Articles Tagged: Cedar Rapids City Council

Tiffany O’Donnell, the top vote getter in Cedar Rapids’ mayoral race Tuesday, is guaranteed a spot in the Nov. 30 runoff election. Amara Andrews finished with a 24-vote lead over incumbent Brad Hart — casting uncertainty over who will take the second spot once provisional ballots are counted.

Completion of the bridge as part of the ConnectCR project, which also will revitalize Cedar Lake and bring new amenities, is slated for 2024. Once finished, it will be named the Alliant Energy LightLine.

Dale Todd handily kept his seat representing District 3 on the Cedar Rapids City Council Tuesday, prevailing despite competition from newcomer Tamara Marcus.

TrueNorth employee Amara Andrews and Women Lead Change Chief Executive Officer Tiffany O’Donnell emerged Tuesday as the top two vote getters in a four-way race for Cedar Rapids mayor, outright defeating incumbent Brad Hart.

Incumbent Dale Todd faces a challenge from Tamara Marcus for the Cedar Rapids City Council District 3 seat on the Nov. 2 ballot. Here’s where they stand on key issues.

Vanessa Chavez is slated to come to Cedar Rapids from Green Bay, Wis., where she serves as city attorney. Once appointed, her tenure takes effect Dec. 13 with a salary of $185,000.

The Cedar Rapids Council has approved city incentives for a $22.2 million, 48-unit housing development on First Avenue SE, west of Brucemore.

The city of Cedar Rapids will create a grant program using, at most, $750,000 in federal American Rescue Plan funds to help nonprofits after the city paused payments of hotel-tax revenue.

The city plans to use $10.2 million of its approximately $28 million share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds on two west side Flood Control System projects, bringing permanent protection to the part of town where Army Corps. of Engineers funding can’t be used.

City officials laud the plan, which centers equity, as a model for other communities to be more green and achieve carbon neutrality.

Residents may stop by the downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday to see the plan draft, which will become final once the City Council considers it later this month.

The city’s only municipal mini golf course has earned $164,000 in revenue with 25,000 plays since its late spring opening, which one council member says “exceeds expectations.”

The Cedar Rapids City Council District 3 race currently is the only contested city election besides the three-way mayoral race.

Local developers see their revamped design of a $71 million entertainment hub at First Street and First Avenue W — with a plaza connecting a Big Grove Brewery, Pickle Palace bar and grill and other mixed-use space — as a “recipe for a lot of success.”

A mixed-use development featuring a Pickle Palace bar and grill with recreation space, Big Grove Brewery, a potential hotel and commercial and housing space comes to the Cedar Rapids City Council for a vote Tuesday.