June 2023 Meeting Minutes

June 19th, 2023 Meeting Minutes | Call to Order: 7:03pm
Attendance: George Heeren, Amy Hall-Haney, Nicole Schroeder, Matt Wagner, Jessica English, Denise Klemp, Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, Chief Greg Smith, Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny

• Treasurer's Report - Amy Hall-Haney - Current balance:$3,058.45. We have paid out PO box, liability insurance, city permit for the fair, and Herky the Hawk. We will submit all safety fair receipts to the City. We still have about $4,000 in our City budget for FY23. 
  
• CRPD Update - Lt. Welsh - Not in attendance/No report
  
• CRFD Update - Chief Smith - Review of Neighborhood News. New fire and police dogs are part of the team! The CRPD and CRFD introduced them at the June 3rd farmer’s market. Arson detection dog is named Wally. His handler trained long hours and long days in Maine to learn how to work with him. Ranger is the bloodhound and he’s still in training with CRPD. Reminder that fireworks in City are prohibited but are locally for sale. There is also a new solid waste schedule for many neighborhoods across town. CRFD Public Safety will be sharing information on proper hot ashes and coal disposal with outdoor fire pits and barbecues. Dry weather lately is a higher risk for fires, so please be safe. CRFD recently had a peer accreditation in town and CRFD was recommended for accreditation for international status. This week is the final week of the CRFD Fire Academy. 
  
• Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny - Ashley shared positive comments on the CRFD. Commented on the success of the safety and wellness fair at the park. Ashley commented on the Downtown Farmers Market footprint and scheduling his summer as well as Newbo City Market events. Ashley shared comments on road construction progress on 1st Avenue. She shared that she is appreciative of neighbors being patient with the cones and construction workers.  
  
• City Mayor - Tiffany O’Donnell - Mayor shared positive comments on the safety and wellness fair. City had multiple events going on that day, including Bike the District and CR Pride Parade. The splash pad is getting a new controller installed in the coming days. New locks are on the restroom doors. New swingset will be installed in the next 2-3 weeks! New ADA upgrades will be in the next month. The Cleveland Park parking lot is tentatively scheduled for end of August/September. Pavilion roof plan is still in progress. Rollin’ Recmobile is scheduled for Monday mornings at Cleveland Park and the CRPL Mobile Tech Lab on Wednesdays. Downtown Vision Plan is underway and surveys are available to the public. Last survey was done in 2017, so neighbors are encouraged to take the survey.  West side flood control and 1st/1st West construction is underway as well as Paving for Progress updates near CANA limits.  The inaugural Mayor’s Youth Conference will be this fall at the library to connect young people to the City long-term. 
  
  • George Heeren asked about Spot the Hot. Chief Smith commented on this and shared the information from Neighborhood News. This information will be in the email tonight. Nicole Schroeder asked about the heat relief centers in town and if that was a part of this data collection. Chief Smith explained that those are actually provided through Linn County Emergency Management, not the City. 
    
  • Denise Klemp asked about the low income housing shortage. Mayor Tiffany commented on the large number of units that are being built currently with tax incentives, but the need is high. There is not enough low-income housing. By 2030, the City will need more housing overall (not just low-income housing units). Councilwoman Vanorny explained that we had a housing shortage pre-derecho, but it’s even more significant now. The City feasibility study shows we are short thousands of units currently, but will be even more as industries grow in/around Cedar Rapids. Mayor also commented on the “Missing Middle” as we have a large housing gap between low-income and current market rate. This includes young professionals in our community, which are the people we want to live here. The City is actively working on these needs and concerns. 
    
• SAFE-CR - Matt Wagner - 498 calls for service in Cedar Rapids, 16 nuisance property abatement plans which is an increase from year’s past. In 550 total nuisance properties in Cedar Rapids, 192 are rental and 358 are owner-occupied. CRPD is who to call about fireworks in the area. The larger displays that could cause property damage or injuries are the top priority in Cedar Rapids and the dry weather creates a higher risk as well. Neighbors shared feedback on experiences in CANA limits with fireworks being illegally displayed. 
  
• Community Safety & Wellness Fair 2023 Wrap-Up - George Heeren - The event was hosted on Saturday, June 10th from 10am to 1pm at Cleveland Park. We had 18 information stations, over an estimated $400 in craft and school supply donations from Staples, two bike giveaways, two car seat giveaways, $100+ in giveaway gift certificates from Kwik Star, 16th Avenue Grill, and CR Kernels, just shy of 150 attendees, nearly 50 volunteers, almost 100 helmets fitted on kiddos, a whole bunch of hot dogs served thanks to HyVee, popsicles, three hours of fun, and ONE VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT!!! THANK YOU to everyone who attended and all of our sponsors and volunteers who helped make it happen. Photos are available on our CANA Facebook page and our website. 
  
• National Night Out - Nicole Schroeder - Scheduled for Tuesday, August 1st from 5:30-7pm. In the past, we’ve hosted a potluck style event at Cleveland Park. CANA will provide hot dogs and hamburgers. Hillside will grill for us at the park. 
  
  • Nicole Schroeder made a motion to spend $50 on Facebook ads for National Night Out. Denise Klemp seconded this motion. All in favor, none opposed. Nicole will set up the ads and communicate the plan with CRPD and CRFD. 
    
• Other Business 
  
  • Garden at Cleveland School - Amy Hall-Haney asked about spending on this. Denise Klemp will work on this as it has kind of fallen to the side.
    
  • Ashley Vanorny shared the Starbucks now offers free coffee grounds to add to your garden as part of their sustainability initiatives. 
    
  • George Heeren shared that CANA has approximately $4,000 left in our budget this year. George has spoken with Tyler at Parks and Rec about the roof project. The $4,000 won’t cover the whole project, but we could use CANA funds this year and next year towards it and have the City match. 
    
    • George Heeren made a motion to spend the remaining CANA funds for current fiscal year to put towards the project. Denise Klemp seconded it. Nicole Schroeder asked about the soffit being replaced during the construction as well. George said that he will confirm, but he assumed that would be part of the project as the plywood is damaged from moisture currently. All in favor, none opposed in the vote. 
      
      • George will communicate with Tyler our financial commitment to the project and get a timeline for bids and construction setup. 
        
        
        

Meeting adjourned at 8:04pm.  

Next Meeting: Monday, July 17th, 2023 at 7:00pm