUGH FOR MANY PEOPLE THEN, BUT I IDENTIFIED THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY WAS HOMELESSNESS AND FOOD INSECURITY.

AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S COME UP DURING THE DERECHO.

IT'S COME UP NOW.

WE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE DERECHO ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THE BOTTOM CAN FALL OUT AND DESTABILIZE THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO A LOT OF THE PRACTICES THAT YOU'LL SEE IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANS, CERTAINLY ON DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, TALK ABOUT HAVING WALKABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FRESH FOODS, WHETHER THAT'S IN A COMMUNITY GARDEN, WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ATTRACTING EMPLOYERS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRESH PRODUCE.

AND SO HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

NOW, WHAT'S PROBABLY MOST PERSONALLY CHALLENGING FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH I DO STILL HAVE A WALKABLE GROCERY STORE, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE HY-VEE WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE FIRST PLACE I WAS EVER EMPLOYED AT 14.

YOU KNOW, I WAS PROUD THEN TO BE AT ONE OF THOSE HELPFUL SMILES IN EVERY AISLE, AND I COULD NOT BE MORE DISAPPOINTED.

I SPEND SO MUCH OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN HEALTH CARE EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT INHERENTLY A PART OF WHAT I DO, DEALING WITH AND SUPPORTING THE FOOD INSECURITY OF OUR PATIENTS THERE.

AND SO, THIS ISSUE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I KNOW THAT, AGAIN, I WAS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TODD DURING THAT MEETING.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT'S WHY HE LEFT, BUT IT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE.

AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THESE EXACT THINGS TALKING ABOUT STABILIZING THAT COMMUNITY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE FURTHER REITERATED THAT EVEN WITH THAT, THAT WEDNESDAY, JUST THE DAY BEFORE AT OUR GOAL SETTING SESSION, FURTHER REITERATED HOW IMPORTANT THIS EXACT TOPIC WAS TO THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY, NOT EVEN A QUESTION TALKING ABOUT THIS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, TO SEE HY-VEE DESTABILIZE THESE COMMUNITIES WITH THEIR ACTIONS IS REALLY CONCERNING TO ME.

I THINK PERSONALLY, I FEEL LIKE IT'S TIME FOR A BETTER PARTNER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE INDUSTRY THAT THEY'RE IN, AND THAT'S THE INDUSTRY OF SERVING PEOPLE.

AND I SAY THAT AND MAYBE IT'S A BIT CONTROVERSIAL, BUT I SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE DIVESTING FROM AND HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ABANDONING THE MOST COMPLEX NEIGHBORHOODS IN DAVENPORT, WATERLOO AND CEDAR RAPIDS.

SO WHILE OUR FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON CEDAR RAPIDS IT IT DOES CONCERN ME THAT THIS IS A TREND THAT THEY HAVE IN EASTERN IOWA.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THIS AREA TO ADDRESS.

I ALSO FEEL CONFIDENT IN MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, GIVEN THE WORK THAT THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD, AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE ON GOING TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY TO RAPIDLY IMPLEMENT

[00:40:05]

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU.

MAYOR TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF HY-VEE.

I WILL TELL YOU; I STOP AT THE FIRST AVENUE HY-VEE PROBABLY TWICE A WEEK, MAYBE THREE TIMES A WEEK.

I FEEL SAFE EVERY TIME I WALK IN THE DOOR.

THEY ARE WONDERFUL.

THE PEOPLE THERE GREET YOU, THEY KNOW YOU'RE THERE.

THERE'S A POLICE OFFICER INSIDE THE STORE.

THERE'S OFTENTIMES A POLICE CAR OUTSIDE THE STORE.

I'VE NEVER ONCE FELT UNSAFE, AND TO ME, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE AN URBAN MYTH THAT THIS AREA ISN'T SAFE.

I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT EVER WALKING INTO THAT STORE AND I GO INTO IT QUITE A BIT.

SO, TO THAT REPRESENTATIVE, I WOULD SAY TO YOU, I FEEL SAFE AND I'M MORE TIMES THAN NOT, I'M WALKING IN BY MYSELF AND I'M, YOU KNOW, AN OLDER WOMAN GOING INTO THIS STORE.

JEFF. JENNIFER.

CERTAINLY. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ONGOING LEADERSHIP.

COUNCILMAN. TODD.

THANK YOU. FOOD DESERTS DO EXIST.

WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING IN A FOOD DESERT IN NEW BOHEMIA, LITERALLY FOR YEARS, AND WE'VE JUST NOW GOTTEN TO THE TIPPING POINT WHERE WE CAN PUT A GROCERY STORE IN THAT AREA.

THEY DO EXIST, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET TO HEALTHY, GOOD FOOD AND PRESCRIPTIONS.

AND PART OF THAT IS THAT WALKABLE COMMUNITY.

CAN WE WALK THERE TO GET THERE? IF YOU GO TO THE FIRST AVENUE HY-VEE, YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE WALKING.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THAT IS THEY MIGHT MAKE MULTIPLE TRIPS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE CARRYING LOTS OF BAGS OF GROCERIES.

YOU'RE NOT. SO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO GET MULTIPLE TRIPS OF YOUR FOOD, BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T CARRY ALL OF THAT WHILE YOU'RE WALKING.

SO, WHILE WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE REQUIRE MULTIPLE TRIPS DURING A WEEK TO GET WHAT THEY NEED. TO SAY I'M SAD IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

TO SAY I'M DISAPPOINTED IS CERTAINLY RIGHT IN THERE.

MAYOR. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN SAYING THIS WAS AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY.

ESPECIALLY TO THOSE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WITH LIMITED TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.

THINK ABOUT IT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THIS IS A TRAVESTY.

IT'S A TRAVESTY.

I WATCHED THE NEWS THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN ALL THIS CAME DOWN, AND THERE WAS A MAN THERE.

WHO HAD A PROSTHETIC LEG, AND HE WAS ON A WALKER.

HE SAID, I LIVED TWO BLOCKS FROM HERE.

THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I CAN GET MY PRESCRIPTIONS.

WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES, HE SAID, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE GETTING WHAT I NEED.

AND CERTAINLY, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WITH LIMITED INCOMES CANNOT AFFORD HOPPING ONLINE.

RIGHT TO GET THEIR GROCERIES DELIVERED TO THEM.

I, YOU KNOW, JEFF AND JENNIFER MAYOR.

DALE, WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT.

THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE.

THIS IS ABOUT A HUMAN ELEMENT.

AND WHAT'S MISSING HERE IS THE COMPASSION.

WE'VE GOT MY FULL SUPPORT.

ANYTHING YOU NEED, PLEASE REACH OUT.

HAPPY TO HELP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MEYER.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.

CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ABOUT THE HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD? YOU KNOW, I WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT HY-VEE, IT'S UNDERPERFORMING THEIR FINANCIAL TARGETS.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD ANYTHING THAT RELATES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE SHARED ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE.

AND IF NOTHING COMES TO MIND, THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S FINE, I THINK.

AND I'LL LET JENNIFER GO INTO MORE DETAIL.

THEY DID WHEN WE WHEN WE MET WITH THE HY-VEE REPRESENTATIVES, THEY JUST MENTIONED THEY WANTED TO BE IN.

IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I GUESS THEY.

SAW AS BEING MORE VIBRANT.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEFINITION OF THAT IS, EXACTLY.

BUT THEY DID TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE CITY? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO GET THIS KIND OF THE STIMULATION OF THE COMMUNITY IN THIS AREA GOING, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

[00:45:02]

AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, WE WORKED ON LISTENING TO THEM AND PUTTING THIS ACTION PLAN TOGETHER, IN ADDITION TO A NUMBER OF OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS MADE.

SO, IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, PLANNING IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL AND CRITICAL TO GETTING THINGS STARTED.

BUT AS WE MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION, THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY THAT INVOLVE HOUSING THAT ARE GOING TO BRING PEOPLE TO A STORE LIKE HY-VEE.

JENNIFER, WANT TO ADD TO THAT? YOU REALLY SUMMED IT UP VERY WELL.

AGAIN, IT HAS BEEN A BIG FOCUS OF OURS BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WANT TO LISTEN AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT.

SO, I THINK WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON MANY PROJECTS, BUT BRINGING THOSE TOGETHER AND REALLY SHOWING EVERYONE EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE IN THIS STUDY AREA, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WAS REALLY OUR WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE COMMUNICATING THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO, IT HAD MORE TO DO WITH VITALITY AND GROWING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

NOT JUST AT LEAST A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CRIME OR THEFT IN THE STORE.

IT HAD TO DO AS YOU SAID INITIALLY WITH THE VITALITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE SECOND THING IS DO HAS THE CITY BEEN PROVIDED A COPY OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE THAT.

YEAH, AND I DOUBT JUST TO INTERJECT.

I DOUBT THEY'LL EVER SHARE A COPY OF A LEASE AGREEMENT.

THE ONLY WAY WE WOULD GET A COPY OF A LEASE AGREEMENT, IF THERE CAME A POINT IN TIME WHEN WE ENTERED INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH, I'VE OR SOME OTHER ENTITY FOR THAT SITE, THEN WE CAN ASK TO SEE WHAT THE LEASE AGREEMENT LOOKS LIKE.

YEAH, BUT UNTIL THEN THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT INTERNAL.

AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD SO YOU KNOW THAT AGAIN, THAT AGREEMENT WAS BETWEEN HY-VEE AND THIS THIRD AND THIRD WITH THE CORRECT THE THIRD PARTY.

INTERESTINGLY IN THIS DOESN'T IMPACT THIS DISCUSSION AS FAR AS I KNOW, BUT THEY'VE ALL THAT GROUP AND I MENTIONED THIS INDIVIDUAL, HORVATH AND OTHERS THAT WE TALKED TO AND MET WITH, THEY HAVE SOLD THE PROPERTY.

SO, THERE IS A NEW OWNER AS OF JANUARY OF 24.

AND WE ARE WILL ALSO MAKE CONTACT WITH THAT GROUP.

