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.

We'll move on now to our public hearings.

I want to remind everybody who wishes to speak today, whether during a public hearing or during the public comment or public any of our public input periods of a few matters we need to have to ensure an orderly meeting.

So a reminder to first remain at the lectern.

If you have any documents you wish to share, please give them to the officer on your right.

She will get them to us.

Second, comments are limited to five minutes of speaker.

So when the light on the console turns yellow, you'll uh you have one minute left to wrap up.

And when it's red, we'll ask you to take your seat once again.

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 will not be allowed.

And finally, we need to hold an orderly meeting.

So uh we ask for no applause, cheering, booing, or disruptive conduct from the audience that might distract us um from the proceedings.

So thank you in advance.

Does the clerk have any written comments or objections in regard to any of the public hearings today on the agenda today?

Uh your honor for public hearing number five.

One comment was filed.

No other written comments or objections were filed.

Thank you.

Okay, one comment for item number five.

Thank you very much.

Um item number one is a public hearing to consider amending the fiscal year 2026 budget.

Abidish Bande is here.

Abi, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor and the Council.

Uh Abidishwandi Finance Director.

Um today I will be presenting the first round of uh budget amendments to the adopted budget of FY26.

Uh, the adopted budget was uh for the fiscal year was created based on the historic revenue and expense projections around 18 months back.

Uh the actual revenue and expenses can be varied due to the various um unexpected factors.

The state of Iowa requires uh an amendment to the adopted budget prior um the actual expense will exceed the adopted budget, or if any of the transfer of funds were not included in the adopted budget.

Uh this presentation will highlight uh these key changes in the revenue and expenses uh across various different types of funds.

This budget amendment does not impact on the property tax levies that were adopted for the FY2026.

Uh, reflect the changes to the revenue and expense projections only, include transfer of funds as well as include adjustment for the capitalization definition and threshold changes effective July 1, 2025.

So the next three slides will highlight the changes in the general fund amendments on uh any uh changes for the revenue expenses in the general fund.

The total change will decrease in revenue of 5.2 million expenses and decrease in expenses of 4.6 million.

Um the amputator and CR tourism used to be the general fund.

Now they're moved into the enterprise fund uh to better uh align with the all enterprise funds and the entertainment venues.

So reduction in revenue and expenses of 5.9 million to move amputator and see our tourism budget from general fund to the enterprise fund to align with the other entertainment venues.

Um expected revenue changes.

The the key items are revenue increased by various sources by 700,000 that includes interest income, banking, earning credits, timing of grants, and some other sources based on the projections.

Some of the key unexpected changes, expense changes are increase in additional animal control position of 368,000.

Increase of 15,000 for neoga email license cost, 117,000 for increased uh in fleet parts and services, around 811,000 for expense in capitalization changes and 25,000 for the uh contribution to the uh the local haycap food program, uh as well as there were uh various expense adjustments based on the public safety grant charges of material services, timing, banking services.

Um moving forward to the internal services fund area.

Uh this is basically the fleet and the facility expenses.

Uh there was expense increase of 93,000 for external review study of the fleet operations, uh, increase in parts and services and associated charges for um uh for services revenue by seven uh by seven hundred thousand, then also the expense increase of five point one million and revenue increase of three hundred thousand related to the timing of vehicle purchases, uh as well as the expense increase of 710,000 for fuel expenditures, uh revenue increase of 192,000 and expense increase of 366,000 for the timing of fuel system projects.

Um the facility side, there was expense increase of 350,000 for capitalization exchanges, uh, expense increase for 495,000 for timing of capital improvement projects.

Moving forward to the enterprise uh fund amendments, there are next three slides.

They will talk about these enterprise funds, the uh entertainment venues uh basically moving uh amphitheater and CR tourism from the general fund to the enter entertainment uh to the enterprise area, the budget that was the revenue expense increase of 5.9 million, uh also the increase of 30,000 for amphitheater fencing and 100,000 for the marquee improvements, also increase of 50,000 for the fleet contribution for the purchase of a camper on the utility side, uh solid waste and recycling expense increase of 380,000 for the card purchases, increase in expense of 450,000 for external IT services, uh revenue decrease of 611,000 due to delayed implementation and variable card program on the WPC SRF loan.

