This meeting of the Cedar Rapids City Council will come to order.

Welcome to the Cedar Rapids City Council meeting for Tuesday, February 24th, 2026.

I am obviously not Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell.

Um so I appreciate your grace today while we uh navigate the city council meeting.

I want to note uh council members uh Hager is absent.

Mayor O'Donnell's absent.

I believe we'll be expecting council members Poe and Todd here shortly.

I'd like to welcome our city manager or city clerk and our city attorney.

Thank you to city staff also for attending and for being available by phone or email to answer questions of citizens.

Please turn off any cell phones or other electronic devices that might interrupt this meeting.

Please note that city council meeting agendas, minutes, and videos are available on the city's website.

Regular sessions are also available to watch live and on replay through Facebook Live.

We will now start with our invocation.

Public safety chaplain Jim Coyle will give the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Please stand if you're able.

Thank you, City Council and Leaders.

We are so blessed to have the leadership in our chamber right now.

God asked that you would uh guide the conversations and the decisions that will be made today and uh preparing decisions that will be made in our near future.

Thank you for the opportunity for all of us to gather and to use all the assets available for everyone here.

I just pray a blessing now in this meeting and ask these things in your precious name.

And we can all say Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States.

All right, it is now time for public hearings.

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

First, please remain at the lectern.

If you have any documents you wish to share with the council, please hand them to the police officer to your right as you're walking up.

The officer will take the documents from you.

Second, comments will be limited to five minutes per speaker when the light on the console in front of you turns yellow.

You have one minute to finish your comments.

When the light turns red, your time is up, and you should leave the lectern.

Third, please be aware that all comments must be directed to the matter of the public hearing and that abusive, obscene, loud, threatening, or irrelevant comments are not allowed.

Finally, we need to hold an orderly hearing so that so there should be no applause, cheering, booing, or other noise or disruptive conduct from anyone in the audience.

Thank you.

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

Your Honor, there were no written comments or objections filed.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Agenda item number one, a public hearing will be held to consider the authoration of the authorization of the issuance of not to exceed 45 million dollars general obligation bonds for essential corporate purposes.

Chad, I'm gonna recognize you.

Thank you.

Chad Matan with the finance department.

Uh I'm gonna combine agenda items one through five into one presentation.

Uh this will cover series 26A and B general obligation bonds and series 26 C water revenue bonds.

Uh series 26A general obligation bonds includes 10.2 million for general CIP projects.

This includes streets, bridges, parks, uh, trails, facilities, and so forth.

It also includes 36 million for the flood control.

Issance costs are estimated to be $850,000 for a total par of 47 million dollars.

Series 26B includes 1 million dollars for ADA repair and upgrades to the Veterans Memorial Building.

And series 26 C water revenue bonds includes 4 million for general water projects.

These are for maintenance of the system.

Uh issuance costs are estimated to be 133,000 for a total par of 4 million 135,000 dollars.

The future bond sale schedule includes setting the sale date on April 28th.

We'll also approve the preliminary official statement and electronic bidding on May 12th.

We'll accept bids and then come before council to award the bonds.

On May 26th, we'll approve the final documents and the official closing and delivery of funds will be June 18th.

Finance recommends approving the resolutions, instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of series 26A, B, and C bonds.

Thank you, Chad.

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

This is the 45 million dollars of general obligation bonds.

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

If so, please approach the microphone on the lectern, state your name and the community where you live for the record.

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

That brings us to council comments.

Seeing none, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by council member Scott Olson, seconded by council member Todd.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

Public hearing item number two, a public hearing will be held to consider the authorization of the issuance of not to exceed 1.38 million general obligation bonds.

General corporate purposes dash one for budgeted projects.

There's um this is the time and place for a public hearing on this matter.

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council?

If so, approach the lectern.

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

Brings us to council comments.

Seeing no further questions, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by council member Todd, seconded by Council Member Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

Brings us to item number three.

A public hearing will be held to consider the authorization of the issuance of not to exceed 1.38 million dollar general obligation bonds, general corporate purposes dash two.

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

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council?

If so, approach the lectern.

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

Brings us to council comments.

Seeing none, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by councilmember Van Orney, seconded by council member Poe.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

Agenda item number four.

A public hearing will be held to consider the authorization of the issuance of not to exceed 1.3 million general obligation bonds.

General corporate purposes number three.

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

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council?

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

Brings us to council comments.

Seeing none, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by council member Poe, seconded by Councilmember Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

The motion carries.

Item number five, a public hearing will be held to consider the authorization of the issuance of not to exceed 4.75 million water revenue bonds.

FY26 revenue bonds.

This is the time and the place for a public hearing.

Does anyone wish to speak?

Let the record indicate a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

Council comments.

Seeing none, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by council member overlin, seconded by council member Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

All right, agenda item number six.

A public hearing will be held to consider repealing chapter 33 of the municipal code, building code, and enacting in its place a new chapter 33 that adopts the 2024 edition of the International Building Code with modifications.

Duncan, you're up.

There.

No.

Thank you.

Duncan McCallum, Building and Trades Manager.

Um, I'm here to present an update to the building code.

So starting with a little background, uh, the city adopts a model code.

And the last time that we updated the model building code was in August of 2024 when we adopted the 21 version of the International Building Code and International Residential Code.

Last summer we came to council and updated the mechanical electrical and plumbing codes to the latest editions 2024.

And now we're uh updating chapter 33 uh uh the building code to the 2024 International Building Code, International Resident Residential Code with amendments.

Uh our goals are always to collaborate with surrounding communities through the International Code Council uh chapters.

That's the Iowa Association of Building Officials and the Eastern Iowa Construct Construction Code Council.

Uh we always try to limit the number of amendments to the code, and we try to minimize the impact of the building community.

