Committee of the Whole Meeting

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES City Hall, 220 Clay Street October 6, 2025 The meeting of the Committee of the Whole met at City Hall at 5:35 p.m. on October 6, 2025, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Danny Laudick, Gil Schultz, Chris Latta, Daryl Kruse, Dustin Ganfield, Hannah Crisman, and Kelly Dunn. Absent: Aaron Hawbaker. 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, Park Dedication Standards in Subdivision Code. Mayor introduced Planner III Michelle Pezley. Pezley introduced Vice President of HKGi Rita Trapp. Trapp overviewed park land dedication requirements noting they are: tied to new subdivision development; must relate directly to new growth; and state rules and guidance available in developing such regulations. Trapp reviewed the City’s current approach, code sections requiring revision, that the city’s current code lacks a formula such that each development involves case-by-case negotiations. The proposed approach is to create a land dedication formula with land suitability requirements and park location preferences, an option for fee-in-lieu of land dedication when appropriate, and outlining the developer’s responsibilities for preparing the parkland before dedication to the city. Trapp outlined the next steps: Planning & Zoning Commission will makes a recommendation, then the City Council will hold a public hearing and the ordinance will be considered. Mayor opened for discussion on the item. Trapp, Mayor, staff, and Council discussed: fee-in-lieu of land dedication as an option in appropriate situations to be determined on case-by-case basis; land dedication amount is determined at the time of subdivision approval through P&Z and Council, and land can be in City’s control at the final plat stage; the City and developer’s responsibilities to the dedicated land; how the goal of 6 acres of parkland per 1000 citizens was determined; and how Cedar Falls compares with other cities. There being no further discussion, Mayor requested consensus for staff to move forward with bringing the Park Dedication Standards to Council. Council indicated unanimous consensus. Mayor Laudick then introduced the second item on the Agenda, Chapter 7, Buildings and Building Regulations Review. Mayor introduced Building Official Jamie Castle. Castle acknowledged Council’s request for further clarification of potential code amendments previously provided to present to Council on October 20, 2025. Castle addressed the first proposed revised amendment to the definition of “bedroom”, the original amendment definition was revised by removing “lockable door” and replacing it with “door that can be closed for privacy”. Castle provided definitions of “bedroom” from the International Property Maintenance Code, Webster Dictionary, and ChatGPT; research indicates an issue with the words “intended for sleeping”, and Castle stated “if it looks like a bedroom, it will eventually be used as one” and this was the basis for recommending a clearer definition. Mayor opened for discussion on the item. Mayor, staff, and Councilmembers discussed: the need for inclusion of a closet opposed to a dresser or armoire; rooms that don’t fit the definition of “bedroom” being utilized as such and impact on parking if a two bedroom is used as a three bedroom, specifically regarding rental properties; new construction and major remodels are required to have a door, closet, and egress which eliminates the parking concern whereas apartment buildings typically are set at the time they are built and we see little change from that in a remodel proposal so it’s less of a concern; during rental property transfer of ownership and inspections, the number of bedrooms licensed v. utilized is checked and addressed as appropriate; intended playrooms and dens with wide openings adjacent to other living spaces will not be required to include a closet; should the definition/code include any “exception” language-not at this time. There being no further discussion at this time, Mayor requested consensus for staff to move forward with the revised amendment for the definition of “bedroom”. Council indicated unanimous consensus on the revised version presented at the meeting. Castle addressed the second proposed amendment to stormwater discharge requirements to add a provision to the building code, for clarity; currently requirements are contained in the sump pump disconnection section. The request is to also include it in the building code. If revisions are made to the provision, it will need to be amended in both places. Castle noted the council-requested revisions allow for existing properties to surface drain storm water unless it is creating a nuisance, then if there is a city storm sewer the property may need to connect to it; all new construction must connect to city storm sewer following current policy, but exceptions can be requested and reviewed for city approval. Castle noted changes between the original proposal and a revise amendment for consideration including: more specific nuisance and abatement language; new construction regulations; and existing properties’ sump pump surface discharge, and repaired, replaced, or relocated sump pump discharge placement. Mayor opened for discussion on the item. Mayor, staff, and Council discussed: construction of new buildings with and without sump pumps; requirement to be discharged at least 10 feet from any property line; discharge that reaches the sidewalks and causes ice build-up and city’s nuisance abatement process in cases where there is a storm sewer connection available and not available; the city’s efforts through street and alley reconstruction projects to run storm sewer drains where appropriate; and the city’s efforts to work with property owners to abate the nuisance as appropriate. There being no further discussion at this time, Mayor requested consensus for staff to move forward with the revised amendment presented at the meeting for adding the proposed stormwater discharge regulations to building code and revising in the current stormwater discharge code. Council indicated unanimous consensus. Meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m. Minutes by Katie Terhune, Administrative Supervisor