BUT AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THE EXACT TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE FIVE YEARS, WHAT A CANCELLATION PROVISION MIGHT HAVE BEEN, WHAT ARE THE, YOU KNOW, WAYS THAT SOMEONE SUCH AS HY-VEE COULD GET OUT OF AN AGREEMENT? OR DO THEY CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THE FIVE YEARS? WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

YEAH, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT NON-COMPETE CLAUSES ARE THERE FOR THAT SPACE.

YEAH. AND I, AS WE, SORRY, I'M, YOU KNOW, RESPONDING IN THIS MANNER BUT.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO HY-VEE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS AND I MENTIONED, WE'LL HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS ON THE TABLE WHEN WE TALK TO THEM, WAYS WE CAN HELP THERE.

WHAT WILL BE THEIR PAST CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITY.

BUT ALSO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANOTHER GROCERY STORE CAN GO IN THAT LOCATION BECAUSE WE DO HAVE EXPERIENCE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS KIND OF AGREEMENT WHERE THEY MIGHT TRY TO.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY WILL BUT KEEP OUT A SIMILAR ENTITY.

SO, IF HY-VEE, YOU KNOW, HAD HAD THE ORIGINAL LEASE AND DID THEY DID THEY ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING THAT SAYS ANOTHER GROCERY STORE SHALL NOT BE THERE? I HAVE NO IDEA IF THAT'S THE CASE.

I HOPE IT ISN'T. BUT WE WILL TALK TO HY-VEE ABOUT THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY.

WILL ALLOW THAT AND RESPECT THAT AS WE ATTEMPT TO, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE SOMETHING SIMILAR.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

CAN I JUST COUNCILMAN MEYERS QUESTION ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD? I WOULD JUST INTERJECT AT THIS POINT WHEN WE DID THE ORIGINAL DEAL WITH HY-VEE.

PART OF IT WAS TO REVITALIZE THE ENTIRE AREA.

OKAY. AND WE DID DO SOME THINGS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S AN INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH SOME CHALLENGES.

AND THEN WE GET HIT BY THE FLOOD.

AND ONCE WE GET HIT BY THE FLOOD, THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TEN SQUARE MILES OF THE CORE DISPLACED.

AND WE WERE WE WERE UNABLE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED WE WANTED TO DO TO STABILIZE IT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT GROCERY STORES LOOK LIKE, I MEAN, LOOK AT WHICH IS TRAFFIC WITH FIRST AVENUE, YOU STILL

[00:50:06]

AND WHAT WE SAT DOWN WITH THEM BACK IN MAY, WE THEY, YOU KNOW, THOSE CONCERNS THAT WE WERE CERTAINLY SENSITIVE TO WERE CONCERNS THAT WE CERTAINLY THINK THE CITY IS VERY EASY TO STEP UP TO AND ADDRESS THE CRIME ISSUES. YOU HAVE MORE CRIME AND SHOPLIFTING AT SOME OF THE OTHER STORES THAN YOU DO AT FIRST AVENUE.

ALL THOSE URBAN MYTHS THE COUNCILWOMAN TALKED ABOUT THEY'RE OUT THERE AND WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE QUITE READILY.

THAT IS, IF WE HAD A WILLING PARTNER THAT WANTED TO DO THAT WITH US, AND THAT PART OF THE EQUATION SIMPLY DIDN'T HAPPEN, DIDN'T YOU? YEAH. JUST TO ADD TO THE COMMENT, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IS THAT THE RETAIL MARKET AND NATIONAL CHAINS, THEY CHANGE DIRECTION ALL THE TIME AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT.

SO, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE DON'T BEAT THIS THING TO DEATH AND MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO FIND A REPLACEMENT SERVICE.

AS I WAS SITTING HERE ON THE KCRG JUST POPPED UP.

RED LOBSTER JUST CLOSED THE STORE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AND WATERLOO.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE CEDAR RAPIDS ONE.

BUT THEY EVEN CLOSED THE ONE IN HONOLULU.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S THERE'S CHANGES GOING THERE'S THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STORES THAT CLOSE EVERY YEAR, BUT THERE'S ALSO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STORES THAT REOPEN. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS GOING TO BE FINDING A TYPE OF NATIONAL CHAIN THAT IS LOOKING AND EXPANDING IN IOWA.

AND WE HAVE A COUPLE, I THINK, POSSIBILITIES OF THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MARKETS ARE CHANGING.

WE'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO DETERMINE AS WE AS HAPPENED IN TIME CHECK, DO WE OPEN OUR OWN GROCERY STORES TIED WITH NONPROFITS, OR DO WE HAVE THOSE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS HAPPEN? I, OVER THE YEARS, I'VE GOT SOME FORMER CASES, PROPERTIES THAT WE CAN'T PUT A CONVENIENCE STORE BACK IN.

THEY LIMIT WHAT YOU CAN PUT BACK IN, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE THIS, BUT THE HY-VEE ON COUNCIL STREET CLOSED TWO YEARS AGO.

THEY'RE STILL PAYING ON THAT BIG LEASE OVER THERE.

AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T WANT ANOTHER GROCERY STORE IN THERE.

SO, THEY AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THEIR LEASE, THEY CAN KEEP A GROCERY STORE OUT OF THAT SPACE.

SO, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

AND SO, THERE'S A LOT OF SIDE ISSUES HERE.

SO, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIND A WAY TO WHAT'S TO DO WHAT'S BEST, WHETHER AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL OR AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO REPLACE THE LOSS OF THIS PARK.

BUT AS ALL OF US KNOW, THE PANDEMIC HAD A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON THIS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT GOT BENEFITS IN THOSE LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT MONEY ISN'T THERE ANYMORE, SO THEY CAN'T SPEND AS MUCH MONEY.

GROCERY COSTS ARE UP.

AND SO THERE THE NUMBER OF SALES IS DROPPING AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S BIG-TIME STUFF.

SO HOW DO WE MAKE SOMETHING THAT'S VIABLE? IT MAY NOT BE AS BIG.

IT MAY NOT BE AS OTHER THINGS.

AND THAT'S WHY KWIK STAR IS DOING SO WELL.

THEY HAVE A GREAT FOOD SECTION, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE STOP THERE NOW FOR FOOD.

AND IT'S FRESH AND THEY GROW THEIR OWN STUFF.

AND SO THAT'S WHY KWIK STAR IS DOING SO WELL IS BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE GOOD FOOD.

AND SO, I THINK THAT IT'S JUST A CHANGE IN THE MARKET AND, AND THERE'S NOT MUCH WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH HY-VEE.

THEY'RE EXPANDING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE NOT EXPANDING HERE.

THEY BOUGHT THREE SITES FOR FRESH MARKET, DIDN'T BUILD A SINGLE STORE.

IN THIS METRO AREA.

THEY BOUGHT A SITE ON COUNCIL STREET.

DIDN'T BUILD, I MEAN OUT THERE ON THE COUNCIL STREET SELLING THAT PROPERTY.

SO, THEIR CHANGE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE CORPORATE STATUS OF HY-VEE.

SO, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO DO A TRANSITION SO THAT WE FIND SOMEBODY THAT WILL PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, HOPEFULLY, WHETHER IT'S AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL OR LOCALLY.

SO, I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD IS CHANGING.

THE TYPE OF RETAILERS IS CHANGING.

THERE'S A LOT OF I'M WORKING, I SHOULD, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHO IT IS, BUT WITH TWO FACILITIES NOW WHERE THERE'S NATIONAL LEASES, THEY'VE CLOSED THOSE BUSINESSES, AND SO THEY'RE STILL PAYING THEIR LEASE AND A HIGH RATE OF LEASE.

AND IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES, NOT JUST FOOD.

SO, WE JUST GOT TO ADAPT TO THAT AND FIND OUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU READ THE DES MOINES REGISTER, WHICH I DO EVERY MORNING.

DES MOINES.

HY-VEE IS ALMOST FAILED.

THE BIG DOWNTOWN ONE IN COURT AVENUE AND THEY HAD TO RESTRUCTURE.

THE STORE DIDN'T WORK.

AND SO, THEY WERE THEY ALMOST CLOSED THAT ONE.

BUT THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THEY STILL HAVE THEIR TIF BEING PAID.

AND SO, THE CITY THREATENED THEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO CUT THAT TIF OFF IF YOU CLOSE THAT STORE.

[00:55:02]

SO, IT'S NOT JUST HAPPENING IN WATERLOO, CEDAR RAPIDS, HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN DES MOINES, WHICH IS BOOMING WITH THEIR, THEY GOT A LOT MORE PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS THERE IT'S A DIFFERENCE.

AND THE PART OF THAT SAME STORY WAS THEY SHOWED THAT THE HEAD PERSON THAT RUNS ALL THE THEATER STUFF DOWN THERE, SITTING IN A RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN AND THE PLACE SEATED 100, AND THERE WAS ONLY SIX HAVING LUNCH BECAUSE ALL THE OFFICE WORKERS HAVE LEFT DOWNTOWN.

AND SO, THE RESTAURANTS ARE STRUGGLING, SO WE JUST NEED TO IT'S A CHANGING WORLD.

GOOD NEWS IS CEDAR RAPIDS IS DOING WELL.

GREAT COMMUNITY.

AND WE I THINK WE HAVE THE SKILL SET AND THE TALENTS TO MAKE THE CHANGE.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE A LITTLE CAREFUL ON HOW WE APPROACH THAT SO THAT WE DON'T GET A REPUTATION THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO.

PICK ON COMPANIES THAT CHANGE DIRECTION.

AND SO, I JUST HAD TO BE SENSITIVE TO IT.

I'M POSITIVE THAT WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

AND SO, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE.

SO, WE JUST GOT TO GO OUT AND DO IT.

AND SO, I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WILL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN OLSON.

I'LL JUST ROUND US OUT HERE.

TOOK US A LITTLE LONGER THAN WE EXPECTED.

