[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6353340,"mediaKeyId","2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1","parentId",2221401,"title","Votes at a glance: Budget amendment, housing authority plan, easement vacation, multiple contracts and ordinances approved","audioSeconds",439,"startMs",2833000,"endMs",3272000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1&start=2833&end=3272","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1/thumbnail_2833000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353340/Waterloo/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Votes-at-a-glance-Budget-amendment-housing-authority-plan-easement-vacation-multiple-contracts-and-ordinances-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353340-5bbb09529ca0382ee3cb86a761e34ac0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403302&Signature=aWejtlOusxqLCJ93wETxJPfnVnkxtgb7jkIvp~45z6R3vqeInQ6ROQyrQjtDNiYPeuc80f-nGi6d0BcDH88PXAfVOUa4YxV4l6cLa2wRDQKxMnfS16jdtcAXeGSwDNn8ZuRi8xjD3lhNb8Jda-x1QDBeaXv8B1ff13abfTv8fnUsMntdvVvSkxca3JiNHc4lzesW~slPMdveE2Zh--BX0aHoZy2hxXCDhUCQPJ-9vx6ExD4ovWCwxoFfPUC8jx7gjJkPNsp6B7m04y9knnhnCSB2VyqOG~EE0XRT2bUO1mhywdGu0oyHHHzB~3ryatj1HlxnJ0TvZuXRTHu1x7LuEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Waterloo","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","Key actions the Waterloo City Council approved at its Feb. 3 meeting (summary of motions, outcomes and key details):

1) Fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment: Council opened and closed the hearing and adopted a resolution approving the fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment by roll-call vote. (Motion adopted; roll call recorded unanimous yes.)

2) Five-year capital funds action plan (Housing Authority, FY2024–2028): Council received and filed notice and then adopted a resolution approving the Housing Authority Board’s proposed five-year capital funding recommendations for maintenance and improvement of Ridgeway Towers. (Motion adopted; roll call recorded unanimous yes.)

3) Sunnyside Creek improvements (contract number 1062): Council opened and closed the public hearing, confirmed plan specifications and authorized the project to proceed. Staff read bids; the engineer’s estimate and multiple bids were presented and the council moved to proceed. (Motion adopted; roll call recorded unanimous yes.)

4) Easement vacation at Woodland Knowles addition (227 S. Hackett Road): Council received and filed the notice, conducted hearings and passed an ordinance to vacate two 8-foot public-utility easements for the referenced lots. The council suspended the rules and passed the ordinance on second and third readings during the same meeting. (Ordinance approved on second/third reading; roll-call unanimous yes.)

5) Demolition and site-clearance contracts: Council authorized plans and awarded a set of demolition contracts and site-clearance services. Awards included portions of contract D2025-01-03P (parts awarded to D.W. Zinsser Company Inc. and Lehman Trucking) and contract D2025-01-05P (Lehman Trucking). Council also authorized additional demolition parts and Rackham/asbestos handling as needed. (Resolutions adopted; roll-call unanimous yes on each award.)

6) Demolition RFP awards for WDC properties: The council adopted resolutions to confirm bids and award partial contracts for WDC-owned properties; staff clarified WDC will pay for those demolitions. (Resolutions adopted; roll-call unanimous yes.)

7) Professional-services agreements and licenses: Council approved several professional-services agreements and a licensing agreement including AECOM Technical Services ($97,600; airport airfield pavement maintenance management system project), Anderson Bogart ($17,760; traffic signal post standardization), a licensing agreement with Iowa Northern Railway ($1,500) for LaPorte Road improvements, and the fiber project agreement (see separate article). (Resolutions adopted; roll-call unanimous yes for the items recorded.)

8) Demolition observation and air-quality monitoring at St. Mary’s: Council approved a professional-services agreement with Terracon Consultants Inc. for monitoring; the contract is on an hourly fee schedule (staff estimated it may total about $20,000). (Resolution adopted; roll-call unanimous yes.)

Vote pattern and procedure: For each listed motion the clerk recorded roll-call votes, and members present voted in favor. Where public hearings were required, the council opened and closed the hearings before adopting resolutions or ordinances. Some items were read as consent or bundled with multiple small professional services approvals; council members asked questions before roll-call in some cases.

