City Council - Regular Meeting

The Waterloo City Council meeting for Monday, July 20th. Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Mr. Schmidt.

Here.

Mr. Mauro.

Here.

Ms. Cranston-Smith. Here. Ms. Berry. Present. Mr. Salamanca.

Here.

Mr. Martin.

Here.

And Mr. Simon.

Here. Thank you. At this time, I'd like to observe a moment of silence or affirmation. Thank you. Tonight's pledge of allegiance will be by Councilwoman Deb Berry, Ward 3.

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands,

Mr. Simon, Mr. mayor, I would like to make a motion to approve the agenda as proposed as well as the approval of the minutes from July 6, 2026, regular council session.

Yeah, pull those 2. I will do I will do. And then with the exception of resolutions number one and two which will be pulled from the agenda There's second second motion second all in favor aye opposed same sign motion carried mr. Mayor mr. Mr. Simon

I would like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda, with the exceptions of numbers 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 23, which we would like to consider individually, as well as the addition of the bill payments of July 13th in the amount of $3,340,555.84 and the amount of July 20th's amount of $5,940,461.43. Second. Motion second. It was six, nine, 11. 12, 13, and 23. 12, 13, and 23. Okay.

Madam Clerk.

Roll call on the items less the ones we're pulling from the agenda.

And I would like to abstain on number 15 personally. That's my brother. So I will be abstaining from that vote.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Mr. Schmidt. Yes.

Mr. Merrill.

Yes.

Ms. Creighton-Smith. Yes, Miss Barry. Yes, Mr Salamanca. Yes, Mr. Martin. Yes, Mr. Simon.

Yes, on all except for 15 abstain.

Thank you. Alright, who asked to have number 6 poll? Mr. Morrow?

Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Do you want to recognize somebody in the audience?

I will when we're done voting on these. OK. Mr. Morrow.

Mr. Mayor. Resolution number six. I have had a lot of phone calls, a lot of discussion about this one, and I want to ensure the people in... Did we get a second on six?

Yeah, we did. Okay, thanks. I'll go ahead, sir.

I want to assure the people in that area that I understood and we heard. We've had several discussions about it. This is only setting the date for the hearing. This isn't approving, disapproving anything. This is setting the hearing. So I'm making sure anybody that has been talking to me or anybody that's had anything about this come back to when we set this hearing for. So I want to be sure that's clear and understood. But we have heard your concerns and your comments.

OK. Anybody else from the council who wants to speak to this?

Madam Clerk?

Mr. Schmidt?

Yes.

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

Yes. Number nine, who asked for that?

Mr. Morrow? I would like to have this one tabled at this point for further discussion. Make a motion.

We got to make a motion and a second to put it on the table, and then you can make a motion to table.

Oh, okay. That's my motion. Second.

Okay.

Okay, then I want to make a motion to table this. Correct. Second.

There's a motion and a second to table number nine, council questions.

Mr. Mayor?

Mr. Simon.

I notice this is for funding for fiscal year 2027 in quarters one and two. Us tabling it, would that be for a two-week period? Does that affect experience water lilies?

I'm only looking for two weeks and to do a little further discussion. And Tavis is here. Are you OK with this?

Please approach the mic and state your name and address, sir.

Tavis Hall, 716 Commercial. I would request to table the grants, the partner grants is one thing. The mini grant, that event is happening. We had submitted it early June, but that event is happening July 24th through the 26th. That's the Midwest Regional Show Ski Competition over at East Lake, or Eagle Lake. So ideally, we'd like to get them a heads up that if we can...

I don't want to affect anything he's going, so I'd like to make it so it is acceptable for him to work with. So I'm good with that part going on.

How do we modify that? We have to vote this table down and then vote to approve a portion of this? How does that work, ma'am?

What if you... Let's see. What if you approve... Let's state that you're going, state the pieces of it that you want to table. State the pieces of the grant package that you want to table, and then when we go back to the main motion, then we will approve what's been.

What's there? To be clear, the ski award is the only thing you need to proceed with?

Yes, yeah.

Okay, so then my request, my motion would be to table everything of this motion except for his request for the ski team.

Second. So we do have a motion and a second to table everything. Any other discussion on table in this the grants themselves? Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Mr. just now are we tabling it for more information to have some further discussions and more and do a little investigation amongst ourselves. And I think 2 weeks just I think we ought to have it by the next 1. all right just so what we're going to do.

I'm sorry. Go ahead.

No, just for clarity.

So what we're going to do is we're going to vote on tabling everything, but the mini grant, and then we're going to come back and vote for the mini grant. Yes. Okay. Everybody okay with that.

All right.

Madam Clerk, roll call.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Mauro? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith?

No.

Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca?

Yes.

Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes. Mr. Mauro, I'll stay to your approval.

We can just go right away into voting on the main motion.

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 asked to have 11 pulled?

Me again. Okay. I guess I would like to have a little bit of explanation. It talks about an increase of $29,000 in adaptive traffic light.

We'll need a motion.

You need to give the motion first. Sorry. Motion to approve the change order.

Motion to approve. Go ahead and read it. Oh, okay. Sorry. I screwed this up. It's okay. Motion to approve change order number 01 with K&W Electric Inc. of Cedar Falls, Iowa. net increase of twenty nine thousand four hundred dollars in conjunction with ainsborough avic avenue traffic adaptive project contract number seven eighty four and authorized the mayor and city clerk to execute said documents second motion is second mr. Mauro you have questions on this yes i would like to have an explanation of kind of what was changing and what was couldn't be planned or whatever just kind of our traffic engineers here

So, we had some on our plans, we had to use existing conduits, except some of the existing conduits are full. So we have to have some changes to put actual new conduits and remove sidewalk. Some other changes. Some hand holes were buried, so they had to dig those out and now they have to bring it up to grade. So that's going to cost more when we use existing infrastructure. And then at Innsborough and forth, the existing video detection system will not be compatible with the new traffic cabinet that we're putting in. So we need detection system, which that's the major 1 of the bigger cost is the detection system.

Basically, some of the stuff you thought you could reuse. You can't.

Yeah, some of the existing stuff that I understand. Thank you.

Any other question from council? Mr. man, Mr Simon.

Um, is this was this a bid process with electric or was it? Okay. And they were the winning better. Yes. Does this change order take them above and beyond what the 2nd lowest bidder was on this project?

You know, I haven't looked at that. Um. This was a project that we got a grant for so it's a 80, 20, the grant will pay 80% of this and then the city will be responsible for 20% of this.

Okay. I guess I guess my question is, is when, when we are taking bids for these projects and we select a. A person to do this job, if they come back and then go above and beyond the other 1, I just want to know. For 1, that that information is not available to us on our council. Minutes here, and going forward, if there's ever ever a change order, I would like to be able to see the previous bids. For, you know, so we can make a judgment on why we're doing this because sometimes when somebody bids on a project, they encompass all the things that are going to be needed. When we see change orders come in, I question them, because that to me means that something was missed possibly sometimes things can not be missed and it happens, but the plans, the plans that everybody bid on is said to use existing conduits and use existing detection system.

Unfortunately, the. The conduits were full. The handholds need to be brought up to grade. So the next, I guess, highest bid, they would also have to have a change order.

OK, that would be very good information for us to have going forward. If everybody is bidding on the same thing, and they all came back and said, we're going to use existing, then what you're saying is it wouldn't have mattered who would have accepted this bid. They would have run into the same problem. Very good. Thank you. Any other questions?

My only concern, ma'am, is that, because I used to bid electrical work, and if it says use existing conduits and existing boxes, when I bid it, I'd go out and open those and make sure that I could fit my wiring in the existing conduit, and evidently they just went off of the specs. Is that what you're saying?

The plans, yeah.

Okay, thank you. Anybody else have any questions for this? Madam Clerk, roll call on 11.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith?

Yes.

Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca?

No.

Mr. Martin? Yes. Mr. Simon?

Yes. Who has to have 12 pulled? Oh, Mr. Morrow. I see a pattern here.

Well, yeah. Yes, there is.

Please read it.

Motion to approve change order number 01 with Peterson Contractors, Inc. of Rhinebeck, Iowa for a net increase of $98,194.53 in conjunction with the fiscal year 2026 Parkview Manor and West 3rd Street Detention Basin. Contract number 1137. It authorizes the mayor and city clerk to execute said document.

Second. And motion a 2nd, Mr. Mario, what's your questions?

I didn't think there was enough detail in the explanation. I'd like to understand what the change, you know, 100,000, 98,000 dollars. What it is. What do we, what do we have.

Wayne Castle assistant city engineer so in the packets what it discussed was that we are putting in service line, sanitary water sewer. For the new lots that will be out there when we put this project out, we had not decided upon the layout for the proposed lots in that area along Norton and was 3rd street. to get into a competitive packet or a competitive time frame for bidding and to get these projects constructed yet this year we went without a layout for lots assuming that we would figure out what we're going to want to get in there and we'll figure out what we're going to do and work with the winning or low bidder as we progressed on So, about a month after this project was let is when we finally solidified the lot layout that we weren't going to do twin homes. We're going to do single family homes. So what you're seeing here is the cost to put in service lines for those potential homes at this point.

So, if you would have known the layout at the time of the initial 1. This $98,000 would have been in it because you'd have known what you're doing. So in reality, the first bid was, shall we say, not getting everything to the homes, and then this adds to it to get it to where you want it at the homes.

Correct.

