[00:00:01]
THIS MEETING OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, 2024.
MAYOR PRO TEM ANN POE IS ABSENT TODAY, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER MARTY HOEGER.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY CLERK AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY TODAY.
AND NOTE THAT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDAS MINUTES VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE.
REGULAR SESSIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO WATCH LIVE AND ON REPLAY THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE.
WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME? GOD, WE SAY THANK YOU.
GOD, I THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN THIS ROOM AS CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, AND WE GET TO MEET WITH OUR MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, GOD, DEPARTMENT LEADERS, DEPARTMENT HEADS.
GOD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, TO TALK ABOUT THINGS.
GOD, I THANK YOU FOR OUR LEADERS, OF THIS COMMUNITY, OF THIS CITY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[Proclamations/Presentations]
SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF THAT PROCLAMATION, TO PLEASE JOIN COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY HERE AT THE DAIS.AND WHEREAS OVER 48,000 PEOPLE IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA FACE FOOD INSECURITY, OVER 14% OF WHICH ARE CHILDREN, AND WHEREAS NEARLY 7 MILLION SENIORS ARE FOOD INSECURE NATIONALLY, AND WHEREAS THERE ARE 75 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS WHOSE HOMELESSNESS HAS LASTED MORE THAN A YEAR.
AND WHEREAS THERE ARE 170 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON AVERAGE ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT IN LINN COUNTY, AND WHEREAS THERE ARE FOUR LOCAL AGENCIES DEDICATED TO HELPING HOUSEHOLDS END HOMELESSNESS AND GAIN STABILITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I ASHLEY VANORNY ON BEHALF OF MAYOR TIFFANY O'DONNELL, THE MAYOR OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE ENTIRE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH 23RD, 2024 AS HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO ACTIVELY AND APPROPRIATELY PARTICIPATE IN THE OBSERVANCE OF THE OCCASION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE CONTINUES TO BE A NEED FOR THOSE FACING HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO WORK ON THAT, AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND THE CITIZENS OF CEDAR RAPIDS.
[APPLAUSE] JUST SHARE ONE LAST ANECDOTE.
MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE WITH US WHEN I JOINED IN 2018, WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE AN OVERFLOW SHELTER.
I TRULY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S INTENTION AND ONGOING FUNDING TO NEVER ALLOW SOMEBODY TO TO BE SLEEPING OUT ON A COLD NIGHT WITHOUT A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. SO IT'S A BIG IMPROVEMENT.
[00:05:08]
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IN AN INDUSTRY DRIVEN TRAINING MODEL AS A KEY STRATEGY TO IMPROVE JOB QUALITY AND PREPARING A PATHWAY TO QUALITY JOBS AND LIFE SUSTAINING CAREERS IN IOWA AND ACROSS THE NATION.AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, RECOGNIZES THE URGENT NEED TO PREPARE A WORKFORCE TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR NATION'S PRESSING CHALLENGES, SUCH AS REBUILDING AND MAINTAINING OUR COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, ADDRESSING CRITICAL SUPPLY CHAIN DEMANDS, SUPPORTING CLEAN ENERGY PRODUCTION, MODERNIZING OUR CYBERSECURITY RESPONSE, AND RESPONDING TO CORE ECONOMY ISSUES.
AND WHEREAS, REGISTERED BUILDING TRADES APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ENABLE EMPLOYERS TO DEVELOP AND TRAIN THEIR FUTURE WORKFORCE BY ALLOWING APPRENTICES TO EARN WHILE THEY LEARN, AND OFFERING CAREER SEEKERS AFFORDABLE PATHWAYS TO HIGH PAYING, QUALITY JOBS AND CAREERS.
AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, RECOGNIZES THE ROLE OF REGISTERED BUILDING TRADES APPRENTICESHIPS IN EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR WORKFORCE THAT ARE INCLUSIVE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, MARGINALIZED, AND ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY PERSISTENT POVERTY AND INEQUALITY.
THUS PROVIDING A PATH FOR ALL QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING WOMEN, YOUTH, PEOPLE OF COLOR, RURAL COMMUNITIES, JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO BECOME APPRENTICES AND CONTRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S INDUSTRIES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, TYLER OLSON, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR TIFFANY O'DONNELL AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, CALL UPON ALL BUSINESSES, AGENCIES, INSTITUTIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF REGISTERED BUILDING TRADES APPRENTICESHIPS AND TO PROMOTE INDUSTRY AWARENESS AND EXPANSION DURING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK, NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 23RD, 2024.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
IT'S NOW TIME FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
SO I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TODAY, WHETHER DURING A PUBLIC HEARING OR DURING ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT OR PUBLIC INPUT PERIODS OF A FEW MATTERS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN ORDERLY MEETING.
SECOND, COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, SO WHEN THE LIGHT IN THE CONSOLE IN FRONT OF YOU TURNS YELLOW, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, AND WHEN IT'S RED, WE ASK YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT ONCE AGAIN.
AND THIRD, BE AWARE THAT ALL COMMENTS MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT ABUSIVE, OBSCENE, LOUD OR THREATENING OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. AND FINALLY, WE NEED TO HOLD AN ORDERLY HEARING.
SO WE ASK FOR NO APPLAUSE, CHEERING, BOOING, OR OTHER NOISE OR DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT FROM THE AUDIENCE.
WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THAT.
DOES THE CLERK HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS IN REGARD TO ANY OF OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS ON TODAY'S AGENDA? YOUR HONOR, THERE ARE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH ITEMS NUMBER ONE AND TWO.
[1 and 2. Public hearings will be held to consider the proposed Big Cedar West and Big Cedar East Urban Renewal Areas for property along 76th Avenue SW (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0003-2024]
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED BIG CEDAR WEST URBAN RENEWAL AREA FOR PROPERTY ALONG 76TH AVENUE SOUTHWEST.AND AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO THE COLLECTION OF TAX INCREMENTS THEREIN.