IT'S OKAY THOUGH. THIS AGAIN AND IT'S AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

AS I SHARED WITH HY-VEE LEADERSHIP YESTERDAY IN WHAT WAS A ENLIGHTENING PHONE CALL, THIS WAS I CAN SHARE OFFLINE, OFF THE RECORD WITH SOME FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THAT HERE.

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THEY KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE STORE THAT THEY CLOSED AND THE CITY IN WHICH THEY CLOSED IT IN AFTER THIS PHONE CALL.

AS I SHARED WITH THEM, THE QUESTION WAS REALLY NEVER ABOUT THEIR BOOKS OR THEIR FINANCIALS.

I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THEIR BOOKS.

I THINK WE I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY WE KNOW THIS WAS WE WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN THEM THE INCENTIVES TO COME THERE IF WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IF HUGE PROFITS WERE REALLY THE GOAL AT THE END OF THIS, I THINK WE WOULDN'T HAVE PROVIDED THEM THE INCENTIVE.

SO, FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THEIR BOOKS.

WHAT UPSET ME SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS WAS THE LACK OF CONSIDERATION IN LETTING US MITIGATE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALT US AND IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS. I SAID, YOU KNOW, YOUR CHALLENGES BECAME OUR CHALLENGES IN 45- OR 45-MINUTE TIME PERIOD.

I DON'T LIKE THAT.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD LIKE THAT.

I THINK OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES MORE.

THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE STATE THAT HAD OR IN THE IN THE CITY RATHER, THAT HAS WITHOUT A DOUBT THROUGH ITS EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP, BY THE WAY, AND ITS DONATIONS CONTRIBUTED A TON.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS TO THOSE CERTAIN NONPROFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS I SHARED WITH THEM, THERE'S A STAIN ON THAT DUE TO THE WAY THAT THIS WAS HANDLED.

IT WAS IT WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE FOLKS THAT I SPOKE TO.

THEY APPRECIATED UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WAS NOT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THEIR BOOKS.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.

THIS IS ABOUT HOW THIS WAS HANDLED.

AND NOW I ASSURED THEM THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND THEY WERE RECEPTIVE TO THAT, TO PROVE THEMSELVES TO US AGAIN TO JUST REMIND US OF WHO THEY ARE WHEN THEY HAVE OUR NEIGHBORS ON THE SIDES OF THEIR TRUCKS, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES. THEY WERE VERY RECEPTIVE TO BEING A PART OF THIS SOLUTION.

AND SO, I HAVE GONE FROM THE STAGES OF GRIEF.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE, BUT FROM THE SHOCK THAT WE FELT TO THE ABSOLUTE ANGER THAT WE FELT TO NOW IT'S JUST ACTION.

NOW IT'S REALLY JUST A SOLUTION.

AND SO GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP.

AND, AND BY THE WAY, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE COME OUT IN FULL FORCE TO, TO SUPPORT WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOLKS AT MATTHEW 25 SAYING, IS A NONPROFIT CONSORTIUM, AN ANSWER TO THOSE WHO LITERALLY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS AT OTHER LOCAL GROCERY STORE OPERATIONS AS WELL AS NATIONAL TO OUR CITY MANAGERS PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, WE WILL FIND A SOLUTION THAT I DO KNOW.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO, AS A COMMUNITY, MOVE PAST THAT.

UGLINESS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND.

I MEAN, WHEN I WHEN I USE THE WORD ABANDON US, I ACTUALLY MEANT IT.

AND I REINFORCE THAT WITH LEADERSHIP.

THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FELT, AND I THINK HOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FELT.

WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE BEYOND THAT TO THAT PLACE OF HOPE, TO THAT PLACE OF PLACE OF SOLUTION.

AND WE ARE ON IT.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

AND I KNOW COUNCIL STAFF IS ALWAYS WILLING AND WILL BE KEEPING US UPDATED WEEKLY ON THE PROGRESS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

NOW WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SO, I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TODAY, WHETHER DURING A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OR ONE OF OUR TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS, THAT WE OFFER A FEW MATTERS TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THINGS ORDERLY HERE, REMAIN AT THE LECTERN.

IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO SHARE, PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH THE OFFICER.

SHE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THEM.

SECOND, COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES, SO YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT TURN ON.

THAT MEANS YOU GOT ONE. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT AND WHEN IT'S RED, WE ASK YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT AGAIN.

[01:00:03]

SO, WE ASK THAT NO APPLAUSE, CHEERING, BOOING OR ANY INTERFERENCE FROM THE AUDIENCE.

BE A PART OF THIS. SO, WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

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

THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ALONG THEN TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE CEDAR RAPIDS TRANSIT FISCAL YEAR 2025 CONSOLIDATED TRANSIT FUNDING

[1. A public hearing will be held to consider the Cedar Rapids Transit fiscal year 2025 Consolidated Transit Funding Application to the Iowa Department of Transportation for federal and state transit funding assistance (Brad DeBrower). CIP/DID #TRN2024-05 ]

DIRECTOR BRAD DEBRAUWERE IS HERE, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

BRAD. GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO, THIS IS OUR ANNUAL APPLICATION TO THE IOWA DOT FOR BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL TRANSIT FUNDING ASSISTANCE.

THIS YEAR'S APPLICATION WILL INCLUDE BOTH OPERATING ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR OPERATING ASSISTANCE.

WE ARE REQUESTING FEDERAL SECTION $5,307 IN AMOUNT OF $4,139,000, AS WELL AS STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE IN AT $749,000. THOSE TWO FUNDING SOURCES WILL GO DIRECTLY TO OUR DAY-TO-DAY FIXED ROUTE SERVICE, THE FEDERAL SECTION $5,310.

THE 219,000 THAT WE'RE REQUESTING WILL GO TO SUPPORT OUR ADA PARATRANSIT CONTRACT WITH LINN COUNTY LIFTS.

AS FAR AS CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE WILL BE REQUESTING FUNDING TO REPLACE TWO HEAVY DUTY BUSSES FOR THE FIXED ROUTE SERVICE AND ONE LIGHT DUTY BUS FOR THE ADA PARATRANSIT SERVICE.

AND THAT IS ALL, YOUR HONOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 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 SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.

FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL.

COMMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE FCS ELLIS LANE NORTHWEST LEVEE

[2. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the FCS Ellis Lane NW Levee and Ellis Park Fueling Station Improvements project (estimated cost is $8,040,000) (Rob Davis). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3311551-01 ]

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $8,040,000.

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

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

THIS PROJECT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.

IN FACT, IT'S OUR FIRST MAJOR PROJECT IN THE NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, I'M VERY PLEASED TO BRING FORWARD THIS FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT.

IT INCLUDES EARTH AND LEVEE, STREET, SIDEWALK, PARKING LOT, WATER, MAIN SANITARY SEWER, STORM SEWER, AND A FUELING STATION REPLACEMENT.

THAT'S THE FIRST FLOOR FOR US ON THE FLOOD SYSTEM.

ON THE MAPS HERE ON THE LOWER LEFT.

THIS IS LOOKING FROM WEST TO EAST.

THIS IS ELLIS BOULEVARD HERE.

I HAVE THE CURSOR, AND WE'LL ACTUALLY BE WORKING ON THIS AREA JUST TO THE WEST OF ELLIS.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF MULTIPLE PHASE PROJECT.

THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT IS LOOKING FROM ELLIS PARK.

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH JUST A COUPLE PHASES OF THIS DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.

EXCUSE ME. AS I SAID, IT'S MULTI-PHASE PROJECT.

PHASE ONE WILL BE SETTING UP FOR THE UP AND OVER THE LEVEE.

WE WILL CONSTRUCT A PERPENDICULAR LEVEE TO THE FLOW OF WATER BETWEEN ELLIS PARK AND BASICALLY WHERE ELLIS LANE IS NOW.

TRAFFIC ON ELLIS BOULEVARD WILL BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES.

THERE MAY BE SOME MINOR LANE CLOSURES FOR PRIVATE UTILITY WORK, AND ACCESS TO ELLIS PARK WILL BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES.

THERE MAY BE SOME PARKING ADJUSTMENTS, OR THERE WILL BE SOME PARKING ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THE BALL FIELDS WILL BE FULLY ACCESSIBLE.

THE PHASE TWO WILL ACTUALLY BE THE PART THAT SHIFTS ELLIS BOULEVARD FROM ITS CURRENT ALIGNMENT.

AS I'M TRACING THE ALIGNMENT HERE UP AND OVER THE LEVEE AND THEN WILL ACTUALLY BUILD A WALL TO CUT OFF WHERE ELLIS IS.

ELLIS BOULEVARD IS HERE RIGHT NOW.

THAT WILL ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE FLOOD SYSTEM WITHOUT ANY GATES HERE.

GATES ARE EXPENSIVE.

AND THEIR MAINTENANCE.

THIS WILL BE A JUST A ROAD THAT GENTLY GOES UP AND OVER THE LEVEE AND COMES BACK DOWN.

AND WE CAN CLOSE IT BY SIMPLY PUTTING SOME BARRICADES UP THERE.

SOME OF THE OTHER FEATURES OF THIS PROJECT.

KEW AVENUE NORTHWEST WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED FROM EIGHTH STREET TO ELLIS BOULEVARD.

THERE'S A PICTURE DEPICTING THAT HERE.

THIS IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE AND REPLACE TO ACCOMMODATE A MAJOR STORM SEWER LINE THAT WILL BE TAKING WATER FROM OUR DETENTION BASIN.

THAT WILL BE BUILDING TO A FUTURE PUMP STATION.

PARKING IN FRONT OF PEARSON'S FLOWER SHOP AND GREENHOUSES WILL BE CONVERTED TO ANGLED PARKING.

AND THE STREET.

THIS IS THE ONLY BLOCK OF SEALCOAT AN ENTIRE EIGHT.

I'M SORRY, KEW AVENUE.

THAT WILL BE PAVED CONCRETE.

SO, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT AT THE SAME TIME.

PAVING FOR PROGRESS WILL BE ASSISTING IN THE UPGRADE OF THAT ROAD.

AND THEN ANOTHER MAJOR ONE HERE IS THE CANOPY AND FUELING STATION.

