Government Notes: Cedar Rapids Fire Department earns accreditation again

The Center for Public Safety Excellence and Commission on Fire Accreditation International have recognized the Cedar Rapids Fire Department as a re-accredited agency.

A delegation of city of Cedar Rapids officials including Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, City Manager Jeff Pomeranz, Fire Chief Greg Smith, Assistant Fire Chief and Accreditation Team Leader Andy Olesen and Fire Admin District Chief Brent Smith presented at the commission hearings in Chicago on Aug. 29.

“This achievement demonstrates the commitment of our team to provide the highest quality service to the residents and industrial partners of Cedar Rapids,” Smith said in a statement.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department is one of 308 agencies worldwide to earn accreditation from the commission, an internationally recognized benchmark for fire and emergency services. Only 18 percent of the U.S. population is protected by a commission-accredited fire agency.

Accreditation “is a professional validation that our Fire Department has a strong track record of improving its operational practices, resulting in a safer community,” Pomeranz said in a statement.

The Fire Department first earned accreditation in 2018.

The voluntary commission process provides agencies with an improvement model to assess their service delivery and performance internally. It then works with a team of peers from other agencies to evaluate the agency’s completed self-assessment.

“The continuous improvement model has impacted every facet of the Fire Department,” Olesen said in a statement. “One of the most evident changes implemented from the accreditation process enabled the city to respond more effectively to the Geneva Tower last year. Modifications to dispatching, firefighting, and post-response procedures driven by accreditation over the course of four years improved our performance during that critical incident.”

Pomeranz has pushed for all eligible city departments to certify with the leading accreditation agency in their field. In addition to the Fire Department, the following city departments are accredited:

“Today, Cedar Rapids is one of few communities in the nation to boast all of these essential departments earning their field’s top accreditation,” Pomeranz said. “This distinction speaks to our city’s culture of continuous improvement and dedication to excellence.”

Cedar Rapids purchases remote-controlled mower

The City of Cedar Rapids recently purchased a remote-controlled mower to use in hard-to-reach areas within its permanent flood control system and on steep grades throughout Cedar Rapids.

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According to a memo from the city manager to the Cedar Rapids City Council, the mower cost $62,000, included in the budget for fiscal 2024, the budget year that began July 1. Maintenance along flood infrastructure is critical to controlling the possible infestation of rodents, where digging and nesting can damage the system’s integrity, the memo states.

The areas that will be targeted with the mower are typically steep and difficult to safely mow with a zero-turn, push or tractor mower.

Previous accidents involving equipment rollovers have cost more than $25,000 in damages, personal injury and significant time lost, according to the memo.

The new mower improves staff safety, eliminating situations where steep slopes pose hazards and reducing exposure to noxious weeds. The Public Works Department did research and found this technology to be a safe, effective tool for operations, the memo states.

Open houses will present information about proposed Iowa City zoning code changes

Iowa City will host two open houses for residents to discuss potential changes to the City's zoning code aimed at encouraging accessory apartments. The city has said the goal of the proposed changes is to increase housing supply and choice.

The open houses will be held from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 13 at Terry Trueblood Park Lodge, and 5-7 p.m. Sept. 14, at the Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A.

Accessory apartments, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs), are small, self-contained dwelling units located on the same lot as a primary home. ADUs can be attached or detached and come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and configurations.

Examples of ADUs are attached and detached units; interior upper level and interior lower level units; above garage units; and garage conversion units.

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City staff have been working with the city’s planning and zoning commission since February on housing affordability. The city said removing barriers to the construction of ADUs could help increase the city's housing supply while also providing older homeowners, single parents, young homebuyers, and renters additional opportunities to access housing throughout our neighborhoods.

For more information about the open houses, contact Kirk Lehmann, Associate Planner, at 319-356-5247, or klehmann@iowa-city.org.

Iowa City accepting applications for Climate Action Commission

Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission has one vacancy to fill an unexpired term, and the city is accepting applications for that volunteer position.

The Climate Action Commission’s purpose is to enhance and enable community efforts to achieve the city’s ambitious climate goals, which include achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Members of the commission must be residents of Johnson County, with preference given to residents of Iowa City. The commission has 11 members, including nine at-large appointed by the city council, one MidAmerican representative and one University of Iowa representative.

The commission meets the first Monday of each month from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve from the time of appointment through Dec. 31, 2025. They also will be eligible to apply again for two subsequent terms.

Applications for appointment to the commission must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26. The city council will make the appointment at the Tuesday, Oct. 3 formal meeting. Appointments must comply with the State of Iowa’s gender balance requirement, which treats gender as binary. Because of current makeup of the commission, the council can appoint a many or a woman on Oct. 3.

For more information about the Climate Action Commission and this vacancy, residents are asked to contact Sarah J. Gardner at 319-887-6162, or SGardner@Iowa-City.org. More information about the commission can be found on the city website at icgov.org.

Iowa City hosts conversation about housing discrimination

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, the Office of Equity and Human Rights will host a webinar conversation with Demetria McCain, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

McCain will speak about HUD’s efforts to eliminate housing discrimination and promote economic opportunity, and how a community can work to achieve diverse and inclusive neighborhoods. She will be introduced by State Rep. Ross Wilburn.

Participation in the conversation, which will be held on Zoom, requires preregistration. Register online, or contact the city at 319-356-5000 for more information.

Linn-Mar Education Association donates to outstanding student meal accounts

The Linn-Mar Education Association presented a $1,000 check to Stacy Fish, the district’s nutrition services manager, as a donation to help pay outstanding student meal account balances.

The Linn-Mar Education Association is made up of educational professionals who are dedicated to their students and the community.

This is the second time that Linn-Mar Education Association has raised funds for the district’s student meal accounts by selling T-shirts and collecting donations.

In total, the association has raised $3,000 for outstanding student meal account balances.

Mount Vernon schools looking for members for the Fine Arts Association

The Mount Vernon Fine Arts Association is looking for members to participate by attending meetings and assisting in promotional and fundraising events.

The association provides financial support and volunteer resources to the Mount Vernon Community School District’s music, visual arts and performing arts programs, including music, choir, band, speech and theater. This also includes curricular support for preschool through 12th grade.

Membership includes all students and parents and guardians of students participating in fine arts programs at Mount Vernon schools and any other interested individuals.

Each year, the association operates the concession stand for volleyball events. The district is in the midst of the volleyball concession season and is in need of volunteers at every match.

The association meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 7-8 p.m. in the high school library, 731 Palisades Rd. SW, Mt Vernon. The next meeting is Oct. 3.

If interested in working concessions, visit signup.com/go/iJFhBbK to sign up or mvcsd.org/families/groups/mvfaa for a list of the district’s events.

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