Feb 11, 2025 City Council

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

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I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER ANN POE ARE ABSENT TODAY.

AS ALWAYS, I WANT TO WELCOME OUR CITY MANAGER , OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR CITY CLERK.

AND THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, TO CITY STAFF FOR BEING HERE AND AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

SHOULD WE HAVE THEM AFTER THE MEETING? A REMINDER TO THOSE WHO ARE HERE TO TURN OFF ANY CELL PHONES OR ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT MIGHT BE A DISTRACTION TO US, AND NOTE THAT ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEETING AGENDAS, MINUTES, AND VIDEOS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE.

REGULAR SESSIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO WATCH LIVE AND ON REPLAY ON FACEBOOK LIVE, AND WE WILL BEGIN NOW WITH AN INVOCATION.

PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAIN TAWIL WILL DO THAT, FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I GREET YOU WITH THE GREETING OF PEACE BY SAYING AS-SALAMU ALAYKUM .

ALL PRAISE IS DUE TO GOD ALONE. WE PRAISE HIM, ASK FOR HIS HELP AND GUIDANCE.

WHOMEVER GOD GUIDE, THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO MISGUIDE HIM OR HER.

GOD ALMIGHTY, BLESS US IN THIS MEETING AND KEEP US ON THE STRAIGHT PATH, THE PATH OF THOSE WHOM YOU FAVORED, NOT THE PATH OF THOSE WHOM YOU ARE ANGRY FROM OR THOSE WHO GO ASTRAY.

GOD OF JUSTICE AND MERCY, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE.

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR HEALTH AND WEALTH, FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY.

PLEASE GOD, HELP US TO ACT WITH CHARACTER AND CONVICTION.

HELP US TO LISTEN WITH UNDERSTANDING AND GOODWILL.

GIVE OUR CITY COUNCIL THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE. GIVE THESE.

GIVE THEM THE GUIDANCE AND WISDOM. HELP THEM TO DO THEIR BEST TO TAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL BE FRUITFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND CITY. GOD ALMIGHTY, PLEASE GUIDE US ALL.

SATISFY THE NEEDS THAT NEEDS TO BE MET DURING THIS MEETING.

BESTOW UPON OUR MAYOR, UPON OUR CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY COUNCIL THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND THE STRENGTH TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY AND COMMUNITY.

GOD ALMIGHTY, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS WHO CAME TO SHOW US THE WAY TO YOUR KINGDOM, TO GIVE US THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU THROUGH THE REVELATION, THE BOOKS, THE SCRIPTURE.

THANK YOU FOR ABRAHAM AND HIS COVENANT AND HIS CHILDREN ISHMAEL AND ISAAC.

THANK YOU FOR MOSES AND THE TORAH. THANK YOU FOR JESUS AND THE GOSPEL.

AND THANK YOU FOR MUHAMMAD AND THE QURAN. GOD BLESS OUR CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND BLESS OUR STATE OF IOWA AND BLESS OUR COUNTRY, AMERICA. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

AMEN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BEGIN TODAY'S MEETING WITH THE PRESENTATION ON THE FY 2024 ANNUAL AUDIT.

[Proclamations/Presentations]

CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YEAH. TURN YOUR MIC ON THERE.

HOW ABOUT NOW? GOOD. OKAY, PERFECT. ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION TO GO THROUGH HERE.

I'LL JUST KIND OF JUMP INTO IT. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO STOP ME AS WE GO.

I'LL GIVE JUST SORT OF A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND ABOUT IDE BAILEY FIRST.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR AUDIT FOR THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

IDE BAILEY IS A TOP 20 CPA FIRM LOCATED MOSTLY WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

THE GOVERNMENT INDUSTRY IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST NICHE AREAS. WE HAVE OVER 300 DEDICATED SERVICE PROFESSIONALS IN THAT AREA.

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SO DEFINITELY SORT OF RIGHT IN OUR NICHE AREA.

AND THEN I'LL SORT OF INTRODUCE OUR SERVICE TEAM A LITTLE BIT ON THE NEXT SLIDE. THE ENGAGEMENT IS PARTNERED BY BRIAN STAVENGER OUT OF OUR FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE. HE HAS BEEN WITH THE FIRM FOR 24 YEARS.

AGAIN, THE GOVERNMENT INDUSTRY IS HIS LARGEST NICHE AREA.

HE OPERATES MOSTLY IN THE GOVERNMENT SPACE. I'VE BEEN WITH IDE BAILEY FOR 19 YEARS.

I WORK OUT OF OUR DUBUQUE, IOWA OFFICE, AS DOES MOST OF OUR AUDIT TEAM.

SO BRIAN KIND OF OVERSEES US FROM FARGO. BUT MOST OF OUR TEAM HERE WITHIN THE DUBUQUE OFFICE, DOES GOVERNMENT WORK SPECIFICALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR, TOO.

SO WE HAVE ABOUT 20 TO 25 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT WE WORK WITH THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF IOWA, TOO. SO THE NEXT TAB, I KIND OF HAVE JUST A RECAP HERE OF THE AUDIT STANDARDS THAT ARE AT PLAY FOR THE CITY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT AUDITING STANDARDS AT PLAY. ONE IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS. THIS IS GOVERNED BY THE AICPA, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS. THESE ARE STANDARDS THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR ANY SORT OF PRIVATE OR PUBLIC FINANCIAL AUDIT FROM COAST TO COAST THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS IS THE NEXT ONE.

GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS IS VERY SIMILAR TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS, BUT GOES SORT OF HAS SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF INDEPENDENCE AND SORT OF IN TERMS OF CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO GOVERNMENTS.

AND ALSO HAS SOME ADDITIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, TOO, THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TO THE CITY.

THE THIRD BULLET THERE IS THE TITLE TWO US CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

THIS IS MORE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A SINGLE AUDIT, AND THIS IS AN AUDIT OF COMPLIANCE FOR ANY TYPE OF ENTITY THAT SPENDS MORE THAN $750,000 IN ONE FISCAL YEAR IN FEDERAL AWARDS, AND WE'RE REQUIRED TO PICK A SELECTION OF MAJOR PROGRAMS AND THEN TEST THOSE PROGRAMS FOR COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPLIANCE SUPPLEMENT PUT OUT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS JUST AN AIRPORT REVENUES TEST THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGES THAT THE CITY COLLECTS AS WELL, TOO. SO FOUR DIFFERENT SORT OF AUDIT STANDARDS AT PLAY THE NEXT TAB, I JUST KIND OF HAVE A QUICK RECAP ON THE AUDIT DESIGNED TO OBTAIN A REASONABLE ASSURANCE, NOT ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE. SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

MOST PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITS, AS WE'RE NOT AUDITING EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT'S RECEIVED OR PAID THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR. WE'RE AUDITING WITHIN THE CONCEPT OF MATERIALITY, WHICH MEANS WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON HIGHER TRANSACTION CLASSES AND HIGHER ACCOUNT BALANCES. AND SORT OF AGAIN, NOT NECESSARILY AUDITING EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT COMES INTO THE CITY.

IF THAT WAS THE CASE, THE COST OF THE AUDIT WOULD OUTWEIGH THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIT.

SO JUST AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION I LIKE TO BRING UP THERE.

FROM A RECAP STANDPOINT OR FROM A TIMELINE STANDPOINT WE STARTED OUR PLANNING IN JULY AND AUGUST THIS YEAR, AND THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TOO, WITH THE CITY PERFORMING AN RFP RELATED TO THEIR AUDIT SERVICES THAT SORT OF CARRIED LATE INTO JUNE AND INTO JULY. AND THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS SORT OF CARRIED INTO JULY AND AUGUST.

WE STARTED OUR PROCEDURES A LITTLE BIT LATER THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY WOULD, BUT WE DID HAVE SOME SUCCESS DOING SOME PLANNING IN JULY AND AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO PERFORM SOME SINGLE AUDIT TESTING AS WELL IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, AND THEN CAME BACK AND PERFORMED OUR YEAR END TESTING ON REVENUES, EXPENSES, BALANCE SHEET ITEMS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.

AND THEN THE REPORTING TIMELINE WAS MOVED UP, SUBSTANTIALLY FROM LAST YEAR TOO.

WE WERE ABLE TO FINISH OUR REPORT IN DECEMBER OF 2024 TOO, THAT'S WHEN WE ISSUED OUR AUDIT OPINION.

SO THE NEXT THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS JUST SORT OF THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITIES VERSUS THE AUDIT AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES.

THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. GENERALLY, ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES IN THIS CASE IS GOVERNED BY GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD.

SO AND I WAS ACTUALLY JUST TALKING WITH ANDY, SO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD HAS BEEN PUMPING OUT NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AT A FEVERISH PACE OVER THE PAST 15 TO 20 YEARS, SO NO EASY FEAT THERE.

