Committee of the Whole Meeting

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE City Hall – Council Chambers July 6, 2020 The Committee of the Whole met at City Hall via teleconference at 6:00 p.m. on July 6, 2020, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Robert M. Green, Frank Darrah, Susan deBuhr, Simon Harding, Daryl Kruse, Mark Miller, Dave Sires, and Nick Taiber. Staff members attended from all City Departments, as well as members of the community teleconferenced in. Also in attendance were Traci Mallaro, Mike Mallaro, Lorelei Redfern, and Nick Lakin all part of the Jump In Group. The Mayor introduced the first item on the agenda Update on Potential Pool Partnership. Stephanie Houk Sheetz Director of Community Development introduced the members of the Jump In Group who will be presenting this evening. Traci Mallaro stated they have 500 members in the Jump In Group, and are advocating for a new pool in Cedar Falls. She stated in the new high school preliminary design there is a new swimming pool. She stated this will be a great time for partnership among the School District, City and the University. Ms. Mallaro stated the two current school swimming pools are 43 years old and are towards their end of life, with Peet Jr. High pool slated to close in 2-3 years. She explained the pools are consistently used with over 26,000 uses per year. Ms. Mallaro said the number one response in the most recent Recreation study was for improved aquatics facility; however that was not on the agenda for improvements for the Recreation & Fitness Center, Operations & Facility Needs Assessment. She introduced Nick Lakin. Mr. Lakin reviewed the key elements in the swimming pool design. He explained there will be two tanks; smaller pool will include a ramp to make it ADA accessible and a big pool that will be a competition tank and be an ecomonic draw for the community, because of events that will be hosted. He continued to review the design. Mr. Lakin introduced Lorelei Redfern. Ms. Redfern reviewed the cost of the project and the potential funding sources. She stated it can be a collaborative effort between the school, city and the University. She said the city currently funds approximately 45% of the operating costs for the two pools at the Jr. High Schools and it is proposed the city help fund $3 million towards the new project. Ms. Redfern stated they hope both the school and the city will coordinate Black Hawk County Gaming applications for grant funding towards this project. She explained they hope the University will plan programs at the new pool through the special needs education program curriculum. Mayor Green opened it up for discussion. Ms. Sheetz explained city staff have attended various meeting on the swimming pool, and she stated funding priority could be discussed during council goal setting when they review of the Capital Improvement Program. Mr. Lakin stated the location in conjunction with the high school makes the most sense, since there will be shared walls and the current location of the Recreation Center would not allow the addition of a 40,000 square foot facility. There being no further discussion Mayor Green introduced the second item on the agenda Urban Chickens and Ducks. Stephanie Houk Sheetz reviewed prior presentation materials from 2016. She explained other cities in Iowa have a variety of approaches. She reviewed the August 2018 ordinance, which ended up not being approved. Ms. Sheetz reviewed a diagram of a sample residential lot and the boundaries for a coop and fenced in run area. She also said the chickens would be based on an annual license similar to cats and dogs. She explained land use permits wouldn’t apply since for coop’s less than 120 square feet (similar to sheds). She reviewed the recommended motion for a draft ordinance, which will include the following general standards: a. Three chickens (hens) and/or ducks, to be licensed annually b. Kept in a clean, sanitary and enclosed structure c. 25-foot separation from neighboring residential dwellings d. Allow in residential (R) zoning districts e. Backyard area only f. Termination of chickens for health reasons Mayor Green opened it up for discussion. Through the discussion council agreed an annual license rather than a land use permit would be required. They also discussed opening it up to include all poultry and increasing the number from three. It was discussed should the number be based on the lot size and if the 25-foot separation be from the lot line rather than then residential dwellings. Simon Harding motioned to have staff draft an ordinance to allow 10 poultry to be licensed annually; kept in a clean, sanitary and enclosed structure; 25-foot separation from neighboring residential dwellings; allow in residential (R) zoning districts; backyard area only; and termination of chickens for health reasons. Nick Taiber seconded the motion. Motion passed (Aye- Miller, Taiber, Harding, Darrah, and Kruse; Nay-deBuhr and Sires) Mayor Green moved to the final item on the agenda, bills and payrolls. Dave Sires moved to approve the bills and payroll as presented, and Simon Harding seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. There being no further, Mayor Green adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Minutes by Lisa Roeding, Controller/City Treasurer