Blog

	Mayoral Farewell Address Elected service has truly been the honor of a lifetime. Coming into government in January 2018 as an at-large city councilor, I couldn’t have imagined that six years later I’d be saying farewell after two terms as mayor. During that time, our wonderful city has certainly weathered... Read More	01/04/2024 - 05:50
	Traits to consider in candidates for local office As we approach the November 7th city election in Cedar Falls, it's essential to prepare for an informed vote. With various sources of information at our disposal, voters need to make educated decisions when choosing the next mayor and council members. I’m not endorsing any specific candidates,... Read More	10/31/2023 - 13:44
	Will we have a No Mow May 2023? Last year the City Council and I agreed to a request some local pollinator advocates to allow for a "No Mow May" in Cedar Falls. It's a growing trend to not mow yards for the sake of early pollinator foraging. I've sent this update to the City Council about continuing "No Mow... Read More	02/03/2023 - 09:26
	I was wrong about part-time mayor (sort of) During my successful City Council At-Large campaign in 2017, I listened in on the ongoing debate about shifting the Mayor position from full-time to part-time. The shift made sense to me at the time, because Cedar Falls had shifted the year previously to a full-time City Administrator. None... Read More	01/23/2023 - 14:49
	Why a Saturday Trick-or-Treat this year? I love civics. This season of my life as Mayor of Cedar Falls has been the most interesting and challenging of my life, and it's due to civic questions big and small. Some residents have reached out to me to talk about the October 29th trick-or-treat decision. Even though it... Read More	11/01/2022 - 04:51
	Why I don’t endorse political candidates as Mayor It’s federal, state, and county campaign season once again! I’ve been asked by several candidates for my endorsement, but (while I do follow what happens at those levels) I’m firmly committed as mayor to being only in the “Cedar Falls Party”. I’m purposely not registered with a... Read More	10/15/2022 - 12:51
	Why I'd Veto Changes to Planning & Zoning Neighbors, one of my key roles as Mayor is to engage with the City Council on the direction of the city, and to facilitate their deliberations during meetings in order to obtain the wisest possible decision. I greatly respect the Council's policymaking role, but also reserve the right to... Read More	09/26/2022 - 09:46
	A Humble Proposal for a Halloweek As mayor I get to work on really weighty, tough topics -- but also fun things, too. We're five months away from Halloween, but as a parent I have a proposal that I hope you'll support. Last year, October 31st fell on a Sunday, which just didn’t seem like a great night for trick or... Read More	05/12/2022 - 08:05
	Why I Support a 'Limited Window' for Fireworks Use in Cedar Falls "Consumer fireworks" has been a challenging topic in cities across Iowa for five years now. Proponents claim it as a near-sacred civic right and duty to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks. Opponents decry the noise, litter, and smoke. Both sides bring up relevant points, and it's... Read More	04/30/2022 - 14:37
	Thoughts on the PSD Selection Process Yesterday saw two new “Actings” designated in Public Safety; Craig Berte will be the Acting Public Safety Director and Mark Howard will serve as the Acting Police Chief while we proceed with the hiring process for a new Public Safety Director. Both officers are very well-qualified... Read More	03/12/2022 - 10:18
	3/7 Public Safety Work Session Notes In advance of the second Public Safety Work Session on Monday night (March 7th) I have a few notes which I've already shared with all City Council members about the plan for the evening. For full transparency, I'm sharing it with you as well so that no one's surprised at the meeting. Consensus... Read More	03/02/2022 - 16:37
	The Downtown Zoning Ordinance Timeline An astute resident recently asked me what's happening with Downtown Character District Zoning Ordinance, because there's some controversy about it. I thought this would be a good time to sum up how we got to this point in time, and what's next. I also included my own opinion about it at the... Read More	01/08/2022 - 14:32
	What's Goal Setting and Why's It Important? I just thought I'd take a few minutes for a Local Civics 101 brief, since some of you like when I present information like this. Today we're talking about the City Council's annual Goal Setting Work Sessions. In December (during election years) or November (in non-election years), the City... Read More	12/08/2021 - 14:13