BUT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO OR THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GAAP. THEY'RE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING AND MAINTAINING INTERNAL CONTROLS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS WELL, TOO. SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT THEY DO FROM AN INTERNAL CONTROL STANDPOINT VERSUS WHAT AUDITORS DO FROM AN INTERNAL CONTROL STANDPOINT.

I'LL KIND OF GET TO THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE A LITTLE BIT. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPRESSING AN OPINION ON THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO US AND TO OBTAIN REASONABLE ASSURANCE ABOUT WHETHER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS A WHOLE ARE FREE FROM MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT.

WE ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO OBTAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF INTERNAL CONTROLS IN ORDER TO ASSESS OUR RISK OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT DURING OUR AUDIT.

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EVALUATE THE REASONABLENESS OF SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES THAT ARE USED AS PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT PROCESS, AND THEN EVALUATE THE OVERALL PRESENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS A WHOLE AS WELL TOO.

TO GET TO THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT ON THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, WE TALK ABOUT WE HAD UNMODIFIED OPINIONS ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS THEY WERE PROVIDED TO US. SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE A CLEAN OPINION OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED.

WE BELIEVE THAT THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND HAVE DISCLOSED ALL THE INFORMATION OF THE CITY APPROPRIATELY.

WE DID HAVE ONE FINDING THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE AUDIT, WHICH WAS A CORRECTION OF AN ERROR FROM A PRIOR YEAR FINANCIAL STATEMENT THAT WE HAD TO IDENTIFY AND DISCLOSE WITHIN OUR REPORTING STANDARDS AS WELL TOO.

AND THAT HAD TO DO WITH A CORRECTION OF AN ERROR IN THE WAY CAPITAL ASSETS WERE BOOKED IN PRIOR YEARS IN THE DOUBLETREE BY HILTON FUND AND THE ALLIANT ENERGY POWERHOUSE AS WELL TOO. AND THAT'S SOMETHING DURING THE AUDIT PROCESS, WE DISCUSSED THESE ITEMS WITH MANAGEMENT.

THEY ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED THEM IN SEPTEMBER AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS YEAR'S AUDIT.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S PROCESS AS WELL TOO.

SO ONE THING I SHOULD POINT OUT TOO, IS GOING BACK TO THE FIRST BULLET POINT THERE WHEN WE SAY WE HAVE UNMODIFIED OPINIONS, THIS COVERS SEVERAL DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS OF THE CITY.

THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT DISCREETLY PRESENTED COMPONENT UNITS WITHIN THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. THERE'S THE AIRPORT, THE CEDAR RAPIDS LINN COUNTY SOLID WASTE AGENCY, AND THE CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION AS WELL. SO THIS OUR OPINION COVERS ALL THREE OF THOSE, EVEN THOUGH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION IS AUDITED BY SEPARATE AUDITORS.

IT ALSO COVERS THE CORRIDOR METRO PLANNING ORGANIZATION AS WELL, TOO, WHICH IS A CUSTODIAL FUND OF THE CITY.

CONTINUING ON TO THE RESULTS OF THE FEDERAL AUDIT.

SO THIS IS THE SINGLE AUDIT RESULTS. WE HAVE UNMODIFIED OPINION ON COMPLIANCE THERE TOO.

SO WE WERE REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY MAJOR PROGRAMS BASED UPON THE SIZE OF SPENDING OF THOSE PROGRAMS, AND BASED UPON OUR OWN INTERNAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RISK ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS. AND THOSE CRITERIA ARE ALL SORT OF INTERRELATED TOGETHER.

AND THEN WE CAN SORT OF SELECT MAJOR PROGRAMS TO TEST FROM THOSE CRITERIA.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FOUR PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE TESTED THIS YEAR DURING TESTING, WE ARE TESTING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS TO BE SIGNIFICANT. AND WE'RE TESTING INTERNAL CONTROLS AS PART OF DETERMINING COMPLIANCE TOO.

SO IT'S KIND OF AN OPINION ON COMPLIANCE AND ON INTERNAL CONTROLS.

WE DID NOT HAVE ANY INTERNAL CONTROL FINDINGS THERE EITHER.

SO CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH THERE. AS I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SAME THING WITH THE AIRPORT REVENUE REPORT AND THE PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE REPORT THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE UNMODIFIED OPINION.

THERE ARE NO FINDINGS ON THE USE OF AIRPORT REVENUES AND HOW THAT SCHEDULE IS PRESENTED FOR THE CITY.

AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE, I JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR LETTER TO GOVERNANCE.

WE'RE REQUIRED AS PART OF GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS TO PROVIDE A LETTER TO THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE THAT TALKS ABOUT SIGNIFICANT RISKS, PAST ADJUSTMENTS OR ANY OTHER SORT OF REPORTING ITEMS THAT WE IDENTIFY AS PART OF OUR AUDIT.

SIGNIFICANT RISKS IS SORT OF A NEW ITEM THAT WE'VE BEEN REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS.

AND THE SIGNIFICANT RISK THAT WE IDENTIFIED ARE SORT OF VERY FAMILIAR TO MOST OF THE ENTITIES IN THE GOVERNMENTAL SPACE.

I BELIEVE THOSE ITEMS ARE MANAGEMENT OVERRIDE OF CONTROLS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL SEE IN JUST ABOUT ANY FINANCIAL STATEMENT, AUDIT, REVENUE RECOGNITION, AGAIN, SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE IN ALMOST ANY FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT. IMPROPER CAPITALIZATION OF ASSETS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO GOVERNMENTS WITH THE WAY THEY'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT CAPITAL ASSETS ONCE PER YEAR.

THE PROCESS IS VERY ONEROUS AND VERY DETAILED.

THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A RISK THERE TO THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME RISKS RELATED TO THE ESTIMATES THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THOSE ESTIMATES AS WELL TOO.

THERE ARE SEVERAL ESTIMATES FOR NET PENSION LIABILITY RELATED TO IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND MUNICIPAL FIRE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF IOWA.

THE SIZE OF THOSE ESTIMATES CAN VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR WHAT THAT LIABILITY IS.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS A RISK THAT WE IDENTIFY AS WELL AS THE LIABILITY FOR SELF-INSURANCE PAYMENTS AS WELL TOO.

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PAST ADJUSTMENTS, WE DID NOT REPORT ANY. SO PAST ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE ANY SORT OF ADJUSTMENT WE WOULD FIND.

THAT MIGHT BE SORT OF UNDER OUR SCOPE OR THRESHOLD AS PART OF OUR AUDIT.

WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE THEM TO THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE. IN THIS LETTER.

WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY OF THOSE AS PART OF OUR AUDIT THIS YEAR.

AND THEN THERE'S AN EMPHASIS OF A MATTER FOR A CORRECTION OF ERROR WITHIN OUR AUDIT OPINION.

THIS IS A PARAGRAPH THAT IS A SEPARATE PARAGRAPH WITHIN OUR AUDIT OPINION THAT SORT OF DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO OR THAT MANAGEMENT HAD TO RESTATE PRIOR YEAR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE CORRECTION OF AN ERROR. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AN ADDITIONAL PARAGRAPH THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE THAT WE INCLUDED IN THERE. SO NOT NECESSARILY A MODIFICATION OF THE OPINION.

WE STILL HAVE A CLEAN FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPINION, BUT JUST ANOTHER PARAGRAPH THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE.

FINALLY FOR 2024, AS PART OF OUR RFP PROCESS AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER A PAYROLL DATA ANALYTICS TEST THAT OUR FARGO OFFICE HAS PERFORMED FOR SEVERAL ENTITIES ACROSS THE NATION, THAT WOULD TRY TO IDENTIFY ANY SORT OF ANOMALIES WITHIN PAYROLL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR IN TERMS OF MAYBE DUPLICATE PAYEES OR DUPLICATE PAYMENTS PAY DATES OR THAT SORT OF ANALYSIS.

WE PERFORMED THAT ANALYSIS AS PART OF OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT THIS YEAR, AND WE HAD NO SIGNIFICANT ANOMALIES TO REPORT WITHIN THAT PROCESS AS WELL TOO.

SO THAT'S KIND OF SOMETHING ADDITIONAL AND SEPARATE.

THAT'S NOT NORMALLY PART OF A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT PROCESS, BUT SOMETHING WE DID THIS YEAR JUST AS PART OF OUR CONTRACT.

LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE ONE NEW AUDITING STANDARD THAT WILL BE OR I SHOULD SAY ACCOUNTING STANDARD THAT WILL BE IN PLACE.

GASB STATEMENT NUMBER 101, COMPENSATED ABSENCES.

