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

Welcome everybody for this meeting Tuesday, April 14th, 2026.

I like to welcome our entire council here, also our city manager, our city attorney, our city clerk, and as always to city staff for making time to be here for us.

A reminder for those of you here in the gallery to please turn off any cell phones or electronic devices that might distract from our proceedings today.

And note that all of our city council meeting agendas, minutes, and videos are available on our city's website.

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

We will begin now with an invocation by public safety chaplain Sam Anderson, immediately followed by our Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you, Mayor, City staff, uh, city uh council members and the community members for being here.

Uh this is uh just a beautiful day and invigorated by the springtime uh weather that we have, but also just reminded of the work that is to be done.

And so uh we're gonna start with prayer, if you would join me, please.

God, we pray that you would guide indirect conversations, decisions, God, that you would make Cedar Rapids to be a place that's God, we would be proud to continue to call our home.

God, that you would be in all the decisions, God, we know that in you we have our life and our breath and our very being.

So, Father, we pray that you would guide the discisions, conversations, and God, that your will is done.

Uh we pray all of this, God, asking uh for direction and discernment.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, individual with liberty and justice for all.

All right, we're again with uh proclamations beginning with child abuse prevention month.

So I'd like to invite anyone who's here for this proclamation to join Councilmember Van Orney at the dais.

Whereas child abuse and neglect, oh, come on up.

Yeah, please, please, please.

First, you are welcome.

Yeah.

All right, whereas child abuse and neglect are serious problems affecting every segment of our community and require action from everyone in our community to prevent it.

And whereas our children are our most valuable resource and will shape the future of Cedar Rapids and Lynn County, and together we can support safe, healthy families in our communities by partnering to protect children and whereas child abuse and neglect directly harm children and increase the likelihood of long-term physical and mental health problems, alcohol and substance abuse, continued family violence and criminal behavior, and whereas every child can have a great childhood by making sure each family has support and education they need in raising their children in safe and nurturing environments, and whereas effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among social service agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community.

And whereas community members must make every effort to promote programs and activities that benefit children and their families.

Now, therefore, I, Ashley Van Orney, on behalf of Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell of Cedar Rapids and the entire Cedar Rapids City Council do hereby recognize this month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and call upon all citizens to increase their participation in building caring connections with families, thereby preventing child abuse and strengthening the community in which we live.

Thank you.

So thank you, Council members, for recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Keeping children in Cedar Rapids safe takes all of us working together to support those strong families and healthier communities.

Our children are our greatest resource, and investing in safe supportive families builds a brighter future for Cedar Rapids.

So thank you all.

And our final proclamation today is uh for Make My Music Day.

So anyone who's here for that, oh great.

I see quite a few from our community.

Yes.

Join Council Member Todd here.

Yeah.

Oh, I should be.

So, whereas music is a universal language that brings people together across cultures, generations, and neighborhoods, strengthening community bonds and enriching civic life.

And whereas Make Music Day is an international celebration of music held each year on June 21st, with more than 1,000 cities worldwide hosting free performances in parks, sidewalks, businesses, and public spaces.

And whereas the City of Cedar Rapids in partnership with local musicians, venues, educators, and community partners is working to strengthen the local music ecosystem and create more opportunities for residents to experience and participate in live music.

And whereas Make Music Day in Cedar Rapids helps showcase the city's creative talent, support local performance, performers, and fill neighborhoods and public spaces with music for all enjoy.

Now therefore I, Dale Todd, on behalf of Tiffany O'Donnell, Mayor of Cedar Apits and the Cedar Rapids City Council do hereby recognize June 21st 2026's Make Music Day and encourage residents to participate in the citywide celebration by sharing and enjoying live music throughout our community.

There.

Good.

Mayor and Council, thank you for the proclamation and your support.

Make music Cedar Rapids is excited to partner with the city to bring Make Music Day to Cedar Rapids on June 21st.

Cedar Rapids will join cities around the world for this international holiday, turning our parks, sidewalks, and businesses into stages with musicians and non-musicians sharing music across the community as we ring in the summer.

This is a citywide celebration, but it's also part of a larger effort to grow Cedar Rapids music community as Make Music Cedar Rapids and the City work to support local artists, activate public spaces, and build stronger connections across the creative community.

We're excited to see Cedar Rapids come alive with music on June 21st.

To get involved, visit MakeMusic Day.org/slash Cedar Rapids.

Council, you started this about four years ago, and now it's starting.

And this is our Make Music, this is our Music Committee ecosystem right now.

It's a good one.

That's a good one.

Thank you for meeting every other month and helping to make this thing happen.

So that's a great one.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thanks for your leadership, uh, Councilmember Todd, too.

All right.

Uh, does the clerk have any written comments or objections in regard to any of our public hearings on our agenda today?

Uh Your Honor, there are no written comments or objections.

Thank you.

Then we'll go ahead with item number one, which is a public hearing to consider the Cedar Rapids Transit FY27 consolidated transit funding application, uh, which goes to the Iowa Department of Transportation for federal and state transit funding assistance.

Uh, Sergio Hill is here to tell us about that.

Sergio, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

All right, this annual consolidated funding application through the Iowa DOT is a required process, which you know allows us to see state transit assistants as well as uh state administered federal operating and capital assistance, which ultimately helps to fund day-to-day transit services and replace vehicles that are at or near their end of useful life.

Our FY27 funding requests totals approximately uh 7.21 million, which actually funds approximately four 40 percent of our total operating budget and approximately set of 75 percent of our capital capital budget for buses.

About percent of this total request or 5.3 million goes towards operating assistance.

This includes 4.4 million and operating grants, seven just over 719,000 and state transit assistance and just over 256,000 in enhanced mobility programs, which helps to fund our contracted required paratransit service.

The remaining 25% of the total requests or 1.83 million goes towards capital projects.

This includes approximately 1.6 million and federal funding for replacement of two fixed route buses and also one ADA parasit bus.

The required local matching funds for these grants are included in the approved FY27 budget.

And with that, we recommend approval, approving submittal of the FY27 trend funding, transit funding application.

Sergio, thank you.

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

Does anyone here wish to address council?

All right, let the record show public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

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 aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you.

Item number two is a public hearing to consider amending chapter 13 of the municipal code wastewater facilities by adding a new group six user group that addresses service charges for contributing cities with new contractual agreements.

And Roy Hessman is here with that.

Roy, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Good afternoon, Council Roy Hussman Utilities Department.

For context, WPC serves not only all of Cedar Rapids, but also Marion Hiawatha, Robins, Palow, and a small part of Lynn County.

As the renovation project for WPC started taking shape, we realized we needed our adjoining communities to join us in shouldering the long-term financial responsibilities and burdens for this $348 million project.

So about three and a half years ago, Marion Hiawatha and Cedar Rapids staff sat down and started hammering out new 20 AD agreements.

This amendment to our chapter 13 is one result of those negotiations.

The existing 28E agreements with our joining communities are all set up differently, which makes administering them complicated.

Weather has a profound impact and can cause highly variable swings up and down from years to year to year, making it impossible to predict budget for them and for us.

And while they contain penalties for exceeding flow limits, the formulas are structured in a way that makes them nearly impossible to calculate.

These new agreements have gone through many iterations and revisions, but in the end, we are all very happy with the end results.

Some of the highlights of the agreement are listed here, but overall it allows for a much better working relationship through transparency and openness between all parties.

It also allows all parties to budget wastewater fees in a more systematic manner and provides incentives for tightening up their collection system from inflow and infiltration.

As we look at looked at many options, we settled on a hybrid model very similar to how we charge our large industrial customers.

Marion's flow is high enough to qualify for our large industrial group three parameters, and Hiawatha isn't too far behind.

But unlike our industrial customers, Marion and Hiawatha have several source entry and exit points, so it's not feasible to monitor each point for anything other than flow.

Using daily flow data, we will invoice for actual flow meter readings and calculate wastewater parameters using established standard domestic strength limits at those flow levels.

Periodic in-field sampling will also occur to establish any major deviations from those published standards.

While the agreements allow for gradual growth in all communities, should an adjoining community want to buy additional capacity needs at WPC, provisions are in the agreement for them to buy that capacity.

