Aug 11, 2026 City Council

[00:00:02]

THIS MEETING OF THE CEDAR

[Call to Order]

DISRUPTIONS TO COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK THE PERSON WITH THE SIGN IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GOING TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE BEHIND YOU THAT ARE TRYING TO WATCH THE PROCEEDINGS.

SO I WILL ASK FOR THAT ONE TIME. YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN HOLD THAT SIGN UP, BUT PLEASE... YOU'RE BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU. SO 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 THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE. WE'LL NOW BEGIN AS WE ALWAYS DO WITH OUR INVOCATION TODAY BY PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAIN KEN GLANDORF. THAT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I'D LIKE TO SAY BEFORE I BEGIN PRAYING, I'M FILLING IN FOR A POLICE CHAPLAIN FRIEND OF MINE WHO DIED. A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO, TAHA TUWILL, WHO IS A GREAT GUY, AND HE'LL BE MISSED. LET'S PRAY.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS. WE PRAY FOR THIS MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS. YOU'D GIVE THEM WISDOM, SKILL, AND COURAGE.

ALSO, GOD, WE WOULD NOT FORGET OUR MEN AND WOMEN SERVING OVERSEAS IN UNIFORM. WE PRAY FOR YOUR PROTECTIVE GRACE.

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, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. CAN YOU PUT THAT SIGN IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM? OKAY, WELL, THERE'S PEOPLE BEHIND YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

OKAY, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT BELOW THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL BEGIN

[Proclamations/Presentations]

WHEREAS EACH YEAR MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF MILLION WORKERS SUFFER SERIOUS JOB-RELATED ILLNESSES OR INJURIES, AND 5,070 AMERICANS DIED IN WORK-RELATED INCIDENTS IN 2024. AND WHEREAS THESE INCIDENTS NOT ONLY HURT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO NEGATIVELY IMPACT BUSINESSES, THE ECONOMY, AND THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS EACH WEEK BUSINESSES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES SPEND OVER $1 BILLION IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WHICH IS MONEY THAT COULD BE BETTER INVESTED IN SUSTAINING AND GROWING SMALL BUSINESSES AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. AND WHEREAS IMPLEMENTING SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAMS CAN IMPROVE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND JOB FORCE, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS IS COMMITTED TO SETTING THE STANDARD FOR BEING THE SAFEST AND MOST REWARDING PLACE TO WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIFFANY O'DONNELL, MAYOR OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNCIL, HEREBY RECOGNIZE AUGUST 10TH THROUGH 16TH, 2026, AS OSHA SAFE AND SOUND WEEK.

AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN THE EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF WORKPLACE SAFETY BY BEING ALERT, COMMUNICATING AND WORKING SAFELY EVERY MINUTE, EVERY HOUR AND EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT ALL DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO OUR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, POMERANTZ AND THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR RECOGNIZING OSHA SAFE AND SOUND WEEK. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR SUPPORTING OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR EMPLOYEES. TODAY IS MORE THAN A PROCLAMATION.

[00:05:02]

THEIR PRESENCE REPRESENTS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.

SAFETY IS NOT JUST A POLICY OR A PROGRAM, IT'S A SHARED COMMITMENT.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING A CULTURE WHERE SAFETY IS VALUED, WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL EMPOWERED TO SPEAK UP, AND WHERE EVERYONE HAS A ROLE IN MAKING OUR WORKPLACE SAFER. SORRY, I'M NERVOUS.

I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR SAFETY TEAM.

WE ALL WORK VERY HARD TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES' SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVE.

SO, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY. DID YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED, MIKE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER WORKERS OF IOWA WEEK.

DIRECTOR ROY HESEMANN JOINING ME. AND I OFTEN SAY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ONE THING THAT SURPRISED ME WHEN I FIRST BECAME MAYOR, I THOUGHT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR RIVER AND OUR BRIDGES AND OUR STREETS.

WATER AND WASTEWATER.

WATER, WASTEWATER, AND RAIL, BY THE WAY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET US ON THE MAP FOR ALL THAT.

YES, YOU DO. WELL, IF THIS IS A SIGNAL TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD HOW IMPORTANT WATER AND WASTEWATER IS, IT'S RIGHT HERE. SO, APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE UP HERE HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE TEAMS FOR DECADES TO GET US TO THIS SPOT. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, DIRECTOR HESSMAN. ALL RIGHT.

WHEREAS THE STATE OF IOWA'S WEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES HAS BEEN THREATENED BY THE DEGRADATION OF SURFACE AND GROUND WATERS, AND WHEREAS THE WATER AND WASTEWATER WORKFORCE OF IOWA HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO APPLYING ENVIRONMENTAL PASSION AND SCIENCE TO ENHANCE DRINKING AND RECREATIONAL WATERS OF IOWA, AND WHEREAS THEIR APPLIED ENVIRONMENTALISM CONTINUES TO BE A VITAL ELEMENT IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PRESERVING AND PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH IN OUR STATE AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR WAY OF LIVING HERE, NOW THEREFORE I, TIFFANY O'DONNELL, MAYOR OF CEDAR RAPIDS, ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNCIL, RECOGNIZE AUGUST 23RD THROUGH 28TH, 2026, AS WATER AND WASTEWATER WORKERS OF IOWA WEEK AND ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE THE SKILLED OPERATORS, ENGINEERS, AND SUPPORT STAFF WHO DEDICATE THEIR CAREERS TO DELIVER SAFE DRINKING WATER AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THESE PROFESSIONALS EXPERTISE AND COMMITMENT ARE THE FOUNDATION OF A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.

DIRECTOR HESEMANN.

THANK YOU MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL. THIS IS JUST A SMALL GROUP OF THE 200 PLUS INDIVIDUALS, MEN AND WOMEN, THAT KEEP THE WATER FLOWING, KEEP THE WASTEWATER BEING TREATED ON A 24-7, 365-DAY BASIS, ALWAYS BEHIND THE SCENES FOR THE MOST PART, MAKING SURE THAT THAT BEST TASTING WATER IS BEING DELIVERED ON A ROUTINE BASIS AND PEOPLE DON'T HOPEFULLY KNOW THAT WE'RE EVEN OUT THERE, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS OUT THERE.

SO WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE IT. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS, EVERYBODY.

[1. A public hearing will be held to consider the disposition of a 17-foot strip of City-owned property adjacent to 62 17th Avenue SW as requested by Budova Properties LLC (Dustin Kern). CIP/DID #PRD-000387-2026]

FIRST, A REMINDER TO PLEASE REMAIN AT THE LECTERN. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER. SHE WILL GET THEM TO US. SECOND, COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, AND WHEN THE LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE IN FRONT OF YOU TURNS YELLOW, WE WILL INVITE YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT, OR YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.

WHEN IT'S RED, WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT. AND THIRD, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALL COMMENTS MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT ABUSIVE, LOUD, THREATENING, OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED. AND 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 TODAY'S AGENDA? YOUR HONOR, THERE ARE NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY RECUSALS? MAY I RECUSE MYSELF FROM HEARING NUMBER ONE? ALL RIGHT. NOTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE DISPOSITION OF A 17-FOOT STRIP OF

[00:10:01]

DUSTIN KERN IS HERE.

DUSTIN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS.

DUSTIN KERN FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. PLEASURE TO BE HERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS A DISPOSITION OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY ADJACENT TO 62 17TH AVENUE SOUTHWEST.

WE'RE ENTERTAINING A DISPOSAL FOR $5,100 FOR THIS DISPOSITION. THAT IS AN AMOUNT THAT IS PROVIDED BY THE CEDAR RAPIDS ASSESSOR. THERE'S TWO SEPARATE PROPERTIES INVOLVED IN THIS STRIP OF LAND. THE CITY ACQUIRED A PORTION OF THEM IN 1977, ANOTHER IN 1981. SO WE'VE OWNED THEM FOR QUITE A WHILE. THE 17-FOOT WIDE STRIP WOULD BE COMBINED WITH THE PROPERTY THAT IS 62 17TH AVENUE SOUTHWEST. WE ALSO HAVE ONE COMBINED ASSESSED PARCEL.

BY DOING THIS, IT DOES A FEW THINGS. ONE, IT ALLOWS FOR CONTINUING USE OF AN EXISTING PATIO THAT ACTUALLY CURRENTLY IS ON CITY PROPERTY. SO BY PROCEEDING WITH THIS POSITION, IT WOULD BE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. AND IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR A NEW PATIO EXPANSION ON A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY. ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT AND RECEIVED WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE OTHER ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER WHO DID NOT HAVE INTEREST IN THIS PROPERTY OWNER. SO CONSENTED TO THIS POSITION TO...

THE OWNER OF 6217 AVENUE SOUTHWEST.

THIS LAST SLIDE JUST KIND OF PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE 17-FOOT-WIDE STRIP AND THE PROXIMITY TO THE ROUNDHOUSE THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THE EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE AREA, THE LIGHTLINE LOOP. SO I WANTED TO GIVE THAT PERSPECTIVE TO CLOSE OUT MY PRESENTATION AND JUST NOTE THAT IT DOES SUPPORT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA OUT THERE, CZECH VILLAGE, AND THE LIGHTLINE LOOP IN ADDITION TO THE ROUNDHOUSE.

WITH THAT, I TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR, FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS, DUSTIN. EXCUSE ME. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT DOES RECOMMEND PASSING THE RESOLUTION FOR THE REQUISITION. THANK YOU. WE'RE JUST HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL ON THIS MATTER? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD SHOW PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD. THAT BRINGS US TO COUNSEL COMMENTS.

SEEING NONE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TODD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. I OPPOSE SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NUMBER

[2. A public hearing will be held to consider the disposition of City-owned property at 916 5th Street SE (Noah Zeker). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #DISP-0046-2023]

NOAH ZEKER IS HERE. NOAH.

OH, I'M SORRY. JEFF WOZENCRAFT IS HERE. JEFF.

FILLING IN FOR NOAH. THANK YOU. SO JEFF WOZENCRAFT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. I'M HERE FOR A RESOLUTION OF CITY-OWNED LAND TO INITIATE A PROPERTY DISPOSITION. SO JUST AN OVERVIEW HERE. THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS ALONG 5TH STREET. DOWN THE STREET FROM HORIZONS AND SORT OF UP THE BLOCK FROM THE CHERRY BUILDING. IT WAS ACQUIRED IN 2011 WITH CDBG FUNDS. IT'S ABOUT 02,400 SQUARE FEET, CURRENTLY A VACANT LOT IN OUR TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-UNIT ZONE DISTRICT.

NO ACCESS TO CITY WATER CURRENTLY, BUT ACCESS TO OTHER CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IT IS LOCATED WITHIN THE 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

SO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OBJECTIVES, PREFERENCE FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT HERE.

DESIGN THAT WOULD MEET OUR TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL ZONE REQUIREMENTS AND FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.

TIMELINE WENT TO DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE LAST MONTH HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY.

PROPOSALS WOULD BE DUE SEPTEMBER 11TH AND THEN BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION OF AWARD, HOPEFULLY IN LATE SEPTEMBER, AND A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO FOLLOW.

WITH THAT, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THE INITIATION OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. AND I'LL PASS IT BACK TO THE MAYOR. THANK YOU, JEFF. THIS IS TIME TO PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW, PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD. COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, THE ADOPT OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TODD, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS

[3. A public hearing will be held to review the status of the Eastern Iowa Health Center generator project funded through the Iowa Economic Development Authority (Laura Shaw and Chrystal Kohl). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #CDBG-DR-FY22]

LAURA SHAW AND CRYSTAL COLE ARE HERE. I WILL RECOGNIZE THEM. HELLO, MADAM MAYOR.

COUNCIL? LAURA SHAW, CRYSTAL COLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. SO TODAY WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CDBGDR GENERATOR PROJECTS AND THE STATUS OF FUNDED ACTIVITIES OR BETTER KNOWN AS SOFAS. SO ANYTIME WE RECEIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING FOR DISASTER RECOVERY IT REQUIRES A MID PROJECT UPDATE. WE TALK ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD TO DATE, WE TALK ABOUT ANY EXPENDITURES, ANY REMAINING WORK TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND IF THERE'S BEEN ANY CHANGES.

SO JUST FOR A LITTLE BACKGROUND, THE CDBGDR DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM, THE STATE RECEIVED ABOUT $57.5 MILLION AFTER THE DERECHO OF 2020.

THE CITY RECEIVED JUST UNDER HALF OF THOSE FUNDS.

[00:15:01]

TO THE GENERATOR PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT.

FOR THESE GENERATORS, WE HAVE WORKED ON CATHERINE MCCULLEY, WILLIS-STADY, SALVATION ARMY, AND THEN TODAY WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS EASTERN IOWA HEALTH CENTERS. THESE WERE ALL FOR CRITICAL USE FACILITIES.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLATION OF THE GENERATOR AT EASTERN IOWA HEALTH CENTER WHERE WE'VE SPENT ROUGHLY $100,000. AND THAT IS BOTH IN DR AND TOTAL PROJECT COSTS.

AND CURRENTLY ALL THAT'S REALLY LEFT IS THE FINAL HOOKUP AND FINAL INSPECTIONS.

FOR THIS PROJECT, THE ONLY REAL CHANGE WAS THAT THE TIMELINE SHIFTED SLIGHTLY TO SUMMER, AND THAT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, LAURA AND CRYSTAL. THIS IS TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD. COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY? THANKS, MAYOR. JUST A NOTE OF GRATITUDE ABOUT EASTERN IOWA. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE APTLY SAID ABOUT CRITICAL USE. WORKING IN HEALTH CARE ALL THE YEARS THAT I HAVE, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE, AND PROBABLY MOST OF US IN THIS ROOM ARE LIKELY ON SOME SORT OF COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, BUT FOR THE REST OF PEOPLE, AND IT'S A BIG BULK OF PERSONS THAT ARE SERVED BY EASTERN IOWA, THEY ARE OUT THERE DOING SO MUCH WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY, SERVING AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PATIENCE.

SUPPORTING THIS AS THE WAY THAT WE ARE ABLE THROUGH THIS GENERATOR COULD NOT IMPACT THE HEART OF CEDAR RAPIDS MORE. AND I JUST HAVE A NOTE OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL THAT THEY DO TO SERVE EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO GENERALLY MAY NOT HAVE OPTIONS OF WHERE THEY GET TO HAVE HEALTH CARE. SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD.

ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING

[4. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Cedar Lake Amenities Bid Package 3A: Recreational Amenities project (estimated cost is $1,340,000) (Ben Worrell). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #327010-03]

THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES A TRAILHEAD NODE, AN ACCESSIBLE KAYAK LAUNCH, SITE WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHALLENGE COURSE.

THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE CHALLENGE COURSE IS A SEPARATE PACKAGE WITH A SEPARATE CONTRACTOR, BUT THEY NEED TO COORDINATE ON THAT. IT ALSO INCLUDES A NEW RESTROOM AND A JETTY NODE.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF AN ADA-ACCESSIBLE KAYAK LAUNCH THAT CAN BE USED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SO THIS WORK WAS ORIGINALLY BID THROUGH PACKAGE 3, AND WE ARE REBIDDING THAT WORK.

WITH TWO SEPARATE PACKAGES, 3A, WHICH IS THIS PACKAGE, AND THEN 3B, WHICH WILL BE BID LATER THIS YEAR, WITH THE GOAL OF TRYING TO GET MORE BIDDERS THAN WE HAD FOR PACKAGE 3.

THE PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE COUNCIL PRIORITY OF RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL AMENITIES. ENGINEERS' OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS $1,340,000. BID LETTING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 19TH.

AND THERE'S A FEW DEADLINES FOR THE CONTRACTOR IN HERE.

THE CHALLENGE COURSE. SITE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE BY NOVEMBER 30TH. THAT'S BECAUSE THAT NEEDS TO BE COORDINATED WITH THE OTHER CONTRACTOR.

SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION BY APRIL OF 2027. THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING BESIDES SODDING AND THE RESTROOM. AND THEN FINAL COMPLETION IN SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR. AND THEN AS NEEDED, A TRAIL DETOUR WILL BE PROVIDED AROUND THE LAKE.

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

ALL RIGHT, BEN, THANKS SO MUCH. THIS IS TIME AND A PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD. COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY? THANKS, MAYOR. JUST A QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING IN THIS. I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER TRULY KNOW THE IMPACT OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO USE OUR PARK SYSTEMS IN THIS WAY. THERE'S ALWAYS A HIGH... PRICE TAG TO THOSE THINGS, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND I LISTENED TO SOMEBODY RECENTLY TALK ABOUT AND SAY IN REFLECTION, LIKE, DON'T THEY SEE ME? AND I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS SEEN PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THIS INCREDIBLE PARK SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE. BUT I JUST FEEL SO RESOLVED KNOWING THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY SOON. AND JUST APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL IS PUTTING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. IF

[00:20:01]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THIS

[5. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Center Point Road Bridge Over CN Railroad Bridge Deck Overlay project (estimated cost is $632,000) (Doug Wilson). (Paving for Progress) CIP/DID #305161-02]

DOUG WILSON, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. DOUG WILSON. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES BRIDGE DECK PATCHING AND CONCRETE OVERLAY OF THE BRIDGE DECK, REPAIRS TO THE SUBSTRUCTURE OF THE BRIDGE, BRIDGE APPROACH PAVEMENT REPAIR, ALONG WITH GUARDRAIL REPLACEMENT.

THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS $632,000. BID OPENING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 19TH WITH CONSTRUCTION STARTING THIS FALL, POSSIBLY OR IN THE SPRING WITH COMPLETION IN THE SUMMER. OF 2027. A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING WAS HELD ON MARCH 31ST FOR THIS PROJECT. THE ROADWAY WILL REMAIN OPEN TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT CONSTRUCTION.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS, DOUG. IS THERE TIME OR 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? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER POE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. NUMBER SIX IS

[6. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Water System Variable Frequency Drive Replacements project (estimated cost is $2,692,000) (Casie Meyer). CIP/DID #6250155-02]

THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. CASEY MEYER WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES, OR VFDS, ON WATER PUMPS VARY THE AMOUNT OF FLOW BEING PRODUCED BY THE PUMP. THROUGHOUT THE CITY'S WATER SYSTEM, THERE ARE 14 PUMPS THAT HAVE VFDS THAT HAVE REACHED THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE AND ARE NO LONGER SUPPORTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. SIX VFDS AT THE J AVENUE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, THREE AT COLLECTORWELL NO. 6, AND FIVE AT THE 30TH STREET BOOSTER STATION NEED REPLACING.

THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $2,692,000. BIDS WILL BE OPENED ON AUGUST 26TH, AND CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2026 AND CONTINUE UNTIL JANUARY OF 2028. THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROJECT. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

THIS IS TIME TO PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? LET THE RECORD SHOW A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD. COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, THEN THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

SEVEN IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO

[7. A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the City Annex Phase 1 FF&E project (estimated cost is $315,000) (Jason Stancliffe). CIP/DID #PUR0726-010]

$15,000. JASON STANCLIFF IS HERE. JASON, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. JASON STANCLIFF, FACILITIES, HERE FOR THE ANNEX PHASE 1 FF&E PROJECT. WORK GENERALLY CONSISTS OF FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT FOR PHASE 1 OF THE ANNEX. BIDS WERE ISSUED ON JULY 29TH.

QUESTION DEADLINE WAS AUGUST 5TH. THE BIDS ARE DUE IN TOMORROW. ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $315,000, AND FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SERVICE RECOMMENDS ADOPTIONS OF PLANS SPECIFICATIONS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH. THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. DOES ANYONE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. LET THE RECORD SHOW PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN HELD WITH NO OBJECTIONS FOR THE RECORD. COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NOTHING THERE, THEN THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAGER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, WE HAVE

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

THE FIRST COMMENT PERIOD IS A CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT PERTAINING TO COUNCIL ACTIONS SET FOR TODAY. A SECOND PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD WILL COME AT THE END OF THE MEETING FOR RESIDENTS, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO SPEAK ON ISSUES THAT ARE GERMANE TO THE CITY BUT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE ON THE AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE BY PHONE OR EMAIL, BUT AT THIS TIME DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ARE HERE AS A COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO YOU. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL THE MATTERS I ADDRESSED PRIOR TO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TODAY APPLY TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS TOO.

SO A REMINDER TO STAY AT THE LECTERN. IF YOU HAVE DOCUMENTS YOU WISH TO SHARE, GET THEM TO THE OFFICER ON YOUR RIGHT. SHE WILL GET THEM TO US. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS YELLOW,

[00:25:01]

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TODD HENDERSON HERE FIRST TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 30.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TODD HENDERSON, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT BOND. AND MY...

VOICE MY PLAN TO VOTE FOR THIS BOND IN NOVEMBER. I HAVE LIVED AT MY HOME ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF CEDAR RAPIDS FOR 27 YEARS.

MY WIFE AND I ALSO OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS IN THAT LOCATION.

I PROUDLY SERVED ON THE CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 26 YEARS, RETIRING JUNE OF 2024.

I CONSIDER MYSELF BLESSED TO HAVE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY AND TO HAVE WORKED WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE BOND COVERS MANY CRITICAL NEEDS TO THE CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALL OF THEM WORTHY OF COMMENTING IN MY SUPPORT.

BUT THE ONE I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO WITH MY TIME IS THE FIRE STATIONS.

FIREFIGHTERS WORK A 24-HOUR SHIFT. THEY WORK EVERY THIRD DAY. SO BASIC MATH, A THIRD OF THEIR LIFE ON THEIR CAREER THEY SPEND AT A FIRE STATION.

I FEEL FORTUNATE THE LAST 10 YEARS. I SERVED AT STATION 07, WHICH IS ON 29TH STREET.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1999 AND HAS A VERY LARGE APPARATUS FLOOR THAT MAKES IT EASY TO MAINTAIN APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT. IT ALSO HAS A LARGE AREA FOR STORAGE OF BUNKER GEAR THAT WE USE ON THE FIRE SCENES AND A SEPARATE PLACE FOR A SHOWER DECON AND WASHING OF THIS GEAR, WHICH KEEPS... THE WORK AREA AND THE LIVING AREA SEPARATE, BUT NOT ALL STATIONS ARE LIKE THIS. THE BOND THAT WILL BE BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS IN NOVEMBER WILL HELP BRING THE SIX STATIONS THAT LACK THIS UP TO THAT SPEED.

THE TWO OF THE STATIONS, STATION TWO AND EIGHT, WILL BE MOVED. THOSE WILL HELP LOWER RESPONSE TIMES IN THAT AREA. AND WITH THE GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT WILL HELP LOWER THE RESPONSE TIMES FOR PEOPLE. STATIONS 5 AND 06, BOTH BUILT IN THE 50S, AND 4 AND 9S WILL BE RENOVATED TO GET THE SEPARATION FROM THE WORK AREA AND THE LIVING QUARTERS THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS DESERVE FOR THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND ALSO FOR THE UPKEEP OF THE EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS.

WHEN I WAS WORKING, I ALWAYS FELT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS, WHETHER OUT... AND ABOUT OR WHETHER THEM COMING INTO THE FIRE STATION TO THANK ME. I ALSO FELT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION THAT I WORKED FOR BECAUSE OF THE GREAT EQUIPMENT AND GEAR THAT I HAD. I KNOW THAT SUPPORT WILL BE THERE AGAIN IN NOVEMBER, AND I WILL DO WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP MAKE THIS A REALITY AS A CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M GOING TO NAIL THIS.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU.

AND YOU DID NAIL IT RIGHT AT ZERO THANK YOU. NEXT UP GREGORY SMITH HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 30.

GOOD AFTERNOON HONORABLE MAYOR GREG SMITH. I LIVE ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND AS YOU ALL KNOW RETIRED HERE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FIVE WEEKS AGO FROM THIS GREAT DEPARTMENT. I SPENT 32 YEARS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE LAST SEVEN AS THE FIRE CHIEF, AND I AM SPEAKING TODAY AS A CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

WITH MY CAREER, I'M INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH HAVING RESPONDED OUT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE STATIONS WHEN I WORKED ON THE STREETS, AND AS WELL AS VISITING THE STATIONS AND SEEING WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HOW THEY LIVE AND HOW THEY WORK WITHIN THEIR FIRE STATIONS.

THE BOND LANGUAGE BEFORE YOU ON ITEM 30 TODAY IS A CULMINATION OF MANY YEARS OF WORK PUT TOGETHER. WE HAVE CONDUCTED, WHILE I WAS FIRE CHIEF AND EVEN PRIOR TO BEING FIRE CHIEF, WE CONDUCTED STATION STUDIES, WE CONDUCTED MASTER OR STRATEGIC PLANS THAT HAD THE INPUT OF ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND STAFF,

[00:30:01]

SEEING THAT WE NEED TO UPGRADE OUR FACILITIES.

WE NEED TO NEED FOR A TRAINING CENTER, WHICH WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BOND VOTE, AND THAT WILL HELP MAINTAIN OUR INSURANCE SERVICES RATING OF A TWO, WHICH HELPS MAKE INSURANCE CHEAPER FOR THE BUSINESSES AND CITIZENS OF CEDAR RAPIDS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN TO DO LIVE FIRE TRAINING UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO FIND AN ACQUIRED STRUCTURE, BUT THOSE ARE BECOMING FEWER AND HARDER. DEFINED TO WHERE WE CAN CONDUCT ACTUAL LIVE FIRE IN THOSE SECONDLY AS TODD MENTIONED STATIONS FIVE AND SIX WERE BUILT IN 1957 THEY ARE AT THE END OF THEIR SERVICEABLE LIFE AS A FIRE STATION AND THE MODERN NEEDS OF THE FIRE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS REQUIRE THAT THAT WE HAVE UPDATED FIRE STATIONS THERE STATIONS 02, 4, 8, AND 9 WERE BUILT AS TEMPORARY FIRE STATIONS IN 1985 AND 86. THEY WERE ESTIMATED TO LAST FOR 25 YEARS. WE ARE NOW 40-PLUS YEARS INTO THE LIFE OF THOSE FIRE STATIONS, AND THEY WERE BUILT AS RESIDENTIAL STATIONS, AND SO NOW WE NEED PERMANENT, MORE COMMERCIAL STATIONS IN THOSE LOCATIONS AS WELL.

BY RELOCATING STATIONS 2 AND STATIONS 8, AS TODD HAD MENTIONED, THAT WILL HELP CAPTURE A HIGHER... PORTION OF THE POPULATION AS THE CITY GROWS TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE WEST SPECIFICALLY WITHIN A MILE AND A HALF OF THE OF A STATION AND THAT WILL IMPROVE THE CAPABILITIES AND THE RESPONSE TIMES OF OUR PERSONNEL TO THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF CEDAR RAPIDS FINALLY I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND OF COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO CHAMPION THE BOND AND I WILL BE VOTING FOR THE BOND AND I WILL BE AN ACTIVE CHAMPION FOR THIS BOND AS WE GO INTO NOVEMBER THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

KATHY POTTS, HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 10.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MADAM MAYOR, AND COUNCILMEMBERS.

COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER, COUNCILMEMBER OLSON, COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND, COUNCILMEMBER POE, COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY, COUNCILMEMBER DALE TODD, AND COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON.

I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU EACH, I'M COMING TO SPEAK FOR MY FRIEND GREG VAIL. HIS HOME IS ONE OF THE ONES YOU'RE VOTING FOR.

A FAIR MARKET VALUE OF GREG'S HOME IS $130,000 IS WHAT IT SAYS. THE ONLY THING THAT'S NOT FAIR IS GREG WAS NEVER GIVEN THE CHANCE TO OFFER HIS HOME FOR SALE.

HE NEVER HAD A CHANCE FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND SAY, WELL, I THINK YOUR PROPERTY'S WORTH THIS MUCH. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN A BIDDING WAR, BECAUSE FROM THE SECOND FLOOR YOU CAN SEE THE RIVER.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO PERHAPS HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO THAT, BUT HE'S NEVER BEEN ALLOWED THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE MOVED TO CEDAR RAPIDS IN 1999, AND OUR HOME WAS PART OF THE FLOOD IN 2008. I WOULD SAY, FORTUNATELY, WE JUST HAD THE BACKWATER FROM THE SEWAGE IN OUR BASEMENT.

BUT WE DID GET A LETTER FROM THE CITY OFFERING TO BUY OUR HOME. I SAID, NO, THANK YOU.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

BUT MY THING IS, OKAY, TODAY YOU EACH ARE GOING TO SAY, YOU PUT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE REMOVE THAT AND PERSONALLY SAY, YES, I'M OFFERING GREG $130,000 FOR HIS HOME.

DON'T HIDE BEHIND A CONSENT AGENDA.

THIS IS SOMEONE'S HOME. YOU KNOW, IT'S FRUSTRATING. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO BE.

YOU KNOW, LIKE, OH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WIN THIS. WE NEVER WERE GOING TO WIN IT.

BUT WHEN DO YOU QUIT? WHEN DO YOU GIVE UP ON A FRIEND? WHEN DO YOU DECIDE ENOUGH'S ENOUGH? WELL, YOU DON'T. AND I HAD A LOT OF THINGS I WANTED TO DO.

BUT MY FRIENDS, AJ AND GREG, ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. WE DON'T RUN IN THE SAME CIRCLES. THEY'VE BEEN IN MY HOME MAYBE A FEW TIMES BUT I KNOW THAT ONE DAY SOMEONE MIGHT COME TO ME AND SAY, THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU, AND I KNOW THAT I DID MY PART. SO I'M ASKING YOU, STAND UP, SHOW US YOU HAVE COURAGE FOR THE VOTES THAT YOU DO. I APPRECIATE IT, AND GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU, MS. POTTS, AND I WILL NOTE FOR COUNSEL THAT WE WILL BE PULLING THAT AGENDA FROM CONSENT WHEN WE GET TO THAT PART. SO THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, ANNA PATTY, HERE TO SPEAK ON 31A.

[00:35:08]

CSPS IS A CULTURAL ANCHOR IN THE HEART OF NUBO, AND OUR PROGRAMMING BRINGS PEOPLE INTO THE CORE OF CEDAR RAPIDS. PEOPLE COME NOT JUST TO SEE A SHOW, BUT TO SPEND AN EVENING HERE.

OUR AUDIENCES VISIT RESTAURANTS, BARS, HOTELS, AND OTHER BUSINESSES BEFORE AND AFTER EVENTS. WE CURRENTLY ATTRACT APPROXIMATELY 11,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY, AND OUR PROGRAMMING IS INTENTIONALLY BECOMING MORE REGIONAL IN ITS REACH.

OUR WORLD MUSIC SERIES HAS EXPANDED OUR AUDIENCES IN CULTURAL TOURISM, AND THIS FALL WE ARE LAUNCHING THE EMERGING ARTISTS SERIES, BRINGING RISING LOCAL ARTISTS TOGETHER WITH ESTABLISHED PERFORMERS.

FOR PERFORMANCES, MENTORSHIP, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE AREN'T STOPPING THERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS THE GATEWAY TO THE ARTS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE RENDERING WE BROUGHT WITH US TODAY. GATEWAY TO THE ARTS WILL TRANSFORM AN EXISTING SPACE AT CSPS INTO A COMMUNITY ARTS HUB BEGINNING THIS FALL. IT WILL OFFER VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOPS, MUSIC AND THEATER EDUCATION, ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS, YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO TEACH, COLLABORATE, AND SHARE THEIR WORK. OUR GOAL IN... IN YEAR ONE IS 25 TO 30 PROGRAMS AND AT LEAST 500 PARTICIPANTS WHILE CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES THAT CSPS ISN'T JUST ADDING EVENTS TO A CALENDAR, WE'RE EXPANDING THE WAYS PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE ARTS AND EXPANDING THE REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO CEDAR RAPIDS. AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX. WE UNDERSTAND THAT A PROPOSAL HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMITTEE.

WE DO RESPECT. WE ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A MORE TARGETED APPROACH TO THE APPROXIMATELY 1.6 MILLION IN NEW HOTEL MOTEL TAX REVENUE. RATHER THAN DISTRIBUTING ALL OF THAT NEW REVENUE UNIFORMLY, WE BELIEVE SOME OF IT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED BOTH CAPACITY FOR GROWTH AND A DIRECT CONNECTION TO TOURISM AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. CSPS HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT CAPACITY.

WE RECENTLY COMPLETED OUR $300,000 STATE-OF-THE-ART POWER AND PERFORMANCE CAMPAIGN. DEMONSTRATING SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE IN CSPS AND OUR FUTURE.

WE'VE INVESTED IN TECHNOLOGY AND THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE, INSTALLED OUR NEW MARQUEE SIGN, EXPANDED PROGRAMMING, STRENGTHENED FUNDRAISING, AND CONTINUED BUILDING TOWARD LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. SO OUR REQUEST ISN'T SIMPLY ABOUT FUNDING AN ORGANIZATION.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN GROWING CULTURAL DESTINATION, ONE THAT IS BRINGING ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES TO CEDAR RAPIDS, CREATING REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO STAY LONGER AND HELPING TO MAKE OUR CORE TOURISM DISTRICT MORE VIBRANT.

WE ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT CSPS IS A KEY PART OF THAT NEXT CHAPTER AND CONSIDER TARGETING THE ALLOCATION OF THE NEW HOTEL RENTAL TAX REVENUE THAT ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CSPS TO GROW. THANK YOU. NICK JELINEK, ITEM 31D.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. I'M NICK JELINEK.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW BOHEMIA CZECH VILLAGE GROUP.

SINCE WE SUBMITTED THIS OUR HOTEL MOTEL TAX APPLICATIONS WE'VE ALSO ADDED FIVE NEW MEMBERS TO OUR BOARD PETER DUREN WITH THE DUREN COMPANY COURTNEY WALTER WITH SOCO OUTFITTERS LYNN HANSEN WITH LOU'S DELI CRAIG JOSEPH, TRANSAMERICA, AND HEATHER SAMS FROM CSPS.

OUR GROUP IS A GROUP OF ENERGIZED BUSINESS OWNERS, PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH NON-PROFITS IN THE NEW BOHEMIAN CZECH VILLAGE DISTRICT TO PUSH ALONG THE ARTS AND THE CULTURE OF THAT DISTRICT.

THIS SATURDAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BLOCK PARTY ON 3RD STREET, SO WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE STREET DOWN THERE AND HAVE A GATHERING FOR EVERYBODY TO COME DOWN.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CAR SHOW IN THE MORNING, KIDS' EVENT IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THEN THE FUNK DADDIES WILL BE PLAYING AT NIGHT.

THIS IS ALL FOR THE BUSINESSES DOWN THERE. WE WANT EVERYBODY TO COME AND PATRONIZE THE BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT NEW BOHEMIA AND CZECH VILLAGE.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING TO REVAMP THE NEW BOHEMIA-CZECH VILLAGE TEAR-OFFS MAPS. THAT HAVEN'T BEEN UPDATED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE PARKING. WE KNOW WE HAVE A NEW PARKING LOT STUDY THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL. WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE PARKING WITH THEM SO THAT OUR QR CODE WILL SHOW PLACES THAT THEY CAN PARK FOR FREE AND FOR HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK DOWN THE ROAD.

EXPANSION ON OUR WEBSITE. SO WE CAN SHARE MORE EVENTS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES.

OUR WEBSITE IS GOING

[00:40:03]

IN ADDITION TO EXISTING EVENTS, OUR NEW EVENTS OF DISCUSSION IS A CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE WALK, HALLOWEEN DOG COSTUME PARADE, THE DISTRICT MEETUPS WITH THE NEW BOHEMIA CZECH VILLAGE SMID. AND MANY EVENTS AT THE NEW ROUNDHOUSE. OUR GROUP IS EXCITED TO WORK WITH ANY ORGANIZATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO BRING VISITORS AND GUESTS INTO OUR THRIVING TWO NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ECHO ELAM HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 10.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR REMOVING ITEM 10 FROM THE AGENDA, BUT I'M STILL GOING TO SAY WHAT I WROTE.

MY NAME IS ECHO, AND I LIVE ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE, CURRENTLY JUST OUTSIDE THE TIME CHECK AREA.

I WAS IN TIME CHECK UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY.

AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AJ AND GREG AS THEY KEEP FIGHTING THE HOME THEY'VE LIVED IN FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

I INITIALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOING RESEARCH INTO HOUSING PRICES IN CEDAR RAPIDS, FAIR MARKET VALUE, AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER FUN REAL ESTATE LAWS. AND TERMS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT A WEEK AGO. I WAS SETTING UP TO WRITE SOMETHING LONG-WINDED ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND THEN I WENT TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE TO RESEARCH THE POST-FLOOD PLAN, AND EVERYTHING I'D PLANNED TO SAY WENT OUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN WORDS AND DOCUMENTATION. UNDER THE FLOOD OF 2008 SECTION ON THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS WEBSITE, IT BRIEFLY EXPLAINS THE VOLUNTARY PROPERTY ACQUISITION PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BUYOUT PROGRAM. IT SPECIFICALLY STATES, AND I QUOTE FROM YOUR WEBSITE, THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM AND NO ONE IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE.

