**Heads up, I've been sleeping off a cold all weekend, and so still need to read through a few of the Resolution Calendar items on Monday -- thanks for your patience!**
The Monday night council meeting includes the approval of the FY21 Budget (for July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021) as Items #2 and #3, as well as the receiving and filing of the special election petition and official call for an election, so that the County Auditor can set a date. Along with that, are many items of a more administrative nature; I'll highlight Item #15, which is the Council's annual Goals and Objectives document...it guides the staff's work for the year, and deserves close scrutiny.
Before the regular council meeting at 7pm, the Council will be holding a public work session at 5pm to receive an update from Director Olson on the Public Safety Officer model. During our December Goal Setting Session, the consensus of council (no votes) was to allow the Public Safety Director to present the history of, and status of, the changes made in the public safety model over the past 5+ years. This briefing is especially meant for the benefit of the newer City Councilors.
While the formal briefing is expected to take no more than 45 minutes, I've provided for a total of 110 minutes so that the Council has an opportunity for questions, andto dialogue about the potential next steps for the program in a setting open to the public. Seating will be limited in the Duke Young Conference Room, and will not be recorded by the city, per Council guidelines (only Committee of the Whole and Regular Meetings are recorded and broadcast). But by the Iowa Open Meetings Law, the public may attend, record, and broadcast the proceedings if desired.
I hope you can join us...either in person at City Hall, on Channel 15, or streaming live on YouTube.
Call to Order by the Mayor
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting of February 3, 2020. Simply adds the minutes to the official record as an accurate reflection of what transpired at the meeting; this isn't a time to debate the merits of the issues that were discussed in the meeting No questions.
Agenda Revisions
Special Order of Business
2. Public hearing on the proposed FY2021 Budget for the City of Cedar Falls. This is the public's opportunity to discuss the city's proposed $86.7M budget. I have reviewed the budget for July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, and have no questions about it.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published February 5, 2020)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff presentation.
d) Oral comments.
3. Resolution approving and adopting the FY2021 Budget for the City of Cedar Falls. This is council's action to approve the budget as-is, or with amendments. No questions.
4. Public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 12th Street Reconstruction Project. This is the public's opportunity to comment on the planned rebuilding of 12th Street, immediately surrounding Walnut Street. This plan includes "shaving off" (I know, super technical term) the top of the hill at Walnut and 12th, to provide better visibility for vehicles going southbound on Walnut Street.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published February 7, 2020)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff presentation.
d) Oral comments.
5. Resolution approving and adopting the plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 12th Street Reconstruction Project.This is the council's action to approve or disapprove this project. No questions.
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.)
6. Receive and file a proclamation recognizing February 14, 2020 as the 19th Amendment Centennial Kick-Off Day. The 19th Amendment Centennial is actually a whole year, but I'm glad that we could honor the official Iowa Kickoff last Friday and shine a spotlight on the great activities going on this year.
7. Receive and file a proclamation recognizing February 19, 2020 as Community Main Street Volunteer Appreciation Day. CMS Volunteers are amazing, and I'm very glad to proclaim a day for them!
8. Receive and file the Committee of the Whole minutes of February 3, 2020 relative to the following items: Simply adds the minutes to the official record as an accurate reflection of what transpired at the meeting; this isn't a time to debate the merits the issues that were discussed in the meeting. No questions.
a) FY21 Budget.
b) Bills & Payroll.
9. Receive and file the City Council Work Session minutes of February 3, 2020 relative to Northern Cedar Falls Drainage Study. In a work session earlier this month, the council discussed water drainage problems in a North Cedar neighborhood; the council directed staff to facilitate a private short-term solution, and for the city to begin working on a longer-term stormwater solution for that area. No questions.
10. Receive and file the Administration Committee minutes of February 5, 2020 relative to a hearing to consider the appeal of an employee grievance denial. A firefighter requested an open meeting to appeal a disciplinary decision by the city; it was denied in appeal by the City Council, acting as the Administration Committee.
11. Receive and file a Petition Requesting Special Election to fill a vacancy in the office of Council Member At Large. State Law requires that the city formally receive and file the petition; all the sheets are included in the packet. Item #14 below is the actual call for the special election.
12. Receive and file the 2019 Annual Reports of the Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Commission, Group Rental Committee/Board of Rental Housing Appeals, Housing Commission and Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee. This explains the work of these commissions for the past year. No questions at this time.
