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

Welcome everybody to the council meeting for Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

I'd like to welcome our city manager, our city clerk, and our city attorney, and as always, thanks to city staff for being here today.

A reminder to 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 online on our city's website.

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

We will begin now with our invocation by public safety chaplain Josh Kent, followed by our Pledge of Allegiance.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, Lord, we do come to you again, Lord, as we open up another session.

Lord, I pray that all that we say and do would bring honor and glory to you and to Cedar Rapids.

Lord, for without you, we can do nothing.

Lord, thank you for our mayor and our city councilman, all of our administrators, all of our public safety workers, and all those that are in charge.

Lord, I pray that you would give them wisdom, discernment, and understanding.

Thank you for all that you've done and all that you're going to do, especially in this meeting for this hour.

We ask all these things in your name.

Amen.

All right, we'll begin with our proclamations beginning with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

So please join us here up at the Dais, Council Member Ashley Van Orney will be reading that proclamation.

All right.

Whereas the City of Cedar Rapids recognizes the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and significant contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander or AAPI communities to our city, state, and nation, and whereas AAPI individuals and families represent diverse cultures, languages, traditions, and histories that enrich the social, economic, and civic fabric of Cedar Rapids, and whereas the observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in May 1843 and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in May 1869, to which many Chinese immigrants contributed under challenging conditions.

And whereas AAPI residents have played and continue to play vital roles in advancing education, health care, business, the arts, public service, and community leadership, we're uh within Cedar Rapids and beyond, and whereas the City of Cedar Rapids is committing to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that celebrates diversity, promotes cultural understanding, and stands against discrimination and bias in all forms and whereas Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month provides an opportunity to honor the achievements, traditions, and ongoing contributions of AAPI communities while encouraging residents to learn, reflect, and celebrate together.

Now, therefore, I, Ashley Van Orney, on behalf of Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell of Cedar Rapids and the entire Cedar Rapids City Council to hereby recognize May 1st through 2026, 2026 through May 31st, 2026 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and encourage residents to recognize and celebrate the important contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities through education, engagement, and cultural appreciation.

And next up, we'd have a proclamation about gun violence awareness day.

So if you're here to represent that proclamation, please join us here at the Daisy.

Oh, come in.

Do we do?

Come all the way up.

Ready for your close-up.

All right.

Whereas every day in the United States, nearly a hundred and thirty people are killed by gun violence, and more than 200 are shot and wounded, with Americans being 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high income countries.

And whereas in Iowa, an average year sees 362 gun deaths with a rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, resulting in devastating emotional, social, and economic impacts on families and communities across the state.

And whereas cities across the nation, including Cedar Rapids are working to reduce violence through evidence-based public safety strategies, community partnerships, violence intervention efforts, and responsible gun ownership education.

And whereas protecting public safety is among the highest responsibilities of local government leaders, law enforcement, community organizations, and residents working together to prevent violence and keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others.

And whereas in January 2013, 15-year-old Hadia Pendleton was tragically shot and killed, inspiring her friends to begin the wear orange movement, as you can see, uh guests here are honoring to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and raise awareness about the value of human life.

And whereas on Friday, June 5th, 2026, communities across the United States will observe National Gun Violence Awareness Day by wearing orange in remembrance of victims of gun violence and in support of safer communities for all.

Now, therefore, I, Ashley Van Orney, on behalf of Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell and the entire Cedar Rapids City Council do hereby recognize Friday, June 5th, 2026 as gun violence awareness day and encourage residents to participate in activities that promote awareness, remembrance, responsible gun ownership, and efforts to reduce gun violence in our community.

Thank you.

I am going to be Caleb.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

All right, and now it is time for our public hearings.

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

First, remain at the lecture.

And if you have any documents you'd like to share, please give them to the officer.

He will get them to us.

Uh, second comments are limited to three minutes per speaker speaker, and you'll note that is a change.

When the light on the console in front of you turns yellow, you'll have one minute left.

And when it's red, we'll invite you to take your seat.

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

Finally, we need to hold an orderly hearing, so we ask for no applause, cheering, booing, or other noise or disruptive conduct from the audience.

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 today?

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

Thank you.

Item number one is a public hearing to consider amending the fiscal year twenty twenty-six budget.

Abi Dishbande is here.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

Thank you.

Um we are doing the fiscal year twenty twenty-six uh budget amendment number two, and this is the public hearing for that.

Um, the budget amendment is necessary due to the uh updated projections for revenue expenses in 2026.

Um, this will be the final budget amendment for FY2026.

Uh two points.

Um, this budget amendment does not affect the property tax levies, no changes in the property tax um uh total levy and the any kind of property tax revenue for there for 2026.

This presentation provides highlights of the changes for the fiscal year.

Um, couple of slides on the general fund amendments uh total change increase in revenue of 55 million and expenses of uh 45 forty uh 54 million key changes includes unanticipated increase in building permit revenue and associated transfer out for current or future year uh uses, totaling thirty-two million dollars in that increase in current year revenue and end of year allowance um adjustment for seven million dollars, and various anticipated um anticipated transfers in and out against me for the timing of uh activity ten million dollars.

Um uh key changes continued.

Um, there is an increase of one point two four million on anticipated costs that includes animal control, external review, and operating supplies, software, uh woodlands cleanup, um, public safety, health care cost, and road salt usage.

Um, there were also various other revenue and expenses adjustment based on grant charges for materials for services, projections, capitalization changes, and ERN accruals.

