Good afternoon, everybody.

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

Welcome everybody to our meeting for Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

I'd like to note that Councilmember Marty Hager is absent today as he's representing our city in Washington, DC with a group along with the Economic Alliance.

I'd like to welcome our deputy city manager, Angie Charper, who's here, along with our city clerk and our city attorney, and thank you to city staff for attending and being available by phone or email to answer any of the questions our citizens may have.

And a reminder to turn off any cell phones or electronic devices that may be a distraction to our meeting 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 watch live and on replay through Facebook Live.

We'll begin now with our invocation by public safety chaplain Tim Leathers, immediately followed by our Pledge of Allegiance.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we come before you with gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility for the work set before us.

Thank you for the people of this city for their voices, their needs, and their hopes.

Grant to these leaders wisdom beyond their own, charity in the midst of complexity, and courage to do what is right, even what is difficult.

Help them to listen well, to lead with integrity, and to seek the good of all, especially those who at oftentimes are unheard.

Let their decisions be guided by justice, tempered with mercy, and carried out with humility and respect.

May this council be marked not by division, but by purpose, not by pride, but by service, and not by fear, but a steady commitment to do what is true and good.

And when this meeting ends, may it be said that what was done here strengthens the city, honors its people, and reflects all the higher calling to serve.

In your holy name we pray.

Amen.

Let's say the Pledge of Allegiance.

All right, we're going to begin with a couple of proclamations.

I'd like to invite those who are here for Mental Health Awareness Month to join me at the Dais, please.

All right, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Whereas mental health is essential to everyone's overall health and well-being, and whereas Cedar Cedar Rapidians experience times of difficulty and stress in their lives, resulting in real and prevalent mental health conditions.

And whereas with effective treatment, those individuals can recover and lead full productive lives.

And whereas early intervention and access to quality care are crucial for managing mental health conditions and improving quality of life.

And whereas we encourage all residents to take the time to understand the importance of mental health education and recognize taking care of ourselves and others.

Now, therefore, I, Tiffany O'Donnell, mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on behalf of our council, do hereby recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month and recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions.

Thank you.

Next up, if we have those here for public works week, please join me.

These are the quiet people behind the scenes that make the day-to-day much nicer.

Yeah.

We're going to be seeing plenty of you here back up at the dais in a bit.

But yeah, come on up.

Thank you.

I don't bite, I promise.

Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are essential to sustainable, resilient communities and to the health, safety, high quality of life, and well being of Cedar Rapidians.

And whereas these individuals serve countless hours on behalf of the community working to protect citizens and property in the event of emergency threats.

And whereas these infrastructure systems and services depend on the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees across government and the private sector who build, maintain, and protect transportation systems, stormwater infrastructure, sanitary sewers, and other critical public facilities.

And whereas it is in the interest for all in Cedar Rapids to gain knowledge and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs.

And whereas the year 2026 marks this marks the 66th annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association.

Now, therefore, I, Tiffany O'Donnell, mayor of Cedar Rapids, on behalf of our city council, hereby recognize this week, May 17th through 23rd, as Public Works Week to recognize the substantial contributions that public works professionals make to protect our health, safety, and advance the quality of life for all.

Thank you.

Director Floyd.

I'm Brennan Fall, the Public Works Director, and I just want to express my appreciation for all of our dedicated staff.

We're about 200 strong.

So this is very, very small group of us.

Others are outworking as we speak.

And we do incredible volumes of work for the city, thanks in part to fantastic programs like pavement for progress, our flood control system, the many uh priorities, initiatives, and plans that the council supports.

So thank you, Council, for your support and also for the collaboration of the entire city team.

We couldn't couldn't do it alone, but we're doing a lot, and that's really fantastic.

So thank you.

Well said, thank you.

All right, our first piece of business here is a presentation on our homeless systems update.

So uh Janae and Laura Shaw, I'll recognize you.

Hello, Council, Laura Shaw, Community Development.

Janae Peterman, homeless systems manager.

So today we're providing an update on the ongoing homeless systems initiative in our community.

Um, in June of 2023, the city uh contracted with the National Alliance and Homelessness, and from uh the certain recommendations and goals that they identified.

What we chose to do was um really focus on creating a systemic approach to ending homelessness and to align interventions and resources across our community.

So performance metrics uh and measurements were identified, and the homeless systems manager position was created, and um, this position is funded jointly between the city of Cedar Rapids and Lynn County, and with that, I'm gonna pass it over to that manager.

Good afternoon, everybody.

I'm here to just provide a quarterly update on some things that we've been working on these last few months and where we're going next.

So as some of you may be aware, um, in March, mid-March, the city hosted an umlocking downtown solutions event at the public library, and that really was to just inform downtown businesses and stakeholders on our current data, where we're at, our goals, and how we're moving forward in terms of resolving unsheltered homelessness in the downtown area.

Um, that was a very successful event.

We received really great feedback from that.

Um, so from that, we have had different stakeholders reach out to us in different ways that they can support different resources that they may have available to us.

So at this point in time, we are taking all of those.

Um, we're having some really in-depth conversations on what are some unique pilot projects that we could take and move on to really create solutions within our community.

So, more to come on that hopefully at my next um my next quarter presentation.

But um, and then again, I want to thank Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell for coming and kicking this event off and and being a big part of that.

So, thank you very much.

Okay, so at the end of March, we wrapped up our Lynn County Winter Weather Shelter.

That is our shelter funded by supported by the City of Cedar Rapids and Lane County to ensure that we have shelter space for all individuals experiencing non-sheltered homelessness through those winter months.

So this year we served 341 unique individuals.

Um, last season we served 471.

So again, I think that's a testament that we are seeing our numbers reduce, not just in our point in time numbers, but in our shelter census and in our coordinated entry census, and then our by name list.

So we're seeing numbers decrease across the board, which is great.

Shows that what we're doing is working.

We had a nightly average of 68 individuals, and then our highest nightly census was 86 during that cold snap in January.

And the previous year our highest nightly average was 101.

So we still saw numbers decrease all around, which is great.

One of the things that I do at the end of the winter weather shelter season is within our HMIS tracking system, we track every individual experiencing homelessness in our community.

We're able to identify are they still seeking resources, what are those resources, where are they staying when they call in.

So we track all of that.

So I pull up all 341 individuals by name and just figure out where did they exit to at the end of the season by the time that season closed.

So this is just some data on that.

We did see an increase in those going back to an unsheltered situation from 18% the year prior to 24%.

However, I do think we did a better job with the with the intake process, the diversion process and the street outreach engagement at the beginning that we were ensuring that those staying at the winter weather shelter truly needed the winter weather shelter.

We didn't see as many of the individuals who come there as a time of reprieve if they're doubled up and then go back to that situation.

So I think that deterred some of that this year, which is why we saw a higher number go back to an unsheltered situation.

We saw 61% of the individuals self-resolved, meaning that they identified their own housing or they doubled up with friends or family at the end of the season, and then we saw 9% go through a housing program and obtain permanent housing on term.

So and then we work with the Cedar Rapids Police Department to pull this information.

So this is just calls for service.

