October 20, 2025 Meeting Minutes | Call to Order: 7:03pm
Attendance: George Heeren, Nicole Schroeder, Amy Hall-Haney, Denise Klemp. David Maier, Lt. Welsh, Matt Wagner, Trey Wentzien, Mitch DeGroot

• Treasurer's Report - Amy Hall-Haney - Current balance in checking: $3,901.71 with pending reimbursements of $1,079.97. Submitted the reimbursements in September. George will check the mail this week and report back to Amy so Betsy is in the loop. 
• CRPD Update - Lt. Welsh - CRPD reports overall, 2025 crime is down. 30 weapons stolen from vehicles this year. CRPD recruits graduated on October 3rd from the academy. Lt. Welsh is moving to the East District of Cedar Rapids to serve neighbors. Lt. Denni Randall (she/her) will be reporting on the West District of Cedar Rapids and will be attending CANA meetings in the future. 
• SAFE-CR - Matt Wagner - Citywide stats from September: responded to 162 founded calls for service. With lawn mowing season ending, calls for service will increase for snow removal. Snow Buddies program has been opened for 2025-2026, so applications are now being accepted. Reminder of MyCR app functions. One of the biggest issues right now are the “do not occupy” structures being inhabited by squatters. These approx. 60 properties need to be reported to keep individuals and first responders safe. SAFE-CR is working with Willis Dady to coordinate the street outreach to find shelter or assistance for the unhoused individuals. Winter shelter in the 1200 block of 10th St SE will be opening soon.  
• Letter to Neighbors (mailed 10/5) - Nicole Schroeder - Over 900 letters were sent to neighbors. We had more than 15 new email newsletter subscribers, more than 10 Facebook followers, and two neighbors who had not participated in neighborhood happenings before supported the efforts of our letter by attending tonight’s meeting.
  • CANA leaders took time to explain the history of the NA and current neighborhood initiatives. 
  • Nicole made a motion that we resend another variation of the letter in January this year to invite neighbors to our February meeting. Denise Klemp seconded.
    • David Maier added a discussion to move to a postcard or a shortened version of the letter. We will plan for a shortened version of the letter as postcards have not been well-received in the past.
    • All in favor, none opposed. Motion passes. Nicole will prepare another letter for the committee to review and submit to Allegra for print by January 15th and send the second half of January. 
• 2026 Event Plan
  • Easter Egg Hunt with Central Church of Christ - March/April 2026
  • Community Safety & Wellnes Fair - July 2026
  • National Night Out - Tuesday, August 4th - 5:30PM to 7:30PM
  • NEW - Playtime Poppy - George Heeren - Looking to bring a performance of Playtime Poppy to Cleveland Park in June 2026 in honor of its 75th anniversary. There is an approximate cost of $1,500 for this to happen, which includes hiring the staff, the mascot, an activity with the kids on-site, a permit for the park, and the logistics of bringing the performance space to Cleveland Park. George Heeren makes a motion to support this initiative for June 2026 at an approximate cost of $1,500. Amy Hall-Haney seconds. 
    • David Maier asked about the timing of the event. This would be in June 26, on the final day of the week-long summer camp. 
    • All in favor, none opposed. Motion passes. 
• Other Business 
  • Succession planning for President position
  • City Week Open House on Wednesday, October 22, from 4–6 PM at the City Services Center!  Get a behind-the-scenes look at City vehicles and equipment, explore the building, meet adoptable animals from Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control, and enjoy kids’ activities, games, prizes, and more! Plus, grab a FREE Cedar Rapids tote bag—while supplies last! There’s something for all ages, so bring the whole family for this fun, interactive event!
  • City has hired a new Parks Director. George Heeren met with her last week. He asked about the pavilion roof at Cleveland Park. Our pavilion is not the top priority as it’s in better shape than others that need to be replaced. She said the average bid is coming in about $100,000.00. 
  • David Maier reminded us of City voting on November 4th. Polling places can be searched at https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/157/Election-Services. 
    
    
    

Meeting adjourned at 7:55pm.
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Next Meeting: Monday, February 16th, 2026 at 7:00pm

Dear Neighbor,

In times of challenge and in times of celebration, it has always been neighbors who bring strength to the Cleveland Area. That is how our story began. 

After the devastating floods of 2008, a small group of caring neighbors gathered near Cleveland Park to talk about how we could recover, rebuild, and move forward together. From those conversations, the Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association (CANA) was born in 2013. What started as just six or seven committed individuals has grown into a movement that has touched the lives of countless families right here in our neighborhood.


Over the years, CANA has helped to create lasting change. Together, we have:

• Raised nearly $90,000 to help redesign and rebuild the Cleveland Park playground
• Hosted National Night Out in partnership with our city’s first responders 
• Offered free trees of different varieties to over 1,200 households through our partnership with Trees Forever
• Brought dozens of organizations and hundreds of neighbors together for the annual Community Safety & Wellness Fair
• Kept neighbors informed and connected when connection was needed most through postcards, email newsletters, and Facebook information, like during the COVID-19 shutdown and the derecho

While this doesn’t include all of our community work over the years, these are a few reminders of what is possible when neighbors come together. They show what happens when people decide to invest their time, their voices, and their care into a community worth fighting for. 

