Public Forum Remains Relatively Quiet at City Council Meeting

By Mi Kayla Whitman

With the new Public Safety Model that has been in the works for the past few years in Cedar Falls, public forums at city council meetings have had a tendency towards controversy. While the discussion didn’t turn too heated on Monday, October 7th, there were still those who wanted to make their grievances known. The meeting began as normal with council members voting on a variety of movements ranging from the installation of cameras and lights in the downtown area, to several Storm Water Maintenance and Repair agreements. After this business was voted on, the floor was opened for public forum

.

With the new Public Safety Model that has been in the works for the past few years in Cedar Falls, public forums at city council meetings have had a tendency towards controversy. While the discussion didn’t turn too heated on Monday, October 7th, there were still those who wanted to make their grievances known. The meeting began as normal with council members voting on a variety of movements ranging from the installation of cameras and lights in the downtown area, to several Storm Water Maintenance and Repair agreements. After this business was voted on, the floor was opened for public forum.

Jim Skaine, a Cedar Falls resident who is running for Mayor, came to the podium to discuss the restoration of University Avenue as a corridor. He argued that the stoplights that were on the once straight-away University Avenue served vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, while the roundabouts only serve vehicles. Along with Ed Oltroff, Skaine pushed for the road to be restored to it’s original design, saying, “Ed Oltroff has proposed and has a detailed analysis for how University Avenue can again be made a corridor, and the cost is not 40 million dollars, it’s less than 6.”

Rosemary Beech brought forth several different ideas for the beautification of Cedar Falls especially around Main Street. With the earlier decision by the council to approve a 35 miles per hour speed limit on Ridgeway Avenue from Hudson Road east to Iowa Highway 58, Beech asked the council to consider also changing the South Main speed limit to 35 miles per hour.

Penny Popp discussed ex parte communication regarding re-zoning cases, saying, “residents must enjoy free and unrestricted access to their city council members,” regarding these issues.

Sharron Reginold, sporting a shirt displaying the phrase, “We’re for more firefighters,” spoke about a courier article from 2018. The article discusses comments about Josh Lux, who reportedly left his position as a firefighter on bad terms. The article continued to describe the investigation against Josh Lux and the allegations against him. Quoting from the previous city council meeting on September 16th, Reginold said, “The city definitely has policy to keep personnel matters confidential.”

She then asked the council, “Don’t you think this is a double standard?”

Mark Miller had his own comments about the PSO model, finding it commendable. He explained that the model allows a mobile firefighting force to reach structures that are on fire before the stationary force can get there. In some cases, as Miller explained, this can be a life-saving difference.

Mark Miller had his own comments about the PSO model, finding it comendable. He explained that the model allows a mobile firefighting force to reach structures that are on fire before the stationary force can get there. In some cases, as Miller explained, this can be a life-saving difference.

Miller was passionate about the new model saying, “I support our firemen, and I wish they would embrace this program.”

Council member Dave Weiland gave comment about the discussion surrounding the PSO model. “There have been a lot of emotional testimonies about the new PSO model,” he said.

Weiland explained that both police officers and firefighters were offered cross training, but only police officers chose to do so. He also told attendees that the city has put 8 years into an investigation of this PSO model, and said, “it is far more effective and efficient than the current model.”

No more members of the public came forward to speak, and so the city council meeting drew to a close.