Tonight at Jefferson High School, the City of Cedar Rapids hosted a public meeting in regards to the "Paving for Progress" program that will be affecting our neighborhood streets in coming months and years. Here are a few highlighted items from the presentation and discussion:

• Our neighborhood street and water main improvements will begin in 2020 and go through 2022 in two phases
• Water drainage issues in our neighborhood will be addressed by additional drainage systems within the streets
• Work will be permitted around the school year as accessibility to Jefferson High School is critical to the general flow of traffic in our neighborhood 
• Sidewalks will not be commonly installed in the neighborhood, with the exception in two areas where sidewalks will be finished as they are currently incomplete pathways (corner of Chandler St / 8th Ave as well as 20th St to 16th Ave)
• The width of the streets will be decreased to 28 feet, which is 2 feet wider than City of Cedar Rapids standards
• Neighbors will have limited access to driveways during certain construction periods, but will be notified by door hangings before the work that limits accessibility is complete
• Traffic procedures at the current "Y" intersection of 20th St SW and Chandler St SW will be updated

Other notable updates are included in the attachment from the City's presentation below. The attachment also includes a public feedback form and contact information for the City Engineer, Lee Tippe, as well as Todd Happel with Anderson Bogert engineering services. Additional public meetings will be held closer to the start of the residential street and water main improvements. 

CANA July 2019 Meeting Minutes - Call To Order: 7:01PM
Attendance: George Heeren, Jackie McLaren, Ashley Vanorny, Chief Greg Smith, Denise Klemp, Lt. Tobey Harrison, Eriece Colbert, Kelly McMahan, Marlene Hunt, Sue Graham, Annette Lorenz, Susan Johnston, Nicole Schroeder