SCOTT MATHER WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
NOVEMBER 7TH, WE HELD A CONSULTATION WITH AFFECTED TAXING ENTITIES, AND NOVEMBER 7TH, I PRESENTED AT CITY PLANNING COMMISSION WITH A THE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF BOTH URBAN RENEWAL AREAS.
SO HERE IS A MAP SHOWING THE BOUNDARIES FOR BIG CEDAR WEST, ALL IN RED TO INCLUDE 76TH AVENUE AND BIG CEDAR EAST.
SO TODAY WE'RE HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SCOTT. THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
THAT BRINGS US TO ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION.
WE WILL NOT BE CALLING FOR A VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL THE FIRST READING WAS PULLED FOR THE AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
[00:10:02]
NOW FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO.THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED BIG CEDAR EAST URBAN RENEWAL AREA FOR PROPERTY ALONG 76TH AVENUE SOUTHWEST, AND AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO THE COLLECTION OF TAX INCREMENTS THEREIN.
THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT ORDINANCE.
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.
[3. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed Rex Concrete Urban Revitalization Area for property at 551 50th Avenue Drive SW as requested by Rex Real Estate LLC (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #URTE-0058-2024]
REX REAL ESTATE, LLC.SCOTT, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU ONCE AGAIN.
BACK IN SEPTEMBER, 24TH OF 2024, CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED STANDARD INCENTIVES WITH REX REAL ESTATE, LLC FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW COMMERCIAL HEADQUARTERS BUILDING. THE PROJECT QUALIFIES UNDER THE CITY'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
THE CITY INCENTIVE PROVIDES A TEN YEAR DECLINING SCALE EXEMPTION OF THE INCREASED VALUE GENERATED.
IT WILL BE MIXED USE OFFICE AND SHOP SPACE WILL CREATE 11 JOBS TO CEDAR RAPIDS.
THE STANDARD INCENTIVE PROVIDES A TEN YEAR DECLINING SCALE EXEMPTION OF THE INCREASED VALUE, SO BASED ON THE INVESTMENT AND POST-DEVELOPMENT VALUE, THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE ABOUT 1.4 MILLION IN TAXES OVER TEN YEARS, OF WHICH $500,000 WOULD BE EXEMPTED.
AND SO HERE'S AN AERIAL SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA.
HIGHWAY 30 IS JUST TO THE SOUTH, AND THEN ALONG TO THE WEST IS KIRKWOOD BOULEVARD.
SO HERE IS A RENDERING OF THE THE BUILDING.
AND THEN DECEMBER 3RD WOULD BE THE SECOND AND POSSIBLE THIRD ORDINANCE READING.
THANK YOU. THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A 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.
AND THIS MOTION CARRIES BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE FOR THIS ITEM DOES ANY ONE FROM COUNCIL HAVE COMMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.
AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.
[4. A public hearing will be held to consider the vacation of a 0.17-acre portion of 6th Avenue SE right-of-way southwest of 1st Street SE between 535 and 625 1st Street SE (Rob Davis). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #ROWV-000453-2024]
BETWEEN 535 AND 625 FIRST STREET SOUTHEAST.GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL ROB DAVIS WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING MAY LOOK FAMILIAR BECAUSE FOUR WEEKS AGO WE PRESENTED THE SAME PRESENTATION.
IN BOTH SIXTH AND SEVENTH AVENUE, WE HAVE THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM COMING THROUGH THAT AREA BY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND WE WOULD NO LONGER NEED THE PORTIONS OF ALMOST ALL OF SIXTH AVENUE EXCEPT FOR THE VERY WESTERLY EDGE THERE.
IT SAYS CITY TO RETAIN THIS PARCEL HERE.
THE REST OF THAT WOULD BE VACATED AND WOULD GO TO GREAT AMERICA.
SEVENTH AVENUE WOULD WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF THE VACATION HERE.
THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF SEVENTH AVENUE WOULD BE RETAINED FOR A TRAIL ACCESS.
ACCESS TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM FOR [INAUDIBLE] AND MAINTENANCE, WILL BE VIA FIFTH AVENUE AND SEVENTH AVENUE. SO AGAIN, SIXTH IN THE MIDDLE IS NOT GOING TO BE USED FOR ACCESS.
GREATAMERICA WILL ASSUME MAINTENANCE OF THOSE VACATED AREAS ON BOTH SIXTH AND SEVENTH.
[00:15:04]
WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE FIRST READING OF THIS ORDINANCE FOR THE VACATION OF SIXTH AVENUE.THANK YOU. BACK TO YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, ROB. THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
COUNCIL. SEEING NONE, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Alliant Energy LightLine Bridge project (estimated cost is $11,300,000) (Ben Worrell). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #327002-02]
. THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $11,300,000.BEN WORRELL AND KEN DEKEYSER ARE HERE.
GENTLEMEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. BEN WORRELL AND KEN DEKEYSER AT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
SO THIS PROJECT IS TO CONSTRUCT A NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACROSS THE CEDAR RIVER.
AND THERE WAS A PREVIOUS PROJECT THAT REMOVED WHAT WAS LEFT OF IT.
THE NEW BRIDGE WILL CONNECT TRAILS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER, AND IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO THE LIGHTLINE LOOP AREA, WHICH IS THE REVITALIZATION OF THE CZECH VILLAGE.
THIS PROJECT WAS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONNECTCR, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH HELPED TO RAISE FUNDS, AND THEY'VE ALSO WEIGHED IN ON PARTS OF THE DESIGN. THERE WAS A SEPARATE PRESENTATION ON CONNECTCR ON OCTOBER 8TH TO COUNCIL, SO I WON'T GET TOO INTO THE DETAILS ON THAT.
