Dec 03, 2024 City Council

THANK YOU. AT NUMBER THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING HELD TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 42ND STREET NORTHEAST FROM

[3. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 42nd Street NE from Edgewood Road to Pine View Drive Pavement Improvements project (estimated cost is $5,100,000) (Doug Wilson). (Paving for Progress) CIP/DID #3012188-03]

[00:05:06]

EDGEWOOD ROAD TO PINE VIEW DRIVE.

PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $5,100,000.

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

THANK YOU, MAYOR. DOUG WILSON, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THIS PROJECT INCLUDES COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF 42ND STREET FROM ROUGHLY EDGEWOOD ROAD TO PINE VIEW DRIVE.

WE HAVE NEW SIDEWALKS AND ADA COMPLIANT SIDEWALK CURB RAMPS.

IT INCLUDES WATER, MAIN STORM SEWER AND SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS.

SOME RETAINING WALLS AND TWO MID-BLOCK PEDESTRIAN REFLECT OR RAPID REPEATING BEACONS FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS IN THIS CORRIDOR.

THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS $5.1 MILLION.

THERE WERE TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS HELD, ONE IN APRIL OF 2023 AND ONE JUST LAST MONTH IN 2024.

THE PROJECT INCLUDES SIGNAGE ON THE DETOURS FOR ALL BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE A PRE-BID CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 4TH, AND THEN THE BID OPENING IS DECEMBER 18TH, WITH CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO START IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR, WITH COMPLETION EITHER IN THE LATE FALL OF NEXT YEAR OR EARLY IN 2026.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU DOUG.

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 THAT A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.

FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. DOUG DOES THIS MATCH UP THEN WITH THE PART THAT WE'VE ALREADY FINISHED ON 42ND? WHERE IS THAT POINT ALONG THERE? THIS IS BETWEEN PINEVIEW AND EDGEWOOD ROAD, RIGHT? SO IT'S JUST WEST OF THAT.

AND THEN WE HAVE A FOLLOW ON PHASE TWO PROJECT THAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2026.

SO THERE'LL BE ONE MORE SECTION TO GO.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A QUESTION.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER HAGER.

WELL, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THIS I DON'T WANT TO SAY FINALLY ON THE AGENDA, BUT I KNOW THE CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT ONE ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS PROJECT STARTING.

CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE MAP REAL QUICK, PLEASE? SO WHEN THE WORK STARTS ON 42ND STREET, WILL THERE BE ACCESS TO RIVER RIDGE DRIVE OFF 42ND STREET? YES. THE VERY FIRST PART OF THE PROJECT IS ACTUALLY JUST REHABILITATION TO RIVER RIDGE DRIVE.

AND THEN BEYOND THAT IS WHERE THE COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION STARTS.

SO WE'LL WORK ON HALF THE ROAD AT A TIME FROM THERE.

AND THEN AFTER THAT IT'LL BE CLOSED BETWEEN RIVER RIDGE AND PINE VIEW IN SEGMENTS.

I WOULD JUST I'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE BUSINESSES QUESTIONING THE ACCESS TO THEIR BUSINESS.

AND SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE STAFF TO REALLY COMMUNICATE AND MAYBE OVERCOMMUNICATE TO THEM WHAT THE ACCESS POINTS ARE TO THEIR BUSINESSES.

SO THANK YOU. YES.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT WANTS TO SAY AMEN TO THIS.

BUT THANK YOU, DOUG, AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP IN MAKING SURE THOSE BUSINESSES ARE TAKEN CARE OF, TOO.

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

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION OF NECESSITY PROPOSED FOR THE 2025 SANITARY SEWER SERVICE REPLACEMENT

[4. A public hearing will be held to consider the Resolution of Necessity (Proposed) for the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Service Replacement project (Ben Worrell). CIP/DID #655996-00]

PROJECT. BEN WARRELL IS HERE.

BEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. BEN WARRELL, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROJECT THAT WE DO TO REPLACE ORANGEBURG OR OTHERWISE FAILING SANITARY SEWER SERVICES.

THESE ARE PRIVATE PIPES UNDER OUR PUBLIC ROADWAYS, AND THOSE REPLACEMENTS HAPPEN TO THE EDGE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY LINE AHEAD OF ROADWAY PROJECTS.

AND THAT'S INTENDED TO INCREASE THE USEFUL LIFE OF THAT NEW PAVEMENT.

PROPERTY OWNERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO FIX THE SERVICE ON THEIR OWN BY APRIL 1ST.

IF THEY DON'T, THEN THE CITY WILL COME IN AND FIX IT, AND THEN THE COST WILL BE ASSESSED ON THE RIGHT.

HERE I'VE GOT A PHOTO OF AN ORANGEBURG PIPE.

THEY WERE COMMON IN THE 50S AND 60S MADE A WOOD PULP AND TAR PITCH AND TYPICALLY ONLY LAST 30 TO 50 YEARS.

SO WE WANT TO GET THOSE OUT FROM UNDER OUR NEW ROADWAYS.

PROJECT LOCATIONS ARE SHOWN HERE.

THE ASSESSMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH CHAPTER NINE OF THE CITY.

CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS MUNICIPAL CODE.

THERE'S 50 PROPERTIES ON THIS PACKAGE.

TOTAL PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT IS $508,320, AND THE ASSESSMENT RANGE, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM THAT EACH PROPERTY WOULD PAY DEPENDING ON THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COST, RANGES FROM $7350 TO $15,660.

IF THE OWNER DOES NOT PAY IN A LUMP SUM, THEN LIEN IS PLACED ON THE PROPERTY AND THEN THE PROPERTY OWNER CAN PAY THAT OFF OVER A TEN YEAR

[00:10:09]

PERIOD THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS.

