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GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS MEETING OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.
[City Council on June 10, 2025.]
WELCOME TO THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 10TH, 2025.MAYOR O'DONNELL. COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON AND TYLER OLSON ARE ABSENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR ACTING CITY MANAGER, CITY CLERK, AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
PLEASE TURN OFF ANY CELL PHONES OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT MIGHT INTERRUPT THIS MEETING.
REGULAR SESSIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO WATCH LIVE AND REPLAY THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. GOD.
WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THESE AS OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND TO GROW.
THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT IS IN PLACE AND EVOLVING.
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND WE JUST PRAY THESE THINGS NOW IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU, CHAPLAIN. AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO START OUT WITH PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION NATURE EVERYWHERE BY SARAH MAPLES.
GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL TODAY.
I'M SARAH MAPLES, I'M THE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER.
AND OUR COMMUNITY IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE TWO GUESTS VISITING FROM THE CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK.
ONE IS BRENDA KESSLER. SHE'S IN TRANSIT FROM NEW JERSEY.
AND SITTING BESIDE ME CO-PRESENTING IS MICHAELA RANDOLPH, WHO TRAVELED FROM LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA AND SERVES AS A TECHNICAL CONSULTANT FOR CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK. SHE HAS A BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE IN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS, EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC POLICY, ISSUES RELATED TO LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS AS OUR GUIDE AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROJECT.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MICHAELA. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. SO WE REALLY ARE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE NATURE EVERYWHERE INITIATIVE, WHICH IS A JOINT INITIATIVE BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND KABOOM! WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP IS THAT THE CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS NATIONALLY TO LOOK AT EQUITABLY CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE, RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ENGINEERED NATURE CONNECTIVITY OUT OF OUR LIVES IN PRESENT DAY, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES REALLY SEES THEMSELVES AS THE VOICE OF TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES, REALLY ELEVATING CITY VOICES AND CITY LEADERSHIP TO DO GREAT WORK IN ALL ASPECTS.
AND KABOOM IS REALLY FOCUSED ON PLAY. SO TOGETHER WE MAKE A REALLY POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP AND ARE ABLE TO REALLY WORK WITH OVER 78 COMMUNITIES CURRENTLY TO ADVANCE NATURE CONNECTION EVERYWHERE AMONG CHILDREN. CEDAR RAPIDS AND DUBUQUE ARE THE FIRST CITIES IN IOWA TO JOIN THIS PROGRAM.
CEDAR RAPIDS IS CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON A GREEN SCHOOLYARD STRATEGY, AND WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT GREEN SCHOOLYARDS IS IT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET CHILDREN WHERE THEY ALREADY ARE. WE KNOW CHILDREN SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, AND SO GREEN SCHOOLYARDS REALLY IS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE OUTDOOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE NATURE CONNECTIVITY, INCREASE BIODIVERSITY AND ALSO PROVIDE RESPITE NOT ONLY FOR CHILDREN WHEN IT'S REALLY HOT BUT ALSO RESPITE FOR FACULTY AND STAFF THAT ARE ON THOSE CAMPUSES AS WELL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GREEN SCHOOLYARDS IS REALLY EFFECTIVE AT IS THIS CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
IT CAN BE SEEN AS A CLIMATE RESILIENT STRATEGY, AND ONE OF THE FOCUS AREAS THAT THE CEDAR RAPIDS TEAM IS INTERESTED IN EXPLORING A LITTLE BIT MORE IS IMPROVING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. WE KNOW THAT FLOODS HAVE AFFECTED, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITIES. QUITE A BIT. AND SO BY BREAKING UP A LOT OF THE IMPERMEABLE SURFACES ON A SCHOOL CAMPUS, BECAUSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I'VE SEEN MANY A SCHOOL GROUND, THERE'S A LOT OF ASPHALT ON SCHOOLYARDS.
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AND SO WHEN WE'RE BREAKING UP THAT ASPHALT AND ABLE TO CREATE MORE PERMEABLE SURFACES THAN WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY CAPTURE AND STORE STORMWATER.AND SO I THINK FROM A CLIMATE RESILIENCE STRATEGY, IT'S A REALLY EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW SCHOOLS CAN ACTUALLY PLAY A ROLE IN BEING CLIMATE RESILIENT. IN ADDITION TO THAT TREES AND GREEN SPACES HELP TO MITIGATE EXTREME HEAT.
RIGHT. AND SO REALLY SEEING THE SCHOOLYARD AS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN SOME OF THESE CLIMATE.
RESILIENCE STRATEGIES IS REALLY IMPORTANT. OKAY.
AND THIS PROJECT ALIGNS WITH EVERY KEY THEME IN THE ENVISION.
SEE OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO SUSTAINABILITY BALANCING ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS.
HEALTH BUILDING SPACES THAT ENCOURAGE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING.
PLACEMAKING. CREATING MEANINGFUL SPACES FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND EFFICIENCY.
WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE COMMUNITY, CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER REALLY ENABLES US TO BE CREATIVE AND RESOURCEFUL ABOUT OUR SPACE. AS MICHAELA MENTIONED, THIS PROJECT IS ALIGNED WITH OUR COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND PARKS MASTER PLAN BY SUPPORTING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AND MITIGATING EXTREME HEAT.
THE STRONG COLLABORATION WITH THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLOWS US TO TAKE A MORE HOLISTIC AND COMMUNITY WIDE APPROACH TO VIEWING OUR NATURAL SPACES, REALLY PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVELY USE EXISTING SPACES.
STAFF AT INDIAN CREEK ARE LOCAL EXPERTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
AND WITHIN THE CITY WE'RE WORKING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE A TEAM COMPRISED OF STAFF FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PARKS, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC YEAR ROUND WHEN SCHOOL'S NOT IN SESSION, AND PROVIDE A PARK LIKE SPACE DURING OUT OF SCHOOL TIME, PARKS IS INTERESTED IN APPLYING THESE PRACTICES TO OUR PARK SPACES.
OUR TEAM ATTENDED A WORKSHOP IN MILWAUKEE THAT WAS PAID FOR BY THE CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK, AND TOGETHER WE DEVELOPED A VISION WHICH IS TO CULTIVATE RESILIENT GREEN SPACES IN OUR SCHOOLYARDS AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT FOSTERS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, INSPIRING ALL CHILDREN TO ENGAGE WITH NATURE.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS ONLY A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES LEFT.
SECESSION, CONDUCTED BY THE CITY VIEW HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ALSO ASKED STUDENTS TO DRAW THEIR FAVORITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE.
WE'RE ASKING CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS AND YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY TO DRAW THEIR OWN VISION FOR A GREEN SCHOOLYARD, AND WE'LL BE USING THOSE RESULTS IN THIS PROJECT.
AND FOR ADULTS, WE'VE DEVELOPED A SURVEY. HERE'S A FEW IMAGES THAT REPRESENT DIFFERENT TYPES OF GREEN SCHOOLYARDS THAT HAVE APPEALED TO RESIDENTS. YOU MAY NOTICE THAT MOST HAVE A MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL PLAY ELEMENTS, SO THE GOAL IS TO INTEGRATE NATURE INTO WHAT CHILDREN LOVE TO DO ON THE PLAYGROUND, CLIMB, GO DOWN THE SLIDES, PLAY SPORTS, AND GARDEN. HERE'S ONE GREEN SCHOOLYARD EXAMPLE FROM PAIGE AND JONES EDUCATION COMPLEX. YOU MAY NOTICE THAT TREES WERE PLANTED, VEGETATION WAS ADDED TO CAPTURE STORMWATER AND REDUCE HEAT, WHILE ALSO SATISFYING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
IN OCTOBER, WE PLAN TO HAVE THE ASSESSMENT COMPLETED.
WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT HOW THIS PROJECT CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO THAT SCHOOL PLAYGROUND.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SARAH, AND THANK YOU MICHAELA.
COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.
YEAH. THANK YOU. MICHAELA, WELCOME TO CEDAR RAPIDS.
HOPEFULLY WE'VE BEEN KIND TO YOU, AND YOU FOUND YOURSELF BEING WELCOMED HERE.
ONE, THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER AND ME. YOU KNOW, I HAD THE BENEFIT OF, YOU KNOW, SPENDING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MY TIME, PARTICULARLY ALL SUMMERS OUT IN SOLON. AND YOU'D HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, PULL ME OUT OF THE FIELDS OR PULL ME OUT OF A TREE WHEN I DIDN'T SNEAK INSIDE TO
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WATCH A LITTLE BIT OF DISNEY. BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT RIGHT.AND I SAY THAT WITH THE PERSPECTIVE THAT, LIKE, IF YOU ASK MY COUSINS, I'M THE CITY COUSIN.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GO OUT AND TOUCH GRASS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE ALL I REMEMBER AFTER A RAINY DAY, EVEN AT WILSON, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE LIKE THE DRIED UP WORMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND JUST MAKE YOU SICK BECAUSE OF THE HEAT AND JUST, YOU KNOW. BUT THIS IS REALLY EXCEPTIONAL. AND NOT EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY LIVES IN A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DWELLING.
NOT EVERYBODY HAS GRASS AND EVERYBODY WANTS GRASS, RIGHT? BUT TO HAVE THAT ACCESSIBILITY TO HAVE IT. IT SOMETHING SO CLOSE AND TO HAVE IT IN THEIR DAY TO DAY.
AND SO HAVING THAT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN USE AS A LEARNING TOOL, BUT ALSO YOU KNOW, HAVE FOR THEIR PLAY AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE RESEARCH THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW MENTAL WELLNESS IS REALLY ENHANCED WITH HAVING ACCESS TO YOU KNOW, ANY SORT OF NATURE SCAPES AND JUST GETTING OUT IN NATURE AND BEING OFF SCREEN.
SO I THINK THIS IS FANTASTIC. I'M ON THE BOARD WITH NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
SO DOUBLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE TOO, THERE IS AN OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT WITH ICE CREAM ACTIVITIES AND A SHORT PRESENTATION AT SEVEN FROM 630 TO 830, I BELIEVE THAT'S AT INDIAN CREEK.
BUT HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. JUST A REAL QUICK QUESTION.
SINCE THE DERECHO, WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A REAL IMMEDIATE NEED IN TERMS OF MANY OF OUR CITY AND SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS WITH THE LOSS OF TREES. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS FUNDS FROM KABOOM FOR SHADE STRUCTURES? I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT CAN BE HAD, YOU KNOW, AND I WOULD CAUTION JUST AS THE NATURE REPRESENTATIVE HERE AROUND FINDING A BALANCE.
BUT I WOULD BALANCE THE SHADE STRUCTURES LIKE, WHICH ARE COSTING QUITE A BIT OF MONEY WITH YOU KNOW, TREE CANOPY AND LIKE PLANTING MORE TREES AND REALLY LETTING THAT HAVE MORE MULTIPLE BENEFITS THAN JUST THE SHADE STRUCTURE ITSELF.
BUT I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR CONVERSATIONS I CAN'T SPEAK FOR. KABOOM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL. THANK YOU. OH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'VE BEEN A TRUSTEE OF THE INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER FOR QUITE A LONG TIME NOW, AND WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE NATURE BASED EDUCATION CONCRETE RESULTS IN THE LEARNING PROCESS OF CHILDREN THAT ARE GOING TO PRESCHOOL OUT AT THE NATURE CENTER, AS WELL AS THE SUMMER CLASSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND IT'S REALLY I THINK, EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL TO ACCELERATE THE INCLUSION OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THE CITY. TO ADD ON TO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, I CAN REMEMBER GOING TO SCHOOL AND THEY USED TO SAY AT RECESS, NO, STAY ON THE BLACKTOP, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A BIG FIELD BEHIND IT, BUT WE WERE ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO STAY ON THE BLACKTOP FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER.
