This council meeting does not appear to have controversial items on it; I would invite your inspection of two proposed ordinances (Item #24 and #25) which would add a loitering ordinance to the city code, and a municipal infraction penalty for repeat violations of the Noxious Weeds ordinance. I'm interested in your thoughts on these. Sturgis Falls is also asking for an extension of its loan from the city (Item #13) and the Civil Service Commission has a communication for the City Council regarding the Police Chief applications (Item #10). At the end of the meeting, we'll provide residents with an update on current city actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We won't have a Committee of the Whole, so the evening will kick off with our Regular Meeting at 7pm on Zoom, Channel 15, and YouTube. If you'd like to participate in the Zoom meeting, which for the first time will be held in "webinar" format, you can do it using the instructions at the top of the agenda. Thanks for seeking to be an informed and engaged resident, and hope to see you there!
Call to Order by the Mayor
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting of April 6, 2020. This action simply enters the minutes into the official record as an accurate representation of what transpired at the meeting, and is not a time to debate the merits of the items themselves.
Agenda Revisions
Special Order of Business
2. Continuation of the public hearing on the proposed vacation and dedication of a storm sewer easement on the northeast corner of the property located at 312 West 1st Street. This continues the public's opportunity to weigh in on this proposed city action.
a) Staff comments.
b) Public comments.
3. Resolution approving and authorizing vacation and dedication of a storm sewer easement on the northeast corner of the property located at 312 West 1st Street. Currently, the city has an agreement with the property owner that nothing will be constructed on a small reserved piece fo land, which was saved for storm sewer access. Community Bank and Trust would like reservation (easement) to go away as part of their construction plans for a new facility on that site. City staff has no problems with this request; it just has to go through council for approval first.
4. Public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the Cedar Falls Recreation Center – Locker Rooms Renovation Project. This is the public's opportunity to weigh in on this project.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published April 10, 2020)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
5. Resolution approving and adopting the plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the Cedar Falls Recreation Center – Locker Rooms Renovation Project. This project would refurbish the locker rooms, which are dated and cramped. The packet didn't note what the estimate of cost for this project is, or how to obtain this information; when I did my initial review of the packet on Friday, I should have caught this and requested it be included in the packet. My apologies for that, and I'll be more careful in the future. As it stands, the packet doesn't know what this project is expected to cost. I'll ask for details on Monday night.
6. Public hearing on a proposed ordinance amending the boundaries for wards and precincts within the City of Cedar Falls to incorporate recently annexed territory. This is the public's opportunity to comment on this project; it will be voted on at a later council meeting. It's unusual that the Council will not be voting on this item tonight, just having the public hearing for it.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published April 10, 2020)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
7. Pass an ordinance amending the boundaries for wards and precincts within the City of Cedar Falls to incorporate recently annexed territory, upon its first consideration. This required administrative action will allow the new territory to be included as part of Ward 2.
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.)
8. Approve the following recommendations of the Mayor relative to the appointment of members to Boards and Commissions: No questions; these board members have served diligently for many years, and I am happy to reappoint.
a) Chris Martin, Board of Rental Housing Appeals, term ending 05/01/2024.
b) Cindy Wiles, Board of Rental Housing Appeals, term ending 05/01/2024.
9. Receive and file a communication from the Civil Service Commission relative to a certified list for the position of Administrative Assistant. No questions about the certified list.
10. Receive and file a communication from the Civil Service Commission relative to a certified list for the position of Assistant Public Safety Director/Police Chief. This is a "receive and file" communication from the Civil Service Commission; my understanding is five people nationwide expressed interest in this position, and two of those did not complete fully complete the application, leaving three remaining. At the council meeting, I will ask the Administrator to provide details on this application process. As mayor, I am very interested in ensuring that the city has a robust application process, which allowed for national consideration. There will be no "heir apparents" during my term, and I do see value in bringing in outside experience to Cedar Falls, rather than my current perception that the City promotes for senior leadership positions from within.
11. Approve the following applications for beer permits and liquor licenses: The City Council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits; no questions.
a) Hy-Vee Clubroom, 6301 University Avenue, Special Class C liquor - renewal.
b) The Horny Toad American Bar & Grille, 204 Main Street, Class C liquor - renewal.
c) ZSAVOOZ, 206 Brandilynn Boulevard, Class C liquor & outdoor service - renewal.
d) Casey's General Store, 2425 Center Street, Class E liquor - renewal.
e) Walgreens, 2509 Whitetail Drive, Class E liquor - renewal.
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.)
12. Resolution authorizing the redemption of outstanding General Obligation Capital Loan Notes, Series 2009A, of the City of Cedar Falls, dated December 23, 2009, and directing notice be given. This financial action is to put the city's capital loans into a more favorable position. No questions about this request.
13. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Second Amendment to Loan Agreement with Sturgis Falls Celebration, Inc. This would allow Sturgis Falls an extra year to pay off its loan to the City, at the corporation expects a lowered sponsorship rate from area businesses as they recover from the coronavirus shutdown/slowdown.
14. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a contract with Laser Line Striping relative to 2020 pavement marking services. This would commit $46.3K in taxpayer funds to necessary striping for roadways, parking lots, and other vehicular accesses. No questions.
15. Resolution approving the Certificate of Completion and accepting the work of Peterson Contractors, Inc. for the University Avenue Reconstruction Project - Phase 2. Approval of this item would officially accept the completion of the University Avenue Corridor and allow the contractor to receive the final payment. No questions. If not for the current prohibitions against gatherings, I would recommend an official ribbon-cutting! Perhaps once the prohibition is lifted.
16. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the Professional Service Agreement with Snyder & Associates, Inc. relative to the Union Road Recreational Trail Project – 12th Street to 27th Street. This action would provide $11K to the contractor to design the new recreational trail along Union Road, from 12th to 27th Street. From seeing the walking/jogging/biking traffic on the shoulder of Union Road, this new trail can't come soon enough. I also hope to see a similar trail added to the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for a similar recreational trail along 27th Street from Union to Hudson...it's really needed for the new high school and would provide much safer bike/ped access along that roadway than the current gravel shoulder.
17. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the Professional Service Agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for acquisition services relative to the Olive Street Box Culvert Replacement Project. This action would allocate $31K in taxpayer funding to design and complete the replacement of the box culvert (mini-bridge) over Dry Run Creek. No questions.
18. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Professional Service Agreement with Snyder & Associates, Inc. relative to the Island Park Improvements Project. This would allocate $9500 in taxpayer funds to the design of improvements to Island Park (a project which is budgeted for $115K in the Capital Improvements Plan, and is needed because, for the past few years, Island Park has continually been swamped by the river, leaving behind mud, debris, and standing water. We'll need to rethink how this park is used and maintained.
19. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Amendment to Agreement with River Place Properties, LC and State Street Mixed Use II, LC relative to conveyance of certain real estate to the City, and approving and authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Agreement affecting a Second Amendment to Agreement for Private Development with River Place Properties, LC and State Street Mixed Use II, LC. This is an administrative action (no extra cost) so that the city can purchase the 2nd Street Parking Lot back from River Place. No questions.
20. Resolution approving a College Hill Neighborhood (CHN) Overlay Zoning District site plan for temporary wheat paste murals in the College Hill Business District. This is an art project at no cost to the city, to celebrate our UNI graduates since they can't have a graduation ceremony this year. A really neat idea, and I have no questions.
21. Resolution approving a Highway Corridor and Greenbelt (HCG) Overlay Zoning District site plan for construction of a financial institution at 126 Brandilynn Boulevard. This would allow Dupaco to tear down the existing Doughy Joey's building at the corner of Highway 58 and Brandllynn, and construct one of their usual orangey blockish credit union buildings in that spot, along with some additional green space. No questions or concerns.
22. Resolution setting May 4, 2020, as the date of public hearing on amendments to the City’s FY2020 Budget. No questions about the hearing date, but at the next meeting I'll ask for public clarification about what's being considered for change, and why.
23. Resolution setting May 4, 2020 as the date of public hearing on the proposed rezoning from A-1, Agricultural, to R-1, Residential and M-1, P, Planned Light Industrial of recently annexed property located south of West Viking Road and east of South Union Road, and also on an associated amendment to the Future Land Use Map by changing the designation from being undesignated to Industrial, Low Density Residential, and Public and Utilities. No questions about the hearing date.
Ordinances
24. Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 16, Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, of the Code of Ordinances relative to prohibiting loitering, upon its first consideration. I didn't realize the city had no existing loitering ordinance. It's meant to prevent congregation in such a way that it keeps people from accessing buildings. I don't currently have any questions or concerns about the ordinance, but let me know if you do.
25. Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 17, Parks and Recreation, of the Code of Ordinances relative to noxious weeds, upon its first consideration. This would make a municipal infraction if the same property keeps getting cited for overgrown grass and noxious weeds multiple times in a single calendar year. I don't currently have any questions or concerns about the ordinance, but let me know if you do.
Allow Bills and Payroll
26. Allow Bills and Payroll of April 20, 2020. No questions about the city's current charges.
City Council Referrals
City Council Updates
Staff Updates Staff will provide an update on the latest city actions in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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 | 04/20/20 |