	Local Control and the Public Safety Bill This year, I advocated to our area state legislators not to pass HF 683, a bill regarding emergency response districts and fire departments. I want to make clear that my effort had nothing to do with my position on public safety; instead, it had everything to do with the fundamental civic... Read More	11/27/2021 - 10:19
	Why I Still Post My COVID Risk Chart Yesterday, a resident messaged me with a lengthy concern about my COVID-19 spread risk chart, stating that I was just adding to community anxiety and that I should stop. I’ve been posting it sporadically for nearly two years now and to continue to do so weekly until the Black Hawk County Public... Read More	11/18/2021 - 07:23
	Thoughts on the Council Standing Committees During this campaign season, there's been some talk about going back to "the way things were" with the City Council's Standing Committees. I believe this is a matter best resolved by whoever is going to be sitting on the City Council starting in January, so I'll be looking for consensus starting in... Read More	10/15/2021 - 13:12
	Follow-Up on UNI Homecoming Weekend I’ve been asked about the city's (and my) role in UNI’s decision to hold the UNI Parade downtown on Main Street, rather than on College Hill this year. Residents also asked me about the level of police presence on College Hill Friday night. Here’s my perspective on both... Read More	10/05/2021 - 18:38
	Mayor's Position on Public Safety Concerns Introduction I've been asked to provide my position as an elected official on public safety concerns for this City Council-directed program, as part of the discussion for city elections on November 2. In the past, I've noted my positions on where I believe the department should... Read More	09/12/2021 - 14:26
	Public Safety 2022: A Citizen-Centered Model for Cedar Falls Introduction to the PS-22 Plan During the past four years, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to learn about the city’s public safety needs and challenges. I greatly appreciate the excellent quality and dedication of our 70+ public safety professionals and support staff. I also I see the... Read More	07/05/2021 - 15:28
	A City at a Crossroads Like other American cities and towns, Cedar Falls is at a cultural crossroads. Waterloo and Cedar Falls have different but equally compelling challenges. In Cedar Falls, we must come to terms with the reality and enduring harm caused by past sundown town practices. As recently as 1947, an abstract... Read More	06/21/2021 - 09:56
	Yes to Strong Mayor-ing A few candidates have announced for City Council advocating for a ‘strong mayor’. That’s great, and I agree! I just wanted to describe what I believe this means under Iowa law, and how this concept is already embedded in our form of government. A mayor just needs to be willing to assert that... Read More	05/25/2021 - 21:05
	Candidacy for a Second Term as Mayor Dear Neighbors, After careful consideration, I’m pleased to announce my candidacy for a second two-year term as Mayor of the City of Cedar Falls. These past fifteen months have presented enormous challenges to our community; I have been honored to help lead the city through... Read More	05/19/2021 - 12:33
	Mayor & Administrator Ordinance Updates In this blogpost, I'll be referring to the Mayor - Administrator Proposed Ordinance Update (.pdf), which also appears in the Council Packet for Monday, 4/5/2021 as Item #34. I invite you to download this document and refer to it as you read the blogpost. Here's What's... Read More	04/01/2021 - 15:11
	Public Safety Special Report 2021-2025 Today, the Cedar Falls Public Safety Services Department is releasing the Cedar Falls Public Safety Special Report 2021-2025, which outlines departmental goals, objectives, and strategies for the next five years. It meets my expectations for transparency on the department’s overall... Read More	02/22/2021 - 13:47
	Consideration of Full-Time vs. Part-Time Mayor Introduction In March 2019, I published my mayor candidate platform, which included consideration of 'full-time' vs. 'part-time' mayor. It's a debate that has gone on since the 1980s, and is all the more relevant now that the City has committed to a professional City... Read More	12/18/2020 - 07:44
	Why I Now Strongly Support a Mask Mandate Executive Summary: After closely following the data, reviewing the advice of public health experts, and listening to resident concerns (on both sides of the debate), I can express my full support for a six-week mask requirement in Cedar Falls. Unlike Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, which gives... Read More	09/03/2020 - 07:55
	Let's Talk About Home Rule and COVID A Little Background In last night’s special meeting about a mask mandate, I prefaced the discussion by saying I believed the debate had two main components -- whether we “can” do a mandate, and if so, then whether we “should” do a mandate. Let’s leave the “should” totally out of this... Read More	08/20/2020 - 12:31