PROPERTY OWNERS MAY CHOOSE TO WITHDRAW FROM THE PROCESS AT ANY TIME BEFORE CLOSING.

TELLING HOMEOWNERS THAT THEY ARE FACING BEING FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOME WITH NO OTHER OPTIONS DOES NOT SOUND VOLUNTARY.

WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN THAT NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE AND THAT CONSENT IS MANDATORY.

YET I FEEL LIKE SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT CONSENT OBTAINED THROUGH COERCION IS NOT CONSENT. BUT BACK TO THE BUYOUT PROGRAM. IT INCLUDED THREE ZONES THAT WERE IMPACTED, CATEGORIZED BY THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE. THE GREENWAY AREA, THE CONSTRUCTION STUDY AREA, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AREA. YOUR WEBSITE ALSO HELPFULLY LISTS ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY AND BY ZONE. THE GREENWAY ZONE INITIALLY CONTAINED 192 PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE PROPOSED FLOOD MITIGATION PLANS AND THE RIVER. AJ AND GREG'S PROPERTY IS ONE OF THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE HERE THAT THIS WAS LISTED AS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, AND ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, PARCELS ACQUIRED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM MUST REMAIN OPEN SPACE FOREVER. YOU ARE SERIOUSLY ALL SITTING HERE TELLING PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN A HOME THAT THEY HAVE PUT LOVE, TIME, AND MONEY INTO THAT THEY NEED TO UPROOT THEIR LIVES SO YOU CAN DESTROY THEIR HOME FOR WHAT? FOR OPEN GREEN SPACE? THERE'S ALREADY PLENTY OF THAT. FOR NEW HOUSING, THAT SEEMS TO GO DIRECTLY AGAINST WHAT YOU SAY ON YOUR WEBSITE. HOW MANY OTHER FAMILIES WERE COERCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES JUST TO SEE THE LAND TURNED INTO CONDOS OR A CASINO? CEDAR RAPIDS IS NO LONGER AFFORDABLE FOR THE AVERAGE IOWAN, AND DEMANDING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY UPROOT THEIR LIVES FOR A SELECT FEW OTHERS' FINANCIAL GAIN SPEAKS LOUDLY TO WHAT THE CITY'S PRIORITIES ACTUALLY ARE. THE FEW DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY THE CITY SHOW A PATTERN OF PRESSURE BEING APPLIED, BUT WE HAVE YET TO SEE EVIDENCE OF WHAT THE HOMEOWNERS ARE REQUESTING, WHICH IS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO COME TO THE TABLE AND HAVE A TRUE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE BESIDES FORCING PARTICIPATION IN A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

LUCAS KENNEDY, HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BOND VOTE.

HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE SCRATCHINESS OF MY VOICE. IT'S MY BODY'S WAY OF LETTING ME KNOW THAT SWEET CORN IS STILL GETTING PULLED FROM THE GROUND.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS LUCAS KENNEDY, AND I'M AN ELECTED BOARD MEMBER. WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 11 CHAPTER, WHICH REPRESENTS THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THIS CITY, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS UNION AND ITS MEMBERS TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THE BOND PROPOSAL.

IN EXACTLY ONE YEAR, IT WILL BE 20 YEARS SINCE I ENTERED THE FIRE SERVICE, PERSONALLY, THAT'S COLLECTIVELY, THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE LIFE.

ONE THING HOLDS TRUE FOR BOTH THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THIS CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE

[00:45:01]

WE SEEK SHELTER IN THEM IN BETWEEN THE GROWING CALLS.

WE SHARE MEALS WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE DEBRIEF IN THESE STATIONS. WE CELEBRATE SUCCESSES AND ANALYZE THESE PERCEIVED FAILURES.

THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THIS CITY HAVE RECOGNIZED BOTH THE GROWTH AND FANTASTIC VIRTUES THAT... HAD TO BE ADMITTED AFTER EVERY DISASTER THAT YOU ALL AND WE ALL HAVE EVER BEEN A PART OF HERE. BUT WITH THAT AND THE EVER-EVOLVING CITY, THE INFRASTRUCTURE MUST ALSO GROW WITH IT. ALONG WITH BEING THANKFUL TO BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH YOU FOLKS TODAY, I'M ALSO THANKFUL FOR BEING ABLE TO SPEAK BEHIND TWO FIREFIGHTERS, CHIEF CRAIG SMITH, FIREFIGHTER TODD HENDERSON, WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE SPECIFICS ABOUT THIS BOND BECAUSE IT MEANS TWO OUT OF THE THREE PAGES I PREPPED FOR YOU TODAY I DON'T HAVE TO DISCUSS. I CAN SPEAK FROM THE HEART AND WITH THE NON-SPECIFICS HERE.

THE LOCAL 11 AND ITS MEMBERS HAVE SEEN WHAT'S BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS BOMB REQUEST AND THEY FERVENTLY SUPPORT IT. IT'S ADDING ACES TO THE CARDS IN THEIR HANDS.

TO NEVER HESITATE WHEN MECHANICAL ISSUES INEVITABLY ARISE BECAUSE THESE FIREFIGHTERS KNOW THAT THERE IS A BACKUP FLEET OF FIRE ENGINES WAITING TO RESPOND.

THE SECOND LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE NEEDS A TRAINING CENTER THAT REFLECTS THE SIZE AND THE CITY'S COMPLEXITY.

THE CITY KEEPS GROWING OUT AND GROWING UP. AND FOR THAT... MORE DIFFICULT DISCIPLINES NEED TO BE DONE.

THIS DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE ONE, A TRAINING FACILITY.

AND WITH ONE, WE CAN ACTUALLY KEEP UP WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. I SEE MY TIME'S RUNNING LOW HERE, SO I'LL SIMPLY SAY THIS.

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY A TOPIC LIKE THIS COMES UP THAT BOTH ADVOCATES FOR THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS ITS FIREFIGHTERS, WHICH IS WHY IT'S BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. THE LOCAL 11 THANKS YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I THANK YOU AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND SEND THIS BOND OF VOTE. THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL 11, ALSO THANK YOU AND WILL SUPPORT THIS.

THANK YOU. MELISSA DUFFIELD, ITEM NUMBER 10.

LET'S GET ONE FICTION IMMEDIATELY REMOVED, AND I'M GETTING TIRED OF YOU GUYS PUBLICLY STATING IT WAS VOLUNTARY BY THE FAMILY. AS KATHY ALREADY STATED. THIS ACQUISITION IS NOT VOLUNTARY.

THE OWNERS DO NOT WANT TO SELL, AND THIS CITY HAS ALREADY A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF MOVING ALONG WITH ATTEMPTED TARGETING AND PURCHASING OF PROPERTIES OF PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES THAT DO NOT WANT TO SELL THEM. SO EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD FOR ON THIS PROPERTY. FEDERAL LAW DOES ACTUALLY STATE ON 44 CFR 8011 THAT FEMA OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION PROGRESS BREAD.

PROJECTS, PARDON ME, REQUIRE VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY FOR OPEN SPACE PURPOSE WHEN NEGOTIATIONS FAIL. YOU GUYS HAVE HISTORICAL DATA TO PROVE THAT YOU'RE ALREADY IN VIOLATION OF THAT JUST BY PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA TODAY. SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT.

I WANT YOU TO, NUMBER ONE, UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T REMOVE ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE POSTED PUBLICLY ONLINE, AS THAT YOUNG LADY JUST POINTED OUT.

IF YOU DO SO, IT'S GOING TO BE CONSIDERED AS OBSTRUCTION AND YOU TRYING TO HIDE EVIDENCE WHEN IT REGARDS ANY OF THESE FEDERAL FUNDING PROPERTIES OR ANY PARCEL THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

AND EXPLAIN, I WANT YOU TO DO, HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEIR HOUSES CANNOT REMAIN WHILE THE SAME ERA IS NOW SURROUNDED BY MASSIVE FLOOD CONTROL CONSTRUCTION, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING CASINO BANKS AND CONDOMINIUMS, AND YOU DO NOT GET TO APPLY ONE SET OF RULES FOR ORDINARY HOMEOWNERS AND THEN MEANWHILE APPLY A DIFFERENT.

AGENDA AND ALLOWANCE FOR POWERFUL DEVELOPMENT INTEREST AND SOME OF THEM AS YOU'VE ALREADY BRAGGED VANORNY ARE CONNECTED TO A FRIEND OF YOURS AND THE CITY AS WELL WE HAVE YOU MAYOR TEXTING ONE OF THEM TO TARGET ME DO NOT HIDE BEHIND HIDE ANY THREE-DAY NOTICES THAT YOUR GUYS ARE GOING TO BE PUT ON NOTICE TODAY THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE 14 DAYS AND WHEN YOU GUYS SET A PRICE FOR A PROPERTY THAT YOU'RE ACQUIRING YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO TO A JURY AND SO THIS FAMILY IS GOING TO SUE YOU IF YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, AND YOU WILL BE HELD PERSONALLY LIABLE.

THERE ARE ALSO IOWA CODE REGARDING EMINENT DOMAIN, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIFIC AUTHORITY.

SO PUTTING CASINOS OR WANTING A DOG PARK, MAYOR, OR A PARKING LOT DOES NOT FALL UNDER THAT. AND YOU GUYS HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL SITTING UP HERE AND ACTUAL ATTORNEYS, SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYWHERE TO HIDE ON THAT. THERE ARE YEARS OF DOCUMENTS AND RECORDINGS OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO SINCE 2008. THERE ARE 2,000 SIGNATURES AGAINST YOU REMOVING THIS FAMILY FROM THEIR HOME, AND THE RECORDS NEED TO BE TRACED PARCEL BY PARCEL, BUT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING THAT. SO TODAY I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A FOIA REQUEST, CHAVEZ. I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU START ANSWERING THEM BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SUE YOU GUYS FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, AND YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY WHILE YOU CLAIM THAT YOU'RE TRANSPARENT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, GUYS, WE'RE GETTING TIRED OF IT, AND WE HAVE ENOUGH FOLLOWING.

[00:50:01]

TRANSPARENCY IS THE PROBLEM, AND YOUR CRIMINAL CONDUCT IS THE PROBLEM, AND YOUR BACKDOOR DEALS ARE THE PROBLEM. AND WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING THE EVIDENCE FOR A LONG TIME, SO WHAT YOU GUYS SEND ME OR YOU'RE NOT WANTING TO SEND ME IS BECAUSE YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT YOU POSTED ONLINE AND WHAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN DOING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND WE ALREADY HAVE INFORMANTS WITHIN YOUR SYSTEM. SO CONGRATS. I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU LEAVE THIS FAMILY ALONE AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT DOES NOT WANT TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY TO YOU.

CECILIA RAKUSEK, HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 31A.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR O'DONNELL AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HOTEL MOTEL, BUT I'M REALLY HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A DESTINATION PLACE.

YOU KNOW, CEDAR RAPIDS, I KEPT SAYING EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME, IS A GEM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WAIVER MUSEUM HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, VISITORS LAST YEAR, OVER 40,000 FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 40 COUNTRIES.

AND THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PROMOTE. WE HAVE NUBO, WE HAVE CZECH VILLAGE. AND WE HAVE THE NATIONAL CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSEUM AND LIBRARY, THE ONLY ONE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE ONLY CLOCK TOWER, THE ONLY CLOCK TOWER IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. WE'RE TRYING TO ESTIMATE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STOPPING TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT I THINK IT'LL JUST GROW AND GROW AND GROW.

THE OTHER DAY I WAS HERE, SUNDAY BY CHANCE, AND STANDING OUT THERE WAS A COUPLE FROM MISSISSIPPI, A COUPLE FROM COLORADO, AND A COUPLE FROM NEW JERSEY.

AND THEY WERE JUST, THEY SAW THE SIGN, SO THEY PULLED IN. AND THEY WANTED TO SEE THE CLOCK TOWER. THE INTERESTING THING IS I FOUND OUT THAT IN LEXI, MISSISSIPPI, THEY HAVE A GOLF TOURNAMENT CALLED THE SLAVIC INTERNATIONAL INVITE. SO NOW I'VE GOT TO FIND MORE ABOUT THAT.

BUT AGAIN, CLEARLY YOU'VE DONE WITH THE HOTEL AND MOTEL, AND IT'S INVALUABLE TO THE NONPROFITS.

BUT IF WE LOOK AT THAT CZECH VILLAGE, UNUBO, AND THE MUSEUM, I CALL THAT THE TRIAD, AND I'M PART OF THEIR GROUP, IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CEDAR RAPIDS HAS THAT NOBODY ELSE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS. WE NEED TO PRESERVE IT, WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED, AND WE NEED TO REALLY PROMOTE IT, BECAUSE THANKS TO THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX, WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, OUR NON-FOR-PROFITS GOING.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE HAVE, AND WHERE WE'RE GOING, BECAUSE WE HAVE A GEM HERE WITH THOSE THREE PARTS THAT NOBODY ELSE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS.

I WAS JUST, AND MY LAST THING I'M GOING TO SAY, I WAS IN WILBUR, NEBRASKA TWO WEEKS AGO FOR THEIR FESTIVAL.

POPULATION, 1,844 PEOPLE.

THEY HAD 45,000 PEOPLE. I WAS WITH THE MAYOR, AND HE SAID, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE AT 45,000. WE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, I KNOW, CAN BEAT THAT. AND SO WITH YOUR HOTEL, MOTEL TAX APPROVAL, WITH OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, OUR NON-PROFITS, AND OTHERS, WE CAN DO IT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO HELP US PROMOTE THIS CULTURAL GEM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE MIDWEST. I'M ASKED ALWAYS, WHY IS IT IN CEDAR RAPIDS? YOU KNOW WHAT I SAY NOW? BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY AND MOST APPROPRIATE PLACE IT SHOULD BE. WE'RE THE CENTER OF THE UNITED STATES, JUST LIKE THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA ARE THE CENTER OF AMERICA. SO WE NEED TO PROMOTE IT. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO POSSIBLY SUPPORT AS MUCH OF THE HOTEL MOTEL THAT WE CAN TO OUR COLLEAGUES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE OUT OUR VERY FIRST PUBLIC

[MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA]

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM ITEM 20A. OKAY.

OKAY. OH, GOT IT.

OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND? I RECUSE MYSELF ON 31C. 31C.

OKAY. COUNCILOR OLSON.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY RECUSAL RELATES TO ALSO 31, WHICH IS 31B.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, THAT BRINGS US FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED BY TODD, SECONDED BY VANORNY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THAT BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. AND AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER 10 OFF THE CONSENT

[00:55:02]

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE

[10. Resolution accepting the established fair market value in the amount of $130,000 for the total acquisition of property at 1426 1st Street NW, owned by Gregory Vail, in connection with the Cedar River Flood Control System project. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3311200-00]

DIRECTOR FALL, CAN YOU JUST BRING US UP TO SPEED? MAKE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS ON.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. BRENNA FALL, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. SO I DID PREPARE A FEW SLIDES TO JUST GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THIS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY...

THIS IS A DEEPLY PERSONAL SITUATION, AND YET I HAVE TO SHARE THE PROCESS. SO A LOT OF MY REMARKS WILL SEEM TECHNICAL, AND THEY ARE.

IT'S PROCESS-DRIVEN, EVEN THOUGH MYSELF, MY TEAM, THE CITY TEAM ARE ALL FULLY AWARE THAT THIS IS PERSONAL, HAS BEEN PERSONAL FOR THE COMMUNITY REALLY SINCE 08. AND SO WE'LL JUST KICK IT OFF STARTING.

WITH THE BEGINNING, RIGHT? 2008, WE ALL KNOW THE IMPACTS OF THE FLOOD AT THAT TIME, AND IT WAS DEVASTATING FOR MANY, AND YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME THE RIVER RISES NOW TODAY, WE STILL GET ANXIOUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COULD IT BE THIS AGAIN? AND WE'RE LUCKY IT HASN'T BEEN, BUT AS WE WATCH THE WEATHER REPORTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WEATHER CONTINUES TO BE UNEXPECTED AND EXTREME AND MORE AND MORE EXTREME, AND WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED. AND SO BACK IN 2008, VERY QUICKLY AFTER THE FLOOD HIT, COMMUNITY MEETINGS STARTED.

THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER.

THE CITY REACHED OUT.

THEY TALKED TO RESIDENTS.

THEY TALKED TO BUSINESSES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PLANNING AND WITHIN THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKS IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE CHARGE AND START PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

SO IN 2008 BY NOVEMBER THE GENERAL ALIGNMENT OF THE SYSTEM HAD ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND ADOPTED SO THAT WAY THE CITY COULD MOVE FORWARD AND START THE START THE PROCESS. AT THAT TIME AS WAS MENTIONED THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY BUYOUT. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, THE CITY COULD ASSIST RESIDENTS STARTING TO REBUILD. AND SO IT WAS VOLUNTARY AT THAT TIME. IT WAS AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM JUST FOR THAT PURPOSE TO HELP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DID TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND DURING THE TIME BETWEEN 2008, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE TIMELINE. BETWEEN 2008 AND 2015, THE CITY CONTINUED TO PLAN AND ENGINEER AND DEVELOP AND WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS, WHETHER THAT'S COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CONSULTANTS, OR OTHER AGENCIES.

TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2015. IN 2015, THAT PLAN REALLY, REALLY FORMALIZED THE SYSTEM, HELPED US DESIGN IT, HELPED US PERMIT IT, PUT FORTH A CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCING AND PHASING, AND ALSO INCLUDED THE ACQUISITION POLICY. SO IN THAT PLAN IN 2015, IT IDENTIFIED PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR ACQUISITION IN ORDER TO BUILD THE SYSTEM AND GET IT CERTIFIED.

THE CERTIFICATION OF THE SYSTEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WILL ALLOW THE FLOOD INSURANCE CHANGES THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO YOU CAN SEE AGAIN.

THE PROCESS OF IT, THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED, AND THEN THE 2015 PLAN IDENTIFIED THOSE PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ACTUALLY DESIGN, PERMIT, BUILD, AND THEN CERTIFY THE SYSTEM.