AND THIS WILL HAVE SOME SORT OF IMPACT ON THE CITY RELATED TO POTENTIALLY ACCRUING MORE SICK LEAVE OR OTHER TYPES OF LEAVE THAT THE CITY MIGHT HAVE. WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT TYPES OF LEAVE ARE ALL ACCRUED FOR AND WHICH ONES NOT ONLY ARE PAID UPON LEAVE, BUT COULD BE PAID DURING USE IN FUTURE YEARS AS WELL TOO.

SO AND THEN JUST POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE SOME ONLINE PUBLICATIONS, WEBINARS, ACCESS TO SPECIALISTS TOO.

AND WE APPRECIATE THE ONGOING COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TOO NOT JUST AS PART OF THE AUDIT.

WE'RE DEFINITELY OPEN TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL, AND HAVE HAD GREAT DISCUSSIONS WITH [INAUDIBLE] AND ANDY AS PART OF THAT PROCESS AS WELL TOO. AND I GUESS I SHOULD JUST SAY THANKS TO MANAGEMENT AND THEIR CREW FOR PROVIDING ALL THE INFORMATION TIMELY, ACCURATELY. IT HELPS TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS OF THE AUDIT MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY.

SO A BIG THANKS TO THEM AS WELL TOO. AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AS A NEW ENTITY FOR US.

I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU HAD A TIMELY RESPONSE.

I KNOW THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH OUR PUBLIC FUNDS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND ONCE AGAIN, I'LL JUST REITERATE YOUR COMPLIMENTS TO THE CITY TEAM FOR HOPING TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER AND OUR JOB AS WELL.

THANKS SO MUCH. IT'S NOW TIME FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SO EVERYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TODAY DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING OR DOING ONE OF OUR TWO PUBLIC INPUT PERIODS OF A FEW MATTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ORDERLY MEETING.

A REMINDER TO STAY AT THE LECTERN. IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER ON YOUR RIGHT. SHE WILL THEN GET THEM TO US. SECOND, COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES A SPEAKER. SO WHEN YOU'RE AT THE LECTERN, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT W HEN THE LIGHT TURNS YELLOW, THAT INDICATES YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT. AND WHEN IT'S RED, WE'LL INVITE YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT ONCE AGAIN.

AND PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALL COMMENTS MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT NO ABUSIVE, LOUD, THREATENING, IRRELEVANT COMMENTS WILL 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 OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.

SO WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. DOES THE CLERK HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS IN REGARD TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY? YOUR HONOR, THERE WERE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS FILED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER CITIZEN INPUT REGARDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

[1. A public hearing will be held to consider citizen input regarding community development needs and budget priorities for the City’s annual entitlement programs, including the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership programs, in preparation for the creation of a new five-year “Consolidated Plan” strategy document (Sara Buck). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CDBG-FY25]

AND SARA BUCK IS HERE TO LEAD THAT. SARA, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

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

AND AS THE MAYOR SAID, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP 5 YEAR STRATEGY, CONSOLIDATED PLAN. THE

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THIS IS A REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THOSE ANNUAL FUNDS, AND WE UPDATE THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS.

HERE YOU WILL SEE OUR ANTICIPATED BUDGETS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND THESE PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON CURRENT FUNDING LEVELS WITH SLIGHT DECREASES.

SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN INCLUDE CITIZEN INPUT, DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS, AS WELL AS FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLANS TO ADDRESS NEEDS, GOALS, AND PRIORITIES. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE CDBG ACTIVITIES.

THESE INCLUDE HOUSING, REHABILITATION, PUBLIC FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC SERVICES.

ALL CDBG FUNDS MUST MEET A NATIONAL OBJECTIVE, WHICH INCLUDES BENEFITING THOSE OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME, ELIMINATING SLUM AND BLIGHT, OR URGENT NEEDS WITH NO OTHER FUNDING SOURCE.

SOME ELIGIBLE HOME ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HOUSING REHABILITATION, HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE, HOUSING, NEW CONSTRUCTION OR TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

AND SO SOME UPCOMING PUBLIC OUTREACH WILL BE DOING INTERVIEWS WITH THOSE KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNER AGENCIES.

AND WE DO HAVE THREE OPEN HOUSES. THE DATES AND TIMES ARE THERE.

ALL OF THESE HAVE ALSO BEEN SENT TO COUNCIL CALENDARS AS WELL.

AND PUBLIC NOTICE WILL INCLUDE INTERESTED PARTIES LISTS BEING NOTIFIED AS WELL AS WE'LL BE DOING SOME FACEBOOK POSTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER ALL OF THAT INPUT.

AND SO THE NEXT STEPS AGAIN, FEBRUARY MARCH WE WILL BE DOING THAT PUBLIC OUTREACH. MAY THE DRAFT PLAN WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT.

IN JUNE THAT PUBLIC HEARING, CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THAT DRAFT PLAN.

AND THEN JUNE AND JULY THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN IS DUE FOR 60 DAYS AFTER HUD RELEASES THOSE FINAL ALLOCATIONS.

SO ALL OF THOSE DATES MAY VARY JUST SLIGHTLY DUE TO WHEN THOSE CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS ARE MADE.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANKS, SARA. THANKS, CHRYSTAL.

THIS IS THE TIME AND 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. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE MY THANKS TO YOUR TEAMS. YOU BOTH HAVE REALLY JUST DEVELOPED A LOT OF ADDITIONAL HOUSING.

I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE PROGRAMING IS SOMETHING THAT SPECIFICALLY SARA, YOU'VE WORKED ON VERY INTENSIVELY.

I JUST APPRECIATE IT KNOWING THAT YOU'VE GOT A FINE EYE TO IDENTIFY ANY GRANTS AND JUST PUT A ROOF OVER AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE NO RESOLUTION ON THIS, SO THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING IDENTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS,

[2. A public hearing will be held to consider public comments regarding identification of community development needs, program funding for development of proposed activities, and program performance for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership programs, prior to developing an Annual Action Plan for the period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 (Sara Buck). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CDBG-FY25]

SARA AND CHRYSTAL, I'LL CHRYSTAL. I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. SO AGAIN, THIS IS JUST FOR OUR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.

AND GET RIGHT INTO IT HERE. SO THIS IDENTIFIES THE BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR THE CITY'S ANNUAL FUNDING FOR CDBG AND HOME, AND DESCRIBES THOSE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT ARE TO BE FUNDED.

PROJECTS MUST BE CONSISTENT AGAIN WITH THE GOALS OF THAT FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND MUST INCLUDE WHICH RIGHT NOW INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS SERVICES AND PUBLIC SERVICES THAT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FOR THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

WE DON'T HAVE OUR FINAL ALLOCATIONS. WE ANTICIPATE GETTING THOSE SOMETIME IN THE SPRING, SO WE DO OUR BUDGETING BASED OFF OF LAST YEAR'S ALLOCATIONS, WHICH ARE LISTED BELOW. HERE YOU WILL SEE A BREAKDOWN OF OUR CDBG BUDGET, AND THIS SHOWS ESTIMATES OF THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AS WELL AS OUR MAX PERCENTAGES THAT ARE STATUTORILY LIMITED.

HERE IS OUR BREAKDOWN OF THE HOME PROGRAM FUNDING, INCLUDING OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SET ASIDE, AS WELL AS $75,000 PRIORITIZATION FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS.

AND FINALLY, THESE ARE SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER OUR FINAL OVER THE LAST COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR.

THIS INCLUDES 1765 INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE HELPED WITH HOMELESS SHELTER AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

04,219 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FREE HEALTH CARE SERVICES, 30 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH HOUSING, REHABILITATION OR NEW CONSTRUCTION. 64 YOUTHS RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH PROGRAMING, 128 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND EIGHT HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED DIRECT HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE.

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IN FEBRUARY, STAFF ARE CONTINUING TO REVIEW ALL OF THOSE APPLICATIONS FOR ELIGIBILITY.

AND FEBRUARY 11TH WILL BE THIS IS FOR THE FIRST OF THE TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND THEN IN MARCH, OUR GRANTS AND PROGRAM CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW ALL OF THOSE APPLICATIONS AND DO THE VERY HARD JOB OF FIGURING OUT WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS TO BRING HERE BEFORE COUNCIL. SO IN MAY, THAT DRAFT PLAN WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT.

JUNE, THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THAT ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND THEN JUNE, JULY OF 2025 IS WHEN THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN IS DUE, 60 DAYS AFTER HUD RELEASES THOSE FINAL ALLOCATIONS.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL THESE DATES MAY CHANGE DUE TO CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. THANK YOU.

THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD, THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT.

I DO HAVE A REQUEST? CAN YOU GO BACK TO ALL OF THE INTERACTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC MONEY SUPPORTED HERE.

KEEP GOING RIGHT THERE. I WANT YOU TO JUST READ THROUGH THAT ONE MORE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK.

SURE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. 1765 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED SHELTER AND CASE MANAGEMENT.