The amendment to chapter 13 establishes a new group six classification exclusively for our adjoining communities.

Marion has already passed the new agreement, and we anticipate Hiawatha passing it at their council meeting tomorrow, April 15th.

Today we are holding the public hearing and first reading of the ordinance change.

The second impossible third reading along with the new 2080 agreements will be on the April 28th agenda.

Upon passing the agreements, it will take effect on July 1st of this year and will run through June 30th of 2042.

The utilities department recommends this amendment of chapter 13 of the municipal code.

And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you.

Thanks, Roy.

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

Does anyone here wish to address council?

All right, let the record show public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council comments.

Councilman Rolson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Roy, I appreciate, as we heard in the our infrastructure committee, the work that's gone into this, which has been like you say, only three and a half years to try and hit common ground.

But you know, I think the uh important point there is that uh for all of the communities to be successful, we have to work together.

And it's hard for some of the smaller communities to stand alone, and I know they appreciate our abilities and the condition of this remodeling that's occurring uh at the wastewater plant that's gonna make growth possible in all our metro neighbors.

And so um thanks for leading that effort.

I know it's not been simple, and um, and so hopefully this will set the standards uh for the next several years and provide the necessary funding.

So I wanted to thank you for that effort.

Thank you.

Councilmember Van Orney.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

Uh yeah, just along those notes.

Um, I think it's really appropriate to talk about that relationship building that has been very intentional in the last couple of years.

Um, I know that uh the mayors have really gotten together with the Economic Alliance and invested in that, and there has been a long time story where uh it often feels like Cedar Appets has to do a lot of grown-up things and and uh everybody benefits from some of the harder choices we have to make as as the hub in this metro region.

And yet, you know, we find ourselves here where uh you know we are not just with this, but also with the landfill expansion, really dependent on those relationships that we have invested in very intentionally for what's going to happen and and and have those downstream uh consequences for us here in Cedar Rapids.

So I'm really grateful to the cities of Marion and Hiawatha, and I think it's important to really point it out every single time that we do have those moments of excellence in partnership because we do need our partners to help us with this and with the other things that we're working on, but this is a great example of of us doing just that.

So thank you for your leadership in accomplishing this as well.

Thank you.

For sure, thanks so much.

Uh if there are no other further questions or comments from council, the approval on its first reading has been moved by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Three is a public hearing to consider amending chapter six of the municipal code city administration to modify the roles and responsibilities of the parks, waterways, and recreation commission as described in section 6.05.

Uh Kerry Mardorf is here.

Carrie, I'll recognize you.

Thank you.

Uh for background, section 6.05 within chapter six of the municipal code pertains to the parks, waterways, and recreation commission.

It was last updated in June of 2014, so we're a little bit over that 10-year mark.

Um, and since that time, the commission's roles and responsibilities have evolved, and sections of the current ordinance no longer apply.

So we've been working with the commission over the last several months to develop the recommended updates, which the commission approved in February of earlier this year.

So our goals are to update the ordinance to reflect current practices and formally codify what's already being done, and to also clarify the commission's roles and responsibilities based on today's operational needs.

So a few of those highlights and actual changes that are being proposed.

So first it updates the membership, the terms of service, and meeting schedules to reflect the current practice.

It clarifies the commission's powers and duties, which emphasizes its advisory and advocacy roles.

It adds maintenance and repair of current buildings and facilities, and it removes fundraising and donation responsibilities.

So with that, the parks and recreation department recommends approval with second and possible third readings of the ordinance on April 28th.

Thank you, Carrie.

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

Does anyone wish to address council?

All right, let the record show.

Public hearing has been held with no objections.

Council.

All right, seeing nothing further.

The approval of this 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.

Four is a public hearing to review the status of the Ginkgo Ridge project funded through the Iowa Economic Development Authority under the CDBGDR single family new construction or roots program as we know it.

Um Crystal Cole and Jennifer Barton are here to update us on that.

I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor and Council.

Crystal Cole and Jennifer Barton with community development.

We are here to discuss Ginkgo Ridge, which is part of our roots program.

Uh part of the purpose of this is really at that midway point of any of our funding we've received through the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

We go through and discuss accomplishments to date, expenditures to date, remaining work to complete, and any changes to the project.

The project overview, it was 16 single unit homes through the roots program.

Uh the units are townhouse style.

15 of them would be townhouse style, three fourplexes, one three-plex building, and then a standalone ADA unit.

The project also includes infrastructure activities that extended Summit Avenue Southwest, as well as connection to the Cedar River Trail that runs parallel to the property.

Project accomplishments include installation of the street infrastructure, which is visible in that photo.

One unit is under contract for a purchase, and the first four four plex is under construction.

For expenditures, the total project budget was approximately 6.7 million with 3.12 million in C D B G DR funding.

And of that amount, there's a 1.12 million for in infrastructure costs.

The balance is funded with a construction loan.

And to date, 1.34 million of the C D BGDR funds have been expended.

For the remaining work, the first four Plex is nearing completion in the next month, and then the remaining three buildings for the remaining 12 units will be will begin construction.

And the only project changes we've had was uh shift in location to those summit avenue lots, and our timeline has shifted to completion in August of 2027.

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

Thank you.

I so appreciate the updates.

Um this is a program uh that many of our citizens know began post-flood and then post-RHO 2.0.

Would you mind just giving us a high level for those who may not be familiar with roots?

What that looks like.

Certainly.

Thank you.

Um Roots uh is kind of a two-fold program.

There is uh developer subsidy to help bring down the cost of projects so that they are affordable to those at 80% of the area median income or lower.

And then there is also a down payment assistance uh component that can fund up to 35,000 in additional costs, and then the program uh basically can get the house down to about 140,000 for new construction.

And how many about about how many properties are we looking at in total?

Uh in total it's 76 hours.

Okay, great, thank you.

All right, uh, this is the time and a place for a public hearing on this matter.

Does anyone here wish to address counsel?

All right, let the record show.

Public hearing has been held with no objections.

Council?

Councilmember Todd.

I just want to clarify.

So what what is the AMI on these properties?

80%.

Okay.

Anyone else wish to address from council?

All right.

Uh well, then we will go ahead and move on to our next item.

Nothing to vote on here.

Thank you so much for the update.

Item number five is a public hearing to consider the establishment of the Garfield Urban Revitalization Area at 1201 Maplewood Drive Northeast, as proposed by Evolution LC, which is a division of Steve Emerson, an entity of Steam Emerson.

Scott Mather is here to update us on that.

Scott, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor Council.

Scott Mather with the City Manager's Office.

February 10th, 2026.

City Council authorized standard incentives for the redevelopment of the former Garfield Elementary School.

Uh the developer purchased the former school in 2024, is in the process of securing historic tax credits, and the project was awarded Brownville Greyfield in 2024.

Uh the project qualifies under the city's historic preservation program.

And today we're here to establish the urban revite area.

Sorry, I'm out of breath.

Uh, as a mechanism for financial incentives.

This is a seven million dollar investment for the excuse me.

For the it's a mix of one and two bedroom market rate rental units, construction to commence in summer of all right.

We can move on to the next.

All right.

Why don't we go ahead and uh pause on item number five?

Bill, would you like to okay?

Scott, we'll go ahead and have you get some water.

Thank you, Chief.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chief.

And Chief Okay, Bill, thank you for stepping in here.

Are you okay to do this?

I am indeed.

Yeah, I can we'll go ahead and move on with item number five, then.

Yeah, so the uh the project overview, and forgive me if I'm repeating, I wasn't exactly sure where he left off.

So $7 million capital investment, uh, mix of one and two bedroom market rate rental units, 30 units total.

Uh construction commencement summer of 2026 this year, uh, and completion end of 2026.

Um the standard incentive provides a 10-year 100% exemption of increased value generated by the project based on the investment and estimated post-development value.

The project is expected to generate 665,000 in total taxes over a 10-year period, of which 240,000 would be exempted.

Uh, you can see uh the project location uh on the map here.

This is what uh the old school looks like today, and it is an adaptive reuse of that building, uh, which is always a positive uh public hearing uh is today obviously resolution being considered with the first ordinance reading and second and possible third ordinance reading uh to appear on April 28th.

