[1. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed Amendment No. 8 to the Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Consolidated Urban Renewal Area (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0089-2023 a. Resolution approving Amendment No. 8 to the Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Consolidated Urban Renewal Area.]

8 TO THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN FOR THE CENTRAL CONSOLIDATED URBAN RENEWAL AREA.

SCOTT MATHER IS HERE. SCOTT, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL. SCOTT MATHER WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST TO COMBINE ITEMS 1 AND 2 AS THEY'RE RELATED.

SURE THING. OKAY. SO ON JULY 8TH, CITY COUNCIL SELECTED THE PROPOSAL FROM CAPITAL B, LLC FOR THE DISPOSITION OF CITY OWNED LAND FOR A HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT 1100-1106 AND 1417-1423 ELLIS BOULEVARD.

AS A RESULT, URBAN RENEWAL AREA PLANS ARE REQUIRED TO BE UPDATED TO REFLECT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

CONSULTATION WITH TAXING AGENCIES IS ALSO REQUIRED, WHICH WAS HELD ON AUGUST 11TH WITH NO COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS.

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

THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS A $1.6 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO 4 PLEX UNITS.

THESE ARE A THREE BED, THREE BEDROOM, TWO BATH WITH DETACHED GARAGES.

THEY ARE MARKET RATE RENTALS. THE CITY WOULD DISPOSE OF FOUR PARCELS AT FAIR MARKET VALUE $5,800 EACH, FOR A TOTAL OF 23,200. CONSTRUCTION WOULD BEGIN LATER THIS FALL BY DECEMBER 2025, COMPLETE BY DECEMBER OF 26.

THE STANDARD INCENTIVE PROVIDES A TEN YEAR, 100% REBATE OF THE INCREASED TAXES GENERATED.

AN ESTIMATED 250,000 IN TOTAL TAXES GENERATED OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD, WITH 210,000 BEING REBATED.

THIS SITE PLAN IS SHOWING THE 1400 BLOCK. HOWEVER, IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME FOR THE 1100 BLOCK AS WELL.

AND A RENDERING OF WHAT THE 4 PLEX WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.

SO I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO.

8 TO THE CENTRAL CONSOLIDATED URBAN RENEWAL AREA PLAN, AS WELL AS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH CAPITAL B, LLC. WITH THAT, I'LL RETURN IT BACK TO YOU MAYOR.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. SCOTT. THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.

FOR THE RECORD, THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS.

SEEING NONE HERE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

NOW FOR ITEM NUMBER 2. THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

[2. A public hearing will be held to consider a Development Agreement with Capital B, LLC for a housing redevelopment project at 1100, 1106, 1417 and 1423 Ellis Boulevard NW (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #DISP-0035-2020 a. Resolution authorizing execution of a Development Agreement with Capital B, LLC for a housing redevelopment project at 1100, 1106, 1417 and 1423 Ellis Boulevard NW.]

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

COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY.

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

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. SCOTT. ITEM NUMBER 3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD TO REVIEW THE STATUS OF THREE PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE

[3. A public hearing will be held to review the status of three projects funded through the CDBG-DR Single-Family New Construction (ROOTs) and Multi-Family New Construction programs (Laura Shaw and Jay Wilson). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CDBG-DR-FY22]

CDBG-DR SINGLE-FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION (ROOTS) PROGRAM AND MULTI-FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS. LAURA SHAW AND JAY WILSON ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT.

I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU BOTH. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL, LAURA SHAW, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY, JAY WILSON. SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT OUR STATUS OF FUNDED ACTIVITY REGARDING FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR HOMEOWNER.

NOPE. SORRY. THAT'S THE WRONG ONE. THAT'S MY NEXT ONE.

SORRY. SO WE'RE PRESENTING A STATUS OF FUNDED ACTIVITIES REGARDING OUR CDBG-DR SINGLE-FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND OUR MULTI-FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FROM THE 2020 DIRECT DERECHO DISASTER RECOVERY.

THIS IS OUR MID PROJECT UPDATE FOR THREE DEVELOPERS.

SO WE HAVE A 16 SINGLE-UNIT HOMES BY ABODE CONSTRUCTION, FOXTAIL DEVELOPMENT AND FOXKROFT DRIVE NE.

25 SINGLE-UNIT HOMES WITH TW HOMES, GREEN ACRES GROVE DEVELOPMENT, 33RD AVENUE SW, AND THEN A 41 MULTI-FAMILY UNIT BY

[00:10:01]

GREY HAWK, LC. GREY HAWK IS AT 8600 PRAIRIE VIEW LANE, SW.

OKAY, SO JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME RESPECTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT SO FAR.

YOU CAN SEE HERE THIS IS ONE OF OUR COMPLETED DUPLEXES, AT THE FOXKROFT DRIVE LOCATION.

WE HAVE SIX UNITS SOLD, FOUR UNITS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT.

AND WITH REGARD TO EXPENDITURES, WE HAVE A TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET OF $4.7 MILLION.

THIS IS CDBG-DR FUNDING, WHICH TOTALS OUT TO 1.9 ROUGHLY $2 MILLION.

AND OTHER FUNDING, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION LOANS AND ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES TO DATE, ARE AROUND 865.

REMAINING WORK FOR THIS RESPECTIVE PROPERTY IS, WE HAVE FOUR COMPLETED UNITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND WE ARE BEGINNING THE FINAL SIX FOR A TOTAL OF 16 FOR SALE.

WITH OUR 33RD AVENUE GREEN ACRES GROUND LOCATION WE'VE COMPLETED TEN UNITS SOLD, SIX UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

AND WITH REGARD TO EXPENDITURES, WE HAVE A TOTAL PROJECTED BUDGET OF 8.5 MILLION CDBG-DR FUNDING TOTALING OUT AT 4.5 MILLION, AND THEN OTHER FUNDING, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION LOANS AND ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES TO DATE BEING JUST OVER $2 MILLION.

THE REMAINING WORK FOR THIS PROJECT IS THAT THEY'RE COMPLETING SIX UNITS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND WE'RE BEGINNING OF THE FINAL OF NINE UNITS FOR 25 UNITS IN TOTAL.

AND THEN FOR 8600 PRAIRIE VIEW LANE SOUTHWEST LOCATION.

ONE OF THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE IS FIRST, THE FOUNDATION.

AND WE AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE STARTING UP THE FRAMING WITH REGARDS TO EXPENDITURES.

WE HAVE A TOTAL PROJECTED BUDGET OF 8.6 MILLION.

CDBG-DR FUNDING TOTALING OUT TO JUST UNDER 3.7 MILLION, AND THEN OTHER FUNDING, INCLUDING.

THIS IS JUST THE CONSTRUCTION LOANS AND ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES TO DATE ARE JUST THAT 1 MILLION.

REMAINING WORK IS JUST GOING TO BE THE SIDING, THE INTERIOR WORK AND THE LANDSCAPING.

AND THEN AS FAR AS JUST PROJECT CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THESE RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES FOR OUR FOXKROFT LOCATIONS, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES AND THE TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION HAS SHIFTED TO DECEMBER 26TH AND DECEMBER 2026, RESPECTIVELY. AND FOR OUR 8600 PRAIRIE VIEW LOCATION, WE'VE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL UNIT.

WE WERE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE STATE AT ABOUT 200,000.

AND THIS TIMELINE HAS SHIFTED TO BEING MARCH 2026.

WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

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

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

COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. LAURA, COULD YOU REMIND US THEN, HOW, WHEN THESE UNITS ARE SOLD, HOW DOES THAT WORK? THEY DO GET A SPECIAL PRICING, ETC..

COULD YOU JUST REVIEW THE ADVANTAGES OF THE, OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM? ABSOLUTELY. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT? YES, SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU. SO WITH THE PARAMETERS THAT WE HAVE AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE A TOTAL COST THAT IS 175. SO THAT IS WHAT THE IMMEDIATE COST OF AN APPLICANT IS SEEING.

THEY ALSO STAND TO BENEFIT FROM RECEIVING ANOTHER 35,000 IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

SO THAT BRINGS THAT TOTAL DOWN TO ABOUT 140. AND THEN I'M SURE WE COULD AGREE THAT THE COST OF HOUSING HAS GONE CONSIDERABLY UP.

SO WE DO HAVE A CONSTRUCTION BENEFIT THAT IS PAID TO US BY THE STATE AS WELL.

AND THE RENTALS? FOR THE RENTALS WE ARE WORKING WITH THAT, AND I'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION COUNCIL MEMBER.

ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER HOEGER.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN, I THINK THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS, WITH NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE CORPORATION AND WHAT THAT, WHAT PRODUCT THAT THEY'RE GIVEN TO THE DEVELOPERS TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THEIR COST? YES, SIR. SO COUNCIL MEMBER HOEGER WE DO HAVE SOME APPLICANTS WHO ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

IT IS JUST ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. BUT I'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE SPECIFICS ON THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER. THANK YOU MAYOR. TO FOLLOW UP ON YOUR QUESTION, WAS YOUR QUESTION RELATED TO DEVELOPER INCENTIVES? NOT NECESSARILY HOME PURCHASERS. PERFECT. OKAY.

YEAH. SO WE HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS THAT NFC NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE CORP.

IS WORKING THROUGH SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN INCLUDED ON MUCH OF THE DETAILS ABOUT IT, BUT I AM HAPPY TO GET THOSE FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE IN THE END.

SURE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.

[4. A public hearing will be held to review the status of funded activities for the CDBG-DR Housing Rehabilitation Program, administered by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments, to rehabilitate homes in Cedar Rapids (Laura Shaw). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CDBG-DR-FY22]

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. THERE'S NO RESOLUTION FOR THIS. SO THANK YOU BOTH.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO REVIEW THE STATUS OF FUNDED ACTIVITIES FOR THE CDBG-DR HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM.

[00:15:03]

THIS IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE EAST CENTRAL IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, ECICOG, TO REHABILITATE HOMES.

AND LAURA, ONCE AGAIN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU.

SO LAURA SHAW, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. I'M NICOLE BEUC, AND I'M THE HOUSING RECOVERY COORDINATOR AT THE CENTRAL IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. SO TODAY, WE'RE PRESENTING OUR STATUS OF FUNDED ACTIVITIES REGARDING FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR HOMEOWNER REHABILITATION. THE CITY RECEIVED AROUND $2.5 MILLION IN FUNDING, AND WE PARTNERED WITH ECICOG AS THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR.

SO NICOLE IS GOING TO EXPLAIN THE STATUS. SO THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM WAS TO ASSIST 50 LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH ESSENTIAL HOME REPAIRS, AND ADDRESS ANY LEAD AND RADON HAZARDS THAT MIGHT BE PRESENT.

WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS FIRST LAUNCHED IT WAS, ADDITIONAL FOCUS WAS TO ADDRESS RATIO RELATED REPAIRS FOLLOWING THE AUGUST 10TH, 2020 STORM. HOWEVER, IN FEBRUARY OF 2025, WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO JUST HELP WITH GENERAL HOUSING REPAIRS, SO THAT DEFINITELY BROADENED THE IMPACT TO ADDRESS OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE ELIGIBLE REPAIRS FOR THIS PROGRAM CONSISTED OF ROOFING, SIDING, LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION, WINDOW REPLACEMENT, RADON MITIGATION, IN DRYWALL REPAIR, MOLD REMEDIATION.

SO QUITE A WIDE RANGE OF REPAIRS WERE ELIGIBLE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THOUGH, THAT THERE WERE SOME EXCEPTIONS.

WE COULDN'T DO GENERAL UPDATES. FENCES OR SHEDS.

THOSE WERE THINGS THAT WERE EXCLUDED. AS THE PROGRAM HAS PROGRESSED, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO AMENDMENTS THAT WERE APPROVED.

ON JUNE 13TH, 2024, A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WAS APPROVED TO ALLOCATE BUDGET FOR TEN HOMEOWNERS TO BE ASSISTED UNDER THE "URGENT NEED" NATIONAL OBJECTIVE. THIS ALLOWED FOR US TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER INCOME LIMITS.

NOVEMBER 15TH OF 2024 AN ADDITIONAL $30,000 WAS ADDED TO THE BUDGET SPECIFICALLY FOR HOUSEHOLDS.

OH. I'M SORRY FOR THE TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF HOMEOWNERS DURING LEAD HAZARD REMEDIATION.

SO IF THERE WAS LEAD FOUND IN A HOME AND THERE WAS A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WERE REQUIRED TO RELOCATE THEM TO A HOTEL WHILE CONSTRUCTION WAS BEING DONE.

SO IN TERMS OF PROJECT STATUS, ON JUNE 28TH, 2023, THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR A $2.5 MILLION. THE FIRST APPLICANT WAS APPROVED ON OCTOBER 17TH OF 2023, AND SINCE THAT TIME, 53 HOUSEHOLDS HAD BEEN APPROVED UNDER THE PROGRAM.

THE STATUS OF THOSE ARE AS FOLLOWS. 20 PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED.

8 ARE UNDER CONTRACT. OF THOSE EIGHT, FIVE ARE IN CONSTRUCTION AND THREE ARE WAITING ON JUST CONTRACT OR SCHEDULING.

THE OTHER 25 THAT ARE IN PROGRESS ARE IN ONE OF THESE FOUR CATEGORIES.

THEY'RE EITHER NEED TO BE INSPECTED OR UNDER AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS CHECK, OR PROCUREMENT.

IN TERMS OF FUNDING OUT OF THE $2.5 MILLION CONTRACT.

$1,038,849.72 HAS BEEN SPENT TO DATE. AND THEN OF THAT MONEY.

$702,543.63 WAS ON REHAB, AND $336,306.09 WAS ON PROJECT DELIVERY. TO NOTE, THE PROJECT DELIVERY THAT DOES INCLUDE ADMINISTRATION, RELOCATION COSTS, RECORDING FEES, AND THE PURCHASE OF AN XRF LEAD ANALYZER GUN.

SO THIS MAP SHOWS KIND OF THE RANGE OF ASSISTANCE WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP HOMEOWNERS.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN 17 PROJECTS ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

12 PROJECTS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE. 3 ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE AND 21 ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

PER HUD'S REQUIREMENT, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN TRACKING SOME DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION THAT THE PROGRAM AND OF THOSE, 43 OF THE HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDE A DISABLED RESIDENT.

28% ARE ELDERLY HOUSEHOLDS, 37% HAVE CHILDREN IN THE HOME, AND 15% IDENTIFY AS HAVING A RACIAL IDENTITY OTHER THAN WHITE.

SO WE HAVE DEFINITELY HELPED MANY HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE CITY, AND ALSO JUST A BROAD SPECTRUM OF SPECTRUM OF RESIDENTS AS WELL.

[00:20:05]

NOW I HAVE SOME BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED TO DATE.

THIS FIRST PROJECT HERE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF SIDING, GUTTERS, FASCIA, SOFFIT, GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENT, TREE REMOVAL, FRONT STEPS THAT NEEDED REPAIRED, AND FIRST FLOOR WINDOWS.

THIS SECOND PROJECT HERE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF WINDOW REPLACEMENT, FRONT LANDING, REPLACEMENT, SIDE ENTRANCE STAIRCASE AND SOME INTERIOR FLOORING AND WALL REPAIRS.

A PARTNER AGENCY DID ASSIST WITH REPLACING THE SIDING IN A FEW ADDITIONAL WINDOWS ON THIS HOME.

PROJECT THREE HERE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF SIDING, FRONT PORCH AND SIDE PORCH REBUILD AND THEN INSTALLING A NEW AC UNIT.

AND THEN LASTLY REPAIRS ON THIS PROJECT CONSISTED OF A MAJOR INTERIOR, REPAIRS TO DRYWALL, REPLACEMENT OF ALL FIRST FLOOR WINDOWS, AND SOME MINOR EXTERIOR SIDING REPAIRS, SO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.

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

COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. THANKS, MAYOR.

MY QUESTION REALLY IS JUST WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE SERVICE LINE INVENTORY FOR A WHILE NOW.

SO WHEN WE'RE IDENTIFYING, I KNOW IT'S GONE CONSIDERABLY DOWN FROM THE UNKNOWN.

BUT AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT, ARE OUR PEOPLE GETTING AUTOMATIC NOTICES OF THESE PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY CAN GET IN LINE AND WE CAN SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT.

I'M SPECIFICALLY WITH THE LEAD REPLACEMENT SERVICE LINES THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

SO IN TERMS OF MARKETING FOR THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE, I BELIEVE WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, ECICOG WEBSITE. WE'VE ALSO DONE SOME FACEBOOK POSTS, SOCIAL MEDIA.