	Why a City Operational Response Guide? With COVID-19 not going away anytime soon, I'm looking to create some expectations and predictability in Cedar Falls City Hall. For instance, Council members and residents have been asking me when we’ll go back to in-person City Council meetings. The City Operational Response Guide... Read More	07/31/2020 - 12:34
	Tools I'm Using for COVID Analysis, and Why Public health decisions are important enough that I need to be accountable to you in my methodology. As a Mayor, I'm finding that one of the key challenges of this coronavirus pandemic is data analysis. Public health experts are tracking vital metrics such as "Serotology Positive... Read More	07/20/2020 - 08:33
	Police Chief Appointment Update I just wanted to provide a quick update on the Police Chief appointment process, since the last public event was the Meet and Greet interviewing last month; since then, the activity's been 'behind the scenes' so I wanted to keep you in the loop. Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to... Read More	06/29/2020 - 10:51
	My Experience at the June 4th Protest Last night (June 4th, 2020), a group of about 200 people assembled to protest racial injustice in front of the Public Safety Building in Cedar Falls. I’ve heard some false claims ranging from “the mayor created this protest” to “the city paid for pizza and buses” to “the protesters... Read More	06/05/2020 - 16:34
	"What First Step Will Cedar Falls Take?" Cedar Falls, like the rest of America, has a long trek ahead in the path toward racial justice. Recently, in response to a post, a resident asked, "So what is the first step that Cedar Falls will take?". I'm not an experienced social justice activist, but I know this is an... Read More	06/02/2020 - 10:33
	Platform Spotlight: Boards and Commissions Process While we've had some urgent challenges to address these past few months, I'm also slowly (but surely!) tackling some of the platform items I ran on in last year's election. One of these early action items has been the Boards and Commissions appointment process, and I'd like to... Read More	05/21/2020 - 16:27
	Thoughts on Emergency Command & Control In the April 20, 2020 city council meeting, I spoke briefly about the current command and control process in City Hall for declared emergencies. Here are the citations for it, showing my understanding that the Mayor retains final authority for the execution of local government on behalf of the... Read More	04/21/2020 - 10:20
	Religious Free Exercise and Coronavirus Before I assumed the responsibilities of Mayor on January 2nd, I was required to take an Oath of Office which stated: "I, Robert M. Green, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and that I will faithfully... Read More	04/04/2020 - 11:31
	Why no "Shelter-in-Place" yet? I've been approached about issuing a "shelter-in-place" order for Cedar Falls, or working with the County for a county-wide shelter-in-place order. Here's my thinking on it.... The attached link goes to Wisconsin's statewide "Safer at Home" (i.e. shelter-in-place) emergency order, which went... Read More	03/26/2020 - 13:51
	The Janesville MOU Timeline Yesterday, I received a request from a resident for any communication records between Janesville Mayor Dave Beenblossom and me, related to our mutual aid agreement, which was brought up in our March 2nd City Council meeting. I'm providing the materials here so that all residents have... Read More	03/04/2020 - 15:08
	Leaders are Readers Between mayor duties and family responsibilities, I won't have much space for hobbies these next few years. I can tell you, what limited time I do have will be spent reading! I've been especially interested in presidential biographies since my teen years; with ... Read More	02/09/2020 - 11:17
	PSO Model: Are you Confident or Concerned? View the matrix at: https://bit.ly/pso-confident-concerned As I've heard from residents about the PSO Model, lots of phrases get thrown out -- that someone is "Pro-PSO"or "Pro-Firefighter" and similar labels. These labels typically lump people into either "Pro" or "Anti" factions. ... Read More	02/06/2020 - 16:28
	The "Supermajority Veto" Idea These past two weeks, I've been working as Mayor to see what tools I have in my toolbox to ensure the open At-Large seat (which I vacated when becoming mayor on January 2nd) was filled in a manner that reflected the best principles of good governance -- particularly accountablity, ... Read More	01/21/2020 - 09:31
	My Veto Philosophy As Mayor, I have the sole city power to veto council actions; here's some background and my philosophy about vetoing. The power comes from state law, which I'm still studying. As I understand it, I can overrule the City Council's decisions as long as I give my reasons (in writing... Read More	01/07/2020 - 14:31