Um I believe that is uh the presentation or hand it back to the mayor.

Thank you, thank you, Bill.

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

Does anyone here wish to address council?

All right, let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record council, councilmember Hager.

Mayor, I will recuse myself for this vote.

Thank you, Councilmember Meyer.

Thank you, Mayor.

Bill, I just have a general question.

What um ability does the city have to encourage more two-bedroom and three-bedroom unit buildings versus the one and two.

Obviously, with the three-bedroom unit, it's more likely to uh be um a better use to families.

Thanks.

Yeah, so generally speaking, uh the uh, and I know this term uh is very general, but you know, the the market determines what um uh is going to be constructed in terms of of a performa, what makes that uh pro forma pencil out, so to speak.

Um, you know, I I think certainly um we do have uh the Maxfield housing study uh and we do that annually.

That is going to be starting um this year, and I think what I would do is ask Mary Bajold, who's our consultant specifically to uh take a look at demand for those units uh and and see what uh you know demand is based off of that data.

If we don't have something now, we certainly can consider um uh amending our incentives to to take a look at that.

You know, we can um obviously the incentive programs are are ours and we can amend them uh as demand um you know requires.

So uh I think that's probably the route to go there.

Yeah.

Yeah, and I might just also add to um you know, ask you the question about just the current you know, market.

You know, from what I hear from developers, it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense for them right now with the single family units.

Is that accurate?

And and how can programs like roots, for example, answer that.

Yeah, I mean, construction uh and new development is challenging right now, primarily because of infrastructure costs is really what is getting people.

So if you have to put in roads, for example, uh single family developments require uh that that you do that.

What we are hearing from developers is that's the big challenge.

And so uh, you know, something that is being proposed, of course, uh as a is an amendment uh possibly to our incentive programs is a way to help with that.

Uh, you know, we did uh we have done in the past um, you know, a number of things, but this is a new issue, uh newer issue that we're hearing from developers that other communities are addressing.

And uh, you know, again, we as we always like to say, cities compete, and we need to uh you know remain competitive for limited resources uh, you know, in the region.

Council Murvenorney.

Yeah, thank you.

Um one thing that I would say is we and we talk about this pretty extensively.

Should anybody ever want to attend a development committee meeting?

Um, that's that's where we talk about this uh the most.

Um that being said, um we are always, and I really appreciate that.

City staff when they're looking at those incentives that have been changed over the years from some legislature um parameters, that we are always prioritizing against our Maxfield studies first.

What do we need?

We are not incentivizing projects that we don't need.

So that's always really important to say is that there is a need out there.

Sometimes there can be a myth that we don't actually need more single family housing, but if you look at the data of our Maxfield housing studies, it does show that in fact we do.

So it's really important that we always kind of defer back to that.

And I know that city staff consistently lead on that, and I just really appreciate that because it takes the guesswork out of this.

That we don't have to ask, are you checking that first?

You are always checking that and ensuring that this does meet something that we are in need of in Cedar Rapids and then prioritizing it thusly.

So I really appreciate that.

Anyone else on council?

Councilmember Olson.

I might just add something to this bill.

I've been involved uh through as an architect, but also in conversion of schools, and the costs uh relate to staying within the confines of these 700 to 900 square foot classrooms.

And so the uh to answer David's question, the classrooms then can be developed into either a one or two bedroom, but there's not enough room to do a three-bedroom.

Once you start chopping through walls, uh the numbers don't work and try and combine.

And so the Monroe School that through four oaks and things, those were all the same things, one and two bedrooms, but that's the shape of the classroom.

And so that's probably the reason he's gone mainly to that size, because once you start having to knock walls down in some of these older uh buildings, it affects the whole structure.

So, but it's a good question, and it's just one of those things it's hard to do and to hold the cost down so that Steve can make it work in his project.

And uh so it'll be a good conversion, and it allows the corridors to be saved and all of those other things, and still have the historic feel of the school, but yet make nice apartments.

So it's a good question.

Councilmember Todd.

I I don't know what the question was, but we've actually done four or five school conversions, and they've only been one or two bedroom units.

We haven't been able to get based on that and based on the ADA, you can't get three in, which would be nice.

My question is sort of a more uh I wouldn't say logistical one, but that that that parcel, there's a a segment that's adjacent across the street from Daniels Park.

Does that stay with Emerson or does that the school district previously owned it?

I'm gonna have to double check that for you.

I I was involved with it with that piece, and the school district still owns that five acres.

Okay.

So are they gonna, I mean, the question is are they gonna maintain the five acres?

That's ultimately somewhere down the line, I would assume since they don't have a school there.

When they had the school there, yet they used it for outdoor games uh and running and and and gym class, but with them gone, I uh just need to pay attention to it.

Don't drop everything you're doing.

Understood.

It might end up in the park system someday.

Yeah, but that's fine.

Yeah, great point.

If there are no further questions, the adoption of this resolution then is moved by Poe, seconded by Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries, and before we vote on the ordinance for this item, does council have any further comments, questions?

Councilmember Todd, no.

Oh, nothing.

Okay, if there's nothing further than the approval of the ordinance on its first reading has been moved by Overland, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those of say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you, May.

Uh, so we're uh very excited to talk about this.

Uh a little bit of background.

Uh January 24th of 2017, uh, City Council adopted the Mount Vernon Road Corridor Action Plan, uh, which is of course uh a part of envisioned CR.

The plan identifies some goal and act goals and actions to encourage redevelopment within the target area, specifically underutilized and vacant land.

Uh plan called for evaluation of the effectiveness of standard city financial incentives and their assistance to benefit redevelopment of vacant or existing sites that are underutilized.

Uh since adoption of the action plan, redevelopment has been isolated and small scale.

And of course, we all know that Mount Vernon Road uh is our major east-west thoroughfare traffic counts are very attractive.

Uh yet we've we've seen just a little bit of lag in development.

And uh so we we did follow the plan's recommendation, took a look at what can we do to encourage some redevelopment there.

And the recommendation is to create an urban revitalization area mirroring the Mount Vernon Road Corridor Action Plan, which is intended to stimulate uh redevelopment of underutilized and vacant property, uh, generally along Mount Vernon Road from 10th Street Southeast to 44th Street Southeast.

Here is uh a map that indicates uh the project area as well as the individual lots that uh would qualify automatically under this program.

Uh so the rationale, as I mentioned, establish the area to redevelop up front with council proceedings identifying eligible properties, eligible property owners can redevelop their properties according to the city building and zoning codes and ordinances and receive a tax exemption.

Uh, and that would be up to uh 50 percent of the uh additional TIFF generated, you know, additional value generated by the project.

Uh it's a business-friendly way, streamlined approach to redevelopment as each project does not need to come before council individually.

So uh putting that over the entire area reduces one uh you know, in engagement necessary.

Um eligible properties could receive an exemption of new value added as a result of the redevelopment, must increase assessed value by a minimum of 15% for commercial and 10% for residential.

Uh properties classified as commercial or multifamily residential.

Uh this is consistent with current economic development incentive program eligibility on a single lot basis.

As I as we discussed, this will simply create a larger area mirroring the Mount Verdon Road Corridor Action Plan in which this would be possible.

There's 87 eligible properties, 77 commercial, seven uh commercial residential mixed, and three multifamily improvements must be in conformance with the goals set forth in the Mount Vernon Road Corridor Action Plan.

So the process to receive the tax exemption, property owner uh follows all the appropriate ordinances, complete the improvements to the property, submit an application to the city assessor for the tax exemption uh by Friday the first of that year after the improvements are complete.

Uh city staff submits a resolution to council by March 1st to approve the application submitted to the assessor.

The property owner then receives the exemption of new value added.

Uh, they would continue to pay full property taxes on the property value that was in place prior to the redevelopment.

Uh, in terms of commercial, the owner chooses uh a three-year 100% exemption or a ten-year declining scale and residential uh multifamily, a 10-year 100% exemption.

And with that, I'll turn it back over to the mayor.

All right, thank you, Bill.

Uh this is time to place for a public hearing on this matter.

Does anyone here wish to address council?

All right, let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

That brings us to council.

All right, seeing nothing, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by councilmember Tyler Wolson, seconded by councilmember Hager.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

And before we vote on the ordinance of this item, does council have any further comments or questions?

