[Call to Order]
[00:00:09]
THIS MEETING OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER EVERYONE.
WELCOME EVERYBODY FOR THIS MEETING TUESDAY APRIL 14TH, 2026.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR ENTIRE COUNCIL HERE, ALSO OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR CITY CLERK, AND AS ALWAYS THE CITY STAFF FOR MAKING TIME TO BE HERE FOR US.
A REMINDER FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE IN THE GALLERY TO PLEASE TURN OFF ANY CELL PHONES OR ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT MIGHT DISTRACT FROM OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY.
AND NOTE THAT ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDAS, MINUTES, AND VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE.
REGULAR SESSIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO WATCH LIVE AND ON REPLAY ON FACEBOOK.
WE WILL BEGIN NOW WITH AN INVOCATION BY PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAIN SAM ANDERSON, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY STAFF, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE.
JUST A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND INVIGORATED BY THE SPRINGTIME WEATHER THAT WE HAVE, BUT ALSO JUST REMINDED OF THE WORK THAT IS TO BE DONE.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH PRAYER.
GOD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE AND DIRECT CONVERSATIONS, DECISIONS.
GOD, THAT YOU WOULD MAKE CEDAR RAPIDS TO BE A PLACE.
THAT WE WOULD BE PROUD TO CONTINUE TO CALL OUR HOME.
GOD, THAT YOU WOULD BE IN ALL THE DECISIONS.
GOD, WE KNOW THAT IN YOU WE HAVE OUR LIFE AND OUR BREATH AND OUR VERY BEING.
SO, FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE THESE DECISIONS, CONVERSATIONS, AND GOD, THAT YOUR WILL IS DONE.
WE PRAY ALL OF THIS, GOD, ASKING FOR DIRECTION AND DISCERNMENT.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT IS ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, AND WITH GOD, AMEN.
[Proclamations/Presentations]
WE'RE AGAIN WITH PROCLAMATIONS BEGINNING WITH CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE ANYONE WHO'S HERE FOR THIS PROCLAMATION TO JOIN COUNCILMEMBER VAN ORNEY AT THE DAIS.WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT...
YEAH, PLEASE, ALL RIGHT, WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS AFFECTING EVERY SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND REQUIRE ACTION FROM EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PREVENT IT.
AND WHEREAS OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE AND WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND LINDON.
COUNTY, AND TOGETHER WE CAN SUPPORT SAFE, HEALTHY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY PARTNERING TO PROTECT CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT DIRECTLY HARM CHILDREN AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF LONG-TERM PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CAN CONTINUED FAMILY VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND WHEREAS EVERY CHILD CAN HAVE A GREAT CHILDHOOD BY MAKING SURE EACH FAMILY HAS SUPPORT AND EDUCATION THEY NEED IN RAISING THEIR CHILDREN IN SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS, AND WHEREAS EFFECTIVE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS SUCCEED BECAUSE OF PARTNERSHIPS CREATED AMONG SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, FAITH COMMUNITIES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY MEMBERS MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT...
BENEFIT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ASHLEY VAN ORNEY, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR TIFFANY O'DONNELL OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE ENTIRE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH OF APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH AND CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS TO INCREASE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN BUILDING CARING CONNECTIONS WITH FAMILIES, THEREBY PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVE.
SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR RECOGNIZING CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
KEEPING CHILDREN IN CEDAR RAPIDS SAFE TAKES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THOSE STRONG FAMILIES AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.
OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR GREATEST RESOURCE AND INVESTING IN SAFE SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES BUILDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR CEDAR RAPIDS.
AND OUR FINAL PROCLAMATION TODAY IS FOR MAKE MY MUSIC DAY.
SO ANYONE WHO'S HERE FOR THAT? OH GREAT, I SEE QUITE A FEW FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
YES, JOIN COUNCIL MEMBER TODD HERE.
SO WHEREAS MUSIC IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS CULTURES, GENERATIONS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY BONDS AND ENRICHING CIVIC LIFE, AND WHEREAS LIFE...
[00:05:02]
TO THE CULTURAL VITALITY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CREATIVE IDENTITY OF COMMUNITIES BY SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS, ACTIVATING CEDAR RAPIDS WITH MUSIC.AND WHEREAS MAKE MUSIC DAY IS AN INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION OF MUSIC HELD EACH YEAR ON JUNE 21ST WITH MORE THAN 1,000 CITIES WORLDWIDE HOSTING FREE PERFORMANCES IN PARKS, SIDEWALKS, BUSINESSES, AND PUBLIC SPACES.
THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL MUSICIANS, VENUES, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, IS WORKING TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL MUSIC ECOSYSTEM AND CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO EXPERIENCE AND PARTICIPATE IN LIVE MUSIC.
AND WHEREAS MAKE MUSIC DAY IN CEDAR RAPIDS HELPS SHOWCASE THE CITY'S CREATIVE TALENTS, SUPPORT LOCAL PERFORMERS, AND FILL NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUBLIC SPACES WITH MUSIC FOR ALL TO ENJOY, NOW THEREFORE I, DALE TODD, ON BEHALF OF TIFFANY O'DONNELL, MAYOR OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE JUNE 21ST, 2026 AS MAKE MUSIC DAY AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CITYWIDE CELEBRATION BY SHARING AND ENJOYING LIVE MUSIC THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND YOUR SUPPORT.
MAKE MUSIC CEDAR RAPIDS IS EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO BRING MAKE MUSIC DAY TO CEDAR RAPIDS ON JUNE 21ST. CEDAR RAPIDS WILL JOIN CITIES AROUND THE WORLD FOR THIS INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY, TURNING OUR PARKS, SIDEWALKS, AND BUSINESSES INTO STAGES, WITH MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS SHARING MUSIC ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AS WE RING IN THE SUMMER.
THIS IS A CITYWIDE CELEBRATION, BUT IT'S ALSO PART OF A LARGER EFFORT TO GROW CEDAR RAPIDS' AS MAKE MUSIC CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE CITY WORK TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS, ACTIVATE PUBLIC SPACES, AND BUILD STRONGER CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE CEDAR RAPIDS COME ALIVE WITH MUSIC ON JUNE 21ST.
TO GET INVOLVED, VISIT MAKEMUSICDAY.ORG SLASH CEDARRAPIDS.
COUNCIL, YOU STARTED THIS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, AND NOW IT'S STARTING.
THIS IS OUR MUSIC COMMITTEE ECOSYSTEM RIGHT HERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR MEETING EVERY OTHER MONTH AND HELPING TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN.
AND THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, COUNCILMEMBER TODD, TOO.
DOES THE CLERK HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS IN REGARD TO ANY OF OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY? YOUR HONOR, THERE ARE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS.
[1. A public hearing will be held to consider the Cedar Rapids Transit FY27 Consolidated Transit Funding Application to the Iowa Department of Transportation for federal and state transit funding assistance (Sergio Hill). CIP/DID #TRN2025-01]
THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE CEDAR RAPIDS TRANSIT FY27 CONSOLIDATED TRANSIT FUNDING APPLICATION, WHICH GOES TO THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FEDERAL AND STATE TRANSIT FUNDING ASSISTANCE.SERGIO HILL IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.
ALL RIGHT, THIS ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED FUNDING APPLICATION THROUGH THE IOWA DOT IS A REQUIRED PROCESS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ALLOWS US TO SEE STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS STATE-ADMINISTERED FEDERAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH ULTIMATELY HELPS TO FUND DAY-TO-DAY TRANSIT SERVICES AND REPLACE VEHICLES THAT ARE AT OR NEARING THEIR END OF USEFUL LIFE.
TOTALS APPROXIMATELY 7.21 MILLION, WHICH ACTUALLY FUNDS APPROXIMATELY 40% OF OUR TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET AND APPROXIMATELY 75% OF OUR CAPITAL BUDGET FOR BUSES.
ABOUT 75% OF THIS TOTAL REQUEST, OR 5.38 MILLION, GOES TOWARDS OPERATING ASSISTANCE.
THIS INCLUDES 4.4 MILLION YOU AND OPERATING GRANTS, JUST OVER $719,000 IN STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE, AND JUST OVER $256,000 IN ENHANCED MOBILITY PROGRAMS, WHICH HELPS TO FUND OUR CONTRACTED REQUIRED PARATRANSIT SERVICE.
THE REMAINING 25% OF THE TOTAL REQUESTS, OR $1.83 MILLION, GOES TOWARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THIS INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY $1.6 MILLION.
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR REPLACEMENT OF TWO FIXED ROUTE BUSES AND ALSO ONE ADA PARATRANSIT BUS.
THE REQUIRED LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS FOR THESE GRANTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE APPROVED FY27 BUDGET AND WITH THAT WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL APPROVING SUBMITTAL OF THE FY27 TRANSIT FUNDING APPLICATION.
[00:10:01]
SERGIO, THANK YOU.THIS IS THE TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT, LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TODD.
[2. A public hearing will be held to consider amending Chapter 13 of the Municipal Code, Wastewater Facilities, by adding a new Group VI user group to address service charges for contributing cities with new contractual agreements (Roy Hesemann). CIP/DID #WPC032426-01]
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDING CHAPTER 13 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE WASTEWATER FACILITIES BY ADDING A NEW GROUP SIX USER GROUP THAT ADDRESSES SERVICE CHARGES FOR CONTRIBUTING CITIES WITH NEW CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS.AND ROY HESSMAN IS HERE WITH THAT.
ROY HESSMAN, UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
FOR CONTEXT, WPC SERVES NOT ONLY ALL OF CEDAR RAPIDS, BUT ALSO MARION, HIAWATHA, ROBBINS.
PALO AND A SMALL PART OF LINN COUNTY.
AS THE RENOVATION PROJECT FOR WPC STARTED TAKING SHAPE, WE REALIZED WE NEEDED OUR ADJOINING COMMUNITIES TO JOIN US IN SHOULDERING THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND BURDENS FOR THIS $348 MILLION PROJECT.
SO ABOUT THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, MARION HIAWATHA AND CEDAR RAPIDS STAFF SAT DOWN AND STARTED HAMMERING OUT NEW 2080 AGREEMENTS.
THIS AMENDMENT TO OUR CHAPTER 13 IS ONE RESULT OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.
THE EXISTING 28E AGREEMENTS WITH OUR ADJOINING COMMUNITIES ARE ALL SET UP DIFFERENTLY, WHICH MAKES ADMINISTERING THEM COMPLICATED.
WEATHER HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT AND CAN CAUSE HIGHLY VARIABLE SWINGS UP AND DOWN FROM YEAR TO YEAR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT BUDGET FOR THEM AND FOR US.
CONTAIN PENALTIES FOR EXCEEDING FLOW LIMITS, THE FORMULAS ARE STRUCTURED IN A WAY THAT MAKES THEM NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CALCULATE.
I HAVE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION HOW WELL MARION AND HIAWATHA HAVE BEEN TO WORK WITH DURING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
THESE NEW AGREEMENTS HAVE GONE THROUGH MANY ITERATIONS AND REVISIONS, BUT IN THE END, WE ARE ALL VERY HAPPY WITH THE END RESULTS.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AGREEMENT ARE LISTED HERE.
BUT OVERALL, IT ALLOWS FOR A MUCH BETTER WORKING RELATIONSHIP THROUGH TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS BETWEEN ALL PARTIES.
IT ALSO ALLOWS ALL PARTIES TO BUDGET WASTEWATER FEES IN A MORE SYSTEMATIC MANNER AND PROVIDES INCENTIVES FOR TIGHTENING UP THEIR COLLECTION SYSTEM FROM INFLOW AND INFILTRATION.
AS WE LOOKED AT MANY OPTIONS, WE SETTLED ON A HYBRID MODEL VERY SIMILAR TO HOW WE CHARGE OUR LARGE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS.
MARION'S FLOW IS HIGH ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR OUR LARGE INDUSTRIAL GROUP THREE PARAMETERS, AND HIAWATHA ISN'T TOO FAR BEHIND.
BUT UNLIKE OUR INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, MARION AND HIAWATHA HAVE SEVERAL SOURCE ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS, SO IT'S NOT FEASIBLE TO MONITOR EACH POINT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLOW.
