The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Packet - 10/16/2023CITY OF %�64TERLOO IOWA THE CITY COUNCIL OF WATERLOO, IOWA WORK SESSION TO BE HELD AT Harold E. Getty Council Chambers Monday, October 16, 2023 4:25 PM RULES FOR WORK SESSION PUBLIC COMMENT Iowa Code Chapter 21 gives the public the right to attend council meetings, but it does not require cities to allow public participation except during public hearings.The city council shall not receive any public comment during a work session. Roll Call Agenda, as proposed or amended Approval of Minutes Minutes of October 2, 2023, as proposed. 4:25 p.m. 4:40 p.m. Discussion of an amendment to the snow removal ordinance. Submitted by: Martin Petersen, City Attorney Update from University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy and Environmental Education. Submitted by: Mayor Hart ADJOURNMENT Kelley Felchle City Clerk Page 1 of 17 October 2, 2023 COUNCIL WORK SESSION Harold E. Getty Council Chambers Roll CaII. Members present: Mayor Pro Tem Feuss in the Chair. Members present: Mr. Boesen, Mr. Nichols, Ms. Creighton -Smith, Mr. Chiles, Mr. Grieder. Absent: Ms. Wilder. Agenda, as proposed or amended. Boesen/Creighton-Smith that the agenda, as proposed, be approved. Voice vote -Ayes: Six. Motion carried. Discussion of Animal Control operations. Shelia Steffen, Public Works Coordinator, provided an overview of the animal control program. She explained that the contract for animal control services is up for renewal and they are currently in talks with Cedar Falls. The proposed base contract with Cedar Falls is $500,000 annually plus calls for service. City council discussed the proposed animal control contract changes with Shelia Steffen. ADJOURNMENT Chiles/Boesen that the council adjourn at 5:27 p.m. Voice vote -Ayes: Six. Motion Carried. Kelley Felchle City Clerk Page 1 of 1 Page 2 of 17 7-1-2: PROHIBITED ACTS AND CONDITIONS: B. Snow And Ice Removal: 1. Transfer Of Snow And Ice From Private Property: No person shall transfer or cause to be transferred any snow or ice from private property onto public property in the city. 2. Removal From Sidewalks: It shall be the responsibility of the abutting property owner(s) to remove accumulations of two inches (2") or more of snow and ice from the sidewalks as follows:: a. Within twenty four (24) hours in_ downtown, business districts, or a three (3) block radius of schools and hospitals arras. b. Within forty eight (48) hours in residential neighborhoods. c. If additional snow events occur. the time frame commencing from the original snowfall will not reset. another snow event occurs, the timc framc will not be reset. 3.d. Removal Not Reasonable: In the event that snow or ice cannot be reasonably removed, the owner will put on the sidewalk, sand or other abrasive material in such an amount and manner to make foot traffic reasonably safe. The owner will maintain that condition until the weather permits the removal of the snow or ice. 3. Downtown Business District- Removal from Sidewalks: It shall be the responsibility of the abutting business and/or owner(s) of property located in the Downtown Business District to remove accumulations of two inches (2") or more of snow and ice from sidewalks as follows: a. Within twenty four (24) hours. b. The use of salt, sand or a combination thereof must be used to make foot traffic reasonably safe. c. If additional snow events occur, the time frame commencing from the original snowfall will not reset. d. Sidewalks must be cleared the entire length and width of the property. e. Snow must be cleared from the building to two feet past the curb and placed in the parking area, not in the traveled portion of the roadway, for removal by city crews. Page 3 of 17 Page 4 of 17 ■ Page 6 of 17 Establishing Highland Park Community Garden Made Possible By: • Black Hawk County Public Health • University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) • City of Waterloo — Parks Division • Highland Neighborhood Association Page 7 of 17 Finding a Park — October 2022 • City of Waterloo