COUNCIL HAS SOME OPTIONS TODAY.

ADOPT WITH AMENDMENT.

DEFER OR ABANDON THE PROJECT.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION OF NECESSITY WITHOUT AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

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.

WELL, ACTUALLY, CHECK THAT WE HAVE ONE OBJECTION THAT RECEIVED FOR THIS, AND I'M JUST GOING TO FORWARD YOU THE QUESTION FROM THIS CONSTITUENT OVER ON LAUREN DRIVE SOUTHWEST.

THE CONCERN IS THAT HOMEOWNERS ARE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TIMELINE TO REMOVE THE ORANGEBURG SEWER FROM THE PROPERTIES DUE TO WEATHER AND OTHER ISSUES.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? IF WE HEAR FROM A HOMEOWNER THAT WANTS TO DO THE REPLACEMENT, WE CAN ASK THE CONTRACTOR TO DO THOSE PROPERTIES LAST AND GIVE THEM MORE TIME IF WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE INTENDING TO DO IT THEMSELVES. OKAY, BEN, I WILL GO AHEAD AND FORWARD THIS INFORMATION FROM THIS HOMEOWNER THEN.

OKAY. SO WE DO HAVE ONE OBJECTION FOR THE RECORD.

ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION, IT WAS ONE OF MINE AS WELL.

BUT WHEN WE DO THE PROJECTS LIKE THIS IN THE AREAS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF ORANGEBURG, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WANT THE CITY TO DO IT VERSUS THEM PRIVATELY? I MEAN, WHAT DO WE NORMALLY SEE AND OR HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS? MOST OF THE TIME THE CITY ENDS UP DOING IT.

AND WE'RE JUST DOING TO THE RIGHT OF WAY LINE.

SO YOU KNOW, A PRIVATE OWNER COULD CHOOSE TO DO THE FULL SERVICE, BUT WE JUST DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROTECT THE ROADWAY.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE HOMEOWNER COULD LEAVE.

WE'LL PUT THE ORANGEBURG UP TO THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY LINE, WHICH IS INSIDE THE SIDEWALK IF THERE IS A SIDEWALK THERE.

AND THEN AT THAT POINT THERE'S IS THERE A CONNECTION MADE WITH THE ORANGEBURG AND THEY COULD STILL HAVE THAT? OR DO WE ARE WE REQUIRING THEM TO TAKE THAT OUT TOO? THAT WOULD BE CONNECTED TO THE EXISTING PIPE.

SO WE'RE NOT REQUIRING THEM TO REMOVE ORANGEBURG UNLESS IT'S UNDERNEATH OF THE ROADWAY.

OKAY. IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.

OKAY. YEAH. BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT SOMEBODY HAD ASKED ME, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TIMING AND EVERYTHING TO FIND SOMEBODY TO GO IN AND CONNECT TO THEIR HOUSE, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST DOING IT FROM TO THE PROPERTY LINE AND WHERE OUR ROAD OR SIDEWALKS ARE GOING TO BE.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

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

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

ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE FY 25 SANITARY SEWER POINT REPAIRS

[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the FY25 Sanitary Sewer Point Repairs project (estimated cost is $220,000) (Ben Worrell). CIP/DID #655996-23]

PROJECT. ESTIMATED COST OF $220,000.

BEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

SO THIS PROJECT IS FOR REPAIR OF THE PUBLIC SANITARY SEWER MAINS.

IT'S A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS SPREAD AROUND THE CITY.

SMALL LOCATIONS.

THE TOTAL LINEAR FOOTAGE FOR THIS PACKAGE IS 186FT AND THREE MANHOLES.

ALSO, WITH THIS PROJECT, WE'RE GOING TO BE CORRECTING SOME PROTRUDING TAPS.

THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF ONE SHOWN ON THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT.

THAT'S WHERE A TAP IS EXTENDING INTO THE MAIN AND IT CAUSES ISSUES WITH LINING.

AND SO WE HAVE TO CUT THOSE OUT AND THEN REPLACEMENT OF THE PAVEMENT AS NEEDED TO DO THAT.

AND HERE'S A MAP SHOWING THE LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY IN BLACK.

THESE ARE TYPICALLY FOUND FROM ROUTINE TELEVISING.

ENGINEERS OPINIONS OF PROBABLE COST IS 220,000.

BID LETTING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 4TH.

CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED FEBRUARY THROUGH AUGUST.

THERE IS A BRIEF CLOSURE ON 34TH STREET BETWEEN DALEWOOD AVENUE AND MOUNT VERNON ROAD.

IT'S A SMALL POINT REPAIR.

AND SO THE ROAD IS GOING TO REMAIN OPEN FOR BUSINESSES JUST CLOSED FOR A FEW DAYS TO THROUGH TRAFFIC.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BEN.

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

DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE REPLACE RIBBON BOARD AT

[6. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Replace Ribbon Board at Vets Stadium project (estimated cost is $600,000) (Doug Nelson). CIP/DID #PUR1124-149]

[00:15:03]

VETS STADIUM PROJECT.

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $600,000.

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

THANK YOU. AND GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.

I'M DOUG NELSON, COLONEL CEO, AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT REPLACING THE TRI-VISION AT THE COLONEL'S.

SO THIS TRI-VISION IS IN OUR LEFT FIELD AREA LOCATED ABOVE THE LEFT FIELD OUTFIELD WALL FENCE.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN 2002 WHEN THE STADIUM WAS BEING BUILT, AND AT THIS POINT, IT'S REACHED THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE, AND REPLACEMENT PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE AS THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER EXIST AS WELL AS ITS OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY.

