May 26, 2026 City Council

[00:00:03]

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

[Call to Order]

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY CLERK, AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS TO CITY STAFF FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

A REMINDER TO 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 ONLINE ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE.

REGULAR SESSIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO WATCH LIVE AND ON REPLAY VIA FACEBOOK LIVE.

WE WILL BEGIN NOW WITH OUR INVOCATION BY PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAIN JOSH KENT, FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

OUR GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, LORD, WE DO COME TO YOU AGAIN, LORD, AS WE OPEN UP ANOTHER SESSION.

LORD, I PRAY THAT ALL THAT WE SAY AND DO WOULD BRING HONOR AND GLORY TO YOU AND TO CEDAR RAPIDS.

LORD, FOR WITHOUT YOU WE CAN DO NOTHING. LORD, THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR AND OUR CITY COUNCILMAN, ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS, ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS, AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE IN CHARGE.

LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND UNDERSTANDING.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND ALL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, ESPECIALLY IN THIS MEETING FOR THIS HOUR.

WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR PROCLAMATIONS, BEGINNING WITH ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH. SO PLEASE JOIN US HERE

[Proclamations/Presentations]

ALL RIGHT. WHEREAS THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS RECOGNIZES THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE, RESILIENCE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER OR AAPI COMMUNITIES TO OUR CITY, STATE AND NATION.

AND WHEREAS AAPI INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES REPRESENT DIVERSE CULTURES, LANGUAGES, TRADITIONS, AND HISTORIES THAT ENRICH THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND CIVIC FABRIC OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND WHEREAS THE OBSERVANCE OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN MAY COMMEMORATES THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS TO THE UNITED STATES IN MAY 1843 AND THE COMPLETION OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD IN MAY 1869, TO WHICH MANY CHINESE IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTED UNDER CHALLENGING CONDITIONS. AND WHEREAS AAPI RESIDENTS HAVE PLAYED AND CONTINUE TO PLAY VITAL ROLES IN ADVANCING EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, BUSINESS, THE ARTS, PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, WHERE WITHIN CEDAR RAPIDS AND BEYOND.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING AN INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT THAT CELEBRATES DIVERSITY, PROMOTES CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, AND STANDS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND BIAS IN ALL FORMS. AND WHEREAS ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE ACHIEVEMENTS, TRADITIONS AND ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS OF AAPI COMMUNITIES WHILE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO LEARN, REFLECT AND CELEBRATE TOGETHER. NOW, THEREFORE, I ASHLEY VANORNY ON BEHALF OF MAYOR TIFFANY O'DONNELL OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE ENTIRE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE MAY 1ST THROUGH 2026, 2026 THROUGH MAY 31ST, 2026 AS ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND CULTURAL APPRECIATION. [APPLAUSE] AND NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY.

SO IF YOU'RE HERE TO REPRESENT THAT PROCLAMATION, PLEASE JOIN US HERE AT THE DAIS.

HERE WE GO. OH! COME IN. DO WE? WHERE DO WE GO? COME ALL THE WAY UP. YEAH. YOU READY FOR YOUR CLOSE UP? ALL SITUATED HERE. ALL RIGHT. WHEREAS EVERY DAY IN THE UNITED STATES, NEARLY 130 PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE.

AND MORE THAN 200 ARE SHOT AND WOUNDED, WITH AMERICANS BEING 26 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY GUN HOMICIDE THAN PEOPLE IN OTHER HIGH INCOME COUNTRIES.

AND WHEREAS IN IOWA, AN AVERAGE YEAR SEES 362 GUN DEATHS WITH A RATE OF 11.2 DEATHS PER 100,000 RESIDENTS, RESULTING IN DEVASTATING EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WHEREAS CITIES ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING CEDAR RAPIDS, ARE WORKING TO REDUCE VIOLENCE THROUGH EVIDENCE BASED PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGIES, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, VIOLENCE INTERVENTION EFFORTS AND RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS, PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY IS AMONG THE HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS.

[00:05:03]

AS YOU CAN SEE THE GUESTS HERE ARE HONORING. TO HONOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE.

AND WHEREAS ON FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH, 2026, COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY BY WEARING ORANGE IN REMEMBRANCE OF VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND IN SUPPORT OF SAFER COMMUNITIES FOR ALL.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ASHLEY VANORNY ON BEHALF OF MAYOR TIFFANY O'DONNELL AND THE ENTIRE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2026 AS GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE AWARENESS, REMEMBRANCE, RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP, AND EFFORTS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[1. A public hearing will be held to consider amending the fiscal year 2026 budget (Abhi Deshpande). CIP/DID #FIN2025-08]

IF YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER.

HE WILL GET THEM TO US. SECOND, COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND YOU'LL NOTE THAT IS A CHANGE.

WHEN THE LIGHT IN THE CONSOLE IN FRONT OF YOU TURNS YELLOW YOU'LL HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT, AND WHEN IT'S RED, WE'LL INVITE YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT. THIRD, BE AWARE THAT ALL COMMENTS MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT ABUSIVE, OBSCENE, LOUD, THREATENING, OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

FINALLY, WE NEED TO HOLD AN ORDERLY HEARING. SO WE ASK FOR NO APPLAUSE, CHEERING, BOOING OR OTHER NOISE OR DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT FROM THE AUDIENCE.

AND WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. DOES THE CLERK HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS IN REGARD TO ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY? YOUR HONOR, THERE WERE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS FILED. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET.

ABHI DESHPANDE IS HERE. DIRECTOR DESHPANDE, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

SO WE ARE DOING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

AND THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THAT. THE BUDGET AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY DUE TO THE UPDATED PROJECTIONS FOR REVENUE EXPENSES IN 2026. THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FY 2026.

TWO POINTS THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT DOES NOT AFFECT THE PROPERTY TAX LEVIES.

NO CHANGES IN THE THE PROPERTY TAX TOTAL LEVY AND ANY KIND OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR THE FY 2026.

THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CHANGES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND A COUPLE OF SLIDES ON THE GENERAL FUND AMENDMENTS.

TOTAL CHANGE. INCREASE IN REVENUE OF 55 MILLION AND EXPENSES OF 45 OR 54 MILLION.

KEY CHANGES INCLUDES UNANTICIPATED INCREASE IN BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE AND ASSOCIATED TRANSFER OUT FOR CURRENT OR FUTURE YEAR USES, TOTALING $32 MILLION IN THAT INCREASE IN CURRENT YEAR REVENUE AND END OF YEAR ALLOWANCE ADJUSTMENT FOR $7 MILLION AND VARIOUS ANTICIPATED TRANSFERS IN AND OUT ADJUSTMENT FOR THE TIMING OF ACTIVITY, $10 MILLION.

KEY CHANGES CONTINUED. THERE IS AN INCREASE OF 1.24 MILLION UNANTICIPATED COSTS THAT INCLUDES ANIMAL CONTROL, EXTERNAL REVIEW AND OPERATING SUPPLY SOFTWARE WOODLANDS CLEANUP PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH CARE COSTS, AND ROAD SALT USAGE. THERE WERE ALSO VARIOUS OTHER REVENUE AND EXPENSES ADJUSTMENT BASED ON GRANT CHARGES FOR MATERIAL FOR SERVICES PROJECTIONS, CAPITALIZATION CHANGES AND YEAR END ACCRUALS.

ON THE MOVING ON THE ENTERPRISE FUND, THE TOTAL INCREASE THERE WAS A TOTAL CHANGE, INCREASE IN REVENUE OF 23 MILLION AND EXPENSES OF 41 MILLION. THERE WAS TOTAL INCREASE REVENUE INCREASE OF 14 MILLION AND EXPENSE INCREASE OF 28.4 MILLION AMONG CAPITAL PROJECT FUND AIRPORT AND LINN COUNTY SOLID WASTE AGENCY.

[00:10:02]

INCLUDING REVENUE INCREASE OF $315,000 AND EXPENSE INCREASE OF $2.9 MILLION.