USING DAILY FLOW DATA, WE WILL INVOICE FOR ACTUAL FLOW METER READINGS AND CALCULATE WASTEWATER PARAMETERS USING ESTABLISHED STANDARD DOMESTIC...
STRENGTH LIMITS AT THOSE FLOW LEVELS.
PERIODIC IN-FIELD SAMPLING WILL ALSO OCCUR TO ESTABLISH ANY MAJOR DEVIATIONS FROM THOSE PUBLISHED STANDARDS.
WHILE THE AGREEMENTS ALLOW FOR GRADUAL GROWTH IN ALL COMMUNITIES, SHOULD AN ADJOINING COMMUNITY WANT TO BUY ADDITIONAL CAPACITY NEEDS AT WPC, PROVISIONS ARE IN THE AGREEMENT FOR THEM TO BUY THAT CAPACITY.
THE AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 13 ESTABLISHES A NEW GROUP SIX CLASSIFICATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR ADJOINING COMMUNITIES.
BASED ON OUR GROUP THREE INDUSTRIAL RATES AND FUTURE RATES, INCREASES PLUS A 25% SURCHARGE.
THE NEW 28 AGREEMENTS HAVE UNDERGONE LEGAL REVIEW BY ALL THREE COMMUNITIES.
MARION HAS ALREADY PASSED A NEW AGREEMENT, AND WE ANTICIPATE HIAWATHA PASSING IT AT THEIR COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW, APRIL 15TH.
TODAY WE ARE HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE CHANGE.
THE SECOND AND POSSIBLE THIRD READING ALONG WITH THE NEW 2080 AGREEMENTS WILL BE ON THE APRIL 28TH AGENDA.
UPON PASSING THE AGREEMENTS IT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR AND WILL RUN THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF 2042.
THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THIS AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 13 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE AND WITH THAT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT, LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
COUNSEL, COMMENT? COUNCILMAN ROLSON.
[00:15:02]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.ROY, I APPRECIATE, AS WE HEARD IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS, WHICH HAS BEEN, LIKE YOU SAY, ONLY THREE AND A HALF YEARS TO TRY AND HIT COMMON GROUND.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE IMPORTANT POINT THERE IS THAT FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, AND IT'S HARD FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES TO STAND ALONE.
AND I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE OUR ABILITIES.
THE CONDITION AND THIS REMODELING THAT'S OCCURRING AT THE WASTEWATER PLANT THAT'S GOING TO MAKE GROWTH POSSIBLE IN ALL OUR METRO NEIGHBORS.
AND SO THANKS FOR LEADING THAT EFFORT.
AND SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SET THE STANDARDS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDING.
SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT EFFORT.
YEAH, JUST ALONG THOSE NOTES, I THINK IT'S REALLY APPROPRIATE TO TALK ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I KNOW THAT THE MAYORS HAVE REALLY GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH THE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE AND INVESTED IN THAT, AND THERE HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME STORY WHERE IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE CEDAR RAPIDS HAS TO DO A LOT OF GROWN-UP THINGS, AND EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM SOME OF THE HARDER CHOICES WE HAVE TO MAKE AS THE HUB IN THIS METRO REGION.
AND YET, YOU KNOW, WE FIND OURSELVES HERE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT JUST WITH THIS, BUT ALSO WITH THE LANDFILL EXPANSION, REALLY DEPENDENT ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN VERY INTENTIONALLY FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND HAVE THOSE DOWNSTREAM CONSEQUENCES FOR US HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS.
SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO THE CITIES OF MARION AND HIAWATHA.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALLY POINT IT OUT EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE DO HAVE THOSE MOMENTS OF EXCELLENCE IN PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE WE DO NEED OUR PARTNERS TO HELP US WITH THIS.
AND WITH THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, BUT THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF US DOING JUST THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ACCOMPLISHING THIS AS WELL.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL, THE APPROVAL ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VAN ORNEY.
[3. A public hearing will be held to consider amending Chapter 6 of the Municipal Code, City Administration, to modify the roles and responsibilities of the Parks, Waterways and Recreation Commission as described in Section 6.05 (Carrie Mardorf). CIP/DID #PKS057-26]
THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, CITY ADMINISTRATION.TO MODIFY THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARKS, WATERWAYS, AND RECREATION COMMISSION AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 6.05.
FOR BACKGROUND, SECTION 6.05 WITHIN CHAPTER 6 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINS TO THE PARKS, WATERWAYS, AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
IT WAS LAST UPDATED IN JUNE OF 2014, SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OVER THAT 10-YEAR MARK.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, THE COMMISSION'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE EVOLVED AND SECTIONS OF THE CURRENT ORDINANCE NO LONGER APPLY.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMISSION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO DEVELOP THE RECOMMENDED UPDATES, WHICH THE COMMISSION APPROVED IN FEBRUARY OF EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SO OUR GOALS ARE TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE TO REFLECT CURRENT PRACTICES AND FORMALLY CODIFY WHAT'S ALREADY BEING DONE, AND TO ALSO CLARIFY THE COMMISSION'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BASED ON TODAY'S OPERATIONAL NEEDS.
SO A FEW OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS AND ACTUAL CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.
SO FIRST, IT UPDATES THE MEMBERSHIP, THE TERMS OF SERVICE, AND MEETING SCHEDULES TO REFLECT THE CURRENT PRACTICE.
IT CLARIFIES THE COMMISSION'S POWERS AND DUTIES, WHICH EMPHASIZES ITS ADVISORY AND ADVOCACY ROLES.
IT ADDS MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF CURRENT BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, AND IT REMOVES FUNDRAISING AND DONATION RESPONSIBILITIES.
SO WITH THAT, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH SECOND AND POSSIBLE THIRD READINGS OF THE ORDINANCE ON APRIL 28TH.
THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT.
LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY VAN ORNEY, SECONDED BY POE.
[4. A public hearing will be held to review the status of the Ginkgo Ridge project funded through the Iowa Economic Development Authority under the CDBG-DR Single-Family New Construction (ROOTs) Program (Chrystal Kohl and Jennifer Barten). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CDBG-DRFY22]
AND THE MOTION CARRIES.FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO REVIEW THE STATUS OF THE GINKGO RIDGE PROJECT FUNDED THROUGH THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY UNDER THE CDBGDR SINGLE-FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION OR YOU ROUTES PROGRAM AS WE KNOW IT.
CRYSTAL COLE AND JENNIFER BARTON ARE HERE TO UPDATE US ON THAT.
CRYSTAL COLE AND JENNIFER BARTON WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS GINKGO RIDGE, WHICH IS PART OF OUR ROUTES PROGRAM.
PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS REALLY AT THAT MIDWAY POINT OF ANY OF OUR FUNDING WE'VE RECEIVED THROUGH THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
WE GO THROUGH AND DISCUSS ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE, EXPENDITURES TO DATE, REMAINING WORK TO COMPLETE, AND ANY CHANGES TO THE PROJECT.
THE PROJECT OVERVIEW, IT WAS 16 SINGLE UNIT HOMES THROUGH THE ROOTS PROGRAM.
THE UNITS ARE TOWNHOUSE STYLE.
[00:20:01]
TOWNHOUSE STYLE.THREE FOURPLEXES, ONE THREEPLEX BUILDING, AND THEN A STANDALONE ADA UNIT.
THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVITIES THAT EXTENDED SUMMIT AVENUE SOUTHWEST, AS WELL AS CONNECTION TO THE CEDAR RIVER TRAIL THAT RUNS PARALLEL TO THE PROPERTY.
PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE INSTALLATION OF THE STREET INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS VISIBLE IN THAT PHOTO.
ONE UNIT IS UNDER CONTRACT FOR PURCHASE, AND THE FIRST FOURPLEX IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
FOR EXPENDITURES, THE TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET WAS APPROXIMATELY $6.7 MILLION, WITH $3.12 MILLION IN CDBGDR FUNDING.
AND OF THAT AMOUNT, THERE'S $1.12 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.
THE BALANCE IS FUNDED WITH A CONSTRUCTION LOAN, AND TO DATE, 1.34 MILLION OF THE CDBGDR FUNDS HAVE BEEN EXPENDED.
FOR THE REMAINING WORK, THE FIRST FOURPLEX IS NEARING COMPLETION IN THE NEXT MONTH, AND THEN THE REMAINING THREE BUILDINGS FOR THE REMAINING 12 UNITS WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION.
AND THE ONLY PROJECT CHANGES WE'VE HAD WAS A SHIFT IN LOCATION TO THOSE SUMMIT AVENUE LOTS.
AND OUR TIMELINE HAS SHIFTED TO COMPLETION IN AUGUST OF 2027.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT MANY OF OUR CITIZENS KNOW BEGAN POST-FLOOD AND THEN POST-RH0, 2.0.
WOULD YOU MIND JUST GIVING US A HIGH LEVEL FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH ROOTS, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? CERTAINLY.
ROOTS IS KIND OF A TWO-FOLD PROGRAM.
DEVELOPER SUBSIDY TO HELP BRING DOWN THE COST OF PROJECTS SO THAT THEY ARE AFFORDABLE TO THOSE AT 80 PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR LOWER AND THEN THERE IS ALSO A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE COMPONENT THAT CAN FUND UP TO 35,000 IN ADDITIONAL COSTS AND THEN THE PROGRAM BASICALLY CAN GET THE HOUSE DOWN TO ABOUT 140,000 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
AND HOW MANY, ABOUT HOW MANY PROPERTIES ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TOTAL? IN TOTAL, IT'S 76 HOMES.
THIS IS THE TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.
LET THE RECORD SHOW PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
SO WHAT IS THE AMI ON THESE PROPERTIES? 80%.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE.
[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the establishment of the Garfield Urban Revitalization Area at 1201 Maplewood Drive NE as proposed by Evolution, LC, an entity of Steve Emerson (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #URTE-0064-2026]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GARFIELD URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA, AT 1201 MAPLEWOOD DRIVE NORTHEAST, AS PROPOSED BY EVOLUTION LC, WHICH IS A DIVISION OF STEVE EMERSON, AN ENTITY OF STEVE EMERSON.SCOTT MATHER IS HERE TO UPDATE US ON THAT.
SCOTT MATHER WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
THE STATE OF THIS IS REGARDING THE GARFIELD URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA.
FEBRUARY 10, 2026, CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED STANDARD INCENTIVES FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER GARFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THE DEVELOPER PURCHASED THE FORMER SCHOOL IN 2024, IS IN THE PROCESS OF SECURING HISTORIC TAX CREDITS, AND THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED BROWNFIELD-GRAYFIELD IN 2024.
THE PROJECT QUALIFIES UNDER THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM, AND TODAY WE'RE HERE TO ESTABLISH THE URBAN REVITE AREA, SORRY, I'M OUT OF BREATH, AS A MECHANISM FOR FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.
THIS IS A $7 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR THE, IT'S A MIX OF ONE- AND TWO-BEDROOM MARKET-RATE RENTAL UNITS.
CONSTRUCTION TO COMMENCE IN SUMMER OF...
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND PAUSE ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
SCOTT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU GET SOME WATER.
OKAY, BILL, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING IN HERE.
ARE YOU OKAY TO DO THIS? I AM INDEED.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH ITEM NUMBER FIVE THEN.
YEAH, SO THE PROJECT OVERVIEW, AND FORGIVE ME IF I'M
[00:25:01]
REPEATING, I WASN'T EXACTLY SURE WHERE HE LEFT OFF.SO $7 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT, A MIX OF ONE- AND TWO-BEDROOM MARKET RATE RENTAL UNITS, 30 UNITS TOTAL.
CONSTRUCTION COMMENCEMENT SUMMER OF 2026 THIS YEAR AND COMPLETION END OF 2026.
THE STANDARD INCENTIVE PROVIDES A 10-YEAR, 100% EXEMPTION OF INCREASED VALUE GENERATED BY THE PROJECT.
BASED ON THE INVESTMENT AND ESTIMATED POST-DEVELOPMENT VALUE, THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE $665,000 IN TOTAL TAXES OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD, OF WHICH $240,000 WOULD BE EXEMPTED.
YOU CAN SEE THE PROJECT LOCATION ON THE MAP HERE.
THIS IS WHAT THE OLD SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE TODAY, AND IT IS AN ADAPTIVE.
REUSE OF THAT BUILDING, WHICH IS ALWAYS A POSITIVE.
