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Staff updates: fireworks compliance, RAGBRAI hosting and 9-1-1 funding change
Summary
Staff reported largely positive outcomes for Sturgis Falls and city fireworks enforcement, outlined RAGBRAI plans and warned of state changes to 9-1-1 fee distribution that may reduce dispatch funding to the city.
City staff provided several operational updates at the July 7 council meeting:
Fireworks and Sturgis Falls Public safety and public works reported Sturgis Falls went well and thanked volunteers. On permitted consumer fireworks around July 3–5 staff recorded 29 calls for service related to fireworks, issued six citations and found 12 late-night fireworks complaints; there were no reported injuries and one small trash-fire incident. Staff said educational outreach will continue.
RAGBRAI preparations City staff announced Cedar Falls will host RAGBRAI on Thursday, July 24; organizers expect more than 20,000 visitors and more than 300 volunteers are needed. The route will enter West First Street, head south on Union, east on 12th Street, pass Birdsall Park, cross Hudson, go along Main Street under the arch, cross the river and reach the main campground area; several parks (Washington, Pfeiffer, Lookout) will be used as campgrounds. A road-closure map will be posted on the Cedar Falls RAGBRAI website.
9-1-1 funding change Staff warned of a statutory change affecting 9-1-1 fees: the state previously retained a set percentage and distributed the rest to dispatch centers; a recent law allows the state to retain an unspecified larger share of collected fees. The city’s dispatch center historically received about $480,000 per year in 9-1-1 fee allocations for radio-backbone costs; staff said the change creates uncertainty about future state distributions and will reduce the city’s ability to save for future radio replacements (the next radio replacement was planned for 2027). Staff said they will include the matter in the capital-improvements plan and report back as more information becomes available.