All right, seeing nothing further, the approval of this ordinance on its first reading has been moved by Hager, seconded by Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you.

Number seven is a public hearing to consider the vacation of the alley between 2nd Street Southeast and the previously vacated Osborne Park.

Dustin Kern is here to tell us about that.

Dustin, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Good afternoon.

Mayor and council members, Dustin Kern with the Public Works Department.

Nice to see you all.

Um, Mayor, if it'd be okay, I'd like to combine the presentation for items seven and eight.

Absolutely.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

Um, what we have before us, uh, mayor and council are two separate vacations in there along our riverfront.

And one is on the right hand of your screen.

It's an old alley along the river that is south of 2nd Street Southeast.

And the second area, which is separate legal description, is 17th Avenue, the cross alley, and the Jason Alley.

Um, both these vacations, um, both 7A and 8 do two things really.

The first thing is to provide now that our flood control system is completed in this area, uh, provide an uninterrupted flood control system through here.

So that's uh number one.

And number two, um, and again, just to note the flood control system is in the blue on the slide.

And the other thing at the objective here is to allow this area to be opened up for future redevelopment.

You know, so we have this area now that we can uh talk to other developers and and proposers in the area to see this area come to light.

So both areas.

Um we'd like to vacate both areas seven and eight.

And this would be in accordance with the Czech Village New Bohemia area action plan, so we can proceed on that as we're having conversations with uh prospective users for the area.

Um, with that in mind, I would like to recommend passing passing of two different resolutions for the two separate public hearings, and I'll turn it back to you, Mayor, with any questions.

All right, thank you.

This is a time and a place for a public hearing on item number seven.

Does anyone in the audience wish to address council?

All right, let the record indicate a public hearing has been held on this with no objections.

Council.

Councilman Van Wurney.

Yeah, thank you.

Um, would you go back to the aerial photo?

Thank you.

So I just wanted to um speak to a conversation I brought up in development committee when we had this presented.

It's important to note that um, you know, years ago there have been conversations with some of the business owners in the area who were thinking prospectively about what this could be, and uh seeing some of the work that we did on the other side of the river with uh the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.

Um and we're just imagining couldn't this be developed.

And and it's disheartening a bit um that at the time we told them no.

And the reason was it was a not right now, not never, but not right now.

At that time, when when people were hoping that they could redevelop it in that moment and maybe put businesses or something there, um, we didn't have enough of our flood protection system done.

So it's really important that this is yet another benefit that we have by that in in very intentional investment of our flood control system that now we can open this back up for that redevelopment.

So it's just really important.

It's always tough when when we have to tell somebody no, and and maybe they've got all these hopes and dreams about what that could be, especially since they're already in the area.

But um, but we are at that point, and again, that's a lot of hard work.

You know, 18 years later that we are still actively recovering, and we can green light this um for that future development.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Okay.

Um, if there's no further questions, the approval of this ordinance on its first reading 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.

Um, next up, this is the time and a place for a public hearing on item number eight.

Uh, does anyone wish to address council?

All right, let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections.

Council.

All right, seeing nothing further, the adoption and approval of the ordinance on its first reading 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.

Number nine is a public hearing to consider the resolution of necessity proposed for the second street southeast vault and sidewalk repair project.

Kendekaiser is here to tell us about that.

Ken, I will recognize you.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

Kendakaiser City Engineer.

I'm also pleased to introduce to you Eric Turnquist, who is our brand new Caplow Improvements Engineering Manager.

So uh going forward after my presentation, he's going to start presenting on a number of projects to the council, such as sidewalks, trails, downtown improvements, um, federal aid projects, and more.

So at that, um, for the background of this project, we have a building vault in 2nd Street Southeast between 3rd and 4th Avenues.

Uh, we looked at it structurally and determined it's pretty deficient and would like to get that vault abandoned.

And what we will do is uh relocate the building utilities that are now in the vault.

We will fill it in, and then we will restore the surfacing, so we will put new streetscaping in on that side of the street within the block.

Uh, a special assessment is proposed to cover the portion of the utility relocation.

And as you might recall, a few months ago, we brought some chapter nine uh municipal code updates to you concerning vaults, which would give us the authority to assess property owners for a portion of that.

And this is also an opportunity because we are our cost uh contributing as well to the restoration.

So it's a it's a good partnership between us and the and the property owner.

And uh so the city will cover the remaining project costs.

And the preliminary assessment plat and schedule for this project were filed uh with the city clerk on February uh 2026, and we have a bid of uh June 3rd of this year.

So this is the project location, and in order to fit the aerial on the uh slide, the uh orientation is a little weird, but uh north is facing to the lower right, and but I did add building locations there for your reference, the Paramount Theater, and then the uh vaults they're located with the red rectangle is uh uh adjacent to the town center building, and then we will be restoring the streetscape there within that side of the street on the block.

So the preliminary special assessment, there's that one single property subject, the assessment of 76,000 dollars, uh which is 11% of our estimated total of $665,000.

Uh the preliminary assessment notice was already sent to the property owner uh in accordance with the Iowa code.

Uh, we believe they're they're out of state, but we've had a number of discussions with them about this.

And when construction is complete, we will levy a final assessment on the project.

And for the council, we have uh four options for this resolution to consider.

One is to adopt a resolution necessity without amendment, one is to amend the uh preliminary assessment uh and/or resolution.

You can defer it for further review or abandon the project.

And with that, the public works department recommends adoption of the resolution without amendment.

Uh thank you and happy to take any questions.

All right, thank you and welcome.

Uh, this is the time and place for public hearing on this.

Does anyone wish to address council?

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

Council.

All right, seeing nothing further.

The adoption of this resolution as a resolution of necessity without amendment for the second street southeast fault and sidewalk repair project has been moved by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

10 is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications form of contract, and estimated cost for the Blair's Ferry Road Northeast from North Town Place to Sammy Drive, sidewalk infill bid package number two, South Side project with an estimated cost of 530,000 dollars.

Eric Turnquist will recognize you for the first time.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um excited to be here.

And thank you, Ken for the introduction.

Um here to talk about the Blair's Ferry uh road northeast from North Town Place to Salmon Drive.

Uh this bid package number two.

Um last fall we completed big package number one, which is the north side.

This is the south side.

Uh, this for the proposed plans, specs, and form of contract and estimated cost.

Um, this project includes a six-foot sidewalk on the south side, as already noted, as well as the reconstruction of driveways and access points along this project limits.

Uh, this completes a gap of sidewalk that exists currently along Blair's Ferry.

Um, if you guys are familiar with the area, this starts near the multifamily homes on the south side of Blair's Ferry, going east there to about 300 feet um west of uh um center point road.

Um, this is a pretty high pedestrian demand area.

Um, so this is a good project, as well as um improving the sidewalk.

We're also improving uh a bus stop along this location with a concrete uh bus pad.

Um I guess said earlier, three the north side was completed uh last year, as well as three bus stops on that side as well.

Um, this project was originally packaged as one project before it being separated out.

So public meeting was held um a little bit before my time here at the city.

Um, but we've definitely been in contact with property owners and have uh a number of meetings with those businesses.

Um, as I kind of already know that here the project limits from town place northeast to um like I said, just west of council street.

Uh this connects multifamily with commercial there to the east, um, as well as connecting there's a um uh pedestrian crossing, signalized crossing just to the west of town place.

Um so this helps us connect the whole pedestrian route through this area.

Um, why this project is needed?

Uh it was came up on the city's uh pedestrian master plan um and supports the city's goals for more walkability and connectivity uh throughout the community.

Um definitely prioritizes that strength and stability of neighborhoods.

As I already mentioned, you have multifamily on the eastern western side of the project, and it'll connect that with um more of the city there.

Uh this um helps with safety as well because it provides uh path that is not um on the roadway.

Um, and with the weather right now, you don't want to be walking through the muds slush as well, so it gives a nice hardscape path for pedestrians to use.

Um, the engineering's estimate for this project is is $530,000.

Uh, the bid lighting is April 29th, um, with a late start of June 22nd.

Uh these photos here are from that first phase.

Um, this is the north side.

