Cedar Falls council approves demolition and temporary parking at former U.S. Bank site; directs staff on citations and permit proposals

The Cedar Falls City Council Committee of the Whole on May 19 approved demolition and temporary paving of the recently acquired U.S. Bank property, asked staff to develop a permanent surface-lot plan and directed staff to prepare proposals on raising parking citations and permit rates.

The committee voted to proceed with asbestos testing, abatement and putting a temporary paved lot in place this year; staff said demolition would likely follow major summer events with temporary parking available by September. Marcy, a city staff presenter, summarized the options for the council and said, “I’m not looking for any action on this. At this point. We’ll get to that in the second parking discussion.”

Why it matters: city staff and a consultant determined downtown parking occupancy frequently approaches consultant thresholds that signal a need for more supply. The committee’s decisions set in motion short-term actions to add vehicle capacity while preserving council input on a longer-term choice between a surface lot and a parking structure that would carry much larger capital costs.

What council decided and why - U.S. Bank site: The council approved…