Q&A with Cedar Rapids City Council candidate Ann Poe

Ann Poe is running as an at-large candidate for the Cedar Rapids City Council. She is an incumbent. Here are her answers to a survey we sent to all of the candidates.

Occupation & Employer: Program Manager/The District: Czech Village & New Bohemia

Why are you seeking a seat on city council?

I love Cedar Rapids. I am passionate about seeing our community continue to grow and flourish. I grew up here, my children and grandchildren live here, and I am motivated by the desire to provide the same quality of life to the residents of Cedar Rapids that I wish for my own family. I believe my experience and leadership will help navigate the City in next four years as we continue to move forward with the following opportunities:

• Economic Development programing and proactive business recruitment and retention which includes an abundant workforce.

• Continue the work of inner-City street repairs.

• Strengthen and stabilize neighborhoods by continuing the work to reduce violence and support community leaders that promote safe neighborhoods.

• Support basic infrastructure needs like streets, lighting, sidewalks, and curb and gutters.

• Focus on affordable housing that includes gap housing opportunities for our workforce.

• Continue building our flood control system so that both sides of the river are protected.

What are the three largest issues facing the community and what will you do to address them?

1. Homelessness: Elevate the City’s role as a guiding force with service agencies in collaboration with Linn County to address the growing number of unsheltered neighbors in Cedar Rapids. We all agree addressing homelessness is not a quick fix that gives us quick rewards. The City is taking positive steps. We invited the National Alliance to end Homelessness in May to evaluate existing services, make recommendations and suggestions.

I attended a full day conference the Alliance convened to report their findings, we worked with service providers and Linn County partners to discuss long-term solutions. We need to add more capacity by building homeless shelters, remove barriers to entry that prevent people from taking advantage of existing services. Housing is the beginning, but not the only answer. It is a complex problem that includes not just housing security, but will address wrap around services for mental health and substance use disorder many of the homeless face. We have begun the work, which was identifying specific barriers and I am committed to finding long term collaborative solutions.

2. Climate change: Continue to support the Community Climate Action Plan and these key goal areas:

• Goal Area 1: Carbon-Free — Cedar Rapids is a carbon-free community. Residents can meet their basic needs within a 15-minute walk. Clean energy provides clean, healthy air. Walking, biking, and busing are popular, while low-emissions, public transit and shared-mobility options come less frequently.

• For the last 12 years I have encouraged “Hub” communities for current and new development in the City that are walkable and provide all the necessary services.

• Goal Area 2: Resilient & Accessible — All residents of Cedar Rapids have access to high-quality green space, healthy food, clean air and water, and good, green jobs. Residents and neighborhoods are cohesive and familiar, helping each other out and getting connected to our rich community resources.

• I have strongly advocated for the expansion of our community gardens, with a water source. The City will provide new community gardens in eight parks to ensure all residents have affordable and accessible options for growing and consuming healthy, culturally relevant foods near their neighborhoods.

• I support a new program the City is just initiating: A Bike and E-Bike Pilot Program to promote mobility while lowering our carbon emissions.

3. Affordable Housing: I support identifying our “Missing Middle” housing types that provide diverse housing options, such as duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts and multiplexes. These house-scale buildings fit seamlessly into existing residential neighborhoods and support walkability, local retail, and public transportation options. They provide solutions along a spectrum of affordability to address the mismatch between the available housing stock and shifting demographics combines with a growing demand for walkability.

What do you see as the greatest affordable housing needs, and how could the city facilitate more affordable housing options for homeowners and renters?

The latest Maxwell Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis for Cedar Rapids identifies a potential demand for 5,536 new general occupancy units and 2,314 age-restricted and service enhanced housing units. With this continued demand for housing, we need to continue to encourage both emerging and large developers through Tax Increment Financing, (four units or more) and various state grants, like Greenfield and Housing Tax Credits.

As I mentioned previously, supporting emerging developers who will renovate existing homes and add ADU’s (Auxiliary Dwelling Units), which will offer an alternative to traditional residential housing and rental options. I support:

• Providing technical assistance workshops to emerging developers.

• Attending monthly Small Developers meetings to engage and listen to what the City can do to help them fill existing housing gaps.

• Continue to provide infill opportunities, especially in the Time-check area as flood control progresses.

• Encourage our City Team to continue providing creative ways to offset infrastructure needs and barriers for development.

• Continue our financial support of the Neighborhood Finance Corporation, that provides loans with forgivable loans over 5 years for homeowners.

As homelessness increases in Linn County, what solutions would you plan to explore to expand or streamline services and housing access for those experiencing homelessness?

(Editor’s Note: See Above)

What do you see as priorities when it comes to the city's economic development? In what areas do you think the city has growth potential? What's most at risk and what would you do about it?

• The City hired a Retail Consultant to look at options to expand retail tax base. Expanding opportunities to increase the sales tax funding is an important focus because the Sales Tax funds our streets and flood protection.