ALSO, THERE WAS INCREASE IN UTILITY DEPARTMENT'S OPERATING REVENUE AND EXPENSES BY 7 MILLION ON THE PROJECTS.

MOVING ON TO THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AMENDMENTS.

TOTAL INCREASE TOTAL CHANGE INCLUDES INCREASE IN REVENUE OF $7 MILLION, AN EXPENSE OF $15 MILLION.

KEY CHANGES INCLUDED INCREASE IN TAX INCREMENT FINANCING EXPENSES BY $10 MILLION, AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER ADJUSTMENTS FOR TIMING OF GRANTS ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING PAVING FOR PROGRESS AND IOWA FLOOD MITIGATION PROCEEDS.

ON THE OTHER AMENDMENTS, KEY CHANGES, INCLUDING REVENUE INCREASE OF 77.4 MILLION AND EXPENSE INCREASE OF 50.8 MILLION AMONG FLEET MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS TAX SUPPORTED PROJECT FUND AND TAX SUPPORTED DEBT ISSUANCE.

VARIOUS OTHER REVENUE AND EXPENSE ADJUSTMENT BASED ON TIMING OF ACTIVITY OR CAPITALIZATION CHANGES.

SUMMARY OF ALL AMENDMENTS INCLUDES INCREASE IN TRANSFER IN AND OUT BY 71 MILLION.

INCREASE IN REVENUE BY 91 MILLION, AN INCREASE IN EXPENSE BY $90 MILLION.

THIS IS KIND OF SUMMARY AND HISTORY OF ALL THE TRANSFERS.

YOU CAN SEE THAT FY 26 NOW AMENDED BUDGET STANDS AT $983 MILLION FROM AN INCREASE OF $116.8 MILLION FROM $866.3 MILLION. SO THE TOTAL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT YEAR AS WELL AS THE HISTORICAL 4 OR 5 YEARS THE AMENDMENT IS AROUND LIKE 10 TO 15%.

SO THIS YEAR'S AMENDMENT ALSO FALLS IN WITHIN THAT RANGE.

THIS IS THE AND ALSO THIS INCLUDES NOW NUMBER ONE AMENDMENT AND NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS THE CURRENT AMENDMENT, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET AMENDMENT.

WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER BACK TO YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU. THIS IS A 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 OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD. COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON.

THANK YOU MAYOR. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF CHANGES, BUT THIS KIND OF AMENDMENT IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF IOWA FOR THE CITIES, COUNTIES, OTHER ENTITIES TO ADJUST THEIR BUDGETS TO REFLECT THE THINGS THAT OCCUR.

BECAUSE, LIKE YOU SAY, WHO WOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT MUCH INCREASE IN BUILDING REVENUE FUNDS AND GRANTS THAT WE MIGHT GET? AND SO AS FAR AS OUR OVERALL BUDGET, MY ASSUMPTION, AS I REMEMBER FROM OUR FINANCE MEETING, THAT WE STILL LOOK AS A NICE POSITIVE END TO THE YEAR, AS I REMEMBER.

SURE. SO YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS, AS YOU POINTED OUT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE START THE BUDGET BUILDING PROCESS, IT IS REALLY BASED ON AROUND 18 MONTHS BASED ON THE 18 MONTHS PROJECTIONS.

SO OVER THE 18 MONTHS AS THE BUDGET YEAR EVOLVES, IT CHANGES.

THE PROJECTION CHANGES REVENUE AND EXPENSES. HOWEVER, THIS IS THE SAME.

IT'S A BALANCED BUDGET. IT'S STILL BALANCED BUDGET WITHOUT USING ANY KIND OF RESERVES OR ANYTHING.

AND SO TO YOUR POINT, IT'S STILL IT'S A FINANCIALLY SOUND AND BALANCED BUDGET.

YES. YES, COUNCILMEMBER POE. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO RECUSE MY SELF ON LINE ITEM 7 AND 109.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, 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 THIS MOTION CARRIES.

TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENTS PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF THE FY 26 FEDERAL ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND HOME

[2. A public hearing will be held to consider public comments prior to adoption of the FY26 (Federal) Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership programs for the period of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (Chrystal Kohl and Jennifer Barten). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CDBG-FY26]

CHRYSTAL KOHL AND JENNIFER BARTEN ARE HERE. I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. CHRYSTAL KOHL AND JENNIFER BARTEN WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE CDBG AND HOME ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE FEDERAL FY 26 YEAR.

[00:15:03]

THIS IS A LOOK AT OUR ANNUAL BUDGET. THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE JUST OVER A MILLION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, AND THEN JUST OVER $375,000 FOR HOME.

JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS. THIS HAPPENS ANNUALLY.

IT STARTS WITH NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

THEN WE GO THROUGH OUR APPLICATION PROCESS, WE REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS, AND THEN WE DEVELOP OUR PLAN AND THEN WE GET PUBLIC INPUT IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGH OUR TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND THEN ALSO EVERY FIVE YEARS, WE DO A LARGER, BROAD CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT INCLUDES CITIZEN SURVEYS, OPEN HOUSES, AND STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS. AND THEN WE ALSO GET A COMMITTEE FEEDBACK FROM OUR GRANTS AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE, WHICH INVOLVES QUADRANT REPRESENTATIVES, CORPS, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, AND THEY ACT AS KIND OF A RECOMMENDATION BODY.

SO ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE BUDGET, THOSE WERE REALLY DEVELOPED WITH THE INPUT OF THAT COMMITTEE.

THESE ARE THE PROPOSED HOME FUNDING PROJECTS.

ALL HOME PROJECTS FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON HOUSING, INCLUDING NEW CONSTRUCTION OR HABILITATION REHABILITATION FOR HOME BUYERS AND DIRECT HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE. FOR CDBG, PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES ARE 15% OF THE ALLOCATION AND HELP COVER STAFFING COSTS FOR AGENCIES THAT WORK WITH HOMELESSNESS, YOUTH FREE AND REDUCED HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER SERVICES FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

THESE ACTIVITIES COVER THE BALANCE OF THE CDBG ALLOCATION, WHICH INCLUDE HOUSING AND OTHER COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

AND THE TIMELINE FOR THE FEDERAL FY 26 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN STARTED ON FEBRUARY 10TH, WITH THE FIRST OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THE GAP COMMITTEE MEETINGS WERE HELD IN MARCH AND APRIL.

THE FINAL FUNDING ALLOCATIONS WERE RELEASED BY HUD ON APRIL 3RD, WHICH STARTED THE 60 DAY TIME FRAME TO GET THE ACTION PLAN BACK TO HUD.

APRIL 21ST THE PLAN WENT OUT FOR THE 30 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND TODAY IS THE SECOND REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING AND THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION, AND THE APPROVED PLAN WILL BE SUBMITTED TO HUD PRIOR TO THE JANUARY OR SORRY, JUNE 3RD DEADLINE.

AND WITH THAT, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THE ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.

AND WE WILL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

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 COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOTHING THERE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDING CHAPTER 63 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY BY REPEALING SECTION

[3. A public hearing will be held to consider amending Chapter 63 of the Municipal Code, Offenses Against Public Safety, by repealing Section 63.10B, Fireworks, and enacting a new Section 63.10B in its place to conform with Iowa Code (Steve Mast). CIP/DID #FIR0526-0003]

STEVE MAST IS HERE. STEVE, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SECTION 63.10B OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE DEALS WITH FIREWORKS AND HOW THEY ARE HANDLED WITHIN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

LAST YEAR, THE IOWA LEGISLATURE CHANGED A BUNCH OF OUR STATE CODE, WHICH TOOK AWAY A LOT OF OUR ABILITY TO LOCALLY CONTROL FIREWORKS AND THEIR USE WITHIN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS. AS SUCH, WE SHOULD AMEND OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE TO COMPLY WITH STATE CODE.

WE CANNOT PROHIBIT FIREWORKS PER STATE CODE ON JULY 3RD, JULY 4TH, AND DECEMBER 31ST.