I think you can see the improvements there to the access drive as well as to the sidewalk there, allowing for that pedestrian connectivity.

Um Public Works Department recommends approval of the resolution to adopt the plans and specs, form the contract um of this estimate cost for this project.

Thank you.

Thank you, Eric.

This is time to place for public hearing.

Anyone here wish to address council?

All right, let the record show.

Public hearing has been held with no objections.

Council, Councilmember Poe.

Thank you, Mayor.

Well, welcome, Eric.

Glad you're here.

Um, this is for either you or Ken.

So you talked about putting a concrete pad in for the bus stop.

What would determine whether or not that bus stop would be a covered bus stop?

Um do we have is it um dependent upon counts, number of bus riders?

What determines that?

And we consult with transit.

Um they have a budget that they put together every year to add shelters to the pads.

So it's based on the the usage, and then they give us the property list.

And uh so they don't often go in with the sidewalk improvements, but they could come in at a later time with a with a package to do the bus shelters.

Thank you.

All right, anything else from council?

If not, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by Van Orney, seconded by Poe.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

11 is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the 12th Street Southeast, Co Road Northeast, and 13th Street Southeast rehabilitation project.

Estimated cost of this is $910,000.

Doug Wilson is here.

Doug, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor Doug Wilson, Public Works Department.

This project uh mainly is uh one-way to two-way conversion of Co Road, 13th Street, and 12th Street Southeast.

Uh the also includes resurfacing of 12th Street from 3rd Avenue to First Avenue, along with water main and sanitary sewer repairs in that roadway segment.

There's also traffic signal improvements included uh with the one-way to two-way conversion.

The uh engineer's estimate of probable costs is $920,000.

Bid opening is April 29th, 2026 with construction starting this summer and completion in the fall.

A public information meeting was held in February for this project.

Public works department recommends approval of the resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Does anyone wish to address council on this matter?

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

Council.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, opposed say no.

And it carries 12 is a public hearing to consider proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the 2026 pavement milling and curb repair project.

This has an estimated cost of five million eight hundred and thirty thousand dollars.

And Doug, I'll recognize you again.

Thank you.

Uh this uh includes curb and gutter replacement, pavement resurfacing by city forces along with removal of the asphalt surfaces at 17 locations throughout the city.

It also includes some water main storm through and sanitary sewer improvements along with ADA ramp improvements.

Engineers estimate of probable costs is five million eight hundred and twenty thousand dollars with bid opening April 15th, 2026.

Construction is expected to start this spring and be completed in the fall.

Due to the scope and scale of this project, we don't have individual uh uh project information meetings, but we do send out a letter to residents uh early on and answer questions that may be uh pertinent to them and make sure that we address their concerns before we bid the project.

The public works department recommends approval of the resolution.

Thank you, Doug.

Does anyone wish to address council on this matter?

Let the record show.

Public hearing has been held with no objections.

Council.

If nothing, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by council member Tyler Wilson, seconded by Councilmember Hager.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed say no.

And it carries 13 is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the 2026 sanitary sewer service replacement project.

This has an estimated cost of 170,000.

Ben Warrell is here.

Ben, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Ben Worrell Public Works Department.

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

This is done to extend the useful life of the roadway pavement.

Uh, if there's a new roadway put in and we have to cut out uh an orange burg pipe a couple years later.

Um it's not protecting the investment of the roadway.

So we're getting these taken care of ahead of the roadway projects.

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

That's an extra month compared to last year.

Uh, when we did send letters out last year, we also included information on the minor repair program, which is a financial assistance program that the city offers, and we do have some folks taking advantage of that.

Uh service is not fixed by the property owner, it will be fixed by the city, and the costs will be assessed.

That's what this project is.

Just as a reminder, uh the sewer lateral or sewer service is the property owner's responsibility from the house to the main.

This project is just correcting issues between the main and the property line to protect pavements.

Package currently includes 15 locations, which are almost entirely on Benton Street, but one on Kent Drive and one on Liberty Drive.

We do expect a few more of these to fall off as they get done.

Again, 15 parcels.

Resolution of necessity was passed back on April 24th.

And the bid letting is scheduled for April 22nd with construction in June and July.

Public Works Department recommends approval of the resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is anyone here wish to excuse me, address council on this matter?

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

Council.

All right, if nothing further.

The adoption of this resolution has been moved by Councilmember Hager, seconded by Councilmember Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And it passes.

14 is a public hearing to consider the plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the old bridge road to 76th Avenue Southwest Sanitary Sewer Extension Phase 1 project.

This has an estimated cost of 1,490,000.

Ben, I'll recognize you again.

Thank you.

This project is to extend 24-inch sanitary sewer from the old bridge road area down towards 76th Avenue.

It's mainly through Google, but also a little bit uh through QTS data center sites.

And it's being done in accordance with a previous agreement with Google.

Uh future phase will continue down to 76th Avenue.

Google's still trying to figure out the site layout for the southern portion of their site.

So uh we're breaking that out into a future second phase, but eventually when that goes down to 76th Avenue, we'll be able to service the CID superpark and continue development.

Engineers' opinion of probable cost is 1,490,000.

Bid lending is scheduled for April 22nd.

Construction is expected, June through November with no traffic impacts.

Public works department recommends approval of the resolution.

Thank you.

Does anyone wish to address council on this?

All right, let the record show a public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

All right.

If there's nothing further, this resolution has been moved by Hager, seconded by Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

15 is a public hearing to consider the proposed specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the fuel dispensing system replacement project.

Estimated cost of this is 240,000.

Cale Loewen is here.

Kale, I recognize you.

Thank you, Council Mayor.

Uh Kiel Lowan, Fleet Services.

For context, our current fuel, our current fuel system is a miss mission critical asset for the city and county fleets.

It is supported by dispensers, storage tanks, and a monitoring system.

Due to the increased costs and overall operation of this system, it's reached its end of life.

It's located at our city services center.

And we currently support 1,800 vehicles and dispense over around a million gallons of fuel each year.

The system includes our fuel dispensers, storage tanks, automated monitoring, and fuel management system.

Project details, bids are due tomorrow.

Project is estimated to be completed September 1st of this year with an estimated cost of 240,000.

Stated here.

Thank you.

This is time to place for public hearing.

Anyone wish to address council on this?

All right, let the record show.

Public hearing has been held with no objections for the record.

Council.

All right.

Seeing nothing further, 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.

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

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

And I do not have anybody signed up to speak in this public comment period.

So we're going to go ahead and officially close out our first public comment period.

City Manager Pomrance, do you have changes to the agenda?

No change.

Do any council members need to recuse themselves on any agenda items or make changes?

All right.

Seeing none, that'll bring us to a motion to approve the agenda.

The approval of the agenda has been moved by councilmember Scott Olsen.

Seconded by Councilmember Todd.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And that motion carries thank you, Council.

That brings us to consent agenda.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries thank you, Council.

We'll now move on to our regular agenda.

And that is with item number 34, the presentation resolution adopting the 2025 envisioned CR updates.

Betsy Borchirt is here.

Betsy, I'll recognize you.

I am here to update.

I need to turn check your microphone real quick.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, Mayor and City Council.

I'm here to give the annual update of envision CR.

Um this year.

Uh here it is.

So this plan was adopted in 2015, and it is a living document that's updated annually.

And it does provide guidance for policy funding, future land use recommendations.

Each year we go through the initiatives and envision CR and we update the status, the timeline, we add comments if it's something that started.

We also update two elements to the right there.

Those are basically the chapters within envisioned CR.

And this year we updated green and protect.

And then we also update the action steps for our other area plans, quality of life infrastructure, plans that have also been adopted by city council.

This is a breakdown of the process of how plans get adopted.

So in 2025, the first area, First Avenue Area Action Plan was created and brought to City Council who then adopted the plan.

After a plan is adopted, it's considered part of envisioned CR or it's incorporated into Envision CR.

And then we go through the annual review update process, which helps it inform budget, and then we bring it back to you each year for adoption of the updates.

So this is an interdepartmental process.

I meet with almost every single city department, fire department, the library to update these.

Um helps we use city council priorities for this review.

Um we take them into consideration, and also the upcoming budget.

