Cedar Rapids City Council Meeting - September 8, 2026: Homelessness Initiatives, Development Approvals, and Public Comments
Cedar Rapids City Council Meeting - September 8, 2026: Homelessness Initiatives, Development Approvals, and Public Comments
The Cedar Rapids City Council met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with Councilmember Marty Hager absent. The meeting began with proclamations recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, followed by a presentation on the city's homeless services systems initiative. The council held multiple public hearings and approved several development agreements, infrastructure projects, and policy items. Public comment periods included statements on police chief retirement, surveillance cameras, neighborhood disputes, data centers, and a proposed power plant.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent agenda (items 12–27) by unanimous vote without discussion or objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Echo Elam (reading a statement for a resident) opposed agenda item 14, a retirement and release agreement for Police Chief David Dostel valued at $191,096.80, calling for transparency and release of the full agreement. She also urged the council not to renew the Flock surveillance camera contract and to end mass surveillance.
- Tom Pape (Cedar Rapids resident) thanked Councilmembers Scott Olson, Tyler Olson, and David Meyer for their assistance with a fire lane access issue. He also praised Officer Selena Watkins of the Cedar Rapids Police Department for resolving a long-standing neighbor dispute through mediation, noting no further incidents in five months.
- Garrett Smith (IBEW 405 member, Cedar Rapids resident) spoke in support of data center construction, citing economic benefits, job creation for trades, and water usage comparisons. He encouraged the council to base decisions on facts and consult with other cities.
- John Lee (resident and pro se intervener in the Iowa Utilities Commission docket) raised concerns about the proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center, specifically the water supply from Cedar Rapids City Water Division. He noted a peak consumption of 103.5 gallons per minute on hot days, questioned the lack of a hydrology study, and asked the council to make a decision on water provision before the state proceeding deadline (December 7, 2026). Mayor O'Donnell clarified that the city has not been formally asked to provide water.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations: Councilmember Ann Poe presented a proclamation declaring September 2026 as "Start a Conversation: Changing the Narrative about Suicide" month, and another proclaiming September 15 to October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. The suicide awareness proclamation highlighted 250 names in a local memorial and over 100,000 contacts by the crisis agency. Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off with Festival Latino on September 12.
- Homeless Services Systems Initiative: Laura Shaw (Community Development) and Janae Peterman (Homeless Systems Manager) reported on progress since 2023. Key achievements: a Lived Experience Advisory Council (7 members) contributed 93 volunteer hours at Green Square Park; a coordinated entry street outreach team interacted with 62 unsheltered individuals and cleaned 52 encampments since April 1; the Landlord Tenant Success Initiative, funded by Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, housed 62 households (88 adults and 62 children) since November 2024; and a new bridge housing project in partnership with CRST will pilot 65 units at a former dormitory, with lease-up starting November 1, 2026. The project involves multiple provider partners and 24/7 on-site support. Council members praised the progress and noted a decrease in homelessness. Councilmember Meyer asked about landlord participation; Peterman said they are working on expanding the landlord network. The July point-in-time count found 51 unsheltered individuals, but the by-name list suggests 60–62. Councilmember Todd revealed that the team will receive an award.
- Public Hearings (Items 1–11):
- Items 1–3 (combined): Approved Amendment 12 to the Central Consolidated Urban Renewal Area and development agreements with WEN Enterprises (for a mixed-use building at 1126 and 1132 Ellis Blvd, $1.5M investment, 3 commercial units and 3 apartments) and Evolution LC (adaptive reuse at 219 2nd St SE, $4.1M investment, 21 market-rate apartments). Both received tax rebate incentives. No public objections.
- Item 4: Rezoning of 1756 Mallory Street SW from TR-1 to UVR for a four-unit residential project. Developer Josh Bass modified plans after council feedback and added conditions requiring the building to match approved elevations. No public objections; council approved first reading.
- Item 5: Initiation of RFP for disposition of city-owned land at 397 15th Avenue SW, with preference for housing. No objections; resolution approved.
- Item 6: Canceled due to publication error.
- Item 7: Cherokee Trail Phase 3 project (from Westwood Dr NW to 13th St NW along F Ave), estimated cost $1.8M, funded by federal grants. No objections; resolution approved.
- Item 8: Edgewood Road NE Trail Phase 3 (Glass Rd to 42nd St and north of Highway 100), estimated cost $3.3M with $2.56M federal grant. Council discussed traffic impacts and coordination with other construction. No objections; resolution approved.
- Item 9: Cedar Valley Nature Trail Erosion Repairs ($215,000) north of Mount Trashmore. No objections; resolution approved.
- Item 10: City Services Center remodel FFE (furniture, fixtures, equipment) at $285,000. No objections; resolution approved.
- Item 11: Canceled at city manager's request.
- Regular Agenda Items (28–35):
- Item 28: Bids for Ellis Road NW at Ross and Lane Sanitary Sewer Improvements ($850,000 estimated). Four bids received; staff recommended approval. Council approved.
- Item 29: Bids for Water System Variable Frequency Drive Replacements ($2,692,000 estimated). Two bids; awarded to ESCO Electric Company at $2,051,300. Council approved.