I KNOW WE'VE DONE A FEW PRESS RELEASES. I WOULD SAY IN THE BEGINNING, WE WERE DEFINITELY TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE TO FIND HOMEOWNERS, AND THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE. BUT I WOULD SAY THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE'VE REALLY SEEN A LARGE UPTICK, AND I DON'T, USUALLY THE WARMER MONTHS. I SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE COME TO ME WITH INTEREST IN THE PROGRAMS, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S AN ONGOING CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS JUST GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT TO HOMEOWNERS ON OUR PROGRAMS AND, AND THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO APPLY FOR.

YEAH, IF WE HAVEN'T ALREADY. I THINK THE CITY TEAMS DO A REALLY GREAT JOB OF GETTING INFORMATION OUT, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR UTILITIES, OF JUST HAVING SOME INSERTS IN THERE AND STUFF.

BUT IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S UNKNOWN, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO INVENTORY THOSE LINES INSIDE THE HOMES.

AND IF ANY OF THE HOMES HAVE, YOU KNOW, FALLEN TO NUISANCE COMPLAINTS, IT WOULD JUST BE A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEND OUT WITH THOSE NOTICES SAYING THESE THINGS EXIST. YEAH. AND WE ACTUALLY THAT REMINDS ME WE HAVE MET WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT AT THE CITY.

WE DID PRESENT TO THEM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF WHEN I STARTED TO SEE A LOT MORE REFERRALS.

AND BEING ABLE TO APPROVE MORE PEOPLE WAS GOT THE WORD OUT THROUGH THAT, SO.

YEAH. GREAT IDEA. ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PICTURES.

IT'S FUN TO SEE BEFORE AND AFTER, YOU KNOW. SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE.

AND ALSO THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE VARIETY AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS THAT WERE WERE HELPING, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

MY QUESTION IS YOU HAD A SLIDE REGARDING PROJECTS AND PROGRESS, WHICH I THINK WERE 25.

BUT YET IT SEEMED LIKE HALF THE BUDGET IS GONE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO GET ASSURANCE THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH REMAINING BUDGET TO FUND THOSE PROJECTS AS YOUR CLIENTS ARE EXPECTING OR HOPING FOR. YES, THAT'S PART OF MY POSITION IS DEFINITELY TRACKING ALL THE DOLLARS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PROGRAM BUDGETS. SO WHEN I, YOU KNOW, APPROVE A HOMEOWNER, I KIND OF HAVE THAT THAT DOLLAR FIGURE, THAT BUDGET IN THERE AS A PLACEHOLDER. JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T GO OVER BUDGET AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ASSIST THAT PERSON.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS FLUCTUATING DEPENDING. YOU KNOW ONCE PROJECTS GET DONE AND WE GET MORE FINAL NUMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER TODD. COULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT MAP FOR A SECOND? SURE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY.

I JUST SAID THANKS TO STAFF, BUT TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY, IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YEARS AGO, THESE PROGRAMS HAD A LOT MORE MONEY BECAUSE OF THE DISASTERS.

[00:25:05]

WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT STABILIZING NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH MONEY. BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, YOU HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC WITH IT.

AND YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE BEING STRATEGIC IN THESE CORE NEIGHBORHOODS.

A LOT OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE LANGUISHED OUT THERE, THEY'VE BEEN IN COURT.

THEY'VE BEEN IN NUISANCE ABATEMENT. IT COUPLED WITH THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE CITY IS DOING.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS TOOK TIME, BUT WE ARE MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE IN SOME OF THESE BLOCKS. AND SPECIFICALLY, ALL IT TAKES IS ONE HOUSE ON A BLOCK TO RUIN THAT BLOCK.

AND SOME OF THESE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR CASE STUDIES OF THAT, BUT YOU'RE GOING IN THERE AND YOU'RE FIXING THOSE FOLKS, THOSE HOMES, AND YOU'RE GIVING PEOPLE HOPE AND BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS, IN A SUBTLE WAY, BEEN A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN SOME OF THESE PLACES, IN PARTICULAR MY NEIGHBORHOODS AND MOUNTAIN VIEW AND AND OVER ON THE SOUTHWEST, NORTHWEST SIDE, TOWARD THE CORE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

THEY SORT OF GET LOST IN THE IN THE MINUTIA OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO.

BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO MAKING A KEY DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, THIS ONE HITS THE BALL OUT OF THE PARK. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. NO RESOLUTION ON THIS.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 5 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE VACATION AND DISPOSITION OF A 0.10 ACRE PORTION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY ON

[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the vacation and disposition of a 0.10-acre portion of right of way on 4th Street SE, between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue SE, in the amount of $12,600 as requested by Loftus Holdings LLC (Rob Davis). CIP/DID #ROWV-000459-2025 a. First Reading: Ordinance vacating a 0.10-acre portion of right of way on 4th Street SE, between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue SE, as requested by Loftus Holdings LLC.]

4TH STREET SE, BETWEEN 8TH AVENUE AND 9TH AVENUE SE.

AND THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF $12,600 AS REQUESTED BY LOFTUS HOLDINGS, LLC.

ROB DAVIS IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. ROB I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

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

THIS PROJECT THE AREA LOCATION IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 9TH AVENUE.

ITS THE, ITS TO TEN FOOT WIDE STRIP OF RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT LOFTUS HOLDINGS HAS REQUESTED A VACATION FOR.

IT HAS AN ASSESSED VALUE OF $12,600. AND THEY'VE AGREED TO THAT PRICE.

IT MAY NOT BE CLEAR WHERE 4TH STREET SE IS FOR A LOT OF THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY NOT EXISTING AS A ROADWAY.

THE CENTER OF 30FT OF 4TH STREET SE IS AN EASEMENT FOR THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.

THE CITY HAS THE REMAINING RIGHTS-OF-WAY THAT IT CAN USE, AND WE DO USE IT FOR TRAILS LIKE THAT PARALLEL THE DOWNTOWN, BUT WE DON'T NEED A FULL 25FT OF RIGHT-OF-WAY OUTSIDE ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT IN THIS AREA FOR THEIR, OUTSIDE THE RAILROAD EASEMENT. SO THIS AREA THAT'S REQUESTED TO BE VACATED IS OUTSIDE THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD EASEMENT.

IT'S NOT NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE. WE STILL HAVE SOME AREA BETWEEN THIS AREA AND THE RAILROAD EASEMENT.

SO WE REVIEWED THAT AS STAFF AND FEEL THAT IT COULD BE VACATED.

THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING. THAT LOFTUS HOLDINGS IS, WOULD BE BUILDING TO SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 9TH AVENUE. SO THAT WOULD BE FOR VISITORS OF THE BUSINESS AND RESIDENCES THERE.

AGAIN, THERE'S NO CONCERN THAT PUBLIC STAFF HAS AND THEIR PUBLIC HAS, WITH THE, STAFF HAS WITH THE PUBLIC ACCESS THERE.

EXCUSE ME. AND THEREFORE WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO VACATE.

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

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

COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. THE APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY VANORNY, SECONDED BY OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

ITEM NUMBER 6 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT FOR AN UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC LINE EASEMENT AT 309,

[6. A public hearing will be held to consider an agreement for an Underground Electric Line Easement at 309, 313, 317, 321, 325 and 329 F Avenue NW as requested by Interstate Power and Light Company (Rob Davis). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0080-2023 a. Resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for an Underground Electric Line Easement at 309, 313, 317, 321, 325 and 329 F Avenue NW as requested by Interstate Power and Light Company.]

313, 317, 321, 325 AND 329 F AVENUE NORTHWEST.

AS REQUESTED BY INTERSTATE POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY.

ROB I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

THESE PROPERTIES WERE ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AFTER THE FLOOD OF 2008.

THIS AREA IS ALONG THE BACKS OF THOSE PROPERTIES.

IT'S OUTLINED HERE IN ORANGE. IT INCLUDES A FIVE FOOT WIDE UTILITY EASEMENT.

AND THEN ON THE LAST PROPERTY, 309, A 12 BY 12 CORNER FOR A TRANSFORMER PAD.

THIS IS TO SERVICE THE CEDAR CROSSING CASINO PROJECT AND THEN ALSO A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

[00:30:02]

THAT DEVELOPMENT CAN OCCUR ONCE THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IS COMPLETE.

THERE ARE SOME DEED RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA.

IOWA PARANOID, AKA ALLIANT, WILL MAINTAIN THIS EASEMENT.

AND THEN AGAIN, EVENTUALLY WE IMAGINE THE CITY WILL DISPOSE THESE PROPERTIES WITH THOSE EASEMENTS ON THERE.

