City Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to welcome everybody to the Waterloo City Council. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Could we have some quiet in the audience, please? Good afternoon. Welcome to the Waterloo City Council regular meeting, Monday, August 17, 2026. Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Mr. Schmidt?

Here.

Mr. Mauro?

Here.

Ms. Creighton-Smith? OK. She's not on. OK. What'd you say? Okay. Ms. Berry? Mr. Salamanca?

Here.

Mr. Martin?

Here.

Mr. Simon? Here.

At this time, I'd like to recognize a moment of silent prayer or affirmation. Thank you. I would also ask that you please check and silence your cell phones. We've been having some issues in the last few council meetings. Tonight's Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councilmember Hector Salamanca-Arroyo, Ward 5.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Simon. Mr. Mayor. Yes. I would like to make a motion to approve the agenda as amended, as well as the approval of the minutes of the July 20, 2026 and August 3, 2026 regular council regular session and the August 6, 2026 special council session as proposed. Second. Emotion a second all in favor aye opposed same sign motion carried mr. Mayor mr. Stein I would like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the exception of items number 7 10 and 14 for separate discussion as well as the addition of the bill payments from August 10th in the amount of four million seven hundred forty three thousand four and fifteen dollars and fourteen cents and and from August 17th in the amount of $1,539,559.78. Second. Motion to second.

Does any other council persons wish to pull anything else off the consent agenda? Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow?

Yes.

Ms. Barry, oh, hello. Good timing. Ms. Barry. Yes. Mr. Salamanca. Yes. Mr. Martin. Yes. And Mr. Simon.

Here, yes, sorry. One of those, right?

One of those three.

Okay, thank you. Who asked to have item number seven pulled? Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mauro.

Mr. Mayor resolution numbers are number 7 resolution, approving preliminary plans, specifications, form of contract, et cetera, setting date of bid opening. As September 10th, 2026, and date of public hearing is September 21st, 2026 in conjunction with fiscal year. 262026 South business park phase 1 contract 1129. Rm. 8155. Open parenthesis 789 closed dash 90-07 and instruct the city clerk to publish notice. Second.

Motion to second. Question, Mr. Morrow.

I'd just like to have a little understanding of what is contained in phase one. I mean, I know there's a lot of things going on. Do you have some kind of an explanation?

Mr. Castle, sitting in for Mr. Knutson.

When you also assistant city in June, uh, we should ask me earlier because I didn't have any information provided to me other than what's in your packet. So I can't, I can't give you precisely what phase 1 is, but I believe that's the northern portion that would include the. Improvements at the South end of the Ansborough highway, 20 interchange. And then Dakota drive extension this word.

I was just wondering what it was getting into. I knew it was a big project. I just wanted to understand what phase one was getting into.

Yeah, so that would be the northern portion is what my understanding is. Okay, I understand.

That is correct Mr. Schmidt. This is actually just even though we're lacking some information that's usually there, because normally there's attachments to this, even though we're setting the date of public hearing it is set in the date of public hearing for September 21st. So, when that agenda item comes out, hopefully everything will be there. I do my understanding that is the, it's the off ramp interchange roundabout and the, and the 1st, 1st phase going on the northern section, going East West. And I believe it's infrastructure and I think we have rise money for the road out there.

I'd had some question. I was just wondering if the roundabout was part of that. That's where I was trying to get to. I believe it is.

Yes.

Okay. That was my question.

I had some questions for some of the constituents. Okay.

Thank you so much. Thank you, Wayne. Anybody else have questions before he steps down? Okay. I appreciate that. Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. And Mr. Simon? Yes.

Perfect. Who asked to have 10 pulled? Mr. Morrow?

Mr. Mayor, resolution approving completion of project and recommendation of acceptance of work performed by INS Group Inc. of 314 East 4th Street, Waterloo, Iowa, in the amount of $23,700 in conjunction with the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center addition, project number 21042. Second. Motion to second question, sir, I guess, and I know this contract goes back to 2020 and I guess I was just wanting to understand what was being built in this was this part of the original contract or the change and what was specifically in this if we could understand.

Sure.

Eric Schroeder, city planner. I don't know too much about this, but building maintenance did give me a little bit of an update on this. So this was the retainage under this contract. There was some work that was done for some outside work that they held back some of the money just to make sure everything was completed. which it was, so I think it did kind of get a little bit slow in getting everything all finalized and getting this through to get final payment. So it is a little old, but it is just the retainage of the amount from that original contract that was held back.

This is part of what the city held back?

Yes, just the hold back amount, not any additional.

Clear enough, thank you.

Thank you, thank you, sir. Anybody else have questions? Mr. Schmidt, do you have a question? No, sir. Okay. Madam Clerk.

Mr. Schmidt. Yes. Mr. Morrow. Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith. Yes. Ms. Berry. Yes. Mr. Salamanca. Yes. Mr. Martin. Yes. Mr. Simon.

Yes.

Moving on to 14. Mr. Morrow. Mr. Morrow.

Number 14, motion to approve change order number CR2026-0058 within Trust Solutions Group of Lyle, Illinois in the amount of $51,492.51 in conjunction with the Waterloo Fiber Backbone Project and authorizing the mayor to execute said document. Second.

Motion to second. Question, Mr. Morrow.

I kind of think 14 and 15 are tied together, but I just kind of like to understand, seems to be lots of changes and stuff going on and a little explanation of what's going on here with this change.

Mr. Bennett.

Randy Bennett, Public Works Division Manager. You are correct. The one would be for the design. That's the smaller portion. The other portion is going to be for the work and stuff for the contractors. They add the Ainsborough section into that that wasn't in the original portion of it. So as we're getting down to the end of the project, we just have some loose ends as we're adding to it. And this is one of the sections that we want to make sure that is included into this section. of cleaning things up so they're putting together yeah the project we're coming we're coming down to the end onto it and this is a portion of it all right thank you mr mayor mr simon uh randy um is this connected with the contract we had with knw on 720 of 26. Well, they're kind of in the same area. So you have to realize when we originally, before the whole fiber project was actually gone out to bid, we were already in the process of doing grants on certain sections. So Ainsborough was a portion of that. Broadway was another section of that. So we had some overlap between the two, and that's kind of where some of this comes into play. It's offsetting one or the other. So where we had K&W do some sections, some of it we want to make sure that we incorporate into the fiber backbone project. So yes, there's some overlap between the two. So was the original intention to have K&W do all of it? Well, had the fiber project not taken place, but on this portion where we already had some of that infrastructure, we didn't need redundancy for both of it. So, you know, some of it we had K&W do, some of it it's better to have done through the backbone process. And in this portion, this is better to have done through the fiber project. just the way it ties back into, on the Ainsborough that goes towards, to our backbone portion, towards station six. Or not station six, but where it ties back in. Unfortunately, it's harder to explain, but yes, it has to do with the fact because we did have a grant on portions of it, and some of them we didn't. You have to realize we didn't stop moving forward because whether or not this was going to materialize or not. But in this section, it's better to have it done through what ITG is doing for us on this project.

Okay. I'm not going to pretend to understand all of that, because I thought this was already a done deal. And this change order is confusing.

And we're just taking some of the money, and then we're doing other aspects of it. We're part of the grant going back and forth as far as what we're doing for one portion over the other. So do you foresee any other change orders coming in this? I do foresee a reduction. I don't know if it'll be on the next one, but the following one where we have an agreement that'll probably be coming down the pike here. It's going to be a portion of the EDA. There's also another one for the downtown. I don't foresee too many more, but I do know that there is a reduction, a deduct coming here shortly. I do know that.

Okay, thank you.

Hopefully not much more, yeah.

Thank you, sir. Madam Clerk, roll call.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes. Thank you. Before we move on to public hearings, we have empty seats, folks, and I would ask you to take a seat as opposed to standing in the aisle for the rest of the meeting. There's two empty seats right here. There's empty seats on the other side. Thank you. Moving on to public hearings, who would take this number? Oh, I'm sorry. I do have two. I apologize. I jumped ahead. We have an appointment I want to recognize tonight for boards and commissions. Matthew Carpenter is going to be our new member of the Board of Adjustments with an expiration date of August 7, 2031. Matthew, could you please stand? Thank you, sir. And then we have a conclusion of an employment from Nolan Richford Volk, a library assistant. I just want to thank him for his service to our library and the time he spent with the City of Waterloo. I apologize for jumping ahead. Public hearing number one, who wants to take that? Mayor? Mr. Schmidt.

First public hearing is a motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing. And that's for request by the city of Waterloo to rezone approximately 4.86 acres from R-3, multiple resident district, to R-2, R-P, planned residence district, and R-3, R-P, planned resident district for the development of 17 lots, including the expansion of Birdie Cottage, located at 310 Upton Avenue.

