June 2024 Meeting Minutes

June 17th, 2024 Meeting Agenda | Call to Order: 7:02pm
Attendance: Amy Hall-Haney, George Heeren, Nicole Schroeder, Matt Wagner, Rose Heetland, Gaylon Heetland, David Maier, Chief David Dostal, Chief Greg Smith, John English, Jessica English, Betsy Borchardt, Denise Klemp

• Treasurer's Report - Amy Hall-Haney - $2,662.55 is our current checking balance. $1,400 is due for check payments, including Safety Fair expenses so far. Reimbursement from recent expenses is approximately $900 that is pending from our City budget. 
• CRPD Update - Lt. Welsh - Introduction of Chief Dostal. He is a Cedar Rapids native and has been a part of the Cedar Rapids Police Department for more than 30 years. He began as the 28th Chief of Police at the end of February, following Chief Jerman’s retirement from CRPD. Chief Dostal is assigned to the Taylor Area Neighborhood Association, but would be open to attending CANA meetings in the future as we request. Discussion of improvement ideas for CRPD, including mental health unit offerings and staff, additional health services for City officials, and other ideas. 
  • John English asked about how community organizations can help develop the support programs locally to serve City service officials, such as Serve the City to offer spiritual health. Chief Dostal said he would like to offer as many services as possible and connect with resources, including spiritual health and more. 
  • George Heeren asked about how families can also be supported beyond City service officials. Chief Dostal shared that these services would ideally be provided for loved ones as well. He has recently purchased books for the newest recruits in the CRPD training program for them to read and share with their families to help them learn the day-to-date expectations and the psychological effects of working in law enforcement. 
  • Lt. Welsh arrived later in the meeting and shared reports for May 2024. CRPD had 43 weapon calls for service in May. 22 shots fired calls in May. We are below the five-year average and this point last year, despite seeing an increase in these calls recently. Property crimes are up locally and also nationally. Most crimes in Cedar Rapids are happening at businesses where theft is occurring. 
    • George Heeren asked about weapons in vehicles. CRPD had two calls last month about this specifically. Betsy Borchardt asked about recurring weapon thefts from vehicles. Chief Dostal shared that CRPD has a specific task force officer that handles these calls for service. 
• CRFD Update - Chief Smith - Fireworks sales are happening now in city limits. Cedar Rapids has 13 vendors permitted to sell through the first week in July. It is against city code to set off fireworks within Cedar Rapids city limits. Residents are encouraged to take a video of those violating city code with fireworks before calling to ensure CRPD can act on these calls for service with proof. Reminder of grilling safety tips. Coals stay hot for days and run a high risk of fire. CRFD has already responded to calls for this in 2024. Cooling centers are open through Linn County Emergency Management Agency. You can view a complete list here.
  • Nicole Schroeder shared that CRFD announced on Facebook that they are hosting a blood drive from 12pm to 4pm on Tuesday, July 2nd at the Central Fire Station on 1st Ave SE in Cedar Rapids. 
• City Updates - Betsy Borchardt - Review of Neighborhood News. 
• SAFE-CR - Matt Wagner - Review of SAFE-CR calls for service citywide. Matt Wagner is in charge of fireworks calls reporting. Two fireworks calls in one calendar year result in property recorded as nuisance property. Snaps, snakes, and sparkles are permitted in City limits. C4 Background Checks and Operations is partnering with the City of Cedar Rapids for landlords and City property owners to check on applicants/tenants that’s available. 
• CANA Community Wellness & Safety Fair Updates - Nicole Schroeder - Estimated spending for this event will be around $2,000 this year. Review of vendors, logistics, mascots, and volunteers. 
• Budget Discussion - George Heeren - We currently have a balance of $9,421.25, minus the approximately $800 we just submitted this week and the $2,000 pending Safety Fair expenses. This leaves CANA approximately $6,400 left in our City budget to spend before June 30th. 
  • Review suggested ideas from neighbors. We had three neighbors suggest trees planted in/around right-of-ways in the neighborhood and at Haskill Park. Denise Klemp and George Heeren have both inquired with the City Releaf program representatives and Trees Forever to move forward with this request. Two neighbors recommended plants or perennials. George Heeren discussed handicap accessible tables at the Cleveland Park Pavilion, which is a cost of about $6,000. 
    • Nicole Schroeder made a motion to spend the remaining approximately $6,000 on handicap accessible tables for the pavilion at Cleveland Park and commit $4,000-$5,000 to spend on trees, plants, and perennials to be installed across Cleveland Area Neighborhood before the end of 2024. Gaylon Heetland seconded this motion. All in favor, none opposed. Motion passes. George Heeren and Betsy Borchardt will work on the tables with Parks and Recreation. David Maier and Denise Klemp will work with Releaf and Trees Forever about coordinating the trees this fall. 
• Other Business 
  • Vice President/Secretary position vacancy still needs to be filled. Any individuals who are interested in filling this role as Nicole Schroeder exits should contact George Heeren or Nicole Schroeder to be added to the next meeting agenda for a formal vote. 
  • His Hands Free Clinic is collecting gently used shoes & sandals of all kinds and all sizes to break the Guinness Book of World Records for most pairs of shoes collected in a week (June 17 – 21).  Our goal is 250,000 pairs over one week!  Yep, you read that right!  Shoes may be dropped off at Westminster Presbyterian Church (1285 3rd Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA) between 10:00 am – 5:30 pm.  Please DO NOT drop shoes off before this time.  You may start gathering them now, though. Please do not donate shoes with holes, rips or single shoes. Shoes, boots, crocs, sandals and flip-flops are acceptable. We cannot accept Wheelies, ice skates or rollerblades. If possible, please rubber band pairs together. This is a fundraiser for His Hands.  The clinic will receive $1,000 for every 2,500 pairs collected.  Shoes collected will go to microenterprises across the world. There will be PRIZES for the individual and organization that collect the most shoes!
  • Shekita Tolbert reached out to us to support her and her husband’s backpack giveaway event on Saturday, August 17th. She did not provide any details as to what they’re seeking, but I shared we may be interested in supporting. We will hopefully have more information to share before the next meeting. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:10pm. 

Next Meeting: Monday, July 15th, 2024 at 7:00pm

​