Flooding Hearst Center 14–15

FEMA Flood Maps Update

The City of Cedar Falls has participated in the FEMA Flood Insurance Program since February 1, 1985. As better flood data and mapping tools become available, FEMA uses the new or revised information to create new maps which are adopted by communities. The most current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) were effective on July 18, 2011.

On March 13, 2019, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and FEMA held an open house at the city’s Public Works building to present a new set of preliminary FIRMs for the City of Cedar Falls. A second meeting was held at City Hall on May 29, 2019. After the May 2019 meeting, errors in mapping for two tributaries of Dry Run Creek were brought to the attention of IDNR, and as a result, DNR hosted online meetings with the affected property owners.

FEMA published a public notice on July 21 and July 28, 2021 which began a 90-day appeal process, the first step toward the new maps becoming effective.

What does this mean for the community? If no new appeals are filed for the preliminary FIRM or FIS, FEMA will issue a Final Letter of Determination on February 16, 2022, and the new FIRM maps will become effective in August 2022.

ECONOMIC DIVERSITY & INCLUSION SUMMIT Friday, October 22, 2021 8 am–2 pm @ Waterloo Convention Center 200 W 4th St. Waterloo

Event Registration Link: https://members.growcedarvalley.com/events/ details/economic-diversity-inclusion-summit-499906 This annual event is hosted by the University of Northern Iowa and Grow Cedar Valley to provide a platform to discuss diversity and inclusion in the Cedar Valley. The keynote Speaker is Sailu Timbo, Vice President for Community & Diversity Relations, HY-Vee, Inc. SHRM Credit available.

Change in CFCF Leadership

In August, the CFCF Board of Director bid farewell to CFCF Executive Director, Cynthia Sweet. Cyndi served as the Executive Director from 2013–2021, leading the Foundation to national accreditation and standardization of processes and procedures. She leaves to accept full-time employment with the Iowa Museum Association, providing professional development, advocacy, and a communication network for hundreds of Iowa museums and historical societies and those who work and volunteer in them.

Welcome Sally!

The CFCF Board of Directors welcomes Sally Kleiss Timmer as the incoming Executive Director. Sally comes to the Foundation from the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, where she has served as the RSVP Coordinator, recruiting, training, and matching volunteers to community needs based on their skills and interests.

2021 Melendy Spirit Award Recipients

The 2021 Community Builder Celebration was held virtually in August. During the Celebration, the Melendy Spirit Award was presented to Rosemary Beach, and a posthumous Melendy Spirit Award was presented to Erasmus Adams, co-founder of Cedar Falls. Accepting on his behalf was his great-great grandson, Paul Adams.

More information is available at www.cf-communityfoundation. org/Awards & Recognition/Melendy Spirit Award/Previous Award Recipients. Community Builder Celebration—Grants Awarded

The Cedar Falls Community Foundation Board of Directors recently approved grants to six area nonprofits totaling $77,227. Applications were accepted April through June, 2021, to the Rownd Trust, the Diamond Arts & History Fund, and the Cedar Falls Enhancement Fund through the Community Foundation’s online application portal at www.cf-communityfoundation.org. Projects receiving funding serve the residents and community of Cedar Falls. The new Cedar Falls High School Indoor Natatorium project was awarded $32,500 from the Rownd Trust. The Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center Renovation and Expansion project was awarded $32,500 from the Rownd Trust. The Cedar Falls Veterans Park project to establish a Gold Star Family Memorial monument in Veterans Park was awarded $5,000. The Cedar Falls Historical Society Ice House Museum Interactive Learning project was awarded $3,100 from the Diamond Art & History Fund. The UNI Foundation was awarded $3,307 to support the project, “Eddie Bowles’s Cedar Falls.” The Cedar Falls Historic Preservation Commission was awarded $820 to repair the Sessions gravestone monument in Fairview Cemetery. More information is available

on these projects at www.cf-communityfoundation.org/About Us/News.

