Jul 22, 2025 City Council

>> I DIDN'T EVEN SEE YELLOW.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING? THANK YOU.

>> GREETINGS. I AM PASTOR JOSHUA MILA.

I'M PASTOR OF FAITH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE IOWA MISSIONARY AND EDUCATIONAL BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION, AND ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE NAACP AND A PROUD RESIDENT OF CEDAR RAPIDS AT 3503 E AVENUE, NORTHWEST.

I LIVE HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, AND I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSAL OF THE REPEAL OF CHAPTER 74 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD OF COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE CLERGY AND FAITH BASED GROUPS ACROSS CEDAR RAPIDS, AND I'M HERE TO URGE THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO FULLY REPEAL CHAPTER 74 IN ORDER TO FULLY COMPLY WITH SF 311.

THE CITY CAN AMEND CHAPTER 74 TO REMOVE THE POWER AND DUTIES RELATED TO CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD OF CONDUCT OF POLICE ACTIONS, BUT IN 2020, MY CHURCH AND OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS ACROSS OUR STATE MARCHED ALONGSIDE TO PUSH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO ESTABLISH AN ENTITY THAT CAN HELP DISSIPATE IN TREATMENT OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

OUR CITY CREATED OUR CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD, AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL TESTAMENT OF OUR DEDICATION OF JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND SAFETY OF POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALIKE.

I WOULD URGE YOU TO NOT GO BACK AND DO WHAT WAS, BUT AMEND CHAPTER 74 TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW, BUT DO NOT FULLY REPEAL IT.

I HEARD OUR WONDERFUL CHAPLAIN TELL US THAT IT WAS NICE IN HERE BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE AC, AND WE DO.

BUT I URGE YOU FAMILY TO ACT LIKE NOT NECESSARILY THERMOSTATS, BUT THERMOMETERS.

YOU CAN TELL THE TEMP, BUT WE NEED SOMEBODY TO CHANGE IT.

WE COME TO THIS PLACE NOW WHERE WE'RE ASKING YOU, YES, MAKE THE DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS NECESSARY, BUT UNDERSTAND YOU CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO HELP AND SHIFT THIS TRAJECTORY OF THIS WHOLE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, KATE HOGUE, CEDAR RAPIDS.

I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN, A CHRISTIAN, AND A NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER TO ASK YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSAL TO REPEAL CHAPTER 74 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD FOR COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

FIRST, I DEEPLY DISAGREE WITH SENATE FILE 311, WHICH IS INSTIGATING THIS CHANGE.

I APPRECIATE THAT OUR AREA LEGISLATORS OPPOSED THIS OVERREACH.

I SUPPORT THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD'S INDEPENDENT AND INFORMED REVIEW OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS AND ALL THE OTHER WORK THE MEMBERS DO ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY.

[00:20:01]

I DO RECOGNIZE THOUGH THAT THE STATE DID PASS THIS LAW.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT CITY STAFF WOULD SEEK TO COMPLY WITH THE STATUTE AS SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHAT I AM HERE TO ASK THAT YOU DO, COMPLY WITH SF 311, BUT DON'T OVERCOMPLY.

CRB HAS AND SHOULD BE AN INTENTIONAL PART OF A BROAD AGENDA TOWARDS BEST PRACTICES, TRANSPARENCY, AND JUST GOVERNANCE.

IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

IT IS GREAT THAT CITY STAFF AND OUR POLICE STATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND AN EASY PROCESS FOR FILING COMPLAINTS, AND THAT OUR POLICE MAINTAIN ACCREDITATION AS WE HEARD AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST NIGHT.

ALSO HOW WE HAVE REDUCED THE INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE AND VIOLENT CRIMES WITH A COMBINATION OF OUR CRB WORK, OUR STAND UP FOR PEACE WORK, AND OUR BE SMART MOMS DEMAND ACTION WORK ON A VARIETY OF FRONTS.

IT'S HAD A BIG IMPACT.

THEY HAVE LAID OUT A PLAN OF ACTION ON HOW THEY COULD MOVE FORWARD IF CRB WAS REPEALED, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS, BUT THIS WAS DONE FOUR YEARS AGO, AND THIS RELATIVELY NEW BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO IMPLEMENT ITS CHARGE.

OUR POLICE CHIEF HAS PRESENTED AN ADVISORY BOARD OPTION, THAT'S A GOOD INITIATIVE, BUT INADEQUATE TO MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS LOCAL DISPARITIES IN ARRESTS AND CHARGES.

WE SHOULD CONTINUE RESEARCH BY EXTERNAL EXPERTS TO SEE HOW THE CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATES, WHAT THEIR DATA TELLS US, HOW MEMBERS OF OUR MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES FEEL ABOUT THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE, AND FACTORS IN DISPROPORTIONALITY IN OUR ARRESTS.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE AND BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS, NOT LESS.

LET'S ACTUALLY DIG INTO THIS, NOT REMOVE THIS COUNCIL'S OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR OWN OVERSIGHT AND LEAVE THE PUBLIC WITH ONLY A PROMISE THAT, IF YOU TRUST US, WILL KEEP YOU ENGAGED.

IT'S PREMATURE TO REPEAL ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 74.

LET'S NOT THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER.

PLEASE CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 74 THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO FULLY COMPLY WITH SF 311 BY THE AUGUST DATE, BUT KEEP WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT WELCOME IS OUR LANGUAGE.

THANK YOU.

>>> THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS ISAAC DAVIS, 400 FIRST STREET, SOUTHEAST.

I WANTED TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE POSITION THAT THE CITY IS IN AND THEN GO ON TO DESCRIBE THE NUMEROUS LAWFUL BENEFITS THAT THE CRB AS IT FUNCTIONS HAS GIVEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FINISHED BY LOOKING AT WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ORDINANCE, AS IT IS RIGHT NOW HAS PIECES, PARTICULARLY IN THAT SECTION OF 4C THAT SPEAK TO THE CRB REVERSING DECISIONS OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO MISCONDUCT, THAT SPEAK TO FEEDBACK ON DISCIPLINARY ACTION GIVEN.

I CAN SAY AS SOMEONE WHO HAS ATTENDED MORE CRB MEETINGS THAN SOME OF THE CURRENT CRB MEMBERS, THE CRB HAS NOT ACTED ON ANY OF THOSE PROVISIONS, AND THOSE PROVISIONS COULD VERY WELL BE TAILORED REPEALED WHILE LEAVING THE REST OF THE CURRENT FUNCTION INTACT, I CONCUR WITH THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN SO FAR THAT AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 74 IN WITH THE INTENTION TO BRING THAT CHAPTER INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE SENATE FILE WOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A CONTRAVENTION OF THE SENATE FILE.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY DECIDING TO REPEAL CHAPTER 74 IN ITS ENTIRETY, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A REASON TO DO SO THAT RATHER THAN TO TAKE WHAT WE HAVE AND LOP OFF

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THE NOW UNLAWFUL PART AND END UP WITH SOMETHING THAT NOBODY SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED, IT MAY BE BETTER TO START FROM SCRATCH AND BUILD SOMETHING INTENTIONAL THAT IS LAWFUL UNDER THE CURRENT IOWA LAWS.

HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT COMMUNICATED.

THE COMMUNICATION THAT WE GOT AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS THAT TO AMEND CHAPTER 74 WOULD BE TO APPEAR IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE SENATE FILE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT TRACKS.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO WORK ON OUR COMMUNICATION AND EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHY WE ARE FULLY REPEALING CHAPTER 74 RATHER THAN AMENDING IT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT WE SHOULD BE AMENDING IT.

FOR THE VALUE THAT THE CRB PROVIDES, TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION.

THIS HAS BEEN TALKED TO A LOT, AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE IT ENOUGH.

TO HAVE A CITIZEN BOARD, WHERE THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS WITH POLICE OFFICERS, WHERE THERE ARE POLICE LIAISONS AND POLICE BEING ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE REALITIES OF THEIR JOB, THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING THAT THE CRB MEMBERS HAVE TO TAKE TO BE ON THAT BOARD, 30 HOURS OF CURRICULUM, I BELIEVE, 10 OTHER HOURS AS WELL OF POLICE SPECIFIC TRAINING, HANDS ON TRAINING, USE OF FORCE TRAINING, RIDING ON THE RIDE ALONGS FOR SEVERAL SHIFTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, GET SEEING FIRSTHAND HOW WHAT IT IS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, AND THEN REPORTING ON WHAT THOSE RIDE ALONGS WERE LIKE IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS.

NOT ON THE CONDUCT OF THE POLICE OFFICERS, BUT JUST THIS IS WHAT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE POLICE OFFICER IS.

THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT LEARNING SO MUCH ABOUT THE ROLE.

LEARNING JUST WHAT POLICE OFFICERS ENCOUNTER ON A DAY TO DAY AND SEEING HOW POLICE OFFICERS IN GENERAL RESPOND TO VARIOUS CHALLENGES.

ALL OF THAT REPORTING HAS BEEN USEFUL AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO HEAR IN THE PUBLIC RECORD.

WHEN THE CRIME STATS ANALYST FOR THE CRPD GIVES QUARTERLY REPORTS ON OUR CRIME, AND THE CRB IS ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CRIME STATUS, THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT YOU WOULD NEVER GET JUST FROM A RELEASE OF A PDF OF CRIME STATS.

THERE'S ONE STORY I WANT TO SHARE IS ONE OF THE CRB MEMBERS ASKED WHETHER OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO REVIEW THEIR OWN BODY CAM FOOTAGE AFTER AN ENCOUNTER AND THIS WAS SERGEANT JEN ROBERTS SAID THAT, YES, NOT ONLY ARE THEY ABLE TO, BUT SHE ENCOURAGES OFFICERS THAT SHE'S TRAINING TO LOOK OVER THEIR OWN BODY CAM FOOTAGE, EVEN ON THE TIMES WHEN THE ENCOUNTER WENT WELL, TO ASK THEMSELVES, HOW COULD THIS GO BETTER? HOW COULD I BE MORE COURTEOUS AND MORE PROFESSIONAL? THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE READ IN THE NEWS.

THAT COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CRB HAS ENABLED AND THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO AT EVENTS AND GETTING THE POLICE AND THE CITIZENS TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I RAN OUT OF TIME, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE'VE LOST THOSE THINGS, AND I'M LOOKING AT ALL OF YOU, ALL NINE ALLIES AND CHAMPIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH QUICKNESS, WE RETAIN THOSE BENEFITS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ANNE CARTER.

MANY OF YOU KNOW ME IS ANNE HARRIS CARTER.

I LIVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

I THINK FOR STARTERS, ACTUALLY, I JUST WANT TO FINISH OUT THE LETTER THAT ANTHONY BETTERS STARTED SHARING.

YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IT IN YOUR EMAIL YESTERDAY EVENING AND YOU RECEIVED A HARD COPY TODAY, BUT SO THAT ALL CAN HEAR.

I'M GOING TO START IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND PAGE.

"THE CITY AND ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD ON CRAFTING CHAPTER 74 AND HAVE CONTINUALLY WORKED ON IMPLEMENTING IT.

THE CHAPTER IS WILDLY POPULAR WITH THE CITIZENS OF CEDAR RAPIDS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

BECAUSE IT ALLOWS CITIZENS TO FEEL AS THOUGH COMPLAINTS ARE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND HELPS TO ADDRESS THE FEELING IN THE COMMITTEE, THAT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT POLICE INVESTIGATIONS INTO OFFICER MISCONDUCT ARE DONE IN THE DARK.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS STATED AND DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY POLICING, AND IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN SOME LEVEL OF CITIZEN INPUT AND INVOLVEMENT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO BUILD TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE" SHE CONTINUES "THAT THE IOWA STATE LEGISLATURE CHOSE TO OUTLAW CITIZEN REVIEW OF INDIVIDUAL POLICE MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT THESE ISSUES ARE OF LOCAL CONCERN AND HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN ENTRUSTED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

[00:30:01]

IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ONLY AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE IN THE NARROWEST MANNER REQUIRED BY SENATE FILE 311, BOTH TO SHOW CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY POLICING AND TO MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE LAW.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MY REVIEW AND CONCLUSIONS, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

I BELIEVE THAT CITY COUNCIL AND ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO AMEND CHAPTER 74 AND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE FILE 311 BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE STATUTE, AND I," THAT IS ANN BROWN, "AM HAPPY TO HELP IN ANY WAY, SINCERELY, ANN BROWN LEGAL." I JUST WANT TO ADD A FEW BRIEF REMARKS.

MANY OF YOU KNOW, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE GROUP THAT NEGOTIATED, IF YOU WILL, THAT WRESTLED, IF YOU WILL, THAT MET WEEKLY WITH DIRECTOR PRANT AND DIRECTOR MICHAEL AND OTHERS.

IT WAS HARD WORK AND YOU KNOW THAT.

FRANKLY, IN JANUARY OF 2021, MANY OF YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT TO US AS INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS A GROUP.

COUNCILMEMBER TODD, YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU'VE GOT NINE CHAMPIONS HERE, AND A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE 2000.

BUT WE TAKE THOSE WORDS TO HEART.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

PART OF THE REASON WHY WE WERE PUSHING FOR THIS BACK THEN IS THAT OUR HISTORY HAD TAUGHT US THAT SYSTEMS DESIGNED WITHOUT VOICES OF COLOR ULTIMATELY WILL NOT ADDRESS RACE.

WE DID OUR RESEARCH.

WE HAD THE BENEFIT OF CONSULTING WITH NICOLE AS THE CITY HAS AS WELL AND CONDUCTED RESEARCH TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS WITH THE CITY, AS WELL AS EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND INSTILL PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ASJ'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND CRB SPECIFICATIONS.

AT THE TIME, WE SAID, WE NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE.

WE NEED TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE CREATED ACTUALLY ADDRESS INJUSTICE.

WE CALLED FOR A PLACE AT THE TABLE, WE EARNED A PLACE AT THE TABLE, AND WE WANT TO REMAIN AT THE TABLE, AND WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE MANY PLAYERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND ASJ IS WORKING HARD TO BE GOOD COALITION PARTNERS WITH THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT MATTERS OF JUSTICE HERE.

I WANT TO LEAVE BY SAYING, WE GOT HERE BY WORKING TOGETHER.

WE'VE HAD THE BENEFIT, WHICH NOT EVERYONE KNOWS, PERHAPS, BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY, WE'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF MEETING A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH CITY STAFF, INCLUSIVE OF CRPD, INCLUSIVE OF CHIEF DOSTOL, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS STILL HARD WORK, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE TO HEART THAT THE ANSWER DOES NOT HAVE TO BE TO REPEAL CHAPTER 74 OUTRIGHT.

I KNOW THAT SEEMS CLEANER IN MANY WAYS, AND NOT DOING THAT MIGHT FEEL DIFFICULT, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN RISE TO THAT CHALLENGE, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TODAY.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE ON? LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD, AND I HAVE SIX OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.

THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION.

COUNCIL COMMENTS. COUNCILOR VANORNY.

>> THANKS, MAYOR. 2020 WAS TOUGH FOR A LOT OF REASONS AND CERTAINLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF US WHO WERE SERVING AT THE TIME EXPECTED US TO WITNESS THIS WHAT BECAME A GLOBAL MOMENT WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED, AND WE WERE RECONCILING WITH GENERATIONS OF TRAUMA TO GET US TO THIS POINT AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE WE WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITNESSING THIS THREE MINUTES OF THIS MAN CRYING OUT FOR HIS MOTHER IN AGONY.

>> I THINK WE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AS LEADERS IN THAT MOMENT AND MET PEOPLE AND HAD A VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOME THAN HAPPENED IN OTHER PLACES, NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN IOWA AND IN THE US.

I DIDN'T DO THAT FOR VAIN.

I DIDN'T DO THAT FOR FUN.

I DIDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING TOPICAL OR TRENDY AT THE MOMENT.

I DID THAT BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVED IN HEARING PEOPLE OUT AND SHOWING UP, BECAUSE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE DO IS ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.

[00:35:03]

IT IS OUR LARGEST BUDGET ITEM, COMBINED WITH POLICE AND FIRE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE CONSIDER WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

IT ONLY HAPPENS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY OCCURS WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC TRUST.

I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY, ALL THE COMMENTATORS COMING TO THIS MOMENT, BECAUSE I THINK REALLY WHAT I WAS HEARING PEOPLE SAYING IS THIS LACK OF AGENCY.

THERE'S A VERY REAL LEGAL PARAMETER THAT WE HAVE TO MEET WITH SF 311.

I MOURN FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE BECAUSE I WATCHED MY FRIENDS ROS SMITH AND AKIO ABDUL SAMAD CELEBRATE AND THE WORDS THAT WERE IN THE PAPER THAT TIME WHEN THEY IN 2020 WERE PASSING THEIR LEGISLATION, COMPARABLE AT THE STATE, WAS JUBILATION OF GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE FELT LIKE WE HAD SOMETHING THAT WORKED FOR US, ALL OF US.

THEN, IN 2021, THERE WAS THE BACK THE BLUE BILL.

THERE'S THIS AS A PENDULUM SWING OF WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING? HOW DO WE EARN THAT PUBLIC TRUST? EVEN TOPICALLY RIGHT NOW, THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS NOT TAKING UP AN ISSUE ABOUT REPEALING DEI EFFORTS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HAVE SOME MORE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION ABOUT WHAT THEY MUST DO.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO AND NOT RELINQUISH SOME OF THESE GAINS THAT WE'VE MADE OVER GENERATIONS? I EMPATHIZE WITH THAT.

I HAVE NOT HAD MYSELF ADVERSE OUTCOMES WITH POLICE OFFICERS.

I ALSO CELEBRATE THE ACCREDITATION THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT I ALSO REALLY STRUGGLE WITH THE FACT THAT SF 311 HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE CHARGE THAT POLICE UNIONS PUSHED TO REPEAL THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS AT LEAST A PERCEPTION OF NOT TRUSTING POLICE OFFICERS.

IF WE HAD THIS, THEY WOULD BE IN CONTRAST WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND I VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE THAT THAT WAS EVER THE INTENT, THAT THAT WAS EVER THE OUTCOME.

I THINK THE MORE TRANSPARENT YOU ARE, THE MORE YOU INVITE THAT CONVERSATION, THE BETTER OUTCOMES YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE, AND YOU BUILD THAT TRUST.

I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, WHAT I HEARD THEN, WHAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR, IS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THAT AGENCY.

THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE CHARGED WITH MEETING THIS LEGAL OBLIGATION WITH A TIME CLOCK ON US.

I APPRECIATE THE CHIEF'S OPPORTUNITY REGARDING THE ADVISORY BOARD, BUT I FIND IT TO BE SUFFICIENT.

THE FACT THAT, AGAIN, IF WE'RE ALWAYS CHASING TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TRUST THERE BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE THAT REGARDLESS.

WE COULD HAVE THAT NOW, AND WE COULD HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.

I REALLY THINK THAT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY POLICING, THAT SHOULD ALWAYS BE OUR STANDARD.

WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE INVITING PEOPLE IN, ALL THOUGHT LEADERS AND WELCOMING PEOPLE IN TO SEE WHAT'S BEHIND THE SCENES SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WHEN THE WORST HAPPENS, WE TRUST THE PEOPLE WHO WE HAVE CHARGED TO SHOW UP FOR US IN THE RIGHT WAY.

THAT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO FEEL: THAT SAFETY.

BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BEING OFFERED AS A CONSOLATION PRIZE, AND I DON'T ACCEPT THAT.

I LOOK AT WHAT MY FRIENDS ARE DOING IN BALTIMORE AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING THE MAYOR AND WATCHING WHAT HE INHERITED AND THEN WHAT HE'S DEALT WITH, AND HE HAS MANAGED TO HAVE HISTORIC LOWS THAT HE DID NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF GROWING UP WITH.

IT'S BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY TRANSLATORS AND COMMUNITY INTERPRETERS WHO ARE DOING THAT.

THEY'RE GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND EXPLAINING WHY THIS PERSON DOES NOT FEEL SAFE COMING TO US WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REACH OUT TO THEM.

I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN HAPPEN, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO RELINQUISH EVERYTHING, EVEN IF THEY'RE COULD BE A FUTURE ATTEMPT TO FURTHER REDUCE AND RESTRICT OUR HOME RULE OPPORTUNITIES AND OUR ABILITY TO SHOW UP FOR COMMUNITY LIKE WE KNEW SO HANDILY AND DID IN 2020.

I DO NOT SUPPORT OUR PROPOSAL TODAY AND WILL NOT BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT.

>> ANYONE ELSE ON COUNSEL? COUNCILMEMBER MAIER.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE OF MY LIFE LESSONS LEARNED IS THAT WHEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, OFTENTIMES, THE EASY WAY OUT IS NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER.

