Committee of the Whole Meeting

Committee of the Whole Cedar Falls Council Chambers August 16, 2021 The Committee of the Whole met at City Hall at 6:03 p.m. on August 16, 2021, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Robert Green and Councilmembers Frank Darrah, Susan deBuhr, Kelly Dunn, Simon Harding, Daryl Kruse, Mark Miller and Dave Sires. Staff members from all City Departments and members of the community attended in person and teleconferenced in. Mayor Green called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the agenda, Utilities Board of Trustees Interview – Leslie Prideaux and introduced Leslie Prideaux. Ms. Prideaux gave a brief history of herself: she works for the University of Northern Iowa as Assistant VP of Alumni Relations and currently serves on the Visitor & Tourism and Planning and Zoning Boards. Mayor Green opened it up for questions from the Council, no questions. Mayor Green introduced the second item of the agenda, Cedar River Recreation Safety Project, and introduced Stephanie Houk Sheetz, Community Development Director. Ms. Sheetz stated this project has been in the City’s Capital Improvements Plan for years. Following Council review of a full Master Plan for the River and discussion at a March 2017 Committee of the Whole meeting, the area of focus is between the Main Street and W 1st Street bridges. In November 2020, the City obtained the Iowa DNR permit; in January 2021 the City secured the Army Corps permit for the project. The City secured the Black Hawk County Gaming request of $1,500,000 in May 2021. The anticipated schedule is as follows: September 7, set public hearing; September 20, public hearing; October 4, low bidder; October 18, contract; and November 1, notice to proceed. Ideal time to work in the river is between November-December. Ms. Sheetz explained the three options on the fundraising component: A) all funding secured, in amounts indicated in the CIP, prior to bidding the project; B) bid project once private fundraising pledges of $600,000 are made in writing; or C) bid project following outlined schedule, with $130,000 fundraising dollars raised and Cedar River Experience continues fundraising efforts, with pledges ranging 2-6 years. Ms. Sheetz introduced Bob Seymour, Cedar River Experience Representative. Mr. Seymour explained they are a group of volunteers and their goal is to get recreation access to the river; they have done 30 presentations and received 35 letters of support for the project. Mr. Seymour introduced Dave Deaver, Cedar River Experience Representative. Mr. Deaver stated they need approval from City Council to allow pledges for the 2-6 year timeframe, since the project would be completed prior to that time. Mr. Deaver stated at this time they have verbal commitments of $130,000 in cash and would be working to raise $370,000 in pledge donations. Mayor Green opened Council and public discussion. Councilmember Kruse asked about the length of the project and the upstream dam. Ms. Sheetz explained the in-river portion will take approximately 2 months; the final project completion is June or July and the upstream dam has approximately 10-15 years of life left. Mark Kittrell, 250 State Street #408, stated this is an important amenity for the community, downtown and the committee plans to exceed the $500,000 goal. Councilmember deBuhr asked about recognizing donors and signage. Ms. Sheetz explained ideas on opportunities for donors to be recognized with plaques or on interpretative signage already planned with the project. Councilmember Kruse asked who is financing the shortage of the project until the pledges are due. Ron Gaines, City Administrator, stated the City would finance the shortage. Councilmember Harding motioned for option C (bid project following outlined schedule, with $130,000 fundraising dollars raised and Cedar River Experience continues fundraising efforts, with pledges ranging 2-6 years.); Councilmember Darrah seconded. Motion approved unanimously. Mayor Green introduced the third item of the agenda, Future Forward 2025 Update, and introduced Stephanie Houk Sheetz, Community Development Director. Ms. Sheetz gave an overview of the plan that was endorsed in February 2017. The objectives where the City is the lead entity consisted of: create a regionally recognized Cedar River Whitewater District; expand mixed-use development within Cedar Falls; revitalize existing public parks; develop inclusive parks and public venues; strengthen neighborhood communication; address transportation accessibility & affordability; implement state of the art recycling programs & education; implement progressive water quality, conservation & energy planning strategies; develop and/or enhance public gathering places/venues; increase annual development in North Cedar; complete Center Street project; and pursue official international “sister community”. Ms. Sheetz would like City Council to consider both motions suggested: 1. Endorse continued use of Future Forward 2025 through 2030. 2. Continue implementation of the Future Forward 2025 Plan. Councilmember Darrah motioned to add a third option of reviewing Future Forward 2025 at Council goal setting. Councilmember Harding seconded. Councilmember deBuhr motioned to amend option #1 to receive and file Future Forward 2025 through 2030. Councilmember Darrah seconded. Councilmembers voted. Aye: deBuhr, Darrah, Harding, Kruse and Sires. Nay: Miller and Dunn. Motion carried. Councilmember Sires motioned to strike option #2-continue implementation of the Future Forward 2025 Plan. Councilmember deBuhr seconded. Councilmembers voted. Aye: Sires and deBuhr. Nay: Dunn, Darrah, Harding, Kruse and Miller. Motion failed. The following is back on the table: 1. Receive and file Future Forward 2025 through 2030. 2. Continue implementation of the Future Forward 2025. 3. Review Future Forward 2025 at Council goal setting. Councilmembers voted. Aye: Dunn, Darrah, Harding, Kruse and Miller. Nay: deBuhr and Sires. Motion carried. There being no further discussion, Mayor Green adjourned the meeting at 7:22 p.m. Minutes by Kim Kerr, Administrative Supervisor