There was increase of 12.7 million uh uh for the capital improv for the timing of capital improvement projects.

Um in the stormwater side, there was expense increase of 1.01.5 million due to the capitalization changes.

Um golf side uh expense increase of 1.3 million for the timing of capital improvement projects at the Gardner Golf Course.

Um moving forward to the tax supported capital project.

This is the death levy related projects, expense increase on the 281,000 and transfers associated with the timing of ARPA projects, uh for example Newbow Doc Park West Side Library, expense increase of 5.4 million in and also in revenue increase of 6.9 million for the capital timing of capital improvement projects, then expense decrease of 3.2 million for the capitalization changes.

Um lastly, the special revenue funds, um, expense increase of uh 555,000 for the capitalization changes, expense increase for 398,000, uh 390,000 to purchase osphalt equipment for public works uh to use on the paving for progress program and various other revenue and expense um total together 9.3 million and transfer adjustment at 6.2 million due to the timing of activity, including grants to summarize all the amendments, the total changes um in all city funds, increase in transfer in and out by 21 million due to timing of activities or capitalization changes uh out of that uh increase in revenue is 21.5 million, and increase in expenses is 27 million.

Um the staff recommendation is to approval of the fiscal um uh fiscal year 2026 budget amendment.

With that, I will turn it over to you, Mayor.

Thanks, Abby.

This is a time and a place for a public hearing on this matter.

Does anyone here wish to address council?

Let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

Councilmember Poe.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'd like to specifically recuse myself on line items seven and one oh six.

Anyone else?

All right.

Seeing no further questions.

The adoption of this resolution has been moved by Councilmember Scott Olson, seconded by Councilmember Todd.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you.

Item number two is a public hearing to consider the proposed amendment.

Number one to Rose Cottage 2, urban revert revitalization area for property along Prairie View Lane Southwest, which is requested by Rose Cottage 2 LLC.

Scott Mather is here.

Scott, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Council Scott Mather with the city manager's office.

Um background here.

Uh on November 18th, City Council established the Rose Cottage 2 Urban Revitalization Area as a way to provide the 10-year 100% exemption for a multifamily housing project along Prairie Lane.

Uh December 2nd resolution setting this public hearing was to correct the legal description, whereas we added about 8.86 acres of land to this urban revitalization area.

So today, uh here for the public hearing to consider that amendment number one.

So the area in red that's not shaded with white is the area that was initially approved.

The land here to the east was uh inadvertently just not included in that description.

So we're just adding that legal description to this urban revitalization area.

So to the south is Wright Brothers, and over to the left is 380.

So today we're here for the public hearing resolution and first ordinance reading, approving amendment number one, and then if approved, January 27th would be the second and possible third readings of the ordinance.

That'll return it back to you, Mayor.

Thanks, Scott.

This is a time and a place for a public hearing on this matter.

Does anyone wish to address council?

Let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

All right, seeing none, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries before we vote on an ordinance for this item.

Council, any more comments.

All right.

If there no further questions, approval of the ordinance on its first reading has been moved by Van Orney, seconded by Poe.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you.

Three is a public hearing to consider the disposition of three city owned parcels.

It's 604, 614, and 620 I Avenue Northwest.

Jeff Wosencraft is here.

Jeff, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Jeff Wosencraft Community Development as stated.

This is a resolution to initiate an RFP for uh three lots along I Avenue.

Uh just an aerial here, I Avenue running along the bottom of the image.

We have Time Check Park off to the north and east and the Ellis Boulevard to the left of the parcels on the image.

Um some site characteristics, uh just under half an acre of three lots again.

Uh they're currently all vacant.

Uh there is a mix of zoning between urban village general and urban neighborhood residential.

Um, one allows for mixed use development, and the other is strictly residential.

Uh all three lots have access to city infrastructure, and they were acquired post uh flood of 2008.

Um, they are all located within the hundred-year floodplain, um, and so they will need to make a meet our floodplain ordinance.

Um I will also state that these were previously included in a RFP last year, um, and we did not receive any uh proposals, and so they've uh been reissued in a separate RFP.

Um so uh tree inventory of the existing trees on lots.

Um of note here is the uh blue dot here, which is a large maple tree.

Um, and then the green dot here is a healthy small tree.

Uh the rest of the trees are in not great health or dying.