Okay, I understand. I couldn't pick that up from the explanation. Thank you.

Any other questions for her? Okay. Madam Clerk.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith?

yes ms barry yes mr salamanca no mr martin yes mr simon yes 13 who has to have that pulled i did so oh mr simon please mr mayor i'd like to make a motion to approve the recycling yard license applications as listed in exhibit exhibit a second and a motion second mr simon questions my question i have for this is in reading this list it looks like everybody's been approved except for one Person that's 1720 Blackhawk road. Can I get an explanation as to why that does not have a date? No, Anderson community planning development director, a date where the date approved by council, everyone was 7152026. Um. Let's go auto recyclers is not. It's not been approved by council, according to this data on this?

Correct, he does not meet all the requirements to be a legal salvage yard, so we'll have to pursue potential legal actions against him.

So us passing this, does that not preclude that, or do we need to?

We're recommending denial of the Litzgau one and approval of the rest.

So do we have to announce that during this process?

I think if you approve it as submitted, that was how it was recommended in there, I believe, so.

How long have we been dealing with Mr. Lysakow out there?

At least 30 years. And we still haven't taken him to court? We have taken him to court several times. The court's one point gave us the ability to fine him $1 a day if we went out there. So it didn't seem very much worth of the time of the city to pursue that.

Mr. Mayor.

Let's do this. Can we approve this with approve all Recycling yards as listed in exhibit a except for. So, it's clear.

Yeah, because it's not on here.

So that yeah, if that could be if we're denying something, I think we should have that spelled out in the minutes. Not just illustrated in an exhibit vaguely.

So, if we needed just another motion.

Yeah, let's restate the motion as motion approving recycle yard license applications as listed in exhibit a and denying lice to cow auto recyclers.

Okay, I would like, I would like to make that motion that we are approving the recycle yard license applications as listed in exhibit a, with the exception of list cow auto recyclers located at 1720 black Hawk road.

2nd, motion 2nd, any other questions regarding this. Adam clerk.

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

Excellent. And who asked to have 23 pulled? Mr. Morrow?

This was the bonds and then the attachment. I guess I would just like to understand a little bit more about the details. I don't see what they're for, the amounts, due dates, any of that kind of stuff. A little more detail.

We have a motion to approve bonds. Second.

Oh, sorry, a motion to approve bonds there. Okay. And we have a motion and a second. Sir, Wayne Castle, assistant city engineer.

So the bonds are the right away construction bonds that engineering department takes care of. If you wish to pull any permits to do work in the city right away, excavations, utility work, sidewalks, driveways, you're required to get a permit through the engineering department to do the work in the right away. To get the permit, you have to have a bond on file through your insurance company, which I believe is $15,000 of coverage. It is for one calendar year, starts April 1st, runs through March 31st of the year. So it's good for that entire time. You can pull as many permits as you need.

So this is insurance bonds. Okay, you just said bonds. I was trying to understand what it was.

Basically, if you as a contractor or a homeowner do some work and you mess up royally and the city has to come in and fix it, this is a way for us to come back and get reimbursed.

That I understand. It just had a list that just said bond. I was trying to understand. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Clerk.

Mr. Schmidt. Yes. Mr. Murrow. Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith. Yeah, this Barry yes, Mr Salamanca. Yes, Mr. Martin and Mr. Simon.

Yes. All right. Thank you. And at this time, we have Jake Schaefer in our audience. Jake, would you please stand? Jake is going to be our new young arena manager for leisure services and Jake, we were incredibly proud of you and happy that you that you're moving into that position. Thank you for your commitment to the city of Waterloo and I see great things for you in the future with young arena. Thank you, sir. And we also have three board appointments to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Jack Good, Shannon Bass, and Lon Kammeyer, or any of those here today. Seeing that they're not here, I just want to thank them for their renewed commitment to serving on the Metropolitan Transit Board. Moving on to public hearings, who would like to take number one?

Mr. Mayor.

Item number one, I'd like to make a motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing, and that is for the fiscal year 27 funding recommendation for the fiscal year 27 Waterloo-Cedar Falls Home Consortium.

Second. Got a motion and a second. The hearing is now open. Anyone from the audience wish to come to the podium and speak for or against these recommendations?

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to adopt a resolution.

It doesn't say it on there, sir, but could you just close the hearing? Yes, sir.

Apologies, that was an error that we didn't catch. So we should have a motion to close the hearing.

Mr. Mayor, I have a motion to close the hearing. Second.

Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed, same sign. Now, Mr. Schmidt.

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to adopt a resolution approving the fiscal year 27 funding recommendations for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Home Consortium Annual Action Plan with Community Development of Waterloo, Iowa, and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document.

Second.

Motion and a second. Council, do you have any questions on this? Seeing none, roll call vote, please. Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes.

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

Mr. Schmidt? Mr. Mayor, I'd like to adopt a resolution approving the submission of the fiscal year 27 annual action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on or about July 30th, 2026. Second. Motion is second. Madam Clerk?

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

Yes. Number 2, please tomorrow. Motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing with demolition and site clearance services with regulated as best as containing materials contract number R. D. dash 2 0, 2, 6, 0, 6, 0, 5 P. 2nd hearing is now all in favor.

I post same sign hearing is now open. Anyone from the audience wish to speak to the demolition site, clearance and asbestos for this contract. Seeing none, Mr. Marlowe.

Mr. Mayor, motion to close hearing and receive and file oral and written comments. Second.

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

Mr. Mayor, resolution confirming approval of plans, specifications, form of contract, et cetera, and authorizing to proceed. Second.

Motion to second. Council, any questions on this item? Seeing none, 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.

Mr. Mayor? Mr. Morrow? Motion to receive file and instruct the City Clerk to read bids. Second. Motion to second. All in favor?

Aye. Opposed?

Aye.

Madam Clerk?

All right, the estimate for this project was 125,000 dollars. Our 1st bidder was August enterprises, LLC of Jefferson, Iowa. They provided 5% security. Their bid amount was 100,000 dollars. Our 2nd bidder was layman trucking and excavating incorporated of Waterloo, Iowa. They provided 5% security. Their bid amount was 93,009 dollars. Our third bidder was DW Zinsser Company Incorporated of Walford, Iowa. They provided 5% security. Their bid amount was $154,900. And then our final bidder was Lansing Brothers Construction Company Incorporated of Luxembourg, Iowa. They provided 5% security and their bid amount was $145,800.

Thank you. Mr. Mayor, resolution approving the award of bid to Lehman Trucking and Excavating Incorporated of Waterloo, Iowa, in the amount of $93,009, approving the contract bond and certificate of insurance in conjunction with the demolition and site clearance services with regulated asbestos-contained material, contract number RD-2026-06-05P, and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said documents. Thank you, sir.

Motion to second. Roll call.

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

Yes. Okay, who would like to take number three, please?

Mr. Mayor.

Mr. Salamanca.

Number three, asbestos abatement services contract AB-2026-0601P, 1442 Sycamore Street, former Rath Buildings. We need a motion. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing.

A motion in a 2nd, the hearing is back in. Thank you. The hearing is now open. Anyone from the audience wish to speak for against this abatement contract for the former wrath building. Please come to the podium and state your name and address and you have 3 minutes.

They were dry 3145 West 4 street. I saw on the council file that there's a company called Euro fins. that had a lot of different information about the asbestos that was in that building. Was that pre-authorized or was that on a different council meeting? Maybe I wasn't at that that was approved to pay them because I'm assuming they got paid. And my comment also is that we were given this building back by Crystal Ice so we could tear it down, that's a nice deal for them.

Thank you. We didn't get it back. It wasn't given to us. We paid $2.9 million for it.

Ouch.

Thank you. Mr. Anderson, do you have a comment on what Mr. Dreyer was speaking about?

Noel Anderson, Community Planning Development Director. Going back to the origin of the asbestos in the building, the EPA actually provided for funding out of federal funds to do the asbestos testing in here. Then we hired EOC to go with our EPA grant to do further testing on it to identify the asbestos, and now we're moving ahead with the removal.

And EOC came in after Is it H.R. Green? They are H.R. Green that turned into EOC, yes. Because they stopped doing asbestos. Okay. Hopefully that answers your question. Anybody else from the audience wish to speak for or against this? Mr. Salamanca.

Mr. Mayor, 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? Thank you. Salamanca.

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a resolution confirming approval of specifications, bid documents, form of contract, et cetera, and authorizing to proceed.

Second.

We've got a motion and a second. Council, any questions on this project?

Mr. Mayor?

Mr. Simon?

To touch on what Mr. Dreyer has just mentioned, just to give the people a timeline on this, this is the same property that was sold to Crystal Ice for $100,000, and you're saying the city bought it back for $2.9 million?

And I was on the council years ago, yes.

Okay, and the question I have is we're spending the money to do the asbestos abatement. Do we have, Noel, do we have somebody that's willing to take on this property once we get this demolished or are we, where are we at?

Noel Anderson, Community Planning Development Director. So we have EPA grant funds to help us with the asbestos removal. We will match those with TIF funds. Uh, crystals actually done about, uh, I think 28Million dollars in expansions the last several years in this general area. Um, so by demolishing this, we'll look at another food supply type company that could go there or crystal expansion again.

So, yes, or no, we have somebody in place to take crystal was very interested in that location.

Yes. There's no commitment from them to expand again with the building not being torn down yet.

Okay, so my question is if we do not go forward with this at this time, can we wait until we do have a buyer?