Second.

Motion to second, all in favor? Aye. Opposed, same sign. The hearing is now open. Does anybody from the public wish to speak for or against this item on the agenda? Please approach the podium, state your name and address, and you have three minutes.

Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to close the hearing and receive and file any oral or written comments and recommendation of approval of the Planning, Programming, and Zoning Commission.

Second. Motion to second, all in favor? Aye. Opposed?

Motion carried. Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to receive, file, and consider and pass for the first time an ordinance amending ordinance number 5079 as amended City of Waterloo zoning ordinance. by amending the official zoning map referred to in section 10-4-4, approving a request by the city of Waterloo to rezone approximately 4.86 acres from R-3 multiple residence district to R-2, R-P, planned resident district, and R-3, R-P, planned resident district for the development of 17 lots, including the expansion of Birdie Cottage, located at 310 Upton Avenue.

Second. Motion to second. Council, questions on this item? Any questions? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes. Mr. Schmidt? Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to suspend the rules. Second.

Motion to second.

Madam Clerk? Mr. Mayor, can I ask, can you tell me the urgency of this?

i know it's been dragging on for a while eric trader city planner from a rezone standpoint i'm not aware of anything specific from a timing standpoint we've got the preliminary plot that's on the agenda here later on tonight The final plat we anticipate will be coming shortly, which will go before the Planning and Zoning Commission and then before the City Council as well.

And as far as we know, the neighbors, neighborhood, I mean, again, this has been a long time coming. They're all pretty supportive of this project.

That's my understanding, yes.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

No, sir.

Okay, Madam Clerk?

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon? Yes.

Mr. Schmidt?

Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to consider and pass for the second and third times and adopt the ordinance.

Second. Motion second. Madam Clerk?

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes. Okay, who could take number two, please? Mr. Mayor? Mr. Morrow?

Yes.

Motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing request by the City of Waterloo to rezone approximately 10.67 acres from C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District and A-1 Agricultural District to R-3, R-P Planned Residence District for the development of 14 lots for single family homes and townhomes located along West 3rd Street and Norton Street west of Sargent Road.

Second. Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed, same sign. Okay, the hearing is now open. Anyone from the public wish to speak for or against this rezoning? Please approach the podium.

Forest DeLavue, 1725 Huntington Road. This whole project on Third Street, I'd like to speak to back in the 60s. the parks department, Leonard Katowski, was active in acquiring this piece of property. And it was assumed by me and many others that this would be a part of the greenbelt, which it has been ever since it was acquired. The parks department has always taken care of it. I made a donation, as well as donating labor and time to help clean the east end of that property. I tore down buildings, I hauled away trash, and I made a cash donation to the Parks Department, thinking that would always be the Greenbelt. Now it appears like someone wants to build there. So we're going to do away with what was the Greenbelt. To me, it was the Greenbelt. And we can't find the paperwork, obviously. So we're going to go ahead and do it. I just object to the way it was done. It's too late now. The trees, the oak and the walnut trees that were harvested over there, somebody got the money. It's gone. It should have went to the Parks Department. They maintained this all this years. And I don't want anything for what I did. But I don't think this is the way the city should be doing business. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Anyone else from the audience wish to speak for or against this item?

Mr. Mayor, motion to close hearing and receive and file oral and written comments and recommendation of approval of the Planning, Programming, and Zoning Commission. Second.

Motion to second, all in favor? Aye.

Mr. Mayor, motion.

Opposed? Okay, motion carried. Mr. Morrow.

Mr. Mayor, motion to receive, file, consider, and pass for the first time an ordinance amending ordinance number 5079 as amended. City of Waterloo zoning ordinance by amending the official zoning map referred to in section 10-4-4, approving a request by the City of Waterloo to rezone approximately... 10.67 acres from C1 neighborhood commercial district and A1 agriculture district to R3, R-3, R-P planned residence district for the development of 14 lots for single family homes and townhouses located along West 3rd Street and Norton Street west of Sergeant Road. Second. Second.

Motion to second. Council, any questions regarding this item? Mr. Mayor. Mr. Simon.

To elaborate on Mr. DeLavue's points and concerns there, I grew up, I mean, I had a cousin and we played over there and I understand the the evolution of that area to some degree. It was my understanding that there was some flood mitigation problems that we had to take care of there on what is the south side of the dike. Is that what initiated the tree removal and the beginning of this project?

Wayne Castle, Assistant City Engineer. You are correct. The bulk of the area, when the Army Corps put in the Blackhawk levee system through there, they designated the lower-lying areas as a ponding area for the Gatewell C3, which is back there. Conversation with Army Corps... looking through our our obligations we are required to maintain any ponding areas so we've had some questions and concerns about how we properly maintain this as it has not been maintained since everything was installed um they they wanted us to do this they wanted us to verify that we had the storage capacity that was designed for very difficult to survey it because it's been 60, 70 years of growth and no one's been maintaining it, which has diminished the capacity for that storage basin. So got into looking at this about the same time. There was interest and we have vacant lots there along Third Street. Can we put houses on there? So these two efforts came together and this is what we're looking at.

Thank you for that clarification.

And you did increase the depth of those ponds so they would hold the same amount of water or more?

Correct. So we were looking at volume capacity. Part of the issue is it has not been graded. Nothing's really been done with it since the levee was installed. So that diminished the ability of the basin to serve its purpose. So looking at this design-wise, this is the capacity we have to maintain. Working with Army Corps, this is what we can and can't do, and that's what we got.

Tomorrow question yes, mr. Mayor so it started off. You've got had a green area I will called that was left by the Corps of Engineers and you have taken some of that for houses here Is there anything left that would still be green and how much of that would be you know 50% 60% whatever so on the preliminary plot what we have is

Tract A will be the large area to the north. That's going to be detention basin, green space, and levee. The north side of the levee will still remain within the floodplain. We can't touch that. We're looking at approximately... I can't find it on the sheet. Quite a few acres. I would say the bulk of that is about six to seven acres. That's going to be grass and open space.

So there'll still be six to seven acres there of the green space in addition to the home lots that are put in?

Correct.

All right. Thank you.

Anybody else from the council have any questions? Mr. Salamanca.

Wayne, so the map that was provided in our council packet, the staff report as well, it shows that part of it would still be in the flood way. Is that accurate, or am I misreading the layout of it?

No, portions of Tract A will remain in the floodway. Those are the portions that are on the north side of the levee. We're not building in those. Those stay there. We're not doing anything.

Okay, so not being touched, just going to stay there. Correct. Nothing's happening. All right, thank you.

Any other questions for Mr. Castle? Thank you, sir. Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Mr. Schmidt. Yes. Mr. Morrow. Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith. Yes. Ms. Berry. Yes. Mr. Salamanca. Yes. Mr. Martin. Yes. Mr. Simon. Yes.

Mr. Morrow.

Mr. Mayor, motion to suspend the rules. Second.

Motion is second. Madam Clerk.

Mr. Schmidt. Yes. Mr. Morrow. Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith. Yes. Ms. Berry. Yes. Mr. Salamanca. Yes. Mr. Martin. Yes. Mr. Simon.

Yes. Mr. Morrow.

Mr. Mayor, motion to consider and pass for the second and third times and adopt the ordinance. Second.

Motion to second. Madam Clerk.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes. All right, thank you. Can someone take number three, please?

Number three is a motion to receive and file proof of publication. Notice of public hearing and that's for the request by the City of Waterloo to vacate approximately 1,988 square feet of city-owned right-of-way at West 3rd Street at the intersection of West 3rd Street and Norton Street.

Second.

Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Same sign. Motion carries. The hearing is now open. Would anybody like to speak for or against this vacate?

Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to close the hearing, receive and file any oral or written comments in recommendation of the approval of the Planning, Programming, and Zoning Commission.

Second. Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Same sign. Motion carried.

Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to receive, file, and consider and pass for the first time an ordinance approving a request by the City of Waterloo to vacate approximately 1,988 square feet of city-owned right-of-way of West 3rd Street at the intersection of West 3rd Street and Norton Street.

Second.

Motion to second. Council, questions? That's that small portion in the curve that they showed you on the map that we just looked at. Madam clerk roll call please.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon? Yes.

Mr. Schmidt? Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules.

Second.

Motion to second. Madam clerk?

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes.

Mr. Schmidt? Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to consider and pass to the second and third times and adopt said ordinance.

Second.

Motion to second. Madam Clerk?

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes. We'd like to take number four, please.

Mr. Mayor, I move that we receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing for the sale and conveyance of 315 East 4th Street to TriPi in the amount of $1.

Second.

Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion carries. The hearing is now open. Does anybody here like to speak for or against the sale of 315 East 4th Street to TriPi for the amount for $1? If so, please approach the podium state your name and address and you have 3 minutes.

Hi, my name is Sarah. Hello. So I live at 233 prospect Avenue in Waterloo. I'm executive director of try by bakery. Um, I'm glad to have with me a couple of our board members, Liz Nash, our president and lions, um, someone with the roots of tribe. Hi, Laura and our director of finance. Megan Tenson, as well as one of our alumni, Mame. I know I've been able to speak with most of you. Thank you for your time and consideration of this. We're really excited to be a part of downtown Waterloo and want to continue to be able to. Just to reiterate some of our history, being a teen employment program for high school girls in Waterloo and Cedar Falls, we bring them downtown to work and make pie in a bakery and learn financial literacy and job readiness skills. Since 2018, we've grown our team from 10 students to 41 employed this year, with about 79% of our alumni having completed higher education. About half of them stay in the Cedar Valley after graduation and 10 of those alumni have returned to reinvest in the program as either paid adult staff or volunteers for mentors or sitting on our board. We're looking at this new space to be able to stay downtown Waterloo as we look to be able to expand to serve more students and would appreciate support to do so, thank you.

Forrest Dillavoo, 1725 Huntington Road. It's my understanding that these properties were bought by the WDC, and now the city is going to buy them from WDC and give them a dollar. I would like to know the taxpayer costs. What are we going to be paying for them? I already know the selling price. It's $1. How many taxpayer dollars are going to be put into these two buildings? I understand there are multiple buildings they're going to do the same thing with.

There's, the WDC is just deeding the property to us. There is no sale.

No sale. No sale, sir. That answers that question. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Anyone else from the audience wish to speak for or against this item?

Hi, my name is Malia. I'm here today to ask you to support and vote for the- Just need your address, ma'am. Oh, my address? Yeah. My address is 2549 Manor Street.

Thank you.

As a tripod alumni and former board member, I've experienced firsthand and the positive impact this organization had on my life. Tripod has shaped it not only my academic and professional journey, also my personal growth and the relationship I built along the way. At Tripod, we do more than just big pies. Through program, we learn valuable lessons about professionalism, teamwork, communication, and career readiness. I was given an opportunity to build confidence, develop leadership skill, and work alongside peers in a supportive environment that encouraged both personal and professional growth. CharPi provide young people in meaningful experience that prepare them for future success while strengthening our community. Investing in this new facility will allow the organization to continue serving youth and expand its positive impact for years to come. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else like to speak for or against this item? And it should be noted you make really good pies, too, by the way. Thank you. Ms. Creighton-Smith.

Mr. Mayor, I... Motion to close the hearing. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, I move that we close the hearing and receive and file all unwritten comments. Second.

Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion carried. Ms. Creighton-Smith.

Yes. Mr. Mayor, I am excited that we are considering this.

Do we have to vote?

We have to adopt a resolution now, please.

Mr. Mayor, I move that we adopt the resolution authorizing the sale and conveyance of 315 East 4th Street to tripod in the amount of $1 and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said documents. Second.

Motion to second. Council, any questions on this? Yes, Mr. Mr. Creighton-Smith, please.

I'm just happy that we've gotten this far with this. I was sharing with some of the project coordinators that the amount of money that is being generated for our community is is more than just a dollar value. When you consider the way in which lives have been transformed and citizens have been made and shaped and they're able to contribute now to the community. Whereas without an opportunity like this, they may have gone down the wrong path. So the dollar amount far exceeds what we can possibly see on paper.

Thank you, Mr. Simon I, too, kind of want to echo what how impressed I was with the tour that I took the professionalism of the young ladies that were in there when I walked through there was. Exemplatory, I mean, it's very nice. Did it great job in that building when we took a tour of the building downstairs that. the amount of money that's going to be put into that to fix that is going to Improve the city in that area of town and that that street a whole lot So I appreciate you doing that and what you're doing for those young ladies.

So, thank you And it should be noted. They're actually expanding into the building next door, too So it's going to be two storefronts that they're going to be occupying. I Any other questions, Mr. Mr. mayor mark? Yes.

Um, just to the ladies that I've met with, I did check with the WC, the WCC and you do get in industrial recognized credits, but there's IRC for those classes for those. For those, uh, ladies and young ladies and men who take your course.

Thank you.

Anyone else.

Just real quickly, I remember several years ago, we did a ribbon cutting them with the chamber ambassadors and, uh, we did a ribbon cutting for this. program down there when it first got going, and it's just been wonderful to watch how it's grown. I see your products all over town. The presentation that the two young ladies came and made to the council members individually answered a lot of questions I had about nonprofit not paying property taxes, that kind of stuff, but the amount of money that's going to be invested in this building is great. And also blends in with the whole, you know, food destination vibe thing we're trying to get, continuing to promote in downtown Waterloo. So I think it's a great project and I'm very supportive.

Thank you. Anyone else? Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. And Mr. Simon?

Yes. Creighton-Smith, one more, yes.

Yes. Mr. Mayor, I move that we adopt a resolution approving a development and minimum assessment agreement in the amount of $565,000 for 315 East 4th Street and 311 East 4th Street and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document. Second.

All right, motion is second. Madam Clerk, roll call.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. And Mr. Simon? Yes.

Number five, please. Mr. Mayor? Mr. Simon.

I'd like to make a motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing for the sale and conveyance of city-owned property located south of 3915 Valdez Drive to Raymond I. Harris and Clozell R. Harris in the amount of $1,576. Second. Second.

2nd, all in favor post same sign motion carried. The hearing is now open. Does anybody in the audience wish to speak for or against. The sale of the city on property at 3915 belt is.

Mr. Mayor?

Mr. Simon?

I'd like to make a motion to close the hearing and receive and file oral and written comments. Second.

Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carried. Mr. Simon?

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to propose the resolution authorizing the sale and conveyance of city-owned property located south of 3915 Valdez Drive to Raymond I. Harris and Clozell R. Harris in the amount of $1,576 and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document.

Second.

Motion to second. Council questions on this item? Well, hearing none, Mr. Simon. I have not.

Oh, roll call vote, please.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon? Yes.

Thank you. Number six, Mr. Salamanca.

I was getting ready to say something. Number six, motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing for the sale and conveyance of approximately 966 square feet of city-owned property located north and south of 1130 Ansborough Avenue to Pebble Hill LLC, a Delaware limited liability company in the amount of $7,728.80. Second. Motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed?

Motion carried the hearing is now open anyone from the audience, which is speak forward against the sale of this property south of 1130. Hainesboro Avenue, which is basically the pizza hut. Located at Hainesboro University. Seeing none, Mr. Salamanca.

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to close hearing and receive and file oral and written comments.

All in favor? Oh, do I have a second? Second. Okay, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Thank you. Mr. Salamanca.

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to adopt a resolution authorizing the sale and convenience of approximately 966 square feet of city-owned property located north and south of 1130 Ansboro Avenue. to Pebble Hill LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in the amount of $7,728.80, subject to the retention of an easement over, under, upon, and across the described tracks, and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said documents. Second.

Motion to second. Council questions? Seeing none, Madam Clerk?

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon? Yes.

Excellent. That concludes our public hearings. Who would like to take Resolution 1, 2, and 3?

Mr. Martin.

Mr. Morrow. Number 1 resolution approving a temporary easement agreement in the amount of 100 dollars with Nicole Russell located at 1431. Ingersoll road in conjunction with the drive hunting and road reconstruction project and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document. Number 2. Resolution to approve the request by David Knipp for an encroachment agreement to allow for decorative rocks in the right-of-way of Birch Avenue and West 7th Street in the R21 and Two-Family Residence District at 902 Birch Avenue and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document. Number three, resolution to approve the request by the City of Waterloo for the preliminary plat of Parkview Manor, a 17-lot residential subdivision located at 310 Upland Drive. Second. Second.

All right, we have a motion and a second. Anyone from the audience wish to speak for or against items number one, two, or three? Please approach the podium and state your name and address. Seeing none, council.

Mr. Mayor.

Items one, two, and three. Mr. Salamanca.

I know for number, resolution number two, I was asked earlier if this would set a precedence. And I want to reiterate that it would not. folks are still able to determine whether or not variances are going to be allowed. That's the purpose of a variance. So it is my wholehearted support that I will be supporting number two, the resolution to approve the request, mainly because also I live in that neighborhood. I've seen this house. I've seen these rocks. There hasn't been an issue. If anything, this showcases the importance of folks being able to advocate for themselves and engage with their city council members. Thank you.

Um, I would just make a note I did receive from the planning and zoning department a letter from a resident today that was speaking in opposition to this.

I will afford that to the council. I apologize. I didn't get that sent out to council earlier today.