Uh we started this with discussions with building services staff development services staff, and then we presented this to the building board of appeals, and we had three community open houses.

So today, uh talking about the amendments, uh, these are some of the highlights.

Uh the first page is editorial in nature, and uh these amend these first amendments have little effect on the building community.

So, first, obviously, we're adopting the 2024 International Building Code and International Residential Code.

Uh, in the amendments, we clarified some requirements for storm shelters.

We want to make sure that our customers know they require a permit.

Uh we added some language and applications in progress to address projects that uh have been previously designed before these code changes, and we removed local glazing requirements near doors to align with the IRC.

Uh, this language was in our amendments, and it's now in the uh international residential code.

This brings us to um uh to snow load maps.

Uh so the 2024 International Building Code and International Red Residential Code have updated ground snow load maps.

Uh the previous maps uh as pictured, um, they were static in nature, and the new maps are a web-based map tool that is addressed specific.

Um the new web-based tool causes issues for the building community, or we believe it would cause issues to the building community.

As a project in the northern quadrant could have a higher snow load than one in the southern quadrant.

Uh so you could have a builder who had the same model house, uh, one that's in the north would have a higher snow load than one that was in the south.

We recognize this issue and collaborated with the Eastern Iowa Construction Code Council to get feedback uh from these manufacturers and the contractors on the use of this new tool.

In the um in the collaboration, we agreed upon a single snow load number.

Uh so a new snow load number of 36 uh pounds per square foot for the residential.

The old number was 30.

So we uh managed to all agree, and that's all of the local communities all agree on one number.

Um I would point out that Lynn County, Marion, Hiawatha, and Robbins have all adopted that number and are currently using it.

So for commercial projects, the map tool requires hazard classifications based on building occupancy.

Uh, this causes complexity for a commercial snow load number and an agreement on a single number was not an option.

With that, uh, based on risk factor and occupancy, commercial projects may have higher snow loads.

Um building services recommends approval, and with that I'll turn it back.

Thank you, Duncan.

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

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

If so, please approach the microphone.

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

That brings us to any council comments.

Councilmember Van Orney.

Thank you, Mayor Potem.

Um Duncan, I really appreciate the uh presentation on this.

Um, when we were having the conversations with it, I think uh that that's such an important catch.

So we don't end up with different quadrants of Cedar Rapids having different expectations.

Um we know that just on a good day, uh, it can be difficult to recruit and have the right combination of incentives to get people to build the housing that we need to meet the increasing demands.

Um so having that consistency uh with our regional peers as well is really important.

I really appreciate your team's effort to do that.

Thank you.

Seeing no further comments, the approval of the ordinance on this first reading has been moved by Meyer, seconded by Scott Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, thank you.

Those opposed, no.

The motion carries.

Item number seven, a public hearing will be held to consider the disposition of property at 1842 Ellis Boulevard Northwest.

Rob, you're up.

Good afternoon, City Council Rob Davis, Public Works Department.

Uh this is a project, uh, 1842 Ellis Boulevard.

It's at the uh I'd say the southernmost edge of where Ellis Boulevard will start curving away from the alignment to go up and over the levy.

Uh this property was acquired in 2022.

It's right at the very edge in order to do this project.

Uh there are some impacts to the very limited impacts of the front yard there.

Um but we did buy it.

Um the interior was partially demolished awaiting renovation on that's the second floor of this home.

Uh we took that strip of right-away off uh for the fog control system, the Ellis Boulevard relocation, and now uh the remainder of the property is uh really viable for private ownership.

Um I put that back so you know people are able to uh live in there.

Um we tried several uh attempts.

We tried to sell it, we tried to relocate it and sell it, and um we also tried to renovate it in place for proposals.

We didn't get any acceptable offers for those.

Uh so uh we then went out to the nonprofit community for preservation rehabilitation.

Uh we took bids uh Hope Community Development Association bid one dollar and they would renovate that.

Um again, it's probably needs about uh 50% of the home's value, probably needs to be worked on.

Uh after looking at the architecture review, staff recommends uh the approval of this uh sale for a dollar.

There are uh a clause that uh that they must comply, or there's a deed restriction that uh the city can have that property back if if it's not renovated.

Uh and again, I think this uh supports the city council's goal on um housing affordability.

And when that um we'll turn it back.

We recommend approval.

Thank you, Rob.

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

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

That brings us to council comments or consideration.

Councilmember Olson.

Well, uh Rob, I appreciate uh the this process versus tearing it down, which would had to do with other properties that were not remodeled or in bad shape.

And I know Hope does a very good job of renovating, and it'll be great to have this property back as a single family home.

I know it'll be affordable when they get it done.

And so uh I think it's a great move.

So thank you.

Seeing no further questions, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by Olson, seconded by Todd.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

Item number eight.

A public hearing will be held to consider the disposition of land at 615, 621, 623, and 629 I Avenue Northwest and 905 Ellis Boulevard Northwest.

Jeff, you're up.

Thanks.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Jeff Wosencraft Community Development.

Um, so as stated, this is a resolution to initiate an RFP for city owned property at I Avenue and Ellis Boulevard.

Here is an uh aerial of the properties in question, um, I Avenue running through the middle here, and then Ellis on the left side of the image.

Um, this is the old Diamond V site here.

Oops.

So some site characteristics, um, it's about four tenths of an acre in size.

There are five parcels, all are currently vacant lots.

Um, they are in the U urban village residential zone district that allows for small-scale multi-unit residential development.

All have access to city infrastructure and all were acquired post-flood of 2008.

Um, they're also all located in the 100-year floodplain and will need to comply with the city's floodplain ordinance.

Um, some RFP objectives that you've seen before.