THAT'S WHAT CITY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TODAY.

I JUST WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BACKGROUND WITH THE GROUP HERE.

THERE WAS A STAFF MEETING ON JUNE 16TH,

[00:40:02]

WHERE THREE OF MY COLLEAGUES ATTENDED.

THE OTHER REMAINING COLLEAGUES ATTENDED A DIFFERENT SESSION.

IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR AN HOUR.

IT WAS A PACKED AGENDA.

THE MEETING STARTED LATE, QUITE LATE.

I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATE.

THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS HOW TO DEAL WITH NEW LAWS THAT WERE COMING OUT OF IOWA, OUT OF THE STATE.

THE CHIEF PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW.

I SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I BELIEVE ALL COUNSEL COLLEAGUES WHO WERE IN THAT ROOM HAD THE SAME RESPONSE WAS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LAW.

WE WILL COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

WE BELIEVE CRB IS WORKING.

WE ASKED, I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR CITY STAFF TO GET BACK TO ME BECAUSE I SHOULD ALSO CLARIFY, THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.

THERE WAS ONE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD, AND THERE WAS A SECOND OPTION, WHICH I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

BUT I SPECIFICALLY ASKED CITY STAFF TO GET BACK TO ME AND SAY, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM THAT WE NEED TO DO TO COMPLY WITH THESE NEW LAWS? I DON'T REMEMBER IF YOU WERE THERE.

I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WAS THERE.

IT WAS AT THAT MEETING THAT AND LEGAL.

NO ONE EVER GOT BACK TO ME.

THAT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNACCEPTABLE.

THE NEXT THING WE'RE HERE ABOUT, WE'RE HERE TODAY.

I AM SO EMBARRASSED, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THE LEGAL ALLOWED YOU TO SAY INTENT WAS CLEAR.

WE DON'T PASS ORDINANCES IN THIS BODY BASED UPON SOMEONE'S PERCEIVED INTENT.

I ASK THE CITY STAFF TO DO WHAT I ORIGINALLY ASKED A MONTH AGO IS TO SAY, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM WE NEED TO DO TO COMPLY WITH THIS LAW? WE'RE NOT MIND READERS.

I'M NOT WILLING TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR LOUSY STATE REPRESENTATIVES WHO CAME UP WITH A LAW THAT WAS CLEAR WHAT IT WAS.

I, TOO, AM STRONGLY VOTING NO TODAY.

I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH CITY STAFF AND CITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW BY AUGUST 16TH, BUT TO DO THE BARE MINIMUM, AS I WOULD EXPECT ANY ORDINANCE THAT THIS GROUP PASSES TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COUNSEL? COUNCILMEMBER TODD.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ISAAC.

I THINK YOU HAD A HOME RUN.

I GOT A CALL FROM HAROLD AND SEVERAL OTHERS IN TERMS OF PROVIDING A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL INSIGHT INTO WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I THINK IT'S NO SECRET WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

IN SEVERAL STATES NATIONWIDE, ESPECIALLY IN REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES.

THERE'S AN EFFORT TO UNDERMINE THE PROGRESS THAT WAS MADE OUT OF THE GEORGE FLOYD INCIDENT.

LESSONS THAT COMMUNITIES LEARNED NATIONWIDE.

IN MY EYES, IT'S A SUBTLE PUSH.

IT'S AN EFFORT TO COZY UP TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, IN PARTICULAR WHEN, IN MY EYES, THESE LEGISLATORS HAVEN'T NECESSARILY BEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT-FRIENDLY.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN ANOTHER CONTEXT.

BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ENERGY THAT WAS PUT INTO THE 2020 CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD.

IT WAS AN EXERCISE AND COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE RECEIVED THE COUNSEL, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE.

WE RECEIVED A LOT OF CRITICISM POINTS IN TIME FOR NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH.

BUT IN RETROSPECT, WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED, I THINK THAT HELPED ENHANCE THE EFFORT.

THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THAT EQUATION THAT WAS MISSING.

THE FORMER CHIEF, I HAVE TO GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR IT.

IT WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS YOU HAD LAW ENFORCEMENT ON BOARD.

IT WAS SOME OF US AND THAT CHIEF WHO HELD

[00:45:02]

HANDS AND TOOK THE EXTRA TIME TO GO AND GET THE DEPARTMENT ON BOARD, SO THAT THEY DID NOT PUSH BACK.

WHAT HAPPENED STATEWIDE IS THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS DIDN'T DO THAT, AND THEY PUSHED BACK, AND SO IT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN A SENATE FILE.

IN TERMS OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED, I THINK JUST BY READING THE TEA LEAVES HERE A LITTLE BIT, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO COME BACK AND HAVE LEGAL EXPLAIN SPECIFICALLY THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT GOING THROUGH THIS AND THE THINGS THAT WE CAN PULL AND NOT PULL.

KEEPING IN MIND, THERE ARE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS.

I ASSUME THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT WILL PROBABLY BE THE FIRST BILL VOTED ON WHEN THE LEGISLATURE GETS BACK IN SESSION.

IN THAT CASE, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE FORM A COALITION OF THOSE LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO SAW THE BENEFIT AND THERE IS A BENEFIT.

I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT ALL MY COUNSEL COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THAT EFFORT FROM DAY ONE.

I'M PROUD OF HOW WE'VE HANDLED THAT.

THAT BEING SAID, IF ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY HAS A COMPLAINT OR BELIEVES THAT THERE IS AN INJUSTICE, YOU STILL HAVE THE OPTION OF GOING TO THE CITY MANAGER, THE MAYOR, THE CHIEF, OR ANY OF US.

WE WILL NOT TOLERATE POLICE OFFICERS WHO FEEL THAT DON'T RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS.

THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO END WITH ONE FINAL COMMENT.

I RESIST THE EFFORTS, AND THEY MAY BE SUBTLE OR THEY MAY NOT BE.

BUT WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO COMPARE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY TO OTHERS, I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE UNIQUE IN A LOT OF ASPECTS, AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT CARES, WE HAVE STAFF, THE CARE, AND IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, WE WILL CERTAINLY DO IT IN CONCERT WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE CAN DO THINGS FAST AROUND HERE.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I THINK WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL IN MIND.

THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT UNLESS THE VOTES ARE TO PASS THIS, WE SEND IT BACK TO LEGAL AND TO JENNIFER TO MAKE SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT TIMELINE ALLOWS US TO GET SOMETHING DONE BY THEN.

MAYBE WE NEED A SPECIAL MEETING.

MAYBE WE DO. I DON'T KNOW.

>> COUNCIL MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DALE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE ASK AND ASKED TO SAY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AT A MINIMUM LEVEL? TO FLY WITH THIS LAW, KNOWING THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, THINGS MIGHT BE CLARIFIED.

WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT IF THAT HAPPENS.

>> THAT'S FAIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COUNSEL WILSON.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I GUESS MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME REVIEW BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

VANESSA, WOULD YOU WEIGH IN?

>> YES. MY OFFICE HAS DONE A PRETTY EXTENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE ORDINANCE.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE ORDINANCE, AS IT EXISTS, HAS NEEDED WORK SINCE I STARTED.

THE REVISIONS THAT WE WOULD BE BRINGING TO YOU WOULDN'T JUST BE BRINGING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, BUT THERE ARE SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD WOULD LIKELY CHANGE TO REFLECT WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE WITH THIS NEW REVISED GROUP; THERE ARE THINGS THAT EXIST IN IT THAT DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

WE'VE GOT, FOR EXAMPLE, POLICE LIAISONS THAT DON'T HAVE A ROLE; IT'S PRESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE, AND THEY SHOW UP, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FUNCTION THERE.

THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING ONGOING BASIS AS TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN THE ORDINANCE.

THOSE WERE ALL PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE SENATE FILE 311 WAS IN THE WORKS, AND WE KNEW IT WAS COMING DOWN.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JUST DOING THE BARE MINIMUM TO BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BRING JUST THOSE PIECES IN TO GIVE IT EFFECT.

[00:50:02]

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BAR BENCHMARK THAT IS REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS ORDINANCE ACTUALLY WORK WITH WHAT THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD IS ACTUALLY DOING.

WHILE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.

WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT CREATING A NEW STRUCTURE IN A VERY TRUNCATED PERIOD.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD RECOMMEND; WE ABSOLUTELY COULD DO IT, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING THE REBOUND OF THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE, JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN.

>> I'M AS YOUR RECOMMENDATION, THEN IT IS TO COMPLY WITH THIS STATE LAW IS TO REPEAL.

>> MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WHATEVER THIS COUNCIL ULTIMATELY WANTS TO DO, THE CLEANEST APPROACH IS GOING TO BE TO REPEAL IT AND REPLACE IT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THIS ORDINANCE, WHEN IT WAS CREATED, YOU CAN TELL IT WAS PULLED FROM A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ONES.

THERE WAS NOTHING CLEAN ABOUT IT, AND SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS FOR US AS STAFF TO TRY TO KEEP THAT BOARD IN LINE WITH WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDINANCE ARE.

YES, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE REPEAL AND REPLACE.

>> COUNCILOR MAYER.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE TO SAY I CRINGE WHEN I HEAR REPEAL AND REPLACE BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW WELL THAT DID.

BUT WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS, LET'S NOT OVERCOMPLICATE THIS.

MAYBE THE ORDINANCE THAT THIS BODY PASSED ISN'T PERFECT.

LET'S TABLE THAT FOR NOW.

LET'S JUST FOCUS ON COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN PLACE BY AUGUST 16TH. THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE AMENDED THE ORDINANCE BEFORE, AND LIFE GOES ON.

THAT'S DOABLE.

I'D BE CURIOUS TO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES THINK.

>> WE HEARD FROM AT LEAST ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS TODAY, THE INTENTION IS TO CREATE A NEW ORDINANCE AND TO MAKE A CLEAN ONE.

I THINK FROM WHAT I HEAR TODAY, IS WE ALL AGREE WAY MORE THAN WE DISAGREE ON WHAT WAS THERE.

I EVEN REMEMBER THIS WAS ONE OF THE RARE VOTES AGAINST TO THIS CITY, REGISTERED AGAINST GETTING RID OF THIS AT THE LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD REALLY IS THE WORDS I USED TO BEST PRACTICE.

AGAIN, I THINK WE AGREE WAY MORE ON WHAT WE DISAGREE.

I'M ALWAYS DISAPPOINTED WHEN I FEEL THAT PEOPLE ARE ASSUMING ILL INTENT OF THIS COUNCIL, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY NOT THE CASE.

I DO CONSIDER US ALL ALLIES, AND I THINK YOU'RE HEARING THAT.

WE WANT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO WORK, THAT'S GOING TO LAST, THAT'S GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE, THAT'S GOING TO BE CURRENT.

I GUESS THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME ELEMENT OF TRUST FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

BUT I'VE OFTEN SAID, IF WE NEED ACRONYMS OR TITLES TO ENSURE THAT WE DO THE RIGHT THING, WE GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE ABILITY OF THIS COUNCIL AND STAFF TO COME UP WITH A CLEAN ORDINANCE THAT REPRESENTS WHAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.

BUT THE ONE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS FAIRLY CONVOLUTED.

TO FOLLOW UP ON COUNCILMAN MAIER'S PRETTY HARSH ACCUSATIONS FOR CITY STAFF.

I JUST WANT TO ASSURE YOU, I WILL ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW UP ON THAT, COUNCILMAN MAIER.

OF COURSE, I'M A LITTLE TENACIOUS.

IF SOMEONE DOESN'T RESPOND TO ME, I MAKE SURE THAT I GET THE ANSWER THAT I NEED.

I WILL ADD THAT.

BUT I THINK THIS STAFF HAS ALWAYS SHOWN ITSELF VERY WILLING TO WORK WITH THIS COUNCIL AND ALIGN WITH THE GOALS, KNOWING THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE PERFECTION, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL REPRESENTS THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

TRANSPARENCY IS ALWAYS PARAMOUNT.

TRUST IS ALWAYS PARAMOUNT.

THAT CAN COEXIST WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT AGAIN IS SUSTAINABLE AND LEGAL.

MY HOPE WAS THAT WE COULD TAKE A VOTE ON THIS AND MOVE AHEAD AND GET OURSELVES A NEW ORDINANCE.

>> ALYSSA, CAN YOU WEIGH IN BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND. I THOUGHT ALREADY.

>> I THOUGHT YOU HAD MADE A MOTION.

>> COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER.

>> WELL, I'M JUST FRUSTRATED BECAUSE HERE WE ARE FIVE YEARS LATER FROM SOME VERY TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WE HAD FIVE YEARS AGO.

[00:55:04]

VERY TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AT THE TABLE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CELEBRATED WITH WHAT WE CAME UP WITH.

THIS HAPPENED IN DES MOINES, SOMETHING WE COULD NOT CONTROL.

WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH IS GOING TO BE LEGAL, WHETHER IT'S BARELY LEGAL OR NOT BARELY LEGAL, WATERED DOWN VERSION OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED FIVE YEARS AGO.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE INTENT OF ANYBODY AND THAT'S NOT MY INTENT, HAS COME OUT WITH THE WATERED DOWN VERSION OF WHAT WE INTEND TO DO FIVE YEARS AGO.

I'M WILLING TO SIT AT THAT HARD TABLE AGAIN AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT MOVES US FORWARD TOGETHER TO CLEAN IT UP, BUT NOT SEND SOMETHING TO DES MOINES AND SAY, DOES THIS WORK? THEN HERE WE ARE A MONTH FROM NOW OR SIX MONTHS FROM NOW SAYING, WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE INTENT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? BECAUSE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT HARDER CONVERSATIONS THAN WHAT WE HAD FIVE YEARS AGO. I GET IT.

THERE'S FRUSTRATION BECAUSE MAYBE SOMEBODY DIDN'T GET BACK TO YOU IN A TIMELY FASHION OR WHATEVER, AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE DO IS LEGAL, WHAT WE SEND TO DES MOINES IS APPROVED.

THE INTENT WITH EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE IS WHY WE'RE HERE.

I'M IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, SITTING AT THE TABLE, HAVING CONVERSATIONS, AND GETTING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE LEGAL AND WHAT WE INTENDED TO FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER POE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

FIVE YEARS AGO, COUNCILMEMBER TODD WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

YOU HAVE NINE CHAMPIONS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE SITTING AT THIS DAIS THAT DOESN'T CARE, THAT DOESN'T WANT TRANSPARENCY, THAT DOESN'T WANT OPEN COMMUNICATION, AND WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. I KNOW I DO.

AS COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY SAID, THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR MONEY GOES.

IF YOU'VE TRUSTED US ONCE TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO, I BEG YOU, PLEASE TRUST US AGAIN.

WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK, AND WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER, JUST LIKE WE DID IN 2020.

WE WERE ALL TOGETHER.

WE WORKED TOGETHER, WE LISTENED TO EACH OTHER.

WE LOOKED EACH OTHER IN THE EYE, AND WE BELIEVED AS A COMMUNITY.

IT WAS ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS.

WE BELIEVED AS A COMMUNITY, WE COULD DO THIS, AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE WITH THE INTENTION OF 2020, THAT WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.

AGAIN, DO WE LIKE BEING HERE? NO. WE DON'T.

NOT ONE OF US, BUT HERE WE ARE.

LET'S MAKE IT WORK.

LET'S NOT DISTRUST EACH OTHER.

LET'S GET BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER AGAIN.

LET'S CONTINUE TO LISTEN.

LET'S DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE IT'S LEGAL.

BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, MAKE IT WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE'VE MADE SUCH STRIDES.

WE'VE MADE SUCH PROGRESS.

WE NEED TO KEEP THAT GOING AND WE CAN'T STOP.

LET'S GET TOUGH. LET'S GET IT DONE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER OLSON.

>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THE SECOND TIME.

I THINK THE KEY QUESTION THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US IS NOT, DO WE WANT TO RETAIN AS MANY FUNCTIONS AS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE OR NOT? I THINK WE ALL AGREE ON THAT.

WE ABSOLUTELY DO. ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE AGREED ON THAT.

I DON'T THINK THE QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE THE INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN PLACE TO COME UP WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER? BECAUSE WE HAVE SHOWN THAT.

WE'VE DONE IT VERY RECENTLY.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE? WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BY AUGUST 16TH, I THINK, JENNIFER, YOU SAID THAT DATE IS.

THE FIRST TIME AROUND, IT TOOK A LOT LONGER THAN THREE WEEKS TO GET THE RIGHT THING DONE.

IT TOOK WEEKS OF CONVERSATION.

IT TOOK, I THINK, A COUPLE OF THE SPEAKERS REFERENCED, WORKING WITH OUTSIDE EXPERTS, NICOLE, LOOKING AT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE.

IT'S A LONG PROCESS, AND SO OUR CHOICE IS HERE, DO WE TRY TO AMEND THIS IN THREE WEEKS,

[01:00:03]

OR DO WE GIVE OURSELVES THE TIME TO DO THE PROCESS? WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE CORRECT WAY TO TAKE MORE THAN THREE WEEKS, RE-ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE EXPERTS AND PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT IS LEGAL, THAT IS THOUGHTFUL AND WORKS.

I THINK THE OUTCOME WILL ACTUALLY BE BETTER IF WE TAKE LONGER THAN THREE WEEKS.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE VOTE REALLY COMES DOWN TO TODAY.

NOT ABOUT WHAT WE WANT THE FINAL OUTCOME TO BE, BUT HOW EFFECTIVE WILL IT BE, WHAT THE PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE, AND WILL WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT WILL GET THAT BUY-IN THAT WE HAD WITH THE FIRST ONE? I'M GOING TO VOTE YES TODAY TO GIVE US THAT TIME TO HAVE THAT PROCESS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS FROM EVERYBODY HERE TODAY, IF YOU HAD ASKED ME THREE MONTHS AGO OR FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AGO, I WOULDN'T GUESS THAT WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AGAIN, BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS BACK IN 2020, 2021, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE ENDED UP WITH WAS OUTSTANDING.

WE CREATED A MODEL FOR THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD BY ENGAGING SOME OUTSIDE HELP.

WE'D NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.

THERE WAS VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE OF IT BEING DONE IN THE STATE OF IOWA HERE AND THERE, AND WE CREATED SOMETHING THAT WAS SPECIAL, THAT AS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, HAS WORKED EXTREMELY WELL BY ALL INDICATIONS.

I THINK THE FACT THAT SENATE FILE 311 OCCURRED TOWARDS THE END OF THE SESSION, IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TAKING AWAY LOCAL CONTROL.

WE DID A HELL OF A GOOD JOB GETTING THIS THING SET UP FIVE YEARS AGO BETWEEN THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT, PROBABLY TO THE REPRESENTATIVES POINT, DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT VERY WELL, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT EITHER.

I THINK THAT'S VERY EVIDENT IN NOT ONLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS.

UNFORTUNATELY, CITIES AROUND THE STATE OF IOWA ARE STUCK RESPONDING AND REACTING TO THESE THINGS CONTINUOUSLY.

I THINK ALL OF US WOULD SAY EVERY YEAR, WE HOLD OUR BREATH WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STANDS.

I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL LONG ENOUGH TO THINK, WE WOULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, WHAT DO WE WANT OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR? WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

NOW WHAT WE DO IS, WHAT CAN WE SAVE AND KEEP? BECAUSE IT'S TURNED AROUND COMPLETELY.

I THINK THE MAJORITY OF US ON HERE OTHER THAN COUNCILMAN MAIER, WERE HERE IN THE 2021 PERIOD OF TIME. WE DID IT ONCE.

I THINK WE NEED TO REDO IT GOING FORWARD, BUT NOT DO IT IN A RUSHED FASHION.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY EVIDENT THAT THE COMMITMENT OF ALL OF US IS, IS TO CREATE A NEW ORDINANCE THAT WORKS FOR ALL, AND I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE ADEQUATE TIME, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, BUT A MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS, I THINK WE CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCEPT.

AT THE SAME TIME, AS I THINK COUNCILMAN TODD SAID, WE CAN AMEND IT DOWN THE ROAD.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO STAY THE SAME.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS, AND THAT'S WHERE I AM.

I'LL SUPPORT THE REPEAL, BUT ALSO VERY EXPEDITIOUSLY, THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO THE RIGHT THING RELATIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN OLSON.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS, OUT OF ADVERSITY THIS CITY HAS FACED COMES OPPORTUNITY, AND WHAT WE'VE PROVEN AS A CITY IS THAT WE CAN CREATE SOMETHING THAT SERVES AS A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

UNFORTUNATELY, CRAZY THINGS HAPPEN, SENATE FILE 311 IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO BUILD AN ORDINANCE THAT HELPS US DO OUR THING, AND THE STATE STAYS OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WE DO, AND WE'RE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CITY THAN THE REST OF THE STATE.

