Government Notes: Cedar Rapids seeks input on proposal to establish Trap-Neuter-Release program

Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control is seeking public input on recently announced proposed changes to Cedar Rapids’ ordinance would establish a Trap-Neuter-Release program to help control feral cat populations.

According to a news release, the goal of TNR is to reduce the number of nuisance complaints, the number of cats impounded at Animal Care and Control as well as animal euthanasia numbers. Cedar Rapids’ proposal is modeled after research and consultation with other comparable cities’ animal control departments.

Pet owners and those with an interest in the long-term health of Cedar Rapids’ cat population may read the TNR fact sheet and participate in an online survey at cedar-rapids.org/local_government/departments_a_-_f/animal_control/Trap-Neuter-return.php. The survey is available directly at www.surveymonkey.com/r/BNXSNSR.

Cedar Rapids to repeal massage therapy business license ordinance

The Cedar Rapids City Council will vote Tuesday to repeal its massage therapy business license — essentially removing the licensing process from the city ordinance — and replace language with state code after a district-court ruling deemed it unconstitutional.

A district court ruled the ordinance unconstitutional because it exceeds legislative home rule powers and went beyond state law. After studying the court ruling, the Cedar Rapids Police Department and city legal department surveyed other cities’ approaches to the issue including Des Moines and Cedar Falls and incorporated existing state code on the matter, according to council documents.

In a recent council Public Safety and Youth Services Committee, Safe CR Public Safety Program Director Annette Lorenz said the updated ordinance states the city recognizes that “some individuals and businesses may engage in illegal activity including human trafficking and prostitution in connection with and/or under the guise of providing massage therapy services.” The updated ordinance would define that it’s only lawful to perform massage therapy in compliance with Iowa Code.

Lt. Cory McGarvey said there may be an appearance the city doesn’t have tools to fight massage therapy businesses that are operating suspiciously or illegally, but the state Massage Therapy Board can still enforce these things. Human trafficking and kidnapping laws still are in place, he said.

Linn County renters may apply for second Emergency Rental Assistance program

Linn County’s Emergency Rent Assistance Program is now making available financial help for eligible Linn County residents who are falling behind on rent payments.

Through funds received from the Federal Emergency Rent Assistance Program, Linn County will distribute about $3 million of the funds through the rent assistance program and will use the remaining funds to support affordable housing initiatives around Linn County.

With assistance from Waypoint, Linn County will prioritize residents who need assistance for long-term stability in their housing. The program is intended to connect residents to community resources that can address the root causes of housing instability while offering financial assistance to support them through it.

This effort to work with residents holistically will result in longer turnaround times for funding, allowing for Linn County and Waypoint to better provide residents with long-term community supports as well as complete duplication of benefits checks to prevent fraud and waste, according to the news release.

To be eligible for assistance, you must be a renter in Linn County and able to give documentation or self-certify the following:

Homeowners in need of housing or utility assistance may seek support from the Iowa Homeowner Assistance Fund administered through IFA. More information on that program is available at iowafinance.com/ihaf.

To access the program:

Start the process by contacting Waypoint by calling 319-366-7999 or emailing Coordinatedentry2@gmail.com. Waypoint will work with households to determine the next steps.

Depending on the assistance needed in applying, the applicant will either be provided with the link to apply or will schedule a time to apply with a Waypoint staff member. Waypoint staff will work with applicants to complete the application and identify additional referrals to support their overall stability.

If staff determine a household is able to meet their own financial needs, they may instead be referred to wraparound community services instead of financial assistance.

Waypoint will make rent payments directly to the landlords or property managers of successful applicants. These funds must be used to cover past rent payments back to Sept. 1, 2022 first, before tenants receive additional aid to cover up to two months of future payments.

Visit LinnCountyIowa.gov/ERA for more information.

Marion City Council and school board candidate forums set

Ahead of Nov. 7 city and school elections, the Marion Economic Development Corp. and Marion Chamber of Commerce will jointly host candidate forums featuring candidates seeking a seat on the Marion City Council or Linn-Mar and Marion Independent school boards.