We would lose probably about $480,000 in the EPA grant if we do not move ahead with the grant.

That grant has an expiration date of when?

I believe we have to have it down by, I think it's March of 2027.

March of 2027?

I'd have to check that. It might be. You have to check that date, but it's fairly soon.

Okay, March of 2027. That's how many months from now? So my question is, if we did not do this now, do we have until March 2027 to approve it, or does the grant have to be executed by that time?

The grant has to be fully spent, and the funds have to be drawn down from the EPA for reimbursement. So we're on a pretty quick timeline. Okay. And if you hear the bids, you'll see that we had one bid that was within the estimate, and the other two were not. So I'm not sure we're going to get any better bids.

Okay.

Well, my concern is, is obviously with the people have spent millions of dollars, and I understand that Crystal Ice has spent and invested $28 million, but the city of Waterloo has invested nearly $5 million. And it looks like it's, Buying it for 100,000 and giving it back for 2.9Million.

I think they bought it for 100,000 in the 1980s. I'm not sure what that cost of dollar would be. And of course, they had to fix it up since it was a wrap packing plant company.

Okay. That's good to know.

The city of Waterloo was also fortunate to get a rise grant because of crystal expanding here that gave us 1.7Million dollars toward the 11th street bridge project. So we didn't have to put additional funds into there. Very good. So we benefited several times.

Okay. Thanks for that explanation.

Council, any other questions? Mr. Mayor? Mr. Salamanca?

Mr. Anderson? Out of curiosity, you mentioned that the EPA is going to be matching the grant for this or matching the funds for this. How much is the city of Waterloo going to be spending in total for it? Like what's our cost as a city?

We are awarded $642,000 in the original grant EPA for the asbestos abatement in here. We had to go through historical documents and have a qualified expert to go ahead and do some more asbestos testing. I think we have about $460,000 to $480,000 left in the grant for the actual removal of the asbestos. I think the lowest bidder is around $2 million, so we'll be looking at matching that with our TIF funds that we're getting from Crystal expanding in this area and paying additional taxes and hiring. I think they've hired over 80 jobs in their last two expansions.

Do you know, off the top of your head, how much is in the RATH TIF fund to dedicate? Because I know there's also other projects that are in conversation. So I just want to make sure that if this gets dedicated to this, down the line, another entity doesn't suffer for it.

I believe we have, I'm 99% sure we have funding in the RATH TIF to cover this, yes.

Mr. Mayor.

Sir. Ms. Woods, would you mind commenting on this? Thank you. Mr. Anderson.

Uh, Bridget would finance director. So, in the, um, the estimated revenue coming in this year in the raft district is approximately 2.1Million dollars. So that would cover any rebates that we have in any, um. Projects that are expected to happen in the raft district this year.

So this project would take out a sufficient chunk out of the rest? OK. OK. Thank you.

No problem. Significant chunk, if not all of it.

Thank you.

OK. Any other questions from council? Roll call vote on the resolution confirming approval of specs and bid documents.

Mr. Schmidt?

Yes.

Mr. Mauro? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yes. Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? No. Mr. Martin? No. Mr. Simon?

No. Okay, Mr. Salamanca.

Mr. Mayor, I would like a motion to receive file instruct the city clerk to read the bids and refer to the community planning development director for review.

Second. Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Madam Clerk.

Our engineer's estimate was $2,210,000. Our first bidder was REW Services Corporation of Des Moines, Iowa. They provided 5% security. Their bid amount was $2,004,200. Oh, gosh. $2,004,261. Sorry. Our second bidder was Advanced Environmental of Waterloo, Iowa. They provided 5% security. Their bid amount was $3,985,000. And our final bidder was Robinson Brothers Environmental of Dane, Wisconsin. They provided 5% security and their bid amount was $3,060,000.

Thank you, ma'am. Who would like to take number four?

Mr. Mayor. Mr. Smith. Item number four is making a motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing for the fiscal year 2023, Kellogg Congress Sanitary Sewer Lift Station and Reconstruction, contract number 1075. Second.

Motion to second. The hearing is now open. Anyone from the public who wishes to speak for or against the Sanitary Sewer Lift Station at the Kellogg Congress?

Seeing none, Mr. mayor make a motion to close the hearing and receive and file in a oral and written comments.

2nd, motion to 2nd, all in favor. Oh, same sign.

Mr. I'd like to adopt a resolution confirming approval of specifications, bid documents, former contract, et cetera.

And authorizing to proceed 2nd, get a motion 2nd council any questions on this. Seeing none, we'll call a vote, 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 receive file instruct the city clerk to read the bids and refer to the Public Works Division Manager for further review.

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

All right, our 1st, better was boomerang corporation of animals Iowa. They provided 5% security. Their bit amount was 5,097,512 dollars and 50 cents. Our 2nd, better was of a manna Iowa. They provided 5% security. Their bid amount was $2,966,361.40. And our final bidder was Peterson Contractors Incorporated of Rhinebeck, Iowa. They provided 5% security, and their bid amount was $4,230,069.05. Thank you.

Moving on to resolutions, who would like to take three, four, and five, please? Mr. Salamanca.

Mr. Mayor, I would like to make a resolution approving a 30-day no-cost pilot agreement with OmniSite of Charleston, South Carolina for adaptive single-timing management and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document. Number four, resolution approving a professional service agreement with VanderWaal and Associates Inc. in the amount of $72,000 in conjunction with the downtown master plan implementation and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document and number five resolution approving a memorandum of understanding with blackhawk county to enter into a development agreement for the exchange of properties between the city of waterloo and blackhawk county for the blackhawk county road department expansion and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document second the motion second anyone from the audience wish to speak for or against items three four or five

David Dreyer, 3145 West 4th Street. On number three, didn't we used to do this ourselves with the signal controlling and all that? I went on a tour they had, what, two, three, four years ago. And they showed us people sitting in a room watching a monitor. And they supposedly, with all these cameras that are, I suppose, we were told they were cameras. On these poles, they watched the traffic and could adapt the signals. for the existing traffic so uh and also this the packet shows that there was a fee uh on Omni site but it says uh no fee or no cost so I'm kind of wondering about that what's why is there a fee in there is that for a future date And again, didn't we used to do this? Or don't we do that anymore?

We can have our traffic engineer, traffic operations director address this.

Traffic operations director, um, yes, we have, uh, this is a detection system. We have cameras, we have radars and we use loop in the city on this specific system is a combination of radar and cameras. Um, we're doing a 30 day pilot with them to be able to see if the system will be compatible with. um what the city does um if it's user friendly the then um after we have the 30 days it will be no cost to us so we they will ship it to us and we will install it if we don't um want the system when we send it back the only cost that we have is the shipping fee

So there is a cost to it. There is absolutely no fee.

There's no fee to the pilot. And if we decide to keep it, then we don't pay that shipping fee, sending it back.

But we still do do it down in the building.

We have different locations that we have detection systems. As I said, the three detection systems. So we have it throughout the city. Some of them are getting old, and we're replacing them. And this was a great option to see if the OmniSight system would work with the city. Okay.

We're just trying out a product. That's all we're doing. Anybody else from the audience wish to speak to 3, 4 or 5. Council.

It's Martin, so. I understand I know no 30 day trial pilot, but if we do decide to keep this or use it in the future, do we do we have an estimated cost?

Yes, it is. 23,350 dollars. Which is not a bad price for the detection system. So.

Thank you. That's a one-time fee? Yes. Or is that a yearly fee? Okay.

That's a purchase fee of the system.

Any other questions on three, four, or five from the council? Mr. Salamanca.

Right, for number three, could you give us just a quick recap as to what all of its capabilities is? Because I know in the council packet, as I showed you, the information part's blacked out for almost everything. So if you could recap on to what it does and what it is, that'd be greatly appreciated.

So, so, at each intersection, when we have detection system, we have cameras that will detect how many cars are coming or what lanes there and this is a combination of radar and detection system and it will let the traffic controller know what the volume of the cars are and try to adapt. To the volumes of the actual cars, so it takes cars.

Awesome, thank you, thank you. And then I do have a question for number four. This resolution approving a professional service agreement with VanderWaal. Looking through the contract, there's nothing that I saw that shows metrics that the city can compare with what VanderWaal's doing. So there's a lot of conversation piece within the contract that states they're going to be working with the city of Waterloo, but again, there's nothing in it that says they have to meet this objective or this objective or this objective. So I'm curious to know, how are we going to hold them accountable to make sure they complete their part of the contract? So I'm hoping, Mr. Anderson, if you could touch base on that.

And I also have Meredith Perks on Zoom that can answer any questions from Vandewall. At least we gave her a Zoom link. She was going to Zoom in for this meeting. Noel? Noel?

Noel Anderson, Community Planning Development Director. Yeah, I believe there's at least two representatives from VanderWaal on Zoom, so they can join in. The Mayor, myself, and some others have monthly meetings with VanderWaal to go over the scope. Overall, they're billing us hourly, so it's a matter of working with them on specifics of projects, on specifics of sites. You know, the contract is kind of written a little bit vaguely to just kind of cover all the projects that may come forward for the principles of downtown development. But we're specifically working with them on a monthly basis on specific projects to try and go through the details of some architectural drawings or layouts or just design criteria.

So how is the city in, because I would have expected to see a previous contract in our council packet so that way we can compare it. How has the city measured their success in previous years when they've entered into contract agreements with them?

