RIVERSIDE

While a kids softball game took place Monday night at Hall Park, Riverside City Council members Kevin Mills and Tom Sexton, along with City Administrator Cole Smith, examined the improvements at the boat ramp leading to the English River.

Trees and brush have been cleared away.

Large rocks were in place on both sides of the bottom part of the ramp.

But both sides of the ramp also had tracks of mud, leaving an incomplete project that led the City Council to tabling a $4,200 change-order payment to Bowker Pinnacle Mechanical of Cedar Rapids during the Council’s meeting Monday.

“We all talked about gravel on both sides of the ramp,” Sexton said during the meeting.

The Council is planning to discuss the boat ramp project again at a work session June 10 and provide more direction on the placing of rock or gravel, when city engineer Brian Boelk of Iowa City-based Axiom Consultants is expected to be present.

The first phase of the project has included removal of some trees and other clearing, installation of a new storm sewer and new signage. A sign, including a credit to the Washington County Riverboat Foundation for funding help, is already up at the boat ramp behind the softball and baseball fields at Hall Park.

The first phase is costing more than $130,000.

Trek Fest

The Council approved street closing requests for this year’s Trek Fest, a three-day celebration of Star Trek that is held in Riverside every June. This year’s Trek Fest is scheduled for June 27-29.

Highway 22 will be closed in downtown Riverside from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, because of the annual Star Trek parade. A portion of Ella Street will be shut down all three days to accommodate a number of activities at Hall Park.

Terry Farrell, a Cedar Rapids native and a featured star on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, will be among the featured guests at Trek Fest. Live music will take place all three nights at Hall Park.

Cherry Lane Extension

The Council will discuss a potential extension of Cherry Lane at its work session June 10.

No action was taken on purchasing a piece of property near Highland Elementary School that would be used to construct an extension of Cherry Lane. City Administrator Cole Smith said he would discuss the planned road extension with Highland Community School officials before next Monday’s work session.

The east-west extension of Cherry Lane would connect Schnoebelen Street and Kloepfer Avenue south of the school to ease traffic and pedestrian concerns.

A proposed purchase agreement of $45,000 with property owners south of the school would clear the way for the city to extend Cherry Lane east and create a four-way stop at Kloepfer Avenue. If not, the extension would be located completely on school property, constructed off center and not include a four-way perpendicular pattern.

The potential project came out of a recommendation by a Riverside residents committee.

Community Center

The Council will continue discussions of a proposed community center at the work session, as well.

A work session in May identified a number of proposed priorities and amenities: Gymnasium, workout and exercise rooms, community room and kitchen, concession area and public computer access rooms for residents.

The community center would be situated to the west of Highland Elementary School and would cost at least $8 million. No formal designs have yet been made. Financial needs will be discussed Monday, including a bond referendum being targeted for November 2025.

A number of public sessions are expected to be set during the planning process.

Council Action

The Council set a public hearing for June 17 to consider the spring amendment of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

The Council tabled a resolution for the $45,000 purchase of property near Highland Elementary.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. June 17. A work session is scheduled for June 10.