SO SINCE 2015, THE LAST 10, 11 YEARS, WE HAVE FOLLOWED THAT PLAN

[01:00:01]

WE HAVE A FEW REMAINING PROPERTIES WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

SO AGAIN THIS HAS BEEN A VERY LONG PROCESS YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S TAKEN YEARS WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM YET WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND CONTINUE TO SEE MORE AND MORE CONSTRUCTION EVERY YEAR. OUR ACQUISITION TIMELINES FOR PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN TIED TO THE DESIGN CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES FOR THINGS. AND THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE YEARS SINCE 2008, EARLY ACQUISITION HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN OPTION.

AND WE HAVE OFFERED THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO PROPERTY OWNERS. AND REALLY NOW WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE TO CONTINUE TO CONSTRUCT THE SYSTEM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A COUPLE OF THE PROPERTIES.

SO THE PARCEL ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY IS SHOWN THERE, CIRCLED IN YELLOW. AND WE CANNOT LEAVE THAT HOME THERE UNOCCUPIED AND BUILD THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM.

SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AND WE ARE LOOKING TO START.

CONSTRUCTION THROUGH THAT AREA IN 2028 LIKELY, NO SOONER THAN THAT, COULD BE 2029. AND YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL, WHY NOW? AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME, AND WE WANT TO AFFORD PROPERTY OWNERS THE TIME THAT THEY NEED. AND SO WE DON'T MEAN TO RUSH ANYBODY. WE JUST NEED TO START THE PROCESS SO THAT WHEN WE ARE READY TO CONSTRUCT. WE CAN WE CAN DO THAT.

SO THIS IS THE TIMELINE OF WHAT WE HAVE SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER WE HAD SENT THE EARLY ACQUISITION LETTERS BACK IN 2017 AND 18 SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST MASTER PLAN WAS ADOPTED AND THEN WE HELD OFF WE DIDN'T CONTACT THEM FOR A WHILE AS WE WORKED ON ACQUISITIONS IN OTHER PLACES AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN. AND SO THEN THIS PAST FALL IS WHEN WE STARTED THE PROCESS AGAIN, AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO A CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE IN 2028 OR 29.

BUT KNOWING THAT WE WE NEED TO HAVE THE TIME FOR THE PROCESS AND FOR EVERYTHING TO OCCUR.

SO WITH THIS ACTION TODAY, WE'RE REALLY JUST SETTING THE FAIR MARKET VALUE. WE HAD TO ORDER AN APPRAISAL. THE APPRAISAL CAME BACK, AND AT THIS POINT... IT'S JUST ESTABLISHING THE FAIR MARKET VALUE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER AND WANT TO MEET WITH THEM AND DISCUSS ALL THE OPTIONS AND ALL THE ASSISTANCE THAT'S AVAILABLE.

SO NOT ONLY IS THERE THE PURCHASE OFFER, BUT THEN FURTHER DOWN IN THE PROCESS, WE DO OFFER RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.

MOVING COSTS ARE REIMBURSED.

AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S A LONG PROCESS. AND THIS IS JUST REALLY THE FIRST TECHNICAL STEP IN THAT.

AND AGAIN, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH A PROPERTY OWNER. SO WE WOULD CONTINUE ON THAT PATH, EVEN THOUGH THIS TECHNICALLY IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCESS.

SO THE NEXT STEPS ON COUNCIL'S AGENDA TODAY IS...

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAT FAIR MARKET VALUE BASED ON THE APPRAISAL THAT WAS DONE BY THE INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY APPRAISER. IF THAT IS APPROVED TODAY, THE CASE WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE LANE COUNTY COMPENSATION COMMISSION.

WE EXPECT JUST BASED ON THE TIMING OF THEIR SCHEDULE THAT THAT HEARING COULD OCCUR IN NOVEMBER,

[01:05:04]

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS, BUT OTHERWISE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.

OKAY.

COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER... NO, GO AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER MAIER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, BRENNA. THAT WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE OF YOUR SLIDES SAID THE CITY CAN'T LEAVE A RESIDENCE BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM. WHY IS THAT? FEMA WOULD NOT CERTIFY THE SYSTEM IF THERE IS ANY OCCUPIED INHABITANTS ON THE WET SIDE OF THE SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE AT RISK. OKAY, SO THANKS FOR CLARIFYING. THAT'S NOT A DECISION THAT WE'RE MAKING, BUT IT'S... WHAT FEMA HAS INSTRUCTED US TO DO. AND I'M ASSUMING, I MEAN, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT I'M ASSUMING WE CAN'T MOVE THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM CLOSER TO THE RIVER.

WELL, IS IT FEASIBLE OR POSSIBLE TO MOVE THAT FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM CLOSER TO THE RIVER? WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT.

IT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT SYSTEM. THE PLAN ADOPTED SINCE 2015 BECAUSE IT'S ALLOWED US TO WORK WITH THE DNR TO PERMIT ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE CONSTRUCTED SO FAR. BECAUSE WHAT THEY REQUIRE IS THAT WE CERTIFY A NO-RISE SITUATION.

SO WE CAN'T BUILD ANYTHING IN THE FLOODWAY THAT WOULD INCREASE FLOODING UPSTREAM.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CONSTRAINTS OF THAT AND JUST THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RIVER IN GENERAL.

MY LAST QUESTION RELATES TO A COMMENT THAT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID, AND IT RELATED TO CFR VERBIAGE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW EMINENT DOMAIN TO TAKE OVER A PRIVATE RESIDENCE TO BE USED FOR PUBLIC. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT OR IF LEGAL IS FAMILIAR WITH THAT OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON IF NO ONE HAS.

ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT TODAY? WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I THINK, WITH LEGAL.

FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE CITY, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PROVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

AND CERTAINLY IF WE WERE JUST LOOKING FOR GREEN SPACE, WE WOULDN'T DO THAT. THE PUBLIC PURPOSE HERE IS THE COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM AND PROTECTION OF THE CITY IN THAT REGARD. THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, THOUGH, WHAT YOU SAID. I MEAN, THIS, IT CAN BE CONFUSING, I THINK. TO ME AS WELL, WHEN YOU SEE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT THERE WILL BE NOTHING ON THIS LAND? RIGHT, RIGHT. YEAH, THAT IS CONFUSING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, FOR SURE. AND SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT ALL THE TIME, I MEAN, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING BACK INTO RECORDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW, YOU KNOW, HOW WAS THE PROPERTY PURCHASED AND HOW CAN IT BE DEVELOPED AGAIN OR NOT. ANY PROPERTY THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE WET, WE CALL IT THE WET SIDE OR THE RIVER SIDE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM WHEN IT'S DONE CANNOT BE DEVELOPED.

SO WE CAN'T PUT ANYTHING NEW THERE THAT WOULD IMPEDE DRAINAGE OR WOULD PUT LIFE AT RISK OF FLOODING. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

COUNCILMAN OLSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

WE'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN WHEN THEY CLOSE. I THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS. SO IF I UNDERSTOOD YOUR COMMENTS TO BE CORRECT, THE CRITICAL... POINT FOR OUR FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM IS WHEN WE GET TO THAT PHASE IN 28 OR 29. SO AS I SORT OF INTERPRETED THAT, IF WE CAN STRIKE A DEAL WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, CAN THEY STAY UNTIL WE GET TO THAT POINT AND STILL LIVE IN THE HOUSE EVEN THOUGH WE'VE STRUCK A DEAL TO BUY? WE WOULD DEFINITELY DISCUSS THAT WITH THEM, YES, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST ON DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.

[01:10:02]

UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, APPRAISERS ARE LOOKING AT THE HOUSE. THEY KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS THERE, AND A LOT OF TIMES THEIR VALUES ARE LOW. AND SO THE ISSUE RELATES TO WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THESE WHERE THE FINAL SALE PRICE PLUS THE RELOCATION BENEFITS ARE HIGHER THAN THIS. IF I WOULD LOOK BACK ON SOME OF THOSE, THERE WAS QUITE A FEW. SO THE GOAL IS TO SIT DOWN AND TRY TO COME UP WITH. THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT WE ALL FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH TO BENEFIT THE PROPERTY OWNER AND TO ALLOW US TO FINISH THAT FLOOD WALL SYSTEM AND PLUS TIME. SO I THINK THAT'S ALL THIS DOES IS WE'RE MEETING THE REQUIREMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR THIS M&O DOMAIN PROCESS.

THAT IS NOT OUR GOAL. IT'S TO STRIKE A DEAL. RIGHT, RIGHT. AND SO I THINK THE ISSUE THAT I JUST WANT TO REINFORCE IS THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME TO NEGOTIATE. AND SO JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER THERE NECESSARILY DOES NOT MEAN THAT'S THE NUMBER. AND SO I JUST WANTED, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE WATCHED IN SOME OF THESE. AND SO WE JUST NEED TO GET TO THIS STEP BECAUSE WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT IN 28 OR 29 BY FEMA THAT WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT AND WE'LL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. AND I'D RATHER SEE TIME FOR BOTH PARTIES TO WORK.

THAT'S A PERSONAL OPINION OF WHAT I'VE WATCHED, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THAT. SO THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY. YEAH, THANKS, MAYOR.

BRENNA, SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T HAVE A CERTIFIED PROJECT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN MORE SPECIFICALLY? IF WE DON'T HAVE A CERTIFIED SYSTEM, THEN FEMA DOESN'T BASICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE IT FOR FLOOD INSURANCE PURPOSES.

SO IF THE SYSTEM IS NOT CERTIFIED, THAT MEANS THAT ANYBODY THAT IS ON THE DRY SIDE OF THE SYSTEM, ON THE PROTECTED SIDE OF THE SYSTEM, THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE RATES...

STAY HIGH AS IF THE SYSTEM WAS NOT THERE. OKAY, THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIG GOALS, AND CERTAINLY ON THE DAY AFTER THE SIX-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR DERECHO, SO NEARLY HALF MY LIFE, AND THERE CERTAINLY WERE FLOODS BEFORE 2008, BUT SO MUCH OF OUR STORY IS ABOUT RESILIENCE AND THE TRAUMA OF, YOU KNOW, ONE COMPOUNDING NATURAL DISASTER. SOME OF THE U.S. IS WORSE, AND CERTAINLY THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COSTLY. YOU KNOW, AFTER ANOTHER. AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT. MY FAMILY ALWAYS LIVED UP, YOU KNOW, ABOVE, BUT WE WATCHED OUR NEIGHBORS JUST DOWN THE STREET THAT WERE DEEPLY IMPACTED. AND CERTAINLY, I REMEMBER A LOT OF MY CHILDHOOD, YOU KNOW, SCOOPING WATER OUT OF THE BASEMENT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I SIT HERE AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE AT THIS VERY DAIS WHOSE FAMILIES WERE DEEPLY, TRAUMATICALLY IMPACTED AS WELL. AND SO THIS IS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS ON THIS DAIS WITH ME WHO COMES TO ANY DECISION LIGHTLY BECAUSE THESE ARE INCREDIBLY PERSONAL STORIES WHERE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN RELOCATED.

WE'VE TRIED TO MAINTAIN AS MANY FAMILIES IN CEDAR RAPIDS AS POSSIBLE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THESE HORRIFIC STORMS, HAVE BEEN DEEPLY AND GENERATIONALLY IMPACTED.

WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT SOME FIGURES HERE, THOUGH, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION TO EITHER RELOCATE THIS HOME, TO KEEP IT AS IS AND OCCUPIED. SO WITH THAT, I THINK... WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO, OTHER THAN HONORING THE LIFE THAT LIVED THERE, WHILE THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORS HAVE RELOCATED OR MOVED OVER TIME, IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS FAIR. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO FURTHER IMPACT THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE REDUCED, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN, FOR DECADES, PAYING SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH FLOOD INSURANCE. THAT WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY EVERY YEAR THROUGH MANY CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS FOUGHT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN THEIR HOMES AND BE PROTECTED FROM THE OTHER STORMS THAT THEY'VE HAD TO MANAGE.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, I DO THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS. IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC HOME AND TO SEE THAT THE CITY ASSESSOR, OR THE COUNTY ASSESSOR RATHER, HAS IT LISTED AT ABOUT 780 SQUARE FEET. THAT SEEMS A LITTLE LOW FOR ME, BUT PERHAPS THERE ARE SOME ROOMS THAT ARE NOT FACTORED INTO THAT, THAT ARE NOT HABITABLE. I'M NOT SURE.

USING THOSE FIGURES, THE AVERAGE PRICE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, YOU KNOW, OF THAT IS ABOUT $158 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR ANY HOMES, WHICH WOULD VALUE THIS HOME AT $124,800. THE AVERAGE RANGE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES FROM 2006. TO PRESENT

[01:15:01]

I SAW THAT THE AVERAGE HOME PRICE FOR ABOUT, AGAIN, USING THESE FACTS THAT ARE ON THERE, 780 SQUARE FEET IN CEDAR RAPIDS IS ABOUT $100,000 TO $145,000. SO AS WE LOOK AT THIS, WHILE THIS IS IN THAT GENERAL RANGE, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S THE TRUE VALUE OF HAVING TO COMPLETELY START OVER, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS 18 YEARS LATER. A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DID NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE RESILIENCY OR ENDURANCE TO STAY AS LONG AS THIS FAMILY.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THE, I THINK, TO THE ONGOING TRAUMA THAT THESE EVENTS HAVE IN OUR LIVES AND TO TRY AND FIND WHAT IS REASONABLE FOR THEM TO FIND.

WHERE HOME WILL BE NEXT, HOPEFULLY HERE, BUT IN A PLACE THAT THEY WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH AS WELL.

AND IT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY A MECHANICAL CALCULATION LIKE THIS. SO THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. OH, COUNCILMEMBER TODD. I'D JUST LIKE TO SORT OF PIGGYBACK ON COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY'S COMMENTS. AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THESE COMMENTS AREN'T NECESSARILY...

FOR THIS COUNCIL, BUT FOR THE COUNCILS THAT CAME BEFORE US.

AND I WANT TO SORT OF HELP CORRECT THE NARRATIVE OUT THERE THAT THIS COUNCIL'S A NON-COMPASSIONATE, GRUBBING, EMINENT DOMAIN MACHINE THAT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. I WAS INVOLVED IN THE FIRST LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX INITIATIVE WITH GARY FICKEN IN 2009 THAT PASSED. AND THERE WERE TWO MORE CONSECUTIVE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX INITIATIVES THAT DID NOT PASS. ONE LOST BY ABOUT 600 VOTES, ONE LOST BY MAYBE EVEN LESS THAN THAT.

AND WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL HAS SPENT...

SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME PUTTING TOGETHER A FINANCING MECHANISM TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXCESS COST TO THE TUNE OF MAYBE $300 MILLION THAT WE'VE HAD TO PAY BASED ON INFLATION, DELAYS, INTEREST, CONSTRUCTION COSTS. THOSE COSTS... THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN BORN ON THE BACK OF TAXPAYERS HERE AND CERTAINLY SYMPATHETIC. ALL ALONG, WE'VE MADE SURE THAT ROB AND YOUR TEAM HAVE TRIED TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. WE JUST DIDN'T WAKE UP AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TODAY. AND ONE OF THE REALITIES IS YOU CANNOT GO OVER THERE AND NOT SEE CONSTRUCTION. IT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR 10, 15 YEARS.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE 95% OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS ALREADY BEEN REMOVED.

FROM THAT AREA. SO IN TERMS OF SERVICING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THOSE ARE COSTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR. BUT I RESPECT THE PROCESS AND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE COSTS HAVE BEEN ONGOING. AND THOSE COSTS ARE BORNE BY THE TAXPAYERS. AND THEY ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE PAY VERSUS THE GEO BONDS VERSUS THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX.

IF THOSE HAD PASSED, I REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED AGAINST THAT INITIATIVE.

TIME AT LOSS, THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO COME BACK AND HELP US FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW TO PAY FOR IT. AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM SINCE. AND SO, SO WITH THAT, I'LL BE SUPPORTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS. I'LL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS, THIS EFFORT. COUNCILMEMBER POE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. BRENNA AND COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

[01:20:02]

DISASTERS ARE PERSONAL AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT MY FAMILY HOME OF OVER 80 YEARS WAS FLOOD IMPACTED. I LOST MY FAMILY HOME. MY BROTHER HAD TO SELL IT AND IT'S EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE AT THE DIOCESE. DOESN'T HAVE EMPATHY FOR WHAT THE FAMILIES, NOT JUST THIS FAMILY, BUT EVERY FAMILY IN TIME CHECK HAD TO GO THROUGH. WE LOST A LOT.

WE LOST FAMILY. WE LOST NEIGHBORS, KIDS WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH, KIDS WE WENT TO KINDERGARTEN WITH. IT IS EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL. AND I WISH THE FLOOD WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. IT'S NOT THE COUNCIL'S FAULT.

I WISH THE FLOOD WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT IT DID AND WE ARE LEFT WITH THE WE'RE LEFT WITH PICKING UP THE PIECES AND PROTECTING THE REST OF THE CITY AND THAT'S OUR JOB THANK YOU MAYOR OKAY ANYONE ELSE OKAY SO WE DO HAVE TO VOTE WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS BEFORE WE DO THAT THOUGH I DO WANT TO JUST EXPRESS WHAT MIGHT BE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S UNUSUAL OR NOT BUT GRATITUDE TO THE PEOPLE WHO CALLED, WROTE, SIGNED A PETITION FOR YOUR FRIENDS IN SUPPORT OF YOUR FAMILY, WORDS LIKE PUBLIC GOOD AND FLOOD PROTECTION PROBABLY DON'T MEAN A WHOLE LOT TO FAMILIES LIKE AJ'S THAT ARE LIVING THROUGH THIS RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A CITY NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AND THAT'S OUR CITY'S SAFER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, 1,400 HOMES ARE GONE. THERE WAS A SACRIFICE BY PLENTY OF PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY IS SAFE, AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT. I KNOW WHY YOU SEE CASINOS AND TOWNHOMES AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RIVER CAN MAKE IT REALLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND, AND BRENNA, I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING FOR THAT, THAT THIS LAND IS ACQUIRED NOT FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.

THERE WON'T BE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT HERE. THIS IS LITERALLY BECAUSE THE PORTION OF THE RIVER NEEDS TO BE ALLOWED DURING HIGH WATER. IT NEEDS ROOM. THE FLOOD SYSTEM CANNOT LEGALLY HAVE RESIDENTS PROTECTED ON THE SIDE OF THAT. THAT LAND IS GOING TO REMAIN OPEN. SO ANY PUBLIC SPACES OR AMENITIES THAT ULTIMATELY EXIST THERE WILL HAVE TO BE FLOOD COMPATIBLE.

