August 2021 Meeting Minutes

​CANA Monthly Meeting 8/16/21 | Call to Order: 7:05pm
Attendance: Nicole Schroeder, Amy Hall-Haney, Lt. Matt Welsh, Annette Lorenz, Henrietta Mueller, Hannah Myrom, Denise Klemp, Chief Greg Smith, Mayor Brad Hart, George Heeren, Ashley Vanorny

• Treasurer's Report - Amy Hall-Haney - Bank balance $940.66 which includes a recent deposit of $425.00 for business listing fundraiser donations. Pending reimbursements from the City includes $400 for insurance and $149.20 for the kiosk. These were requested for reimbursement on 6/1, so Amy will follow up on that. We have a deposit to make of $225 for advertising (3 at $75) and we made $289 in the picnic lunch fundraiser in cash. We have additional pending reimbursements from the Safety Fair and National Night Out. 
  
  
• CRPD Update - Lt. Welsh - 1.64% of CR crime is in the CANA neighborhood. 3 theft incidents, but low risk as two were involved with the same household. CRPD is working with the new recruits. CRPD has hired two certified officers that start on 8/30. 
  • Follow up from last meeting: Traffic bureau reported that 3,607 vehicles came through the concerned intersection at A Ave NW and 15th St NW. Average speed was 19 mph and 52 mph was max speed. 85% of total cars were traveling at 25 mph. LT. Welsh asked for an additional speed limit sign and “No Parking” side on the east side of 15th St SW and to add a painted yellow line. 
  • George Heeren thanked Lt. Welsh for getting McGruff lined up to attend the Safety Fair last weekend. 
    
    
• CRFD Update - Chief Smith - Review of Neighborhood News. As of 2 weeks ago, City facilities are requiring masks. CRFD Open House in October may be postponed, due to increasing COVID numbers. Recent fires in the community, due to a variety of factors including dry conditions and recreational fires. 
  • George Heeren asked about reports on the water table or how the lack of rain affects the City. Chief Smith communicated that directors are notified of this information regularly. No water restrictions have been discussed recently. The last time this type of thing was discussed was in 2011 during a summertime drought. 
  • Amy Hall-Haney wanted to bring up that Old MacDonald’s Farm at Bever Park is closed for staffing. 
    
    
• SAFE-CR Update - Annette Lorenz - CANA has been very quiet. Majority of calls around town are being reported as Tier C, including barking dogs, loud music, loud parties, etc. and CRPD has been on-site at least once. Annette advised neighbors to call or email her with any concerns or submit a request on the MyCR app.
  • Nicole Schroeder reported that she has been helping a few neighbors submit requests or use resources on the MyCR app. We will continue to help promote the MyCR app to neighbors. 
    
    
• Mayor Brad Hart - Mayor Hart took a few minutes to express his appreciation of our neighborhood during the derecho and beyond. He also wanted to comment that there is no mask mandate in the City currently. Mayor Hart commented on the recent census as CR has grown 9%. He also commented on the City’s streets budget and how the Local Option Sales Tax has been so important in our community and encouraged neighbors to continue supporting the tax. 
  
  
• Hannah Myrom - Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) - Hannah took time to share the basics of the program, which has been in effect since 2019. The ATE systems identify owners of the vehicle when speeding vehicles are going 12+ mph in high risk areas of the City. ATE Systems are installed in 9 locations in Cedar Rapids, including I-380 and five other major intersections. ATE information with photos and maps can be found online at https://www.cedar-rapids.org/local_government/departments_g_-_v/police/automated_traffic_enforcement.php. Anyone that receives a citation can contest their ticket online and a CRPD officer will review. There are exceptions, including funeral processions, stolen vehicles, etc. There is a monthly newsletter that is issued with data for neighbors to review. Most recently reported, 20,215 speed violations and 474 red light violations in June. Revenue is also reported in the newsletter. The highest cited speed was 113 mph on I-380. That resulted in a $500 citation. Ticketing tiers are $75 (12-20 mph over), $100 (21-25 mpg over), $250 (26-30), and $500 (31+ mph).  ATE is starting to prosecute individuals who are not paying their citations with a Municipal Infraction in small claims court. The risk on the road has significantly decreased since enforcing the ATE systems. 
  • George Heeren asked about out-of-state violations. ATE sends violations to registered owners of vehicles. ATE does not work with any DOT organizations.
  • Mayor Hart reported that there are far fewer accidents and accidents with injuries since bringing in the ATE systems. The money is used for public safety. There are signs, the City wants to notify drivers there are the ATE systems, and the City wants drivers to be safe. 
  • Ashley Vanorny commented that drivers are only saving a minute or two by increasing speeds through town. The devastating accidents are a good thing to avoid and the cameras help. Apple Maps and Google Maps now recognize the ATE systems in their programs so drivers are warned appropriately. 
  • George Heeren asked about the crosswalk countdown signs that are not in place at the intersections with the ATE systems, specifically why this is the case. Hannah Myrom did not have an answer to this question, but advised this would be a good question for the Traffic Engineering Department. Chief Smith and Mayor Hart confirmed Traffic Engineering would have an answer to this question. 
    