We just want to see why are individuals coming being called out to the winter weather shelter and are we decreasing that, which we had great success with that this year.

So the previous year we had 328 calls for service within that year for an average of 2.5 per night.

This season we saw 210 calls for an average of 1.2 calls per night.

So we did see that decrease, which is great.

The medical call is significantly decreased, which is what we really wanted to focus on, especially partnering with a staffing provider that had some medical experience that could triage and assess those issues up front before making those calls.

So overall, I think this was a successful season in terms of calls for service out of the shelter.

We have our lived experience advisory council that is out there doing really great, amazing work.

Just in this year alone already, they held a panel at our unlocking downtown solutions event.

We also held a biometric locker showcase to present the lockers that were brought to the community.

There was some some confusion on the reporting on those.

Those were set to go out to the winter weather shelter, they are stationed at the winter weather shelter, they will not move.

The intent of the event was to identify other community partners willing to host these lockers year-round, which we were able to successfully do.

And so now we're working with actually a managed managing care organization to potentially fund these lockers to come to these organizations.

So that's that was a great outcome of that event.

And those lockers were that uh council's idea.

They recently spoke at an annual COC meeting for the state, presenting to other communities on the importance of a lived experience advisory council, how they got started, and then they are now providing technical assistance to these communities across the state.

There's a small pot of money that the state has opened up for other communities to start a lived experience council based on what we've done here in Cedar Rapids, which is really great.

And so our lived experience council is going to actually review and score those applications here in the next couple weeks.

So that's really exciting for them to be a part of.

They will be presenting at the IFA board meeting in June, and then they will also be presenting to the funders network in June.

So they have a lot on their plate.

They're doing really great work.

Another really key thing that they have started is they are building a peer support program to help individuals that have been on sheltered for a long period of time get into housing.

They will then bring peer support to that individual as they get into housing to help them work through those initial things that come up once you're rehoused again.

And then they're working on just creating some structured activities in the area that people can engage with in a positive way and build those healthy relationships.

So more to come on that as the summer goes on.

We have our coordinated entry street outreach team.

This has adjusted a little bit this for this year.

Last year we had I think three provide or five providers on this.

We are now down to our lived experience council and Waypoint.

Part of that is those other providers are very specific on the service that they can provide to the individuals served.

So they are not able to go out and do the generalized street outreach that we really needed them to be able to do.

So the this team of Waypoint partnering with Leak will go out and do the assessments and identify do they need medical help?

Can we get that out there from EIHC or ASAC or Abbey Center for Mental Health and make those direct referrals and then help bridge that gap between that connection?

So we've adjusted that a little bit this year, and so far it's been successful.

Um they have finished the by name list, so we have 61 individuals on that list, which is good.

That's down from last year.

Um and then of those 61 individuals, 25% of them are in actively enrolled in a housing program, so within the community, which is great.

Um we have our landlord tenant success initiative.

This was the latest um quarterly update that we provided to Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust.

At this time, we've served 55 households have successfully been housed.

Fifty-five, sixty-five are enrolled in the program.

Um so that's 63 adults have been rehoused, and 36 children have been rehoused within these households.

So that's really great.

Um, we're continuing to see that there are no on-care lease violations.

People are passing their in-unit inspections.

Um, we're trying to find creative ways to get people more engaged with that tenant academy incentive, but that's the one that we're struggling with a little bit.

Um, our community care team.

So, this is that position that the city of Cedar Rapids funded with HACAP, that case management position.

The intent of this person was to serve 10 of our really hard-to-house individuals who have experienced chronically chronic homelessness within our community and provide those wraparound supports with the partnership of these agencies listed here.

Um, so at this point in time, we have 10 individuals enrolled in this community care team.

Nine are now successfully housed, one is in an inpatient treatment center.

Of these 10, we have a combined total year um total of 46 years spent homeless in our community.

So that's an average of 4.6 per person.

Um, one individual specifically on this team spent 11 years on sheltered in our community.

He is now successfully housed.

Um, we pulled the data for the last three years prior to enrollment.

There were 30 incarcerations combined across this group.

There have been three since they have been enrolled in this program.

Um, and then we did the same for emergency room visits, and there were 82 emergency room visits in three years prior to this, and there have been four since.

So it does show that housing and the proper and correct level of case management does work for individuals.

Um, and then we just have our coordinated entry street medicine collaborative, which we are continuing to move forward on that.

We have identified our phase one, um, that is working with Unity Point to provide psychiatric assessments and medication management to these individuals.

Link County Public Health can provide some um just basic medical care.

Um, and then we will we will rely on the street outreach and the leak to provide that peer support and follow-up and compliance with any next steps in terms of their care.

Um, so we are just holding until we can hear what schedule works for Unity Point, and then we'll we will be able to kick that off in the community.

So hopefully that will be here very soon.

And that's my presentation.

Wow.

That's terrific.

Council, any thoughts or comments you want to share with Janae and Laura?

Yes, Councilman Rolson.

Thank you, Mayor.

I you know, I when we first uh started this effort, what two years ago now, you know, we're starting to see the results, and not everybody wants to be housed as you're finding out.

Uh, but those that do, uh, I think we're starting to see great progress toward that.

And what I'm probably most uh proud of that's happening is uh we're able to house these people through this program with landlords, versus having to build a very expensive facility, try to staff that like the uh uh the uh winter shelter.

And I think the important part uh of that effort is that it's just gonna take time and can't hope happen overnight.

And I think the word spreads that it's not so bad to be housed, you know, that's a good opportunity, and I hopefully as more and more of that happens, uh we'll continue to get more success in people willing to go in and do this effort.

So uh I think that is I'm very pleased with that, and I think if we can continue that, I think we'll find other corporate support to make those things happen.

I'm sure we will.

We when we can prove that it's making a difference for our community.

So thank you for your efforts.

Absolutely, thank you.

Councilman Van Warney.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

Um, I my question really uh is regarding we could come up with a bunch of things that make sense to us.

You all are the uh implicit professionals on this, and and certainly your peers think as much as well, which is what matters most to me.

Um, what are the things that if if we had unlimited time and resources are still missing?

Um I know we've spoken about storage of people's items.

Um there's still work to do with regard to um I think finding more purposeful ways, you know, of navigating our libraries, for example, so that they don't just become these de facto shelters.

Um, but what does that look like for you if if if you could just wave a magic wand?

Yeah, I mean, if we could wave a magic wand, right, then we're investing in different unique housing solutions.

Those other things don't need to exist if we have housing for individuals.

So I think that that is what, especially from our unlocking downtown solutions event and the resources that um individuals have come with us or come to us with, um, I think that's what we're focusing on is how do we create a new housing pilot or what does that look like in terms of piloting something new like this landlord tenant success initiative that we see is successful in using housing that already exists, um, to create housing opportunities that meet everybody's needs.

Because it's not necessarily that people don't want housing, it's what we have available doesn't meet their needs.

So, how do we make sure that we're we're focusing on that?

Thank you.

Yes, Councilmember Todd.

Uh, congrats for the the gradual uh um improvements to the system.

Uh all that progress being said, I think it's very disappointing to see on the horizon the cuts that are proposed in this Trump budget.