SO I THINK THINGS ARE REALLY EVOLVING VERY QUICKLY, AND I THINK IT'S A HUGE BENEFIT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. SCOTT.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU. COUNCIL SARAH MACKENZIE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHAELA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
I WOULD REMIND EVERYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TODAY, WHETHER DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING OR DURING PUBLIC COMMENT OR PUBLIC INPUT PERIODS OF A FEW MATTERS TO ENSURE WE HAVE AN ORDERLY MEETING.
FIRST, PLEASE REMAIN AT THE LECTERN. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS YOU WISH TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL, PLEASE HAND THEM TO THE POLICE OFFICER TO YOUR RIGHT.
AS YOU ARE WALKING UP, THE OFFICER WILL TAKE THE DOCUMENTS FROM YOU.
SECOND, COMMENTS WILL BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER WHEN THE LIGHT ON THE COUNCIL IN FRONT OF YOU TURNS YELLOW, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO FINISH YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS RED, YOUR TIME IS UP AND YOU SHOULD LEAVE THE LECTERN.
THIRD, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALL COMMENTS MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT ABUSIVE, OBSCENE, LOUD, THREATENING, OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED.
FINALLY, WE NEED TO HOLD AN ORDERLY MEETING SO THERE SHOULD BE NO APPLAUSE, CHEERING, BOOING,
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OR OTHER NOISE OR OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT FROM ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE.THANK YOU. DOES THE CLERK HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS IN REGARD TO ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON TODAY'S AGENDA? YOUR HONOR, FOR PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO, THERE WERE TWO OBJECTIONS AND NINE COMMENTS FILED FOR PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE.
THERE WERE TWO OBJECTIONS FILED. NO OTHER COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS WERE.
THANK YOU. PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER AMENDING CHAPTER SIX OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION.
HALEY, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, HALEY.
17 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. SO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ESTABLISHING AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THIS IS REALLY STARTING AND KIND OF BUILDING ENERGY AROUND TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS, THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT AND EXPANSION OF THE SYSTEM.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE OUR NEWLY ADOPTED LINN COUNTY AND CEDAR RAPIDS TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS PLAN, AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON AN UPDATE TO THE PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN.
SO IN TERMS OF LONG RANGE PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCH A COMMISSION TO, TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS. WE ARE ALSO ALWAYS STRIVING TO BECOME A HIGHER LEVEL BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT PLAYS RIGHT INTO A COMMISSION LIKE THIS AS WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THE FACT THAT TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS ARE, I THINK, A HUGE COMPONENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN CEDAR RAPIDS.
AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TOURISM. SO LOOKING AT WAYS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT.
AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED, WITH THE TRAIL AND BIKEWAY PLAN AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN IN TERMS OF ACTION STEPS, THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO THAT SUGGEST AND RECOMMEND SUCH A COMMITTEE OR SUCH A COMMISSION.
IN TERMS OF THE PURPOSE AS KIND OF OUTLINED IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION WOULD SERVE AS AN ADVISORY COMMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS RELATED TO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
SO INCLUDING WALKING, BIKING AND ROLLING AND TRANSIT AND THEN MORE GENERALLY, KIND OF MORE BROADLY, LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, GENERAL HEALTH AND WELFARE THROUGH INCREASED USE AND UNDERSTANDING OF SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE MODES OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION. IN TERMS OF THE ROLES OF THIS COMMISSION, WHAT MIGHT THEY BE DOING? WE'VE KIND OF SPLIT IT UP INTO FOUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
MORE GENERALLY. SO ONE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, LOOKING AT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
ALSO LOOKING AT PROGRAM AND POLICY REVIEW. SO THIS COULD BE EXISTING POLICIES SUCH AS LIKE OUR COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, OUR BIKE PARKING STANDARDS, THINGS LIKE THAT, OR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL GAPS OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW NEW PROGRAMING OR NEW POLICIES RELATED TO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION. IN ADDITION, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION TO EVALUATE AND KIND OF MONITOR PERFORMANCE METRICS AND EXISTING DATA. AGAIN, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THINKING THROUGH OUR TRAIL COUNTS TRANSIT RIDERSHIP AND THEN IF NEEDED, ESTABLISHING NEW PERFORMANCE METRICS. AND THEN FINALLY, IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST CATEGORIES I COULD FORESEE ACTUALLY IS ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION.
WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT SYSTEM. AND SO HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THAT? BY REACHING MORE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS COULD BE THROUGH SOME OF OUR EXISTING EFFORTS LIKE BIKE TO WORK WEEK RIDE THE DISTRICTS, WHICH IS COMING UP THIS WEEKEND. BUT THEN ALSO LOOKING AT NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THOSE EFFORTS AND BUILD CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP, WE WOULD REALLY BE LOOKING FOR BALANCED INTEREST IN ALL MODES OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION. WE DON'T WANT IT TO LEAN REALLY HEAVILY TOWARDS BICYCLING, FOR EXAMPLE. WE WANT TO REPRESENT ALL MODES. IN TERMS OF STAFF SUPPORT.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, AND THEN WE ANTICIPATE A SECOND AND THIRD READINGS AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 24TH, AND THEN LATER THIS SUMMER, IF APPROVED OR IF ADOPTED, WOULD WORK THROUGH MEMBER RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT, AS WELL AS HOLD THE FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMISSION.
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THANK YOU. THANK YOU, HALEY. THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? IF SO, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE ON THE LECTERN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE.
FOR THE RECORD. ISAAC DAVIS, 401ST STREET SOUTHEAST. MAYOR PRO TEM CITY COUNCIL.
I RISE TO VOICE STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF THIS ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION.
YOU LISTENED TO RESIDENTS, TO STAFF, AND TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS WHEN THEY SPOKE ON THE COMPLEMENTARY NATURE OF WALKING, BICYCLING AND USING PUBLIC TRANSIT.
THESE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION REINFORCE EACH OTHER.
VIABLE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE, EXPANDS THE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND A VIABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM EXPANDS THE REACH AND THE VALUE OF THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORKS.
WE KNOW THAT THE NETWORK EFFECTS ARE REAL, THAT WHEN MORE PEOPLE CHOOSE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, THEN THE SYSTEM BECOMES SAFER, MORE USABLE AND MORE EFFECTIVE, WHICH THEN CAUSES EVEN MORE PEOPLE TO USE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
BUT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT EFFECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY SERVICES.
THIS IS ABOUT GIVING CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENTS REAL CHOICES.
WHETHER SOMEONE'S BIKING TO WORK OR WALKING TO SCHOOL, OR CATCHING A BUS TO THE GROCERY STORE, OR EVEN JUST OUT FOR A RIDE IN OUR CITY, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THESE OPTIONS ARE VIABLE, SAFE, AND DIGNIFIED BY WEAVING TOGETHER THE PEDESTRIAN, THE THE BICYCLE, THE TRANSIT, THE RECREATIONAL, THE ESSENTIAL TRAVEL USES. WE BUILD EQUITY, AUTONOMY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. FINALLY, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION HAPPENS IN SHARED SPACES.
AND SO IT BRINGS PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE TOGETHER.
IT GIVES US THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER RATHER THAN JUST DRIVE PAST EACH OTHER.
I HAVEN'T EVEN MENTIONED THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF A FULLY INTEGRATED ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS STEP AND FOR CONTINUING TO BUILD A MORE CONNECTED, INCLUSIVE AND VIBRANT CEDAR RAPIDS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ISAAC. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.
THAT BRINGS US TO ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS OR CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER POE. JUST IN TERMS OF THE MAKEUP OF YOUR COMMITTEE, TWO POINTS I WOULD MAKE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDS THE TRAILS, BUT PARKS MAINTAINS THEM AND THEN POLICE ALSO GETS IN CHARGE OF THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES ON THEM.
AND SO, I MEAN, YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT TOO LABOR INTENSE FOR THEM, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SEE A LOT OF THE BYPRODUCT OF WHAT HAPPENS OUT THERE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. SO AND I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A STANDING MEMBER, BUT I WOULD REALLY MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEOPLE INVOLVEMENT FROM LINN COUNTY TRAILS ON THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, HAL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.
THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM. HALEY, WILL THIS REPORT UP TO DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OR WILL.
CMPO DEVELOPMENT, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN AND ACTIVATING DOWNTOWN.
AND OUR VISION PLAN AS WELL, ALL OF THAT IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
SO AS WE BUILD THAT DENSITY, WE DON'T AND EVEN AS WE ARE ACTIVELY IN THE PARKING SURVEY, WE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE ARE PIECES THAT ARE FITTING TOGETHER.
WE DON'T WE WANT TO BUILD THAT DENSITY AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PARKING AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE VIABLE OPTIONS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON MODES OF TRANSPORTATION THAT ARE AN AUTOMOBILE OR EVEN A BUS. YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING THOSE ROUTES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE EITHER BY BIKE OR BY FOR PEDESTRIANS.
AND JUST APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE ADVANCING IN THIS WORK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER. I CAN JUST SAY THAT AS A TRAIL USER, THIS IS IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE'RE SETTING UP, BUT THIS ISN'T A REGION.
THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THE REGION. THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT RIDE THEIR BIKE TO ELY, TO SOLON, TO NOW IOWA CITY. AND NOW THAT THE TRAIL IS PAVED ALL THE WAY TO WATERLOO, WE HAVE FRIENDS THAT GO TO WATERLOO ON A FREQUENT BASIS.
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SO AS MANY TIMES AS PEOPLE FROM CEDAR RAPIDS GO TO THOSE COMMUNITIES, THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE COMING TO CEDAR RAPIDS.THANK YOU. THANK YOU, HAYLEY. ONE THING I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MAKEUP, I WANT SOME ARTICULATION BETWEEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BILL AND SCOTT AS WELL. IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE AND UTILIZE THIS COMMISSION.
AND PART OF THE GOAL OF IT IS TO COUNCIL MEMBER HOEGER'S POINT IS TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM. AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.
I THINK THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF INPUT INTO THAT AS WELL.
HALEY. DEFINITELY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. THANK YOU. AND THE MOTION CARRIES.
PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER THE CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 1626 FIFTH AVENUE, SOUTHEAST FROM TR ONE. TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE UNIT DISTRICT TO TML TRADITIONAL MIXED USE LIMITED DISTRICT, AS REQUESTED BY BEBE PROPERTIES, LLC.
SETH, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU. SETH GUNNERSON ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITH BILL MICHAEL, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THE APPLICANT'S REQUESTING A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR AN EXISTING STRUCTURE FROM THE TR ONE, OR TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE UNIT DISTRICT TO THE HTML OR TRADITIONAL MIXED USE LIMITED ZONE DISTRICT. THIS IS A RATHER SMALL 770 SQUARE FOOT PARCEL.
THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP SHOWN HERE SHOWS THIS AS THE URBAN MEDIUM INTENSITY LUTA.
THIS IS WITHIN THE WELLINGTON HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE CORNER OF FIFTH AVENUE AND 17TH STREET.
THE HTML ZONE DISTRICT IS FOR THE SAME DISTRICT FOR THIS STRUCTURE ON THE CORNER OF FOURTH STREET OR SORRY FIFTH AVENUE. AND I FORGET WHAT THIS CROSS STREET IS.
IT WAS HISTORICALLY A GROCERY STORE WITHIN THE WELLINGTON HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
HERE'S A STREET VIEW FROM FIFTH AVENUE SHOWING THE STRUCTURE.
THE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN VACANT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THE APPLICANT PROVIDED THESE RENDERINGS SHOWING POSSIBLE EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS OF THE STRUCTURE.
THESE WERE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AT THIS TIME, THE APPLICANT DOESN'T HAVE A PARTICULAR USE IDENTIFIED FOR THE STRUCTURE.
THIS JUST SHOWS POSSIBLE CHANGES THAT COULD BE MADE.
HE ALSO PROVIDED INTERIOR VIEWS OF THE STRUCTURE THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A FEW YEARS AGO.
