Q: Where is Safe Fest located?
A: Safe Fest 2019 will be held at Cleveland Park in Cedar Rapids. The park address is 1600 1st Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52404. 

Q: When is this event?
A: Safe Fest 2019 will be held on Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 from 8am to 12pm. 

Q: How much does it cost to attend? 
A; Admission to Safe Fest is FREE! Yes, totally free. The only part that costs is the pancake breakfast hosted by Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association. It is $5 per person. 

Q: Where do I register for this event?
A: No event pre-registration is required. You can RSVP on the Facebook event ahead of time. Registration will be REQUIRED on-site at the welcome table(s) for your children to be photographed with the mascots and participate in the giveaways. 

Q: What is happening at Safe Fest?
A: At Safe Fest 2019, there will be five (5) safety stations for the kids learn, play games, and meet their favorite mascots. Safety stations include Stranger Danger with the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Car Seat Safety, Bike Safety with Safe Kids Linn County and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees, Fire Safety with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, and Poison and Drug Safety. We are happy to host some local mascots, including Mr. Shucks from the Cedar Rapids Kernels, McGruff the Crime Dog, Sparky with the Fire Department, and more. Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association will also be hosting a pancake breakfast to raise money for Cleveland Park improvements, including a brand-new ADA compliant playground. 

Q: You said free stuff! What prizes are available at the event?
A: We are proud to be giving away 100 bike helmets to the first 100 kids at the Bike Safety station, thanks to the Cedar Rapids Jaycees. The Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association will be giving away three (3) car seats to lucky winners as well as a $50 meat package gift certificate. Central Church of Christ has graciously donated two (2) four-packs of tickets to Adventureland in Altoona, IA. Plus other cool stuff! More will be announced at the festival. 

Q: Will there be food and beverages available? 
​A: The Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association will be hosting a pancake breakfast, which will include pancakes. sausage, juice, and water. Cost for this breakfast is $5 per person. It will be available from 8am to 12pm. A big thank you to HyVee on Johnson Avenue for donating the food and beverage items. 

Q: Where is parking for this event?
A: At Cleveland Park, there will be very limited parking. There will be on-street parking around the park. There is also parking at Central Church of Christ across 1st Avenue. We will be hosting crossing guards for families to cross 1st Avenue safely. 

Q: What happens if it rains?
A: The festival will go on - rain or shine! The only reason for cancelling would be severe weather, including high winds or lightning. Festival organizers will make the call as soon as possible, if severe weather is a threat. Please follow the Facebook event for updates on this. 

Q: Where can I find the photo of my child from the event?
A: Photos from the event will be available on the Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association Facebook page for download. 

Q: Who puts on this event? 
A: Safe Fest 2019 is organized by 100% volunteers. Volunteers have come together from Central Church of Christ, Safe Kids Linn County, the Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association, the Cedar Rapids Jaycees, CRPD, CRFD, and beyond to make this event happen -- free of charge to families in the Cleveland Park area. 

Q: Will this be an annual event in Cedar Rapids?
A: We hope so! As 2019 is our first year, we will gauge the interest level and costs associated after the event and determine if we will be hosting this again in 2020. Your support will help determine this! 

Q: How do I get involved or volunteer for Safe Fest?
A: If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Nicole Schroeder with Cleveland Area Neighborhood Association or register online via SignUpGenius. 

Q: I have another question. Who can I contact?
A: Any further questions can be emailed to clevelandpark108@gmail.com. Thank you! 

7:00 Call to Order
Introduction of new City Liaison Chief Greg Smith, Newly appointed Cedar Rapids Fire Chief.

705-Treasury Update 961.52, 4.00 savings total 965.52 in the CANA bank accounty. 3 rd Quarter report filed with the city. Of the $10,000 from the city neighborhood fund, we have spent 5065.22 this year, leaving us 4934.78 spend. I have a check for renewal of our PO box for $92, and upcoming this month will be our group insurance bill for the neighborhood association, which increased from $250 a year t0 $450.

7:10- LT. Harrison-review of numbers of police incident summary. See Email attachment of form for this this month. Car theft was up to 4 from 1 this last year, matching a trend city/region  wide, likely related to the winter weather running later this year. Otherwise, number are similar to last year.

720-Annette Lorenz Safe CR discussed with group updates of Safe CR program. Discussed how our neighborhood has been rather stable. Again talked about if any concerns of nuisance property in your area, can call Safe CR at 319-286-5720

25 – Chief Smith discussed anniversary of Cedar Rapids Fire department, 150 years this year, noting first 25 years as volunteer department and now 125 years as city service. Plans to have event with upcoming downtown farmers market with citizen appreciation event. Also CRFD will be holding an open house June 15 from 11-2pm in celebration of 150 years.

7:30- discussion of upcoming Kids Safety Fair June 22, 2019 at Cleveland park. This in in conjunction with the city with involvement of Police, Fire as well as other area Agencies. Concentrated areas will include Bike safety, Stranger danger, Poison/drug awareness, and fire safety. Discussion of the different groups that will be there and booths that will be set up. Organizing possible prizes for kids that complete the safety stations. In turn, CANA will be purchasing a couple of Car seats as door prizes and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees have offered to purchase Bike helmets as door prizes. Mr. Schucks and the Kernels will have there program there, as well as Sparky and Mcgruff the crime dog, and applied for Herky to come as well.

​7:35-discussion of upcoming roadwork in our area around 8 th street to start some time end of June to early July. Some work at the end of 18 th St is currently going on with drainage there, and there will be other resurfacing in the area upcoming as well. 

7:40-update on History happens here walking history signs. Last update George had was that this year they will being doing half of our 23 signs in our area, and finish the other half the next fiscal year.