THE CITY HAS TWO FUELING STATIONS, ONE AT THE CITY SERVICES CENTER, THE OTHER ONE AT THE ELLIS PARK HERE.

[01:05:06]

THE DNR REQUIRES THEM TO BE REPLACED.

WE WILL HAVE THEM REMOVED AND THEN REPLACED WITH ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANKS, A NEW CANOPY AND FUELING PUMPS THERE.

AND THEN LASTLY AS TREES ARE IMPORTANT THE DERECHO, THIS PROJECT WILL BE PUTTING 48 TREES BACK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S RELIEF PROGRAM.

AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THE COST OPINION IS 8 MILLION, $40,000.

THE FUNDING SOURCE IS ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER WITH THREE SOURCES.

CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATED $10 MILLION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS TO THIS PROJECT.

IN ADDITION, FOR THE FUELING STATION, THE MAJORITY OF THAT WILL COME WITH GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.

AND THEN THE Q AVENUE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT ALSO HAS SOME PAVING FOR PROGRESS.

THE PART ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORM SURGE WILL BE COVERED BY THE ARPA OR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS, AND THE PAVING FOR PROGRESS WILL PAY THE BALANCE.

SO, THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CONSOLIDATED MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES TO SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AT THE SAME TIME.

THE BID OPENING IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22ND.

START DATE WOULD BE JULY 15TH, SUBJECT TO ACCEPTABLE BIDS.

AND WE WOULD COMPLETE THE PROJECT SCHEDULE AS END OF 2025.

AND WITH THAT PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE PLAN TO SPECS FOR THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROB.

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

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

FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

THANK YOU. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS SECTION BEING DONE.

ROB. I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

THIS SECTION IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO PROTECTING THE ENTIRE WEST SIDE, BECAUSE IN 2008, WE PUT UP, AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, SOME EARTHEN LEVEE. THAT DID NOT HOLD BECAUSE THE WATER WAS SO FIERCE COMING THROUGH THE PARK.

AND THIS WILL, YOU KNOW, WHO WANTS GATES WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A LEVEE LIKE THIS? SO, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT, AND I APPRECIATE KNOWING WHERE THE LEVEE IS GOING TO GO.

I TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT YOU INCLUDED IN THE PACKET, AND THIS IS A LOT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THAN THAT IS.

SO THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY ONE QUESTION TO YOU WAS JUST LAYING OUT THE LEVEE WHICH YOU HAVE DONE.

SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

THIS IS A CRITICAL PIECE TO PROTECTING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

I THINK PEOPLE KIND OF FORGET THAT, THAT THE, THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM HAS GOT TO WORK IN CONCERT WITH EACH OTHER.

ALL THESE PIECES HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHILE THIS MAY NOT SEEM AS A BIG PIECE WATCHING THE WATER FLOW THROUGH THERE IN 2008, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IT IS SO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE THE WORK.

COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, SPEAKING OF PIECES, MR. DAVIS, MY GOOD FRIEND, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME BUILDING? OH. WELL, THE SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME BUILDING WILL BE A SEPARATE PROJECT.

AND WE CAN.

IS IT IN THAT PICTURE? IT'S OVER IN THAT TOP.

IT'S JUST THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS DRAWING AT THE OUTSIDE.

THE FLOOD ZONE WILL BE AT THE OFF OF THE PARKING LOT UP HERE AT THE SITE.

THERE'S A SITE RIGHT HERE. YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE TREES.

THAT'S THE SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME.

LOCATION. AND JUST SO COUNCIL BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE THAT THING SOMEHOW.

BUT THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I NEEDED. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD CALL FOR ACTION FOR CITIZENS WHO MAY BE LISTENING.

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PRIVATE PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THAT.

THERE YOU GO. NEVER MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HAGER ROBBINS IS A FUELING STATION WHERE THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING IS AT.

OR WHERE'S THE FUELING STATION LOCATED TODAY? AND IS IT GOING TO STAY IN THE SAME SPOT? IT'S AT THE SAME SPOT.

THE FUELING STATION IS THE EQUIPMENT WILL LIKE THE TANKS WILL BE IN THIS GREEN SPOT HERE.

SO, THEY'LL BE OUT OF GROUND TANKS.

ABOVE GROUND TANKS.

YEP. YEAH. ABOVE GROUND TANKS.

IT'S EASIER TO MONITOR THEM THAT WAY OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS WELL ABOVE THE 100-YEAR FLOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROB.

ONE LAST THOUGHT HERE REGARDING THE BUSINESS.

PEARSON'S THERE.

I'M ASSUMING YOU'VE GOT THE THE REGULAR NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT TRAFFIC.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BE A LONG, A LONG PROCESS HERE THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEM.

YES. WE COORDINATED THE START OF THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

IN FACT, WITH THEM, WHICH THEIR BUSIEST TIME IS PROBABLY THIS MONTH RIGHT NOW.

SO EVEN THE START OF THE CONSTRUCTION WITH THE JULY THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, IS THAT PHASE ON KEW AVENUE WAS COORDINATED WITH PEARSON'S EXCELLENT.

OKAY. AND ONCE AGAIN, FLOOD PROTECTION IN PLAIN SIGHT.

[01:10:01]

AND I WOULD JUST ECHO I DIDN'T SAY THIS DURING THE PRESENTATION.

THIS WAS THE FIRST LOCATION TO FAIL ON THE WEST SIDE IN 2008.

SO, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND JUST BECAUSE OF THAT REASON.

YEAH. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY HAGER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE NINTH AVENUE SOUTHEAST.

[3. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 9th Avenue SE Improvements from 3rd Street to Railroad project (estimated cost is $380,000) (Doug Wilson). CIP/DID #301989-02 ]

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $380,000.

DOUG WILSON IS HERE. DOUG, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR DOUG WILSON, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF PAVEMENT REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT WATER, MAIN AND STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS, ALONG WITH NEW SIDEWALK AND NEW CURB AND GUTTER.

THE PROJECT IS BEING DONE IN COORDINATION WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE LOST LEFTIST LUMBER SITE.

AS THE MAYOR SAID, THE ENGINEERS, DEPENDING ON PROBABLE COST, IS $380,000.

THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED WITH TAX INCREMENT FINANCE FUNDS.

THE BID LETTING IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22ND, 2024, AND SUBJECT TO RECEIPT OF ACCEPTABLE BIDS.

WE EXPECT THE PROJECT TO START IN JULY OF 2024 AND BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER.

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU DOUG.

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

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

FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO COMMENTS.

WE'LL SHOW THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY MAIER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING HELD TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE WPCF PROCESS

[4. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the WPCF Process Improvements – Contract 2 project (estimated cost is $277,500,000) (Roy Hesemann). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #6150059-01 ]

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $277,500,000.

ROY HUSSMAN IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

ROY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS ROY HUSSMAN, UTILITIES DIRECTOR.

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN IN THE LATE 1970S AND PUT ONLINE IN 1980.

THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE PLANT LAYOUT AS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED.

80% OF THE PLANT WAS FUNDED WITH GRANT MONEY.

FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 1972.

WPFC SERVES ALL OF CEDAR RAPIDS, AS WELL AS MARION, HIAWATHA, ROBIN'S PILLOW, AND A SMALL PORTION OF LINN COUNTY.

A POPULATION BASE OF APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

THIS FACILITY IS RATHER UNIQUE SINCE WE DO NOT REQUIRE INDUSTRY TO PRE-TREAT THEIR WASTE TO LOAD DOMESTIC STRENGTH LEVELS.

IN ESSENCE, WE ARE AN INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER PLANT OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

BY TREATING THE HIGH STRENGTH WASTE, WE TREAT THE EQUIVALENT ORGANIC LOADINGS OF A CITY OF 1.9 MILLION PEOPLE.

WPFC HAS UNDERGONE MANY CHANGES AND UPGRADES THROUGHOUT THE LAST 44 YEARS.

ANAEROBIC PRETREATMENT WAS ADDED IN 1990 TO PROVIDE MORE ORGANIC TREATMENT CAPACITY.

WHEN A NEW INDUSTRY WAS LOOKING TO MAKE CEDAR RAPIDS THEIR HOME.

OTHER PROJECTS, SUCH AS ADDITIONAL CLARIFIERS, LIME STABILIZATION, ASH LAGOONS AND DISINFECTION UPGRADES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED OVER THE YEARS TO MEET A GROWING NEED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

NEARLY 16 YEARS AGO.

THE FLOOD OF 2008 INUNDATED THE PLANT, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FACILITY.

FEMA ASSISTANCE ALLOWED SHORT- AND LONG-TERM NEED OF REPAIRS TO BE PERFORMED AND BOUGHT US TIME TO PLAN FOR THE PROJECT WE BRING BEFORE YOU TODAY.

THROUGH SEPARATE FEMA FUNDING, THE PLAN IS NOW PROTECTED FROM FROM FLOODING TO A LEVEL THREE FOOT ABOVE THE 2008 FLOOD HEIGHT.

FLOOD RECOVERY WORK WAS DECLARED FINISHED IN OCTOBER 2014, WHEN WE HELD THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE FLOODWALL AND PUMP STATION.

FLOOD RECOVERY GAVE US A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THE ENTIRE PLANT INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLAN FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF ITEMS APPROACHING THEIR USEFUL END OF LIFE. FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS, WE HAVE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AT OTHER FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH OUR DESIGN TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE UTILIZE THE BEST TECHNOLOGY AND BEST TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE, WHILE KEEPING RATES REASONABLE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

WE HAVE MET WITH OUR INDUSTRIES AND ADJOINING COMMUNITIES, DISCUSSING FINANCING OPTIONS, RATE STRUCTURES AND BUSINESS IMPACTS WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

AND PRIOR TO STARTING THIS PROJECT, REPAIRED PORTIONS OF THE PLANT THAT NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PLANT OPERATIONAL DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS

[01:15:06]

THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS, WHERE WE WILL HAVE BETTER DESTRUCTION OF BIOMASS, AND THE GENERATION OF BIOGAS FROM ALL THE WASTE ENTERING THE PLANT, NOT JUST A PORTION.

