In this meeting, the City Council will vote on extending the city's mask requirement into January (Item #4), as well as to formalize the expectations for when the city's public meetings will be held virtually rather than in-person (Item #10). Additionally in Item #19 the council will consider ordinance changes regarding the city's definition of "bicycle" to include electric bicycles, which would determine the legality of their use on the city's recreation trails. The rest of the items on the agenda are largely administrative in nature.
Prior to the City Council meeting, the council will also hold a virtual Committee of the Whole meeting at 5:20 to hear an update from Grow Cedar Valley, the Library's Annual Report, and presentations from staff on two proposed code amendments (repurposing churches and other facilities in residential neighborhoods, and new requirements for subdivision plat approval).
I hope you can join us via Zoom (link is below) or else watching via Channel 15 or livestreaming on YouTube. As always, thanks for doing the work to be an informed and engaged citizen!
To protect against the spread of the COVID-19, the meeting will be held via video conference. 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/UCCzeig5nIS-dIEYisqah1uQ (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 November 16, 2020. This action simply enters the minutes into the official record as an accurate reflection of what transpired during the meeting; this is not an appropriate time to debate the merits of the items themselves.
Agenda Revisions
Special Presentations
2. Proclamations: Since we already have a section in the agenda reserved for "special presentations", I've moved the Mayor's Proclamations here and will plan to read them as part of the opening of the council meeting.
a) Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7, 2020.
b) International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2020.
Old Business
3. Pass Ordinance #2976, amending Section 26-118 of the Code of Ordinances by rezoning from C-3, Commercial and R-4, Multiple Residence Districts, to C-3, Commercial District, of property located in the vicinity of West 22nd Street and College Street, upon its second consideration. We discussed this change in our last council meeting, which would simply include all of the Bani's property on 22nd and College into one zoning district, instead of two. I have no concerns about this change.
4. Resolution extending the face mask mandate for the City of Cedar Falls. This would make the new date of expiration January 12th, with no other changes to the provisions. According to the Des Moines Register, the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout is expected to begin the week of December 13th, and will initially be given to health care workers and nursing home patients and staff. In January, we should start to see broad distribution to the general population.
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.)
5. Receive and file the City Council Work Session minutes of November 16, 2020 relative to a Joint Work Session with Human Rights Commission to discuss future roles, responsibilities and City Council expectations for the Human Rights Commission. This session was very productive, and I look forward to continuing to connect the City Council and the Human Rights Commission for collaborative discussion in 2021. This action simply enters the minutes into the official record as an accurate reflection of what transpired during the meeting; this is not an appropriate time to debate the merits of the items themselves.
6. Receive and file a communication from the Civil Service Commission relative to a certified list for the position of Public Safety Officer. This communication from the CSC simply enters the certified list into the public record. No concerns.
7. Receive and file Departmental Monthly Reports for October 2020. These departmental reports are always a useful synopsis of the city's activities. Worth reading!
8. Approve the following applications for beer permits and liquor licenses: The city council is the approving authority for all alcohol permits. No concerns.
a) Cedar Falls Woman's Club, 304 Clay Street, Special Class C liquor - renewal.
b) The Brown Bottle, 1111 Center Street, Class C liquor & outdoor service - renewal.
c) Texas Roadhouse, 5715 University Avenue, Class C liquor – change in ownership.
d) Moonshine Mob Bar, 419 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.)
9. Resolution approving and adopting a job classification for the position of Civil CAD Technician in the Engineering Division. This creates a new job description for City Engineering. No concerns.
10. Resolution approving and adopting public meeting protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Council Goal Setting Work Session last month, the City Council reviewed and discussed this proposed ordinance, which basically states that if the county's www.blackhawkcovid19.com website shows our county at HIGH risk for spread on the Friday the council meeting agenda is posted, then the meeting will be held virtually only.
11. Resolution approving the Certificate of Completion and accepting the work of Boulder Contracting, LLC for the 2020 CDBG Sidewalk Infill Project. No concerns.
12. Resolution approving the Certificate of Completion and accepting the work of K. Cunningham Construction Company, Inc. for the South Main Street Parking Lot Project. No concerns.
13. Resolution approving and authorizing execution of a Maintenance and Repair Agreement with D and J Investments Inc. relative to a post-construction stormwater management plan at 7404 University Avenue. This is a standard engineering agreement, for the Dan Deery Toyota Parking Lot. No concerns.
14. Resolution receiving and filing, and approving the plans, specifications and estimate of cost for the Union Road Recreational Trail Project - West 12th Street to West 27th Street. This allows this estimated $685K project to move forward for bidding, for this new trail on Union Road. Considering the number of walkers, joggers, and bicyclists who currently use the gravel shoulder, I'm glad to see a dedicated trail moving forward quickly for construction. Hopefully we'll see a similar trailway constructed on the shoulder of 27th Street to aid with safe routes to schools (both the new CFHS and UNI) in the years ahead.
15. Resolution setting December 21, 2020 as the date of public hearing on a proposal to undertake a public improvement project for the West 27th Street Sanitary Sewer Extension Project, and to authorize acquisition of private property for said project. No concerns about the date selected for this hearing.
16. Resolution setting December 21, 2020 as the date of public hearing on the City’s FFY19 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Program. No concerns about the date selected for this hearing.
17. Resolution setting December 21, 2020 as the date of public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 20, Subdivisions of the Code of Ordinances relative to Final Plat Phasing. No concerns about the date selected for this hearing.
Ordinances
18. Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 12, Human Relations, of the Code of Ordinances relative to the Human Rights Commission, upon its first consideration. This change would update the language of the Human Rights Commission to take out the investigatory aspects of its duties since this action is handled by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. It also strikes the language about what constitutes discrimination, since state law already defines this, making the city notations redundant.
19. Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 23, Traffic and Motor Vehicles of the Code of Ordinances relative to the use of electric-assist bicycles on City recreational trails, upon its first consideration. Up to now, electric-assisted bicycles have been a gray area for enforcement on the recreation trails. This ordinance provides a definition of bicycle which includes those which can use an electric motor to propel a bicycle up to 20 MPH, and that the riders of these electric-assist bicycles must be at least 14 years of age. As an electric bike rider myself, I am grateful to use the trails to commute safely and economically around town, and don't take them for granted. My bigger concern is more for the actual speed than what's being ridden, and so I hope that future discussions will also include a speed limit on the trails, whether a bicycle has a motor or not.
20. Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 23, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances relative to prohibiting parking of commercial trucks and trailers on residential streets, upon its first consideration. This changes the ordinance to prevent commercial trucks and trailers, other than a pick-up truck, from being parked on residential streets except when actively engaged in services. From my understanding, overnight parking would be allowed at a property if a permit is in place for, say, new construction or remodeling. I'll confirm this.
Allow Bills and Payroll
21. Allow Bills and Payrolls of December 7, 2020. The council is the approving authority for all city expenditures since the last council meeting. No concerns.
City Council Referrals
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 | 12/07/20 |
