In Monday night’s regular council meeting, I’m anticipating that the only contentious item will be #22, the action to override my veto of the “Immediate Implementation of the PSO Model”. Other items are the approval of two new permeable alley constructions (Item #3 and 4), street reconstruction (Item #5 and 6), and the site plan for a new extended-stay hotel off Highway 58 (Item #12). Also, the council will entertain a referral for a citywide fireworks display this Fourth of July.
Prior to the council meeting, we’ll also have a Committee of the Whole meeting at 5:30 to hear about future plans for the Hearst Center for the Arts and status of the Red Cedar business startup initiative at Mill Race downtown, as well as council interviews of two re-appointment candidates for Board of Adjustment.
Please join us for either or both meetings in person at City Hall, on TV Channel 15, or streaming live via the City’s YouTube channel.
Call to Order by the Mayor
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting of February 17, 2020. This action enters the minutes into the city record as an accurate reflection of what transpired at the meeting; it is not a time for debating the merits of the items discussed.
2. Special Meeting of February 20, 2020. Same as #1.
Agenda Revisions
Special Order of Business
3. Public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2020 Permeable Alley Project. This is the public’s opportunity to comment on the project.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published February 21, 2020)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff presentation.
d) Oral comments.
4. Resolution approving and adopting the plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2020 Permeable Alley Project. This will allocate $229K in taxpayer funds to the creation of two permeable alleys. The cost for 22nd Street to Seerley is nearly double the past costs because this will extend over two city blocks, rather than just one.
5. Public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2020 Street Construction Project.
a) Receive and file proof of publication of notice of hearing. (Notice published February 21, 2020)
b) Written communications filed with the City Clerk.
c) Staff presentation.
d) Oral comments.
6. Resolution approving and adopting the plans, specifications, form of contract & estimate of cost for the 2020 Street Construction Project. This will allocate $3.47M in taxpayer funds for the reconstruction of streets. Notably, it includes the upgrade of Union Road from 1st Street northward to our city limits.
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.)
7. Receive and file a proclamation recognizing March 2, 2020 as Read Across Cedar Falls Day. It’s Dr. Suess’s birthday (no coincidence) and I’m happy to be reading aloud to the 2nd Graders at Orchard Hill Elementary in the morning. Read early, read often!
8. Approve the following recommendations of the Mayor relative to the appointment of members to Boards and Commissions: By law the City Council must approve all mayoral appointments.
a) Julie Etheredge, Historic Preservation Commission, term ending 03/31/2023.
b) Sally Timmer, Historic Preservation Commission, term ending 03/31/2023.
9. Receive and file the City Council Work Session minutes of February 17, 2020 relative to Public Safety Program Update. This action enters the minutes into the city record as an accurate reflection of what transpired at the meeting; it is not a time for debating the merits of the items discussed.
10. Approve the following applications for beer permits and liquor licenses: City Council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits.
a) Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, 3205 West 12th Street, Class B beer & outdoor service - renewal.
b) The Hydrant Firehouse Grill, 2002 College Street, Class C liquor - renewal.
c) Double Tap, 312 Main 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.)
11. Resolution approving and authorizing submission of the Iowa Certified Local Government (CLG) 2019 Annual Report of the Historic Preservation Commission to the State Historical Society of Iowa. A standard administrative item for showing the National Park Service and the State of Iowa that Cedar Falls is actively carrying out a historic preservation program, in order to be eligible for grant programs.
12. Resolution approving a Highway Corridor and Greenbelt (HCG) Overlay Zoning District site plan for construction of a hotel at 7200 Nordic Drive. This plan is for a new Residence Inn extended stay hotel on Nordic Drive, just off Highway 58.
13. Resolution approving and adopting revised Rules of Procedure for the Board of Adjustment. These are minor administrative changes; the meeting date has been changed to allow the board to use the Council Chambers, which will add a higher degree of formality to the proceedings.
14. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an application to the Black Hawk County Metropolitan Area Transportation Policy Board (MPO) for Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding relative to the Lake Street Trail Project. This is for a $316K state grant to match our $79K budgeted expense to create a concrete bike/ped trail on Lake Street, just northwest of Big Woods Lake, to better connect Big Woods Lake to the North Cedar neighborhood.
15. Resolution approving submission of an application to the Black Hawk County Metropolitan Area Transportation Policy Board (MPO) for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding relative to the Main Street Reconstruction Project. This resolution simply states the Council’s intent to reconstruct Main Street, in order to begin the federal grant application process.
16. Resolution approving and accepting the low bid, and approving and authorizing execution of a Rehabilitation Contract with Daniels Home Improvement, relative to a HOME housing rehabilitation project. Qualifying residents in certain areas of the city can apply for federal grants to help cover the cost of home improvements. The city is the administrator of this grant, which will be used to improve the home at 827 W. 4th Street.
17. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Sturgis Falls Celebration Agreement for Use of City Parks and Services with Sturgis Falls Celebration, Inc. This one-year agreement will allow the Sturgis Falls Committee to carry out its efforts for this year’s Sturgis Falls event. The plan is to next create a five-year agreement which addresses longer-term concerns, especially about competing/unaffiliated events downtown during the same weekend.
18. Resolution approving the Certificate of Completion and accepting the work of Peterson Contractors, Inc. for the University Avenue Reconstruction Project, Phase 3. This allows the contractor to collect the remainder of the $3.5M for this phase of the project. No questions.
19. Resolution receiving and filing the bids, and approving and accepting the low bid of Peterson Contractors, Inc., in the amount of $1,019,447.57, for the 12th Street Reconstruction Project. This allows Peterson to move forward with the reconstruction work along 12th and Walnut. No questions.
20. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of four Owner Purchase Agreements, and approving and accepting four Temporary Construction Easements, in conjunction with the 12th Street Reconstruction Project. These temporary easements are necessary for construction vehicles to access the project site and do required work. The easements would cost about $2,300 total in taxpayer funds. No questions.
21. Resolution setting March 16, 2020 as the date of public hearing on a proposal to undertake a public improvement project for the Oak Park Sanitary Sewer Repair Project and to authorize acquisition of private property for said project. No questions about the proposed hearing date.
Old Business
22. Repass over Mayor's veto, Resolution #21,893, approving immediate implementation of the Public Safety Program including reorganization of the Public Safety Department. (requires at least five aye votes to override Mayor's veto) Old business usually comes first in the agenda, but I moved it toward the end to allow us to get the other aspects of the council meeting out of the way first. I stated my reason for objecting in my veto memo to council; there’s nothing else for me to add here.
Allow Bills and Payroll
23. Allow Bills and Payroll of March 2, 2020. No questions.
City Council Referrals
24. Refer to the Committee of the Whole a request for a city-sponsored fireworks display. Councilor Harding has referred forward some information from Mr. Rick Sharp about having a fireworks display this year down at Prairie Lakes. We would need to find sponsors and support for the event, which would be addressed in a near-future Committee of the Whole if council approves this referral.
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 | 03/02/20 |
