CANA March 2021 Meeting Minutes | Call to order: 7:06pm
Attendance: George Heeren, Nicole Schroeder, Amy Hall-Haney, Ashley Vanorny, Denise Klemp, Marlene Hunt, Henrietta Mueller, Rose Heetland, Galen Heetland, Greg Smith (virtual), Susan Johnston (virtual)
Attendance: George Heeren, Nicole Schroeder, Amy Hall-Haney, Ashley Vanorny, Denise Klemp, Marlene Hunt, Henrietta Mueller, Rose Heetland, Galen Heetland, Greg Smith (virtual), Susan Johnston (virtual)
- Treasurer's Report - Amy Hall-Haney - $474.93 + three pending reimbursements from City. Nicole and Amy are following up with Jeff Wozencraft on the three reimbursements, including our PO Box and insurance. We need to resubmit the insurance reimbursement request, so Nicole will be getting a duplicate receipt from insurance for that.
- CRFD - Chief Greg Smith - Review of Neighborhood News. Asked for reporting of property debris and concerns of fire safety since the burn ban has been lifted. Currently in the hiring process of CR fire fighters. Previously had been postponed in 2020 because of COVID-19.
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City Council - Ashley Vanorny - City is working to get staff vaccinated as soon as possible. Review of new City of Cedar Rapids mobile app.
- Henrietta Mueller inquired about city street repairs from damage from contractors. Ashley will follow up on this concern with the City. Henrietta is also concerned about the tree on her property that was removed before Henrietta could appeal the removal. The tree was not marked until last week and it has been taken down as of yesterday, but not removed from the property.
- Report of property at 159 15th St SW (corner of 15th and 8th) with wood on-site. Multiple neighbors have reported concerns with this property. Ashley Vanorny and Nicole Schroeder will be checking with Annette Lorentz with SAFE-CR on the status of this property.
- Update on Kwik Star on 16th Ave / 20th St SW - Private developer bought the land and demolished the property. City approved re-zoning. Construction is currently happening and the street is currently blocked, due to construction. We are concerned about the liquor sales and the flow of traffic. Nicole Schroeder will follow up on this as Ashley commented on the traffic study being after construction has started.
- Park Clean Up with Boy Scouts - George Heeren has spoken with the local Boy Scout troop as they are interested in participating in a clean up project. They will be cleaning the tree debris in the park into piles and help the grass grow. We will be scheduling a specific day once we talk to the Parks Department as Central Church of Christ would like to be involved.
- Tree Grant Updates - Denise Klemp - Trees Forever is planning on replanting trees in Cleveland Park on 4/30 or 5/1. City has been contracted by Confluence (an arbor consulting firm) to replant 48 trees in Cleveland Park! If anyone is interested in the Trees Forever TreeKeeper program, it is virtual now and limited, but it starts tomorrow (Tue 3/16). You just have to register online at www.treesforever.org. There is more information the ReLeaf program online as well.
- Rollin' Recmobile will be at Cleveland Park on Thursday, March 18th from 1pm to 3pm, pending weather. There is a Facebook event for families to share online. This event is free! Linn County Conservation will be joining the Parks Department.
- Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation is now accepting registrations for spring programs and summer camps. Due to Covid-19, the Department's full summer program guide will be delivered to residents in the May issue of Our CR. The current online Play guide contains new May programs, golf information, and summer camps and daycare to help you plan ahead for the summer school break. Spring programs include activities, sports, swim lessons, lifeguard certification classes, and lap lane, water exercise, pickleball and basketball court reservations.
- Kids Safety Fair Update - Susan Johnston - Waiting on SAFE Kids Linn County to determine involvement / plan for summer programs. We are waiting on an update from Linn County Public Health in regards to COVID-19 safety and recommendations. We will update as more information becomes available.
- On April 10th, Iowa BIG is co-hosting a bazaar with Central Church of Christ by selling used clothing with all proceeds going to Willis Dady. We will share more information by email and on Facebook.
- Rose Heetland expressed a concern about animals being on the playground. She is concerned specifically about dogs being on the swings and slides off-leash. George will be following up on this concern and a potential sign.
- Ordering neighborhood signs - Nicole Schroeder - Nicole will bring two designs to the next meeting for approval and get ordered by May 1st. Will be contacting SPS Printing, Allegra, and other local print shops to assist with discounted double-sided signs. Susan Johnston commented that Allegra has a Foot PRINT Fund grant available, so Nicole will look into this.
- Online Neighborhood Business Directory Fundraiser Idea - Nicole Schroeder - Motion to develop fundraising campaign to set up business directory on CANA website and offer “advanced” listings for neighborhood businesses with a logo and description/commentary as well as social media highlights for a $25 donation to CANA. All in favor, none opposed, no discussion. Motion passes. Nicole will work on developing a plan for this.
- Paving for Progress Updates - Update from Jan Coleman (2oth St SW neighbor) from Lee Tippe: The contract has a late start date of 26 April 2021. Currently, we have not held the pre-construction meeting, so do not yet have a more specific schedule from the contractor. We are well aware a number of area residents have access and/or health concerns, and the staging plan limits the areas that can be under construction at a given time, to help make access easier. Once we have a detailed schedule from our contractor, we will be issuing another communication to residents. We will provide contact information for the City’s project team, as well as the contractor’s key personnel so residents know who to address questions and concerns to. We will also have a bi-weekly email update that project area residents and others can subscribe to. Nicole will be sending updates on the Paving for Progress project and will include the link that Jeff Wozencraft sent along.
- Beautification near 16th Ave / 20th St SW - Galen Heetland - Discussion of flowers, signage, art, etc. near the new Kwik Star. He will contact Kwik Star directly to see if they would be willing to collaborate with us on the project.
- Rose Heetland inquired about the City Manager 1 Bag Challenge and George commented that he had plenty in his garage. He will get those to neighbors who are interested in doing trash pick up as CANA is still part of the neighborhood clean up project. Ashley Vanorny explained that City of CR is also looking at helping smaller, less active neighborhoods with a clean up program. More information will be coming on that.