Um, and then we have the newly planted parkway trees.

Uh for the objectives, uh, alignment with the Northwest Neighborhood Action Plan with a preference for housing in the plan.

It was called out to enhance over here on the image on the right, um, sort of calling for a higher intensity develop development along Ellis Boulevard and to the east.

Um, also development that would meet our urban uh form design requirements, and then of course, development that is financially feasible.

So the timeline for this uh today we're here for the public hearing.

Proposals would be due uh February 13th.

Uh if uh awarded, we would hope to bring this back to council on March 10th, um, and then negotiation of a development agreement this spring.

And with that, staff would recommend approval of the resolution to initiate the RFP.

And I'll pass it back to the mayor.

Thanks, Jeff.

This is time and a place for public hearing.

Does anyone wish to address council?

Let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

All right, seeing nothing there.

The adoption of this resolution has been moved by POE, seconded by Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries four is a public hearing to consider annexation of land at 4750 Woodview Drive Northeast and 3920 Emerson Avenue Northwest or Northeast as requested by Cypress Real Estate LLC and Ronald White.

Jeff I recognize you again.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Jeff Wosencraft with community development again.

This is a resolution resolution for annexation of those two parcels.

Um, this is a hundred percent voluntary annexation resulting from uh connections to city services that the uh two applicants had requested.

Um, the two parcels totaled just over two acres, um, is what's called an urbanized area because it was a it is within two miles of Hiawatha, and as I mentioned, they are applying for annexation to connect to city services.

Um this is an area that has existing islands of county, um, and so these blue areas are islands of county.

The proposed annexation are these two green parcels.

Um this is Edgewood North Road Northeast, um, and then 42nd Street Northeast is on the top of the image.

So staff review city services are available to these parcels.

Um, it does help correct an existing island of county um and it is consistent with our Hiawatha annexation moratorium agreement.

The timeline for this today we're here for the public hearing.

Uh if approved, here would then go to the city development board meeting at the state on February 11th, and then if approved, there would uh be recorded uh 30 days later.

And with that, staff recommend approval of the resolution.

I'll pass it back to the mayor.

Thanks, Jeff.

This is the time of place for public hearing.

Does anyone wish to address council?

Let the record show.

Public hearing has been held with no objections.

Council.

All right, seeing nothing further.

The adoption of this resolution has been moved by Overlin, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Number five is a public hearing to consider annexation of land along 76th Avenue and Tissle Hollow Road as requested by QTS Cedar Rapids Land LLC and Iowa Land and Building Company.

Jeff, I'll recognize you.

Last one.

Um, so this is another resolution for annexation.

Um, again, 100% voluntary.

Uh two parcels, just over 25 acres included in this annexation.

Uh, the city is also including the full right-of-way of the adjacent portions of 76th Avenue and Tissle Hollow as part of this annexation.

Um, it is again in an urbanized area because it's with two miles within uh within two miles of the city of Fairfax, um, and they are applying for annexation to comply with city standards.

This is uh property that is being used for construction staging, and so wanting to make sure that we're um complying with our own development requirements as uh with those.

And so uh contextualizing the annexation, these two parcels.

This is sort of the big cedar area, the existing QTS development is around here on the far southwest side of the city.

Um so staff review city services are available, our plan for the existing parcels.

Um, it does not create any islands of county um and is consistent with our Fairfax Annexation moratorium agreement.

Uh same timeline as the last one.

This would be public hearing today.

Um, if approved, it would then go to the city development board on February 11th, and then if approved, there would be recorded 30 days later.

And with that, staff recommend approval of the resolution, and I'll pass it back to the mayor.

Thank you.

This is a time and a place for public hearing on this matter.

Does anyone wish to address council?

Let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

All right, seeing nothing.

Uh the adoption of this resolution has been moved by councilmember Tyler Olson, seconded by uh councilmember Hager.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Number six is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the 42nd Street Northeast from Pineview Drive to Wenig Road pavement improvements project with an estimated cost of four million six hundred thousand dollars.

Uh Doug Wilson is here.

Doug, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor Doug Wilson, public works department.

This project includes full pavement reconstruction along with new sidewalks and ADA compliant curb ramps.

It also includes water main storm sewer and sanitary sewer improvements.