WE FOUND THAT OUT. I DON'T CARE ALL THE DIFFERENT LAWS.

WE NEED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR CEDAR RAPIDS AND CREATE AN ORDINANCE THAT'S RIGHT FOR US BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE GROUPS HERE THAT THEY ALL SPOKE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT MEETS THE LAW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.

AGAIN, THIS IS AN AWKWARD POSITION THAT WE'RE IN.

IT'S A NO WIN POSITION IN THE SENSE OF WE SUPPORTED WHAT WE DID, AND WE STILL SUPPORT OUR ORDINANCE NUMBER 74.

WE HAVE NO CHOICE. THE COMMITMENT,

[01:05:01]

I THINK, HAS BEEN SAID.

OUR COMMITMENT IS TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER ADJUSTING TO THIS LAW AND GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION.

I THINK JENNIFER KNOWS, AND VANESSA KNOWS THAT WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

I DON'T LIKE VOTING AGAINST ELIMINATING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND I THINK I'D RATHER TURN IT AROUND INTO AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE, WE NEED TO GET THE STATE OFF OUR BACK AND MOVE ON AND DO SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR CEDAR RAPIDS, AND I KNOW WE CAN GET THAT DONE.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND I THINK IT WAS WELL EXPRESSED.

>> COUNCILMEMBER POE.

>> I'M SORRY, MAYOR TO ASK, BUT I NEED A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

I'M LOOKING AT VANESSA AND JENNIFER, AND YOU'RE HEARING COUNSEL SAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AN EXPEDITED TIMELINE, MAYBE TO GIVE PEOPLE SOME REASSURANCE, SOME OF OUR CHAMPIONS THAT WE WANT TO GET INVOLVED AGAIN.

MAYBE YOU COULD LAY OUT WHAT YOU THINK MIGHT WORK FOR US GETTING TOGETHER AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS, JENNIFER?

>> I WOULD SAY, WE HAVE A DRAFT CALENDAR ON THE OUTREACH TO THE FOCUS GROUPS AS WELL AS DOING INTERVIEWS WITH THE CURRENT CRB MEMBERS TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK.

WE HAVE THOSE, AND SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING GETTING ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER SO THAT WE WOULD BRING SOMETHING BACK TO COUNCIL RIGHT AFTER THAT, END OF SEPTEMBER, EARLY OCTOBER IS WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR.

BUT AGAIN, WE WILL NOT BE DOING THIS IN A VACUUM, AND WE DO FEEL LIKE TAKING THE TIME TO GET THAT COMMUNITY INPUT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL FOR US BEFORE, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THOSE COUPLE OF MONTHS TO DO THAT AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU. WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT REPEALING ONE OF OUR ORDINANCES, ESPECIALLY SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS WITHOUT THANKING THOSE PEOPLE, I'M LOOKING AT MONICA AND ANN, WHO HAVE SERVED ON THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD.

YOU'VE DONE YEOMAN'S WORK.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

I KNOW I DO, AND WE'RE ASKING THAT ONCE AGAIN, WE WORK TOGETHER AND YOU LOOK AT US AND TRUST US LIKE WE TRUST YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND LET'S GET IT DONE.

>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE ON IT'S FIRST, OH, CITY MANAGER POMERANZ.

>> THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MY COMMITMENT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE RESOURCES THAN BOTH EXCELLENT AS THEY ARE, AND SO WE CERTAINLY HAVE THAT COMMITMENT.

I THINK IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE POLICE CHIEF PARTICIPATE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL BECAUSE OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE ADDING, AND I'M ALSO CERTAINLY MAKING MYSELF AVAILABLE TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT AS THE COUNCIL WELL SAID THAT WE'LL HAVE A BETTER ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN THE TIME TO DO THE NECESSARY WORK, PARTICULARLY THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND DISCUSSION.

>> I'LL JUST SAY IT AGAIN, PEOPLE DON'T GET US.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT CEDAR RAPIDS, THEY DON'T GET US.

I JUST THINK WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

I THINK WE COMMUNICATE BETTER.

I THINK WE'RE NEIGHBORS WITH PEOPLE.

WE'LL DO THIS TOGETHER AGAIN.

WE GOT TO GET WORKING ON IT.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE ON A FIRST READING.

>> SO MOVE. COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> SECOND FROM POE. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST DO A VOTE, COUNCILMEMBER OLSON, AYE.

COUNCILMEMBER TODD, AYE.

>> NO.

>> I'M AN AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT, THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> NO.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU TO OUR SPEAKERS TODAY.

ITEM NUMBER 2 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING THE EAST LAWRENCE DRIVE,

[2. A public hearing will be held to consider establishing the East Lawrence Drive SW and West Lawrence Drive SW Water Extension District and related water extension charge (Dave Wallace). CIP/DID #2025076-01 a. First Reading: Ordinance establishing the East Lawrence Drive SW and West Lawrence Drive SW Water Extension District and related water extension charge.]

SOUTHWEST AND WEST LAWRENCE DRIVE, SOUTHWEST WATER EXTENSION DISTRICT AND RELATED WATER EXTENSION CHARGE.

DAVE WALLACE IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT.

MR. WALLACE, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL.

THIS PROJECT AND PROPOSED WATER SERVICE DISTRICT IS LOCATED SOUTH OF RIGHT BROTHERS BOULEVARD BETWEEN THE AIRPORT AND INTERSTATE 380 IN A SMALL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS LAWRENCE'S 1ST.

MOST OF THE PROPERTIES ARE SERVED BY PRIVATE WELLS WITH EIGHT PROPERTIES BEING SERVED BY A COMMUNITY WELL.

[01:10:02]

THIS WELL IS FAILING, AND THEY HAVE BEEN RESTRICTING THEIR WATER USE.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD REACHED OUT TO US REQUESTING CITY WATER, WHICH IS NEARBY, AND WE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING A PROJECT TO EXTEND WATER TO THEM.

WE HAVE MET WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON-SITE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO DISCUSS OPTIONS WITH THEM.

BASED ON THEIR FEEDBACK, WE ARE NOW PROPOSING TO ESTABLISH A WATER MAIN EXTENSION DISTRICT TO RECOVER SOME OF THE COSTS FOR A WATER MAIN EXTENSION.

THE WATER EXTENSION DISTRICT WOULD INCLUDE 10 PROPERTIES, EIGHT OF WHICH ARE ON THE SHARED COMMUNITY WELL, AND TWO THAT HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE WELLS.

THE REMAINING THREE PROPERTIES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE ACCESS TO OR ARE ALREADY CONNECTED TO A CITY WATER MAIN ALONG WRIGHT BROTHERS COURT SOUTHWEST AND ARE EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXTENSION DISTRICT.

THE PROPOSED EXTENSION SERVICE EXTENSION CHARGE IS $4,750 AND IS BASED ON A COST SHARE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE 10 PROPERTIES.

SIX OF THE EIGHT PROPERTIES IN THE COMMUNITY WELL HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO A CONNECTION TO THE SYSTEM, AND A NEW WATER MAIN WILL BE EXTENDED ALONG EAST LAWRENCE DRIVE AND WILL BE DONE BY CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION CREWS.

THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT IS RECOMMENDING THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A WATER MAIN EXTENSION DISTRICT AND WATER MAIN EXTENSION CHARGE.

TODAY IS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE, AND THE SECOND AND POTENTIAL THIRD READING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 12. THANK YOU.

>> IT IS TIME TO PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS ITEM NUMBER 2? LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY.

>> JUST QUICKLY, I WANT TO GIVE MY THANKS TO OUR WATER DEPARTMENT.

IT'S NOT EASY IF YOU ARE NOT PREVIOUSLY CONNECTED AND YOU HAVE YOUR OWN SERVICES TO THEN OPT INTO A SERVICE, BUT YOU ALL HAVE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB AND OFFER SUCH A GREAT PRODUCT IN A CONVERSATION WHERE THAT IS NOT GUARANTEED IN IOWA PRESENTLY, AND IT IS REALLY AN ADDESTATION TO THE GREAT PRODUCT THAT YOU'RE DELIVERING THAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO GET ON OUR SERVICES.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT EFFORT.

>> ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NOTHING FURTHER.

THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN TODD.

>> THOSE OPPOSED SAY, NO, AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT

[3. A public hearing will be held to consider a change of zone for property at 1310 11th Street NW from T-R1, Traditional Residential Single Unit District, to P-IN, Public – Institutional District, as requested by the Cedar Rapids Community School District (Seth Gunnerson). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-000214-2025 a. First Reading: Ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 1310 11th Street NW from T-R1, Traditional Residential Single Unit District, to P-IN, Public – Institutional District, as requested by the Cedar Rapids Community School District.]

1310 11TH STREET NORTHWEST FROM TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE UNIT DISTRICT.

I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PAUSE FOR A SECOND UNTIL JUST TAKE A BRIEF RECESS TIL WE CAN CLEAR OUT THE HALLWAY, IS THAT ALL RIGHT? LET'S JUST GIVE EACH OTHER.

CAN WE JUST GIVE A LITTLE 10-MINUTE BREAK? IS THAT RIGHT? [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN RESPECTFULLY LISTEN TO FOLKS WHO ARE HERE ON THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS. MOVING ON. ITEM NUMBER 3.

BACK TO THE CHANGES ZONE FOR 11TH STREET, NORTHWEST FROM TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE UNIT TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT AS REQUESTED BY THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BILL MICHAEL IS HERE. TALKING ABOUT THAT.

I HAD SETH GUNDERSON, BUT BILL IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT TODAY.

BILL, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, BILL MICHAEL, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A REPEAT OF SOME INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW, BUT JUST IN CASE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS HERE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD THIS.

SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN MODERNIZING AND EXPANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY'VE DONE AT LEAST THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SO FAR, WITH THE TARGET TO MAXIMIZE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, ADDRESS SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS, CREATE MORE EFFICIENT AND MODERN EDUCATIONAL SPACES.

WHERE POSSIBLE, KEEPING THE EXISTING SCHOOL OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION IS PREFERRED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ALSO IMPORTANT, REQUIRED BY STATE LEGISLATION IN THE LAST SESSION TO SEPARATE BUS AND PARENT TRAFFIC IN NEW SCHOOL DESIGNS, AND OF COURSE, MUST MEET ALL BUILDING AND FIRE CODES, INCLUDING FIRE ACCESS TO ALL SIDES OF THE BUILDING.

SPECIFIC TO THE HARRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEY'RE REQUESTING A CHANGE OF ZONE FROM TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-UNIT DISTRICT TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL.

5.8 ACRES IN TOTAL, PROPOSED RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING SCHOOL WITH AN ADDITION ON THE WEST SIDE TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY, AND THERE WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING HELD ON MAY 13TH.

ZONING MAP QUICKLY TO DEMONSTRATE THE CURRENT ZONING.

AERIAL VIEW ON THE NORTH SIDE, THERE IS THE NORTHWEST REC CENTER FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES.

[01:15:05]

THE LARGE BUILDING HERE WITH THE GREEN PEN IS THE EXISTING SCHOOL, ROUGH SKETCH OF THE SITE PLAN WITH THE ADDITION ON THE WEST SIDE AND A FEW RENDERINGS OF WHAT THAT COULD POSSIBLY LOOK LIKE.

APPLICABLE REZONING CRITERIA, CONSISTENCY WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND OTHER STUDIES, A REZONING TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL IS PERMITTED IN ANY OF OUR LAND USE TYPOLOGIES, AND THIS REQUEST IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH ADOPTED PLANS.

ALL REQUIRED PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND STAFF HAS NOT FOUND ANY ISSUES WITH THE ABILITY OF THE SITE AND ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT TO HANDLE THE PROPOSAL.

IN TERMS OF CHARACTER, PUBLIC AND INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT DOES REQUIRE THAT NEW STRUCTURES FOLLOW THE SITE AND STRUCTURE STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES, WHICH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, OF COURSE, HAS AGREED TO COMPLY WITH, AND THIS INCLUDES BUILDING MATERIAL STANDARDS, SCREENING REQUIREMENTS, AND LIGHTING STANDARDS.

HERE WE ARE TODAY.

THE ORIGINAL PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING WAS ON JUNE 5TH.

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF BOTH RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST, PUBLIC HEARING TODAY WITH A POSSIBLE SECOND OR THIRD READING ON AUGUST 12, AND I'LL HAND IT BACK TO THE MAYOR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BILL. THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.

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

>> THANK YOU. BILL, THROUGH THIS PLAN.

GO BACK TO THE REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. UNDER CHARACTER.

WILL THEY RETAIN THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE ORIGINAL HARRISON BUILDING?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WILL REMAIN, AND THEN THE ADDITION WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO MATCH THAT CHARACTER TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE.

>> ANY RENOVATIONS TO THE HARRISON SCHOOL WILL BE DONE ON THE INSIDE, RETROFITTING, IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? UPGRADING SOME OF THE CLASSROOMS, PERHAPS OR THE TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE CLASSROOMS, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> I BELIEVE THAT IS ACCURATE.

AGAIN, BARRING ANY NEED TO DO SOME TUCK POINTING OR THERE MAY BE SOME ON THE OUTSIDE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> ANYTHING TO PRESERVE THAT BEAUTIFUL BUILDING IS WHAT WE CARE ABOUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE DISTRICT FOR PRESERVING THE BUILDING.

SOMETIMES IT'S TOUGH FOR INSTITUTIONS TO CHANGE THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE.

BUT IN THIS CASE, I THINK THE ABILITY OF THE DISTRICT TO AMEND THEIR INITIAL PLANS, REALLY HIS SUIT AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY, WELL, I GO BACK TO A POINT IN TIME WHEN COUNCILMEMBER POE, WE WERE CO-CHAIRS OF THE NORTHWEST REC CENTER COMMITTEE.

IF YOU LOOK AT HOW THAT BUILDING AND THE SCHOOL, AND METWICK HAVE ALL DEVELOPED THEIR OWN LITTLE COMMUNITY RIGHT THERE, I THINK IT'S A VISION THAT REALLY DESERVES ACCOLADES.

ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATS TO THE DISTRICT ON THEIR DECISION.

>> COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY.

>> THANKS, MAYOR. PERHAPS TO THE CHAGRIN OF PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

I'VE BEEN A PART OF THE FACILITY MASTER PLANS FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE INEVITABLE COLLABORATION THAT HAPPENED WITH HOOVER.

ALSO, I SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE EXTENSION AND INVITATION TO THE CLOSING END OF YEAR HOOVER CELEBRATION.

I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THAT, AND I THINK IT WAS INCREDIBLY THOUGHTFUL IN TERMS OF HOW TO COMMEMORATE HOOVER, SORRY, I KEEP SAYING HARRISON, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

HARRISON, AS IT HAS BEEN, AND AS IT WILL BE.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE EVER SEEN.

THERE IS A KIDDO THERE, A FIFTH GRADER WHO IMMEDIATELY YOU NEED TO SNATCH UP NOW.

SHE'S GOING PLACES IN THIS WORLD.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHEN WE WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER.

I DO FULLY ENTRUST THAT SOME OF THOSE ORIGINAL PLANS, AS DISCUSSED IN THE FACILITY MASTER PLAN, WILL BE KEPT IN MIND IN THE INTENTION OF BRINGING IT UP TO MODERN STANDARDS AND KEEPING A VALUABLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

I REALLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU.

>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE AND ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY.

[01:20:01]

ITEM NUMBER 4 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A CHANGE OF

[4. A public hearing will be held to consider a change of zone for property at 2525 29th Street SW from S-RL1, Suburban Residential Low Single Unit District, to P-IN, Public – Institutional District, as requested by the Cedar Rapids Community School District (Seth Gunnerson). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-000095-2025 a. First Reading: Ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 2525 29th Street SW from S-RL1, Suburban Residential Low Single Unit District, to P-IN, Public – Institutional District, as requested by the Cedar Rapids Community School District.]

ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 2525 29TH STREET, SOUTHWEST, FROM SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL LOW SINGLE UNIT DISTRICT TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT.

ONCE AGAIN, REQUESTED BY THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BILL, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GENERAL INFORMATION, REQUEST IS FOR A CHANGE OF ZONE FROM SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL LOW SINGLE UNIT TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL.

IT INCLUDES 9.3 ACRES AND A PROPOSED NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SOUTH OF THE EXISTING SCHOOL BUILDING.

THERE WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING HELD MAY 21ST, AND THAT WAS ATTENDED BY SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS.

ALSO OF NOTE ON JULY 14TH.

THIS MONTH, OF COURSE, THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD TABLED THE VOTE ON THE BID FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS HOOVER.

BUT IN TERMS OF THIS PROJECT, AND SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF, WE'LL BE ENGAGING WITH NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS TO FURTHER DISCUSS SITE DESIGN.

AGAIN, WE'RE CONSIDERING THE REZONING HERE TODAY.

IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS URBAN LOW INTENSITY.

CURRENT ZONING, SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL LOW SINGLE UNIT.

HERE'S AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH, VAN BUREN PARK TO THE SOUTH.

QUICK SITE PLAN OF WHERE THE BUILDING WOULD GO AND A FEW RENDERINGS.

IMPORTANT TO JUMP INTO THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT FOR THE SCHOOL.

MANY DISCUSSIONS HAVE OCCURRED REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT THE ENTRANCE EXIT COULD GO THROUGH VAN BUREN PARK.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS DONE SOME WORK WITH NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS, AND NOW HAVE A PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN PLACE FOR ADJACENT PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH.

THAT IS RIGHT HERE OF THE EXISTING EASEMENT, RIGHT OF WAY ON OFF OF 27TH STREET TO THE NORTH.

THIS ELIMINATES THE NEED TO GO THROUGH VAN BUREN PARK.

IT CREATES MORE SPACE FOR THE STACKING OF 7-10 BUSES OFF OF 27TH, WHICH WAS A CONCERN PRIOR TO THE ACQUISITION OF THAT PROPERTY, ALSO ALLOWS FOR WIDER ACCESS ALONG 27TH STREET, SOUTHWEST FOR SCHOOL BUSES ENTERING AND EXIT.

SOMETIMES A WIDER TURNER MOVEMENT.

THIS PROVIDES PLENTY OF SPACE FOR THAT.

IN TERMS OF REZONING CRITERIA, CONSISTENCY WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND OTHER STUDIES.

SCHOOLS WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THIS REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT PLAN.

CITY HAS NO CONCERNS WITH THE ABILITY TO SERVE THE SITE, AND THE SITE HAS THE ABILITY TO CONFORM WITH TRAFFIC AND STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS.

IN TERMS OF CHARACTER, THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED TO BE SIMILAR IN CHARACTER TO OTHER NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

OBVIOUSLY, REZONING IS NECESSARY TO PERMIT THE PROJECT.

THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT IS PERMITTED IN ALL LOCATIONS AND INTENDED FOR INSTITUTIONAL USES THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, AND OVERALL, STAFF FIND THE SITE DESIGN MEETS THE CITY'S REQUIREMENTS AND IS APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE CONSTRAINTS ON THE SITE.

A FEW ADDITIONAL STAFF FINDINGS, JUST AS A REMINDER, THE SCHOOL LOCATION IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS DURING CONSTRUCTION, AND ACCESS TO THE BACK OF THE SITE IS NECESSARY TO MEET FIRE CODE AND MEET THE SCHOOL'S REQUIREMENT TO SEPARATE BUS TRAFFIC.

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST.

THAT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OCCURRED ON JUNE 5.

HERE WE ARE TODAY AT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND AND POSSIBLE THIRD READING ON AUGUST 12, AND I'LL HAND IT BACK TO THE MAYOR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BILL. THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? I'LL ASK YOU TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE.

>> MY NAME IS MARY COOK.

I LIVE ON 28TH AVENUE ACROSS FROM WHAT USED TO BE THE PROPOSED ENTRANCE TO THE NEW SCHOOL, AND TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY GOOD DAY TO STAY HOME.

IT'S VERY HOT OUTSIDE, AND I'M HAVING THAT SPASM.

BUT I FELT LIKE WHAT I NEEDED TO SAY IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT THAT IS REALLY A MINOR INCONVENIENCE.

>> I'M SORRY. CAN YOU MOVE YOUR MICROPHONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT?

>> I'M A LITTLE SHORT. I CAME TO THE FIRST MEETING AFTER HEARING ABOUT THIS NEW SCHOOL AND THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS THROUGH MY NEIGHBOR, AND THE FIRST MEETING WAS THE ZONING MEETING, AND I MUST CONFESS TO YOU THAT I LEFT THAT MEETING FEELING LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

AND I THEN ATTENDED THE NEXT TWO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEW ROAD THROUGH THE PARK AND THE VARIOUS CHANGES THAT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND I STAND BEFORE YOU HUMBLY AND HAPPY TO SAY, I WAS WRONG.

