Cedar Rapids City Council Regular Meeting - September 9, 2025

The Cedar Rapids City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with all members present except Councilmember Dale Todd. The meeting opened with an invocation by Public Safety Chaplain Dennis Miller and the Pledge of Allegiance. Key items included a proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month, a presentation on city council priorities, several public hearings and ordinances, and public comments regarding a fire lane dispute.

Proclamation: Hispanic Heritage Month

• Councilmember Anne Poe read a proclamation declaring September 15 through October 15, 2025, as Hispanic Heritage Month in Cedar Rapids, celebrating the contributions of Latinos in science, education, the military, and community leadership. Representatives from Festival Latino AQUA and the Lucy organization spoke in support, thanking the council and inviting the public to the 14th annual Festival Latino on Saturday, September 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Magyar Bank Ampitheatre.

Presentation: City Council Priorities

• Director Jennifer Pratt presented the FY25 City Council Priorities update, highlighting progress on seven consistent priorities: flood control system, housing options and affordability, strong and stabilized neighborhoods, recreational and cultural amenities, homeless systems management, clean and safe communities, and business-friendly environment. She noted that nearly 670 council action items in FY25 supported these priorities. Accomplishments included the Mount Vernon Road roundabout, Edgewood Road bridge, Bowling Street reconstruction, riverfront activation (Cedar Rapids sign, Alliant Energy Light Line), public art projects, and the homeless street outreach team. The presentation emphasized quarterly reporting and resource alignment.

Public Hearings

• Item 1 (Vacation of portions of B Street, 17th, 19th, and 20th Avenues SW): City Engineer Kenda Kaiser presented the vacation of 2.8 acres of rights-of-way to facilitate the Light Line Loop project. No public comments were received. The ordinance was approved on first reading unanimously.
• Items 2 and 3 (Underground electric line easements with Interstate Power and Light Company): Presenter explained the city-requested easements for Alliant Energy to serve the Light Line Loop. Each public hearing was held with no objections; both resolutions were adopted unanimously.
• Item 4 (Renaming 16th Avenue SE to 5th Street SE): Traffic Engineer Carrie Polay presented the renaming to support street network expansion. Two properties were notified, no objections. First reading of the ordinance approved unanimously.
• Item 5 (Renaming private portion of Excel Drive NE to Reserve Way NE): Requested by Fountains LLC for development on the south side. No properties addressed off the section. First reading approved unanimously.
• Item 6 (Canceled): Public hearing was canceled at the request of the public works department; no public comments were offered.

First Public Comment Period

• No speakers were signed up; the period was closed.

Consent Agenda

• Approved unanimously as part of the consent calendar, except item 8 was moved to the regular agenda.

Regular Agenda

• Item 8: Hotel Motel Tax Allocations (FY26) – $3,575,000 – Councilmember Poe asked for clarification on the $50,000 allocation for NewBo City Market grocery store expansion. Finance Director Abidesh Pandey explained that the total $100,000 commitment is earmarked over two years ($50,000 each year) and will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis for eligible expenses. The resolution was adopted unanimously (Councilmember Meyer recused).
• Item 21: 26th Street SW Bridge Deck Overlay Project – Public Works Director Doug Wilson reported three bids from $224,554 to $422,215; the contract was awarded to Jasper Construction Services for the low bid. Adopted unanimously.
• Item 22: Jones Dog Park Project – Estimated cost $1.8 million, nine bids received ranging from $1,497,000 to $2,088,000. Parks staff recommended awarding to Midwest Concrete Inc. for $1,497,000. Councilmember Van Orney noted that the bid validated earlier cost estimates for public restrooms (≈$300,000 each) after public sticker shock. Unanimously approved.
• Item 23: Ordinance vacating .10 acre on 4th St SE – Second and third readings were approved unanimously; suspension of rules (three readings on three different days) was also approved to adopt on third reading.

Second Public Comment Period

• A resident (unidentified) provided a follow-up on the fire lane/no parking issue on private property. He reported speaking with Fire Chief Greg Smith and Fire Marshal Stephen Mass, stating that no documentation of violations was provided and that a 2019 meeting had resolved the issue until recently. He requested an extension and third-party mediation, both of which were denied by the fire marshal. He also questioned the application of the 150-foot fire code rule. No action was taken by the council.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approvals on all votes: the proclamation, council priorities presentation (not voted on), all public hearing items (ordinances on first reading, resolutions adopted), consent agenda, and regular agenda items 8, 21, 22, and 23.
• Councilmember Meyer recused from item 8; item 8 was moved from consent to regular agenda at Councilmember Poe's request.
• Next steps: The city will continue quarterly reporting on council priorities; the Light Line Loop project will proceed with easements and right-of-way vacations; the Jones Dog Park construction contract is awarded; the hotel motel tax allocations for FY26 are approved; the resident's fire lane concerns were heard but no further council action was taken.
• Meeting adjourned at the conclusion of business.