AND THESE ARE HOMELESSNESS SERVICES. 4,219 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FREE HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

30 HOUSEHOLDS HAD HOUSING UNITS REHABBED OR NEWLY CONSTRUCTED.

THIS IS FULLY OUTSIDE OF THE ROOTS PROGRAM OR ANY OF THE DISASTER FUNDING.

64 YOUTH RECEIVED YOUTH PROGRAMING, AND THEN 128 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND EIGHT HOUSEHOLDS HAD DIRECT HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE TO GET INTO HOMES.

THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NO RESOLUTION ON THIS ITEM. SO WE'LL MOVE TO NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX TO THE URBAN

[3. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed Amendment No. 6 to the Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Consolidated Urban Renewal Area (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0089-2023 a. Resolution approving Amendment No. 6 to the Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Consolidated Urban Renewal Area. 4. A public hearing will be held to consider a Development Agreement with 150 1st LLC for the redevelopment of property at 150 1st Avenue NE (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0006-2024 a. Resolution authorizing execution of a Development Agreement with 150 1st LLC for the redevelopment of property at 150 1st Avenue NE.]

AND SCOTT MATHER IS HERE TO ADDRESS THAT. SCOTT, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, SCOTT MATHER WITH THE CITY MANAGER 'S OFFICE. I WOULD REQUEST TO COMBINE ITEMS THREE AND FOUR AS THEY'RE RELATED.

ABSOLUTELY. SO THIS IS REGARDING THE CENTRAL CONSOLIDATED URBAN RENEWAL AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX AND A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND HERE. DECEMBER 17TH, COUNCIL AUTHORIZED CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES WITH 150 1ST LLC FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER WELLS FARGO BUILDING AT 150 FIRST STREET NORTHEAST. THIS WILL SERVE AS HEADQUARTERS FOR TIFFANY EARL WILLIAMS REAL ESTATE GROUP.

URBAN RENEWAL PLANS ARE REQUIRED TO BE UPDATED TO REFLECT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

CONSULTATION WITH TAXING AGENCIES ARE ALSO REQUIRED, WHICH OCCURRED ON JANUARY 27TH WITH NO COMMENT OR OBJECTIONS.

SO TODAY WE'RE HERE TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE URBAN RENEWAL AMENDMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

SO THIS IS AN $11 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING 42,000 SQUARE FOOT COMMERCIAL BUILDING, WHICH WILL INCLUDE AN ACTIVE ROOFTOP PATIO. THIS BUILDING WILL BE LEED CERTIFIED.

IT WILL CREATE ROUGHLY 15 JOBS WHILE RETAINING 12.

CONSTRUCTION WILL COMMENCE HERE YET IN FEBRUARY OF 25 AND COMPLETE BY JANUARY OF 26.

THE CITY WOULD REIMBURSE THE INCREASED TAXES GENERATED BY THE PROJECT TO COVER THE INCREASED COST TO ACHIEVE LEED CERTIFICATION.

UP TO A TEN YEAR, 100% REBATE BASED ON THE INVESTMENT AND THE ESTIMATED POST DEVELOPMENT VALUE.

THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE ROUGHLY $900,000 IN INCREASED TAXES, WHICH WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

SO HERE'S A STREET VIEW OF THE CURRENT BUILDING, AND THEN A FEW RENDERINGS OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN IT'S COMPLETE.

AND HERE IS A MAP SHOWING TWO AREAS FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

WE HAVE THE FIRST AND FIRST PARKING GARAGE, AS WELL AS SOME DOWNTOWN RIVER WALLS AND SIDEWALK UPGRADES.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX TO THE CENTRAL CONSOLIDATED URBAN RENEWAL AREA AND APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH 150 FIRST, LLC. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SCOTT. 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 ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.

COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

NOW WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS PROPERTY.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR?

[00:30:03]

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOTHING, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER OLSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

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

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

THE 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 ON THE AGENDA TODAY. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF, AS A REMINDER, DO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE AFTER THE MEETING AT THIS TIME DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL THE MATTERS I ADDRESSED PRIOR TO THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PUBLIC HEARING RATHER APPLIED TO THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TOO.

STAY AT THE LECTERN. IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS, GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER.

SHE'LL GET THEM TO US. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

YELLOW LIGHT MEANS ONE MINUTE. RED TAKE YOUR SEAT.

ALL COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTERS YOU WISH TO ADDRESS.

AND ABUSIVE PERSONAL IRRELEVANT COMMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED AND NO PARTICIPATION FROM THE AUDIENCE PLEASE.

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

TODAY WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST CALL YOU IN THE NAME AND THE ORDER I HAVE YOU LISTED HERE.

FIRST WE HAVE LESLIE CHALMERS OF CEDAR RAPIDS TO SPEAK ABOUT TRANSAMERICA, THE SITE DEVELOPMENT.

SO, LESLIE, I'LL INVITE YOU TO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS LESLIE CHALMERS, AND MY HUSBAND AND I LIVE AT 4450 WOODSMILL DRIVE NORTHEAST THAT'S CENTERED RIGHT ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE WOODS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SITE.

AND OUR PROPERTY LINE BACKS SPECIFICALLY, I BELIEVE IT'S LOT 17.

SO I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE MANY CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENTS WHO OPPOSE DEFORESTATION FROM AN OUT OF TOWN DEVELOPER'S PROFIT.

I DO RECOGNIZE THAT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS SUCH AS THIS ONE, REQUIRE OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER NUMEROUS GOALS, AND IT CAN'T BE EASY TO FIND BALANCE OR SATISFY ALL PARTIES.

ALL THAT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED, THIS TRUTH DOES STILL STAND.

DEFORESTATION DOES NOT ALIGN WITH OUR COMMUNITY'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE STAND WITH US AND REQUIRE THAT ANY TAX BREAKS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS SITE DEVELOPMENT BE CONTINGENT UPON THE CONSERVATION OF THE EXISTING MATURE FOREST. WE APPRECIATE THAT DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PROPERTY COULD GREATLY ENHANCE THE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE CERTAINLY DON'T OPPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT ANY PLAN THAT APPROVES OR INCLUDES DEFORESTATION OF THE WOODS WOULD BE A VERY DEVASTATING TWO STEPS BACK FOR A CITY THAT IS DESPERATELY TRYING TO TAKE ONE STEP FORWARD WITH REFORESTATION. DECADES FROM NOW, OUR CITY WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT.

IT WILL BE THOUGHTFUL. WILL IT BE A THOUGHTFULLY PLANNED MIX OF DEVELOPMENT WITH INTERSPERSED GREEN SPACES AND URBAN FORESTS THAT ATTRACT FUTURE GENERATIONS AND PROVIDE COUNTLESS HEALTH BENEFITS AND QUALITY OF LIFE BENEFITS? OR WILL IT BE CONTINUOUS, UNHEALTHY CONCRETE HEAT ISLAND THAT LEAVES CEDAR RAPIDS LOOKING AND FUNCTIONING LIKE EVERY OTHER CONCRETE SUBURB? IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO SHARE ONE LAST QUOTE FROM SHANNON RAMSEY, THE FORMER FOUNDER, TRUSTEE AND PLAN DIRECTOR FROM RELIEF IOWA, ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR FOREST. SHE SAID, I DID HEAR BACK FROM FORESTRY, AND THEY SAY THAT THIS IS A HIGH QUALITY OAK WOODLAND AND DO NOT SUPPORT ITS REMOVAL END OF THE QUOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY.

THANK YOU. JEFF BEERE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TRANSAMERICA SITE.

FIVE MINUTES ISN'T A LOT OF TIME. GOOD MORNING.

JEFF BEERE, 3612 CARIBOU COURT, NORTHEAST. I'M PROBABLY HERE MORE AS AN FYI, AS IT RELATES TO THE IMPACTS THAT INCENTIVE PROGRAMS HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITIES, AND ALSO MORE SPECIFICALLY TO THE RIVER RIDGE TRANSAMERICA FOUNTAIN SITE.

I WROTE DOWN SOME NOTES AND I REALLY DIDN'T PLAN ON SPEAKING, BUT WHAT THE HECK WHILE I'M HERE.

I GREW UP IN CEDAR RAPIDS. I GREW UP IN THE NORTHEAST SIDE, SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY, BUT I'M MORE FAMILIAR WITH THAT PART OF TOWN.

I DO OWN A RESTAURANT RIGHT OFF OF 42ND STREET.

I'VE BEEN OPERATING IT FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW, SO I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THE IMPACTS OF SOME OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY OFFERS FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION. CONSTRUCTION ALWAYS HAS AN EXCITING ELEMENT TO IT, BECAUSE YOU GET TO TAKE A SHOVEL AND YOU GET TO BREAK SOME DIRT AND YOU GET TO WATCH SOMETHING BE BUILT.

BUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF BUILDING SOMETHING WITH INCENTIVES IS NEIGHBORS NEXT TO EACH OTHER HAVE DIFFERING ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

[00:35:05]

SO NOW I HAVE A RIVER RIDGE STREET THAT'S ABOUT HALF EMPTY.

I PROBABLY HAVE LANDLORDS THAT HAVE DIMINISHED VALUE AND DIMINISHED LEASE LEVERAGE.

MORE RECENTLY, THE MOVEMENT OF PIZZA WORLD IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT MOVING TO MORE OF A TAX FRIENDLY LOCATION WITH A BETTER TRAFFIC COUNT.

ALSO, IN ADDITION, THERE WOULD BE A 1 OR 2 OTHER BUSINESSES LEAVING THAT SAME COMMERCIAL FOOTPRINT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FOUNTAIN'S TAX BENEFITS THAT COME WITH THE BUILD OUT. I UNDERSTAND. I GOT TO MAKE SURE I PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF TRANSAMERICA.

I UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF DOING TAX BENEFITS AND TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, OR WHATEVER YOU MAY CALL IT, REBATES WHEN IT'S A BIG BUSINESS THAT DOESN'T HAVE A COMPETITOR.

DATA CENTERS, WAREHOUSING THAT'S UNIQUE, THAT THERE IS NO OTHER THING MATCHING IT, BUT WE'RE FUNDING AND PROVIDING CREDITS TO RESTAURANTS, AND WE'RE PROVIDING THEM TO COMMERCIAL SPACE, AND WE'RE PROVIDING THEM TO SOME HOUSING THAT ARE SHIFTING BEHAVIORS.

YOU'RE NOT ADDING NEW JOBS. OKAY. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE SHIFTING JOBS.

ALL THIS SPACE THAT IS OVER IN FOUNTAINS IS BUSINESSES THAT EXISTED SOMEWHERE ELSE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, LESS LIKELY IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. SO WE'RE IMPACTING THE INVESTORS, WE'RE IMPACTING THE LANDLORDS, AND WE'RE IMPACTING THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE LEAVING THOSE COMMUNITIES TO GO TO THE FOUNTAINS FOR SPECIFIC TAX BENEFITS.

SO ALL I'M ASKING IS YOU HAVE A TAX INCENTIVE ON THE TABLE HERE.

YOU HAVE AN INVESTOR THAT DROPPED 7 MILLION PLUS INTO THIS WITHOUT ANY TAX BREAKS OKAY.

THEY'RE BUILDING ON THIS SITE OKAY. THEY'RE NOT BUYING IT AND LOOKING AT IT.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING AFTER THE FACT IS NOW WE'RE PACKAGING SOMETHING AND TAKING PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS THAT, FRANKLY, I'M PAYING TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR BUILDING OUT OF A PROJECT THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD OUT ANYWAY.

OKAY. A TANGENTIAL COMMENT THAT GOES WITH THAT.

I PAID $25,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES AT MY RESTAURANT.

I HAVE TO SELL $6,000 A MONTH IN PRODUCT TO CLEAR THE MARGINS IT TAKES FOR ME ALONE TO PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES. CHROME HORSE WHEN IT WENT DOWN, IT WAS 35 OR 36,000.

THEY PROBABLY HAD TO SELL $7,000 OF PRODUCT EVERY MONTH JUST TO CLEAR THE MARGINS ON FOOD AND LABOR, TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO SURVIVE. OKAY, SO MY POINT IS THIS I HAVE A RESTAURANT.

YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TAX BREAKS. THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD SOMETHING. THEY'RE GOING TO GET TAX BENEFITS.

SO THEIR COST STRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN MINE OKAY.

YOU'LL CELEBRATE THE GROUNDBREAKING. AND ONE DAY WHILE YOU ADD THE 42ND STREET CONSTRUCTION TO MY RESTAURANT, ONE DAY THERE WILL BE AN AUCTION OR RESALE OF THE PROPERTY.

MY PROPERTY AND ALL OF THE PROPERTY IN RIVER RIDGE WILL BE DEVALUED BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING AND WE'RE PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR PROJECTS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD ANYWAY.

OKAY, YOU GOT $10 MILLION OF TAX BREAKS OR WHATEVER THIS INCLUDES.

EVERY TIME YOU DO THAT, THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

AND IN THIS CASE, THE CONSEQUENCES RIVER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO DIE.

BECAUSE NO ONE'S GOING TO BUILD THERE. IT'S ALREADY DYING.

I MEAN, IT'S GOT THREE PROPERTIES FOR LEASE AND ONE FOR SALE RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AS LONG AS YOU TAKE ALL OF THOSE TAX BREAKS AND YOU PROVIDE THEM TO THIS NEW GREENFIELD SITES, AND THEN YOU CELEBRATE THE NEW JOBS, WHICH ARE NOT NEW JOBS.

NEW JOBS WILL ONLY COME FROM GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY, THE POPULATION SIZE AND MAYBE A LITTLE SPENDING PROFILE, BEHAVIOR CHANGE. BUT THE REALITY IS YOU'RE SHIFTING.

YOU'RE NOT GROWING. YOU'RE NOT ADDING JOBS. YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.

EVERYTHING. I GOT 19 SECONDS. I KNOW. THANK YOU.

22. 23. I'M COMING OVER. AM I DONE? YOU'RE OVER.

OH, I CAN'T READ A RED LIGHT. I APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S MY POINT. I'M DONE. I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. AT THE END OF THE DAY I STRUGGLE. WE WANT TO MAKE TIME FOR THE OTHER SPEAKERS. I STRUGGLE WITH THE INCENTIVE STRUCTURES THAT'S ALL. THANKS. THANK YOU. DAVE WATSON HERE TO TALK ABOUT TRANSAMERICA.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DAVE WATSON. I LIVE AT 4501 42ND STREET NORTHEAST, ACROSS FROM THE FORMER TRANSAMERICA PROJECT.

[00:40:02]

HOWEVER, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE THERE LONG BEFORE THE PROJECT TURNED TO ITS DEMISE OR THE STATUS THAT IT'S IN NOW.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MOTION FOR THE PROJECT, BUT THERE'S NO CLEAR PLAN.

THERE'S A SCHOOL THAT'S ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S GOING TO BUY ALMOST 20 ACRES ON THE PROPERTY.

YET WHEN YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT 20 ACRES IS, ACCORDING TO WHERE THE PROPOSAL IS, WE'RE ASKING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR PART OF THAT LAND.

I WISH THAT YOU WOULD RECONSIDER WHAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY UNTIL YOU GET A GET A STRAIGHT, CLEAR ANSWER OF WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING. IF THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO GET IT, THEN IT SHOULD BE LABELED AS PART OF THE STUFF FOR THE PRIVATE SCHOOL.

IT'S TALKING ABOUT GOING IN ON THE PROPERTY. IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LABELED FOR THE SCHOOL, THEN IT SHOULD BE CLEAR SO THE TAXPAYERS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, BRITA SANDBERG HERE TO SPEAK ON TRANSAMERICA.

HELLO, I'M BRITA SANDBERG, AND I LIVE AT 4831 MORRELL ROAD, NORTHEAST CEDAR RAPIDS.

I'M ABOUT A BLOCK WEST OF THE OLD TRANSAMERICA SITE.

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS NOW. SO WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A REAL ESTATE SPECULATOR FROM UTAH, A PHYSICIAN OR REAL ESTATE AGENT WHO IS THE REGISTERED AGENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. AND YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LARGE HOMES ON LARGE LOTS, WE'RE WONDERING WHAT'S GOING TO GO ON HERE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'VE GOT A SCHOOL THAT HAS PURCHASED OR IS PLANNING TO PURCHASE ABOUT 20 ACRES.

IT'S A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. THEIR INITIAL PLAN IS TO PUT 120 TO 300 KIDS IN THE ONE REMAINING BUILDING THAT'S OVER THERE. IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE, IT SHOWS THAT THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY, RECENTLY REMODELED.

MY QUESTION IS, IF YOU'VE GOT A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL GOING IN, WHY WOULD THEY GET A TAX BREAK FOR WHAT IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL? THAT'S A PP. YOU KNOW, TO ME THAT'S A PPEL THAT'S A PROPERTY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT LEVY.

THAT IS NOT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING. THE OTHER ISSUES ARE JUST WHAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED HERE.

WHY WOULD WE GIVE TAX INCENTIVES FOR A PLAN WHICH IS NOT DEVELOPED.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY TENANTS. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN THERE.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF BUILDINGS SITTING NORTH OF HIGHWAY 100 THAT ARE EMPTY.

WE'VE GOT FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS THAT ARE GOING DOWN.

THE TWO IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATED FOR THAT PROPERTY, AND BASICALLY THEY'RE TALKING ALONG THE NORTH EDGE AND ALONG EDGEWOOD ROAD.