sent maps of potential parks. For longevity and sustainability purposes, we were looking for one which the city was not planning to sell to a developer. Below are the parks they suggested. Garden Plots City of Waterloo 0 25 50 75 100 Feet ..r L 1 L 2.05 Acres LL J skAU S RD Prairie Grove Park Garden Plots Cif Li of Waterloo 0 40 80 120 160 Feet Triangle Park Garden Plots City of Waterloo 0 50 100 150 200 Feel Map of Galloway Park Map of Prairie Grove Park Map of Triangle Park Page 8 of 17 Selection of Highland Park Maynard Ave Falc hwe • Galloway Park * Highland Park su,.ry aid. Go 11 Olympic Dr 6 Caunlry Clob NV 5311 Ma r.an t}r $31.1Marnan 0 Prairie Grove Park E Shau5s lid South HiIL Gar Co or.• • Triangle Park IY.Yrtd Walsrpork Source: USDA Economic Research Service, ESRI, For more In#amafl .: httpslMnuw.era,psda.goMldata-producis/food-access.research-atiashlocumentatlon • Highlighted are Low Income and Low Food Access Areas of Waterloo. The city's park recommendations were not located in high priority areas. Instead, Highland Park was identified as a better location that would be accessible to priority populations. Page 9 of 17 Highland Park • We reviewed the city's ideas and came back with a proposal to start our community garden at Highland Park. This location seemed to be the best based on the needs of the communities we were aiming to serve. The city approved us to break ground at Highland Park. There were 48 plots which were 20ft x 20ft each. The collaboration between UNI, City of Waterloo Park Division, Black Hawk County Health Department, and Highland Neighborhood Association has led to the development of Highland Park Community Gardens. Page 10 of 17 Recruiting Gardeners —March 2023 • Community Health Workers (CHWs) and other staff at Black Hawk County Public Health (BHCPH) worked with their respective communities (Spanish, Congolese, Burmese) and the Highland Neighborhood Association to recruit gardeners who would like to rent a plot for the 2023 season. An BHCPH intern developed marketing materials. They were translated and then posted on BHCPH social media, as well as distributed to establishments within a 2-mile radius of Highland Park. All 48 plots were reserved! Apply for a Garden Plot! 1 Pet Highland Community Garden Apply by April 27th • b30 rent for one season • S20 refundable cleanup deposit • Limited plots available Questions? Email Kathryn kgllbery@o blackhavamountyiowa_gov Marketing Materials - English Do you want to grow your own food or flowers? 20x20ft garden plots are available on a first come first serve basis. The plots are at Highland Park, located on the north end of Vine St. and Dietrick St. in Waterloo. N,7on LWla, tong Jr LY OHighland Park Vine Prospect Ave Highland Square Park paaVIytapv¢ 5 Apply by April 27th! NINIV Prosper Ave Iowa Department of Health and Human. Ave Expo Altemative HI•h School • $30 rent for one season - includes tilling and mowing • $20 refundable cleanup deposit Questions? Email Kathryn kgil bery@blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov 9 Inimeneence Scan for garden application and rules Solicite un terreno para Cocechar! Jardin Comunitario Apliqua paro el 27 de Abril 2023 • 330 de rento por io temporada • E20 de deposit° par° lirnpiex° quo puede ser reernbosable • Terraces limitados! Preguntos? Contacte a Adriano 319-292-2285 a cel 319-404-27S1 Marketing Materials - Spanish Te gusta crecer to propia comida, plantas o flores? Estamos ofreciendo terrenos de 20 por 20 pies en la area de Highland. Hay un costo de $30 por rentar el terreno y $20 de deposito. Contacte a Adriana para la aplicacion se entrega al Departamento de salud 1407 Independence Ave Quinto piso. AHighland Pare Vine St Prospect Ave High/and Square Park La fecha del plazo pares inscribrirse es el 27 de Abri! 2023. w Proepg7gve Iowa Department p¢aVIstaAve of Heatth and Human.. para mess information: 319-292-2285 Irder•,n!ence Ave 3 so Alternative ' h School Jit 9 adepmArcek Escanear pare la aplicacion y las reglas El El iEl - - Papa 1.1 of 17 Demographics • Of the 48 plots that were