There is a mid-block pedestrian clock crossing being added with a rapid rectangular, rapid flashing beacon uh being added along with signal improvements at Wenig Road.

The engineer's opinion of Pablo cost is $4,600,000.

There's signage on the details for all non-residential properties located within the limits of the project.

A pre-bid conference is scheduled for tomorrow.

Bid opening is January 21st.

We've had two public meetings in conjunction with this project, and we expect construction to start this spring with completion in the late fall of 2026 or early 2027.

Public Works Department recommends approval of this resolution.

Thank you.

Thanks, Doug.

This is time and a place for a public hearing on this matter.

Does anyone here wish to address council?

Let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

Councilmember Olson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh again, watching the 42nd Street go on through.

Do we are there times where the road is totally closed, or is that is it still like they did before where at least one lane was open as the work was done, and then there are just times when it does close.

But what's the plan for that?

Because there's a lot of different types of properties that are will be impacted.

Uh yes.

Actually, uh we did close the entire road last year.

Uh yes.

And uh we plan to do that in sections again this year.

And uh the proposed detour this time will go from Wenig to Blue Jay.

And so people will be uh the commercial businesses were affected with the phase that was completed this uh in 2025.

Uh the traffic will be back on 42nd Street before you get to those businesses.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Council, and you mentioned you had two meetings already.

Yes.

Okay, and all the businesses have been notified.

Yes, absolutely.

All right, okay, thanks so much.

Um, if there's no other further questions, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by councilmember Hager, seconded by Councilmember Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thanks so much.

Here in the city of Cedar Rapids, we have two public comment periods.

We have one more.

Oh, I skipped one, sorry.

Sorry, Casey.

That's okay.

Item number seven is a public hearing to consider the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the Mount Vernon Road Tank and Wilson Avenue Tank Reconditioning Project.

This has an estimated cost of $1,935,000.

Casey Meyer is here.

Casey, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Good afternoon, Council.

Casey Meyer with the Utilities Department.

This project is for the reconditioning and rehabilitation of both the Mount Vernon Road and Wilson Avenue Water Towers.

The one million gallon Mount Vernon Road tank was constructed in 1966 and was last reconditioned in 2005.

The tank has cosmetic and structural issues with the exterior and interior coatings.

Maintenance was postponed due to a cell phone antenna lease, which expires in March.

Work will include abrasive blasting and recoding of the exterior and interior coatings and the installation of a submersible mixer.

The city's name and logo will be painted on the side of the tank with the tree of five seasons facing Mount Vernon Road.

The two million gallon Wilson Avenue tank in Delaney Park in the southwest part of Cedar Rapids was constructed in 1989 and was last reconditioned in 2010.

Inspection of the tank has noted surface discoloration and coating separation of the exterior coating.

Work will include power washing and overcoat applied to the an overcoat applied to the existing exterior coating system and the installation of a submersible mixer.

The city's name and logo will be painted on the side of the tank.

The engineer's opinion of probable cost for this project is $1,935,000.

Bids will be opened on January 14th.

Construction for the Mount Vernon Road tank is expected to begin in April of 2026, and construction for the Wilson Avenue tank is expected to begin in September of 2026.

The utilities department recommends approval of the resolution for this project.

And with that, I'll turn it back to you, Mayor.

Thanks so much, Casey.

This is time and a place for a public hearing on this matter.

Does anyone wish to address council?

Let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

Councilmember Poe.

Thank you.

Well, Casey, thank you so much.

And I think uh um thank you out to City Manager Palmarance.

I think when you first came to Cedar Rapids City Manager, you said, Why isn't our name on our tanks?

And so with that, um, as we've reconstructed these tanks, we've gotten our name on them, and thank you for that suggestion.

Love having our logo all over.

Thank you.

Any other comments from council?

All right.

Then if there's no further questions, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by Meyer, seconded by Councilmember Scott Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries thank you, Council.

Now on to public comment.

Here in the city of Cedar Rapids, we have two public comment periods.

The first is a chance for the public to address the city council on any subject pertaining to council action scheduled for today.

A second public input period is at the end of the meeting for residents, property owners, and business owners to speak on issues that are germane to the city, but not necessarily on the agenda today.

Council members and city staff make themselves available by phone or email.

But at this time, we are here to listen.

