In the 7pm Monday Night Council meeting, the big topic will be the proposed new fireworks "limited window" ordinance (Item #39); Cedar Falls currently has total ban in place. Council will also consider approving the $7.6M contract with Peterson Contractors to rebuild 27th Street (Item #25). Additionally, if Item #22 is approved, then "Committee of the Whole" will become a rarity, and most matters will be heard by one of three standing committee, led by council members that I appoint (a pretty cool checks-and-balances thing). I'm looking forward to trying that approach out this year.
Prior to that, at 6:10 the council will hear about proposed rate increases for the city's stormwater rates over the next five years, and I'll give a short presentation on my proposed customs for the new standing committees and future work sessions. For instance, what meetings would be televised? Where would the meet? What topics will they hear? By the ordinances and rule, it's a Mayor power do decide these things, but council could overrule. So this presentation is to make sure we're all on the same page before these new standing committees take effect. Perhaps some people would find this sort of thing boring, but I really enjoy it. Perhaps it's my love for computer programming at play here --- I enjoy collaborating to program new systems, and Council Meetings are really just "decision systems". It's SO interesting to work on these things...thanks for the opportunity to do it.
I hope you can join us in person at the Community Center, or on Channel 15 or via livestreaming YouTube. Thanks for doing the hard work to be an informed and engaged citizen!
Call to Order by the Mayor
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting of April 18, 2022.
Agenda Revisions
Special Presentations This night, we have several proclamations! While it's shorter when we only have one or two, May happens to be a big month and I want to ensure we give as much consideration to these as we do when there's just one or two. Bear with me! Some of these proclamations are necessary for receiving continued designations (like as a Bird-Friendly City), so it's important to me that we recognize these days officially in our council meeting.
2. Proclamation recognizing May 1-7, 2022 as National Travel and Tourism Week.
3. Proclamation recognizing May 1-7, 2022 as Professional Municipal Clerks Week.
4. Proclamation recognizing May 5, 2022 as National Astronaut Day.
5. Proclamation recognizing May 14, 2022 as World Migratory Bird Day.
6. Proclamation recognizing May 15-21, 2022 as National Police Week and May 15, 2022 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
7. Proclamation recognizing May 2022 as Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month and May 17, 2022 as World Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day.
8. Proclamation recognizing May 2022 as National Bike Month, May 16-22, 2022 as Bike to Work Week, and May 18, 2022 as Ride of Silence Day in Cedar Falls.
9. Proclamation recognizing May 2022 as Historic Preservation Month.
Public Forum. (Speakers will have one opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes on topics germane to City business.)
Special Order of Business
10. Public hearing on a proposed Public Record Requests Policy. This establishes the procedures for record requests from the public. This simply puts the current practices into written form. I support all city efforts to develop standards that are clear and transparent.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published April 22, 2022)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Resolution approving and adopting Administrative Policy No. 5 relative to the City's Public Record Requests Policy.
11. Public hearing on proposed amendments to the City's FY2022 Budget. Amendments are required to account for grants and changes in revenue.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published April 20, 2022)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Resolution approving and adopting amendments to the City's FY2022 Budget.
12. Public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2022 Alley Reconstruction Project. This initial planning document sets the scope of the $500K project and allows staff to proceed with taking in bids from potential contractors.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published April 22, 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 2022 Alley Reconstruction Project.
13. Public hearing on a proposal to undertake a public improvement project for the North Cedar Heights Area Reconstruction Project - Phase I, and to authorize acquisition of private property for said project. This allows the city to purchase right-of-way and easements in order carry out this street reconstruction.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published April 22, 2022)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk. c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Resolution approving a public improvement project for the North Cedar Heights Area Reconstruction Project - Phase I, and authorizing acquisition of private property for said project.
Old Business
14. Pass Ordinance #3010, amending Chapter 23, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances relative to prohibiting parking for the College Hill Farmers Market, upon its third & final consideration. This is the third reading of an ordinance change so that this farmer's market can shift from Thursdays to Wednesdays.
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.)
15. Receive and file the City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of April 18, 2022 relative to the following items:
a) Human Rights Commission Annual Report.
b) Bicycle Plan Update.
c) Public Safety Model Study – Funding Sources.
16. Receive and file communications from the Civil Service Commission relative to the following certified lists: The CSC is required by Iowa state law to file this report publicly with the City Council.
a) Engineering Technician II.
b) Land Surveyor.
17. Receive and file Departmental Monthly Reports of March 2022. These monthly reports are a great way to keep tabs on departmental activity, but I'm concerned that they're not often read. I will be proposing to council that these reports be eliminated in favor of quarterly reports made to the various standing committees (if adopted in Item #22 below).
18. Receive and file the Bi-Annual Report of College Hill Partnership relative to FY22 Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) funds and an FY22 Economic Development Grant. Twice a year, the College Hill Partnership is required by City Council to provide this report as a condition of receiving city funding.
19. Receive and file the Bi-Annual Report of Community Main Street relative to FY22 Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) funds and an FY22 Economic Development Grant. Twice a year, Community Main Street is required by City Council to provide this report as a condition of receiving city funding.
20. Approve the following applications for cigarette/tobacco/nicotine/vapor permits: The City Council is the approving authority for all tobacco permits. If you are vaping and feeling depression and anxiety, check out https://www.thetruth.com/article/mental-health-resources. You don't have to quit alone...the community is here to help! Also, here's my mom and dad. Mom died from lung cancer in 1996 when she was only 48. I miss her. Please quit smoking!
a) Casey's, 2425 Center Street.
b) Casey's, 5226 University Avenue.
c) Casey's, 5908 Nordic Drive.
d) Casey's, 601 Main Street.
e) Casey's, 1225 Fountains Way.
f) Five Corner Liquor & Wine, 809 E 18th Street.
g) Hill Street News & Tobacco, 2217 College Street.
h) Prime Mart 4, 2323 Main Street.
i) The Landmark, 107 Main Street.
j) Thunder Ridge Ampride, 2425 Whitetail Drive.
k) Up In Smoke, 2218 College Street.