Ending note: Several items approved were contingent on contractor performance and environmental oversight (notably asbestos handling). Council asked staff to monitor contract expenditures and return with renegotiations if schedule changes or additional crews alter projected costs for the fiber project.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Waterloo City Council Meeting Regular Session - Monday, February 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council opened and closed public hearings and adopted multiple resolutions and ordinances including a fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment, a five-year Housing Authority capital plan for Ridgeway Towers, Sunnyside Creek improvement plans, easement vacation ordinance, several demolition contract awards and professional-services agreements.","taxTitle","Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa","taxId",3694,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6353344,"Council approves $1.57 million professional-services agreement for fiber network construction; members press for cost clarity",526,3805000,4331000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1&start=3805&end=4331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1/thumbnail_3805000.jpg","/articles/6353344/Waterloo/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Council-approves-157-million-professional-services-agreement-for-fiber-network-construction-members-press-for-cost-clarity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353344-f1b7b716f860c70d20a6320a78af92cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403302&Signature=ESfDM7-FLFotzZTxNpTgLr7WLDbzCaDsi46JGGfpzg3CfvpFWeTI-MpLJm~yf1dCVkki2dB0kjl-SH~ewKz9bjtH2JZJ5ZdGSG~j38ErcE-jSpSFbFQ~AGRAJ7Kya~YeWZDG1qkdg5vxGRfDpFp1JLpYUUvioSmvBRKWfEhjvKu~Jyoz907YIg7GhgRuhd9rqFF8mmwvDjhOeSqESYA0YokXN768IKRyC4MP290n6Oa56cutmCF9hUPzuOEQclIC1CbG6Cj8sm6Ixi2jrgOY77h79UjazpjE2JvBRGoUGEpspSkoc2YZ1Kptz3kyTDcQs8OePuwyPXDkMySlyZFcbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Waterloo voted to approve a professional-services agreement for the construction of a fiber-to-the-premise feeder, distribution and backbone network, authorizing a contract in the amount of $1,572,216 for calendar-year 2025 project management.

Council discussion: Council members pressed staff on the monthly cost and potential variability if the city accelerates construction by adding crews. A council member cited a monthly management figure of roughly $131,000 and asked whether the $51,794-per-month line-item for project management and inspections would rise if additional crews were added. Staff confirmed that accelerating the work and adding crews would likely require additional inspectors and could increase the monthly fee; such changes would return to council for approval.

Project status and budget: Waterloo Fiber general manager Eric Logie and consultants said the project is in its second year of construction. Staff reported cost savings from compressing the schedule and favorable performance by boring crews, and stated the project was “over $3,000,000 under budget” and, when including the contingency, “about $11,000,000 under the budget.” Entrust (consultant) performed an analysis that staff said showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential cost savings from schedule compression.

Why it matters: The professional-services agreement covers design, engineering and construction inspection work that the city says is necessary to support safe, on-time fiber construction. Council sought assurances about how variable charges would be managed if the contractor adds crews to accelerate work.

Council action: The resolution approving the professional-services agreement (vendor listed in meeting record as “Interest of Warrenville, Illinois,” amount $1,572,216) passed by roll-call vote with all present voting yes. Staff said increases tied to additional crews or schedule changes would require renegotiation and council approval.

Ending: Council members asked staff to track linear-feet production, inspector-to-crew ratios and to return with cost adjustments if the plan to accelerate operations proceeds. Staff said some acceleration could begin as early as April if staffing and weather permit.","Council approved a $1,572,216 professional-services agreement for construction management on the city’s fiber feeder/distribution backbone; council members pressed staff about monthly management fees, crew counts and potential cost variability.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6353349,"Council approves demolition contracts; St. Mary’s demolition uncovers asbestos, city seeks monitoring services",1140,3289000,4429000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1&start=3289&end=4429","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1/thumbnail_3289000.jpg","/articles/6353349/Waterloo/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Council-approves-demolition-contracts-St-Marys-demolition-uncovers-asbestos-city-seeks-monitoring-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353349-157537e8dc112d5c60f5a0602818a4e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403302&Signature=CqORPiy4Aer7Tk47fmpajqRLBAD77pJNaNLccdkHE2wf3Q8tTw4CjPVO86RvafFtxbdK5REBCGB3~S-TKcnzLIrDcveQVZlQRuGx9OJYztdnKImh9QgBNmxcb4VO~w-x2I274ZKCVUyOR80x775PCxKVuGsV23tEqJ6oHflHHfup2zUicIoutJdf1JFRDkhJyuIgMY78et8TF~N9kUfZ5HETdy0JQeXaicVNi4EycGUNj9HrGIZywAcGRW2KU8RSlhwabl9RvgOOWsVt2CNKB5TNgWG8yPyPmq2O4G5kCg0fGPPy-wRP~EtHxw2bXRkwJMNetKzxgyzq~2NxRfpDKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Waterloo on Feb. 3 approved several demolition and site-clearance contracts and adopted resolutions to proceed with work that includes both conventional demolition and specialized asbestos-related abatement.

Waterloo Development Corporation (WDC) properties: City staff clarified that WDC owns several properties scheduled for demolition and that the city’s prior agreement is for the city to administer demolition contracts while WDC pays the costs. Eric Schrader, city planner, said the WDC-paid projects include three properties; two were already under contract and the third had delayed because of additional issues.