On the enter moving on the enterprise fund, the total increase, there was a total change increase in revenue of 23 million and expenses of 41 million.

Um there was total increase uh revenue increase of 14 million and expense increase of 28.4 million among uh capital project fund airport and Linn County solid waste agency.

Key changes include uh continuing um among all the entertainment venues, such as the aligned powerhouse complex, Paramount Theater, Ice Arena, MP Theater and CR Tourism Office, uh, including revenue increase of 315,000 and expensing uh increase of 2.9 million dollars.

Also, there was increase in utility departments, operating revenue and expenses by 7 million on the projects.

Uh moving on to the special revenue fund amendments, total increase uh uh total change uh includes increase in revenue of seven million dollars and expense of fifteen million dollars.

Key changes included increase in tax increment financing expenses by 10 million dollars, as well as various other adjustments for timing of grants activities, including paving for progress and IO flood mitigation proceeds.

Um on the other amendments, um key changes including revenue increase of 77.4 million and expense uh expense increase of 50.8 million among fleet uh fleet maintenance as well as tax-supported project fund and tax-supported death issuance, um, various other revenue and expense uh adjustment based on timing of activity or capitalization changes.

Um amendments includes uh increase in transfer in and out uh by 71 million, increase in revenue by 91 million, and increase in expense uh by 90 million dollars.

Um this is kind of summary and history of all the transfers.

Uh uh you can see that FY26 now amended budget stands at 983 million dollars from uh increase of 106.8 million dollars uh from 866.3 million dollars.

So, total uh if you look at the current year as well as the historical four or five years, uh the uh the amendment is around like 10 to 15 percent.

So this year's amendment also falls in within that range.

Um, this is the um, and also this includes now number one amendment and number two, which is the current amendment.

The staff recommendation is to approve the fiscal year 2026 budget amendment.

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

Thank you.

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

Does anyone here wish to address council?

Let the record show.

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

Council, council member Olson.

Thank you, Mayor.

I I uh I think that uh, you know, it seems like a lot of changes, but uh this kind of amendment happens every year because it's just required by the state of Iowa for the cities, counties, other entities to uh adjust their budgets to reflect the things that occur because like you say, who would have anticipated that much increase in building uh revenue funds and grants that we might get, and so yeah, as far as our overall budget, uh my assumption, as I remember from our finance meeting that we still look as a nice positive uh into the year, as I remember.

Sure.

So yeah, I mean, this this is as you pointed out, like you know, the whenever we start the budget building process, it is really based on the around 18 months, uh, based on the 18 months projections.

So, over the 18 months as the uh as the the budget year evolves, it changes the projection changes revenue and expenses.

However, this is the same, it's a balanced budget, still balanced budget without using any kind of uh reserves or anything.

And um, so yeah, to your point, it's still it's uh it's a uh financially sound and balanced budget, yes.

Councilmember Poe.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

I'm going to recuse my uh self-on line items seven and one oh nine.

Okay.

Anyone else?

All right.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And this motion carries two is a public hearing to consider public comments prior to adoption of the FY26 Federal Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant and home investment partnership programs for the period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

Crystal Cole and Jennifer Barton are here.

I will recognize you both.

Thank you, Mayor and Council.

Um, Crystal Cole and Jennifer Barton with community development.

We are here today to talk about the CDBG and home annual action plan for the federal FY26 year.

Uh, that year will be start in July 1st of 2026 and go through June 30th of 2027.

Uh, this is a look at our annual budget.

This year we have just over a million for community development block grant, and then just over 375,000 for home.

Uh just a little bit about the process.

Uh this happens annually.

Uh, it starts with notification of funding availability, then we go through our application process, we review the applications, and then we develop our plan, and then we get public input in a couple different ways through our two public hearings, and then also every five years we do a larger broad citizen engagement for our five-year plan.

Uh that includes citizen surveys, open houses, and uh stakeholder meetings, and then we also get uh committee feedback from our grants and programs committee, which uh involves quadrant representatives, core neighborhood groups, and organizational representatives, and they act as kind of a recommendation body.

So on the next few slides where you'll see the budget, those were really uh developed with the input of that committee.

These are the proposed home uh funding projects.

All home projects focus exclusively on housing, including new construction or habilitation rehabilitation uh for home buyers and direct home buyer assistance.

For CDBG, public service activities are 15% of the allocation and help cover staffing costs for agencies that work with homelessness, youth, uh free and reduced health care, transportation, and other services for low and moderate income households.

These activities cover the balance of the CDBG allocation, which include housing and other community needs and administrative costs.

And the timeline for the federal FY26 annual action plan started on February 10th with the first of two required public hearings.

The GAAP committee meetings were held in March and April.

The final funding allocations were released by HUD on April 3rd, which started the 60-day time frame to get the action plan back to HUD.

April 21st, the plan went out for the public 30-day public comment period.

And today is the second required public hearing and the city council resolution.

And the approved plan will be submitted to HUD prior to the January or sorry, June 3rd deadline.

And with that, uh staff would recommend the adoption of the annual action plan, and we will turn it back to you, Mayor.

Thank you.

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

Does anyone here wish to address council?

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

Council comments.

All right, seeing nothing there, the adoption of this resolution has been moved by Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you.

Item number three is a public hearing to consider amending Chapter 63 of the municipal code offenses against public safety by repealing section 63.10B fireworks and enacting a new section 63.10B in its place to conform with Iowa Code.