SO TO THE PEOPLE WHO REACHED OUT, TO THE FAMILIES AFFECTED HERE, ALL OF THEM, THANK YOU.

WE BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT COMPLETING THIS FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T HAVE EMPATHY FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE DECISION. THOSE TWO THINGS CAN EXIST AT ONE TIME. GRATEFUL TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR RECOGNIZING ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN WITH THAT, I WILL NEED TO TAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

SO MOVED. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL COUNCILMEMBERS IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

[28. Report on bids for the 4th Avenue SW Gatewell project (estimated cost is $390,000) (Ben Worrell). CIP/DID #675005-02]

THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $390,000. BEN WORRELL IS HERE. BEN, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS PROJECT IS...

GO AHEAD, BEN.

THIS PROJECT IS...

FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A GATE WELL STRUCTURE THAT WILL BE INSTALLED ON A STORM SEWER OUT TO THE RIVER. THE INTENT OF THE GATE WELL IS TO PREVENT BACKFLOW FROM THE RIVER DURING A RIVER FLOODING EVENT.

AND THE GATE WILL BE ABLE TO BE OPERATED FROM THE SURFACE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO DOWN WITH PLUGS. AND SO IT'LL HAVE LESS IMPACT ON MCGRATH AMPHITHEATER DURING HIGH WATER EVENTS. PROJECT WAS COORDINATED WITH VENUE WORKS AND THE SCHEDULE FOR EVENTS AT MCGRATH AMPHITHEATER.

PROJECT BID ON AUGUST 5TH, WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS RANGING FROM $533,209.80 TO $683,955.55. LOW BIDDER WAS CHIG FRY EXCAVATING. THE BIDS DID COME IN OVER THE ESTIMATE. THIS WAS LARGELY DUE TO THE BOX BEING OVER THE ESTIMATE, BUT WE DID RECEIVE A FEW BIDS AND WE'RE CONFIDENT IN THE LOW BIDDER'S EXPERIENCE AND WE RECOMMEND.

[01:25:02]

[29. Report on bids for the Ellis Park Parking Lot project (estimated cost is $900,000) (Ben Worrell). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #3311559-01]

AFTER THE PROJECT, THERE WILL BE MORE PARKING SPACES THAN THERE ARE NOW.

AND HERE'S AN OVERVIEW SHOWING THE PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS ALONG WITH THE REALIGNED ELLIS BOULEVARD. ACCESS TO ELLIS PARK WILL BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES, AND 38 TREES WILL BE PLANTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S RELIEF PROGRAM.

THIS PROJECT BID ON JULY 29TH, WE GOT A LOT OF BIDS, 11 BIDS, RANGING FROM $615,094.80 TO $1,108,929.95. LOW BIDDER WAS PETERSON CONTRACTORS.

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

THANKS, BEN. COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER

[30. Presentation and resolution requesting a special election be held to approve the issuance of not to exceed $60,000,000 General Obligation Bonds (General Corporate Purpose) for the Fire Department (Interim Chief Halleran). CIP/DID #FIN2026-10]

OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. 30 IS A PRESENTATION RESOLUTION REQUESTING A SPECIAL ELECTION BE HELD TO REPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $60 MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

INTERIM CHIEF HALLORAN IS HERE. I WILL RECOGNIZE...

THANK YOU MAYOR O'DONNELL AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. I'M BRENT SMITH, CURRENT ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF.

WHEN THE CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENTS CALL 911, THEY EXPECT US TO BE READY IMMEDIATELY REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF THE DAY, WEATHER, OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE, SECONDS MATTER AND THE FASTER AND BETTER PREPARED WE ARE, THE GREATER OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR POSITIVE OUTCOME.

READINESS DOESN'T BEGIN WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDS. IT'S BUILT LONG BEFORE THE CALL EVER COMES.

THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS HAS A STRONG PROFESSIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE EARNED THE CENTER OF PUBLIC EXCELLENCE ACCREDITATION TWICE, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE COMMITMENT TO PERFORMANCE, PLANNING, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

THE NUMBERS BEFORE YOU HIGHLIGHT THOUSANDS OF MOMENTS WHEN RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES HAVE NEEDED THE CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WHEN THE NEED EXISTS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE THERE.

THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND MEASURE IS ABOUT ENSURING THE COMMITMENT THAT CAN CONTINUE BY PROVIDING THE FACILITIES, RESOURCES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS FOR YEARS TO COME.

THE CEDAR RAPIDS THAT WE KNOW TODAY IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN MANY OF OUR FIRE STATIONS WERE PLANNED AND BUILT.

CEDAR RAPIDS HAS GROWN GEOGRAPHICALLY WITH NEW RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT EXTENDING WELL BEYOND THE CITY'S FOOTPRINT REFLECTED IN THE 1979 BOUNDARY. CURRENTLY, SEVEN OF OUR NINE FIRE STATIONS STILL FALL WITHIN THE 1979 BOUNDARY. OUR CITY HAS GROWN AND EVOLVED, SO THE COMMUNITY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE SERVE.

THE FIRE SERVICE MUST EVOLVE WITH IT TO ENSURE OUR FACILITIES, OUR RESOURCES, AND OUR RESPONSE CAPABILITIES CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS TODAY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

BEFORE ASKING OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS, THE CITY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT OUR RESPONSE SYSTEM. THE CITY ENGAGED RAFTELIS TO INDEPENDENTLY ASSESS OPERATIONS, STAFFING, SERVICE DEMAND, STATION LOCATIONS, FACILITY CONDITIONS, EQUIPMENT TRAINING, AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS' HEALTH AND SAFETY. AS PART OF THAT ASSESSMENT, RAFTELIS TOURED ALL NINE STATIONS, MET WITH PERSONNEL AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND ANALYZED THE RESPONSE AND GEOGRAPHICAL DATA TO PROVIDE AN OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEMS AND FUTURES NEEDS.

ALONG WITH THE REPTILE STUDY THE CITY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED A STRATEGIC PLAN AND A SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS TO FURTHER EXAMINE WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS ARE TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE. TAKEN TOGETHER, THE RAPH TELE-STUDY, THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS, PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEM AND HAVE IDENTIFIED KEY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. MAKING MANY OF OUR FIRE FACILITIES HAVE REACHED OR EXCEEDED THE ORIGINAL PLANNED LIFESPAN, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO CONSIDER REPLACING, REBUILDING, OR REFURBISHING OUR FACILITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT OUR

[01:30:01]

DURING OUR RESEARCH AND WORK WITH THE RAFTELLA STATION STUDY, WE LEARNED THAT IN 1986 WHEN FIRE STATION 2 OFF OF 6TH STREET, STATION 4 ON 42ND STREET, STATION 8 ON WILEY BOULEVARD, AND STATION 9 OFF OF C AVENUE NORTHEAST WERE ALL BUILT, THE CITY COUNCIL'S IDEA AT THAT TIME WAS THE CITY WAS GROWING AT SUCH A RATE THAT THESE STATIONS WOULD BE TEMPORARY STATIONS. THEY WERE ALL BUILT LIKE RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND NOT STRONG BUILT FIRE STATIONS. THEY WERE THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT THESE STATIONS WOULD ONLY BE USED FOR 25 YEARS, REBUILDING LONG-TERM FIRE STATIONS IN THE DISTRICTS OF TOMORROW. THAT PLAN FOR A MAXIMUM OF 25 YEARS IS NOW IN YEAR 40 OF THESE STATION SERVICE LIVES.

CURRENTLY, SIX OF OUR NINE STATIONS DO NOT HAVE PRIVACY OR SEPARATED DORM AND OFFICE OR SHOWERING FACILITIES.

THESE BUILDINGS WERE CONSTRUCTED WHEN OUR WORKFORCE WAS ALL MALE AND NO LONGER MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR WORKFORCE. THIS BOND WILL MEET MULTIPLE NEEDS OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT WILL RELOCATE FIRE STATIONS 2 AND 8, REBUILD OUR OLDEST FIRE STATIONS OF 5 AND 06, REFURBISH STATIONS 4 AND 09, BUILD OUT OUR FIREFIGHTER TRAINING FACILITY, AND PURCHASE NEW FIRE TRUCKS.

THE NEED TO RELOCATE STATIONS 2 AND 8 COME FROM THE ANALYSIS OF OUR RUN DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE RAFTELLA STATION STUDY. EMERGENCY RESPONSE IS MEASURED IN SECONDS. THE FASTER AND BETTER PREPARED THAT WE ARE, THE BETTER THE OUTCOMES WILL BE FOR OUR CITIZENS. FOR EVERY MINUTE OUR RESPONSE IS DELAYED TO YOUR FIRE, THE FIRE DOUBLES IN SIZE. FOR EVERY MINUTE LONGER IT TAKES US TO GET TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBER THAT IS IN CARDIAC ARREST, THEIR CHANCES OF SURVIVING THAT CARDIAC EVENT DECREASE BY 10%. THE HEAT MAP YOU SEE HERE IS OF STATION 2'S EMS AND FIRE CALLS. YOU CAN SEE BY RELOCATING TO THE CENTER OF THAT YELLOW DOT, WE WILL BE MUCH FASTER TO THE MAJORITY OF EMERGENCIES IN THAT DISTRICT. THE SETUP FOR THESE RELOCATIONS HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO WHEN CITY LEADERS USED IJOB GRANT FUNDING TO MOVE STATION 3 FROM THE COE COLLEGE CAMPUS ON THE EAST SIDE OF OUR CITY TO THE WEST SIDE. THIS NOW ALLOWS US TO RELOCATE STATIONS 2 AND 8 AND EXPAND 3'S DISTRICT TO THE SOUTH.

ALL TO BETTER RESPONSE TIMES OVER MULTIPLE DISTRICTS.

STATIONS 5 AND 6 ARE OUR OLDEST FIRE STATIONS THAT WERE BUILT IN 1957. THESE FIRE STATIONS ARE ALL IN GREAT LOCATIONS, BUT THEY ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SPACE NEEDED IN TODAY'S MODERN FIRE STATIONS AND DO NOT HAVE OUR CANCER RISK REDUCTION FEATURES BUILT INTO THEIR DESIGNS. BY INCORPORATING CANCER RISK REDUCTION ZONING INTO OUR NEW STATIONS, WE CAN USE LAYOUTS OF THE BUILDINGS TO KEEP CARCINOGENS OUT OF OUR LIVING QUARTERS AND REDUCE CANCER RISK FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

STATION 5 ON WILSON AVENUE, AND PICTURED AT THE TOP, REQUIRES US TO STOP ALL TRAFFIC CURRENTLY ON WILSON AVENUE TO BACK INTO THE STATION AT THE END OF OUR CALLS. STATION 5 HAS ALSO REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS OVER THE YEARS FROM REPLACING THE ROOF AFTER THE DERECHO, TO REPAIRING THE FOUNDATION AFTER WATER LEAKS LEFT THE BASEMENT UNUSABLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, TO COMPLETING SIGNIFICANT TUCK POINTING ON A DETERIORATING OLD HOSE TOWER THAT WE NO LONGER USE.

STATION 6 ON MOUNT VERNON ROAD IS PICTURED IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER, IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE ADDED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE OLDER FACILITIES.

THE GARAGE DOOR HAD TO BE REDESIGNED BY ENGINEERS AND WIDENED BECAUSE OUR MODERN FIRE TRUCKS WOULD NOT FIT WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE OLDER STATION.

WITH STATIONS 4 ON 42ND STREET BY TWIN PINES GOLF COURSE AND STATION 9 OFF OF C AVENUE NORTHEAST. THESE TWIN FIRE STATIONS ARE IN GREAT LOCATIONS AS WELL, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE BILLED AS RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND TEMPORARY FIRE STATION LOCATIONS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY BY REFURBISHING THESE STATIONS, ADDING AN ADDITIONAL GARAGE BAY TO HOUSE OTHER DEPARTMENT APPARATUS, BUILDING CANCER RISK REDUCTION ZONING, SEPARATING WORKOUT FACILITIES FROM THE GARAGE AREA, GIVING PRIVATE DORM AND SHOWER SPACES FOR OUR CHANGING WORKFORCE, AND CONTINUE SERVING THEIR DISTRICTS WITH GREAT RESPONSE TIMES.

MODERN UPGRADES TO ALL THESE FACILITIES WILL ALLOW US TO BETTER CARE FOR THOSE FIREFIGHTERS WHO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND MAKE THEM FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENT TO THOSE EMERGENCIES. JUST LAST YEAR, WE HAD OUR MOST CURRENT ISO RATING. OUR ISO RATE SET THE RATES FOR PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR ALL OF THE CITY. CRFD LEARNED IN OUR AUDIT WE WERE CLOSE TO DROPPING TO A THREE FROM OUR CURRENT TWO RATING.

WE ONLY MAINTAINED OUR NUMBER TWO RATING BY LESS THAN ONE POINT. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT LOST SIGNIFICANT POINTS IN THE AREA OF TRAINING, SPECIFICALLY NOT HAVING A

[01:35:01]

DEDICATED TRAINING GROUNDS FOR OUR DEPARTMENT WERE IDENTIFIED AS A KEY ACTION THAT WOULD HELP PREVENT SLIPPING TO A THREE AND POTENTIALLY RAISING PROPERTY INSURANCE RATES ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY IN THE FUTURE.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE UNDER CONTRACT AND HOPE TO CLOSE SOON ON OUR CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING FACILITY PROPERTY.

THIS BOND WILL ALLOW US TO BUILD OUT THE TRAINING FACILITY TO INCLUDE A LIVE FIRE BURN, TRAINING TOWER, GIVING US THE ABILITY TO TRAIN FOR ALL OF OUR SPECIALTY DISCIPLINES.

WE WILL ALSO PARTNER WITH IOWA HOMELAND SECURITY TO BUILD THE IOWA URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE HEADQUARTERS ON OUR TRAINING FACILITY FOOTPRINT. THIS WILL CREATE A REVENUE-GENERATING PARTNERSHIP WITH IOWA HOMELAND SECURITY, WHICH WILL PAY THE CITY RENT FOR THE NEW BUILDING RATHER THAN CONTINUING THEIR LEASE CURRENTLY AT THE EASTERN IOWA AIRPORT. PART OF THIS BOND WILL ALSO HELP US ADDRESS A GAP IN OUR AGING FIRE TRUCK INVENTORY.

WITH CURRENT LEAD TIMES FOR NEW FIRE TRUCKS.

FROM TWO TO FOUR YEARS FOR DELIVERY, WE NEED TO ORDER APPARATUS NOW TO KEEP OUR FLEET CAPABLE OF MEETING THE SERVICE DEMANDS OF A DEPARTMENT RESPONDING TO MORE THAN 16,000 CALLS A YEAR.

FROM FACILITY RELOCATIONS, REBUILDS, AND RENOVATIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR TRAINING FACILITY AND THE PURCHASE OF NEW FIRE TRUCKS, THIS BOND REPRESENTS A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE FIRE DEPARTMENT FACILITIES FOR DECADES TO COME. IT WILL ENSURE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCIES OF TOMORROW. WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE BUILD.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR NEW DISTRICTS OR INCREASED STAFFING. THE BOND MEASURE IS A DEPARTMENT-WIDE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT OVERHAUL THAT PROVIDES DECADES OF CONTINUED CAPABILITY WHILE ADDRESSING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS. AT $60 MILLION, THIS PRESENTS THE FIRST TIME THE CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED THAT COMMUNITY FOR MAJOR FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN 32 YEARS.

OUR CENTRAL FIRE STATION WAS BUILT USING FEMA MONEY POSTED. 2008 FLOOD AND FIRE STATION THREE WAS BUILT USING IJOBS MONEY.

WITH THE BUILDING OF FIRE STATION THREE, THIS WAS THE PREPARATORY BUILD AND MOVE TO RELOCATE STATION EIGHT TO THE OUTLINED BOUNDARIES.

IF APPROVED, THE FUND WOULD PROVIDE A SIX-YEAR WINDOW OF THESE PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $2.03 PER MONTH FOR A HOME VALUED AT $100,000 OR ABOUT $4.07 A MONTH FOR A HOME CLOSE TO THE MEDIAN VALUE OF $200,000.

WE ARE SEEKING YOUR APPROVAL TODAY TO PLACE THIS BOND MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER 3RD BALLOT.

WITH THE AUGUST 26TH FILING DEADLINE APPROACHING, TODAY'S ACTION IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN MOVING THIS MEASURE FORWARD FOR THE CONSIDERATION BY THE VOTERS. WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION, MAYOR O'DONNELL AND THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US TO PRESENT THIS PROPOSAL, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU TODAY. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU. COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY. YEAH, THANKS, MAYOR. WELL, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO ADDRESS THE BEST DAMN FIREHOUSE AND DEPARTMENT, AND IN MY OPINION, STRONG OPINION IN THE COUNTRY. YOU ALL HAVE, AGAIN, HELPED US WEATHER SO MANY DISASTERS ONE AFTER THE OTHER AND HAVE MADE IT LOOK EASY, WHILE IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT.

AND LET THE RECORD SHOW, I HAVE NO PROBLEM STOPPING FOR YOU FOR STATION 5 ALL THESE YEARS.

WOULD HAPPILY DO IT AND SALUTE YOU ON THE WAY.

BUT I HAVE SPOKEN OFTEN TO CITY MANAGER POMERANZ ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT MY DISTRICT IS GROWING SOUTH AND WE'RE GOING OUT, NOT JUST WITH HOUSING, BUT WITH INDUSTRY AND VARIED INDUSTRY AS WELL. SO WE'VE HAD MORE TRAININGS AS WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE BRINGING THAT PROVIDE A GOOD QUALITY INCOME FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THOSE RESPONSE TIMES. AND YOU ALL HAVE A REALLY BIG LIFT.

YOU ALL ARE A VERY REGIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY EXCELLENT SMALL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE VOLUNTEER THAT YOU ALL ARE ASSISTING ON A REGULAR WEEKLY BASIS, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.

I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS. I KNOW HOW TIGHT THINGS ARE. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO ARE GETTING 2% RAISES WHEN THEY'RE WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF. AND THAT EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS.