CURRENT MUNICIPAL CODE PROHIBITS THE USE OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS AT ALL TIMES WITHIN THE CITY.

SO WE HAVE TO UPDATE OUR CODE. ALSO PERMITTING OF FIREWORKS GOES THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AND INSPECTIONS APPEALS AND LICENSING AND GIVES THEM THE POWER AND CONTROL OVER FIREWORKS AND SALES PERMITS WITHIN THE STATE OF IOWA.

WE SHOULD ALSO UPDATE 63.10 B OF OUR MUNICIPAL CODE TO REFLECT THAT STATE CODE.

RESULTS OF UPDATING THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE ALIGNING MUNICIPAL CODE WITH WHAT IS MANDATED UNDER IOWA CODE.

STILL PROHIBITS THE USE OF FIREWORKS OUTSIDE THE DAYS OF JULY 3RD, JULY 4TH, AND DECEMBER 31ST.

IT STILL PROHIBITS THE USE OF FIREWORKS ON CITY PROPERTY AND ON THE PROPERTY OF ANOTHER PERSON WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.

THE CITY WILL STILL REVIEW AND PERMIT DISPLAY OR COMMERCIAL GRADE FIREWORKS.

AND THE ORDINANCE CLARIFIES THAT A SELLER OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS MUST HOLD A CONSUMER FIREWORKS SELLER'S LICENSE ISSUED BY THE STATE OF IOWA.

[00:20:03]

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

DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.

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

I KNOW THIS IS LARGELY PROCEDURAL, BUT I JUST WANT TO REPLICATE SOME CONVERSATIONS ON THIS MATTER THAT WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND WOULD ASK AGAIN THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TO TRY TO ASSESS HOW MUCH PUBLIC FUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT ON CLEANING UP AND MAINTAINING SAFETY GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD THE EROSION OF HOME RULE AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO REGULATE WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW BEST IN CEDAR RAPIDS, GIVEN OUR DENSITY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THAT OUR HOMES ARE CLOSE TOGETHER.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE, I GUESS USE OF FIREWORKS AT ALL IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE KIND OF COME TOGETHER AND REALIZE THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT EMPOWERING US TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP CEDAR RAPIDIANS SAFE. AND SO WE SEE STRUCTURE FIRES, WE SEE PEOPLE GOING TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.

AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE DOING YOUR BEST. I KNOW THAT THE CRPD IS DOING THEIR BEST AS WELL.

BUT IT'S MADE IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO ENSURE SAFETY IN HERE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T MONITOR AND MANAGE THIS IN THE BEST WAY WE KNOW HOW.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. WE ARE, YOU KNOW ENTITLED TO COMPLY WITH THAT.

BUT I HOPE AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT ALLOWS US TO DO RIGHT BY OUR CITIZENS ON THIS.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO JUST A CLARIFICATION. YOU SAID THAT IT'S STILL ON JULY 3RD, FOURTH, AND DECEMBER 31ST.

IT'S NOT LEGAL TO LIGHT THE FIREWORKS ON CITY PROPERTY.

SO IF WE HAVE RESIDENTS OR VISITORS WHO ARE LIGHTING FIREWORKS ON A STREET OR IN A RIGHT OF WAY, THAT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT IS RESTRICTED. CORRECT.

THAT AS WELL AS PARKS. YES, SIR. OKAY. CITY PROPERTY.

SO WE DO NOT CONSENT TO THE USE OF THAT WITHIN THE CITY ON OUR PROPERTY.

GREAT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER POE. YEAH.

THANK YOU. I JUST I, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LIVED WITH THIS AND WE'VE DEBATED IT BACK AND FORTH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I THINK EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL WITH COUNCILMAN OLSON.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S I'M SORRY, I JUST THINK THIS IS A SAD, SAD WAY OF GOING ABOUT THIS.

YESTERDAY WE CELEBRATED MEMORIAL DAY AND WE HAVE SO MANY VETERANS THAT STILL SUFFER WITH PTSD.

AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT THOSE FIREWORKS DO WITH THEM SOMETIMES.

AND IT JUST, IT REALLY MAKES ME SAD, BUT I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

AND WE'RE DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IN TERMS OF THE COST TO THE CITY, WE NEED TO INVOICE THE STATE AT SOME POINT IN TIME BECAUSE THIS IN TERMS OF HISTORY IS ONE OF THE DUMBEST PUBLIC POLICY MOVES I'VE EVER SEEN MADE.

AND IT'S STILL SAD. SOME PEOPLE DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO THE 4TH OF JULY.

AND IN FACT, THEY LEAVE TOWN SIMPLY BECAUSE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TURNS INTO KAESONG.

AND SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE, AND I THINK COUNCIL SENTIMENTS MIGHT BE ALONG THE SAME WAYS TO ENCOURAGE PD AND FIRE TO LOOK AT CREATIVE WAYS TO ENFORCE THIS THE ORDINANCE AS IT IS. AND THE KEY TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE HAS BEEN GETTING AHEAD OF IT BEFORE THE FOURTH EVEN GETS HERE.

SO THAT PEOPLE DO KNOW WE'VE BEEN AT THIS SO LONG, I'M NOT SYMPATHETIC TO THE FOLKS THAT SAY, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT ANYMORE. WE THE LAW HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS LONG ENOUGH, BUT IT SIMPLY ISN'T FAIR FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO WANT TO ENJOY THEIR PEACE AND QUIET. IT'S DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

SO THANKS, BUT GOOD LUCK AND WE'LL BE BEHIND YOU.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL. YEAH. AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A PROCEDURAL CHANGE FOR US.

ABSOLUTELY. YES. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

AND IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY VANORNY, SECONDED BY POE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THIS MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. NUMBER FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 650 WOLFORD ROAD,

[4. A public hearing will be held to consider a change of zone for property at 650 Walford Road SW from A-AG, Agriculture District, to I-LI, Light Industrial District, as requested by Linn County (Seth Gunnerson). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-000176-2026]

[00:25:05]

THANK YOU. SETH GUNNERSON ZONING ADMINISTRATOR.

SO, AS NOTED, THIS IS A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 650 WOLFORD ROAD, SOUTHWEST.

THIS IS A CORNER OF WOLFORD ROAD AND 6TH STREET.

THIS IS PROPERTY WHICH IS OWNED BY LINN COUNTY THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO SELL TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.

IT'S ABOUT A 4.75 ACRE SITE. THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION IS URBAN MEDIUM INTENSITY.

YOU CAN SEE HERE THE ZONING, THIS PROPERTY AND SOME OF THE PROPERTY AROUND IT IS ZONED AG BECAUSE IT WAS RECENTLY ANNEXED INTO THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

ALL LAND THAT COMES INTO THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS IS ZONED AG UNTIL A REZONING IS ABLE TO BE COMPLETED.

SO WHAT LINN COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR IS TO REZONE THE PROPERTY TO THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, WHICH IS THIS LIGHT PURPLE COLOR, WHICH IS PREDOMINANT THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

HERE'S A FUTURE LAND USE MAP SHOWING THAT THIS WHOLE AREA IS DESIGNATED AS URBAN MEDIUM INTENSITY DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN HERE'S AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY IN TERMS OF REZONING CRITERIA.

WE FIND THE REQUESTED REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND THE OVERALL CHARACTER OF THE AREA AROUND IT.

CITY HAS NO CONCERNS OVER THE ABILITY TO SERVE THE PARCEL IN QUESTION.

EXTENSIONS OF SERVICES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A FUTURE DEVELOPER AND IN THE END, THE STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST.

THIS WENT TO THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAY 7TH AND WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

PENDING TODAY'S ACTION THE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS WILL OCCUR ON JUNE 9TH.

