Cedar Falls council approves business park and street projects, signs RAGBRAI agreement; hears hate-incident and Sartori property concerns

The Cedar Falls City Council on Monday approved final plans and funding authorizations for multiple local infrastructure projects, authorized the city’s overnight agreement with the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) and its advisory committee, and took steps on a street reconstruction project — all while hearing public comment about an alleged hate incident at a downtown bar and concerns about the future of the Sartori property at 515 College Street.

Council adopted a resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract and an estimate of cost for the Creekside Business Park project, which includes two roundabouts on West Ridgeway Avenue, a looped Gibson Drive south of Ridgeway, trails and related utilities and landscaping. Tom Bitter of the engineering division said the construction estimate is $9,863,431 and that the project will be funded by the South Cedar Falls tax increment financing district. The resolution passed by roll call.

The council also approved the 2025 sidewalk and trail infill and repair project, a package of sidewalk replacements, ADA ramp work and trail repairs with a construction estimate of $323,704 to be funded by general obligation bonds and hotel-motel tax proceeds. During discussion Roger White, a member of the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership, asked the…