I do believe that it was the, there was recommended recommendations of denial. Uh, Mr trader, could you speak to that please? Sure.

ERIC SCHRADER, CITY PLANNER. THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WAS RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF THE REQUEST AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND DENIAL PRIMARILY BASED ON THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

AND IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DENIAL HAD TO DO WITH THE CITY EASEMENTS RIGHT AWAY AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S UTILITIES IN THAT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, IF WE HAD TO GET BACK INTO THEM?

Yes, and the issue on precedent liability was also discussed.

And these were already put in prior to... without the city's knowledge, is that correct?

Yes, I believe they've been there for quite some time.

Okay, thank you. Any questions for Mr. Schroeder? Ms. Creighton-Smith, you have a question.

Yes, thank you. So it was my understanding that there was some issue with possible not being able to see around the structure, or was it just cosmetic or aesthetic issues?

So I believe in the letter that a resident submitted today, they expressed a visibility issue. To my knowledge, I think that's the first that a visibility issue was raised. They're not that big of rocks, so I'm not sure how much of a visibility issue they're creating.

Mr. Morrow? Mr. Mayor, I've driven by the place, and I can't see where there's any visibility issues at all. The rocks are maybe a foot off the ground. They're relatively small, and the other pile of rocks he talks about are over behind the garage. I don't see any visibility issues at all.

Well, miss Barry was next.

Thank you. So, Eric, um, I, if I recall, there were some concerns about. Even traffic before the rocks were there, uh, rock, I guess traffic was all on the, or rather the yard and things like that too. Of the homeowner or no.

Yes, I believe the applicant is here, so he could probably address that more, but it is my understanding the reason that he placed the rocks where he did is because of traffic leaving the roadway and driving on those areas and causing damage.

Okay, and so in terms of public utility, are we talking about like electrical kinds of things, or can you be specific what kind of public utilities are under the ground that's concerned?

I mean, basically all of the public utilities, which, yeah, it could be your electric, which oftentimes is overhead but can be buried underground, gas, which would be underground, the water line, which would be underground, fiber. Cable, you know, like Mediacom.

Yeah, okay, thank you much. Mr. Mayor. Oh, apologies.

Are you done, ma'am? I am, thank you. Mr. Simon.

To touch on the utilities, if by chance we have to get in there and do some utility work, do you see the size of these rocks to be a hindrance in order for the city to be able to operate and do whatever maintenance or whatever needs to be done? And if there is an added cost to that, is that something that the city would eat or is that something that the resident would take with the passage of this ordinance or this resolution?

So most of the utilities are going to be a different utility company, so the cities would be the sewer. There. How much they're gonna be in the way is hard to speculate. Many utilities would get bored underground so they could be avoided. Not all utilities will be bored and some might get trenched and then they'd be in the way. They're not the largest of boulders so they could be moved out of the way.

They don't seem to be that large from the photos. I've driven by as well, so okay.

So I'm looking at that letter right now, and it appears that individual is more upset about a park bench being removed from their property versus actually having any issues with the rocks. From the letter, it appears that they're just pointing out that Mr. Knipp should have been cited for these rocks. Again, I've lived right across the street from Mr. Knipp, a little ways away for the past three years. haven't had any issues, haven't seen any report issues. The issues that were brought up during the board about snowmobiles and crashing into these rocks, quite frankly, if someone's snowmobiling in the heart of a neighborhood, that's a bigger issue to me than these rocks. IN ADDITION TO THAT, AGAIN, THIS ISN'T SETTING A PRECEDENCE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THAT BOARD'S ABILITY TO ISSUE OUT VARIANCES. THE ARGUMENT IS SHOULD MR. KNIP BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS VARIANCE, IT'S NOT SAYING IT'S GOING TO SET THE PRECEDENCE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE PROCESS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS TO GET THAT VARIANCE. NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, IF I WERE TO DECIDE TO PUT ROCKS I WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE BOARD and get that variance, and if they were to deny it, then I would come before council and go through the same steps. But just by granting this one side occasion for Mr. Knipp does not necessarily equal to a precedence of variances just being allowed left and right. So with that being said, I know there's talk about reaching those utilities. How often are utilities serviced throughout a given year?

I wouldn't have knowledge on that. That's not my area of knowledge.

Thank you. Kind of to the movement or size of those, I could take my skid steer in the course of about five minutes, move all of them out of the way if you needed to work there. So I don't see it as any kind of a hindrance to anybody wanting to work. I mean, they're not that big.

A question for you, Mr. Schrader. This was denied at planning and zoning?

Recommendation of denial, yes.

So they're coming forward to get the council to override the denial, is that correct?

Why is that not in the resolution?

I'm just looking through this stuff.

Okay.

My only question is, does it require it is a little misleading the way it's on the agenda because the staff recommendation and the council communication is to not support it, but it's on the agenda as to recommend to approve it.

My question to you, sir, is that since it was denied at planning and zoning, now they're coming before to have the council override the planning and zoning. Does that require more votes?

It does not. It does just require four. It's an encroachment agreement. It's not an item that requires a super majority vote of any kind.

So that's an important distinction for council. So if you are voting in favor of it, you're voting in favor of supporting the overriding staff recommendations and planning and zoning recommendation and supporting the application.

Would mean you're supporting letting the rocks be there? Correct, yep. Overriding the denial.

Could you put into the minutes that Mr. Morrow said he'd come over with his handbook?

That is absolutely going in the minutes.

I can. We're going to get the minutes. Along with his phone number, too.

His phone number's going in, too.

That's great, Ms. Smith.

Mr. Mayor, I wanted to ask the question, planning and zoning serves what purpose for us? I mean... Isn't there a process in place that they have the expertise to make some decisions about these kinds of things? Or, I mean, why, if it went to planning and zoning, there was a reason for it, right? Could you help me understand that process?

So... Encroachment agreements are something that was developed alternative to vacating of right-of-way or easements. So it's a right-of-way that is still needed. So since there's not really a option to vacate it, we developed the encroachment agreement option as a way to say, okay, it's still right-of-way, but can something be allowed, an exception to still encroach into that right-of-way, but since it's somewhat similar to a vacate, but not, it still goes through that Planning and Zoning Commission review, just like a vacate would. So it's, it's something that they review and make a recommendation on. I think they, they leaned heavily on the engineering department's recommendation.

thank you so much and then you can kind of think of it too as this is the relief step for that denial for the applicant so they have one more chance they got denied at the advisory board level then they can kind of bring that forward again and have the city council ultimately decide if they want to support that or deny and support they want to overturn planning and zoning or if they want to support planning and zoning's decision okay thank you mr mayor

So, I'm sitting here looking at these pictures and from what I'm saying, it's basically a decorative. Structure a rock that's this person has put in their yard and the 1 that's behind their garage is basically from keeping people out of the alley way, turning into their garage or damaging their garage. So I am in support of keeping it the way it is and not. Making this person remove these rocks, because it seems to be. If we had trees in that area, in the encroachment or city-owned area, it would be no different than the rocks sitting there. We would have to go around the trees or underneath the trees as well as the rocks. So what's the purpose of us even trying to remove it? MR.

Except the trees would be under the Leisure Service Commission to deal with on a regular basis instead of his skid loader. MR. Right.

MR. OK. MR. I wouldn't let Dave Morrow touch those. MR. No, not at all. MRS. Mr. Mayor.

MR. OK. Mr. Berry. MR. I'll get a chainsaw. MR. One question. Go ahead.

Just 1 final comment, I happen to think we are setting precedents and I don't have a problem with the rock being there personally, but I just want to make. Make it clear that if I, or everyone in here wanted to have rocks. We're saying, okay. Are we not?

That's not what, no.

No, I know because as goes before planning and zoning and what have you, but.

They can still be denied by planning and zoning and we have the option to come here to have it overwritten.

But we're setting precedence, so, okay.

Thank you for your comments, ma'am. Any other comments from council? Madam Clerk, roll call vote on one, two, and three.

Mr. Schmidt?

Yes.

Mr. Morrow?

Yes.

Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes on one and three, no on two. One, two, okay.

Ms. Berry.

Yes on one and three, no on two.

Mr. Salamanca.

Yes on all three.

Mr. Martin.

Yes on all three.

And Mr. Simon.

Yes. All right, that carries. You can keep your rocks. Who would like to take four, five, and six, please?

Mr. Mayor.

Mr. Salamanca. Thank you.