Uh the elimination of the home program, emergency shelter vouchers, CDBG funds, uh, all the all the things that we've been able to sort of cobble together to help uh uh make the system work.

Um do we have funding replacement funding for when the uh state grant for the lived experiences expires?

Yes, we do.

We're actually out of that funding at this point in time.

We ended, I I believe in April, the beginning of April that funding ended from the state.

Um so actually the city of Cedar Rapids committed 9,000 to cover a gap, and then United Way will cover it going forward.

Okay, thank you.

Good to know.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

And thank you guys for supporting that and filling that gap.

Well, Janae, as you know and Laura, it takes leadership, and how grateful um for your responsiveness, you know, when we have questions, when we have people who need support, and um, in a way, we're fortunate in that we have the ability to know everyone, um, all those individuals with uh to a person different situations and how between you and your teams and our lived experience council you're able to meet them where they are.

And I think your results are speaking for themselves, and so you know, hats off to the taxpayers of Cedar Rapids who are willing to help fill those gaps to United Way and others.

I feel like the results um will continue to compel funding from from new places.

So thank you.

Yes, thank you all for your continued support.

Absolutely, thank you.

Okay, we'll move on now to our public hearings.

Uh, right, everybody who wishes to speak today, whether during uh public hearing or during the public comment uh period that we have of a few matters to ensure an orderly meeting, a reminder to stay at the lector.

And if you have documents you want to share, we'll ask them to have you give them to the officer, and then she will get them to us.

Second comments are limited to five minutes a speaker.

So when the light on the console turns yellow, you have one minute to wrap up and it turns red your time is up and we'll ask you to return to your seat and please be aware that all comments must be directed to the matter of the public hearing and no abusive obscene loud threatening or relevant comments are allowed finally we need to hold an orderly hearing so we ask for no applause or uh cheering booing or other noise or distraction from the audience out of respect for those of us who are here for the meeting and we thank you in advance.

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

Your honor there are no written comments or objections filed.

Thank you item number one is a public hearing to consider amendments to the section eight housing choice voucher program the public housing authority administrative plan.

Laura Shaw and Danielle Schlauterbeck are here to speak on that I'll recognize you.

Thank you.

Laura Shaw Community Development Danielle Schladerbeck um community development so today we're going to be going over the um public housing authority um administrative plan so the program is funded the through the U.S.

Department of housing and urban development and it serves the city of Cedar Rapids serves as the public housing authority um in Lynn and Benton counties and that's been going on for about 50 years.

The purpose is to provide rental assistance to low-income families and ensure decent safe and sanitary housing this is provided by private landlords and leasing agencies or rental agents and approximately 7 million dollars in rental assistance was paid directly to them.

Out of that 7 million dollars 82% of those landlords are in Cedar Rapids and 99.5 were in Lynn County.

Our agency has um two sub-programs of the H C V program and that first one is going to be the self-sufficiency program which allows up to a hundred participants annually to participate and work closely with case managers to develop different goals to work towards independence to um graduate essentially from these government programs.

The families receive resources to increase independence and the goal is that financial independence so things like job training child care are just some of those resources that are utilized during that time as part of the program as families are able to increase their earned income they may be eligible to earn an escrow and that averaged um for the graduates at 11,782 dollars.

And then the second program we actually have is home ownership so this program is essentially eligible families who obtain a mortgage and through that financial institute and then we can pay help pay the monthly payment essentially towards that mortgage or assist them and that can be up to 15 years if they qualify this has been going on since 2008 and we've had five participating families and currently we still have three utilizing the program and on average those families stay about five years.

And then some demographics of the program as you can see 30% of the families we serve are 62 and over 61% that we serve are the head of household has a disability and then 62% of active households have an annual income under $15,000.

So our progress report um we have been designated as a high performer this is uh for more than a decade true of our housing authority which just means that we work really hard as a um as a group to make sure that we're doing everything not only by HUD's rules, but also what's best to serve uh the residents in the community.

We have collaborated with social service agencies, leveraging funding to reduce barriers.

Some of the things that we've done is help fund a housing navigator.

That housing navigator is helping referrals from our waypoint um team to find housing.

These are folks that are coming out of literal homelessness, and this just helps them secure housing and maintain it.

So that's been a very successful.

We've just begun that.

So so far, very successful.

We've been awarded a grant fund through the housing fund for Lynn County that we are utilizing as a team to help pay deposits for families with 30% or below AMI.

So just kind of the lowest income families in our program with the highest barriers to moving.

And then we've also been, I'm updating this last uh point.

We've been awarded to date uh seven foster youth initiative vouchers, which are helping uh by referral through foundation two to help assist uh young adults that are uh coming out of the foster care system.

Additionally, we have some subset uh programs that we've been awarded funding for.

So we've it um assisted 30 housing choice vouchers by referral through coordinated entry.

So we kind of came up with that a couple of years ago, and what that allows is that waypoint through the COC will actually refer folks experiencing literal homelessness.

That would be a good fit.

They send them our way and we're able to use that housing navigator to help them locate housing and pair that with a voucher.

So we have 30 of those that we can do annually.

We have five stability vouchers, which is a HUD program again that serves the same sort of population, folks experiencing literal homelessness.

We have 24 veteran supportive uh housing vouchers are our bash program.

Um we keep those full at all times.

Uh, it's pretty rare for us to not have all 24.

They actually receive some case management from the VA, so it's direct referral from the veterans administration, and it comes with case management as part of the program.

And then we have, like I said, the foster youth.

So there were some regulatory changes that we are required to do this year.

So one is the removal of the emergency housing voucher program.

Um the funding for that program ran out.

We did a really great job of ensuring that anyone who was receiving one of those vouchers was able to be absorbed onto our uh HCV program, so they did not see a disruption in their housing assistance.

So I think in the end we ended up with 31 families that were just able to transition from a special voucher to just regular voucher and just join the program so that they didn't uh become homeless.

Um, we remove the earned income disallowance, which is uh was actually sunset a couple years ago.

We have been requested and were required to clarify some continued utilization of the HUD earned income verification system.

So they've just added some additional reporting requirements, and we're taking care of that.

Um, the updates uh that we are required to add some language to our criminal conviction records about what we're allowed to do to conform with some federal required guidance.

Um we won't really see any change uh within our program.

We're gonna continue to work with our local uh law enforcement, so there'll be no real change in how we proceed.

It'll just be uh that our we've updated our regulation as required.

Uh, and then the annual update to the family self-sufficiency every year.

We are required to update that ACOP.

So there's some discretionary changes that we're proposing and what those look like.

We're updating the policy to align more closely with some recognized best practices and reducing barriers.

So we talked to a lot of different people in the community, and here's what some of those look like.

So, foundation two, we worked really closely with um the foundation two support workers, and what they recommended that we uh change a little bit of the language to allow for uh the referrals from them every year to greater utilize for youths experiencing homelessness that aren't able to obtain a traditional foster youth voucher.

There's certain rules about foster youth that kind of prevents them if they have certain conditions.

So this would just help those uh young adults that might fall through the cracks.

Um, updated housing quality standards.