Steve Mast is here.

Steve, I will recognize you.

Mayor, Council.

Um, Section 6310B of the municipal code deals with fireworks and how they're handled within the city of Cedar Rapids.

Um last year the Iowa legislature changed a bunch of our state code, which took away a lot of our um ability to locally control fireworks and their use within the city of Cedar Rapids.

As such, we should uh amend our local ordinance to comply with state code.

Um, we cannot prohibit fireworks per state code on July 3rd, July 4th, and December 31st.

Um current municipal code language prohibits the use of consumer fireworks at all times within the city.

So we have to update our code.

Uh also um permitting of fireworks goes through the Department of Inspections uh appeals and licensing and gives them the power and control over fireworks and sales permits within the state of Iowa.

We should also update 6310 uh of our municipal code to reflect that uh state code.

Um results of updating the ordinance uh would be aligning municipal code with what is mandated under Iowa code.

Um still prohibits the use of fireworks outside the days of July 3rd, July 4th, and December 31st.

Um it still prohibits the use of fireworks on city property and on the property of another person without their consent.

Um the city will still review and permit display or commercial grade fireworks, and um the ordinance clarifies that a seller of consumer fireworks uh must hold a consumer fireworks seller's license issued by um the state of Iowa.

And with that, uh the fire marshal's office and staff uh recommend that we uh adopt and amend this ordinance.

Thank you.

Is the time to place for public hearing on this matter?

Does anyone wish to address council?

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

Council, Councilmember Van Orney.

I know this is largely procedural, but I just wanted to replicate some conversations on this matter that we've had for years with public safety.

Um, and and would ask again that the uh fire marshal's office to um try to assess how much public funds have been spent on uh cleaning up and maintaining safety.

Um, given the fact that we have had the erosion of home rule and not been able to regulate what we think we know best in Cedar Rapids given our density.

Um unfortunately we know um that our homes are close together, it's very difficult to control the um the I guess um use of fireworks at all in Cedar Rapids, and every single year we kind of come together and realize that um the state legislature doesn't seem to care about empowering us to do what we need to keep Cedar Pityan safe, and so we see structure fires, we see people going to uh emergency departments, uh, and I know you all are doing your best.

Um, I know that the uh CRPD is doing their best as well, um, but it's made it incredibly difficult for us to ensure safety in here, given the fact that we can't um monitor and and manage this in the best way we know how.

So I I understand why this is happening.

Uh we we are you know uh uh entitled to comply with that, but I hope at some point in time we have a legislature that allows us uh to do right by our citizens on this.

Thank you.

Councilmember Meyer.

Thank you, mayor.

Uh so just to clarification, you said that it's still uh on July 3rd, 4th and December 31st.

It's not legal to light the fireworks on city property.

So if we have residents or visitors who are lighting fireworks on a street or in a right-of-way, that's still something that is restricted, correct?

That as well as parks, yes, sir.

Okay, and city property.

So we do not consent to the use of that within the city on our property.

Great, thank you.

Mayor.

Councilmember Poe.

Yeah, thank you.

I I just I, you know, we've lived with this and we've debated it back and forth for a number of years.

I think ever since I've been on council with councilman Olson.

Um, and I just think it's I'm sorry, I just think this is a sad, sad um way of going about this.

Yesterday we celebrated Memorial Day, and we have so many veterans that still suffer with PTSD.

And I think about what those fireworks do with them sometimes.

Um, and it just it really makes me sad.

But thank you for what you do, and we're doing what we have to.

Thank you.

All right.

Anyone else?

Mayor?

Yes, Councilmember Tim.

I just want to uh echo the comments of my fellow council members.

Um in terms of the cost to the city.

We we need to invoice the state at some point in time because this in terms of history is one of the dumbest public policy moves I've ever seen made.

And uh it's still sad.

Some people don't look forward to the fourth of July, and they in fact they leave town simply because their neighborhood turns into case song, and so uh I would really encourage, and I think council sentiments might be along the same ways to encourage PD and FIRE to look at creative ways to enforce this this uh the the ordinance as it is.

And the key to me, it seems like a bit has been getting ahead of it before the fourth even gets here so that people do know uh we've been at this so long.

I'm not sympathetic to the folks that say, Oh, I didn't know about it anymore.

We the law has been on the books long enough, but it simply isn't fair for those folks who want to enjoy their uh their their peace and quiet.

It's uh during the holidays.

So thanks, but uh good luck, and we'll be behind you.

Thank you, council.

Yeah, and it is important note that this is a procedural change for us.

Absolutely.

Yes, okay, okay.

Thank you so much for that.

And if there are no more questions, 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 this motion carries.

Thank you.

Number four is a public hearing to consider a change of zone for property at 650 Walford Road Southwest from agriculture district to light industrial district, as requested by Lynn County.

Seth Gunnerson is here.

Seth, I'll recognize you.

Uh thank you, Seth Gunnerson zoning administrator.

So, as noted, um, this is a change of zone for property at 650 Walford Road Southwest.

This is the corner of Walford Road and 6th Street.

Um, this is property which is owned by Lynn County that they are looking to sell to um adjacent property owners.

It's about a 4.75 acre site.

The future land use map designation is urban medium intensity.

You can see here the zoning.

This property and some of the property around it is zoned ag because it was recently annexed into the city of Cedar Rapids.