• CR Police Department - Lt. Tobey Harrison
  • Review of CRPD Calls for Service Report
  • Reminder of 9PM routine - emphasis that it should be any time you are alone or leaving the house as most break-ins happen during daytime hours
  • Susan Johnston asked about tag art on Central Church of Christ property - Lt. Harrison commented that tag art (or grafitti) has been more common in the summer months. He asked that the church clean it up ASAP to prevent further art being added. 
  • Lt. Harrison advised that they have hosted multiple youth police academies with the most recent being July 10th. They have seen success getting youth involved in training exercises to emphasize community safety. 
  • CRPD has added 3 new K9 units. They are also reporting crimes digitally on CrimeReportsTM. We now have this added to our website for easy access by neighborhood members. 
  • George Heeren shared his concerns about the homeless man in the park being there after hours. He does not want to get him arrested, but would like CRPD to offer him help. Lt. Harrison advised that CRPD needs to be notified if he is there after park hours (10pm-6am) and they can offer assistance via local homeless shelters and remove him from the park safely.
  • Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny commented that she had a state representative with her at the park and they had to report missing “no smoking” signs. No smoking at the park within 30 feet of the playground or ball diamonds. ‘
• CR Fire Department - Chief Greg Smith
  • Review of Neighborhood News
  • Cedar Lake is now a city-owned property
  • ATE citation reminder (interstate cameras for speeding tickets) 
  • Daniels Park is now open! Neighborhood members encouraged to check it out to see park upgrades.
  • Less reports of fireworks related incidents in 2019. Only 2 reported fires by fireworks with minimal damage compared to 2018. 
  • Sue Graham had asked about shredded paper regulations. We discussed whether shredded paper should be composted or recycled. Councilwoman Vanorny contacted City of CR Public Works during the meeting and was advised that shredded paper should be put into a paper bag and recycled, not composted due to paper flying away in the disposal pick up process.
• SAFE CR - Annette Lorenz
  • Decrease in fireworks citations (16 warning letters went out with few charges in city parks, etc.)
  • 1240 Chandler Street SW is now rented, per neighborhood member Jan Coleman. 
  • 2101 Chandler Street SW is still vacant - Chief Smith or Annette will be following up with this property as they are unsure if it is up-to-code as a multiplex or if it is being repaired/torn down. 
• City Council Member - Ashley Vanorny
  • Coffee with a Council Member will be scheduled for August - Date TBD
  • Review of Complete Streets / Paving for Progress - 8th Avenue SW between 18th Street and 15th Street SW will be starting repairs shortly that will be completed by Fall 2019. A letter was sent to residents affected by these repairs.  Sue Graham was curious about the timeline of the repairs on the 20th Street SW / Chandler Street SW loop. Nicole Schroeder commented that it was 2020 to start and 2021 to complete last time she checked. Updates can be found on the Paving for Progress Interactive Map. Lee Tippee is the project manager for this. Sue will be in contact with him for updates. 
    • UPDATE: The current map status has the 20th Street SW / Chandler Street SW loop noted for repairs in 2022. 
• Treasurer’s Report - Nicole Schroeder
  • Current account balance: $3,438.27 with outstanding check of $2,770.00 for concrete slab installation at park. We are currently waiting on small check from Central Church of Christ and reimbursement from City of CR for Safe Fest Expenses ($742+change). When all balances are paid/received, estimated bank balance will be approximately $1,400-$1,500. We raised almost $500 with the pancake breakfast this year. George Heeren noted that we officially have a savings account set up separately for the playground fundraising project. 
• Safe Fest Wrap Up - Susan Johnston
  • Safe Fest was a success! Over 100 in attendance plus volunteers with great feedback. We will be looking at keeping the mascots around longer next year. We will be moving the time from 8am to 9am for the start and also advertising earlier in the year. The late start was an issue with advertising this year. We will look forward to planning for 2020!
• National Night Out - Tuesday 8/6 at Cleveland Park
  • CANA will be providing hot dogs, chips, and bottled water beginning at 6pm. Neighbors are encouraged to bring a side dish or dessert as it is a potluck. We will be playing “The Incredibles 2” at 7:30pm. George Heeren will be bringing our CANA popcorn machine. 
  • Central Church of Christ will be providing crafts and games for the kids in between dinner and the movie. 
  • Denise Klemp will be bringing books to read with Sheryl Ochs as well. They also have bookmark crafts for the kids to do. 
• Park Playground Project
  • We are working to raise up to $85,000 to match the city’s budget for Cleveland Park improvements for 2020. Our goal is to raise the money by 11/1/19. Nicole Schroeder started a list of local business contacts to apply for grants and sponsorship dollars. Susan Johnston added to this list. 
  • We reviewed the letter to neighbors to include all the information necessary to raise the most funds. Denise Klemp suggested a few items to adjust/add and we also discussed a Frequently Asked Questions place on our website about the project to help educate our neighbors. 
• Email List Updates
  • Due to the number of registered members on our email marketing list, we will be moving to the MailChimp.com email marketing platform to reach members. This will better allow members to follow our updates and subscribe, share, and unsubscribe more efficiently. Please watch for this email from CANA moving forward vs. the personal emails through Gmail. Questions can be directed to Nicole Schroeder. 
• Cedar Rapids Education Association - Mrs. Colbert / Mrs. McMahan
  • Mrs. Colbert and Mrs. McMahan presented to us the CREA information as they are working with Lauren Whitehead on community outreach to connect the neighborhoods more closely to the schools/educators. Lauren was unable to attend tonight. Mrs. Colbert and Ms. McMahan presented three general questions to our neighbors tonight that were discussed and documented for review:
    • 1) What do you like about your neighborhood schools?
    • 2) What do your neighborhood schools need to improve upon / adjust to thrive in the community?
    • 3) What is the vision you have for your neighborhood schools?
  • The school district is beginning Phase I of their improvement plan for our community schools beginning with Coolidge, Jackson, and Truman. During Phase I, they will discuss the plans for Phase II, which will include Cleveland. 
• Voting of Board Member
  • Earlier in 2019, Gaylon Heetland was nominated as a board member of CANA. Gaylon has recently accepted the nomination. George Heeren motioned to vote. Motion was approved. All in favor, none opposed. Gaylon Heetland is a current board member of CANA effective 7/15/19. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:23pm.

SAFE CR UPDATE 7/16/19 FROM ANNETTE LORENZ RE: PROPERTY AT 2101 CHANDLER ST SW:
A notice was sent out as a Final Notice on June 6th, giving the property owner until July 10th to repair or demolish their property or further actions may be taken against them. At one point there was an interested buyer of the property, but as of right now, there has been no change in ownership and no work has taken place.  The building services staff has contacted the current owner requesting an update on the property. 