Uh, we're just gonna more closely align with building services to help make it better for property owners and management companies that what they're doing for building services is really what they're doing for us as well.

And then updating our annual renewal policy.

What that looks like is really just looking at technology advances that might allow people to um do all of their paperwork online to help reduce barriers to them, obtaining transportation, coming in.

Um, we have the software, we're not quite there yet, but we are working on it.

So our timeline, January 20th, we took this to our resident advisory board.

Um it was approved at that time, February 21st through April 7th.

It was out for public comment uh on our website and at our office.

We received no comments.

March 24th, we took it to development committee who recommended approval, and then today we're here with you.

Um, if approved, all of these will take effect as of July 1st.

And with that, we recommend that you adopt the public housing authority admin plan.

Thank you.

Thank you.

This is a 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.

Councilman Van Orney.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

Um, can you go back uh five or six slides here?

Uh right there.

Okay.

So I think uh what's really important here that was paying in my brain is um having worked at Social Security.

They always spoke about a three-legged stool.

I have no idea, don't work there anymore if if they're still talking about that, but I imagine they are because it it's interesting to me that when you're talking about early retirement age at 62, right?

Um and to know that 30% of these folks are, you know, that age and over, I think it just changes the perception.

There, there is always this perception about needs-based assistance and who is benefiting from it.

And we have to realize that part of that three-legged stool is that in a perfect world, people would have their private uh savings, they'd have most things paid off, uh, they would have their own um social security, and then they'd have some retirement benefits.

There's a lot of people who have no savings, don't have any retirement benefits because they're hourly workers and are you know solely reliant on needs based assistance or on social security.

And so I think it's really humbling to see this in numbers because it changes the narratives of of who we're helping, right?

These aren't necessarily people who should still be in the workforce, you know, for property.

These are people who have, you know, presumably already worked that most of their natural life and need to just have that comfortable home, let alone the fact that you've got somebody in a household with a disability, which makes it even harder to sustain a you know employment, let alone gainful employment to hold down a mortgage in this economy.

So it's really important to do that.

And then I just want to on a personal note to just uh extend my appreciation to you both for uh the continuous advocacy of children in foster care.

Um, what I learned through my more than 10 plus years of advocating in this space and six years on the foster care review board is um again, it's very humbling to realize what that's like to go through that to never really have even with the the best households that permanent safety net, even if you are adopted, and so um it's not just getting somebody to the age of 18 and then having them age out of the system, right?

This is a creating a lifelong network within our city so that somebody knows that that there is that safety net that traditionally a biological family uh would have been for them because that safety net that we need extends so much longer than just to age 18.

So I really appreciate every single person that you've helped is somebody who has a little bit more footing underneath uh to be a productive resident here at home, and and I just sincerely appreciate you looking out for that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Meyer.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, I have two questions.

Can you go back to the home ownership slide?

Okay.

So if I'm reading this correctly, so in the past 10 years, we've only had five participants.

I think actually when I counted it, there are six, but yes, five or six.

Um, I'm just curious what the barriers are.

Is that because there's challenges to qualify for a mortgage for this?

Okay.

Yeah.

Traditionally, it's um it is about uh qualifying for a mortgage.

Um, the second piece is oftentimes what we see is folks who, when they're able to secure a mortgage, they're actually able to pay it themselves.

They don't need our assistance or they don't qualify anymore.

So, for instance, the three families who are currently on one is a person who has she is retired, she um lives on her, she has diapers, actually.

Uh so she receives a pension, she receives a little bit of social security, and we help her pay her her mortgage every month she's been on a few years.

And then the other two are um, I think actually both of them are currently how or um work within the school system.

Uh, I think one actually bought the house she was renting and her the property owner sold it to her at a really reasonable and affordable rate.

And then the other one, I think actually bought a forward roots house that had had passed by.

So again, it was a very affordable opportunity.

We were actually able to pair both uh two of the three with first-time home buyer assistance.

So they actually qualified for the 1499 down through CDB or through the home funding, which helped them get their down payment assistance because there is a down payment requirement, and then we were able to pair that.

So I think it's just a really small percentage that is able to fit in that category.

Okay, thanks for that clarification.

Uh, my second question related to um supporting foster care, um, young adults who have aged out of the system.

You said there were three, which is fantastic.

Um, just curious, is there a backlog of foster care or uh young adults who have aged out of foster care that are looking for support?

Sure.

Um, so we have had a referral program with Foundation 2 for a long time.

HUD kind of changed some rules around a few years ago that took us from utilizing foster youth vouchers to just we just created our own little program uh using just regular vouchers.

So what has happened since Danielle came on, so I'm gonna give her all the credit here, is she really did a deep dive into the change of the regulation, how we could tap into that funding.

And so what we've been able to do is not only do we have these pieces that we already had in place using regular vouchers, um, but she's been able to help us marry that with what HUD would allow.

So we've actually as of today been approved for seven vouchers.

We can keep going uh up to 25.

Once we're at 25, they kind of stop, and then they consider whether or not we're utilizing them well enough.

And if we are, then they might open up additional.

So to answer your more specific question, Foundation 2 has been referring people to us.

We just weren't utilizing this specific system in HUD.

Yeah.

All right.

If there are no further questions, the adoption this resolution has been moved by councilmember Scott Olson, seconded by Councilmember Todd.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Two is a public hearing to consider the vacation and disposition of a 20-foot alley right of way adjacent to 900 L Street Southwest, as requested by Interstate Power and Light Company.

Dustin Kern is here.

Dustin, I'll recognize you.

Good afternoon, mayor, city council members.

Great to see you again.

As noted, this is a right-of-way vacation and disposition uh submitted by Interstate Power and Light Company.

The property is noted on the screen is an existing alley that is adjacent to uh 900 L Street Southwest Interstate Power and Light Company has submitted the request and also submitted the uh check in the Cess Valley for $9400.

Uh this this vacation would do a few things for us as we move forward.

It would uh support the relocation of an existing sanitary sewer that exists in the middle of that alley.

Um it also improves site overall site utility and uh utility coordination, mainly by that um sanitary sewer moving.

Um the big thing it really does is facilitate the construction of a new Alliant Energy substation in this area that's called the Alliant Energy CR Taylor substation that's been in the works uh for a while now.

A little bit of timing on that particular project.

It's anticipated to begin construction here this summer of 2026 with the with the completion and operation by the end of 2027.

Um Public Works doesn't see any negative impacts to the public access as a salley really is a dead end right now, so it's not needed for connectivity, and it also allows Alliant Energy to consolidate the two parcels they already own on both sides of the alley.

So with that, I'd be happy to turn it back to you, Mayor, and answer any questions from you or the council.

Thank you, Dustin.

Uh before that, this is a time and a place for a public hearing on this.

Does anyone here wish to address council?

All right.

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

Council.

Council Mayor Van Orney.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

So Dustin, have you have you been out to see this space recently?

I have not.

It's a hot mess.

Okay.

It has been for quite some time.

But now we have these beautiful homes there with Rainbow Road.

And having been out there to the open house just a couple of weekends ago, there are it has never been well maintained.