	Cognitive Distortions and Elected Office A few years ago, I mustered up the courage to visit a licensed counselor at Covenant here in town. I'm really glad I did those six sessions -- I gained a lot of insights about myself, including resolving some tough stuff from childhood and my military days. One of the most helpful tools... Read More	12/28/2019 - 13:26
	Why the "Green voted 14 times for the PSO Model" Claim is Untrue, and Why it Matters You can see the claims from the original claim sheet broken out in the table below. I've also posted links to the source documents so you can read what was voted on. This table clearly shows how my "Voting 14 out of 15 times" isn't true. And don't just take my word... Read More	11/02/2019 - 09:54
	Apology for my College Hill comment The following is my apology to those offended by my comment regarding College Hill in the last debate. I wanted to wait until the next public opportunity, which would be the 10/24 debate; it wouldn't have been appropriate to bring up a campaign item in last Monday night's council meeting... Read More	10/23/2019 - 07:15
	PSO Program: Your Questions, My Answers Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard some misconceptions and misattributions about my take on the PSO program. I’m not one to tell people only what they want to hear -- that happens in politics too often already. And I don’t want anyone to have the idea that I’m telling some... Read More	09/19/2019 - 18:38
	On the Resignation of Fire Captain Lux Fire Captain Lux Josh Lux was a highly-regarded Fire Captain with Cedar Falls Fire/Rescue. During my fire department ride-alongs, Fire Captain Lux impressed me with his knowledge, dedication, professionalism, and natural leadership. I was shocked to learn, in October 2018, ... Read More	09/13/2019 - 15:12
	My faith background and public service If I were required to compromise my faith and values in order to get elected, then public service wouldn't be worth it. A few residents want to know where I stand on questions of faith because they say my answer will have a bearing on how they vote. I don't verbally... Read More	09/08/2019 - 11:05
	Don't Quit Your Day Job Recently, an observant resident (whose opinion I greatly value) posed this question in a comment on my Facebook page: "You apparently advocate a part time mayor. Is that to accommodate you so you can maintain your present employment? If so, that is in your best... Read More	08/14/2019 - 16:10
	Representatives to government, not vice versa As I've been doorknocking, I've been asked to describe what I'd do differently at City Hall as the Mayor. I'm writing one of my response here -- my overall philosophy of government. This should give you a better idea of what to expect from me as Mayor of Cedar Falls...and for that... Read More	08/09/2019 - 09:01
	National Night Out - A tale of two cities Promoting Safer Neighborhoods through National Night Out Neighborhood identity and community-building are near and dear to my heart. Over the past several years, I've taken a strong interest in National Night Out (NNO), a nationwide initiative helping residents connect... Read More	08/06/2019 - 16:39
	Why I Voted Against the Public Works Director Resolution In last night's council meeting, the Cedar Falls City Council voted on a resolution to hire a new Public Works Director. Only, it wasn't a really a vote at all - it was mere show, a formality. The decision had already been made weeks before by the Administrator, with the assent of a few select... Read More	07/16/2019 - 06:53
	My Military Background and Elected Office Happy anniversary! Hard to believe, but tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of that day a scrawny 18-year-old version of me took the oath to become a Cadet at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. During the next ten years, as a Cadet and then as a Commissioned Officer... Read More	07/10/2019 - 06:37
	The Mayor as Connector-in-Chief America's cities and towns have a unique and vital role to play in the life of the American republic. As we celebrate Independence Day, I'll take a few minutes to explain why I believe our community relationships are so important, and why all mayors must step up and serve... Read More	07/03/2019 - 07:49
	The Elimination of Career Firefighters? You may already be aware of this graphic, which was posted April 24th on the Cedar Falls City Government's Facebook page. It states that the 'PSO Model' will save taxpayers nearly $2M a year: What you might not know is that, in getting to these numbers, the plan... Read More	06/21/2019 - 12:00
	Why I'm a Part-Time Mayor Proponent (Part 1) Before I began studying the issue in depth two years ago, I sided with keeping the Mayor role as a full-time position....as quite a few of my fellow Cedar Falls residents still do. But through my research, I'm convinced that completing the transition to a part-time mayor makes sense, and that this... Read More	05/29/2019 - 11:49