Resolution to approve the request by the City of Waterloo for the preliminary plan of Admore addition a 14 lot residential subdivision located along West 3rd Street and Norton Street west of Sargent Road. Number five, resolution to approve support of an agreement to obtain funding through the Iowa Department of Transportation's Revitalize Iowa Sound Economy Rise program for a new road construction project off of West Big Rock Road and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document. And number six, resolution approving a professional service agreement with McClure Engineering for the writing, preparation, and submittal to the Iowa DOT's RISE grant program. Second. For the extension of road near 1575 West Big Rock Road in an amount not to exceed 18,000 and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute that document. Second.

Motion is second. Anyone from the audience wish to speak for or against resolution is item four, five, and six. Please approach the podium. Seeing none, council, any questions on four, five, and six?

Mr. Mayor?

Mr. Martin?

I had a question on number five. Actually, excuse me, number six. In the development agreement, it is misunderstanding or misunderstood because the wording and verbiage is wrong. Talk about one year at 75%. That's number seven, sir. Oh, is it number seven? We're on four, five, and six. Okay, my bad.

No worries.

I got ahead of myself there. Keep that thought in mind. Keep that thought. Okay. Thank you.

Any other questions on four, five, and six? Madam Clerk.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes. All right, who would like to take seven, eight, and nine, please?

Mr. Mayor, I move that we adopt resolution seven, approving a development and minimum assessment agreement with Kelmar LC for the construction of a new 60,000 square foot warehouse building with a tax rebate schedule for one year at 75%, one year at 70%, and 11 years at 50% with a minimum assessment agreement of $3,030,000 for property located south of 1575 West Big Rock Road and authorizing the mayor and clerk to execute said document. Resolution eight, approving and amended articles of agreement with the Middle Cedar Watershed Authority and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document. And number nine, resolution approving an agreement with Mid-American Energy Company of Des Moines, Iowa in the estimated amount of $2,000 thousand eight hundred and eighteen dollars and thirty one cents for gas main extension in conjunction with fiscal year 2026 Parkview Manor and West 3rd Street detention base basin contract number one one three seven and authorizing the mayor to execute said document second motion a second anyone from the audience wish to speak for against resolution seven eight or nine please

Seeing none. Council? Mr. Martin. Yes, sir. Yes.

So, Eric, if you could approach the mic for me, sir. I'm looking at this, and it says a 15-year agreement. And so at year one, 75%.

That's not the updated one, sir.

No, I'm looking at this agreement in here. It says year one, 75% rebate. Year two, 70% rebate. Year three through year 13, 50% rebate. That's not 15 years. It's technically a 13-year.

It got changed. Did it get changed on Friday? That is a 13-year development agreement for rebates. Correct, Eric? I can verify with Noel, but I'm pretty sure that is correct. Well, if not correct, we're going to postpone it.

Right. It says 11 years. One at 75, one at 70, and 11 at 50%.

That's 13 years. But an agreement is some totally different. 13 you want to postpone it well I just I would entertain to have someone post only one until the next meeting I'd like to table this next meeting second on he tabled it mr. Salamanca mr. Schmidt any discussion on tabling item number seven ma'am roll call please on seven

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes.

And Mr. Seidman? Yes.

Council have any additional questions on number eight or nine, please? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, roll call on eight and nine.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes.

All right. Will someone take 10, 11, and 12, please? Mr. Mayor? Ms. Berry?

Number 10 is a resolution approving proposed construction of sidewalk improvements in conjunction with the fiscal year 2027 Sidewalk Repair Assessment Program-Zone 5B. NUMBER 11 IS A RESOLUTION TO FIX THE VALUE OF LOTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FY2027 SIDEWALK REPAIR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ZONE 5B. AND 12, A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT PROPOSED PLAN AND SCHEDULE OF ASSESSMENTS AND ESTIMATE OF COSTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FY2027 SIDEWALK REPAIR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ZONE 5B. SECOND.

Motion to second, thank you. Anyone from the audience wish to speak to items 10, 11, or 12? Thank you, seeing none. Council, any questions on 10, 11, or 12? All right, Madam Clerk, roll call.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Mauro? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon? Yes.

Thank you. Who'd like to take 13, 14, and 15, please?

Mr. Mayor.

Ms. Creighton-Smith.

I move that we adopt resolution number 13 of necessity and setting date of public hearing as September 8, 2026 in conjunction with the fiscal year 2027 sidewalk repair assessment program zone 5B. Resolution 14 approving supplemental agreement number three to a professional services agreement with stanley consultants inc of des moines iowa originally executed march 11 2019 and the amount not to exceed sixty nine thousand two hundred and forty five dollars in conjunction with the delane avenue stormwater detention improvements project and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document and number 15 resolution approving a professional services agreement with mead and hunt of Madison, Wisconsin, in the amount of $45,343 to conduct an exploratory governance transition study, phase one, and authorizing the mayor to execute said document.

Second.

Motion to second. Anyone from the audience wish to speak to 13, 14, or 15? Mr. Deeds, would you like to speak to 15, please, so that everyone understands what a governance is?

Uh, David, it's 922 over street here in my role as chair of the water, the regional airport. Uh, board, uh, the worldly regional airport functions as a city department. However, it has not utilized any sort of general fund support for well, over 20 years, if not longer. As a self supported entity, it's probably a wise thing and this recommend this contract comes to the recommendation of the full board of the regional airport, which you appoint the mayor appointed and you ratify the, the idea behind this is, is that we should take a pause here as we look forward into the next 101520 years and see what the governance options are. and gather information related to that. That's what this is intended to do, is gather information about different governance options, whether remaining in a city department or something other than that that's allowed under state law, so that we can make an informed recommendation to you as city council and to the mayor regarding what we should be looking for as a city as we look forward to maximize this asset that we have.

Thank you. Mr. Kiergaard, do you have anything to add?

Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Yeah, you went, Mr. Simon.

So how long do you plan on taking to maybe make an informed decision on this? Is this something you have? Do you have like a window?

I believe, I believe they told us the study would probably take about six months. Uh, there's some input processes. There'll be meetings with, between the advisors and the board themselves talk about goals, strategies. Some other members with elected officials as well will be asked for input into the process. And really just looking at the range of options that there are, as I said, that are allowed under state law, because there are several different options that are possible.

Very good. Thank you. Mr. Weir.

Great. Ms. Smith.

It implies that there will be other phases. It says phase one.

Yeah, this is really just the information gathering the quantification of what the financial elements of some of these different options are. It will not be the final. Document by any mean, should there be a change that comes out of this process and that's really just. That's getting way ahead of this step of the process. It's a very extensive process to make a change in the form of governance of an airport, primarily because it's a highly regulated entity by the Federal Aviation Administration. And therefore, there would be a significant amount of work beyond any sort of change of governance. And of course, that change of governance would have to go through the airport board as well as you as elected officials prior to anything like that happening.

Mr. Mayor, so would that require additional funds to support phase two, or are we thinking that would be more of a implementation phase that would not require money from the city?

So the, and this kind of comes back to my initial comments, is the airport hasn't used general fund dollars for well over 20 years at least. And this is anticipated, these funds are not from general fund dollars, and it is anticipated that if there is a change, if, that's a really big if, because there's a lot of moving parts, that would be funded from airport assets as well.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Council, any other questions for Mr. Deeds in regard to item number 15? Thank you, sir.

One last plug for you. If you're going to travel by air, make sure you check ALO first.

And thank you for that plug. Any other, anybody else from the audience? We should speak to 13 or 14. Council? Number 14. Mr. Morrow?

I'd like to have a little bit of understanding of what's driving the $69,000 change of what we, another supplement agreement number three.

Mr. Castle?

Thank you. Wayne Castle, Assistant City Engineer. So the contract we entered into with Stanley back in 2019 was to pick up this project which had sat idle for a number of years, bring us to final design. We were able to accomplish that, but we needed to purchase property to make the connection work. We have, since they finalized the design in 2019, it took us several years to work with the property owners to complete that acquisition to get the last property. We were in contact with Army Corps and Iowa DNR as to what next steps we needed to take to get their approval to move this through bidding. And then we ran into the ability that funding was available for the Sunnyside Basin. So we stopped, switched gears, went over to Sunnyside because that was a $1.6 million project and we got roughly $1.4 million for it. So we shifted gears, worked on that project. If we come back to this one now, the engineer of record for Stanley has retired. So they have new staff. They need to update all of their their documents. There is some minor engineering review with this. An issue that we have heard grumblings from DNR is that there may be a consideration of a high hazard dam. So we have time in there for them to review this with the DNR to confirm that we do not have that qualifications that we can move forward. If we do, then we're looking at some major design work to bring that issue down. So really, it's a number of tasks that they need to do to get this project back up and ready to go. If everything goes well, we're looking at having this project out to bid in November.

Well, this is basically set dormant for a while, and you've got to basically update things in order to move forward. Correct. Okay.

Is there a detention basin in the old Devonshire school lot?