[01:25:05]

AFTER THAT SECOND MEETING, COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY AND ALSO FROM SHIVE-HATTERY CHAD SCHUMACHER, BOTH HELD MEETINGS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, QUITE A FEW OF THE NEIGHBORS ATTENDED THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ATTEND A COUNCIL MEETING.

AND I BELIEVE WE WERE HEARD.

MR. SCHUMACHER MADE A COMMENT AT ONE POINT AND I PARAPHRASE.

I DON'T REMEMBER HOW HE SAID IT, BUT SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO RAM THIS DOWN YOUR THROATS.

I HEARD WHAT HE SAID, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY BELIEVED THAT HE MEANT THAT AND THAT WE WERE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.

I WAS THE ONE THAT MENTIONED TO HIM THAT WE KNEW ABOUT THIS ADJOINING PROPERTY NEXT TO THE EASEMENT THAT WAS ALREADY OWNED, I BELIEVE BY THE CITY THAT WOULDN'T TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PARK AND SO FORTH.

TO MY SURPRISE, I HAD A VISIT AT MY DOOR BY MR. SCHUMACHER TO COME AND TELL ME THAT HE HAD FOLLOWED UP ON THAT AND AS YOU KNOW, IT'S A DONE DEAL NOW, THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND THE CHANGE HAS GONE THROUGH.

IT'S A VERY WIDE PROPERTY, GIVES LOTS OF ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL WITHOUT CHANGING.

WE STILL HAVE THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND I'M JUST HERE TO SAY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU TO MR. SCHUMACHER AND THOSE REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS PROJECT FOR HEARING US AND FOR ACCEPTING A TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND CREATIVE SOLUTION FROM WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE BEGINNING. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MARY. ANYONE ELSE?

>> HI, MICHAEL COOK, 2719 28TH AVENUE, SOUTHWEST.

FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ASHLEY VANORNY FOR HAVING A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING FOR MEETING WITH SEVERAL OF THE RESIDENTS, TAKING A TOUR OF THE PARK AND THE SCHOOL SITE AND HAVING A FIRSTHAND VIEW OF WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT.

ALSO APPRECIATE CHAD SCHUMACHER'S WORK IN TALKING TO SOMEONE, ACQUIRING THE LAND FOR EASEMENT FOR ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL PROPERTY.

I KNOW THAT THE MOTION TODAY IS JUST FOR REZONING.

ALL ALONG, MANY OF US THOUGHT THAT REZONING AN EASEMENT AND ALL THAT SHOULD BE IN ONE PACKAGE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, I'D LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS WORK.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR BEING OPEN TO CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES AS THEY CAME UP AND COULD BE PROCESSED, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT.

AS A RESULT THE PARK AND THE PLAYGROUND CAN REMAIN INTACT.

THERE WILL BE LESS IMPACT ON 28TH AVENUE.

I THINK 27TH STREET IS THE CORRECT ENTRANCE AND EXIT ACCESS POINT FOR SCHOOL BUSES AND SERVICE VEHICLES AND ALL OF THAT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD DURING INSTRUCTION AND ALL THAT, WE BELIEVE NOW WE HAVE A BETTER WAY FORWARD AND GETTING A SCHOOL BUILT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

>> MY NAME IS STEVE DODI, AND I LIVE AT 2718, 28TH AVENUE, SOUTHWEST, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE OLD PROPOSED SCHOOL BUS LANE, OR ROAD TO THE NEW SCHOOL.

I HAVE A FEW EVENTS THAT HAD OCCURRED OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BECAUSE IT WAS A HUGE CHANGE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD DONE, AND SO I'LL JUST READ THIS HERE, THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT WE HAD EMAILED ASHLEY VANORNY TO COME AND VISIT THE VAN BUREN 28TH AVENUE BUS ACCESS.

NEXT EVENT THOUGH THAT SHE ACCEPTED, AND SHE WOULD JOIN US AT A LATER TIME AT A LATER DAY.

CHAD SCHUMACHER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL, AND PEOPLE FROM SHIVE-HATTERY HAD MET WITH THE NEIGHBORS.

THEY HAD TAKEN NOTES, AND NEIGHBORS WERE SPEAKING, THE SHIVE PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE TAKING NOTES ABOUT WHAT WAS BEING SAID.

THEN CHAD AND A NEIGHBOR WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE 27TH STREET ACCESS.

THE NEXT DAY, ASHLEY VISIT WITH SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS AND WALKED THE BUS ROUTE THROUGH VAN BUREN PARK,

[01:30:03]

AND SHE WAS TAKING PICTURES AND TAKING NOTES.

I'M SORRY. WHEN I WAS REHEARSING THIS, I WASN'T BREAKING UP.

BUT A WEEK LATER THAT CHAD SCHUMACHER APPEARED AT HER FRONT DOOR AND TOLD US THE 28TH AVENUE BUS ACCESS LANE WILL NOT BE GOING THROUGH THE VAN BUREN PARK, BUT IT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH THE 27TH STREET ACCESS.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK YOU WHO HAD WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES AND IT JUST TOOK ONE WEEK.

IF IT WASN'T FOR CHAD AND THAT NEIGHBOR TO TALK AND THEN CHAD TO REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION AND GO TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND HAVE THIS ALL DONE BEHIND THE SCENES WITHIN A WEEK, IS A HUGE COMMITMENT ON CHAD'S PART.

HE SHOULD BE NOTED FOR THAT.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK WHO HAD WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES, THE CITY ENGINEERS, THE STREET DEPARTMENT, TRAFFIC, AND COMMENTS FROM MARTY HAGAR, AND POL, ASHLEY VANORNY, AND MANY MORE.

IF IT WASN'T FOR CHAD LISTENING THAT EVENING AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING AND TAKING THAT CONVERSATION HE HAD TO THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE AND LOCAL DEPARTMENTS AND COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN FOR THE BUSES TO ACCESS VAN BUREN.

THAT I WANT THE BEST FOR THE VAN BUREN PEOPLE ON 29TH STREET FOR THEIR TRAFFIC ISSUES, AND ALSO FOR THE NEIGHBORS WITH THEIR CONCERNS TOO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

>> I'M MARY DODI.

I WAS TOO CHICKEN TO TALK AT THE LAST ONE, BUT I'M DOING IT THIS TIME.

I LIVE AT 2718 28TH AVENUE AS WELL WITH MY HUSBAND STEVE, AND AS HE STATED, WE'RE NEXT TO THE PROPOSED SIDEWALK ROAD.

THIS REVISED PLAN IS A HUGE ANSWER TO PRAYER.

IT'S A RELIEF FOR NEIGHBORS ON 28TH WITH THE TRAFFIC AND THE NEIGHBORS THAT BACKED UP TO 27TH THAT WOULD HAVE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

I CAN'T THANK THE COUNCIL ENOUGH FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS.

I REALLY BELIEVE YOU DID AND YOU TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.

I KNOW IT'S JUST A REZONING ISSUE, BUT YET YOU GAVE US A PLATFORM TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS, AND YOU LISTENED.

I JUST THANK YOU THAT YOU GAVE US THAT PLATFORM.

I HAVE TO STATE THAT THERE WERE DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOO THAT I JUST FELT LIKE REALLY SPOKE INTO THAT.

THEY SAW WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

THEY WANTED SOLUTIONS.

ASHLEY COMING OUT WAS HUGE.

IT WAS JUST A HOTTER THAN HOT DAY, AND SHE CAME OUT IN HER DRESS AND HER WALKING SHOES, AND WE DID THE THING.

THANK YOU, ASHLEY, FOR THAT.

YOU BROUGHT UP YOUR OWN OBSERVATIONS, CONCERNS, AND SUGGESTIONS, AND EVEN SUGGESTED THE OPTION TO LOOK AT THE OTHER PROPERTY AND ASK THEM TO DO THAT, AND SO WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE DID SPEAK AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.

I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY TABLED IT, AND THEY ARE SLOWING DOWN AND TALKING TO THE NEIGHBORS.

I DO PRAY THAT THE WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE CONCERNS AND THEY NEED TO BE HEARD AS WELL.

ALSO FOR THE HOOVER PEOPLE, THAT THEY CAN FIND A REASONABLE AND WORKABLE SOLUTION FOR THEM.

IT'S HARD FOR THEM TOO AND IT'S JUST HARD TO GO TO A MEETING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SEE PLANS THAT IT'S LIKE.

THIS IS OUR SAFE PLACE.

THIS IS MY PICTURE YOURSELF ON YOUR DECK OR YOUR PATIO OR WHATEVER AND NOW I'M HAVING A ROAD AND A SIDEWALK NEXT TO ME.

IT'S TRAUMATIZING.

I APPRECIATE THE PROCESS THAT HAS GOT US HERE.

I WOULD JUST ASK GOING FORWARD, THAT PEOPLE WOULD GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE WHAT WAS SUGGESTED AND TALK TO THE NEIGHBORS, GET THEIR INPUT, AND THEIR CONCERNS.

THEY'RE VALUABLE AS FAR AS THEY LIVE THERE,

[01:35:05]

SO THEY HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME, SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT I WOULD JUST ASK, THAT THE PEOPLE CONCERNED IN THIS WHOLE THING WOULD JUST GO TO THE NEIGHBORS AND CHECK WITH THEM.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT.

>> GLORIA JOHNSON, I'M NOT AGAINST A NEW SCHOOL.

I WORKED AT VAN BUREN, AND I VOLUNTEERED THERE.

BUT I FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AFFECTED THE MOST WERE NEVER TALKED TO.

THE TWO-LANE ROAD THAT'S LEADING INTO VAN BUREN, WILL HAVE TRAFFIC COMING BOTH WAYS, AND AT LEAST 5-7 DRIVEWAYS ON THE WEST SIDE WILL BE BLOCKED BETWEEN 815 AND 9 AND 315 AND 4, AND THERE'S NO WAY WE'LL GET IN AND OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY.

ALSO, IF WE'RE COMING HOME AT THOSE TIMES, WE'LL BE WAITING IN TRAFFIC TO GET UP TO OUR HOUSE WHERE WE LIVE.

ALSO, I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN THAT ARE WALKING THE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE CARS COMING DOWN AND GOING UP.

IS THERE A SIDEWALK NEAR THAT LANE FOR THEM TO WALK TO GET TO THE SCHOOL? I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS I WONDERED DO ALL THESE SCHOOLS NEED TO BE THAT BIG? I SAW A PICTURE OF THE HALLWAY OF VAN BUREN, AND IT'S HUGE, DOES IT NEED TO BE THAT BIG? I DO WANT TO THANK CHAD AND CHRIS FOR COMING OUT AND TALKING TO US. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT.

>> THAT'S A LONG LOOK WHEN EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT YOU.

MY NAME IS ALICE KITTERMAN.

I LIVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

I AND MY THREE SIBLINGS ARE ALUMNI OF VAN BUREN.

WAY BACK IN THE DAY, AND WE ARE SO GLAD THAT THE STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE GETTING A NEW FACILITY, MY OPINION THEY DEFINITELY NEED IT.

MY NEIGHBORS HAVE SPOKE ABOUT TRAFFIC CONCERNS, I SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS.

IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE WHEN THE KIDS ARE GETTING DROPPED OFF AND GETTING PICKED UP, YOU CAN'T GET TO YOUR HOUSE. YOU JUST CAN'T.

WITH ADDING MORE STUDENTS TO THE SCHOOL, I HAVE THAT GRAVE CONCERN AS WELL.

THE OTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS WATER.

YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL IN THE PICTURE THAT HE SHOWED.

HE DID SAY THAT WATER IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

I NOTICED THAT IN THERE.

BUT THE SCHOOL WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE THERE'S A SCHOOL, AND THEN SOUTH OF THE SCHOOL IS A SCHOOLYARD, AND THEN THERE'S A BUNCH OF PROPERTIES.

WHAT IT DOESN'T SHOW IN THAT PICTURE IS THAT WHEN THE PROPERTY START, THERE'S A BIG DOWNHILL.

FOR 50-PLUS YEARS, THAT SCHOOLYARDHAS BEEN COVERED IN GRASS, AND THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY WATER ISSUES THAT I'M AWARE OF.

THERE ARE SOME AT THE BOTTOM, BUT THAT'S MORE RELATED DIRECTLY TO OUR PROPERTY.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO PUT PARKING LOTS, I'M GUESSING, AND A BIG BUILDING.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE RAINSTORMS AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING BIG RAINSTORMS AND NOW WHERE IS ALL THIS WATER GOING TO GO? I HAVEN'T HAD THAT QUESTION ANSWERED, SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT MY CONCERN OUT THERE.

I SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS.

MY OTHER NEIGHBORHOS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT VAN BUREN IS TRULY A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

IT REALLY IS. WE ARE BOUND TOGETHER.

ALL MY NEIGHBORS CHILDREN WENT TO VAN BUREN AS WELL, SO WE HAVE CONCERNS.

WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE NEW BUILDING GO.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT FITS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THERE'S NOT ANY PROBLEMS THAT COME OUT OF IT. THANK YOU.

>> WELL, LUCKY FOR THE LAST FEW COMMENTERS, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE HERE.

I'M SURE THEY'RE TAKING NOTES LISTENING TO YOUR SUGGESTIONS.

ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON FOR?

>> IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE AHEAD.

LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH TWO OBJECTIONS SHOWN FOR THE RECORD.

THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY.

>> THANKS, MAYOR. BILL, CAN YOU GO AND PUT THE PICTURE BACK UP OF JUST THE OVERVIEW? ACTUALLY GO TO THE ONE THAT HAS THE DESIGNS.

TWO MORE SLIDES.

ONE MORE. PAUSE. THANK YOU.

I KNOW ALL OF THESE ARE ABOUT REZONING, AND IT'S HARD TO HAVE THIS BECAUSE REALLY THE CONVERSATION ENDS UP BEING WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER TODAY WITH REGARD TO TRUST.

[01:40:02]

THE GREAT THING IS EVERYBODY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF WE RECALL, EIGHT YEARS AGO, THIS SCHOOL WAS NOT MEANT TO BE KEPT.

THE FACT THAT WE GET TO RETAIN THIS, I THINK, IS A HUGE MILESTONE, BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER'S ADDITIONAL SUGGESTION ABOUT 27TH STREET.

WHAT YOU ALL MAY NOT KNOW IS I PRACTICED MY FIRST DRIVING ON THIS ROAD, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE WAY.

IT WAS AN OLD COUNTY ROAD.

IT IS NOT IN GREAT CONDITION.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A CITY, AS AN OUTLIER, WE KNOW WE NEED TO PROBABLY APPROVE IT.

WE MAY NOT HAVE HAD IT ON OUR RADAR, BUT NOW IT IS.

WITH REGARD TO THIS NEW ENTRANCE, IT DOES SAY LARGE MATURE TREES.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR, HAVING WITNESSED THEM WITH MY OWN EYES, NO ARBORISTS WOULD SAY WE SHOULD KEEP THEM.

THEY'RE NOT IN GOOD CONDITION.

THEY'RE PROBABLY LIKE MY ASH TREE IN THE BACK WHERE I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WITH IT, BUT IT IS NOT VIABLE.

WE CAN, UNDER A NEW RELIEF PROGRAM, CONSOLIDATE TREES HAVE A BETTER OUTCOME ON EITHER SIDE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A DOUBLE LOT, SO IT'S REALLY MASSIVE.

THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM AND WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF HAVING STEVE DODI, WHO PROFESSIONALLY USED TO DRIVE BUSES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

HE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THOSE TURNING RADIUSES.

I THINK THE PREVIOUS PLAN WAS NEVER GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR A VIABLE TURNING RADIUS.

THIS DOES BETTER ACCOMPLISH THAT, AND IT MEETS A LOT OF THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND ACCOMPLISHES SOME OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ALREADY HAD ON 27TH.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY, PEOPLE, PROBABLY MYSELF INCLUDED, A LONG TIME AGO, TO CLEAR UP ANY ISSUES, SPED THROUGH THAT ROAD.

WE DO ALREADY HAVE AN ISSUE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS CONCURRENTLY WITH THIS TO REDUCE THE TRAFFIC ON THERE BY PUTTING IN SOME SAFETY INITIATIVES.

WE'RE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CROSSWALKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE WHERE THEY ARE NOW, WE MAY NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL, SO WE SHOULD JUST BE KEEPING THAT IN MIND FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS WITH THIS PROJECT.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE.

I WOULD BE CURIOUS IN THIS FOR US TO ALSO TALK ABOUT SOME RETENTION BASINS.

HAVING WALKED THIS AREA, THERE'S A SANDY TRAIL THAT GOES BACK THERE WHERE THE PROPOSED PARKING LOT TURN AROUND IS.

THAT'S ALL WASHING DOWN TO THE STREET.

THERE IS A REAL ISSUE TO ADDRESS SOME WATER THERE. HOW WE DO THAT? I'M GOING TO ASK THE EXPERTS TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S AN EXISTING THING THAT WE CAN BETTER ADDRESS.

BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE WHEN WE CLOSE THE LOOP ON THESE CONVERSATIONS, WHEN WE HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS, AND I REALLY WISH CHAD WAS HERE TO HEAR THE THANKS AS WELL.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS, AS COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE ALL AGREE HOW INTEGRAL THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TO CEDAR RAPIDS AND US BUILDING A REALLY GREAT PRODUCT AS A COMMUNITY, WHICH WE BOTH CONCURRENTLY WANT AS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REALIZE, YOU MET THAT MOMENT, YOU HEARD WHAT THE NEIGHBORS WERE DOING, BUT WE WERE PUSHING AND ASKING QUITE STAUNCHLY IN THE LAST ITERATION OF THIS COUNCIL MEETING TO DO AND YOU MET THAT MOMENT.

SPECIFICALLY, THE EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE DOTIES WAS REALLY HEARTWARMING.

IT'S WHY WE DO THIS WORK.

IT'S WHAT WE HAVE THESE HARD CONVERSATIONS FOR.

I REALLY WISH I COULD LOOK CHAD IN THE EYES TODAY AND JUST THANK HIM FOR MEETING THAT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AS WE PROGRESS WITH SOME THINGS LATER IN THE YEAR, HOPING TO GET THE BOND INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT AND HOPEFULLY PASSING THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS BUILDING THAT TRUST AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THESE AS WE WORK ON THESE PROJECTS TOGETHER.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ANSWERED THE CALL THAT WE GAVE LAST TIME AND JUST REALLY PROUD OF THIS PRODUCT THAT WE'RE BRINGING HERE BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY.

>> COUNCILMEMBER POE.

>> THANK YOU. I'D ECHO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY SAID.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

PLEASE EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANK YOU TO CHAD AS WELL.

YOU DID LISTEN IN AN ATMOSPHERE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WHERE TRUST IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT THE BOND ISSUE COMING BEFORE YOU, THIS WAS A BIG LITMUS TEST.

YOU DID A GREAT JOB AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF THEM.

ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO YOUR COUNCIL.

WE DO APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WONDERFUL NEW SCHOOL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO THANK BILL MICHAEL IN THIS.

[01:45:03]

YOU DID SOME HAND HOLDING.

WHEN THE PROJECT CAME TO US, IT WASN'T EXACTLY PERFECT.

BUT THIS GOES TO SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE GOOD INTENT AND ARE ALL TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY NEVER SAID, NOT MY BACK YARD.

THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY DIDN'T WANT IT.

COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY, THANK YOU FOR GOING OUT AND HOLD SOME ADDITIONAL HANDS.

THE TRAIL WAS PARKS DEPARTMENT CUT THE TRAIL IN IN 1999 WHEN I WAS A PARKS COMMISSIONER.

I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE PLAYGROUND IS STAYING BECAUSE I SOLD THE PLAYGROUND TO THE PARKS DISTRICT IN THE MID 2000S.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF LESSONS IN THIS.

REZONINGS ARE HARD, ESPECIALLY IN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT THIS IS ONE WHERE I THINK BY JUST TWEAKING AND WORKING A LITTLE BIT HARDER, WE ALL CAME UP WITH A BETTER PRODUCT.

THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO HELPED ON THIS.

>> WHEN I SAY CEDAR RAPIDS IS SPECIAL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY.

IN ADDITION TO ALL THE GRATITUDE GOING AROUND TO CITY STAFF AND CERTAINLY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I REALLY CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE NEIGHBORS.

WE DON'T LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO OFTEN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

I JUST TIP MY HAT TO YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND CARING ENOUGH TO SHOW UP HERE TO REACHING OUT TO REPRESENTATIVES TO LET US KNOW AND TO ALLOW US TO HELP FIND A WAY BECAUSE NONE OF THAT WOULD HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU TAKING THAT STEP.

THANK YOU FOR REALLY BEING OUR PARTNERS IN THIS.

IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS HERE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING BY VANORNY, SECONDED BY POE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO.

THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

NUMBER 5 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE DISPOSITION OF 0.03 ACRE

[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the disposition of a 0.03-acre portion of a larger parcel directly west of 809 Shaver Road NE as part of a settlement with SKD 3, LLC in connection with the Cedar Lake Amenities project (Rob Davis). CIP/DID #327003-00 a. Resolution authorizing a Real Estate Purchase Agreement, Quit Claim Deed and reimbursement in the amount of $7,515 to SKD 3, LLC for the disposition of a 0.03-acre portion of a larger parcel directly west of 809 Shaver Road NE in connection with the Cedar Lake Amenities project.]

PORTION OF A LARGER PARCEL DIRECTLY WEST OF 809 SHAVER ROAD, NORTHEAST, WHICH IS PART OF A SETTLEMENT WITH SKD3, LLC IN CONNECTION WITH THE CEDAR LAKE AMENITIES PROJECT.

ROB DAVIS IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

ROB, WE RECOGNIZE YOU.

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

I WENT THE WRONG DIRECTION.

THIS IS ALONG SHAVER ROAD.

IT'S THE BACK PROPERTY LINE BETWEEN 809 THERE AND THE CEDAR LAKE.

THANK YOU TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR HER ASSISTANCE WITH THIS.

WE'VE COME TO A SOLUTION WITH A DISPUTED PROPERTY LINE WITH THE CITY.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS TO DISPOSE OF 0.03 ACRES, A SMALL AREA.

THAT'S THE AREA IN RED ON THIS MAP.

ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAIL AROUND CEDAR LAKE, WHICH WE ALL WANT TO SEE FOR A LONG TIME HERE.

THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS FOR $1, $1 A TRANSFER.

THEN ALTHOUGH NOT PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, THERE'S ALSO TEMPORARIES INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACT WITH A PROPERTY OWNER.

WITH THAT, PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

>> THANK YOU. THIS IS TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING IN ITEM NUMBER 5.

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

A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.

COUNCIL? THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

NUMBER 6 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN, SPECIFICATIONS,

[6. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the F Avenue NW and Levee project (estimated cost is $7,020,000) (Rob Davis). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3311554-01 a. Resolution adopting plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the F Avenue NW and Levee project.]

FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE F AVENUE NORTHWEST AND LEVEE PROJECT.

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $7,020,000.

ROB, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

>> IT'S A BIG NUMBER. [LAUGHTER]

>> IT'S A BIG PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IS A FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT BETWEEN FIRST STREET AND THIRD STREET, NORTHWEST.

THE DASHED LINE HERE IS THE CENTER LINE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM LEVEE.

BASICALLY, WHAT IT WILL DO IS RECONSTRUCT F AVENUE FROM UNDERNEATH THE INTERSTATE AND SECOND STREET.

IT'LL RAISE UP OVER THE TOP OF THAT LEVEE AND THEN COME BACK DOWN BY FOURTH STREET.

THE STREET WORK IS ON FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD STREETS, ALSO E AND F AVENUES, AND THEN THE I THROUGH NORTHBOUND OFF RAMP.

ULTIMATELY, THE NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A LEFT OFF THE INTERSTATE, WHICH I'M SURE EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY ABOUT.

THIS IS A MAP SHOWING THE CASINO SITE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THIS PROJECT BORDERS THE CASINO SITE.

IT'S 689 FEET OF LEVEE.

VERY HAPPY TO SAY IT INCLUDES 104 NEW TREES FOR THE RELIEF PROGRAM, STREET AND SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION, TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS, UTILITY RELOCATIONS TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THIS.

[01:50:04]

LASTLY, MAYOR, I WON'T STEAL YOUR THUNDER BY USING YOUR EXACT WORDS, BUT FOCAL SYSTEM WILL NOT BE THE PRIMARY VISUAL ELEMENT HERE.

THIS IS THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM RIGHT HERE.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE A NICE ROUNDABOUT, YOU'LL SEE A GENTLE RISE OF THE ROAD UP AND OVER THE LEVEE, YOU'LL SEE A CASINO.

THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM WILL BLEND INTO THE BACKGROUND NICELY.

AS THE MAYOR SAID, IT'S $7,020,000.

IT INCLUDES FUNDING SOURCES OF MAJORITY'S FLOOD CONTROL BONDS, 6,248,000.

THERE'S ALSO CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE WATER UTILITY FOR RELOCATION STORM, AND SANITARY SEWER UTILITIES ALSO FOR RELOCATIONS, AND THE CEDAR CROSS AND CASINO FOR THE UPGRADES FROM A T INTERSECTION TO A ROUNDABOUT, IS PARTICIPATING AT $504,000 IN THIS PROJECT.

SOME OF THE COMPONENTS, AGAIN, JUST WANT TO RUN OVER THOSE BECAUSE IT IS A BIG PROJECT.

LEVEE CONSTRUCTION, THE REALIGNMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION OF F AVENUE, NORTHWEST OVER THAT LEVEE.

WE ARE GOING TO REMOVE E AVENUE, NORTHWEST TO THE EAST OF THIRD STREET, THAT WILL ALLOW FOR F AVENUE TO GO TWO WAY.

BY DOING THAT, REMOVING E AVENUE, THEN THAT ALLOWS FOR LEFT TURNS OFF THE NORTHBOUND OFF RAMP.

THERE'LL BE A SHARED USE PATH AND SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION, AS WE'RE SETTING UP FOR SHARED USE PATH ALSO ON TOP OF THE LEVEE.

THEN AGAIN, UTILITY RELOCATIONS.

THIS PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE CONSTRUCTED 2025-2027.

WE'LL START WITH THIRD STREET, NORTHWEST.

2026 IS REALLY ABOUT GETTING F AVENUE AND AREAS FROM THIRD STREET TO THE WEST COMPLETED IN ADVANCE OF THE CASINO OPENING, AND THEN IT INCLUDES PLACING FILL FOR A LEVEE THAT NEEDS TO CONSOLIDATE OVER THE WINTER 2026/2027, AND THEN THAT'LL FINISH THE PAVING OF F AVENUE OVER THE TOP AFTER THAT LEVY DOES SETTLE.

PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY, THE BID OPENING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 6.

THE CONTRACT HAS A SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 START DATE WITH A MILESTONE OF OPENING THE ROUNDABOUT AT THE NORTH, SOUTH, AND WEST LEGS AT THE CASINO ENTRANCE NOVEMBER 15, ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO OPEN, AND CONTRACT FULLY COMPLETE OCTOBER 30 OF 2027.

WITH THAT, PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. THANK YOU.

>> IT IS EXCITING. ROB, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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

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

COUNCILMEMBER POE.

>> THANK YOU. ROB, HOW FAR WE'VE COME.

THIS IS SO EXCITING.

CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD WORK.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT UP TO, WAS IT FARGO? WE WENT UP TO FARGO AND HOW THEIR FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM WAS IN PLAIN SIGHT, BUT YOU DIDN'T SEE IT.

IT WAS STEALTH.

WE TOOK BACK A LOT OF REALLY GOOD IDEAS FROM THAT TRIP.

BUT YOU'VE TAKEN THOSE IDEAS AND YOU'VE EXPOUNDED ON THEM.

GOOD JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT. LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON.

>> THANK YOU, MARY. I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM.

>> GOT IT. THANKS. COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY.

>> THANKS. BOB, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE AERIAL DRAWING?

>> THIS ONE?

>> GO A FEW BACK. RIGHT THERE.

I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS.

I KNOW THESE ARE THINGS THAT PERHAPS SEEM INSIGNIFICANT.

BUT TO COUNCILMEMBER POE'S POINT, I THINK ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE NATIONALLY WHEN I'M DOING BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY IS TALK ABOUT EXACTLY THIS, ABOUT FLOOD CONTROL DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS BIG OBTRUSIVE UGLY THING.

IT CAN EXIST IN PLAIN SIGHT.

IT CAN BE BEAUTIFUL.

IT CAN BE SEAMLESS AND GIVE YOU MORE SPACE.

WHILE ALL THE FLOODS THAT WE'VE HAD AND DISASTERS IN RICO AND EVERYTHING, WE HOW MANY TITANIC'S WORTH OF MULCH WE STORED HERE AT ONE POINT IN TIME? ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN VERY TRAUMATIC AND YET YOU'VE ACTUALLY TAKEN THE TIME TO DO MORE THAN WE NEED IN A REALLY BEAUTIFUL WAY.

THE PLANTINGS, I THINK, ARE REALLY SPECIAL.

MARY O'DONNELL WAS REMARKING ON THE NEWEST ROUNDABOUT THAT WE HAVE THAT IS GOING VERY WELL.

IT TOOK US A LONG TIME.

MAYBE WE HAD TO CHANGE SOME HEARTS AND MINDS, BUT THEY DO WORK WELL.

WE ARE GETTING USED TO THEM IN CEDAR RAPIDS, AND JUST APPRECIATE THE INTENTIONALITY TO ADD SOME OF THAT BEAUTY TO SURPRISE AND DELIGHT AMONGST ACCOMPLISHING OUR RELIEF AND FLOOD CONTROL AND SLOWING DOWN TRAFFIC,

[01:55:01]

ALL THE ENDS AT THE SAME TIME.

JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PRODUCT THAT YOU'VE BUILT.

>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO ROB.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT BY THE CITY AND OTHERS, CERTAINLY THE CASINO, HAD TO COME INTO PLAY WHEN WE JUST AWARDED $25,000,000 FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK FOR THE WEST SIDE.

THE MORE INVESTMENT AND BELIEF THAT THEY SEE IN US IN OUR OWN CITY IS JUST GOING TO HELP FURTHER OUR CASE EVERY TIME WE GO AND LOOK FOR SUPPORT AT A STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL.

EVERYTHING LIKE THIS WE CAN SHOW THEM IS GOOD FOR US. THANK YOU.

IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE FROM COUNCIL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION BY COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

NUMBER 7 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN,

[7. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 18th Avenue SW Reconstruction from Wiley Boulevard to Edgewood Road project (estimated cost is $2,790,000) (Doug Wilson). (Paving for Progress) CIP/DID #3012494- 02 a. Resolution adopting plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 18th Avenue SW Reconstruction from Wiley Boulevard to Edgewood Road project.]

SPECIFICATIONS FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 18TH AVENUE SOUTHWEST RECONSTRUCTION FROM WILEY BOULEVARD TO EDGEWOOD ROAD PROJECT.

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $2,790,000.

WILSON, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. DIRK WILSON, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THIS PROJECT INCLUDES COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF A SEAL COAT ROAD TO A CURB AND GUTTER ROAD.

IT WILL INCLUDE NEW STORM SEWER, NEW SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES WITH ADA COMPLIANT RAMPS ALONG WITH A WATER MAIN EXTENSION.

THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS $2,790,000, AND THE BIDS ARE PLANNED TO BE OPENED ON JULY 30.

CONSTRUCTION WILL START ON THE EAST END NEAR EDGEWOOD ROAD THIS FALL AND CONTINUE INTO SEPTEMBER OF 2026.

THIS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETE IN TIME FOR THE OPENING OF THE NEW LIBRARY.

>> THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

>> THANK YOU, DOUG. THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND ITEM NUMBER 7.

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

>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE TOP FEW? I'M LOOKING FOR, YOU GET A LOT OF BICYCLE TRAFFIC FROM THOSE APARTMENTS THERE.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT WHERE THAT IS GOING TO GO INTO THE LIBRARY SITE.

NO, THERE'S APARTMENTS UP THERE, TOO.

FOR FUTURE, CAN YOU JUST LET ME KNOW LATER ON WHERE THAT BICYCLE TRAFFIC MIGHT COME IN AT?

>> CERTAINLY. YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER.

NUMBER 8 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS FORM OF

[8. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Downtown Library Plaza Refresh project (estimated cost is $230,000) (Jason Stancliffe). CIP/DID #PUR0625-355 a. Resolution adopting plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Downtown Library Plaza Refresh project.]

CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY PLAZA REFRESH PROJECT.

THIS ESTIMATED COST OF $200,000.

JASON STANCLIFFE IS HERE.

JASON, I RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, JASON STANCLIFFE WITH FACILITIES.

I'M HERE FOR THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY PLAZA REFRESH PROJECT.

THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF ALL GROUND PREPARATION AND INSTALLATION WORK FOR THE NEW PLAZA, WHICH IS AS IT STATES GENERALLY A REFRESH.

WE'RE GETTING RID OF THE PAVERS, WE'RE MAKING IT MORE ADA ACCESSIBLE, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF SURROUNDING THE CURRENT STATUE THAT'S THEIR ARTWORK.

BIDS WERE ISSUED ON JULY 9TH, PREBID MEETING WAS HELD ON JULY 16.

THE BIG QUESTION DEADLINE WAS JULY 16TH, BIDS ARE DUE TOMORROW MORNING AT 11:00 A.M.

ESTIMATED COST FOR THE PROJECT IS 230,000, AND IT'S BEING FUNDED BY THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION THROUGH A SPECIAL FUND OF THE FOUNDATION BOARD SET UP AT THE TIME THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY'S CONSTRUCTION, SPECIFICALLY FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS.

FACILITY MAINTENANCE SERVICES RECOMMENDS ADOPTION AND PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST AS IN RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 8.

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

PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL. THAT'S MORE TAP.

>> IS THERE A TOP VIEW OF WHAT THE PLAZA IS?

>> [BACKGROUND] THAT WITH ME? I CAN SEND IT TO YOU, THOUGH.

>> I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO WORK WITH PD, LIEUTENANT OMAR, JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SOME EYES ON WHAT THIS THING'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

CURRENTLY, THERE'S CERTAIN PLACES IN THE PLAZA WHERE WE HAVE ISSUES.

THIS MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY HOEGER, SECONDED BY MAYOR.

HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS,

[02:00:02]

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.

THE FIRST IS A CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT PERTAINING TO COUNCIL ACTION SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.

SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD COMES AT THE END OF THE MEETING FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK ON ISSUES THAT ARE GERMANE TO THE CITY BUT MAY NOT BE ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE BEFORE AND AFTER COUNCIL MEETINGS.

AT THIS TIME DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

REMEMBER THAT ALL THE MATTERS I ADDRESSED PRIOR TO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING DO APPLY TO THESE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AS WELL.

PLEASE COME TO THE LECTERN.

IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS TO SHARE, GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER.

COMMENTS NEED TO BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.

THE LIGHT TURNS YELLOW. YOU'VE GOT ONE MINUTE, RED.

WE'LL ASK YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT.

WE JUST REMIND YOU THAT ALL COMMENTS NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER THAT YOU WISH TO ADDRESS, AND ABUSIVE, PERSONAL IRRELEVANT COMMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

WE ASK FOR NO DISRUPTION OR PARTICIPATION FROM THE AUDIENCE, AS TEMPTING AS THAT MAY BE SOMETIMES.

IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON TODAY, AND I WILL JUST READ THE NAMES IN ORDER THAT I HAVE THEM.

NATALIE STIEGEL, HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 31.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS NATALIE STIEGEL AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE HOOVER PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, OR HPAC.

TODAY, I AM SPEAKING AS BOTH A MEMBER OF SUCH, BUT ALSO AS A PARENT OF CHILDREN IN THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AS A MEMBER OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY.

HOOVER ELEMENTARY HAS SERVED GENERATIONS OF CEDAR RAPIDS FAMILIES, FIRST BEING BUILT IN THE EARLY 1950S.

KCRG HAS REPORTED THAT AT ITS CREATION, HOOVER WAS INITIALLY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT 320 STUDENTS.

IN MAY OF 2025, WHEN I WAS PLANNING FOR OUR SCHOOL WAKATHON, WE HAD OVER 440 STUDENTS.

FITTING 440 STUDENTS WHERE ONLY 320 ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IS NO SMALL TASK.

IT IS EXTREMELY CLEAR THAT HOOVER HAS OUTGROWN ITS EXISTING BUILDING.

IN 2024, WHEN THE CRCSD SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE A NEW BUILDING FOR HOOVER, I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, WAS OVERJOYED.

I HAVE WALKED THROUGH THE HALLS BOTH DURING AND AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND OBSERVED THE NEEDS FIRSTHAND, OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS, CAFETERIAS, AND GYMNASIUM, AND EXPERIENCED THE MOST OFTEN BY OUR FAMILIES, THE TERRIBLE PARKING SITUATION.

OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO ME IS THE ACCESSIBILITY FACTOR OF OUR EXISTING BUILDING.

HOOVER'S CAFETERIA IS DOWNSTAIRS, AND ITS GYMNASIUM IS UPSTAIRS.

TO GET TO THE CAFETERIA, A LIFT IS IN PLACE THAT CAN ALLOW FOR SOME ACCESSIBILITY.

ALTHOUGH THAT IS MINIMAL, IT IS A VERY SMALL PLATFORM LIFT.

HOWEVER, TO GET UPSTAIRS INTO THE GYMNASIUM, A WOODEN BOARD HAS BEEN ADDED AS A MAKE-SHIFT RAMP.

WHEN WE ATTENDED MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL CONCERT LAST YEAR, I WATCHED MY ELDERLY AND FRAIL GRANDMOTHER WALK UP THE RAMP WITH HER WALKER AND COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK, "THIS CANNOT BE SAFE." HOWEVER, THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE WAYS THAT HOOVER STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE DOING THEIR BEST THAT THEY CAN WITH THE OUTDATED AND INSUFFICIENT BUILDING THAT THEY HAVE.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, HOOVER IS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, MEANING A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER IS ON SITE TO HELP WITH THINGS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.

ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE FOOD PANTRY THAT WE HAVE OPENED ON FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

RIGHT NOW, ALL COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE STUFFED INTO ONE SMALL ROOM.

THIS LIMITS WHAT CAN BE OFFERED AND HOW MUCH CAN BE DONE.

BUT AGAIN, MINOUCHE, OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY COORDINATOR, DOES EVERYTHING SHE CAN DESPITE THE LIMITATIONS OF SPACE.

FOR OVER A YEAR, HOOVER STAFF, STUDENTS, HPAC, AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE WORKED ON A DESIGN OF A BUILDING THAT TOOK ALL CONCERN ALL OF OUR CONCERNS INTO ACCOUNT.

ACCESSIBILITY, SPACE, HPAC, COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND PROBABLY THE FAVORITE OF ANYONE WHO HAS DRIVEN THROUGH THE PICK-UP LINE PARKING.

I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MY DAUGHTER RETURNING IN THE FALL AND SEEING THE WORK ON THE NEW, CAREFULLY CRAFTED TWO-STORY BUILDING THAT WAS THE RESULT OF YEARS OF BAGGING, ASKING, AND BAGGING SOME MORE.

YOU CAN IMAGINE MY DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN LAST WEEK, I AWOKE TO THE NEWS THAT THE NEW HOOVER SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT WAS ON HOLD.

TODAY, I AM HERE TO URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE REZONING, SO THE CRCSD CAN APPROVE THE DESIGN THAT WAS SO THOUGHTFULLY AND CAREFULLY CREATED.

HOOVER STAFF, STUDENTS, AND FAMILIES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE DO WITH A BUILDING THAT DOES NOT MEET THEIR NEEDS.

[02:05:02]

I CLOSE WITH THIS THOUGHT.

CEDAR RAPIDS HAS RALLIED BEFORE AGAINST FLOODS, D ECHOS, AND MORE, AND WE'VE EMERGED STRONGER BECAUSE WE SUPPORTED EACH OTHER.

APPROVING A NEW UPDATED HOOVER BUILDING ISN'T JUST APPROVING A PROJECT.

IT IS A DECLARATION THAT WE BELIEVE IN OUR CHILDREN.

WE INVEST IN EDUCATION, AND WE BUILD TOGETHER.

VOTING YES TO THIS ITEM.

MOVING FORWARD WITH THE HOOVER BUILDING PROJECT IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR TEACHERS, OUR KIDS, AND OUR FUTURE.

PLEASE VOTE YES TO APPROVE THE REZONING SO THAT THE NEW BUILDING CAN BE CREATED FOR HOOVER.

OUR COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS DESERVE THIS NEW BUILDING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SERVICE, AND YOUR CONSIDERATION TO THIS VITAL INVESTMENT.

>> THANK YOU. DAVID AND GLORIA JOHNSON.

YOU SPOKE. SARAH WIBLE.

>> HI, I'M SARAH WIBLE, AND I'M ALSO A HOOVER MOM.

I'VE BEEN A HOOVER MOM NOW FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS.

MY SON WENT THERE FROM KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADER AND NOW MY DAUGHTER'S GONE THE KINDERGARTEN AND THIS WILL BE HER FIFTH YEAR ALSO.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING, LAST YEAR BECAUSE NOW YOU ALL KNOW HOOVER HAS TRAILERS.

AS A FIFTH GRADER NOW, SHE'S OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

NOW, UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER STUDENTS, I GET THAT THEY'RE COMING FOR MATH OR NOT MATH FROM MUSIC AND ARTS AND STUFF.