NO SPECIFIC TENANT OR USE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.
THE APPLICANT SUGGESTED A GROCERY STORE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS A POSSIBLE USE, A REZONING TO THE HTML DISTRICT, OR TO REALLY. ANY MIXED USE ZONE ALLOWS FOR A VARIETY OF USES SUCH AS RETAIL, RESTAURANT, OFFICE, RESIDENTIAL, AND SO ON. THE SPECIFIC ZONE DISTRICT THAT'S REQUESTED HERE.
AND THAT DISTRICT ALSO SPECIFICALLY REQUIRES A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
SO A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANY USE WHICH WOULD HAVE ANY ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO SALES IN TERMS OF REZONING CRITERIA, STAFF NOTES THAT THE ZONING AND WELLINGTON HEIGHTS AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS JUST HISTORICALLY IS ZONING CODES WERE ESTABLISHED AND REFINED OVER THE LAST CENTURY.
SO THIS IS NOT A TECHNICAL MISTAKE OR OVERSIGHT.
CONSIDERATION OF A ZONE CHANGE IS CONSISTENT WITH HISTORIC USES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
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THE REQUEST IS PERMITTED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND COULD SUPPORT A MIX OF USES WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DON'T CURRENTLY EXIST.IN TERMS OF REZONING CRITERIA, STAFF HAS NO CONCERNS WITH THE ABILITY OF THE SITE TO SERVICE PROPOSED USES IN A WAY THAT CONFORMS WITH CITY CODES. THE FUTURE USE WOULD HAVE TO UTILIZE ON STREET PARKING AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ZONE DISTRICT THAT'S REQUESTED.
THE HTML ZONE DISTRICT WAS INTENDED TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL USES.
TODAY WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MATTER.
THIS WENT TO THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAY 1ST.
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST.
CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE WILL HAPPEN AT A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE MAYOR. THANK YOU.
SETH. THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? IF SO, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE ON THE LECTERN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRAD BERGUSON. I'M THE OWNER OF BB PROPERTIES LLC.
I'D FIRST OFF LIKE TO STATE THAT JUST THE NEWS, THE NEWS THAT KIND OF CAME OUT WHEN I GAVE THE HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING KIND OF LEANED THE DIRECTION OF MY PROPOSAL ONE WAY. IT COULDN'T BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH, HONESTLY.
SETH DID A GREAT JOB. HE HIT EVERYTHING THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT.
SO MY SPEECH WILL BE PRETTY SHORT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MULTIPLE BUSINESS OWNERS IN CEDAR RAPIDS, THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SOME SORT OF DELI SECOND HAND TYPE OF CLOTHING SHOP BARBER SHOP, RESTAURANT, ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, A KNOW, 1000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING COULD BE USED FOR.
I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 2020 WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING JUST ANOTHER SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL HOME.
SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN ELECTED TO THE WELLINGTON HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE.
AND I'VE SEEN WHAT MORE OPPORTUNITY COULD BE CREATED THROUGH A COMMERCIAL SPACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SINCE ALL THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY. HE REALLY HIT EVERYTHING.
OH THE BUILDING'S BEEN VACANT BY THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS SINCE AT LEAST 2007.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BRAD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ERIC SCHMIDT.
WELLINGTON HEIGHTS BEING ABOUT ONE SQUARE MILE WITH 6000 RESIDENTS BACK IN 2022.
MYSELF AND THEN OUR TREASURER, DAN BORNGRABER, MET WITH CALEB MASON AND DAVID CONNOLLY, WHO DID A LEAKAGE AND SURPLUS REPORT, WHICH I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH BEFOREHAND BUT WAS REALLY GRANULAR AND REALLY EYE OPENING.
NOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PLAY ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAINST ANOTHER, BUT THERE IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT COMES THROUGH WELLINGTON AND THEN GETS SPENT ELSEWHERE. AT THE TIME, WE WERE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH CALEB AND DAVID MOORE IN REFERENCE TO JOHN CORRALES BUILDINGS ON FIRST AVENUE, WHICH HAVE NOW THANKFULLY BOTH BEEN RENTED, WHICH IS AWESOME NEWS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD CAPACITY FOR CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN THAT, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE STRUCTURES THAT WOULD LOGICALLY MAKE SENSE TO BE CONVERTED TO COMMERCIAL. AND SO THIS IS ONE OF ONLY A HALF DOZEN THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS OUR SMALL GROUP CALEB, DAVID, DAN, AND MYSELF THAT EVEN COULD BE ZONED COMMERCIAL WITHOUT MAJOR MODIFICATIONS JUST BECAUSE SO MANY HAD BEEN TORN DOWN OVER THE YEARS BY PCI AND OTHER AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SINCE THAT INITIAL THOSE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS IN 2022,
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THE APPLICANT HAS COME BACK AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION NOW A COUPLE MORE TIMES.AND IN ALL CASES, THE NEIGHBORS DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT A VAPE SHOP OR A LIQUOR STORE.
THE APPLICANT HAS SAID THAT HE ALSO DOESN'T WANT THAT. AND THEN IN ALL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY, THEY'VE SAID THAT THIS ZONING WOULD NOT GREEN LIGHT THOSE THINGS AND THAT THERE WOULD STILL BE RESTRICTIONS AND ADDITIONAL STEPS NECESSARY.
SO I THINK THAT THAT SCENARIO OR THAT FEAR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A LIKELY ONE.
AND SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, THE ASSOCIATION IS STILL IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ERIC. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME FORWARD. HOWDY. CITY COUNCIL. I'M JOHN SLADEK I IF YOU GO ONE SLIDE BACK, I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE I LIVE ONE BLOCK OVER ON SIXTH AVENUE.
I LIVE IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THIS REZONING PROJECT.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FOOD DESERT AND PLACEMAKING ALL THROUGH CEDAR RAPIDS.
I THINK AGAIN, AS A RESIDENT DOWN THERE, IF YOU HAD A SMALL LITTLE DELI A BODEGA STYLE, LIKE CORNER STORE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I THINK JUST AGAIN AND AGAIN SUPPORTS THAT COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT MORE WALKABLE, MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND SOLVE THE SOLUTION OF THAT, YOU KNOW, FOOD DESERT OVER THERE.
AGAIN AND AGAIN, I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT PLACEMAKING, AND I JUST CANNOT GET OVER THE FACT THAT IF WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LIQUOR STORE OR A VAPE STORE, JUST DON'T HAVE THAT THERE. BUT AGAIN, JUST A BODEGA, LIKE, YOU KNOW, DELI OR COFFEE SHOP.
THAT'S IT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND I HOPE YOU APPROVE IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? OKAY. LET THE LET THE RECORD INDICATE THAT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH TWO OBJECTIONS SHOWN IN THE RECORD.
THAT BRINGS US TO ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS OR CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. YEAH. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM.
A COUPLE OF THINGS. I GENERALLY, I WOULD AGREE WITH THE ONE OF THE LETTERS THAT WAS WRITTEN IN TERMS OF SPOT ZONING, THAT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS AN IDEAL THING THAT WE WANT TO DO.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING IN WELLINGTON HEIGHTS, YOU'VE GOT SOME ICONIC PLACES LIKE FRIDA'S SACRED COW THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THAT AND THAT ARE VERY WELL APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, MESSAGE RECEIVED IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, JUST THE CAUTION OF, OF SPOT ZONING.
WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT INFILL IN TERMS OF THE YOU KNOW THE TAC PROJECT OR COMMISSION, AND THIS IS ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT IN THAT OF GETTING ALL THIS BLIGHTED BITS THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PUT VIBRANCY BACK INTO THEM.
SO I'M STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THAT. I THINK THAT THE CAUTIONARY EXCLUSIONS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IT NOT BEING ALLOWED TO BE A LIQUOR OR VAPE OR SMOKE SHOP IS REALLY APPROPRIATE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS PARCEL.
THANKS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I'M ALWAYS.
I LIVE CLOSE TO WELLINGTON HEIGHTS, BUT NOT IN IT.
BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SENSITIVE TO THE DRIVE TOWARDS DENSITY, MAINTAINING NOT INCREASING DENSITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AS WELL AS ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE INHERENT WITH WELLINGTON HEIGHTS.
AND THINGS HAVE GOTTEN A LOT BETTER OVER THE LAST 10 TO 15, 20 YEARS.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS MORE LIKE THE WHAT IFS.
WHAT IF WE CHANGE THE ZONING AND NOTHING IMMEDIATELY GOES IN THERE? AND WHAT KIND OF CONTROL DO WE HAVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A USE POTENTIALLY GOING INTO OR UNDER THAT ZONING THAT WOULD CAUSE ISSUES WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD? OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A KIND OF AN OPEN ENDED QUESTION, BUT THERE CAN BE BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALLOWED UNDER THIS ZONING THAT COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM WHERE THEY'RE NOT CAFES AND THEY'RE NOT COFFEE SHOPS, AND THEY'RE NOT SOME OF THE OTHER USES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT.
AND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS MORE SENSITIVE THAN PERHAPS A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.
SO ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? YEAH. THE. I GUESS THERE'S KIND OF TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT HOW THE ZONING CODE WORKS IN THAT PART OF THE GOAL FOR THE ZONING CODE UPDATE WAS TO CREATE MIXED USE DISTRICTS THAT DO
[00:40:04]
ALLOW A PRETTY BROAD MIX OF USES. THE ON THE FLIP SIDE, THE MIXED USE LIMITED DISTRICT THE KIND OF THE BIG ONES THAT WERE EXCLUDED FROM IT WERE THE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO RELATED BUSINESSES.IT'S CALLED TRADITIONAL MIXED USE CENTER, WHICH WOULD ALLOW LIKE A RESTAURANT WITH ALCOHOL BY RIGHTS, BUT WOULD REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE FOR A BAR BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SETTING.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THAT.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE ZONE DISTRICTS ARE PRETTY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OVERLAPPING USES. AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, CANDIDLY, A LOT OF LIKE A RESTAURANT COULD MEAN SOMETHING THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, FEW CUSTOMERS OR IT COULD BE VERY POPULAR TAKEOUT PLACE WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF TURNOVER AND A LOT MORE TRAFFIC.
AND THE ZONING CODE CALLS THAT THE SAME USE. I THINK SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, BASED ON COUNCIL'S COMMENTS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE COULD DISCUSS FURTHER WITH THE APPLICANT IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC CONCERNS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THAT.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND I APPRECIATE AND CONCUR WITH THE COMMENTS OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HERE.
JUST I JUST WOULD LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION ON PROCEDURE FOR TODAY.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS IT. AND WE HAVE COMMITMENTS OR GUARANTEES THROUGH THE ZONING THAT WE CAN'T HAVE LIQUOR OR TOBACCO. SO WHY ARE WE NOT HAVING A FIRST READING TODAY? YEAH. SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE LETTERS THAT WERE SUBMITTED AND SOME COMMENTS THAT WE HAD RECEIVED.
AND ALSO IN TALKING TO YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT HAD COME FROM A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND REALLY WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD IN TERMS OF HAVING ALL OF THE INFORMATION SO THAT COUNCIL CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
AND THE MY CONCERN WAS THAT IF WE HELD THE VOTE ON TODAY.
THE FIRST THE FIRST VOTE THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WITHOUT SOME OF THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT COULD POSSIBLY GET TURNED DOWN, AND THERE IS AN ENTIRE YEAR THAT THE APPLICANT THEN HAS TO WAIT IF THEY COME BACK TO COME BACK AND REAPPLY, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY LONG TIME TO CARRY THE COST OF YOU KNOW, OWNING A BUILDING AND THAT KIND OF THING.
SO I REALLY WANTED TO GET ANSWERS TO SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THE SPECIFIC USE WILL BE SO THAT, AGAIN, EVERYBODY FEELS COMFORTABLE AND HAS ALL THE SAME INFORMATION.