I would say definitely by the projects and I can probably get you a very good drawing that kind of shows the drawing that the projects on a map. Since we've started working with them, we've had several larger projects, including the Sportsplex, including Hawkeye Community College coming downtown. You know, just the Marriott Hotel was a developer that they brought to this area from the Quad City. So we generally look at the projects and the return on investment.

So how long has that partnership existed historically?

I think we've been working with VanderWalt since about 2001.

So since 2001, they've entered in a direct contract with council approval. How has, that's a pretty long time since 2001. So if you were to look back, how many projects have been completed in that time frame? That you can distinctively point to and say, that's VanderWalt because they helped us, etc. ?

I mean, I'd say there's probably at least over 11 just off the top of my head. But like I said, I can get you that map, and they may have that map available, too.

I don't know if anyone on Zoom can speak to this. It would be greatly appreciated.

Have they opened up there, Chris?

Yeah, they should have.

We did go over a lot of these projects during the work session.

Are you there, Meredith? Yes, I apologize. It took me a second to get off of mute. Good evening. This is Meredith Perks with Van de Wallen Associates, and I'm joined by my colleague, Jeff Maloney. I think that Noel outlined the The work that we do as directed by staff and the way we work closely with the city of Waterloo staff on elements of the contract and where to proceed at what times and the implementation of the downtown master plan. The map that was shared at the time of, I wasn't sure if I would be able to have capacity to share a graphic or anything. So at the moment, I don't have that map pulled up. I could try and do that. There were, I would say, as Noel mentioned, more than a dozen, you know, construction projects and then elements that involve, you know, design concepts for potential property acquisition or redevelopment concepts, developer recruitments and other things that, like, set the stage and move us towards project completion, but are maybe not so physical or plottable on a map in that way. So I'd be happy to answer more questions or I think Noel outlined how we work together as an implementation contract and one that gets continually, there's some broadness in the contract so that we're able to pivot as different things come up within the market or, you know, different things become available, we're able to adapt within the contract to continue to serve Waterloo at the direction of the mayor and staff.

Okay, and I guess my question would be, so it's specifically for VanderWaal, so that's a 25-year span from 2001 to the present. So within that time frame, has the amount stayed the same that the city's been paying, or has it gone up, has it gone down? Is it tied to specific metrics of, let's say, the city wanted to see 10 projects in one year, VanderWaal didn't deliver. Is there, I guess, a penalty for not delivering on your part? These are the kind of questions that, you know, are in the back of my mind, because that's, I believe it equals out to 1.8 million since, what, 2000, 2001. So I am curious to know, like, what holds VanderWaal accountable to the citizens of Waterloo, the city council, and the mayors throughout the years, if in the contract there's nothing that does so?

I can tell you, sir, that I had a lot of these same reservations when I was on the city council and now that I'm sitting in this seat and I work with them on and I have at least 2 or 3 meetings a month with them and the work that they're doing in the downtown area, the work they're doing with the W. D. C. Actively engaged in the projects downtown and the works that they're doing that benefits both sides of our downtown area. INCLUDING THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING OVER IN THE LAFAYETTE-MULBERRY AREA THAT WE'RE WORKING ON ANOTHER PROJECT. SO I'VE BEEN MORE THAN PLEASED WITH THE WORK PRODUCT THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING FROM VAN DE WALEN. I HAD THE SAME APPREHENSION AND QUESTIONS WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT WORKING WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY DO A GOOD JOB FOR US. THAT'S JUST MY PERSPECTIVE.

the amount of 72,000 per year of state, the same throughout the contract.

Okay, so for 1.8 million roughly since 2021, and then if you were to include inflation and all that jazz, I'm sure it would go up. I guess my final question to you is when it comes to this contract, Who reviews it outside of yourself? I know it goes to an outside attorney and whatnot, but this specific contract, was it reviewed by the outside attorney? Did he have reservations? Was it shown to our city attorney? What's that process look like?

Yeah, the outside attorney looked at it. It's pretty similar as last year's contract and the year before, but yeah, he always reviews all those.

Okay. And then I will say, well, Mr. Murrow, if you have...

I had another question, but I didn't want to interrupt you.

Are you done?

Well, I was going to say, I would make a motion to separate that resolution so it can be voted on separately, because I would like to make a motion to table it for a further date.

You could make the motion to table it.

Okay, so then Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to table number four, resolution approving a professional service agreement with VanderWaal and Associates Inc. in the amount of $72,000 in conjunction with a downtown master plan implementation and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document.

Second. Thank you. Do you have an idea of how long you'd like to table it?

I think two weeks.

Okay, thank you. Does anybody have any questions regarding tabling this motion?

I'm sorry, the only thing I would mention, and Mr. Salamanca, I don't know if you might have been traveling at the time, but we did have a presentation. I was here. I was here. I saw the presentation. Okay, and so we had maps, and we had all this laid out. Okay, you didn't seem to be aware of that.

I saw that. I was present. I asked questions as well. my concern isn't on the projects that they do. It's not my concern on their history or whatnot or the relationship with the city of Waterloo. My concern is specifically on a contract and whether or not as a city and as a council, we're holding individuals accountable, whether or not they're long-time partners, because I would expect and I would hope that as a city council, we hold each and every individual and each and every partnering agency accountable, because that's what we're supposed to be here for. so that's my intent on to bring this forward and i do think that for 72k it might be small peanuts but at the end of the day for a city that is representative of the population we need to make sure we ask these questions and you know being six months in i don't have that tenured history that you may have but at the end of the day i still have questions and it's fully within my right to bring them forward and to make the motion so thank you i'm not questioning your right to do anything but um yeah my point being that

For those of us that have been around a little while, if you remember back in the early 2000s, Waterloo was not high on anybody's radar where anybody wanted to do anything. And I think that's part of the reason why they got into a relationship with VanderWaal. And you and I very much agree on being fiscally responsible. And we have a number of different entities that we give money to, to try and help us compete with the surrounding communities and other communities too. um but i would just say i've been very pleased with vandal wall over the years when they've come and given their presentations i don't know how exactly you can put a metric on some of these things and i don't i don't know if there is a way but i do think that again as you look back as the mayor mentioned on or no some of the projects over the last 10 or 15 years i mean it's been night and day i don't know that vandal gets all the credit for that but they certainly get some of it because They're out there where some of the other companies we do business with for this are not as widespread as VanderWaal is. But yeah, I think that'd be fine and have them come and give us a little bit more information. But I've just been very happy with them. So I just wanted to share that.

Mr. Simon.

Um, I think I think there was something that was touched on there with what the mayor said to go along with that. Um. I think that along with the work session that they provided, that was helpful. Um, but I think what what the mayor had mentioned, and I think maybe that's something we can do in this next 2 weeks if we do table this. that he was unaware of all the things that Vander wall was doing and now in his different capacity from the council to the mayor's position he's got a new perspective I would like to see maybe in that first two weeks that the council can be abreast of those those additional things possibly that has eased his mind as far as that goes and if that's the case that could be something that would alleviate some of these questions

Of course, and I'm open to that, and I'm all on board on that. Again, my concern is the fact that when you write a contract, what's in the contract has to be followed, and it carries the weight of the law. So if the contract is vaguely worded and say none of us are on council again for the future, how does a future council, future mayor, et cetera, hold a partner entity accountable if it doesn't carry the weight of the law? So that's my interest, my concern, so I look forward to Going there and having that conversation and seeing how can we form a contract that, you know, reinforces that.

And I can tell you, if you don't have this perks email address, I'll forward it to the entire council tomorrow that you can reach out to her with any of any of your questions because she's very responsive to getting right back tomorrow.

I would just kind of add encouraging. It would be very interesting to see. We're looking at a contract for this year. Do we have any specific deliverables for this next season? You know, just to see kind of what they're thinking about that gives us maybe some more specifics into where councilman is looking at.

Okay, Mr mayor, I've been well, I, I was on the council back in 2000, so I do remember and of all being around a long time indeed. But I'm just no, just a quick question. Is this something that. They are just, is there a bidding process? I mean, do they bid on the work or is this just an ongoing thing that we're agreeing to just so I can be clear?

No, it wasn't bid out. It was a professional services agreement based on they had Kind of going back in history as councilman Schmidt noted originally back in 2000 They had been working on the Moline area with John Deere did a great job with their downtown redevelopment And so John Deere had recommended them to us for downtown Waterloo for John Deere to continue to invest here and see some improvements Okay, so we have a motion on the table the motion on the Florida table for two weeks and

Madam clerk, Mr. Smith. Yes.

Mr. Yes.

No.

Is Barry yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. Martin no. And Mr. Simon yes.

So that motion is tabled for 2 weeks on 2 any other questions on 3 and 5. If you have any questions on five, we have a quorum of county supervisors sitting in our audience and our county engineer that would be more than willing to answer any of those questions. Is that legal? Does anybody have any questions on the Memorandum of Understanding for Exchange of Properties with the Black Hawk County and us?

You must have a question, Diane.

All right. Seeing none, roll call vote, please, on three and five.

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

Yes. Well, that was easy. Six, seven, and eight. Who would like to take those? Mr. Mayor. Mr. Morrow.

Number six resolution approving a development agreement with the honey re investments LLC for the construction of a new single-family home at 136 Janie Avenue including a $5,000 infill grant and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said document number seven resolution approving the audit engagement letter from Bergen KDV for the fiscal year ending June 30th 2026 Authorizing the mayor to execute said document number eight Resolution approving a professional service agreement with a com incorporated of Waterloo, Iowa, and the amount not to exceed 196,500 dollars for design related services in conjunction with the river wall restoration and flood wall tie off safety conditions and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute said documents. I can.

