Committee of the Whole Meeting

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE City Hall – Council Chambers April 18, 2022 The Committee of the Whole met at the Community Center at 5:10 p.m. on April 18, 2022, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Robert Green and Councilmembers Susan deBuhr, Kelly Dunn, Dustin Ganfield, Simon Harding, Daryl Kruse, Gil Schultz and Dave Sires. Staff members from all City Departments and members of the community attended in person. Mayor Green called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the agenda, Human Rights Commission Annual Report, and introduced Eashann Vajpeyi, Human Rights Commission Chair. Mr. Vajpeyi stated changes that occurred this past year will include serving our community, position the commission with better visibility and a better reputation in the community. The HRC (Human Rights Commission) has moved away from handling, processing, investigating and adjudicating claims of discrimination in the community. Mr. Vajpeyi outlined the new committee structure that included: Commission Professional Development & Education, Outreach & Communication, Advocacy, and Policy/Executive. The HRC is putting structure and processes in place for incoming members to have a good transition into their role with the HRC to make an impact sooner. Councilmember Dunn asked if there are any requests from the HRC for Councilmembers; Mr. Vajpeyi stated additional staffing resources that were provided were helpful. Mayor Green asked about the ICRC agreement; Mr. Vajpeyi stated this agreement should be kept in place. Mayor Green moved to the second item on the agenda, Bicycle Plan Update and introduced Chris Sevy, Planner I, Matt Tolan, Civil Engineer II, and Andrew Schroll, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Chair. Mr. Schroll gave an introduction to the bike update plan that included the collaboration with City staff, Bicycle and Pedestrian committee, bike community and public input. This included the bike community’s mission to improve the quality of life through safe biking and walking; the more connected biking and walking are, the more connected we are as a community. The plan includes an emphasis on increasing the utility of network along with our recreational trail system. Mr. Sevy explained this update is needed for infrastructure planning, pride in our bike network, keep the plan relevant, pros/cons and requested by Councilmembers in 2019. Mr. Tolan gave a brief history of previous bike maps, plans and updates. Mr. Sevy discussed the parameters of the project which included: daily commuting utility; no widening of streets or rights-of-way; design options; bike lanes instead of existing on-street parking; sidewalks not considered bike infrastructure; multi-use trails placed along street frontages with limited driveways/cross-streets; and on-street facilities can be safer. Mr. Tolan gave an overview of design considerations and concerns. Mr. Sevy gave an overview of the process that has taken place to date, including developed/refined plan map, questionnaires distributed, public outreach at the farmers market and Cedar Falls Public Library and proposal to Planning & Zoning Commission on February 1, 2022, which was voted on unanimously to proceed to City Councilmembers for consideration and adoption. Mr. Tolan stated the bicycle plan is looked at for its planning ability for placing infrastructure on particular roadways; defined in the capital improvement programs, and construction timelines. Mr. Tolan gave an overview on each areas of public interest and the future plans that includes future bike lanes, shared lanes, paved shoulders and future uphill lanes. Mr. Schroll gave closing remarks and asked for questions. Mayor Green asked about the grid street connectivity network in the downtown area; Mr. Sevy stated that area is considered a bicycle friendly zone and tends to be low traffic. Councilmember Kruse is concerned with adding shared lanes on 12th/18th Street; Mr. Schroll explained a study was completed on the density of traffic. Councilmember Kruse gave suggestions on 12th/19th Streets and asked about dangerous gutter grading; Mr. Tolan explained the design changes are bike friendly. Councilmember Schultz expressed the importance of bicycle knowledge and consideration of Longview and Center Street additions/extensions. Councilmember Kruse asked about removal of snow or leaving snow for specific winter activities; Mr. Schroll stated this is in the review process, Big Woods, Riverside trails, Prairie Lakes and George Wyth will be left for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, etc. Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments will be releasing an interactive map. Mayor Green moved to the third item on the agenda, Public Safety Model Study – Funding Sources and introduced Jennifer Rodenbeck, Director of Finance and Business. Ms. Rodenbeck stated that on 3/21/22, the following referral was made: It was then moved by Ganfield and seconded by Harding to refer to the Committee of the Whole a presentation of possible funding sources up to $125,000 and at least three consulting firms, including Community Security Solutions, LLC, for the Public Safety review. Ms. Rodenbeck proposed Council members start with discussing the first part of the motion in regards to funding sources. She noted that possible budget funding sources could be; Emergency reserves ($125,000), Reduction of a Public Safety Officer ($100,000), Contingency ($60,000) and other CIP items or items discussed through the budget process. Ms. Rodenbeck stated challenges of moving forward with the study at this time include that the City is in the process of hiring a Public Safety Director and the FY2023 budget was just passed. Ms. Rodenbeck proposed better timing may be having Councilmembers review the above referral at Goal Setting in November 2022. Councilmembers discussed the scope of work, cost of this study, pros and cons of which fund to use, waiting to discuss until Goal Setting after Public Safety Director is hired, discuss after employee survey, EMS data is needed, and concerns with having multiple police/fire incidents at the same time; Ms. Rodenbeck stated the scope of work will drive the cost, the employee survey is slated to start in FY2022, $10,000 budgeted for FY2022 and $10,000 budgeted for FY2023. Councilmember Schultz asked about EMS response calls in 2021 and the number of complaints in 2021; Acting Public Safety Director Berte estimated 1,800-2,000 and includes calls in the City and calls Fire assists with, and Attorney Rogers stated no complaints. Whitney Smith, 2207 Hawthorne Drive, spoke in favor of third party consultant for an unbiased opinion, data and transparency. Councilmember Harding asked about timeline of employee survey; Ms. Rodenbeck stated in Goal Setting it was decided to move forward in FY2023 (July 1st). Councilmembers discussed setting the cost of the consulting firm and the detail of scope of work, review of RFP’s, CPAT vs. Cooper testing, promotions, which funds to use and employee survey; Attorney Rogers stated the importance of Council direction for staff. There was a question in regards to how the contingency line item has been used in the past and Ms. Rodenbeck explained the contingency funds are normally used up each year for unusual legal fees that come up, run off elections, and other items that come up unexpectantly. Councilmember Dunn motioned to move conversation until we can have a discussion at Goal Setting as to where budget funds come from; Councilmember Schultz seconded. Councilmember Dunn withdrew previous motion. Councilmember Dunn motioned to postpone discussion until Goal Setting, November 2022. Councilmember Schultz seconded. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Minutes by Kim Kerr, Administrative Supervisor