I DO THANK YOU FOR THAT. DO WE ALWAYS REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE THE USE OF A SPACE WHEN THEY'RE REQUESTING A ZONING VARIANCE? I THOUGHT THE TWO WERE SEPARATE. I THOUGHT, YEAH, WE TYPICALLY YOU KNOW, IT REALLY KIND OF DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.
BACK TO SETH'S COMMENT ABOUT THERE ARE MULTIPLE POSSIBILITIES HERE.
EACH POTENTIALLY HAS DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TRAFFIC, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC TURNOVER IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, CARS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH A POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL USE.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE COMING FROM IS, WELL, HOW MUCH TRAFFIC ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, DISRUPTION. WILL THERE BE THAT SORT OF THING? AND WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE SPECIFIC USE WILL BE, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND SO PROVIDING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO FORMULATE A BIT MORE WHAT THE SPECIFIC USE WILL BE, WILL THEN OF COURSE, HELP US ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO THE OPEN ITEM SO, SO BUT TO BE CLEAR, THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BACK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL.
CORRECT. SO IF WE, IF WE, IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT TODAY.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A FIRST READING TODAY THAT IT HAS TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE AGENDA.
SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE VOTE TODAY FOR OR HAVE THE FIRST READING.
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RIGHT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A SECOND AND THIRD READING WHERE WE CAN FLUSH OUT SOME OF THOSE DETAILS.IF SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES OR STAFF HAS CONCERNS, BUT I DON'T I DON'T SEE WHY WE'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THIS WHEN WE DON'T REQUIRE OTHER ZONING VARIANCES TO HAVE DETAILED PLANS.
YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS IT.
THE ZONING CITY PLANNING ENDORSED IT. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING BUSINESS OWNERS OR LANDOWNERS TO BE CREATIVE, TO REDEVELOP THE SPACE.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FIRST READING TODAY.
UNLESS I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT PROTOCOL WORKS. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD WORK.
YEAH. I THINK I WOULD LOOK TO LEGAL COUNSEL POTENTIALLY FOR A LITTLE HELP ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA, WHICH I, I DON'T THINK IS POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT.
YEAH. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE WE STICK WITH WHAT'S ON THE PUBLISHED AGENDA AT THIS POINT.
OKAY. AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT AFTER. OKAY.
THEN CAN I HAVE GUARANTEE THAT WE'LL BRING THIS UP AT A FUTURE MEETING? SO WE ABSOLUTELY ARE WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT TO AGAIN, COLLECT SOME MORE INFORMATION AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT MORE INFORMATION SURFACES, IF THE APPLICANT SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT I HAVE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE POTENTIAL OUTCOME WILL BE.
YOU KNOW, STAFF CERTAINLY ISN'T GOING TO STAND IN THE WAY. SO YES.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.
THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANT TO REPLY TO A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, IN FACT, WE ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TRYING TO ASSIST THE DEVELOPER.
WHILE IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE THAT, I THINK WE ALL HAVE MUTUAL GOALS.
IT WAS REAL OBVIOUS THAT THIS I WOULD CONSIDER THIS THIS PARCEL OF PROPERTY, A BLIGHTED PROPERTY THAT HAS SAT THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IT'S A IT'S IN NO ONE'S INTEREST TO HAVE THAT CONTINUE AT THE SAME TIME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. IT'S NOT MY JOB TO MAKE GOOD AND BAD INVESTMENTS FOR DEVELOPERS, GOOD INVESTMENTS BY DOING THINGS THAT I WOULD CONSIDER THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE A IMPACT ON THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALL I THINK WE ALL BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A INCREDIBLY FRAGILE NEIGHBORHOOD IN CERTAIN POINTS AND A PROPERTY, ONE PROPERTY ON A BLOCK CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT STRAIN ON OTHER PROPERTIES AND IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES, BUT THE APPLICANT MENTIONED IT HIMSELF WHEN HE, WHEN MEDIA TOOK THE CONCEPT AND PRESENTED IT AS A GROCERY STORE. AND WHEN THAT CONCEPT WAS PRESENTED AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING THAT I WAS AT AND COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER WAS AT.
THAT BRINGS TO MIND FOR ME DIFFERENT ECONOMIES OF SCALE, SIMPLY BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE GROCERY STORE, THE EAST WEST GROCERY STORE THAT HAPPENED TWO BLOCKS AWAY HISTORIC BUILDING THAT HAD BEEN A GROCERY STORE IN THE PAST, BUT IT DID NOT MAKE IT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE THE MASS.
IT DID NOT HAVE THE TRAFFIC, IT DID NOT HAVE THE FOOT TRAFFIC.
AND THAT THAT THAT ACTIVITY PUT A STRAIN ON 16TH STREET THAT TOOK US A GOOD FIVE YEARS TO TURN AROUND. IT TOOK ME A GOOD FIVE YEARS. THEY HAD TO PURCHASE HALF OF THE PROPERTIES ON 16TH STREET.
AND IT ONLY UNTIL THE LAST 2 OR 3 YEARS IS THAT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FULLY RECOVERED.
[00:50:05]
BUT I WOULD INSINUATE THAT THERE WAS NO ILL INTENT ON THEIR PART TO HOLD UP THE PROCESS OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES.FOR ME, I HAVE SIMPLE QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ASK ABOUT HOW DO YOU ACCESS THE DAM BUILDING FROM THE ALLEY? THERE'S NO ALLEY, OKAY. OR IF IT IS, I'M NOT SURE.
NOW, MAYBE THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE AN IDEA ON HOW TO DO THAT BASED ON WHATEVER BUSINESS IS IN THERE OR, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THE DUMPSTERS GOING TO BE? IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUSINESS THAT'S GOING TO GENERATE ENOUGH INCOME TO PAY THE MORTGAGE, THE BILLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS YOU WANT TO HAVE ANSWERED SO THAT FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD TO COUNCILMAN OVERLAND'S POINT, WHAT HAPPENS FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MAYBE IT'S NOT THE SAME OWNER THAT IS COMING TO US WITH A DIFFERENT USE THAT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW I DON'T WANT TO BE HYPERCRITICAL, BUT I JUST WANT TO ASK MYSELF, WHAT WOULD WE DO IF THIS WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 19TH STREET? OKAY. WOULD WE EVEN BE ENTERTAINING THE CONVERSATION? AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO, NOT JUST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IN THE HOPE THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS AT THAT SITE IS GOOD AND IN.
IN THAT EVENT, THE OWNER IS GOING TO MAKE MONEY.
THAT'S WHAT ULTIMATELY, I WANT TO SEE IF THAT HAPPENS.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE HAPPY, BUT THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT.
BRING ME A PROJECT THAT MAKES SENSE. THAT'S IN ESSENCE WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT A ROUND HOLE IN A SQUARE PEG.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS. AND IF IT TAKES AN EXTRA MONTH TO MAKE IT RIGHT, WELL, THAT MIGHT STRAIN THE, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMICS OF WHOEVER OWNS THE PROPERTY.
I THINK WHATEVER GOES AT THEIR BEST IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO CELEBRATE.
AND WHAT HAPPENED INITIALLY, WHEN YOU COME TO ME WITH THIS CONCEPT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A GROCERY STORE THAT SENT OFF RED FLAGS AND IT SENT OFF RED FLAGS WITH SOME OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT.
SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD ASK YOU TO TO ALLOW US SOME ADDITIONAL TIME.
AND WE WILL CERTAINLY BRING IT BACK. IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. YOU KNOW, I SAY BRING IT BACK WITH THE USE AND A PURPOSE.
AND WE DO DO THAT. THAT'S THERE'S OTHER PROJECTS.
WE'VE CERTAINLY DONE THIS TOO. AND SO THAT WOULD BE MY, MY $0.02.
ANYONE ELSE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
SO NEITHER I APOLOGIZE, SO SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
OKAY, I APOLOGIZE. WE'RE MOVING ON TO WITH OBJECTIONS.
WE'RE NOT. OKAY. WE'RE ON NUMBER FOUR. IS THAT CORRECT? THREE, OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.
WITH THAT, WE'LL SEE. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE ANNEX AND CITY SERVICES CENTER.
MAYOR PRO TEM, I THINK. I'M SORRY. WHAT AM I MISSING? THE ITEM PRIOR WOULD BE THE REZONING ON 32ND STREET NORTHEAST.
OKAY. THANK YOU. I WAS LOST, EASILY HAPPENS. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER THE CHANGE OF ZONE AT PROPERTY AT 1712 32ND STREET NORTHEAST. AND 32, OH ONE AND 3215 CARLISLE STREET NORTHEAST FROM TML TRADITIONAL MIXED ZONE USE LIMITED DISTRICT AND SRM ONE SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM SINGLE UNIT DISTRICT TO TMC TRADITIONAL MIXED USE CENTER DISTRICT AS REQUESTED BY MARAMI LLC.
[00:55:04]
SETH, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, SETH GUNNERSON, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.THE REQUEST IS FOR TWO FORMER RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND A PROPERTY WHICH IS ZONED TRADITIONAL MIXED USE LIMITED TO CHANGE TO THE TRADITIONAL MIXED USE CENTER ZONED DISTRICT. THE PROPOSAL.
THE REQUEST IS BEING GENERATED BY A PROPOSAL TO COMBINE WITH THE ADJACENT LAND TO THE WEST TO ALLOW FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A 4500 SQUARE FOOT RESTAURANT THAT WOULD HAVE A DRIVE THRU WINDOW AND PARKING ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THE EXISTING LAND USE ON THE PARCELS THAT ARE PART OF THE REZONING IS OPEN SPACE.
THE TWO HOMES ON CARLISLE STREET WERE DEMOLISHED IN 2021.
HERE'S THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP SHOWING THE AREA IN QUESTION.
THIS IS ON THE INTERSECTION OF CENTER POINT AND 32ND.
THE OAKLAND HY-VEE IS LOCATED TO THE EAST OF IT HERE, AND YOU CAN SEE I-380 TO THE WEST.
HERE'S THE ZONING MAP SHOWING THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
YOU CAN SEE THE TMC OR TRADITIONAL MIXED USE CENTER ZONED DISTRICT IS PRETTY PREVALENT AROUND ON BOTH SIDES OF CARLISLE STREET, AROUND THE INTERSECTIONS OF CENTER POINT AND 32ND AND 32ND AND OAKLAND FOR VARIOUS COMMERCIAL USES.
THE AREA TO BE REZONED IS THIS FIELD HERE ON THE CORNER OF CARLISLE AND 32ND.
HERE'S A CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT.
SHOWING A THE RESTAURANT AT THE CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTION AT 32ND AND CENTER POINT, WITH PARKING LOCATED BEHIND IT AND A DRIVE THROUGH LANE. THIS SHOWS THE PROPERTY THAT'S SUBJECT TO THE REZONING REQUEST IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE SITE.
RIGHT. AND GENERALLY, THE AREA TO BE REZONED WOULD BE USED FOR THE STACKING SPACES FOR THE DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW THE ORDERING BOARD AND FOR PARKING. THE COMMENTS WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT THIS, WE REQUESTED THE APPLICANT DID A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING COMMENTS THAT STAFF HEARD WERE GENERALLY ABOUT CONCERN OF TRAFFIC ON CARLISLE.
ONE THING I'LL NOTE IS THE EXISTING ACCESS TO 32ND STREET NORTHEAST, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE IS LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTION AND IS DOES NOT MEET ACCESS SPACING UNDER CITY REQUIREMENTS.
IT'S CURRENTLY RESTRICTED TO RIGHT IN RIGHT OUT.
AND IF YOU CAN IMAGINE SOMEONE EXITING AT A POINT HERE HAVING TO NAVIGATE ACROSS A COUPLE LANES OF TRAFFIC, THEN TURN LEFT ON CENTER POINT WOULD BE A PRETTY DICEY MANEUVER.