WE'D RECOMMEND APPROVAL. THANK YOU. THANKS, ROB.

THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NONE. COUNCIL COMMENTS? NOTHING. OH, YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM CONSIDERATION OF THIS. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON RECUSING ANYONE ELSE? IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY HOEGER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

ITEM NUMBER 7 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 26TH STREET SOUTHWEST OVER PRAIRIE CREEK

[7. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 26th Street SW over Prairie Creek Bridge Deck Overlay project (estimated cost is $410,000) (Doug Wilson). (Paving for Progress) CIP/DID #305159-02 a. Resolution adopting plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 26th Street SW over Prairie Creek Bridge Deck Overlay project.]

BRIDGE DECK OVERLAY PROJECT. THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $410,000.

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

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

THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 30 ON 26TH STREET SOUTHWEST.

IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, THE BRIDGE DECK OVERLAY FAILED AND AN EMERGENCY CONTRACT WAS EXECUTED TO REMOVE THE EXISTING OVERLAY IN THE HOPES THAT WE COULD QUICKLY RE OVERLAY THE BRIDGE AND OPEN IT FOR TRAFFIC.

UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE THE BRIDGE OVERLAY WAS REMOVED, WE FOUND THAT EXTENSIVE PATCHING WAS NEEDED TO THE DECK PRIOR TO PLACING A NEW OVERLAY, SO IT NECESSITATED THIS BID. THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS $410,000.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO START IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025 AND BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.

ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE AREA ARE AWARE OF THE CLOSURE OF THE BRIDGE AND THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE EXPECT IT TO BE OPEN.

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.

THANKS, DOUG. THIS IS TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.

LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS. COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY HOEGER, SECONDED BY MAIER.

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

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 7 OR NUMBER 8, RATHER, IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS,

[8. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Jones Dog Park project (estimated cost is $1,800,000) (Steve Krug). CIP/DID #PUR0725-022 a. Resolution adopting plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Jones Dog Park project.]

FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE JONES DOG PARK PROJECT, WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1.8 MILLION.

STEVE KRUG IS HERE JOINED BY OUR DIRECTOR CARRIE, AS WELL.

I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CARRIE MARDORF, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

WE'RE EXCITED TO PRESENT THE JONES DOG PARK THIS AFTERNOON.

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WE'RE EXCITED TO REACH THIS MILESTONE.

SO JUST REALLY QUICK AS CONTEXT. THE JONES GOLF COURSE CLOSED IN 2020, AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION SHORTLY THEREAFTER TO LOOK AT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF JONES GOLF COURSE INTO WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED.

SO IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, THE CITY WENT OUT TO THE RESIDENTS, SENT OUT 20,000 SURVEYS.

2000 PEOPLE RESPONDED, ASKING WHAT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY WOULD BE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA.

18% SAID A DOG PARK WAS IN THEIR TOP ONE, 2 OR 3 PRIORITIES.

SO SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE PLANNING AND DESIGN, AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO STEVE TO TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THE NEW DOG PARK WILL CONCLUDE MAIN DOG PARK AREA, A SMALL DOG AREA AND DIVIDED TRAINING AREA IN A RENTABLE AREA WITH A SHELTER. THE PARK WILL HAVE ITS OWN ENTRY OFF OF C STREET SOUTHWEST AND AN ACCESSIBLE PARKING LOT.

AND ALL THE PAVED WALKING AREAS IN THE PARK WILL BE FULLY ACCESSIBLE.

THERE WILL BE WATER, ELECTRICAL AND PORTABLE RESTROOMS. THE PROJECT IS CURRENTLY OUT FOR BID AND BIDS ARE DUE AND TOMORROW, AUGUST 28TH.

ESTIMATED PROJECT COST IS 1,800,000. THE JONES DOG PARK BRINGS LARGE DOG PARK AMENITIES WITH EASIER ACCESS TO MORE CITIZENS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CEDAR RAPIDS. THE JONES DOG PARK IS A SAFE, OFF LEASH AREA FOR PETS AND THEIR OWNERS.

BUILDS UPON THE EXISTING AMENITIES AVAILABLE AT JONES PARK, INCLUDING PICKLEBALL, DISC GOLF, AND THE REMODELED JONES LODGE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA.

JUST HAVE A COUPLE PICTURES OF THE PARKING LOT IN THE ENTRY, DRIVE OFF C AND THEN THE REST OF THE DOG PARK TO THE SOUTH WITH THE PICKLEBALL OFF TO THE WEST. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE

[00:35:01]

RECORD. THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL, COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.

YEAH. THANK YOU. I DO RECALL SPECIFICALLY SINCE THIS IS DOWN THE STREET FOR ME, ALTHOUGH NOT IN MY DISTRICT, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME. SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE AT THIS POINT, AND I KNOW I'VE GOT TWO EXCITED PUPS WHO ARE READY JUST TO RUN THEIR LITTLE HEARTS OUT HERE. THAT BEING SAID CAN YOU JUST WALK US THROUGH, I THINK SOME OF THE BREAKDOWN OF COSTS AND, AND ALSO, I MEAN, THIS IT'S QUITE LARGE, RIGHT? SO JUST UNDERSTANDING THE ACREAGE AND KIND OF SOME OF THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THE COSTS ARE THAT MAKE UP THIS INVESTMENT.

YEAH, I CAN PROVIDE THAT. SO THIS IS APPROXIMATELY TEN ACRES, WHICH IS JUST SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE CANINE ACRES DOG PARK THAT IS OUT ON THE EAST EDGE OF TOWN. WHEN YOU LOOK AT DOWN THE BREAKDOWN OF COSTS, THE IT'S WE'RE REALLY STARTING FROM SCRATCH HERE.

SO THE MAJORITY OF THE COST IS GRADING, IT'S STORM SEWER, IT'S PAVEMENT, IT'S SIDEWALK AND REALLY ELECTRICAL.

SO ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE UTILITIES KIND OF BEHIND THE SCENES SUPPORTING THIS PLACE.

THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS LIE. NOW, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK FROM A LAYMAN'S PERSPECTIVE IT CAN LOOK LIKE A REALLY HEFTY PRICE TAG, BUT THEN WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE STRUCTURES AND YOU HAVE BATHROOMS AND YOU'RE HAVING SHELTERS, AND THEN ALL THE ELECTRICAL AND SEWERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN, IT ACTUALLY ADDS UP PRETTY QUICKLY. ALSO, THAT OTHER PARK IS REALLY MASSIVE AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLE AMENITY, BUT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING THIS CLOSE THAT'S LIKE THAT IS, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

WE'RE CONSISTENTLY INVESTING IN INFILL OVER THERE, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE JUST UP THE STREET PROBABLY, WHAT, LIKE 3 OR 4 BLOCKS FROM WHERE WE JUST AT LAST COUNCIL MEETING APPROVED TWO DIFFERENT HOUSING PROJECTS.

SO ALL WITHIN VERY WALKABLE AREAS THAT JUST CONTINUE TO MAKE IT A GREAT PLACE TO MOVE INTO AND CONTINUE TO PUT HOMES AND PEOPLE BACK INTO.

SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND. THANK YOU MAYOR.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE HAVING ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH JONES PARK FREQUENTLY FLOODING MANY YEARS IN THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS. WE CERTAINLY SAW VERY LITTLE USAGE OUT THERE.

BUT WHEN WE DID CLOSE THE GOLF COURSE, THE CITY SPENT A COUPLE OF YEARS FIGURING OUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINVENT A LARGE PORTION OF AN EXISTING PARK VERY OFTEN.

AND SO A LOT OF THOUGHT WAS GONE INTO THIS. AND A FEW YEARS AGO WE BUILT THE PICKLEBALL COURTS BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED THAT.

WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH A GROUP THAT, WITH THE FRISBEE GOLF AND IMPROVED THAT IN A RATHER SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND CERTAINLY WHEN WE WERE OUT AT JONES HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DERECHO, YOU REALIZE AND I DON'T GO THERE TOO OFTEN, BUT IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL PARK.

AND THIS IS A FUNCTION THAT PEOPLE SAID THEY WANTED AND YOU KNOW, PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT OWN DOGS WILL GET A LOT OF USE OUT OF THIS, AND I THINK IT'LL BE AN ADDITIVE ITEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ENJOY FOR AN AWFUL LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AND AT THE SAME TIME, WITH OTHER DOG FACILITIES.

