Nominees for Iowa City tax district board announced

IOWA CITY – Below are the names of the nominees for the board of directors that will lead the new self-supported municipal improvement district in downtown Iowa City.

The SSMID, which the City Council approved this month after being petitioned by downtown property owners, will require commercial property owners in the district to pay higher taxes.

The levy will be $2 per $1,000 of taxable value, taking effect in July 2012 and lasting four years. It could be amended or renewed through a similar petition process.

The money will be used to hire a business development manager and assistant manager for the downtown, market the area and undertake beautification projects.

The SSMID board will have 14 to 19 members.

Here are the nominees (note that some people appear in multiple categories):

Property owner (or representative) assessed value greater than $1.4 million (Two available seats)

Kent Jehle, Midwest One Bank

Dean Carrington, Phelan Tucker Law Firm

Scott Cray, Paul Helen Building

Marc Moen, Moen Group

Jim Mondanero, Bread Garden, Joseph's, Givanni's, Mondo's Saloon, Hot House Yoga

Melanie Baker, Sheraton Iowa City

David Barker, Brewery Square

Kevin Digmann, Old Capitol Town Center

Andre Perry, Englert Theatre

Property owner (or representative) assessed value less than $1.4 million (Two available seats)

Mark Ginsberg, MC Ginsberg

Naftaly Stramer, Oasis Falafel

Joe Moreland, Hayek Brown Moreland & Smith

Mark Weaver, Active Endeavors

Benjamin Chait, Chait Galleries Downtown

Scott Kading, Yacht Club/Gabe's

Kevin Perez, Short's Burger & Shine, 18 ½ S. Clinton St., 126 E. Washington St.

Anne Rizzo, 19/21 & 135 S Dubuque, 308 E. Burlington St.

William Nusser, Hands Jewelers

Steve Pajunen, Zephyr Printing & Design

Business owner who leases greater than 3,000 square feet of space (Two available seats)

Kent Jehle, Midwest One Bank

Dean Carrington, Phelan Tucker Law Firm

Mark Ginsberg, MC Ginsberg

Joe Moreland, Hayek Brown Moreland & Smith

George Etre, Iowa City Fitness, Takanami, Formosa

Catherine Champion, Cheap & Chic; Catherine's

Jim Mondanero, Bread Garden, Joseph's, Givanni's, Mondo's Saloon, Hot House Yoga

Benjamin Chait, Chait Galleries Downtown

Melanie Baker, Sheraton Iowa City

Scott Kading, Yacht Club/Gabe's

Kevin Perez, Short's Burger & Shine, 18 ½ S. Clinton St., 126 E. Washington St.

Karen Kubby, Beadology Iowa

William Nusser, Hands Jewelers

Gabe Aguirre, Iowa City Press-Citizen

Business Owner who leases less than 3,000 square feet of space (Two available seats)

Naftaly Stramer, Oasis Falafel

Ritu Jain, Textiles Inc.

Scott Kading, Yacht Club/Gabe's

Veronica Tessler, Yotopia Frozen Yogurt

Kevin Perez, Short's Burger & Shine, 18 ½ S. Clinton St., 126 E. Washington

James Clayton, The Soap Opera

William Nusser, Hands Jewelers

Steve Pajunen, Zephyr Printing & Design

Monique Holtkamp, Sweets and Treats

Sheila Davisson, Revival

Northside Marketplace business (One available Seat)

Naftaly Stramer, Oasis Falafel

Dean Carrington, Phelan Tucker Law Firm

At-large (Four to 10 available seats)

NOTE: All preceding nominees qualify for At-Large consideration in addition to those listed below.

Mike Finlayson, Midwest One Bank

Regenia Bailey, Bailey Leadership Initiative

Lisa Barnes, City of Iowa City's Summer of the Arts

Patty McCarthy, Iowa City Public Library

Steve Wilson, Knutson Construction

Michael Huber, Toyota of Iowa City

Linda Schreiber, Community volunteer