THE ACCESS TO CARLISLE THAT WOULD IS DEPICTED ON THE CONCEPTUAL SITE.
PLAN IS HIS PLAN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S ACCESS SPACING REQUIREMENTS, BASED ON THE LEVEL OF STREET ADJACENT TO THE SITE, AND WOULD IMPROVE SAFETY BY CONSOLIDATING MORE BY REDUCING INTERSECTIONS OR ACCESSES ONTO 32ND STREET NORTHEAST.
A TRAFFIC STUDY WILL BE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE ADMIN SITE REVIEW.
THE PROPOSED DISTRICT AND ALLOWED USES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE MIX OF EXISTING USES IN THE AREA, AND IS NOTED SCREENING AND BUFFERING WILL BE UTILIZED WHERE REQUIRED BY THE CODE ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
THIS WENT TO THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAY 1ST AND WAS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND HEARING OF THE FIRST AND READING OF THE FIRST ORDINANCE.
READING TODAY. SECOND AND POTENTIAL THIRD READINGS OF THE ORDINANCE WILL OCCUR ON JUNE 24TH.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, SETH.
[01:00:02]
NOW THAT WE'RE BACK ON TRACK, THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? IF SO, APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AT THE LECTERN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE FOR THE RECORD.
THAT BRINGS US TO ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS OR CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE JUST ONE ENTRANCE OVER ON THE CARLISLE AREA.
AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD ASK OF THE APPLICANT, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A FAIR AMOUNT OF, I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT GREEN SPACE IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE REZONING.
I WOULD SUGGEST REALLY PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THE BERMING AND THE LANDSCAPE IN THAT AREA WHEREVER POSSIBLE, RATHER THAN JUST DO THE MINIMUM, MAKE A REAL EFFORT.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOEGER. SO, SETH, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME SCREENING WITH FENCING.
CAN YOU GO OVER JUST WHAT THE LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO BE FOR THIS PARKING LOT? I MEAN, IT KIND OF BENDS AROUND THE BACK OF THESE HOUSES, AND I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONCERN AS WELL.
SO CAN YOU JUST ADDRESS THAT A LITTLE BIT? YEAH.
IN GENERAL, OUR ZONING CODE REQUIRES THAT ALL LIGHTING IS FULLY SHIELDED AND DOWNCAST.
PRIVACY FENCE WILL PROBABLY HELP WITH THAT TO SOME DEGREE.
WE WILL REQUIRE THEM. AND JUST A NORMAL COURSE OF PRACTICE.
WE REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE A PHOTOMETRIC PLAN.
SO THE ZONING CODE ALLOWS ONE HALF FOOT CANDLE OF LIGHT TRESPASS AT THE PROPERTY LINE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. SETH. SO, LOOKING AT THIS PHOTO OR PICTURE HERE.
SO THIS IS PLANNING TO BE A MCDONALD'S. MY THOUGHT THERE IS MCDONALD'S HAS BEEN A POOR CORPORATE CITIZEN TO CEDAR RAPIDS IN OUR URBAN CORE. AND UNTIL THEY LOOSEN THEIR COVENANTS TO THE PROPERTY THEY OWN ON FIRST AVENUE I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY ZONING VARIANCES RELATED TO MCDONALD'S. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. YEAH. THANKS.
MAYOR PRO TEM. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE. SO WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT NATURE EVERYWHERE, AND HERE'S THIS HUGE PARCEL OF LAND THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO REZONE WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE WAY TOO MUCH PARKING FOR MCDONALD'S.
I MEAN, THIS JUST SEEMS LIKE AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF SPACES.
WHAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION THAT THEY'RE SAYING? I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE REZONING OF IT, BUT LOOKING AT THIS SITE PLAN, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING THAT WAS THE SPA. AND, YOU KNOW, PUT REDUCE ALL THIS AREA, WHICH WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR OUR RELIEF PROGRAM TO PUT IN DRIVEWAY.
I GUESS THE QUESTIONS ABOUT NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES.
WE WILL I KNOW WE DID A STAFF REPORT ON THIS SITE.
PLANS DO SOMETIMES CHANGE A LITTLE BIT BETWEEN THE REZONING AND APPROVAL.
WE WILL THEY'RE REQUIRED TO PLANT TREES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES.
SO THE MORE PARKING SPACES THEY PLANT, THE MORE TREES ARE REQUIRED TO PUT IN.
THEY HAVE, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO LANDSCAPE DESIGN WITH THEM YET, BUT THERE ARE LIKE HARDSCAPE AREAS YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT WOULD BE REMOVED, THAT WOULD BE OPEN TO LANDSCAPING. IF THEY'RE REMOVING MATURE TREES ON THE SITE, THAT WILL TRIGGER TREE MITIGATION, WHICH WILL ALSO ADD LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS.
AND THERE'S A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES WE WOULD PERMIT BASED ON THE FINAL DESIGN OF THE BUILDING AND THE SIZE OF IT, AND IF THEY GO ABOVE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO PUT IN PERVIOUS PAVING FOR STORMWATER TO OFFSET THAT.
AND SO TO CLARIFY, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE REZONING HERE, BUT WILL THIS COME BACK TO US FOR A FINAL PLAT AT SOME POINT? THE PARCEL ITSELF MIGHT HAVE TO BE FINAL PLATTED.
I GUESS IN TERMS OF SITE PLAN REVIEW, IT WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVE SITE PLAN REVIEW.
I MEAN, THERE IS NO REASON I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHO THINKS THAT, LIKE, PEOPLE ARE SPENDING HALF THEIR DAY AT MCDONALD'S, BUT IT'S JUST IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR A DRIVE THROUGH LOCATION, PARTICULARLY ABUTTING, YOU KNOW, A RESIDENTIAL AREA. NOW, THIS IS A VERY BUSY SPACE.
AND SO I'M FINE WITH, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU'RE COMING IN, HOW YOU'RE COMING OUT.
BUT THIS IS BACKING UP TO A GROCERY STORE, YOU KNOW, AS WELL.
[01:05:04]
AND ACROSS THE STREET, THERE'S ALREADY TOO MUCH PAVEMENT THERE.I JUST THINK THAT'S REALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND WOULD ASK THAT EVEN EVERYTHING IN THE RED HERE, I MEAN, THAT'S FINE IF IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PULL IN FROM, BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT THEM COMING IN FROM GLASS ROAD, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE A NEED TO WARRANT THAT MUCH PARKING THERE.
AND I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS DESIGN.
SO IF YOU KNOW, I DON'T I CAN'T VISUALLY THINK OF WHERE THE NEAREST FAST FOOD PLACE WOULD BE.
BUT PROBABLY OVER ON FIRST AVENUE, WHICH IS SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY.
SO IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S WALKABLE FOR THE AREA, I THINK THAT THAT'S FINE.
THAT JUST SEEMS REALLY EGREGIOUS THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT PERSON KNOWS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, IF WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THEM IN ADVANCE AND THEY'VE NOT OBJECTED, BUT BETWEEN THEM AND THEN THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, I JUST THINK THAT'S A PRETTY BIG CHANGE OF PACE FOR THEM.
HAVING THIS MANY CARS INVITING, PARTICULARLY RIGHT OFF OF THE INTERSTATE.
YEAH, I WILL WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL ASK THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE A RESPONSE ON THE AMOUNT OF PARKING SPACES, AND WE'LL DO SOME RESEARCH ON A COUPLE OF THE I KNOW THEY'VE DONE A COUPLE OTHER BUILDS WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND COMPARE THE NUMBER OF PROPOSED PARKING SPACES SO WE CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. YEAH. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE CURRENT PLANS FOR IT TO COME BACK, SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD JUST BE STAFF HANDLING IT.
SO UNTIL I GET A GUARANTEE THAT THE PARKING WOULD CHANGE, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS PLAN.
OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TODD. COUNCIL MEMBER POE.
MY CONCERN, SETH, IS THAT IN TERMS OF THE ASPHALT I WANT TO REMIND STAFF THAT THIS IS ADJACENT MCLEOD RUN, AND IT'S ONE OF THE POOLS WHERE THE TROUT DO LIVE.
AND SO I DON'T SEE ANY PLANS TO HOLD THAT WATER ON SITE IN THE EVENT OF A TEMPERATURE TO AVOID TEMPERATURE SHOCK. SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'VE HAD ALONG CENTER POINT ROAD, WE'VE INCORPORATED HOLDING TANKS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION MEASURES TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A RAIN EVENT, THAT THAT WATER JUST DOESN'T HIT THE PAVEMENT, THEN GO DIRECTLY INTO MCLEOD RUN. THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WE I, I WOULD SUGGEST WE WOULD WANT TO AVOID THAT.
SO I WOULD INCORPORATE THAT INTO WHATEVER REVISIONS YOU DO OR AT LEAST ASK THE QUESTIONS AND REMIND.
SO I BELIEVE THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO USE THE GREEN SPACES TO HAVE A COUPLE, LIKE RAIN GARDENS OR SMALL DETENTION BASINS, OR THEY COULD DO UNDERGROUND DETENTION UNDERNEATH THE PARKING SPACES, WHICH IS ALSO PRETTY COMMON.
THIS LOCATION HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THAT. SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN OVERLAND. YEAH. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM BASED ON THE COMMENTS, I SUGGEST THAT WE DEFER THE DECISION ON THIS UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING TO GET SOME ANSWERS TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. YEAH, I CAN'T DISAGREE WITH A LOT OF THE COMMENTS HERE TODAY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I'D FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE VOTING IF I HAD SOME ANSWERS ON THE PARKING, THE RETENTION FOR THE WATER, AND SO I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. SO DO I NEED A MOTION? NO, WE'RE JUST GOING TO, WE'RE JUST GOING TO MOVE ON.
OKAY. WELL THANK YOU COUNCIL. PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER FOUR WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE CITY'S ANNEX AND CITY SERVICES CENTER RENOVATIONS PROJECTS.
PHASE ONE PROJECT, ESTIMATED COST IS 4,000,400.
[01:10:01]
I APOLOGIZE, THAT HAPPENS MORE TIMES THAN NOT.THANK YOU. AS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREENS HERE'S A RENDERING OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE RENDERINGS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR LOBBIES.
HERE IS THE FIRST FLOOR AND THE SECOND FLOOR.
THE BIDS WERE ISSUED ON MAY 28TH. A PRE-BID MEETING WAS HELD ON BOTH LOCATIONS ON JUNE 4TH.
THE QUESTIONS WERE DUE BY 5 P.M. ON JUNE 5TH.
THE BIDS ARE DUE IN ON JUNE 25TH BY 11 A.M. THE ESTIMATED COST IS 4.4 MILLION AND FACILITIES RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST AS IN THE RESOLUTION.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU, JASON.
THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? IF SO, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE ON THE LECTERN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE FOR THE RECORD.
THAT BRINGS US TO ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS OR CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM.
JASON, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE EXTERIOR.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE PICTURE? ABSOLUTELY. YEAH.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WILL BE PHASE TWO. OKAY.
BUILT INTO THIS. YES OKAY. BUT JUST I THINK THIS IS ALREADY SHOWING SOME OF THAT.
AND SO JUST TO YOU JUSTIFY SOME OF THE COSTS.
THERE WERE SOME EXPECTATIONS THAT WERE PUT ON US IN ORDER TO USE THIS BUILDING FOR THOSE PURPOSES, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SAY OF KIND OF HOW OUR HANDS WERE TIED IN MAKING THESE ACCOMMODATIONS.
YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
ONE, JASON, CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FUNDING MECHANISM ON THIS PROJECT? AND ALSO WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, I THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WHILE WE LOVE OUR POLICE STATION, IT WAS BUILT OVER 30 YEARS AGO, AND THE CITY HAS GROWN.
SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT. AND ARE YOU ABLE OR MAYBE THE FINANCE DIRECTOR CAN ADDRESS THAT? AS FAR AS I REMEMBER I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF FUNDING.