WHAT WE DID IN 2015.

WE DID A VERY SIMILAR PROJECT.

WE REPLACED THE TRI-VISIONS IN RIGHT FIELD WITH A RIBBON BOARD THAT ALLOWED US TO USE SPARE PARTS FROM THAT UNIT TO A LEFT FIELD UNIT TO GET AN EXTRA NINE YEARS OUT OF IT.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON US QUICKLY, AND KEEPING THIS THING OPERATIONAL IS BECOME A REAL CHALLENGE.

OTHER KIND OF SIDE BENEFIT TO THIS IS INSTALLING A RIBBON BOARD IS REALLY GOING TO HELP ENHANCE THE GUEST STADIUM EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT A VARIETY OF MESSAGES ON THE BOARD, AS WELL AS GAME AND PLAYER STATS WHICH I KNOW WILL BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS A CONCEPT.

SO THE RIBBON BOARD WOULD BE BETWEEN THOSE TWO YELLOW BRACKETS WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE TRI-VISION WOULD BE PLACED.

IT DOES COMPLY WITH ALL OF OUR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FACILITY REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS I'VE RAN ALL THIS BY THE TWINS AND GOTTEN THEIR BLESSING.

SO WE'RE GOOD TO GO WITH THEM AS WELL.

SO KIND OF DETAILS ON IT.

IN 2021, WE DID A VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM CAPITAL REPAIR STUDY.

KIND OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO CREATE A TIMELINE OF ALL THE POTENTIAL MAJOR REPAIRS THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED AT THE STADIUM, AS WELL AS COST BUDGET.

AND THIS PROJECT WAS PART OF THAT STUDY AND WAS INCLUDED IN OUR TIMELINE.

AND WHEN WE DID THE STUDY BACK IN 2021, OUR ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS WAS 600,000.

IT LOOKS LIKE NOW THE COST SHOULD NOT COME IN AT $500,000 OR LESS AT THIS POINT.

WHAT'S SAVING US IS WE KNEW THIS DAY WAS COMING, SO WE WERE ABLE TO PULL A LOT OF EXTRA ELECTRICAL OUT TO THAT AREA PRIOR TO THIS PROJECT STARTING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF HELPING CUT SOME COSTS OFF OF IT.

THE FUNDING SOURCE WOULD COME FROM THE VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM.

CAPITAL REPAIRS FUND FROM A TIMING PERSPECTIVE, WE WOULD OPEN BIDS NEXT WEEK.

I'D BE BACK ON THE 17TH, REPORT ON THOSE BIDS, AND THEN CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION WOULD HAPPEN IN FALL OF 2025.

THAT LONG LEAD TIME IS IT'S ABOUT FIVE MONTH LEAD TIME TO GET RIBBON BOARDS BUILT THESE DAYS.

AND I JUST DON'T RECOMMEND TRYING TO DO THIS INSTALLATION MIDDLE OF THE SEASON.

I'D RATHER WAIT TILL THE END OF THE SEASON WHEN THEY HAD TIME TO DO IT, TO MAKE SURE IT GETS DONE CORRECTLY, RATHER THAN RUSHING THROUGH IT.

SO FINALLY, A BIG THANK YOU.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM IS ABOUT TO ENTER ITS 24TH SEASON AND QUITE FRANKLY, THINKS OF ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT OF ADDRESSING ANY ISSUES THAT COME UP. I THINK STADIUM LOOKS BETTER TODAY THAN IT DID 24 YEARS AGO AND IS CERTAINLY MORE FUNCTIONAL.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.

I CAN TELL YOU IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY ANY USER AND ANY FAN AND GUEST AT THE BALLPARK.

SO THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, I ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

THANK YOU. 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 ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.

BEFORE WE GET TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HERE, A QUESTION ABOUT.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO ALWAYS POINT OUT THIS IS A REGIONAL ATTRACTION THAT THE TAXPAYERS OF CEDAR RAPIDS PROUDLY HAVE FUNDED AND SUPPORTED FOR THOSE 24 YEARS.

A QUESTION ON FUNDING SOURCES.

HAVE WE LOOKED TO REGIONAL PARTNERS OR PRIVATE PARTNERS TO HELP WITH THIS? WE HAVE NOT. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE'VE KIND OF CAME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT AS BUILT INTO OUR LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD CREATE A STADIUM REPAIRS FUND THAT IS AT THIS POINT FUNDED BY OUR ANNUAL RENT PAYMENTS OR MONTHLY RENT PAYMENTS, AND THAT'S THE FUNDING SOURCE.

SO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, WE HAVE NOT.

OKAY. WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE COULD INVESTIGATE THAT MAY BE THAT MAY BE NECESSARY.

THAT'S MY ONLY ADVICE.

OTHER COUNCIL COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER THANKS DOUG FOR THE UPDATE AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR HAVING THE MONEY AT LEAST PUT ASIDE TO BE ABLE TO FUND IT.

JUST CURIOUS WITH THE BOARD, IS THERE OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE REVENUE FROM THAT FOR ADVERTISING? I KNOW THERE'S BANNERS BELOW, BUT IF IT'S NOT REVENUE GENERATING LIKE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE WITH THE AUDIENCE WHO IS ATTENDING A BALL GAME.

YEAH. WELL, I SAY THAT SOMEWHAT IN JEST, BUT IT'S THE COLONEL, SO WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET SOME SPONSORS NAMES ON THAT BOARD.

[00:20:02]

WHICH IS VERY CRITICAL TO US BECAUSE WE REQUIRE WE RELY ON THOSE KIND OF SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS TO HELP BALANCE OUR OPERATING BUDGET EACH YEAR.