THE BIOGAS WILL BE CAPTURED, SCRUBBED AND SOLD AS A RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS OR RNG.

OTHER IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE VARIOUS CIVIL IMPROVEMENTS, UTILITIES MODIFICATIONS, AND ADDITIONAL BACKUP GENERATION CAPACITY.

OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO PROVIDE COST EFFECTIVE, RELIABLE TREATMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL WASTEWATER TO SUPPORT OUR REGION'S ECONOMY.

WPC IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR EXISTING INDUSTRY AND ATTRACT NEW INDUSTRY WHILE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

SOME KEY POINTS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT OF PROCESSES AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.

IT WILL CAPTURE THE BIOGAS FROM ALL THE WASTEWATER ENTERING THE PLANT AND TURN IT INTO RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS.

TO BE INJECTED BACK INTO THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE AFFORDS A MODULAR, MODULAR DESIGN FOR FUTURE EXPANSION AS NEEDED.

AND IT BEGINS OUR JOURNEY OF MEETING THE IOWA NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY.

IT ALSO AFFORDS MANY LOCAL AND REGIONAL CONTRACTORS WORK FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO BE OUT ON MAY 22ND, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO EXTEND THE BID DATE FOR THIS PROJECT TO JUNE 19TH, WITH CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING LATER THIS SUMMER AND COMPLETION IN EARLY 2019.

THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $277.5 MILLION.

VARIOUS RESOURCES.

WILL BE USED TO FINANCE THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING IOWA DNR.

STATE REVOLVING FUND USING BOTH 20- AND 30-YEAR LOW INTEREST LOANS, CASH RESERVES, CAPACITY CHARGES FROM OUR PARTNERING ADJOINING COMMUNITIES AND FROM USER FEES.

COMPARING OUR RATES WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES IN IOWA.

USING THE CHART ON THE RIGHT OF THIS SLIDE, OUR RATES REMAIN VERY REASONABLE AND ATTRACTIVE.

THIS GRAPH SHOWS RESIDENTIAL RATES FOR WASTEWATER, BUT OUR RATES ARE EQUALLY ATTRACTIVE FOR LARGE INDUSTRIAL USERS WHO MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY 2032. YEAH.

EXCUSE ME, TWO THIRDS OF THE REVENUE TO THE FACILITY.

WE HAVE APPLIED FOR BOTH THE INFLATION REDUCTION TAX CREDIT AND THE EPA CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT TO HELP FUND THIS PROJECT.

WE WILL NOT CURE ON THE IRS FUNDING UNTIL THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED, AND WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE EPA ON THE SECOND GRANT LATER THIS SUMMER.

WE FEEL IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO MENTION WHAT WE HAVE NOT INCLUDED IN OUR RATE MODELING.

WE HAVE USED A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH IN OUR MODEL AND HAVE NOT INCLUDED THE FUTURE SALE OF RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS OR ANY RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS FROM THAT SALE OF GAS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE TO ANY NEW LARGE WASTEWATER GENERATOR THAT COMES TO CEDAR RAPIDS WILL HELP SPREAD THE COST OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS AMONG ALL RATEPAYERS, HELPING ALL CONTRIBUTORS TO THE SYSTEM.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR, FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

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

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

COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.

I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTATE HOW COOL THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN.

IT MAY NOT BE AT THE TOP OF ANYBODY'S THING THAT THEY THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

AND THE TECH BEHIND IT, THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT FOR MANY YEARS THAT YOUR TEAM HAS PUT INTO WORKING ON THIS IS TO BE CELEBRATED.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE IT.

I KNOW I JOINED YOU AT THE OPEN HOUSE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT, BUT AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.

I THINK PROBABLY WHEN I STARTED ON COUNCIL, I STARTED HEARING ABOUT THE DAYDREAMING OF THIS POSSIBILITY.

AND IT FITS IN REALLY NICELY TO OUR CLIMATE PLANS AS WELL.

SO JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE HERE AND TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES.

SO, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE GOOGLE PROJECT, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER TODD MENTIONED IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THIS CITY HAS TAKEN ON.

[01:20:09]

IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR FUTURE THAT ARE GROWING AND PROGRESSIVE, HAVE TO MAKE THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT.

AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT OVER DECADES, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD, PREDICTING FUTURE CAPACITY AND BUILDING TO MEET IT THAT WE HAVE THE INDUSTRY, WE HAVE THE COMMERCE, AND WE HAVE THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING HERE THAT WE DO.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON IT.

I ALSO APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF PLANNING THAT YOU PUT IN ON THE FINANCIAL PART OF IT.

OBVIOUSLY, CUSTOMERS OF THE UTILITY, BOTH RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL, ARE ATTUNED TO WHAT A PROJECT LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, MEANS FOR THEIR RATES GOING FORWARD.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE THE PROCESS THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE AND THE STABILITY OF THE SYSTEM, THE LARGE BASE OF DIVERSIFIED USERS THEY CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT THAT.

IT CAN BE PAID FOR IN A REASONABLE FASHION.

SO I JUST CONGRATULATE YOU ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THE CITY HAS, THE CITY HAS EVER SEEN.

AND AGAIN, IT'S A PROJECT THAT THAT ONLY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR FUTURE TAKE ON.

AND SO I'M EXCITED TO DO THAT TODAY.

THANK YOU THAT THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT WILL GO DOWN IN THE BOOKS, WHETHER IT BE THE FLOOD PROTECTION, THE KEY FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT THAT THIS COUNCIL THAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON, AGAIN, THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF DIRECTOR DAVIS AND THEN CERTAINLY THIS PROJECT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THIS IS THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY, RIGHT? THIS IS THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.

SO, THANK YOU DIRECTOR HUSSMAN, FOR YOUR YOU AND YOUR TEAM'S COMMITMENT TO THIS.

IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE PRAIRIE VALLEY FEEDER MAIN RELOCATION PROJECT.

[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Prairie Valley Feeder Main Relocation project (estimated cost is $3,980,000 (Cheyanne Wiegenstein). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #2023087-02 ]

WEGENSTEIN IS HERE. CHEYENNE.

I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

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

CHEYENNE, WEGENSTEIN WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS A GENERAL LOCATION MAP FOR THE PROJECT AREA.

THE NEW WATER MAIN WILL CONNECT TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM NEAR THE RIVER.

IT WILL BE INSTALLED THROUGH THE FIRE TOWER TRAINING FACILITY PROPERTY, WHERE WE'LL INSTALL NEW SHEET PILE FOR THE FUTURE ABOVE GRADE FLOOD WALL.

AND THIS WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO DO AN APPROVED ARMY CORPS PENETRATION FOR THE NEW UTILITY PIPE.

THEN WE'LL CONTINUE DOWN THIRD STREET, WHICH IS THROUGH DDOT RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE I-380 BRIDGE, AND WE'LL CONNECT BACK INTO THE EXISTING SYSTEM NEAR FIRST AVENUE WEST. SO, THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF RELOCATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1500FT OF THE EXISTING 36-INCH PRAIRIE VALLEY WATER MAIN, IN CONNECTION WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM PROJECTS WILL ALSO ABANDON APPROXIMATELY 1200FT OF THE EXISTING 36-INCH WATER MAIN IN PLACE PER UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS STANDARDS, UNDERNEATH THE LEVEE THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED LAST YEAR.

THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES THE SHEET PILE INSTALLATION, ROADWAY REPLACEMENT, AND OTHER ASSOCIATED SURFACE RESTORATION.

WATER SERVICE WILL BE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT.

IT BIDS TOMORROW, MAY 15TH AND THE COST OPINION IS 3.98 MILLION.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JULY 2024 AND BE COMPLETED BY SPRING 2025.

AND HERE'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF A STAGE TRAFFIC CONTROL CLOSURE.

THE FIRST STREET AND E AND F AVENUE INTERSECTION NEAR THE BRIDGE, WILL BE PRIORITIZED FOR REOPENING.

ONCE WATER MAIN CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE, THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO REOPENING THIRD STREET NORTHWEST.

WE WILL COORDINATE CLOSURES WITH ONGOING EAST SIDE FLOOD CONTROL CONSTRUCTION.

LATER THIS SUMMER AND FALL.

THEY'RE EXPECTED TO CLOSE THE E AND F AVENUE BRIDGES, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT OUR TRAFFIC CONTROL IS MODIFIED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AND ANY DETOURS.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE PROJECT.

WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR.

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

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

FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ALONG.

WE WILL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION.

MOVED BY VANORNY, SECONDED BY POE.

[01:25:01]

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

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

[PUBLIC COMMENT ]

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

SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE BEFORE AND AFTER EACH COUNCIL MEETING AT THIS TIME, DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, THE COUNCIL IS HERE TO LISTEN AND REMEMBER THAT ALL ITEMS I ADDRESSED EARLIER, PRIOR TO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TODAY APPLY TO THESE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AS WELL.

STAY AT THE LECTERN.

IF YOU HAVE MATERIALS, GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER AND YOUR COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.

COMMENTS ARE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER YOU WISH TO ADDRESS TODAY, SO NO ABUSIVE, PERSONAL, IRRELEVANT COMMENTS ARE ALLOWED AND THERE SHOULD BE NO PARTICIPATION FROM THE AUDIENCE.

IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO SIGNED UP, SO I'LL INVITE YOU TO TAKE THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON.

OUR FIRST AND ONLY HERE IN THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS DOROTHY DE SOUZA IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THE GROCERY STORE.

THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF OUR FIRST PRESENTATION.

HELLO, MY NAME IS DOROTHY DE SOUZA AND I LIVE AT 1022 SEVENTH STREET SOUTHEAST.

AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING OAK HILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

AS THE PRESIDENT VOTED IN AGAIN LAST NIGHT.

NOBODY CHALLENGED ME.

BUT I DO WANT TO SPEAK ON THE GROCERY STORE.