Oh, for the 2nd, anyone from the audience wish to speak to 6, 7 and 8 please come forward state your name and address.

David Durer, 3145 West 4th Street. Is there any Fed money involved with this? Because it's the flood wall. And I assume they helped us put the flood wall in.

Mr. Castle.

Wayne Castle, Assistant City Engineer. No, there is no federal money in this flood wall. This is the river wall. This protects the bank. The actual flood wall is the poured concrete wall on the top of this location. This is the river wall between 6th Street and the railroad on the right descending bank of the Cedar River. It's an old wall going back to, we think, early 1900s, 1920s, somewhere in that time frame. It has some issues. It's still functional, but we want to be prepared to replace this.

Do we have a figure on that yet?

We do not. Okay. What we've seen talking initially with the engineers is that we may be able to remove this wall entirely and be able to come back and regrade and put in riprap.

All right. Thank you, sir. Anybody else from the audience wish to speak to 6, 7, or 8?

City Council any questions on six seven or eight Mr Salamaka you look like you have a question I do for number seven this resolution improving the audit engagement letter does the city alternate who we choose to do the audit with or is it just the same entity every year.

Bridget Wood, Finance Director. So we put out an RFP about two years ago for auditing services. We usually put them out about every five to seven years, depending on how we had the previous contract written. Current one with Bergen KDV is for five years. I believe we have two additional years of renewal that we could do with them, and then we'd have to go back out for RFP. Okay, thank you.

Thank you counseling other questions. Seeing none, roll call vote ma'am.

Mr. Schmidt, yes. Mr. Morrow, yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith, yes. Ms. Berry, yes. Mr. Salamanca, yes. Mr. Martin, yes.

And Mr. Simon, yes. Thank you. Who would like to take ordinance number one? Mr. Mayor.

Mr. Mayor, I move that we adopt it.

Go ahead. Go right ahead. Ms. Creighton-Smith, please.

OKAY. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF WATERLOO CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REPEALING AND REPLACING SECTION 541, INCREASING SPEED LIMITS IN CERTAIN AREAS.

SECOND. OKAY. WE NEED A MOTION TO RECEIVE A FILE. CAN YOU READ THAT FOR US, PLEASE?

OH, YES. I'M SORRY. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE MOTION TO RECEIVE FILE AND CONSIDER IT PASSED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF WATERLOO CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REPEALING AND REPLACING SECTION 541 INCREASING SPEED LIMITS IN CERTAIN AREAS 25 EAST FOURTH STREET IN ITS ENTIRETY AND ACTING IN LIEU THERE OF A NEW SECTION 541 INCREASING SPEED LIMITS IN CERTAIN AREAS 25 EAST FOURTH STREET.

SECOND. I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WISH TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE? COUNCIL? ANY QUESTIONS? MR. MAYOR. SEEING NONE. MS. CRANE-SMITH, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

YES, I DO.

PLEASE, GO AHEAD.

YES. COULD WE HAVE SOFIA DELACI TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, PLEASE?

MA'AM, COULD YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE, AND ADDRESS THIS, GIVE US AN OVERVIEW, PLEASE?

I'M SORRY, I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME.

traffic operations director um the ordinance is to have well previously for fourth street it had um from walnut to um this ordinance will change from walnut to heath and make it 35 miles per hour um I think it was from Donald to all not and I will switch from Heath to all not so he's the intersection of Heath and Logan Avenue has been updated. Prior to prior to me starting here, so it turned into a. Full intersection with signals, and now the route has the route people have been taking has changed. So the speed limit is increasing from 25 to 35 at this location to batch match the rest of the corridor. That's already 30. So. From 25 to 30, let me correct that 25 to 35.

No, 35 to 30.

Yeah, the rest of the corridor is already 30. so it's just being consistent. Thank you.

Do you have any other questions, ma'am? No, counsel any other questions for this. Thank you roll call vote. Please.

Mr. Schmidt. Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Mr. Martin. Yes. And Mr. Simon.

Yes. That's great. Smith.

Mr. I move that we. Motion to suspend the rules.

Second. Motion to second. Roll call, please.

Mr. Schmidt.

Yes. Mr. Murrow.

Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith.

Yes.

Ms. Berry. Yes. Mr. Salamanca. Yes. Mr. Martin. Yes. Mr. Simon. Yes.

Ms. Creighton-Smith.

Mr. Mayor, I move that we consider and pass for the second and third times an adopted ordinance.

Second. Motion to second. Roll call.

Mr. Schmidt. Yes. Mr. Murrow.

Yes.

Ms. Creighton-Smith. Yes, yes, Mr. Salamanca. Yes. Mr. Martin. Yes. Mr. Simon.

Yes. Who here would like to take ordinance number two? Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Martin.

I'd like to make a motion to receive and file and consider and pass for the second time an ordinance amending the City of Waterloo code ordinance by repealing section nine, public urination of chapter two, general offenses, title five, police regulations, and in acting in lieu, therefore, a new section nine, public urination of chapter two, general offenses, title five, public regulations.

Second the motion second anyone from the audience wish to speak to. Ordinance number 2. Seeing none council any questions regarding this. I think we've been through this, uh, Madam clerk, Mr. Schmidt.

Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes.

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

Yes. Mr. Mayor? Yes, sir. Make a motion to consider and pass for the third time and adopt and set ordinance. Second. Ma'am?

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Morrow? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith? Yeah, it was Barry. Yes. Mr. Salamanca. Yes. Mr. Martin. Yes. Mr. Simon.

Yes. That's nice to put this to rest. Okay. Who would like to take number 1 for administrative hearings?

And just just to know, um, bamboo bridge did pay so we can, um. Uh, maybe just read into the record that the hearing is canceled since they've paid their fine and then we will only need to do a hearing on the 2nd.

I would like to take number one.

Mr. Mayor.

I got Ms. Berry. I got Ms. Berry here. Sorry.

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to cancel, did you say?

Just state that the hearing is canceled because they paid their check.

That the hearing for the sale of tobacco to a minor first offense for Bamboo Ridge Campground 4550 LaPorte Road is canceled.

Second. Second. And we don't need a second for that. We do not need a second.

We're good, thank you.

Okay, round of number two. Who wants to take number two? Mr. Mayor? Yes. I'd like to make a motion to open the hearing on sale of tobacco of a minor first offense for Cork's Grocery Store Groceries at 1956 Lafayette Street.

Second.

Motion to second. Anyone from the audience wish to speak to this item? Of what?

We'll just have Marty.

Marty, we got our city attorney, Mr. Martin Peterson. Would you like to speak to this, sir?

Thank you, Your Honor. Martin Peterson, Legal Department. Is there anybody here representing Cork's Grocery? Okay, so then I'll just summarize the proceedings thus far. On May 20th, 2026, a clerk at Cork's Groceries, located at 1956 Lafayette Street in Waterloo, Iowa, sold tobacco products to a person underage. The clerk that sold the product was charged, and on June 17th, 2026, a consent judgment was taken against the clerk. That triggered an Iowa law that allows a city, if we elect to, which we do, to collect a $300 administrative fee for a first offense. So we sent out a letter to Corks on June 23rd saying, please find and close an agreement where you accept the $300 civil fee. If you don't accept it, then we'll set it for a public hearing in front of the council. And if the council is satisfied that there was a violation, they can and are in order assessing the $300 penalty. So that's what we're here for today. And so I'd ask that you do that.

Thank you, sir. Any questions? Excellent. Motion to close the hearing. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to close the hearing. Second. Motion to second. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Mr. Martin. How do I read this?

An order, yes. Order assessing a $300 civil penalty to Cork's Groceries, 1956 Lafayette Street, Waterloo, Iowa, 50703, for sale of tobacco to a minor, first offense. Second.

Motion to second.

Roll call vote, please.

Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Mauro? Yes. Ms. Creighton-Smith?

Yes.

Ms. Berry? Yes. Mr. Salamanca? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. And Mr. Simon?

Yes. Thank you. Now it's time for our public comments. For non-agenda related items, anyone that has any comments they'd like to address the council, please step forward, state your name and address for the record, and you'll have three minutes. Mr. Nichols, welcome back.

Hello, everyone.

Rob Nichols, 5006 Sweetwater Circle. I'm just here to, along with my colleague Purvis Williams, to answer questions regarding the Summer Soul Classic Parade. It was brought to our attention that there was some constituents that reached out to council members with some concerns. And we do have some, it was brought into question whether or not our event was approved or whether any council members knew that the event was going on. So we just have some documents to hand out to council and to answer that, and mayor. That'd be great.

Thank you. And some of the questions that were brought up with emails, I'll just mention that. Like next year, if you want more barricades for certain streets that were blocked off, that we just included in your application. And I don't think there was any issues other than a couple of people that got caught in traffic. But you did apply and you did get permission to have your parade and your areas and then The areas of the streets that did get blocked off were approved because they got to go through my office and they got to go through the police department and public works. So, and I appreciate all of this information.

So we did have barricades up. I know that was 1 of the big things that came about was the barricades. Our whole entire parade route was barricaded. We had. A police escort in a tail car, and we also utilize motorcycle clubs to help us block off block off streets as well. The issue that we ran into is that people were coming and moving our barricades before we got there to try to get through and then they didn't go back up by the time the parade made it there.

and the one person basically got stopped by a train and tried to go around it and ended up stopped by the parade. So I hope they enjoyed the parade while they sat there. Do you have something?