The Community Builder Celebration is available on the Cedar Falls Community Foundation’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

515 Main Street (Farmers State Bank bldg.—By appt.) PO Box 546, Cedar Falls, IA • 319-243-9170 cf-communityfoundation.org Email: cfcf@cfu.net Facebook: CedarFallsCommunityFoundation

2021 Street Construction Project

The 2021 Street Construction project is wrapping up. Stage I of McClain Drive, from Orchard Drive to Lilac Lane; Stage I and II of Brandilynn Boulevard, from the western cul-de-sac towards the east toward McDonalds; and Olive Street, from West 3rd to West 4th Streets have all been fully reconstructed. The full concrete reconstruction along Washington Street, from West 6th to West 8th Streets, was completed just in time—prior to the start of the school year resuming at St. Patrick’s Elementary. This work included modification of the on-street loading zone along Washington Street, into an updated student drop-off slip lane (see image below).

Reconstruction efforts on Stage II of McClain Drive, from Lilac Lane north past the Maplewood Drive intersection, should be nearly completed at this point. In addition, the contractor has completed the restoration work on Tremont Street, Cadillac Drive, Garden Avenue, Iowa Street, 17th Street, Lilac Lane, Calumett Drive, and Pheasant Drive. The concrete patching on Millenium Drive should be nearly completed, and the asphalt restoration efforts on Kaspend Place should also be winding down.

The dry spring weather was helpful in the early stages of construction, but some progress was slowed due to rain in August. The expected construction should be completed going into the winter and seasonal halting of construction efforts. The city is excited to see these street improvements take effect; thank you for everyone’s patience during construction.

Cedar Heights Drive Reconstruction

The Cedar Heights Drive Reconstruction project is underway with crews currently replacing the existing traffic signal at the Cedar Heights Drive and East Greenhill Road intersection, with a multi-lane roundabout as part of Phase I work. As part of construction access, a temporary access road extending from Chadwick Road to Greenhill Road was constructed to provide access to residents and commercial businesses located in the Chadwick Road and Cedar Hill Road area.

The intersection of Cedar Heights Drive and Greenhill Road will be the primary focus in 2021 and early 2022, with traffic on Greenhill Road maintained throughout construction with at least one travel lane in each direction. The roundabout at Greenhill Road will be constructed in halves. Work will include placement of new storm sewer, water main, sanitary sewer, and other underground utilities. Paving operations are scheduled for early September and again in November, depending on weather.

Commercial driveways affected by the project will be incorporated with each stage and alternative access points will be provided. Residential access will be maintained, along with signed business accesses throughout the remainder of construction. Posted detour has been established by use of Viking Road, Prairie Parkway, and University Avenue.

Starting next year the project will continue with the construction of a single lane roundabout at the Cedar Heights Drive and Huntington Road intersection. Below are the limits of construction:

Phase I: Greenhill Road Intersection to Cedar Hill Road: July 2021–May 2022

Phase II: Cedar Hill Road to Viking Road: May 2022–November 2022

During construction, additional information and updates for the Cedar Heights Drive Reconstruction project will be provided on the city’s website. For ongoing, active projects, sign up for e-mail notifications at www.cedarfalls.com/NotifyMe.

If you are looking for ways to manage the runoff from your downspouts, there are several environmentally friendly options, which can help you save money and beautify your landscape. The easiest way to use rain water as a resource is by installing a rain barrel,or a set of rain barrels, by your downspouts. Rain barrels are easy to install, easy to maintain, and provide free water to use for your lawn or garden. If you do not have a garden or lawn to water, installing a rain barrel is still an economic and environmentally friendly thing to do. You can release the water after a storm to help reduce the amount of water going to a creek, lake, or river at the time of the storm. Installing rain barrels also helps reduce erosion issues caused by large amounts of fast water flowing out of your downspouts. Installing rain barrels costs between $30–50.