I KNOW THERE'S ONE OUT AT ONE CITY PARK, BUT THAT'S NOT IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND IT'S A WAYS OUT THERE FOR MOST FOLKS. SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

AND I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, WE'RE GOING TO BE GLAD THAT WE DID THIS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE SUPPORT IT AND WE'LL USE IT VERY HEAVILY.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I JUST ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT SUPPORT FOR THIS.

SO YOU MENTIONED 18% OF THE PEOPLE HAD IT IN THEIR FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD PRIORITY.

THAT MEANS MORE THAN 4/5 OF THE PEOPLE SURVEYED ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THIS AS A TOP PRIORITY.

I FIND THE COST. AND I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN IN IN THE WORKS SINCE 2021.

I JUST FIND THE COST BENEFIT PROHIBITIVE. I, I LOOK AT WHAT PROJECTS BASIC MAINTENANCE OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PARKS, AND I JUST CAN'T JUSTIFY THIS PRICE TAG.

IF I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE ONE EXAMPLE.

THERE IS A PARK IN WELLINGTON HEIGHTS CALLED WELLINGTON PARK.

IT DOESN'T HAVE A TREE. IT DOESN'T HAVE A CANOPY.

IT HAS NOTHING. AND IT SITS THERE BARREN. AND IT'S ALSO IN AN AREA OF THE CITY WHERE THERE'S A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS. AND I KNOW THERE'S, I THOUGHT THAT WAS OWNED BY, WELL, THE STATE. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THE CITY UNTIL I SAW THOSE BEAUTIFUL NEW SIGNS THAT, MARK ALL OF THE PARKS IN THE CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

[00:40:03]

YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THE WEST SIDE LIBRARY PARK.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT. SO MANY OF OUR POOLS NEED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.

AND IF I THINK ABOUT THE LONG TERM COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND THE STAFFING. I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, BUT I REMEMBER I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AT COUNCIL OR WHERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST THE COST OF THAT SMALL, DARK DOG PARK IN THE CITY, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL IN THE NEWBO AREA.

AND JUST LIKE THE MAINTENANCE AND THE REPAIRS THAT HAVE HAD TO GO INTO THAT SMALL SPACE.

I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE CEDAR RAPIDS ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY, RIGHT.

WE'VE, THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF COMMUNICATIONS PUBLICLY, INTERNALLY ABOUT THE STATUS OF THAT FACILITY.

I WANT TO READ A QUOTE FROM THE STATE INSPECTION THAT WAS COMPLETED.

THE CITY HAS ABANDONED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN A STRUCTURE THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 2013.

WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING TO REPAIR THAT FACILITY.

IT'S A HAZARD TO THE EMPLOYEES. IT'S EXTREMELY DEPRESSING PLACE FOR ANIMALS.

SO WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE REALLY BE COMFORTABLE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO USE THESE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EXISTING PROPERTIES ARE CARED FOR, AND THAT WE ARE ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. THANK YOU MAYOR.

WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATE ABOUT THE PROJECT IS THE FACT THAT IT'S PART OF A LONG TERM PLAN.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES WELL AND IS ONE OF THE KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR SUCCESS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS, WHETHER IT'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR IN THIS CASE, PARKS AND RECREATION, IS THAT WE GO THROUGH A PLANNING PROCESS. WE GET A LOT OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK.

WE SET OUT A LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT PLAN. AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE EXECUTE ON THE PLAN.

AND SO AS WE DO THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS THAT COME UP ALONG THE WAY.

AND ONE OF THOSE WAS WAS JUST MENTIONED. BUT THE I THINK THE GREAT PART ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR TEAM IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HANDLE MORE THAN ONE THING AT A TIME. SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DOG PARK MEANS THAT THE ISSUES AT THE ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTER ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING WEEKLY COMMUNICATION, AT LEAST, IF NOT MORE, FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

AND AS SOON AS THE CITY WAS AWARE OF THE THE MOLD AND OTHER ISSUES REPAIRS HAPPENED RIGHT AWAY OR BEGAN RIGHT AWAY. SO THIS PROJECT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM ALL OF THOSE OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE CITY IS DOING.

IT'S JUST ONE IN A LONG SERIES OF PROJECTS. AND AN IMPORTANT AMENITY, QUALITY OF LIFE THING FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR THE WEST SIDE AND FOR THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

SO WE CAN DO MANY THINGS AT ONCE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE CITY'S GOT A GREAT TEAM, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN BUILD THIS AMENITY THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS, HAS ASKED FOR. AND WE CAN ALSO ADDRESS SOME OF THE URGENT NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED TODAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER TODD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO REPLY SPECIFICALLY TO AN ALLEGATION IN TERMS OF THE PARCEL ON 4TH AVENUE, SINCE I WAS INVOLVED IN BUYING THAT YEARS AGO THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

THE REASON WHY THERE'S NOT TREES ON THERE IS BECAUSE A GUY BY THE NAME OF MARCELO [INAUDIBLE] HAD A LITTLE SOCCER TEAM OF HISPANIC KIDS THAT WOULD PLAY SOCCER ON THAT PARCEL, AND SO WE DIDN'T DO THAT AT THE TIME.

AND THEN THE DECISION WAS MADE AND HAS BEEN PROPOSED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR WILLIS DADY TO TURN THOSE PARCELS INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

SO IT'S NOT AS IF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT PLANTING TREES ON THOSE SITES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE HAVE MONEY.

[00:45:01]

THERE WAS A DESIRE NOT TO PUT TREES THERE. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT THERE.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANYTIME YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT PARKS AND REC AND BUDGETARY AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS, I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT COUNCIL WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME AND ENJOY, BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAINLY THOSE NEEDS.

BUT I WOULD DEFER TO OUR NEW PARKS DIRECTOR TO HELP HER DECIDE HER PRIORITIES.

THAT I WOULD SUGGEST THERE ARE NO MORE DIFFERENT THAN ANY PARK URBAN PARK SYSTEM IN ANY OTHER CITY.

THOSE SAME MAINTENANCE WANT NEEDS LONG TERM, SHORT TERM THAT WE'RE ALL COGNIZANT OF.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WITH REGARD TO THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD PARK.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TRIED TO HOLD TOGETHER GOLF THERE FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE IT WAS A FAVORITE OF THE GOLFERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A REALLY POPULAR SPORT, ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR SPORTS IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

BUT IT DID BECOME A POINT WHERE WE WERE VERY FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND REALIZED IT WAS NO LONGER WORTH THE LONG TERM INVESTMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS JUST GETTING PUMMELED BY, YOU KNOW, CONTINUOUS FLOODING AND DISASTERS.

AND SO WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A PRECEDENCE TO BE VERY FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH REGARD TO OUR PARKS AND MAINTENANCE.

WHEN WE ISSUED OUT THAT SURVEY, THOUGH, THAT WENT OUT TO 20,000 PERSONS WITH 2000 RESPONSE BACK.

MY UNDERSTANDING AND RECOLLECTION OF IT THOUGH IS WAS VERY OPEN ENDED.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE JUST GENERALLY SAYING WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WITH NO PROMPTING, IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SUCH A PLETHORA OF RESPONSES THAT WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THAT THE TOP ANSWERS, IT'S NOT. WE SHOULD JUST BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND I THINK MAYBE PUT OUT SOME OF THE SURVEYS IN THE NEXT TIME WE PRESENT THIS TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT REALLY WAS OF SOME OF THE IDEAS PEOPLE HAD, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THOSE ARE THE IDEAS THAT ROSE TO THE TOP.

IT'S NOT THAT 4/5 OF PERSONS SAID THAT THEY DID NOT WANT THAT, OR IT WAS NOT INTERESTING TO THEM.

IT'S JUST THAT THESE WERE ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST ISSUES THAT ROSE AND IT STILL WAS ONLY 18%.

BUT OTHER PEOPLE WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS. AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE ABOUT LIKE WHY IT SEEMS LIKE A LOW NUMBER, BUT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST OR MOST POPULAR IDEAS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT SURVEY.

YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. BECAUSE IT WAS OPEN ENDED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY 18%, IT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHER RANKED AMENITIES ACROSS THE BOARD.

COUNCILOR TODD, I WAS JUST GOING TO. STEVE, YOU'VE BUILT A LOT OF RESTROOMS IN YOUR DAY.