THANK YOU SETH. 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. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE, SECONDED BY OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

NUMBER FIVE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 16TH AVENUE AND 80TH STREET SOUTHWEST FROM AGRICULTURE DISTRICT TO SUBURBAN MIXED USE COMMUNITY CENTER

[5. A public hearing will be held to consider a change of zone for property at 16th Avenue and 80th Street SW from A-AG, Agriculture District, to S-MC, Suburban Mixed Use Community Center District, as requested by Todd Andrle and A & M, LLC (Seth Gunnerson). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-000009-2026]

SETH, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. SETH GUNNERSON ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AGAIN.

THIS IS A REZONING OF PROPERTY IN WEST CEDAR RAPIDS.

THIS IS A SIMILAR LAND THAT WAS JUST ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.

THIS IS ABOUT A 25 ACRE TRACT. THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO GO TO THE S-MC OR SUBURBAN MIXED USE CENTER ZONE DISTRICT, WHICH MATCHES THE ZONING FOR LAND THAT THEY OWN TO THE NORTH OF IT, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO MARKET.

THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION AGAIN IS URBAN MEDIUM INTENSITY.

HERE'S THE LAND IN QUESTION. APPROXIMATELY 25 ACRES.

THIS IS 80TH STREET, NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST TO THE RIGHT OF THE SCREEN HERE.

THE APPLICANT ALSO OWNS AND IS SIMILARLY ZONED LAND TO THE NORTH.

HERE THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS OUTLINED IN BLACK DOWN HERE THAT WAS JUST ANNEXED TO THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND THEN THE SUBURBAN MIXED USE CENTER ZONE DISTRICT TO THE NORTH THERE.

THIS IS THE E AVENUE AND HIGHWAY 100 INTERCHANGE AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION IS URBAN MEDIUM INTENSITY AND AGAIN, AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY. SIMILAR TO THE LAST ONE, STAFF FINDS THAT THE PROPOSED ZONE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, WHICH PERMITS THE SMC ZONE DISTRICT AT THIS LOCATION AND CONSISTENT WITH THE PLANNED USE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PATTERN FOR THIS AREA. CITY HAS NO ISSUES WITH THE ABILITY OF THE PROPERTY TO BE SERVED BY CITY SERVICES AND SERVICE EXTENSIONS WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEVELOPER AT THE TIME OF DEVELOPMENT.

OVERALL, STAFF FINDS THAT THE REQUESTED ZONE IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA.

LIKE THE PREVIOUS ONE THIS WENT TO THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAY 7TH, WHO RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND PENDING COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE FIRST READING TODAY THE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS COULD OCCUR ON JUNE 9TH. THANK YOU SETH.

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

LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING IS HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS.

COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

SIX IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE VACATION OF OSBORN AVENUE SOUTHEAST, WHICH IS LOCATED BETWEEN 1437 AND 1443 SECOND STREET SOUTHEAST.

[6. A public hearing will be held to consider the vacation of Osborn Avenue SE, located between 1437 and 1443 2nd Street SE (Dustin Kern). CIP/DID #ROWV-000214-2026]

THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

DUSTIN KERN WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

[00:30:01]

LITTLE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE HERE. OSBORN AVENUE IS LOCATED IN THE NORTH SOUTH RECTANGULAR SECTION.

IT USED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO OSBORNE PARK, WHICH HAS BEEN VACATED FOR SOME TIME NOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN REASON WE'RE DOING THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL CLEAN UP ITEM FOR THIS AREA.

WE WANT TO VACATE EVERYTHING. WE ALSO PREVIOUSLY VACATED THE EAST WEST ALLEY, WHICH IS ADJACENT AND JUST SOUTH OF THIS PARTICULAR RIGHT OF WAY, AND ALSO 17TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST, ACROSS THE ALLEY IN THE NORTH SOUTH ALLEY.

SO IT'S ONE MORE CLEANUP ITEM TO GET THIS AREA COMPLETELY READY FOR EXCITING FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.

IT ALSO KIND OF ADDS TO THAT UNINTERRUPTED FLOOD CONTROL PROPERTY, WHICH IS ALONG THE SOUTHERLY PORTION.

ALL THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA, INCLUDING ALL THE RIGHT OF WAY AREA, WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CZECH VILLAGE NEW BOHEMIA AREA ACTION PLAN.

WITH THAT, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS PASSING A RESOLUTION TO VACATE OSBORNE AVENUE SOUTHEAST LOCATED BETWEEN 1437 AND 1443 SECOND STREET SOUTHEAST. WITH THAT MAYOR, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU.

THANK YOU. THIS IS A 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. SEEING NOTHING THERE.

THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS FIRST READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

SEVEN IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE SECOND STREET SOUTHEAST VAULT

[7. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 2nd Street SE Vault and Sidewalk Repairs project (estimated cost is $600,000) (Erik Turnquist). CIP/DID #321559-02]

ERIK TURNQUIST IS HERE. ERIK, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. ERIK TURNQUIST. YEAH. THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT'S OKAY. LIKE I SAID, ERIK TURNQUIST WITH PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE SECOND STREET SOUTHEAST VAULT AND SIDEWALK REPAIR PROJECT. A LITTLE BACKGROUND TO THIS PROJECT.

THIS IS OCCURRING ON 2ND STREET SOUTHEAST ON THE RIGHT OF WAY BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH AVENUE.

THIS IS ATTACHED TO THE TOWN CENTER BUILDING ON THAT LOCATION.

IT'S AN UNDERGROUND VAULT AS ENCROACHING ON THE RIGHT OF WAY.

THIS PROJECT WILL REMOVE THIS VAULT AND FILL IT UP THIS VOID.

AND IT WILL THEN INCLUDE SIDEWALK AND STREETSCAPE ON TOP AND ALONG 2ND STREET.

AS THIS MAP SHOWS, THIS KIND OF FUNKY SKEW, BUT YOU CAN SEE NORTH IS IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER THERE ACROSS FROM THE PARAMOUNT THEATER.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE LOCATION, THE EXTENT OF THAT VAULT, AS WELL AS THE EXTENTS OF THE PROJECTS BETWEEN 4TH AND 3RD FOR THE STREETSCAPE.

THE PROJECT ADHERES TO CHAPTER NINE WITHIN CITY CODE FOR ADDRESSING UNDERGROUND VAULTS WITHIN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

THE REMOVAL OF THIS VAULT IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALSO FOR DURATION OR DURABILITY OF THE SIDEWALK ALONG THIS LOCATION.

PUBLIC WORK HAS BEEN COORDINATING THIS PROJECT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, FARMERS MARKET, AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS.

ENGINEERING COST ESTIMATE IS $600,000 WITH A BID LETTING DATE OF JUNE 3RD.

I'LL START THIS FALL WITH A COMPLETION DATE ON DECEMBER 1ST.

PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE PLAN, SPECS, FORM AND CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT. THANK YOU MAYOR.

THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOTHING, 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.

NUMBER EIGHT IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE 2026 J AVENUE WATER TREATMENT

[8. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the 2026 J Avenue Water Treatment Plant Roof Replacements and Repairs project (estimated cost is $2,100,000) (Terry Tiedemann). CIP/DID #6250138-02]

TERRY TIEDEMANN IS HERE. TERRY, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL TERRY TIEDEMANN WITH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT HAS NINE STRUCTURES THAT REQUIRE ROOF REHABILITATION.

EIGHT OF THESE STRUCTURES OUTLINED HERE IN RED ARE LOCATED AT THE J AVENUE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY.

THE OTHER IS THE DAM GATEHOUSE, LOCATED AT THE WEST END OF THE E AVENUE BRIDGE.

ROOF REPLACEMENTS ARE REQUIRED ON THREE STRUCTURES AND ROOF REPAIRS REQUIRED ON SIX STRUCTURES.

THIS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED COPING STONE, NEW GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS AND MASONRY TUCKPOINTING.

[00:35:03]

BIDS WILL BE OPENED ON JUNE 10TH, WITH CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS JULY AND CONTINUE THROUGH AUGUST OF 2027.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROJECT.

WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TERRY. THIS IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING. DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY MAIER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

THANK YOU. NINE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE JORDAN.

