Committee of the Whole Meeting

Committee of the Whole Draft Minutes 08-04-2025 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES City Hall, 220 Clay Street August 4, 2025 The meeting of the Committee of the Whole met at City Hall at 5:15 p.m. on August 4, 2025, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Gil Schultz, Chris Latta, Daryl Kruse, Aaron Hawbaker, Dustin Ganfield, Hannah Crisman, and Kelly Dunn. Staff members from all 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 Agenda, Historic Preservation Commission Update on Overman Park Reconnaissance Survey Project. Mayor introduced Historic Preservation Committee Chair Sally Timmer. Timmer presented information regarding the survey including: project overview, goals, and strategy; project roles of City staff, Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) members and volunteers, and Urbana Preservation and Planning LLC; survey boundaries of properties; survey results for both districts and individual properties; and potential Overman Park Historic District and Lawn City Historic District property information. Timmer presented next steps including: an additional intensive survey for some properties; individual and neighborhood National Registry of Historic Property (HRHP) nomination; benefits of the HRHP; and the potential to expand Overman Park Historic District. Timmer stated survey information is available through the City’s GIS system on the City website. Mayor opened for Council discussion. Councilmembers and Chair Timmer discussed: tax credit benefits, requirements, and restrictions, including exterior, interior, and addition work; that being on the registry does not require the application for tax credits. Mayor Laudick introduced the second item on the Agenda, Information on Forms of Government and Next Steps on City Administrator Hiring Process. Mayor presented information on the roles of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO, or City Administrator), the Mayor, and City Council including roles and authority, leadership and policy v. day-to-day administration, and oversight and responsibilities. Mayor overviewed the common forms of government allowed by State law including: Mayor-Council (with or without a CAO) with Mayor as a non-voting member, Council- Manager-At-Large and Council-Manager-Ward with Mayor as a voting member, and Home Rule Charter which allows a city flexibility to “design” the form of government. Mayor reviewed the current Cedar Falls structure and provided information on other common government forms in Iowa and the US. Moving forward, Mayor recommended: City Code clarification of Mayor and CAO duties; beginning the hiring process for a new City Administrator; a Charter Review Commission to review current City Charter and Code of Ordinances and recommend potential changes or updates; updated Code to recommend a Charter Review every 10 years. Mayor opened for Council discussion. Councilmembers, staff, and Mayor discussed: Council- Manager v. Mayor-Council; what can be brough forth for the Charter Review process; City Administrator, Mayor, and Council salary review; term length review; other cities’ administrative set-up CAO, Assistant, Mayor, department heads, etc.; division of administrative duties and measures of productivity and success; voting Mayor v. non-voting Mayor and roles, specifically community engagement and relationship with City Administrator and Councilmembers. Mayor opened for public comment. Gabe Groothuis, Cedar Falls, spoke about the need for a timeline, recommended lowering the Mayor’s salary, support for Mayor being a voting member of Council for accountability, a 4-year term for Mayor position, and support for the petition and referendum. Craig Fairbanks, Cedar Falls, spoke in support of moving forward and timeliness, and measures Committee of the Whole Draft Minutes 08-04-2025 of the City’s success. James McCullagh, Cedar Falls, expressed concern with the Council- Manager-Ward form and upcoming redistricting for Black Hawk County. Josh Wilson, Cedar Falls, commented on the City-Manager form of government and redistricting; support for the petition and referendum, and concern about hiring process for new City Administrator prior to November elections. Mayor opened for further Council discussion. Councilmembers discussed: form of government has no bearing on salary; Mayor as a voting member of Council v. non-voting, Council does not support voting; Mayor, Council, and City Administrator duties and roles; support for current form of government; the Charter Review timeline; review of salaries; and community engagement in the process. Mayor requested consensus on moving forward with the recommendations provided in the presentation; Council reached unanimous consensus. Meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m. Minutes by Katie Terhune, Administrative Supervisor