Um, so alignment with the Northwest Neighborhood Action Plan here.

Um, this is an image again call uh calling for more uh higher intensity housing along Ellis Boulevard from that plan.

Um objective to meet our zoning code with the urban form here and then financially feasible.

So the timeline today we're here for the public hearing to initiate the RFP proposals will be due on March 24th, um, and then we hope to bring it to council on April 14th for consideration and selection and with a negotiation of a development agreement to follow.

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

Thanks, Jeff.

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

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections for the record.

That brings us to any council comments for consideration.

Seeing none, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

Motion carries.

Number nine, a public hearing will be held to consider the disposition of land at the 4th Street Southeast and 17th Avenue Southeast intersection.

Jeff.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Time again.

Um, so another resolution to initiate an RFP here.

Um so property in question outlined on the aerial here.

Um, this is 4th Street Southeast running through the middle.

Uh the future 17th Avenue Southeast right away is depicted here in those yellow borders.

Uh 3rd Street is over here.

Tornadoes is at the corner of 3rd Street and 16th Avenue there.

Uh so some site characteristics.

It's about a half acre in size.

Um, it is being platted currently with the area around the Sinclair detention basin and the 17th Avenue right-of-way.

Um currently vacant, um, and it is in a UNG zone district, urban neighborhood general that allows for medium scale mixed use development up to six stories in height.

Um, has access to city infrastructure and is located in the hundred year floodplain, so it will need to comply with the city's floodplain ordinance.

Objectives for this RFP alignment with the Czech Village New Bohemia area action plan.

This area was called out for having uh a mix of mixed use and residential nodes around this intersection of 3rd Street and 17th Avenue and Fourth Street there.

Again, design that meets our zoning code requirements with the UNG zone district and financially feasible.

Timeline, same as the previous today.

We have the public hearing March 24th.

Proposals will be due April 14th.

We would bring it back, hopefully to city council for consideration and selection, and then a negotiation of a development agreement to follow.

With that, I'll pass it back to well, I'll recommend that staff uh approve the resolution as they initiate the request for proposals, and I'll pass it back to the mayor pro town.

Thanks, Jeff.

Don't want to forget that step.

Yep.

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

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council?

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

That brings us to council comments.

Seeing no comments, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by Van Orney, seconded by Poe.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

Item number 10.

A public hearing will be held to consider the resolution of necessity for the 2026 Sanitary Sewer Service Replacement Project.

Ben, you're up.

Thank you.

Ben Morrill, Public Works Department.

This is an annual project that the city does to replace Orangeburg or otherwise failing sanitary sewer services to the edge of the right-of-way ahead of upcoming roadway projects.

Intent of the project is to protect the new pavements.

Property owners have the option to fix the service on their own by May 1st.

And this is an extra month compared to last year.

And I'll note too that when we mailed the letters out, we also included flyers about the city's minor repair program for those who qualify financially.

And we do have a couple of uh property owners participating in that.

Uh if they don't fix it, then that's what this project is.

The city will uh fix the issue, and the costs will be assessed to the property owner.

And just as a reminder, the building lateral or building sewer uh means the same thing.

Responsibility of the property owner from the main to the house, and this project is just from the main to the property line to protect pavements.

These are the locations for this year almost entirely on Benton Street Northeast with 13 properties, but also uh one on Kent Drive and one on Liberty Drive.

These assessments are consistent with the municipal code, 15 total parcels for this year, uh total preliminary assessment of 168,420.

This individual assessments ranging from 10,150 to 12,990, and the property owners would be able to pay that off over 10 years through their property tax bills.

So council options for today are to adopt, adopt with amendment, defer or abandon.

Public works department recommends adopt adoption of the resolution of necessity without amendment.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ben.

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

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

That brings us to any council comments for consideration.

Seeing no comments, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by Poe, seconded by Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

Motion carries.

Specifications from a contract and estimated cost for the Mount Vernon Road Southeast from 20th Street to 26th Street pavement improvements project.

Estimated cost 7.19 million dollars.

Doug, you're up.

Thank you, Doug Wilson, Public Works Department.

This project includes pavement patching, curb and gutter replacement, asphalt surfacing, water main replacement, storm sewer and sanitary sewer improvements, complete sidewalk reconstruction with ADA ramp improvements, median construction, and also uh traffic signal replacement with uh with the project.

Engineers' opinion of probable cost is $7,190,000.

There's a pre-bid conference scheduled for tomorrow, February 25th, with the bid opening March 4th.

This was originally scheduled for construction last year, which is why uh the uh public meetings were held in 2023 and 2024.

A letter has gone out to the neighborhood last year explaining the delay in the project uh due to needing additional easement time.

Uh the project is scheduled for two years of construction starting this spring with completion in the fall of 2027.

Public works department recommends approval of the resolution to adopt the plan specification form of contract and estimated cost.

Thank you.

Thank you, Doug.

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

Does anyone in the count in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

This brings us to council comments for consideration.

Seeing none, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by Overlin, seconded by Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

Item number 12.

A public hearing will be held to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the improvements of existing sludge storage area at WPC project.

Estimated cost 480,000.

Terry, you're up.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Good afternoon, Council.

Terry Tedeman with Utilities Department.

The solids storage pad and containment walls, circled here in red, were constructed in 2008.

The storage pad is used all is utilized for backup while the incinerator is down for maintenance activities.

Solids are held on the pad until off-site disposal.

This improvement project includes the removal replacement of the existing asphalt pad with concrete, the replacement of three existing concrete side panels, and numerous concrete repairs to the existing side panels.

The engineers estimated opinion of probable construction cost is 480,000.

Bids will be opened on March 4th, with construction expected to begin this April and continue through August of 2026.

