Cedar Falls council approves SMID renewal, pickleball shade structures and other measures; residents back ‘trail town’ resolution

The Cedar Falls City Council on Dec. 2 held a public hearing and unanimously approved, on first consideration, an ordinance to reestablish the College Hill Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SMID) and then approved a package of resolutions and ordinances including a parks partnership to add shade structures at Orchard Hill Park, a temporary lease with Peterson Contractors Inc. and removal of calendar parking on portions of Ellen Street.

The College Hill SMID renewal drew a staff presentation and no public opposition. Director Sheets told the council the petition met the state-code thresholds required for consideration, saying the filing “exceeded that threshold at unique property owners of 33% representing over 45% of the total valuation within the area covered by the SMID.” The proposal would keep the existing special assessment at $2.75 per $1,000 of net taxable valuation annually, effective July 1, 2025, through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030. The ordinance passed on first consideration by roll call; all members voted aye.

The meeting also included public support for a resolution recognizing Cedar Falls as a trail-friendly community and aligning with national routes that cross the city. Larry Buchholz of the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership praised Cedar Falls’ multi-loop network and told council, “Today, it’s a very unique trail system with many loops from 1 mile to 50 miles.” Roger White, a member of the Bicycle-Pedestrian Commission and the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership, urged the council to adopt a trail culture. Quoting material from a webinar, he said, “A trail culture is the 1 thing that is essential to to sustain a quality trail and trail economy over time.” The trail-town resolution (on the council’s…