Tonight's council meeting at 7pm has a big topic, the Downtown Zoning Ordinance change proposal (Item 6 and 7). The council will also vote on a resolution regarding public participation in meetings during the pandemic (Item 15), and several other administrative items -- including the approval of the city's updated Emergency Operations Plan (Item 14).
Prior to that meeting, at 5:30 the city council will hear a presentation on the proposed renovation of City Hall, and new International Building Codes. I hope you can join us in person or online, and as always, thanks for doing the hard work to be an informed and engaged resident!
The City is providing in-person and electronic options for this meeting in accordance with the Governor's Proclamation of Disaster Emergency regarding meetings and hearings. 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/UCCzeig5nISdIEYisqah1uQ (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 August 16, 2021. Enters the minutes into the record as an accurate reflection of what transpired.
Agenda Revisions
Special Presentations
2. Proclamation recognizing September 5-11, 2021 as Suicide Prevention and Recovery Week.
3. Proclamation recognizing September 17-23, 2021 as Constitution Week.
4. Proclamation recognizing September 20-26, 2021 as National Rail Safety Week.
5. Proclamation recognizing September 2021 as National Preparedness 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
6. Public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 26, Zoning, of the Code of Ordinance relative to establishing the CD-DT, Downtown Character District. Items 6 and 7 have been discussed over the past two years in public forums, the Planning & Zoning Commission (which recommended adoption), and in a recent council Committee of the Whole meeting. Staff will go over what this new zoning ordinance entails. If approved, this would be the first of three required readings in order to be approved.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published August 27, 2021)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 26, Zoning, and other associated sections of the Code of Ordinances relative to establishing the CD-DT, Downtown Character District, upon its first consideration.
7. Public hearing on the proposed rezoning of all property within the defined boundaries of the Downtown Character District from current zoning districts and placing the same in the CD-DT, Downtown Character District Zoning District. Similar to the above, this would move the downtown out of the current zoning laws and into the new Character District zoning. This would be the first of three required readings.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published August 27, 2021)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff comments.
d) Public comments.
e) Pass an ordinance amending Section 26-118 of the Code of Ordinances, by removing all property within the defined boundaries of the Downtown Character District from current zoning districts and placing the same in the CD-DT, Downtown Character District Zoning District, upon its first consideration. (contingent upon approval of previous ordinance)
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. Receive and file the following resignations of members from Boards and Commissions: Thanks to these members for their service to the city. As openings occur, we need to bring in talented new residents...consider applying at www.cedarfalls.com/boards.
a) John Clopton, Civil Service Commission.
b) Abigail Sears, Planning & Zoning Commission.
c) Leslie Prideaux, Planning & Zoning Commission, effective October 1, 2021.
d) Leslie Prideaux, Visitors & Tourism Board, effective October 1, 2021.
9. Receive and file the Work Session minutes of August 16, 2021 relative to the following item: Enters the minutes into the record as an accurate reflection of what transpired.
a) Protocols for Remote Public Participation in City Open Meetings.
10. Receive and file the Committee of the Whole minutes of August 16, 2021 relative to the following items: Enters the minutes into the record as an accurate reflection of what transpired.
a) Utilities Board of Trustees Interview.
b) Cedar River Recreation Safety Project.
c) Future Forward 2025 Update.
11. Receive and file the Departmental Monthly Reports of July, 2021. Enters the minutes into the record as an accurate reflection of what transpired.
12. Approve the following Order Accepting Acknowledgment/Settlement Agreements: Employees at these businesses recently sold tobacco products to minors, and by state law the business is required to pay a fine.
a) Bani’s, 2128 College Street, First tobacco violation.
b) Casey’s General Store, 2425 Center Street, First tobacco violation.
c) Prime Mart, 2728 Center Street, First tobacco violation.
13. Approve the following applications for beer permits and liquor licenses: The City Council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits.
a) Fleet Farm, 400 West Ridgeway Avenue, Class C beer & Class B wine - renewal.
b) Fleet Farm Fuel, 108 West Ridgeway Avenue, Class C beer & Class B wine - renewal.
c) Blue Room, 201 Main Street, Class C liquor - renewal.
d) Wilbo, 118 Main Street, Class C liquor - renewal.
e) Casey's General Store, 1225 Fountains Way, 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.)
14. Resolution approving and adopting amendments to the City's Emergency Operations Plan. This is a needed update to the city's Emergency Operations Plan, last changed in 2015.
15. Resolution approving and adopting revised public meeting protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution would allow the public to comment in city council meetings virtually ONLY when the county COVID risk is "High". Otherwise, the public will be required to be present in person in order to comment on items or participate in public forums. At all times, the public will be able to view meetings in real time via Channel 15 and YouTube.
16. Resolution designating the Director of Finance & Business Operations as the City of Cedar Falls authorized representative for signing and filing documents to obtain federal financial assistance under the coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds established under the American Rescue Plan Act. This administrative act allows the director of finance to receive $6.5M in federal ARPA funds on behalf of the city.
17. Resolution approving and authorizing the transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Emergency Reserve and Capital Projects Funds. With revenues outpacing expenditures in FY22 by $2.3M this resolution would put $500K of that into the Emergency Reserve and $1.2M into our capital improvements fund.
18. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an Account Service Agreement with One Source The Background Check Company for pre-employment and promotional background reports and driver's license validation. This allows the city to continue receiving background checks for employment and promotions.
19. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Cooperative Agreement with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission for FY22.The city's Human Rights Commission has annually entered into an agreement with the ICRC to investigate civil rights complaints on behalf of the City. This is the same agreement as in past years.
20. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Facilities Use Agreement with Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (NEI3A) relative to use of the Community Center. This allows NEI3A to continue providing senior services, including Meals on Wheels, from the Community Center, at no cost to NEI3A.
21. Resolution approving and authorizing the expenditure of funds for the purchase of cameras for the Transfer Station and Public Works facilities. This allocates $54K to replace aging security cameras at the Cedar Falls Transfer Station and the Public Works Complex. The new cameras will connect into the same monitoring system as others in use by the city, for better observation.
22. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Facility Use Agreement with the American National Red Cross relative to use of the Recreation and Fitness Center as a shelter during a disaster emergency; Self-explanatory; I will seek the identification of additional sites as potential backups in case the Rec Center is unusable or overflow is needed.
23. Resolution approving a Mixed Use Residential (MU) Zoning District site plan for a medical clinic addition at 226 Bluebell Road. This is an expansion of Arrowhead clinic.
24. Resolution approving Lot 17 Green Acres Minor Subdivision Plat. This would split a duplex property on Hiawatha into two separate properties.
25. Resolution approving and accepting the contract and bond of Blacktop Service Company for the 2021 Seal Coat Project. This will allow the contractor to move forward with the seal coat project for our city streets.
26. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Storm Water Facility Maintenance and Repair Agreement with Midwest Development Co. and Wild Horse Ridge Homeowners Association relative to a post-construction stormwater management plan for Wild Horse Ridge. This is a standard engineering agreement to ensure stormwater is safely and effectively drained from the property.
27. Resolution approving an amendment to the preliminary plat of Wild Horse Ridge. This change to the original plat from 2005 would allow for smaller lots and duplexes to be constructed in this residential area.
28. Resolution receiving and filing, and setting September 20, 2021 as the date of public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2021 Street Patching Project. This simply sets the date for the public hearing.
29. Resolution receiving and filing, and setting September 20, 2021 as the date of public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the Recreational River Area and Riverbank Improvements Project. This simply sets the date for the public hearing.
Allow Bills and Claims
30. Allow Bills and Claims of September 7, 2021. 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 | 09/07/21 |