PUBLIC HEARING IS TODAY, OBVIOUSLY, RESOLUTION BEING CONSIDERED WITH THE FIRST ORDINANCE READING AND SECOND AND POSSIBLE THIRD ORDINANCE READING TO APPEAR ON APRIL 28TH.
I BELIEVE THAT IS THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.
LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER HAGER? MAYOR, I WILL RECUSE MYSELF FOR THIS VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
BILL, I JUST HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION.
WHAT ABILITY DOES THE CITY HAVE TO ENCOURAGE MORE TWO-BEDROOM AND THREE-BEDROOM UNIT BUILDINGS VERSUS THE ONE AND TWO? OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE THREE-BEDROOM UNIT, IT'S MORE LIKELY TO BE A BETTER USE TO FAMILIES.
YEAH, SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, AND I KNOW THIS TERM IS VERY GENERAL, BUT THE MARKET DETERMINES WHAT IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN TERMS OF A PRO FORMA, WHAT MAKES THAT.
PERFORM A PENCIL OUT, SO TO SPEAK.
YOU KNOW, I THINK CERTAINLY WE DO HAVE THE MAXFIELD HOUSING STUDY, AND WE DO THAT ANNUALLY.
THAT IS GOING TO BE STARTING THIS YEAR, AND I THINK WHAT I WOULD DO IS ASK MARY BAJOLD, WHO'S OUR CONSULTANT SPECIFICALLY, TO TAKE A LOOK AT DEMAND FOR THOSE UNITS AND SEE WHAT YOU KNOW DEMAND IS BASED OFF OF THAT DATA IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING NOW WE CERTAINLY CAN CONSIDER AMENDING OUR INCENTIVES TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT YOU KNOW WE CAN OBVIOUSLY THE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ARE OURS AND WE CAN AMEND THEM AS DEMAND YOU KNOW REQUIRES SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE ROUTE TO GO THERE.
YEAH, AND I MIGHT JUST ALSO ADD TO, YOU KNOW, ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT JUST THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, MARKET.
YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM DEVELOPERS, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE FOR THEM RIGHT NOW WITH THESE SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.
IS THAT ACCURATE? AND HOW CAN PROGRAMS LIKE ROOTS, FOR EXAMPLE, ANSWER THAT? YEAH, I MEAN, CONSTRUCTION AND NEW DEVELOPMENT IS CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS IS REALLY WHAT IS.
SO IF YOU HAVE TO PUT IN ROADS, FOR EXAMPLE, SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS REQUIRE THAT YOU DO THAT.
WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM DEVELOPERS IS THAT'S THE BIG CHALLENGE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT IS BEING PROPOSED, OF COURSE, AS AN AMENDMENT POSSIBLY TO OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS IS A WAY TO HELP WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE DID, WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT...
THIS IS A NEW ISSUE, A NEWER ISSUE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM DEVELOPERS THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE ADDRESSING.
AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE, AS WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY, CITIES COMPETE AND WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, REMAIN COMPETITIVE FOR LIMITED RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, IN THE REGION.
ONE THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS WE TALK ABOUT THIS PRETTY EXTENSIVELY.
SHOULD ANYBODY EVER WANT TO ATTEND IT? DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THIS THE MOST THAT BEING SAID WE ARE ALWAYS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT CITY STAFF WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THOSE INCENTIVES THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED OVER THE YEARS FROM SOME LEGISLATURE PARAMETERS,
[00:30:02]
THAT WE ARE ALWAYS PRIORITIZING AGAINST OUR MAX FIELD STUDIES FIRST.WHAT DO WE NEED? WE ARE NOT INCENTIVIZING PROJECTS THAT WE DON'T NEED.
SO THAT'S ALWAYS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SAY IS THAT THERE IS A NEED OUT THERE.
SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE A MYTH THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY NEED MORE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA OF OUR MAX FIELD HOUSING STUDIES, IT DOES SHOW THAT IN FACT WE DO.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS KIND OF DEFER BACK TO THAT AND I KNOW THAT CITY STAFF CONSISTENTLY LEAD ON THAT AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT TAKES THE GUESSWORK OUT OF THIS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK ARE YOU CHECKING THAT FIRST YOU ARE ALWAYS CHECKING THAT AND ENSURING THAT THIS DOES MEET SOMETHING THAT WE ARE IN NEED OF IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND THEN PRIORITIZING IT THUSLY.
ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER OLSEN.
I MIGHT JUST ADD SOMETHING TO THIS, BILL.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED AS AN ARCHITECT, BUT ALSO IN CONVERSION OF SCHOOLS.
AND THE COSTS RELATE TO STAYING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THESE 700 TO 900 SQUARE FOOT CLASSROOMS. AND SO TO ANSWER DAVID'S QUESTION, THE CLASSROOMS THEN CAN BE DEVELOPED INTO EITHER A ONE OR TWO BEDROOM, BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO DO A THREE BEDROOM.
ONCE YOU START CHOPPING THROUGH WALLS, THE NUMBERS DON'T WORK AND TRY AND COMBINE.
THE MONROE SCHOOL THAT THREW FOUR OAKS AND THINGS, THOSE WERE ALL THE SAME THINGS, ONE AND TWO BEDROOMS, BUT THAT'S THE SHAPE OF THE CLASSROOM.
AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON HE'S GONE MAINLY TO THAT SIZE BECAUSE ONCE YOU START HAVING TO KNOCK WALLS DOWN IN SOME OF THESE OLDER BUILDINGS, IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE STRUCTURE.
BUT IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S HARD TO DO AND TO HOLD THE COST DOWN SO THAT STEVE CAN MAKE IT WORK IN HIS PROJECT.
AND SO IT'LL BE A GOOD CONVERSION.
IT ALLOWS THE CORRIDORS TO BE SAVED AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS AND STILL HAVE THE HISTORIC FEEL OF THE SCHOOL, BUT YET MAKE NICE APARTMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE QUESTION WAS, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE FOUR OR FIVE SCHOOL CONVERSIONS, AND THEY'VE ONLY BEEN ONE OR TWO BEDROOM UNITS.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET, BASED ON THAT AND BASED ON THE ADA, YOU CAN'T GET THREE IN, WHICH WOULD BE NICE.
MY QUESTION IS SORT OF A MORE.
I WOULDN'T SAY A LOGISTICAL ONE, BUT THAT PARCEL, THERE'S A SEGMENT THAT'S ADJACENT ACROSS THE STREET FROM DANIELS PARK.
DOES THAT STAY WITH EMERSON, OR DOES THAT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PREVIOUSLY OWNED IT? I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT FOR YOU.
I WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT PIECE, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STILL OWNS THAT FIVE ACRES.
SO ARE THEY GOING TO, I MEAN, THE QUESTION IS, ARE THEY GOING TO MAINTAIN THE FIVE ACRES? THAT'S ULTIMATELY SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, I WOULD ASSUME, SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE A SCHOOL THERE.
WHEN THEY HAD THE SCHOOL THERE, THEY USED IT FOR OUTDOOR GAMES AND RUNNING AND GYM CLASS.
BUT WITH THEM GONE, I JUST NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
DON'T DROP EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
PARK SYSTEM SOMEDAY YEAH BUT THAT'S ALL YEAH GREAT POINT IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION THEN IS MOVED BY POE SECONDED BY OVERLAND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO AND THE MOTION CARRIES AND BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE FOR THIS ITEM DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS COUNCIL MEMBER TODD NO OH OKAY, IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, THEN THE APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.
[6. A public hearing will be held to consider the establishment of the Mount Vernon Road Urban Revitalization Area for eligible property generally along Mount Vernon Road SE (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #URTE-0065-2026]
HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MOUNT VERNON ROAD URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA FOR ELIGIBLE PROPERTY GENERALLY ALONG MOUNT VERNON ROAD SOUTHEAST.BILL, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
JANUARY 24TH OF 2017, CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE MOUNT VERNON ROAD CORRIDOR ACTION PLAN, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, A PART OF ENVISION CR.
THE PLAN IDENTIFIES SOME GOALS AND ACTIONS TO ENCOURAGE REDEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TARGET AREA, SPECIFICALLY UNDERUTILIZED AND VACANT LAND.
THE PLAN CALLED FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STANDARD CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND THEIR ASSISTANCE TO BENEFIT REDEVELOPMENT.
OF VACANT OR EXISTING SITES THAT ARE UNDERUTILIZED.
SINCE ADOPTION OF THE ACTION PLAN, REDEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ISOLATED AND SMALL SCALE.
AND OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THAT MOUNT VERNON ROAD IS OUR MAJOR EAST-WEST THOROUGHFARE.
TRAFFIC COUNTS ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE, YET WE'VE SEEN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF LAG IN DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO WE DID FOLLOW THE PLAN'S RECOMMENDATION, TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT CAN WE DO
[00:35:02]
TO ENCOURAGE SOME REDEVELOPMENT THERE, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO CREATE AN URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA MIRRORING THE MOUNT VERNON ROAD CORRIDOR ACTION PLAN, WHICH IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE REDEVELOPMENT OF UNDERUTILIZED AND VACANT PROPERTY.GENERALLY ALONG MOUNT VERNON ROAD FROM 10TH STREET SOUTHEAST TO 44TH STREET SOUTHEAST.
HERE IS A MAP THAT INDICATES THE PROJECT AREA AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL LOTS THAT.
WOULD QUALIFY AUTOMATICALLY UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
SO THE RATIONALE, AS I MENTIONED, ESTABLISHED THE AREA TO REDEVELOP UP FRONT WITH COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS IDENTIFYING ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES.
ELIGIBLE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN REDEVELOP THEIR PROPERTIES ACCORDING TO THE CITY BUILDING AND ZONING CODES AND ORDINANCES AND RECEIVE A TAX EXEMPTION.
AND THAT WOULD BE UP TO 50 PERCENT OF THE ADDITIONAL TIF.
GENERATED, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL VALUE GENERATED BY THE PROJECT AS A BUSINESS FRIENDLY WAY, STREAMLINED APPROACH TO REDEVELOPMENT AS EACH PROJECT DOES NOT NEED TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL INDIVIDUALLY.
SO PUTTING THAT OVER THE ENTIRE AREA REDUCES ONE, YOU KNOW, ENGAGEMENT NECESSARY.
ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES COULD RECEIVE AN EXEMPTION OF NEW VALUE ADDED AS A RESULT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT, MUST INCREASE ASSESSED VALUE BY A MINIMUM OF 15% FOR COMMERCIAL AND 10% FOR RESIDENTIAL.
PROPERTIES CLASSIFIED AS COMMERCIAL OR MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY ON A SINGLE LOT BASIS.
AS WE DISCUSSED, THIS WILL SIMPLY CREATE A LARGER AREA.
MIRRORING THE MOUNT VERNON ROAD CORRIDOR ACTION PLAN IN WHICH THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
THERE'S 87 ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES, 77 COMMERCIAL, 7 COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL MIXED, AND 3 MULTIFAMILY.
IMPROVEMENTS MUST BE IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THE MOUNT VERNON ROAD CORRIDOR ACTION PLAN.
SO THE PROCESS TO RECEIVE THE TAX EXEMPTION, PROPERTY OWNER FOLLOWS ALL THE APPROPRIATE ORDINANCES, COMPLETE.
THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE CITY ASSESSOR FOR THE TAX EXEMPTION BY FRIDAY THE 1ST OF THAT YEAR.
AFTER THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMPLETE, CITY STAFF SUBMITS A RESOLUTION TO COUNCIL BY MARCH 1ST TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO THE ASSESSOR.
THE PROPERTY OWNER THEN RECEIVES THE EXEMPTION OF NEW VALUE ADDED.
THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY FULL PROPERTY TAXES ON THE PROPERTY VALUE THAT WAS IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE REDEVELOPMENT.
IN TERMS OF COMMERCIAL, THE OWNER CHOOSES A THREE-YEAR 100% EXEMPTION OR A 10-YEAR DECLINING SCALE.
AND RESIDENTIAL, MULTIFAMILY, A 10-YEAR 100% EXEMPTION.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR.
THIS IS TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT.
LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
ALL RIGHT, SEEING NOTHING, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HAGER.
AND BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE OF THIS ITEM, DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY HAGER, SECONDED BY MEYER.