THEY ALSO, THAT SAME DAY, HELD AN OPEN HOUSE FOR THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS BRIDGE AND THE CEDAR LAKE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP FUNDRAISE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PRIVATE DONATIONS TO HELP PAY FOR THIS PROJECT.
I'VE GOT SOME RENDERINGS HERE.
THERE'S A 165 FOOT TALL PYLON WITH DECORATIVE CABLES, AND THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL TRAIL ON THE SOUTH SIDE SHOWN THERE ON THE RIGHT. THERE'S THE EXISTING TRAIL ALONG THE RIVERSIDE, WHICH WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE PROJECT AND IT WILL GO UNDER THE BRIDGE.
THERE'S ALSO IN DESIGN A FUTURE NORTH LANDING AREA, AND THERE WOULD BE SALVAGE OF THE OLD BRIDGE PIECES TO MAKE SIGNAGE AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ON THAT NORTH SIDE AS A FUTURE PROJECT.
THIS IS A RENDERING OF THE BRIDGE AT NIGHT.
AND THEN THERE'S LIGHTS COMING IN THROUGH THE PYLON.
THE LIGHTS ON THE INSIDE WILL HAVE COLOR CHANGING CAPABILITIES.
SO IT'S SHOWN HERE WITH A BLUE LIGHTING.
AND SO IF THE CITY WANTS TO RECOGNIZE AN EVENT OR A CAUSE, WE CAN CHANGE ANY COLOR.
THIS IS ANOTHER RENDERING FROM DECK LEVEL.
YOU CAN SEE NEAR THE PYLON, IT'LL HAVE A SPLIT DECK AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE DECORATIVE CABLES THERE.
PEOPLE CAN WALK OR RIDE THEIR BIKE WHATEVER THEY WANT.
AND HERE'S A RENDERING OF SEATING NEAR THE PYLON.
AND THERE WILL BE ARMRESTS FOR ASSISTING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND ALSO TO MITIGATE PEOPLE TRYING TO SKATE ON THE BENCHES AS WELL.
ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS 11.3 MILLION.
BID LETTING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 11TH.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED FEBRUARY THROUGH FALL OF 2026.
THERE IS AN INCENTIVE FOR THE CONTRACTOR IF THEY GET DONE WITH THE BRIDGE ENOUGH TO HAVE IT BE OPEN BY JUNE 26TH OF 2026. AND THE GREAT AMERICAN RAIL TRAIL ON THE SOUTH SIDE WILL REMAIN OPEN AT ALL TIMES.
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE TIMES WHERE WE WILL USE FLAGGERS, WHERE EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS HAVE TO CROSS THE TRAIL JUST FOR SAFETY REASONS, AND THAT WILL BE WORKED OUT WITH THE CONTRACTOR.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
[00:20:02]
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ARE YOU SURE? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.AND IT IS BEEN A LONG PROJECT, BUT IT'S GOOD TO GET TO THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND SO I MEAN, STEVE AND JULIE COULD CERTAINLY TALK EONS ABOUT THIS BRIDGE.
BUT THERE'S THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT PUT TIME AND TIME AND TIME AND ENERGY INTO DIFFERENT VARIATIONS AND DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS DESIGN AND THIS BRIDGE.
AND SO IT'S THANKS TO THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND SUPPORT ON THIS.
GLAD TO SEE THAT THE NUMBER IS REALISTIC AND DOABLE, BUT IT CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE DOABLE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE HELP AND FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OF A CONNECTCR WHO'S BEEN MAKING THEIR PAYMENTS ON TIME AT THE NUMBER THAT THEY WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO.
AND SO THANKS TO ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND IT'S A GOOD DAY.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. I WILL JUST ADD MY $0.02 AND THAT I DO SEE JULIE AND STEVE IN THE AUDIENCE AND CERTAINLY STAFF JENNIFER PRATT.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT REPRESENTS WHAT YOU CAN DO IN CEDAR RAPIDS.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WAS INSTIGATED BY CITIZENS OF CEDAR RAPIDS.
WE'RE NOT MAYBE CHANGING THE WORLD, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY CHANGING CEDAR RAPIDS.
SO THANK YOU FOR GETTING US TO THIS POINT.
SO IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SAY THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.
[6. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 2025 Sidewalk Infill project (estimated cost is $270,000) (Ben Worrell). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3012074-06]
THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $270,000.BEN WORRELL IS HERE. BEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
THIS PROJECT WILL FILL IN GAPS IN THE SIDEWALK AT A FEW DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY.
IT INCLUDES CURB RAMPS AND ONE BUS STOP PAD.
WE PRIORITIZE THE LOCATIONS BASED ON COMMUNITY REQUESTS.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR A SIDEWALK INFILL, THEY CAN DO THAT THROUGH MYCR WEBSITE AND IN FILLING SIDEWALKS CREATES MORE OF A COMPLETE STREET. SO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN A VEHICLE LIKE PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE ADDITIONAL ACCESS FOR TRANSPORTATION. THREE OF THESE PARCELS HAVE ASSESSMENTS, AND THAT'S IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CITY ORDINANCE AND ALSO THE POLICY FOR NEW SIDEWALKS.
AND THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RESOLUTION OF NECESSITY APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL FOR THAT.
THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE CITY'S PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN AS WELL.
HERE'S A MAP SHOWING THE LOCATIONS.
YOU CAN SEE THEY MOSTLY OVERLAP WITH HIGHER DEMAND AREAS.
ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS 270,000.
BID LETTING IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 20TH.
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED NEXT SPRING WITH MINIMAL TRAFFIC IMPACTS.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION.
THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
[7. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Stickle Drive NE at 4th Street East Central Quiet Zone Improvements project (estimated cost is $680,000) (Ken DeKeyser). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #306285-02]
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $680,000.
[00:25:03]
KEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.GOOD AFTERNOON. KEN DEKEYSER WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS IS AT STICKLE DRIVE AND C STREET NORTHEAST.
THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE, ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO FINISH UP OUR DOWNTOWN PHASE A QUIET ZONE IMPROVEMENTS AS NOTED BIDS DECEMBER 4TH TO $680,000 COST OPINION WITH A JUNE 2025 LATE START DATE.
SO IT'S JUST NORTH OF I-380 AND CLOSE TO CEDAR LAKE.
SO THIS IS THE LAST PIECE OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS TO GET THAT PHASE A UP AND RUNNING AS A QUIET ZONE.
THIS IS A CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW.
THIS CLEANS UP THE INTERSECTION PRETTY WELL FOR THE TRAIL CROSSING INTO THE STREET AS WELL AS THE PEDESTRIAN RAMPS, AND THEN FINISHES UP THE OR REDOES THE CONCRETE STREET HERE AT THE GRADE CROSSINGS.
AND THIS IS A DETOUR ROUTE SHOWING THAT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSING NOTED HERE WITH THE DO NOT ENTER SIGN, DETOUR WOULD TAKE VEHICLES, INCLUDING CYCLISTS AROUND TWO OTHER CITY RIGHTS OF WAY THROUGH FOREST STREET AND FIFTH STREET, AND THEN DOWN THROUGH A TEMPORARY GRADE CROSSING CONSTRUCTED BY THE RAILROAD AND THEN ON TO STICKLE DRIVE.
ALSO RELATED TO THIS QUIET ZONE.
THEY INTEND TO DO SO IN SPRING OF 2025, AND ONCE THEY ARE DONE, WE WOULD MOVE IN THERE AND COMPLETE THE PAVING IMPROVEMENTS TO COMPLETE THAT THAT WORK. AND THEN WE WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION TO GET THE QUIET ZONE ESTABLISHED DOWNTOWN ONCE AND FOR ALL AND OPERATIONAL.
AND WITH THAT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, KEN.
THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE.
LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.
THANKS, MAYOR. I'LL JUST REITERATE.
SO JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.
YEARS AGO WHEN WE ACTUALLY REPLACE THAT CROSSING ON STICKLE DRIVE.
WE DIDN'T WE DID NOT CORRECTLY ACCOUNT FOR THE TRAIL USAGE.
AND WE HAD A LOT OF ACCIDENTS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HAVING THEIR BIKE WHEELS WERE GETTING CAUGHT BETWEEN THE RAIL AND THE CONCRETE CURB.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO REALLY KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE DO THIS.
IN FACT, IT WAS JUDY LEHMAN WHO RAN THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, WHO WAS THE FIRST ONE TO REMIND ME THAT WE HAD SORT OF SCREWED THAT ONE UP A LITTLE BIT.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE.
[8. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Glass Road Tank Reconditioning project (estimated cost is $538,000) (Brandon Jennings). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #6250132-02]
THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $538,000.THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, BRANDON JENNINGS WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT ROUTINELY PAINTS AND MAINTAINS THE CITY'S ELEVATED WATER STORAGE TANKS.
THIS MAP SHOWS THE CURRENT LOCATION AND EXTERIOR CONDITION OF THE GLASS ROAD STANDPIPE.
THIS TANK WAS MOST RECENTLY PAINTED MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO AND IS NOW DUE FOR RECONDITIONING.
THIS PROJECT WILL REPAINT BOTH THE WETTED INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE GLASS ROAD STANDPIPE.
THE CITY'S NAME AND LOGO WILL BE ADDED TO THE TANK.
[00:30:02]
A SUBMERSIBLE MIXER WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF STORED WATER.THIS IS THE SAME STYLE OF TEXT AND LOGO THAT WAS APPLIED TO THE 60TH AVENUE STANDPIPE PROJECT THAT WAS COMPLETED EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S SCALED DOWN TO FIT THE SMALLER TANK IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING.
THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COST IS $538,000.
THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WATER DIVISION STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, ADOPTING THE PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE GLASS ROAD TANK RECONDITIONING PROJECT.
THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
AND THIS MOTION CARRIES HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
THE FIRST IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT PERTAINING TO COUNCIL ACTIONS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.AND TODAY. WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
SO WE WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE OUT THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA?
[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]
YEAH, ONE ITEM, YOUR HONOR.IT'S ITEM NUMBER 25 AND WE'RE ACTUALLY CHANGING THE AMOUNT.
THE AMOUNT SHOULD BE $238,200 INSTEAD OF $238,000.
WHAT'S THAT NUMBER AGAIN? THAT IS ITEM NUMBER 25.
DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS OR MAKE ANY CHANGES? ALL RIGHTY THEN.
THAT WILL BRING US TO A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.
[26. Report on bids for the River Wall Repair and Balustrade Replacement & City Hall Storm Sewer project (estimated cost is $1,020,000) (Rob Davis). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3315555-01]
ITEM NUMBER 26 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE RIVER WALL REPAIR AND BALUSTRADE REPLACEMENT IN CITY HALL STORM SEWER PROJECT.THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1.2 MILLION.
THANK YOU. SORRY, I MEANT 1 MILLION, 20,000.
ROB DAVIS AGAIN WITH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
AS A REMINDER, THIS PROJECT COVERS RIVER WALL REPAIR FROM FIRST TO THIRD AVENUES ON THE EAST BANK OF THE CEDAR RIVER. IT ALSO INCLUDES REPLACING THE BALUSTRADE RAILING ON TOP OF THE RIVER WALL.
AND THEN THAT'S SHOWN IN BLUE ON THIS MAP.
AND IN YELLOW IS STORM SEWER PROJECT AREA.
BASICALLY THE WHOLE WEST HALF OF CITY HALL HERE THAT WORK.
ACTUALLY, ALL THIS WORK IS TO BE DONE IN PREPARATION AND IN ADVANCE OF THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROJECT, WHICH IS GETTING CLOSER TO BEING READY TO GO. JUST A REMINDER, THE RIVER WALL IS 1930 ERA.