AND AND THIS IS TO TO MANY IN THE PUBLIC. IT'S A PERPLEXING QUESTION BECAUSE THERE IS AN APPEARANCE THAT IT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COST. BUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER TIME, I MEAN, I THINK YEARS AGO, 75,000, 100,000, BUT NOW THESE ARE BUILDINGS THAT SIT OUTSIDE IN THE COLD AND THE HEAT, YOU KNOW, YEAR LONG. AND THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WITHSTAND THESE SEVERE CONDITIONS ON TOP OF VANDALISM AND ON TOP OF ALL THE ADA CODE ISSUES. AND SO THAT PRICES, I MEAN, IT IS CERTAINLY INCREASED.

THE SECOND THING IS YOU DON'T WANT TO BE CHEAP WITH THE RESTROOM BECAUSE IF YOU DO, YOU'RE GOING TO END UP HAVING TO COME BACK AND REPAIR IT.

AND SO IT MAKES SENSE TO SPEND MONEY. ANY FEEDBACK THERE? I GUESS JUST TO BE CLEAR ON THIS PROJECT, WE'RE STARTING OUT WITH PORT-O-JONNY'S, AND THE RESTROOM IS A FUTURE.

BUT YES, NEW RESTROOMS DO CROSS. THE MOST RECENT ONES WERE 280,000 TO $300,000.

OKAY, GOOD. OKAY. YOU KNOW, AND I'M JUST GOING TO ADD, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS NOT AN OR COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER.

TO ALLEGE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL FACILITY IS JUST INCORRECT.

WE ARE REPAIRING THE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL.

SO IT'S ALSO AND, YOU KNOW, BUDGETS AND FINANCES AND POTS OF MONEY.

UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY, THIS IS MONEY THAT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THIS PROJECT.

THIS IS C, THESE ARE CIP DOLLARS NOT DESIGNATED FOR OPERATIONS OR REPAIRS.

YOU KNOW THAT. CORRECT. BUT THIS ISN'T THE ONLY CIP PROJECT OR PROJECT THAT THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR.

IT'S BEEN IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU APPROVED FOR THE I MEAN, I BELIEVE YOU APPROVED OUR BUDGETS.

BUDGETS CHANGE, PRIORITIES CHANGE. OKAY. THAT'S YOUR STANCE.

[00:50:01]

THE BUDGET IS CHANGE. I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER OLSON SAID ABOUT THE ABILITY OF THIS CITY TO PLAN LONG TERM. AND WHILE IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE THINGS DONE YESTERDAY.

I MEAN, ESPECIALLY ME, THEY'RE A REAL REASONS WHY THESE PROJECTS NEED TO BE PLANNED OUT YEARS IN ADVANCE SO THAT WE CAN RAISE FUNDS TO USE INTENTIONALLY FOR THESE PROJECTS. WITHOUT THAT PLANNING, I'M AFRAID, YOU KNOW, WE'D BE MAKING DECISIONS WILLY NILLY AND WE WOULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE. SO HAVING THIS SPECIFIC PLAN ON THE BOOKS FOR TWO YEARS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND TO CHANGE COURSE MIDSTREAM IS JUST HONESTLY IRRESPONSIBLE, ALL FOR THIS LARGE OF A SPACE IN OUR CITY.

IT REALLY, WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS OASIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY, AND CERTAINLY THE WEST SIDE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, LONG BEEN, YOU KNOW, SET ASIDE FOR PROJECTS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU LIVED HERE WHEN WE DID BEAVER PARK.

BEAVER PARK, REDMOND PARK ON THE EAST SIDE. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT INVESTMENT ON THE EAST SIDE, AND THIS IS A STRONG SIGNAL TO THE WEST SIDE THAT WE ARE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST NOT JUST IN OUR PARKS, BUT IT ALSO BECOMES AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY AND ATTRACTION OPPORTUNITY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY I'M LOOKING AT A PARKING LOT THERE TOO, WHICH IS PROBABLY A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

AM I OFF ON THAT? SO YOU'RE WHEN YOU SAY STARTING FROM SCRATCH, YOU ARE TALKING LIKE GRADING, DIGGING, YOU KNOW, SEWERS, PIPES, HALF A MILLION IN PARKING LOTS.

SO YOU KNOW, PROJECTS LIKE THIS NEED TO BE PLANNED YEARS OUT.

AND I THINK TO CHANGE COURSE ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE AND HONESTLY NOT WHAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO ARE AWARE OF THE BUDGET AND THE PLAN APPROVED AND WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS AT ONCE.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT. YOU KNOW, DOING THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE US FROM DOING ANY OF THE AWESOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT THAT NUMBER IS IT'S AN ESTIMATE.

SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE CAN COME IN UNDERNEATH THAT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISN'T REALLY JUST ABOUT A DOG PARK AND PUTTING A FENCE AROUND SOME GRASS.

THIS IS AN AREA THAT USED TO FLOOD. AND YOU COULD ALSO ARGUE THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, YET ONE MORE WAY THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, USING FLOOD MITIGATION TURNING THAT INTO AN AMENITY AND SOMETHING THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GET RID OF BECAUSE OF CONSISTENT FLOODING.

THAT WE'RE GOING TO TURN THIS INTO AN ATTRACTION.

SO I OBVIOUSLY I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THAT.

IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

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

NO. AND THIS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, 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 TODAY.

AND I HAVE RECEIVED THE SIGN UP SHEET AND NO ONE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

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

CITY MANAGER POMERANTZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? OKAY. THANK YOU. DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES? COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF ON ITEM 12.

ITEM 12. ALL RIGHT. OH. HAWKEYE DOWNS. YEAH, GOT IT. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, THAT BRINGS US A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]

THE APPROVE THE AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY.

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

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

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY.

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

NO. OKAY. CAN WE? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST TO MOVE ITEM 26 A AND B TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.

26 A AND B? YES, PLEASE. YES. MOVING 26 A AND B TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA. ALL RIGHT.

ALYSSA, DO WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS AMENDED AGENDA? WE'RE AMENDING THIS. OKAY, SO THE APPROVAL OF THIS AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY VANORNY,

[00:55:07]

SECONDED BY OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

THANK YOU. COUNCIL. MOVING ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA 26,

[Items 26A & 26B]

WHICH IS RESOLUTIONS APPOINTING AND REAPPOINTING INDIVIDUALS TO OUR COMMISSIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE APPOINTMENTS OF LAUREN WHITE AND THEN THE NOT REAPPOINTING OF ALICIA FAUST TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMISSION.

AND JUST JUST FOR SOME BACKGROUND. SO THESE AGENDAS COME OUT ON ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH THEM OVER THE WEEKEND.

I TYPICALLY HAVE QUESTIONS. WE, I WILL SEND THEM TO THE CITY MANAGER STAFF.

EXCELLENT TURNAROUND TIME. SOMETIMES THINGS DON'T GET RESOLVED BEFORE MONDAY OR BEFORE TUESDAY.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE MAYOR TO, FOR THE RATIONALE FOR NOT, REPEAT, NOT REAPPOINTING ALICIA TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMISSION.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THAT RESOLVED THROUGH EMAIL, SO I WANTED TO CHAT ABOUT IT TODAY.

AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS FOR COMMISSIONS IS THAT THE MAYOR APPOINTS, CITY COUNCIL APPROVES. AND MY QUESTION WAS, WHY IS ALICIA FAUST NOT BEING REAPPOINTED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMISSION? ALICIA HOUSE. ALICIA FAUST IS THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WILLIS DADY HOMELESS SERVICES.

SHE'S BEEN EMPLOYED THERE SINCE 2016, I BELIEVE.

SHE'S BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SINCE 2021.

SHE'S THE VICE CHAIR OF, OR WAS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION.

THAT MEANS THAT HER PEERS ON THAT COMMISSION APPOINTED HER TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THAT COMMISSION.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF SHE WAS REMOVED FROM THE COMMISSION.

ALICIA. AND JUST RECENTLY, ALICIA EARNED HER MASTER'S IN LEADERSHIP EARLIER IN 2025.

JUST TODAY, SHE WAS ANNOUNCED AS ONE OF THE 40 UNDER 40 LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION IN THE CITY, WE'VE SEEN THAT NUMBER DECREASE.

STILL AN ISSUE, BUT WE'VE SEEN THOSE NUMBERS DECREASE AND STABILIZE LARGE IN PART TO A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE HELPED THAT HAPPEN. AND THEN ALSO TO SHE WAS SHE WAS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF WARTBURG COLLEGE, WHERE SHE'S AN ALUMNI. YOU KNOW, MY POSITION IS THIS IS SOMEONE WHO I WANT TO CULTIVATE AS A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHO DESERVES TO BE ON THIS COMMISSION UNLESS I HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHY NOT.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW, LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE A HISTORY OF INTENTIONALLY ROTATING PEOPLE TO DEVELOP SKILLS, RIGHT? IF YOU LOOK AT OUR COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVEN'T CHANGED IN SEVEN YEARS, RIGHT. SO THIS IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN A NEW LEADER, AND WE WANT TO CULTIVATE HER TO BE A VALUABLE ASSET TO THE AFFORDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMISSION.