	Civics and Librarianship I'm just back from a terrific graduation weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Some of you may know that, on top of full-time work, family, and city council responsibilities, I've also been a full-time grad student! This MA in Library & Information Studies is my second (back-to-... Read More	05/13/2019 - 19:19
	"What's your position on ______?" The questions are already coming in about whether "I'll allow" or "I'll prevent" all manner of things in the city if elected as Mayor. I'll need to manage expectations a bit -- I'll articulate positions on a variety of topics during the campaign season, with a first post on the Public... Read More	03/13/2019 - 14:48
	My Vote on "Greenhill Village Townhouses II" City Council recently voted to approve the preliminary plat for the "Greenhill Villiage Townhouses II" concept. For what it's worth, here's my rationale for my vote on this resolution which generated significant controversy in Greenhill Village. What Happened (as I... Read More	03/09/2019 - 10:22
	Insights into Running for Local Office Local elections benefit from having multiple contenders; a healthy democracy needs the debate of ideas and issues that contested races provide. To help give qualified, informed citizens the confidence to run for local office, I've written up a 'Local Elections 101'. I can... Read More	12/29/2018 - 12:09
	Why I voted for a Communications Specialist During Monday night's council meeting (12/17/2018), City Council voted on a comprehensive listing of new position descriptions for city staff, connected to the new pay scale council approved back in March. The listings included a new position, "Communications Specialist". I voted in... Read More	12/19/2018 - 12:15
	Why a Public Safety Strategic Plan Makes Sense Neighbors, This week at the City Council's annual Goal Setting work session (Weds. and Thurs from 4-8pm), the Council heard about the latest changes and ideas from the Director of Public Safety for staffing and procedure. After that presentation, the Councilors were asked to agree to... Read More	11/17/2018 - 14:19
	My Goal Setting 2018 Interview Submission THANKS to everyone who responded to my survey last month...they were a huge help in preparing this document. Each November, the City Council meets in two days of work sessions to discuss the Council's goals for the upcoming year ("Goal Setting"). We're provided with a... Read More	11/02/2018 - 08:34
	Why I voted no on the Backyard Hens ordinance I had hoped to vote "Yes" on a Backyard Hens ordinance last Monday night; especially since it's in my campaign platform that I support the concept. I do believe Cedar Falls should join other cities and permit backyard hens to some degree. Some of the cities in Iowa which already... Read More	10/03/2018 - 18:26
	Should We Keep the Rental Paving Ordinance? Picture two Cedar Falls houses next to each other, both with gravel driveways...one happens to be a rental property. A 2015 city ordinance forces the rental owner to spend thousands to pave over the existing driveway - while allowing the owner-occupied house to... Read More	06/25/2018 - 06:26
	Considering a run for City Council? The vitality of our City Council depends on having healthy, informed competition between candidates, and we need to debate ideas and encourage new perspectives in our community. Common citizens should have the tools and confidence to run an effective campaign, so that ... Read More	05/04/2018 - 17:32
	My Suicide Prevention PSA A much younger me In 1998, I was a new newly-commissioned Coast Guard ensign, having spent four very challenging and high-pressure years at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. My first assignment after graduation was a nightmare, and after a few months, I was completely overwhelmed... Read More	05/02/2018 - 14:42
	April 2018 Neighborhoods Meetup Report This past Monday, nine neighborhood advocates met at my house to discuss a shared vision for the future of our neighborhoods, and how the city and residents might partner to increase neighborhood identity, resilience in emergencies, and quality of life through positive and healthy neighbor... Read More	04/30/2018 - 12:43
	Kwik Star Reconsideration and Vote I’ve been asked by several residents to describe how Kwik Star came back up for a vote, and my rationale for voting “no” the second time. I could simply reply to their e-mails, but decided it was worth a blog post for the public record. As your At-Large rep, I have a responsibility to... Read More	04/15/2018 - 17:07
