The City has responded to our long list of inquiries from our March 2021 CANA meeting. Please see responses below and contact CANA Secretary, Nicole Schroeder, by email at clevelandpark108@gmail.com with any additional questions or concerns that need to be addressed as follow up. Thank you to Councilmember Vanorny, Chief Smith, Jeff Wozencraft, Annette Lorenz, and the rest of our City team for addressing our concerns. 

Public trees on personal property concerns: We understand that the tree removal process has been painful for many people, as many of us are attached to trees and see the great value in them. We can share that all of the trees that are tagged for removal were evaluated by a certified arborist and our City team has been providing quality control to assure only the trees that need to be removed are taken down. It continues to be our goal to save as many trees as possible.

If residents had significant private property damage sustained during debris removal performed by the City or its contractors (pavement or structural damage), they are asked to contact the City’s Risk Services Division: 
Phone: (319) 286-5125 | Email: J.Lynch@cedar-rapids.org

Our replanting plan is being coordinated in collaboration with Trees Forever, Jeff Speck of Speck & Associates, and Confluence, Inc. We are all working collaboratively to develop a long-term reforestation effort that will address the urgency to reforest public spaces and outreach for planting in public spaces. The project will be completed in four phases over the course of next several months. The targeted completion date for the planning effort is late-October 2021. The plan includes public engagement that is currently underway.  Tree replacements will happen, but due to the large amount of loss, it will take several years to replant off the trees that were removed by the storm.

Park Clean Up Day: Parks and Recreation staff will reach out to the CANA team to see how we can assist in arranging a park clean-up day. If additional residents have interest in helping with park clean-up efforts, we encourage them to contact parks@cedar-rapids.org, or watch the City’s Municipal Volunteer Program (MVP) page for opportunities.

Property concerns at 159 15th St SW: Our Solid Waste & Recycling team reviewed the area and determined that this property may be a good candidate for volunteers to help move the debris to the right-of-way for collection. The Community Development team was going to reach out to the resident to see if they can connect them with resources to assist with the moving/removal of the tree debris, or if they may already have another plan in place.

NOTE: This property has also been reported via the MyCR app by Annette Lorenz for clean up. 

Kwik Star at 20th St SW / 16th Ave SW traffic concerns: Traffic Engineering Division provided Development Services a traffic impact study. CLICK HERE for a link to review the initial traffic study for this intersection. Once the Kwik Star is completed, an additional traffic study may be requested by contacting traffic@cedar-rapids.org.  

Stump grinding inquiry: Information on stump grinding, and all storm clean-up, is located on our website at http://cedar-rapids.org/news_detail_T6_R1344.php. The stumps will be ground down and re-seeded later this summer. Due to the volume, this will be a multi-year process. 

Tree debris clean up deadline: The deadline to have all tree debris to the curb for free pickup by the City is Monday, April 19, 2021. Tree debris should not be placed at the curb after April 19. Additionally, Linn County residents can take tree debris and yard waste to the Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency.

• Tree debris/yard-waste drop-off: $24/ton, $5 minimum charge
• Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm | Starting April 3: Saturdays, 8 am – 12 pm
• Location: 2250 A Street SW (near Czech Village)
• Contact information: https://www.solidwasteagency.org/ | Phone: 319-398-5163

Paving for Progress on Chandler St SW / 20th St SW: This construction season will focus on utility work, the pavement on 20th Street, and a sidewalk on 16th Avenue. In 2022, they will complete the remaining pavement construction on Chandler Street. Residents can sign-up to receive construction newsletter by going to: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001fVwHJ9zMUdS2jl2CdWjHeg%3D%3D 

CANA March 2021 Meeting Minutes | Call to order: 7:06pm
Attendance: George Heeren, Nicole Schroeder, Amy Hall-Haney, Ashley Vanorny, Denise Klemp, Marlene Hunt, Henrietta Mueller, Rose Heetland, Galen Heetland, Greg Smith (virtual), Susan Johnston (virtual)

• Treasurer's Report - Amy Hall-Haney - $474.93 + three pending reimbursements from City. Nicole and Amy are following up with Jeff Wozencraft on the three reimbursements, including our PO Box and insurance. We need to resubmit the insurance reimbursement request, so Nicole will be getting a duplicate receipt from insurance for that. 
• CRFD - Chief Greg Smith - Review of Neighborhood News. Asked for reporting of property debris and concerns of fire safety since the burn ban has been lifted. Currently in the hiring process of CR fire fighters. Previously had been postponed in 2020 because of COVID-19.