I would just like to apologize for not being there. I had a prior engagement that I had to attend. Hopefully next year it doesn't conflict with my other obligation that I have. So I apologize for not being there. Ms. Baird, did you have something you want to address with these gentlemen?

First of all, I just want to thank you, Purvis. I've worked with Purvis when I was president of KBBG Radio. And Purvis did every year for the KBBG parade and has done an amazing job. And I just wanted people to know that I was a dignitary in the parade.

Does anybody care?

Probably not, but in any event. So I got to see firsthand all the things that you said. There were barricades. There were police officers there. Thank you, Chief Duncan. And it was just an amazing event that I would hope the community would come out more and support it. But you had a great turnout as well.

And we just wanted to come and come and answer any questions that might have, because we've been doing this for well, I've been doing this for 12 years and then we did some, we've been doing some or so for 5 and this is the 1st year that we've had any complaints come in to where we've gotten emails from the city. So that's why we wanted to come and address it.

Mr. can I add just 1 more thing? Yeah, I guess.

Is that okay?

Well, I know that there were also concerns because normally after your parades, you do like a drill team competition and other things now. I understand there was something at the park, Lincoln Park. Um, I think it came from main street. Is that correct? Yes. Okay.

So the previous night, um, so the night before the parade happens on Saturday, we have what's called the summer. So classic meet and greet. And so this year was the 1st time we held it in Lincoln park. And we thank all the city departments that helped us put it on. Leisure services was really helpful to. Our street department is really, really helpful with that. But yeah, there were some concerns about garbage pickup. And so when we got there, I mean, the trash cans filled up really quickly. So I personally went over to dollar journal and grabbed extra garbage bags and. Volunteer team was very diligent about picking up the trash. There was some language in the contract about what needs to be done with that trash afterwards. So I reached out to the park superintendent who gave me the guidance and we thank him for his guidance late at night for answering me.

But I hate to cut you guys off. Oh, okay. We've answered the question and I appreciate it.

So, if I could close with just simply quickly because we're coloring outside the lines.

YEAH, WE'RE WAY OUTSIDE ON PUBLIC COMMENT.

WELL, OKAY. WELL, AGAIN, I JUST DON'T WANT THE SUMMER SO CLASSIC TO HAVE A STAIN ON IT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL EVENT THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR SO, YEAH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO BECAUSE YOU REALLY SERVE A LOT OF PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MR. MAYOR.

MS. CRAIG AND SMITH.

MR. MAYOR, I DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP The conversation that I had with a particular constituent said that they had talked with the mayor's office and that the mayor's office told them that the parade did not have a permit, that the parade did not have officers assigned. So I'm very glad that you cleared that up. That was my concern mostly. So I'm grateful that they have an opportunity, hopefully, to hear you publicly say yes. the permit was we had a permit they had a the police officer they had the barriers the barricade they had everything they need and followed the policy as the city outlined so thank you so much thank you perfect thank you rob for all you do and for the amazing way in which you support the youth and bring the community together and cities across the state together for such a monumental

Thank you and I appreciate that and I'm not going to throw my administrative assistant under the bus because I know that she processed the application, pushed it through the proper channels. It went through my office. It went through the police department. I went through the parks. It went through. Uh, everyone that was listed on that, including the noise variance. So. Uh, and she also. And part of this sends information out to whose words it pertains to on the noise variance in the road closures and that was sent out in advance. Also. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak and public comment section of this.

Yes, Mayor. Forest Dillavu, 1725 Huntington Road. I'm going to be referring to a courier article that was in the paper recently about a lawsuit that the city lost in court and some of the things that went on along with this. This property that we lost the lawsuit on was 411 or 415 East 8th. Some developer bought those two buildings. And one year after it was bought, the city took one of those, 657A. That property then sat for approximately four years. We try and clean up our city, but four years sitting there after acquiring at 657A, and then someone set it on fire. So that caused us to kind of step up our process to get it tore down. We then hired someone to tear it down, and we paid them $14,000 to remove it. This firm was supposed to have posted a bond, Should anything happen? Well, something did happen. The building fell into the building next door and damaged it. That landlord took us to court because he couldn't rent it. And along the process, we should have had a rental permit on this house, which was never acquired. So how many years did he rent it before that happened? I didn't get all that out of the article. Now that we lost in court, we're going to pay $52,000 for the building next door, plus $1,000. Can you hear me when you're talking?

I hear you perfectly clear, sir. Thank you, sir.

I can multitask. Plus $1,000 fee, and they called it a late fee. I assume we didn't pay when we were ordered to pay. Now we're going to have to take this house away, 657A, with our legal expenses from the city, and tear it down. So after it's torn down, if we take those two lots and give them to a developer, which we normally do for $1, the taxpayers will pay $7,500 per door to build homes on those. So that would be another probably four doors. They could put two duplexes, four doors. This is a waste of city money. This is proof that some of our departments are not doing their due diligence to take care of the city business.

Thank you. Thank you, sir. Anyone else from the audience wish to make any public comments? Thank you. Please state your name and address, sir. Good evening.

My name is Darlington T. Deva. I'm one to eight, speaker of Waterloo, Iowa. Yeah, I think I was here last, the past meeting, at the park, and I filed an email to some city council member to see the email that we were denied in the park because of the noise, and they transferred it to a different park. We went there to another park, but every application that we put in, it was denied by the city so if you don't want us to go there with music or noise you shouldn't have tell us to fill in a paper that you're going to approve or not approve because that place is not for noise and we're going to know but somebody else will not go there with noise then they keep denying with the immigrant not to go there and have any fun for the summer and secondly i want to they need to have a workshop with most of the police in Waterloo. Because we, the immigrant, we having a lot of trouble with the police. From where we come from, our system living there is different from the system in this country, way far. And when the police have maybe pulled her over, most of the time, they don't talk to us good. They yell at us, talk to us the way they shouldn't talk to us, most of the people. And that's not right for us. We need to be treated like the other people. It just happened to me today. a police officer called Chase. He did it to me. He was down on the scene. He don't know what happened. He came to my house when I was on my way here. And like, he started yelling at me. Why do you do here the wrong? Why do you do here the wrong? You come to my house, you need to ask me a question. What happened? Let me explain before you talk. But you don't come and accuse me and start yelling on my head. Why do you hear that? When I want to talk, you stop me now to talk. I will explain to him, you stop me now to talk. I was trying to go in my house and get my ID, you stop me now to go in my house. I was getting something from my car, you told me to stand in front of my car. He started yelling at me, and that's wrong. We need to be treated like everyone else in the city of Waterloo. We pay tax, we own property, we do everything here. May God bless you.

Thank you, sir, and if you do have complaints, you can always come to the front counter of the police department and get the proper paperwork, or you can do it online to file any complaints against an officer that you're having issues with.

David Dreyer, 3145 West 4th Street. I guess I'll start out with I don't know Vanderwill.

Sir, it's non-agenda related items.

May I finish?

You're bringing up VanderWaal. That's an agenda-related item.

OK. I don't know a particular individual or company, but I went to a school board meeting one night, and it was stated that 76% of the kids that go to school there are on reduced meals or free meals. And that particular company, any particular company that we've hired in the past, is supposed to help us with good jobs. Why do we have so many kids that are on a reduced meal if we have such good jobs in Waterloo? Something there doesn't calculate it in my old brain. And we have a population static or decreasing. We're the good jobs that are bringing these people to town. We spend a lot of money on recreation to bring people to town. They're not coming. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Anyone else from the audience wish to speak to address any items non-agenda related?

Rene Carson, 1108 Vine. I just want to leave you all with some thinking points. Respect works both ways. And I want you to remember when you point a finger at somebody, there's three pointing back at you. Everyone's voice has powers. Speaking up is how we demand justice, fight for change and our words matter. And we don't want you to be so quick to take offense if somebody gets elevated about how compassionate they are about what they're talking about. It's a way to bring that level down, not to add to it, add the fuel to it. People just want to be heard, not reprimanded, about how they should feel about what they're saying. And when we stay quiet, We give up our power. We let another people decide who we are and our voice deserves to be heard. And I thank you guys for listening to us. And you know, people are just standing up. It doesn't mean we're being rude. It means that we, some people get compassionate about things, you know, some people's voices get elevated and if we can't shoulder that, We're in the wrong. You're on the wrong job because some people going to be elevated. But it's a way to bring that down and not add to the few would, uh, reprimanding them on things of how they should act and stuff. When you're compassionate, you want people to understand how you feel. And we want to make sure that we are being listened to. and i want you to think about this it's not when our voices are raised that you should worry as we when is when we have nothing to say is when you should start to worry and i thank you guys and i thank you for allowing our public comments because we want to see you and speak directly to you so that you can hear us and we thank you for that

And I thank you for coming each week with your positive comments for the council. Anyone else would like to speak? Please approach the podium. State your name, name and address, and you have three minutes.

