A public meeting on plans to identify and mark city streets for bicycle routes will be held on September 16, 2008, at 7:00 PM, at Lincoln Elementary School, 321 West 8th Street in Cedar Falls.

The Cedar Falls Bicycle Task Force (appointed by Mayor Jon Crews in July 2007) has contracted with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation to complete the first-ever comprehensive bike plan for Cedar Falls. Towns that complete good bike plans and implement them win safer streets, healthier residents, stronger local economics, and an overall higher quality of life.

Maps of proposed bike lanes on city streets will be there for you and your family to mark and discuss with task force members. The task force wants to know:

     Where you ride to
     How you get there
     Rough, tricky, or downright scary parts of your route 
     Where you wish you could ride to, but cannot. 

Please select the Flood Information link below, under the Services section of the City's web site, or www.cedarfalls.com/flood for all flood-related information. [www.cedarfalls.com/flood]

In order to obtain a permit on flood damaged properties, the owner or contractor will have to fill out a form supplied by the city that will state the total cost to restore the property. On this form they will need to list the cost of the following: building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical. This form will be reviewed by Planning and Zoning for floodplain compliance.

The policy is as follows:

Properties that are in the floodway that sustain less than 50% damage of the assessed value will be able to rebuild at the same location. If they sustain more than 50% damage of the assessed value, no permits will be issued.

Properties that are in the floodplain (floodway fringe) that sustain less than 50% damage of the assessed value will be able to rebuild at the same location.

If they sustain more than 50% damage of the assessed value of the structure, the structure and all plumbing, mechanical and electrical equipment will be required to be elevated to the 100-year flood protection level.

[Application for Flood Repair Permit...]

The City recently created a blog to communicate informally with citizens regarding city issues. The Mayor will post to the blog as topics arise that require additional information. Citizens should feel free to leave comments regarding specific articles posted to the blog. While these comments will not be publicly displayed, they will be received by the Mayor for his review. [Mayor's Blog...]

Readers of the Seattle Times may take time to make a virtual visit to Cedar Falls, IA. If they do, they will find the answers to why Microsoft and other high tech business should locate in Cedar Falls, "A Great Place To Call Home." Iowa lawmakers recently passed a bill exempting Microsoft and other web portal businesses from state sales tax for six years. Local NBC affiliate, KWWL, highlighted the efforts to attract high tech businesses in a news story (best viewed with Windows Media Player) that aired February 21st.

Please visit answercf.com for the questions.

Cedar Falls is the Place