All land that comes into the pro city of Cedar Rapids is zoned egg until um a rezoning is able to be completed.

So what uh Lynn County is looking for is to rezone the property to the light industrial, which is this light purple color, which is predominant throughout the southwest side of Cedar Rapids.

Here's a future land use map, uh showing that this whole area is designated as urban medium intensity development, and then here's an aerial view of the property.

In terms of rezoning criteria, we find the requested rezoning is consistent with the future land use map and the overall character of the area around it.

Uh, city has no concerns over the ability to serve the parcel in question.

Um, extensions of services are the responsibility of future developer.

And in the end, the staff recommends approval of the request.

This went to the city planning commission on May 7th and was unanimously recommended for approval.

Pending today's action, the second and third readings will occur on June 9th.

Thank you, Seth.

This is the time and a place for 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.

Council.

Alright, seeing nothing further, the approval of this ordinance on its first reading has been moved by Poe, seconded by Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Number five is a public hearing to consider a change of zone for property at 16th Avenue and 80th Street Southwest from agriculture District to suburban mixed-use community center district, as requested by Todd Andrew and A and M L L C.

Seth, I'll recognize you again.

Thank you.

Uh Seth Garrison zoning Administrator again.

Uh, this is uh rezoning of property um on in West Cedar Rapids.

This is uh similar land that was just annexed into the city.

This is about a 25 acre tract.

The applicant is looking to go to the SMC or Suburban Mixed Use Center Zone District, which matches uh the zoning for land that they own to the north of it that they're looking to market.

The future land use map designation again is urban medium intensity.

Here's the land in question, um, approximately 25 acres.

Um, this is 80th street, um, northwest and southwest to the right of the screen here.

The applicant also owns and the similarly zoned land to the north.

Here, um, the property in question is outlined in black down here that was just annexed to the city of Cedar Rapids.

Um, and then the suburban mixed use center zone district to the north there.

This is the E Avenue and Highway 100 interchange.

And future land use map designation is urban medium intensity, and again, an aerial view of the property.

Um, similar to the last one, uh staff finds that the proposed zone is consistent with uh the future land use map, which permits the SMC zone district at this location, and consistent with the planned um use of the uh development pattern for this area.

Uh city has no issues with the ability of the property to be served by um city services and um service extensions will be the responsibility of the developer at the time of development.

Um, overall staff finds that the requested zone is um compatible with the surrounding area like the previous one.

This went to the city planning commission on May 7th, who recommends approval and um pending council approval of the first reading today.

The second and third readings could occur on June 9th.

Thank you, Seth.

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 is held with no objections.

Council.

All right, seeing nothing further, the approval of this ordinance on its first reading 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 six is a public hearing to consider the vacation of Osborne Avenue Southeast, which is located between 1437 and 1443 2nd Street Southeast.

Dustin Kern is here.

Dustin, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Good afternoon, Council members.

Dustin Kern with the Public Works Department.

Uh, as noted, this is uh vacation of Osborne Avenue Southeast, located between 1437 and 1443 2nd Street Southeast.

A little historical perspective here.

Um Osborne Avenue is located in the north south rectangular section.

It used to provide access to Osborne Park, which has been vacated uh for some time now.

And uh, you know, the main reason we're doing this is an additional cleanup item for this area.

We want to vacate everything.

We also previously vacated the east-west alley, which is adjacent and just south of this particular uh right of way and also 17th Avenue Southeast, the cross alley and the north-south uh alley.

So we it's one more cleanup item to get this area completely ready for uh exciting future redevelopment in this area.

It also kind of adds to that uninterrupted flood control property, which is along the southerly portion, all the future development in this area, including all the right-of-way area, would be in accordance with the Czech Village New Bohemia area action plan.

With that, the public works department recommends passing the resolution to vacate Osborne Avenue Southeast, located between 1437 and 1443 2nd Street Southeast.

With that, mayor, I'll turn it back to you.

Thank you.

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

Does anyone wish to address council?

All right.

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

Council.

Seeing nothing there, the approval of this ordinance on its first reading has been moved by Councilmember Tyler Olson, seconded by Councilmember Hager.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And this motion carries.

Seven is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the second street southeast vault and sidewalk repairs project.

This has an estimated cost of six hundred thousand dollars.

Eric Turnquist is here.

Eric, I'll recognize you.

Yeah, there you go.

There we go.

Sorry about that.

That's okay.

Um, like I said, Eric Turk was with public works.

Uh, for the 2nd Street uh Southeast Vault and Zawak Repair Project.

Uh, little background to this project.

This is occurring on 2nd Street Southeast on the right-of-way between 3rd and 4th Avenue.

Uh, this is attached to the town center building on that location.

Um, it's uh underground vault as um encroaching on the right-of-way.

Uh, this project will remove this vault, um, and uh fill it up this void, and we'll then include sidewalk and streetscape on top and along uh 2nd Street.

Um, as this map shows, this kind of funky skew, but you can see north is in the bottom right corner there, um, across from the Paramount Theater.

You can kind of see the location, the extent of that vault, as well as the extents of the projects between fourth and third for the streetscape.

Um, the project adheres to chapter nine um within city code for addressing underground vaults within public right away.

Uh, the removal of this vault is for public safety and also for duration or durability of the sidewalk along this location.

Uh, public work has been coordinating this project with the property owner, uh farmers market, and a bunch of other um organizations impacted by this.