I'll try to get through it. My name is Rick Young, 3849 Trent Lane. I'm concerned. Planet Zone came out last week, and they had two subdivisions to be approved. They're both owned by the city of Waterloo. Both of them are well under construction. You've been signing contracts and paying contractors. You just added another $98,000 to one of those contracts. I'm very concerned that the city is in the development of residential property and competing with private enterprise. I'm also concerned the city staff doesn't follow the codes. Private developer, I was in the business for many years, my father was, you have to get all your engineering done, decide how the lots are gonna be done, all the engineering, everything done, come to the council, then plan a zone and council, You haven't seen the planning zone results from last week, and you're already under construction. I don't understand who's signing the contract, who's paying for them, but you don't have a business plan on either of those subdivisions I asked, or do you have the numbers on what the estimates are? they add more one by Amesboro and the highway there is federal funds you got that I understand from the mayor you've got money and you got to spend it before the end of December that's why they sped up on that one because it's it's other people's money OPM too but it's federal money the other one is Park which we talked about a little bit I asked Noel last Thursday or Friday for the prices on what they paid, what the contracts are, which apparently must be signed, and I called again today and didn't get a response. Maybe you can get to me sometime here, but I would have estimate you probably have minimum a million dollars for that. You're going to build 17 lots. A million dollars, 17 lots is about $60,000 a lot it's going to cost you. Now Noel said you're going to sell them for $20,000. That's $40,000 a lot you're going to lose, $680,000. And you're going to hear, well, we'll make it up on the taxes. I went to three or four houses in the neighborhood there. Average tax on a house is around $3,000 in that neighborhood. It'll take you around 13 to 15 years Before you even break even on that and if that's economic development for the development department and for the city of Waterloo You got problems the other project. I looked up Southwest industrial park you've got a one I think coming up on that that's the land that's bought highway 20 Ainsborough and Kimball south there Since 2011, you started buying property there with the farmer. And last...

Thank you, sir.

Okay.

And I will ask Noel to reach out to you.

Okay.

Since you said he's not getting back to you, Noel will get back to you or get hold of me if he doesn't. Thank you.

South Waterloo, $9.3 million. Thank you, sir. You own and land there. Haven't sold anything.

Hello Mike moss 5743 blue sage road. I have another. Land use question, I guess more of a procedural question that is educated as. The prior speaker on the process for this, and in an effort not to speak to an agenda item, I'm going to ask a general question. When the city puts out an RFP for an infill lot and other deeds and restrictions go along with that tract, when is that information presented to the council? How do we get that information to you? Out in our neighborhood, we live just south of the uh theme park and as you i don't know this council knows about that but there's a bioswale project that was done 2023 i think it was completed i think maybe started in 2021 i might have my dates wrong on that That was a $1.3 million project that was also a partnership with the DNR. But there's some information that I think the council needs to hear and get to before voting on an infill lot like that as to ownership of it and who owns it. Um, and, uh, I guess I don't know if that gets done during the hearing is my question, or if that's presented to you beforehand, it would be my question and how to get you folks the rest of the information you need to make good decisions on that.

The information will be provided to the council in their packet when that comes for the public hearing and then the public has a right during that public hearing to address any questions that they have at that time.

okay and that and there's also option for that to be tabled during the public hearing yes sir okay okay thank you have a great night anyone else wish to address the council good evening carol chaden 147 summit avenue waterloo

I'm here to request that the city fully staff and fund a functioning human rights commission. There are many unanswered questions to the public. The director was fired months ago without explanation to the public, which I can understand if it's a personnel decision and for legal reasons, you probably can't, but I want you to know the optics are pretty suspect. With such a diverse population that we have here in Waterloo and a history of racial discrimination going back years, I was raised here in the 60s. I remember what happened. It's essential that we do have a functioning Human Rights Commission and not just an office. I was present at a council meeting in late April, I believe, where councilwoman creighton smith as well as deborah berry volunteered and made a plea to be put on a voluntary committee volunteering their time the mayor's response was we'll see i found this to be very dismissive and disrespectful it will not stand with our community There is now only one employee left. Whatever is going on here, I have no clue, which is part of the problem. The optics, again, are horrible. Our community deserves a fully staffed and functioning Human Rights Commission, and we demand that you make it so.

Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else wish to speak?

I'm Jake Rote, residing at 2229 Edgemont Avenue, Apartment 7, Waterloo, Iowa. Here tonight again to remind the City Council about the issues that we're continuing to bring up to your attention. We thank you, City Council members, for meeting with us in the community, answering some of our emails, We would like to see continued communication on our reservations are concerns about the data center coming to Waterloo. We have had a chance to meet with some members from the planning and zoning commission. We are very uplifted at the fact that we see a process that happens to be working. For the most part, very fairly well, there are obviously going to be some improvements later on, but what we continue to want is that. We're asking for a moratorium on data centers coming into Waterloo. And furthermore, we're also asking the Planning and Zoning Commission to table the issue for the current data center going in. So as a reminder, this issue continues to be of concern with us in the community. We thank you for your listening and patronage, but some action, further communication, continued emails, interest, and action are all very thankful and welcome to us, the residents of Waterloo. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Erin Stacy Roberts, 411 Almond Street. Earlier it was said to hold people accountable, and that's what I've been trying to get done for years. In both cases, 9914612, which is out of Urbandale, Iowa, but has ties here. All of the finances was here. My father worked for Deere and Company here, so when I mention it, it's a part of Waterloo. Waterloo has interest in it as much as Urbandale. And as much in a probate case, ESPR 006-003, which is the Marionette Harris estate in which I have been coming to the police as well as county attorneys to look into the fraud that took place. The Independence Police said you both have interests there. And what I've fallen into starts off as benign neglect. And the more I look, the more it grows into like criminal misfits. Malfence. Malfence is the term. Have you heard it before? If not, the spelling is M-A-L-F-E-A-S-A-N-C-E. And that's criminal. And that is when a person neglects to do their duty to investigate criminal activity. And it is a crime. And I've been running into this for the several last police chiefs as well as mayors that I have been to who work for the city of Waterloo. complain about this and what it's turning into is criminal. I mean, it has been criminal, but it needs to end. And a lot of what people are coming up here discussing is criminal, what is going on. It's time for an investigation into the concerns that I'm coming with, not just for me, but for the people of Waterloo. because it's affected so many people other than me and not just in this community that it's too big to cover up. But it is going to have to come a time where it is investigated, where I'm telling you concerns that have been going on and they haven't stopped. They won't stop. The law is, I'm in the Supreme Court right now, an appeals court over the case involving the Marionette Harris estate. It's criminal stuff that's in there. It's not like this has gone away. I'm at the appeals court as we speak, and it's criminal what got me there. And the reason that I'm there the most is that the police failed to act when I said that my aunt was committing fraud, that they had committed fraud on the family. And instead of looking into it and investigating and taking a peep at it, it just let it manifest into where it is now. And I mean, it's just like the FBI Director Comey, who they just recently found guilty and took his pension from being the FBI Director. That's my plans. If I catch a criminal, I'm going to try to get you for everything that's worse. And I mean, not just here, but all the way back to the beginning.

Thank you, sir. Have a good day.

Good evening, Rich Kurtenbach. My other role is Black Rock County Supervisor. I thank you for your help tonight on moving stuff forward. Need an address, sir. Tonight, I'm going to speak to you.

Sir, I need an address.

Oh, Rich Kurtenbach, 238 Normandy Street. Thank you, sir. Tonight, just want to bring your attention again. This time next Monday, we will start the setup for the 20th anniversary of the Iowa Irish Fest. 20 years ago, one of the group that's been there since the very beginning, and helping with the electrics. IBW 288's been volunteering with the electricians for years to make sure that festival works and stays lit through the whole three days. And next week, I just wanted to come up and invite council, all the community, again, to support your community, be part of the Irish Fest, part of the cultural event that we have here. It is very unique. We do have entertainment from around the world. It's something that, behold, I have people coming from out of state coming to be here with us next weekend as well for the event. And it's amazing how many people do come from outside Iowa to this event because of its uniqueness. Please come join us, be part of it, and look forward to seeing more of everybody that can be there. If you see me out, say hi. There's usually a lot of people, and it's hard to see people sometimes when they walk right next to you. But we'd love to have you out there.

Hard for me to see people in that crowd. That being said, sir, how do you volunteer? No, Reggie. How can people volunteer to help out with Irish Fest?

At this point, I'd go to the website for the Iowa Irish Fest. I know we have a few spots still open for volunteers. It's been amazing. We have people that come back year after year to help volunteer and make this festival happen. And right now, Mayor, one thing I say is go to the website and look. There are spots open. Even I have people, friends are calling and asking. It's like, go to the website. Go to the website. That is the quickest way to find out where you can help out.

Thank you. And thanks for your commitment to Irish Fest because it draws 40,000 people into Waterloo in one weekend. Appreciate it. Thank you. Anyone else have any comments to address to the council tonight?

Mr. Mayor?

Mr. Saad.

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

Motion second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carried. Now it's time for council comments. Who would like to speak first? Mr. Morrow, please.

First off, the airport director asked me to read this for him. He had to leave, so I'm doing that at this point. This is a reminder that the Waterloo Regional Airport will be hosting a TSA pre-check enrollment event from July 28th through the 31st. If you've been thinking about enrolling in TSA pre-check, this is a convenient opportunity to complete the enrollment process right here in Waterloo. For appointment information and registration details, visit the City of Waterloo website, the Waterloo Regional Airport website. Then I have one other comment please be different from that. Yeah, I have my ward to meeting this Thursday April July 23rd 5 o'clock in the library in room a if anybody wants to attend That's it So when's your when's your word meet again Thursday, July 23rd 5 o'clock to 645 in the library room a

And then Mr. Salamanca has an award meeting this week.

