City Council Work Session

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Cedar Falls City Hall Conference Room 2 January 16, 2024 The City Council held a work session at City Hall at 5:15 p.m. on January 16, 2024. The following persons were in attendance: Mayor Daniel Laudick, Councilmembers Gil Schultz, Chris Latta, Daryl Kruse, Aaron Hawbaker, Dustin Ganfield, Hannah Crisman, and Kelly Dunn. Staff members from various City Departments and members of the community were also present. Mayor Laudick called the meeting to order, and reviewed the general purpose and goals of a work session meeting. Mayor Laudick introduced the first item on the agenda – College Hill Visioning/Zoning. Director of Community Development Stephanie Houk Sheetz provided a presentation and overview that included: precursors to both the downtown and college hill visioning and zoning initiatives; timeline of visioning and zoning work that has occurred for downtown and college hill; and the City Council priorities adopted January 2020 prior to starting the college hill vision plan. Mayor Laudick opened the item for discussion. Councilmembers discussed the difference between the terms “Receive and File” and “Adopt and Approve;” regarding the future ability of Council to make changes to align with the best interests of the City; there was also discussion on the Imagine College Hill! Vision Plan related to the executive summary recommendations, the Big Ideas section, and identified character areas of the study area; Council reached consensus for each member to provide Mayor Laudick with several concerns, supported items, and ideas; Mayor Laudick will compile the information then provide to and work with City staff to create actionable steps to bring back to Council for discussion. Mayor Laudick introduced the second item on the agenda – Animal Control. Public Safety Director Craig Berte provided a presentation and overview of animal control process from 2013 to 2023; Director Berte stated the contract was cancelled January 11, 2024, due to a proposed 400% cost increase with reduced services. Director Berte shared current animal control processes, types of calls, policies and tracking of any financial impact the new system may have. Mayor Laudick opened the item for discussion. Councilmembers, Director Berte, and Operations and Maintenance Manager Brian Heath discussed: deceased animal removal policy as City responsibility on City property but not private property; who residents contact with animal concerns; communicating new policy information to residents; and what additional equipment or personnel have been needed to accommodate the City taking over animal control calls. Meeting adjourned at 6:22 p.m. Minutes by Kristin Thomas, Administrative Supervisor 1