DEFINITELY. THERE ARE SOME GENERAL FUNDS, SOME FUTURE BOND FUNDING, AS WELL AS THERE ARE SOME RESERVE FUNDING AS WELL. SO THERE IS A COMBINATION OF FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT.
AS JASON MENTIONED, THERE IS A PHASE IN TWO DIFFERENT PHASES.
THIS IS FOR THE PHASE ONE. BUT THE OVERALL. SO FAR, THE EARMARK FOR FUNDS ARE AROUND $7 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. JUST. JASON, COULD YOU PLEASE JUST REMIND COUNCIL ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS OUTSIDE OF POLICE THAT WILL BE GOING INTO THIS ANNEX? ABSOLUTELY. THE CITY ASSESSOR WILL BE ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
THEY'LL BE MOVING FROM CITY SERVICE CENTER OVER TO HERE WHEN IT'S COMPLETE AND THAT WILL START A BIT OF A CHAIN REACTION ON THE SECOND FLOOR WILL BE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MOVING FROM CITY HALL. THERE'S GOING TO BE SPACE FOR GROWTH IN THEIR AREA AS WELL.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE GARDINER GOLF COURSE, ADA COMPLIANCE PROJECT.
ESTIMATED COST IS 1,000,500. JEFF, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M JEFF COFFRIN WITH FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR THE GARDNER GOLF COURSE ADA COMPLIANCE PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL BRING FULL ADA COMPLIANCE TO GARDNER GOLF COURSE.
[01:15:06]
FULLY ACCESSIBLE. THIS IS THE THIRD OF THREE PUBLIC GOLF COURSES IN CEDAR RAPIDS THAT WE ARE MAKING FULLY ADA COMPLIANT.BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT WERE ISSUED ON MAY 28TH.
PRE-BID MEETING WAS HELD ON JUNE 3RD AND BID QUESTIONS DEADLINE WAS ON JUNE 4TH AT 9 A.M.
AND ADDENDUM ANSWERING ALL QUESTIONS RAISED WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 5TH AT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
THE BIDS ARE DUE IN TOMORROW, JUNE 11TH, AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING.
AND THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $1,500,000.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JEFF. THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? IF SO, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE ON THE LECTERN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE.
FOR THE RECORD. OKAY. SEEING NO ONE, LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD, WITH NO OBJECTIONS SHOWN IN THE RECORD. THAT BRINGS US TO ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS OR CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOEGER. I GUESS I WOULD JUST HAVE A COMMENT.
SO I WHEN WE DID THIS TO ELLIS, I KIND OF QUESTIONED, LIKE, HOW DO YOU MAKE A GOLF COURSE MORE ACCESSIBLE? AND NOW THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE DONE OUT THERE, IT'S A, IT'S A NIGHT AND DAY IMPROVEMENT OUT THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S NIGHT AND DAY. IT'S AMAZING OUT THERE.
SO NICE JOB WITH THAT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO SEEING THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THIS ONE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY HOEGER, SECONDED BY MAIER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. PUBLIC COMMENT.
HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.
A SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD WILL COME AT THE END OF THE MEETING FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK ON ISSUES THAT ARE GERMANE TO THE CITY, BUT NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE BEFORE AND AFTER EACH COUNCIL MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL MATTERS I ADDRESS PRIOR TO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TODAY APPLY TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS TO PLEASE REMAIN AT THE LECTERN. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS YOU WISH TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL, PLEASE HAND THEM TO THE POLICE OFFICER TO YOUR RIGHT AS YOU ARE WALKING UP.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
THERE SHOULD BE NO PARTICIPATION OR DISRUPTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON.
I'LL TAKE THAT, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP IS ERIC SCHMIDT, WHO LIVES IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. ERIC LEFT. LOOKS LIKE ERIC HAS LEFT US. DOES.
OKAY. HE PROBABLY ALREADY SPOKE. THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON IS CARSEY SEARCY. HI SEARCY. WOULD YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME FOR US, PLEASE, SIR? THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK WITH US ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SECOND. OKAY. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT. HI, I'M SEARCY STUMBO. THANK YOU.
3839 COTTAGE GROVE AVENUE SOUTHEAST. I'M AN OFFICER OF ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
I'M ALSO PART OF A BROADER COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CORRIDOR CALLED THE JUSTICE AND LIBERATION COALITION, WHICH ASJ SPEARHEADED, ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE SPEARHEADED.
AND NOW A DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS ARE COORDINATING.
SO THROUGH THIS COLLABORATION, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT YOU ALL HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY HOW MUCH WE SUPPORT EFFORTS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MORE WELCOMING, DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, CIVIC MINDED, AND JUST.
SO BEFORE I GET TO MY COMMENTS ON THE AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH I WILL, I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY NOTE THIS IS THE LAST REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE JUNETEENTH. WE HOPE IT'S THAT THAT OUR COMMUNITY REALLY DOES NOT TAKE JUNETEENTH FOR GRANTED THIS YEAR ESPECIALLY WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AT THE
[01:20:09]
FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO SEE THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO PAY ATTENTION TO ISSUES AND CONCERNS RELATED TO RACE AND RACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.SO THANKS FOR THAT. BUT AS TO THE AGENDA ITEMS, FIRST, I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION IN YOUR CONSENT AGENDA TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR CR PRIDEFEST 2025. ASJ STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH MANY OF THE FOLKS HERE TODAY.
BUT WELCOME IS NOT PASSIVE. IT REQUIRES INTENTION, LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE.
I'M HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITY'S FLYING OF THE PRIDE FLAG AS A SYMBOL OF WELCOME TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR CITY STAFF WHO IDENTIFY AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES, OUR NEIGHBORS WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER, NON-BINARY, OR GENDER NON-CONFORMING. APPROVING THE PERMIT FOR PRIDE FEST NEXT MONTH IS ONE MORE SMALL, SMALL STEP IN RECOGNIZING OUR COLLECTIVE HUMANITY.
BUT IF WELCOME IS OUR GOAL, THEN INCLUSION MUST BE OUR PROMISE.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALSO MOVE BEYOND SYMBOLS AND SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT.
BY REFLECTING THE FULL DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE POLICIES YOU CREATE, THE PEOPLE YOU PROTECT, AND THE LEADERSHIP YOU EMBODY. WHICH THEN BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND AGENDA ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 23, THE ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING OBSTRUCTING SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PUBLIC WAYS.
WHILE ASJ HAS NOT HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR CITY STAFF ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED, WE ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREND ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CRIMINALIZE BEING UNHOUSED.
AND WHILE WE DO APPRECIATE THE LOWERING OF FINES THAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD LEAD TO, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE ORDINANCE COULD ALSO LEAD TO INCREASED SURVEILLANCE, CITATIONS AND ARRESTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.
WE ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT, AS YOU KNOW, THE ORDINANCE ITSELF DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND SO WE HOPE TO SEE AN ACCELERATION OF THE ONGOING ATTENTION AND CONVERSATION IN THE CITY ABOUT BROADER, LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS, PARTICULARLY SOLUTIONS THAT ARE MINDFUL OF THE HISTORIES AND INTERSECTIONS OF RACE, POVERTY AND POLICING IN OUR COUNTRY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ORDINANCE CAME UP QUIETLY AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT MAY SET THE COURSE FOR HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY SUPPORT OR PENALIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.
THE IMPACT IS FAR MORE REACHING THAN A QUICK READING MIGHT SUGGEST.
SO WE DO HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A THIRD READING IN ORDER TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR COMMUNITY COMMENT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER AND DEBATE ALL ASPECTS OF THE ORDINANCE, AND TO BE MINDFUL OF THE WAYS THAT THE STEPS TAKEN IN THIS ORDINANCE COULD LEAD TO OTHER INCREMENTAL STEPS THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY RESTRICTIVE, UNHELPFUL, AND UNFAIR. AND FINALLY, WHATEVER ORDINANCE YOU ULTIMATELY APPROVE, WE URGE YOU TO BUILD IN DATA COLLECTION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ANALYSIS OF IMPACT BY RACE, BY GENDER AND GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND OTHER CRITICAL DEMOGRAPHICS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT IS JOHN SHADEGG.
JOHN. IS JOHN HERE? OKAY. HE LEFT AS WELL. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. THAT CLOSES OUT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
ACTING CITY MANAGER DESHPANDE. DO YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? NO CHANGES, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU. DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS OR MAKE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? I AM GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM ITEM 18 D AS IN DOG, PLEASE.
OKAY. WITH THAT MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY MEYER, SECONDED BY HOEGER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO.
THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU COUNCIL. CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY HOEGER, SECONDED BY OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[01:25:01]
THE NUMBER 19 REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE BLAIRS FERRY ROAD NORTHEAST FROM NORTHTOWN PLACE TO SAMMY DRIVE.SIDEWALK INFILL BID PACKAGE ONE. NORTH SIDE PROJECT, ESTIMATED COST OF 700,000.
BEN, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
IT INCLUDES RECONSTRUCTION OF DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES AS NEEDED, AND ULTIMATELY IT'S GOING TO CONNECT EXISTING SIDEWALKS NEAR CENTER POINT ROAD AND DRY CREEK LANE, AND A HIGH PEDESTRIAN DEMAND AREA.
HERE'S AN OVERVIEW MAP SHOWING THE PROJECT LOCATION.
THIS PROJECT BID ON MAY 28TH. WE RECEIVED SIX BIDS RANGING FROM $492,942.39 TO $779,227.60. LOW BIDDER WAS MIDWEST CONCRETE.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. BEN. COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY RESOLUTION AWARDING AND APPROVING THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $492,942.39. BOND AND INSURANCE OF MIDWEST CONCRETE, INC.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
THE MOTION CARRIES. NUMBER 20, A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE REPAIR OF WATER SERVICE LINES.
FY 26 PROJECT. ESTIMATED COST IS 1 MILLION. CHEYENNE, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.
THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM CHEYENNE. WITTGENSTEIN, UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
AS A REMINDER, THIS PROJECT IS A SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR ON CALL REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS OF FIRE HYDRANTS, VALVES, WATER MAINS AND WATER SERVICE LINES. THE ESTIMATED BUDGET IS $1 MILLION.
WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT ON MAY 28TH.
BIDS RANGED FROM A LOW OF $966,264 TO A HIGH OF $1,035,995.
AS I MENTIONED, THE ESTIMATED BUDGET IS $1 MILLION, AND THIS THE SERVICE AGREEMENT IS FROM JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026, AND THE CONTRACT WILL ALLOW FOR POSSIBLE TWO ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS.
THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND AWARD OF THE CONTRACT TO BG BERKEY.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, CHEYENNE COUNCIL.
ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. SEEING NONE. SEEING NONE.
THE RESOLUTION AWARDING AND APPROVING THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF 164.
BOND AND INSURANCE OF B J BREKKIE, INC. FOR THE REPAIR OF WATER SERVICE LINES.
FY 26 PROJECT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY VANORNY, SECONDED BY TODD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. ORDINANCES.
THE ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 42 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE SOLICITORS AND TRANSIENT MERCHANTS, AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 42, IN ITS PLACE TO AMEND DEFINITIONS, LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND PARKING REGULATIONS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. NUMBER 22, THE ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 42 A OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, MOBILE FOOD VENDORS, AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 42 A IN ITS PLACE TO AMEND DEFINITIONS, VENDING, VENDING AND PARKING REGULATIONS AND LICENSE EXEMPTIONS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES.
[01:30:06]
BETTER ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS IN SECTION 62.9 OBSTRUCTING SIDEWALKS OR OTHER PUBLIC WAYS.THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY HOEGER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. NUMBER 4024, ORDINANCE GRANTING A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 4051 RIVER CENTER COURT, NORTHEAST FROM TML TRADITIONAL MIXED USE LIMITED DISTRICT TO SMC SUBURBAN MIXED USE COMMUNITY CENTER DISTRICT, AS REQUESTED BY ZONE UP, LLC.
