Requested Reversal of Public Comment Position in Waterloo Council Meeting Fails

The Waterloo City Council held their first meeting of the new year on Monday night. However, the first item addressed was not on the agenda. Councilperson Belinda Creighton-Smith requested a reversal in the new change of having the public comment segment moved to the end of the meeting, rather than the beginning.

It was announced last month after the final council meeting of the year, that the public comment portion of the council meeting would be moved from the beginning, to the end of the meeting, after all the council business was completed.  Waterloo Mayor Dave Boesen talked about the meeting that was held that resulted in that decision.

As mentioned, screening by Per Mar Security personnel was positioned outside the council chambers for those planning to be in attendance.  Waterloo Police Chief Rob Duncan further explained the reasoning behind the tighter security measures.

After discussion, the council voted 3-3. Mayor Boesen ruled with no Ward 2 councilperson in place yet, the motion failed. 

In other business, the council also approved a 99-year ground lease agreement with the Waterloo Development Corporation, related to the Hardcourts development.