Meet Coralville At Large Council Candidate Miriam Timmer-Hackert

Name: Miriam Timmer-Hackert

Address: 1911 Lynncrest Dr.

Age: 37

Seat seeking: At Large

Occupation: Mediator

Educational background: J.D., University of Iowa

Why are you running for council?

Timmer-Hackert: After only the two incumbents ran last election I was encouraged to run by other Democrats. I want Coralville to be more sustainable, accessible, and fiscally responsible. I would like dense growth, more trees, and public transportation. I would like to have busses run on Sunday and more bus shelters because Iowa weather is harsh. It is important to design intersections not just for cars but also for pedestrians, including moms with double strollers and people in wheelchairs. Going green can be more fiscally responsible, for example by choosing to use shade trees on the south and windblocks on the north. We should use less pesticide (and maybe not kill every single dandelion in the parks.) As someone who has run a home day care in Coralville, I am well aware of how unnecessary regulations hinder businesses.

What are the three largest issues facing the city? How will you address them?

Timmer-Hackert: How are we going to pay off the debt? This issue will need careful management. The plan currently in place will need to be watched carefully. Every new decision must take into consideration the affect it will have on our debt.

Public transit. In order for Coralville residents to have access to jobs and services, we need a strong public transit system. I support more bike trails, better bike lanes, Sunday bus routes and more services out of the Intermodal Transportation Center including continued investigation into light rail opportunities.

Affordable housing and affordable child care. I support working with local housing agencies to track and measure both housing and child care services in Coralville. Then, put together a comprehensive community plan that offers full support of residents. Along with affordable housing, Coralville needs to ensure we have the support network we need to allow families to succeed in Coralville. This network must include fair tax rates, reasonable utility costs, a quality community food bank, good transportation options and assistance to understand how to use services to continue to move families forward with their lives.

Next summer, Coralville's now 20-year-old tax increment finance district for Coral Ridge Mall expires, opening up millions in additional property tax revenue annually. For Coralville, that means about $2 million added each year to the general fund. How would you like to see that money used?

Timmer-Hackert: I would like us to pay down our debt faster. I would like to build more bus shelters and run the busses on Sunday. The area of town that needs assistance is the Kirkwood area, and investing in making homes more energy efficient has multiple benefits. Coralville doesn't have a Small Business Development Department that can help with small loans and getting started. There has been discussion of a mental health crisis/detox center which would be a great investment. We might be able to help make a rail line between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City happen if the right grants are available.

The Iowa River Landing continues to grow in Coralville, with housing, storefronts and a soon-to-begin arena project all taking place. However, some have questioned if the area should be offering more affordable housing opportunities. Is this something lacking — or are there other elements missing — in the IRL area? What do you want to see added as development continues?

Timmer-Hackert: If we citizens of Coralville are investing in any more TIF projects, I want environmentally friendly design and affordable housing. We also could use better advertising about things like the Antique Car Museum and some room for the museums to grow.

Coralville — and cities across Iowa — could face revenue losses as the state revenues remain tight. The state is threatening to do away with the backfill funds it provides to communities in an effort to balance its budget. How would you balance the city's budget if the city were to lose funds? What funding priorities do you have?

Timmer-Hackert: Taking care of our employees, and our streets, parks, library, police, and fire protection are high priorities. Low priorities include subsidizing aesthetic improvements for businesses and brick insets into brick insets in sidewalks. I think we could have the mayor's clean up day once a year instead of twice — people can pay for their own garbage anytime at the landfill. We can also use less pesticide and try to use less paper by going digital. We can raise the rates users pay for using more water or the larger garbage cans to encourage conservation.

Where do you see growth occurring in the city in coming years? What should the city do to manage it?

Timmer-Hackert: Coralville has been doing a pretty good job of dense infill recently with the Bridgewater, Fifth Street, and Iowa River Landing developments. As we continue to grow south of Second Street, west of Coral Ridge Ave, and north on First Avenue, I would like to see affordable housing added in all areas of the city instead of being concentrated south of the interstate. Coralville should encourage environmentally friendly growth incorporating windblocks on the north and shade trees on the south. We need to grow our bus system to serve the new areas.

What other big issues would you like to see the council address in the next few years?

Timmer-Hackert: I want more citizens to be involved in Coralville, which includes having discussions during the publicized council meeting not just backroom meetings where the real actions happen. Citizens near developments have been complaining that they were not properly notified of the new developments so apparently we need to do a better job.