21. Approve the following applications for beer permits and liquor licenses: The City Council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits.
a) Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 1614 Technology Parkway, Class C beer - renewal.
b) Double Tap, 312 Main Street, Class C liquor - renewal.
c) Voodoo Lounge, 401 Main Street, Class C liquor - renewal.
d) Casey's General Store, 2425 Center Street, Class E liquor - renewal.
e) Walgreens, 2509 Whitetail Drive, Class E liquor - renewal.
f) Casey's General Store, 2425 Center Street, Class E liquor – change in ownership.
g) Live to 9, 200 Block of State Street and 100 Block of East 2nd Street including adjacent sidewalks, Class B beer & outdoor service – seven 5 day permits (May 31-June 4, June 7-11, June 14-18, July 5-9, July 12-16, July 19-23, and July 26-30).
h) Dior’s Slushee & Bar LLC, 2211 College Street, Class C liquor – 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.)
22. Resolution approving and adopting amendments to Administrative Policy No. 7 relative to standing committees. We postponed this from the last council meeting because I just wanted the chance to clarify the customs for the Standing Committees prior to them taking effect as part of this updated Admin Policy. We'll have a brief discussion about them in this night's Committee of the Whole. I just want to make sure we're being deliberate and transparent about how we carry out regular meetings, committees, and work sessions going forward.
23. Resolution approving and authorizing Amendment to Loan and Disbursement Agreement by and between the City of Cedar Falls and the Iowa Finance Authority, and authorizing and providing for the reissuance of the $4,720,000 Sewer Revenue Capital Loan Note, Series 2022 (2011 - Rate Reset). This simply changes the interest rate on this loan from 3% to 1.75%, saving us some significant interest over the life of the loan.
24. Resolution approving and accepting the permanent transfer of $2,700,000.00 from the Municipal Electric Utility to the General Fund of the City of Cedar Falls, and $30,000.00 from the Municipal Communications Utility to the Economic Development Fund of the City of Cedar Falls. This is a common annual transfer to the city, in as an agreement for operation, since without the municipal utility, the city would be receiving property taxes from a comparable private-sector utility. The Natural Gas utility did not have a surplus, owing to the increase in natural gas prices this past year.
25. Resolution levying a final assessment for costs incurred by the City to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting the property located at 1404 Clay Street. If a property owner fails to clear ice and snow from a sidewalk in a reasonable timeframe, the city will use its designated contractor for the work and will assess the cost to the property owner, Upon non-payment, it is added to the next property tax bill.
26. Resolution levying a final assessment for costs incurred by the City to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting the property located at 603 Fireside Drive. Same as #25.
27. Resolution levying a final assessment for costs incurred by the City to cleanup/remove debris from the property located at 2012 State Street. Same as #25.
28. Resolution levying a final assessment for costs incurred by the City to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting the property located at 1022 West 22nd Street. Same as #25.
29. Resolution levying a final assessment for costs incurred by the City to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting the property located at 1612 West 1st Street. Same as #25.
30. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Lease relative to properties vacated by flood buyout programs. Two bought-out properties are being leased for $1 by individuals. This is good
31. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an amended Service/Product Agreement with the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) for project delivery relative to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV2) funding from the CARES Act. This is largely for a contract extension, with no change to the amount of money provided.
32. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Amendment and Restated Developmental Procedures Agreement with Craig Industries, Inc., relative to property located in the vicinity of Independence Street and Lincoln Street. This change allows Craig Industries to continue removing sand from this property as part of turning it into a city-owned pond.
33. Resolution approving and authorizing the expenditure of funds for the purchase of playground equipment for Bess Streeter Aldrich Park. This allows new playground equipment to be installed in North Cedar. Yay!
34. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a contract with Quality Striping, Inc. relative to 2022 pavement marking services. This would accept the low bid of $46, 299 for the necessary striping work on our streets.
35. Resolution receiving and filing the bids, and approving and accepting the low bid of Peterson Contractors, Inc., in the amount of $7,584,450.61, for the West 27th Street Reconstruction Project. This allows Peterson to move forward with this project to rebuild the streets leading to the new high school.
36. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of one Owner Purchase Agreement, and approving and accepting one Public Utility Easement, in conjunction with the 2022 Alley Reconstruction Project. This allows a property to be purchased for the installation of public utilities.
37. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Programming Agreement with the Black Hawk County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) relative to the Union Road Reconstruction Project. This allows the city to request a $1M grant from the MPO (of which I'm the chair) for Union Road. This is a necessary project for the long-term development of this area.
38. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Agreement for Traffic Safety Improvement Program (TSIP) Funding with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) relative to the Main Street Reconstruction Project. This agreement would receive $500K in state funding for this project, as a means of promoting safer streets in Iowa's cities.
Ordinances
39. Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 16, Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, of the Code of Ordinances relative to the use and explosion of consumer fireworks within the city limits, upon its first consideration. This is a big topic, and I've written a detailed article about it. This would be the first of three required readings / approvals of the ordinance change. As with all ordinance amendments, public comment is welcome.
Allow Bills and Claims
40. Allow Bills and Claims for May 2, 2022. The City Council is the approving authority for all bills and claims made against the city since the last council meeting.
City Council Referrals
City Council Updates
Staff Updates
Adjournment
| Council Packet Link | |
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| Meeting Date | 05/02/22 |