available for rent, 24 were managed by Congolese families, 1 Liberian family, 5 Burmese families, 4 Hispanic families, 4 African American families, and 10 White families. Below is a map of where the gardeners live. • An unexpected benefit of Highland's location was proximity to Martin Luther King Drive which is en route to Tyson Meats, the workplace for almost all of the Congolese gardeners, therefore even though most of the Congolese live on the opposite side of the river, the garden is easily accessible for them to visit before or after work. Sans Saud island !1 111�1��■�i r =Itt t .r, li••' r i■ uiui1_ INeen4!1113 . IIiIIIiai :9 IPP1116111' 4r . W R[dg.a,9 9 ii*"11411�IIIIft W San hSarnosi [ [:urmld Highland Park Community Garden City Zip Code Waterloo 50703 9 42.59245,-92.31091 4,-% gth r i Independence Aue _ Independ'e Ave • }r •J� -ht,tcEreri,1ve 9 E Rrd0evvay A•�. y 9 E , 9 Laf¢yP�P j:, l _ 2J {? n' C Cnueld 4144in Luthrir;,E. Jr r Q,6 GgGE p.y 4r4e�1E Rd Evansdale Page 12 of 17 Infrastructure and Supplies • Originally, the only source of water for gardeners to use on their plots was from a nearby fire hydrant. A water spigot was later installed, as well as chicken wire fencing around the perimeter of the garden. The posts and fencing were donated along with other supplies such as a wheelbarrow, shovels, rakes, hoses, and watering cans. 2023 Growing Season • The gardeners were provided most of the basics - land, water, mulch, tools, etc. By June 2023, all plots had been planted and were being well taken care of. The Highland Garden management team met to seek input from gardeners about the need for a tool shed. We learned a lot from this first season of operation and plan to enhance services to the gardeners in the coming years. Page 14 of 17 Highland Park Community Garden —Takeaways • Partnerships: This project would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts from the City of Waterloo, UNI CEE staff, BHCPH staff, and the Highland Neighborhood Association. • Success: The gardeners were thrilled to have a space to come and plant a garden, and there is a great need for more plots — both at Highland Park and elsewhere. We would like to expand this model to other parks in Waterloo. There are also growers who wish to scale up and are interested in incubator farming • Improvements: Theft and deer posed some challenges for gardeners this season. Plans for fencing, signage, and larger plots for immigrant farmers are in the works. Highland Park Community Garden These plots are rented by community members. If you did not plant it, please to not harvest it. "I Jardin de Highland Estas parcelas son rentadas por miembros de la comunidad. Si usted no lo planto por favor no lo coseche. Highland Park Community Garden "Il Ces jardins sont loues par les Membres de la communaute. S'il vous plait, ne le recoltez pas si vous n'avez pas planter! ill Page 15 of 17 Highland Park Community Garden —Next steps • For next growing season, we plan to expand the Highland Community Garden by adding additional standard size plots, as well as larger plots. The yellow square below marks the current size of the HPCG. The neighborhood association and Leisure Services have approved a request to expand the garden further to the right in the picture below. Community Garden '12,600 sq ft. Page 16 of 17 Looking to the Future • The success of Highland Park Community Garden this year proved that community gardens can be successfully implemented in Waterloo with our current partnerships. A second garden would provide access to more people, especially those with transportation barriers that prevent them from getting to Highland. Education on organic growing practices relevant to the Iowa climate and how to connect with local grocery stores will increase the productivity of immigrant gardeners and the opportunity to begin selling to local buyers. • Pictured are 15 of the 22 Congolese gardeners who had plots at Highland this year and BHCPH community program coordinator (center) and Congolese community health worker (three from the right) Page 17 of 17