Uh engineers' cost of investment is six hundred thousand with a bid laying date of June 3rd.

Uh, we'll start this fall with a completion date on December 1st.

Uh, public works recommends the approval of the resolution for the adoption of the plan, specs, former contract, and estimated cost of the project.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

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

Anyone wish to address council?

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

Council.

All right, seeing nothing.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And this motion carries.

Number eight is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the 2026 J Avenue Water Treatment Plant Roof Replacements and Repairs Project.

This has an estimated cost of $2,100,000.

Terry Tetham is here.

Terry, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Good afternoon, Council.

Terry Tedum with the Utilities Department.

The utilities department has nine structures that require roof rehabilitation.

Eight of these structures outlined here in red are at the located at the J Avenue Water Treatment Facility.

The other is the dam gatehouse located at the west end of the E Avenue Bridge.

This improvement project also includes replacement of damaged coping stone, new gutters and downspouts, and masonry tuck pointing.

The engineers' estimated opinion of probable construction cost is two million one hundred thousand dollars.

Bids will be opened on June 10th with construction expected to begin this July and continue through August of 2027.

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

With that, I'll turn it back to you, mayor.

Thank you, Terry.

This is a time and a place for public hearing.

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 Myers, seconded by Councilmember Scott Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you.

Nine is a public hearing to consider the proposed plan, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the Jordan well number one ASR system project.

This has an estimated cost of $3,700,000.

Brandon Jennings is here.

Brandon, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Council Brandon Jennings with the Utilities Department.

This project will drill a new well approximately 1,500 feet deep into the Jordan Aquifer for a new aquifer storage and recovery, also known as an ASR system at the Northwest Water Treatment Plant.

An ASR system works by using the aquifer as a temporary place to store a treated drinking water for later use.

It can be loosely compared to a giant underground tank, whereby treated drinking water temporarily displaces groundwater around the well.

The Jordan Aquifer in Iowa is used throughout the state for a source of drinking water and is commonly used in the Des Moines metro area for ASR systems.

The general approach to using an ASR well is to inject treated water into the aquifer during cold weather months when the water treatment plant has excess capacity and pump out of the well during warm weather months when the system demand is higher.

The same trend holds true in Cedar Rapids.

During cold weather months, water use in Cedar Rapids tends to be lower, and nitrate levels in our finished water also tend to be lower.

We intend to take advantage of this excess capacity of high quality water by injecting up to 300 million gallons of treated water into the Jordan aquifer during the winter, which will later be withdrawn and used in warm weather months to reduce nitrate concentrations and reduce the production strain on the northwest water treatment plant.

The graph to the right shows the relative nitrate concentrations in our raw water supply last year during cold weather months shown in blue versus warm weather months shown in red.

As you can see, capturing excess water during the winter months will enable us to dilute nitrate concentrations during the spring and summer.

The proposed ASR well number one will be located on the Northwest water treatment plant property as shown in the map to the right.

This project is limited to the drilling and development of the well only.

The construction of the well house building, chemical feed system, process piping, other uh and other site improvements will be performed as part of the Northwest Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project, which is currently in design.

The city also received or the city will receive a grant from Google for 1.3 million dollars for part of the cost of this.

The well is expected to be completed in February 2027, and the overhaul overall well house and ASR system is expected for operation in late 2028.

The engineer's opinion of cost is 3.7 million.

Bids are scheduled to be opened on June 10th, and construction is anticipated from this September through spring of 2027.

The utilities department recommends approval of this resolution.

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

Thanks, Brandon.

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

Does anyone wish to address council?

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

Council comments, Councilmember Olson?

Thank you, Mayor.

Is this our first one?

I think to use this technology as I remember.

Yes, in Sea Rapids.

It's our first one.

First one.

And uh it's it's so unique, you know, in being able to store water and not have to build a big monster building and everything or a tank or whatever.

And so uh how long has Des Moines been using this system?

You you know ballpark or?

I'm not sure.

Um I could get back to you with the exact timeline, but they've been for several years now.

That's right.

Yeah, because they have a lot more nitrate problems than we do.

And so, but I mean it's a very unique uh spot.

You know, we have the room, we have the land, and it's tied to our plant, and so uh I think it's an exciting uh concept to be able to adopt and see how it works for the city to back up our drinking water supply.

So thank you for the project.

Councilmember Meyer.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, two questions.

Um the first one is do you have an idea um about how this process will reduce the amount of nitrates in the Cedar Rapids drinking water, or how much it will prevent the rate of nitrates increasing?

Yeah, for sure.

Um, so generally, here I can go back to this screen here.

Um, and the nitrate levels, this is shown in our raw water supply.

So you can see that during the cold weather months, nitrate levels in our raw water supply are typically lower, which means that you know, uh nitrate levels in our finished water also tend to be lower during the cold weather months.

So being able to store some of that water with lower nitrate levels in the aquifer and then use it during um peak months, you know, to basically blend down our uh our finished water in the summer months, effectively dilutes the nitrate concentration.

So it's it's an effective way to bring those levels down when they tend to peak due to uh spring rains.

Okay, thank you.

And then the second question I had is so this Jordan Aquifer, is this something that um municipalities outside of this area have access to?

So, like, so we're we're paying for this, but other municipalities will have benefits from it as well, correct?

Yeah, so Jordan Aquifer is commonly used throughout the state as a source for drinking water.

Um, as part of this project, we did an evaluation for the impact of this project on the Jordan Aquifer.