Then we go through the update process, and after we're finished with the updates, we have put on a public event that we invited the public to, and it didn't get great turnout.

So we're changing our process this year and connecting with events that are already happening that people already attend.

So we're gonna be going to seven different events, including EcoFest and uh resident appreciation day at the farmers market.

On the left here is a breakdown.

The top is just the envisioned CR updates, the bottom is the other plan updates.

Um, so there were 26 five uh action steps and initiatives that were updated this year.

And then on the right is the other plans.

So there's 15 other plans that we also updated the action steps on.

Uh went to City Planning Commission who did recommend the updates, uh, approval of the updates.

And today I'm asking for your consideration for the updates, and then April through October is when we'll be going through the community or two community events.

All right, thank you, Betsy.

Council thoughts, questions?

Councilmember Olson.

Thank you.

Uh what would be the typical item when you do updates?

What's the most prevalent items you're seeing?

Just give me an example of some of the things that you're updating.

So um we updated the narrative for Protect and Green CR this year.

We added a lot.

In fact, all of the narrative is almost completely revamped.

It's all new.

Um, so we added block and roll program, our micromobility program.

Um, we added the relief that hadn't been added into the narrative yet.

So that got added.

We added a little bit more about like what our utilities, public works, the fire department, police department, what they provide for the community.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Council Right Orney.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

I think it's just important too, again, for anybody who participates in these meetings or watches.

If you look at our council agenda or our packet, uh, there's kind of two major takeaways there.

One, if you ever see where it says council priority, that's coming from our strategic plan.

But you will often see something referenced here with envisioned Cedar Rapids or CR, um, which is another part of our as you presented, Betsy, um, really important strategic planning for all the different areas that we have in Cedar Rapids.

So if somebody's trying to to uh familiarize themselves with the agenda, it's just important to defer back to the fact that like the things that we are talking about in this meeting.

Um, while maybe don't always have the meat of the conversation because we've added it out before it got to this point.

They are always things that are very strategically important to us as a city and will be highlighted as such.

Um, so I just always appreciate pointing that out and appreciate all the work that you did to get it updated.

Thank you.

For sure.

And just a reminder too, people can always access this on our city's website.

Correct.

And it's for a little light reading.

Um it is pretty, it can be it can be pretty inspiring for people who love their city to find out all that's going on.

And I always remind people we're a nearly we have nearly billion dollar budget.

So there's a lot happening in our city, and it's important that we have a consistent roadmap so that everybody's um, you know, using the same script, as they say.

So thank you, Betsy, for all your work on that and your team.

And if there are no other further questions, 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.

35 is a presentation and resolution authorizing city financial incentives under the targeted district reinvestment economic development program for housing project at 934 and 940 L Street Southwest, as requested by Rosa Holds LLC, an entity of Grace Gutenkoff.

Bill Michael is here.

Bill, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Bill Michael, Economic and Development Services.

Uh request from Rosa Holds, LLC entity of Grace Gutenkop or standard city financial incentives for the housing redevelopment project, 934-940 L Street Southwest.

The project does qualify under the targeted district reinvestment and economic development program for a housing redevelopment project.

And the current structure is in uh is in poor condition and disrepair and will be demolished.

Uh project overview, 1.46 million dollar capital investment, uh construction of six market rate rental units, uh, single family home, attached accessory dwelling, and detached accessory dwelling over two-stall garage on each parcel.

Uh the original parcel uh was subdivided into two parcels.

Uh construction will commence uh this summer and is slated to be completed by the end of this year.

Uh the city incentive provides a 10-year 100% rebate of the increased taxes generated by the project, an estimated 150,000 dollars and estimated total taxes generated over a 10-year period with 120,000 rebated.

Uh you can see the location here on the aerial view.

Uh, this is the current structure that is uh in place, as I mentioned, will be demolished, and then a rendering of what the uh new structures will look like, front porches, and then the uh structure in the rear with the unit over the garages.

Uh and with that, I'll turn it back over to the mayor.

All right, thank you, Bill.

Uh council, questions.

All right, seeing nothing further, the option of this resolution has been moved by Overland, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries 36 is a presentation resolution accepting a proposal from um GELAD LLC, which is an entity of Josh Bass and Tyler Oswood for the redevelopment of five city-owned properties at 615, 621, 623, and 629 I Avenue Northwest and 905 Ellis Boulevard Northwest.

Jeff Wosencraft is here to tell us about that.

Jeff, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Jeff Wosencraft Community Development.

Uh, as stated, this is a resolution to award um a proposal at uh the stated lots.

Um, a little background here.

There are five parcels just under a half acre in area.

They're all currently vacant and were acquired after the flood of 2008.

The zoning is UVR urban village residential, which allows for small-scale residential development.

Um, it's located in the 100-year floodplain, so all um future work would need to comply with our floodplain ordinance and all have access to city infrastructure.

Um, so here's an aerial view.

Uh, this is I Avenue running through uh the middle of the image.

This is the old Diamond V site to the uh right-hand side of the image.

Um, review of the request for proposals, alignment with the Northwest Neighborhood Action Plan that was adopted in 2017.

Um again, that plan called for Ellis Boulevard Northwest to be a little bit more intense development with higher um intensity residential and mixed-use development.

Um uh design that would also meet our urban form zone districts and uh, of course, projects that are financially feasible.

Um, the city received one proposal um from Jell at LLC, an entity of Josh Bass and Tyler Oswood.

Um, the proposal is for 11 units, um, one multi-unit development on the corner section with two single family homes on the discontiguous parcel and one with an ADU there.

Um, some conceptual renderings here.

So uh the image on the left, this would be Ellis Boulevard with the townhomes fronting there, um, the aerial on the right showing the detached garages with units above the garage.

Um, this conceptual of the single family home off of I Avenue and H Avenue, so two um fronting either avenue there with one having a detached ADU above the garage.

So two fronting either avenue there, with one having a detached ADU above the garage.

So this was reviewed by our stakeholder review group of a non-competing developer, uh neighborhood representative and commercial lender, all um provided a unanimous recommendation for the award.

Um they thought it fit well with the neighborhood and like the different use of housing types between the ADU town home and single family homes, and all we're supportive of seeing more development along Ellis Boulevard.

With that, staff would recommend approval of the resolution and uh authorizing staff to negotiate a development agreement.

With that, I'll pass back to the mayor.

Thank you, Jeff.

Council questions?

Councilmember Meyer.

Thank you, Mayor.

I know we're not voting on this specifically, but shout out to the developers.

I really like the design of both the uh both of the uh renderings that you presented.

So I think it'll be a really nice um addition to the neighborhood.

Anyone else?

All right.

So no further questions, the adoption of this resolution who has been moved by Councilmember Tyler Olson, seconded by Hager.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed say no.

And the motion carries 37 is a presentation and resolution accepting a proposal from the Watts Group, which is an entity of Gary Watts for the redevelopment of city owned land at the intersection of 4th Street and 17th Avenue Southeast.

Jeff will recognize you again.

Thank you, Mayor.

Jeff Wolzencraft Community Development.

Uh, another resolution here to um award a proposal at 4th Street and 17th Avenue Southeast.

Um, so an aerial on the right here showing the location.

This is 4th Street Southeast.

Uh tornadoes would be on the lower left-hand portion of this image.

This is New Bolofts, and the future light line light line would be over off the right hand side of the image.

Um, in total, the area is around a half acre.

Um, it's being platted with um the redevelopment of 17th Avenue and Sinclair area.

Um it's a currently a vacant lot.

The zoning is our urban neighborhood general, which allows for medium scale mixed use development up to six stories.

Um, it is located in our hundred-year floodplain, so again, um proposals need to uh comply with our floodplain ordinance and has access to city infrastructure.

Um this uh proposal uh would need to uh align with our Czech Village New Bohemia Area Action Plan that called this area out as a mixed use and residential node in the plan.

Um also preference for mixed use and housing.

Um again uh the design would need to meet our urban form zone districts and be financially feasible.

Um so the city received one proposal from the Watts group.

Uh the uh proposal was a 66 unit mixed use project, a mix of one and two bedroom units with 1,500 square feet of commercial space.