[Items 7 & 8]
THANK YOU.NUMBER SEVEN IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE VACATION OF THE ALLEY BETWEEN 2ND STREET SOUTHEAST AND THE PREVIOUSLY VACATED OSBORNE PARK.
DUSTIN KERN IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
DUSTIN KERN WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR, IF IT'D BE OKAY, I'D LIKE TO COMBINE THE PRESENTATION FOR ITEMS SEVEN AND EIGHT.
WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ARE TWO SEPARATE VACATIONS.
ALONG OUR RIVERFRONT, AND ONE IS ON THE RIGHT HAND OF YOUR SCREEN.
IT'S AN OLD ALLEY ALONG THE RIVER THAT IS SOUTH OF 2ND STREET SOUTHEAST, AND THE SECOND AREA, WHICH IS A SEPARATE LEGAL DESCRIPTION, IS 17TH AVENUE, THE CROSS ALLEY, AND THE JASON ALLEY.
BOTH THESE VACATIONS, BOTH 7 AND 8, DO TWO THINGS, REALLY.
THE FIRST THING IS TO PROVIDE, NOW THAT OUR FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IS COMPLETED IN THIS AREA, PROVIDE AN UNINTERRUPTED FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM THROUGH HERE.
AND NUMBER TWO, AND AGAIN, JUST TO NOTE THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IS IN THE BLUE ON THE SLIDE.
AND THE OTHER THING, THE OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO ALLOW THIS AREA TO BE OPENED UP FOR FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT.
YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE THIS AREA NOW THAT WE CAN TALK TO OTHER DEVELOPERS AND PROPOSERS IN THE AREA TO SEE THIS AREA COME TO LIGHT.
[00:40:02]
VACATE BOTH AREAS SEVEN AND EIGHT.AND THIS WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CZECH VILLAGE NEW BOHEMIA AREA ACTION PLAN, SO WE CAN PROCEED ON THAT AS WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PROSPECTIVE USERS FOR THE AREA.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND PASSING OF TWO DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS FOR THE TWO SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR, WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT, LET THE RECORD INDICATE A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD ON THIS WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE AERIAL PHOTO? THANK YOU.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO A CONVERSATION I BROUGHT UP IN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WHEN WE HAD THIS PRESENTED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AREA WHO WERE THINKING PROSPECTIVELY ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD BE AND SEEING SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DID ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER WITH THE NATIONAL CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSEUM AND LIBRARY.
AND WE'RE JUST IMAGINING, COULDN'T THIS BE DEVELOPED? AND IT'S DISHEARTENING A BIT THAT AT THE TIME WE TOLD THEM NO.
AND THE REASON WAS, IT WAS A NOT RIGHT NOW.
AT THAT TIME, WHEN PEOPLE WERE HOPING THAT THEY COULD REDEVELOP IT IN THAT MOMENT, AND MAYBE PUT BUSINESSES OR SOMETHING THERE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF OUR FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM DONE.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS YET ANOTHER BENEFIT THAT WE HAVE BY THAT VERY INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT.
OF OUR FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM THAT NOW WE CAN OPEN THIS BACK UP FOR THAT REDEVELOPMENT.
SO IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH WHEN WE HAVE TO TELL SOMEBODY NO, AND MAYBE THEY'VE GOT ALL THESE HOPES AND DREAMS ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD BE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE AREA.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK, YOU KNOW, 18 YEARS LATER THAT WE ARE STILL ACTIVELY RECOVERING AND WE CAN GREEN LIGHT THIS FOR THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY MEYER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON.
NEXT UP, THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT.
LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TODD.
[9. A public hearing will be held to consider the Resolution of Necessity (Proposed) for the 2nd Street SE Vault and Sidewalk Repair project (Ken DeKeyser). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #321559-00]
AYE.NUMBER NINE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION OF NECESSITY PROPOSED FOR THE 2ND STREET SOUTHEAST VAULT AND SIDEWALK REPAIR PROJECT.
KEN DEKAISER IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M ALSO PLEASED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ERIC TURNQUIST, WHO IS OUR BRAND NEW KAPLAN IMPROVEMENTS ENGINEERING MANAGER.
SO GOING FORWARD AFTER MY PRESENTATION, HE'S GOING TO START PRESENTING ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS TO THE COUNCIL, SUCH AS SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS, FEDERAL AID PROJECTS, AND MORE.
SO WITH THAT, FOR THE BACKGROUND OF THIS PROJECT, WE HAVE A BUILDING VAULT IN 2ND STREET SOUTH.
EAST BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH AVENUES.
WE LOOKED AT IT STRUCTURALLY AND DETERMINED IT'S PRETTY DEFICIENT AND WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT VAULT ABANDONED.
AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS RELOCATE THE BUILDING UTILITIES THAT ARE NOW IN THE VAULT.
WE WILL FILL IT IN AND THEN WE WILL RESTORE THE SURFACING SO WE WILL PUT NEW STREETSCAPING ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET WITHIN THE BLOCK.
A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT IS PROPOSED TO COVER THE PORTION OF THE UTILITY RELOCATION.
AND AND AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, A FEW MONTHS AGO WE BROUGHT SOME CHAPTER 9.
A MUNICIPAL CODE UPDATES TO YOU CONCERNING FAULTS, WHICH WOULD GIVE US THE AUTHORITY TO ASSESS PROPERTY OWNERS FOR A PORTION OF THAT.
AND THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE OUR COST CONTRIBUTING AS WELL TO THE RESTORATION.
SO IT'S A IT'S A GOOD PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN US AND THE PROPERTY OWNER.
AND SO THE CITY WILL COVER THE REMAINING PROJECT COSTS AND THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT PLAT AND SCHEDULE FOR THIS PROJECT WERE FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK ON FEBRUARY 2026.
AND WE HAVE A BID OF JUNE 3RD OF THIS YEAR.
SO THIS IS THE PROJECT LOCATION, AND IN ORDER TO FIT THE AERIAL ON THE SLIDE, THE ORIENTATION IS A LITTLE WEIRD, BUT NORTH IS FACING TO THE LOWER RIGHT.
BUT I DID ADD BUILDING LOCATIONS THERE FOR YOUR REFERENCE, THE PARAMOUNT THEATER, AND THEN THE VAULT THERE LOCATED WITH THE RED RECTANGLE IS ADJACENT TO THE TOWN CENTER BUILDING, AND THEN WE WILL BE RESTORING THE STREETSCAPE THERE WITHIN THAT SIDE OF THE STREET ON THE BLOCK.
SO THE PRELIMINARY SPECIAL ASSESSMENT, THERE'S THAT ONE SINGLE PROPERTY SUBJECT TO THE ASSESSMENT OF $76,000, WHICH IS 11% OF OUR ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $665,000.
THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT NOTICE WAS ALREADY SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IOWA
[00:45:01]
CODE, AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH BUILDING MANAGERS AND OTHERS REPRESENTING THE BUILDING OWNER.WE BELIEVE THEY'RE OUT OF STATE, BUT WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THIS.
AND WHEN CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE, WE WILL LEVY A FINAL ASSESSMENT ON THE PROJECT.
AND FOR THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE FOUR OPTIONS FOR THIS RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER.
ONE IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION NECESSITY WITHOUT AMENDMENT.
ONE IS TO AMEND THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT AND OR RESOLUTION.
YOU CAN DEFER IT FOR FURTHER REVIEW OR ABANDON THE PROJECT.
AND WITH THAT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION WITHOUT AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU AND HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU AND WELCOME.
THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? LET THE RECORD SHOW PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION AS A RESOLUTION OF NECESSITY WITHOUT AMENDMENT FOR THE 2ND STREET SOUTHEAST VAULT AND SIDEWALK REPAIR PROJECT HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VAN ORNEY.
[10. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Blairs Ferry Road NE from North Towne Place to Sammi Drive Sidewalk Infill, Bid Package #2 – South Side project (estimated cost is $530,000) (Erik Turnquist). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3018039-01]
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.10 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE BLAIRS FERRY ROAD NORTHEAST FROM NORTHTOWN PLACE TO SAMMY DRIVE SIDEWALK INFILL BID PACKAGE NUMBER TWO, SOUTHSIDE PROJECT, WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $530,000.
ERIC TURNQUIST WILL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU, KEN, FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BLAIRS FERRY ROAD NORTHEAST FROM NORTH.
THIS IS BID PACKAGE NUMBER TWO.
LAST FALL WE COMPLETED BID PACKAGE NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS THE NORTH SIDE.
THIS IS FOR THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECS, AND FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COSTS.
THIS PROJECT INCLUDES A SIX-FOOT SIDEWALK ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AS ALREADY NOTED, AS WELL AS THE RECONSTRUCTION OF DRIVEWAYS AND ACCESS POINTS ALONG THIS PROJECT LIMITS.
THIS COMPLETES A GAFF OF SIDEWALK THAT EXISTS CURRENTLY ALONG BLAIR'S FERRY.
YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA.
THIS STARTS NEAR THE MULTIFAMILY HOMES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BLAIRS FERRY GOING EAST THERE TO ABOUT 300 FEET WEST OF CENTERPOINT ROAD THIS IS A PRETTY HIGH PEDESTRIAN DEMAND AREA SO THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT AS WELL AS ON IMPROVING THE SIDEWALK WE'RE ALSO IMPROVING A BUS STOP ON THIS LOCATION WITH A CONCRETE BUS PAD THEN I SAID EARLIER THREE THE NORTH SIDE WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS THREE BUS STOPS ON THAT SIDE AS WELL.
THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY PACKAGED AS ONE PROJECT BEFORE IT HAD BEEN SEPARATED OUT, SO A PUBLIC MEETING WAS HELD A LITTLE BIT BEFORE MY TIME HERE AT THE CITY.
BUT WE'VE DEFINITELY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND HAVE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH THOSE BUSINESSES.
AS I KIND OF ALREADY NOTED HERE, THE PROJECT LIMITS FROM TOWN PLACE NORTHEAST TO, LIKE I SAID, JUST WEST OF COUNCIL STREET.
THIS CONNECTS MULTIFAMILY WITH COMMERCIAL THERE TO THE EAST AS WELL AS CONNECTING THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SIGNALIZED CROSSING JUST TO THE WEST OF TOWN PLACE SO THIS HELPS US CONNECT THE WHOLE PEDESTRIAN ROUTE THROUGH THIS AREA.
WHY THIS PROJECT IS NEEDED IT WAS CAME UP ON THE CITY'S PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN AND SUPPORTS THE CITY'S GOALS FOR MORE WALKABILITY AND CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
DEFINITELY PRIORITIZES THAT STRENGTH AND STABILITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS I ALREADY MENTIONED, YOU HAVE MULTIFAMILY ON THE EASTERN, WESTERN SIDE OF THE PROJECT, AND IT'LL CONNECT THAT WITH MORE OF THE CITY THERE.
THIS HELPS WITH SAFETY AS WELL BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A PATH THAT IS NOT ON THE ROADWAY.
AND WITH THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE WALKING THROUGH THE MUD AND SLUSH AS WELL, SO IT GIVES A NICE HARDSCAPE PATH FOR PEDESTRIANS TO USE.
THE ENGINEERS ESTIMATE FOR THIS PROJECT IS $530,000.
THE BID LETTING IS APRIL 29TH WITH A LATE START OF JUNE 22ND.
THESE PHOTOS HERE FROM THAT FIRST PHASE.
YOU CAN SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS THERE TO THE ACCESS DRIVE AS WELL AS TO THE SIDEWALK THERE ALLOWING FOR THAT PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY.
POLAR WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE PLANS AND SPECS.
FORM THE CONTRACT OF THIS MANY COSTS FOR THIS PROJECT.
THIS IS TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.
LET THE RECORD SHOW PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
THIS IS FOR EITHER YOU OR KEN.
SO YOU TALKED ABOUT PUTTING A CONCRETE PAD IN FOR THE BUS STOP.
WHAT WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT BUS STOP WOULD BE A COVERED BUS STOP? DO WE HAVE, IS IT DEPENDENT UPON COUNTS, NUMBER OF BUS RIDERS? WHAT DETERMINES THAT? YES, IT'S DETERMINED BASED
[00:50:02]
ON HIGH RIDERSHIP, AND WE CONSULT WITH TRANSIT.THEY HAVE A BUDGET THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER EVERY YEAR TO ADD SHELTERS TO THE PADS, SO IT'S BASED ON THE USAGE, AND THEN THEY GIVE US THE PRIORITY LIST.
