City Council Meeting

CITY HALL CEDAR FALLS, IOWA, FEBRUARY 16, 2026 REGULAR MEETING, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR DANIEL LAUDICK PRESIDING The City Council of the City of Cedar Falls, Iowa, met in Regular Session, pursuant to law, the rules of said Council and prior notice given each member thereof, at 7:00 P.M. on the above date. Members present: Schultz, Latta, Nagle, Hawbaker, Fairbanks, Crisman, Dunn. Absent: None. Mayor Laudick led the Pledge of Allegiance. 55829 - It was moved by Hawbaker and seconded by Crisman that the minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 2, 2026, be approved as presented and ordered of record. Motion carried unanimously. 55830 - Kamyar Enshayan, Cedar Falls, requested a Public Hearing be held with Cedar Falls Utilities educating citizens on the status of nitrates in our drinking water, and the effects it has on birth defects and cancer rates. Linda Fitzgerald, Cedar Falls, also expressed concerns with nitrate levels in the water and requested a meeting with citizens to plan how to get ahead of the problem. Lu Ann Widen, Cedar Falls, expressed concerns with cancer rates in Iowa and nitrate levels in the water. Mayor Laudick commented. 55831 - Director of Public Safety Berte provided an update that Independence Day Fireworks will be allowed on July 3 and July 4, 2026, per state law, and noted that no additional days will be requested. Mayor Laudick commented. Director of Finance & Business Operations Rodenbeck provided a status update on the City Administrator hiring process. Mayor Laudick commented. 55832 - Mayor Laudick announced that in accordance with the public notice of February 7, 2026, this was the time and place for a public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, and estimate of cost for the North Cedar Heights Area Reconstruction Project - Phase 3. It was then moved by Hawbaker and seconded by Fairbanks that the proof of publication of notice of hearing be received and placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. 55833 - The Mayor then asked if there were any written communications filed to the proposed plans, etc. Upon being advised that there were no written communications on file, the Mayor then called for oral comments. Principal Engineer Bitter provided an overview of the proposed plans, etc. There being no one else present wishing to speak about the proposed plans, etc., the Mayor declared the hearing closed and passed to the next order of business. 55834 - It was moved by Hawbaker and seconded by Crisman that Resolution #24,460, approving and adopting the plans, specifications, and estimate of cost for the North Cedar Heights Area Reconstruction Project - Phase 3, be approved. Following a question by Mayor Laudick and response by Director of Public Works Schrage, the Mayor put the question on the motion and upon call of the roll, the following named Councilmembers voted. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Nagle, Hawbaker, Fairbanks, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion Carried. The Mayor then declared Resolution #24,460 duly passed and adopted. 55835 - Mayor Laudick announced that in accordance with the public notice of February 7, 2026, this was the time and place for a public hearing on a proposal to undertake a public improvement project for the West 22nd Street Reconstruction from Campus Street to College Hill Project, and to authorize acquisition of private property for said project. It was then moved by Latta and seconded by Hawbaker that the proof of publication of notice of hearing be received and placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. 55836 - The Mayor then asked if there were any written communications filed to the proposed project. Upon being advised that there were no written communications on file, the Mayor then called for oral comments. Principal Engineer Dr. Claypool provided an overview of the proposed project. There being no one else present wishing to speak about the proposed project, the Mayor declared the hearing closed and passed to the next order of business.  -2- 55837 - It was moved by Crisman and seconded by Latta that Resolution #24,461, approving a public improvement project for the West 22nd Street Reconstruction from Campus Street to College Hill Project, and authorizing acquisition of private property for said project, be approved. Following due consideration by the Council, the Mayor put the question on the motion and upon call of the roll, the following named Councilmembers voted. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Nagle, Hawbaker, Fairbanks, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion Carried. The Mayor then declared Resolution #24,461 duly passed and adopted. 55838 - It was moved by Dunn and seconded by Latta that Ordinance #3139, providing that general property taxes levied and collected each year on all property located within the North Cedar Estates Urban Renewal Area, in the City of Cedar Falls, County of Black Hawk, State of Iowa, by and for the benefit of the State of Iowa, City of Cedar Falls, County of Black Hawk, Cedar Falls Community School District, and other taxing districts, be paid to a special fund for payment of principal and interest on loans, monies advanced to an indebtedness, including bonds issued or to be issued, incurred by the City in connection with the North Cedar Estates Urban Renewal Area, be passed upon its third & final consideration. Following due consideration by the Council, the Mayor put the question on the motion and upon call of the roll, the following named Councilmembers voted. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Nagle, Hawbaker, Fairbanks, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion Carried. The Mayor then declared Ordinance #3139 duly passed and adopted. 55839 - It was moved by Fairbanks and seconded by Dunn that the following items on the Consent Calendar be received, filed, and approved: Receive and file the Committee of Whole meeting minutes of February 2, 2026, relative to the following item: a) Update from Community Main Street. Receive and file the minutes of the January 26, 2026 City Council Public Library meeting. Receive and file the resignation of Jim O'Loughlin as a member of the Historic Preservation Commission. Approve the following applications for retail alcohol licenses: a) Chad's Pizza & Restaurant, 909 West 23rd Street, Class C retail alcohol - renewal. b) Lovana’s Kitchen LLC, 4302 University Avenue, Class C retail alcohol - renewal. c) Panther Lounge, 210 East 18th Street, Class C retail alcohol - renewal. d) The Stuffed Olive and Roxxy, 314-316 Main Street, Class C retail alcohol & outdoor service - renewal. e) Happy's Wine & Spirits, 5925 University Avenue, Class E retail alcohol - renewal. f) Patton, 317 Main Street, Class C retail alcohol - temporary outdoor service/sidewalk café. g) Second State Brewing, 203 State Street, Class C retail alcohol - temporary outdoor service/sidewalk café. h) SingleSpeed Brewing Co., 128 Main Street, Class C retail alcohol, Special Class A beer - temporary outdoor service/sidewalk café. i) The Pump Haus Pub & Grill, 311 Main Street, Class C retail alcohol - temporary outdoor service/sidewalk café. j) The Stuffed Olive and Roxxy, 314-316 Main Street, Class C retail alcohol - temporary outdoor service/sidewalk café. k) Tony's La Pizzeria, 407 Main Street, Class C retail alcohol & outdoor service - temporary additional outdoor service/sidewalk café. l) Whiskey Road Tavern & Grill, 402 Main Street, Class C retail alcohol & outdoor service - temporary additional outdoor service/sidewalk café. m) Wilbo, 118 Main Street, Class C retail alcohol & outdoor service - temporary outdoor service/sidewalk café. Motion carried unanimously.  -3- 55840- It was moved by Crisman and seconded by Latta to approve the following recommendation of the Mayor relative to the appointment of members to Boards and Commissions: a) James Ehmen, Historic Preservation Commission, term ending 03/31/2028. b) Timothy Kuhlmann, Historic Preservation Commission, term ending 03/31/2029. c) Sally Timmer, Historic Preservation Commission, term ending 03/31/2029. Following comments by Mayor Laudick, the motion carried unanimously. 55841 - It was moved by Hawbaker and seconded by Crisman that the following resolutions be introduced and adopted: Resolution #24,462, approving and adopting a Classification & Compensation Study, in conjunction with the City’s pay plan study. Resolution #24,463, approving and adopting new/revised job classifications, in conjunction with the City’s pay plan study. (Contingent upon approval of previous item) Resolution #24,464, approving and adopting amendments to CFD 2158: Personnel Policy – Longevity Pay. Resolution #24,465, approving and adopting amendments to CFD 2256: Personnel Policy – Vacation. Resolution #24,466, approving and authorizing execution of an Agreement with YWCA Black Hawk County (YWCA) relative to fitness classes for seniors. Resolution #24,467, approving and authorizing submission of the Iowa Certified Local Government (CLG) 2025 Annual Report of the Historic Preservation Commission to the State Historical Society of Iowa. Resolution #24,468, approving an S-1, Shopping Center Zoning District site plan for construction of a new coffee shop located at 6003 University Avenue. Resolution #24,469, approving and authorizing execution of Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the Professional Service Agreement with Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC relative to the 2025 Bridge Maintenance Project. Resolution #24,470, approving the Certificate of Completion and accepting the work of Wicks Construction, Inc. for the Hudson Road Bridge Deck Overlay Project, and approving and authorizing the transfer of funds from the Local Option Sales Tax Fund to the 2024 G.O. Bond Fund. Resolution #24,471, receiving and filing the bids, and approving and accepting the low bid of Owen Contracting, Inc., in the amount of $321,632.04, for the 2026 Alley Reconstruction Project. Resolution #24,472, approving and authorizing execution of a Service/Product Agreements for asbestos abatement and demolition services with Lehman Trucking & Excavating Inc. relative to structures located at 930 West 1st Street. Resolution #24,473, approving and accepting the contract and bond of Arends Excavating, LLC for the South Main Street Sanitary Sewer Extension Project. Resolution #24,474, approving and authorizing submission of a co-application with the Iowa Department of Transportation for the 2026 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program relative to reconstruction of Highway 58 & Greenhill Road Interchange Construction Project. Resolution #24,475, setting April 6, 2026, as the date of the public hearing on the proposed property tax rate and creating a proposed property tax rate for the City of Cedar Falls FY2027 Budget. Resolution #24,476, receiving and filing, and setting March 2, 2026 as the date of public hearing on the  -4- proposed plans, specification, and estimate of cost for the 2026 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. Following due consideration by the Council, the Mayor put the question on the motion and upon call of the roll, the following named Councilmembers voted. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Nagle, Hawbaker, Fairbanks, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion carried. The Mayor then declared Resolutions #24,462 through #24,476 duly passed and adopted. 55842 - It was moved by Fairbanks and seconded by Dunn that Ordinance #3140, amending Chapter 5, Alcoholic and Malt Beverages, of the Code of Ordinances, relative to possession or consumption in public place; public intoxication, be passed upon its first consideration. Following comments by Mayor Laudick and City Attorney Rogers, and questions by Councilmembers Fairbanks and Dunn, and responses by Rogers, the Mayor put the question on the motion and upon call of the roll, the following named Councilmembers voted. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Nagle, Hawbaker, Fairbanks, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion Carried. 55843 - It was moved by Latta and seconded by Hawbaker that the bills and claims of February 16, 2026, be allowed as presented, and that the Controller/City Treasurer be authorized to issue City checks in the proper amounts and on the proper funds in payment of the same. Upon call of the roll, the following named Councilmembers voted. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Nagle, Hawbaker, Fairbanks, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion carried. 55844 - UNI Student Liaison Benton expressed concerns with the rising cancer rates in Iowa and its effects on students staying in Iowa after graduation and would like further discussion and an initiative. Benton also acknowledged the death of UNI football player Parker Sutherland and requested a moment of silence is his honor. 55845 - It was moved by Fairbanks and seconded by Hawbaker to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Property Acquisition per Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property. Upon call of the roll, the following named Councilmembers voted. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Nagle, Hawbaker, Fairbanks, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion carried. The City Council adjourned to Executive Session at 7:27 P.M. Mayor Laudick reconvened the Council meeting at 8:04 P.M. 55846 - It was moved by Dunn and seconded by Nagle that the meeting be adjourned at 8:05 P.M. Motion carried unanimously. __________________________________ Kim Kerr, CMC, City Clerk