HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.09.2022 Special SessionJune 9, 2022
The Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, met in Special Session at the Harold E. Getty Council Chambers, City
Hall, Waterloo, Iowa, at 5:00 p.m., on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Ward 2 Council member Jonathan Grieder in the
Chair. Roll Call: Boesen, Nichols, Chiles, Grieder, and Wilder. Absent: Amos and Feuss
City Clerk Kelley Felchle opened the meeting and asked for a motion from the council to appoint a council
member to serve as Chair in the absence of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.
107425 - Boesen/Wilder
To appoint Mr. Grieder to serve as chair. Voice vote- Ayes: Five. Motion carried.
107426 - Boesen/Chiles
that the Agenda, as proposed, for the Special Session on June 9, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., be accepted and
approved. Voice vote -Ayes: Five. Motion carried.
OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS
1. Discussion on the issue of gun violence and how the community can work to end the challenge.
Mr. Grieder provided an overview of the gun violence factors facing the City of Waterloo. He outlined
the need for establishing a community task force and a youth task force with 1 year, 3 year, and 10
year strategies for helping to curb gun violence by addressing ways it manifests in the community.
Council members shared their views and opinions on the matter.
Kathy Mahoney, 1400 Denver Street, commented that she is a public defender for 25 years, a member
of the NAACP and was recently appointed to the Human Rights Commission. She shared a number
of stories about her clients and spoke on the importance of providing mental health services beyond
incarceration.
Dr. Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye, Black Hawk County Public Health Director, stated that gun violence is
a public health issue, and that prior to the pandemic, Black Hawk County Public Health stated that
racism is a public health issue. She reported that country wide, gun violence costs us $280 billion
annually. We really need to have a countywide approach, and both the health department and the
board of health is ready to move into action. She acknowledged that Mr. Grieder's plan is a great plan
that can move us into action.
Charlene Mishler, 319 Center Street, retired School Bus Monitor. She believes that including the
Waterloo Schools and the Bus Monitors to a task force is important. She has seen more than her share
of violence on the buses. Bus drivers and monitors are the first and last to see the students each day.
Debra Hodges -Harmon, Director of the Jesse Cosby Center, stated that after listening to all of the
aspects and proposals, what touches her heart is that we're just broken. We have a generation of
broken kids, a generation of parents that don't know how to parent and our children are parenting their
parents. It's hard to know where to even begin, and asked everyone to keep in mind that some of this
is just emotional brokenness.
Maxine Tisdale, 438 Cottage Street, commented that her neighborhood is the neighborhood that has
had the gun violence. She said she is tired of hearing gunshots and is tired and ready to go to work to
solve problems.
Michelle Feltes, 209 Mulberry Street, Director of Momentum Urban City Initiative, shared that
Waterloo has been reactive rather than proactive, ever since she moved here and it is critical to reach
the kids. She agrees that the entire community needs to work together.
Mr. Chiles stated that this discussion has been very enlightening. This council is taking this issue very
seriously and this definitely needs to go above and beyond the city level. He would like to see updates
given at each council meeting on what has been accomplished in and around the city so that the word
gets out.
Mr. Grieder commented on what he has witnessed and cannot imagine losing his children, especially
to gun violence. As a teacher, he has 1600 kids the he loves. It is clear with this conversation that the
June 9, 2022 Page 2
citizens are sick and tired of the violence. He thanked the public for attending and invited everyone
to reach out to him with additional suggestions on this issue.
ADJOURNMENT
107427 - Boesen/Wilder
that the Council adjourn at 6:12 p.m. Voice vote -Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
xeOCey FefJite sQ
Kelley Felchle, City Clerk