Cedar Rapids City Council Meeting - July 22, 2025
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Cedar Rapids City Council Meeting - July 22, 2025
The Cedar Rapids City Council met on July 22, 2025, to address a full agenda that included public hearings on the repeal of the Citizen Review Board (Chapter 74), school zone changes for Harrison, Van Buren, and Hoover Elementary Schools, a water extension district, several infrastructure projects (F Avenue Levee, 18th Avenue SW reconstruction, library plaza refresh), and development proposals for townhomes. The meeting featured extensive public comment and council deliberation. Key votes and decisions are summarized below.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously, including routine approvals and minutes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Citizen Review Board Repeal (Item 1): Multiple speakers urged the council to reject full repeal and instead amend Chapter 74 to comply with Senate File 311. Speakers included State Representative Angel Ramirez (also president of Advocates for Social Justice), Anthony Butters (who read a letter from attorney Ann Brown), Pastor Joshua Mylam (representing clergy), Kate Hope (neighborhood leader), Isaac Davis, and Ann Carter. They argued that only a narrow portion of the ordinance conflicts with state law and that preserving other functions (data review, policy analysis, community outreach) is critical for transparency and trust. Councilmembers Van Orney and Meyer expressed strong opposition to the full repeal, citing lack of staff responsiveness and a desire to do only the minimum required by law.
- Hoover Elementary Rezoning (Item 31): Parents, the school board president (Cindy Garlock), neighbors, and district staff spoke. Supporters (Natalie Stiegel, Sarah Weibel, Minosh Bandubila) highlighted overcrowding, lack of accessibility, and the need for a new building to serve 400+ students. Neighbors (Gary Dusell, Don Clark, Linda Hinsman, Sarah Hinsman) expressed concerns about an access road near homes, stormwater runoff, and lack of communication from the district. They asked the council to delay the third reading until their concerns are addressed. Superintendent Dr. Tawana Grover and representatives from Shive-Hattery affirmed ongoing community engagement.
- Other Public Comments: Rob Hogue spoke about ongoing rail yard noise in the Rompot neighborhood after the city rezoned residential to industrial. Anthony Errington urged transparency regarding the renaming of the Ark of Justice.
Discussion Items
- Repeal of Chapter 74 (Citizen Review Board): Jennifer Pratt (Community Development) presented the proposal, noting that Senate File 311 prohibits cities with civil service commissions from maintaining citizen review boards for police conduct. The deadline for compliance is August 16, 2025. Staff recommended full repeal and replacement with a new structure after community engagement. Councilmembers Van Orney and Meyer opposed, arguing that only minimum amendments are needed. After debate, the council voted to approve the first reading (motion carried, with ayes and noes heard; Councilmember Meyer and Van Orney voted no). A second and third reading are scheduled for August 12.
- Water Extension District (Item 2): Dave Wallace presented a proposal to extend city water to 10 properties in the Lawrence's First neighborhood (south of Wright Brothers Boulevard). Estimated charge: $4,750 per property. Six of eight properties on a failing community well agreed to connect. Approved unanimously on first reading.
- Harrison Elementary Zone Change (Item 3): Bill Michael presented a rezoning from traditional residential to public institutional for a 5.8-acre addition on the west side of the existing school. No public objections. Approved unanimously on first reading.
- Van Buren Elementary Zone Change (Item 4): Bill Michael presented a rezoning for a new elementary school south of the existing building (9.3 acres). After neighborhood input, the access road was moved from Van Buren Park to 27th Street via a purchased adjacent property. Multiple neighbors thanked the council and school district for listening. Approved unanimously on first reading.
- Hoover Elementary Rezoning (Item 31): Public hearing held; council approved the second reading (motion carried with ayes and one no). The third reading was postponed to a future meeting to allow continued community engagement.
- F Avenue Northwest Levee Project (Item 6): Rob Davis presented a $7.02 million flood control project between First and Third Streets NW, including levee construction, a roundabout, and utility relocations. The project is part of the Cedar Lake amenities area and will accommodate the casino opening. Approved unanimously.
- 18th Avenue Southwest Reconstruction (Item 7): Doug Wilson presented a $2.79 million project to reconstruct a seal-coat road to curb and gutter, including new storm sewer and sidewalks. Completion tied to the new library opening. Approved unanimously.
- Downtown Library Plaza Refresh (Item 8): Jason Stancliffe presented a $230,000 project funded by the library foundation to replace pavers and improve ADA access. Approved unanimously.
- Time Check LLC Townhomes (Item 27): Jeff Wolsencraft presented a proposal for 36 market-rate townhomes on seven city-owned parcels near Ellis Boulevard and Sixth Street NW. The review group unanimously recommended the project. Approved unanimously.
