City of Waterloo Council Work Session and Finance Committee Meeting - Monday, August 17, 2026

The City of Waterloo held a Council Work Session and Finance Committee Meeting on August 17, 2026, focusing primarily on transportation and budget matters. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a proposed microtransit pilot program aimed at improving mobility in underserved areas north of the river and around major employers like Tyson. The program, planned as a three-year pilot, involves grant applications and a budget of approximately $670,000 per year from Waterloo and Cedar Falls, with Met Transit contributing $250,000 annually. The service would be managed initially by a private contractor with the goal of eventual operation by Met Transit. The council also discussed a moratorium resolution on data centers to allow time for further study of their impacts, with plans to vote on the resolution in a future meeting. The Finance Committee approved multiple procurement items including airport runway painting, vehicle repairs, environmental reviews, and equipment purchases totaling several hundred thousand dollars. Travel requests and budget amendments were also approved, including bill payments exceeding $6 million. Overall, the meeting addressed key procurement decisions related to transportation services, infrastructure maintenance, and operational expenses, alongside policy considerations affecting future development.