But today, our neighborhood association is at a crossroads. Many of the same dedicated neighbors who have carried CANA forward for more than a decade are asking for help. For CANA to continue its mission, to keep building a stronger, safer, more connected Cleveland Area, we need more neighbors like you to step forward and participate in our organization’s efforts. 

This is not just about meetings. It’s about protecting the sense of community that makes our neighborhood special. It’s about ensuring that families today, and the families who will live here tomorrow, have the same opportunities to thrive. It’s about being part of something bigger than ourselves.

Will you join us? Will you help carry this mission forward?
Will you be part of shaping the future of our neighborhood?

Your time, your energy, and your ideas matter. Whether you can serve in a leadership role, volunteer at events, or simply show up and lend your voice, there is a place for you in CANA.

Let’s not lose what so many worked hard to build. Let’s come together, neighbors helping neighbors, to keep the Cleveland Area strong.

With hope and determination,
The Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association Board of Directors
George Heeren, President
Gaylon Heetland, VP/Secretary
Amy Hall-Haney, Treasurer

P.S. Our next neighborhood meeting is on October 20th at 7:00 PM at Central Church of Christ. This is your chance to meet neighbors, share your ideas, and help shape the future of our community through conversation. We would love to see you there! 

July 21, 2025 Meeting Agenda | Call to Order: 7:01 pm
Attendance: Amy Hall-Haney, Nicole Schroeder, George Heeren, Lt. Welsh, Gaylon Heetland, Denise Klemp, Matt Wagner, Chief Smith, Adam Lindenlaub, Ashley Vanorny

• CRPD Update - Lt. Welsh - CRPD is still working with the current recruitment class. Shots fired calls are trending down from past years in 2025. Since 2016, we have had only one confirmed shots-fired incident. 
• CRFD Update - Chief Smith - CRFD is also working with their current recruitment class. Current retirements scheduled for 2025 are accounted for in this current recruitment class. No major injuries or incidents in 2025 Independence Day holiday week/end.
• City of Cedar Rapids - Adam Lindenlaub - Introduction. Standing in for Betsy Borchardt tonight. Review Neighborhood News here. 
  • George Heeren asked about 5&1 bridge accessibility update at E and F Ave NW. Adam did not have an update on this at this time. He did share information about the traffic control plans nearer the new casino development in that area. $25 million will be spent on the west side of Cedar Rapids for improvements, including the Greenway Parks Plan in the Riverfront area and Time Check area.
  • Nicole Schroeder asked about the Block ‘n Roll trailer usage at other neighborhood events. CANA has used it twice. In 2024, the trailer was used seven times. Current advertising within the city is promoting additional usage. 
• SAFE-CR - Matt Wagner - In the last month, there have been 196 calls for service in Cedar Rapids across 191 properties. There were 126 owner-occupied properties, 55 rental properties, and 15 commercial properties identified. Biggest violation issue this time of year is “tall grass and weeds” at 111 calls, then 44 calls for service due to “disturbance of the peace” (loud music, barking dogs, etc.).. Neighbors are encouraged to report any nuisances through the MyCR app. 
  • Nicole Schroeder asked about any recent updates to the MyCR app. No major updates, but Matt explained that neighbors can use the “Location” feature on the left side of the app to drop a pin for the most precise documented location for property identification. 
• Park Updates - George Heeren - Very few issues so far this summer! Very busy and no significant vandalism. New Parks Director for the City of Cedar Rapids has been announced. Her name is Carrie Mardorf. We haven’t been able to get the Parks Department to assist with the roof replacement that CANA has committed to at the Cleveland Park Pavilion. George will be reaching out to David Maier to help bring this to the City’s attention to get this project moving as the roof is in dire need of repair beyond just cosmetic. 
  • Nicole Schroeder asked about Shekita Tolbert hosting her back-to-school event at Cleveland Park this year. Her and her husband host a free school supply giveaway and free haircut event annually. As of today, we believe the event is still being hosted, but date is unknown. 
• Safety & Wellness Fair - Nicole Schroeder - On Saturday, June 21st, we were able to host 252 neighbors of all ages, serve 250 FREE picnic lunches (with an extra special thank you to John and Jessica from Hillside Community Church for working on that hot grill!), give away FIVE bicycles from Chain Reaction Bike Hub, TWO FREE car seats from Safe Kids Linn County, FREE first aid kits thanks to Wellpoint, nearly $800 in FREE school supplies from Staples, and over $300 in FREE gift cards and activity vouchers from local businesses and organizations. We had zero complaints (aside from the heat and wind). We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, volunteers, and community partners who made this event possible. We plan to bring it back in June 2026. 
• Treasurer’s Report - Amy Hall-Haney - Current balance $4,371.22 as of the June statement. We still have checks coming and going for the safety fair. Current outstanding balances are for our annual insurance and Idea Queen Marketing expenses. Quarterly City report has been submitted and is available for neighbors to review. 
• CANA Future Questions/Bylaw Review -  David Maier has rescinded his nomination acceptance for the CANA President position. George Heeren agreed to stay on as CANA President until a suitable replacement is found, assuming the bylaws are amended to reduce the number of meetings. It was previously discussed at meetings to hold four meetings per year. 
  • Gaylon proposed a motion to change the bylaws to change “5.02: REGULAR MEETINGS section to read “Regular meetings by the Association shall be held four times per year in the months of July, October, February, and May on the third Monday, or at a time and place designated by the President.” Denise seconded. Discussion of changing annual meeting bylaw verbiage; no changes at this time. It was also identified that we need to change the bylaws to update all of the verbiage identifying 10 meetings per year to 4 meetings per year.  All in favor, none opposed. Bylaws will be updated and published ASAP to the website and in CANA email communications. 
  • No new nominations for current President occupancy were shared at this meeting. We will continue seeking nominees to replace George Heeren.
  • No new nominations for VP/Secretary were shared at this meeting. We opened voting for the uncontested position as VP/Secretary. Gaylon Heetland has been voted in as the CANA VP/Secretary through July 2026. 
  • Ashley Vanorny shared her concerns with the viability of the neighborhood association without finding individuals who are committed to supporting the organization. She encourages CANA to reach out to as many neighbors as possible to come together and grow the interest in CANA moving forward. George Heeren asked how we can communicate to neighbors that we need to find a President by January 2026. Nicole Schroeder proposed a motion to spend to accommodate the costs for a letter with envelopes and postage to notify neighbors of the call for nominations. George Heeren seconded this motion. Discussion included Denise Klemp’s concerns of needing to share the impact of CANA in the last 13 years. Gaylon Heetland suggested a sub-committee meeting before the end of August to send the letter by early September. All in favor to support the original motion with the sub-committee to meet before the end of August. None opposed. Motion passes. Letter will be drafted and prepared for committee review by Nicole Schroeder with Idea Queen Marketing. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:12pm. 


