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.
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
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
