Committee of the Whole Meeting

MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE City Hall, 220 Clay Street October 7, 2024 The meeting of the Committee of the Whole met at City Hall at 5:50 p.m. on October 7, 2024, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Daniel Laudick, Councilmembers Chris Latta, Daryl Kruse, Dustin Ganfield, Hannah Crisman, Kelly Dunn, and Gil Schultz; Absent: Councilmember Hawbaker. Staff members from various City Departments and members of the community attended in person. Committee of the Whole: Mayor Laudick called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the Committee of the Whole Agenda, Animal Control Task Force Update and introduced Assistant Public Safety Director/Police Chief Mark Howard. Howard presented information on the history of Cedar Falls Animal Control services since January 2024, review of data at 6 months and creation of the Task Force, and the recommendation of the Task Force for Public Safety and Public Works to keep services in-house. Howard gave an overview of the proposal: to create 2 (two) new Part-Time Animal Control Officer positions and their duties and training expectations; purchase of a vehicle specific to Animal Control; equipment already purchased at the recommendation of Cedar Bend Humane Society Executive Director Kristy Gardner, and to be purchased; and the Animal Control Services budget and potential future PSS staffing changes. Howard requested Council make a referral to staff for the creation of 2 (two) Part-Time Animal Control Officer positions including training and a dedicated vehicle. Mayor Laudick briefly reviewed the Task Force’s recommendation for Howard to present the proposal to Council for discussion and provide direction to staff. Councilmember Kruse moved to proceed with the proposal for creation of two new positions, training, and equipment including vehicle. Councilmember Ganfield seconded. Councilmembers, Mayor Laudick, and staff discussed: salary options for the proposed positions including benefits; purchase of a vehicle; expertise of Animal Control Officers; function of officers when not responding to calls including Code Enforcement and Inspection support; assistance to outside agencies; support from Cedar Bend Humane Society; time dedicated to animal bite calls; calls for domestic v. wild animals; options for dedicated officers to answer “after hours” calls and frequency of calls; Public Works response for dead animal pickup; and the timeline to approve these positions and staff them. Mayor Laudick opened for public comment; there being none, Mayor called for a voice vote on the motion. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Kruse, Ganfield, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Laudick introduced the second item on the Committee of the Whole Agenda, Big Woods Campground Expansion and introduced Operations and Maintenance Manager Brian Heath. Heath provided history of the campground and partnership, and campground details; an overview of the proposed expansion project, benefits, approach, and preliminary cost estimates and funding sources; and the proposed timeline. Heath requested Council authorization to move forward with project development and to apply for additional funding. Councilmembers, Mayor Laudick, and staff discussed: ADA accessibility of sites and buildings; removal of trees and invasive vegetation in the proposed expansion site; average occupancy of current sites; and infrastructure for dumping. Mayor Laudick opened for public comment. David Heath, Ankeny, provided history of the Heath family in the area and pledged donation of $50,000 from the family; Heath requested a memorial sign. Jim Newcomb, Cedar Falls, spoke in favor of the expansion and praised Big Woods. Mayor called for a voice vote on the motion. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Kruse, Ganfield, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m. Minutes by Katie Terhune, Administrative Supervisor