BUT MY FIFTH GRADER IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION KIDDO.

SHE ALSO WILL NOW WALK FROM THE TRAILER TO ITS SIDE.

FIRST SPEECH, FOR HER SPECIAL ED TEACHER WHO SITS IN THE BACK THAT SHE LOVES VERY MUCH.

FOR HER MATH, HER WRITING, HER READING, HER OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.

SHE'S GOING TO MAKE THAT EXTRA TRIP IN THESE FUN WINTER MONTHS FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE, WHICH OTHER KIDDOS WON'T DO, BUT I KNOW SHE'S STRUCK.

BUT IT'S JUST NOT COOL FOR FIFTH GRADERS TO BE IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT BUILDING SEPARATED.

I'VE ALSO BEEN THERE FOR WELL, NINE YEARS, AND I REMEMBER, LIKE NATALIE SAID WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, HOOVER WAS SMALLER, BUT IT HAS GROWN SO MUCH.

THERE IS NO SPACE IN THAT BUILDING FOR ANYTHING.

FOR HER SPEECH THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL, IT'S DONE IN THE LIBRARY BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOT EXTRA ROOMS FOR HER.

SHE'S DONE HER SPEECH THERAPY.

I KNOW IN THE PAST, IN HALLWAYS, BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOT WHEN THE LIBRARY IS BEING USED.

THERE'S JUST NOT SPACE FOR EVERYTHING HOOVER NEEDS.

IT'S JUST SUCH A SMALL BUILDING.

I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS.

I KNOW THE ZONING THAT WE SEE THAT.

IT CAN BE DONE AT HOOVER.

THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT AND GET A NEW HOOVER BUILDING.

WE NEED IT JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

AS A HOOVER MAMA, I JUST WANT TO SAY, SUPPORT US AT HOOVER AND EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING WITH OUR KIDS BECAUSE THAT STAFF BACK THERE IS MY FAMILY, AND I KNOW IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH ZONING, BUT MY HUSBAND ENDED UP WITH A BRAIN TUMOR FOUR YEARS AGO.

I KNOW PRINCIPAL STONE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I TOLD AFTER WE LEFT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.

THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WHEN MY HUSBAND'S BEEN SICK.

HOVER IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING.

THEY REALLY ARE OUR FAMILY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL SIDE OF SAFETY IS OUR THING, AND I'VE BEEN READING IT ON THE TOP OF THE AGENDA, WHICH I'VE NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO BEFORE, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT, BUT IT SAYS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT FOR HOOVER KIDS.

THAT'S THE NEXT GENERATION, THAT'S GOING TO BE LEADING THE CITY.

GIVE THEM THE SPACE THAT THEY NEED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SARAH. ANGEL RAMIREZ, TO SPEAK IN ITEM NUMBER 1.

GOOD. I HAVE ANTHONY DOWN AGAIN.

IS ANTHONY BETTERS? HE'S GONE.

MONICA VIEJO, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1? SHE LEFT AS WELL. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE SPOKE DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, KATE HOGUE.

SHE ALSO SPOKE UNLESS SHE HAD SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

JOSHUA MIAM WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.

GONE. ANNE CARTER. SHE'S DONE.

CINDY GARLOCK, HERE TO SPEAK ON NUMBER 31.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M CINDY GARLOCK.

I'M PRESIDENT OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION.

I'M ALSO A FORMER TEACHER, AND I'M A LONG-TIME CEDAR RAPIDIAN, SPENDING MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE HERE.

I COME TO YOU TONIGHT WITH BOTH PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT AND WITH A DEEP PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.

[02:10:03]

I WANT TO MAKE ONE THING CLEAR FROM THE START.

WE NEED A THRIVING SCHOOL ON THE CURRENT HOOVER ELEMENTARY SITE.

THAT'S REALLY NOT UP FOR DEBATE.

THE SCHOOL IS VITAL, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, TO THE FABRIC OF ITS COMMUNITY, AND OUR BOARD IS FULLY COMMITTED TO KEEPING IT THAT WAY.

WE AS A SCHOOL BOARD HAVE HEARD FROM MANY PARENTS STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EVEN THOSE WHO LIVE NEARBY THE SCHOOL AND HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR.

EVERYONE WANTS TO KEEP A SCHOOL ON THE HOOVER SITE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON OR WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON TODAY.

IS THIS PROPERTY APPROPRIATELY TO BE ZONED FOR A SCHOOL? THAT'S THE QUESTION.

I URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE REZONING OF THIS DISTRICT-OWNED PROPERTY SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A BUILDING THAT WILL FIT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE TAKEN VERY DELIBERATE STEPS TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND INCLUSIVE IN THIS PROCESS.

AS YOU HEARD, OUR SCHOOL BOARD CHOSE TO TABLE THE DESIGN PLANS AT OUR MEETING LAST WEEK SO WE COULD ALLOW MORE TIME FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE HAVE LISTENED, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN.

I WANT TO REAFFIRM A COUPLE OF OUR GOALS.

FIRST, WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING CURRENT SCHOOL OPERATIONS DURING CONSTRUCTION.

WE NEED TO MINIMIZE THE DISRUPTION TO THE STUDENTS, TO THE FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND HOOVER.

WE CAN'T SHUT DOWN HOOVER FOR TWO YEARS AND RELOCATE STUDENTS.

THAT'S JUST NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR US.

AS YOU HEARD A MINUTE AGO, HOOVER CURRENTLY SERVES MORE THAN 400 STUDENTS.

SOME NEIGHBORS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT WE MOVE THOSE STUDENTS TO NEARBY SCHOOLS LIKE MAPLE GROVE OR WEST WILLOW.

THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE ROOM IN THOSE TWO SCHOOLS.

THERE JUST ISN'T ROOM.

WE CAN'T MOVE 400 STUDENTS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS MORE THAN JUST ABOUT CAPACITY OF A SCHOOL BUILDING.

HOOVER IS NOT JUST A BUILDING, IT'S A COMMUNITY ANCHOR.

IT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE A FOOD PANTRY, CLOTHING CLOSET, ELL CLASSES.

THESE ARE LIFELINES TO OUR FAMILIES IN THAT AREA.

DISRUPTING THOSE LIFELINES WOULD CREATE REAL HARDSHIP, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO.

WE BELIEVE THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS TO BUILD A NEW HOOVER ELEMENTARY ON THE CURRENT SITE.

IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, SO WE CAN CONTINUE SERVING OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES WITHOUT UNNECESSARY INTERRUPTION.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS REZONING REQUEST, SO WE CAN PROVIDE A SAFE, MODERN AND EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO THAT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. GARY DUSO, HERE TO SPEAK ON 31.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PERSONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS THAT WAS FROM THE JULY 8 MEETING.

TYLER OLSON COMMENTED THAT THE BIGGER PICTURE, WHAT OUR ROLES ARE, AND YOU CANNOT FORGET ABOUT THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THEM AS WELL, AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD BE TAKEN A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT.

NOT ONE NEIGHBOR HAS EVER SAID THAT THE SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE ON SITE.

WE ALL OUR NEIGHBORS ARE, INTERESTED IN THAT SCHOOL SITING.

I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 35 YEARS, I KNOW.

I'VE SEEN KIDS WALK BY MY SIDEWALK DAILY.

COUNCIL SCOTT OLSON SAID THE REZONING ARE WITH CONDITIONS.

WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE CONDITIONS WOULD BE IN WRITING.

WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING A REZONING OR A NEW SCHOOL BUILT.

I BELIEVE COUNSEL HOEGER SAID THAT THERE'S A PROCESS HERE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS OR SECOND AND THIRD READING, SO THERE IS TIME HERE TO WORK ON THAT.

THE NEIGHBORS HAVEN'T RECEIVED FINAL PLANS ON THE MOVING SCHOOL SITE? WE WERE TOLD IT'S GOING TO BE BY A CHAD, THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE MOVED SOUTHEAST.

WELL, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOUTHEAST OR NORTHEAST IS IT BEING FIVE FEET, TEN FEET.

WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY OF THAT.

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR THE ACCESS ROAD? THAT IS THE BIGGEST STORM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEING AFFECTED BY THIS.

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS OF RELOCATING THAT ACCESS ROAD WITH PLAN MODIFICATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL? CONGRATULATIONS TO VAN BUREN.

THEY HAVE AN ACCESS ROAD TAKEN AWAY,

[02:15:03]

AND THANK YOU FOR COUNCIL VAN ORNE FOR TAKING THE TIME AND LOOKING INTO THAT.

THANK YOU FOR HARRISON SCHOOL.

THEY'RE GOING TO ADD ONTO THE SCHOOL.

MY THOUGHT IS, HAS ANY OPTIONS EVER BEEN LOOKED AT, AND I'VE ASKED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, HAS ANY OPTIONS EVER BEEN LOOKED AT ON KEEPING THE HOOVER SCHOOL, ADDING A WING FOR THE FIFTH GRADERS WHO TODAY ARE IN THE TEMPORARY TRAILERS AND MOVING THOSE TEMPORARILY FIFTH GRADERS TO WILLOWWOOD, THERE IS ACCESS FOR THE FIFTH GRADERS TO BE THERE FOR TEMPORARY BASIS AND ADDING A WING ON TO HOOVER SCHOOL AND KEEPING EVERYTHING AS IT IS TODAY.

THE OTHER THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON, TOO, THE CAPACITY TO ABSORB THOSE STUDENTS.

THE ACCESS ROAD.

KEEP IN MIND THAT ACCESS ROAD WHICH IS GOING TO BE 20 FEET FROM OUR PROPERTY LINE, IS GOING TO BE USED FOR DELIVERY TRUCKS, BUSES, DROP OFF STUDENTS, AND THE TRASH PICKUP IS DONE.

I KNOW, I LIVE THERE, IS DONE BY, 4:30, MAYBE 5:00 A.M.

THE FOOD DELIVERY IS DONE, PROBABLY 6:00 TO 6:30, FOLLOWED THEN WITH THE MORNING BUS TRAFFIC.

THERE ALSO THAT ACCESS DRIVEWAY IS THERE 20 FEET FROM OUR PROPERTY.

WE'RE NOT ONLY IN THE WINTERTIME, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING SNOW REMOVAL VEHICLES UP AND DOWN THAT TRAFFIC LINE AS WELL.

MAKING A LOT OF NOISE, A LOT OF POLLUTION THAT'S GOING TO BE HEARD INSIDE OUR HOME AND OUTSIDE, AND THE EXTREME LOSS OF PRIVACY WITH THAT ACCESS ROAD.

THERE HAS TO BE A WAY THAT THERE CAN BE A DIFFERENT ACCESS ROAD.

WILLOWWOOD HAS CREST RIDGE AVENUE, PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE FOR THEIR ACCESS TO UNLOAD STUDENTS AND FOR PICKING UP TRASH SO THERE HAS TO BE AN OPTION.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE TODAY THAT I SEE AS WELL.

HAS THE SCHOOL MET ALL REQUIREMENTS? NO. THEY HAVE NOT MET ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REQUIREMENTS.

WE'RE NOT AGAINST THE SCHOOL, WE'RE NOT AGAINST THE EDUCATION, BUT THE SCHOOL PLAN DESIGN NEEDS TO BE COMPLIMENTARY WITH US AS NEIGHBORS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU. DR. TWANA GROVER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR O'DONNELL AND CITY COUNCIL.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR CITY, AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PATRONS AND OUR CITIZENS TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN SHARE THEIR CONCERNS AND COLLABORATING WITH US AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

CHAD IS NOT HERE TONIGHT, TONIGHT IS A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT FOR HIM.

BUT HE'S ALREADY DEMONSTRATED ALONG WITH OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION AND OUR ADMINISTRATION THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH OUR STUDENTS, WITH OUR STAFF MEMBERS, OUR PARENTS, BUT ALSO OUR NEIGHBORS.

THIS HAS PRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PAUSE AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OPTIONS.

SOME OF THEM, MAYBE THEY ARE APPROACHABLE, SOME OF THEM ARE NOT.

YOU WORK WITH THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS ALL THE TIME AND UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE COMPLEXITIES THAT WE'RE FACING.

AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, A FEW POINTS THAT I DO WANT TO MAKE IS THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR US TO REMAIN AT THE HOOVER SITE.

WE DO HAVE ABOUT 500 STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE OVER AT HOOVER, AND WE DO NOT HAVE CAPACITY AT OUR OTHER SCHOOLS TO ABSORB THOSE STUDENTS, NOT TO MENTION THE DISRUPTION AND THE TRAVEL THAT IT WILL POSE ON OUR FAMILIES.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL CONTINUE, NOT JUST TONIGHT, BUT ONGOING.

AS COUNCILMAN TODD SAID, THERE WERE A FEW LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

AS WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH OUR STAFF, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBORS ON THE FRONT END AND THAT THEY ARE A KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUP GOING FORWARD.

MY GOAL HERE TONIGHT AS THE SUPERINTENDENT IS JUST TO ASSURE YOU, NUMBER ONE, THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE, AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD WITH OUR NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. DON CLARK, HERE TO SPEAK ON 31.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DON CLARK.

I LIVE ON CLIVE DRIVE, SO MY PROPERTY IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW HOOVER.

[02:20:04]

I HAD SPOKE BEFORE ABOUT THE DIKE THAT'S ON THAT PROPERTY NOW.

AS THE CURRENT PROPOSAL LIES, THEY'RE GOING TO REMOVE THAT DIKE.

I HAVE NOTHING TO RETAIN THE STORM WATER THAT'S FLOWING TOWARDS MY RESIDENTS.

I WAS OUT OF TOWN LAST WEEKEND, AND I GET ALERT, LINN COUNTY'S ENTER A FLOOD WATCH.

FIRST THING I THINK OF, THAT DIKE IS GONE, MY HOUSE IS FLOODED.

I HAD ISAAC COME OUT BACK IN JUNE, EARLY JUNE, HE LOOKED IT OVER.

HAVEN'T HEARD A THING. HAVEN'T HEARD, NOBODY'S COME TO ME.

NOBODY'S REACHED OUT TO SAY, HEY, CAN YOU SHOW US WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? NOBODY. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A NEW SCHOOL.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T MAKE IT WORSE THAN WHAT IT ALREADY IS.

WHENEVER WE GET A TWO, THREE INCH RAIN, I CAN JUST SEE THIS WATER FLOWING RIGHT TOWARDS OUR PROPERTIES.

WE DID HAVE A MEETING JULY 8, I BELIEVE IT WAS WITH CHAD. I ASKED HIM.

YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE THAT DIKE, WHAT'S GOING TO PROTECT OUR PROPERTIES? MY NEIGHBOR HAS AN IN GROUND POOL. SHE HAD PLANT.

SHE GOT THE OKAY FROM THE CEDAR RAPIDS SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PLANT SOME TREES ON THERE AND HE SAID THAT SOMETHING ABOUT PUTTING UP A SILK FENCE.

WELL, THAT MIGHT HOLD BACK MUD OR DEBRIS, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HOLD BACK THE WATER.

MY NEIGHBOR ASKED, SO IF MY POOL GETS FLOODED, IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING TO PAY FOR IT? CHAD SAID, YES. I BROUGHT IT UP.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT MY BASEMENT? HE SAID THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD COVER MY COST TO REPAIR MY HOUSE.

I'M LIKE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT FOR ONE, BUT IF THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ANSWER TO PROTECTING OUR PROPERTIES, THEN WE'LL HOLD THEM TO THAT.

BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR SOMEBODY TO COME TO MY HOUSE, GO OUT BACK, SHOW THEM WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, WHAT MY NEIGHBORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, AND TRY TO WORK THIS OUT.

BUT THE WAY THAT IT'S CURRENTLY PROPOSED, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

I WOULD HONOR ANYBODY TO COME TO MY HOUSE, AND I CAN SHOW THEM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. GREG CANS, HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 31.

>> GREG CANS WITH SHY FATERY.

CHAD SCHUMACHER DESERVES A VACATION THIS WEEK, SO HE'S OFF THIS WEEK, AND REALLY I'VE BEEN HIS PLUS ONE ON MANY THINGS AND REALLY ADMIRE HIS ABILITY TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE'S INPUT.

I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE HOOVER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

OUR DESIGN STAFF HAS SEEN AN AMAZING FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS, PARENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND STAFF.

THE DESIGN YOU SEE IS GOING TO BE INFUSED FROM THEIR INPUT ON THE PROCESS.

IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING PROCESS WE'VE BEEN DOCUMENTING.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF AN EXCELLENT NEW SCHOOL AS WE GO FORWARD.

THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN AN AMAZING THING, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TO HELP US THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WELL, THE REPRESENTATIVES, THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, AND ONGOING DIALOGUE.

AS WE LOOK AT THE DESIGN FROM THEIR INPUT, WE'RE SEEING OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE THE NEW DRIVE FOOTPRINT FIVE TO TEN FEET AS FAR NORTH AND WEST AS POSSIBLE IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INPUT.

AGAIN, CHAD IS GETTING THOSE NEW PLANS, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS AND TALK THROUGH THOSE OPTIONS AS WE GO FORWARD.

BUT AGAIN, THROUGH THE CITY, OUR CONSTITUENTS AT THE SCHOOL AND THE NEIGHBORS, THIS IS THE CUMULATIVE PROCESS TO INFORM THE DESIGN AS WE GO FORWARD.

AGAIN, OUR ONGOING COMMITMENTS ARE TO CO DESIGN EFFORTS WITH THE NEIGHBORS WITH FENCING, LANDSCAPING, VISUAL SCREENING, TALKING THROUGH THE STORMWATER ISSUES.

THEN LOOKING AT THE TREE CANOPY PRESERVATION ENHANCEMENT, AND THEN GUIDED BY THE CITY CODE, LOOK AT ANY REPLANTING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

THEN CONTINUE THIS ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THROUGH DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. IS IT CHRIS GATES? NO.

ANTHONY BETTERS, YOU ALREADY SPOKE.

KATE HOGUE ALREADY SPOKE.

LINDA HENSMAN, HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 31.

[02:25:01]

>> GOOD EVENING. I GUESS IT'S EVENING NOW.

I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO NOT DO THE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS TODAY.

JUST DO THE SECOND, LEAVE THE THIRD UNTIL A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING.

I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE VAN BUREN FOR GETTING WHAT THEY WANTED.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM CHAD VERY MUCH AT ALL.

I UNDERSTAND HE'S ON VACATION THIS WEEK, BUT UP UNTIL THIS WEEK, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING EXCEPT WHERE WE HEARD THAT THE ACCESS ROAD MIGHT MOVE TO THE SOUTH AND THE EAST.

NOW, THE SHIVE-HATTERY GENTLEMAN SAID TO THE NORTH AND THE WEST.

FIVE TO TEN FEET, WHAT IS IT? WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY CONCRETE INFORMATION ON THAT.

IT'S LIKE, WE'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

WE FEEL LIKE WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HEARD AT ALL IF WE WOULDN'T HAVE STARTED COMING TO THESE MEETINGS.

NO ONE REACHED OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS, AND THAT HAS BEEN THE MAIN PROBLEM.

ALSO, ANOTHER NEIGHBOR RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM CHAD ON FRIDAY THAT SAID THAT THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT AT HOOVER IS 413, NOT 500.

I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO NOT DO BOTH READINGS TODAY TO SAVE THE THIRD READING FOR A FUTURE MEETING. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SARAH HINSMAN.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AT THE LAST MEETING WE ATTENDED, YOU ASKED US TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON HOW THE NEIGHBORS WERE BEING INCLUDED IN THE REBUILDING PLANS FOR HOOVER SCHOOL.

LAST WEEK, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DELAYED APPROVAL OF THE FINAL DESIGNS FOR HOOVER, BASED ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FEEDBACK, AND WE DO SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU HEARING US OUT ON THAT.

HOWEVER, SINCE THAT TIME, COMMUNICATION AFTER THAT ACTION HAS BEEN PRETTY VAGUE.

AS OF TODAY, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE TIMELINE IS FOR FUTURE DESIGN APPROVAL AND BIDDING.

WE RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM BOARD PRESIDENT GARLOCK, EMPHASIZING THE DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS AS PROPER CONSTITUENTS OF THE REBUILD.

ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THAT APPROACH WOULD HAVE BEEN PREFERRED, MONTHS AGO BEFORE THE DESIGN PLANS WERE FINALIZED, AND THEN PERHAPS WE ALL WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

THIS IS MY THIRD COUNCIL MEETING IN A ROW ADVOCATING.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY MR. SCHUMACHER THAT THE NEW BUILDING IS BEING MOVED FARTHER AWAY FROM PROPERTY LINES, BUT WE DON'T KNOW ANY SPECIFICS YET.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY UPDATED DESIGNS, AND WE HAVE ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION.