THE APPROVAL ON THIS ORDINANCE OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY HOEGER, SECONDED BY MEYER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED. NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU COUNCIL.
NUMBER 25. AN ORDINANCE VACATING PUBLIC WAYS AND GROUNDS IN AND OUT TO A .39 ACRE PARCEL OF RIGHT OF WAY WEST AND ADJACENT TO TWO 2825 PRAIRIE RIDGE DRIVE, SOUTHWEST, AS REQUESTED BY PERRY PINES PROPERTIES LLC. THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY MAIER, SECONDED BY HOEGER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THAT CLOSES OUT OUR FORMAL BUSINESS TODAY AND BRINGS US TO THE FINAL PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.
AS WITH THE EARLIER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS TIME, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN.
I WILL REMIND EVERYONE TO REMAIN AT THE LECTERN.
IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON.
I'LL GET THIS FROM OUR OFFICER. THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU. THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
LET US KNOW YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE. AND THAT IS AMANDA GREEN TALKING ABOUT PRIDE.
COME ON UP. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
NEXT ONE IS LINDSAY ALEXSON. COME ON UP, LINDSAY.
HI, A COUNCIL, I'M LINDSAY ALEXSON. ADDRESS IS 1352 I AVENUE, NORTHEAST CEDAR RAPIDS.
THE INTERSECTION AT THIRD AVENUE AND 12TH STREET SOUTHEAST IS TERRIFYING.
IT IS A BLIND CORNER. IF YOU'RE COMING OFF OF FIRST AVENUE ON 12TH AND YOU HAVE TO CROSS THIRD AVENUE, IT IS TERRIFYING TRYING TO CROSS THAT ROAD. I HAVE ACTUALLY IN MY WORK, I END UP TALKING TO POLICE QUITE A BIT, AND THEY ACTUALLY REPORTED SEEING QUITE A FEW ACCIDENTS OR THINGS HAPPENING OVER THERE, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SEE WITH THE MED DISTRICT AND PEOPLE PARKING ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF YOU'RE COMING ONTO THIRD, LIKE GOING TOWARDS MCKINLEY, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE DOING EVERY MORNING, BUT I AVOID IT NOW. YOU TAKE A RISK BY LIKE HAVING TO PULL WAY OUT OR LIKE POSSIBLY HAVING A CAR COME BY AND HIT YOU.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES SINCE I DRIVE THAT ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY WITH MY WORK AND MY KIDS SCHOOL BEING OVER IN THAT AREA, THAT I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT OR SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR GUYS'S ATTENTION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR NOW FLYING THE PRIDE FLAG.
I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME TO SHOW SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SAYING THAT WE'RE A WELCOMING CITY, BUT SHOWING IT AS A HOUSEHOLD WITH MORE THAN ONE PERSON WHO IS LGBTQ. IN IT. I WOULD THANK YOU A LOT FOR, FOR THAT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LINDSEY. NEXT UP IS BRAD BERGSTEN.
HE'S GONE. OKAY. DOROTHY [INAUDIBLE] COME UP.
[01:35:16]
MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.MY NAME IS DOROTHY DE SOUZA GEDDES AND I LIVE AT 1022 SEVENTH STREET SOUTHEAST IN OAK HILL, JACKSON. IMAGINE IF I, AND A VERY SMALL GROUP OF CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENTS, CAME TO THIS MEETING AND VOTED TO REPLACE EACH OF YOU THROUGH THE END OF YOUR TERMS. IF WE TOOK AWAY YOUR AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIONS DETAILED IN CITY CODE FOR YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS OR THE MAYOR, IF WE TOOK CONTROL OF CITY FINANCES AND THEN WE ASSUMED CONTROL FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WITHOUT A LEGAL ELECTION.
NEITHER CITY STAFF NOR ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CIRCUMVENT A NONPROFIT'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS APPROVED BY THE NONPROFIT'S MEMBERSHIP. THAT THE NONPROFIT IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE CITY DOES NOT GIVE THE CITY STAFF OR A COUNCIL MEMBER ANY LEGAL RIGHT TO ADVISE RESIDENTS TO ACT IN OPPOSITION TO THOSE BYLAWS.
AND YET, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT AT LAST NIGHT'S OAK HILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING AND EFFECTIVELY SINCE AT LEAST MAY 12TH, WHICH WAS THE MOST RECENT ASSOCIATION MEETING LED BY THE BOARD, ELECTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP.
PER THE BYLAWS, ON THE ADVICE OF CITY STAFF AND ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS, PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE VOTED ON NEW LEADERS LAST NIGHT. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS WERE PROBLEMATIC FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
THE MEETING WAS NOT PROPERLY NOTICED PER THE BYLAWS, AND THE CURRENT BOARD WAS NOT EVEN NOTIFIED.
THE PROPOSED SECRETARY IS NOT A QUALIFIED MEMBER.
THE AT LARGE POSITION WASN'T EVEN VOTED ON. AND THERE WAS NO ROLL CALL VOTE.
WHY? A PERSONAL GRIPE BY ONE MEMBER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO MADE IT THEIR MISSION TO SOW DISSENSION AND SPREAD FALSEHOODS, BUT NEVER VOLUNTEERED. THE MEMBERSHIP VOTED TO CHANGE THE BYLAWS IN 2023 TO INCLUDE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN QUALIFIED AND REGULAR MEMBERS FOR THIS VERY REASON. ATTENDING THREE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND ONE OAK HILL JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT.
I ASSUME THE CITY STAFF ADVISING MEMBERS LAST NIGHT LIKELY WAS DIRECTED BY THEIR BOSS TO SHARE THE ADVICE, IN OPPOSITION OF OUR CURRENT BYLAWS. I HAVE NO ANSWER FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER'S ACTIONS, BUT ASSUME THEY WERE ACTING ON THEIR OWN AUTHORITY.
BAD ADVICE FROM CITY STAFF INCLUDED THAT THE DULY ELECTED BOARD, SERVING THROUGH JUNE 30TH, IS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO SUBMIT REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS FOR ANY EXPENSES AFTER MAY 12TH.
OUR BOARD ONLY SUBMITS REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS FOR MEMBER APPROVED EXPENSES.
WHY SHOULD THAT NOT CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF OUR TERMS THAT WE WERE ELECTED FOR? AND SPEAKING OF EXPENSES, PLEASE NOTE TWO IMPORTANT CONCERNS BECAUSE THE CITY HAS ESTABLISHED A REIMBURSEMENT ONLY PROCESS FOR APPROVED EXPENSES.
THIS BOARD HAS HAD TO FLOAT FUNDS ON HAND TO COVER ONGOING EXPENSES.
TWO, CITY STAFF ARE NOT PROCESSING REIMBURSEMENTS UPON RECEIPT OF ITEMIZED INVOICES AND PROOF OF PAYMENT, BECAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR FINANCE. THAT WAS A CHANGE MADE LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE.
YOU MAY BE TEMPTED TO SHUSH ME. DOROTHY, YOU'RE NOT DOING YOURSELF ANY FAVORS.
I'VE ADVOCATED FOR PEOPLE I DON'T EVEN LIKE AND WHO DON'T LIKE ME.
I'VE BEEN YELLED AT SOMETIMES FOR AN HOUR OR MORE, USUALLY AT MY HOME, AND MOST RECENTLY AT THE LATEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, IN DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THE PEOPLE THERE.
IT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY IS NOT AN EXCUSE. LET ME BE CLEAR.
I'M GLAD NEW PEOPLE WANT TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE, BUT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE TEMPTED TO LAMENT, NOBODY WANTS TO GET INVOLVED ANYMORE.
[01:40:04]
CONSIDER THE SITUATION I JUST DESCRIBED. FEW PEOPLE WANT TO GET INVOLVED TO RUBBER STAMP THE AGENDAS OF CITY STAFF OR COUNCIL MEMBERS.NO GOOD DEED. THANK YOU. DOROTHY. NEXT, GLORIA ZELNICK.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JACKSON EDENS.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL, I'M JASON EDENS WITH EDENS SUCCESS SOLUTIONS.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT EDUCATION AI.
AND I AS WE KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO REALLY AFFECT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE AI IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE ESTABLISHED AND AFFECT MORE AND MORE CURRICULUMS WITHIN EDUCATION.
AND I WANT TO BEGIN THAT CONVERSATION HERE TODAY.
SO WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO DEVELOP YOUNG MINDS AS IT'S TAKEN AWAY CRITICAL THINKING, TAKING AWAY THOSE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS AND ALSO TAKING AWAY ALL THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO PUT IN, ESPECIALLY IN PAPERS AND THINGS ESPECIALLY LIKE THAT.
IT WILL GREATLY AFFECT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I FEEL LIKE THERE DOES NEED TO BE A REALLY REEVALUATION OF THE CURRICULUM USING AI AND REQUIRING WORK TO USE EXAMPLES, FOR EXAMPLE, AND MANY OTHER CHANGES THAT COULD BE PUT INTO EFFECT THAT COULD REALLY HELP TO REDEVELOP THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND USE THESE TOOLS THAT ARE NOT GOING AWAY. AND WE NEED TO ACTUALLY ADAPT WITH I BELIEVE.
BUT CEDAR RAPIDS EDUCATION SYSTEM CANNOT DO IT ALONE.
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, JACKSON. NEXT. PASTOR DOYLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM POE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL WHO PRECEDED ME WAS A SETUP. WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? SO THIS SPRING, AS A 23 YEAR OLD RECENT GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. HE APPROACHED ME IN IOWA CITY AND SAID, OH, YOU LOOK IMPORTANT.
SO I FIGURED, HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO START THE PROCESS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO PASS THE TORCH, BECAUSE AT 55 NOW, I USED TO BE HIM. SO DURING THIS MEETING, I BEGAN TO MISS CAROL MARTIN.
IF YOU GET IT, THEN PERFECT IF YOU DON'T. BECAUSE MRS. MARTIN AND I USED TO SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND SHE USED TO GUIDE ME AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS.
BUT WITH DUE RESPECT TO TIME, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WAS MR. EDENS FIRST OF MANY, BECAUSE I DON'T GET A AI.
AND SO I'M WISHING HIM WELL, BUT PUSHING HIM INTO COLD WATER.
SO PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, I GAVE MAYOR PRO TEM POE THE OBITUARY OF CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER ARIANNA PRESTON, WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN 28 THIS PAST SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH.
THIS JUNE 7TH, I WAS AT THE CORNER OF THE START OF THE FARMER'S MARKET FROM THE LIBRARY, HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE BOARD, THE DIRECTORS FOR THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND HELPING HIM UNDERSTAND WITH MR. EDENS BY MY SIDE THAT LITERACY NOW MORE THAN EVER, IS ESSENTIAL.
THINK ABOUT IT. IF I'M TAUGHT THAT NOBODY OWES ME ANYTHING AND I GO INSIDE OF A LIBRARY AND WORK MY LIFE, WHETHER I'M 15 OR 55, THEN SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, YOU'LL HAVE LESS PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE.
LIVING OUTSIDE? DO YOU HAVE A DOLLAR? DO YOU HAVE $5? DO YOU HAVE $10? CAN YOU PAY MY RENT? SO I ONLY JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE.
[01:45:01]
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S PAST JUNE 7TH I WAS THINKING ABOUT OFFICER PRESTON A LOT.WHO WAS MURDERED IN HER UNIFORM AFTER EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME.
SO AS I WRAP, I JUST WANT TO REMIND US THAT THERE'S A WORLD CLASS LIBRARY.
IT'S A WORLD CLASS LIBRARY THAT DOESN'T RESTRICT ACCESS, WHERE INDIVIDUALS RIGHT NOW IN THEIR LIVES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ISSUES. WHEN I SAY THEIR ISSUES, THEY HAVE TO PERSONALIZE THEIR ISSUES.
IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANYONE IN THIS ROOM TO ASSIST AN ADULT.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE CHILDREN LIVING IN CEDAR RAPIDS BEYOND THEIR EMOTIONAL MEANS, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THEY DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN INTO CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MANY OF US SCRATCH OUR HEAD AND WONDER WHEN WE GO TO HY-VEE, WHEN WE GO TO WALMART, AND WE WONDER HOW, JUST REMEMBER, THEY DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN.
SO I'M HOPING IN THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR THAT THERE IS A FORM, A STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN YOU ALL IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHY? BECAUSE THE NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS THAT I LEFT FOR CHIEF DOSTAL LET YOU KNOW. WELL, DEFINITELY. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW. IT'S FRONT PAGE OF THE PAST SUNDAY SUN-TIMES, WHERE CHILDREN HOLD TAXPAYING ADULTS HOSTAGE. IT'S SELF-EXPLANATORY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT GO ONLINE BECAUSE, AGAIN, I DON'T, DO AI.
I'M NOT THERE YET. SO I HAVE TO BE EDUCATED. I'M WILLING TO BE EDUCATED.
SO YOU CANNOT FIX MAYA ANGELOU. YOU CANNOT FIX WHAT YOU WILL NOT FACE.
THAT ELEMENT IS HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS. IT'S HERE.
I STOOD IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY AND SAW IT FOR MYSELF.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO FIX IT. ALL GOD'S BEST.
THANK YOU, PASTOR. NEXT, RACHEL MANDERS.
HI. MY NAME IS RACHEL MANDERS, 1701 HOOVER TRAIL COURT, SOUTHWEST.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. MY COMMENT IS IN RESPONSE TO NEGATIVE COMMENTS MADE PREVIOUSLY ABOUT FLYING THE PRIDE FLAG AT CITY HALL AND OTHER CITY BUILDINGS. AGAIN, MY NAME IS RACHEL. THIS IS MY SON, JACK.
IT TOOK HIM THREE YEARS TO EARN A FOUR YEAR DEGREE, AND HE GRADUATED SUMMA CUM LAUDE.
HE WANTS TO BE A CONSERVATION OFFICER SOMEDAY AT A STATE OR NATIONAL PARK.
HE LOVES PLANTS AND ANIMALS, WHICH IS EVIDENCED BY THE 87 PLANTS AND MULTIPLE FISH TANKS IN MY HOUSE, NOT TO MENTION THE HERMIT CRABS, A TARANTULA, AND AN AXOLOTL.
JACK'S CREATIVE. OUR HOUSE IS FILLED WITH HIS POTTERY.
HE WRITES POETRY AND PHOTOGRAPHS NATURE. HE HAS A HEART FOR PEOPLE TOO.
BEFORE THAT, HE WAS A LIFEGUARD. HE ALSO PROVIDES RESPITE CARE BABYSITTING FOR A FOSTER FAMILY.
HE NO LONGER MATTERS. JACK'S ROAD HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY ONE.
LAST YEAR, WHEN I STOOD ON THE GROUNDS OF CITY HALL AND WATCHED THEM RAISE THE PRIDE FLAG, IT FELT AMAZING TO ME. RAISING THAT FLAG SENT A MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE LIKE MY SON BELONG HERE.
THEY MATTER. FLYING THE PRIDE FLAG IS A SYMBOLIC GESTURE THAT HOLDS REAL SIGNIFICANCE.
A FLAG HURTS NOBODY. BUT FOR LGBTQ RESIDENTS, IT IS A POWERFUL SIGN OF VISIBILITY AND ACCEPTANCE.
[01:50:05]
IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE MESSAGE OF CEDAR RAPIDS.WE JUST DID IT THIS MORNING, AND I BELIEVE THAT, AND I STILL DO.
I HEAR PEOPLE ASK, WHY ISN'T THERE STRAIGHT PRIDE? BUT LET'S FACE IT, BEING STRAIGHT WAS NEVER ILLEGAL.
NO KID WAS EVER KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOME OR SENT TO CONVERSION THERAPY FOR BEING STRAIGHT.
NO ONE WAS EVER THROWN IN JAIL OR KILLED FOR LOVING SOMEBODY OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.
TRANS PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY HAD THEIR RIGHTS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.
WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE GENDER IDENTITY FROM THE IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
I HOPE THIS NEVER CHANGES BECAUSE I'M PROUD OF MY CITY FOR THAT DISTINCTION.
UNTIL THEN, WE'RE GOING TO PRIDE ON. AND I'D LIKE TO END WITH A QUOTE ABOUT ALLYSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A MODEL OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ALLY TO OUR LGBTQ CITIZENS.
HELLO, I'M CAT POWER. I LIVE AT 2030 SUNLAND DRIVE, SOUTHEAST CEDAR RAPIDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR FLYING THE PRIDE FLAG.
PRIDE FLAG OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING. I'M SORRY THAT IT HAS.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT PRIDE MONTH BY WAVING THAT FLAG.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS AS TO WHY THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PRIDE MONTH.
BUT THERE'S A REASON WHY THERE'S NOT A STRAIGHT PRIDE MONTH.
BEING STRAIGHT HAS NEVER BEEN ILLEGAL. NO ONE EVER GOT KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOME FOR BEING STRAIGHT.
STRAIGHT HISTORY IS NOT BEING ERASED FROM OUR LIBRARIES, OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
STRAIGHT HAND-HOLDING IS NOT UNSAFE. SORRY IS NOT SORRY.
I LOST MY SPOT. STRAIGHT HAND-HOLDING IS SAFE.
THERE IS NO STRAIGHT CONVERSION THERAPY. NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN PUT IN JAIL JUST FOR BEING STRAIGHT.
NO ONE PROTESTS, STRAIGHT WEDDINGS, STRAIGHT RIGHTS OR STRAIGHT LIVES.
STRAIGHT PEOPLE ARE NOT ASKED IF BEING STRAIGHT IS A PHRASE AND NO ONE EVER OUTED A STRAIGHT CHILD.
IT IS A SMALL WAY TO DEMONSTRATE SOMETHING THAT IS A BIG DEAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, KAT. GRETCHEN LAWLER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GRETCHEN LOYER.
[01:55:05]
I RESIDE AT 5770 FIRST AVENUE NORTHWEST, AND TODAY I'M SPEAKING TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PRIDE MONTH. THE DECISION TO RAISE THE PRIDE FLAG AT CITY HALL REFLECTS OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. IT'S A VISIBLE SIGN OF SUPPORT, AND IT SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT CEDAR RAPIDS IS A WELCOMING PLACE FOR ALL, INCLUDING OUR LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND A STRANGE THING HAPPENED YESTERDAY TO ME IN MY HOUSEHOLD, MY PRIDE SIGNED MY CR PRIDE SIGN THAT I'VE HAD IN MY FRONT YARD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.WAS NOT THERE WHEN I GOT HOME. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY THAT IT HAS BEEN STOLEN OR TAKEN.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE THAT SOLIDARITY WITH THE WITH THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE ATTACKS ON ESPECIALLY TRANS PEOPLE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THE PERMIT TODAY FOR THE PRIDE FESTIVAL ON JULY 12TH.
THE THEME THIS YEAR FOR PRIDE IS THE FABRIC OF FREEDOM, AND WHICH INVITES THE COMMUNITY TO REFLECT ON UNITY WHILE SERVING AS A GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION TO LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE AND THEIR ALLIES TO CELEBRATE THE VIBRANCY OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN CEDAR RAPIDS AS AN EDUCATOR, PRIDE EXEMPLIFIES THE TAPESTRY OF OUR GREAT COMMUNITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, WHERE EVERYONE CAN LET THEIR TRUE COLORS SHINE.
TO ME, PRIDE IS ABOUT VISIBILITY, ACCEPTANCE, AND THE CELEBRATION OF EVERY PERSON'S AUTHENTIC SELF.
PRIDE MEANS ACKNOWLEDGING AND UPLIFTING HOW EACH PERSON, REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR GENDER EXPRESSION, CONTRIBUTES TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I TEACH IN THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SEE FIRSTHAND HOW VITAL IT IS FOR OUR LGBTQIA+ YOUTH AND STAFF TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE VALUED AND SUPPORTED. WHEN OUR CITY EMBRACES PRIDE, WE SHOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT CEDAR RAPIDS IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE THEMSELVES WITHOUT FEAR, AND WHERE THEIR DREAMS AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOMED.
BY CONTINUING TO HOST THE PRIDE FESTIVAL, CEDAR RAPIDS DEMONSTRATES THAT OUR CITY LEADERS BELIEVE IN BUILDING A COMMUNITY THAT IS WELCOMING TO ALL, NOT JUST A FEW. THIS EVENT IS NOT ONLY A CELEBRATION, BUT ALSO A VITAL AFFIRMATION OF OUR SHARED VALUES OF ACCEPTANCE AND BELONGING.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR STANDING UP WITH THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY.
TOGETHER, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE CEDAR RAPIDS A CITY WHERE EVERY RESIDENT OF THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY FEELS SEEN, SUPPORTED, AND CELEBRATED. THANK YOU. GRETCHEN, EMMA, LIAM.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS EMMA. I LIVE AT 1009 10TH STREET NORTHWEST.
MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM? AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF CEDAR RAPIDS SINCE 1999.
I'M ALSO NONBINARY, BISEXUAL, AND A VOCAL MEMBER OF THE QUEER COMMUNITY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD ON THE TRADITIONAL LANDS OF THE SAC, FOX AND IOWA PEOPLES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECISION TO FLY THE PRIDE FLAG THIS YEAR.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A DIFFICULT DECISION SINCE, UNLIKE LAST YEAR, THE CITY DID WAIT UNTIL SEVERAL DAYS INTO PRIDE MONTH TO OFFICIALLY RAISE THE FLAG. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RESPOND TO THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
IF THAT IS TRUE, THEN WHY WOULD THERE BE AN ISSUE IN PROVING IT BY SHOWING US THAT WE BELONG IN CEDAR RAPIDS? WE ARE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR, BUT THE STATE OF IOWA HAS GONE OUT OF ITS WAY TO MAKE ITSELF INHOSPITABLE TO THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE TRANSGENDER IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.
CEDAR RAPIDS HAS THE CHANCE TO PROVE THAT IT IS A SAFE OASIS IN THIS DESERT OF HATE.
MANY OF YOU, THE AUDIENCE AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMMENTS, HAVE STOOD HERE AND COMPLAINED THAT PRIDE MONTH AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY ARE GETTING PREFERENTIAL OR PERSONAL TREATMENT.
[02:00:07]
1111 SPECIAL OCCASIONS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, LGBTQ PLUS PRIDE MONTH, JUNETEENTH HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH.
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND NATIONAL VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES MONTH.
ALL 11 OF THESE OCCASIONS DESERVE TO BE MARKED WITH RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION.
IN CLOSING, I CHALLENGE ANYONE WHO HAS STOOD HERE TO COME AND JOIN US ON JULY 12TH IN NEWBO.
PLEASE LEAVE YOUR BANNERS, YOUR MEGAPHONES, AND YOUR PAMPHLETS AT HOME.
COME WITH AN OPEN MIND AND A WILLING HEART. WE WILL WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS. PRIDE IS NOT ABOUT FLAUNTING OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE. WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE.
PLEASE STAND BESIDE US AND NOT AGAINST US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. EMMA. LARRY. LARRY. OKAY. I DON'T SEE HER. ALL RIGHT, THAT CLOSES OUT OUR PUBLIC HEARING FOR TODAY.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD ASK ACTING CITY MANAGER DESHPANDE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMUNICATION FOR US TODAY? NO COMMUNICATION, YOUR HONOR.
THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO END. NO SEEING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
AND THE MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE ADJOURNED. I GIVE THOSE TO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.