IT'S GOT SOME SPALLED CONCRETE AND DETERIORATION, BROKEN RAILINGS, MISMATCHED LIGHT FIXTURES.
IT'S READY FOR AN UPGRADE REHABILITATION JUST DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS.
IT'LL INCLUDE REPLACING THE RAILING.
YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE ON THE LOWER RIGHT.
ACTUALLY, BOTH PICTURES YOU CAN SEE THE RAILING IS IN SOME ROUGH SHAPE.
PATCHING THE RIVER WALL, ADDING NEW CONDUITS LIGHT POLES, FIXTURES, AND ALSO THOSE END MONUMENTS ON THE END OF THE BRIDGE WHICH HAVE KIND OF MOVE AROUND. THOSE WILL BE REATTACHED AND PERMANENT.
CITY HALL, STORM SEWER RIGHT NOW, THOSE OUTLET TO THE RIVER, THEY NEED TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE PUMP STATION THAT'S BEEN CONSTRUCTED INSIDE THE CRST BUILDING.
[00:35:01]
THE SMALLEST PART OF THIS PROJECT IS SOME REPAIR OF THE BARRIER WALL ON THE SCHAEFER ROAD BRIDGE OVER MCLOUD RUN.IT'S VERY SIMILAR WORK TO THE PATCHING OF THE RIVER WALL THAT WILL NOT IMPACT TRAFFIC.
IT WILL BE THIS WILL BE DONE UNDER TRAFFIC, AS THE MAYOR SAID, $1,020,000 FOR THE COST OPINION.
THE MAJORITY OF IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM THE $580,000 PLUS THE $50,000, WHICH WAS NOT IN THE PUBLISHED COST OPINION FOR THE BRIDGE REPAIR AND SHAVER ROAD BID OPENING.
THE BID OPENING WAS ON NOVEMBER 13TH.
THEY RANGED FROM THE LOW BID OF $1,834,477.50 TO $6,000 E VEN. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE COST OPINION.
WE'VE DUG INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT, AND ABOUT 70% OF THAT DIFFERENCE IS ASSOCIATED WITH TWO BID ITEMS THAT WE CAN SEE, THE REMOVAL OF THE BALUSTRADE RAILING AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW BALUSTRADE RAILING IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WAS ESTIMATED.
WE HAD A CONTRACTOR LOOK AT THAT AND HELP PRICE THAT OUT.
SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, THOUGH, YOU CAN SEE A GENERAL TREND FOR STILL INCREASED COSTS.
THE STORM SEWER THEMSELVES WERE ABOUT 25% ABOVE THE ORIGINAL, THE COST OPINION.
SO LITTLE CONCERN THERE IS BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY BASIC WORK.
SO THAT'S THAT MAY BE UNDERSTANDABLE.
AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE TREND, UNFORTUNATELY.
COUNCIL, ANY THOUGHTS QUESTIONS ON THIS? OKAY. SO WE DO NOT HAVE A RESOLUTION.
WELL WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT REPORT.
ITEM NUMBER 27 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR FY 2025 TREE AND VEGETATION REMOVAL PROJECT.
[27. Report on bids for the FY 2025 Tree and Vegetation Removal project (estimated cost is $310,000) (Ben Worrell). CIP/DID #301990-32]
THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $310,000.THANK YOU. MAYOR BEN WORRELL, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THIS PROJECT IS TO REMOVE TREES AHEAD OF VARIOUS CITY PROJECTS.
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MAP THAT IOWA IS A PART OF THE HABITAT RANGE FOR THE ENDANGERED NORTHERN LONG EARED BAT, AND THEREFORE, WE MUST CUT OUR TREES BY MARCH 31ST TO COMPLY WITH U.S.
FISH AND WILDLIFE REGULATIONS.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES RESEEDING OF DISTURBED AREAS.
HERE'S A MAP SHOWING THE PROJECT LOCATIONS FOR THIS YEAR.
THIS PROJECT BID ON NOVEMBER 13TH.
LOW BIDDER WAS S2 CONSTRUCTION OUT OF BELLEVUE.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO AWARD THE CONTRACT.
COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.
[28. Report on bids for the Repair and Refurbish Cherry Hill Pool Slides project (estimated cost is $215,000) (Steve Krug and Rusty Fuller). CIP/DID #PUR1024-115]
$215,000. STEVE KRUG AND RUSTY FULLER OR JUST RUSTY.RUSTY IS HERE TODAY. RUSTY, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU AND CITY COUNCIL.
WE HAVE THE BIDS BACK FOR THE REPAIR AND REFURBISH OF THE CHERRY HILL POOL SLIDES.
THE EXISTING SLIDES WERE INSTALLED WITH THE POOL IN 2004 AND ARE 20 YEARS OLD.
THE EXISTING ALUMINUM STAIRS ARE WORN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.
HERE YOU SEE THE SLIDES IN QUESTION AND THE CONTRACTOR WILL PREPARE AN INSPECTION REPORT FOR ALL THE SLIDES CONFIRMING THE WORK TO BE DONE AND ANY ADDITIONAL WORK NEEDED.
THE PROJECT WILL REPLACE ALL STEPS ON ALL SLIDES.
THE SLIDE SECTIONS FOR ALL SLIDES WILL BE REFURBISHED ON SITE TO LIKE OPERATIONAL CONDITION.
[00:40:05]
THE ESTIMATED PROJECT COST IS 215,000 AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ON NOVEMBER 6TH WE RECEIVED TWO ACCEPTABLE BIDS, WITH THE LOWEST BEING $215,000 FROM FISCHER BROTHERS LLC.BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.