CRFD UPDATE 7/18/19 FROM CHIEF GREG SMITH RE: PROPERTY AT 2101 CHANDLER ST SW: 
 The question raised surrounded the fire last February at 2101 Chandler Street and how a three-plex would be allowed to be built in a single family residential neighborhood.  I spoke with our Building Services Department and the answer is that this structure was built prior to the zoning code, and was grandfathered in when the zoning code was enacted.  Building Services is working with the owner of the structure regarding its condition.

If you have specific questions on that process, the best contact is Kevin Ciabatti, Building Services Director.

Why are we raising $85,000 for Cleveland Park?
In 2020, the City of Cedar Rapids Parks Department has plans to upgrade the playground equipment at Cleveland Park. The Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association would like to match their playground improvement budget of $85,000 to include additional playground upgrades, including inclusive playground equipment for our community. 

What is ADA-compliant and inclusive playground equipment? 
Every playground is required to be ADA compliant. It is the law. This means that the park equipment is easy to approach and reach by kids of a wide age range and include lowered money bars, ramps that lead to the upper parts of the playground equipment, and swing seats with backs on them to make them usable for people who need support. 

When you add inclusive playground equipment, these are pieces of equipment and overall playground designs that encourage all types of play with a mix of physical, sensory, and social activities for multiple challenge levels. The activities are more designed into “pods” on the playground to make the playground easier to access and navigate. Inclusive equipment also includes easier access for wheelchairs and strollers to enter and navigate the playground. At Cleveland Park, we want to be sure that everyone feels welcome and able to play with their friends, family, and neighbors on our playground. 

When is this project happening?
We are fundraising through November 1, 2019. The actual park improvements will start in late spring or early summer (May-June) 2020. A specific date will be announced along with a groundbreaking event in late spring 2020. 

What is the deadline to raise the money?
The final date for any donations to be made is November 1, 2019. Most grant cycles also end at this date, and we need to submit requests for proposals to playground design companies for our project ASAP. This target end date allows us the most opportunity to receive public or private grants and sponsorships yet in 2019. 

What happens if we don’t meet our goal?
All money raised through our fundraising efforts will be put towards this playground improvement project, no matter the total dollar amount raised. Every penny helps. Of course, the more we raise, the better! 

Why isn’t the city building us a new park?
Oh, they are! The city has an $85,000 budget for the playground improvements that are planned for 2020. The money we raise from this fundraising project will allow us to add a variety of other playground equipment pieces, including some inclusive equipment. 

What do we have so far? 
We are very excited to have a donation of a net climber by the Cedar Rapids Kiwanis Club. We also have a small amount of donations from our summer 2019 pancake breakfast set aside. This totals roughly $15,000 as of July 15, 2019. 

How do I donate? 
Donations can be made by check to Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association and mailed to CANA, PO Box 8501, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52408. Donations can also be made via PayPal at paypal.me/CANA108. 

Can I write this donation off on my taxes? 
Yes! Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations to CANA and CANA projects are tax-deductible. Please contact our treasurer at clevelandpark108@gmail.com. 

How can I help with fundraising efforts?
Spread our message! Share our goal! Ask your friends, family, and neighbors to check out our space at Cleveland Park. Encourage them to make a donation via check or PayPal. If they can’t make a monetary donation, ask them to share our flyer or share our message on Facebook. Ask your local business contacts to support our project through sponsorship and donations. We can’t hit our $85,000 goal without you!

I have another question. Who can I contact?
With questions regarding the playground improvement project or CANA in general, please reach out to President George Heeren at clevelandpark108@gmail.com. ​

A big THANK YOU to 100+ people who made it to Safe Fest & Pancake Breakfast today at Cleveland Park! The rain held off, the sun shined bright for a while, and a good time was had by all. Our volunteers enjoyed hosting everyone and we are pleased to announce the winners of our giveaways today:
- Briggs Lamb - Adventureland tickets
- Zuriel Shehann - HyVee $50 meat package gift certificate
- Amelia Bockoven - Kernels "Party at the Park" ticket package
- Annalee Beltz, Savannah Becker & Teresa Myers - car seats

Winners have been contacted or will be contacted with additional information on their prizes. Thank you to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Cedar Rapids Central Fire Station, and Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association - Cedar Rapids, Iowa for donating the prizes!