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

With that, I'll turn it back to you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you, Terry.

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

Does anyone in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

Let the record indicate that a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown shown in the I do actually.

Please approach the microphone and state your name and community where you live for the record.

My name is Kimberly Donahue and I live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

I am a process server for the courts.

I am here on process service to serve you legal documents related to a lawsuit.

Subpoenas for evidence.

I'm going to need you to rise so I can serve you.

I may not serve the clerk of court.

Uh service must be reporting touchdowns.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

This is not the time.

We have to do that.

And I appreciate your cooperation in this legal process.

I'm going to give you one warning.

We have a time for public comment.

This is your warning.

I understand that, and I am commenting.

And if you don't have comments about this public hearing, I'm going to ask you to sit back down.

No, I'm serving process service legally.

According to Iowa Code, we're going to be able to do that.

Would the officer please ask you?

This woman's encourage you not to commit a violation of U.S.

Code Section 18.

Subsections 241 and 242.

We're in the first time.

I just want you all to be on notice that you're being served today.

All right.

We're back in uh reconvening the meeting.

Uh we're on agenda item 12.

Uh is anybody wish to talk to the council about agenda item 12.

Let the record indicate a public hearing on this matter has been held with no objections shown in the record.

So there will be no staff presentation or vote.

However, does anyone in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

All right.

Public hearing hearing number 14 has been canceled, has also been canceled at the request of the community development department, so there will be no staff presentation or vote.

Howard, is anyone in the audience wish to address the council on this matter?

All right.

That brings us to our first public comment period.

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

The first comment period is an opportunity for the public to address the city council on any subject pertaining to council action scheduled for today.

A second public input period will come 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 on the agenda today.

Council members and staff make themselves available by phone or email, but at this time during public comment, we're here to listen.

Please remember that all the matters I addressed prior to the first public hearing today apply to the public comment periods too.

Please remain at the lectern.

If you have any documents you wish to share with the council, please hand them to the police officer to your right as you're walking up.

Public comments will be limited to five minutes per speaker.

All comments should be directed to the matters you wish to address, and abusive, obscene, or irrelevant comments are not allowed.

There should be no participation or disruption from the audience.

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

Today there are two people signed up to speak during this public comment period.

It looks like one was scheduled for the public hearings, so we'll move to the second who the per second person signed up, Emily Stokel.

Here to speak on agenda item 41.

You're in order.

Hello, my name is Emily Stokel, Southwest Cedar Rapids, and I'm here today to speak to agenda item number 41, authorizing city financial incentives of an existing commercial property at 111 13th Street Southeast on behalf of Panash Properties LLC, an entity of Curtis Stokal.

I first visited Cedar Rapids in the summer of 2008 as a student on my college visit to Coe College, and the building on this lot, which was the former Brood Awakenings, was my first introduction to the city of Cedar Rapids.

Coke College recommended we stop there for a coffee before our campus tour, and we ended up going back every day we were in town.

In the years my husband Curtis and I attended the college, having a locally owned coffee shop across the street from campus was an integral part of the coexperience.

We studied there, met professors, attended readings and open mic nights, and for our generation of cohawks and those before us, it was a core college memory.

Myself and the other owners of Panash Properties LLC had the opportunity to purchase the buildings at 1271 First Avenue Southeast and 111 13th Street Southeast, and realized we could redevelop that experience for a future generation.

It would be the perfect spot to open our European inspired coffee shop and bakery Cafe LA.

The fellow owners of Panache are food service and entrepreneurial veterans.

Co-owners Curtis Stokel and Thaddeus Walters bring a combined 30 years of food service experience to Cafe LA.

Thaddeus has founded and grown a successful business in the corridor in Goldfinch Cyclery, and Curtis has worked closely with his father, the owner of Pizza House in Williamsburg, Iowa, for over 40 years.

As a manager of that community institution, he knows the ins and outs of running a small business and restaurant very well.

Unfortunately, while preparing our 100-year-old building to become the future home of Cafe LA, we have encountered significant damage and issues stemming from years of unmitigated water damage and rot.

Between the property owners, we have privately funded internal demolition and structural repairs, and also raised private capital to support the ongoing construction costs.

Due to extensive capital needs, the project's arrival to First Avenue has been delayed while we secured the needed funding to finish Cafe LA as a completed restaurant.

In the meantime, we've leveraged local connections in the restaurant industry to sublet a kitchen space.

And for the last year, we've operated a weekly pop-up out of Fancy's Pizza on Mount Vernon Road.

At that pop-up, we're able to serve about a hundred loaves of bread and 200 pastries a day.

Our lunch specials can include a few dozen prepared sandwiches or about 50 lunches when we serve our Facasha Pizza Bar.

Cafe LA has sold out all of our pop-ups over the last year, and we look forward to the opportunity to grow our business and our staff once we're able to operate full regular business hours on First Avenue.

We have been active participants in the ongoing First Avenue East Corridor Redevelopment Plan, which has revealed demand for exactly what Cafe LA proposes to bring to the college district, Medquarter, and Wellington Heights neighborhoods.

Healthy affordable meals, quality coffee and baked goods, and a welcoming gathering space for college students, professional professionals, and neighbors alike.

As you will hear later in the agenda, we have applied for a community catalyst grant through the IEDA, which requires local financial participation.

We believe this project could have a catalytic impact for Cedar Rapids, demonstrating that the First Avenue Corridor is viable for local business investment and signaling momentum and proof of concept for the revitalization efforts outlined in the city's planning of First Avenue redevelopment.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

That closes out our first public comment period.

City Manager Pomerance, are there any changes to the agenda?

No changes, Your Honor.

To any council members need to recuse themselves on any agenda items or make any changes to the agenda.