QUITE FRANKLY, I'M A BIKER. DO I REALLY WANT I WANT TO BE ON MY BICYCLE ON THE NATURE TRAIL WANT TO BE GOING PAST A WHOLE BUNCH OF NAIL SALONS, QUICK STARS, MASSAGE PARLORS, OR, YOU KNOW, A SATELLITE CRACK HOUSE FOR THE CASINO THAT'S GOING IN.

EXCUSE ME? SATELLITE GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT. THEN THE OTHER QUESTION BECOMES, IF INDEED THERE'S GOING TO BE A SCHOOL ON THAT PROPERTY, WHAT PARENTS DO YOU REALLY THINK ARE GOING TO WANT A PUBLIC SCHOOL RIGHT NEXT TO A BUNCH OF FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, GAS STATIONS, AUTO SUPPLY STORES. I MEAN, THIS IS THE TYPE OF BUSINESS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS NOT NEW BUSINESS. THIS IS CANNIBALIZING FROM ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF TOWN TO BRING IN MORE TRAFFIC TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND IT'S POORLY IT'S POORLY CONCEIVED. THEY DON'T HAVE A PLAN.

SO I, AS SOMEBODY WHO PAYS A WHOLE LOT OF PROPERTY TAXES IN THIS CITY, THE IDEA THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE 20 OR 30 YEAR TAX INCENTIVES FOR, AS HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED, THIS IS ALREADY GOING TO BE DEVELOPED ANYWAY.

WE DON'T MIND THAT. I YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SCHOOL THERE.

DO I THINK WE NEED A CHARTER SCHOOL TO COMPETE WITH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS? ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THAT A MULTI-BILLIONAIRE WHO OWNS THE CHICAGO CUBS NEEDS ANY TAX CREDITS FOR HIS SCHOOL, EVEN IF IT'S A PUBLIC SCHOOL. SO THAT'S RICKETTS THAT OWNS THIS GROUP THAT'S GOING TO PUT IN THE SCHOOL.

TOM RICKETTS FROM CHICAGO. WE'VE GOT A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER SITTING OVER THERE IN DAVENPORT, AND WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF REAL ESTATE SPECULATORS OUT THERE IN UTAH WHO WANT TO LOWER THE VALUE OF MY PROPERTY, FOR WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT. SO MY REQUEST IS THAT WE NOT PROVIDE TAX INCENTIVES FOR

[00:45:06]

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. AND THAT WILL CLOSE OUT OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

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

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]

THE APPROVAL OF THIS AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HOEGER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU COUNCIL. MOVING ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA TODAY.

[22. Report on bids for the 3rd Street SE East of 16th Avenue Public Parking Lot Improvements project (estimated cost is $205,000) (Doug Wilson). CIP/DID #3018035-02]

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF 205,000. DOUG WILSON IS HERE.

DOUG, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. DOUG WILSON, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THIS PROJECT INCLUDES CONCRETE, CURB AND GUTTER, ASPHALT PAVING, STORM SEWER AND LANDSCAPING.

THIS WILL PAVE A GRAVEL LOT THAT WAS BUILT LAST YEAR DURING THE 16TH AVENUE 3RD STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

WE EXPECT CONSTRUCTION TO START IN SPRING OF 2025 AND COMPLETION THIS JUNE.

ON FEBRUARY 5TH, WE RECEIVED TEN BIDS. THE BIDS RANGED FROM $187,876.02 TO $227,384. THIS IS ONLY A REPORT ON BIDS WE EXPECT THE RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD TO BE ON AGENDA FOR A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOUG. COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU DOUG. NO RESOLUTION ON THIS.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 23, WHICH IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE 2025 SANITARY SEWER SERVICE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

[23. Report on bids for the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Service Replacement project (estimated cost is $510,000) (Ben Worrell). CIP/DID #655996-24]

BEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BEN WORRELL, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS OUR ANNUAL PROJECT TO REPLACE ORANGEBURG SANITARY LATERALS OR OTHERWISE FAILING SANITARY SEWER LATERALS TO THE EDGE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY AHEAD OF UPCOMING ROADWAY PROJECTS. ORANGEBURG PIPE IS A WOOD PULP PIPE THAT HAS A SHORT LIFE SPAN.

THE IDEA IS THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES BEFORE THE NEW PAVEMENT GOES DOWN ON THE ROADWAY, TO EXTEND THE USEFUL LIFE OF THAT PAVEMENT. PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE OPTION TO FIX THE SERVICE ON THEIR OWN BY APRIL 1ST, AND AS ALLOWED BY CITY CODE. IF SERVICE IS NOT FIXED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER BY THAT TIME.

WE WILL FIX IT AND ASSESS THE COST TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

HERE'S A LIST OF OUR LOCATIONS THIS YEAR. PROJECT BID ON JANUARY 29TH, WE RECEIVED FOUR BIDS RANGING FROM $476,691.50 TO $572,389.00. LOW BIDDER WAS EASTERN IOWA EXCAVATING. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU BEN. COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

ITEM NUMBER 24 IS THE PRESENTATION AND RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES UNDER THE MASTER PLAN REDEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR COMMERCIAL

[24. Presentation and resolution authorizing City financial incentives under the Master Plan Redevelopment Economic Development Program for a commercial redevelopment project at the former Transamerica site along Edgewood Road NE and 42nd Street NE as proposed by EOP Development LLC (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0011-2025]

GENTLEMEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR.

WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM EOP DEVELOPMENT LLC FOR STANDARD CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.

THIS IS AT THE FORMER TRANSAMERICA AEGON SITE.

THE BUILDING SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DERECHO DAMAGE IN AUGUST OF 2020 AND WERE DEMOLISHED IN 21.

THIS PROJECT DOES QUALIFY UNDER THE LARGE SITE MASTER PLAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH BRINGS A TEN YEAR,

[00:50:05]

THIS IS AN ESTIMATED $70 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT FOR THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A MIX OF COMMERCIAL LOTS ALONG THE NORTH AND EASTERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY, ESTIMATED AT ROUGHLY 30 ACRES. ALSO INVOLVES THE RENOVATION OF TWO EXISTING COMMERCIAL TOWERS.

IT WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC STREETS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT TO BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY, AND WILL BE A PHASED CONSTRUCTION COMMENCING HERE IN MAY OF 25, COMPLETING BY MAY OF 2031, WITH 100 FULL TIME JOBS CREATED AND 40 RETAINED.

HERE IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE SITE.

I WILL INDICATE HERE THAT THE AREA THAT HAS BEEN LABELED AS LOT 17 THAT WE HEARD EARLIER IS ABOUT A SEVEN ACRE GROVE OF TREES, AND CURRENTLY THE PLAN IS NOT TO DO ANYTHING WITH THESE TREES.

AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT THESE TREES WILL REMAIN IN PLACE AS THEY ARE TODAY.

SO HERE IS THE CURRENT SITE PLAN FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT, SHOWING EIGHT LOTS ACROSS ALONG EDGEWOOD ROAD, THREE LOTS HERE ALONG HOLLAND AVENUE AND 42ND STREET.

THE TWO EXISTING TOWERS HERE ON THE NORTH, AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY TWO ADDITIONAL SITES HERE.

THE AREA IN RED WE HAD JUST BECAME AWARE YESTERDAY OF A SIGNED CONTRACT BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER AND CEDAR RAPIDS PREP.

I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS OUR UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL.

IT'S A NONPROFIT. IT WILL NOT BE PAYING TAXES.

IT WILL NOT GENERATE TAXES, AND IT WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY TAX INCENTIVES OR REBATES AS A RESULT.

SO THE AREA IN RED WILL NOT BE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN THIS MASTER PLAN REDEVELOPMENT.

HERE'S JUST ONE MORE AREA ALONG 42ND STREET FACING NORTH.

SO STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE STANDARD 10 YEAR 50% REBATE.

AN ESTIMATED 25 MILLION IN ESTIMATED TOTAL TAXES WOULD BE GENERATED OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD, WITH 10 MILLION BEING REBATED. SO NEXT STEPS IF APPROVED THEN, REGARDING TRAFFIC, THE DEVELOPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A TRAFFIC STUDY TO DETERMINE IF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES ARE NEEDED. THIS WOULD INCLUDE INTERSECTION AT 42ND AND EDGEWOOD, INTERSECTION AT NORTH RIVER BOULEVARD AND EDGEWOOD, AS WELL AS THE ACCESS POINTS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AT THE PROPOSED ORLAND AND HOLLAND ROADS.

THE DEVELOPER WOULD THEN PROVIDE ENGINEERED ROAD DESIGNS TO THE CITY BASED ON THE TRAFFIC STUDY FINDINGS.

THEY WOULD ALSO THEN CITY WOULD SIGN OFF ON DESIGNS PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION AND WOULD INSPECT BEFORE BEING DEDICATED TO THE CITY.