Remember that all the matters I addressed prior to the first public comment and public hearing today do apply to the public comment sessions as well.

So stay at the lectern when the light turns yellow.

You have one minute when it turns red.

We'll ask you to take your seat.

If you have documents, please give them the officer.

She'll get them to us.

And all comments need to be directed to the matter you wish to address.

And abusive, obscene, irrelevant comments won't be allowed.

And we ask for no participation or disruption from the audience as well.

If you've signed up to speak, approach the microphone when called upon.

And I don't know if we have any speakers today.

I might invite the officer to run out real quick and check our sign-up sheet for us.

Okay.

Okay.

So we're gonna officially close out our first public comment period.

Um City Manager Pomerance, do you have any changes to the agenda?

No changes.

No changes.

Council members need to recuse themselves on agenda items or make changes.

Councilmember Poe.

Any recusals?

Done.

Okay.

Um, then that will bring us to a motion to approve the agenda.

The approval of the agenda has been moved by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And that motion carries.

Thank you, Council.

Now to the consent agenda.

The approval of the consent agenda has been moved by Van Orney, seconded by Poe.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And that motion carries as well.

So move on to our regular agenda.

Item number 31, which is a report on bids for the Ellis Road Northwest at Ross and Lane Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project with an estimated cost of $750,000.

Ben Warrell is here.

Ben, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Ben Warrell Public Works Department.

This project includes a replacement of 537 feet of 36-inch sanitary sewer main.

It also includes 946 feet of lining of that sewer.

It also includes extension of eight-inch sanitary sewer across Ellis Road for future development and installation of a flow metering manhole, which was requested by the City of Paylo.

All of this is being done in conjunction with City of Payloan in accordance with our 2080 agreement.

It's project bid on December 17th.

We received three bids.

Low bid was 1,220,743 and two cents.

High bid was 1,430, 235.00.

All of these bids are above the engineer's estimate.

And so we are in discussions with the city of Paylo.

And we'll return to council with the recommendation.

Thank you.

All right, Ben, thanks.

Council.

All right, we don't have a vote on this, so we'll go ahead and move on to our ordinances.

Thanks, Ben.

32 is an ordinance repealing ordinance numbers 041-03, 078-14, 047-16, and 033-20, which is relating to the collection of tax increments within the Council Street Urban Renewal Area.

The approval of this ordinance on its second reading has been moved by Overlin, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you, Council.

Councilmember Poe.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move the role requiring three readings on three different days be suspended and the ordinance be adopted on its third and final reading.

Thank you.

The adoption of this ordinance on its third and final reading has been moved by Poe, seconded by Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

And that will close out our formal business today and bring us to our final public input period.

This is the opportunity for Cedar Rapids residents, property owners, and business owners to address the city council on any subject pertaining to council business.

If you are not a resident, a property owner or business owner, you will not be invited to speak.

But we encourage you to email or call council members and city staff with your comments.

As with the earlier public comment period, at this time we are here as a council to listen.

I'll remind everybody to remain at the lectern.

Comments are limited to five minutes, and we ask for no abusive, obscene, loud, threatening, or personal comments.

If you've signed up to speak, we'll ask you to approach the microphone when called upon.

And our first speaker today is Nell Mary Barrios, here to speak on ICE and safety.

Hello, my name is Nilmarie Barrios.

I live on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids, and I'm here again as a concerned citizen, asking that you take action to protect the Cedar Rapids community from ICE.

Every week, groups of volunteers, including myself gather at the DHS office here in Cedar Rapids to offer support to those who are checking in for their appointments.

I've already informed you the last time I spoke of the cruelty that takes place at that office.

I told you that they aren't letting in translators, friends, or partners, family.

That remains the same.

Individuals are walking in alone, scared, and being deceived once they're inside.

Our main priority is being there to inform them that they have rights regardless of their status, that they are not forced to sign anything, regardless of what ICE agents might tell them.

And they have the right to legal counsel, and we provide them resources to find so.

A lot of them don't know this information because are told otherwise.

We shouldn't have to be doing this.

That shouldn't be necessary.

Nobody should be getting tricked.

Since the beginning of the cold weather, we now have another issue to take care of, and that is standing out in the cold.

Despite having a waiting room with the capacity of at least 15 people, DHS still makes everyone stand outside in a line in the cold.