THERE IS SOMEONE FROM WILLIS DADY WHO HAS BEEN APPOINTED, LAUREN WHITE.

I WOULD LIKE TO, AND LAUREN'S QUALIFIED, DON'T GET ME WRONG.

LAUREN DIDN'T EXPRESSED INTEREST, NOR DID SHE APPLY TO BE PART OF THIS COMMISSION UNTIL SHE WAS TOLD HER BOSS WAS NOT BEING REAPPOINTED.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD JUST LIKE CLARIFICATION FROM THE MAYOR AS TO WHY ALICIA IS NOT BEING REAPPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION.

THANK YOU. SO JUST CAN I ASK WHAT YOU'RE IMPLYING? I'M IMPLYING THAT. IN THE CLEAREST TERMS. YEAH, I THINK YOU.

I THINK ALICIA IS A STRONG, POWERFUL WOMAN WHO DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOU OR SOME OTHER PEOPLE ON CITY, AND I THINK IT WAS A PETTY, PERSONAL REASON WHY YOU DIDN'T REAPPOINT HER.

OKAY. I, THAT OKAY. I COULDN'T DISAGREE MORE.

[01:00:02]

I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE MERITS OF ALICIA.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR TO HER. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO LAUREN EITHER.

WHO I DID APPOINT. I THINK THE. I THINK YOUR IMPLICATION IS MORE OF A PROJECTION OF YOU THAN CERTAINLY OF ME. YOU COULDN'T BE MORE INCORRECT ABOUT THAT.

I THINK WE LEAN ON ALICIA FAUST. IN MANY OF OUR, YOU KNOW, HOMELESSNESS SERVICES MEETINGS.

SHE HELPS US WITH OUR YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS ADVISORY GROUPS.

SHE'S ABSOLUTELY AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR STRATEGY.

LAUREN, I MEAN, I JUST LAUREN'S BEEN WITH THEM SINCE 2020, AND SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, HAS A MASTERS AS WELL, HAS A WIDTH. I MEAN, JUST THE BREADTH AND WIDTH OF HER EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT, IN TERMS OF TEAM LEADERSHIP, IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BRING A TREMENDOUS PERSPECTIVE TO THIS COMMISSION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE WHEN I APPOINTED DAVID MAIER TO THE ARTS COMMISSION WAY BACK WHEN, AND IF THERE WERE A DAVID MAIER ON THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME, THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SAID, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? THE GUY DOESN'T HAVE A BACKGROUND IN ART.

HE JUST MOVED HERE. AND I SAW IT AS SOMEBODY WHO, YOU KNOW, LOVED ART, LOVED OUR CITY, COULD BRING A NEW VOICE TO THE TO THE COMMISSION. AND YOU'RE CERTAINLY LESS QUALIFIED FOR THAT POSITION THAN LAUREN WOULD BE FOR THIS, SO I JUST, I FIND IT JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY OFF.

I'M GLAD YOU WERE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. YOU'RE NODDING YOUR HEAD IN DISAGREEMENT, OR.

I THINK YOUR COMMENTS TO ME WERE PERSONAL AND PETTY JUST NOW, SO IT KIND OF REINFORCES.

THEY WERE FACTUAL DAVID, I'M BEING FACTUAL. THE LAST THING I AM IS PETTY.

YOU'RE ATTACKING MY CHOICE. AND IT'S LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO DEBATE THESE PEOPLE.

I THINK THEY'RE I THINK LAUREN'S GOING TO BE TERRIFIC.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ALICIA.

BUT I THINK WE'LL, WE'VE GOT A NEED FOR NEW IDEAS AND NEW ENERGY ON THAT COMMISSION.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE TERRIFIC. I WON'T EXPECT YOU TO APPROVE HER, TODAY.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE VOTE ON THE. I THINK IT COMES FORWARD, AND WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO VOTE ON THIS.

WOULD YOU MIND? I WOULD LOVE TO SECOND THAT MAYOR.

THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE APPOINTEES? AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. NO. OKAY, HOW CAN WE MOVE ON WITH THE OTHER WORK OF THIS COUNCIL? ITEM NUMBER 33 IS, OH B, OH.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE. OKAY. THAT IS. OKAY. I WOULD SECOND.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY LET'S DO MOTION. LET'S DO ROLL CALL AGAIN.

OKAY. AYE. AYE. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER HOEGER? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER. COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER IS AYE FOR B.

OKAY, GREAT. OKAY, NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO 33. THIS IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR F AVENUE NORTHWEST AND THE LEVEE PROJECT.

[33. Report on bids for the F Avenue NW and Levee project (estimated cost for Stage 1 is $667,000; estimated total project cost is $7,020,000) (Rob Davis). CIP/DID #3311554-01 a. Resolution awarding and approving contract in the amount of $576,738.61, plus incentive up to $25,000, bond and insurance of Schrader Excavating & Grading Co. for Stage 1 of the F Avenue NW and Levee project.]

ESTIMATED COST FOR STAGE ONE IS $667,000. ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST IS $7,020,000.

ROB DAVIS IS HERE. ROB WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

ROB DAVIS, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. IT'S BEEN A VERY EXCITING MONTH AND A HALF ON THIS PROJECT.

WHEN WE PUT THIS OUT FOR BID, WE PUT OUT FOR BID $7,020,000.

IT'S THE, ALL OF F AVENUE REBUILDING OF 1ST STREET, REBUILDING OF 3RD STREET, PUTTING A LEVEE IN.

AND THEN EIGHT DAYS AFTER WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A $25 MILLION BUILD GRANT FOR THIS AREA.

VERY, VERY EXCITING. WE HAVE SINCE ISSUED BY ADDENDUM TO REMOVE A GOOD PORTION OF THAT WORK TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF THAT GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL AID, BECAUSE IT OVERLAPS WHAT WE JUST PUT OUT FOR BID, AND THEY NEED TO AGREE WITH THE TERMS OF OUR FUNDING AGREEMENT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT WE PUT OUT FOR BID FOR $7 MILLION AND A LITTLE BIT OF 500, IN THE 500,000 RANGES, BECAUSE WE ADDENDUM OUT, MOST OF THE WORK, THE AREA THAT WE HAVE REMAINING HERE IS ACTUALLY OUTSIDE THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT FEDERAL GRANT. IT'S IN YELLOW HERE. IT'S THE SOUTH HALF OF 3RD STREET NORTHWEST RECONSTRUCTION.

THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE KEEPING HERE INCLUDES JUST THE 2025 WORK.

[01:05:04]

THE ADDENDUM REMOVED THE 26 AND 27 WORK. IT ALSO INCLUDES PAVING HERE, WHERE I HAVE THE CURSOR TO CONVERT E AVENUE TO TWO WAY CONSTRUCTION. THAT WAS ALWAYS THE WORK PLAN FOR 2025.

SO THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE HERE. WE WILL COME COMEBACK UPON COMPLETION OF WORKING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THIS WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND EXPECT TO REBUILD THE SECOND STAGE, 2026 AND 2027 WORK SO THAT THE CASINO CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE ITS ENTRANCE IN TIME FOR THEIR OPENING NEXT YEAR.

SO WHAT'S LEFT? DO WE HAVE THE 3RD STREET NORTH WEST RECONSTRUCTION SOUTH HIGHWAY? WHAT THAT DOES IS PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE MIDNIGHT SMOKER RESTAURANT DURING THE MAIN 26-27 WORK.

ACCESS TO EXISTING BUSINESSES IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

WE WILL DO THE PAVING, AS I MENTIONED, AND THERE WILL BE SOME MINOR UTILITY RELOCATION, STORM, SANITARY AND WATER. THE COST ESTIMATE FOR THIS STAGE ONE WORK IS NOW $667,000.

WE HAD THE BID OPENING LAST WEEK. WE'D LIKE TO START AS SOON AS WE CAN.

NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 22ND FOR THE CONTRACT.

AND GET THAT FIRST STAGE OF WORK DONE BY NOVEMBER 11TH.

THE MAJORITY OF THIS WORK NOW IS FLOOD CONTROL BONDS.