Council Member Poe.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

I'd like to recuse myself on item number 35 of the consent agenda.

Item ID numbers 54 and 185.

Okay.

Is that 35C?

I think is what's correct.

Okay.

35 C item numbers, item ID numbers 54 and 85.

Thank you, Councilmember Poe.

Councilmember Meyer.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Time.

Um, as previously notified to the um city manager's office, I would like to move consent agenda item 40 J to the regular agenda.

Thank you, Councilmember Meyer.

Are there any other changes or do any council under council members need to recuse themselves?

All right, that brings uh uh city clerk.

Did you get those both recorded?

Thank you.

That brings us to a motion to approve the agenda.

The approval of the agenda has been moved by uh council member Olsen, seconded by council member Todd.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

Motion carries.

Thank you, council.

That brings us to the consent agenda.

The approval of the consent agenda has been moved by council member Todd, seconded by Councilmember Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

Thank you, council.

That brings us to the regular agenda.

Uh, we'll start with agenda item 40 J.

Uh, Councilmember Meyer.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Um, so for um members here uh at council and for those who may be listening in online, uh, 40J has to do with a contract with monarch research for tree planting educational services for the parks and recreation department for five years for a total amount not to exceed 750,000.

Um before the agenda was released, uh council members uh and the mayor received a letter from Trees Forever who uh was asked for some clarification on um the recommendation from city staff to move forward with an agreement with monarch research.

Um and it in summary the the the two the two primary points from my perspective um was that the um it wasn't clear with the um well, first of all, the first thing is Trees Forever's bid was 500,000, where monarch research was 750,000.

So based upon the the supply selection approach, the lowest bid does not have to be taken.

Um there was a question on Trees Forever with regards to the scoring.

And um, in particular, there was a um a request for clarification on the responsiveness criteria, which was a factor used by city staff to come up with the recommendation.

So moving it, moving this item from the consent agenda from the regular agenda provides the opportunity for um city staff to provide the um explanation and rationale for their recommendation to move forward with uh monarch research.

And so with that, you know, um, I would appreciate any insights and perspectives that you'd like to share.

Um, I know city staff prepared a very comprehensive um uh correspondence for the mayor and city council, which was um very helpful.

But I I think when we have questions from a partner, a very valued partner of ours, or or any member of our community that is questioning um how contracts are awarded.

I think it's helpful to have a conversation.

So I appreciate uh you being here today and providing us some insight.

Sure, thanks.

Thanks.

So um let me first say that staff takes the objections seriously, and we've carefully reviewed the concerns raised by trees forever.

Um, with regard to the actual scoring and approach, uh the purchasing department uses um a panel of independent reviewers, and we look at each of the four proposals separately, and then we come together and and rank them based on the criteria that are set in advance of the request for proposals being released.

So in this case, uh there were three different criteria.

The qualifications included several sub-components, so not just the qualifications of the team, but also community partnerships, um, community impact, leveraging uh relationships with within the community.

That was weighted at 60%.

Uh, the second criteria was fine financial, the the cost estimate that was weighed at 10%.

And then lastly, the um the responsiveness to the to the RFP was weighted at 30%.

And that last component really looks at the format of the proposal, really understanding of the scope and basic alignment with what the city's asking for versus what the each individual individual proposer is proposing.

The scoring is based on just the written documents in front of us, so you can't consider past history with either either company.

So based on the written proposals and a subsequent follow-up, the scoring was was pretty even, but Monarch Research had sort of a slightly competitive edge with I think 13 point difference.

Can you, if it if it's appropriate, um, can you provide some more details as far as it's it sounds like uh with the responsiveness criteria that monarch research had a better proposal and that trees forever's was weaker?

Um again, those are my words.

Um can you provide a little more context as far as what was lacking in Trees Forever versus what was included in Monarch Research?

Yeah, very generally Monarch Research had a more detailed and comprehensive proposal in terms of how they were going to do outreach with underserved communities and neighborhoods within the within the city.

Um so they had a very robust um partnership outlook approach.

They actually named specific uh organizations that they were going to reach out to, again, with an eye towards certain demographics that we have not yet reached out to in terms of tree planting and education, these are these are pretty large gaps in our in our city, and we need to be reaching out to these these individuals and these communities and these organizations.

Um and and conversely, the the trees forever uh proposal was a little bit more generic and relied on a lot of strategies that they were already using.

And so just looking at um the opportunity to really leverage these funds in a different way to do more outreach and and and move the needle in terms of private tree plantings and education on private lands.

Um the group felt that the monarch research proposal was stronger.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Those responses are any further discussion.

Yeah, Councilmember Olson.

Yes, thank you for uh that update.

I uh read through the the letters and the notes.

I didn't did not look at the RFP.

Uh this funding, uh, won't you explain to me?

I just want to make sure because Trees Forever's done a great job on this.

Is this new funding that's different from the funding we've already committed to their program?

It is different funding.

Um Trees Forever has approximately $1 million of the US Forest Service grant.

So that's a grant to the city that then passes through to Trees Forever.

Uh that grant is specific for outreaching volunteer engagement, but that money is also limited to certain census tracts within the city.

This funding is separate, and Abi can correct me if I'm wrong.

I believe it's coming from the general fund, and it's not limited to certain census tracks.

So we can really do a comprehensive look at the city and really move the needle on the community engagement piece.

So we're continuing our long-term program with Trees Forever, and this is an additional program.

Correct.

With specific requirements.

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

I just wanted to make sure I understood what was happening with this program.

Thank you.

Councilmember Van Orney.

Thanks, Mayor Pro Tem.

Um, Carrie, thank you for that.

I think that's an important clarification there.