REGARDING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SHOW A PLAN TO MANAGE STORMWATER ON SITE PER THE CITY ORDINANCE.

SO NEXT STEPS CONTINUED WOULD BE TODAY WE'RE AGAIN HERE TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.

IF APPROVED, WE WOULD START THE PROCESS OF CREATING AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA AND TIF ORDINANCE, AND WE WOULD BRING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AT THAT POINT.

WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR, FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. YEAH. THANKS, MAYOR.

MY QUESTION WOULD JUST BE WITH WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE WE HAD WITH REGARD TO CRCSD AND THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS WHO ARE BOTH PLANNING TO HAVE SCHOOLS OVER IN THIS AREA AS WELL? YEAH. SO WE BECAME AWARE AS SCOTT MENTIONED YESTERDAY, OF, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SIGNED CONTRACT FOR THAT PROPERTY.

CITY STAFF HAS NOT REACHED OUT TO CRSD OR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE AREA TO DATE.

AGAIN FOUND OUT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON THAT THAT HAD BEEN SIGNED.

SO YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.

I IMAGINE THERE'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS MOVING FORWARD.

I'LL JUST ADD I'M NOT SURE THAT'S REALLY OUR PLACE.

I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU'D LIKE TO REACH OUT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, THAT'S GREAT.

THESE ARE, AS YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE, TAXING ENTITIES.

AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD WHEN WE CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR CONVERSATIONS.

BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE INSERTING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND PUTTING PLACING THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON THEM. SO I WELCOME ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THAT, THOUGH.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER, CAN YOU CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE JOBS SCREEN, PLEASE? SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN KIND OF THE CRITERIA THAT YOU GO THROUGH WHEN YOU WORK WITH DEVELOPERS? I MEAN, WE SEE THIS A LOT ON OTHER TIF PROJECTS WHERE YOU SAY THERE'S GOING TO BE SO MANY JOBS CREATED AND SOME OF THEM ARE TEMPORARY BECAUSE OF THEIR CONSTRUCTION, BUT THEN YOU HAVE A FULL TIME. HOW? BECAUSE THERE IS A THOUGHT OF ARE THEY 40 NEW JOBS TO THE SITE OR 40 NEW JOBS TO THE COMMUNITY,

[00:55:04]

THERE'S THIS, YOU KNOW, INTENT FROM A DEVELOPER, YOU KNOW, TO WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ASSURANCE THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO SUPPORT A PROGRAM OR A PROJECT BEFORE THEY MOVE FORWARD AND SPEND MONEY ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER TYPES OF INVESTMENT.

BUT REALLY SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES MAY GO IN THERE BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE PARCELS THAT ARE AVAILABLE? YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE PARCELS MAY BE END UP BEING COMBINED BECAUSE A USER WANTS TWO OF THEM.

SO THINGS WILL CHANGE OVER TIME TO A POINT. BUT REALLY IT'S TAKING A LOOK AT OTHER AREAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT TYPES OF JOBS OR NUMBERS OF JOBS WERE CREATED AND TRYING TO ESTIMATE THE BEST WE CAN.

I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

THE DEVELOPER IS WELL AWARE THAT THERE WILL BE AN EMPLOYMENT THRESHOLD THAT THRESHOLD THAT WILL NEED TO BE MET IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THESE INCENTIVES. BUT YEAH, SURE, IT'S ALWAYS A, YOU KNOW, WERE THESE DID SOMEBODY COME FROM ANOTHER JOB AND COME OVER TO THIS, OR DID THEY MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT JOB? WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THERE WILL BE THESE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT THIS LOCATION.

TO WHAT EXTENT? AND IT MAY BE 200 JOBS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO CERTAINLY HAVE A THRESHOLD THAT WE'RE GOING TO SET AS A MINIMUM IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE INCENTIVES.

AND WE WILL REQUIRE AN ANNUAL CERTIFICATION TO SHOW THAT THOSE JOBS EXIST IN THAT PROPERTY.

SO I THINK A LOT OF THE CONCERN I HEAR IS, SO LET'S SAY MCDONALD'S IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND THEY CLOSE THAT LOCATION AND THEY MOVE OVER TO THIS SITE AND THEY HAVE 30 EMPLOYEES.

SO IS THAT MEETING THE SO IF THEY MOVE THE 30 EMPLOYEES FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO THE OTHER, IS THAT NOW CONSIDERED PART OF THIS 40 OR IS THIS SO YOU KNOW, I GUESS I'M PROBABLY ASKING SO THAT I CAN BECOME EDUCATED, AND THEN I CAN EXPRESS THAT TO THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF THE BIG QUESTION ON THAT.

AND THEN IN PART TWO, JUST TO FINALIZE ON THE TRAFFIC STUDY, THE SCHOOL WILL BE PART OF THAT TRAFFIC STUDY AS WELL.

CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. SO I'LL LET YOU ADDRESS THE OTHER PART.

YOU KNOW I DON'T KNOW THAT WE I'D HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE ON OTHER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IF WE HAVE SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE MAY BE SOME LANGUAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT TALKS ABOUT JUST THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT PULLING FROM OTHER AREAS, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE OF TAX INCENTIVES WHERE IT'S CHEAPER TO EXIST ACROSS THE STREET.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT A MCDONALD'S TO CLOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND OPEN ON THE OTHER SIDE. I THINK WE WOULD WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, AND ALLOW THAT TO COUNT TOWARDS THE JOB COUNT. THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE INTENT BY ANY MEANS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK OPPORTUNITY TO ADD ONE THING.

UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHOM THE TENANTS ARE GOING TO BE IS NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THESE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS.

SO THE FOUNTAINS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT, OR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS THE FLEET FARM.

YOU KNOW, OCCASIONALLY WE'LL KNOW ONE BIG ANCHOR TENANT, BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE FOR THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM IS YOU KNOW, TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT IN GENERAL AND THEN AUTHORIZE STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD, NEGOTIATING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL THEN LAY OUT MORE SPECIFICS. SO WHEN WE BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME, WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC INFORMATION TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT YOU KNOW, QUITE OFTEN DEVELOPERS, YOU KNOW, DON'T WANT TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY PLANNING A SITE UNTIL THEY KNOW WHETHER OR NOT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THERE IS SUPPORT FOR IT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME GOOD DISCUSSION FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT INCENTIVES, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD CLARIFY WHY, FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE THESE STANDARD AGREEMENTS AND WHY WE BELIEVE THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN PLACE.

AND THEN TWO, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE FORMER TRANSAMERICA SITE, IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL AS FAR AS WHY THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT DOES QUALIFY FOR THOSE STANDARD INCENTIVES. SO OUR CURRENT STANDARD INCENTIVE FOR MASTER PLAN REDEVELOPMENTS HAS TO DO WITH A MINIMUM OF 15 ACRES OR LARGER FOR REDEVELOPMENT. SO THIS IS A ROUGHLY 50 ACRE COMPLETE SITE OF WHICH AROUND 20 ACRES WOULD BE WITH THE SCHOOL AND WOULD NOT BE PART OF IT. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 30 ACRES OR SO. SO IT QUALIFIES BECAUSE IT'S A MIX OF COMMERCIAL.

[01:00:04]

IN THIS CASE, IT'S EXCLUSIVELY COMMERCIAL. SO IT QUALIFIES FOR THAT BASED ON THOSE CRITERIA.

YOU KNOW, JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE 2021.

THIS HAS BEEN AN EYESORE FOR GOING ON, YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS.

AND THIS DEVELOPER HAS OWNED THIS PROPERTY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE BUT FOR WOULD THE PROJECT OCCUR BUT FOR THE INCENTIVES.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY I BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE HERE.

AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THIS DEVELOPER HAS OWNED IT FOR TWO YEARS.

IF HE HAD THE IF HE HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO JUST GO FORWARD AND DO IT, THIS PROJECT COULD HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITHOUT WITH VERY LITTLE CITY COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT MAYBE JUST TO SUBDIVIDE OUT THE PARCELS.

BUT BEYOND THAT, THE ZONING IS APPROPRIATE FOR WHAT THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO DO.

AND HE COULD HAVE STARTED ON THIS TWO YEARS AGO.

I WILL SAY THAT THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPER HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND I MEAN NUMEROUS SOME AT SOME POINT, WEEKLY MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THE CONCERNS FROM THE NEIGHBORS.

THE ISSUE WITH THE TREES, HOW THE TRAFFIC WILL BE IMPACTED, TRYING TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS AND YET UNDERSTANDING THAT WE REALLY WANT THIS DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR. IT WILL BE VERY GOOD FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OR FOR THAT AREA OF TOWN.

IT'S AN EYESORE. IT'S RIGHT ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST THOROUGHFARES WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS NECESSARY.

AND I THINK, AGAIN, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE BUT FOR, THE PROJECT, PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ALREADY STARTED.

