City Council

Contact all council members at citycouncil@cedarfalls.com . 2022 Cedar Falls City Council

The Cedar Falls City Council meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 220 Clay Street, Cedar Falls.

Mayor Rob Green 319-243-5632 1st Ward Gil Schultz 319-268-1402 2nd Ward Susan deBuhr 319-240-1202 3rd Ward Daryl Kruse 319-240-0880 4th Ward Simon Harding 319-346-6695 5th Ward Dustin Ganfield 319-553-6899 At Large Kelly Dunn 319-215-6891 At Large Dave Sires 319-231-1569

All City Council serve for a four-year term; the Mayor serves a two-year term.

Snow Removal Operation Reminders

Winter is here and we are experiencing the challenges of driving on snow and ice. City, county and state agencies all have their own unique set of challenges when dealing with snow removal operations. Business owners and retail centers typically have contractors or in-house staff who perform snow removal. From the state level, all the way down to individual property owners who experience clearing their driveways and sidewalks, cooperation is key to achieve the overall goal of creating a safe environment for motorists and pedestrians.

Here are some reminders to assist in achieving this goal: • It is a violation of city ordinance to shovel, blow, or plow

snow into a street. It is hazardous for motorists that encounter large amounts of snow deposited in the street from a private driveway. Your help to prevent this situation is greatly appreciated. • Plows will clear snow as close and as safely as possible along the curb. Mailboxes may become blocked by snow buildup as winter weather events progress. It is the responsibility of the

homeowner or mail recipient to maintain access to the mailboxes.

• In the event of a winter storm, major streets will be cleared of snow as soon as possible. Major streets are defined as arterial streets and collector streets leading to arterials. The time necessary to clear arterials varies from one event to the next depending on the severity of the storm. Motorists are reminded to exercise

caution and drive appropriately for the road conditions.

• Clearing of residential streets begins upon completion of arterial and collector streets. Residents are asked to seek off-street

parking whenever possible during a snow event. This measure will increase plow operation efficiency and reduce the potential of parked cars being plowed in.

• Be a good neighbor and shovel your sidewalk to make it safe for pedestrian travel. Remember, property owners are responsible for removing the snow accumulation from sidewalks adjacent to their property. Snow should be removed from the sidewalk within

a reasonable amount of time following a weather event.

For more information related to snow and ice control please feel free to call the Public Works Department at 319-273-8629.

Enjoying Recreation Trails During Winter

When the snow begins to fall, Cedar Falls becomes a dazzling winter getaway. It’s a great time to invite family and friends for a weekend visit. You can all hit the trails with skis, snowshoes, or even your fat bikes. Ready to enjoy cross-country skiing? Enjoy the peace that comes from cross-country skiing on the wooded Cedar Valley trails. George Wyth State Park is groomed to support both classical skiing and skate skiing. Need to rent skis? UNI Recreation Services can help. You can find information on lessons and the latest skiing conditions in the area from the Cedar Valley Nordic Skiing page on Facebook. Take a more leisurely pace on the trails with snowshoes, or make it challenging on the hills within the Hartman Reserve Nature Center. Want to give it a try? Hartman Reserve Nature Center and UNI Recreation Services rent snowshoes.

Biking doesn’t have to stop with the snow! Head out on more than 100 miles of snowy paved and soft trails on your fat bike. While rentals are not available, you can stop into our local bike shops to check out their selections of fat bikes and cold weather gear available for purchase.

If you are looking to use cleared trails, the following are cleared after a snow event:

• 12th Street, from Birdsall Park to Union Road • Center Street, from Clair Street to Lone Tree Road • Lone Tree Road, from Center Street to Hiawatha Road • Trail connecting Pfeiffer Park to Waterloo Road • Trail from Center Street Bridge to Main Street Bridge • University Avenue from east city limit to College Street • Hudson Road From 1st Street to 19th Street connecting to UNI trail • Greenhill Road From 27th Street to east city limits • Union Road from 1st Street to 12th Street • 1st Street from Union Road to Hudson Road • Main Street from University to Paw Park When it’s time to warm up, there is plenty to do, see, and eat! The Downtown District is home to more than 30 unique and locally-owned shops and the eateries are superb. Keep everyone entertained by making time for an evening show at one of the local theaters or take the sports fans to a UNI athletic event. It doesn’t matter whether you visit on a Thursday or a Saturday, when you’re in Cedar Falls, it feels like the weekend. Find all the inspiration and details you’ll need at cedarfallstourism.org/blog/.

As we deal with winter weather and the dangers associated with it, the Cedar Falls Police Division would again like to remind motorist to exercise maximum caution. We have all seen cars in ditches and medians resulting from winter driving hazards; following some simple guidelines can help us all avoid being in one of them. • The best practice for bad winter weather is not to drive at all, or at least wait until snow plows and trucks have cleared the roads. • Decrease your speed and leave plenty of room to stop. Drive with adequate distance between you and the car in front of you. • Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels lock, ease off the brake. • Turn on your lights to increase visibility to other motorists. • Keep your lights and windshield clean. Be certain to have windshield washer fluid. • Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads. • Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses, and infrequently traveled roads which freeze first. • Don’t pass snowplows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility. • Know the road conditions. Check the forecast when planning a trip this winter.

Check the following resource:

• Iowa 511 Travel Information: Dial 511 or visit the Iowa Road condition website: https://hb.511ia.org/main.jsf

Vehicle Survival Pack

Be prepared for any conditions and should something happen which leaves you stranded. The following items should be kept in your vehicle: • Shovel • Jumper cables • Bag of salt or cat litter • Tool kit • Flashlight and extra batteries • Reflective triangles and brightly colored cloth • First aid kit • Exterior windshield cleaner • Ice scraper and snowbrush • Wooden stick matches in a waterproof container • Extra blankets • Water • Non-perishable, high-energy foods like unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits, and hard candy.

If You Become Stranded:

• Do not leave your car unless you know exactly where you are, how far it is to possible help, and you’re certain you’ll improve the situation. • Hang a brightly colored cloth from your antenna. • If you are sure the car’s exhaust pipe is not blocked, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour or so depending upon the amount of gas in the tank. • To protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia, use woolen items and blankets. • Keep a window open slightly; heavy snow and ice can seal it shut. • Eat a hard candy to keep your mouth moist. Prior to any trip, drivers should make sure to have a fully charged cell phone in case of an emergency, and be sure to notify family or friends of your travel plans. About 20 million tons of road salt is used every year in the U.S. to keep roads safe during winter. Salt and deicers are also used to keep sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, and streets free of ice. The downside of using these products is they are highly corrosive to cars and infrastructure, toxic to aquatic life and plants, and polluting to water resources. They are also toxic to pets, possibly causing skin irritation, vomiting, and even seizures in Graph from Clean Water Minnesota dogs. In summary, overusing salts and deicers can harm our economy, ecosystems, and health. Please use the tips above to use the minimum amount of salt/deicer needed to get the job done. One teaspoon of salt can make five gallons of water toxic—every teaspoon you reduce counts!