While the council meeting agenda list is pretty short (only 18 items), the topics are pretty weighty! First up, at 7pm, is the public hearing for the five-year, $358M Capital Improvement Program (Item #3). We'll also have a public hearing for the Main Street Reconstruction Project (Item #5), and council will consider a temporary moratorium on construction downtown (Item #12). And then the City Council will consider the Sturgis Falls Celebration Contract (Item #15).
Prior to that meeting, at 5:10 the council will have a work session to build council consensus for immediate changes desired to the downtown zoning ordinance (which is no surprise, because we talked about changes back in November when the new zoning ordinance was approved). At 5:50, the council will hear in Committee of the Whole a presentation about the proposed design for a roundabout at 6th and Main as part of the Main Street Reconstruction Project, and the Annual Report of the Library, and a Library Board of Trustees interview.
I hope you can join us in person, online, or on Channel 15. And thanks as always for doing the hard work to be an informed and engaged resident!
The City is providing in-person and electronic options for this meeting. The City encourages in-person attendees to follow the latest CDC guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
The meeting will be accessible via video conference and the public may access/participate in the meeting in the following ways:
a) By dialing the phone number +13126266799 or +19292056099 or +12532158782 or +13017158592 or +13462487799 or +16699006833 and when prompted, enter the meeting ID (access code) 962 7287 1738.
b) iPhone one-tap: +13126266799,,96272871738# or +19292056099,,96272871738#
c) Join via smartphone or computer using this link: https://zoom.us/j/96272871738.
d) View the live stream on Channel 15 YouTube using this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzeig5nIS-dIEYisqah1uQ (view only).
e) Watch on Cedar Falls Cable Channel 15 (view only).
To request to speak when allowed on the agenda, participants must click “Raise Hand” if connected by smartphone or computer, or press *9 if connected by telephone. All participants will be muted by the presiding officer when not actually speaking.
Call to Order by the Mayor
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting of January 3, 2022. This simply adds the minutes to the official record as an accurate reflection of what transpired in the meeting. This is not an appropriate time to debate the merits of the items themselves.
Agenda Revisions
Special Presentations
2. Proclamation recognizing January 1 - December 31, 2022 as The Year of College Hill. Last year, I declared a "Year of the Neighborhood" to highlight the importance of neighborhoods and neighborliness to the future of Cedar Falls. This year, I'm focusing on College Hill as a vital part of our city's economic and cultural future. I'll be spotlighting events, activities, and city investment in infrastructure and cultural betterment.
Public Forum. (Speakers will have one opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes on topics germane to City business.)
Special Order of Business
3. Public hearing on the proposed FY2022-FY2027 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The CIP Is a planning document only; every item listed in it will have to be approved separately by council. Still, this is an excellent forecasting tool to determine what's likely coming up ahead for the next five years of spending. I would like to see the council amend the document to restore the FY23 funding of $150K in item 54, for the zoning code update for College Hill. I appreciate the council's concern that the new zoning should not go forward until some questions/issues are resolved with the downtown code, but removing funding ENTIRELY for the whole fiscal year is overkill in my book. I would much rather see the council work hard and quickly to address the downtown zoning, and then "unpause" College Hill's zoning updates by summertime. College Hill needs the city's support now more than ever, and restoring the $150K for FY23 would be a resounding message.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published January 5, 2022)
b) Written communication filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Resolution approving and adopting the FY2022-FY2027 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
4. Resolution declaring an official intent under Treasury Regulation 1.150-2 to issue debt to reimburse the City for certain original expenditures paid in connection with specified project. This is a required letter for the U.S Treasury to let them know that we will intend to bond for certain projects listed in the CIP.
5. Public hearing on a proposal to undertake a public improvement project for the Main Street Reconstruction Project, and to authorize acquisition of private property for said project. I am very much in support of the full project concept, including a transition to two travel lanes with a center turn lane. My one concern remains, about the continued request from staff to authorize the full taking of 1124 Main Street, built in 1909. I can't justify the taking of a home under eminent domain, simply to construct a roundabout. A signalized intersection can still work in that area, if necessary. While the plans now show the ability to have a roundabout without taking down the house, I'm concerned that what's being asked for tonight is 'council permission' to take the full property if the city staff deems it necessary.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published January 13, 2022)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Resolution approving a public improvement project for the Main Street Reconstruction Project, and authorizing acquisition of private property for said project.