AND SO THEY DON'T OFTEN GO IN WITH THE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THEY COULD COME IN AT A LATER TIME WITH A PACKAGE TO DO THE BUS SHELTERS.
ANYTHING ELSE FROM COUNCIL? IF NOT, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY VAN ORNEY, SECONDED BY POE.
[11. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 12th Street SE, Coe Road NE, and 13th Street SE Rehabilitation project (estimated cost is $910,000) (Doug Wilson). (Paving for Progress) CIP/DID #3012589-01]
AND THE MOTION CARRIES.11 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 12TH STREET SOUTHEAST, COE ROAD NORTHEAST, AND 13TH STREET SOUTHEAST REHABILITATION PROJECT.
ESTIMATED COST OF THIS IS $910,000.
DOUG WILSON, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
MAINLY IS A ONE-WAY TO TWO-WAY CONVERSION OF COE ROAD, 13TH STREET, AND 12TH STREET SOUTHEAST. THAT ALSO INCLUDES RESURFACING OF 12TH STREET FROM 3RD AVENUE TO 1ST AVENUE, ALONG WITH WATER MAIN AND SANITARY SEWER REPAIRS IN THAT ROADWAY SEGMENT.
THERE'S ALSO TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED WITH THE ONE-WAY TO TWO-WAY CONVERSION.
THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COST IS $920,000.
APRIL 29TH, 2026, WITH CONSTRUCTION STARTING THIS SUMMER AND COMPLETION IN THE FALL.
A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING WAS HELD IN FEBRUARY FOR THIS PROJECT.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL ON THIS MATTER? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY OVERLAND.
[12. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 2026 Pavement Milling and Curb Repair project (estimated cost is $5,830,000) (Doug Wilson). CIP/DID #301998-19]
AND IT CARRIES.12 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 2026 PAVEMENT MILLING AND CURB REPAIR PROJECT.
THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $5,830,000.
AND DOUG, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN.
THIS INCLUDES CURB AND GUTTER REPLACEMENT, PAVEMENT RESURFACING BY CITY FORCES, ALONG WITH REMOVAL OF THE ASPHALT SURFACES AT 17 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME WATER MAINS, STORM SEWER, AND SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS, ALONG WITH ADA RAMP IMPROVEMENTS.
ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COSTS IS $5,820,000, WITH BID OPENING APRIL 15, 2026.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO START THIS SPRING AND BE COMPLETED IN THE FALL.
DUE TO THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF THIS PROJECT, WE DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INFORMATION MEETINGS, BUT WE DO SEND OUT A LETTER TO RESIDENTS EARLY ON AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT MAY BE PERTINENT TO THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS BEFORE WE BID THE PROJECT.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL ON THIS MATTER? LET THE RECORD SHOW PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
COUNCIL? IF NOTHING, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HAGER.
[13. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 2026 Sanitary Sewer Service Replacement project (estimated cost is $170,000) (Ben Worrell). CIP/DID #6550043-03]
AND IT CARRIES.13 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLAN SPECIFICATIONS FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 2026 SANITARY SEWER SERVICE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $170,000.
BEN WORRELL, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROJECT THAT THE CITY DOES TO REPLACE ORANGEBURG SEWERS OR OTHERWISE FAILING SANITARY SEWER SERVICES TO THE EDGE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AHEAD OF UPCOMING ROADWAY PROJECTS.
THIS IS DONE TO EXTEND THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE ROADWAY PAVEMENT.
IF THERE'S A NEW ROADWAY PUT IN AND WE HAVE TO CUT OUT AN ORANGEBURG PIPE A COUPLE YEARS LATER, IT'S NOT PROTECTING THE INVESTMENT OF THE ROADWAY.
WE'RE GETTING THESE TAKEN CARE OF AHEAD OF THE ROADWAY PROJECTS.
PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE OPTION TO FIX THE SERVICE ON THEIR OWN BY MAY 1ST.
THAT'S AN EXTRA MONTH COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
WHEN WE DID SEND LETTERS OUT LAST YEAR, WE ALSO INCLUDED INFORMATION ON THE MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT THE CITY OFFERS, AND WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
SERVICE IS NOT FIXED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER.
IT WILL BE FIXED BY THE CITY, AND THE COST WILL BE ASSESSED.
JUST AS A REMINDER, THE SEWER LATERAL OR SEWER SERVICE IS THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE HOUSE TO THE MAIN.
THIS PROJECT IS JUST CORRECTING ISSUES BETWEEN THE MAIN AND THE PROPERTY LINE TO PROTECT PAVEMENTS.
THE PACKAGE CURRENTLY INCLUDES 15 LOCATIONS,
[00:55:01]
WHICH ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY ON BENTON STREET, BUT ONE ON KENT DRIVE AND ONE ON LIBERTY DRIVE.WE DO EXPECT A FEW MORE OF THESE TO FALL OFF AS THEY GET DONE.
ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS $170,000.
RESOLUTION OF NECESSITY WAS PASSED BACK ON APRIL 24TH, AND THE BID LETTING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 22ND WITH CONSTRUCTION IN JUNE AND JULY.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO, EXCUSE ME, ADDRESS COUNSEL ON THIS MATTER? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
IF NOTHING FURTHER, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAGER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER.
[14. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Old Bridge Rd to 76th Avenue SW Sanitary Sewer Extension – Phase 1 project (estimated cost is $1,490,000) (Ben Worrell). CIP/DID #6550128-02]
AND IT PASSES.14 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PLAN, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE OLD BRIDGE ROAD.
TO 76TH AVENUE SOUTHWEST SANITARY SEWER EXTENSION PHASE 1 PROJECT.
THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1,490,000.
BEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN.
THIS PROJECT IS TO EXTEND 24-INCH SANITARY SEWER FROM THE OLD BRIDGE ROAD AREA DOWN TOWARDS 76TH AVENUE.
IT'S MAINLY THROUGH GOOGLE, BUT ALSO A LITTLE BIT THROUGH QTS DATA CENTER SITES.
AND IT'S BEING DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PREVIOUS AGREEMENT WITH GOOGLE.
FUTURE PHASE WILL CONTINUE DOWN TO 76TH AVENUE.
GOOGLE'S STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE SITE LAYOUT FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THEIR SITE, SO WE'RE BREAKING THAT OUT INTO A FUTURE SECOND PHASE.
BUT EVENTUALLY, WHEN THAT GOES DOWN TO 76TH AVENUE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SERVICE THE CID SUPER PARK AND CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT.
ENGINEERS' OPINION ON PROBABLE COST IS $1,490,000.
BID LETTING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 22ND.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED JUNE THROUGH NOVEMBER WITH NO TRAFFIC IMPACTS.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL ON THIS? ALL RIGHT.
LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY HAGER, SECONDED BY MEYER.
[15. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Fuel Dispensing System Replacement project (estimated cost is $240,000) (Cale Loewen). CIP/DID #PUR0226-236]
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.15 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE FUEL DISPENSING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
ESTIMATED COST OF THIS IS $240,000.
FOR CONTEXT, OUR CURRENT FUEL SYSTEM IS A MISSION-CRITICAL ASSET FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY FLEETS.
IT IS SUPPORTED BY DISPENSERS, STORAGE TANKS, AND A MONITORING SYSTEM.
DUE TO THE INCREASED COSTS AND OVERALL OPERATION OF THIS SYSTEM, IT'S REACHED ITS END OF LIFE.
IT'S LOCATED AT OUR CITY SERVICES CENTER, AND WE CURRENTLY SUPPORT 1,800 VEHICLES AND DISPENSE OVER AROUND A MILLION GALLONS OF FUEL EACH YEAR.
THE SYSTEM INCLUDES OUR FUEL DISPENSERS, STORAGE TANKS, AUTOMATED MONITORING, AND FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
PROJECT DETAILS BIDS ARE DUE TOMORROW.
PROJECTS IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $240,000.
POLICE SERVICES RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION STATED HERE.
THIS IS TIME TO PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL ON THIS? ALRIGHT, LET THE RECORD SHOW PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD.
COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY MEYER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON.
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
THANK YOU.HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.
THE FIRST COMMENT PERIOD IS A CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT PERTAINING TO COUNCIL ACTION SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.
AND I DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN THIS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OFFICIALLY
[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]
CLOSE OUT OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.CITY MANAGER POMERANTZ, DO YOU HAVE CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS OR MAKE CHANGES? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, THAT'LL BRING US TO A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TODD.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.THAT BRINGS US TO CONSENT AGENDA.
THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VAN ORNEY.
[34. Presentation and resolution adopting the 2025 EnvisionCR Updates (Betsy Borchardt). CIP/DID #OB165740]
AYE.[01:00:01]
TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, AND THAT IS WITH ITEM NUMBER 34, THE PRESENTATION RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2025 ENVISION CR UPDATES.MIGHT NEED TO CHECK YOUR MICROPHONE REAL QUICK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO GIVE THE ANNUAL UPDATE OF ENVISION CR.
SO THIS PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN 2015 AND IT IS A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT'S UPDATED ANNUALLY AND IT DOES PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR POLICY, FUNDING, FUTURE LAND USE RECOMMENDATIONS.
EACH YEAR WE GO THROUGH THE INITIATIVES IN ENVISION CR AND WE UPDATE THE STATUS, THE TIMELINE, WE ADD COMMENTS IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT STARTED.
WE ALSO UPDATE TWO ELEMENTS TO THE RIGHT THERE.
THOSE ARE BASICALLY THE CHAPTERS WITHIN ENVISION CR AND THIS YEAR WE UPDATED GREEN AND PROTECT.
AND THEN WE ALSO UPDATE THE ACTION STEPS FOR OUR OTHER AREA PLANS, QUALITY OF LIFE, INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE PROCESS OF HOW PLANS GET ADOPTED.
SO IN 2025, THE FIRST AVENUE AREA ACTION PLAN WAS CREATED AND BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL, WHO THEN ADOPTED THE PLAN.
AFTER A PLAN IS ADOPTED, IT'S CONSIDERED PART OF ENVISIONCR OR IT'S INCORPORATED INTO ENVISIONCR.
AND THEN WE GO THROUGH THE ANNUAL REVIEW UPDATE PROCESS, WHICH HELPS INFORM BUDGET.
AND THEN WE BRING IT BACK TO YOU EACH YEAR FOR ADOPTION OF THE UPDATES.
SO THIS IS AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROCESS.
I MEET WITH ALMOST EVERY SINGLE CITY DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE LIBRARY TO UPDATE THESE.
WE USE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES FOR THIS REVIEW.
WE TAKE THEM INTO CONSIDERATION AND ALSO THE UPCOMING BUDGET.
THEN WE GO THROUGH THE UPDATE PROCESS.
AND AFTER WE'RE FINISHED WITH THE UPDATES, WE HAVE PUT ON A PUBLIC EVENT THAT WE INVITED THE PUBLIC TO, AND IT DIDN'T GET GREAT TURNOUT.
SO WE'RE CHANGING OUR PROCESS THIS YEAR AND CONNECTING WITH EVENTS THAT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING THAT PEOPLE ALREADY ATTEND.
GOING TO SEVEN DIFFERENT EVENTS INCLUDING ECO FEST AND RESIDENT APPRECIATION DAY AT THE FARMERS MARKET.
ON THE LEFT HERE IS A BREAKDOWN.
THE TOP IS JUST THE ENVISION CR UPDATES.
THE BOTTOM IS THE OTHER PLAN UPDATES.
SO THERE WERE 265 ACTION STEPS AND INITIATIVES THAT WERE UPDATED THIS YEAR.
AND THEN ON THE RIGHT IS THE OTHER PLAN.
SO THERE'S 15 OTHER PLANS THAT WE ALSO UPDATED THE ACTION STEPS ON.
WENT TO CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, WHO DID RECOMMEND THE UPDATES, APPROVAL OF THE UPDATES.
AND TODAY I'M ASKING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THE UPDATES.
AND THEN APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER IS WHEN WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY OR TWO COMMUNITY EVENTS.
COUNCIL? THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.