So what I'm hoping for is in this process of this, I have brought this forward to Alliant before, and it's pretty it's just fallen flat.

I really need them to clean this up and to have this be a productive space.

I mean, if they own it, they need to manage it.

Right now there's pipes out there.

I'm not going to say this is factual, but there's a minimum rumors that some of the the pipes out there, you know, are um asbestos.

Um so again, that's a whole other thing, right?

So that pinged in my head when somebody said that, because if that's true, we need to fix that immediately.

Um, but we have neighbors moving in here, and um there are opportunities to create this to be a public space on both sides, which my understanding is they own, but to actually make this be something that fits back in while they're doing what they need to do with the substation, because I've heard them talk about this for at least six years myself, um, to clean it up so that uh it is well maintained finally, um, and that it is not just massive piles of dirt and rubble out there.

It's it's pretty bad.

Thank you.

Councilmember Todd.

Uh Mayor, thank you.

I I will disagree with my fellow council members here to a degree, simply because the nature of the site, adjacent the rail line required a significant amount of uh course samples to determine the environmental quality of the soil uh during the phase two work that they were doing, and so it's uh that that's the remnants of some of that soil will need to be removed and new soil will be uh need to be brought in, but I will agree with her in in the sense that a substation can be aesthetically more than just a substation.

Uh, there's lots of things that are happening in terms of the public art piece, so that it just doesn't look like a substation that I would hope could be incorporated into the design uh of this this substation, which is probably along, probably way past the engineering piece.

I would I would just suggest that we maybe reach out to them and just say, can you make this?

We did that to them on uh Oakland Road or Center Point Road.

Uh there's one that we did there.

We worked with Mary Meisterling to get that one just to screen better.

And and again, the hope would be that it would complement uh the neighborhood a little bit more.

So I don't know if you're the one that does that or can you ex Yeah, I'm not, but I can certainly try to provide some input both uh internally here with the city and also at Alliance, see where the secrets at and pass it along.

The director of public works and see she's got some poll.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

And there are multiple examples of how they've managed to, you know, put these facilities with close to neighborhoods that are respectful of the area.

So thank you for sharing that, passing it along.

Anything else from council?

Okay, uh, then we will go ahead and approve this ordinance on its first reading by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those posed say no.

And the motion carries.

Three is a public hearing to consider the disposition of land between 2nd and 3rd Street Southeast and 16th and 17th Avenue Southeast.

Adam Lindenlov is here.

Adam, I will recognize you.

Good afternoon, Mayor and council.

Uh, thank you.

As stated, uh, this uh consideration is for beginning a disposition process for city-owned land shown here in green.

Um, just to orient everyone to uh where we're at, 16th Avenue is on the left.

The Sinclair detention basin on the right, and you can see flood control system there south of 2nd Street.

So just to go over the characteristics of the site.

Uh it's just over two acres.

Um, there are several parcels that would need to be platted during uh with the right-of-way.

Uh these are all currently vacant.

Uh, the zoning is uh urban form, uh, which would allow up to six stories in height.

These all have access to city infrastructure.

It is located in a hundred year floodplains, so there would be uh need to be adherence with our floodplain ordinance, and we would be maintaining some easements there for um utilities and also for the flood control system.

Um this is a conceptual street layout where you can see why we've reconnected the streets in the area and where those parcels are, and so for the the proposed objectives for the RFP would be uh alignment with the city council adopted Czech Village and Bohemia area action plan following our our zoning ordinance, uh contemplation of the construction of 17th Avenue Southeast, and of course that it would be financially feasible.

So our next steps uh with authorization today.

Uh we would issue the RFP, those would be due June 12th, the proposals, uh, anticipate coming back on July 14th, the city council for consideration and selection, and then the summer uh negotiate development agreement, which would then come back to council.

Uh, and that would also include the actual uh authorization to dispose of the land.

So staff does recommend approval of the resolution to initiate the RFP, and I will turn it back to the mayor.

Thanks, Adam.

This is 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.

All right, seeing nothing further.

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 this motion carries four is a public hearing to consider proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the third street southwest from third avenue to first avenue pavement rehabilitation project with an estimated cost of five hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Doug Wilson is here.

Doug, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor Doug Wilson, Public Works Department.

This project uh includes curb and gutter replacement, driveway and ask driveway alley and sidewalk replacement along with asphalt pavement removal and resurfacing.

The engineer's estimate of probable cost is 550,000.

The bid opening is scheduled for tomorrow, May 13th, with construction starting this summer and completion this fall.

We had a public information meeting on February 3rd, and we have coordinated with the Lynn County Sheriff's Office in Park Cedar Rapids with the project to ensure that the new Kingston Yard parking ramp remains open during construction.

Public works recommends approval of the resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you, Doug.

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

Does anyone here wish to address council?

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

All right, seeing nothing further, 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 this motion carries item number five is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the fourth street southeast Cedar River Trail Extension segment number one project.

This has an estimated cost of 1,904,000.

Eric Turnquist is here.

Eric, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Eric Turnquarts of the Public Works.

Um, this fourth three trail project uh connects uh 7th Ave, where the um sorry Cedar Nature Valley Trail that ends to the light line or loop bridge uh to the east there.

Uh, this is a major component of the city's connects CR is included within the approved uh trail and bikeway plan.

Uh as shown in this exhibit here.

Uh you can see where the Cedar Nature valley trail dead ends there at 7th Avenue and connects to the um future light line bridge.

Uh the engineer probably the engineers uh opinion of probable costs is $1,904,000.

With that, uh this project is being funded with thoroughly aid as well as some grants from Lynn County and Walmark Foundation.

Uh this project was already bid from DOT to meet their schedule.

It was bid prior to this public hearing.

Uh, this project will be completed this year.

Uh this uh public works reached out to the public with numerous public meetings as well as one-on-one with uh businesses along this proposed route.

Uh public works recommends approval of the resolution to adopt the plan, specs and foreign contract and the estimated cost of this project.

Thanks, Eric.

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

Does anyone wish to address council?

Let the record show.

Public hearing has been held with no objections.

Council.

Mayor, I just wanted to thank public works for their diligence on this.

This has probably been 30 years in the making uh in terms of securing the easements in the property.

There is no perfect way to do it.

This is the best we could come up with.

Uh, but it's going to for those that want to avoid third third street in terms of being able to get from the double tree to the bridge.

Uh this will provide provide a nice route, uh safe route.

And uh uh we've been able to help make the crossing at Eighth Avenue a little bit safer.

Uh and we'll continue to look at options there over time.

But uh congrats for your whoever the engineer was on this uh they I know they put a lot of time and energy into making it happen, so thanks.

Seeing nothing further on this, the adapter 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 this carries.

Number six is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the Czech Village Riverside Trail Project.

This has an estimated cost of $220,000.

Rob Davis is here.

Rob, I'll recognize you.

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

It's going to look like Eric and I planned our presentations right next to each other because here's the mirror project on the west side.

Uh this is uh project we started with the flood control system.

Uh it's a smaller one, but it connects uh 16th Avenue uh southwest with Riverside Park.

Uh this project was previously started and graded and the floodgate put in with the the bigger flood project.