• City Council - Ashley Vanorny - City is working to get staff vaccinated as soon as possible. Review of new City of Cedar Rapids mobile app. 
  • Henrietta Mueller inquired about city street repairs from damage from contractors. Ashley will follow up on this concern with the City. Henrietta is also concerned about the tree on her property that was removed before Henrietta could appeal the removal. The tree was not marked until last week and it has been taken down as of yesterday, but not removed from the property. 
  • Report of property at 159 15th St SW (corner of 15th and 8th) with wood on-site. Multiple neighbors have reported concerns with this property. Ashley Vanorny and Nicole Schroeder will be checking with Annette Lorentz with SAFE-CR on the status of this property. 
  • Update on Kwik Star on 16th Ave / 20th St SW - Private developer bought the land and demolished the property. City approved re-zoning. Construction is currently happening and the street is currently blocked, due to construction. We are concerned about the liquor sales and the flow of traffic. Nicole Schroeder will follow up on this as Ashley commented on the traffic study being after construction has started. 
• Park Clean Up with Boy Scouts - George Heeren has spoken with the local Boy Scout troop as they are interested in participating in a clean up project. They will be cleaning the tree debris in the park into piles and help the grass grow. We will be scheduling a specific day once we talk to the Parks Department as Central Church of Christ would like to be involved. 
• Tree Grant Updates - Denise Klemp - Trees Forever is planning on replanting trees in Cleveland Park on 4/30 or 5/1. City has been contracted by Confluence (an arbor consulting firm) to replant 48 trees in Cleveland Park! If anyone is interested in the Trees Forever TreeKeeper program, it is virtual now and limited, but it starts tomorrow (Tue 3/16). You just have to register online at www.treesforever.org. There is more information the ReLeaf program online as well. 

• Rollin' Recmobile will be at Cleveland Park on Thursday, March 18th from 1pm to 3pm, pending weather. There is a Facebook event for families to share online. This event is free! Linn County Conservation will be joining the Parks Department. 

• Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation is now accepting registrations for spring programs and summer camps. Due to Covid-19, the Department's full summer program guide will be delivered to residents in the May issue of Our CR. The current online Play guide contains new May programs, golf information, and summer camps and daycare to help you plan ahead for the summer school break. Spring programs include activities, sports, swim lessons, lifeguard certification classes, and lap lane, water exercise, pickleball and basketball court reservations. 

• Kids Safety Fair Update - Susan Johnston - Waiting on SAFE Kids Linn County to determine involvement / plan for summer programs. We are waiting on an update from Linn County Public Health in regards to COVID-19 safety and recommendations. We will update as more information becomes available. 
• On April 10th, Iowa BIG is co-hosting a bazaar with Central Church of Christ by selling used clothing with all proceeds going to Willis Dady. We will share more information by email and on Facebook.
• Rose Heetland expressed a concern about animals being on the playground. She is concerned specifically about dogs being on the swings and slides off-leash. George will be following up on this concern and a potential sign. 

• Ordering neighborhood signs - Nicole Schroeder - Nicole will bring two designs to the next meeting for approval and get ordered by May 1st. Will be contacting SPS Printing, Allegra, and other local print shops to assist with discounted double-sided signs. Susan Johnston commented that Allegra has a Foot PRINT Fund grant available, so Nicole will look into this. 
• Online Neighborhood Business Directory Fundraiser Idea - Nicole Schroeder - Motion to develop fundraising campaign to set up business directory on CANA website and offer “advanced” listings for neighborhood businesses with a logo and description/commentary as well as social media highlights for a $25 donation to CANA. All in favor, none opposed, no discussion. Motion passes. Nicole will work on developing a plan for this. 
• Paving for Progress Updates - Update from Jan Coleman (2oth St SW neighbor) from Lee Tippe: The contract has a late start date of 26 April 2021.  Currently, we have not held the pre-construction meeting, so do not yet have a more specific schedule from the contractor. We are well aware a  number of  area residents have access and/or health concerns, and the staging plan limits the areas that can be under construction at a given time, to help make access easier. Once we have a detailed schedule from our contractor, we will be issuing another communication to residents.  We will provide contact information for the City’s project team, as well as the contractor’s key personnel so residents know who to address questions and concerns to.  We will also have a bi-weekly email update that project area residents and others can subscribe to. Nicole will be sending updates on the Paving for Progress project and will include the link that Jeff Wozencraft sent along. 
• Beautification near 16th Ave / 20th St SW - Galen Heetland - Discussion of flowers, signage, art, etc. near the new Kwik Star. He will contact Kwik Star directly to see if they would be willing to collaborate with us on the project. 

• Rose Heetland inquired about the City Manager 1 Bag Challenge and George commented that he had plenty in his garage. He will get those to neighbors who are interested in doing trash pick up as CANA is still part of the neighborhood clean up project. Ashley Vanorny explained that City of CR is also looking at helping smaller, less active neighborhoods with a clean up program. More information will be coming on that.  

Meeting adjourned at 8:10pm.

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As a reminder, we will be live streaming tonight's meeting on our Facebook page at 7:00pm.

You can watch the join stream and join in the comments at www.facebook.com/CANA108. 

Please be patient with our CANA volunteers as this is our first live stream. Facebook comments will not be moderated.