Yes, I do. I want to make sure I have the right date.

It's Thursday, but I think it starts at 6. Yes. But please, tell us where it's at.

So I'll go right off the bat then. So my meeting will be Ward 5 meetings at Kimball United Methodist Church on July 23rd from 6 to 7 p.m. The focus will be on strengthening Ward 5 specifically on our neighborhood associations and our neighborhood here in the city of Waterloo. In addition to that, I did want to say thank you to Viridian, the vendors, community members, and the Waterloo Center for the Arts for a fun Saturday at Fiesta. There's great food, entertainment, and it was great to see everybody dancing. There's piñata breaking, and there's a lot of smiles, a lot of solid dance moves of those who attended. On a final note, as we move forward on the conversation about data centers, i sincerely want to say and echo that i appreciate the folks who have met with me in person and have been communicating with me via email it means a lot to me and through these conversations i can tell you that it does reinforce the notion of the importance of having a city manager for the city of waterloo to help vet question and answer directly to city council I continue to echo my support for a city manager who will answer to the people and push for positive economic development, empowering all of the citizens of Waterloo. And in other parts of the country, city managers negotiate community benefit agreements, which was something that I know one of the individuals I met with brought up to me specifically, which aims to ensure facilities provide local jobs, civic engagement, and educational investments. So as we move forward, It's time that as a city, we utilize all the tools in our arsenal and at our disposal to make Waterloo and to build a city of the future. So thank you. And if you have any questions, always feel free to email me. Always happy to grab coffee. Always happy to chat. And yeah, I appreciate everyone that's reached out.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Mayor.

It's great. And Smith, thank you. And welcome back.

All right. Yes. Thank you. First of all, I want to MENTIONED THAT AS I WAS WATCHING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, LAST SESSION MR. DARLINGTON STOOD UP AND SHARED THAT HE WAS GIVEN SOME INFORMATION REGARDING BURNS PARK, WHICH WAS NEW TO ME AND TO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I QUESTIONED ABOUT HOW THAT PARK OPERATES AS IT RELATES TO MUSIC BEING PLAYED. And I learned that Mr. Darlington had received or had submitted his application for it. And then his application for Burns Park was denied because he was going to have music playing, which was very unusual. And he was then advised to go to Exchange Park and permitted to play music in Exchange Park. So we have a concern that we need to look into as far as this misinformation because it too has the optics as Ms. Teer shared of some discrimination taking place that we need to look into. While the Human Rights Commission is vital to our community and to the welfare, the justice and fair treatment, equitable treatment of all of its residents, all of our residents, the Human Rights Commission would not be able to file a complaint against the city for that particular behavior. It would have to be taken to the state level, which is, I'm not sure if Mr. Darlington plans to do that. But that information and proof of that information being incorrect, is evident and we will move accordingly. I believe he's working with the NAACP on that. So we need to get that straightened out. He was denied access to Burns Park, told he could not play his music, referred to Exchange Park, which is, I believe, represented there. I think it's in your ward, but anyway, on the north end of town. and told him he could play music there. Either we play music in the parks all over or we don't play music in the parks all over. The second issue I have that I wanted to bring up, I wanted to thank you, Ms. Tera, for sharing that the Human Rights Commission needs to be fully funded with a full staff in place to process complaints to not only process complaints citywide, but to process complaints in those that can be reimbursed from the federal government or the state through EEOC to generate revenue as well is necessary. One of the ways in which we've been able to hold individuals accountable and to receive some sort of recontent is by having the capacity of an executive director an investigator, and an administrative assistant to follow through with that process, which was agreed upon when the Human Rights Commission was established years ago as a result of the hanging of an inmate in the Blackwell County Jail that was actually executed by someone in that particular institution. But anyway, so it's essential, as she mentioned. We will continue to press for that. The community is continuing to raise their voice about that, so you will continue to hear us on that issue. The third issue I have was one that Mr. Darlington shared when he talked about the need for a workshop with the Waterloo Police Department and the way in which our neighbors from other countries are treated when they interface with a Waterloo Police Department. Mr. Darlington, if you're still in the audience, I would like to set up a time where you and I can meet with the chief to talk about how we might make that happen so that even the appearance is not there because we don't want it to appear that one particular group of people are treated differently by our officers. And if it's just one or two that's doing it, then you need to deal with the one or two because I know other officers who would not do such a thing. So we need to have that conversation. and resolve those issues before they become worse and more widespread. He shared an incident with me that took place today. And we need to talk about that, the way in which we relate with those who are paying our salaries. We got to talk about that. And then the other last, there was an individual who talked about the process. And that was the process for properties. I think it was 3939 Trent Lane. and was talking about the need to know when bids are coming out. And I know that it's on the website, but we might have to look, Noel, at doing something a little differently so that everyone has access to that property and opportunities to build infill housing in those properties. Because if we're not getting the message out, then it has the appearance that only a select few are being chosen to build on those properties. And no, the city is not building on those properties. We contract with individuals who come in and build on those properties. So everyone needs to have a fair chance, needs to make sure that they see, get that information, and then can bid on it appropriately. So make sure I've got it all there. And then lastly, our Ward 3 and 4 meeting is postponed or canceled for July. We usually have our meeting at the library in meeting room A and B. Councilor Moore is having his there in July. So we're moving ours to August. And it'll be August, the third Thursday in August, the third Thursday in September, the third Thursday in October at the Waterloo Public Library in meeting rooms A and E. And the upcoming meeting will Jessica Rucker and the team that is working on rental properties, tenants and landlords. will be the topic of that particular meeting. So you don't want to miss it at the library, the third Thursday in August, beginning at 5.15 and concludes at 6.45 p.m. And I think that is all from me. Yay, I'm glad I'm back.

Thank you, ma'am. And Mr. Darlington-DeBott? If you wish to file any type of complaint to the human rights about your treatment, you do, because you're alleging the treatment with the city of Waterloo, have to file that with the state of Iowa. The state mandates that the city cannot investigate themselves. So you'll have to go forward with any filings with the state of Iowa.

Ms. Berry. I thank Dr. Belinda Creighton-Smith for being back, Councilwoman Smith. Many of the things I wanted to just touch on, she has already, so I won't repeat anything. But for me, I just want to say, just to remind people, we live in a diverse community, Chief. And we've got people from all over the world here in Waterloo, and I'm really proud to be here. And as I listen to Darlington come, who is a commissioner on the human rights, are you commissioner? Okay, who is a commissioner? I just see that the light that's generally in his eye is diminishing because of the treatment and it makes me sad to that. You are feeling that way. But as, um, supervisor curtain back. talked about the Irish Fest that's coming. So we've got just a diverse community with a lot of different people. And I know sometimes there's a feeling of xenophobia, you know, if you don't look like me, I don't want to, you know, I don't want to get too close, but we learn from each other. So I just want to encourage you all to just, you know, be your brother's keeper, you know, talk to, get to know People that were not familiar with that we might not have a relationship with but it's just important that that Everyone in this city. We're all taxpayers. And so we all have rights to A good quality of life and again, I wanted to come back on the City Council. Hopefully I can be as well as others just to be a more A positive force to want to unite our community and make this the best community best city in the state of Iowa. And I believe that can happen, but we do have to address the issues that people are feeling council men and women. We have to do that. So I just wanted to leave you all with that. And again. Um, come to each of our meetings here that your opportunity to talk and to hear from us and to state your feelings. But again, I think you, uh, Councilman mentioned once before that, you know, we're human just the show respect. a little mercy a little um love of compassion or grace if you will because you may not agree with everything that barry says but believe me i want the same same thing that you guys you want excuse me so let's just make our community a great community i i just want to say that i don't i'm just tired of feeling a heaviness because there's these pockets of You know, concerns people have and and I just appreciate forest and Mr dryer and all you guys and Rick young. It's so good to see you back there. I remember you from many years ago, but I, I'll shut up everybody, but it's just, I just so vested in our community. And we just have a lot of great history here. So let's remember that. And then to you, Ms. Renee Carlson, who always wrap it up. And I know the mayor enjoys the words you say, too. So thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, everybody.

Anyone else from the council? Mr. Mayor. Mr. Simon.

First off, I wanted to congratulate the Convention Center on the Comic Con, the Conquest that they had. That was fun to see. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope some people got to get out there. And hopefully it was a success and it comes back. Also looking forward to the Irish Fest. That's a great thing for the community. If you have not attended, please do. And then to touch on a few things, the, I think the people that that led the Burns Park data center conversation we had, I enjoyed being there. It was. uh mr martin and mr schmidt joined me and a lot of great questions and people were there in the park asking questions um the 657a projects that were mentioned uh we there are a few conversations going on about how we can expedite those i'm hoping we can get some answers there noel's been working with us and other people in the city and we are just like you we do not like to see the eyesores and we do not like to see the problems that it takes to transfer these properties uh just let you know we're working on it um i encourage people to get out to the national night out that's coming up that might be before our next meeting as well get out to your neighborhoods mingle with people there's usually good food i think a lot of the city council tries to attend them so it's a good time hopefully the weather's great And last but not least, you can always reach out to me on my website. I will be at Irish Fest as well. And I want to thank everybody for working with us at the city level. So thank you.

Anyone else? Mr. Simon. I'd like to make a motion to adjourn, please. Second. Motion to second. All in favor?

Aye. Opposed?

Same sign. We are adjourned.

Thank you for coming tonight, folks.