Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cedar Falls council adopts five-year capital improvement plan; trails group pledges funds for Prairie Lakes repave
Summary
The Cedar Falls City Council adopted a five-year capital improvements program that lists roughly 30 parks, trails and sidewalks projects; the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership pledged about $30,000 toward repaving the Prairie Lakes trail.
The Cedar Falls City Council on Tuesday adopted a five-year Capital Improvements Program that lays out projects across streets, parks, trails and utilities and will inform the FY2026 budget process.
The plan, presented by Director of Public Works and Parks Jen Rodenbeck, lists 214 projects with a cumulative cost described in the packet as "over $4.73 million" and includes items programmed across five years; projects identified for FY2026 will be folded into next year’s budget for further review and possible adjustments.
Roddenbeck told the council the CIP is a planning document that guides staff and that “most of the items will come back before council in some kind of fashion.” She said the city’s goal in developing the plan is to minimize property tax impact while advancing infrastructure and quality-of-life projects.
At public comment, Roger White, a member of the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission and the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership board, urged adoption and singled out the Prairie Lakes trail reconstruction project (listed as item 114 in the CIP). White said the trail’s asphalt has been damaged by tree roots and that the partnership has pledged at least $20,000 and—based on current fundraising—“closer to $30,000” toward the project.
White said the partnership’s funds and other outside contributions reduce the amount the city must cover. Council members noted that staff will return with budget numbers and, if needed, options to trim the CIP before finalizing the property tax levy for FY2026. Rodenbeck said the budget process will include a committee meeting in February and at least two public hearings in April before certification on or about April 30.
Councilors discussed the CIP as a prioritized list and asked staff to identify candidate projects to cut if overall budget pressures force reductions. The council adopted the CIP by roll call vote; the clerk recorded “all members voting aye.”
The council also approved a separate annual reimbursement resolution that preserves the city’s option to reimburse project costs with future bond proceeds if the city pays expenses before a bond sale.
Ending: Rodenbeck said the adopted CIP will be posted on the city website after adoption and reiterated that individual projects will return for more detailed council review as they move from planning into design and construction.