Um this has um one thousand seventy-five lunar feet of 12 foot wide concrete shed use path, it's mineral uh minimal disruption to traffic and properties because we've already done that with the main flood project.

And again, we'll tie uh to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.

We'll tie in now into Riverside Park.

Um here's a couple pictures on the lower left.

You're looking down from Riverside Park.

Uh you can actually see the gate there, the pedestrian gate, the floodgate there that's in the closed position.

Obviously, we'll leave it open so uh the best friends get through there, and then the lower right is um uh looking north from 16th Avenue.

So it looks like a pretty we left it in a pretty easy project to finish for the paving portion.

Uh the opinions uh probably cost of 220,000 dollars.

Uh this is um funded with Iowa flood mitigation project.

Um, bid opening is May 20th.

Uh late start is July 13th and uh completion should be the end of September of this year.

Turn it back to the Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

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

Does anyone wish to address council?

All right, let the record show.

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

Council.

Councilmember Van Orney.

Thanks, Mayor.

Rap.

I just want to extend some compliments.

Um, the National Czechs in Slovak Museum Board and Library.

So he's always a mouthful to say that, but nonetheless, um, we've had quite a few Czech and Slovak visitors lately, and they have all remarked as they're admiring the Orloy about how incredible the work that you've done there in the flood control system has really set the museum up.

Um, that's a pretty cool compliment, knowing that uh obviously the Orloi being the only one um in in North America is pretty special to them.

But knowing that in the background of it, that there is a very functional flood protection system that is also beautiful, goes a long way.

So just uh hats off to you and your team for everything you've done.

Thank you.

I will share that with the team.

I also want to say it's a small project, but thank you, council, for your vision because this is what makes the flood control systems we say kind of blend into the background.

Thank you, the city manager office for their vision as well.

Thank you.

That's exactly what I was gonna say.

Once again, one more example of leveraging you know flood protection for an amenity, so appreciate the creativity.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those posed say no.

And the motion carries.

Seven is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the FY27 Sanitary Sewer lining project.

This has an estimated cost of two million thirty thousand dollars.

Ben Warrell is here.

Ben, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Ben World, Public Works Department.

This is a project that the city does approximately annually to rehabilitate sanitary sewers with cured in place liner.

The primary goals are one to reduce infiltration into the sanitary sewers, but then also just to extend their useful life.

And this is done instead of replacing the pipe, which uh is significantly more expensive.

And on this package, we're planning to line over 25,000 feet of pipe, ranging from six inches in diameter to 36 inches.

As you can see from the location map, uh we have uh project locations all over the city, and uh they're all included on this package.

Engineers' opinion of probable costs is two million thirty thousand dollars.

Bid letting is scheduled for May 20th.

Construction is anticipated July through January, and the contractor is required to provide notices to adjacent properties seven to fourteen days prior to beginning work at a given location, and we expect minimal traffic impacts.

Public works department recommends approval of the resolution.

Thank you.

Thanks, Ben.

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

Is anyone wish to address council?

Okay, I'll ask you to come to the dais and just give us your name if you would please.

Yeah, just Joshua Canler, just one question for you with regard to these uh liners.

Um you mentioned minimal traffic impact.

Um are these things able to be put in through the night or are they just exclusively daytime need because for reduced uh traffic impact, I would think that nighttime might be the best option for you guys.

Just a thought.

Yeah, Mr.

Candler, thank you for that, and we'll go ahead and get you an answer.

Thanks for the feedback, not an objection though, right?

No, okay, okay, thank you so much.

Um, anyone else?

All right, let the record show.

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

Council comments.

All right, seeing no further question, 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.

Item number eight is a public hearing to consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the replacement of first street doors at City Hall Project.

This has an estimated cost of 226,000 dollars.

Jason Stancliffe is here.

Jason, I'll recognize you.

Uh thank you and good afternoon, Mayor, Council members.

Uh Jason Sanka with facilities in here to talk about replacing the main first street doors here at City Hall.

Um the basic work consists of replacing the doors.

Uh they will look a lot like they do now.

This work has been approved through SHIPO.

It will be much later and work much better.

We will also be refreshing the whole area.

Uh bids were issued on April 29th.

Preview to meeting was held on site on May 5th.

Bid question deadline was May 6th.

The bids are due tomorrow by 11 a.m.

Estimated cost for the project is 226,000.

We recommend adoption of plan specifications from a contract and estimated cost as in the resolution.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

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

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 has been moved by Councilmember Scott Olson.

Seconded by Todd.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

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

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

And just confirming we don't have anybody physically signed up for this.

Okay, because I have a technology up here.

I'm just making sure it's working.

Okay, we have nobody signed up for this first public comment period.

Um, so we will go ahead and officially close that.

City uh deputy city manager uh charper.

Any changes to our agenda?

Yes, your honor.

For item number 30 G.

The amount should be 967,264 instead of nine hundred and sixty-six thousand two hundred and sixty-four.

So that city the city clerk get that.

Okay.

And I need to be calling you the assistant city manager, deputy city manager.

Okay, I'm okay.

Okay, you go ahead.

Just call me Angie too.

That's fine.

Okay, in any title.

Don't want to offend.

Okay, no.

Thank you.

All right, appreciate that change and noted that the clerk has has that information too.

Okay.

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

Okay.

Um, that brings us for motion to approve the agenda.

The approval has been moved by Van Orney, seconded by Poe.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, aye.

So suppose say no.

And approved.

Thank you, council.

That brings us to the consent agenda.

Uh, the approval of the consent agenda has been moved by Poe, seconded by Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And this motion carries.

Thank you, council.

We'll move on to our regular agenda item 31 is a report on the receipt of bids for the general obligation bonds.

Series 2026A, taxable general obligation bonds, series 2026 B and water revenue bonds series 2026 C and resolutions during directing the sale.

The bond sales have been rescheduled to this Thursday, May 14th, with bids set for 9 a.m.

And a special meeting has been scheduled to award the sales at noon.

Notice of this change in the date was published in the Gazette on Saturday, May 9th.

Um I'll entertain a motion to defer item 31 in its entirety to a special council meeting to be held at noon on Thursday, May 14th.

Do I have a motion to defer item number 31?

Motion to defer.

Thank you.

Councilmember Van Orney, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Olson.

All those oh, sorry.

Thank you.

Uh first by councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

We will see you at noon on Thursday.

32 is a report on bids for the city annexed renovation project, Cedar Rapids Police Department Regional Academy Project.

This has an estimated cost of four million three hundred and seventy-seven thousand dollars.

Jason Stancliffe is here again.

Jason, I'll recognize you.

Thank you again, Mayor.

Jason Sankwith Facility is here to report on bids for the Cedar Rapids Police Department Regional Academy.

The bids were issued on April 15th.

Public hearing was held on April 28th.

The bids were received and opened on May 6th at 11 a.m.

Estimated cost for the project was 4.377 million.

Project completion is set for spring of 2027.

We received seven bids.

Garland construction for $4,032,000.

Peak construction group for $4,078,000.

Macomas Lasina construction for $4,126,000.

City construction NUCO for $4,157,200.