WHAT WOULD BE THE TYPICAL ITEM WHEN YOU DO UPDATES? WHAT'S THE MOST PREVALENT ITEMS YOU'RE SEEING? JUST GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE UPDATING.
SO WE UPDATED THE NARRATIVE FOR PROTECT AND GREEN CR THIS YEAR.
IN FACT, ALL OF THE NARRATIVE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY REVAMPED.
SO WE ADDED BLOCK AND ROLL PROGRAM, OUR MICROMOBILITY PROGRAM.
WE ADDED THE RELIEF THAT HADN'T BEEN ADDED INTO THE NARRATIVE YET SO THAT GOT ADDED WE ADDED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT LIKE WHAT OUR UTILITIES PUBLIC WORKS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT WHAT THEY PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY YEAH COUNCILOR RIGHT ALREADY YEAH THANKS MAYOR I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO AGAIN FOR ANYBODY WHO PARTICIPATES IN THESE MEETINGS OR WATCHES IF YOU LOOK AT OUR COUNCIL AGENDA OR OUR PACKET THERE'S KIND OF TWO MAJOR TAKEAWAYS THERE.
ONE, IF YOU EVER SEE WHERE IT SAYS COUNCIL PRIORITY, THAT'S COMING FROM OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT YOU WILL OFTEN SEE SOMETHING REFERENCED HERE WITH ENVISION CEDAR RAPIDS OR CR, WHICH IS ANOTHER PART OF OUR, AS YOU PRESENTED, BETSY, REALLY IMPORTANT STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE HAVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS.
SO IF SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE AGENDA, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO DEFER BACK TO THE FACT THAT THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS MEETING.
WHILE MAYBE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE MEAT OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE'VE EDITED OUT BEFORE IT GOT TO THIS POINT.
THEY ARE ALWAYS THINGS THAT ARE VERY STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT TO US AS A CITY AND WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED AS SUCH.
SO I JUST ALWAYS APPRECIATE POINTING THAT OUT AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO GET IT UPDATED.
AND JUST A REMINDER, TOO, PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS ACCESS THIS ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE.
[01:05:02]
CORRECT.AND IT'S FOR A LITTLE LIGHT READING.
IT IS PRETTY, IT CAN BE, IT CAN BE PRETTY INSPIRING FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEIR CITY TO FIND OUT ALL THAT'S GOING ON.
AND I ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE WE'RE A NEARLY, NEARLY BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.
SO THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CONSISTENT ROADMAP SO THAT EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, USING THE SAME SCRIPT AS THEY SAY.
SO THANK YOU, BETSY, FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THAT AND YOUR TEAM.
AND IF THERE ARE NO OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY OVERLAND.
[35. Presentation and resolution authorizing City financial incentives under the Targeted District Reinvestment Economic Development Program for a housing project at 934 and 940 L Street SW as requested by Rosa Holds LLC, an entity of Grace Gudenkauf (Scott Mather). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0020-2026]
AND THE MOTION CARRIES.35 IS A PRESENTATION AND RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES UNDER THE TARGETED DISTRICT REINVESTMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR A HOUSING PROJECT AT 934 AND 940 L STREET SOUTHWEST AS REQUESTED BY ROSA HOLDS LLC, AN ENTITY OF GRACE GUTTENKOPF.
BILL MICHAEL, ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
REQUEST FROM ROSA HOLDS LLC, ENTITY OF GRACE GUTTENKOPF FOR STANDARD CITY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.
FOR THE HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT 934 940 L STREET SOUTHWEST.
THE PROJECT DOES QUALIFY UNDER THE TARGETED DISTRICT REINVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR A HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND THE CURRENT STRUCTURE IS IN POOR CONDITION AND DISREPAIR AND WILL BE DEMOLISHED.
PROJECT OVERVIEW 1.46 MILLION DOLLAR CAPITAL INVESTMENT CONSTRUCTION OF SIX MARKET RATE RENTAL UNITS.
SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, ATTACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING, AND DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING OVER TWO-STALL GARAGE ON EACH PARCEL.
THE ORIGINAL PARCEL WAS SUBDIVIDED INTO TWO PARCELS.
CONSTRUCTION WILL COMMENCE THIS SUMMER AND IS SLATED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THE CITY INCENTIVE PROVIDES A 10-YEAR, 100% REBATE OF THE INCREASED TAXES GENERATED BY THE PROJECT, AN ESTIMATED $150,000 IN ESTIMATED TOTAL TAXES.
GENERATED OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD WITH $120,000 REBATED.
YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION HERE ON THE AERIAL VIEW.
THIS IS THE CURRENT STRUCTURE THAT IS IN PLACE, AS I MENTIONED, WILL BE DEMOLISHED, AND THEN A RENDERING OF WHAT THE NEW STRUCTURES WILL LOOK LIKE, FRONT PORCHES, AND THEN THE STRUCTURE IN THE REAR WITH THE UNIT OVER THE GARAGES.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE OPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.
[36. Presentation and resolution accepting a proposal from Gelid LLC, an entity of Josh Bass and Tyler Oswood, for the redevelopment of five City-owned properties at 615, 621, 623 and 629 I Avenue NW and 905 Ellis Boulevard NW (Jeff Wozencraft). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #PRD000057-2026]
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.36 IS A PRESENTATION RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A PROPOSAL FROM JELL-ED LLC, WHICH IS AN ENTITY OF JOSH BASS AND TYLER OSWOOD.
FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF FIVE CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES AT 615, 621, 623, AND 629 I AVENUE NORTHWEST AND 905 ELLIS BOULEVARD NORTHWEST.
JEFF WOZENCRAFT IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.
JEFF WOZENCRAFT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AS STATED, THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO AWARD A PROPOSAL AT THE STATED LOTS.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND HERE, THERE ARE FIVE PARCELS JUST UNDER A HALF ACRE AND AREA.
THEY'RE ALL CURRENTLY VACANT AND WERE ACQUIRED AFTER THE FLOOD OF 2008.
THE ZONING IS UVR, URBAN VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL, WHICH ALLOWS FOR SMALL-SCALE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S LOCATED IN THE 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN, SO ALL FUTURE WORK WOULD NEED TO COMPLY WITH OUR FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE AND ALL HAVE ACCESS TO CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS I AVENUE RUNNING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE IMAGE.
THIS IS THE OLD DIAMOND V SITE TO THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE IMAGE.
REVIEW OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, ALIGNMENT WITH THE NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2017.
AGAIN, THAT PLAN CALLED FOR ELLIS BOULEVARD NORTHWEST TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTENSE DEVELOPMENT WITH HIGHER INTENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT.
DESIGN THAT WOULD ALSO MEET OUR URBAN FORM ZONE DISTRICTS AND, OF COURSE, PROJECTS THAT ARE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.
SO THE CITY RECEIVED ONE PROPOSAL FROM JELLETT LLC, AN ENTITY OF JOSH BASS AND TYLER OSWOOD.
THE PROPOSAL IS FOR 11 UNITS, ONE MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENT ON THE CORNER SECTION WITH TWO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ON THE DISCONTIGUOUS PARCEL AND ONE WITH AN ADU THERE.
SOME CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS HERE.
SO THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT, THIS WOULD BE ELLIS BOULEVARD WITH THE TOWNHOMES FRONTING THERE.
THE AERIAL ON THE RIGHT SHOWING THE DETACHED GARAGES WITH UNITS ABOVE THE GARAGE.
THIS CONCEPTUAL OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME OFF OF I AVENUE AND H AVENUE, SO TWO FRONTING EITHER AVENUE THERE
[01:10:01]
WITH ONE HAVING A DETACHED ADU ABOVE THE GARAGE.SO THIS WAS REVIEWED BY OUR STAKEHOLDER REVIEW GROUP OF A NON-COMPETING DEVELOPER, NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE, AND COMMERCIAL LENDER.
ALL PROVIDED A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FOR THE AWARD.
THEY THOUGHT IT FIT WELL WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LIKE THE DIFFERENT USE OF HOUSING TYPES BETWEEN THE ADU TOWNHOME AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND ALL WERE SUPPORTIVE OF SEEING MORE DEVELOPMENT ALONG ALICE BOULEVARD.
WITH THAT, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AND AUTHORIZING STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO THE MAYOR.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THIS SPECIFICALLY, BUT SHOUT OUT TO THE DEVELOPERS.
I REALLY LIKE THE DESIGN OF BOTH OF THE RENDERINGS THAT YOU PRESENTED, SO I THINK IT'LL BE A REALLY NICE ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SO IF NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY HAGER.
[37. Presentation and resolution accepting a proposal from the Watts Group, an entity of Gary Watts, for the redevelopment of City-owned land at the intersection of 4th Street and 17th Avenue SE (Jeff Wozencraft). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #PRD-000051-2026]
AYE.37 IS A PRESENTATION RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A PROPOSAL FROM THE WATTS GROUP, WHICH IS AN ENTITY OF GARY WATTS, FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CITY-OWNED LAND AT THE INTERSECTION OF 4TH STREET AND 17TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST.
JEFF, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN.
JEFF WOZENCRAFT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
ANOTHER RESOLUTION HERE TO AWARD A PROPOSAL AT 4TH STREET AND 17TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST.
SO AN AERIAL ON THE RIGHT HERE SHOWING THE LOCATION.
TORNADOES WOULD BE ON THE LOWER LEFT-HAND PORTION OF THIS IMAGE.
THIS IS NEW BOLOFF'S AND THE FUTURE LIGHT LINE.
ALLIANT LIGHT LINE WOULD BE OVER OFF THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE IMAGE.
IN TOTAL, THE AREA IS AROUND A HALF ACRE.
IT'S BEING PLATTED WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF 17TH AVENUE AND SINCLAIR AREA.
THE ZONING IS OUR URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL, WHICH ALLOWS FOR MEDIUM-SCALE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT UP TO SIX STORIES.
IT IS LOCATED IN OUR 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN, SO AGAIN, PROPOSALS NEED TO COMPLY WITH OUR FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE AND HAS ACCESS TO CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD NEED TO ALIGN WITH OUR CZECH VILLAGE NEW BOHEMIA AREA ACTION PLAN THAT CALLED THIS AREA OUT AS A MIXED-USE AND RESIDENTIAL NODE IN THE PLAN.
ALSO, PREFERENCE FOR MIXED-USE AND HOUSING.
AGAIN, THE DESIGN WOULD NEED TO MEET OUR URBAN FORM ZONE DISTRICTS AND BE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.
SO THE CITY RECEIVED ONE PROPOSAL FROM THE WATTS GROUP.
THE PROPOSAL WAS A 66 UNIT MIXED USE PROJECT, A MIX OF ONE AND TWO BEDROOM UNITS WITH 1500 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE.
SO HERE'S A SITE PLAN, 4TH STREET AT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE IMAGE, PATIO AND COMMERCIAL SPACE OVER HERE, UNITS FRONTING 4TH STREET AND THEN ACCESS FROM THE ALLEY AT THE REAR.
SOME RENDERINGS, THIS WOULD BE COMING UP 16TH AVENUE FROM THE SOUTH.
WITH THE COMMERCIAL SPACE OVER HERE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUILDING LOOKING DOWN FROM THE NORTH COMMERCIAL PATIO SPACE AND THEN UNITS FRONTING FOURTH STREET HERE SO THIS WAS ALSO REVIEWED BY A STAFF AND STAKEHOLDER REVIEW GROUP OF THAT SAME COMPOSITION AND PROVIDED A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS PROPOSAL NOTING THE REP REPUTATION OF THE DEVELOPER THAT HAVING EXPERIENCE WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT SCALE AND CONTINUING TO ADD TO THE GROWING NEW BOHEMIA AREA WITH A GOOD ENTRY POINT FOR PROSPECTIVE RENTERS WITH THAT STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO AWARD THE WATTS GROUP FOR THIS PROPOSAL AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THAT I'LL PASS BACK TO THE MAYOR THANKS JEFF COUNCIL ANYTHING ALL RIGHT OH COUNCIL MEMBER OH THANK YOU MAYOR UM YEAH I JUST MIGHT ADD THAT I THINK GARY WATTS HAS DONE THIS IN ONE OF HIS PREVIOUS DEVELOPMENTS, JEFF, WHERE HE PUTS MURALS ON THE INSIDE WITH A LOT OF GLASS SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THEM.
ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL? AND VERY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY WELCOMING.
SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THAT KIND OF OUT OF THE BOX THINKING, BECAUSE WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT A MURAL INSIDE OF AN ENTRYWAY, BUT IT'S.
IT'S REALLY QUITE LOVELY, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO GARY.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, JEFF, IS ABOUT PARKING, AND IT'S HARD TO TELL THERE.
I COULD SEE A PARKING LOT IN THE BACK THERE.
DO YOU KNOW IF THERE ARE PLANS FOR INDOOR OR UNDERGROUND? OKAY.
YEAH, SO THEY, SIMILAR TO THEIR OTHER PROJECTS, HAVE COVERED PARKING AS A PART OF THAT FIRST FLOOR.
[01:15:01]
THIS PROJECT DOES HAVE UNITS FRONTING 4TH STREET, WHICH IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR ZONING OR URBAN FORM DISTRICT ZONING CODE HERE.SO, BEHIND THOSE UNITS WOULD BE A COVERED PARKING LOT.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.
[38. Report on bids for the O Avenue NW Elevation Time Check project (estimated cost is $3,360,000) (Rob Davis). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3311560-01]
AYE.38 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR O AVENUE NORTHWEST ELEVATION TIME CHECK PROJECT WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3,360,000.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, ROB DAVIS WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS THE PROJECT IN NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD THAT INCLUDES 700 LINEAR FEET OF EARTHEN LEVY WITH O AVENUE BEING RECONSTRUCTED OVER THE TOP OF THE LEVY.
THERE WILL BE NEW SIDEWALK AND NEW SHARED USE PATH.
WITHIN THIS RED BOUNDARY ON THE MAP, THAT WILL REMOVE EXCESS ROADWAY, SIDEWALK, STORM, SEWER, SANCTUARY, SEWER, AND WATER MAIN.
NOTING THAT THE ROAD ACCESS AND UTILITY SERVICES FOR ALL EXISTING RESIDENTIAL HOMES WILL BE MAINTAINED.
THIS IS EXCESS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL BE REMOVED.
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEING UTILIZED AT THE MOMENT.
THE MAP HERE SHOWS THE O AVENUE KIND OF THE LOWER LEFT-HAND CORNER.
THAT'S KIND OF THE FOOTPRINT OF THE GRADING LIMITS OF THE LEVEE THERE.
WE ZOOMED OUT A LITTLE BIT AS COUNCIL SUGGESTED AT THE LAST TIME WE SHOWED THIS.
THIS SHOWS THE ROAD GOING UP THROUGH UNDERNEATH THE ARCH THERE, AND EVENTUALLY THERE'LL BE A TRAIL ON TOP OF THE LEVEE.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE CROSSING THERE WHERE THE TRAIL WOULD CONTINUE THROUGH ON THE LEVEE.
AND HERE'S JUST THE RENDERING LOOKING FROM THE RIVERSIDE BACK TOWARDS THE WEST.
THE ENGINEER'S COST OPINION, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IS $3,360,000.
THE FUNDING IS A COMBINATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATED TO THIS.
THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE 2026 WORK.
AND THEN WE WILL BE USING IOWA FLOOD MITIGATION FUNDS FOR THE 2027 WORK.
BID OPENING WAS ON MARCH 25TH.
SCHEDULE STARTED JUNE 1ST WITH THE COMPLETION OF OCTOBER 15TH OF NEXT YEAR.
WE RECEIVED FOUR BIDS ON MARCH 25TH.
PETERSON CONTRACTORS OF RHINEBECK, IOWA WAS READ LOW AT $2,775,270.83, AND THEN THE BIDS RANGED TO A HIGH OF $3,624,122.60.
AND WITH THAT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT TO PETERSON CONTRACTORS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,775,207.83.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER POE.
HEY, ROB, I SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY ASKED THIS BEFORE.
I'M ASSUMING THAT O AVENUE WILL BE SHUT DOWN WHILE WE DO ALL THIS WORK, CORRECT? O AVENUE WILL BE SHUT DOWN AND PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND ON EITHER L OR PENN TO GET TO FIRST STREET.
YEAH, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION.
WHERE WILL THE DETOUR GO? BECAUSE THAT IS SO HIGHLY USED, AS YOU KNOW, TO GET TO ELLIS BOULEVARD AND THEN ACTUALLY ALL THE WAY UP TO EDGEWOOD ROAD THAT I WANTED TO KNOW KIND OF WHAT THE NAVIGATION PROCESS FOR THAT AREA WAS GOING TO BE.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IT DID.
JUST TO KIND OF CONNECT THE HISTORICAL DOTS HERE, THE COUNCIL MADE A DECISION MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO RELATED TO ARPA FUNDING TO ALLOCATE A GOOD CHUNK OF IT TOWARDS NORTHWEST FLOOD CONTROL.
AND SO WE'RE SEEING THE FRUITS OF THAT DECISION HERE BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE UP PROGRESS, PARTICULARLY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ALL WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT DONE, PARTICULARLY.
NOT JUST THE WEST SIDE, BUT IN TIME CHECK NORTHWEST IN PARTICULAR.
AND SO THIS IS GETTING DONE PROBABLY A YEAR, MAYBE TWO, EARLIER THAN IT WOULD HAVE HAD WE NOT MADE THAT DECISION.
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
IF NOT, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER.
[39. Ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Municipal Code, Historic Preservation, to designate the Dairy Queen #4 building at 501 16th Street NE as a local landmark. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #HPC-0010-2026]
AYE.NOW WE'RE ON TO THE ORDINANCES.
39 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 18 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO DESIGNATE THE DAIRY QUEEN NO.
4 BUILDING AT 501 16TH STREET NE AS A LOCAL LANDMARK.
THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON.
I MOVE THE ROLL 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.
[40. Ordinance repealing Chapter 60A of the Municipal Code, Surveillance Cameras for Businesses, and enacting in its place a new Chapter 60A to update definitions, revise video system standards, and update violations and enforcement procedures. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #OB1380220]
[01:20:01]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.NUMBER 40 IS AN ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 60A OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS FOR BUSINESSES AND ENACTING IN ITS PLACE A NEW CHAPTER 60A TO UPDATE DEFINITIONS, REVISE VIDEO SYSTEM STANDARDS, AND UPDATE VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.
THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VAN ORNEY.
I MOVE THE RULE REQUIRING THREE READINGS ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS BE SUSPENDED AND THE ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING.
THE ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY OVERLAND.
AND BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS ITEM, DOES COUNCIL HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON.
[41. Ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 820 Wiley Boulevard NW from I-LI, Light Industrial District, to T-IM, Traditional Industrial Mixed Use District, as requested by Brecke Construction Services. CIP/DID #RZNE-000004-2026]
AYE.41 IS AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 820 WILEY BOULEVARD NW FROM A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIAL MIXED-USE DISTRICT, AS REQUESTED BY BREKKE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.
THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY MEYER.
I MOVE THE RULE REQUIRING THREE READINGS ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS BE SUSPENDED AND THE ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING.
ADOPTED THE ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT
[42. Ordinance establishing the Plumb Supply Urban Revitalization Area at 4690 Bowling Street SW. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #URTE-0063-2026]
OLSON.42 IS AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE PLUM SUPPLY URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA AT 4690 BOWLING STREET SOUTHWEST.
THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VAN ORNEY.
I MOVE THE RULE REQUIRING THREE READINGS ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS BE SUSPENDED AND THE ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING.
THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY OVERLAND.
[43. Ordinance relating to the collection of tax increments within the Edgewood Pointe Urban Renewal Area generally bounded by Edgewood Road NE, 42nd Street NE and North River Boulevard NE. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0011-2025]
AYE.43 IS AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE COLLECTION OF TAX INCREMENTS WITHIN THE EDGEWOOD POINT URBAN RENEWAL AREA, GENERALLY BOUNDED BY EDGEWOOD ROAD NORTHEAST, 42ND STREET NORTHEAST, AND NORTH RIVER BOULEVARD NORTHEAST.
THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON.
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO, AND I WILL REGISTER A NO.
[PUBLIC INPUT]
THANK YOU, COUNCIL.AND THAT CLOSES OUT OUR FORMAL BUSINESS TODAY AND BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENTS, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECTS PERTAINING TO COUNCIL BUSINESS.
IF YOU ARE NOT A RESIDENT, PROPERTY OWNER, OR BUSINESS OWNER, YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK, BUT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO EMAIL OR CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AS WITH THE EARLIER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN AS A COUNCIL, SO I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE TO REMAIN AT THE LECTERN.
COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.
WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS YELLOW, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
WHEN IT'S RED, WE'LL ASK YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT AGAIN.
AND IF YOU SIGNED UP, PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON.
SO I WILL JUST CALL YOU IN THE ORDER THAT I HAVE YOU.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE PASTOR DOYLE HERE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
FOR THE RECORD, D-O-Y-L-E, THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND.
R-Y IS THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN.
BEFORE THE MEETING, I PLACED THE DOCUMENT, AN ACTUAL EMAIL FROM A CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT DETECTIVE, AND I APOLOGIZE, PAINKILLERS, EXPLAINED IN A MINUTE.
SINCE THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, ON OCTOBER 4TH, AT CLOSE RANGE, CLOSER, MAYOR, THAN YOU ARE, ABOUT RIGHT WHERE THAT SCREEN IS, A 19-YEAR-OLD MISCREANT TOOK THREE SHOTS AT ME.
I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY.
THIS IS ME AT 19, SPENT 12 YEARS IN THE MARINES, AND ANGER AMONGST BLACK MISCREANTS IS REAL.
I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, DECEPTION, AND WHEN I SAY DECEPTION, PUBLIC RELATIONS, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND AS A FELLOW JOURNALIST, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEWS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.
SO THE NEWS, ON MARCH 30TH, IN CHICAGO, WHERE KENWOOD ACADEMY STUDENTS TORE UP HYDE PARK, THERE ARE KENWOOD STUDENTS MATRICULATING
[01:25:02]
AT AREA INSTITUTIONS, MOUNT MERCY, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, COE, ETC.BUT BACK TO KENWOOD, FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY KENWOOD, ACADEMIC CALIBER, BUT BAD PARENTING.
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS IN TERMS OF BLACK MOTHERS COVERING IT UP.
AGAIN, I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I READ A STORY IN THE GAZETTE ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT MIRRORED HERE, THAT MIRRORS, MIRRORS, MIRRORS THE MISCREANT BEHAVIOR THAT'S RUNNING RAMPANT.
SO I CAME TO ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION.
HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO PREVENT THE SAME THAT OCCURRED WITH OFFICER ARIANNA PRESTON? I LEFT THE FRONT PAGE OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE WITH BOTH YOU AND THE CHIEF.
WELL, HE'S GOING TO GIVE IT TO ME INSTEAD BECAUSE THAT HURT MY HEART, HURT MY HEART TO HEAR HER MOTHER GIVE A VICTIM TESTIMONY ABOUT HER 24-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER BEING KILLED IN HER UNIFORM OUTSIDE OF HER HOME AFTER WORKING EIGHT HOURS AND THE MURDERERS LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE ME.
MAYA ANGELOU SAID WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE, YOU CANNOT FIX WHAT YOU WILL NOT FACE.
I DO NOT DO PUBLIC RELATIONS AS RELATES TO MISCREANT BEHAVIOR.
IT WOULD HURT MY HEART IF SOMEONE HERE WORKING HARD, GOING TO SCHOOL, TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILY, IT'S CALLED BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES, LOST THEIR LIFE AS A RESULT OF A MISCREANT.
SO THE CONNECTION, IF PUBLIC SAFETY HERE DECIDES TO DO TRACKING, MEANING YOU GO INTO THE FILES, SINCE THIS IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE MONTH, AND THE CEDAR RAPIDS FAMILIES WHERE THE CRIME CONTINUES TO ABATE, YOU MIGHT PREVENT THE SAME OCCURRENCE WITH REGARD TO OFFICER ARIANNA PRESTON.
OFFICER ELLA GRACE FRENCH, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON WITH ONE CONNECTION.
ALL OF THE MURDERERS LOOK NOTHING LIKE YOU.
