CANA February Meeting Minutes

February 20th, 2023  Meeting Minutes | Call to Order: 6:59pm
Attendance: Amy Hall-Haney, Nicole Schroeder, George Heeren, Matt Wagner, Lt. Matt Welsh, Tyler Wideboer, Gaylon Heetland, Jessica English, Chief Greg Smith
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• Treasurer's Report - Amy Hall-Haney - Current balance is $3,158.54 with no bills due and no reimbursements due. We are waiting on a $250 payment from HyVee for a local business directory. Nicole and George just sent them a W-9 for payment processing. 
• CRPD Update - Lt. Welsh - One automobile theft from a business on 16th Ave SW and it was recovered in Belle Plaine. Multiple reports in the CANA neighborhood limits of suspicious individuals in yards in the early morning hours. All incidents had CRPD come out and individuals were arrested on various charges. There have been four homicides in Cedar Rapids this year. CRPD wants to remind people to NOT keep firearms in their vehicles. There are 21 individuals remaining in the CRPD hiring process. Citizens Police Academy starts March 22nd through May 31st on Wednesday nights for 3 hours. You may sign up here. 
  • George Heeren reported that CRPD isn’t able to be a part of CANA Coffee with a Cop until April or May, per Sgt. May. We will work to schedule that in the late spring/early summer. 
• CRFD Update - Chief Smith - Review of Neighborhood News. Sydney Wright with CRFD will be out this summer, due to maternity leave! She is due in June. Megan Wichman will be stepping in to fill Sydney’s duties while she is on leave. 
  • George Heeren asked about neighbors being approached by CRFD about smoke detectors. Within 72 hours of a residential fire, CRFD will visit neighbors within a few block radius of the fire to meet with neighbors and check/install smoke detectors. This is a “smoke detector blitz” that is part of CRFD programming. 
• CR Parks & Recreation Update - Tyler Wildeboer
  • The Cleveland Park shelter is going to be needing a new roof in the near future, including an upgrade to a peaked roof vs. the existing flat roof. The flat roofs are also a liability risk with kids climbing on top of the shelter roofs that are flat in Cedar Rapids. The last bid the City received were pre-COVID came in around $15,000. The City will be getting updated quotes, and CANA is willing to help. 
  • The Cleveland Park parking lot will be upgraded in 2023, assuming all funding comes through. The lot will be repaved with a curb added on the west side. The parking lot will extend closer to 1st Ave SW and offer more parking spaces. The sidewalk area near the tree will have handicap parking added as well and the “grass island” that is currently there next to the current handicap parking spaces will be removed.
  • The benches have been ordered and will be installed when they arrive! Supply chain issues have likely affected the speed that which we get these. 
  • The splash pad will have a wider sidewalk installed for ADA compliance. The shade structures we ordered previously will be incorporated into the wider sidewalk space. Picnic tables will replace the benches, and there is a percent of those at the park that are required to be ADA accessible. The City will also be adding a sidewalk between the splash pad and restrooms. 
  • The City is looking to add yoga, gaga ball, and pickleball courts and programming to the City Parks and Recreation Department. There is a lot of unique programming at other parks in Cedar Rapids, but not at Cleveland Park. 
  • George Heeren spoke to the brick wall at the Cleveland Park shelter being painted by a local artist or group of artists. If we do this, the City and Visual Arts Commission has to approve the design. 
  • George Heeren spoke to the idea of having a CANA-branded sign at the park. The City would like to have one or two larger sized aluminum signage on the fencing vs. adding to the existing wooden sign in the park or adding a standalone sign nearer the shelter. Tyler was unsure of pricing or size options, but they can make it for us and we reimburse them.
  • Click here to review maps/plans from the City of Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department
  • Jessica English reported that she has found drug paraphernalia at Apache Park. Tyler says to call it in and Parks or CRPD will go investigate and clean up. 
  • Tyler also commented that the Community Gardens initiative is moving forward, but Cleveland Park is not in the plans.  The City of Cedar Rapids is undertaking an exciting community-driven planning process to add to the network of community gardens in parks across the City. Community gardens can provide numerous benefits to neighborhoods through improved healthy food choices, instilling a sense of pride, and creating opportunities to connect with neighbors. The City’s efforts to expand garden spaces will begin with new plots at Sinclair Park (Phase 1) and end with Community Gardens in City Parks Plan that prioritizes the implementation of community gardens in 7 to 10 additional City Parks (Phase 2). As the project progresses, updates will be provided below with the most recent updates appearing first. Information can be found on the CANA website, including information on the upcoming March 2nd public open house. 
• National Night Out - Jessica English with Hillside Wesleyan Church - Jessica is the Youth Pastor at Hillside. National Night Out is scheduled for the first Tuesday of August each year. In 2022, Hillside hosted a hot dog grill out, a speaker, and a bouncy house. Past years have included cotton candy, games, and other activities for families. They are looking to connect with more neighbors outside of the church and they are interested in partnering with CANA for National Night Out 2023. 
• City/SAFE-CR Update - Matt Wagner - No major issues in the CANA limits. No recent issues with snow removal in the 24 hour timeline for enforcement. 
• Quarterly Postcard Campaign - Nicole Schroeder - Final design is not complete. Will be reporting at the March meeting and sending to print right away to send out by 4/1. 
• Other Business
  • Easter Egg Hunt - Amy Hall-Haney - There is no official plan for the Central Church yet. They are looking to stay away from a “free for all” type of hunt. They are looking at making numbered eggs and not filling the eggs. Numbered 12 eggs would be turned in for a gift bag. Jessica English is interested in offering assistance to Central Church of Christ since Hillside is not doing one this year. 
  • Neighborhood Clean-Up Day - Tentatively scheduled for 10am-12pm on Saturday, April 15th. CANA will provide bags for cleaning up. 
  • First Time Home Buyer Grants Open 3/6 - The First Time Home Buyer program is currently closed, but will be opening for new applications on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 8am.  This website will be updated at that time with a link to the application portal.  Watch the website for updated program materials and information. Funds are available on a first come, first served basis, and applications will be reviewed in order that they are received. Here is the link to review information for the 2023 program. Information is available on the City website here. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:01pm. 

Next Meeting: Monday, March 20th, 2023 at 7:00pm ​