Government Notes: Cedar Rapids OKs Kingston Yard parking ramp plans

Plans for a $20 million public parking ramp at Kingston Yard were approved last week by the Cedar Rapids City Council.

Some members of the public questioned the need for the parking ramp, saying parking in Cedar Rapids’ urban core is already overbuilt, particularly downtown and that parking hasn’t rebounded from COVID-19 when people began working from home.

The council insisted the parking was necessary for the growing Kingston Village neighborhood on the west side of the Cedar River.

Big Grove Brewery, Pickle Palace and a mixed-use building are open in Kingston, and another mixed-use building is under construction.

The parking ramp and a hotel are to be built in the block of First Avenue West and First Street SW.

The ramp will have 463 parking spaces — nine accessible and 10 for electric vehicles. There will be space for bike storage on the ground floor. It will have 35,000 square feet of parking space.

There will be access points from the garage to the new hotel, including breezeways that will keep people out of the elements. Park Cedar Rapids will operate the garage.

City Engineer Ken DeKeyser said Kingston Yard’s parking demand is 800 spaces on a peak weekend. Additional parking will be available on the street and surface lot.

The project is largely funded through the tax increment financing district and state Reinvestment District funds. The Iowa Economic Development Authority board in 2022 awarded $9 million to Cedar Rapids through the program.

Though the parking lot north of First Avenue West will be phased out to make way for future Kingston Yard development, resident Isacc Davis said it’s worth considering alternatives, given the site’s proximity to public transit.

“I think there is a need for parking in that space,” council member Ann Poe said. “With the development of that north lot … that parking garage is going to be able to serve some of the people who are currently parking in that empty north lot.”

Council member Ashley Vanorny said the city’s plans for Cedar River recreation will add even more people to Kingston Village.

“It may seem like putting the cart before the horse,” but future site development and neighborhood growth necessitate the parking in this case, she said.

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Council member Scott Olson said that while the hybrid work climate has freed up more downtown parking, “people will only walk so far.”

“We made a commitment to developers that we would provide a certain level of parking,” Olson said.

Cedar Rapids grants $10,000 to Johnson meal program

The Cedar Rapids City Council last week approved $10,000 toward a meal site at Johnson STEAM Academy to expand food access for households affected by the recent closure of the First Avenue Hy-Vee.

The program at Johnson STEAM Academy, 355 18th St. SE, serves free breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It began July 18 and will run through Aug. 16.

Anyone in the community is eligible to receive the free meals no matter their age.

The meal site is a collaboration between area state and local government officials, the Cedar Rapids Community School District and the Linn County Board of Supervisors, which recently allocated $10,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars toward the meal program.

The council approved the city funding on its consent agenda, where items considered routine are approved without discussion. Money will come from the general fund, supported by property tax dollars.

The First Avenue NE Hy-Vee closed June 30. The West Des Moines-based grocer’s departure left no grocery store in the area within a mile and a half, creating a food desert.

Iowa City schools reviewing cellphone policy

The Iowa City Community School District is undertaking a review of its cellphone, technology and artificial intelligence policies that will continue over the next few months.

The Iowa City school board began the conversation Tuesday during its regular meeting, agreeing to have the school district move forward with a timeline.

In a letter to families Wednesday, Superintendent Matt Degner said the review is coming after having “received significant feedback and questions” about students’ use of cellphones, technology and artificial intelligence in school.

“These are complex topics that require careful thought before we make any change to our policies or practices,” Degner said in the letter.

The board and community will undergo a book study next month over the book “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt, which argues that the rise of smartphones has led to a rise in mental illness.

In August and September, a survey will be given to district administrators and staff. A survey will go to parents with children in sixth to 12th grades between Sept. 13 and Oct. 4.

Board members will discuss cellphones, technology and artificial intelligence and gather feedback from the community during five school board meetings in August, September and October,

A recommendation for a new policy will be presented to the school board Oct. 29, with a proposed implementation date.

The Iowa City school board meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Educational Services Center, 1725 N. Dodge St. in Iowa City, unless posted otherwise. Meeting notices can be found online at iowacityschools.org/our-district/school-board.

Iowa City seeks input on housing needs

Iowa City is asking residents to fill out a survey regarding the use of federal housing funds.

The city receives over $1 million a year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of its Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Program.

The funds are expected to be used to improve the living conditions of those with low to moderate incomes, people with special needs and people experiencing homelessness.

Community members also can attend public meetings this week on how to use the housing funds. The meetings will be:

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne, Grace King and Megan Woolard contributed.