There is not. unique opportunity with the school closing that this was a project that was identified nearly 40 plus years ago back in the early 80s as part of overall review of waterloo's drainage system after the levee was installed and this one has sat for a number of years we were able to get the property with the school district back in 2009-2010 and we've slowly been working on this project

The only reason I ask, sir, is that I had a property owner in the 500 block of Devonshire come to my office with a print that showed a detention detention basin in the Devonshire school lot across from the 500 block. That's why they brought that they brought the paperwork in.

It may have been an early design and I think I know which particular person you're referring to 1 that we have been talking with for many years and when has been a driving force on getting this. Installed, thank you.

I can tell you that having lived in the 500 block of Devonshire for a number of years. and my next door neighbors had to have flood insurance because of where they live there, this is a much needed project to eliminate those problems at the end of Delane where that water comes in through the open creek and goes underground. Any other questions on this? Thank you, Wayne, appreciate your time. Madam clerk roll call on 13 14 and 15.

Mr. Schmidt. Yes. Mr. Morrow. Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith. Yes. Ms. Berry. Yes. Ms. Salamanca. Yes. Mr. Martin. Yes. Mr. Simon. Yes.

All right. Who can I get to take? 16, 17, and 18 please. Mr. Schmidt.

Number 16 is a resolution approving amendment number one with Strand Associates Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin in the amount of $302,000 in conjunction with the design, bidding, and construction of related services agreement in conjunction with the final effluent building electrical updates project and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document. Item number 17 is a resolution approving submission of an intended use plan and facility plan to the Iowa Department of National Resources for the US Highway 63 lift station, force main, and sanitary sewer improvements phase two project and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said documents and item number 18 is adopting a resolution approving a joint funding agreement with the united states department of the interior geological survey central midwest water science center in the amount of is that eleven thousand one hundred and forty dollars eleven thousand one four zero yes sir for operation and maintenance of one steam gauging station and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document.

Second.

Motion to second. Does anyone from the audience wish to speak for or against items number 16, 17, or 18, please? Council, questions on those three items? Mr. Morrow.

I would like to have Mr. Bennett explain a little bit on the $302,000 being expensed and then kind of expand a little bit more of what this is really going on and trying to avoid some of the problems that we may have experienced.

Randy Bennett, Public Works Division Manager. So this is amendment to the contract to where we're going to be adding the addition of a 13-point KV service entrance switchgear, along with two 13.8 Gear loops with switch gears along with backup generation. This is going to be for the entire plant what we had At the end of June there was a power outage that affected the south end of town that also included the plant at that time when that that power outage Occurred it took the power out to the plant and the way we have a redundancy We're fed from both the east and the west side of the river and but everything comes down to a centralized switch gear Which were the median? From an American where it's metered. Unfortunately, that was an area that was, um, uh, we had an issue where, uh, the electrical outage and, um. That took out the power to the entire plant. We're out of power to the plant for just under, um. Thirty hours, which is pretty huge because we treat between twelve to fifteen million gallons a day. Um, the good news is the staff did a, um, phenomenal job to being able to, um, pump the. The, uh, pump everything up to the EQ basins, so we're able to stay compliant. Um, I got to do a lot of shout out to, like I said. Our staff, along with mid American energy, Tri City, K and W strand and consultants where we're able to work to be able to get the bypass power fed from a different direction. We'll be able to get the plant back on. We were able to lower the flows and all the different base to where, when we did get the power back on, we're able to stay compliant everything as far as with the DNR. So, on that standpoint, that was pretty good. but unfortunately this showed a vulnerability as far as how without having a backup generator to be able to feed the plant because everything kind of got bottlenecked into where that metering pit where the issue happened. So even though we had dual feed, because that's where it was compromised, that's what did this. So the whole thing with this is to be able to upgrade that, because this is older infrastructure that's out there tied into another project that we're doing the same thing. And I should also point out that while we're doing this, we're also going to be incorporating the arc flash. Study as well for the rest of the plans, so we can get the labeling on the other components that are out there. So, when we're going to do maintenance and repairs on that, but it's, it's kind of taken, um, unfortunately, you know, while we got extremely lucky that we didn't that, uh, you know, we didn't have high, uh, wet weather because this could have probably been a lot worse. Um, like I said, we stay compliant compliant, but we definitely need to get this corrected. And it is something that also the DNR has already given us notice that we have till September to try to. to be addressing this. And it's not uncommon, usually, to have backup generation. You know, anything that we go to replace, sanitary, lift station, storm, you know, it's all a requirement now. It's just, you know, we had the redundancy, but unfortunately, the way this worked out, it just, it didn't work in this scenario. So they're pointing the flaw, and now we're gonna correct it.

This will give you the backup to avoid a situation like you had. Absolutely.

Correct.

Thank you.

One of my questions, sir, is strand going to be looking at 1 large backup 13,800 volt generator, or they also can look at the option of individual generators at each section of the plan.

I think the primary is probably going to be 1 large 1, but I think we're open to looking at all of them to say exactly.

I'm just curious on what would be caught more cost effective.

And I think we're going to look at all that.

Okay. If you just had 1 building go down correct? Your backup generator means nothing. Unless there's individual lines run to every building. Correct?

Yes. Yeah. So that we're going to take all that into account when we look at it.

And it should be noted, Mr. Morrow, that the failure was in the switchgear itself, the metering switchgear. It actually almost disintegrated the bus bars that were in that system. Thank you, sir. Any other questions? All right, thank you. Madam Clerk, roll call.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon? Yes.

All right, that's the end of our discussion. General business is now time for public comments. If you wish to speak to any non-agenda related item, please approach the podium, state your name and address, and you will have three minutes.

I'm Mary Potter, 1416 West 4th, and I am also a trustee at the Grout Museum. And as many of you know, the grout took quite a hit at the last hailstorm. And so one of the things that the grout is needing to do is, of course, get some money. And secondly, we need to have projects that are going to be shown to the public. One of the things that we are doing there is a group called Friends of the Grout Historical Homes. And we are having a... house tour this Saturday from 1 until 5. You can buy tickets for $15 at the station right there, or you can buy them as you're going around. We really need this support, and this is one of the ways that you can help us. The historic homes suffered about $50,000 worth of damage to windows and to the roof and things like this. We had in our little treasury only half of the amount that was needed. And so this is one way that you can help support the grout in other ways, and if you know of insurance companies that maybe would do some helping with us, we would appreciate that too. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Hi, my name's Jeannie Miller, and I have the privilege of serving as an at-large member of the Main Street Waterloo Board of Directors, located at 512 Mulberry Street. Thank you, Mayor and City Council, for your service to our community and for an opportunity to speak tonight. I'm excited to share some of the great things happening in downtown Waterloo. There is a lot of positive momentum right now. We have a new business opening soon, which is a sign of the confidence entrepreneurs and investors have in downtown Waterloo. At the same time, we continue to see significant investment being made in downtown properties and revitalization efforts. These investments are about more than buildings. They create opportunities for businesses, strengthen our tax base, improve the experience of residents and visitors, and help build a downtown that people are proud to call their own. Another important part of Main Street Waterloo's work is creating opportunities for people to come downtown, connect with one another, support local businesses, and simply have a great time. We have a very busy few weeks ahead of us, and I would like to personally invite all of you and our entire community to join us. This Friday is our final Fridayloo of the season. If you haven't made it to one yet, or if you've been joining all summer, we would love to see you downtown as we close out another great season. Then on Saturday, we're excited to host our first annual Putt-Putt Classic. This is a new event designed to raise funds to help Main Street Waterloo continue the work we do throughout the year. And I have some QR codes if anybody wants to buy some tickets. On Tuesday, August 25th from eight to 10, we'll hold a support local cash mob at Newton's. It's a simple but powerful way for our community to show up together and make a direct impact on local business. On August 28th and 29th, downtown will welcome Cedar Valley Pride Fest, bringing together people for two days of celebration and community. On September 1st, we'll continue supporting the local entrepreneurs through Power Up Small Business, Powering Up Your Financial Future, providing another opportunity for small business owners to gain knowledge and resources that can help them succeed. On September 5th, we'll welcome the community downtown for Waterloo's sixth annual Food Truck Festival, an event that brings people into the heart of our city to enjoy great food, local businesses, and everything downtown Waterloo has to offer. That's a lot happening in just a few weeks, and it represents what makes downtown so important to our community. Main Street Waterloo is proud to play a role in making those things happen. We could not do this work without our businesses, property owners, volunteers, sponsors, community partners, the city of Waterloo, and all the people who choose to show up and support downtown. There's momentum, and there's even more opportunity ahead. We hope you'll come experience some of it yourselves over the next few weeks. Join us at Friday Loo.