AND THEN, I'D ALSO JUST WANT TO I'LL JUST SAY THIS FIRST ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, NUMBER 15 AND 16TH.

THE LOCAL MATCH FUNDS APPLICATION BY PRAIRIE ROSE RENT RENTAL FOR 1120 AND 1128 15TH STREET SOUTHEAST.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT WE WANT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY'RE TAKING THESE UNUSED INFILL LOTS AND BUILDING PROPERTIES THAT WILL LOOK LIKE THEY BELONG IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WILL HOUSE MORE THAN ONE FAMILY.

BUT THEY'RE LEAVING A HOUSE IN BETWEEN THAT'S OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

SO RATHER THAN TEAR THAT DOWN, THEY'LL LEAVE THAT THERE AND BUILD ON EITHER SIDE.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

NOT ONLY DO WE WANT THIS KIND OF DEVELOPMENT, WE WANT THESE KINDS OF DEVELOPERS BECAUSE THEY PROACTIVELY COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO DISCUSS WHAT THEY HAVE IN MIND TO GET OUR INPUT ON WHAT WE THINK.

THIS IS A RARITY.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE ENCOURAGEMENT OF.

THERE'S ANOTHER SMALL DEVELOPER THAT HAD AN IDEA FOR A PROJECT, AND I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT IT, BROUGHT IT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO REACHED OUT TO US PROACTIVELY.

AND THE MEMBERS WERE NOT REAL PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY PROPOSED.

AND SO, THEY WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS A BETTER FIT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

KUDOS TO THEM.

SO YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS PRAIRIE ROSE PROJECT.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO RIGHT BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST BUILD THAT DENSITY THAT WE NEED.

OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS MIGHT NOT BE HAPPY WITH HAVING 2 OR 3 HOMES ESSENTIALLY WHERE THERE HAD BEEN ONE, BUT WE'RE ALL FOR THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE MANY, LOTS TO BUILD ON, AND WE'D RATHER HAVE THIS KIND OF INFILL THAN TEARING DOWN A BLOCK OF HOUSES TO PUT ANOTHER THREE, 4 OR 5 STORY BUILDING THERE.

SO KUDOS TO THEM.

AND AS FOR THE GROCERY STORE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TREATING IT AS THE EMERGENCY THAT IT IS.

THE SAME MORNING THAT I LEARNED IN A NEWBO CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT MEETING THAT THE GROCER THAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A DONE DEAL FOR THAT SPOT THERE THEN, THUS ELIMINATING THE FOOD DESERT THAT WE HAVE.

SURE. FOOD DESERT WITH RESTAURANTS ALL AROUND IT, BUT STILL WE LEARNED THAT THAT WASN'T GOING TO BE A DONE DEAL DUE TO SOME BUSINESS CONCERNS THAT HAD COME UP WITH THAT PARTICULAR GROCER.

I GOT OUT OF THE MEETING AND GOT A TEXT FROM ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS THAT SAID, HEY, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT HY-VEE ON FIRST AVENUE? THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE.

I WAS DEVASTATED I JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT SINKING FEELING THAT YOU HAD.

I HAD THAT TOO.

AND FOR ME, IT FELT LIKE A DOUBLE WHAMMY BECAUSE OAK HILL JACKSON HAS BEEN A FOOD DESERT FOR MANY YEARS.

AND JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I COULD STOP SAYING GROCERY STORE EVERY TIME I SAW ONE OF YOU OR CAME TO YOUR MEETING, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAMMER ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I REALLY FEEL FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WELLINGTON HEIGHTS AND MOUND VIEW LOSING THAT STORE.

[01:30:06]

COMING FROM SOMEWHERE, TOO.

BUT PLEASE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT OAK HILL JACKSON STILL HAS THAT STRUGGLE AND BE AS SUPPORTIVE AS YOU CAN TO NEWBO CITY MARKET TO HELP THEM AND HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HELP THE COMMUNITY BRING A GROCERY STORE INTO THAT SPACE AS WELL.

SO, CRISIS HY-VEE, SECONDARY CRISIS IN MY MIND.

NEWBO CITY MARKET GROCER.

AND I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OTHER COMMENTS HERE REAL QUICK.

SORRY, I WAS SCRIBBLING, SO I MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH MY NOTES.

I DO SECONDS.

10S. OKAY.

30. OH, YEAH, IT'S RIGHT HERE.

THANKS TO THE MAYOR LAST NIGHT, SHE HOSTED OUR MEETING, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, AND THE WOMEN LEAD CHANGE BUILDING.

AND SHE DID SHARE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE GROCERY STORE.

AND WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION.

I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE.

THAT WAS THE BEST MEETING WE'VE HAD.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE COUNCIL MAYBE ATTEND OUR MEETINGS AND GIVE US SOME INFORMATION AS WELL.

SO, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THAT CLOSES OUT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA?

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ]

ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES.

OR MAKE ANY CHANGES.

OKAY. NO CHANGES THERE.

THAT BRINGS US TO A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

THE APPROVAL OF THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY OBERLAND, SECONDED BY POE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

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

[CONSENT AGENDA ]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE, THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL.

WE WILL MOVE ON NOW TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 36, WHICH IS A REPORT ON A RECEIPT OF BIDS FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES

[36. Report on the receipt of bids for General Obligation Bonds, Series 2024A, and Water Revenue Bonds, Series 2024B (Jon Burmeister, PFM Financial Advisors LLC). CIP/DID #FIN2023-10 ]

VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. JOHN BURMEISTER, PFM.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

AS THE MAYOR INDICATED, WE DID SOLICIT PROPOSALS FROM UNDERWRITERS THIS MORNING ON THE PURCHASE OF YOUR GENERAL OBLIGATION AND WATER REVENUE BONDS INSIDE YOUR INBOX.

YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RESULT OF SALE.

I'LL START OUT WITH THE GEO BONDS FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE WATER REVENUE BONDS.

I'M PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT THE MOODY'S INVESTOR SERVICE DID RECONFIRM YOUR EYA1 RATING.

WE HAD A REAL GOOD DISCUSSION WITH THE RATING ANALYST FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, THE LEADERSHIP, THE FINANCIAL PLANNING, THE BUDGETING, THE CONSERVATIVENESS BALANCING THE BUDGET, EVEN THOUGH THE STATE KEEPS THROWING HOUSE BILLS, 718 TYPE ASPECTS YOUR WAY TO TRY AND LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE YOU HAVE, ALL OF THAT'S BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE RATING AGENCY AND REFLECTIVE OF YOUR VERY HIGH RATING THAT YOU HAVE HERE AT THE EYA1.

YOU KNOW, THE REASON WHY THAT RATING IS SO IMPORTANT IS AS THE CITY IS BORROWING THOSE FUNDS, THE BORROWING COST IS REFLECTIVE OF THE RATING.

SO, THE HIGHER THAT RATING IS, THE LOWER YOUR COST.

IN THAT RESULTS OF CELL THAT YOU HAVE HERE IN YOUR PACKET, I'M PLEASED TO TELL YOU WE ENDED UP GETTING 14 BIDS.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE RECORD OF WHERE YOU'RE AT.

IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE RESULTS OF SALE, IT'S ACTUALLY TEN PAGES DEEP.

RECALL, THIS IS THE 65,000,003 TEN.

THIS INCLUDES 36 MILLION FOR THE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT AS WELL AS THE NORMAL CIP PLAN.

SO, THIS IS A 30-YEAR TERM.

IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE PAGES THERE, IF YOU FLIP THE PAGE FIVE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S UNDERWRITERS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

THEY'RE COMING FROM NEW JERSEY, TENNESSEE, CALIFORNIA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS.

I THINK YOU PRETTY MUCH CAPTURED ALL OF THE ATTENTION OF THE UNDERWRITERS.

AND BECAUSE OF THE SIZE, BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE RATING AND ALSO THE BOND VOLUME IS DOWN A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR AS WELL.

SO, THEY'RE STARVING FOR SUPPLY.

YOU CAN SEE TRUIST SECURITIES INC., THEY WERE THE LOW BID.

THEY BID A 3.9234%.

AND IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY TO THE PAGE TEN, YOU CAN SEE THE HIGH BID WAS A 411.

I'M VERY PLEASED. I WAS THINKING FOR 20-ISH WHEN I ESTIMATED THIS.

SO, I'M PLEASED THAT WE WERE BELOW 4%.

YOU MAY RECALL, LAST YEAR WE HAD 383.

SO, INTEREST RATES KIND OF WENT UP AND DOWN THROUGHOUT LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE KIND OF ALMOST WHERE WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

SO, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THIS OUTCOME.

YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ALSO THEN AFTER WE DID RECEIVE THE BIDS, THIS WAS BID AT A PREMIUM AND WE REDUCED THE PAR AMOUNT FROM 65,000,003 10 TO 60 MILLION 325. AND THEN THAT PRODUCED A TRUE INTEREST RATE OF 3.9145%.

SO THAT WAS THE GEO BONDS SECOND, BUT NOT LEAST IS THE WATER REVENUE BONDS.

[01:35:01]

WE ENDED UP GETTING THREE OF THOSE BIDS.

YOU CAN SEE THIS IS JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT.

THEY CAME IN AT A 3.83%.

AND YOU CAN SEE AFTER WE ENDED UP RECEIVING THE BIDS, WE WERE ABLE TO DECREASE THAT AMOUNT AS WELL TO 8,000,008 75, WHICH PRODUCED A 3.8201%. AND THIS THIS RATING HERE IS A DOUBLE A TWO.

SO, IT'S ONE NOTCH BELOW WHERE THE WHERE THE GEO IS.

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, JUST KIND OF, IF YOU COMPARE THIS, THIS IS A 20-YEAR TERM AND THE GEO IS A 30-YEAR TERM, YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE BORROWING A 30 YEAR AT A 391. AND FOR A 20 YEAR YOU'RE AT A 383.

SO THAT TELLS YOU HOW AGGRESSIVELY THEY'RE BIDDING ON YOUR GEO BONDS.