A second way to use rain water as a resource is by installing a rain garden. Rain gardens are beautiful gardens with a shallow depression where water can pond after a rainfall. They typically contain native flowers and grasses that adapt to wet and dry conditions, but cultivars can be used as well. There is free technical help and some financial assistance to help with the cost of installing a rain garden. Contact the Engineering Division at 319-268-5161 to learn more. If installing rain barrels or a rain garden is not an option for you, consider installing a French drain or tiling your downspouts to release water farther from your home. If you choose this option, be sure to comply with Section 7-197 of the Code of Ordinances which says, “any surface discharge point shall be located no closer than ten feet from any property line.”

Rain garden image from ISWP

Left two images from Dry Run Creek Watershed Project

City Tree Planting

Over the past several years the city has lost a significant amount of tree canopy from wind damage and blight, but most of the loss has been due to emerald ash borer infestation. As of September, most ash trees have been removed from city right of way and parks, with some remaining to be removed from flood buyout lots and the Pheasant Ridge Golf Course. The remainder of city owned ash trees are scheduled to be completely removed by the end of the year. Now the focus is to begin restoring the tree population throughout the city. This fall will be the first opportunity for Parks Division staff to plant trees grown in the new city nursery which was established in the spring of 2020. City staff will team up with the Green Iowa AmeriCorps team to plant approximately 200 trees. In the past, approx. 100 trees were planted per year and sourced from surrounding nurseries. The city owned nursery will now provide the opportunity to plant a larger number of trees each year at a lower cost. Trees will be planted throughout the community on city right of way and in city parks during October and November, weather permitting. Deep fat frying is a popular way to prepare turkey for Thanksgiving and other meals, but oils and other materials—such as grease—can be a big problem if not handled properly. Fats, oils, and grease are very problematic in the sanitary sewer system, and should not be poured down the drain.

How does oil and grease affect the sanitary sewer system?

You may think if it’s flushed down it simply washes away and is gone for good—but that’s not the case. Fats, oils, and grease will build up in pipes and potentially create blockages and plug sewers, leading to problems such as: • Raw sewage backing up into your home, business, or neighboring property • Basement flooding • Exposure to disease-causing organisms • Raw sewage overflowing into parks, yards, streets, and creeks • Increasing operations and maintenance costs to clean and repair damaged sewer pipes. These are unpleasant thoughts, especially during the holiday season. Please be sure these oils are recycled or disposed of properly.

What should you do with your fats, oils, and grease?

• Deep fat frying oil should be cooled and placed in a container that can be taken to the Transfer

Station at East 15th and

State Streets.

• Small volumes of liquid cooking oil can be placed into the garbage as long as it can be absorbed by the other organic materials or paper towels. • Let the grease cool and harden, then scrape it off of trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, grills, and cooking surfaces into the garbage. To help with proper handling, the City of Cedar Falls Transfer Station offers used vegetable oil recycling. Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) recycling includes any type of liquid vegetable oil used for cooking: canola oil, olive oil, etc. The used vegetable oil is converted into a biofuel additive for diesel fuel. Bacon grease or solid cooking grease (like Crisco) is not accepted as part of this collection; those solid types of grease should be disposed of in the regular garbage. The Transfer Station’s winter hours (November–March) are Monday–Friday from 7 am–5 pm and Saturday from 8 am–3 pm. If you have any questions upon arrival an attendant will be glad to assist. Other questions can be addressed by calling Public Works at 319-273-8629.

The Public Works Department uses a fully automated garbage collection system to reduce worker injury and staffing needs. Residents should place carts out to the curb prior to 7 a.m. on their scheduled day of collection and remove carts from curbside by 8 p.m. on collection day. Carts should be placed at the curb, not behind the sidewalk. If a cart becomes damaged and is in need of repair, call the 319-273-8629 to schedule repair or replacement. In order to help ensure collection is safe and efficient, leave 3–4 feet between garbage and yard waste carts and other objects like mailboxes, cars, utility poles, snow banks, etc. If carts are too close to obstacles it slows the collection process down and increases idle time for the trucks, and increases the chance of property being damaged during collection. If you have limited space around your driveway, you might consider leaving room by placing your carts on each side of your driveway.