Um, because I know that we were receiving some uh some emails from folks saying that um you know Trees Forever was doing this without any city incentives, and that's just frankly not true.

Um we also have to reserve the right to have these competitive bid processes, and it's tough.

Um, it means that uh just like I feel strongly that our diversity makes us stronger, our diversity and our partnerships also does too.

Um this is a huge feat to try and recover 65% of our tree canopy.

So I think it would be uh foolish for us to think that only one person could ever do it for any programs at any point in time.

So we appreciate anybody who puts a hand in.

Um, these, you know, this is a five-year contract.

Um, we have other contracts.

Uh, that doesn't mean that, you know, we're first off, we're not gonna solve rebuilding our tree canopy in five years.

Um that would just be a farce.

Um, so you know, the reality is like this is one RFP, one bid, one focus that we're doing, and you know, we have to reserve the right to have a competitive process, and um it's it's a different partner this time.

So, really appreciate your staff's work.

I I trust you implicitly.

I know that these are tough conversations to do that, especially when there's disappointment.

Um, but I also know that monarch research is is a great foundation as well.

Um, and so we're we're happy to have uh additional partners in this conversation.

Thank you.

Councilmember Todd.

Kerry, thank you so much for the background and the insight.

I've just got one concern here in terms of the concept of private lands.

Okay.

What is to prevent or discreen against somebody who's already been compensated for the loss of their trees on their land or large and what what's the definition of private lands that you're using on this?

So let me be clear.

It's it's this contract is really for educational services to help homeowner homeowners understand the process, the correct process of planting a tree on their land.

So it's really any land that the city does not own.

Councilmember Meyer.

Um so um I respect the process that you went through, and it was very helpful for me to understand that any prior information or experience or recommendations that you've had for um in the past were were not considered because of this particular proposal.

Um, you know, that being said, um, I am not going to support this um uh uh uh award to Monarch Research.

Um I have uh personally taken training courses from uh trees forever.

Uh I am a tree keeper, which is part of their certification.

You know, I've I've also participated in uh Monarch Research as part of their great acorn society, and I've planted many trees from um provided by Monarch Research, and the education that they provide just on like a little card is has been very helpful.

Um I again, a different approach from what your team took or what the procurement team took is um I think that Monarch Research perhaps had a more thorough RFP process because education is not their core competency, and it's something that they have not worked in in the past, where Trees Forever, even before the Duratio, a core competency of theirs was education.

Um primarily on public spaces.

You know, I also think in my head, I think trees forever public, monarch research private, as far as their who they support.

Um and then also it's you know, it's a big dollar difference.

I mean, 250,000, I know it's only 10% of the the Rubik or the framework, but that is transformational money if it was awarded to another nonprofit.

The good news is the city has the utmost respect for both monarch research and both trees forever.

I look forward as a citizen and as a council member to continue to have wonderful collaborations with both organizations, but um for the reasons I I I shared, I will not be supporting um the contract to monarch research.

Thanks.

Councilmember Todd, do you have something you want to uh Mayor Pro Tem?

I just somewhat generic to this whole question.

I would like some clarification, and it does not have to be today, the process that we use to pull an item from consent.

I I know that there had been a discussion earlier about what type of consensus is needed to do that.

And and I'm not in particular adverse to the situation here, which I think is appropriate to have the discussion, but for future reference legal or the clerk, somebody give us some guidance on what and when is needed to pull an item.

And it can be outside of this meeting.

Thank you.

Just before before we uh move to uh perhaps a motion on the vote.

I just you know wanted to say we we really appreciate the the rigor that the um team applies to the to RFPs.

I think we have a uh really standout procurement team.

Um the amount of dollars that the city procures across all of its departments is is a pretty big number.

Um and I think it's important as we look at priorities um and and put out RFPs um that we are true to the feedback that we receive in return.

uh really standout procurement team um the amount of dollars that the city procures across all of its departments is is a pretty big number um and i think it's important as we look at priorities um and and put out rfps um that we are true to the feedback that we receive in return um what i don't want to have happen is we uh put out criteria and scoring you know we we are doing that to we we voted to do that earlier today on um property disposition um and then we kind of shift the goalposts as we as we move later into the process um so um i'm supportive uh of the resolution and um i'd entertain a motion to uh vote motion motion by van oring is there a second second second by overland all those in favor say aye aye aye aye opposed aye the most the motion passes the resolution passes item 41 is a presentation and resolution authorizing city financial incentives under the local match economic development program for the redevelopment of existing commercial building at 1113th street southeast as proposed by Panache Properties LLC an entity of Curtis Stokal you are not Jeff Bill you're up yeah Bill Michael uh economic development and development services uh so request from Panache Properties LLC uh for standard city financial incentives for redevelopment of an existing commercial building at 1113th Street Southeast uh as uh was previously mentioned during public comment so the developers applying for a community catalyst grant through the IEDA which does require local participation and this project does qualify under our standard local match economic development program uh little bit of a project overview uh approximately 400 thousand dollar capital investment uh redevelopment of a 100 year old commercial building uh and as you heard earlier has significant interior uh exterior improvements necessary uh with the outcome being a community focused bakery cafe uh with outdoor seating uh standard incentive provides a 10 year declining scale exemption of increased value generated by the project and based on the investment and estimated post development value project is expected to generate 72000 in total taxes over a 10 year period of which 13,000 would be exempted.

Overview map uh you can see it's right across the street from Coe College right across First Avenue everyone will recognize the uh former brood awakenings location uh just a little bit of uh what's going on on the inside and as uh they continue to dig deeper continue to find uh some issues they needed to address uh and a rendering of what it will look like when it's done um so in terms of next steps uh resolution of support today uh the catalyst grant applications are due in April to the IEDA and then uh awards are announced uh in in uh May or June and then we will establish uh an urban revitalization area if there is an award made with that I'll turn it back to the mayor pro tem thank you.