Um, since we are both pumping down and taking out an equivalent amount of water, we're not negatively impacting the Jordan Aquifer.

If anything, we're slightly pumping into the aquifer, and it's been a critical source like throughout the state where it's regulated by the DNR for for drawdowns.

So the fact that we're actually kind of net positive is a benefit, so um it it overall like our bot our impact is net uh neutral or or slightly better.

The net neutral though, that's input and output, correct.

But for municipalities that aren't paying for this, they're benefiting from the blended water.

So there have they would they would benefit from a lower nitrate, right?

No.

Uh so this one is is limited specifically to our well.

You effectively you can you can loosely think of it as a bubble that you're developing around the well head of our treated water that you're pumping down.

Um, and then when we take it back out, we're basically drawing from that same bubble of treated water that we pump down there.

Thank you.

Councilmember Van Worty.

Yeah, so what I was gonna say, because I find this fascinating is uh that not only does it encompass uh in Iowa, it's it said uh just some quick searching here, a thousand to three thousand feet below the surface, and then it actually encompasses almost the entirety of Iowa, except for a teeny tiny corner up in northwest Iowa, and is so large that it goes into Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

So it's a pretty large uh aquifer, and it said um that it is between 70,000 to 500,000 years old.

So it's a really great uh resource that uh we can help maintain.

Awesome, great.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anything else?

Hi Council Member Poe.

Yeah, thank you.

I just have one clarifying question.

Will you go back to um the final slide, please?

So that cost um 3,700, is that after the money that we receive from Google?

Or before?

It's before.

Yeah, okay.

Thank you.

All right.

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

All those in favor say 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 is a chance for the public to address the city council on any subject uh pertaining to council action scheduled for today, and we don't have anyone signed up uh for this portion.

So I will go ahead and officially close out this first public comment period.

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

No change.

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

Councilmember Poe.

Yeah, thank you, Mayor.

I on consent agenda item 24 C line items 45, 340, and 341.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

All right.

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

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries thank you, council.

That brings us to consent.

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 the motion carries thank you, council.

That brings us to our regular agenda.

Number 30 is a report on bids for the FY27 sanitary sewer Lining project with an estimated cost of two million thirty thousand dollars.

Ben Worrell is here.

Ben, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Ben Morrill, Public Works Department.

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

This is done to reduce infiltration, but then also extend the useful life of the pipe.

And it's much cheaper than having to dig up the pipe and replace it.

And on this package, we're lining over 25,000 feet of pipes ranging in size from six inches to 36 inches in diameter.

And here's a map showing all the locations.

Project bid on May 20th.

We received three bids ranging from 1,587,521.35 cents to $2,279,552.89.

Low bidder was municipal pipe tool company.

Public Works Department recommends approval of the resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council, any questions?

All right.

Then if there are not no further questions, 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.

31 is a report on bids for the third street southwest from 3rd Avenue to 1st Avenue pavement rehabilitation project with an estimated cost of $550,000.

Doug Wilson is here.

Doug, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, Mayor Doug Wilson, Public Works Department.

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

We expect construction to start in the summer of 2026 and be completed this fall.

We had a public information meeting on February 3rd for this project of this year.

We've also coordinated the work with Park Cedar Rapids and the Lynn County Sheriff's Office.

On May 13th, we received four bids for this project, ranging from 445,882.85 cents to $625,221.22 cents.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thanks, Doug.

Council, any questions?

All right.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And this motion carries 32 is a report on bids for the Czech Village Riverside Trail Project.

This has an estimated cost of $220,000.

Rob Davis, I will recognize you.

Good afternoon, Mayor.

City Council Rob Davis with the Public Works Department.

This project is a trail project that runs $1,075 linear feet from 16th Avenue southwest on the river side of the flood wall that's been built and into Riverside Park.

Here's some pictures showing that on the bottom of the screen.

The cost estimates the mayor mentioned is $220,000.

The bid opening was on May 20th.

The start date is scheduled for July 13th with completion at the end of September.

We received seven bids last week.

Rochie Construction Marion, Iowa is read low at $197,403.34 cents.

And that ranged up to a high bid of $297,777.10 cents.

And with that, those good bids, Public Works Department recommends resolution to award the contract to Rochy Construction, the amount I mentioned.

Thank you.

Thanks, Rob.

Council.

All right.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those both say no.

And the motion carries 33 is a report on bids for their placement of first street doors at City Hall project.

This has an estimated cost of $226,000.

Jason Stancliffe, I'll recognize you.

Thank you, and good afternoon, Mayor and Council members.

Jason Sanke with Facilities and here to talk about the City Hall replacement of the first street doors project.

Bids were issued on April 29th.

Public hearing was held on May 12th.

The bids were received and opened on May 13th.

Estimate of cost for the project was 226,000.

We received one bid from Tricon General Construction Incorporated for 194,000.

So the maintenance services recommends awarding to Tricon General Construction as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thanks, Jason.

Council.

Okay, seeing nothing further.

The resolution of this has been moved by Councilmember Todd, seconded by Van Orney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

And that now brings us to ordinances.

Number 34 is an ordinance vacating public ways and grounds of a 20-foot alley right of way adjacent to 900 L Street Southwest as requested by Interstate Power and Light Company.

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

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

Thank you, Council.

Council Member 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 this ordinance on its third and final reading has been moved by Poe, seconded by Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries.