- Item 30: Contractor default – Shift General Contracting LLC voluntarily defaulted on two street projects (34th St SE and Richard Dr NE). The city terminated contracts; the surety bond will cover completion costs and damages. Council approved termination resolutions for both projects.
- Item 31: City Manager's Sustainability Grant Program – approved. The program awards $1,000–$10,000 grants to nonprofits, businesses, and community groups for projects aligned with the climate action plan. $60,000 is available from FY26–FY27 budgets. Applications due December 2026, awards in February 2027.
- Item 32: Proposal from Gilad LLC (Josh Bass and Tyler Oswood) for redevelopment of city-owned land at 1026, 1221, 1223 Ellis Blvd NW and 1216 6th St NW – 14 units (7 townhomes and 7 accessory dwelling units). Approved unanimously.
- Items 33 & 35: Ordinances for tax increment collection in Athenium Urban Renewal Area and zone change near Wright Brothers Blvd – both adopted on third reading after suspension of rules.
- City Manager's Communication: City Manager Jeff Pomerance announced that a press release regarding the retirement of Police Chief David Dostel would be issued that afternoon, with the full agreement made public.
Key Outcomes
- All public hearings and resolutions were approved as presented, with no objections from the public on agenda items.
- The council terminated contracts with Shift General Contracting LLC and initiated steps to complete the two affected street projects via surety bonds.
- The Sustainability Grant Program was established, with $60,000 allocated for community-driven climate and resiliency projects.
- The redevelopment of Ellis Boulevard parcels was awarded to Gilad LLC, with a development agreement to be negotiated within six months.
- The homeless bridge housing project with CRST is set to begin lease-up on November 1, 2026, with 24/7 on-site support.
- The council directed staff to finalize the retirement agreement details for Police Chief David Dostel and release information to the public.
Meeting Transcript
This meeting of the Cedar Rapids City Council will come to order. Welcome everybody to the Cedar Rapids City Council meeting for Tuesday, September 8th, 2026. I'd like to note one absence, Councilmember Marty Hager is absent from today's meeting. I want to welcome our city manager, our city clerk, and our city attorney. And as always, thank you to city staff for being here and available to hear from those in the gallery. A reminder to turn off any cell phones or electronic devices that might distract from our proceedings today. As a reminder, we need to hold an orderly meeting and just review the rules of conduct that are presented there for everyone who's in the room today. Those rules are available when you come in and they're also projected onto the screens during the public comment. Please note that all oh disruptions, I should say to council proceedings will not be tolerated. Please note that 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 via Facebook live. We'll now begin with an invocation by public safety chaplain Josh Kent, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. You stand. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, we do thank you for the opportunity again, Lord, as we come to this meeting. Lord, as our leaders have called this meeting, Lord, I pray that you would give them wisdom, give them guidance, give them understanding. Lord, I pray for our area. Lord, I pray that you would be with each council member and Lord, our mayor, Lord, as they move forward with the business to conduct for today. Thank you for all that you've done. We ask all these things in your name. Amen. We'll fled. I pledge allegiance to the flag in the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice. All right, we'll begin with proclamations. Our very first one is uh start a conversation changing the narrative about suicide, and that will be followed then by Hispanic Heritage Month. So if I could have those for our first proclamation, join Councilmember Poe at the dais, please. Hello, welcome. Thank you for being here. This is uh proclamation is extremely personal to me. Um, my husband's um nephew committed suicide at 21. And so that happens throughout all families, and so this narrative is extremely important to have. So please, um, a proclamation on the behalf on behalf of the city of Cedar Rapids. Whereas suicide is significant public health issue that impacts individuals, families, workplaces, schools, and communities across the nation. And every life lost to suicide represents a profound loss of hope, connection, and potential. And whereas starting conversations about mental health and suicide can help reduce the stigma, challenge, harmful misconceptions, and remind people that asking for help is a sign of strength, an important step toward healing. And whereas changing the narrative about suicide means moving from silence and stigma toward openness, hope, and understanding, while recognizing that prevention is possible and that support is available for people experiencing crisis, those who have lost someone to suicide, and all members of our community. And whereas during suicide prevention awareness awareness month, we will recognize the importance of fostering compassion, connection, and suicide safer communities where all people know that they matter and have access to the sport when life gets tough. Now I, Ann Poe, on behalf of Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell and the entire Cedar Rapids City Council hereby recognize September 2026 as start a conversation changing the narrative about suicide and encourage residents to start a conversation changing the narrative about suicide by promoting hope, connection, awareness, and support throughout our community. Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm mayor and city council for um doing this. We see the impacts every day. Obviously, we do this work every day of the year, but during this month, it's just an opportunity to uplift it and bring it to that public eye. On Thursday, we're going to be having a late and night memorial down at our headquarters building just a couple blocks downtown. And we have 250 names this year that local residents have submitted as their loved ones who have died by suicide that they would like to honor. So that number just keeps increasing. I mean, we are now over 100,000 contacts as an agency. We just broke, it's 101,483, I think, for the last fiscal year. So remarkable and twofold. We definitely hold that space that that is a lot of hurt in our communities, but we're glad that we're able to be there.
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