Bid awards and contracts: Council adopted resolutions awarding portions of contract D2025-01-03P. The council approved awarding part of the work to D.W. Zinsser Company Inc. (Walford, Iowa) for $125,000 (part 1, property at 118 Sycamore Street) and awarding part to Lehman Trucking & Excavating (Waterloo) for $29,164 (part 2, properties at 309 East Second Street and 1103 Commercial Street). Separately, for contract D2025-01-05P the council awarded Lehman Trucking & Excavating $67,341 to perform demolition and site-clearance work at multiple properties including 1335 Mulberry Street and 720 Lincoln Street.

Asbestos discovered at St. Mary’s site; monitoring service authorized: While staff had performed prior asbestos testing, demolition at the St. Mary’s church and school site uncovered additional asbestos-containing materials that testing had not identified. City Planner Eric Schrader and staff said the discovery required additional oversight. Council authorized a professional services agreement with Terracon Consultants Inc. (Cedar Falls) to provide demolition observation and air-quality monitoring related to the St. Mary’s and St. Mary’s Villa demolition projects; the agreement uses an hourly fee schedule and staff estimated the monitoring cost will likely be “in the range of $20,000” though the contract is fee-based rather than a fixed lump sum.

Funding and landfill handling: Staff noted that when material is handled as asbestos-containing (referred to in the meeting as Rackham handling), landfill charges and handling requirements are higher; the observation contract is intended to ensure materials are classified and handled correctly so the city does not incur unnecessary higher costs. Most of the demolition and change orders discussed for the St. Mary’s site are expected to be paid from HUD community-development funds and other grants; a portion of the monitoring fee was described as likely to come from an alternate funding source because HUD funds have limitations.

Why it matters: The discovery of concealed asbestos has delayed work and increased the complexity and cost of demolition. Council action authorizes both the continuation of demolition work on WDC properties and targeted monitoring to ensure compliance with environmental and public-health requirements.

Council votes: The resolutions for the demolition contracts and for the monitoring services passed by roll-call votes; council members present voted in favor of the measures in each instance.

Ending: Staff said they will continue coordination with state environmental regulators and the HUD-administered funding programs while demolition and abatement proceed. Council members asked staff to track costs and consider contractor responsibility where prior testing appears to have missed hazardous material.","The council approved multiple demolition and site-clearance contracts, including work paid for by the Waterloo Development Corporation, and authorized professional monitoring after asbestos was discovered at the Saint Mary’s demolition site.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6353354,"Neighbors oppose proposed service road through Merriam’s Park near new Waterloo high school",565,2087000,2652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1&start=2087&end=2652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1/thumbnail_2087000.jpg","/articles/6353354/Waterloo/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Neighbors-oppose-proposed-service-road-through-Merriams-Park-near-new-Waterloo-high-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353354-0e294a2b41bd9ee5270706726e5d13e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403302&Signature=id~X9lIhtaXAVl~O2MTxB-mrH4XLfBBg0-5py7UGbOph-EeFs2aqE0t9sqastPC2fTF7NJEUyR~Yjb2CS4Av54p~c1vn3pULtA7f2nNNXwlWcZtKLghAM7E3dnKS~IQ3K4GjHL8NQYRHkYJ9x3wGgvhqNhFpS1kFiHs27yvn6YANJP~bbDTBH-o1UYAIV11P7Tv46DvHaW6Mf2ykEOuNkHTcU0T9fDUeDkX~BFvkke-2m-0entZapIEqLtdcV~BRapyN9KWXLBoR5PE28jZKsdMpSFbKA0-Ub1AUwu9PiTIh8nB-hpeKE7JCu~BDgsem70LkFLBvFiSlWqLqt6r4Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 3 meeting, multiple residents urged the city council to reject a plan that would route a service road through Merriam’s Park and transfer 5.2 acres for a school project.

Lori Wright, who identified herself as a resident of Mark Drive, told the council the park sits adjacent to the new high school site and that a petition opposing the road with “320 signatures” had been delivered to the city clerk’s office. Wright said the park was donated to the park board in 1963 by Aaron Miller as a memorial to his wife Miriam and that the park originally included 17 acres; she warned that allowing the school to take 5.2 acres would leave only “a teeny weeny 2 acres.”

Other nearby residents raised traffic and safety concerns. Dennis Jewell and Connie Rommel described planned nearby housing and a 43-lot development and multiple apartment units on adjacent roads that they said will already increase traffic on Sager Avenue. Mary Jo Jewell said children bike to the park and that parents and grandparents walk there; she said a new road would force small children to cross bus and truck traffic to reach play equipment.

Why it matters: Residents said Merriam’s Park is the only neighborhood green space within walking distance for a growing area and argued that the city should pursue alternate access routes for the school project to avoid losing parkland and mature trees.