SO, COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IT'S A I AGREE 100%.

IT'S A TREMENDOUS FACILITY.

AND WHEN I TAKE THE GRANDKIDS THERE, ESPECIALLY THE OLDER ONES, SHE ACTUALLY WATCHES THE GAME AND MAKES ME GO INTO THE SHOP TWICE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

YOUNGER ONE HASN'T FIGURED OUT THE SHOP YET AND I'M NOT TELLING HER.

BUT IN ANY EVENT, IS THERE ANY ESTIMATED EXISTING LIFE ON THE RIGHT FIELD RIBBON BOARD? YOU DID THAT ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.

IS THAT STILL IN GOOD SHAPE OR RIGHT NOW? THAT'LL GET ME.

IF I HAD, WOULD I'D BE KNOCKING ON IT.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S WORKING WELL WITH NO ISSUES.

AND OUR BIG VIDEO BOARD SEEMS TO BE HANGING IN THERE AS WELL.

WE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WHEN IT WAS A SMART THING FOR US TO DO, IS WE HAD OUR STADIUM MAINTENANCE STAFF TRAINED BY THE MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO MAINTAIN IT.

SO WHEN WE DO START TO SEE SOMETHING GOING WRONG, THEY CAN REMOTELY DIAL IN, DIAGNOSE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO QUICKLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH OUR OWN STAFF.

AND THAT HAS REALLY HELPED EXTEND THE LIFE SPAN OF THESE.

GREAT. WELL THANK YOU, DOUG.

APPRECIATE IT MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE.

IT WAS A GOOD YEAR.

A LITTLE SHORT, BUT YOU DID A GREAT JOB.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MY FAMILY, WE REALLY APPRECIATE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR US AT THE GAME IS THE CITY MANAGERS, ONE BAG CHALLENGE.

IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET THE CITY MANAGER'S FACE ON THE BIG SCREEN OUT THERE DURING THAT FOR FUTURE.

FOR A PRICE DEAL? FOR A PRICE? PRICE? YEAH.

OH.

COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. YEAH.

THANKS, MAYOR. SO TO THE MAYOR'S EARLIER POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY STUDIOUS WITH YOUR FUNDS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT THERE IS A REAL COMPONENT HERE OF REGIONALISM.

AND CERTAINLY I'VE HEARD FROM THE BALL PLAYERS WHEN I'VE GONE AND SPOKEN TO THEM OR HELP WELCOME THEM TO THAT.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THEY, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT A GREAT BALL CLUB AND WELL RUN ONE FEELS LIKE WHEN THEY COME TO SEE OURS AND THEN THEY GO HOME AND THEY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEIR COUNCIL. SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE NOT ONLY MAINTAINED IT BUT MADE THAT ATTRACTION THAT ALLOWS US TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH RECRUITMENT AS WELL, AND THEN ALSO HELP TO BRING THOSE THAT THAT THAT REGIONAL FAN BASE HERE IN AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU. THANKS.

ALL RIGHT. IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, WE DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

THIS FIRST ONE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT PERTAINING TO COUNCIL ACTION SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.

AND WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND OFFICIALLY CLOSE OUT THAT FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA?

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]

NO CHANGES, YOUR HONOR.

NO CHANGES. DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS OR MAKE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.

COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER.

THANKS, MAYOR. YES? I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE.

AGENDA ITEM 27 D FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO THE REGULAR AGENDA, PLEASE.

MOVING 27 D TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.

ANY OTHER CHANGES? ALL RIGHT, SO THIS BRINGS US TO THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, AS AMENDED.

THE APPROVAL OF THIS AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.

THAT BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THE APPROVAL OF THIS CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

SO WE WILL BEGIN OUR REGULAR MEETING WITH ITEM NUMBER 27 D.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

[27.d. Amendment No. 2 to renew the contract with American Solutions for Business for the printing of a magazine-style newsletter for the Communications Division for an annual amount not to exceed $205,000 (original contract amount was $175,000; renewal contract amount is $205,000). CIP/DID #PUR1122-116]

THIS IS AN AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICAN SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS, FOR THE PRINTING OF A MAGAZINE STYLE NEWSLETTER TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION.

THIS HAS AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $205,000.

THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT WAS 175,000.

RENEWAL IS $205,000.

COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. ONE OF THE THINGS ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE WITH IS THE CITY'S FINANCIAL CONDITION AND FINANCIAL OUTLOOK IS NOT AS STRONG AS IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

MOSTLY, IF NOT ALL, OF IT IS DUE TO SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DES MOINES THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR CITY AND ITS ABILITY TO GENERATE REVENUE.

WHEN YOU YOUR TOP LINE ISN'T GROWING, BUT YOUR EXPENSES ARE.

[00:25:01]

YOU NEED TO MAKE CUTS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE LIKELY, AS A COUNCIL WILL NOT AGREE ON IS WHERE THOSE CUTS NEED TO BE MADE.

THE PRINTING COST AND THE ASSOCIATED MAILING COSTS FOR THE RCR MAGAZINE IS A DISCRETIONARY COST.

IT'S A NICE TO HAVE, BUT NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE.

MANY BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM PRINTING PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL OR MAGAZINES.

SIMPLY BECAUSE OF COST AND PERHAPS SOME, SOME GREEN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY REASONS.

BUT IF YOU IF YOU THINK ABOUT FOR FOLKS THAT GO TO THEATERS.

RIGHT. I USED TO LOVE GETTING THE PLAYBILL.

IT WAS A BIG, THICK BOOK.

IT HAD PICTURES OF ALL THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES.