6. Public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimate of cost for the West Viking Road Industrial Park Phase V Project. This $8.7M project will be funded through TIF dollars, and will allow all the roads and sewer lines and other infrastructure to be installed. We have to be careful about TIF dollars, because the city is basically speculating that companies will want to locate in this area to cover the cost of the infrastructure build over time. As it is, this is a very desirable area and so I believe the risk is minimal to make this investment in infrastructure.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published January 7, 2022)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Resolution approving and adopting the plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the West Viking Road Industrial Park Phase V Project.
New Business
Consent Calendar: (The following items will be acted upon by voice vote on a single motion without separate discussion, unless someone from the Council or public requests that a specific item be considered separately.)
7. Receive and file the City Council Goal Setting Report of December 7 & 9, 2021. This write-up from the work session facilitator covers all the topics that city councilors discussed at Goal Setting work session, as well as the consensus reached on some issues.
8. Receive and file the Committee of the Whole minutes of January 3, 2022 relative to the following items: This simply adds the minutes to the official record as an accurate reflection of what transpired in the meeting. This is not an appropriate time to debate the merits of the items themselves.
a) Capital Improvements Program (CIP) – Joint Meeting with Planning & Zoning Commission.
b) 2023 Pavement Management.
9. Approve the following applications for beer permits and liquor licenses: The City Council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits.
a) AmericInn Lodge and Suites, 5818 Nordic Drive, Class B beer - renewal.
b) Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2125 West Lone Tree Road, Class C liquor & outdoor service - renewal.
c) Golf Lab, 201 Washington Street, Class B beer - new.
Resolution Calendar: (The following items will be acted upon by roll call vote on a single motion without separate discussion, unless someone from the Council or public requests that a specific item be considered separately.)
10. Resolution approving and adopting the FY2023 City Council Goals, Work Program and Short-Term Financial Plan. I say every year, this is the most important document the council produces because it provides guidance for the staff for the next 18 months. Who reads it line by line, besides me? I see that hand in the back -- thanks! This year I reconfigured the doc organization so that every council direction is assigned a tracking number (like 1.B.1.c) so that it's easy to refer to a council direction. I know that's pretty geeky, but every major city staff action should refer back to the council's stated goals and directives. Now it's much easier to cite those objectives.
11. Resolution naming Official Depositories for the City of Cedar Falls. This resolution is routinely generated, and in this case it's to account for the change in a bank name.
12. Resolution placing a temporary moratorium on the issuance of building permits for construction within the Urban General, Urban General 2 and Storefront designations in the Downtown Character District (CD-DT) zoning district until May 1, 2022. The council directed staff to generate this moratorium language at the last council meeting. I am deeply concerned about the message that would be sent, that Cedar Falls is not open for business. If this passes, and if I believe that the action would be detrimental to the long term economic interests of the city, I reserve the right to veto the ordinance.
13. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Contract for Appraisal Services with Rally Appraisal LLC relative to the Northern Cedar Falls Flood Buyout Program. This would allow the appraiser to receive between $425 and $475 for each property appraised under the flood buyout program. Nine properties are included, and this would be paid for through FEMA grants.
14. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Service Agreement with Kirk Gross Company relative to moving furniture for the City Hall Remodel Project. This approval would pay Kirk Gross $11K in taxpayer funds to carefully disassemble, store, and reassemble City Hall furniture as part of the remodel.
15. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Agreement for Use of City Parks and Services with Sturgis Falls Celebration, Inc. This is a continuation of language from previous contracts, without stipulating that Sturgis Falls Celebration will charge 15% from vendors for selling in Sturgis Falls spaces. Council members were previously concerned of the ethics and practicality of the City inserting itself into contracts involving third parties, so it was left out this year.
16. Resolution receiving and filing, and setting February 7, 2022 as the date of public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2022 CDBG Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. No concerns about the hearing date.
Allow Bills and Claims
17. Allow Bills and Claims for January 18, 2022. The council reviews and approves all bills and claims made to the city since the previous council meeting.
City Council Referrals
City Council Updates
Staff Updates
Executive Session
18. Executive session to discuss Property Acquisition per Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property.
Adjournment
| Council Packet Link | |
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| Meeting Date | 01/18/22 |