AS OF TODAY, THAT INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN OFFERED TO US.

UNLIKE, THE VAN BUREN NEIGHBORHOODS, WHO I CONGRATULATE WHOLEHEARTEDLY IF THEY'RE STILL HERE.

UNLIKE THOSE NEIGHBORS, WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR HOOVER'S LAND USE THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE OUR CONCERNS, AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY IN-PERSON VISITS SINCE THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING.

I HAVE REACHED OUT AND SAT DOWN WITH HOOVER PRINCIPAL STONE AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRACY ELLERT WHO'S ALSO A HOOVER TEACHER TO HELP MAKE OUR POSITION CLEAR THAT WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.

WE AS NEIGHBORS ALSO WANT TO MAKE A POSITIVE TANGIBLE IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL GOING FORWARD.

BUT WE NEED, AND WE HAVE REQUESTED COMPROMISES FROM THE PROJECT LEADS REGARDING THE ACCESS ROAD, THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AND A MEANINGFUL REPLACEMENT OF RYAN ALIFFS MEMORIAL AMONG OTHER CONCERNS.

SINCE THESE COMPROMISES HAVE NOT BEEN OFFERED TO US AS OF TODAY, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, OUR TRUST HAS NOT BEEN REBUILT YET.

I ASK THAT YOU TABLE OR VOTE NO, ON THE REZONING OF 4141 JOHNSON AVENUE, NORTHWEST, UNTIL WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED MORE CONCRETE INFORMATION AND HAVE HAD TIME TO REVIEW IT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A THIRD READING WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TODAY GIVEN THAT WE HAVE NOT MADE PROGRESS WITH THE DISTRICT ON OUR CONCERNS.

WE'RE REALLY PLEASED, FOR THE ACTION REGARDING HARRISON AND VAN BUREN, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE DISTRICT WORK WITH US AS SUBSTANTIVELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. MINOUCHE.

>> GREETINGS, EVERYBODY.

BONJOUR. MY NAME IS MINOUCHE BANDUBUILA.

[02:30:01]

I'M THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR AT HOOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I WANT FIRST TO THANK EVERYBODY AND TO ALLOW US TO COME HERE TODAY.

HOOVER IS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, AS YOU KNOW.

IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILY, STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHO WE ARE.

WE HAVE OVER 437 STUDENTS, AND WE HAVE 91% OF OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE DISTRICT.

ALSO 85% OF OUR STUDENTS THEY ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR, AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 23 COUNTRY REPRESENTED AT HOOVER, AND ALSO MORE THAN 24 LANGUAGES SPOKEN AT HOOVER.

WITH ALL THE 24, I SPEAK FIVE.

AS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, WE PARTNER WITH OVER 50 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

FOR WHAT WE DO, WE NEED ASSESSMENTS.

WE LISTEN TO OUR FAMILIES.

FOR WHAT WE DID, THE NEED ASSESSMENT FOR LAST TERM WE HAD 100% OF OUR STAFF PARTICIPATION, 100% OF OUR STUDENT PARTICIPATION, AND ALSO 97% OF OUR PARENT PARTICIPATION.

TO THE NEED ASSESSMENT, THAT'S HOW WE IDENTIFY THE NEED OF OUR STUDENTS AND ALSO TRY TO HELP THEM.

ONE THING I WANTED TO TALK SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR NEED ASSESSMENT FOR THE PARENT.

WHEN I STARTED, THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR.

ONE THING I NOTICED WAS A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE MEDICAID.

OUR PARENTS THEY SAID TO THE NEED ASSESSMENTS.

THEY WANTED THE HOOVER TO BE LIKE A HARBOR OF THE COMMUNITY, WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GET SERVICES.

FOR MY DEEP SEARCH, AND I FOUND OUT A LOT OF OUR PARENTS THEY'RE WORKING FAR AWAY, THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO COME TO THE BUILDING DURING NORMAL TIME TO GET THOSE SERVICES.

WE WERE ABLE TO TALK WITH A LOT OF ORGANIZATION, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET EIGHT ORGANIZATION, THEY'RE WILLING TO COME TO HOOVER ON SATURDAY TO PROVIDING SERVICES SUCH AS MEDICAID, FOOD STAMP, PUBLIC HEALTH, LEGAL AID, IMMIGRATION SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH CLASSES, ALL THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THEY'RE COMING ON SATURDAY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR FAMILIES.

SINCE THEN, I CAN TELL YOU AS NOW, WE HAVE ZERO STUDENTS WHO THEY DON'T HAVE MEDICAID.

ALL OF THEM THEY HAVE INSURANCE.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THOSE PARTNERSHIP.

BESIDE THAT, WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR FAMILIES.

WE HAVE FOOD PANTRY AT SCHOOL, WE HAVE CLOTHING DRIVE AT SCHOOL, AND ALSO FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE HAVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

WE DO SOCCER, WE DO STEM CLUB, WE HAVE A RUNNING CLUB, WE HAVE ADULT ENGLISH CLASS THAT'S HAPPENING EVERY TUESDAY AT THE SCHOOL.

ALSO, WE HAVE PARENTING CLASSES THAT WE PARTNER WITH YOUNG PARENT NETWORK; THEY'RE HAPPENING EVERY THURSDAY AT THE SCHOOL.

FOR ME, AS RIGHT NOW, I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S NO SPACE AT HOOVER.

I HOLD MY SPACE IN ONE OF THE CLASSROOM INSIDE OF HOOVER, AND AS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ADDING ANOTHER SECTION FOR KINDERGARTEN JUST BECAUSE OUR NUMBERS KEEPING GROWING, AND I HAVE TO MOVE OUT TO THE BUILDING TO BE OUTSIDE THE PORTABLES.

WE WERE THERE TODAY WITH THE PRINCIPAL, MR. STONE.

HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN PUT ALL THE STUFF I HAVE FOR THE FOOD PANTRY.

THE OTHER WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE WELCOME ALL NEW STUDENT AT HOOVER.

ONE THING WE ARE DOING WE CALL THE PARENT IF WE HAVE A NEW STUDENT, AND WE GO TO DO A HOME VISIT.

THROUGH THE HOME VISIT, THAT'S HOW WE ARE BUILDING TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WITH OUR PARENTS, AND WE ARE BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP.

ONE OF THE EXAMPLE I CAN EVEN SAY THROUGH THE WELCOMING NEW STUDENT, THIS YEAR WE'RE ADDING, WE ARE GOING WITH A TEACHER TO THOSE MEETINGS.

SOMETIMES THE HOME VISIT CAN TAKE 15 MINUTES, ONE HOUR, TWO HOURS, IT DEPENDS ON THE NEED WE'RE GOING TO FIND THERE.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PRINCIPAL, MR. STONE ALWAYS ALLOWED US TO COVER A ROOM AND FOR A TEACHER TO BE OUT WITH ME TO DO THOSE HOME VISIT.

ONE OF THE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE I HAVE, WE DID A HOME VISIT WITH ONE OF OUR SECOND-GRADE TEACHER.

I SEE IT'S ALREADY RED.

[02:35:02]

>> [FOREIGN]

>> OKAY. ELIS KITTLEMEN.

CURTIS MEANS.

ISAAC HODGINS.

>> EVENING. I'M ISAAC HODGINS WITH SHIVE-HATTERY.

MY ADDRESS IS 1612, 30TH STREET COURT NORTHWEST HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

I AM THE LEAD CIVIL ENGINEER ON BOTH THE VAN BUREN AND HOOVER PROJECTS.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO HOOVER.

THAT PUBLIC HEARING WAS ALREADY DONE, BUT WITH VAN BUREN, OR EXCUSE ME, I SHOULD SAY THAT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD ON VAN BUREN, BUT WITH HOOVER.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT NOT BEING INFORMED.

JUST TO ADDRESS THAT, THE PLANS SCHEDULE-WISE CURRENTLY ARE IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, I BELIEVE, TO GET THE FINAL DESIGN COMPLETED FOR THE FIRST BID PACKAGE, AND THEN ALSO GET THAT APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THAT SAID, IF THE TARGET CONTINUES TO MOVE ON EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DESIGNING, ALL BETS ARE OFF ON THOSE SCHEDULES, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE AT THE DISTRICT CAN TELL YOU EITHER.

BUT THAT IS OUR HOPE.

AT THAT TIME, WE WILL HAVE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE CITIZENS.

THAT SAID, CHAD SCHUMACHER, I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE SOME UPDATE SCHEDULE.

IN THE MEANTIME, I TRY TO FUNNEL MY INFORMATION THROUGH HIM SO HE CAN BE IN CHARGE OF INFORMING THE RESIDENCES ACCORDINGLY.

JUST AS A NOTE WITH THAT, SO THE BIDDING OF THIS PROJECT IS PHASED.

THE FIRST BID PACKAGE.

ACTUALLY, THERE WAS WHAT WE CALL THE ZERO BID PACKAGE WAS FOR GEOTHERMAL WELLS, AND THOSE ARE BEING PUT INTO THE GROUND AND MAY ACTUALLY BE COMPLETED AT HOOVER.

THE FIRST BID PACKAGE IS GRADING AND UTILITY WORK, SO THAT'S MASS EARTHWORK, AND THEN WATER STORM, AND SANITARY PLACEMENT.

THE THIRD BID, OR EXCUSE ME, SECOND BID PACKAGE, IS THE FOUNDATIONS, THEN THE THIRD ONE IS THE BUILDING, AND BOTH OF THOSE TWO WILL BE DOWN THE ROADWAYS AS WELL.

THERE IS TIME EVEN AFTER THIS FIRST BID PACKAGE GOES IN FOR THE GRADING UTILITY WORK FOR INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS THE BEST SCHOOL POSSIBLE.

THAT'S MY STATEMENT. NOTHING ELSE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

>> THANK YOU. JUSTIN WHITTLE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JUSTIN WHITTLE.

I AM A PROFESSIONAL GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER WITH TERRACON CONSULTANTS HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PERFORM THE GEOTECHNICAL EVALUATION OF HOOVER, ALSO VAN BUREN, BUT HOOVER IS WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TONIGHT.

PART OF WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THEIR ENGINEERS ARE CONSIDERING RIGHT NOW IS VARIOUS ORIENTATIONS OF THE SITE LAYOUT, AND OF TOPIC THAT I'M HERE TO DISCUSS IS THEY'VE ASKED ME TO COMMENT ON PLACING THE SCHOOL OVER A PORTION OF THE EXISTING GEOTHERMAL WELL FIELD THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED 1990S, I BELIEVE.

BUT THE EXISTING WELL FIELD THAT'S FEEDING THE EXISTING HOOVER.

IN MY LINE OF WORK, GEOTHERMAL WELL FIELDS, WE GET THIS QUESTION OFTEN ABOUT, CAN WE BUILD ON THE GEOTHERMAL WELL FIELD? TYPICALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN GREEN SPACE, AND WE OFTEN RECOMMEND STRUCTURES NOT BE SUPPORTED OVER GEOTHERMAL WELL FIELDS.

MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION SHOULD NOT BE SUPPORTED OVER THE WELL FIELD DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR SOIL FOUNDATION-RELATED ISSUES POST-CONSTRUCTION, RESULTING IN MORE COSTLY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS.

ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, LINN-MAR SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILT A PARKING LOT AT OAK RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL OVER THE WELL FIELD, A GEOTHERMAL WELL FIELD.

VERTICAL WELL FIELD, SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY HAVE AT HOOVER CURRENTLY.

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF BEING IN OPERATION, A SINKHOLE STARTED TO DEVELOP BELOW THE PARKING LOT.

IT OCCURRED OVER ABOUT THREE YEARS.

FORTUNATELY, IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED OVER SPRING BREAK WHEN THE PARKING LOT WAS EMPTY, AND NOBODY WAS ACCESSING THE SCHOOL.

THE SINKHOLES THEY WERE ABOUT EIGHT FOOT DIAMETER, TEN FOOT DEEP, SO LARGE ENOUGH TO ENGULF OR SWALLOW A CAR.

I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT HAPPEN BELOW A SCHOOL.

[02:40:04]

FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF IN THE SCHOOL, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE WELL FIELD BE CONSTRUCTED ON TOP OF. THANK YOU.

>> CARTER. OKAY. DID ANYBODY ELSE SIGN UP THAT I DID NOT CALL ON? ANTHONY ARRINGTON, I DON'T HAVE YOU ON THIS LIST. ARE YOU ON ANOTHER? STAND BY. THAT'S LATER ON.

WE WILL HEAD AND CLOSE OUT OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

[INAUDIBLE], YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES?

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]

>> YOUR HONOR, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REQUEST REMOVAL OF ITEM 21B

>> ITEM 21 B, REMOVAL BY PUBLIC WORKS.

UNDERSTOOD. ANYTHING ELSE?

>> THAT'S ALL, YOUR HONOR.

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON ANYTHING? COUNCILMEMBER, HOEGER?

>> 18 D, PLEASE.

>> 18 D. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

THAT BRINGS US FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.

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

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MAIER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.

>> THOSE OPPOSED SAY, NO. THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL. MOVE ON NOW TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.

[24. Report on bids for the Riverfront Park 1 project (estimated cost is $290,000) (Steve Krug). CIP/DID #PUR0625-336 a. Resolution awarding and approving contract in the amount of $279,153.50, bond and insurance of Valentine Construction Company for the Riverfront Park 1 project.]

ITEM NUMBER 24 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE RIVERFRONT PARK 1 PROJECT WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $290,000.

STEVE KRUG IS HERE. STEVE, I RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

AS STATED, STEVE KRUG WITH PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.

HERE FOR A POUR ON BIDS AND A RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD FOR THE RIVERFRONT PARK 1 PROJECT.

THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RIVERFRONT PARK 1 AREA WILL INCLUDE A WALKWAY, A PLAZA WITH SEATING AREA, BENCHES, ADULT SWINGS, A DRINKING FOUNTAIN, NEW LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL LANDSCAPING, AND IRRIGATION.

BIDS WERE RECEIVED ON JULY 9 WITH A LOW BID OF 279,153.50.

A HIGH BID OF 384, 239.60, ESTIMATED PROJECT COST WAS 290,000.

THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO THE LOW BIDDER, VALENTINE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, FOR $279,153.50.

>> THANK YOU, STEVE. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TODD.

25 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE GTC PARKING RAMP REPAIRS PROJECT.

[25. Report on bids for the GTC Parking Ramp Repairs project (estimated cost is $343,000) (Jason Stancliffe). CIP/DID #PUR0625-337 a. Resolution awarding and approving contract in the amount of $350,000, bond and insurance of Western Specialty Contractors for the GTC Parking Ramp Repairs project.]

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $343.

JASON STANCLIFFE IS HERE.

JASON, I RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

JASON STANCLIFFE FOR THE FACILITIES, AND HERE FOR THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION CENTER PARKER AND PREPARE REPORT ON BIDS.

BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT WERE ISSUED ON JUNE 25.

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON JULY 8.

THE BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND OPENED ON JULY 9.

ESTIMATED COST FOR THE PROJECT WAS 343,000.

WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS, THE LOWEST AT $350,000 AND THE HIGHEST AT $448,358.

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SERVICES RECOMMENDS AWARD TO WESTERN SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS AS THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER AND RECOMMENDS THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AS DESCRIBED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JASON. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY.

26 IS A PRESENTATION AND RESOLUTION

[26. Presentation and resolution authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Housing Fund for Linn County for the operation of a Community Care Team and Margaret Bock Housing Collaborative Pilot Program (Laura Shaw). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CD-0075-2021]

AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSING FUND FOR LINN COUNTY FOR THE OPERATION OF A COMMUNITY CARE TEAM AND MARGARET BOCK HOUSING COLLABORATIVE PILOT PROGRAM.

LAURA SHAW IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.

LAURA, I RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THE HOMELESS SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS INVESTED IN.

SINCE 2015, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH LINN COUNTY TO PROVIDE OVERFLOW SHELTER SERVICES DURING WINTER MONTHS.

IN 2023, WE CONTRACTED WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS.

IT WAS A TWO-DAY WORKSHOP.

IT WAS WELL ATTENDED BY THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND LOCAL PROVIDERS.

IN 2024, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY JOINTLY FUNDED THE HOMELESS SYSTEMS MANAGER POSITION, WHICH IS MANAGED BY THE HOUSING FUND FOR LINN COUNTY.

IN 2024, WE ALSO INITIATED THE LANDLORD AND TENANT INCENTIVE PILOT PROGRAM WITH A GRANT FROM CEDAR RAPIDS BANK AND TRUST.

[02:45:02]

THESE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH THE HOMELESS SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND MULTIPLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

BUT THESE ARE ALL MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING HOUSING SOLUTIONS, AND THEY STILL REMAIN A COUNCIL PRIORITY.

THE MARGARET BOCK HOUSING COLLABORATIVE IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO TARGET INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

IT WILL IDENTIFY THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FOLKS THAT ARE ALSO HIGH USERS OF MEDICAL AND LEGAL SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WILL PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS WITH INTENSIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, AND THE GOAL IS TO STABILIZE INDIVIDUALS AND EVENTUALLY MOVE THEM INTO MARKET-RATE HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE MARGARET BOCK HOUSING, AND THE IDEA IS TO TRANSITION MARGARET BOCK HOUSING INTO A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.

IT'S LOCATED AT 1021 3RD AVENUE SOUTHEAST.

THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IS UP TO $104,000 PER YEAR TO FUND A CASE MANAGER, WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED BY HACAP.

THIS IS A THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT, AND IT'S USING EXISTING HOMELESS MANAGEMENT SERVICES BUDGET.

THIS WILL LEVERAGE FUNDING FROM THE HOUSING FUND FOR LINN COUNTY, WHICH IS WORKING TO PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE IN THIS PROGRAM THAT ARE LESS THAN 30% AMI IN OUR COMMUNITY.

RAPID REHOUSING DOLLARS THROUGH WAYPOINT, GENERAL ASSISTANCE WITH LINN COUNTY FOR RENT SUBSIDIES, AND THEN WRAP-AROUND SERVICES FROM ASAC, CRUSH, AND EASTERN IOWA HEALTH TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND OTHER CHALLENGES THAT SOME OF THESE FOLKS HAVE.

EXCUSE ME. WE'RE RECOMMENDING THIS APPROVAL AND ALLOWING THE AGREEMENT TO GO FORWARD. I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.

>> LAURA, THANK YOU. COUNCIL, QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER MAIER.

>> I'M SORRY. I GUESS I'M NOT CLEAR, LIKE, WHAT IS THE CHANGE THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE BUILDING AND THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDING PROVIDED.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU.

>> SURE. RIGHT NOW, THE BUILDING ITSELF, THE MARGARET BOCK BUILDING IT WON'T CHANGE THE WAY IT'S RUN.

WHAT IT WILL DO IS IT WILL ALLOW FOR IT TO BE AT CAPACITY MOST OF THE TIME, AT LEAST, THAT'S OUR HOPE AND IT WILL UTILIZE THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE HCAP WORKER THAT THIS WOULD FUND, WE'LL BE ON SITE FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THEY WILL HELP CONNECT FOLKS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS WITH SERVICES THAT UP TO THIS POINT, MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT WITH.

IT'LL HELP STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING, AND IT WILL ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE THE FUNDING FROM ALL OF THE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP AS THEY PAY RENTS AT MARGARET BOCK, AND THEN AS THEY'RE ABLE TO MOVE INTO MORE MARKET RATE OR OTHER OPTIONS.

IT'S NOT THAT MARGARET BOCK WILL BE CHANGING EXACTLY, IT WILL JUST TRANSITION FROM JUST OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO MORE FOCUSED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT IT WILL BE DESIGNED TO HELP.

>> GOT IT. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

THEN WHO OWNS THE BUILDING?

>> MARGARET BOCK, IT IS A NONPROFIT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A SPECIFIC PERSON, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT IN.

>> THAT'S OKAY. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHO ON IT.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY.

>> THANKS, MAYOR. LAURA, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE REQUIREMENTS HERE? WE YOU'RE ITEMIZING ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PERFECT.

HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IN PERPETUITY.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR.

THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT PHENOMENAL FEEDBACK ABOUT CRUSH.

ASAC IS SUCH AN ESTABLISHMENT OF CEDAR RAPIDS, BUT OBVIOUSLY EASTERN IRA DOES SUCH A NICE JOB.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS AND HCAP HAS REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND BEEN A PHENOMENAL PLAYER IN HELPING DO EXACTLY THIS.

THIS KEY PART ABOUT RAPID REHOUSING AND THE MANAGEMENT OF IS ONE VERY DIFFICULT, AND ALSO ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL THINGS THAT WE LEARNED FROM OUR NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS.

ALSO THIS INVESTMENT JUST CONTINUES TO BE A REALLY PIVOTAL PART OF THAT.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE GET TO IS SOMEBODY NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE SERVICES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO BUILD UP EXIST AND THEY'RE CALLING AT THE 11TH HOUR.