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

All right, if there's no thing further, the adapter this resolution has been moved by Overland, seconded by Councilmember Tyler Olson.

All those in favor say aye.

Those opposed say no.

And this motion carries.

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

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

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

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

So I'll remind everybody to remain at the podium.

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

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

And I will just call in order if they're signed up.

And the first is Julie Julie Whitting, uh, here to speak on the Morgan Valley Power Plant.

Mayor Council, I'm nervous about doing this, but I feel so compelled.

I live just like five miles west of Cedar Rapids on off highway 30 on a farm.

So we're about a mile away from where the proposed Morgan Valley gas plant is to be.

And it feels like we're just being so rushed into all this, and we've asked to see how the water was going to be supplied, how the waste would be taken out, and they have not been transparent with us at all with that.

Alliant Energy.

So I would like to ask if we could at least slow down everything before we get ahead of it.

So we could have maybe like a moratorium, so we could at least have some studies shown to us as far as our water supply.

Um just the waste taken out, and I'm concerned too because right where they're wanting this thing to be, there are still planes that fly over very low there, and that's one reason why they didn't want it out by the airport, but that's still on their path to land.

So it's just too much too fast.

It's like putting the heart the cart before the horse.

All we're asking is we'd like to know the residual effects of all this, and we're on different sites and seeing how people are already dealing with it in other states.

It's not for the better.

So if we could just ask for a moratorium so we could see even with the utilities commission, um Alliant put on there wasn't for the public disclosure.

Well, I think we have a right to know how it's gonna really function with the blowdown and all that.

They use uh carcinogenic toxins to clean those closed loop systems, so and they're only gonna deploy four to ten people over there, and that's from them telling us.

So it's just something that we need to slow down and look at the studies of this.

That's all I've got to say.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh, next up, we have Joshua Candler here to speak on animal control ideas.

So, since last time I only had five minutes, I'm just basically gonna continue what I was discussing last time we were here.

Um, so one further thought that I had with regard to animal control and dog bites, is that we need to also consider what could happen in a dog bite situation to the lesser of our community.

In my situation, my leg was bit and it was pretty bad.

I had to go, like I mentioned before, I had to go to the ER, I had to do the rabies vaccines.

I had to do the whole kick caboodle.

Okay.

But my issue isn't what happened to me this time, it's what could happen.

In the same situation, identical parameters, except that the victim is someone, I don't know, a juvenile, a toddler, an older person with less healing capability.

That person would have been probably either losing their leg or been critically injured.

And I'm gonna be honest with you, yeah.

The two-byte rule in practice in theory, it makes sense because we never know when an animal's gonna bite.

We don't know.

In practice, we also have to consider that, you know, there's the lesser of our uh not the lesser as in their less important, but the lesser as in like younger, older people who don't have the capability to heal or restore themselves as I do.

What happens when a child gets bitten the way I did, they could lose their leg.

They could have life-altering results.

So I recommend that the city council and the animal control department come to an idea where we don't just consider what happened to the victim of the bite itself, but also consider what could have been, what might have been had it been someone who can't heal, had it been someone who's younger, you know, just all these different scenarios.

With that, that part is out, but why only three minutes?

That's my next question.

Why only three minutes now?

With that, thank you.

Next up, Jane here to speak on a proposed power plant.

Good afternoon.

My name is Jane Schear, a Cedar Rapids landowner in the 3500th block of Pioneer Southeast.

I would like to talk about what is actually being proposed out there, because I do not think people fully understand it.

This is not a small rural issue that affects only a few landowners.

The proposed development, approximately three square miles in Western Lynn County, is not just about a power plant, Morgan Valley Energy Center, but includes large-scale data center development.

The proposed power plant and future data centers are in the same area, two connected pieces of a bigger picture.

They should be acknowledged and talked about together out in the open transparency.

The infrastructure commitments by Cedar Rapids do not just connect Cedar Rapids to a power plant.

They may also be setting the foundation for a larger and longer term industrial development area than most residents have been told or educated about.

I am asking for a public discussion specifically about Cedar Rapids' own commitments.

The water service, the sewer capacity, and the infrastructure planning.

Everyone within the 10-mile impact zone that the state of Iowa itself recognizes deserves the right to speak, regardless of whether they live in the Cedar Rapids City limits or not.

I guarantee there are concerned and impacted people who wish to have their voices heard here tonight, but must remain new moot.

I'm sorry, mute.

That was kind of a key word, but must remain mute because of the Cedar Rapids City stipulation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Pastor Doyle, speaking on public safety.

Good afternoon, Mayor.

Council for the record, D-O-Y-L-E.

This land is your land, RY, as the United States Marine Corps veteran.

Suggestion, especially with what yesterday was supposed to accomplish.

For those of us who are no longer here to um speak um without repercussion.

Consider social workers at the downtown transit center.

If you would just go and observe and listen without saying a word, you might see and have an opportunity to present, prevent what could be an eventual team takeover in this city.

That's called straight Bill Chaser.

See, in other cities, including Chicago, where people just figure they're just teenagers.

Um recent as this morning, just listening and just observing and going, it would be really nice if there were, and when I say social workers, I mean individuals who know what they're doing and not individuals employed just to collect a check.

I really mean social workers who, especially with this being National Mental Health Awareness Month.

You have closures of schools coming in the fall.

You have individuals who really can't be in the same school, and it means my mean by that is family issues, things that families carry over from generation to generation that unfortunately their children have to be the victim of.