[9. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Jordan Well No. 1 – ASR System project (estimated cost is $3,700,000) (Brandon Jennings). CIP/DID #6250158-02]

BRANDON JENNINGS IS HERE. BRANDON, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL. BRANDON JENNINGS WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. THIS PROJECT WILL DRILL A NEW WELL APPROXIMATELY 1500FT DEEP INTO THE JORDAN AQUIFER FOR A NEW AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY, ALSO KNOWN AS AN ASR SYSTEM AT THE NORTHWEST WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

AN ASR SYSTEM, WORKS BY USING THE AQUIFER AS A TEMPORARY PLACE TO STORE TREATED DRINKING WATER FOR LATER USE.

IT CAN BE LOOSELY COMPARED TO A GIANT UNDERGROUND TANK, WHEREBY TREATED DRINKING WATER TEMPORARILY DISPLACES GROUNDWATER AROUND THE WELL.

THE JORDAN AQUIFER IN IOWA IS USED THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR A SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER, AND IS COMMONLY USED IN THE DES MOINES METRO AREA FOR ASR SYSTEMS. THE GENERAL APPROACH TO USING AN ASR WELL IS TO INJECT TREATED WATER INTO THE AQUIFER DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS WHEN THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT HAS EXCESS CAPACITY AND PUMP OUT OF THE WELL DURING WARM WEATHER MONTHS WHEN THE SYSTEM DEMAND IS HIGHER.

THE SAME TREND HOLDS TRUE IN CEDAR RAPIDS. DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS WATER USE IN CEDAR RAPIDS TENDS TO BE LOWER, AND NITRATE LEVELS IN OUR FINISHED WATER ALSO TEND TO BE LOWER.

WE INTEND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EXCESS CAPACITY OF HIGH QUALITY WATER BY INJECTING UP TO 300 MILLION GALLONS OF TREATED WATER INTO THE JORDAN AQUIFER DURING THE WINTER, WHICH WILL LATER BE WITHDRAWN AND USED IN WARM WEATHER MONTHS TO REDUCE NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS AND REDUCE THE PRODUCTION STRAIN ON THE NORTHWEST WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

THE GRAPH TO THE RIGHT SHOWS THE RELATIVE NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS IN OUR RAW WATER SUPPLY.

LAST YEAR, DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS SHOWN IN BLUE VERSUS WARM WEATHER MONTHS SHOWN IN RED.

AS YOU CAN SEE, CAPTURING EXCESS WATER DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WILL ENABLE US TO DILUTE NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER.

THE PROPOSED ASR WELL NUMBER 1 WILL BE LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST WATER TREATMENT PLANT PROPERTY, AS SHOWN IN THE MAP TO THE RIGHT. THIS PROJECT IS LIMITED TO THE DRILLING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WELL ONLY.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WELL HOUSE BUILDING CHEMICAL FEED SYSTEM PROCESS PIPING AND OTHER SITE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE PERFORMED AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST WATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN.

THE CITY ALSO RECEIVED OR THE CITY WILL RECEIVE A GRANT FROM GOOGLE FOR $1.3 MILLION FOR PART OF THE COST OF THIS.

THE WELL IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY 2027, AND THE OVERALL WELL HOUSE AND ASR SYSTEM IS EXPECTED FOR OPERATION IN LATE 2028.

THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF COST IS 3.7 MILLION.

BIDS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE OPENED ON JUNE 10TH, AND CONSTRUCTION IS ANTICIPATED FROM THIS SEPTEMBER THROUGH SPRING OF 2027.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION.

WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. THANKS, BRANDON. THIS IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD SHOW.

PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS. COUNCIL COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER OLSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. IS THIS OUR FIRST ONE? I THINK TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY AS I REMEMBER.

YES AND CEDAR RAPIDS, IT'S OUR FIRST ONE. FIRST ONE.

AND IT'S SO UNIQUE. YOU KNOW, IN BEING ABLE TO STORE WATER AND NOT HAVE TO BUILD A BIG MONSTER BUILDING AND EVERYTHING, OR A TANK OR WHATEVER. AND SO HOW LONG HAS DES MOINES BEEN USING THIS SYSTEM? YOU KNOW, BALLPARK OR? I'M NOT SURE. I COULD GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE EXACT TIMELINE, BUT THEY'VE BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT MORE NITRATE PROBLEMS THAN WE DO. AND SO, BUT I MEAN, IT'S A VERY UNIQUE SPOT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ROOM, WE HAVE THE LAND, AND IT'S TIED TO OUR PLANT.

AND SO I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING CONCEPT TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT AND SEE HOW IT WORKS FOR THE CITY TO BACK UP OUR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE PROJECT. COUNCIL MEMBER MAIER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. TWO QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT HOW THIS PROCESS WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF NITRATES IN THE CEDAR RAPIDS DRINKING WATER, OR HOW MUCH IT WILL PREVENT THE RATE OF NITRATES INCREASING.

[00:40:09]

AND THE NITRATE LEVELS, THIS IS SHOWN IN OUR RAW WATER SUPPLY.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT DURING THE COLD WEATHER MONTHS, NITRATE LEVELS IN OUR RAW WATER SUPPLY ARE TYPICALLY LOWER, WHICH MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, NITRATE LEVELS IN OUR FINISHED WATER ALSO TEND TO BE LOWER DURING THE COLD WEATHER MONTHS.

SO BEING ABLE TO STORE SOME OF THAT WATER WITH LOWER NITRATE LEVELS IN THE AQUIFER AND THEN USE IT DURING PEAK MONTHS, YOU KNOW, TO BASICALLY BLEND DOWN OUR FINISHED WATER IN THE SUMMER MONTHS EFFECTIVELY DILUTES THE NITRATE CONCENTRATION.

SO IT'S AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO BRING THOSE LEVELS DOWN WHEN THEY TEND TO PEAK DUE TO SPRING RAINS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD IS SO THIS JORDAN AQUIFER, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT MUNICIPALITIES OUTSIDE OF THIS AREA HAVE ACCESS TO.

SO LIKE, SO WE'RE, WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS, BUT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WILL HAVE BENEFITS FROM IT AS WELL.

CORRECT? YEAH. SO THE JORDAN AQUIFER IS COMMONLY USED THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS A SOURCE FOR DRINKING WATER.

AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, WE DID AN EVALUATION FOR THE IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT ON THE JORDAN AQUIFER.

SINCE WE ARE BOTH PUMPING DOWN AND TAKING OUT AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF WATER, WE'RE NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE JORDAN AQUIFER.

IF ANYTHING, WE'RE SLIGHTLY PUMPING INTO THE AQUIFER.

AND IT'S BEEN A CRITICAL SOURCE LIKE THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHERE IT'S REGULATED BY THE DNR FOR DRAWDOWNS.

SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY KIND OF NET POSITIVE IS A BENEFIT.

SO IT OVERALL, LIKE OUR IMPACT IS NET NEUTRAL OR SLIGHTLY BETTER.

THE NET NEUTRAL THOUGH THAT'S INPUT AND OUTPUT.

CORRECT. BUT FOR MUNICIPALITIES THAT AREN'T PAYING FOR THIS, THEY'RE BENEFITING FROM THE BLENDED WATER.

SO THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM A LOWER NITRATE, RIGHT? NO. SO THIS ONE IS IS LIMITED SPECIFICALLY TO OUR WELL, YOU EFFECTIVELY YOU CAN YOU CAN LOOSELY THINK OF IT AS A BUBBLE THAT YOU'RE DEVELOPING AROUND THE WELLHEAD OF OUR TREATED WATER THAT YOU'RE PUMPING DOWN.