YEAH. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION IN TERMS OF THE TIMING OF THIS PROJECT, WHEN WILL THAT BE AN ABOUT HOW LONG ARE WE ESTIMATING THE POOL MAY BE DOWN? IF I'M CORRECT, SHOULD BE ONE SEASON AND WE SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
[29. Presentation and resolution authorizing City financial incentives for 860 17th St, LLC under the Targeted District Reinvestment Economic Development Program for the redevelopment of the former Higley Mansion at 860 17th Street SE (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF0005-2024]
TARGETED DISTRICT REINVESTMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER HIGLEY MANSION AT 860 17TH STREET SOUTHEAST.AS STATED, THIS IS REGARDING THE FORMER HIGLEY MANSION.
WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM 860 17TH STREET LLC FOR CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER HIGLEY MANSION AT 860 17TH STREET SOUTHEAST.
THE PROJECT QUALIFIES UNDER THE TARGETED DISTRICT REINVESTMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
THE BUILDING HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC IN 2020.
THIS IS A $4.6 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING 27,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, AS WELL AS A 3000 SQUARE FOOT ADDITION.
IT'S PLANNED TO CREATE 40 TO 50 JOBS.
CONSTRUCTION WOULD START HERE IN JANUARY OF 25 AND COMPLETE IN THE SUMMER OF 2025.
THE STANDARD INCENTIVE PROVIDES A TEN YEAR, 100% REBATE OF THE INCREASED TAXES.
AND HERE ARE A COUPLE OF RENDERINGS OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE ONCE THE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
THIS IS FACING FROM THE WEST LOOKING, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY SORT OF FACING NORTHEAST.
AND THIS WOULD BE FACING SOUTH SOUTHEAST.
SO TODAY WE'RE HERE FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.
THE ABILITY FOR US TO HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS CLOSE HERE AT HOME.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I JUST RETURNED FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW IS JUST THE DETRIMENT OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND HOW IT REALLY DEVASTATED EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE US, EVERY SINGLE SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL.
SO THE REALITY THAT WE GET TO TAKE CARE OF CEDAR RAPIDIANS CLOSE TO HOME AND PROVIDE THEM A NICE SPACE SO THAT THEY CAN FIGURE THINGS OUT, GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, AND THEN HOPEFULLY GET BACK ON WITH THEIR LIVES IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.
AND I'M JUST PROUD OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS RESOURCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS PROJECT IS RIGHT IN MY DISTRICT.
AND AND I WOULD SAY THAT A PROJECT OF THIS NATURE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE BECOME A CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT, ONE WHERE NEIGHBORS WOULD SAY, NOT IN MY BACKYARD.
ONE WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD SAY, WHY ARE WE INVOLVED FINANCIALLY IN A PROJECT LIKE THIS? AND FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO JUSTIFY IT.
IN THIS SENSE, IT TAKES A PROPERTY THAT WAS HISTORICALLY, FOR A LONG TIME, A BLIGHTED PROPERTY
[00:45:05]
RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.AND BASED ON THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF THE PROJECT, BACK WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY DONE IN ORDER TO RENOVATE THIS PROJECT, I THINK IT WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE FOR ANYBODY TO REALLY DO IT IN A WAY THAT ADDED VALUE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTO THE PROPERTIES ADJACENT. AND SO SO IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE.
OTHER MODELS THAT WERE LOOKED AT WERE NONPROFITS.
IF THE NONPROFITS WERE INVOLVED, THERE WOULD BE NO TAXES GENERATED, AND IT WOULD BE TOUGH FOR THE CITY TO MAKE A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO A PROJECT LIKE THAT WITHOUT COMING OUT OF GENERAL REVENUES.
AND SO IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT'S SORT OF A WIN WIN FOR A LOT OF US.
AND I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT AND COMPASSION OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO, AFTER THE PRESENTATION BY THE DEVELOPERS, AND I APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPERS WHO MADE THAT PRESENTATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING THERE AND A WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER. AND SO I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, SCOTT.
ANYONE ELSE? I'LL JUST ADD I'M NOT SURE IF WE HEARD THAT IN THIS PRESENTATION, BUT THIS IS A VOLUNTARY FACILITY, WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH NEIGHBORS AS WELL. AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT KIND OF PUT ME OVER TO IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THE TREMENDOUS VALUE IT HAS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.
THANK YOU. AND THAT CLOSES OUT OUR FORMAL BUSINESS TODAY.
AND BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.
[PUBLIC INPUT]
THIS IS A CHANCE FOR CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENTS, PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT PERTAINING TO COUNCIL BUSINESS, AS IS WITH THE EARLIER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS TIME, WE ARE HERE AS A COUNCIL TO LISTEN.I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY TO REMAIN AT THE LECTERN.
COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.
NO ABUSIVE, OBSCENE, LOUD, THREATENING OR PERSONAL COMMENTS.
IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, WE ASK YOU TO APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON, AND THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS BARBARA REAM, WHO'S HERE TO SPEAK ON PAVING FOR PROGRESS, SPECIFICALLY THE WASHINGTON AVENUE SOUTHEAST.
I'LL TRY NOT TO BE TOO ABUSIVE HERE TODAY.
THREE WEEKS AGO TODAY THE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WERE INVITED TO AN OPEN HOUSE TO LEARN ABOUT THE PAVING FOR PROJECT ON WASHINGTON AVENUE. AT THIS OPEN HOUSE, OUR GROUP HAD ANTICIPATED PRESENTING A PETITION EXPRESSING OUR A NEGATIVE EXPRESSION AT THIS MEETING.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE WERE IN SMALL GROUPS, WE DIDN'T ALL HEAR EXACTLY THE SAME THINGS.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE.
THIS PAST WEEK, THE CITY PLANTED 12 NEW TREES ALONG MY STREET, AND NORMALLY THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REJOICE AT HAVING NEW TREES BECAUSE WE, OF COURSE, LIKE THE REST OF THE CITY, LOST MAJOR MATURE TREES DURING THE DERECHO.
SO TO ME THAT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES ON THE PART OF THE CITY.