grab a putter for the putt putt classic okay and then the rest of it thank you and it should be noted that you do send out an email with all of this with all your entire calendar for august thank you thank you for all you do

Jake wrote 2229 Edgemont Avenue. So I'd like to thank the council for putting it on the docket of the work session to start discussing a moratorium coming before the city for data center moratorium. I do appreciate the consideration on that. And while the council will be considering a mere months long set of moratorium, I still would like to issue my urges that I would like to see that extended much longer than just mere months. I would like to see it much longer. Additionally, a new proposal that I would like to bring before the board and everybody all who can hear this voice is that I would like the city to begin to explore putting together a voluntary council of citizens who can begin drafting new ordinances that can go into our planning and zoning commission that could help benefit the city of Waterloo. This would be an engagement that would help uh vitalize the city government and progress forward um urges and questions that the people have furthermore we have submitted a document requesting feedback about questions specifically which i addressed in our prior meeting and i thank you for those of you who have at least looked at those but we are still looking for direct answers thank you very much and appreciate your time thank you for your time sir

Hi, my name is Dan Alton with Waterfall Plaza, LLC, 10 West 4th Street. My company and I bought the property, the River Plaza property about a year and a half ago. And I wanted to come by after a year and a half and kind of give my feedback on a couple of things. I want to apologize in advance. Um, maybe a couple of comments I make, uh, would be. Rubbing the grain of of maybe the, the way that you guys have kind of operate as a city. But please keep in mind that it's just an outsider's perspective in in what I've seen. So, the 1st thing is, um, the TIFF program that you've got. And not knowing much about TIFF. Um, I am a real estate broker. I own property in 2 other States. I've never been involved in a TIFF program at all. Um, when I bought the, the property, um, it wasn't with the, the intent of using TIFF money. and I caution the City Council especially to make certain that the process of using TIF and making it available is not done in such a way that it either is opaque, seems to have favoritism, or has any kind of issues related to it. And as well, it may be something that you may want to keep around only for really large employers or a big company that you want to draw in. Uh, for a particular reason, but to simply have it be available across the board, um, for even midsize to lower investors like myself, all it does sometimes is. And I say it as a real estate investor, it sometimes causes a decision to be made to invest in a property using other people's money rather than the underlying feasibility of the investment itself. And as an investor, a lot of times it's much better to make the decision to buy the property because it makes sense on its own and not as a result of financing that's made available or other credits or other benefits that are coming in from other areas. The other recommendation I have that kind of came up tonight a little bit, just an opinion, but when the city decides to sell property for a dollar, I'd like to think that maybe there might be another option for that. And it goes up for auction. Rather than it being given in some kind of planning and zoning. Arrangement that that for some of the public, anyhow, if they're not party to what the information is that you guys know what planning. And zoning knows on the outside looking in, it may look as if. There's it's just, it's funny to see a property being sold for a dollar for what? When maybe for the benefit of the city, it could be put on as a, as an auction and then somebody else could buy it and decide to do what they want. I'd like to think that. the city of Waterloo can kind of benefit from the sale of its assets rather than having the TIF program and the property tax rebates. One comment I just discovered today, I made a phone call. Sorry, real quick.

Your time's up, sir. Okay. Are we still on for tomorrow at one o'clock?

Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak?

My name is Terry Slickers. I live at 1745 Corning Avenue. I hate to put a damper on all the positive things, but I'm getting rather sick and tired of my area turning into a used car lot. and a parts place for vehicles. I handed out the information that I've written down, made record of. I've tried to work with code enforcement. However, the way the code is wrote, you can't enforce it because there's no time limit in that ordinance. I read the ordinance. The city attorney was good enough to give me the site where I could proofread the ordinance. It's not worth papers wrote on because you can't enforce it. If you can't enforce an ordinance, I don't know why it's written. Then those are the first four. I mean, two of the people are medically unable to drive. One guy hasn't been out of his house in two years. He has four vehicles parked on his property, one in the backyard. Three other vehicles on my way down here are still parked in the same lots, the same yards, not illegal parking that I've asked COVID enforcement at least three times to take care of. Obviously nothing's done because they're still there. They are there every day. Aside from that, a lot of these are just small things, but it's just irritating because I worked for the city for 30 years and I know things can get done. But you have to get out of your car. You have to get out of the office. One of my points of reference, I walk along Green Hill. The weeds, I know the watershed or whatever you call it on the side hill, I know the city subcontracts to have. Allegedly, it hasn't been done yet this year. But the trim, so in places half the sidewalk, you can't walk because of weeds. I know the city subcontracts it because I talked to the guys last year that did it. That's from Hackett to University. Then north of University, you have about a one-foot section between the sidewalk and the fence, and we have invasive vines growing on it. We have weeds taller than the fence, and that's city property. People drive these streets every day, but they can't. You've got to get out of your car. You've got to tell somebody about it. The same thing. I just drove by Amesboro on 4th Street. That hole on the corner there, if a small car turns too sharp and jumps the curb, there's a manhole assembly there. That little car ain't going to get out. And he just spent a few thousand dollars because the city hasn't filled the darn hole. They filled it six months ago.

Thank you, sir. And thank you for this information.

Welcome anybody to stop by my house. I'd be more than happy to share it with you.

Thank you. And if Mr. Peterson doesn't have a copy of this, I'll make sure that he gets one. Anyone else?

Michael Blackwell from Cedar Falls.

The city of Waterloo. Sir, do you have an address?

Yes, I do, thank you very much.

We would like you to give us that address, sir.

Okay, 5125 Millennium Drive.

Thank you.

The city of Waterloo has a long history of racial discrimination. That history is ongoing because of the harsh racial disparities among all the factors that comprise a quality of life index. Structural racism continues in the policies, processes, services, and programs of the Cedar Falls-Waterloo metro area, one of the worst in the nation. Removing the commission would be seriously unjust. for it would give very little recourse for citizens to register their grievances and seek redress of their complaints. Furthermore, such weakening of the commission would remove much of the protections of the city of Waterloo, that they would have to address and redress the committal of racist acts that would find it in contempt of federal and local law. In addition, it is a well-known fact that the Commission has been operating with a lack of staff to engage expeditiously in the investigatory process and reaching a settlement for residents' complaints. Unfortunately, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission is also saddled with inadequate staffing so that cases sent there are significantly delayed in processing and rulings. The commission must not simply be an educational institution that informs people of injustice. Equipped with subpoena powers, it is able to adjudicate cases that could lead to indictment of perpetrators of unethical and discriminatory acts. Otherwise, the inequities would persist and transforming the metro area into an egalitarian society would never occur. Consequently, we demand that the commission be fully staffed with a director, two or three investigators, an office manager, a receptionist, and the full complement of commissioners. They must be empowered to investigate complaints in a timely manner and effectively ensure equal protection of the law. Moreover, the commission does not only address discrimination based on race, it addresses all forms of discrimination against protected classes of people as well as residents in general who have been treated unfairly. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Latonya Graves, 607 East Donald Street, Blackhawk County, NAACP. These universal rights are inherent to all of us, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. They range from the most fundamental to the right of living a productive life here in the city of Waterloo. age discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act, genetic information discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, fair housing, these are things that the Waterloo human rights fight for. Uniformed services, employment, re-employment rights, veterans, Vietnam veterans, Race and color. Race refers to physical characteristics associated with ancestry. Color refers to specifically to skin pigmentation or tone. Religion. Religion, whether you're Jew or Gentile, atheist, religion, the Human Rights Commission fights for human rights. Sex, LGBTQ, national origin. Latinx, Burmese, Cuban, Puerto Rican, El Salvadorian, Pacific Islanders, Bosnian, Haitian, Dominicans, Jamaican. Disbanding the HRC has significant consequences to all of us, not just one of us, all of us.

Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else wish to speak during the public comment section, please approach the podium.