• Continue to center our attention on expanding our property tax base. By elevating policies that make doing business in Cedar Rapids easy. While developments like Sub Zero and First On First, take pressure off both personal and business taxes, they are difficult to implement and sometimes take years to unfold, which is why they deserve celebrating.

• Having ample workers to help our existing companies grow or invite new companies to our community is an area most at risk to economic development opportunities. The current manufacturing sector alone has over 1,900 manufacturing jobs, we can’t see expansions or growth without the necessary workers to support them.

• I will continue to incorporate Kirkwood for job training opportunities, add scholarships, and support projects that use local contractors in the building trades, who recruit and provide training to students directly from High School.

As local partners work to finalize the updated Downtown Vision Plan, what would you say are the greatest needs to revitalize Cedar Rapids' downtown? How would you propose taking action?

• Embrace the River: 2nd Avenue Linear Park & Mays Island Activation – design 2nd Ave. as a “linear park” connecting Kingston Village to the Downtown. Allow bridge to be shut down to cars during special events to expand activation and river engagement.

• Activate Downtown: 3rd Street Festival Street & Storefront Activation – design the street to be flexible and able to be shut down to cars during unique times

(weekends, Farmer’s Market, special events, etc.) and encourage storefront activation in strategic locations.

• Connect Downtown: Trail Connection – short and long-term improvements to trail connection from Downtown across rail tracks. Add more distinct trail markings, landscaping, artwork, and lighting.

• I have long advocated for a trolly, connecting the Downtown to New Bohemia, Czech Village, Kingston Village and now, First on First, making a loop. Having the easy connectivity would encourage residents and visitors to come downtown and support our local businesses while adding a fun factor.

Since passing its community climate action plan, which calls for net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Cedar Rapids has taken steps to implement the plan such as creating community gardens. Are there other things you'd like to see the city do to address climate change?

• Supports multiple city goals: health, climate, transportation, and building community

• Supports reduction in fuel and maintenance costs for families working toward financial independence.

• Provides option for families to successfully travel to work, health appointments, and social services.

• Continue to financially support Neighborhood Transportation Service (NTS) through

Horizons, that provides affordable night and weekend transportation to work, school, or life skill classes during times when the fixed route city buses do not operate and lowers carbon emissions.

Determine “hot spots” in our community where we need to focus high attention on re-planting our tree canopy.

Continue to fund and replace our lost tree canopy, that includes an active watering maintenance program.

City Manager Jeff Pomeranz is 65, and has not indicated any plans to retire yet. It seems possible the council members elected this year would be involved in appointing his successor sometime during their term. How would you approach the task of selecting the person who runs day-to-day operations of the city and implements the policy you set on council? What traits are most important to you in the next city manager?

• Is knowledgeable and understands the role of Council vs the role of a City Manager.

• Lives in and is embedded in the community, with neighbors, non-profit organizations, and business leaders.

• Listens to the needs of citizens and is approachable and available.

• Understands the importance of a transparent and balanced budget.

• Has a vision of equity and inclusion when hiring their Director Team.

• Has lived in and managed a City through disasters and/or worked with FEMA through recovery.

• Is willing to be mentored by Jeff, prior to taking over the roll.

• Has strong basic characteristics like honesty, respect, and integrity to name a few.

• Appreciates the significance of National Accreditations for Police, Fire, Public Works, Library and Parks And Recreation Departments and the impact the high level of accreditation has on the efficient running of the City.

• Responds to Council in a timely fashion and expects their team to do the same.

• Whenever possible, finds a way to get to “yes, we can do that”.

Recent state legislation has challenged local governments' budgets. If you had to cut the city's budget or reduce proposed spending, what areas would you look to for savings and why?

• As standard operating procedures at the City of Cedar Rapids, we constantly look for efficiencies in processes and team management among our departments.

• The impact of House File 718, based upon overall property evaluations in growth of over 3%, would have at least a 2million-dollar impact on the City budget, without legislative changes.

• The 3% cap on levees would tighten up our overall City budget, requiring every department to find ways to absorb the additional shortfall, but when we face a gap in our funding, we use a combination of revenue adjustments or expense decreases to compensate. Departments would prioritize spending, while keeping the important functions of the Fire and Police Departments, it will be a challenge for growing Cites like Cedar Rapids. At this point it is hard to predict exactly where the cuts would come from.

What options do you think the city could pursue to fill gaps in the transportation network (buses, bikeways/trails, streets), especially to support low-income households, those without easy access to a vehicle, and/or people with mobility issues?

• The new Bike and E-Bike Program I discussed in the previous question supports multiple city goals: health, climate, transportation, and building community but does most to support low-income households who struggle with mobility issues.

• Continue to financially support our trails program that provides both on and off-street trails to address mobility throughout the Community.

• Continue to fund Sponsored Student Fare Program with our transit system.

Students can ride a City bus to school. This program offers no-cost rides on all fixed-route buses operated by Cedar Rapids Transit. The program is currently available year-round for all students in:

• Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD), CRCSD high school students who show their student ID. CRCSD elementary and middle school students are not required to show ID.

• Kirkwood Community College and Coe College Students who show their student ID