ADDITIONALLY, SOME 20 MATURE TREES, SOME OF THEM REALLY HISTORIC, HISTORICALLY LARGE TREES IN IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS SHRUBS, LARGE AND SMALL, AND ALSO MATURE TREES WHOSE ROOTS ARE EXTENDING INTO THE AREA THAT I THINK WOULD PROBABLY BE DAMAGED BY THE CONSTRUCTION AS WELL.
WASHINGTON AVENUE IS NOT A DESTINATION ROAD.
[00:50:03]
FURTHER, THE SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF SIDEWALKS IS DEPENDENT ON THE WALKWAYS BEING PERFECTLY CLEAR OF SNOW IN THE WINTER.I FREQUENTLY CHOOSE MY ROUTE FOR WALKING MY DOG.
MY ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A PROPERTY OWNER WOULD BE TO SHOVEL A LARGE AMOUNT OF SIDEWALK.
AND SO SOME OF THE PEOPLE AT THE MEETING TOLD US THAT WE SHOULDN'T THINK ABOUT THE PROJECT AS PERTAINING TO US NOW, BUT IT WAS FOR FUTURE PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE ARE NOT FAIR COMPARISONS.
ONE EMPLOYEE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THAT FOREST DRIVE HAS A SIDEWALK, AND YES, IT DOES.
IF FOREST DRIVE DIDN'T HAVE A SIDEWALK, THERE WOULD BE ACCIDENTS DAILY.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLY BUSY STREET, AND WASHINGTON AVENUE IS NOT A BUSY STREET.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD ASK THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE AS TO HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED NEXT.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE MET THREE WEEKS AGO, AND I THINK SEVERAL OF US HAVE MADE CALLS TO THAT DEPARTMENT. WE DO HAVE A PETITION AND SOME DATA THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED, AND I THINK THERE ARE OTHER MEMBERS IN MY GROUP WHO ARE GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC DATA.
SO CAN WE LEAVE A PACKET FOR YOU? THANK YOU. SORRY. I'M SO NERVOUS.
I WORK FROM HOME, SO AS A DATA ANALYST, I JUST COLLECT DATA ALL OF THE TIME.
THEY EXPLAINED THEY WERE MEASURING FOR A STORM SEWER PROJECT AND SIDEWALKS.
WHEN PRESSED, THEY SAID SIDEWALKS WERE NOT OUR ONLY OPTION.
THERE WERE ALSO WALKING LANES THAT COULD BE INSTALLED OR ADDED TO THE STREET.
NOT CONVINCED, I BEGAN TO KEEP DATA ABOUT TRAFFIC ON THE STREET, AS DID SEVERAL OTHER NEIGHBORS.
IMAGINE MY SURPRISE THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN I WENT TO THE INFORMATIONAL MEETING AND ALL DECISIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE HOMEOWNERS, WITHOUT REGARD TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION GUIDELINES FROM THE CITY, WITHOUT REGARD TO VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.
AT THIS MEETING, WE WERE TOLD WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE QUESTIONED IT.
WE WERE MET WITH HOSTILITY, RAISED VOICES AND ANGER FROM CITY REPRESENTATIVES.
AND WHEN I RECITED INFORMATION ABOUT GUIDELINES, PERMITS AND WAITING PERIODS AS LISTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, HE BECAME SO ENRAGED ANOTHER RESIDENT HAD TO STEP IN AND TELL HIM HE DIDN'T APPRECIATE THE TONE WITH WHICH WE WERE BEING ACCOSTED.
WE WOULDN'T GET ANY STORM SEWER UPGRADES IF WE DON'T AGREE TO THE SIDEWALK PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
BUT ON FIFTH AVENUE RECENTLY COMPLETED, THERE'S A TWO BLOCK SECTION FROM 20TH TO 22ND STREET THAT GOT THE STORM SEWERS, BUT NOT SIDEWALKS. AFTER TAKING DATA FOR THE BETTER PART OF FOUR MONTHS, THE HIGHEST USAGE DATE WAS JULY 4TH, WHEN A 10K PASSES THROUGH THE AREA AND IT WAS 21 PEDESTRIANS, THE AVERAGE WAS 11.2.
90% OF WHICH ARE PEOPLE WHO EITHER LIVE ON WASHINGTON OR PLEASANT.
YOU CAN LITERALLY MARK THE TIME BY WHEN BARB WALKS BY WITH HER DOG ONCE AT 9:30 AND ONCE AT 3:15.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER WALKERS AS WELL.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS THE CITY WILLING TO WASTE? SO AN OUT OF AREA ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT CAN WALK DOWN MY STREET WITH SO MUCH TALK OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IT'S A TRAVESTY TO SPEND MONEY ON
[00:55:02]
SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T WANT, NOR WILL THEY USE.AND WHY THE SUDDEN INTEREST? LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD NINE INCHES OF SNOW IT WASN'T UNTIL I FLAGGED DOWN A PLOW FOUR DAYS LATER TO CLEAR OUR STREET HE TOLD ME HE HADN'T DONE IT BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE USE THAT STREET.
THE CITY PUT UP SAWHORSES FOR TWO MONTHS.
FOR TWO MONTHS WE HAD SAWHORSES AND NO TRAFFIC.
IT HAD NO DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON FOOT TRAFFIC OR CAR TRAFFIC IN THE AREA.
WHEN THEY DID FIXED IT, THEY SIMPLY DUMPED ASPHALT ON TOP AND FLATTENED IT.
ODDLY ENOUGH, THIS PROJECT WILL NOW PLACE A STOP SIGN THERE.
THE PROPERTY OWNERS DO NOT WANT SIDEWALKS, AND APPARENTLY THE CITY DOESN'T EITHER.
SINCE LAST WEEK, THEY JUST PUT 12 NEW TREES UP ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.
PLEASE LEAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT IS WALKABLE IN THE STREET.