Thanks Bill Council questions comments Councilmember Van Ernie Thanks Mayor Pro Tem uh Bill I'm really glad that we're um having this discussion I think uh not just Emily herself but her partners are uh proven uh and and very successful local business owners that have a lot of uh great shops around uh I know uh having been in this uh when when it was brood awakenings for some meetings and things like that uh that there had to be something beneath the floors uh I'm not surprised that we're here I think part of the reason it gets to be that kind of uh cult following for co-students um you know is that uh it's been there a long time but unfortunately some of those buildings come with you know older buildings come with older problems that uh somebody probably is bandaging you know along the way until it now becomes uh Emily and her team's uh uh issue to address and uh we talk about this a lot on development committee uh somebody's got to be the one to do the hard work at some point in time you get to that that pain point where um you you can't keep doing band-aid operations and so that's where we're at um can we go back to the picture because it's just really great um this does not surprise me at all that uh that this is what's proposed but I also think that it's it's very achievable just knowing um and and having been a fan of and following Emily's work for a while um I know that uh even some council members uh um you know have made some investments in some of their groups um uh some of their efforts now but you know they are working diligently to uh hone their craft uh to get their treats out wherever uh they can kind of shop them around and um I'm very excited for uh reintroducing this back on campus.

I'm sorry, that uh just for protocol, we weren't able to bring that to you, but um, I really appreciate you saving a long time uh facility here by by doing the hard work that that inevitably needs to happen, and certainly know that uh my healthcare teams will will uh likely be regular customers since it's uh so accessible to the the med district.

So thank you for doing the hard work and can't wait to see this come to fruition.

Thank you, Member Meyer.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Uh, I need to recuse myself from this uh agenda item.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

All right, seeing none, the adoption of the resolution has been moved by Poe, seconded by Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

Motion carries.

That now brings us to ordinances.

Item 42 and ordinance amending chapter 32 of the municipal code zoning to update zone districts, use specific standards, development standards, review and approval procedures, violations and enforcement and definitions.

The approval of the ordinance on its second reading has been moved by Overland, seconded by Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, no.

The motion carries.

Thank you, council.

Councilmember Poe.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

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

The adoption of the ordinance on its third and final reading has been moved by council member Poe, seconded by councilmember Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, aye.

Those opposed say no.

Motion carries.

That now brings us to our public input session.

It closes out our formal business for today.

This is an 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, property owner, or business owner, you will not be permitted 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 to listen.

I will remind everyone to remain at the lectern.

Comments are middle, limited to five minutes, and there should be no abusive, obscene, loud, threatening, or personal comments.

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

And I'll remind you if you do have material for the council, please hand it to the officer.

The first person signed up is Kim Donahue.

Here to speak about corruption.

Actually, here to speak about compliance.

And unfortunately, for the Iowa Code, I'm not going to be handing any processors to officers.

Also, for the Iowa code.

I will not be obstructed from my legal and official process service, and it will not take away from my five minutes as a resident, business owner, and law-abiding citizen in this city, who is actually ironic that you said that attempted to reach out to you.

Mr.

Todd, you and I had a conversation not that long ago that I caught on recording where I called you and let you know that Mr.

Dostel's police force is actively and willingly refusing to take reports of extortionate emails from encrypted proton mail email addresses, which Iowa Code says it can be an electronic communication.

It's still extortion.

So that's a Class D felony.

Your officers are refusing to take reports of Class D felonies.

Right through my back door.

Now I'm pretty sure if I had sent these same messages to you or you or maybe even you.

Thank you very much.

I also pay sales tax, excise and use tax, and your one percent local option tax as well.

I get out of my vehicle when I see a homeless person and I hug them and I let them know they're enough.

And I let them know where their resources are.

And I pray for them.

And hey, if I've got food on me, guess what?

They're getting my meal.

And that's how you're treating somebody in this city that does that for their neighbors, not letting the right hand see what the left is doing because it's not for performance.

That's the true content of my heart.

And yet I can't seem to get help.

I remember in May 2023, Ashley, you and I had a conversation right out there in that corridor.

I came in here on behalf of a five-year-old child in the foster system who had been awarded a German Shepherd puppy as a service dog that was undergoing training at Superstar Service Dogs in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

That dog was picked up by your animal control when I called for help because it had hopped my fence after a deer.

I expected your animal control to come help me because that's what happens in Des Moines.

But no, you guys picked that dog up, you hid it from me, you took it back to your shelter that was contaminated with parvo.

Ironic that the former manager is coming after you now.

That doesn't surprise me.

And the dog contracted parvo because it was in between inoculations.

And you know what you and O'Donnell said to me on the same cameras that Miss Chavez here let me know weren't present that I've got video footage are definitely there.

You both told me that you guys were gonna take care of that vet bill for that little boy, and that you were so sorry, and you knew there was conditions that needed to improve down at that animal shelter.

Now, why on earth would you say that to me and then have Miss Chavez send me a basically F off letter in the mail telling me you weren't gonna do a thing?

You know that vet clinic came after that little boy and his mom to try to put them into collections?

By the way, she's a single mother with three children.

That's crazy, Miss Chavez.

You talk about anybody should know about the transparency for the contracts in this city.

All right, here's a question for you.

Now I've seen the flood damage criminal records down at the Lynn County Courthouse, so I'm only gonna ask you once.

Why is it the city is awarding tens of millions of dollars to people with known forcible felonies against minors?

Both coercion to commit forgery and well, we know what the other one is, don't we?

Why are these types of people getting the awards?

Why are the police refusing to document forcible felonies?

Why are certain people locked out of the system?