	Neighbor-Powered Community Spring is coming (I promise) and it's a great time to talk about neighborhoods. Not just the cluster of houses that are near to each other...but the people who give a friendly hello when you're walking your dog, or help you shovel the snow off your sidewalk, or notice when your mail's no been... Read More	04/03/2018 - 17:16
	Why Reconsider Kwik Star? Voting Rationale During the February 19th vote on Kwik Star, I expressed my traffic safety concerns on Greenhill & Main, which I believed would be worsened to dangerous levels with new developments in that area. I'd seen traffic backups myself while campaigning last year, and many... Read More	03/03/2018 - 07:54
	The Council's Role in Site Plan Approval I've developed the below principles to help explain my views on the City Council's role in site plan approval, and the criteria I use to make my decisions in these matters. To prepare, I reviewed Iowa case law, state code and city ordinances, and reflected on my views of the ... Read More	03/02/2018 - 13:06
	Why I Voted Against the 2119 College Site Plan Last night, I voted "no" on the site plan for a project that I support -- one that counted among its proponents many community members I respect. My sole point of contention was this idea of "principal" vs. "accessory" use. The developer said, and city staff agreed, that the... Read More	02/20/2018 - 08:12
	City Council Voting -- Twenty Questions When making any decision, it helps to have some underlying criteria. I thought it would be helpful to create and share a list of my own questions for making decisions on City Council. Here are the twenty questions I've come up with so far, in a rough order of priority. ... Read More	02/16/2018 - 08:38
	Last Monday's TIF vote, and what I learned... I've been following City Council for a few years now, and have often played "How would I vote?". It's given me a consistent local governance philosophy -- one that I can reasonably justify. Last Monday night, I accidentally went against that philosophy. My vote... Read More	01/18/2018 - 10:01
	The Fun of Personal Strategic Planning! One of my great hopes as your City Council (At Large) rep is to encourage my fellow residents to achieve your own goals, and especially to gain the knowledge, skills, vision and confidence needed to make a difference here in our community! What's Personal Strategic Planning? It's... Read More	12/31/2017 - 13:26
	My First Budget Discussion Tonight the council members, city staff and mayor met from 5pm - 6:30pm to discuss upcoming funding priorities for the City's Capital Improvement Plan, or CIP. These are all the "one time" projects the city is considering, like purchasing of major equipment (like a new $500K fire truck... Read More	12/19/2017 - 18:26
	Thank you! I’m grateful to everyone who turned out today, and to those who supported my campaign -- especially during the runoff! I’m proud to have led a positive, constructive, and non-partisan campaign, and I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the council, staff and residents on the issues facing... Read More	12/05/2017 - 20:26
	Accurate Campaign Finance Totals Today, the Courier released its information about funding for the City Council runoff race. I'm reporting my additional numbers here because I want you to have an accurate view of my campaign -- and this information is all supposed to be public and transparent anyway. I'm a... Read More	12/04/2017 - 07:42
	A Few Words on Campaign Finance All candidates for elected office in Iowa electronically file campaign finance disclosures (called DR-2’s) to the state on the Thursday before an election. Media outlets typically publish the reports, and they’re a vital tool for understanding how campaigns raise and spend money. ... Read More	12/01/2017 - 07:27
	Let's Talk About Good Governance The City Council's most important function is to provide critical and effective oversight of the city. Not to micromanage city operations, but to ensure those operations consistently meet the standards of good governance. And the Mayor sets the tone for this governance as the city's Chief... Read More	11/29/2017 - 20:08
	Tours, Ridealongs & Job Shadowing! I love learning how things work, and appreciate all the behind-the-scenes efforts that make the 'everyday' happen. I'll take any opportunity for a tour! Strategic Imaging is printing my postcard mailers tomorrow, and I jumped at Jim McClatchey's offer of a quick tour of their... Read More	11/28/2017 - 19:42
	Q&A: North Cedar Neighborhood Q. Being from the North Cedar neighborhood, I'm curious as to what impact you see from sectioning Cedar Falls in neighborhoods as having. I'm a fan of the idea, but I'm concerned for North Cedar because it already seems to have that "neighborhood" feel-- and a heavily stigmatized one at that. How... Read More	11/25/2017 - 14:31