IT HAD ADS. IT GAVE SOME BACKGROUND ABOUT THE SHOW THAT YOU WERE ABOUT TO SEE.

MANY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS.

THEATERS IN OUR COMMUNITY NO LONGER DO THAT.

SO THIS IS FROM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST THIS WEEKEND AT THEATER CEDAR RAPIDS.

THE PLAYBILL IS STILL AVAILABLE.

YOU CAN SCAN A QR CODE AND YOU CAN SEE THE, THE INFORMATION.

AND THE REASON WHY THESE NONPROFITS ARE DOING IT IS THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT IS THE CITY HAS CUT FUNDING TO THESE NONPROFITS.

THE AMOUNT THAT THESE THREE NONPROFITS RECEIVE FROM OUR HOTEL MOTEL TAX IS LESS THAN IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO, BECAUSE WE HAD TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS AND REALLOCATE THEM TO OTHER CITY PROJECTS.

SO I ASKED THAT THE CITY FOLLOW THE SAME FISCAL PRUDENCE AS OUR OTHER.

SOME OF OUR OTHER NONPROFITS ARE IN TOWN AND NO LONGER PRINT AND MAIL THE RCR MAGAZINE, WHICH WOULD SAVE ABOUT $250,000 A YEAR.

I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MAY HAVE TO BE SOME TYPE OF A GRADUAL PROCESS.

SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE START WITH THE NEXT MAGAZINE THAT WE MAIL AND PRINT AND SAY, HEY, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO RECEIVE THIS MAGAZINE, YOU NEED TO SIGN UP OR YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

PERHAPS WE YOU KNOW, I WAS AT AN EVENT LAST NIGHT AND TALKING TO A REALTOR AND SHE WAS SAYING ABOUT HOW THIS THIS AND I AGREE, THE MAGAZINE IS FANTASTIC, RIGHT? IT IS IT IS SPECTACULAR.

THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND THE VALUE THAT IT INCLUDES IS, IS IS AMAZING.

AND SHE TALKED ABOUT IT. IT'S LIKE A RECRUITING TOOL FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO CEDAR RAPIDS.

SO, SO MAYBE WE WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO PRINT A HANDFUL OF THESE AND GIVE TO KEY STAKEHOLDERS.

BUT I VOTE NO ON THIS THIS ITEM BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF GETTING THIS INFORMATION TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I GUESS I DISAGREE THAT THE CITY IS IN A IS NOT IN AS STRONG A FINANCIAL POSITION AS WE WERE TWO YEARS AGO.

THE BUDGET THAT WE PASSED THIS FEBRUARY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN IS NOT ONLY BALANCED, BUT IT HAS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RESERVE. AND THIS EXPENDITURE, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER EXPENDITURES THAT WILL APPROVE THIS YEAR, ARE PART OF THAT BUDGET.

AND SO THESE ARE BUDGETED EXPENDITURES.

AND I THINK WE ARE IN A VERY STRONG POSITION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME AHEAD AND WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BRING.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME CHALLENGES THAT WILL COME.

AND AS WE PUT TOGETHER THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE'LL FACE THOSE CHALLENGES.

I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR IN PARTICULAR, BUT I'M SURE THE REST OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE HARD AT WORK.

PUTTING TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT THAT THAT WILL MEET THOSE CHALLENGES.

AND I GUESS I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST START WITH, YOU KNOW, YOUR COMMENT THAT IT IS A WONDERFUL CITY MAGAZINE THAT HAS A TON OF INFORMATION THAT THAT RESIDENTS RELY ON.

AND I THINK IT'S WELL WORTH, YOU KNOW, THE $200,000 OVER THE COURSE OF A FISCAL YEAR IN ORDER TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM A REALTOR IN PARTICULAR, BUT I'M GRATIFIED THAT THEY USE THEM AS RECRUITING TOOLS.

YOU KNOW, IF THREE PEOPLE DECIDE TO COME TO CEDAR RAPIDS AND THEY BUY A HOUSE OR THEY START A BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, IT PAYS FOR ITSELF, YOU KNOW, PRETTY QUICKLY. SO I THINK THE THERE IS A COST, OBVIOUSLY.

I THINK THE COST IS WELL WORTH IT.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT'S ALSO INCLUDED SEASONALLY, THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT INCLUDES THEIR LIST OF PROGRAMS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW NECESSARILY SIGN UP BECAUSE THEY SAW THE PROGRAM.

LISTED IN RCR.

YOU KNOW, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DROP OFF IN THOSE PROGRAMS. SO I THINK IT'S JUST WELL WORTH IT.

[00:30:01]

IT IS. IT IS AN EXPENDITURE.

BUT I THINK THE VALUE IS WELL WORTH IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH DAVID IN THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGETS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING TIME TO PRIORITIZE EVERYTHING.

BUT WHAT I FOUND IN COMMUNICATING, AND I DO A LOT OF SPEAKING TO DIFFERENT GROUPS AND STUFF, IT'S HOW FEW PEOPLE GET THE PAPER ANYMORE, HOW FEW PEOPLE WATCH THE NEWS ANYMORE.

THEY ARE ON THEIR PHONE, WHICH IS YOUTUBE AND OTHER THINGS.

AND WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE? I THINK IT'S EVERY OTHER MONTH, SIX TIMES A YEAR.

IT GETS TO EVERY SINGLE HOME THAT HAS A UTILITY.

A WATER METER GETS ONE OF THESE.

AND TO ME, IT IS PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF COMMUNICATING ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN THE GAZETTE.

SORRY, DICK DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT.

MORE THAN KCRG.

MORE THAN YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.

BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME FROM WHERE IT STARTED, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE WATCHED IT GROW IS IT'S BECOME MORE INFORMATIVE AND LESS STUFF THAT'S MAYBE NOT THAT INTERESTING.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME AND WHY PEOPLE ARE USING IT.

I CARRY SOME WITH ME IN MY BRIEFCASE TO HAND OUT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE VISITING THE CITY, BECAUSE IT MATCHES WHAT YOU SEE WITH THE CONVENTION BUREAU'S MATERIAL AND WHAT THE CITY PUTS OUT.

SO YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU LOOK BACK AT 46, I THINK IT'S 40 SOME THOUSAND THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED PLUS THE EXTRAS.

EVERY THAT'S 240,000 UNITS.

SO THAT MEANS WE'RE SPENDING LESS THAN A DOLLAR ON THAT PIECE THAT'S THAT THICK TO TELL THE PEOPLE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. THERE'S NO FORM OF ADVERTISING THAT WE CAN SPEND LESS THAN A DOLLAR AND GET THAT QUALITY OF INFORMATION OUT.

DURING THE YEAR.

SO I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S REALLY MORPHED INTO SOMETHING THAT I THINK PEOPLE REALLY DEPEND ON NOW AND USE IT.

AND THAT'S WHETHER THAT'S REALTORS, HOMEOWNERS AND WHATEVER.

AND TO ME IS NONE OF US COULD DO THAT FOR A DOLLAR A PERSON.

AND SO I THINK IT IS A COST EFFECTIVE.

IT'S A IT'S A BIG MONEY.

IT'S 200 AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS, NO QUESTION.

BUT FOR HOW WE GET IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AT THAT KIND OF A NUMBER UNDER A DOLLAR, NOBODY COULD DO THAT.

AND THE QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION IS SECOND TO NONE.

AND IT'S NOT BEING PUT OUT BY SOMEBODY ADVERTISING SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IT'S NOT LIKE A BUSINESS PUTTING IT OUT WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL THEIR SERVICES.

SO I THINK YOUR FIRST POINT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF BUDGET CONCERNS, BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE TO ME THAT PAYS FOR ITSELF TENFOLD IN THAT WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION OUT THAT THEY DON'T GET ANY OTHER WAY, AND WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO STAY HERE, AND WE WANT THEM TO ENJOY OUR CITY AND USE OUR FACILITIES, USE OUR TCRS, USE WHATEVER.

AND WE HAVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.

AND SO AGAIN, THE FIRST PART, I AGREE WITH THE SECOND PART, I DON'T I THINK IT IS VERY COST EFFECTIVE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY AND HOW IT'S DISTRIBUTED.

SO BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. YEAH.

THANKS, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR IT.

BUT I DO REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE DISCUSSED THUS FAR.

I TO DISAGREE THAT THE CITY IS IN A DIFFICULT FINANCIAL SITUATION.

WE ARE METICULOUS ABOUT HAVING A BALANCED BUDGET, WHICH HAS HELPED US THROUGH SIGNIFICANT ISSUES LIKE FLOOD PROTECTION.

DERECHO. IF WE HAD NOT BEEN IN SUCH A FISCALLY STRONG SITUATION, WE WOULD STILL PROBABLY BE SURROUNDED BY TREE DEBRIS, AS I BELIEVE WE STILL ARE OWED SOME MONEY BY FEMA.

THE REALITY IS THERE DOES CONTINUE AND THERE'S NO POINT IN SHYING AROUND IT.

THERE DOES CONTINUE TO BE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE ALREADY PRIVY TO COMING FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THEIR INTENTIONS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY VIEW HOW CITIES SHOULD BE FUNDED AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CREATE THAT REVENUE.

AND THAT CONTINUES TO BE MORE OF AN ISSUE OF URBAN AND RURAL DIVIDE.

BUT MORE POIGNANTLY, IN THAT I DO SERVE ON THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE FOR THE IOWA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND WHAT I'VE HEARD MY VERY VARIED FROM SMALL AND LARGE CITIES TALK ABOUT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS PERSPECTIVE THAT CITIES ARE INEFFICIENT.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, OUR AWARDS, OUR BOND RATING, OUR BALANCED BUDGET WOULD DISAGREE TO THAT EFFECT.

HOWEVER, WE DO WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, TRUE TO THE TO THE POINT AND VERY RESPONSIBLE WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BEING VERY MINDFUL OF ANY OF THOSE YOU KNOW, ANY OF THOSE USES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE IS THAT, QUITE HONESTLY, THE STATE DOESN'T THINK WE SHOULD BE FUNDING A LOT OF THESE HOTEL

[00:35:07]

MOTEL FUNDING OR ANY OF THE NON-PROFITS.

SO IT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT HOTEL MOTEL FUNDING AND THE REDUCED INDIVIDUAL DISTRIBUTIONS PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE, HAVE MAYBE BEEN AWARDED.

HOWEVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL EVERY YEAR, THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NEEDING THAT ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT CONTINUES TO GROW.

AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO BE PARTICULARLY MINDFUL THAT WE ARE GIVING IT UP, THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING AS MANY PLACES AND CAUSES AS WE CAN.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT A LOT OF NONPROFITS WERE HIT REALLY HARD DURING THE TIME WHEN WE WERE ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE PROLONGED COVID PERIOD, SO THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE. I KNOW THAT THAT THEY ARE STILL AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE I THINK WE'RE ALL HERE VERY COMMITTED TO THAT HOTEL MOTEL FUNDING.

BUT I DON'T SEE THAT AS, AS A AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR REMOVING THIS POINT OF COMMUNICATION.