The forums will take place from 5-8:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Linn-Mar High School Large Auditorium, 3111 10th St. in Marion. Attendees may enter through Door 1.

The schedule will be as follows:

All Marion City Council races are uncontested. Candidates will share their thoughts and plans for the coming term and answer questions from residents and business leaders. Candidates on the ballot are Mayor Nick AbouAssaly; At Large, Steve Jensen; Ward 1, Gage Miskimen; Ward 2, Grant Harper; Ward 3, Will Brandt.

The first hour of the forum will feature Linn-Mar School Board candidates. Invited candidates include incumbents Barry Buchholz and Brittania Morey as well as Justin Foss, Katie Lowe Lancaster, Tom Law, Kevin Slaman, Laura Steffeck and Jodi Treharne. It will follow a question-and-answer format of predetermined questions.

The Marion Independent School Board candidates also are uncontested. This will be an open house where candidates can share their thoughts and plans for the coming term and answer questions from the community. Invited candidates include incumbents Denise Allison, Jon Fitch and Carl Lantermans as well as Michelle Rains.

Marion City Council advances development moratorium

The Marion City Council last week passed on second consideration a moratorium pausing most new development in the city’s growing commercial districts until Oct. 5, 2024.

The moratorium will temporarily restrict certain commercial uses along parts of Tower Terrace Road, Highway 13 and Uptown Marion as the city studies and plans for the impacts of commercial development in these areas.

No building permits would be issued for a variety of commercial uses for certain properties with business, manufacturing or commercial zonings in these areas:

This temporary restriction takes effect as the city updates its comprehensive plan, a long-term guide for physical improvement and development. It was last updated in 2010.

The moratorium would take a vote of the seven-member council to extend. The council unanimously supported the pause Thursday in its first of three required ordinance considerations.

This pause does not apply to operational businesses or those that have already applied for a building permit to expand. If an existing business were to pursue a new expansion project in the next year, the council would have to approve an amendment. Similarly, if new development prospects emerge while the moratorium is in effect, the council could amend the ordinance to allow for it.

“Growth is better than the opposite,” Mayor Nick AbouAssaly said. “If you’re not growing then you’re stagnating, but growth … should happen in a way that is meaningful and that adds value to peoples’ lives and the people who live here.”

The ordinance will come before the council for a third and final ordinance reading in November.

Linn County to hold resource fair for veterans

The Linn County Suicide Prevention Coalition will host a “Making Connections” event for veterans and their families on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday at the ImOn Ice Arena, 1100 Rockford Rd. SW in Cedar Rapids.

This event includes a resource fair with more than 30 community organizations to help veterans connect to a group or resource that may help them persevere in times of crisis.

“Veterans between the ages of 18 and 34 are the most vulnerable population for veteran suicide,” Linn County Veteran Affairs Director Dustin Peterson said in a statement. “Our goal with this event is to reach veterans and their family members so they know they are not alone and we are here to help them. We want to prevent veteran suicide.”

The event is free and open to all veterans and their families. Free ice skating will be available for children under age 18. Kids will be able to meet and take pictures with the Rough Riders’ mascot, Ricochet. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Event partners include Linn County Veteran Affairs, CRUSH, Foundation 2, Healing at English River Outfitters (HERO) and Iowa Works.

Iowa City now charging a tax at EV charging stations

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As of last week, people who use city-owned stations to charge electric vehicles in Iowa City are charged pay at tax of $0.16 per kWh.

The change was approved by the Iowa City Council earlier this year. It was prompted by the Iowa Legislature’s passage of the Electric Fuel Excise Tax, which taxes electricity used to charge EVs.

The fee will allow the city to break even on operations of the charging stations. A typical electric vehicle driver can anticipate paying $4 per four-hour charging session, city staff said in a memo in August.

Payment should be made through the ChargePoint app residents must already use to charge at a City EV charger.

EV chargers are located in each of the City's parking ramps, totaling 12. Additional EV chargers will be added later this year at Dubuque Street and Chauncey Swan ramps, increasing that total to 16, according to the city.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne and Grace King contribute.