	How Strategic Planning Informs My Decisions I’d like to give you a sense for where my mind’s at in terms of strategic planning (and thinking) here in Cedar Falls. I hope you’ll indulge me by reading the whole post, but I appreciate this might not be your cup of tea (and that’s OK). Alongside neighborhood development and government... Read More	11/20/2017 - 07:23
	Elect Leaders With Integrity In every election, I'm looking for candidates who've demonstrated strong integrity and character....even if their positions on the issues don't quite line up with my own. Last week, Cedar Valley Character Counts shared a terrific blogpost worth re-broadcasting far and wide. It describes the common... Read More	11/04/2017 - 19:25
	A Special Focus on Emergency Management "One of the most vital, yet often overlooked roles is the responsibility held by local officials for emergency management. Ensuring that a community or county is ready for both natural or man-made disasters is one of the most important jobs that local officials can have." - Mark Schouten,... Read More	11/03/2017 - 09:58
	I'm Sometimes Asked.... I've been out doorknocking since May; sometimes I'm asked, “Are you a Democrat or a Republican?”. The question itself concerns me, because it goes against our non-partisan approach to city government. Important topics like proper fire/rescue coverage, the mayor’s status as full- or... Read More	10/18/2017 - 06:51
	My Position on Fireworks I'm not a consumer fireworks user...never have been, and I won't let my kids use them. I've seen what happens to fingers when people aren't careful. For me, fireworks means a city-wide display as a community celebration, not lighting off spinners and a string of CATs in your... Read More	10/16/2017 - 12:13
	I support curbside recycling! A weird rumor circulated last week that I don't support curbside recycling for some odd reason. I just want to dispel that myth. I'm fascinated by environmental science, and took the state championship in environmental science my senior year of high school. In... Read More	10/08/2017 - 11:21
	Fire / Rescue Related Positions Proper fire/rescue coverage is one of the most important topics facing our community; few other municipal issues are likely to result in injury or loss of life if poor choices are made. For that reason, I’ve invested more time into learning about fire/rescue-related issues than any other topic... Read More	09/08/2017 - 05:35
	Why I Oppose Red Light Cameras The Waterloo City Council recently voted to allow "red light" enforcement cameras in their city, with the revenue going a private company and to the police department's budget. While I appreciate that these cameras may have a deterrent effect on drivers, I oppose them on principle -- they're... Read More	08/28/2017 - 12:00
	Listening and Leading with Intellectual Honesty I love learning through lively, informed debate and discussion. And over two decades, I've been part of very different cultures and worldviews (military, corporate, church, and university campus). The result has been an open-mindedness, approachability, healthy skepticism of... Read More	06/29/2017 - 03:18
	Strengthening Our Neighborhood Associations As your City Council At-Large rep, I'd push to revisit the concept of 'neighborhood associations' in Cedar Falls, to establish a stronger framework that represents all neighborhoods. Why is this needed? Because currently, the city only recognizes four neighborhood associations:... Read More	06/29/2017 - 03:17
	A Livable Downtown Cedar Falls It's an exciting time downtown -- the River Place properties are going up, and developers and business owners are capitalizing on downtown's long-term resurgence as a residential and tourist destination. Community Main Street and countless organizations and volunteers have done a... Read More	06/29/2017 - 03:16
	Welcome to Cedar Sprawls? I'll admit it - I'm worried about sprawl. Cedar Falls is a thriving, energetic community, but I believe it's nearing a tipping point. Our high school is slated to move south, as is our hospital. And last November, city staff has recommended that the new $9M public safety... Read More	03/27/2017 - 09:19

	Business Infill
	Downtown as 'city center'
	Remote Worker Attraction & Retention
	Use of Hwy 58 Unified TIF District Money
	Using Incentives to Attract (Not Move) Businesses

	Bikability, Walkability and Public Transit
	Consumer Fireworks Use in Cedar Falls
	Downtown Visioning / Zoning Recodification
	Main Street Reconstruction
	Neighborhood Associations
	Neighborhood Revitalization
	Roundabouts
	Strategic Planning
	The Mayor as Neighbor-in-Chief

	City Ordinance Interpretation
	City Website
	Council Chambers Accessibility
	De-Jargonizing City Council Meetings
	Fire / Rescue
	Open Data
	Public Safety Strategic Planning
	Resource Management Priorities
	The Public Safety Officer Model

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