AND THEN WHEN WE TAKE IT BACK OUT, WE'RE BASICALLY DRAWING FROM THAT SAME BUBBLE OF TREATED WATER THAT WE PUMPED DOWN THERE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VANORNY. YEAH. SO WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, BECAUSE I FIND THIS FASCINATING, IS THAT NOT ONLY DOES IT ENCOMPASS IN IOWA, IT SAID JUST SOME QUICK SEARCHING HERE, 1000 TO 3000FT BELOW THE SURFACE. AND THEN IT ACTUALLY ENCOMPASSES ALMOST THE ENTIRETY OF IOWA, EXCEPT FOR A TEENY TINY CORNER UP IN NORTHWEST IOWA AND IS SO LARGE THAT IT GOES INTO MISSOURI, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA.

SO IT'S A PRETTY LARGE AQUIFER. AND IT SAID THAT IT IS BETWEEN 70,000 TO 500,000 YEARS OLD.

SO IT'S A REALLY GREAT RESOURCE THAT WE CAN HELP MAINTAIN.

AWESOME. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCILMEMBER POE? YEAH. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION.

WILL YOU GO BACK TO THE FINAL SLIDE, PLEASE? SO THAT COST $3,700,000 IS THAT AFTER THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE FROM GOOGLE OR BEFORE? IT'S BEFORE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY TODD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

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

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND OFFICIALLY CLOSE OUT THIS FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? NO CHANGES.

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THE APPROVAL OF THIS AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD.

SECONDED BY VANORNY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL, THAT BRINGS US TO CONSENT. THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY POE,

[CONSENT AGENDA]

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

THANK YOU COUNCIL. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.

[30. Report on bids for the FY27 Sanitary Sewer Lining project (estimated cost is $2,030,000) (Ben Worrell). CIP/DID #651-004-01]

[00:45:03]

BEN WORRELL IS HERE. BEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. BEN WORRELL, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT THE CITY DOES APPROXIMATELY ANNUALLY TO REHABILITATE SANITARY SEWERS WITH CURED IN PLACE LININGS. THIS IS DONE TO REDUCE INFILTRATION, BUT THEN ALSO EXTEND THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE PIPE.

AND IT'S MUCH CHEAPER THAN HAVING TO DIG UP THE PIPE AND REPLACE IT.

AND ON THIS PACKAGE, WE'RE LINING OVER 2500 ZERO FEET OF PIPES RANGING IN SIZE FROM 6IN TO 36IN IN DIAMETER.

AND HERE'S A MAP SHOWING ALL THE LOCATIONS. THIS PROJECT BID ON MAY 20TH, WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS, RANGING FROM $1,587,521.35 TO $2,279,552.89. LOW BIDDER WAS MUNICIPAL PIPE TOOL COMPANY.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THEN, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.

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

AND THE MOTION CARRIES. 31 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE THIRD STREET SOUTHWEST FROM THIRD AVENUE TO FIRST AVENUE PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT,

[31. Report on bids for the 3rd Street SW from 3rd Avenue to 1st Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation project (estimated cost is $550,000) (Doug Wilson). (Paving for Progress) CIP/DID #3012548- 02]

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

THIS PROJECT INCLUDES CURB AND GUTTER REPLACEMENT, SIDEWALK, DRIVEWAY, ALLEY AND APPROACH PAVEMENT REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH ASPHALT RESURFACING, WE EXPECT CONSTRUCTION TO START IN THE SUMMER OF 2026 AND BE COMPLETED THIS FALL.

WE HAD A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 3RD FOR THIS PROJECT.

THIS YEAR, WE'VE ALSO COORDINATED THE WORK WITH PARK CEDAR RAPIDS AND THE LINN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

ON MAY 13TH, WE RECEIVED FOUR BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT, RANGING FROM $445,882.85 TO $625,221.22. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO EASTERN IOWA EXCAVATING AND CONCRETE.

THANK YOU MAYOR. THANKS, DOUG. COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY HOEGER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

32 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE CZECH VILLAGE RIVERSIDE TRAIL PROJECT.

[32. Report on bids for the Czech Village Riverside Trail project (estimated cost is $220,000) (Rob Davis). CIP/DID #3313553-01]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL ROB DAVIS WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THIS PROJECT IS A TRAIL PROJECT THAT RUNS 1075 LINEAR FEET FROM 16TH AVENUE SOUTHWEST, ON THE RIVERSIDE OF THE FLOODWALL THAT'S BEEN BUILT AND INTO RIVERSIDE PARK.

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES SHOWING THAT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD BIDS BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE AREA'S ALREADY BEEN GRADED AND SET UP FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM TRAIL WITH A PREVIOUS PROJECT.

THE COST ESTIMATES THE MAYOR MENTIONED IS $220,000.

THE BID OPENING WAS ON MAY 20TH. THE START DATE IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 13TH, WITH COMPLETION AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

WE RECEIVED SEVEN BIDS LAST WEEK. THE TWO LOW BIDS ARE VERY COMPETITIVE AS YOU CAN SEE.

RATHJE CONSTRUCTION, MARION, IOWA WAS READ TO LOW AT $197,403.34, AND THAT RANGED UP TO A HIGH BID OF $297,777.10. AND WITH THAT, THOSE GOOD BIDS, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS RESOLUTION TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO RATHJE CONSTRUCTION, THE AMOUNT I MENTIONED. THANK YOU. THANKS ROB. COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, 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 THE MOTION CARRIES.

33 IS A REPORT ON BIDS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF FIRST STREET DOORS AT CITY HALL PROJECT.

[33. Report on bids for the Replacement of First Street Doors at City Hall project (estimated cost is $226,000) (Jason Stancliffe). CIP/DID #PUR0426-285]

THANK YOU. AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. JASON STANCLIFFE WITH FACILITIES. AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY HALL REPLACEMENT OF FIRST STREET DOORS PROJECT. BIDS WERE ISSUED ON APRIL 29TH. PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON MAY 12TH.

THE BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND OPENED ON MAY 13TH.

ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE PROJECT WAS $226,000.

WE RECEIVED ONE BID FROM TRICON GENERAL CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED FOR $194,000.

CITY MAINTENANCE SERVICES RECOMMENDS AWARDING TO TRICON GENERAL CONSTRUCTION AS THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU MAYOR. THANKS, JASON. COUNCIL. OKAY.

SEEING NOTHING FURTHER THE RESOLUTION OF THIS HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD.

[00:50:05]

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

AND THAT NOW BRINGS US TO ORDINANCES. NUMBER 34 IS AN ORDINANCE VACATING PUBLIC WAYS AND GROUNDS OF A 20 FOOT ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY

[34. Ordinance vacating public ways and grounds of a 20-foot alley right of way adjacent to 900 L Street SW as requested by Interstate Power & Light Company. CIP/DID #ROWV-030056-2020]

THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY VANORNY, SECONDED BY POE.

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

AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER POE.

THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE THE RULE REQUIRING THREE READINGS ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS BE SUSPENDED AND THE ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING.

THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING, HAS BEEN 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 A RESOLUTION FOR THIS ITEM, DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON.

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

AND THIS MOTION CARRIES. AND THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE OUT OUR FORMAL BUSINESS TODAY AND BRING US TO OUR FINAL PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.

[PUBLIC INPUT]

AND AS WITH THE EARLIER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS TIME, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN.

SO I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM.

COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES AND WE ASK FOR NO ABUSIVE, OBSCENE, LOUD, THREATENING OR PERSONAL COMMENTS.

SO IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, WE'LL ASK YOU TO APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON, AND I WILL JUST CALL IN ORDER OF THEIR SIGNED UP.

AND THE FIRST IS JULIE. JULIE WITTING HERE TO SPEAK ON THE MORGAN VALLEY POWER PLANT.

MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M NERVOUS ABOUT DOING THIS, BUT I FEEL SO COMPELLED.

I LIVE JUST LIKE FIVE MILES WEST OF CEDAR RAPIDS ON OFF HIGHWAY 30 ON A FARM.

SO WE'RE ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM WHERE THE PROPOSED MORGAN VALLEY GAS PLANT IS TO BE.

AND IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE JUST BEING SO RUSHED INTO ALL THIS.