And why are you trying to obstruct process service?

You guys really just continue to incriminate yourselves.

I'm not just here on behalf of myself.

I'm here on behalf of every single person in this city that's ever been afraid, scared, felt like they weren't heard, felt like they weren't represented, felt like they weren't d respected, still forced to pay their taxes, still forced to do everything that you say.

I don't know how you guys sleep at night because the evidence I've seen keeps me up.

And if you wonder why I keep coming back and back and back again, well, you know there's been no resolution, has there?

I know about Kiteville.

I know about life.

Thank you, your time is up.

You return to your seat.

I know about all of it.

And now that my time is up, now I am a little bit more.

Perfect.

Do I uh Duffield?

When are we gonna do that?

Please return to your seat.

Melissa Duffield, do you wish to speak?

Go ahead and still serve you, don't worry.

Welcome back, girl.

You're welcome.

You can hand these to them.

We're supposed to have our phone shut off.

Aren't you supposed to hand these to them?

They're documents I'm giving to them.

Are you causing a problem for me?

That's interesting.

Miss Duffield, your time is started.

Um, I actually have ADA protections.

I'll start when I'm ready to start.

I have to set up.

Uh those need to go to all the city council members, please.

Good evening.

I'm addressing the city council, the city manager, and the police chief Dostel.

I see the mayor is not present while you push all these bonds through.

I know that's not coincidence.

I'm here tonight not to ask for your help, but to present you with a choice.

Before you continue down a path of violating the rights of citizens you swore in old to protect, you need to understand the consequences.

You need to see just some of the evidence we have against this city's mayor and her associates.

For years, this mayor has engaged in campaigns of collusion, defamation, and harassment.

She has lied to other citizens, and she has put those lies in writing.

I hold here, as you have a copy, an email from Mayor O'Donnell to a citizen in which she falsely states that I and others were arrested at a city council meeting.

That is absolutely false and libel, direct and malicious falsehood from the highest office in our city, designed to destroy my reputation.

I hold here a screenshot from social media where the mayor publicly called me a liar, where she liked my comment comments from others from fake accounts that made threats to me and my family.

Right here in this very meeting, she sat here in her position and attempted to intimidate me by taking photos with her phone or a video.

And um, you guys also have a copy of that.

This isn't leadership.

This is textbook case of harassment in an attempt to chill the First Amendment rights of citizens participating in their government.

But this is a personal vendetta only on its surface.

It is part of a much darker documented conspiracy with a trail.

I hold here evidence obtained through the Freedom of Information Act that our mayor, Tiffany O'Donnell, texted Chad Pelly, a convicted gang rapist and woman beater.

And these texts they collaborate a plan.

I'm gonna ask you to not make personal comments.

I laid out the case.

You know what?

I'm gonna laid out the rules at the beginning of the public comment session.

And I'm gonna ask you to follow them.

This is your warning.

Um no, that is the crimes that were committed.

Slap sue, a strategic lawsuit against public participation to silence me and others for speaking out at these meetings.

And you interrupted me with an ADA disability, and I'm gonna remind you of that, so you can give me another 30 seconds.

This is our mayor texting a convicted criminal after a month of my videos went viral, colluding to sue me in a false lawsuit.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I represented myself and I won, which means that I can pursue my countersuits, which include cook uh conspiracy, racketeering, etc.

I know Olson, you're involved in that too, but we'll get to that.

Here is also body cam footage of Chad Pelle.

And in this body cam footage, he actually states back in the day, it would be of Ben one of those crack in the jaw.

He also says to the cop, but nobody gets cracked in the jaw anymore.

Question mark.

And they all laugh.

Hmm.

That's who we support.

That's who we take police reports from, Dostel and Mary and Petey.

And then he also said he gets off from arrests, assaults.

He also said playing with fire on many levels, not just from a physical one that we are, that he will tow the line and have he has deeper pockets and many statements on violence towards us, citizen.

And he actually names Tiffany O'Donnell in there too as someone to protect.

Isn't that funny?

And then the cop actually warns him on body cam be careful what you say when we are recording because there is such a thing as freedom of information.

He repeats that.

So he's helping him after he's making these comments, saying that he wants to assault citizens and the cops do nothing.

But you guys want to sit outside my house.

You want to have city vehicles sit out my house for unlawful surveillance when I am a federal safe sport whistleblower.

This conspiracy isn't just in action.

When my family had a legal purchase agreement for a building in adjacent town, suddenly there was collusion to change the zoning that said we couldn't be open to the public.

We couldn't have meetings there, we couldn't even assemble.

That's actually in writing.

And there was a state investigation into that.

We live in a new age.

The Epstein files are being exposed, powerful people are being held accountable.

And let me remind you, I won this slapsuit.

Last year, in a 2023, or pardon me, two years ago, I stood at this very podium and exposed how a convicted sex offender and safe sport lifetime banned individual was making naked guardian videos with children in them.

I presented this evidence with police department present and everyone else.

You all ignored it.

And by your inaction, you are all guilty of aiding and abetting the production of child pornography.

I just got back from Washington, DC for the second time, by the way, ladies and gentlemen.

So good luck on that.

So I ask you, counsel, which side are you on?

Kisses from Iowa in the Epstein files.

Oh, I travel agency booked here flights from the Epstein files for Jeffrey Epstein.

The corruption runs so deep.

Will you continue to protect Chad Pellys of this world and the Tiffany O'Donnells of this world that want to stalk and harass people?

That closes out our second.

Please return to your own.

Start taking police reports from all of us citizens.

Thank you.

Seeing no further business to come before the council, Councilmember Overland moves to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Poe.

All those favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed no.

Motion carries were adjourned.

Thank you, Council.