Aaron Stacey Roberts, 411 Almond. dereliction of duty over the past about 20 years now is the reason I'm standing here in particular in this case is where county attorneys, police chiefs, police officers, mayors have completely benign neglect is the term. And with that, I'm in the appeals court now over a case that needs to be investigated for the fraud that's going on. The reason I say it's in the appeals court, because I don't want it to go when I'm asking you now, to have your police chief contact me and investigate the fraud that I found in the case. Every check was wrote here in Waterloo. The statute of limitation is not something we need to worry about. It's the failure to investigate my concerns in several different cases of fraud. This particular case, like I said, is in the courts right now. What I would like to do is to be able to get someone to take my facts that are in writing in the courts and investigate it. Some of the perpetrators are dead now, but the fact of the matter is the courts where they aired, the county where they aired is not dead. They're not gonna die. So the case is still very much alive and it needs to be addressed. And dereliction of duty intentionally is criminal in itself. When you're denying a person their constitutional rights and just the codes that you have to follow as police officers. I want to say when I was here the last time I mentioned the criminal organization that I'm fighting against, and you're becoming a part of it by failing to act. And I have mentioned about the accident that involved a vehicular homicide. And within five days of mentioning that, maybe seven days, a week later, I was coming down Congress Street, and I was heading towards 63. I took a left, and when I came across the tracks right there, Officer Tyler rode past me going the opposite way. I took a left on Cutler Street, took a friend down, and he said, just hold on for a minute. Let me see if I'm going to stay here. I never did see Tyler pull up behind me, but he hit a U-turn pretty darn fast. Cause he got behind me and I didn't see him until he was standing outside my window. And at that time I blew the smoke out my cigar and it choked him. And I asked, I didn't know what was going on. He said he was approaching me because I was parked in the middle of the street. I have been done like that before over the years, but the police usually do is just honk the horn. Thank you for your time, sir.

Thank you. Anyone else? Mr. Simon.

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to close the public comments and proceed to council and mayor comments, as well as receive and file comments to the public record.

Second.

Motion to second, all in favor? Aye. Opposed, same sign. Council, comments?

Who wants to go first?

Ms. Berry, you're back. Do you have something to add? Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Wait, Ms. Berry, I was saying Ms. Creighton-Smith. Ms. Berry, I'm sorry. Let me go, you guys, Ms. Creighton-Smith, you're new here, so.

Welcome back, welcome back. I apologize for saying that, Ms. Creighton-Smith. I know we look alike because of our smiles. I like your glasses.

The glasses threw them off. So much to say.

So little time.

Yeah, yeah. I really appreciate the comments made that reiterate the critical nature of the need to quickly fund the Human Rights Commission fully so that it can do what those upon whose shoulders we stand desire it to do, what, 60-something years ago. because the reason in which this commission came about was to not only protect all of the identity groups that were mentioned, but to also protect the city and to hold the city accountable as well as to protect the city from behavior that could result in the city being sued. So it's imperative that not only we hear, but that we take action. Our constituents, our community across the board really needs this in place. I mentioned from home, I think the last time we met, that if you age, you're going to need the Human Rights Commission. If you fall and stumble and something happens to you and you're not able to be as mobile as you were in the past, you're going to need some accommodations and you're going to need to make certain that the public and the workforce takes into consideration those accommodations. If this crosses every... Every, every identity group. So it's not just a black or brown issue, it is a human rights issue that each and every one of us at some point in our lives will need that protection in place. And so that is why the city felt so strong about it when it was put in place that they put it up under the city because they wanted to ensure its longevity, that no one was able to take it away. So I think it's critical that we understand that and that we move quickly on this. We shouldn't have to continue to hear from our constituents the need for the Human Rights Commission to be fully funded. The money is there. It was intended to be fully funded. This is not about staff. This is about these positions being fully funded. And so that's what has to happen. I want to also mention and maybe Councilor Berry would mention but on Thursday we have our Ward 3 and 4 kind of a joint meeting that we do where we deal with some community issues and the issue that we're dealing with on Thursday August 20th at 5 15 at the Waterloo Public Library meeting rooms A and B is the issue of tenant rights. We've heard something about that in the past, tenant rights, and so we have Nathan Kirsten from Legal Aid that will be there to talk about the rights that tenants have, what they can and cannot do, And I'm hoping that folks who are landlords will also be there to share from their perspective as well what they're facing as landlords. We're concerned about people coming in from out of the state to serve as landlords because they don't have the same degree of investment in our communities. So those properties tend to go down, bringing down all of our property values, especially for those of us who live in Ward 4 and takes our property when we want to fix our house or do add-on. We can't because of the property valuation is so low that the bank will only loan us so much. So this is some serious issues that we need to deal with, and that's some of what we'll talk about on Thursday. But I know I... help more than three minutes so i turn it over welcome back thank you did you have anything miss berry since i called you out

Well, I think Dr. Smith said it all, but as I was listening to everyone speak, Mary Potter, I can't wait for the house tour. I'm looking forward to that. I like the conversation about the citizen council that you mentioned, and I think the thing that stuck out the most, obviously, well, first, was the code enforcement issue. I think we need to really hire more code of code enforcement officers mr mayor well we just hired another part-time person ah we just hired another part-time person you guys we need about three but we'll take the one for now consider it next year's budget okay yeah next year's budget But on a serious note, what Councilwoman Smith was saying, Creighton Smith was saying about the Human Rights Commission, that is an extremely important department that this city has to have. And I think it's important that, we make sure we understand that a lot of people see it as, oh, a black issue. It's not. It's more than that. And I think that you heard all the different groups that are impacted by it and by not having a commission. So I hope we can continue discussion, Mr. Mayor, on how that's going to look. And it is very important because when we think about of those who truly marched and fought and died for their rights, we need to definitely take it very seriously. And if I can just have a point of personal privilege, I'd like to have my sister from Houston, Texas, stand up if she will, and my cousin. Sister, cousin from Chicago, Illinois, stand up if they will. And they wanted to just join me today at our council meeting. And I'm just excited that they're here. I miss them so much.

Thank you for coming, ladies. Anyone else? Mr. Morrow.

Mr. Mayor, I just want to announce that I've got a Ward 2 meeting August 27th. That's in a week from Thursday at the library, Room A, from 530 to 630. So those of you who want to attend, please do.

Any subject matter that's going to be discussed just kind of general, just general things come in.

Why not specific? Thank you.

Mr. Smith, you have anything for those and we are glad you're on the health comeback trails.

Yes, sir. In regards to the code enforcement, we've had some conversations about. This community, we share this community together. He had mentioned there's just 1, 1 person that is unable to get out of their house for 2 years and I think community members and family need to kind of help those people. I don't think there's ever an easy answer on code code enforcement. I think neighborhoods can come together and request the city's help, but also help their neighbors when possible. But we do have to kind of police ourselves. Good neighborhoods, strong neighborhoods, they help each other. They help with the deficiencies that are in that neighborhood. I appreciate his concerns. I mean, obviously, he's a concerned neighbor. He wants his neighborhood to look nice. And I think he's contacted me several times. And I think we do try as a city. But I think as a family, a city, we need to continue to work together to help keep the neighborhoods nice whenever we can. So if that means the code enforcement needs to step up, then maybe it does. But I know he didn't want to really come up and talk but I think he's he's done this for a couple years now that I've been on the council so I just wanted to touch on that code enforcement issue, and we do look at Like the renters and the landlords were looking at that we're working on that so that that topic is up for discussion And we are working on that as a as a council so I appreciate the comments from everybody stay on those subjects.

Thank you. Thank you, sir Yeah

Real quick. First off, I was down in Des Moines for work and I was asked, are we Waterlooites or are we Waterlooans? And I wasn't quite sure what to respond with. So if you want to put that in the back of your mind, are we Waterlooites or Waterlooans? In addition to that, I do want to say that one of the projects I've been working on is understanding the needs of Our city, our community is eight months in, so continuing to interact and meet with folks and chat. I'm always happy to sit down and communicate with you, whether it's getting coffee, whether it's talking, always down for it. Part of that came out of the conversation of the grocery store. One of the things that I'm working on right now is trying to identify whether or not a market study has been completed in order to help us move the conversation forward. So for the folks who aren't aware, a market study would help us showcase whether or not a grocery store would be feasible in the community. Now, I understand that comes with a lot of things attached to it, but it is a data point and it is something that businesses look for. It's something that's common practice among agencies and among organizations to see if a market study has been completed. That would be our first step and that'd be an area for us to continue having conversations with and it'd be a tool within our arsenal. The second part is I do want to echo the sentiments from my fellow councilwomen in regards to the Human Rights Commission. It is critically important and it is something that needs to be funded. It's something that a strong commission will help push our city forward and a strong commission will speak forward to all marginalized people within the community and something that I don't think anyone is arguing against or it's at least in my opinion I don't think anyone's arguing against it but it's something that I am all in favor for and a strong commission is a healthy commission. So if you are looking to get involved and if there are any vacancies Please join, please participate. I'm sure there are other commissions that have vacancies that need folks to hop on. But with that, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you for bringing that up because we have a number of boards and commissions that we have vacancies. I'm meeting with the gentleman this week on his desire to be on the human rights commission. So, and there's, we've got some other interest on the human rights commission, but we do have vacancies on a number of boards and commissions and anyone from the public that wants to get more involved in city government. Please go on our website and look at boards and commissions and see where we have vacancies. It's always great to serve on them. You learn a lot about the city and you get to be part of a solution and not a problem. So anyone else?

I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. I'd like to make a motion to adjourn. Second.

Motion and a second.