The Cedar Rapids City Council convened on January 13, 2026, to address a wide range of municipal affairs, beginning with a proclamation designating January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The council passed several budget amendments, approved urban revitalization area adjustments, and authorized the disposition of three city-owned parcels and two annexation requests. Public commentary was dominated by strong opposition from residents regarding ICE enforcement tactics in Cedar Rapids and concerns over the security and privacy implications of the city's Flock surveillance network.
2026. I would like to thank all of our council members for being here today. Also welcoming our city manager, our city clerk, and our city attorney. And as always, thank you, city staff, for being here and willing to answer questions should we have them from the gallery. A reminder to turn off any cell phones or electronic devices that might distract us from any of our proceedings today. And note that all of our city council meeting agendas, minutes, and videos are available on our city's website. So regular sessions are also available to watch live and on replay on Facebook. We'll begin now with our invocation by public safety chaplain Tahat to Wheel, followed immediately by our Pledge of Allegiance. This is for gratitude and renewal. As we step into our new year. Bless America, bless Iowa, bless Cedar Rabbids, and all the city council members and the staff who are working diligently in the federal level, in the state level, and in the local level. God bless America. We'll begin today's meeting with a proclamation marking human trafficking month. I'd like to invite Councilmember Ashley Van Orney and those of you representing the month to join us here at the Daisy. Whereas human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor services against their will. The commercial sexual exploitation of a minor constitutes human trafficking under the law, regardless of whether force, fraud, or or coercion is present. There are no such thing, there is no such thing as child prostitution. And whereas human trafficking is a hidden and underreported crime with victims, especially children, experiencing fear, trauma, and manipulation, and despite growing awareness, only a small number of cases are identified and prosecuted. And whereas rapid technological advances have created new and escalating risks for children, including online grooming, sex tortion, and the misuse of art artificial intelligence to create, manipulate, and distribute sexual content. And whereas the online sexual exploitation is one of the fastest growing forms of trafficking, placing children and teens at heightened risk and underscoring the urgent need for prevention, education, and community vigilance as online grooming and exploitation of children is no longer an if scenario, but a when impacting families and communities across Iowa. And whereas the city of Cedar Rapids joins Chains Interrupted in its commitment to community education, survivor services, legislative legislative advocacy, professional training, and collaboration with law enforcement to prevent human trafficking and support survivors. This includes a partnership with the Lynn County Attorney's Office that helps secure the first conviction and sentencing in the state of Iowa under the law mandating life in prison without the possibility of parole for sex trafficking, demonstrating the impact of coordinated community and prosecutorial efforts. Now, therefore, I, Ashley Van Orney, on behalf of Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, do hereby proclaim the month of January 2026 as human trafficking prevention month and encourage all citizens to become informed, remain vigilant to report suspicious activity, and work together to end trafficking and exploitation in all its forms. For education, prevention, or survivor assistance, contact Chains Interrupted at 319-3640222. To report suspected trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1888-373-7888. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor O'Donnell and Council for proclaiming January. National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We greatly appreciate your sense of care for our community. Human trafficking is not rare. It is not distant. It is here. It's in your neighborhood and it's in mine. We are grateful to our city, our City Rapids Police Department. I know Chief Dostal's not here right now, but you guys and your team, we're grateful that you are tirelessly working to solve online grooming and stop it and protect our children. We know that's hard on you. We know it's hard on our team, and you're in our prayers both. Just because you're in our prayers. This crime is designed to stay hidden and remains vastly underreported. While hundreds of victims receive services in Iowa each year, only a handful of traffickers are ever convicted. That gap represents children and families suffering in silence. Chains interrupted assisted 81 victims last year. We educated well over 2500 students in area schools, helping them see exploitation, hopefully before it happens to them. We also trained 1,025 frontline professionals, such as medical professionals, HHS, those working with children directly. That was in 25 alone. Your partnership with Chains Interrupted sends a powerful message. Not in our community, we won't look away. We appreciate that. Thanks, everybody.