AND WE'VE ASKED TO SEE HOW THE WATER WAS GOING TO BE SUPPLIED, HOW THE WASTE WOULD BE TAKEN OUT, AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT WITH US AT ALL WITH THAT, ALLIANT ENERGY.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF WE COULD AT LEAST SLOW DOWN EVERYTHING BEFORE WE GET AHEAD OF IT, SO WE COULD HAVE MAYBE LIKE A MORATORIUM, SO WE COULD AT LEAST HAVE SOME STUDIES SHOWN TO US AS FAR AS OUR WATER SUPPLY JUST THE WASTE TAKEN OUT. AND I'M CONCERNED TOO, BECAUSE RIGHT WHERE THEY'RE WANTING THIS THING TO BE, THERE ARE STILL PLANES THAT FLY OVER VERY LOW THERE.

AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THEY DIDN'T WANT IT OUT BY THE AIRPORT, BUT THAT'S STILL IN THEIR PATH TO LAND.

SO IT'S JUST TOO MUCH, TOO FAST. IT'S LIKE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

ALL WE'RE ASKING IS WE'D LIKE TO KNOW THE RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF ALL THIS.

AND WHEN WE'RE ON DIFFERENT SITES AND SEEING HOW PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH IT IN OTHER STATES, IT'S NOT FOR THE BETTER. SO IF WE COULD JUST ASK FOR A MORATORIUM SO WE COULD SEE, EVEN WITH THE UTILITIES COMMISSION PUT ON, THERE WASN'T FOR THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO REALLY FUNCTION WITH THE BLOWDOWN AND ALL THAT. THEY USE A CARCINOGEN TOXINS TO CLEAN THOSE CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS. SO. AND THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO EMPLOY 4 TO 10 PEOPLE OVER THERE.

AND THAT'S FROM THEM TELLING US. SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND LOOK AT THE STUDIES OF THIS.

THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT UP WE HAVE JOSHUA CANDLER HERE TO SPEAK ON ANIMAL CONTROL IDEAS.

SO SINCE LAST TIME I ONLY HAD FIVE MINUTES, I'M JUST BASICALLY GOING TO CONTINUE WHAT I WAS DISCUSSING LAST TIME WE WERE HERE.

SO ONE FURTHER THOUGHT THAT I HAD WITH REGARD TO ANIMAL CONTROL AND DOG BITES IS THAT WE NEED TO ALSO CONSIDER WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN A DOG BITE SITUATION TO THE LESSER OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IN MY SITUATION, MY LEG WAS BIT AND IT WAS PRETTY BAD.

I HAD TO GO. LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I HAD TO GO TO THE E.R., I HAD TO DO THE RABIES VACCINES.

I HAD TO DO THE WHOLE KIT CABOODLE. OKAY. BUT MY ISSUE ISN'T WHAT HAPPENED TO ME THIS TIME,

[00:55:01]

THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN PROBABLY EITHER LOSING THEIR LEG OR BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED.

AND I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. YEAH. THE TWO BITE RULE IN THEORY, IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN AN ANIMAL'S GOING TO BITE.

WE DON'T KNOW. BUT IN PRACTICE, WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE LESSER OF OUR, NOT THE LESSER AS IN THEY'RE LESS IMPORTANT, BUT THE LESSER AS IN LIKE YOUNGER OLDER PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO HEAL OR RESTORE THEMSELVES AS I DO.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHILD GETS BITTEN THE WAY I DID? THEY COULD LOSE THEIR LEG. THEY COULD HAVE LIFE ALTERING RESULTS.

SO I RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT COME TO AN IDEA WHERE WE DON'T JUST CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VICTIM OF THE BITE ITSELF, BUT ALSO CONSIDER WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN HAD IT BEEN SOMEONE WHO CAN'T HEAL, HAD IT BEEN SOMEONE WHO'S YOUNGER, YOU KNOW, JUST ALL THESE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WITH THAT, THAT PART IS OUT.

BUT WHY ONLY THREE MINUTES? THAT'S MY NEXT QUESTION.

WHY ONLY THREE MINUTES NOW. WITH THAT. THANK YOU.

NEXT UP JANE HERE TO SPEAK ON A PROPOSED POWER PLANT.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JANE SHEAR, A CEDAR RAPIDS LANDOWNER IN THE 3500 BLOCK OF PIONEER SOUTHEAST.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING PROPOSED OUT THERE, BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTAND IT.

THIS IS NOT A SMALL RURAL ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ONLY A FEW LANDOWNERS.

THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, APPROXIMATELY THREE SQUARE MILES IN WESTERN LINN COUNTY, IS NOT JUST ABOUT A POWER PLANT.

MORGAN VALLEY ENERGY CENTER, BUT INCLUDES LARGE SCALE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT.

THE PROPOSED POWER PLANT AND FUTURE DATA CENTERS ARE IN THE SAME AREA TWO CONNECTED PIECES OF A BIGGER PICTURE.

THEY SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND TALKED ABOUT TOGETHER OUT IN THE OPEN, TRANSPARENCY.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITMENTS BY CEDAR RAPIDS DO NOT JUST CONNECT CEDAR RAPIDS TO A POWER PLANT.

THEY MAY ALSO BE SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR A LARGER AND LONGER TERM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AREA THAN MOST RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN TOLD OR EDUCATED ABOUT.

I AM ASKING FOR A PUBLIC DISCUSSION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT CEDAR RAPIDS OWN COMMITMENTS.

THE WATER SERVICE, THE SEWER CAPACITY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING.

EVERYONE WITHIN THE TEN MILE IMPACT ZONE THAT THE STATE OF IOWA ITSELF RECOGNIZES DESERVES THE RIGHT TO SPEAK, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY LIVE IN THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY LIMITS OR NOT.

I GUARANTEE THERE ARE CONCERNED AND IMPACTED PEOPLE WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD HERE TONIGHT, BUT MUST REMAIN NEWT. I'M SORRY, MUTE. THAT WAS KIND OF A KEY WORD [LAUGHTER], BUT MUST REMAIN MUTE BECAUSE OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY STIPULATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PASTOR DOYLE.

SPEAKING ON PUBLIC SAFETY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD, DOYLE, THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND.

R Y AS THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN SUGGESTION, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT YESTERDAY WAS SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NO LONGER HERE TO SPEAK WITHOUT REPERCUSSION. CONSIDER SOCIAL WORKERS AT THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT CENTER.

IF YOU WOULD JUST GO AND OBSERVE AND LISTEN WITHOUT SAYING A WORD, YOU MIGHT SEE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO

[01:00:10]

THAT'S CALLED STRAIGHT NO CHASER. SEE, IN OTHER CITIES, INCLUDING CHICAGO, WHERE PEOPLE JUST FIGURE THEY'RE JUST TEENAGERS.

AS RECENT AS THIS MORNING, JUST LISTENING AND JUST OBSERVING AND GOING, IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF THERE WERE, AND WHEN I SAY SOCIAL WORKERS, I MEAN INDIVIDUALS WHO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND NOT INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED JUST TO COLLECT A CHECK. I REALLY MEAN SOCIAL WORKERS WHO, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BEING NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, YOU HAVE CLOSURES OF SCHOOLS COMING IN THE FALL.

YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO REALLY CAN'T BE IN THE SAME SCHOOL.

AND IT MEANS WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS FAMILY ISSUES, THINGS THAT FAMILIES CARRY OVER FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION THAT UNFORTUNATELY THEIR CHILDREN HAVE TO BE THE VICTIM OF.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SOLUTION ORIENTED, AND WHEN I SAY PUBLIC SAFETY, I'D LIKE TO LOSE THE LAST MINUTE AS IT RELATES TO YOUR CURRENT CONFIDENT CHIEF OF POLICE. SEE, IT WAS ON APRIL 25TH IN CHICAGO, WHERE OFFICER BARTHOLOMEW'S MOTHER.

I WISH SHE WASN'T NICE. I WISH SHE WOULD HAVE TAUGHT HER SON NOT TO BE NICE.

SEE, OFFICER BARTHOLOMEW JUST CHOSE TO TAKE THE SHACKLES OFF OF A MISCREANT.