Council response and follow-up: A council member representing Wards 1 and 2 offered to meet with neighborhood residents and set up an informal Saturday meeting to discuss alternatives. A Ward 4 council member announced a Ward 4 town hall on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center and noted that a representative involved with a nearby grocery (All In Grocers) may attend. No formal council vote or land-transfer action occurred during the public-comment portion of the meeting.

Ending: Residents left a petition with the clerk and asked the council to review alternatives that would not use parkland. Council members pledged follow-up meetings and said they would continue dialogue with the school district and staff.","Residents presented a 320-signature petition urging council to seek alternatives to a proposed service road and 5.2-acre land transfer from Merriam’s Park to the Waterloo schools, citing traffic, safety and loss of green space.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6353358,"Waterloo leaders swear in 28-member Youth City Council; members highlight mental-health advocacy and ask for city support",794,306000,1100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1&start=306&end=1100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221401-6a4b56c900bcba57cef4f464b49f11e1/thumbnail_306000.jpg","/articles/6353358/Waterloo/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Waterloo-leaders-swear-in-28-member-Youth-City-Council-members-highlight-mental-health-advocacy-and-ask-for-city-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353358-16b2bbe3c8f40215b465a4fabedef90b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403302&Signature=jHis8xQ6y5BkHh-CbWSm6UzVMQrhEwJxm7NS0a9BJlJCXwdw6LwTOCx96ZGdGET5DhWs9C7oQKC7AdYZJ6L19gInqpRDPtFkJnRfdoL3JP3lHz2NGvNCH8~PC2tsO1BX381szRbBY7gjHSKaTOA03RJQnh2QrtaUHGQ2E-6QtSN8j6dSKjmty6m-dFxgtUX1GJxHKFzpwrqzT3MUmL9uYe74I4hRxIAJBNpeZil5uUtAJmjPRi8XpFTlMMUpBTLkzGrC3PA3Lv~l6gk98WKaQnQqr3j~3nrjKpqsH~POvZbRJ6YSosA59YQDzz96t4yZrIxxqES9FgJRz8lle55bwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waterloo City Council on Feb. 3 swore in 28 students as the Waterloo Youth City Council and heard leaders outline the group's work on youth mental-health outreach and advocacy.

The students and their advisers described the council as a seven-year mayoral initiative that represents four area high schools and works on committees, bylaws, volunteer opportunities, scholarships and public education. Carol Luce, who introduced the students as “your Waterloo Youth City Council,” said the group is made up of 28 students from four area high schools and represents the city’s diverse school population.

Luce said the council selected youth mental health as a focus after the COVID-19 pandemic and that members worked for two years to advocate for House File 602, which she said passed and now places information for Your Life Iowa on the back of every high school student ID card. Luce said the program has led to about 3,000 contacts last year and that the bill “helps over 500,000 youth” across the state.

Ritter, a youth council member who addressed the council, said he has served three years on the youth council and reiterated the group’s activities, including taking delegations to Washington, D.C., and presenting at a national mental-health summit. He and Luce invited council members and city staff to attend a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide-prevention training led by the students on Feb. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

Why it matters: The council framed the Youth City Council as an ongoing local program that both trains student leaders and conducts advocacy with state officials. Luce explicitly requested “some sort of financial support from the city,” saying the group receives mainly in-kind support and grant funding and that stable city funding would help sustain the program.

Council response and next steps: Mayor Hart presided over the swearing-in and several council members and staff congratulated the students. Council members noted the size of this year’s cohort and discussed informal offers of help (photography/headshots and outreach). No formal appropriation or motion to fund the youth council was made at the meeting.

Context and background: Luce said the youth council has been active for seven years, has trained more than 75 people in suicide-prevention techniques, and has taken delegations to advocacy events and conferences, including Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas. The group said its marketing committee uses Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and that it will for the first time review scholarship applications for a local award through the Waterloo Community Foundation.

The city council session that included the swearing-in also continued with scheduled business; Luce’s request for direct city funding was recorded as a public plea rather than an agenda item or formal funding request.

Ending: The Youth City Council will host the QPR training Feb. 28 at the Waterloo Center for the Arts; Luce and Ritter asked council members, first responders and community members to attend. No formal city action on funding was taken during the Feb. 3 meeting.","The Waterloo City Council swore in a 28-member Waterloo Youth City Council that described seven years of activity, statewide advocacy on House File 602, upcoming suicide-prevention training and a request for regular city funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Budget amendment, housing authority plan, easement vacation, multiple contracts and ordinances approved

Council approves $1.57 million professional-services agreement for fiber network construction; members press for cost clarity

Council approves demolition contracts; St. Mary’s demolition uncovers asbestos, city seeks monitoring services

Neighbors oppose proposed service road through Merriam’s Park near new Waterloo high school

Waterloo leaders swear in 28-member Youth City Council; members highlight mental-health advocacy and ask for city support