13. Approve the following applications for liquor licenses: The city council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits. No questions.
a) College Square Cinema, 6301 University Avenue, Special Class C liquor - renewal.
b) Chad's Pizza and Restaurant, 909 West 23rd Street, Class C liquor & outdoor service - renewal.
c) Panther Lounge, 210 East 18th Street, Class C liquor - renewal.
d) Hy-Vee Tasting Room, 6301 University Avenue, Special Class C liquor - change in ownership.
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.)
14. Resolution calling for a Special Election to fill the vacancy for the office of City Council At Large. State Law requires that the City Council actually resolve to have the special election; there's not really an option to say "no" on this since the petition was received, but that's the way the law's written. I'm against putting anything on the agenda that's a 'required yes" (aka a rubber stamp) but in this case we don't really seem to have a choice. After this resolution is passed, the County Auditor will set a date for the special election, and I'll just be watching to make sure it's not the week of March 16th (UNI Spring Break). No questions.
15. Resolution approving and adopting the FY2021 City Council Goals & Objectives. This is one of the most important documents that the council creates each year, and I've had issues in the past with how it ties to our annual goal-setting session each year (for the most part, it's just recycled from previous years). I added a few items into the document for council approval, and I'll highlight those in the meeting.
16. Resolution levying a final assessment for costs incurred by the City to clean up the property located at 1704 Parker Street. After continued neglect by the property owner in complying with our nuisance ordinances, the city hired a contractor to do the work and assessed the property for it. No questions.
17. Resolution levying a final assessment for costs incurred by the City to clean up the property located at 804-804 1/2 Seerley Boulevard. After continued neglect by the property owner in complying with our nuisance ordinances, the city hired a contractor to do the work and assessed the property for it. No questions.
18. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Consolidated Public Safety Communications 28E Agreement with participating government agencies in Black Hawk County relative to providing consolidated dispatch and communications services. This 28E funds the county's 911 dispatch center; a change from previous years is that now the calculation is based partly off of population, not just the calls for service and calls-per-click of previous years. I believe this is a fair way to partition the costs. No questions.
19. Resolution approving six occupancy permits prior to the acceptance of public improvements in Prairie Winds 4th Addition, as recommended by city staff. The developer is asking to allow people who've bought homes in the new subdivision to be able to move in, even though the roads and other infrastructure have not been inspected yet. Some of this is due to snow and weather, so I have no concerns that the public improvements can be formally accepted in the spring. No questions.
20. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Agreement with River Place Properties, LC relative to conveyance of certain real estate back to the City.This allows the City to take ownership of the large parking lot just to the north of East Second Street after ~$700K of improvements were made to it by the developer.
21. Resolution approving a Claim for Non-Residential Relocation Assistance Reimbursement, in conjunction with the West 1st Street Reconstruction Project. [I've not had time yet to read through this in detail yet, but will do so on Monday. ]
22. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Storm Water Maintenance and Repair Agreement with The Cedar Falls Gospel Hall Association relative to a post-construction storm water management plan for Lot 367 in S.A. Bishop's Replat of a part of Pacific Addition. [I've not had time yet to read through this in detail yet, but will do so on Monday. ]
23. Resolution approving and accepting the contract and bond of K. Cunningham Construction Company, Inc., relative to the Downtown Streetscape and Reconstruction Project. This resolution would allow the contractor to begin the work on the $2.2M in downtown improvements this year. No questions.
24. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Professional Service Agreement with Terracon Consultants, Inc. to complete an Iowa DNR Tier 1 Report, in conjunction with the West 1st Street Reconstruction Project. [I've not had time yet to read through this in detail yet, but will do so on Monday. ]
25. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the Professional Service Agreement with Terracon Consultants, Inc. for an extension of the 2019 Construction Testing Services through the 2021 construction season.[I've not had time yet to read through this in detail yet, but will do so on Monday. ]
26. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Professional Service Agreement with Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC relative to the 2020 Bridge Inspection Project. [I've not had time yet to read through this in detail yet, but will do so on Monday. ]
27. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Professional Service Agreement with Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC relative to the West 27th Street Corridor Study-Hudson Road to Union Road. [I've not had time yet to read through this in detail yet, but will do so on Monday. ]
28. Resolution receiving and filing, and setting March 2, 2020 as the date of public hearing on, the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2020 Permeable Alley Project. No questions about the hearing date.
29. Resolution receiving and filing, and setting March 2, 2020 as the date of public hearing on, the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2020 Street Construction Project. No questions about the hearing date.
Allow Bills and Payroll
30. Allow Bills and Payroll of February 17, 2020. No questions about bills and payroll.
City Council Referrals
City Council Updates
Staff Updates
Public Forum. (Speakers will have one opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes on topics germane to City business.)
Adjournment
| Council Packet Link | |
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| Meeting Date | 02/17/20 |