So here's a site plan, uh, 4th Street at the upper portion of the image, uh, patio and commercial space over here, uh, units fronting 4th Street, and then access from the alley at the rear.

Uh some renderings.

This would be coming up 16th Avenue from the south, um with the commercial space over here on the left side of the building, um, looking down from the north, um, commercial patio space and then units fronting fourth street here.

Um, so this was also reviewed by uh staff and stakeholder review group of that same composition and provided a unanimous recommendation for this proposal, um noting the rep reputation of the developer that having experience with this development scale and continuing to add to the growing new Bohemian area with a good entry point for prospective renters.

With that, staff would recommend approval of the resolution to award the Watts group uh for this proposal and authorized staff to negotiate a development agreement.

With that, I'll pass it back to the mayor.

Thanks, Jeff.

Council.

Anything?

All right.

Oh, council member.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, yeah, I just might add that um I think um Gary Watts has done this in one of his previous developments, Jeff, where he put some murals on the inside with a lot of glass so that you can see them.

Yeah.

Isn't that beautiful?

Um and very attractive and very welcoming, and I love that.

So please um continue to encourage that kind of um out-of-the-box thinking because who would have thought about a mural inside of an entryway, but it's it's really quite lovely and congratulations to Gary.

Nice job.

One of the questions I have, Jeff, is about is about parking, and it's hard to tell there.

I could see a parking lot in the back there.

Do you know if there are plans for indoor or underground?

Okay.

Yeah, so they similar to their other projects have covered parking as a part of that first floor.

Um, this project does um have units fronting fourth street, which is um in compliance with our zoning or urban form district zoning code here.

Um so um behind those units would be a covered parking lot.

Okay.

All right.

Anything else?

All right.

If there's nothing else, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by Overland, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

38 is a report on bids for O Avenue Northwest elevation time check project with an estimated cost of three million three hundred and sixty thousand dollars.

Rob Davis is here.

Rob, I'll recognize you.

Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council Rob Davis with the public works department.

Uh this is the uh project in Northwest neighborhood that includes 700 linear feet of Earth and Levy with O Avenue being reconstructed over the top of the levee.

Uh, there'll be new sidewalk and new shared use path uh within this red boundary on the map.

Uh, that will remove excess roadway, sidewalk, storm, sewer, sanitary sewer, and water main, uh, noting that the uh full ac road access and utility services for all existing residential homes will be maintained.

This is excess uh infrastructure that will be removed, not infrastructure that's being utilized at the moment.

Uh the map here shows the O Avenue, kind of in the lower left-hand corner.

That's kind of the uh footprint of the grading limits as the levy there.

Uh this uh is a rendering of it.

Uh we zoomed out a little bit as council suggested at the last uh time we showed this.

Uh this shows the uh road going up through underneath the arch there, and uh eventually there'll be a trail on top of the levee.

You can kind of see the uh crossing there where the trail would continue through on the levee.

Um then here's just the rendering looking from the riverside back towards uh the west.

Uh the engineers cost opinion, as mayor mentions $3,360,000.

The funding is a combination of American Rescue Plan Act uh that the city council allocated this.

That'll be used for the 2026 work, and then we will be using Iowa flood mitigation funds for the 2027 work.

Uh bid opening was on March 25th.

Schedule start is June 1st with the completion of October 15th of next year.

Uh we received four bids on March 25th.

Uh Peterson contractors of Rhinebeck, Iowa was read low at 2,775,270 and 83 cents, and then the bids range to a high of 3,624,122 and 60 cents.

And with that, uh Public Works Department recommends approval of the contract to Peterson contractors in the amount of $2,775,2783.

Thank you.

Thanks, Rob.

Council, any questions?

Councilmember Poe.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hey Rob, um, I should have probably asked this before.

Um, I'm assuming that O Avenue will be um shut down while we do all this work, correct?

O Avenue will be shut down and people can get around on either L or Penn to get to First Street.

Yeah, that was gonna be my question.

Where will the D tour go?

Because that is so highly used, as you know, to get to Ellis Boulevard and then actually all the way up to Edgewood Road that I wanted to know kind of what the navigation process for that area was gonna be.

So did that answer your question?

It did.

Thank you.

Councilmember Olson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just to kind of connect the historical dots here.

The council made a decision uh maybe four or five years ago related to ARPA funding to allocate a good chunk of it towards Northwest uh flood control.

And so we're seeing the fruits of that decision here because we're able to move up um progress, particularly in that neighborhood, which was something that I think we all wanted to make sure that uh we got done, particularly not just the west side, but but in time check northwest uh in particular.

And so this is getting done probably a year, maybe two early, earlier than it would have had we not made that decision.

So excellent.

Thank you.

Thank you for pointing that out.

Anything else?

All right.

If not, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by council member Tyler Olson, seconded by Councilmember Meyer.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed saying no.

And the motion carries.

Now we're under the ordinances.

39 is an ordinance amending chapter 18 of the municipal code historic preservation to designate the Dairy Queen number four building at 501 16th Street Northeast as a local landmark.

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

All those in favor say 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.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Number 40 is an ordinance repealing chapter 60A of the municipal code surveillance cameras for businesses and enacting in its place a new chapter 68 update definitions, revised video system standards, and update violations and enforcement procedures.

The approval of this ordinance on its second reading has been moved by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you, Council.

Councilmember Poe.

Thank you, Mayor.

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

Adopting the ordinance on its third and final reading has been moved by Poe, seconded by Over Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

And before we vote on the resolution for this item, does council have comments or questions?

All right.

If there's no further questions, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by Overland, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Wilson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

41 is an ordinance granting a change of zone for property at 820 Wiley Boulevard Northwest from uh light industrial district to traditional industrial mixed use district as requested by Breckey Construction Services.

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

All those in favor say 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 will be adopted on its third and final reading.

Adapting the ordinance on its third and final reading has been moved by Polk, seconded by Councilmember Scott Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

42 is an ordinance establishing the plum supply urban revitalization area at 4690 Bowling Street Southwest.

The approval of this ordinance on its second reading has been moved by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you, Council.

Councilmember Poe.

Thank you, Mayor.

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 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 this motion carries.

43 is an ordinance relating to the collection of tax increments within the Edgewood Point Urban Renewal Area, generally bounded by Edgewood Road Northeast, uh 42nd Street North East, and North River Boulevard Northeast.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And I will register a no.

The motion carries.

Thank you, Council.

And that closes out our formal business today and brings us to our final public input period.

This is an opportunity for Cedar Rapids residents, property owners, and businesses owners, business owners to address the city council on any subjects 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 for your comments.

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

So I'll remind everybody who's here to remain at the lectern.

Comments are limited to five minutes.

When the light turns yellow, you have one minute.

When it's red, we'll ask you to take your seat again.

And if you signed up to please approach the microphone when called upon.

So I will just call you in the order that I have you.

Our first speaker will be Pastor Doyle here to speak on public safety.

For the record, D-O-Y-L-E.

This land is your land.

RY is a United States Green Corps veteran.

Before the meeting, I place the document an actual email from a Chicago police department detective.

And I apologize.

Um painkillers.

Explain in a minute.

Um is the last time I saw you on October 4th at close range, closer mayor than you are about right where that screen is.

A 19-year-old miscreant took three shots at me.

I'm still trying to figure out why.

This is me at 19.

Spent 12 years in the Marines.

And anger amongst black miscreants is real.

I bring that up because in the last two weeks.

You would understand as a fellow journalist, there's a difference between news and public relations.

So the news on March 30th.

In Chicago, where Kenwood Academy.

Students tore up Hyde Park.

They're Kenwood students.

Matriculating at area institutions about Mercy, University of Iowa, Co., etc.

But back to Kenwood.

For anyone who would understand why Kenwood, academic caliber, but bad parenting.

The very next day, the public relations in terms of black mothers covering it up.

Again, I bring that up because I read a story in the Gazette about an incident that mirrored here, that mirrors mirrors, mirrors the miscreant behavior that's running rampant.

So I came to ask a simple question.

How far are you willing to go to prevent the same that occurred with Officer Ariana Preston?

I left left the front page of the Chicago Tribune with both you and the chief.

Well, um, he's gonna give it to it instead because that hurt my heart, hurt my heart to hear her mother give a victim testimony about her 24-year-old daughter being killed in her uniform outside of her home after working eight hours, and the murderers looked exactly like me.