YOU'RE BORROWING ALMOST AT A 20-YEAR TERM ON THE GEO SIDE OF THINGS, WHICH IS QUITE REMARKABLE.

AND OF COURSE, THAT'S THE YIELD CURVE BEING FLAT.

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT THAT MUCH MORE COSTLY TO GO FROM 20 TO 30 YEARS BECAUSE IT'S THE YIELD CURVE IS PRETTY FLAT OUT THERE.

SO THAT'S GREAT FOR THE CITY.

IT LOWERS YOUR COST. IT'S GOING TO LOWER THE COST OF THIS OVERALL MITIGATION PLAN AND ULTIMATELY MITIGATE SOME OF THE, THE, THE DEBT SERVICE LEVY THAT YOU'RE INCREASING TO FUND THIS AS WELL TO SHAVE THAT THAT PEAK POINT AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

SO, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU AWARD THESE BONDS TO TRUIST SECURITIES AT A TRUE RATE OF 3.9145%.

AND THEN THE WATER REVENUE BOND TO JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT LLC AT A 3.8201%.

AND WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR US.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND? THANK YOU. MAYOR.

BEING KIND OF IN THE BOND WORLD MYSELF THIS IS EXTREMELY GOOD NEWS, BECAUSE WHAT IT'S ILLUSTRATING IS THAT THE CEDAR RAPIDS ECONOMY IS VERY DIVERSE.

IT IS GROWING AND IS PROVIDING REAL VALUE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ABILITY TO NOT ONLY MAINTAIN OUR EXTREMELY HIGH CREDIT RATING, BUT TO DO A LOT WITH THAT.

MOST COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO AS MUCH AS WE DO AND BUILD A FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM AT THE SAME TIME.

THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IS A BIG PROJECT FOR ANY COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OURS.

BUT THE OBSERVATION AND I THINK IT'S NOT LOST ON THE RATINGS AGENCIES THAT BECAUSE OF OUR GROWTH, WE CAN FINANCE A PROJECT OF THAT MAGNITUDE AND CONTINUE TO GROW OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, I AM MORE THAN PLEASED WITH HOW THE BOND SALE WENT.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. SEE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND RESOLUTION, WE NEED TO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE WATER REVENUE BONDS SERIES 2024 B.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ITEM NUMBER 37 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE 2024 PAVEMENT MILLING AND CURB REPAIR PROJECT.

[37. Report on bids for the 2024 Pavement Milling and Curb Repair project (estimated cost is $4,870,000) (Ken DeKeyser). (Paving for Progress) CIP/DID #301998-15 ]

DOUG WILSON IS HERE.

DOUG, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR DOUG WILSON, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THIS PROJECT INCLUDES ASPHALT MILLING OF SURFACES, CONCRETE PATCHING AND REPAIRS TO CURBING AND 18 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

CONTRACTOR. ONCE THE CONTRACTOR HAS COMPLETED WORK ON THAT ON THOSE ITEMS, WORK WILL BE COMPLETED BY STREETS OPERATION DIVISION TO OVERLAY EACH LOCATION WITH ASPHALT.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO START IN JUNE AND BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER FOR BOTH CONTRACTOR AND STREET OPERATIONS WORK.

BID OPENING WAS MAY 8TH AND SIX BIDS WERE RECEIVED RANGING FROM $4,037,589.13 TO $5,185,575.80. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION TO AWARD AND APPROVE CONTRACT FOR MIDWEST CONCRETE, INC.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOUG.

COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. MOVING ALONG, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY POE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ITEM NUMBER 38 IS A PRESENTATION AND RESOLUTION APPROVING A TERM SHEET WITH ASPECT INVESTMENTS, LLC FOR A MIXED-USE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT

[38. Presentation and resolution approving a term sheet with Aspect Investments, LC for a mixed-use redevelopment project at 329 2nd Avenue SE under the Above Standard Economic Development Program (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0084-2023 ]

[01:40:03]

SCOTT, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, SCOTT MATHER WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM ASPECT INVESTMENTS, LLC FOR CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.

THE PROJECT DOES QUALIFY UNDER THE TARGETED DISTRICT REINVESTMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR ABOVE STANDARD INCENTIVES.

SO, WE CREATED OR COMPLETED OUR FINANCIAL GAP ANALYSIS VERIFYING CONSTRUCTION COSTS, OPERATIONAL COSTS TO ENSURE THE EQUITY FROM THE DEVELOPER EXCEEDS PRESENT VALUE OF THE CITY.

INCENTIVES. THE PROJECT TERM SHEET INCLUDES A $5.6 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

MIXED USE REDEVELOPMENT OF AN EXISTING COMMERCIAL SPACE WITH MAIN FLOOR COMMERCIAL SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR BEING APARTMENTS.

A MIX OF STUDIO ONE- AND TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENTS.

THE EXTERIOR WILL MAINTAIN ITS HISTORICAL FEATURES AND ARCHITECTURE IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OFFICE.

CONSTRUCTION TO COMMENCE IN JULY OF 24 WITH COMPLETION IN JULY OF 25.

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES INCLUDE A REIMBURSEMENT OF 100% OF THE TAX INCREMENTS, UP TO A NET PRESENT VALUE OF 350,000, OR 20 CONSECUTIVE ANNUAL PAYMENTS.

SO, THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES JUST SHOW SOME OF THE EXTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE WHILE MAINTAINING THE HISTORICAL FEATURES OF THE BUILDING.

A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE DONE ON THE ESPECIALLY REGARDING WINDOWS ON THREE OF THE SIDES OF THE BUILDING.

THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

AND THIS IS THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING SHOWING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WINDOWS.

AND THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING, ADDING SEVERAL WINDOWS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY THERE.

SO TODAY WE'RE HERE TO CONSIDER APPROVING OF THE TERM SHEET.

AND THEN I WOULD RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN JUNE.

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

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SCOTT.

COUNCIL QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.

NO QUESTIONS.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN A BUILDING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LOST A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE LAST 10 TO 20 YEARS.

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE HISTORIC IN DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND KUDOS TO MR. EMERSON FOR TAKING IT ON.

BUT ON THE EXTERIOR, I THINK WHEN HE'S FINISHED WITH IT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE VALUE OF THAT BUILDING.

THE WINDOWS WILL BE APPROPRIATE.

CLEANING THE EXTERIOR OF THE BRICKWORK IS QUITE COMPLEX AND VERY BEAUTIFUL.

AND I THINK WE'LL BE VERY GLAD THAT THAT BUILDING WAS SAVED AND GLAD THAT THE CITY CAN HELP.

THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH.

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.

ITEM NUMBER 39 IS A PRESENTATION RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AUTHORIZING CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES UNDER THE BROWNFIELD/GRAYFIELD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR A COMMERCIAL

[39. Presentation and resolution of support authorizing City financial incentives under the Brownfield/Grayfield Economic Development Program for a commercial redevelopment project at 9900-10000 6th Street SW as proposed by Williams Synergy Group LLC (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0098-2024]

AND SCOTT MATHER IS HERE ONCE AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

SCOTT, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM WILLIAM SYNERGY LLC FOR STANDARD CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.

THE PROJECT QUALIFIES UNDER THE BROWNFIELD/GRAYFIELD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

IT INVOLVES THE DEMOLITION OR INVOLVE THE DEMOLITION OF DILAPIDATED AND ABANDONED STRUCTURES TO INCLUDE ASBESTOS REMEDIATION.

AND ONE OF THE PROPERTIES WAS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A NUISANCE PROPERTY.

THE STANDARD INCENTIVE IS A TEN YEAR, 50% REBATE OF NEW OR INCREASED VALUE IN TAXES.

THE PROJECT OVERVIEW INCLUDES AN $8.5 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT, CONSTRUCTION OF TWO COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, ONE OF WHICH WOULD BE ROUGHLY 60,000FT² AND THE OTHER WOULD BE ROUGHLY 20,000FT².

THIS WOULD RETAIN ROUGHLY TEN JOBS HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND CREATE TEN NEW JOBS, WITH A MINIMUM OF TEN OR MORE BEING HIGH QUALITY JOBS.

THRESHOLD. HERE'S AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROJECT LOCATION WITH SIXTH STREET RIGHT THERE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE OF THE PROJECT, COMMERCE PARK TO THE SOUTH, AND 380 OVER HERE TO THE EAST.

SO HERE IS A STREET VIEW.

STANDING ON SIXTH STREET, FACING WEST.

THAT BUILDING THAT'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT WILL ACTUALLY BE DEMOLISHED AS WELL.

OH, AND THEN HERE IS STANDING ALONG THE SIDE OF SIXTH STREET, FACING SOUTH.

SITE PLAN WITH SIXTH STREET ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PICTURE HERE, WITH ONE OF THE BUILDINGS HERE AND THE OTHER BUILDING RIGHT THERE.

SO, THE LAST COUPLE OF SLIDES ARE RENDERINGS OF WHAT THESE BUILDINGS WILL LOOK LIKE.

[01:45:06]

THIS SHOWING THE REAR SIDE WITH THE LOADING DOCKS.

AND THEN AN AERIAL WITH SIXTH STREET OFF TO THE RIGHT.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AUTHORIZING THE TEN YEAR 50% REBATES.

ROUGHLY 3 MILLION IN TOTAL TAXES WOULD BE GENERATED OVER TEN YEARS, WITH AN ESTIMATED 1 MILLION REBATED.

TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.

I WOULD THEN COME BACK TO AMEND THE URBAN RENEWAL AREA AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.

WITH THAT, I'LL RETURN IT BACK TO YOU.

MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY SEEING NONE.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES THAT DOES BRING US TO THE ORDINANCES.