It doesn't matter if you are the second or third person in line, and there's still a dozen empty seats inside.

It doesn't matter if you have small children who can't tolerate being out in the cold that long.

And it doesn't matter if it's below freezing.

They're all forced to stand outside the door in a line and wait.

And there's no valid justification for that.

To top it off, when we show up with supplies for these people, such as blankets, gloves, hot chocolate, hand warmers, they call the police on us.

And no, we're not trying to get in the building.

We're not trying to get in the parking lot or beyond a gate.

We're not threatening anybody.

We are simply meeting people at the sidewalk entrance, they are forced to stand at with hot chocolate and blankets.

So they do not need to walk across the snowy yard to meet us.

And they don't even let people wait inside to call their ride.

It's just ridiculous, and there's no logic in doing this.

It's purely intimidation tactics.

We all know how ICE operates.

We're seeing their violence and deception carried out across the country.

We saw a man brutalized by an unmarked agent in Iowa City, and he is free now, by the way, so maybe they shouldn't have done that to begin with.

We saw black and brown babies in the middle of the night pulled out of their homes in Chicago, zip tied naked in the cold.

We saw four people shot and two killed in the span of less than a month by agents.

In 2025 alone, 32 people died in ICE custody.

And as of yesterday morning, at least 16 people were detained by ICE and are now being held in the Lynn County jail, where they refused to provide translations.

Cedar Rapids isn't an exception to the cruelty going on in this country.

Welcome is our language, and IU and Ice mean nothing anymore.

Not when people are afraid to go to work, afraid to go to the hospital, afraid to be out in their community, and not when new slogans are being circulated.

The Department of Homeland Security is getting bolder in their use of white nationalist imagery and Nazi slogans in their recruitment campaigns, such as one homeland, one people, one heritage, or one of ours, all of yours.

These are Nazi slogans.

And they're being used by federal agents who have free reign here in our city.

So I have to ask is that acceptable in your city?

Is Cedar Rapids a place where white supremacy is allowed to thrive?

The longer you allow ICE to operate here in our city, the more that becomes our reality.

We ask that you take direct action to kick ice out of Cedar Rapids.

If you do not have the power to change things, you do have the ability to influence people who can.

And that's more than any of us have.

But you need to do something before a violent tragedy is caught on video here.

There's already tragedies going on.

You're just not seeing it recorded.

We're asking you to stop being quiet.

You can't be neutral.

We're asking you to do something because enough is enough, and we're all scared and we're angry.

We're feeling let down.

It's like talking to a wall.

We're asking that you just do your part to protect us.

That includes all of us.

Thank you.

Bronson Beals.

Here to speak on traffic delineators.

Good afternoon, Mayor O'Donnell and members of the council.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

My name is Bronson Beals, and I would like to share some concerns I have with a recent action of the City Public Work Department's engineering division.

I have prepared a handout.

I live along East Robins Road.

As you are aware, the Tower Terrace Road project was completed toward the end of 2024, connecting Tower Terrace to East Main and C Avenue with a four-exit roundabout.

There was no leg added to connect East Robbins Road with the roundabout at C Avenue, to which it was previously connected.

In consequence, roughly 410 homes with most direct westbound access to C Avenue via East Robbins were forced to divert their travel through less efficient routes.

You may view four of these alternative routes along with average drive times on page five of the handout.

The most efficient of these routes by far is the route marked in black, which passes up East Robbins before using Marquette Drive Northeast and Berkshire Drive Northeast to access C Avenue.

The next most efficient route, a full 41 seconds longer on average than the Marquette route, forces drivers to use an inefficient Michigan Gia, Michigan-style J turn along Tower Terrace, causing them in effect to double back by turning right to turn left in order to access the C Avenue roundabout.

Page seven shows the average loss in productivity caused by usage of this route over the Marquette route, including an alarming 2,656 hours of productivity lost yearly to a now forced diversion in light of the traffic engineering department's November decision to install 47 traffic delineators in eliminating westbound access to Marquette along East Robbins.

Traffic engineers informed me that most every one of the 26 homes along Marquette Drive Northeast called the city to complain about increased traffic density along their street beginning in November 2024, when the roundabout was first finalized.