Please do not overfill carts! The cart lid must be completely closed per city ordinance. Overfull carts can become a nuisance with animals and birds getting into the open cans creating a mess. Extra garbage can be taken to the Transfer Station at 1524 State Street or a bag tag can be purchased for additional garbage.

Dumpster Service Fee Changes

Jan. 1, 2022 a rate increase for 3-cubic yard dumpster service begins: Jan. 1, 2021: $53; Jan. 1, 2022: $71; Jan. 1, 2023: $89; Jan. 1, 2024: $107; Jan. 1, 2025: $125.

Extra Garbage Bag

One extra garbage bag is allowed per household. The bag must have an approved Cedar Falls bag tag attached (30 gallon bag max.). Place the garbage bag—with the bag tag attached so it is visible to the operator—on top of your garbage cart. Bags without an approved bag tag attached will not be picked up.

Bag tags can be purchased at the following locations for $1.25 each:

Transfer Station and Recycling Center— 1524 State St., Cedar Falls Fareway Grocery—214 Magnolia Dr., Cedar Falls Fareway Grocery—4500 S. Main St., Cedar Falls Hy-Vee—6301 University Ave, Cedar Falls Ace Hardware—703 E. 18th St., Cedar Falls

Transfer Station and Recycling Center (1524 State Street)

Winter Hours (November–March)

Do not put cart on a snow bank. Do not put cart behind snow or on the sidewalk.

Instead, try to place the cart at street level.

These carts are too close together. These carts are properly spaced 3–4 ft. apart.

REGULAR DAY RESCHEDULED DAY

Monday, September 6, 2021 . . . . No Yard Waste Collection Thursday, November 25, 2021 . . . Tuesday, November 23, 2021 Friday, November 26, 2021 . . . . . Wednesday, November 24, 2021 Friday, December 24, 2021 . . . . . Thursday, December 23, 2021 Friday, December 31, 2021 . . . . . Thursday, December 30, 2021

Fall/Winter Yard Waste Disposal Options

Cedar Falls Compost Facility—300 block of east Main St.

The Compost Facility is open through the end of November and into the winter months, weather permitting, Monday–Friday from 7:30 am to dusk, and on weekends and holidays from 8 am to dusk. Residents are allowed to bring brush, logs, leaves, garden waste, and grass clippings to this site. Brush and twigs are processed separately from the yard and garden waste. Please be observant and deposit materials accordingly. The Compost Facility is intended for Cedar Falls residential use only. Contractors and non-residents are prohibited from using the facility. Wood mulch and compost is available to Cedar Falls residents during normal operating hours. Residents are required to “load their own” so be sure to bring containers and shovels. Garbage and demolition material is not accepted at this site.

Yard Waste Carts

Yard waste carts are picked up year round on Mondays. December–March yard waste collection is performed on a call-in basis. To schedule a pick up or for additional information regarding yard waste disposal options, call the Public Works Department at 319-273-8629.

Yard waste carts are charged a $5/dump fee in October and November. Yard waste carts are collected as often as possible from November 1–12. Residents must remove carts from the curb no later than 8 pm on the day of collection to prevent unwanted service. Residents are reminded not to overload their carts. Carts have a weight limit of 250 pounds. Please do not put dirt, sod, or ashes in the yard waste carts. Remember to place your yard waste cart at the curb by 7 am and maintain a distance of at least three feet away from other objects.

Mulching

Residents are encouraged to mulch leaves and clippings into the lawn throughout the year. Mulching lawn clippings adds valuable organic matter back into the soil.

Transfer Station

Hours for November–March: Monday–Friday: 7 am–5 pm

Last load taken at 4:45 pm Saturday: 8 am–3 pm Last load taken at 2:45 pm