Unsided construction company for $4,344,000.

Myron Construction Company for $4,493,621.

And Tricon General Construction for $4,770,000.

Facility maintenance services is still reviewing bids and an action to award or not will be presented separately for future consideration of the council.

That's all I have here.

Thank you, Jason.

Council, any questions on this?

All right.

We'll go ahead and move on to item number 33, which is a report on bids for the 12th Street Southeast, Co Road Northeast, and 13th Street Southeast Rehabilitation Project with an estimated cost of $910,000.

Doug Wilson is here.

Doug, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Doug Wilson, Public Works.

This project includes Water Main and Sanitary Sewer Repairs, one-way to two-way conversions of 12th Street and 13th Street, pavement resurfacing on 12th Street from 3rd Avenue to 1st Avenue, and also traffic signal improvements in conjunction with the one-way to two-way conversions.

Construction is expected to start uh this summer and be completed this fall.

Public information meeting was held in February for this project.

We received one bid for this project in the amount of $945,943.99s.

The public works department recommends approval of the resolution to award to Pierce Top and Construction.

Thank you.

Thank you, Doug.

Council, any questions?

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.

34 is a report on bids for the Blair's Ferry Road Northeast from Northtown Place to Sammy Drive Sidewalk Infill.

Bid package number two, the South Side Project.

This has an estimated cost of 530,000.

Eric Turnquist, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Eric Turkers with Public Works.

Um for Blair's Ferry Infill Project.

This is from North Town Place Northeast to semi uh road northeast.

This will be the construction of six-foot wide sidewalk, including the rear construction of driveways and addition of a transit stop.

This bid was on April 29th, and five bids were received.

The bids range from $432,260 to $646,882.

With the low bid being Eastern Iowa Excavation and Concrete LLC.

This project would have a late start date of June 22nd with completion in the fall of 2026.

Public works uh recommends the approval of the resolution to award the contract to Eastern Iowa Excavation and Concrete LLC for the amount of 432,260.78 cents.

Thank you, Eric.

Council.

All right.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And this motion carries.

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

This is a chance for Cedar Rapids residents, property owners, as well as business owners in Cedar Rapids to address our city council on any subject pertaining to council business.

If you're not a resident, a property owner, or business owner, you will not be invited to speak, but we encourage you to email or call council members and city staff with your comments.

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

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

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

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

And the first person signed up is John here to speak on the Morgan Valley power plant.

Hi, good afternoon, everyone.

My name is John Lee.

Do I have to state my address?

It's 2720A Avenue.

Here to discuss proposed Morgan Valley Energy site.

Over the last several weeks, a number of us have spent a great deal of time trying to better understand not only the power plant application itself, but the broader process surrounding it.

One thing that surprised me most is how many people, including many Cedar Rapids residents, still know very little about the scale of the project being, excuse me, being proposed and how far portions of the process may already have progressed.

I think many residents still view this as a small rural siding issue affecting a handful of nearby landowners.

But after reviewing portions of the application material, speaking with agencies, attending meetings, and trying to better understand the regional implications, it has become very clear to me that this is not simply a hyperlocal issue.

The project itself sits within major population corridor directly or connecting directly to Iowa's second largest city, Cedar Rapids.

The area surrounding this project, as I understand, the state of Iowa cites a 10 mile radius impact zone.

That includes tens of thousands of residents.

It includes schools, healthcare facilities, elderly population, growing neighborhoods, and expanding communities like Fairfax and Atkins.

And yet I think that many Cedar Rapids residents do still still do not fully understand the scale of the proposed facility, the long-term infrastructure implications, the project's emissions associated with a project of this size, and the broader development pressures that follow projects like this over time.

One thing that stood out to me while reviewing portions of the application was learning that Cedar Rapids utilities has already been in discussions regarding water service, sewer service, and the expanded, excuse me, the expanded treatment capacity associated with this project.

That surprises me, and I think it would surprise many Cedar Rapids residents because once a city becomes, excuse me, once a city city becomes coordinating begins coordinating infrastructure and utility support for a facility of this magnitude, the city becomes material connect materially connected to the long-term operation and viability of this project.

This raises an important question to me.

At what point at what point did the broader public discussion happen?

When were Cedar Rapids residents informed that the city could become operationally tied to a regional power to the law to a large regional power generation generation facility through water and infrastructure planning?

And were the residents given meaningful time to understand future water demands, long-term infrastructure implications, cumulative utility impact, future industrial growth assumptions, and how projects like this may shape development patterns in the corridor for decades to come.

Because from the outside, this process still appears preliminary, but at the same time, major decisions, major discussions and coordinations have already apparently happened, appear to be happening, involving water service, sewer service, treatment capacity planning, permit preparation, utility coordination, and the broader infrastructure planning.

That sequence can that sequencing concerns me.

I think many residents would assume that public conversation comes first and infrastructure conversation follows later, but portions of the coordination may already be occurring while a large portion of the public are still trying to understand the basic scale of what's been proposed.

I'm not here tonight to argue against economic development or energy reliability.

I'm here because I believe that the public process should match the scale of the long-term significance of the decisions being made, and I believe residents deserve meaningful time to understand and evaluate projects of this like this before assumption and infrastructure commitments move forward.

Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to speak.

Thank you, Mr.

Lee.

Next, Jane Shear here to speak on Morgan Valley power plant.

Good afternoon.

My name is Jane Schear.

I am a property owner in Cedar Rapids at the 300 three 3300th block of Pioneer Avenue.

I'm going to be reiterating some things that John said.

As I learn more about the proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center, the one thing that stands out to me is a number of people that may be affected by this project over time.

This facility is being proposed near growing residential areas connected to Cedar Rapids, Fairfax, Akans, and surrounding communities.

I think many people still assume this is a remote industrial project affecting only a few few nearby country homes.

It is not this project sits within a major population corridor connected directly to Iowa's second largest city, Cedar Rapids.

I believe many residents would be surprised to learn how close me portions of the Cedar Rapids metro area are to the project impact zone.

This concerns me as many residents do not fully understand the scale of the proposed facility, the amount of industrial activity associated with a project of this size, the projected emissions, the long-term development implications, or how future industrial growth may continue building outward into this corridor over time.

So this last point is really important because this conversation is not only about one power plant operating today.

Over the last several weeks, many of us have heard increased discussion about future industrial growth, utility expansion, infrastructure planning, and the possibility of additional development tied to projects like this.

I think many residents would want the opportunity to better understand those long-term implications before major development patterns become established.

Once major infrastructure systems, utility coordination, industrial development patterns, and growth assumptions become embedded, those decisions become very difficult to reverse.

Bottom line, those decisions are not just about today, they are about this what this area may look like 10, 20, 30 years from now, and whether residents fully understand the long-term implications before these decisions are made.

I also think many residents may not realize how quickly parts of this process may be already moving along.

From the outside, the process can appear slow moving and preliminary.

However, this process already seems to be well underway while most of the public is still trying to understand the basics of what is being proposed.

That really concerns me.

I believe that the broader public deserves time to become informed and engaged in this process before it moves forward.

You just got one more page.