SO IT DOESN'T MAKE ME POPULAR TO SPEAK THE TRUTH, BUT TRUTH IS TRUTH IS TRUTH.
DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M A MARINE.
DOESN'T MATTER HOW I CAME TO THIS LIFE.
IS THE ABANDONMENT OF FACTS BY PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME AND HOW IT SPILLS OVER LIKE VOMIT INTO LIVES OF THOSE WHO DIDN'T ASK FOR IT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME BECAUSE WITH ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'RE DOING THE WORK, MEANING TO MAKE CEDAR RAPIDS THE CITY THAT YOU ALWAYS ENVISIONED.
IF YOU YIELD A STEP BACK, MEANING I WILL GO AWAY, I NO LONGER YOU HAVE MY CHILD IS THAT HEADLINE.
DON'T MAKE IT THE STATEMENT OF MOTHERS HERE.
JOHN, IF YOU CAN JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME WHEN YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON ADMISSIONS.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE COME TODAY WITH ANOTHER PERSON.
HE NEEDED TO GO FIRST, BUT I SIGNED IN FIRST.
IS THAT OKAY? FOR THE NEXT PERSON TO GO FIRST? WE JUST HAVE ONE PERSON PER TIME.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIGN UP AN ADDITIONAL PERSON? WELL, NO, HE'S ALREADY SIGNED IN.
OKAY, THEN WE'LL HAVE, HE NEEDS TO SPEAK.
HELLO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME IS JOHN DOWDALL. I AM THE LEADER OF THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THIS CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY.
AND I'M HERE TO COORDINATE WITH JOHN SOCRASEK, WHO JUST SPOKE, TO TALK ABOUT EMISSIONS AND THE POWER REQUIREMENTS AND THE GENERATION OF THAT ELECTRICITY FOR THE PROPOSED AND CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION DATA CENTERS IN CEDAR RAPIDS.
AND JOHN IS GOING TO HAVE SOME SPECIAL REQUESTS FOR YOU ABOUT MONITORING THIS ACTIVITY AND THE DECISIONS YOU'LL BE MAKING IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST SET A HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR YOU ABOUT WHERE WE ACTUALLY SIT NOW WITH EMISSIONS AND HOW YOUR
[01:30:01]
DECISIONS, WHICH WILL HAVE BOTH LOCAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES AND ALSO GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES.I'M JUST HERE TO HELP YOU BE AWARE AND UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE ON THIS PROGRESSION.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE CAUSING GLOBAL WARMING AND THAT THIS GLOBAL WARMING HAS TURNED INTO A CLIMATE CRISIS.
WHAT WE MAY NOT KNOW IS HOW IT RELATES TO US PERSONALLY.
SO THE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO DO IS TO KNOW YOUR NUMBER.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE UNDERSTAND GLOBAL WARMING IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF CARBON DIOXIDE THE MAIN GREENHOUSE GAS THAT IS UP IN OUR ATMOSPHERE THAT BASICALLY GOES UP ACTS LIKE A BLANKET AND HOLDS THE HEAT IN SO THAT OUR PLANET KEEPS GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER.
WE MEASURE THAT BY PARTS PER MILLION OF CARBON DIOXIDE.
IF WE GO BACK TO PRE-INDUSTRIAL TIMES, THAT WAS AT THE LEVEL OF ABOUT 280.
AND BY THE TIME MY GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN IN 1890, THAT LEVEL WAS UP TO ABOUT 294.
60 YEARS LATER, WHEN I WAS BORN, THAT LEVEL WAS UP TO 310.
AND 60 YEARS AFTER THAT, WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER, OR WHEN MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS BORN IN 2010, THE LEVEL WAS UP TO 390.
SCIENTISTS TELL US THAT 350 IS AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL FOR PARTS PER MILLION FOR US AS HUMANS TO LIVE ON THIS PLANET.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE IS NOT THE HEALTH OF THE PLANET.
THE PLANET'S GOING TO BE FINE.
WHATEVER HAPPENS, IT CAN TAKE DYNAMIC CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE.
SO WE ARE LIVING IN A VERY RESTRICTED ZONE, AND THAT ZONE IS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS GLOBAL WARMING.
SO WHAT WE HAD IN THE FIRST 60 YEARS THAT I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE MY GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN FROM, LIKE, THE MIDDLE OF THE 18TH CENTURY, WE WERE INCREASING OUR PARTS PER MILLION IN THAT KIND OF EARLY INDUSTRIAL TIMES BY 0.3 PARTS PER MILLION EVERY YEAR.
SO IT WOULD TAKE THREE YEARS BEFORE WE EVEN WENT UP ONE POINT.
AND IN THE 60 YEARS THAT MY GRANDMOTHER, BETWEEN WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN AND I WAS BORN, 1890 TO 1950, THAT 60-YEAR PERIOD, WE WENT UP 17 PARTS PER MILLION, 17 POINTS, FROM 294 PARTS PER MILLION TO 311 PARTS PER MILLION.
AND DURING THAT TIME, WE EXCEEDED 300 PARTS PER MILLION, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN EXCEEDED FOR THE LAST 1 MILLION YEARS.
SCIENTISTS TELL US THAT 350 IS OKAY, BUT BY THE TIME MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS BORN, IT WAS 390.
SCIENTISTS THEN ALSO TELL US...
AND THE PARIS ACCORD, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN 2015, FIVE YEARS AFTER MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS BORN, THEY SET A LEVEL OF 450 AS THE MAXIMUM THAT WE COULD GO TO BEFORE WE EXCEEDED TWO DEGREES CENTIGRADE ABOVE PRE-INDUSTRIAL TIMES, WHICH IS CONSIDERED A VERY IMPORTANT BORDER.
THE OTHER IMPORTANT BORDER IS 430 PARTS PER MILLION.
WHICH IS WHEN WE REALLY ENTER THE DANGER ZONE.
ONE YEAR AGO, ON MARCH OF 2025, WE HIT 430 FOR THE FIRST TIME.
TWO MONTHS LATER, IN MAY OF 2025, THAT ENTIRE MONTH AVERAGE WAS ABOVE 430.
WE CAN ALL REMEMBER BACK TO 220, WHICH WAS THE DERECHO.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE OTHER JOHN.
I'M JOHN ZEKRASIK, AND I LIVE AT 531 LAWNDALE DRIVE, SOUTHEAST IN CEDAR RAPIDS, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF LYNN CLEAN ENERGY DISTRICT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON REDUCING HEAT TRAPPING EMISSIONS IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND LYNN COUNTY SINCE 2019, WHEN BOTH THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND LYNN COUNTY ADOPTED CLIMATE RESOLUTIONS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS 45% FROM 2010.
I WAS ON THE CEDAR RAPIDS COMMITTEE THAT DEVELOPED THE CEDAR RAPIDS CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
I'M CO-CHAIR OF THE LINN COUNTY SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[01:35:01]
THAT DEVELOPED THE 2019 LINN COUNTY GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY, INITIATED THE 2023 GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY, AND ASSISTED THE EAST CENTRAL IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IN DEVELOPING A SIX-COUNTY PATHWAY PLAN, WHICH IS A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, TO REDUCE EMISSIONS.SO I HAVE TWO REQUESTS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TODAY.
FORMALLY ADOPT THE CENTRAL IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT PATHWAY PLAN AND IMMEDIATELY APPOINT A PROJECT MANAGER AND DEVELOP A DETAILED CEDAR RAPIDS PROJECT PLAN WITH SPECIFIC TASKS, MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, RESOURCES, AND COMPLETION DATES, AND THEN HOLD REGULAR STATUS MEETINGS TO MANAGE THE PROJECT AND PROVIDE UPDATES TO KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC.
THE SECOND REQUEST, LEVERAGE THE ALIGNED EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOALS OF CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, ALLIANT ENERGY, QTS, AND GOOGLE.
THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL TO HAVE.
ZERO EMISSIONS BY 20 HAVE EITHER 45% REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS BY 2030, OR TO CURRENTLY USE NO EMISSIONS ELECTRICITY.
SO WE WOULD REQUIRE QTS AND GOOGLE TO ADD ZERO EMISSIONS TO CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, AND THE SURROUNDING FIVE COUNTIES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THEIR 75% REDUCTION IN FRANCHISE FEES, WHICH ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRICITY COSTS.
SO HERE'S SOME FACTS TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT.
SINCE 2010, 2023 EMISSIONS IN LINN COUNTY HAVE GROWN BY...
THEY'VE GONE DOWN BY ROUGHLY 600,000 TONS, AND THAT'S ANNUAL.
AND THAT WAS DUE TO SOLAR AND WIND AND PRAIRIE CREEK CONVERSION FROM COAL PLANT BOILERS TO NATURAL GAS.
THE FIRST OF THE QTS DATA CENTERS IS EXPECTED TO CONSUME 180 MEGAWATTS OF ENERGY AROUND THE CLOCK.
ANNUALLY, THAT'S 1.6 MILLION KILOWATT HOURS.
JUST TWO SUCH DATA CENTERS WILL CONSUME THE SAME AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY THAT ALL OF LINN COUNTY CONSUMED IN 2023.
SO IT'S GOING TO DOUBLE OUR ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION.
IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IF ALL SEVEN QTS AND FIVE GOOGLE DATA CENTERS ARE BUILT, PROJECTIONS IT'LL BE THREE TIMES THE 2023 LINN COUNTY ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION.
NOW, ALLIANT IS PROPOSING A 720 MEGAWATT ELECTRIC GAS FIRE GENERATING PLANT ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CEDAR RAPIDS. IT'S A SINGLE CYCLE PLANT RUNNING AT 60 PERCENT CAPACITY. IT'LL CONSUME 60 BILLION CUBIC FEET OF NATURAL GAS. IN 2023, LINN COUNTY CONSUMED 27 BILLION CUBIC FEET OF NATURAL GAS. SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S DOUBLING OUR NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION.
ANNUAL EMISSIONS AT 60% CAPACITY, 2 MILLION TONS, ADDING 33% TO EMISSIONS WHEN WE'RE STILL TRYING TO REDUCE AN ADDITIONAL 35% BY 2030. SO ASSUME THE 180 MEGAWATT QTS DATA CENTERS PAYS 12 CENTS A KILOWATT HOUR FOR ITS ENERGY. THE ANNUAL FRANCHISE FEE AT 4% WOULD BE $7.6 MILLION. PLANNED ANNUAL REBATE OF $5.7 MILLION. GRANT THIS REBATE ONLY IF QTS AND GOOGLE DO NOT ADD A SINGLE TON OF EMISSIONS TO CEDAR RAPIDS AND LINN COUNTY IN LINE WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS, WHICH ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE ON THE DAMAGE FROM THESE EMISSIONS, WHICH ARE SEMI-PERMANENT AND HAVE INCREASINGLY DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS OVER DECADES, EPA ASSIGNED A COST TO EACH TON OF EMISSIONS, $190. SO 2 MILLION TONS OF EMISSIONS FROM THAT 720 MEGAWATT PLANT, ANNUAL DAMAGE COST 380 MILLION.
IF YOU WISH, AN EDUCATION SESSION CAN BE PROVIDED BY LYNN CLEAN ENERGY DISTRICT TO PROVIDE MORE DETAIL AND BACKGROUND ON TODAY'S COMMENTS. SO I ASK YOU TO DO TWO THINGS ONCE MORE, PLEASE. ADOPT THE PATHWAY PLAN AND PUT A FORMAL DETAILED PROJECT PLAN IN PLACE FOR CEDAR RAPIDS THAT'S MONITORED REGULARLY TO ENSURE PROGRESS IN ACHIEVING EMISSION REDUCTION GOALS. SECOND. USE THE FRANCHISE FEE REBATE TO CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE DATA CENTERS AND THE LINE ENERGY TO KEEP EMISSIONS FROM INCREASING IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND LINN COUNTY. AND BY THE WAY, THEY BOTH HAVE THAT GOAL. IF THERE'S A FAILURE TO DO SO, USE THE FRANCHISE FEE REBATES TO FUND PATHWAY PLAN EMISSION REDUCTION STRATEGIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU. AND
[CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS]
THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE OUT OUR PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.CITY MANAGER POMERANTZ, ANY COMMUNICATIONS TODAY? OKAY, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON MOVES TO ADJOURN. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED SAY NO. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.