BUT FOR THOSE SAME REASONS, THIS IS CERTAINLY WHERE I'D LIKE TO PUT MY MONEY IN TO KEEP YOU ALL SOLVENT AND TO CONTINUE US FACILITATING THAT WE HAVE GREAT RESPONSE TIMES AND GREAT CARE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE IMPROVED STATION 5 AND SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT WILL BE RELOCATED IN MY DISTRICT. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER TODD. THANK YOU MAYOR.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT THREE YEARS BEHIND WHERE I'D LIKE

[01:40:01]

REGRETFULLY, WE CAN'T ASSURE THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY AT THIS POINT IN TIME. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WILL HELP RECTIFY THAT. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, STATION 6 WAS BUILT IN 57, THE YEAR I WAS BORN. NOW, IF THAT SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT, NO, MY JOKE, I'LL JUST END IT THERE.

OKAY, GOTCHA.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER MAIER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST IS A TACTICAL QUESTION.

ON THE AGENDA ITEM, IT SAYS REQUESTING A SPECIAL ELECTION. SO IS THIS REALLY CONSIDERED A SPECIAL ELECTION IF WE ARE ADDING IT TO A ROUTINE ELECTION? SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO WORK WITH A VERBIAGE THERE. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. IT WAS GREAT. QUESTION ON ENHANCEMENTS. TO EXISTING FIRE EQUIPMENT OR FACILITIES.

IS THERE ANY EQUIPMENT OR FACILITIES THAT'S UNIQUE TO MANUFACTURING FACILITIES THAT ARE LOCATED IN TOWN OR NEW DATA CENTERS THAT ARE COMING IN TOWN? AND IF SO, IS THERE AN APPROACH THAT THE CITY CAN GO AND ASK THOSE PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO PAY FOR THOSE NEEDS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THEM? AND IF SO, HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH THE BOND? IS THE BOND, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT AMOUNT REGARDLESS, EVEN IF WE GET SOME PRIVATE FUNDING, OR WOULD THAT BE REDUCED? THANK YOU. COUNSELOR, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENT IN GOING TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS AS OF LATE. CHIEF SMITH, PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE, CHIEF HOWLER AND MYSELF HAVE MADE PRESENTATIONS TO ABOUT 60 ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY IN LOOKING FOR FUNDS FOR THE TRAINING FACILITY SPECIFICALLY.

THE SPECIFICS OF EACH INDUSTRY, WE DO A WONDERFUL JOB OF WORKING WITH OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS HERE IN THE CITY.

WE ARE IN THEIR FOOTPRINTS YEARLY.

WE DRILL YEARLY IN ALMOST ALL OF OUR INDUSTRY PARTNER FOOTPRINTS. HAZMAT DRILLS, HIGH-ANGLE RESCUE DRILLS, A LOT OF CONFINED SPACE DRILLS.

AND SO THOSE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE BEEN SOLIDIFIED OVER DECADES OF TRAINING WITH THEM. WE ARE SUPPORTED BY THEM, AND WE DO HAVE THOSE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FUNDING. THIS ASK IS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THAT FUND CURRENTLY IS. WE WILL CONTINUE FUNDRAISING, BUT THIS BOND WILL HELP US MEET ALL OF THOSE GOALS THAT WERE SET FORTH IN THE RAFTELLA STUDY. AND THEN SPECIFICALLY TO THE STATIONS, IT IS VERY SPECIFIC BUILD OF THESE STATIONS BECAUSE OF THE CANCER RISK REDUCTION ZONING THAT GOES INTO THEM.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WHERE WHEN WE COME BACK FROM A FIRE AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS TAKE OFF THEIR GEAR, THEY'RE CONTAMINATED WITH CARCINOGENS.

AND THE WAY THAT WE BUILD THAT ZONING INTO THE STATIONS IS IMPORTANT. AS THEY LEAVE THE FIRE TRUCK AND THEY WORK THEIR WAY INTO A LOCKER ROOM AND SHOWER ROOM AND WORKING THEIR WAY INTO THE LIVING QUARTERS, THEY BECOME DECONTAMINATED AND THEY LEAVE THOSE CARCINOGENS BEHIND BEFORE GETTING INTO THE KITCHEN AND INTO THE LIVING QUARTERS.

AND SO THERE IS VERY SPECIFICS TO THE STATION BUILDS.

GREAT. THANK YOU. VERY HELPFUL.

COUNCILMAN HOEGER. YOU JUST STOLE MY THUNDER BECAUSE AS EXPECTED FIRST RESPONDERS DON'T TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN LIFE SAFETY.

THEY TALK ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE'S AND YOUR RESPONSE TIMES BUT THAT'S WHEN YOU GET BACK TO THE STATION. THE NEWER STATIONS HAVE WHERE YOU DROP YOUR GEAR AND YOU LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE WHICH IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

THESE OLDER STATIONS YOU DON'T HAVE THAT AND SO THAT CANCEROUS CHEMICALS FOLLOW YOU THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND AND THAT'S WHY. YOU KNOW, THE CANCER RATE FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS ARE VERY HIGH. SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS 100 PERCENT. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN OLSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO ADD JUST A COUPLE THINGS HERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, WHETHER IT'S FLOOD INSURANCE OR WHATEVER IN TODAY'S WORLD, ALL OF OUR INSURANCES ARE GOING UP. AND WHEN YOU TRY TO FIND SOMETHING, FIRE IS A PART OF THAT.

AND SO I WAS I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE BEING CLOSE TO DROPPING DOWN. BUT THAT ONE DROP THERE. WILL MEAN A LOT TO EVERY SINGLE HOMEOWNER OR BUSINESS OWNER OR ANY KIND OF INDUSTRY IN OUR CITY. AND WE NEED TO KEEP THAT HIGH RATING TO KEEP THOSE INSURANCE RATES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE IN TODAY'S INSURANCE WORLD.

SECONDLY, I KNOW THAT EVEN AS A BUSINESS PERSON, TO RECRUIT PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE DECENT CONDITIONS.

AND I WAS

[01:45:02]

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN A LOT OF ISSUES, WE GET THROUGH AND WE'VE BEEN, DON'T HAVE ANY BONDS AND HAVEN'T HAD FOR A LOT OF YEARS. AND SOMETIMES THAT'S A MISTAKE THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT MORE OFTEN SO WE CAN SPREAD THAT COST. BUT I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GET THIS DONE AND I'M HOPING THAT THE REST OF THE CITIZENS OF CEDAR RAPIDS STEP UP AND GET US TO THAT POINT WE CAN HAVE IT DONE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON GETTING US TO THIS POINT. YEAH, AGREED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT TAKES TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'VE LEANED ON YOU SO MUCH LATELY. I THINK SOMETIMES WE CAN BE A VICTIM OF OUR OWN SUCCESS, AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE BUILDINGS THAT WERE BUILT IN THE MID-'50S THAT STILL EXIST TODAY BECAUSE YOU JUST QUIETLY GO ABOUT YOUR WORK.

TAKING CARE OF US. SO I WILL ABSOLUTELY BE DOING MY PART TO HELP TAKE CARE OF YOU FOR THIS BOND MEASURE. SO IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE HERE, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY

[31. Presentation regarding hotel-motel tax allocations for fiscal year 2027 (Abhijit Deshpande). CIP/DID #FIN2026-12]

OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. ITEM NUMBER 31 IS A PRESENTATION REGARDING HOTEL MOTEL TAX ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL 2027. AVI DESHPANDE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AVI, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ABHIDESH PANDEY, FINANCE DIRECTOR.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE FY27 AND FY28 HOTEL MODEL TAX GRANT AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS.

A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS GRANT CYCLE, WHICH JUST ENDED IN FY26.

SO WE HAD 20 ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD APPLIED IN THE PREVIOUS CYCLE. 17 ORGANIZATIONS WERE RECEIVED GRANT AWARDS IN TOTALING 900,000 FOR FY25 AND 26.

THIS IS THE LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE APPROVED. THERE WERE THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE NOT APPROVED. THE LAST TWO ORGANIZATIONS, SVT THEATER AND THE DISTRICT, CZECH VILLAGE NEW BOW, THESE ORGANIZATIONS DID NOT APPLY FOR THE CURRENT CYCLE, WHICH IS... FY27 AND 28.

WITH THAT, A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT CYCLE, WHICH IS FY27 AND 28. THERE ARE 22 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED. THERE ARE FOUR NEW APPLICATIONS, WHICH IS COE COLLEGE, DEFINITELY DOGS, MISSION OF HOPE, AND NEW BOHEMIA AND CZECH VILLAGE GROUP. THREE APPLICATIONS THEY WERE NOT APPROVED IN THE LAST CYCLE, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE CEDAR RAPIDS SOCCER ASSOCIATION, IOWA CERAMIC CENTER AND GLASS STUDIO, AND UNITED WE MARCH FORWARD. THE TOTAL ASK FROM THESE 22 APPLICATIONS IS $1,592,600 OVER TWO YEARS, SO THAT'S AROUND $796,000 PER YEAR.

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASICALLY THREE BROADER RECOMMENDATIONS HERE. INCREASE THE TOTAL GRANT AWARDS TO $1 MILLION, WHICH IS $500,000 EACH YEAR FOR THE TWO-YEAR GRANT CYCLE.

SO THAT'S A $50,000 INCREASE EACH YEAR.

INCREASE GRANT AWARDS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE APPROVED IN THE LAST CYCLE BY 15%. AND ADD TWO NEW GRANT AWARDS IN TOTAL OF 37,000, 18,500 PER YEAR TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT MEET THE PURPOSE AND MERIT CRITERIA.

WITH THAT, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IN FRONT OF YOU. THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT GROUPS. GROUP A HAS 14 ORGANIZATIONS.

GROUP B HAS ONE ORGANIZATION, GROUP C HAS ONE ORGANIZATION.

THERE ARE FIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR AN AWARD. 27

[01:50:03]

TO SET THE CONTRIBUTION, NOT ONLY THE LEVEL, SO THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. AND SEVERAL CYCLES BACK, WE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RECONFIGURING THAT PROCESS TO WHERE IT'S PRETTY THOROUGH, AND IT SETS VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET, NOT THROUGH ALL OF THOSE, BUT AS AN EXAMPLE, NO ORGANIZATION WHO RECEIVES FUNDS CAN DERIVE MORE THAN 10% OF THEIR BUDGET. THESE HOTEL MOTEL APPLICATIONS SO THAT ENSURES THAT RECIPIENTS ARE DEPENDING ON CERTAINLY DURING THE PANDEMIC WE SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO INCREASE THE AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION 15 PERCENT REPRESENTING THE INCREASE IN HOTEL MOTEL TAX AND WE'RE ALSO REALIZING THAT WITH THREE NEW HOTELS OPENING UP IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO WE SHOULD HAVE MORE REVENUE SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE A MID-CYCLE REVIEW ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, KIND OF SEE WHERE HOTEL MOTEL REVENUES ARE, AND WE MAY KICK OUT A LITTLE.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS BY TWO, AND THE PROCESS GOES VERY SMOOTHLY.

SO JUST A FEW COMMENTS ON THE PROCESS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER OLSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I SAT IN AS A PART OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE DISCUSSIONS. AND, OF COURSE, ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE ALL OF THESE GROUPS THAT NEED THE FUNDING.

AND SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO INCREASE. AND THEN WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON, BECAUSE OF NOT KNOWING WHERE THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX WAS GOING, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT POSITIVE TREND GOING UP. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED, I THINK, AS A COMMITTEE, TO ASK YOU TO, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND... LOOK AT YEAR TWO TO INCREASE IT BECAUSE I THINK THERE WILL BE FUNDS THERE WITH THE THREE NEW HOTELS.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUT MORE MONEY BACK ON THE TABLE FOR ALL OF THESE GROUPS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I DON'T THINK WE'LL REOPEN THE APPLICATIONS.

WE'LL JUST INCREASE THE SECOND YEAR TASK, YOU KNOW, MONEY FOR THE SECOND YEAR.

SO I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING SO FAR THAT, YES, YEAR ONE IS SET, BUT YEAR TWO WILL BE INCREASED, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE CAN BASED ON WHAT THAT FINAL REVENUE IS WHEN THOSE HOTELS KICK INTO PLACE. AND SO ONE THING THAT QUESTIONS COME UP AND THEY SEE, WELL, THERE'S ARTICLES IN THE PAPER, THERE'S A LOT OF HOTEL WHERE OUR HOTEL REVENUES ARE UP. BUT YOU MIGHT EXPLAIN JUST BRIEFLY FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, NONPROFITS ARE JUST ONE PART OF WHERE THOSE REVENUES GO.

COULD YOU JUST GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF HOW THE REVENUES ARE USED BECAUSE THEY'RE USED FOR MANY OF OUR CITY FUNCTIONS? SURE. SO, YEAH, AS YOU POINTED, THE NONPROFIT FUNDING IS JUST ONE PART OF.

ONE PART THAT THE FUNDS ARE USED FOR.

THE CITY HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, INCLUDING THE HOTEL COMPLEX AND THE CONVENTION CENTER. SO SUPPORT THESE ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AS WELL AS COMPLEX IN... CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. ALSO, THERE ARE THE FUNDS THAT ARE ALSO USED TO SUPPLEMENT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS WELL ON THE ANNUAL BASIS. FROM 26 WE HAD VOTED AROUND 9 FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND WE INCREASED AS THERE HAS BEEN SOME PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND AS A RESULT OF THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

SO THE HOTEL SHARE WILL BE INCREASED TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

AS WELL AS THEN THERE ARE MANY OTHER NEEDS SUCH AS LIVE FUNCTIONING.

TOURISM THAT THEY'RE ALSO SUBSIDIZED BY SOME OF THE IN RAPIDS SUCH AS THAT HELPS

[01:55:05]

IF I CAN JUST ADD ONE MORE.

WITH THE LEVY BEING LOST FOR THE VETERANS COMMISSION AND THE MUNICIPAL BANDS, IS PART OF OUR HOTEL MOTEL GOING TO THE VETERANS BUILDING AND THE MUNICIPAL BANDS BECAUSE THAT FUNDING IS NOT THERE ANYMORE? THAT'S RIGHT. SO WE LOST THAT VETERANS MEMORIAL LEVY. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, DEFINITELY THEY ARE PART OF NOW GENERAL FUND. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INDIVIDUAL AV TO SUPPORT THAT. SO IN THAT CASE, THAT'S WHERE BASICALLY THE HOTEL MODEL FUND THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO THE GENERAL FUND THAT IS USED TO FUND THE VETERANS MEMORIAL OPERATIONS.

THANK YOU. AND TO BE CLEAR, EVERYONE WHO APPLIED AND QUALIFIED DID RECEIVE AN AWARD. IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

SO IN THIS ROUND, THERE ARE ONLY THESE FIVE ORGANIZATIONS. THEIR PURPOSE AND THE SERVICES DOESN'T REALLY SUPPORT THE OVERALL ELIGIBILITY OF THE FUNDS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE. AND THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD THE REASON WE HAVE THREE GROUPS HERE IS THAT SOME OF US ARE ON ONE OF THE BOARDS THAT APPLIED, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT. AND SO WE HAVE TO ABSTAIN, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SPLIT.

THAT'S RIGHT. SO SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY HAVE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS YOU'RE SERVING ON THE BOARD. HENCE, WE MADE, FROM THE TRANSPARENCY PERSPECTIVE, WE MADE FOUR DIFFERENT GROUPS. COUNCIL MEMBER TODD. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT MY COLLEAGUES DID ON THIS COMMITTEE.

BUT I WILL SHARE WITH THEM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE FACT THAT I WOULD HOPE WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDING TO CSPS. AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS BASED ON A COUPLE REASONS. THEY HAD REGAINED THEIR 501C3 TAX STATUS. THEY WERE INVOLVED IN A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL THAT I THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF TO A DEGREE. THEY'VE STABILIZED THEIR LEADERSHIP THERE, AND THEY'VE REALLY CREATED A STORY THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE MIMIC IN OTHER NONPROFITS. NOW, I WOULD HOPE YOU DON'T. TAKE THOSE COMMENTS TO SAY WHY WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING GOOD NOW BUT THEY ARE REALLY I I SEE THEM AS THE HEART OF A LOT OF OUR CULTURAL IDENTITY IN THIS COMMUNITY AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS NOTED COUNCILMAN VANORNY THANKS MAYOR WE HAD A COUPLE SPEAKERS HERE WHO APTLY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE THE GEMS OF THE CITY AND I AGREE I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THESE ARE OUR BEST KEPT SECRETS.

AND WHILE IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THEM BE ACCESSIBLE, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SLEEPING ON PLACES LIKE CSPS WHERE THE VOICES IN THERE, WHEN I'VE SAT IN A ROOM WITH 11 OTHER PEOPLE, THIS BEAUTIFUL HALL, ARE EXCEPTIONAL. AND THESE FOLKS HAVE TRAVELED IN FROM HOURS AWAY. AND I JUST AM CONSTANTLY BESIDE MYSELF THINKING, LIKE, HOW ARE WE NOT? PUTTING MORE BUTTS IN SEATS BECAUSE THESE VOICES ARE INCREDIBLE. AND THE PERFORMERS LOVE CEDAR RAPIDS AND LOVE THE FOOD HERE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. SO IT'S A THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND I HOPE CEDAR OPINIONS ACTUALLY START COMING AND FREQUENTING SOME OF THESE PLACES MORE BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE FILLING UP ORCHESTRA IOWA OR APPRECIATING WHAT'S HAPPENING AT NEW BOW CITY MARKET OR... YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE MUSEUM OF ART, WHICH WE HAVE INCREDIBLE EXHIBITS, OR OUR OPERA, OR OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, OR BRUCE MOORE, THESE SHOULD BE SOLD OUT EVERY TIME JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHEER QUALITY. EVEN THEATER CEDAR RAPIDS, JUST EXCEPTIONAL ARTWORK THAT WE HAVE. AND I KNOW AS A CONSUMER OF THESE AND A VERY PROUD PATRON OF THE ARTS. SO CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. I HOPE. RESIDENTS WILL HEAR MY PLEA AND HELP US HELP THESE ORGANIZATIONS MORE BECAUSE THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL. AND I DON'T WANT THE TALENT AND THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING PRESENTLY TO GO UNNOTICED. COUNCIL

[02:00:02]

I THINK CSPS WENT THROUGH KIND OF A ROUGH TIME, BUT THEY'VE COME OUT THE OTHER END. THEY'VE GOT A GREAT NEW DIRECTOR AND ANNA AT THE HELM WITH THE MARKETING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING. I'M SO EXCITED. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS. I THINK THIS IS REALLY THE FRONT DOOR OF CSPS. AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LITTLE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE ENGAGED IN ARTS, I JUST THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL. SO I LOVE THE IDEA OF A FRONT DOOR TO CSPS. AND SO I WOULD DISAGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE OLSON FOR ONE MINUTE, AND WHEN WE GO BACK AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT ADDITIONAL FUNDING MAYBE NEXT YEAR, MAYBE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AND PUMP UP A BIT MORE AND GIVE A LITTLE MORE FUNDING TO LIKES. CSPS AND I CERTAINLY WOULD SAY THE IOWA CERAMIC AND GLASS STUDIO WITH SARAH BALES AT THE HEAD SHE HAS SIX PEOPLE THAT COME RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COME AND MOVED TO CEDAR RAPIDS BECAUSE OF THEIR PROGRAMMING AND THEY BRING IN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER FOR FOR EVENTS AND FOR CONFERENCES AND SO THERE ARE SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT I FEEL ARE A LITTLE UNDERFUNDED CERTAINLY THOSE TWO, IF WE COULD LOOK AT NEXT YEAR, MAYBE PUMPING THOSE UP AND GETTING THEM UP, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COUNCILMEMBER MAIER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, AVI, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR A VERY THOROUGH ANALYSIS. I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO PULL THIS TOGETHER, SO I APPRECIATE IT. THAT BEING SAID, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, THREE OF THEM.