THANK YOU. RUTH ARMSTRONG, ALSO A RESIDENT OF CEDAR RAPIDS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS RUTH FERRIS ARMSTRONG, AND I'M HERE WITH ANOTHER MEMBER OF MY ORGANIZATION, ROCHELLE LEWIS, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF LINN COUNTY.
WE'VE HAD A PRESENCE HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS SINCE 1965.
WE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 10 TO 4.
AND WE'RE LOCATED IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE MASONIC LIBRARY AND MUSEUMS IN THE MED QUARTER.
OUR HOLDINGS IN THE LIBRARY INCLUDE VITAL RECORDS, OBITUARIES, FUNERAL AND CEMETERY RECORDS, COURT DOCUMENTS, MAPS, YEARBOOKS, AND MUCH MORE.
OUR ONE AND ONLY ITEMS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO US ARE FUNERAL HOME RECORDS FROM THE ORIGINAL 51 PAST AND PRESENT FUNERAL HOMES IN LINN COUNTY.
ALSO, WE HAVE CANCELED CEDAR RAPIDS VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS FROM 1966 AND THE ORIGINAL RECORDS OF THE CZECH NATIONAL MUSEUM. ALSO, WE HAVE COURT DOCUMENTS ON MICROFILM HOUSED IN OUR LIBRARY THAT WERE LOST TO THE CITY IN 2008.
WE HAVE ITEMS FROM ALL COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF IOWA AS WELL, EXCEPT FOR SIOUX COUNTY AND ALL STATES IN THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT FOR HAWAII. IN THE YEAR 2023, WE ASSISTED OVER 600 VISITORS TO THE LIBRARY FROM 15 DIFFERENT STATES AND TWO OTHER COUNTRIES.
WE HAVE MONTHLY PROGRAMS, AND WE GIVE TALKS ABOUT GENEALOGY TO LOCAL GROUPS AND IN FACILITIES.
WE ALSO DO RESEARCH FOR PEOPLE THAT CANNOT COME TO THE LIBRARY THEMSELVES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
THANK YOU. NEXT, I HAVE A LAST NAME BORNGRABER.
I HAVE TWO BORNGRABER LISTED HERE AN N BORNGRABER FIRST.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GIVING US YOUR NAME.
AND YOU'RE A CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENT, CORRECT? YES. OKAY. YES.
I'M NADINE BORNGRABER, AND WE LIVE AT 2100 WASHINGTON AVENUE SOUTHEAST.
WE MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE IN 2012, AND IT WAS A WRECK AND THE LANDSCAPING WAS A WRECK, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR REALTOR TOOK US INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM BEAVER, ACROSS FOREST AND DOWN THE STREET.
[01:00:09]
AND IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL SUBURBAN MODEL FEEL TO IT.THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN NOMINATED, AND I THINK THE DESIGNATION HAS PASSED FOR NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD RETAINS MUCH OF ITS ORIGINAL CHARACTER THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PLATTED WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, SO FRONTAGES ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE ON OTHER STREETS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A DISTINCT I'M THE GATEWAY HOUSE, RIGHT? I'M RIGHT ON 21ST IN WASHINGTON.
ACROSS THE STREET, YOU'LL SEE THE TYPICAL CITY URBAN GRID.
AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A STREET THAT CURVES.
IT'S A LITTLE WIDER THAN THE OTHER STREETS.
THE FRONTAGES GO STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE CURB.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO MAYBE COME TAKE A LOOK, WALK AROUND, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER RETAINING THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SAME ADDRESS. YES, WE ARE RELATED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO REINFORCE THE REACTION THAT THE IMPRESSION THAT WE'VE GIVEN FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THIS PAVING FOR PROGRESS ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.
WASHINGTON AVENUE. NOW, THIS PART THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ONLY THREE AND A HALF BLOCKS.
IT'S FROM 21ST STREET TO FOREST AVENUE.
IT ENDS AT FOREST AVENUE, AND THEN FOREST AVENUE GOES TO THE LEFT TO GRAND AVENUE AND THEN THE OTHER TO THE RIGHT TO BEAVER. IT'S NOT A DESTINATION, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH LONG, LONG DETAILS, BUT I'M GOING TO JUST POINT OUT A FEW REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD OPPOSE THIS WHEN IT DOES GET PRESENTED TO YOU.
IT'S NOT A DESTINATION PROPERTY.
IT'S NOT. THERE'S NO REASON OR NEED FOR SIDEWALKS TO BE ON THIS STREET.
THIRDLY, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED ALSO, IT'S BEEN A STATE HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND PUTTING SIDEWALKS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THAT STATE HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK.
SO I WANT TO JUST REITERATE, WE ARE ALL STANDING HERE OPPOSED TO THIS.
AND I URGE THE COUNCIL TO OPPOSE THIS PROJECT AND TO REJECT IT WHEN IT DOES COME BEFORE YOU.
AND OUR FINAL SPEAKERS, RYAN AND COURTNEY ABRAHAM HERE TO SPEAK ON HIGLEY.
[CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS]
THEY'RE GONE. OKAY.ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE OUT OUR SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.
CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS FOR TODAY? ONE BRIEF ITEM.
AND AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME SETTING KEY GOALS FOR THE ORGANIZATION, AND THEN IT IS THE STAFF'S RESPONSIBILITY, WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GOALS ARE IMPLEMENTED.
AND SO THE DOCUMENT ITSELF COVERS FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS, HOUSING AND OPPORTUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AMENITIES, HOMELESSNESS, A BIG AREA OF DISCUSSION, CLEAN AND SAFE CITY, AND A BUSINESS FRIENDLY ATTITUDE.
[01:05:04]
SURE THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ARE AWARE OF THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE AS A WHOLE TOWARDS MEETING THE GOALS AS SET BY THE CITY COUNCIL.SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.
AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO AND THE MOTION CARRIES.
WE HAVE MORE ROOM. WE DID A LITTLE REMODEL, SO.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.