[40. Ordinance amending Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code, Water Service, by repealing existing rates and establishing new rates for fiscal year 2025. CIP/DID #WTR25-01 ]

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES ITEM NUMBER 41 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 13 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE WASTEWATER FACILITIES BY REPEALING EXISTING RATES AND ESTABLISHING NEW

[41. Ordinance amending Chapter 13 of the Municipal Code, Wastewater Facilities, by repealing existing rates and establishing new rates for fiscal year 2025. CIP/DID #WPC25-01]

THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY MAIER, SECONDED BY HAGER.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 42 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 24 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING BY REPEALING EXISTING RATES AND ESTABLISHING NEW RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR

[42. Ordinance amending Chapter 24 of the Municipal Code, Solid Waste and Recycling, by repealing existing rates and establishing new rates for fiscal year 2025. CIP/DID #SWM25-01]

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, THE ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY OVERLAND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES ITEM NUMBER 43 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 72 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BY REPEALING EXISTING RATES AND ESTABLISHING

[43. Ordinance amending Chapter 72 of the Municipal Code, Stormwater Management, by repealing existing rates and establishing new rates for fiscal year 2025. CIP/DID #STRMWTR25-01]

THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND 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. COUNCIL MEMBER.

POE. THANK YOU, 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 THIS 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 ANOTHER ORDINANCE NUMBER 44 IS ONE AMENDING CHAPTER 32 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE ZONING TO UPDATE, USE SPECIFIC

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

THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY OVERLAND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY 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, 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 45 IS AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 860 17TH STREET, SOUTHEAST FROM TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL FLEX DISTRICT TO

[45. Ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 860 17th Street SE from T-RF, Traditional Residential Flex District, to T-RH, Traditional Residential High District, as requested by Dahnovan Builders LLC. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-034395-2023]

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY 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.

THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY HAGER.

[01:50:01]

AYE, THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

AND THIS DOES BRING US TO OUR CLOSE OF CLOSE OUT OUR FORMAL BUSINESS RATHER TODAY.

AND BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.

[PUBLIC INPUT]

AS WITH THE EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN AS A AS A COUNCIL.

SO I REMIND EVERYBODY TO STAY AT THE LECTERN.

IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS, GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER AND YOUR COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.

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

AND I HAVE AGAIN, DOROTHY DE SOUZA GEDDES LISTED AS FIRST.

JUST TALK ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.

HELLO, MY NAME IS DOROTHY GEDDES.

I LIVE AT 1022 SEVENTH STREET SOUTHEAST, AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF OAK HILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD.

AS PRESIDENT OF THE OAK HILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

IT'S A LITTLE DELAYED. I DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE MEETING TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS, BUT ON APRIL 18TH, THERE WAS A MEETING WITH BUSINESS OWNERS AND CITY STAFF AND CONTRACTORS ABOUT THE 16TH AVENUE PROJECT BETWEEN THIRD STREET AND SECOND STREET.

GREAT DISCUSSION.

I LOVE THE MAPS. THEY HAD TO PRACTICALLY PULL ME OFF OF THEM BECAUSE I WAS SO INTERESTED IN THE DETAIL IN THAT THEY LISTENED TO MY COMMENTS AND CONCERNS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS WHEN THEY COULD AND TOOK NOTES, AND THAT WAS GREAT.

I'VE NOTICED THAT THE SIGNAGE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE 16TH AVENUE BRIDGE STARTS ON 12TH AVENUE.

WELL, BEFORE YOU GET TO 12TH THIRD STREET.

AND THAT'S A GREAT THING BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN MAKE A TURN THERE AND GO AROUND TO 16TH.

SO THAT THAT'S VERY WELCOME.

HOWEVER. CITY STAFF DID NOT REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, OR IN ANY OTHER WAY TO LET US KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THIS PROJECT.

THERE WAS SOME COMMUNICATION WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS.

I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THIS MEETING THROUGH JIM AT THE DISTRICT.

AND AND THEN A PRESS RELEASE WAS PUT OUT AFTER I FLEW AROUND ON MY BROOM AND CAUSED A RUCKUS.

BUT THIS HAVING A MEETING WITH BUSINESS OWNERS AND PUTTING OUT BASIC INFORMATION, AND IN 2022 AND THEN COMING FORTH IN APRIL OF 2024, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENING IN BETWEEN THERE THAT YOU COULD LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A DONE DEAL.

PEOPLE DO NEED TO PLAN.

AND THAT INCLUDES THE RESIDENTS.

WE'RE MOST UPSET WHEN WE'RE BLINDSIDED.

THIRD AND 16TH HAD BEEN CLOSED EVEN BEFORE THAT MEETING HAPPENED.

EVEN THOUGH THE INFORMATION OUT THERE WAS THAT THE BRIDGE WOULD BE CLOSED ON THE 22ND.

WHY COULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT OUT THERE BEFORE? I'M. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I AM NOW ON SOME LISTS TO GET INFORMATION MORE PROACTIVELY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY WHO IS, SAY, AS ASSERTIVE AS I AM.

REQUEST INFORMATION.

IT'S JUST GOOD POLICY.

NOT JUST WITH YOUR BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO WITH YOUR RESIDENTS.

SO, I THANK, YOU KNOW, THE TEAM FOR THE INFORMATION WE GOT.

WOULD LIKE TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE PROACTIVELY ALSO ON THAT CONSTRUCTION PLAN.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU NEED OUR INPUT SOONER IS PEDESTRIANS WERE NOT PRIORITIZED.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON IN THE WORLD YOU CAN'T PUT A FOUR WAY STOP AT 16TH AND THIRD.

YOU'RE BUILDING DENSITY IN THAT AREA.

YOU'VE GOT FULTON LOFTS RIGHT THERE, YOU'VE GOT NEWBO LOFTS RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S MORE CONSTRUCTION PLANNED FOR FARTHER UP 16TH, AND THEN ALSO AT SECOND AND 16TH, THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT MORE PEOPLE WALKING THEIR PRIORITIZE YOUR PEDESTRIANS. YOU CAN'T HAVE A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD IF IT'S NOT SAFE TO WALK THERE.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT.

I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED.

THIS IS ON THE HY-VEE MATTER.

I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE REQUEST FOR SILENCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NOW, I ACTUALLY WAS A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT DID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT HY-VEE MANAGEMENT'S REQUEST FOR SILENCE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CLOSING, WHICH BLINDSIDED THOSE OF US WHO HAD NO INKLING THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN WAS MORE ABOUT KEEPING THEIR EMPLOYEES IN THEIR STORE THAN IT WAS FOR LOOKING OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND THAT'S A CONSIDERATION.

PUT THE RESIDENTS FIRST.

[01:55:01]

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU PARTNER WITH.

AND DON'T BE WORRIED ABOUT OFFENDING BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPERS IF IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR RESIDENTS.

THIS IS A POSITIVE.

SO WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, LIEUTENANT, LIEUTENANT JEREMY PAULSON BECAME OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE. WITH OUR FIRST MEETING THAT WE HAD IN MAY OF 2022, EVEN BEFORE HE WAS A LIEUTENANT, HE SHOWED UP.

HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO MAKE THAT ROLE HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT RESOURCE.

HE FOLLOWS UP, HE COMES TO THE MEETINGS PREPARED.

HE ADAPTED HIS STEPS FOR WHAT WE WANTED TO HAVE, AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THAT.

SO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT RELATIONSHIP.

THANK YOU. I HAVE ANTHONY ARRINGTON LISTED AS NEST.

I DON'T SEE HIM.

SO, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO LINDA SEGER HERE TO TALK ABOUT NORTHWEST FLOOD CONTROL.

LINDA SEGER, 1629 8TH STREET NW, CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

I WASN'T PREPARED TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT I HEARD SOMETHING SO POSITIVE AND SO SOMETHING I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HEAR. AND THANK YOU FIRST, ROB DAVIS, FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO GIVE US HOPE.

IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE PHASE ONE BEGIN ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF CEDAR RAPIDS, OFF ELLIS BOULEVARD.

I HAVE PROBABLY HELD EVERY OFFICE IN THE NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, SOMETIMES TWO AT THE SAME TIME.

I HAVE MET EVERY ONE OF YOU.

I HAVE MET ALL THAT CAME BEFORE YOU.

AND HOPEFULLY THE ONES THAT COME AFTER.

I JUST CELEBRATED MY 80TH BIRTHDAY, AND I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER SEE THE DAY THAT I WOULD SEE FLOOD PROTECTION.

IN THE AREA ON EIGHTH STREET.

BECAUSE WE WERE THE FIRST HIT.

I HAD WATER TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF A TWO-STORY HOUSE AND I BECAME THE FLOOD HOUSE OF THE MEDIA.

I HAD GOVERNORS, SENATORS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES.

I HAD EVERYONE THAT WANTED FROM THE WBC TO WALL STREET JOURNAL.

BUT ALL OF THE TIME I FELT POSITIVE THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE WEST SIDE.

I HAVE TALKED TO ONES WHO WANTED TO BE GOVERNOR, ONES WHO MADE IT TO GOVERNOR.

I LISTENED TO MR. CORBETT SAY HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR MAYOR, AND BY GOLLY, HE DID IT.

SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.

IT ISN'T AN ENDLESS TAX.

DON'T GIVE UP HOPE.

I MADE MORE TRIPS TO A PODIUM.

78 TRIPS DOWN TO FEMA IN WESTDALE MALL.

IT CAN HAPPEN.

DON'T GIVE UP.

BUT TRY TO ALWAYS BE GRACIOUS AND KIND AND RESPECTFUL.

AND REALIZE THAT WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS AND NOT EVERYONE REACTS TO A DISASTER THE SAME WAY.

IN 2016, CORBETT WAS ON THE PHONE SAYING, ARE YOU STILL IN THAT DAMN HOUSE? AND I SAID, YEAH, I'M JUST SURE THOSE [INAUDIBLE] BARRIERS ARE GOING TO HOLD.

AND THEN I LEFT.

SO, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.

AND THERE'S A FUTURE NOW FOR THE WEST SIDE.

AND THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT HAD A PART IN THAT AND WILL IN THE FUTURE.

AND TO MY WEST SIDE SISTER, HANG IN THERE.

I THINK THAT WAS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

CAN WE JUST CALL THAT LINDA'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT? IT WAS A BIG ONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THAT WILL CLOSE OUT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS TODAY? NONE TODAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.