740- discussion of city having budgeted this year for new equipment in Cleveland park, total of$86,000 of new equipment to replace existing equipment. Discussion of looking for other organizations to partner with city on other possible equipment for older kids, such as climbing tree. If anybody knows of organizations or businesses that would like to partner with this projects, they can contact the Parks department and ask about the Friend of the park program and how they might be able to help. Ideas such as addition of a rope climbing tree, which can cost over $20,000 for the tree not including the groundwork around the equipment. Noleridge park is an example of a part that had partnership for payment of their equipment with a donation
from an area insurance agency.

750- Scott Eckman Of Central Church of Christ spoke of Churches charitable activities including recent clothing drive, organization of furniture drive, and his experience as well with Matthew 25 and their gardens.

7:55 end of meeting

Attached – police sheet of stats, DEA RX takeback April 27, 2019 @ 10am-2pm CRPD med drop off and Drive up location med drop off Sunner memorial park 701 valor way SW, Opiod Town Hall ting April 18, 2019 4-7pm Cedar rapids library Attendance: , Gary keller, George Heeran, Denise Klemp, Annette Lorenz(kids safe), Lt. Toby Harrison (CRPD), Chief Greg Smith CRFD, Scott Eckman Church of Christ

Minutes by Gary Keller, CANA Treasurer.

​Tonight's meeting has been CANCELLED. We will not be rescheduling this March meeting. We will meet next on Monday, April 15th at 7:00pm. Again, we will have updates on the Kids' Safety Fair project, planned park updates, and other local happenings in addition to our general association update. 

If you have any specific questions, comments, or concerns, please reply via email or reach out to George Heeren or Nicole Schroeder directly. 

Thank you for your understanding! 

Neighbors,

A few months ago, George Heeren presented information on the Neighborhood Finance Corporation as they are new to our area. Just recently, they launched their Cedar Rapids website that includes a map for their targeted lending areas. Please find more information on their website via the link below:

http://neighborhoodfinance.org/lending-map/cedar-rapids/

For more information, please contact NFC Cedar Rapids via the below information:
CEDAR RAPIDS NFC OFFICE

• 1110 Old Marion Road, Suite A
• Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
• P: 319.777.7127 F: 319.777.7126
• 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
• NMLS# 1757818

 

CANA Meeting Minutes
January 21, 2019
Call to order: 7:08pm
Attendance: Denise Klemp, George Heeren, Nicole Schroeder, Ashley Vanorny, Henrietta Mueller, Lt. Tobey Harrison, Gary Keller

Treasurer’s Report:
Gary Keller reports $941.52 in checking and $965.52 between two accounts. No outstanding balances at this time. We need to update our address on our bank accounts to our PO Box mailing address.


Lt. Tobey Harrison / CRPD Report:
New GIS and crime analyst system are moving in for the CRPD. No printed report. Neighborhood crime is down overall. CRPD is asking that vehicles are moved off the street for plows, due to recent and upcoming snow accumulation.

Ashley asked about domestic violence in our neighborhood as it’s increasing in the city overall. Lt. Harrison commented that it is important for us to be aware and alert for signs of domestic violence. CRPD is offering on-scene assistance to victims and contacts for local support groups to assist victims. It is an important communication line that CRPD is dedicated to keeping open.

Ashley also commented that the Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association is collecting addresses for those in their association that need snow removal assistance and also food donations for those who are currently furloughed, due to the government shutdown.



Board Elections:
Shannon has resigned as secretary / vice president as of November 2018. We briefly discussed the by-laws (2015 filing) and current roles on the board, including our 2018 board members. As of today, the following individuals have been nominated:

• Gary Keller nominated Nicole Schroeder as secretary
  
  • Nicole has accepted her nomination
    
• Nicole Schroeder nominated Denise Klemp as board member
  
  • Denise has accepted her nomination
    
• Nicole Schroeder nominated George Heeren as president
  
  • George has accepted his nomination
    
• LATE NOMINATION: Galen Heetland as board member
  
  • Galen will be approached to determine his acceptance
    
• Gary Keller will be continuing on as acting treasurer until replacement is found.
  

Voting - All nominations have been accepted. None opposed. Outstanding board members nominations will be finalized before the next meeting.

FY20 Work Plan (July 2019 - July 2020):
        Updating prior year work plan. Pursuing upgraded park projects, including ADA-approved park additions. We will be looking at grant applications to send out for addition funding. All in favor of these plans and changes. None opposed. Work plan updates pass.

Parks Department Request:
        George was approached by the Parks Department. The bleachers between the softball diamonds are sinking into the ground. They would like us to pay for a slab of concrete and they will upgrade the bleachers. George got an estimate from a contractor (Century Construction). The estimate is 19x12 and is 4 inches thick and includes dirt removal for $2,770.     

Historical Markers:
        As of November 2018, George heard from Eric Pate with the city. They do not have money for the markers/placards that they had previously approved. They are planning on installing them in the next two years vs. this year as Cedar Rapids Historical Society does not have the money for this. This is not what was previously agreed. Placards are $40 each and total about $900. They just need to be printed as Nic previously had them designed and ready to go. We just need to order them for printing. George would like to vote on us paying for these vs. waiting on the city/historical society. All in favor. None opposed. Placards purchase plan passes

Meeting is adjourned at 8:09pm.

​

Hello all,

Attached are the meeting minutes for the November 19, 2018 CANA meeting. Please note our next meeting will be January 21, 2019 (MLK day) at 7pm Church of Christ as usual. Important meeting as it will be election of officers  (president, secretary, treasurer), and review of 4 Board positions noting. If interested in any of the positions, please email by Sunday January 20th 2019 to this email address so i can add you to the slate of nominees.  Look forward to seeing everybody. Thanks

Gary Keller  CANA Treasurer

HERE is a link to the Kids Safety Fair information.