In response to these complaints, the traffic engineering division hosted a meeting in October of last year to propose a solution to this issue.

Installation of traffic delineators along East Robins Road to eliminate left turns onto and out of Marquette Drive Northeast.

While no minutes were kept, a copy of the slideshow shown at the meeting as well as the survey sent to stakeholders following that meeting are attached to your handout.

Despite ostensible public feedback, only the complaints, only the complainants, which is to say the 26 homes on Marquette Drive Northeast were invited to participate in this public meeting and to respond to the ensuing survey.

No notice was posted of these plans or for the public meeting, of which the traffic engineering division spoke in any public journal by the admission of the division.

Unsurprisingly, the 6% of homes affected by this change voted to install the traffic delineators, though this decision was not unanimous, even amongst Marquette residents, of whom two cast no ballots and one household did not respond.

The city's justification for the lack of inclusion of any of the other 384 affected households along East Robbins was that Marquette residents were quote most affected by the cross traffic caused by diversion of westbound traffic along East Robbins and would be most affected by the installation of these delineators.

I am not alone in taking exception to this analysis on behalf of the city.

Marquette Drive is and has always been a public road.

While it may be an inconvenience to Marquette residents to have a greater number of cars passing through their neighborhood, city data show that cars predominantly abide by the speed limit when passing through, thus negating any pretense of a safety concern.

In light of this, I question the traffic engineering's division's motives in installing these delineators.

Their action appears to be motivated by convenience and allaying the persistent complaints of a minute population at the expense of a large number of Cedar Rapids citizens.

What makes the inconvenience of these residents more distressing to the city than the burden now shouldered by the remaining 600 cars affected daily by a diversion through a poorly designed J turn.

At what expense, indeed, was this action undertaken and what recompense have the citizens of the city of Cedar Rapids for such an expenditure designed only to please a select group.

It is clear that the city has, in this case, intentionally avoided public comment on the issue of eliminating cross traffic along Marquette Drive in order to satisfy a group of objectors.

And it is my belief that in any forum publicized and open to the general public, the singular voices of this small contingent of homes would be easily drowned out by at least a thousand residents in opposition to this change.

I put it to you that you have not only the power but the moral obligation to call for greater transparency on the part of the traffic engineering division, and that it is only right for this council to order the immediate removal of the traffic delineators along East Robbins Road.

Thank you for your time, and with your blessing, I would like to enter this packet into the record.

Thank you.

Next, uh, we have Elsa Gustavson here to speak on ice and safety.

Hello, my name is Elsa.

I live in Northeast Cedar Rapids.

And first, I want to start with regarding some of these comments today.

It could be stated that things like these take time.

But I wanted to point out that the Trump administration has not hidden its intentions since he was in office the first time.

And even those with a pretty dense veil over their eyes should have been able to get a pretty good idea of where this is headed over the past year and even more so in these past weeks.

While they have hit Minnesota hard because of their existing progressive policies and blue votes, I will remind you of the poem by Martin Nymoler.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade union unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

Though the writer of this famous poem was a complicated figure, initially an anti-Semitic Nazi supporter, his views changed when he himself was persecuted and he saw that fascist regime from the receiving end of violence and detention.

The current authoritarian regime is unapologetically following the same playbook.

They have come from Minnesotans first as a testing ground for the level of violence and complete disregard for the law the American public will tolerate.

Cedar Rapids might not be their next priority, but they have no intentions of stopping forced deportations or the brutalization of anyone who expressed dissent.

They will increase terror in our communities too.

The public is already afraid.

Your constituents are afraid.

Anyone who shows any dissent from this era of violence, hate, and oppression is at risk.

What are you doing to keep Cedar Rapids residents safe?

What will you do as ICE increases its numbers in our city and kidnaps and brutalizes our neighbors?

What is your red line to acknowledge that your complacency is violence?

Will you wait until it is too late?

As the federal agents of this regime change or ignore laws to fit their agenda, will you overcomply in advance?

Will you continue to collaborate or will you push back?

Will you earn the trust of those most impacted in this community?

If so, you had better start now because they are coming for all of us.

There are currently people detained by ICE being held in our jail right here in Cedar Rapids.

There are families being ripped apart abruptly when they come to their check-in appointments right here in Cedar Rapids.