THE REALITY IS THAT COMMUNICATION IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER WITH OUR RESIDENTS.

IF WE WERE TO GO TO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING A DIGITAL OPTION.

YOU CAN ALREADY HAVE THAT THAT EXISTS TODAY ON OUR CITY WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN GET A DIGITAL VERSION.

HOWEVER, ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVEN'T YET DISCUSSED IS EQUITY, AND THAT IS AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING THAT I VIEW THINGS WITH.

AND THE EQUITY ISSUES ARE THAT STILL IN 2024, PLENTY OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER.

THEY ALSO DON'T HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO WI-FI.

THEY IF THEY WERE TO MOVE, THAT MEANS THAT THAT SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GOES WITH THE PERSON WHO WAS THERE.

SO THEN THAT CREATES AN ISSUE THAT WHEN, YOU KNOW THERE MIGHT BE TURNOVER, THE PERSON THEY'RE MOVING INTO THAT HOME OR TO THAT APARTMENT MAY NOT GET THIS IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION. I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMING AND THE CALLS TO SERVICE THAT THIS ELICITS, WHICH I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THAT DATA POINT, BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO COME UP.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT CONSIDERING IT'S $0.60 ROUGHLY PER ISSUE AND YOU GET 40 SOME PAGES IN IT, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR RESIDENTS.

AND SO I'LL BE APPROVING THIS TODAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

MAYOR. THANK YOU.

YOU DID A GREAT JOB, COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY SORT OF BRINGING A COUPLE OF THESE ISSUES TOGETHER.

FIRST I HAVE TO SAY TO THE COMMUNICATION TEAM, THE LAST COUPLE ISSUES HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BEST I'VE SEEN.

I THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THIS THIS THIS VEHICLE REALLY CAME UNDER A LOT OF POLITICAL ANGST.

I'VE SEEN IT USED BY DIFFERENT MAYORS TO MAYBE PROMOTE AN AGENDA.

IN THIS CASE, IT REALLY IS A PURE DOCUMENT.

I THINK THAT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THIS CONCEPT THAT WE TRY TO PROMOTE, WHICH IS A BELIEF IN QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH IS THE SAME THING A LOT OF THE NONPROFITS I THINK BELIEVE IN.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT COVID REALLY SUCKED THE AIR OUT OF HOTEL MOTEL AND STILL IS TO A DEGREE.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED, WE CERTAINLY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO A LOT OF THE EXISTING CITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE FUND OUT OF THAT, LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, THE ICE ARENA AND SOME OTHER THINGS, THE THEATERS THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE THERE.

BUT THEY SHOULD ALL BE AWARE OF THAT.

AND I JUST WANT TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES AS WE GO INTO BUDGET SEASON.

I WAS PART OF THE TEAM WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAD A TOUGH BUDGET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE WE LAID PEOPLE OFF, WHERE WE ZERO GROWTH BUDGETS AND WHERE, YOU KNOW, ANY TYPE OF NEW IDEA.

THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS GOING INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND COMING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO SELL A NEW IDEA, BECAUSE THAT SIMPLY WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE SKY IS NOT FALLING.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE THE NEXT DAY.

WE'LL HAVE TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE US CREATE THIS FALSE SENSE THAT THAT THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO CHRISTMAS.

YOU KNOW, THAT.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE COLD FROM NOW ON.

AND SO I WOULD BE I'LL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

THERE'S WAYS TO CUT THE BUDGET AND THERE'S WAYS TO FIND MONEY.

THIS IS NOT WHERE, WHERE, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THE BENEFIT FAR OUTWEIGHS THE COST.

AND SO I'LL BE IN SUPPORT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ANN POE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

[00:40:01]

REALLY THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS BY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

WE'RE KIND OF FORGETTING THAT MULTIPLIER EFFECT TO THAT.

WHEN WE PRINT THESE, THESE MAGAZINES, OFTENTIMES THEY GET HANDED OFF TO OTHERS.

AND SO THERE'S A MULTIPLYING EFFECT AS WELL.

SO NOT ONLY ARE WE PRINTING THOSE NUMBERS, BUT THEN WE'RE PASSING THEM OFF TO OTHERS TO SHARE THAT REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

AND JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THE REDUCTION IN THE HOTEL MOTEL WAS BASED ON 15% REDUCTION IN THAT REVENUE.

AND SO THAT REDUCTION IN HOTEL MOTEL FUNDING THIS YEAR THAT NONE OF US LIKED TO SEE ACTUALLY CAME BY BECAUSE OF LIMITED REVENUE IN THAT FUND.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT OF CLARIFICATION TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WE RANDOMLY PULLED OUT OF THE AIR AND SAID, OH, WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE IT.

THAT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE DROP IN THE REVENUE FOR HOTEL MOTEL FUNDING.

AND WE HAD TO, OF COURSE, THEN TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE GRANTS.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER MEYER? I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK AND DISCUSSION TODAY.

YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, WE DON'T GET TOGETHER AS A GROUP EVER AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

RIGHT. SO THIS IS A COUNCIL MEETING IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES OR THE ONLY TIME WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK AND INPUT.

THE LAST THING I'D HAVE TO SAY IS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, IT IS AMAZING.

IT'S BROADWAY STYLE THEATER HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, CHECK IT OUT BEFORE DECEMBER 15TH.

THANK YOU. AND I WILL ALSO ADD, YEAH, THEY'RE DUE TO OPEN MEETINGS, LAWS WE CAN'T MEET AS A GROUP.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, PLENTY OF US DO MEET AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS NOT JUST WITH EACH OTHER, BUT WITH STAFF ABOUT ISSUES JUST LIKE THIS, AND I WILL.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, TAKING A LOOK AT HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY ALWAYS.