Next Meeting: Monday, October 20th, 2025 at 7:00pm
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Our team of volunteers with the Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association wants to extend a giant THANK YOU to  those who attended, shared, and sponsored our 6th Annual Community Safety & Wellness Fair last weekend at Cleveland Park!! It was a HOT one, but we're thankful for that breeze (though brutally strong at times) and the ice-cold water. We had SO many new faces (and plenty of returning friends!)....it's safe to say that a good time was had by all!

In 2025, we were able to host 252 neighbors of all ages, serve 250 FREE picnic lunches (with an extra special thank you to John and Jessica from Hillside Community Church for working on that hot grill!), give away FIVE bicycles from Chain Reaction Bike Hub, TWO FREE car seats from Safe Kids Linn County, FREE first aid kits thanks to Wellpoint, nearly $800 in FREE school supplies from Staples, and over $300 in FREE gift cards and activity vouchers from local businesses and organizations.  ​

The Cleveland Area Neighborhood brings a diverse group of individuals and families to the park every year, and we truly enjoy educating, entertaining, and inspiring everyone to learn how to better care for themselves and their neighbors AND connect with our community. Your attendance and continued support make this event possible!

A few thank yous...

• Thank you to the City Parks & Recreation Department for offering us the Block 'N Roll trailer. If you need it for your event, we highly recommend reaching out to the City! It's a great tool to use for community events. 
• In addition to the event supplies provided in the trailer, Gene, Amy, and the crew from Central Church of Christ were able to help supply extra tables and tents! 
• Thank you to David Maier and HyVee for making our picnic lunch FREE to ALL attendees and volunteers. 
• Thanks again to our returning supporters of our bike helmet giveaway, Jacob and the team with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services. Their approach to serving the children in our community is incredibly meaningful to us, as we serve many families who may not be able to purchase bike helmets for their children otherwise. 
• A BIG shout out to our newest event supporter, Wellpoint!! With their sponsorship in 2025, Wellpoint made all of our goals possible this year, including the FREE first aid kits for ALL attendees. 

If you are interested in joining us as a sponsor in 2026, please contact our volunteers to let us know!

Join the Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association (CANA) and Cedar Rapids Central Church of Christ for a very special easter egg hunt at Cleveland Park in Cedar Rapids! This is scheduled for Saturday, April 19th at 10am - rain or shine.

This hunt is for ages 0 to 5th grade. This hunt is open to the public. You do not have to be a member of the Central Church of Christ or a neighbor inside CANA limits to attend.

Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early, so the hunt can start as close to 10am as possible. No registration is required.
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In lieu of a mad dash for eggs, egg hunters will be tasked with finding eggs numbered 1 through 12. The eggs will be turned in for prizes once they have all 12 eggs.

Questions? Contact Amy at [email protected].
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