THANK YOU to the volunteers with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, Cedar Rapids Police Department, and Safe Kids Linn County for making this event possible! THANK YOU to organizers with Cedar Rapids Central Church of Christ, Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association, and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees for planning and executing this event. We can't wait to bring it back in 2020!

​Photos from Safe Fest & Pancake Breakfast have been posted on the CANA Facebook page! Check them out here:www.facebook.com/CANA108/photos *Tag, share, and download to share your photos with friends!*

CANA raised over $400 from the pancake breakfast and donations to our 2020 park improvements project. Thank you to everyone who donated and enjoyed breakfast with us! 

CANA June 2019 Meeting Minutes
Attendance: George Heeren, Carleta Cherry, Nicole Schroeder, Ashley Vanorny, Denise Klemp, Gary Keller, Annette Lorenz, Greg Smith, and Lt. Harrison
Call To Order: 7:00PM

• Lt. Harrison - Cedar Rapids Police Department
  • Review of CRPD Calls for Service in Cleveland Area
  • Reminder of 9pm routine to check car and home doors, lights, windows, and locks to reduce risk of break-ins
  • CANA's "Coffee with a Cop" will be held this coming Wednesday, June 19th from 9am to 11am at HyVee on Johnson Ave NW
• Treasurer's Report - Nicole Schroeder (Acting Treasurer)
  • After today's $400 deposit from City reimbursement, current balance of bank account is $3,735.52.
  • Outstanding bills include permit fees for 6/22 Safe Fest as well as other miscellaneous expenses for Safe Fest. Final payments due will be settled after the festival as we are combining expenses with Central Church of Christ. 
• Chief Greg Smith - Cedar Rapids Fire Department
  • Review of City News
  • Over 700 in attendance at CRFD's 150th Anniversary Celebration at Fire Station #1 last weekend
  • "Coffee with a Firefighter" will be held on Tuesday, July 2nd from 9am to 11am at HyVee on Johnson Ave NW
• Annette Lorenz - Safe CR
  • Nicole Schroeder reported overgrown lawn that is obstructing line of sight for vehicles exiting the Jefferson High School lower parking lot at the bottom of Chandler St. Property address is 2101 Chandler St SW. This is a vacant property as of the early 2019 fire. Property has been ordered to be demolished or repaired by July 15th. Since the report of overgrown lawn last week, the property has been cleared of lawn debris and grass has been mowed. For reference, city code is a maximum of 12 inches in height. 
  • Gary Keller reported broken glass to the Parks Department in the restrooms at the Cleveland Park Pavilion early last week. It has since been cleaned up. 
  • Chief Greg Smith said that charcoal briquettes should NOT be disposed of in the grass or yardy carts after grilling. Briquettes should be watered down and disposed of properly where there is no risk for heating/fire. 
• Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny - City of Cedar Rapids District 5
  • July 13th is "Ride the District" bike ride. Ashley will be joined by Councilwoman Poe and the ride will be split into two days: one day specifically in District 5, the other day throughout the entire city.
  • Cleveland Elementary School will be in the first round of schools rebuilt in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. The new school will be built on the same property and opened in 2021. More information to come on that.
  • The City is looking for a new, clean, and simple flag design. Design applications will be accepted through November 2019. 
  • George questioned if Ashley knew anything about the land development near the Cedar Rapids Airport. Ashley commented that the land is willingly being sold for development by the current land owners. 
• Safe Fest 2019
  • Safety fair is this Saturday. We will set up beginning at 7am at the park. HyVee will be delivering the pancake batter and pre-cooked sausage links at 7:30am. CANA is providing milk, juice, and water. We will NOT be doing eggs this year. This is different than years past. Nicole will update Safe Fest information to reflect this. Festival starts at 8am and runs until 12pm. Most in attendance at tonight's meeting will be volunteering for CANA as well as others who were not in attendance at the meeting tonight. 
• Playground Updates
  • George, Galen, and Nicole will be meeting with Parks Director Scott Hock on Tuesday 6/25 at 2pm at Cleveland Park to discuss playground equipment and a preliminary footprint/design to approach businesses, sponsors, etc. Others are welcome. We are looking for a total fundraising amount of $85,000 through direct mail, online marketing, and sponsorships/donations from businesses. 
  • We have the pedestals for the soon-to-be sign install by the City!