I do not do public relations as relates to miscreant behavior.

It would hurt my heart if someone here working hard, going to school, taking care of their family.

It's called Biblical Principles, lost their life as a result of a miscreant allergic to work.

So the connection.

If public safety here decides to do tracking, meaning you go into the files since this is National Child Abuse Month, um, and the Cedar Rapids families where the crime continues to abate.

You might prevent the same occurrence with regard to Officer Ariana Preston, Officer Ella Grace French, and the list goes on and on with one connection.

All of the murderers look nothing like you.

They look everything like me.

So it doesn't make me popular to speak the truth, but truth is truth is truth.

Doesn't matter if I'm a marine, doesn't matter um how I came to this life.

What I don't appreciate is the abandonment of facts by people who look like me, and now it spills over like vomit into lives of those who didn't ask for it.

So I appreciate the time because um with about 30 seconds left.

You're doing the work, meaning to make Cedar Rapids the city that you always envisioned.

If you yield a step back, meaning, um we'll go away.

I no longer have my child is that headline.

Don't make it the statement of mothers here.

Thank you.

God bless.

Thank you.

Next up, uh John.

John, if you can just give us your name when you're here to speak on emissions.

Mayor and council member, I've come today with another person.

We coordinated our comments.

He needed to go first, but I signed in first.

Is that okay for the next person to go first?

We we we just have one person per time.

Would you like to sign up an additional person?

Well, he's already signed in.

He he's he signed in okay.

Then we'll have he needs to speak.

Okay.

Yeah.

Hello, thank you for having me.

My name is John Dowdall.

I am the leader of the local chapter of this citizens' climate lobby.

And I'm here to coordinate with John Sekrasic, who just spoke to talk about emissions and the power requirements and the generation of that electricity for the proposed and currently under construction data centers in Cedar Rapids.

And John is gonna have some special requests for you about monitoring this activity and the decisions you'll be making in the future.

What I'd like to do is just set a historical context for you about where we actually sit now with emissions and how your decisions, which will have both local health consequences and also global consequences.

That this global warming has turned into a climate crisis.

What we may not know is how it relates to us personally.

So the thing that I would like to encourage each of you to do is to know your number.

And what I mean by that is we understand global warming in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that is up in our atmosphere that basically goes up, acts like a blanket, and holds the heat in so that our planet keeps getting hotter and hotter.

We measure that by parts per million of carbon dioxide.

If we go back to pre-industrial times, that was at the level of about 280.

And by the time my grandmother was born in 1890, that level was up to about 294.

60 years later, when I was born, that level was up to 310.

And 60 years after that, when my grandmother, or when my granddaughter was born in 2010, the levels up to 390.

Scientists tell us that 350 is an acceptable level for parts per million for us as humans to live on this planet.

I want to emphasize that what I'm talking about here is not the health of the planet.

The planet's gonna be fine.

Whatever happens, it can it can take dynamic changes in temperature.

But as humans, we cannot.

So we are living in a very restricted zone, and that zone is in danger because of this global warming.

So what we had in the first 60 years that I talked about with my um before my grandmother was born from like the middle of the 18th century, we were increasing our parts per million in that kind of early industrial times by 0.3 parts per million every year.

So it would take three years before we even went up one point.

And in the 60 years that my grandmother, between when my grandmother and was born and I was born, 1890 to 1950, that 60-year period, we went up 17 parts per million, 17 points from 294 parts per million to 311 parts per million.

And during that time, we exceeded 300 parts per million, which had had not been exceeded for the last one million years.

So we crossed a border there.

Scientists tell us that 350 is okay, but by the time my granddaughter was born, it was 390.

Scientists then also tell us, and the Paris Accord, which took place in 2015, five years after my granddaughter was born, they set a level of 450 as the maximum that we could go to before we exceeded two degrees centigrade above pre-industrial times, which is considered a very important border.

The other important border is 430 parts per million, which is when we really enter the danger zone.

One year ago, on March of 2025, we hit 430 for the first time.

Two months later, in May of 2025, that entire month average was above 430.

Now I had a neighbor, we can all remember back to 220, 220, which was the Derecho.

That's your time.

Okay, thank you.

So we'll move on to the other John.

Thank you.

John's at Krasik.

I'm John's Crassick, and I live at uh 531 Lawndale Drive, Southeast in Cedar Rapids, and I'm the director of Lynn Clean Energy District.

I've been working on reducing heat trapping emissions in Cedar Rapids in Lynn County since 2019, when both the City of Cedar Rapids and Lynn County adopted climate resolutions to reduce emissions 45% from 2010 by 2030.

I was on the Cedar Rapids Committee that developed the Cedar Rapids Climate Action Plan.

I'm co-chair of the Lynn County Sustainability and Resiliency Advisory Committee that developed the 2019 Linn County Greenhouse Gas Inventory, initiated the 2023 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and assisted the East Central Iowa Council of Governments in developing a six county pathway plan, which is a climate action plan to reduce emissions.

So I have two requests for the City Council and Mayor today.

Formally adopt the East Central Iowa Council of Government Pathway Plan and immediately appoint a project manager and develop a detailed Cedar Rapids project plan with specific tasks, measurable outcomes, resources, and completion dates, and then hold regular status meetings to manage the project and provide updates to key stakeholders and the public.

The second request leverage the aligned emissions reduction goals of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Alliant Energy, QTS, and Google.

They all have the same goal to have zero emissions by 20, have either 45% reduction in emissions by 2030, or to currently use no emissions electricity.

So we would require QTS and Google to add zero emissions to Lynn to Cedar Rapids, Lynn County, and the surrounding five counties in order to receive their 75% reduction in franchise fees, which are associated with electricity costs.

So here's some facts to provide some context.

Since 2020 2010, 2023 emissions in Lynn County have grown by, they've gone down by roughly 600,000 tons, and that's annual.

And that was due to solar and wind and Prairie Creek conversion from coal plant boilers to natural gas.

The first of the QTS data centers is expected to consume 180 megawatts of energy around the clock.

Annually, that's 1.6 million kilowatt hours.

Just two such data centers will consume the same amount of electricity that all of Lynn County consumed in 2023.

So it's going to double our electricity consumption.

In Cedar Rapids, if all seven QTS and five Google data centers are built, projections it'll be three times the 2023 Lynn County electric consumption.

Now Alliant is proposing a 720 megawatt electric gas fire generating plant on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids.

It's a single cycle plant, running at 60% capacity, it'll consume 60 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

In 2023, Lynn County consumed 27 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

So you can see it's doubling our natural gas consumption.

Annual emissions at 60% capacity, 2 million tons, adding 33% to emissions when we're still trying to reduce an additional 35% by 2030.

So assume the 180 megawatt QTS data centers pays 12 cents a kilowatt hour for its energy.

The annual franchise fee at 4% would be 7.6 million, planned annual rebate of 5.7 million.

Grant this rebate only if QTS and Google do not add a single ton of emissions to Cedar Rapids in Lynn County in line with their environmental commissions, which are publicly available.

To give you a perspective on the damage from these emissions, which are semi-permanent and have increasingly detrimental impacts over decades, EPA assigned a cost to each ton of emissions, 190.

So 2 million tons of emissions from that 720 megawatt plant, annual damage costs 380 million.

If you wish an education session can be provided by Lynn Clean Energy District to provide more detail and background on today's comments.

So I ask you to do two things once more, please.

Adopt the pathway plan and put a formal detailed project plan in place for Cedar Rapids that's monitored regularly to ensure progress in achieving emission reduction goals.

Second, use the franchise fee rebate to create accountability for the data centers and aligned energy to keep emissions from increasing in Cedar Rapids in Lynn County.

And by the way, they both have that goal.

If there's a failure to do so, use the franchise fee rebates to fund pathway plan emission reduction strategies.

Thank you for your time today, and thank you for all you do to make our community a great place to live.

Thank you.

And that's going to close out our public input period.

City Manager Pomrance, any communications today?

Okay, if there's nothing else, Councilmember Tyler Olson moves to adjourn.

Second of my Council Member Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed say no.

And we are adjourned.