    
• City Update - Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny - Ashley recently launched her Sunday Newsletter called the “Sunday Paper” that recognizes city happenings and things that are specific to District 5. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/hw-k8z 
  
  
• 2nd Annual Kids Safety & Wellness Fair Wrap Up - We estimated around 80-100 kids attended the fair, plus their families! We raised almost $300 for CANA with our picnic lunch and offered free meals to families who could not donate. We had about 12 vendor booths and 3 non-profit volunteer organizations who helped run the event. We gave away 2 car seats, 24 backpacks, and almost 100 helmets for free to families. We have built a lot of relationships through this year’s fair in the community, and we hope to grow the event in 2022. Photos are on our Facebook and we will be sharing them on our website, too. Thank you to all of our volunteers and neighbors who attended.
  
  
• Paving for Progress Update (Chandler St / 20th St SW) -  Update as of 8/12/21: "With utility work as well as pavement prep activity completed, the first pavement placement on Chandler Street and 20th Street is expected to begin by the end of the week, weather permitting. After the newly placed pavement is open to traffic, driveways in these areas will be graded and paved, and disturbed areas restored.  In addition to pavement placement, remaining work – such as sidewalk – at the entrance to Jefferson High School off 20th Street will be completed prior to the start of the new school year. Then, we will proceed with placing remaining pavement on 20th Street. Work on 20th Street is anticipated to wrap up this fall, with remaining work on the Chandler Street loop to carry over into 2022."
  • One neighbor commented on Facebook about the concern for the “No Parking” signs that were removed on the Chandler St loop, due to construction, with the upcoming school year. Nicole Schroeder is following up on this. 
    
    
• Neighborhood Business Directory Fundraiser Update - Nicole Schroeder - We are currently at $600, plus a $175 donation match. We have raised $775 so far out of our $2,000 goal. 
  
  
• Other business:
  • Amy Hall-Haney - Central Church of Christ is sponsoring a free neighborhood BBQ on Sunday, August 29th from 4 to 8pm at the church. 

 
Meeting adjourned at 8:02pm. 

Review Neighborhood News

UPDATES AS OF 8.17.21

• Question about "No Parking" signs on Chandler St SW / 20th St SW: The signs are not going to be replaced until the work on 20th St SW and Chandler St SW (opposite side of the loop as your house) is complete this fall. It will not be before school starts, but the signs will be returned to their proper places as soon as the construction vehicles are done working in the area. The City will be reporting an update to CANA after the next meeting with the contractor on 8/23, so stay tuned. We will report back with hopefully a more specific timeline. 
• Question about potential for water restrictions, due to draught - response from CR Utilities Director: "The rain two weeks ago in the upper Cedar (5 – 7 inches in Nashua and Fredericksburg area) did temporarily raise the river a foot and a half, but has since dropped back down to around 3.3 feet. Water usage has remained below that of late June by 4 to 5 MGD, holding in the mid to upper 40’s compared to the new record of 53.7 MGD set in late June. At this point, we do not feel there will be any need to request water restrictions." 

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GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER
Saturday, August 28th
9AM to 1PM
Central Church of Christ

All proceeds from the garage sale fundraiser will be donated to Central Furniture Rescue.