AND IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, HE WAS DEAD. YOU CAN GOOGLE IT.

I'M USING THE LAST 30 MINUTES TO REMIND YOU OF SOMETHING.

YOU'VE DONE THE WORK TO BUILD UP THE CITY. YOU HAVE A CASINO OPENING WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

THOSE ARE JOBS. JOBS DESTROY WELFARE. WHEN YOU HAVE A WELFARE MENTALITY, THAT MEANS YOU GET UP AND EXPECT SOMEBODY ELSE TO PAY AND WORK FOR YOU. IT PERPETUATES VIOLENCE.

YOU'VE DONE THE WORK. SO SOCIAL WORKERS WORK.

THINK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. JOHN LEE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE MORGAN VALLEY PLANT.

HI, MY NAME IS JOHN LEE AND I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

AND TONIGHT I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT IN THIS ROOM.

THEY ARE READY TO SHOW UP IF NEEDED. I WANT TO START BY THANKING MAYOR O'DONNELL FOR FORWARDING THE EMAIL ABOUT MORGAN VALLEY ENERGY CENTER.

THAT EMAIL ENDED UP WITH MISS FARLINGER, THE PRESIDENT OF INTERSTATE POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY, AND I APPRECIATE SHE TOOK THE TIME TO RESPOND TO ME PERSONALLY, BUT THOSE QUESTIONS WERE DIRECTED AT THIS COUNCIL, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE SITTING IN THIS ROOM.

I ALSO WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT THAT I THINK MATTERS A LOT.

MANY PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THIS CANNOT SPEAK HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIVE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

SO TONIGHT THEY DO NOT GET A VOICE IN THIS ROOM.

YET THE DECISIONS THE CITY IS MAKING ABOUT WATER, SEWER AND UTILITY COMMITMENTS ARE GOING TO AFFECT THE AIR.

THOSE PEOPLE BREATHE, THE WATER IN THE AREA, THE TRAFFIC ON THEIR ROADS AND THE COMMUNITY, THE WAY THE COMMUNITIES LOOK FOR DECADES TO COME.

THE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST TO LOSE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE THING SPECIFICALLY FOR MISS FARLINGER'S RESPONSE.

SHE TOLD ME, AND I WANT TO QUOTE THIS DIRECTLY, THAT THIS PROCESS, QUOTE, ALLOWS TECHNICAL PLANNING, COORDINATION AND REGULATORY REVIEW TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT CONTINUE.

I WANT TO STOP ON THAT ONE WORD, WHILE. THE WORD SUGGESTS A PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEEN DONE? BECAUSE FROM EVERYTHING THAT I'VE SEEN, THE ANSWER IS NOTHING.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN. PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN KEPT IN THE LOOP.

WE'RE TRYING TO PIECE THINGS, TO PIECE TOGETHER A PICTURE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEARLY LAID OUT FOR US TO START.

THAT'S NOT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY WANT US TO HEAR.

AND FINALLY, I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION, AND I'M DIRECTING IT STRAIGHT TO THE COUNCIL.

AND I'M RESPECTFULLY ASKING FOR A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

HAS ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, ANY CITY STAFF OR ANY CITY OFFICIAL SIGNED ANY CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS, NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS OR SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS, FORMAL OR INFORMAL, RELATED TO MORGAN VALLEY ENERGY SITE,

[01:05:03]

I'M NOT ASKING TO BE DIFFICULT. I'M ASKING BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OUT HERE HAVE GENUINELY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION SEEMS TO BE SO FAR BEHIND AND THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD. AND IF THESE AGREEMENTS ARE IN PLACE, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW.

I RESPECTFULLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LEE. ROGER SLADE HERE TO SPEAK ON CITY PARTNERSHIPS.

ROGER SLADE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE. AND I HAD TO REWRITE EVERYTHING SINCE YOU CUT OUR TIME IN HALF, SO. THAT'S WONDERFUL. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I SPOKE HERE IN MAY WITH SEVERAL OTHERS REGARDING YOUR DECISION TO FLY THE PRIDE FLAG THROUGHOUT JUNE.

SOMETIMES THROUGHOUT JULY, EVEN ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

AND NOW IT'S MORE LOCATIONS SINCE THAT WAS RETALIATION, SINCE SO MANY OF US SPOKE UP.

AND NOW THIS YEAR, I KNOW YOU'RE YOU'RE HERE TO DO THE SAME.

BUT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I INFORMED YOU ABOUT SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR THE CHILDREN ATTENDING THE FALSELY ADVERTISED FAMILY FRIENDLY PRIDE CELEBRATION AT NEWBO INVOLVING THE SATANIC TEMPLE OF IOWA. I'VE EXPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS.

SEE, OUR PRIDE IS AWARE OF THIS. THE GOALS OF THE SATANIC TEMPLE INCLUDE ATTACKING CHRISTIANS, DESTROYING THE NUCLEAR FAMILY, AND, OF COURSE, CHILD SACRIFICE.

IF YOU WATCH THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS, YOU ALSO WITNESSED PRIDE'S ATTACK ON CHRISTIANITY WITH THEIR DEMONIC REPRESENTATIONS OF THE LAST SUPPER, ALWAYS MOCKING GOD AND TARGETING HIS FOLLOWERS UNTIL ABSOLUTE COMPLIANCE OF THE WEEK.

WE'VE SEEN THIS WITH PASTORS, WITH COMPANIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

ON MAY 28, 2024, RICHARD DAVID SPOKE HERE AND HE PRESENTED HIS PERSONAL FLAG THAT HE FLEW IN FRONT OF HIS HOME.

IT'S CALLED THE APPEAL TO HEAVEN FLAG. IT FEATURES A WHITE FIELD WITH A GREEN PINE TREE AND THE WORDS AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN.

YOU'LL HAVE TO LOOK UP THE HISTORY. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT. BUT THIS FLAG HAS BEEN FLOWN ALL OVER THE US.

EVEN SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL HAD THIS UP FOR 60 YEARS.

MAYOR WHEN I MET YOU IN 2024, YOU TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE APPEAL TO HEAVEN FLAG WOULD FLY COUNCIL WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT.

AND I GAVE YOU A PIECE OF PAPER THAT HAD A PHOTO OF THE SYMBOL OF CEDAR RAPIDS AT THE TOP WITH A GREEN TREE.

A PHOTO OF THE APPEAL TO HEAVEN FLAG, WHICH IS A GREEN TREE, AND A QUOTE THAT'S ON THE CITY WEBSITE TODAY.

THAT QUOTE SAYS THE CITY OF FIVE SEASONS WAS BASED ON A BIBLE VERSE FROM ECCLESIASTES THREE ONE TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE UNDER THE HEAVEN. CEDAR RAPIDS USED TO HAVE AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN.

ON MAY 17TH, OUR NATION WAS REDEDICATED AS ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

YET ON JUNE 1ST, YOU'RE PLANNING TO REDEDICATE CEDAR RAPIDS AS ONE CITY UNDER PRIDE, ONCE AGAIN ENDORSING YOUR POLITICAL PARTY, YOUR ANTI-CHRISTIAN STANCE DEI, THE MUTILATION OF CHILDREN, THE SATANIC TEMPLE, THE WHOLE AGENDA, COMPLETE CONTRADICTION TO OUR VALUES AND HISTORY AS A NATION.

ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR. SO I KNOW SOME OF YOU DON'T SUPPORT THIS.

SOME OF YOU DON'T EVEN SUPPORT THE AMERICAN FLAG LIKE DAVID NO LONGER STANDING UP FOR THE U.S.

FLAG DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. BUT I'LL REMIND YOU AGAIN, CEDAR RAPIDS WAS BASED ON ECCLESIASTES 3:1.

LOOK THAT UP. AND THIS COUNTRY IS ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

THANK YOU. AND THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE OUT OUR SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD.

[CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS]

COUNCIL MEMBER TYLER OLSON MOVES TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OVERLAND.

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

AND THE MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.