JUST TO ADD ON TO THAT, ZOOMING OUT TO AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT INCENTIVES, GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOUGHT WENT INTO WHAT IS THE RIGHT MIX OF INCENTIVES THAT ARE OUR STANDARD INCENTIVES APPROVED BY COUNCIL. AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE TARGETED.

WE DON'T CHASE EVERY PROJECT. WE DON'T TRY TO INCENTIVIZE EVERY PROJECT.

BUT LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE AREA OF TOWN IS THERE? YOU KNOW, A LARGE MASTER PLAN ON A SITE THAT'S VACANT TARGETED INDUSTRIES, FOR EXAMPLE.

IS SOMETHING ELSE WE LOOK AT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE REVISIT THAT ON OCCASION AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL, WHICH I IMAGINE WE'LL DO HERE IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, LIKELY AS MARKET CONDITIONS CHANGE.

WE CONSTANTLY MONITOR OKAY. WHAT IS YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED TO HAVE THE SAME TARGETS? DO WE NEED TO ADJUST THEM? SO I WANTED TO ADD THAT.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER TODD. MAYOR THANK YOU FOR THE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK YOUR TIMELINE IS A LITTLE OFF. BY THAT, I MEAN, SCOTT, IT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR A WHILE, BUT THE LAYOFFS AT TRANSAMERICA BEGAN IN 2016, AND SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES WENT DARK AND HAVE SAT THERE.

AND IN TERMS OF THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION, A PROJECT SIMILAR TO THIS EASILY IN A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES WOULD GET 20, YOU KNOW, 20 YEAR TAX REBATE BECAUSE BASED ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BUILDINGS, IF YOU HAD DEMOLITION INVOLVED YOU'RE RUNNING INTO SOME SIGNIFICANT COST. I WOULD POINT OUT TOO IN TERMS OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT OUT-OF-STATE DEVELOPERS, WE DID HAVE AN IN-STATE DEVELOPER.

WE HAD ACTUALLY WE HAD A DEVELOPER IN CEDAR RAPIDS, AND I THINK THAT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUT-OF-STATE DEVELOPERS IN PARTICULAR PROJECTS OF THIS SCALE AND SCOPE.

IT TAKES PEOPLE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE WHEREWITHAL TO SORT OF MAKE IT HAPPEN.

BUT I WANT TO GO TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT SPECIFICALLY.

YOU'VE GOT A PICTURE. LET'S GO BACK TO THE TOP VIEW.

OKAY. THAT ONE THERE. I WISH IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF THE TYPE.

IT SHOWED THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE SITE TO THE PROPERTIES ON WOODSMILL.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANYTHING AND MAYBE AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. BUT WHEN YOU GET A SITE PLAN, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCREENING AND THE PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE NEIGHBORS BACK THERE.

YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REALLY SEE IT THERE, BUT WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH A COUPLE OF THOSE PROPERTIES BACK THERE.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T CLEAR CUT THAT THAT WE STILL PROVIDE SOME SCREENING AND PROTECTION IN TERMS OF

[01:05:01]

IS THAT RIGHT? SO IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SCHOOL HAS NO INTENT OF TAKING THOSE TREES OUT.

THERE'S ABOUT SEVEN ACRES OF TREES. THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO MAINTAIN IT AND USE IT FOR AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE HERE THERE'S A TRAIL THAT KIND OF GOES AROUND.

THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO NEED TO BE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT. THE QUESTION THOUGH AND THAT'S THAT'S WELL AND FINE.

BUT SHOULD THAT IN TERMS OF THE LEGAL ENTITY, IS THAT AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER PRIOR TO THE SALE? YEAH, I THINK IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE CAN HAVE AHEAD OF EXECUTION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE DEVELOPER.

AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DRIVING AT.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN PROBABLY WORK THAT INTO AN AGREEMENT.

WHY IS OUR BUILDING MOVING? IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SHEET PILING.

THAT'S OKAY. AND SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK I NEED TO HOLD IT, BUT IT'S AN ISSUE OF CONCERN TO AT LEAST MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS UNDERSTOOD. I THINK IT WAS HELPFUL TO HAVE YOU ARTICULATE THOUGH TOO IN REGARDS TO THE SCHOOL.

THERE'S NO TAX INCENTIVES TO THAT ENTITY. NOR WILL THERE BE.

AND SO THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, TO WE'VE ALL KNOWN EVERYBODY SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THIS SITE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS WHEN XAVIER WAS DEVELOPED, WHEN THE ADDITIONAL HOUSING WAS DONE AT THE EDGE OF THE END OF 42ND STREET, AND WHEN FLEET FARM WENT IN, THEY WERE ALL SOMEWHAT SIMILAR.

WE KNEW THINGS WERE GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, TO AT LEAST ENSURE THAT WE'VE GOT SOME PROTECTIONS IN THERE.

AND I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU GUYS TO MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS.

THANK YOU. JUST I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIGHT OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD TODAY, CAN YOU JUST SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THE INCENTIVES WE HAVE TO KEEP TREES? YES. SO AFTER THE DERECHO, OF COURSE. YOU KNOW, PROJECT RELIEF WAS FORMULATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TREES FOREVER, AS WELL AS SOME OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WRAPPED OUR ARMS AROUND WHAT IS THE SCALE OF THE DAMAGE AND THEREFORE WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO REFOREST, YOU KNOW, OUR URBAN FOREST. AND SO A COUPLE OF THINGS CAME OUT OF THAT.

THE RELIEF PROGRAM, OF COURSE, WHICH IS A PLAN ON HOW TO MOVE AHEAD AND FUND AND THEN REPLANT THOSE.

ANOTHER PART OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CAN WE PARTNER WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO GET THAT DONE? AND SO THERE IS AS A PART OF OUR ORDINANCE, ZONING ORDINANCE RELIEF IS INCLUDED IN THAT NOW.

AND FOR EVERY TREE THAT IS REMOVED, THERE IS A CALCULATION, IF IT'S A LARGE STAND OF TREES, THAT CALCULATION OF WHAT MUST BE REPLACED IS A MIX OF CANOPY COVER AND CALIPER.

SO DIAMETER OF TREES, AND YOU CAN EITHER REPLACE THOSE ON SITE OR IF THERE'S NOT ROOM ON YOUR SITE TO REPLACE TREES THAT YOU CUT DOWN AS A RESULT OF, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PAY AND THE TREES FOREVER, AND THE CITY WILL PUT THAT MONEY INTO THEIR PROGRAM.

IT'S $750 PER TREE. THAT INCLUDES MAINTENANCE, TWO YEARS OF MAINTENANCE, WATERING AND REPLACEMENT IF THE TREE DIES. AND SO THAT DOES BECOME PRETTY COST PROHIBITIVE ON A STAND OF TREES LIKE THIS.

SO YOU KNOW, WE DID A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPLACE THESE TREES IF IT WERE YOU KNOW, JUST FLATTENED ESSENTIALLY. AND IT IS APPROACHING $2 MILLION.

AND SO THAT CREATES A SITUATION IN WHICH THAT REALLY DOES BECOME COST PROHIBITIVE IN A PRO FORMA FOR A DEVELOPMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS AN ADJUSTMENT, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES PROTECT EXISTING TREES AS A RESULT.

I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THE OTHER THING, IF YOU COULD JUST PULL UP THAT PICTURE OF WHERE THE SCHOOL BACKS UP TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS IN THE PAST OF DISRUPTIVE DISRUPTION IN THOSE IN THOSE HOMES HAVING MULTI-STORY

[01:10:06]

SO I APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPER'S WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A BARRIER BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL ALSO SEE THIS AS AN IMPROVEMENT FROM A POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, HOUSING IN THAT AREA. SO THANKS. THANKS FOR ALL OF THAT.

CONTEXT MATTERS. I KNOW WE'RE HERE JUST TO DEBATE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, TO EDUCATE ALL OF US, HONESTLY, WHEN WE WE HEAD INTO THIS TERRITORY.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS I'LL GO AHEAD.

THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

OKAY. THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW WE'RE ON TO THE ORDINANCE. ITEM NUMBER 25 IS AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE COLLECTION OF TAX INCREMENTS WITHIN THE GOOGLE URBAN RENEWAL AREA ALONG 76TH AVENUE SOUTHWEST AND

[25. Ordinance relating to the collection of tax increments within the Google Urban Renewal Area along 76th Avenue SW and Edgewood Road SW. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0099-2024]

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

THANK YOU COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE THAT 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 OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

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

[PUBLIC INPUT]

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

IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON. AND OUR ONLY PERSON TO SPEAK IS BRIAN CHALMERS HERE TO SPEAK ON THE EDGEWOOD.

I'LL PASS.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE CHALMERS THAT WILL THEN CLOSE OUT OUR SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS TODAY?

[CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS]

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.