Number one, what is being proposed.

Number two, what assumptions are being used?

Number three, how impacts can be can be and are evaluated.

Number four, what cumulative effects are being considered?

And number five, how future population growth may be impacted by these decisions over time.

Because this is not a small rural siding issue.

This is a long-term regional planning issue connected directly to Cedar Rapids and the future of this broader corridor.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you so much.

Joshua Candler, Animal Control Issues.

Hello again, Council.

As you know, I never come with prepared remarks, so let's just shoot this by the hip.

I think that we have a problem in this city with animals, specifically dogs who might not be very well controlled.

A couple weeks ago on Wednesday, the 22nd of April, I was heading to uh my city bus where I was gonna go to an appointment.

Um, and in my apartment, we have a bunch of dogs.

My apartment complex, we have a bunch of dogs, including one pit bull.

I was walking, minding my own business, turned a corner, told the lady who was controlling the dog on a 10 to 20 foot long leash, mind you.

I said hi to her.

I said no to the dog because she had bit me in the past.

I took two more steps and I had a pit bull on my ankle.

So I get a hold of police, get hold of uh ambulance, go to the ER, get rabies shots and everything else done, you know, the whole kit and caboodle.

And I come home to my apartment where I'm supposed to be safe, and I have to hear that this dog that nearly took my foot off, is still in the building, is still in the complex.

Yeah, she got a 10-day quarantine, and she got required to have a muzzle.

Guess what?

She doesn't have, she does not have a muzzle.

She comes out of the apartments, going to the restroom, whatever, no muzzle.

Tell me, as a victim of someone who has of something like this where your leg almost got bitten off, where is that fair to me?

Where is that fair to other victims of dog bites that have had major issues?

Where is that fair?

Animal control needs to be understanding one thing.

When someone has to be transported via ambulance to an emergency room to be dealt with because of a dog bite, that dog should not be in the city.

End of discussion.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love animals, I really do.

I love all animals, but when I'm being attacked for, and they're the owner's excuse was because I had a mobility device, because I had a walking stick, that's not right.

That's not fair, that's not equitable on me.

So my problem my thing is if a person has to be transported via e via ambulance to an ER, maybe that dog shouldn't exist anymore.

Seriously.

Can you tell me that I'm wrong for these feelings?

Can you tell me that I'm incorrect for being afraid to leave my home when I have a dog who bit me on the hand once and then bit me on the ankle so hard that I couldn't barely walk for three, four days?

Can we please have some discussions about getting animal control understood and having it where if there's an ambulance that dog goes away because it's I'm scared of my own home because of this dog?

I'm scared because that dog could come out at any time and attack me again for no discernible reason.

Thank you.

Melissa Duffield.

I think the two byte rule is ridiculous.

My sister's also a victim.

Um, so thanks guys for helping me with my federal case.

I actually had an officer Dostal intimidate me that if I didn't put down my address, then I would not be allowed to speak today.

That is a First Amendment violation and chilling of the speech, along with she called herself the assistant city manager, so that is with the collusion of uh members of this council.

That is a safety and privacy uh chilling of speech problem and safety and privacy.

Van Orney, aren't you one that was crying about that in court records lying that I came to your house and stepped foot in your house?

That's funny because that is actually not true.

And it's on video, but yet you want to start lying for the friends.

What kind of friends do we need to do?

Stephanie, what's your point here?

For this cedar.

I can, hey man, I can have any point that I want because I am setting a grievance against my government.

And that includes you.

Let's get on with it.

And yeah, quit interrupting me, okay?

Because that is also a violation.

Maybe you should look up Newton, Peterson versus Newton.

Peterson versus Newton, maybe look it up.

You just won a case federally, and yours is coming next.

I am receiving emails, okay, of people that are saying they're protecting you guys.

And these emails include hate speech and targeting of minor children.

Hate speech along the lines of making up people, calling them faggots, making fun of them wearing masks, etc., that sort of stuff.

So while we sit here and pretend we're for our LBGTQ people and rainbow family, it's funny that the people that you're supporting that you have targeting me are against you guys.

Um I also think it's interesting that they're saying that they're they would love for me not to be here anymore and are predicting the court case, which means that somehow they're related to you guys.

And we also have your little thank you to the gang rapist being deleted out of the Lane County court system, but no worries.

I got copies of that, and it was obtained through a FOIO request.

And yeah, you know what?

Some good people are here being nice about the Morgan Valley um project and saving Morgan Valley.

And let me be the bad guy, because I'm gonna tell you right now, you guys are lawfully not being transparent.

In fact, you're targeting citizens to poison them.

You have a diesel 130 to 400 acre facility going on primo land, right side out of outside this town.

This also affects my family's business that's right on 30.

We don't want to breathe that crap in, okay?

I know you guys are getting your padded pockets and you got your seven uh what are they called?

Um data centers for your unlawful surveillance or whatever you guys got planning for that uh coming forward.

But what is disgusting is you will do anything for money.

It is going to poison our water further, it is going to poison our air.

And these good people are trying to be nice to come in and talk nice to you guys, and I know that goes nowhere.

So here's the deal, guys.

You violate constitutional rights by forcing people like me to put down our address that have come in and said that we're being gang stalked and everything else.

You violate our light rights by saying that we shouldn't be able to come in and speak.

You send gang rapists after us, right, Mayor?

And you violate our rights and liberties in pursuit of happiness to even be able to drink clean water and be able to breathe clean air.

And you think that that's not a violation of your oath.

You don't think that those are crimes being committed?

You think you can lie in court records, Van Orney, and that's gonna help you?

Because it's not.

So I'm asking for you guys to go ahead and recuse yourselves.

If you don't want to recuse yourselves, it's really funny that the last time I came in and spoke, I actually have more likes and loves and people of comments than you got votes, O'Donnell, that are people that are on my side.

And how to remove you guys is by the voice of the people.

And we got no problem doing that.

But what is disgusting is the lengths you are willing to go to lie, to not be transparent, to target good citizens that come forward and try to protect kids, good citizens that are good members of the community, but you want to rise up criminals.

That's who you want to surround yourself with.

Criminals that call me a cunt, criminals that call people faggots, people that say they are waiting for a child to come of age so that they could go ahead and have sex with her in an email.

People that are predicting what's gonna happen in law firms.

People are saying uh Vanessa Chavez needs to be protected.

It must be a friend of yours, huh?

Because that's what they're saying.

Friend of yours, friends of Kitz Miller, the police chief, right?

Friends of Van Orney, all kinds of lovely stuff.

Well, I guess what, guys?

You're in violation of your oath.

I want you to go ahead and try to bow down yourselves, but if you won't, we're gonna be calling out every one of your bad deeds publicly, and we can do that.

And go ahead and come after me, please sue me, because I would love to subpoena y'all further and bring it to court because there's a lot of dirty deeds that are happening behind closed doors, including this Morgan Valley project.

And shame on every single one of you.

You're disgusting.

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

Acting City Manager Sharper, any comic communications for today?

No, Your Honor.

Okay.

If there's nothing further to come before this council, Councilmember Tyler Olson moves to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And we are adjourned.

Thank you, Council.