I would like to think that if any of you came and stayed long enough any given weekday at the DHS office to see for yourselves the families waiting outside in the cold, sometimes for over an hour, despite a large waiting room inside, or the way their officers call CRPD to give out federal trespass warnings to good people who are just there handing out coats, blankets, and hot chocolate and resources to those in line.

Do not think that because we are currently in a red state with a governor that kisses up to the wannabe dictator that they will forget about us.

Don't think that because you hold some privilege, you will be safe forever.

There are already people in this community being impacted, and it will only continue to get worse.

Please use what power you have to protect your constituents.

Refuse to collaborate with ICE.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Roger Slade here to speak about Flock.

It's Roger here.

Okay.

So I'm uh Roger Slade, live on the Northeast side.

And uh this past December, uh, there were some headlines both locally and nationally regarding the flock surveillance cameras, which he put in place without a single vote from anybody that lives here.

There were two viral YouTube videos, both done by Ben Jordan, the one who recently made Cedar Rapids famous.

It's called Flock Cameras Leak is like Netflix for Stalkers.

He showed a live example of how he can hack and access information from Cedar Rapids cameras.

Um I don't have time to explain further, but I recommend you all watch it if you haven't read it already or watched it.

The other is titled, We Hacked Flock Safety Cameras under under 30 seconds.

That's a really good educational video, about 45 minutes.

Both videos combined have over two million views as of the last couple of days.

This wasn't the last hack of Flock cameras.

This is only the beginning.

They were censored.

And uh we're censored just like the video right now.

That's censored, which isn't typical of uh city council.

So thank you for still allowing public comments to be made.

I also sent an email to all of you with a copy of a minute long video that Ben Jordan posted, which is intended for you and uh local law enforcement.

It was an informational video regarding mailing sent out by Flock CEO warning you about uh journalists and anybody who opposes his surveillance, literally stating that he's ready to go to war with us and wants us silenced.

So he also wants no feedback, only compliance.

Thank you for sending that out to me too.

Ben Jordan also stated that Flock was formerly notified of this of the many camera vulnerabilities months ago before the video was even produced or released.

Cedar Rapids currently has the most Flock cameras of any state in Iowa.

We're number one in surveillance.

According to your public safety camera statistics report you recently sent out, it shows a total of 80 ALPR cameras along with parks and recreation cameras.

Side note here recently, one of the top cybersecurity researchers on Flock came out stating that the LPRs, the license plate readers, are used exclusively for vehicles while cameras are for identifying people and vehicles.

He stated that all LPRs nationwide.

Um he said in early 2025 in a private seminar, they announced that all LPRs nationwide were upgraded into video cameras for free.

So we can assume that all LPRs are now video cameras and have unlimited capabilities.

So anytime someone even walks by an LPR or video camera, it's most likely capturing a lot more data than what we're told, and we have no choice in this matter.

Uh going back to your public safety camera statistics report.

Um, as far as the traffic engineering category, every category had numbers.

That's where I came up with that 80.

Uh, as far as traffic engineering category, uh just says several cameras.

Every report just says several.

Um, we need a number.

We need to know what that is.

There shouldn't be it shouldn't be a government secret, it shouldn't be this should be public information, this shouldn't be hidden.

It also states in your transparency portal that you don't share any data with immigration enforcement, so legal tax paying citizens, they're the primary target.

This isn't a requirement by Flock either.

Those are terms that were made by you here.

In closing, I asked that you cancel the flock surveillance contract.

This is a constitutional violation and a major security threat.

There's a lot of cities that are canceling their contracts due to the same reasons.

And there are cities overseas that people just tore down the cameras in the middle of the night and destroyed them.

I uh mentioned this to David Meyer a few months ago, and he responded by saying sometimes civil unrest is necessary.

I hope it doesn't come to that, but I hope you consider that.

And anybody else that wants to come in and speak on this matter, I don't care where they're from.

Um, if they drive into the city, you're capturing their information, they should have a right to speak because you have all their data.

So that's it.

And that's gonna close out our second public input period.

City Manager Pomranch, do you have any communications today?

Oh, I just wanted to congratulate the mayor council member Schornman earlier today.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

If there's no further business to come before council, council member Tyler Olson moves to adjourn, seconded by council member Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed say no.

And the motion carries we are adjourned.