​Meeting adjourned at 8:01pm. 


UPDATE 6/19/19, per Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny: Coolidge (NOT Cleveland) Elementary is scheduled for phase 1 of the CR schools master plan scheduled for replacement and opening 2021.

Q: Where is Safe Fest located?
A: Safe Fest 2019 will be held at Cleveland Park in Cedar Rapids. The park address is 1600 1st Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52404. 

Q: When is this event?
A: Safe Fest 2019 will be held on Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 from 8am to 12pm. 

Q: How much does it cost to attend? 
A; Admission to Safe Fest is FREE! Yes, totally free. The only part that costs is the pancake breakfast hosted by Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association. It is $5 per person. 

Q: Where do I register for this event?
A: No event pre-registration is required. You can RSVP on the Facebook event ahead of time. Registration will be REQUIRED on-site at the welcome table(s) for your children to be photographed with the mascots and participate in the giveaways. 

Q: What is happening at Safe Fest?
A: At Safe Fest 2019, there will be five (5) safety stations for the kids learn, play games, and meet their favorite mascots. Safety stations include Stranger Danger with the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Car Seat Safety, Bike Safety with Safe Kids Linn County and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees, Fire Safety with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, and Poison and Drug Safety. We are happy to host some local mascots, including Mr. Shucks from the Cedar Rapids Kernels, McGruff the Crime Dog, Sparky with the Fire Department, and more. Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association will also be hosting a pancake breakfast to raise money for Cleveland Park improvements, including a brand-new ADA compliant playground. 

Q: You said free stuff! What prizes are available at the event?
A: We are proud to be giving away 100 bike helmets to the first 100 kids at the Bike Safety station, thanks to the Cedar Rapids Jaycees. The Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association will be giving away three (3) car seats to lucky winners as well as a $50 meat package gift certificate. Central Church of Christ has graciously donated two (2) four-packs of tickets to Adventureland in Altoona, IA. Plus other cool stuff! More will be announced at the festival. 

Q: Will there be food and beverages available? 
​A: The Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association will be hosting a pancake breakfast, which will include pancakes. sausage, juice, and water. Cost for this breakfast is $5 per person. It will be available from 8am to 12pm. A big thank you to HyVee on Johnson Avenue for donating the food and beverage items. 

Q: Where is parking for this event?
A: At Cleveland Park, there will be very limited parking. There will be on-street parking around the park. There is also parking at Central Church of Christ across 1st Avenue. We will be hosting crossing guards for families to cross 1st Avenue safely. 

Q: What happens if it rains?
A: The festival will go on - rain or shine! The only reason for cancelling would be severe weather, including high winds or lightning. Festival organizers will make the call as soon as possible, if severe weather is a threat. Please follow the Facebook event for updates on this. 

Q: Where can I find the photo of my child from the event?
A: Photos from the event will be available on the Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association Facebook page for download. 

Q: Who puts on this event? 
A: Safe Fest 2019 is organized by 100% volunteers. Volunteers have come together from Central Church of Christ, Safe Kids Linn County, the Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association, the Cedar Rapids Jaycees, CRPD, CRFD, and beyond to make this event happen -- free of charge to families in the Cleveland Park area. 

Q: Will this be an annual event in Cedar Rapids?
A: We hope so! As 2019 is our first year, we will gauge the interest level and costs associated after the event and determine if we will be hosting this again in 2020. Your support will help determine this! 

Q: How do I get involved or volunteer for Safe Fest?
A: If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Nicole Schroeder with Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association or register online via SignUpGenius. 

Q: I have another question. Who can I contact?
A: Any further questions can be emailed to clevelandpark108@gmail.com. Thank you!