So if we're going to be solution-oriented, and when I say public safety, I'd like to leave the last minute as it relates to your current confident chief of police.

See, it was on April 25th in Chicago, where Officer Bartholomew's mother, I wish she wasn't nice.

I wish she would have taught her son not to be nice.

See, officer Bartholomew chose to take the shackles off of a miscreant, and in the blink of an eye, he was dead.

You can Google it.

I'm using the last 30 minutes to remind you of something.

You've done the work to build up the city.

You have a casino opening within the next year.

Those are jobs.

Jobs destroy welfare.

When you have a welfare mentality, that means you get up and expect somebody else to pay and work for you, it perpetuates violence.

You've done the work.

Social workers' work.

Think about.

Hi, my name is John Lee, and I'm a small business owner in Cedar Rapids, and tonight I'm here to speak for a lot of people that are not in this room.

They are ready to show up if needed.

I want to start by thanking Mayor O'Donnell for forwarding the email about Morgan Valley Energy Center.

That email ended up with Miss Farlinger, the president of Interstate Power and Light Company.

And I appreciate she took the time to respond to me personally.

But those questions were directed at this council.

And I have not received a response from anyone sitting in this room.

I also want to point something out that I think matters a lot.

Many people impacted by this cannot speak here because they don't live inside the city limits.

So tonight, they do not get a voice in this room.

Yet the decisions the city is making about water, sewer, and utility commitments are going to affect the air those people breathe.

The water in the area, the traffic and on their roads, and the community the way the communities look for decades to come.

The people with the most to lose are not allowed to speak here tonight.

I want to talk about one thing specifically from Miss Barlinger's response.

She told me, and I want to quote this directly, that this process, quote, allows technical planning, coordination, and regulatory review to move forward while public awareness and engagement continue.

I want to stop on that one word, while the word suggests that public awareness and engagement is actually happening at the same time.

What has actually been done?

Because from everything that I've seen, the answer is nothing.

People have not been kept in the loop.

We're trying to piece things to piece together a picture that should have been clearly laid out for us to start.

That's not public engagement.

That's just what they want us to hear.

And finally, I have one last question.

And I'm directing it straight to the to the council, and I'm respectfully asking for a straight answer.

Has any member of the council, any city staff, or any city official signed any confidentiality agreements, non-disclosure agreements, or similar arrangements, formal or informal, related to Morgan Valley Energy site, any energy generating facility, any data center development, including the QTS and Google projects within Cedar Rapids city limits, or any large-scale industrial or data center development in Lynn County, whether or not it involves Alliant Energy.

I'm not asking to be difficult.

I'm asking because the people out here have genuinely trying to understand the public conversation seems to be so far behind, and things are moving forward.

And if these agreements are in place, the public has a right to know.

I respectfully thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Lee.

Roger Slade here to speak on city partnerships.

Roger Slade on the Northeast Side.

And I had to rewrite everything since you cut her time in half.

So that's wonderful.

For the past several years, I spoke here in May with several others regarding your decision to fly the pride flag throughout June, uh, sometimes throughout July, even on the 4th of July.

And uh now it's more locations since uh that was retaliation since so many of us spoke up.

And now this year I know you're you're here to do the same.

But uh the last couple years I informed you about some serious concerns for the children.

Uh attending the falsely advertised family-friendly pride celebration at Newboard, involving the Satanic Temple of Iowa.

I've explained several times over the past year.

Uh you're aware of this.

CR Pride's aware of this.

Uh, the goals of the Satanic Temple include attacking Christians, destroying the nuclear family, of course, child sacrifice.

If you watched the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, you also witnessed pride's attack on Christianity with their demonic representations of the Last Supper.

Always mocking God and targeting his followers until absolute compliance of the week.

We've seen this with pastors, with companies, local government.

On May 28th, 2024, Richard David spoke here and he presented his personal flag that he flew in front of his home.

It's called the Appeal to Heaven Flag.

Um, it features a white field of the green pine tree and the words an appeal to heaven.

You'll have to look up the history.

I don't have time for that, but this flag has been flowing all over the U.S., even San Francisco City Hall had this up for 60 years.

Mayor, when I met you in 2024, you told me that there's no way that the appeal to heaven flag would fly.

Council wouldn't allow that.

And I gave you a piece of paper that had a photo of the symbol of Cedar Rapids at the top with the green tree, a photo of the appeal to heaven flag, which is a green tree, and a quote that's on the city website today.

That quote says the city of five seasons was based on a Bible verse from Ecclesiastes 3 1.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Cedar Rapids used to have an appeal to heaven.

On May 17th, our n our nation was rededicated as one nation under God.

Yet on June 1st, you're planning to rededicate Cedar Rapids as one city under Pride.

Once again, endorsing your political party, your anti-Christian stance, DEI, the mutilation of children, the Satanic Temple, the whole agenda, complete contradiction to our values and history as a nation, especially this year.

So I know some of you don't support this.

Some of you don't even support the uh American flag, like like David.

No longer standing up for the U.S.

flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.

But I'll remind you again Cedar Rapids was based on Ecclesiastes 3 1.

Look that up.

And this country is one nation under God.

Thank you.

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

City Manager Pomrance, do you have any communications?

All right.

Seeing no further business to come before council, Councilmember Tyler Olson moves to adjourn.

Seconded by Councilmember Overland.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

And the motion carries we are adjourned.