BUT IT'S LIKE 12 PEOPLE CALLING AT THE 11TH HOUR.

[02:50:03]

THAT'S ALSO JUST VERY HUMAN, AND THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENS.

IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL VISCERAL LATE RESPONSE.

I AM JUST FEELING SO GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS THAT YOU ALL ARE SO DARN GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED, CANNOT ELEVATE ENOUGH HOW CRITICAL IT IS WHEN MARO DANA TALKS ABOUT HOW WE ARE INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THE INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE IN RECOVERY SERVICES IN THOSE SUBSTANCE USE, ADDRESSING THAT AND WELCOMING PEOPLE IN TO STAY HERE AND GET BETTER.

IT'S SO CRITICAL TO KEEPING PEOPLE SOLVENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO US.

THANK YOU.

LORD, JUST ONE QUESTION THOUGH.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST THE RED FLAG, 104,000 FOR A CASE MANAGER.

>> IT'S A GOOD CASE MANAGER.

>> IT'S A COMBINATION. IT'S AN ENTIRE FULL TIME POSITION SO THAT'S BENEFITS, IT'S SALARY, AND THERE'S A SMALL ADMINISTRATION FEE THAT WOULD GO.

>> THAT'S A GOOD CASE MANAGER.

>> YES, I HOPE SO.

>> IN TERMS OF THE OWNERSHIP STAYS IN TERMS OF MARGARET BOCK NONPROFIT, THAT STAYS.

BUT THE CASE MANAGER. THANKS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER OLSON.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. AGAIN, THIS IS A BUILDING THAT WAS CONVERTED BACK IN THE MID 90S AND I WAS THE ARCHITECT FOR IT AND LED THAT EFFORT.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT TYPE OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

I WAS THE FIRST TYPE IN THE STATE OF IOWA.

I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCE NOW IS IT BECAME ITS OWN NONPROFIT, MOVED AWAY FROM THE ACADICAL CENTER.

IT'S FREESTANDING, AND THEY'VE KEPT THE BUILDING IN GREAT SHAPE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE SERVICES THAT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE, AND SOME OF WORKED WELL AND BEEN A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND MOVED ON, BUT THEY DON'T GET THE COUNSELING SERVICE.

THEY HAVE HELPERS THERE, VOLUNTEERS BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME THING.

I THINK THIS PROGRAM WILL TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL TO MAKE MORE OF THESE PEOPLE SUCCESSFUL IN CONVERSIONS.

THEIR RENTS ARE UNBELIEVABLY LOW.

THE BUILDINGS IN GREAT SHAPE, DEDICATED GROUP OF NONPROFIT VOLUNTEERS.

I THINK IT'S A PERFECT FIT.

IT'S NEAR ALL THE SERVICES THAT THESE PEOPLE USE IN THE AREA, AND I THINK IT JUST TAKES IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

IT DOESN'T COST AS MUCH BECAUSE THE COST OF BUILDING SOMETHING LIKE THIS TODAY IS SO OUT OF WHACK, THAT I THINK WE SHOULD SEE GREATER SUCCESS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH THAT BOARD.

THEY'RE REALLY DEDICATED PEOPLE.

IT'LL BE JUST A PERFECT FIT.

I'M JUST EXCITED.

I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS EFFORT, AND PLEASED THAT THE TWO, WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON CAN BUILD ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S ALREADY THERE, AND SO THINGS CAN HAPPEN FASTER THAN STARTING OVER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, ADOPTED THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY OVERLAND.

>> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. THIS MOTION PASSES.

TWENTY SEVEN IS A PRESENTATION AND RESOLUTION,

[27. Presentation and resolution accepting a proposal from Time Check, LLC for the redevelopment of seven City-owned properties along Ellis Boulevard NW and 6th Street NW near Time Check Park (Jeff Wozencraft). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #PRD-000177-2025]

ACCEPTING A PROPOSAL FROM TIMECK LLC IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF SEVEN CITY OWNED PROPERTIES ALONG ELLIS BOULEVARD, NORTHWEST AND SIX STREET NORTHWEST NEAR TIMECK PARK.

JEFF WOSENCRAFT IS HERE.

JEFF I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JEFF WOSENCRAFT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO AWARD REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AT ELLIS AND J AVENUE, NORTHWEST.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WITH ALL OF THE PARCELS LINED OUT.

THE AWARD TODAY IS FOCUSING ON THIS SECTION BETWEEN J AVENUE AND I AVENUE ALONG ELLIS AND SIXTH STREET.

THE PROPOSALS IN GENERAL COVERED 15 PARCELS.

THEY'RE ALL VACANT LOTS IN A MYRIAD OF ZONING FROM URBAN VILLAGE GENERAL, URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL, AND TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE UNIT.

ALL OF THEM HAVE ACCESS TO CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEY WERE ALL ACQUIRED POST FLOOD THEY'RE ALSO ALL LOCATED IN 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN AND WE NEED TO MEET OUR FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE WHEN REDEVELOPED.

THE SITE IN QUESTION IS THIS ONE IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND PORTION OF THE SLIDE.

HERE ARE THE OTHER SITES AS A PART OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROPOSAL WERE TO ALIGN WITH OUR NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN, WHICH CALLED FOR A HIGHER INTENSITY OF HOUSING ALONG ELLIS BOULEVARD, A PREFERENCE FOR HOUSING DESIGN THAT MEETS OUR ZONING REQUIREMENTS IN THIS CASE, URBAN FORM, AND THEY SHOULD ALSO CONTEMPLATE PAVING HALF WIDTH OF THE ADJACENT ALLEY AND THEN BE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.

[02:55:01]

REMINDER OF THE MAXFIELD HOUSING STUDY OF THE GAPS THAT WE NEED TO FILL.

THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CONSIDER.

THERE WERE TWO PROPOSALS FOR J AVENUE AND I AVENUE ALONG ELLIS BOULEVARD.

STAFF AND THE PROPOSAL REVIEW GROUP ARE RECOMMENDING A PROPOSAL BY TIME CHECK LLC FOR A 36 UNIT TOWN HOME CONSTRUCTION.

THEIR MARKET RATE UNITS, MIX OF TWO BEDROOM AND ONE BEDROOM UNITS.

THEY DID MAKE A NOTE TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO INCORPORATE THE HEALTHY AND ESTABLISHED TREES INTO THEIR FINAL DESIGN.

A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IF SO, AWARDED BY CITY COUNCIL WOULD COME TO THE COUNCIL AT A FUTURE MEETING.

HERE ARE SOME RENDERINGS FROM THE PROPOSAL.

THIS WOULD BE FROM J AVENUE, LOOKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE SITE ALONG ELLIS HERE ON THE BOTTOM, AND THEN ANOTHER STREET VIEW SITE PLAN.

J AVENUE HERE ON THE TOP OF THE IMAGE, ELLIS BOULEVARD ON THE LEFT AND SIXTH STREET, NORTHWEST ON THE RIGHT.

THE REVIEW GROUP, IT WAS COMPOSED OF CITY STAFF, NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE, A NON COMPETING DEVELOPER AND A COMMERCIAL LENDING PROFESSIONAL.

THE GROUP UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THE PROJECT BY TIME CHECK LLC DUE TO THE FEASIBILITY AND CAPACITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

THE TIMELINE HERE WAS INITIATED ON APRIL 22.

PROPOSALS WERE DUE ON JUNE 20 TODAY, WE'RE HERE FOR THE AWARD CONSIDERATION.

IN THE FUTURE, A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY WOULD COME TO CITY COUNCIL AT A SEPARATE MEETING.

WITH THAT STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO AWARD THE PARCELS AND AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH T CHECK LLC.

WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO THE MAYOR.

>> THANKS, JEFF. COUNCILMAN BINARY.

>> THANKS, MAYOR. CAN YOU GO TO THE AERIAL AGAIN? A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS AREA A FEW TIMES TODAY AT COUNCIL, AND I KNOW THAT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT 360 DESIGN.

I THINK THAT GIVEN OUR COMMITMENT TO DENSITY AND DOING INFILL, I THINK THIS REALLY DOES MEET THE, WHAT WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT AND HAVE HOPED FOR IN THAT.

IT JUST FURTHER REITERATES THE DIGGING IN OF OUR HEELS, SO TO SPEAK REGARDING HARRISON, BECAUSE YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE FAMILIES LIVING IN THIS AREA, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY WHETHER PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS SEE THE VISION OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS.

THESE ARE LONG RECOVERY PERIODS THAT WE HAVE 17 YEARS LATER REBUILDING THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT I THINK THIS FITS IN REALLY WELL WITH WHAT WE WERE HOPING FOR AND BUILDS THAT DENSITY AND HELPS US REPAIR SOME OF THESE PARCELS THAT WE HAVE LONG AWAITED TO PUT RESIDENTS BACK INTO.

REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PROPOSAL.

>> WELL SAID. ANYONE ELSE? SEE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY VANORNY, SECONDED BY POE.

TWENTY EIGHT IS A PRESENTATION AND RESOLUTION

[28. Presentation and resolution accepting a proposal from Homeward Bound, LLC for the redevelopment of seven City-owned properties along 22nd Avenue SW (Jeff Wozencraft). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #PRD-000121-2025]

ACCEPTING A PROPOSAL FROM HOMEWARD BOUND, LLC, AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF SEVEN CITY OWNED PROPERTIES ALONG 22ND AVENUE, SOUTHWEST.

JEFF, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JEFF WOSENCRAFT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

ANOTHER RESOLUTION TO AWARD DISPOSITION HERE.

THE PARCELS IN QUESTION, THIS IS 22ND AVENUE, SOUTHWEST, CUL DE SAC.

MOUNT TRASH MORE IS OVER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN CHECK VILLAGE WOULD BE OVER TO THE LEFT.

LITTLE OVERVIEW ON THE SITE CHARACTERISTICS, A LITTLE OVER AN ACRE.

THERE ARE EIGHT PARCELS IN TOTAL.

THEY'RE ALL VACANT LOTS IN OUR URBAN VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL, WHICH ALLOWS FOR A SMALL SCALE MULTI UNIT DEVELOPMENT.

THEY ALL HAVE ACCESS TO CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY WERE ACQUIRED IN 2010, AND AGAIN, THEY ARE ALL LOCATED IN THE FLOODPLAIN, SO THEY WILL NEED TO MEET OUR FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE.

SOME STREET VIEW.

THE OBJECTIVES HERE ALIGNMENT WITH THE CZECH VILLAGE, NEW BOHEMIA AREA ACTION PLAN.

WE HAVE A CUTOUT FROM THE PLAN HERE SHOWING MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE RFP IS A PREFERENCE FOR HOUSING.

AGAIN, DESIGN THAT MEETS THAT URBAN VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL ZONE DISTRICT, CONTEMPLATING THE HALF WIDTH OF PAVING THE ADJACENT ALLEY AND PROJECTS THAT ARE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.

AGAIN, TRYING TO FILL THOSE GAPS THAT WE SEE IN OUR MAXFIELD HOUSING STUDY.

THE PROPOSAL HERE, THE CITY RECEIVED ONE COMPLETE PROPOSAL FROM HOMEWARD BOUND LLC.

IT WAS FOR 12 UNIT TOWN HOME CONSTRUCTION, MIX OF MARKET RATE RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP PROPERTIES, A MIX OF TWO AND THREE BEDROOM.

THEY NOTED ENERGY EFFICIENT MATERIALS AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ALLEY.

[03:00:03]

AGAIN, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WOULD COME TO CITY COUNCIL AT A FUTURE MEETING.

HERE ARE SOME RENDERINGS HERE FROM 22ND AVENUE, SOUTHWEST.

A SITE PLAN SHOWING TOWN HOMES ALONG 22ND AVENUE, SOUTHWEST, AND THEN SOME FRONTING C STREET HERE.

THE REVIEW GROUP WAS COMPOSED OF CITY STAFF, CHECK VILLAGE, NEW BOHEMIA SCHMIDT REPRESENTATIVE, NON COMPETING DEVELOPER, AND COMMERCIAL LENDING PROFESSIONAL.

THE GROUP UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THIS PROJECT.

REVIEW OF THE TIMELINE.

I WAS INITIATED IN MARCH 20 25TH.

PROPOSALS WERE DUE ON MAY 25.

WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR THE AWARD CONSIDERATION, AND A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY WOULD HAPPEN AT A LATER DATE.

WITH THAT, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, AWARDING HOMEWARD BOUND LLC AND AUTHORIZING STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THAT ASPECT TO THAT.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MEYER.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS FOR THAT UPDATE.

ANY IDEA WHY THERE WAS ONLY ONE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED?

>> DEVELOPMENT IN THE FLOODPLAIN IS TOUGH AND THESE SMALLER SITES IT CAN BE AN ODD GAP TO FILL IN TERMS OF MEETING COST AND THE FEASIBILITY OF A PROJECT.

I THINK AS WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA, WE'LL START TO SEE MORE AND MORE INTEREST IN DEVELOPING SOME OF THESE SMALLER SCALE LOTS, BUT IT CAN BE TOUGH TO DO THESE SMALLER SCALE PROJECTS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY.

>> THANKS, MAYOR. JEFF, CAN YOU GO TO THE AERIAL THAT ALSO HAS THE RIVER BEHIND IT? RIGHT THERE.

I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG MEETING AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF HARD THINGS TODAY, BUT I THINK THERE'S JUST SOMETHING REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND ALSO VERY CHISME ABOUT THIS BEING CALLED HOMEWARD BOUND.

ALBEIT MISSING MILO AND OTIS IN THIS PICTURE.

THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL HERE THAT WE ARE AT THIS STAGE THAT ALL THE WORK THAT ROB AND TEAMS AND ALL THE CITY HELP HANDS IN HAVE GOTTEN TO GET US HERE, WHERE WE NOW HAVE SO MANY CONCURRENT PROJECTS, AND I WISH THAT THERE WAS ALMOST ANOTHER AERIAL THAT TOOK IT OUT FURTHER TO JUST TALK ABOUT HOW MANY CONCURRENT PROJECTS RIGHT HERE ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

THOSE HOMES ARE REALLY EXCEPTIONAL, AND THE FACT THAT THEY COULD WALK UP TO HIVE OR HAD MY FIRST JOB AND THAT THEY COULD WALK DOWN TO THE PROMENADE, THAT THEY COULD GO AND HIKE AND DO THE MOUNT TRASHMORE CHALLENGE.

I MEAN, THESE ARE JUST THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON HERE, BUT I JUST WANT US TO TAKE A MOMENT AS WE ARE ALL PROBABLY EXCITED TO GET HOME AND DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO YET TODAY.

GET HOME TO OUR FAMILIES. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THIS IS A BIG MILESTONE TO PUT HOMES BACK IN BOTH OF THESE CONCURRENT FLOOD PLAINS AND BRING PEOPLE HOME. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMAN MEYER ASKED A GOOD QUESTION, WHY WE ONLY HAD ONE PROPOSAL.

WE DO BUILD AND WE ACTUALLY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB AT BUILDING IN PLACES LIKE THIS.

I'M CURIOUS TO THAT.

BUT ANOTHER QUESTION IS SIMPLY ABOUT PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY.

DON'T KNOW WHO THE HELL HOMEWARD BOUND IS.

IT'S AN LLC. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHO THESE LLCS ARE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT.

BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THEIR TRACK RECORD, UNDERSTANDING THEIR FINANCIAL CAPACITY, UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUCCESS RATE, UNDERSTANDING THEIR ABILITY TO BUILD IN PLACES LIKE THIS.

I THINK SOMEHOW WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

I'LL COME OUT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

WE WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT BY THEN, WE'VE ALREADY AWARDED THE AWARD.

JUST FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, YOU CAN SPEAK WITH LEGAL AND DEVELOPMENT AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO AT LEAST INFORM US.

I'M SURE THE PUBLIC IS INTERESTED TO TO A DEGREE.

I WILL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF IT, THOUGH.

>> I JUST WONDER, IS THERE A WAY TO DO THAT IN THE RFP PROCESS? ARE THERE CERTAIN MEASUREMENTS.

>> THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL.

THIS IS JUST HOW THEY NAMED THEMSELVES.

>> GOT IT. INTERESTING.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? THEN IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON.

WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO ORDINANCES.

[03:05:02]

[29. Ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Municipal Code, Historic Preservation, to add Zastera Pharmacy at 1135 Ellis Boulevard NW as a local landmark. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #HPC0008-2025]

ORDINANCE NUMBER 29 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 18 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, TO ADD ZESARA PHARMACY AT 1135 LS BOULEVARD, NORTHWEST, AS A LOCAL LANDMARK.

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

THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER POE.

>> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

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

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

>> THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> MAYOR, EXCUSE ME.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE TO 30, AM I ALLOWED TO MAKE A COMMENT?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ 30, AND THEN WE'LL DO COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE.

THIRTY IS AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR

[30. Ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 1712 32nd Street NE and 3201 and 3215 Carlisle Street NE from T-ML, Traditional Mixed Use Limited District, and S-RM1, Suburban Residential Medium Single Unit District, to T-MC, Traditional Mixed Use Center District, as requested by Mirami, LLC. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-000215-2025]

PROPERTY AT 1712 32ND STREET NORTHEAST, AND 3201 AND 3215 CARLYLE STREET NORTHEAST FROM TRADITIONAL MIXED-USE LIMITED DISTRICT AND SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM SINGLE UNIT DISTRICT TO TRADITIONAL MIXED-USE CENTER DISTRICT AS REQUESTED BY MIRAMI LLC.

BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS ORDINANCE, DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER MAIER.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK BILL, HE STEPPED OUT, THERE HE IS, AND THE REST OF CITY STAFF, FOR REALLY FOLLOWING UP WITH MCDONALD'S.

THIS REQUEST IS FROM MCDONALD'S CORPORATE.

I WAS NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE UNTIL THERE WAS SOME PROGRESS MADE ON THEIR PROPERTY ON FIRST AVENUE, WHICH IS IN MOUND VIEW, BUT BORDERS WELLINGTON HEIGHTS.

THEY WERE IN MY OPINION, WERE NOT A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN.

THEY PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF THAT PROPERTY, WHICH HAS BEEN ABANDONED FOR FIVE YEARS.

BUT THROUGH YOUR DILIGENCE AND JUST BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH MCDONALD'S, CAN I SHARE WITH THAT? THERE'S NOW A CONTRACT ON THE PROPERTY IN THE FORMER MCDONALD'S SPACE ON FIRST AVENUE, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.

I'M GLAD THAT MCDONALD'S HAS MOVED FORWARD, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE A GOOD BUSINESS PARTNER WITH MCDONALD'S GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS A FRANCHISEE IN THIS AGREEMENT, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S ACCURATE.

>> ITEM NUMBER 30 IS THE FRANCHISEE, CORPORATE, JUST TO BE CLEAR.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE ON SECOND.

>> MAYOR.

>> IF I CAN MAKE A COMMENT.

>> WELL, IT HAS A FRANCHISE.

I HAVE TO CONGRATULATE BILL, CITY MANAGER, AND THE MAYOR, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS CORPORATE IN DIFFERENT PLACES WITH MCDONALD'S.

THEY DO UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY OF THAT LOCATION TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND VERY GOOD WHAT THE CITY'S INTENT IS ON THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, I'M RELUCTANT TO SAY SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S STILL A NEGOTIATION, BUT THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP THERE NOW THAT DIDN'T EXIST PRIOR.

THANKS TO THE TEAM FOR PULLING THAT ONE OFF.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TODD.

COUNCILMAN TODD AND I JOINED THE TEAM ON A HUGE ICSC, WHICH IS A PLACE WHERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE FACE-TO-FACE IN LAS VEGAS WITH MCDONALD'S CORPORATE AS WELL AS THE FRANCHISEE OWNER, JUST TO BE, I'LL JUST SAY VERY CLEAR IN OUR INTENTIONS AND DESIRE TO REALLY IMPROVE THAT STRETCH OF FIRST AVENUE.

THIS, HOWEVER, IS THE 32ND STREET LOCATION.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING.

>> I SECOND.

>> MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY HOEGER.

THE MOTION CARRIES, COUNCILMEMBER POE.

>> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

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

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER POE.

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

ITEM NUMBER 31 IS AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CHANGE OF ZONE

[31. Ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 4141 Johnson Avenue NW from S-RL1, Suburban Residential Low Single Unit District, to P-IN, Public – Institutional District, as requested by the Cedar Rapids Community School District. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-000096- 2025]

FOR PROPERTY AT 4141 JOHNSON AVENUE, NORTHWEST, FROM SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL LOW SINGLE UNIT DISTRICT TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT AS REQUESTED BY THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING.

[03:10:02]

BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> COUNCILMEMBER POE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.