- Homeward Bound LLC Townhomes (Item 28): A 12-unit townhome project on eight parcels along 22nd Avenue SW (near Czech Village). The only proposal received. Approved unanimously.
- Margaret Bach Housing Collaborative (Item 26): Laura Shaw presented a memorandum of agreement with the Housing Fund for Linn County to fund a case manager for supportive housing at the Margaret Bach building. The city contributes up to $104,000 per year for three years, leveraging other partner funds. Approved unanimously.
- Historic Preservation Landmark (Item 29): Ordinance to designate Zestara Pharmacy at 1135 Ellis Boulevard NW as a local landmark. Approved on second and third readings unanimously.
- McDonald's Zone Change (Item 30): Rezoning at 1712 32nd Street NE and adjacent parcels to traditional mixed-use center. Councilmember Meyer noted progress on McDonald's property on First Avenue. Approved on second and third readings unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- First reading of ordinance to repeal Chapter 74 (Citizen Review Board) passed (motion carried, with opposition from Councilmembers Van Orney and Meyer). Community focus groups and a new replacement ordinance are anticipated by September/October 2025.
- Water extension district for Lawrence's First neighborhood established (first reading approved).
- Zone changes approved for Harrison Elementary, Van Buren Elementary, and a McDonald's site (first readings).
- Hoover Elementary rezoning approved on second reading; third reading postponed to allow further neighbor engagement.
- Bid awards and contracts authorized for the F Avenue Levee ($7,020,000), 18th Avenue SW Reconstruction ($2,790,000), Riverfront Park 1 ($279,153.50), GTC Parking Ramp Repairs ($350,000), and Downtown Library Plaza Refresh ($230,000).
- Development agreements authorized for Time Check LLC (36 townhomes) and Homeward Bound LLC (12 townhomes) on city-owned surplus properties.
- Memorandum of agreement approved for the Margaret Bach Housing Collaborative pilot program (three-year commitment).
- Historic landmark designation for Zestara Pharmacy finalized.
- Public input recorded on rail yard noise (Rompot neighborhood) and the Ark of Justice naming; council took no immediate action.
Meeting Transcript
Well, this meeting is Cedar Rapids City Council will come to order. Welcome everybody. It's a full house today for our meeting. Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025. All are here, present and accounted for in council. Want to welcome our city manager, our city clerk, and our city attorney. And as always, uh, thank you to city staff for being here and willing to answer questions of those who are here today after the meeting. A reminder for those of you who've joined us today to turn off any cell phones or electronic devices that might distract us from our proceedings today. And note that all of our meeting agendas, minutes, and even videos are available on our city's website. Our regular sessions are also available on Facebook Live. We will begin today with an invocation by public safety chaplain Sam Anderson, followed immediately by our Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mayor, City Council, City Staff. I will also say before we pray, praise God for air conditioning. So thankful to be in here and nice and cool with you all. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, God, there are many things that we can be thankful for. Um God, the least of which is not this wonderful city that we have the opportunity to call home. God, there are many things that work together, many people that function alongside and arm in arm with one another, God, and we strive for unity and peace. Um God, and we are so thankful that we have an opportunity to be stewards of the resources and of the places and of the energy that you've provided us with, God. And you we have our being and our very existence. And Father, we uh pray that you would guide and gift and give direction and wisdom and provision to make decisions to Father be uh intentional with what we do and what we put our energy and efforts towards, uh, God, and would it all be for your glory and not for our own? Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We'll begin right away with our public hearings today. So I'll remind everybody who wishes to speak today, whether during a public hearing or during one of our public comment periods of a few matters to ensure that we have an orderly and respectful meeting. A reminder to remain at the lector. If you have documents you wish to share, please give them to the officer. She will get them to us. Comments are limited to five minutes per speaker. So when the light on the console in front of you turns yellow, that indicates you have one minute left. And when it's red, we'll invite you to take your seat once again. And third, please be aware that all comments must be directed to the matter of the public hearing and that abusive, obscene, loud, threatening, or relevant comments aren't allowed. And finally, we need to hold an orderly hearing. So we'll ask that no applause, cheering, booing, or other noise or disruptive um conduct from the audience uh happens today. So we thank you in advance for that. Does the clerk have any comments or objections in regard to any of our public hearings today? Your honor for public hearing number four. There were two objections and two comments filed. No other written comments or objections were filed. Thank you. Thank you. All right, we'll go ahead and move on to item number one, which is a public hearing to consider repealing chapter 74 of the municipal code citizen review board for community law enforcement. Jennifer Pratt is here. Jennifer, I will recognize you. Thank you, Mayor. City Council. Jennifer Pratt, Community Development. Um the Citizen Review Board was established under Chapter 74 of the municipal code back on February 9th of 2021. Um Senate file 311 that was adopted on May 19th of this year.
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