I MEAN, GOOD TIMES OR BAD TIMES, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

I MEAN, WE'RE WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SPENDING.

SO I ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE AN EYE ON THAT AND BEING RESPONSIBLE.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, WHICH I BELIEVE THEY DO ALREADY THROUGH A BID PROCESS, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE BEST DEAL AND THE BEST BANG FOR THEIR BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

I ALSO APPRECIATED WHEN THEY MOVED IT BACK AND TO SIX, SIX TIMES A YEAR, AS OPPOSED TO AS MANY AS WE USED TO HAVE BEFORE.

I HAVE MATURE.

I'LL USE THE WORD MATURE PARENTS WHO HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS.

I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE MATURE COMMUNITY THAT THIS SITS OUT ON THEIR COUNTERTOPS.

I HAVE FRIENDS AT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO THE COMPUTERS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT.

AND THE ACCESS.

THIS IS THE LAST LINE OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE DO FOR REVENUE.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE TRULY MISSION ALIGNED.

TRANSPORTATION BEING ONE OF THEM.

NOT THAT I CONSIDER THIS ON PAR WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH BUSSES, BUT I DO CONSIDER IT A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT ONLY COMMUNICATE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CITIZENS, THAT THEY PAY FOR, FOR US TO PROVIDE.

I ALSO CONSIDER IT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO HAVE A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THE WORK THAT THEIR CITY DOES.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THE ARTICLES AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE GARNER FROM THOSE MAGAZINES, YOU KNOW, WE ALL SHOULD STAND UP A LITTLE BIT TALLER AND BE REALLY PROUD OF WHERE WE LIVE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, IN THE INTEREST OF $0.60 PER COPY.

I JUST THINK THAT'S NOT A STRATEGIC WAY TO CUT OUR FUNDING.

SO I WILL ABSOLUTELY BE A RESOUNDING IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

THAT BEING SAID, ALSO A RESOUNDING, RESOUNDING SUPPORT OF LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN BE CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

SO WITH NO MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT.

MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY.

I'LL MOVE FROM VANORNY.

SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO AN INDIVIDUAL VOTE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. AND WITH THAT, THE MOTION DOES CARRY.

SO WE MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 28, WHICH IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE 2025 SIDEWALK INFILL PROJECT WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF

[28. Report on bids for the 2025 Sidewalk Infill project (estimated cost is $270,000) (Ben Worrell). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3012074-06]

$270,000. SO, BEN WARRELL IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AGAIN.

BEN. YOU'RE HAVING A BUSY DAY.

I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO, YEAH. REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE SIDEWALK INFILL PROJECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

PROJECT IS TO FILL IN SIDEWALK GAPS AND INCLUDES CURB RAMP IMPROVEMENTS AND ONE BUS STOP PAD.

LOCATIONS ARE PRIORITIZED BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT.

WE REVIEW MY CR REQUESTS.

[00:45:03]

IF ANYBODY HAS A REQUEST THAT THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE, THEY CAN SUBMIT THAT ON THE MY CR WEBSITE.

THE INTENT IS TO CREATE A COMPLETE STREET FOR PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

THERE ARE THREE PARCELS ON THIS PACKAGE THAT HAVE AN ASSESSMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY ORDINANCE, AND ALSO THE NEW SIDEWALK ASSESSMENT POLICY, AND THE PROJECT SUPPORTS THE CITY'S MASTER PLAN FOR PEDESTRIAN WALKABILITY.

ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS $270,000.

HERE'S A MAP SHOWING THIS YEAR'S LOCATIONS.

AND HERE'S A MAP WITH THE LOCATIONS SHOWN AS STARS ON A HEAT MAP FROM OUR PREVIOUS PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN, WHERE WE SOUGHT COMMUNITY INPUT ON WHERE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SIDEWALKS AND WALKABILITY IN THE CITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE STARS MOSTLY ALIGN WITH THOSE HIGH DEMAND AREAS.

THIS PROJECT BID ON NOVEMBER 20TH WAS AGGRESSIVE BIDDING.

WE GOT TEN BIDDERS.

LOW BID WAS $218,383.48.

THE HIGH WAS $255,756.

LOW BIDDER WAS ROCKY CONSTRUCTION.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

BEN. COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. THIS IS JUST A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE CAN GET BACK SOME OF THAT MONEY, BECAUSE THIS IS NICE TO GET ABOUT $60,000 BACK FROM THE ESTIMATED COST.

ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

THANK YOU. THAT NOW BRINGS US TO ORDINANCES.

ITEM NUMBER 29 IS AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE REX CONCRETE URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA FOR PROPERTY AT 550 1/50 AVENUE DRIVE, SOUTHWEST.

[29. Ordinance establishing the Rex Concrete Urban Revitalization Area for property at 551 50th Avenue Drive SW. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #URTE-0058-2024]

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

COUNCIL MEMBER POE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

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 COUNCIL MEMBER POE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO IN THIS MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 30 IS AN ORDINANCE VACATING PUBLIC WAYS AND GROUNDS OF A 0.17 ACRE PORTION OF SIXTH AVENUE, SOUTHEAST RIGHT OF WAY SOUTHWEST OF FIRST STREET.

[30. Ordinance vacating public ways and grounds of a 0.17-acre portion of 6th Avenue SE right-ofway southwest of 1st Street SE between 535 and 625 1st Street SE. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #ROWV-000453-2024]

SOUTHEAST BETWEEN 535 AND 625 FIRST STREET SOUTHEAST.

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

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO IN THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBER POE.

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

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