ONE IS TO CONSIDER HOW GRANTS. SHOULD BE DETERMINED.

THE SECOND IS I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE NEW BOHEMIA CZECH VILLAGE GROUP. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SPT REAL QUICK.

AND AS FAR AS THE FIRST POINT, AND I DO HAVE SOME NOTES HERE, BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I REMEMBERED EVERYTHING. AS FAR AS THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW GRANTS ARE DETERMINED, I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF COMMENTS AND A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PROCESS. AND SO THIS CAPTURES SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL AS SOME OF MY OWN INSIGHTS. FOR THE PAST TWO GRANT CYCLES, WE BASE THE AWARDS BASED UPON THE ORGANIZATION'S FUNDING LEVEL FROM FOUR YEARS AGO, AND THEY'VE HAD A FLAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE BOTH YEARS, WHICH IS GREAT AND ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE THIS YEAR. BUT I QUESTION WHETHER THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO EVALUATE APPLICATIONS.

PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT CAN CHANGE CONSIDERABLY OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD. SO WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT CSPS, BUT ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS REVIVAL THEATER COMPANY. SO FOUR YEARS AGO, REVIVAL THEATER COMPANY DID THREE SHOWS A YEAR, ONE WEEKEND.

NOW THEY'RE DOING TWICE AS MANY. STILL THREE SHOWS, BUT NOW THEY DO TWO WEEKENDS, AND THEY ALSO HAVE A SEPARATE FUNDRAISER, WHICH IS EXTREMELY POPULAR, BRINGING IN NATIONAL TALENT.

THE CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSEUM, YOU KNOW, REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE IMMIGRATION TOWER. AND IT'S INTERESTING WHEN I TALK WITH PEOPLE FROM THE TOURISM OFFICE, THAT'S THE DESTINATION THAT THEY SAY PEOPLE ARE MOST INTERESTED IN. AND THERE'S A, I WAS TALKING TO A GUY WHO DOES THE SHUTTLE BUS. SO THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING IMPORTANT. AGAIN, NOT HERE FOUR YEARS AGO. YOU KNOW, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE CHANGED THAT MAY HAVE REDUCED THEIR IMPACT TO CEDAR RAPIDS. AND ONE EXAMPLE THERE IS THE FREEDOM FESTIVAL. SO WHERE FOUR YEARS AGO, THEY USED TO HAVE THEIR PARADE IN DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAPIDS.

NOW THAT'S UP IN HIAWATHA.

SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, REALLY EVALUATING IF THIS IS A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALLY EVALUATING THOSE APPLICATIONS EVERY YEAR TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE IMPACT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE HAVING.

I ALSO WONDER IF HAVING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TOURISM OFFICE BE INCLUDED ON THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I THINK THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT REALLY HAVE THE PULSE ON THE GROUND AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, WHO'S COMING TO CEDAR RAPIDS AND WHY AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT DRIVES TOURISM.

I ALSO THINK, TOO, THAT WE CAN LOOK AT REDEFINING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM. SO CURRENTLY IT'S ATTRACTING VISITORS TO CEDAR RAPIDS. HOTEL OCCUPANCY, SUPPORTING EVENTS, AND STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL ECONOMY. BUT IF WE USE HOTEL-MOTEL FUNDS TO SUPPORT EVENT-FOCUSED NONPROFITS...

THEN THEY MAY NOT ABLE

[02:05:03]

AND IF WE DON'T UPDATE THAT CRITERIA, I THINK THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD QUALIFY AS EVENTS, SUCH AS CR PRIDE OR SAVING US, THAT WOULD ALSO RECEIVE SOME FUNDING BECAUSE THEY'RE EVENT-FOCUSED. MAY NOT THINK THAT THEY QUALIFY. I ALSO THINK AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL. I KNOW THE APPLICATION SAYS IF YOU HAVE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SUPPLY THEM. BUT I THINK IF NOT REQUIRING THEM, BECAUSE I REALIZE SOME SMALL NONPROFITS MAY NOT HAVE THAT, BUT GIVING LIKE AN ADDED BONUS, RIGHT? SO SOME GRANT APPLICATIONS WILL SAY YOU GET HIGHER POINTS IF YOU HAVE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR. I THINK A THREE-YEAR GRANT CYCLE IS JUST MORE EFFICIENT. IT'S MORE EFFICIENT FOR YOUR TEAM. IT'S CERTAINLY MORE EFFICIENT FOR NONPROFITS. I UNDERSTAND WITH A BUDGETING PROCESS THAT IT'S EASIER FOR THE CITY TO NOT COMMIT FOR THREE YEARS, BUT I THINK REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING OUR NONPROFITS AND HAVING THEM.

HAVE MORE STABILITY. I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT NOT MORE THAN 10% OF THEIR REVENUE, BUT STILL ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE CAN SEE BY THE INVOLVEMENT TODAY, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FOLKS FROM NONPROFITS ARE REALLY RELYING ON. I KNOW THAT'S A LOT. I CAN SEND YOU MY NOTES, AND IT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A YEAR OR TWO TO CONSIDER THOSE. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY NOW, THAT'S GREAT. IF NOT, WE CAN CHAT OFFLINE.

I WOULD JUST COMMENT LIKE ALL YOUR KIND OF COMMENTS ARE WELL TAKEN AND I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD WELCOME ALL THE SUGGESTIONS AND WOULD BRING IT TO THE ACTUAL COMMITTEE WHO MAKES THE DECISION, WHICH I THINK THEY ARE PART OF THE AUDIENCE AS WELL HERE.

SO I SEE THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR THE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT IN THE GRANT APPLICATION.

I'M MORE THAN WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR SUGGESTIONS.

THANK YOU. AND I'M GLAD YOU RECEIVED IT IN THE SPIRIT, WHICH IT WAS UNINTENDED.

THE SECOND ONE, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE NEW BOHEMIA CZECH VILLAGE GROUP. AND MY CONCERN THERE IS WHETHER THE ORGANIZATION HAS DEMONSTRATED A SUFFICIENT TRACK RECORD TO JUSTIFY A HOTEL MOTEL GRANT.

AS OF TODAY, THE ORGANIZATION DID. THREE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES. THEY HAD A CHILI COOK-OFF, WHICH WAS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE ORGANIZATION. THEY HAD A WATER STATION DURING THE MARATHON WEEKEND, WHICH WAS ABOUT ONE OF THE APPROXIMATELY 10 WATER STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND THEN THE PAINTED PIANO PROJECT, WHICH IS GREAT, WHICH IS GOING ALONG NOW.

I KNOW THERE'S AN EVENT SCHEDULED FOR THIS SATURDAY, WHICH WILL BE GREAT. IT'S GOT... THE CORVETTE CLUB IN THE MORNING, THERE'S KIDS IN THE AFTERNOON, A BAND AT NIGHT, BUT I'M LESS CERTAIN HOW MUCH HOTEL OCCUPANCY IS GOING TO BE INCREASED AS A RESULT OF THAT EVENT.

YOU KNOW, THE ORGANIZATION LAST YEAR REPORTED LESS THAN $11,000 IN REVENUE, WHICH RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS CURRENT CAPACITY GOING FORWARD. I KNOW THEIR BUDGET THIS YEAR IS MUCH HIGHER, BUT AGAIN, NOT DEMONSTRATED. AND I'M ALSO PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE ISSUE.

THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED BY A CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER, AND ITS FULL-TIME PAID EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS ALSO A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL. AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT SUGGESTING THAT ANYTHING IS IMPROPER, BUT I DO THINK THE CIRCUMSTANCES AT LEAST CREATE THE APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT OR PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT THAT THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL OF WHEN AWARDING PUBLIC FUNDS.

I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT AN ORGANIZATION WITH SUCH A LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY AND LIMITED DEMONSTRATED TOURISM IMPACT WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A HOTEL MOTEL TAX GRANT IF IT DID NOT ALREADY HAVE AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY.

AND I THINK THERE'S BETTER WAYS TO SUPPORT THESE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS. RATHER THAN HOTEL MOTEL TAX, I THINK THE CITY WOULD BE BETTER OFF SPONSORING SPECIFIC EVENTS LIKE THE THIRD STREET BLOCK PARTY EVENTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOES THAT WITH OTHER EVENT-BASED GROUPS LIKE THE NEW BOW ARTS GROUP, ALSO THE NEW BOHEMIAN APPROACH.

SO I THINK THIS WOULD ALLOW

[02:10:01]

AND TIE THE HOTEL-MOTEL TAX MORE DIRECTLY TO ITS CURRENT FOCUS, WHICH IS REALLY DRIVING TOURISM AND HOTEL NIGHTS, WHILE SUPPORTING EVENTS, WHICH ARE ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS HISTORICALLY WITH THAT.

AND THEN THE FINAL THING IS SPT. SO, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF BREAKS MY HEART. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T APPLY.

I'M ASSUMING IT'S AN OVERSIGHT, BUT AND IT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS PER SE.

IT WAS ABOUT $12,000. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC TO THAT ORGANIZATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO AFFORD TO PRODUCE THE SHOWS. AND THEY ARE A TENANT AT CSPS, PROBABLY PAYING ABOUT $1,000 A MONTH. I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT, BUT THEY'RE A THEATER IN THAT BUILDING. AND IF THEY DON'T GET THE FUNDING, ARE THEY GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD AT CSPS HALL? THERE HAD BEEN TIMES IN THE RECENT PAST WHERE, EXCUSE ME, THEY COULDN'T AFFORD CSPS AND THEY PULLED OUT AND WENT TO ANOTHER LOCATION. SO I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT, I KNOW THERE'S A GRANT AND THERE'S A DEADLINE, BUT THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THESE OTHER SMALL NONPROFITS. ANOTHER ONE IS RHCR THEATER, RIGHT? SO THAT'S A THEATER WHERE THEY HAVEN'T APPLIED FOR FUNDING. THEY PROBABLY SHOULD. JUST THEIR LAST SHOW AT CSPS HALL, AND WE SAW EACH OTHER THERE, THERE WERE MORE THAN 30 KIDS IN THAT SHOW. THEY PAY $1,000 A MONTH TO CSPS, RIGHT? SO IF THESE SMALLER NONPROFITS THAT AREN'T GETTING HOTEL-MOTEL TAX THAT ALSO MAY NOT BE GETTING FUNDING FROM THE CITY, THERE'S A RIPPLE EFFECT.

DIRECTLY TIED TO OTHER NONPROFITS AS WELL AS THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT BENEFIT FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS COMING THROUGH. SO, THANKS FOR LISTENING. I'D BE HAPPY TO CHAT OFFLINE BUT I AM REALLY EXCITED WITH THE FUNDING THAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE GETTING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT YEAR REVIEW AND PERHAPS THERE'S MORE DOLLARS FOR THESE NONPROFITS AND PERHAPS SOME OTHER GIFTS.

OR EVENT SPONSORSHIPS THAT THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO DO. THANK YOU. THE SPT, DID THEY NOT APPLY? OKAY, SO THAT THEY DIDN'T APPLY, THAT MAKES IT REALLY HARD.

YEAH, MAYBE I MISSED THAT.

SO NOT, YEAH, IF YOU DON'T APPLY, YOU DON'T GET THE GRANT.

BUT FIGURING OUT WHY THEY DIDN'T APPLY, CAN WE BE A SPONSOR, LIKE SPONSOR A SHOW? I JUST... I THINK ABOUT WHEN SVT WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE NEW BOCEK VILLAGE GROUP, THOUGH, AND SAME WITH REVIVAL THEATER COMPANY. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT POINT ABOUT SOMEHOW ADJUSTING THE TIME FRAME TO GIVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS TIME TO PROVE THEMSELVES, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE ARE SORT OF, WE LIGHT THE MATCH FOR THEM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE WHICH ORGANIZATIONS WERE LIGHTING THE MATCH FOR FUTURE AND THEN WHICH WERE KIND OF REWARDING FOR THEIR GROWTH, WHICH... REMINDS ME, AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE'RE PROBABLY THERE, YOU KNOW, MY FRIENDS IN DES MOINES HAVE SOMETHING CALLED BRAVO DES MOINES, AND YOU ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ARTS ORGANIZATION WHERE ALL THE ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING GOES INTO ONE ENTITY CALLED BRAVO, AND IT'S VERY, THE GRANT AWARDING PROCESS IS VERY STRUCTURED, IT'S VERY MEASURED, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS MUST MEET METRICS AND IT RELIEVES A BURDEN ON DONORS.

BECAUSE THE COMPANIES, EVERYBODY HAS ONE PLACE TO GIVE IT.

LIKE I SAID, IT MEASURES VERY SPECIFICALLY BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATION. AND I THINK MAYBE WE'RE GETTING TO THAT POINT WHERE WE, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE, DESERVING ORGANIZATIONS, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE OUT THERE, TO YOUR POINT. WE PROBABLY NEED TO START HAVING A CONVERSATION IF THIS IS STILL THE STRUCTURE THAT WE USE FOR THIS FUND, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO. IF WE CAN HOPE TO SEE THE MONEY CONTINUE TO GROW. YEAH, THANKS, MAYOR. CITY MANAGER POMERANZ AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BRAVO FOR NINE YEARS NOW. THE REASON THAT I'D LOVE FOR THAT CONVERSATION TO COME BACK IS BECAUSE IT'S REGIONAL. AND SO IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY OF DES MOINES. AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHO'S BENEFITING FROM THE INCREDIBLE ENTERTAINMENT THAT WE HAVE HERE, IT'S HARDLY JUST CEDAR RAPIDS. AND SO WITH THE INITIATIVES THAT YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF METRO REGIONALISM, I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE BECAUSE OF WHAT...

REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ASKED OF US TO SUPPORT THINGS AND INVESTMENTS IN THEIR AREAS, THAT PERHAPS THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND REVISIT THAT

[02:15:01]

COUNCILMEMBER POE. YEAH, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE BOARD OF THE NEW BOHEMIA CZECH VILLAGE GROUP HAS HAD IN THE PAST WAS HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO COME STOP IN CEDAR RAPIDS IN OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN THEY'RE GOING FROM GALENA, ILLINOIS TO THE AMANA COLONIES AND AN ORGANIZATION LIKE BRAVO THAT COULD PUT MONEY INTO KIND OF A CENTRAL LOCATION. SO THAT WE COULD AFFORD, WE AS A CITY COULD AFFORD TO DO SOME ADVERTISING ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS TO GET PEOPLE TO STOP IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES AND SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A CONVERSATION THAT WOULD BE REALLY WORTH HAVING.

OKAY, THAT WAS A LOT. THAT WAS A LOT. GOOD INFORMATION, THOUGH. REALLY GREAT CONTENT.

OH, COUNCILMEMBER TODD. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING TO COUNCILMAN MAIER.

COUNCILMAN MAIER, YOU MADE AN ILLUSION THAT I DID START SOUTHSIDE, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT, BUT THE ILLUSION WAS THAT I MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SUBMITTAL OF THAT GRANT APPLICATION.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF YOU WERE TRYING TO DO THAT, YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

OKAY? THANK YOU. MY APOLOGIES.

THAT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT I SAID OR INTENDED TO SAY, BUT WHAT I SAID WAS FACTUALLY CORRECT, RIGHT? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON. WE'VE GOT AS YOU NOTICED, WE HAVE GROUPS A, B, C AND D. AND THAT'S BY DESIGN BECAUSE WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAD TO RECUSE THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF THEIR VOLUNTEER TIME WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. SO WE BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER 31. THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2027 HOTEL MOTEL TAX ALLOCATIONS.

THIS IS TO THE ALL 14 ORGANIZATIONS. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS, THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER POE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED SAY NO. OKAY, AND THAT MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2027 HOTEL MOTEL TAX ALLOCATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,431 TO HAWKEYE DOWNS. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT, THIS ADOPTION, THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOEGER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MAIER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2027 HOTEL MOTEL TAX ALLOCATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,788 TO THE INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER.

THIS ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY... COUNCILMEMBER VANORNY, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2027 HOTEL MOTEL TAX ALLOCATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 TO THE NEW BOHEMIA AND CZECH VILLAGE GROUP. THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TODD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE

[32. Presentation and resolution accepting a proposal from East Bend & 2nd Holdings LLC, an entity of Stefan Doerrfeld, for the redevelopment of City-owned land between 2nd and 3rd Streets and 16th and 17th Avenues SE (Jeff Wozencraft). (Council Priority) CIP/DID #PRD-000079-2026]

AS STATED, THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO AWARD A POSITION FOR AN AREA BETWEEN 16TH AND 17TH AVENUES. SECOND AND THIRD STREETS SOUTHEAST SO HERE'S THE AREA IN QUESTION 16TH AVENUE IS RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE IMAGE FUTURE 17TH AVENUE IS RIGHT HERE ALONG THE RIGHT THIS IS THE 16TH AVENUE BRIDGE AND RV SYSTEM HERE SO THIS AREA IS CURRENTLY ZONED UNG URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL ZONE DISTRICT WHICH ALLOWS FOR SIX-STORY MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT UP TO SIX-STORY ALL THE PROPERTIES IN THE CURRENTLY IN THE 100 YEAR FLOOD PLANE SO NEW DEVELOPMENT WOULD NEED TO MAKE THE FLOOD PLANE ORDINANCE.

MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OBJECTIVES ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CHECK VILLAGE NEW BOHEMIA AREA ACTION PLAN. ALSO ASKING THAT PROPOSERS CONTEMPLATE CONSTRUCTION OF 17TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT. PREFERENCE HERE FOR HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL USES THAT WAS CALLED OUT IN THE CHECK VILLAGE NEW BOHEMIA AREA ACTION PLAN. DESIGN THAT MEETS OUR URBAN FORM DISTRICTS AND. PROJECTS THAT ARE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE. SO THE CITY RECEIVED ONE PROPOSAL AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY EAST BEND AND SECOND HOLDINGS LLC, AN ENTITY OF STEFAN DOERFELD. THE PROPOSAL IS FOR A MULTI-PHASE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT COMPRISED OF FOUR BUILDINGS AND AN ESTIMATED 168 UNITS AND 11,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE. SO HERE'S A SITE PLAN. AGAIN, 16TH AVENUE ON THE TOP OF

[02:20:03]

WE'RE ON 2ND STREET SOUTHEAST FACING NORTH.

THIS IS BUILDING TWO ALONG 2ND STREET SOUTHEAST.

AND THEN THIS IS A COMBINATION OF BUILDING ONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE IMAGE AND BUILDING TWO.

SO THE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY A STAKEHOLDER REVIEW GROUP COMPRISED OF A NON-COMPETING DEVELOPER, COMMERCIAL LENDER, AND NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE.

ALL UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THE AWARD OF THIS PROPOSAL FOR HIGH-QUALITY RESIDENTIAL UNITS. THERE WAS A COMMENT ON THE PROPOSAL ACCOUNTING FOR EXTENDED TIMELINES TO LEASE UP COMMERCIAL SPACES AND ADDING MORE RESIDENTS TO THE GROWING AREA TO SUPPORT CURRENT AND FUTURE BUSINESSES. WITH THAT, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO AWARD THE PROPOSAL TO EAST BEND AND SECOND HOLDINGS LLC AND ENTITY OF STEPHAN DORFIELD. AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO THE MAYOR. THANK YOU, JEFF. COUNCIL? ANY? COUNCILMEMBER TODD? YEAH. I APPRECIATE THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

AND LOOK AT THE DESIGNS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL ADD-ON TO THE DISTRICT.

WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN CAUGHT UP IN THE PAST IS ON THE TIMELINES, THOUGH.

AND THERE'S A BALANCE BETWEEN BEING SYMPATHETIC TO MARKET CONDITIONS, LEASE-UP SCHEDULES. AND STUFF THAT JUST HAPPENS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPLICATED, I MEAN, WHAT IS IT, $60 MILLION? I DON'T HAVE THE ESTIMATED TOTAL INVESTMENT.

THE PROPOSAL DID INCLUDE A TIME SPAN OF FOUR YEARS FOR THE MULTI-PHASE DEVELOPMENT, TAKING ONE BUILDING AT A TIME, UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO WORK WITH VARIOUS SOURCES AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL TO GET THIS PROJECT GOING.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE CREDIT? HOW ARE THEY PLANNING ON FINANCING IT? SO THE PROJECT CONTEMPLATES FUTURE STATE AWARDS AS WELL, SO WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDITS, BROWNFIELD, GRAYFIELD, AS NECESSARY, AND THEN SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT OF THEIR OWN EQUITY AND CONSTRUCTION FINANCING.

AND SEE, THAT IS WELL INTENDED, BUT... THE TWO THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE STATE HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AND WE ALSO HAVE SEEN HOW CHANGES IN THE FORM FORMULA FOR WORKFORCE AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS HAVE JUST HELD PROJECTS UP. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION, BUT YOU HAVE TO SEE. YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE AND WHAT IS YOU KNOW WHAT DO THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO FINANCE THEMSELVES OR YOU KNOW I MEAN ONE ANALOGY THAT I WOULD BE THE PICKLE PALACE THAT CAME BACK YOU KNOW BY THE TIME IT WAS SAID AND DONE IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE INITIALLY SET OUT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT SOME OF IT WAS STILL INTACT BUT SOME OF IT WAS ALSO MODIFIED BECAUSE OF THE MARKET CONDITIONS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S, I DON'T WANT TO HOLD IT UP AT THIS POINT, BUT I, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY GOT ONE OR TWO PROJECTS OUT THERE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY'RE AT.

I JUST, YOU KNOW, I WANT COUNCIL TO BE AWARE OF THE CONCERN. IT'S NOT ONE TO HOLD IT UP AND TO PULL IT FROM THE AGENDA, BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE OBLIGATING FOUR PARCELS. YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION WOULD BE, YOU'VE GOT FOUR PARCELS. WHY DON'T YOU SPLIT IT UP TO TWO AND HAVE TWO SEPARATE DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE EQUITY AND ARE APPLYING TO THE SAME PROGRAMS THAT THIS GUY'S GOING TO APPLY TO? APPLY TO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, THE METH, YOU KNOW, WHAT DEVELOPMENT WAS THINKING IN TERMS OF HOW THEY, THEY WANTED TO, TO LEVY THIS. IT'S READY FOR DEVELOPMENT. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR AWAY FROM BEING SHOVEL READY IT IS, BUT IT'S GOOD, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME OPTIONS BECAUSE IT'S A CRAZY WORLD. AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW. THESE ARE NOBLE WHEN THEY START,

[02:25:02]

ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON. I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S SOME SOME INTERESTING POINTS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP AND MY QUESTION JEFF FOR YOU IS KIND OF THE PROCESS HERE. IS THERE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THEN THAT WOULD COME? SO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WOULD COME TO COUNCIL IN A FUTURE ACTION.

WITH THOSE, WE ARE INCLUDING LANGUAGE THAT A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT SHOULD BE OR WITH THIS RESOLUTION, A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT SHOULD BE EXECUTED WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS CONTINUES.

AND I THINK COUNCILMEMBER TODD, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT THE TIME. AND SO I THINK, JEFF, AS YOU WORK ON THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE KIND OF THAT EXIT AT THE END SO THAT A PROPERTY DOESN'T SIT FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, INDETERMINATE LENGTH OF TIME BEFORE THE CITY PUTS IT BACK OUT FOR ANOTHER RFP. IF A CURRENT DEVELOPER JUST FOR WHATEVER REASON CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN. GREAT POINT.

THANKS, MAN. YEAH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WE'RE JUST VOTING OUT, ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL HERE, THE RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL. SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION

[33. Ordinance relating to the collection of tax increments within the Caledonia Haulers Urban Renewal Area at 420-550 French Court SW. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #TIF-0022-2026]

OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT BRINGS US TO ORDINANCES NOW. 33 IS AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE COLLECTION OF TAX INCREMENTS WITHIN THE CALEDONIA-HALLERS URBAN RENEWAL AREA.

THIS IS AT 420 TO 550 FRENCH COURT SOUTHWEST. THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TODD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER 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

[34. Ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 1027 and 1033 8th Street NW from T-R1, Traditional Residential Single Unit District, to T-RF, Traditional Residential Flex District, as requested by Matthew 25. (Council Priority) CIP/DID #RZNE-000296-2026]

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. 34 IS AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CHANGE OF ZONE FOR PROPERTY AT 1027 AND 1033 8TH STREET NW FROM TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE UNIT DISTRICT TO TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL FLEX DISTRICT, AS REQUESTED BY MATTHEW 25. THIS APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ON ITS SECOND READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MAIER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER POE.

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

THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER

[PUBLIC INPUT]

OPPOSED SAY NO. AND THIS MOTION CARRIES. AND THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE OUT OUR FORMAL BUSINESS TODAY AND BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD. AND THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THE... COMMUNITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENTS, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY SUBJECT PERTAINING TO COUNCIL BUSINESS. IF YOU'RE NOT A RESIDENT, A PROPERTY OWNER, OR A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK, BUT WE DO ENCOURAGE YOU, AS ALWAYS, TO EMAIL OR CALL COUNCILMEMBERS AND CITY STAFF WITH YOUR COMMENTS.

AS WITH THE EARLIER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AT THIS TIME WE'RE HERE AS A COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO YOU. I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY TO REMAIN AT THE LECTERN.

COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES, AND THERE SHOULD BE NO ABUSIVE, OBSCENE, LOUD, THREATENING, OR PERSONAL COMMENTS. IF YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, APPROACH THE MICROPHONE WHEN CALLED UPON. AND THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS KATHY POTTS, HERE TO SPEAK ON NEIGHBORLINESS. NOPE, OKAY, KATHY IS DECLINING.

NEXT UP, MELISSA DUFFIELD.

WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT REMOVING FUNDS FROM THE FREEDOM FESTIVAL? YOU'RE NOT EVEN FROM HERE, BUT I HAVE QUITE A FEW MEMORIES THERE, SO THAT KIND OF TICKS ME OFF, BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER. WE HAVE OTHER WAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH YOUR CENSORSHIP OF THIS CITY AND ITS ACTS.

IN REGARDS TO AJ'S HOUSE, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY OF YOU CRYING LATER IN LEGAL FILINGS THAT YOU'RE INNOCENT PARTIES BECAUSE YOU ALL JUST VOTED ON IT. SO FROM HERE ON OUT, GET READY FOR YOUR SUBPOENAS AND DEPOSITIONS.

WE KNOW YOUR FINGERS ARE IN EVERYTHING, SO IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH. AND FOR MY PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE. THE FIRST ONE THAT WE'LL START WITH IS ANN POE'S FAMILY'S BUSINESS THAT IS AT 1871 ELLIS BOULEVARD THAT WAS BUILT AFTER THE FLOOD, AND HIS FAMILY'S INVOLVEMENT IS IN IT. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. AND THE WATER DISBURSEMENT OF THE CASINO AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND I CAN'T WAIT ON ALL OF THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT WAS REALLY CLASSIC WAS THE INTIMIDATION FROM THE OFFICER OUT IN THE HALLWAY THAT WHILE SHE WAS BEING INTERVIEWED THAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO GET HER FOR... DISTURBING THE PEACE WHEN SHE'S STANDING IN THE HALLWAY SAD ABOUT HER HOUSE AND THE MISCOMMUNICATION THAT SHE'S GOTTEN FROM YOU GUYS UM BUT SHE'S NOT GOING TO FAIL AND SHE'S GOING TO KEEP STANDING AND WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT HER AND WHY DO WE WANT TO SILENCE PEOPLE I MEAN MAYOR YOU GIVE ME A NICE LITTLE LETTER YOU HAVE A COP HANDED TO ME BECAUSE I MADE ONE COMMENT TO DALE TODD ASKING IF I WAS A LIAR BUT

[02:30:01]

BUT WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO SILENCE SOMEBODY LIKE ME? I DON'T KNOW. I WAS DOWN AT THE JAIL LAST NIGHT ACTUALLY UNTIL 11 P.M.

DEALING WITH A MAN THAT IS BEING TARGETED BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY BEAT UP A PEDO THAT WAS CATCALLING HIS 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. AND NOW CRPD WANTS TO PUT FALSE CHARGES ON HIM. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A MOTHER THAT HAS HAD FOUR OF HER CHILDREN RAPED BY A LOCAL PEDOPHILE IN CEDAR RAPIDS. POLICE DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND THEN AS WE'VE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES ON THE RECORD, WE HAVE CONVICTED GANG RAPISTS AND WOMAN BEATERS AND SEX OFFENDERS THAT ARE GETTING ALL THESE LOVELY PUSHES FOR MONEY AND GRANTS AND SUPPORT AND MEDIA COVERAGE.

MEANWHILE, INDIVIDUALS LIKE ME ARE TARGETED. SO YOU GUYS THINK I'M BROKE AND POOR YOU AND WHATEVER ELSE AND I HAD AN INTERESTING COMMENT ABOUT YOU KNOW THAT I'VE COME IN AND SPOKE A LOT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT IS GOING ON BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THERE IS AND I FULLY CANNOT WAIT TO KEEP EXERCISING MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND KEEP CATALOGING THE HARASSMENT AND THE EMAIL THAT WE HAVE SHOWING THIS MAYOR OF CEDAR RAPIDS WANTED TO REMOVE COMPLETELY PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WHY WOULD THAT BE? BECAUSE SHE WANTS CENSORSHIP.

AND YOU GUYS WANT TO PUSH YOUR AGENDA, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, FROM CHICAGO. AND YOU MAY WANT TO PUSH YOUR AGENDAS TRYING TO PRETEND YOU DO GOOD WORDS AND GOOD DEEDS. AND YOU HAVE CROCODILE TEARS, RIGHT, AMPO, THAT YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. WE GOT THAT ON CAMERA, TOO. AND SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IT'S NOT JUST ME.

AND WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE QUIET BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ME IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE 100 PUBLIC SERVANTS, PROSECUTORS, FEDERAL FRIENDS.

WHO ARE REALLY PISSED OFF WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR STATE AND IN THIS COUNTY. SO I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU REMEMBER THAT EVERY WORD THAT YOU SAY ON THIS RECORD, FROM THE TIME THAT YOU'VE STARTED, I HAVE 13 SECONDS LEFT. YOU ACTUALLY DON'T. IT IS ON THE RECORD, AND IT WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. SO GET READY FOR YOUR DEPOSITION. THANK YOU, VALERIE. VALERIE PARK HERE TO SPEAK ON DATA CENTER AND POWER PLANT.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I SAID MY NAME IS VALERIE PARK. I LIVE IN THE STONY POINT NEIGHBORHOOD OVER ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE, NORTHWEST OF FIRST AVENUE, WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON. AND I LEARNED NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT THERE IS A NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT BEING PLANNED JUST FIVE MILES AWAY FROM WHAT WE HAD HOPED WOULD BE OUR FOREVER HOME. WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE LOVE BEING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF MULTIPLE PLAYGROUNDS AND THE GORGEOUS MORGAN CREEK PARK AS WELL AS CHERRY HILL PARK, BUT IT HAS BEEN PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTING TO FIND OUT THAT THESE DATA CENTERS AND THESE POWER PLANTS ARE JUST BEING RUBBER-STAMPED FOR APPROVAL WITH NO PUSHBACK ON HOW, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER DAVID SAID EARLIER, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE ANY POTENTIALLY NATURAL DISASTERS OR FIRES.

AND INSTEAD, THIS GAS POWER PLANT IN PARTICULAR IS SIMPLY PLANNING TO RELY ON THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN ATKINS, JUST A COUPLE MILES AWAY, AND WITH YESTERDAY BEING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DERECHO AND A FULL-ON DERECHO.

PASSING THROUGH OHIO AND INDIANA AND ILLINOIS THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON, I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION FROM ALLIANT ENERGY, WHICH IS PLANNING TO BUILD THIS GAS POWER PLANT, ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ON-SITE, THEIR OWN PERSONAL ON-SITE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM FOR THIS NATURAL GAS PLANT THAT'S BEING PLANNED. THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. KIM DONAHUE.

GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND. I'M NOT READY. ALRIGHT. I'M SPEAKING FROM THIS DAIS TODAY TO EXPOSE AN ONGOING DOCUMENTED PATTERN OF POLITICAL RETALIATION, VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION AND SYSTEMIC INTIMIDATION OPERATING INSIDE THE CITY HALL. FACT. THIS ADMINISTRATION ISSUED A FORMAL CONDUCT WARNING TO SEVERAL ADVOCATES TO PAINT OUR ADVOCACY AS DISRUPTION, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SLASHING PUBLIC COMMENT TIME FROM FIVE TO THREE MINUTES.

FACT. WE HAVE THE EMAIL, THE WRITTEN RECORD THAT PROVES THAT MAYOR TIFFANY O'DONNELL EXPLICITLY INTENDED TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC SPEAKING TIME ALTOGETHER. HER OWN WORDS ADMIT THAT SHE WAS DISCUSSING US IN OUR ABSENCE, AND

[02:35:01]

FACT. I PERSONALLY CONTRIBUTED $14,440 TO HOTEL AND MOTEL TAX.

YOU'RE WELCOME. I ALMOST FUNDED NEW BOW AND CZECH VILLAGE ASSOCIATION ALL BY MYSELF. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE MY SALES TAX. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN RANTING SO MUCH ABOUT HOW HAPPY YOU ARE. I FIGURED I'D LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT WAS ON ME. ANYWAY, I PERSONALLY CONTRIBUTED THIS MONEY AND THAT CONTRIBUTION ON ITS OWN WAS ENOUGH TO AWARD ONE OF YOUR NOT-FOR-PROFITS ALMOST A FULL PACKAGE.

IT'S TIME THAT CITY COUNCIL SHOW RESPECT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ADVOCATE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND DRIVE THIS LOCAL ECONOMY. ABUSIVE POWER HAPPENS DYNAMICALLY IN THIS ROOM. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ROUTINELY STALK, MOCK, INTERRUPT, TALK OVER, AND SPEAK CONDESCENDINGLY TO INDEPENDENT ADVOCATES AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

YOU ACTIVELY SPREAD FALSEHOODS ABOUT US AND DEFAME ADVOCATES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO DESTABILIZE THEIR VOICES AND INFLICT FURTHER ABUSE. WHEN PAPERWORK MOCKERY AND CHARACTER ASSASSINATION FAIL, THE TACTICS TURN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. I HAVE REPEATEDLY WITNESSED TARGETED THREATS OF FALSE ARREST BY POLICE OFFICERS INSIDE THIS BUILDING, A PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION FOR EXERCISING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THESE OFFICERS USE THE LAW, AVOIDING TACTICS TO MANUFACTURE A CRIME OUT OF PROTECTED SPEECH. THE DOUBLE STANDARD INSIDE THIS DEPARTMENT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. LET'S APPLY THIS STANDARD EVENLY TODAY.

THESE FACTS ARE NOW FULLY EXPOSED ON PERMANENT RECORD. THANK YOU.

[CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS]

CITY MANAGER POMERANZ, ANY COMMUNICATIONS TODAY? THIS IS INFORMATION FROM A THREE NEW CITY, WHICH IS A LAUREN O.

AREA.

BUT JASMINE AL-MOYED, THE COUNCIL KNOWS OUR NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND JASMINE WAS WITH THE CITY FOR NINE YEARS, DID AN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING JOB, WENT TO KIRKWOOD, AND IS NOW REJOINING US AT THE CITY. SO THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS.

FROM THE DIRECTOR POSITION, AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT.

EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL, COUNCILMEMBER TYLER OLSON MOVES TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER OVERLAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.