AGAIN, DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THE GRANT WORK THAT WILL COME IN AN AREA IN THE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE ANTICIPATE THE GRANT WILL BE EXECUTED BY 2029. WE'RE LOOKING TO REMOVE THAT AREA UP TO THE 7 MILLION AND PROCEED WITH THAT.

THE SIX BIDS YOU RECEIVED ON THE 20TH. THE LOW BID WAS $576,738.61, AND ARRANGED TO 789,397.14. AND SO THAT THOSE BIDS ARE RIGHT IN LINE WITH OUR REVISED COST OPINION.

AND WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $576,738.61 WITH SCHRADER EXCAVATING GRADING COMPANY.

THANK YOU. I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. THANKS, ROB.

PRETTY BIG DELTA BETWEEN THE HIGHEST AND THE LOWEST THOUGH. ANY IDEAS AS TO WHY? I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WORK THAT WE'RE BIDDING IN AUGUST FOR WORK WE WANTED TO START NEXT MONTH AND FINISHED BY NOVEMBER.

SO IT REALLY DEPENDS HOW BUSY THE CONTRACTORS ARE.

OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY.

CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE MAP ROB? LIKE THE OVERHEAD.

SO, YEAH, WE HAD JUST WE WERE. THIS IS REALLY TANGENTIAL, SO IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER IT, THAT'S OKAY.

BUT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HAVING THE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES BURIED.

IS THAT, CAN YOU JUST KIND OF MAYBE SHOW US WHERE THAT MIGHT BE? THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IN THE AREA OF THIS RIGHT OVER HERE.

SO THE VACANT PARCELS ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF F AVENUE BETWEEN 4TH AND 3RD.

SO IT'S JUST TO THE WEST OF THE MIDNIGHT SMOKERS.

SO IT'S RIGHT HERE WHERE I HAVE THE CURSOR. OKAY.

SO THAT'S ALSO OUTSIDE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE FEDERAL AID.

YEAH. NO, I THINK. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

I'VE GOT FULL FAITH AND CREDIT IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

YOU'VE LED US INTO A REALLY GREAT SPOT IN TERMS OF RECOVERY THROUGH ALL OF OUR FLOODS, AND HAVE REALLY BEEN MOVING US ALONG THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. MY COMMENTARY REALLY IS JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT HELPS SOMETIMES TO JUST SHOW THE CONCURRENT PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN OVERHEAD LIKE THIS, AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO PUT NEW THINGS IN HERE, LIKE THE GREENWAY PLAN, LIKE POTENTIALLY SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENT THERE AT SOME POINT, LIKE THE CASINO PROJECT.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GET VERY FIXATED ON, WHERE POSSIBLE, BEARING THE LINES.

AND SO IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS IN THIS BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE THERE AND BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR UTILITY PARTNERS ARE ALSO HEARING ME EVERY TIME THAT I SAY THAT WE NEED TO BE BEARING THE LINES OTHER PLACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BECAUSE THIS IS BEST PRACTICE TO DO THIS. IT IS EXPENSIVE, I KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE.

BUT IT'S ALSO EXPENSIVE WHEN THE POWER LINES FALL WHEN THERE'S TREES THAT FALL AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE ALL THE SIDEWALKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPOSED. SO JUST FOR ANY UTILITY COMPANIES LISTENING WOULD LOVE THIS.

IN OTHER PARTS OF THE SOUTHWEST SIDE. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOEGER. AND IF YOU EXPLAIN THIS, I'M SORRY I WAS LOST IN A LITTLE BIT OF IT.

SO IS IT A $25 MILLION GRANT, ONE THAT WE'RE APPLYING FOR AND COMPETING TO HOPEFULLY GET TO COVER SOME OF THIS COST? AND THEN WHEN WOULD WE KNOW WHEN THE AWARD IS? AND THEN I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS IT DELAY THE ACTUAL PROJECT ITSELF YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHILE WE WAIT TO SEE IF WE GET AWARDED THE 7 MILLION?

[01:10:07]

NO, ACTUALLY WE'VE BEEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN OF THE AWARD OF $25 MILLION.

SO WE APPLIED FOR THE GRANT AT THE END OF JANUARY.

SO THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO CASINO APPROVAL AT THAT POINT.

THE VERY NEXT WEEK AFTER THE WE APPLIED FOR THE GRANT.

THE RACING GAMING COMMISSION APPROVES THE LICENSE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME APPEALS BACK AND FORTH.

SO WE PUT THIS, YOU KNOW, WE FIND OUT THEY GET THE LICENSE, THE APPEALS HAVE BEEN DROPPED.

WE PUT THE PRODUCT OUT FOR BID. AND THEN AS SOON AS WE PUT THE PROJECT OUT FOR BID THROUGH NEXT WEEK, WE GET ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE GRANT.

SO WE DO HAVE THE GRANT, BUT BECAUSE IT OVERLAPS, IT JUST FEDERALIZED THIS AREA, AND WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THEIR PERMISSIONS TO PUT THIS OUT FOR BID AND NOT JEOPARDIZE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY'VE JUST ANNOUNCED FOR US.

SO I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO SAY WE CAN PUT THIS IN TWO BID PACKAGES, GO BACK OUT FOR BID.

THE EXPECTATION IS ABOUT THREE MONTHS FROM NOW.

WE CAN HAVE THAT DEAL WORKED OUT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE CAN STILL GET THIS BID IN, SAY, DECEMBER AND DO THE 26 AND 27 WORK ON THE SAME SCHEDULE WE ANNOUNCED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THE CASINO WOULD SEE NO DIFFERENCE TO WHAT WE DID.

WE WOULD JUST DO IT IN TWO DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, BUT THAT WOULD KEEP AND PRESERVE THE FEDERAL AWARD OF 25 MILLION.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? THAT'S PERFECT. THANK YOU. AND I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY WENT THROUGH IT A LITTLE BIT IN YOUR PRESENTATION. BUT I WAS TRYING TO TRACK EVERYTHING AND BUT CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN VERY COMPLICATED.

PROBABLY CONSUMED ABOUT HALF OF MY TIME IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS TRYING TO BALANCE BOTH OF THESE AND THE CASINO OPENINGS.

SO YEAH, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED. SO YOU REALLY DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN. IT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.

THANKS, ROB. OKAY. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTED.

THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY HOEGER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.

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

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES. 34, IS A PRESENTATION AND RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A PROPOSAL FROM PRAIRIE ROSE RENTAL COMPANY AND HORIZONS.

[34. Presentation and resolution accepting a proposal from Prairie Rose Rental Company and Horizons, A Family Service Alliance for the redevelopment of two City-owned properties along 10th Avenue and 5th Street SE in Oak Hill Jackson (Noah Zeker). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #DISP-0046-2023]

A FAMILY SERVICE ALLIANCE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF TWO CITY OWNED PROPERTIES ALONG 10TH AVE AND 5TH STREET SOUTHEAST IN OAK HILL JACKSON.

NOAH ZEKER'S HERE. NOAH, I RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

NOAH ZEKER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. I AM PRESENTING ON THE DISPOSITION AND POTENTIAL AWARDING OF TWO CITY OWNED PARCELS 916 5TH STREET SOUTHEAST AND 512 10TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST. FOR A BIT OF BACKGROUND, IN OCTOBER 2023, THE CITY ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR A REDEVELOPMENT AFTER AN INQUIRY. THESE PROPERTIES WERE ACQUIRED BY THE CITY IN 2010 AND 2011 RESPECTIVELY.

USING CDBG FUNDS, THE PARCELS ARE BOTH LOCATED IN THE BOHEMIAN VIABLE BUSINESS DISTRICT.

COMBINED, THEY TOTAL ABOUT 7800FT², ARE ZONED TO TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL AND ARE IN THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

NOTABLY, WHILE 512 10TH AVENUE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO CITY WATER, BOTH PARCELS HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER RELEVANT UTILITIES.

HERE YOU CAN SEE AN OVERHEAD OF THE PARCELS, WITH 10TH AVENUE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT AND 5TH STREET SOUTHEAST ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT.

AND HERE ARE THE STREET VIEWS OF BOTH PARCELS.

THE HOUSE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF 916 5TH STREET IS NO LONGER THERE.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE RFP INCLUDED CONFORMANCE WITH THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE, PREFERENCE FOR RESIDENTIAL USES.

FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY AND DEMONSTRATED DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE.

PARDON ME. THE CITY RECEIVED ONE PROPOSAL.