Government Notes: Corridor MPO seeks input to improve area passenger transportation system

The Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization is asking for public input to better understand citizens’ current methods of travel, their challenges with passenger transportation, ideas on priorities for improvement and strategies to enhance the entire area’s passenger transportation system.

Taking information through an open house and a survey, MPO staff will use this feedback for the organization’s Passenger Transportation Plan, which covers all area public, private and nonprofit area systems of transportation. The MPO is made up of representatives from Cedar Rapids, Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Linn County, Marion, Palo and Robins.

The open house will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday at the Ground Transportation Center, 450 First St. SE in downtown Cedar Rapids. It is planned to be held outside of the center, but if the forecast changes it would move into the lobby, by the large route map.

The public survey is open and available to the public at https://tinyurl.com/PTP2024. It is open to all — those who take passenger transportation and those who do not. The survey will close at midnight Oct. 25. It is available in English, Spanish and French.

Paper surveys are available at the Ground Transportation and in Cedar Rapids Transit, Linn County LIFTS and Horizons Neighborhood Transportation Service buses. The paper survey is available in English, Spanish, French, Kirundi, Swahili and Nepali. Contact Hilary Hershner for a paper survey (h.hershner@corridormpo.com or 319-286-5161).

According to the MPO, this plan provides needs-based justification for passenger transportation projects while taking into account federal requirements for coordinated planning. It is a resource on the existing transportation system in the Corridor MPO planning area and looks to promote joint, coordinated passenger transportation planning as local and regional public transit systems are developed.

Property along Ellis Boulevard NW to be disposed for housing

Cedar Rapids is seeking competitive proposals to dispose of city-owned land located at 1319-1333 Ellis Blvd. NW after receiving an inquiry to purchase the property for residential development.

With Cedar Rapids City Council approval last week, the city issued a request for proposals to develop the property. A review committee will be convened to assess proposals and make a recommendation to council, considering how the project relates to city plans such as the NW Neighborhood Action Plan, the developer’s capacity and experience and the project’s financial feasibility of the project.

The land is zoned Urban Village Residential, which allows medium to high intensity residential development up to three-stories high. The property is in the 100-year flood plain and new development must follow flood plain ordinance requirements.

Jeff Wozencraft, a city planner, said three of the properties were acquired after the 2008 flood and one was acquired through a tax sale procedure. The total of the four contiguous parcels is around half an acre.

Proposals would be due in December. Once council signs off on a proposal, staff would negotiate a development agreement in the winter or spring of 2024.

Brown NationaLease facility coming to Cedar Rapids

The Cedar Rapids City Council last week signed off on a development agreement for local developers to build a $4 million Brown NationaLease facility in southwest Cedar Rapids, attracting a company that currently has a location in North Liberty.

TH Development, an entity of Dennis Thompson and Hunter Parks, will build an 11,000 square-foot building on 76th Avenue SW for Brown NationaLease, which currently leases space in North Liberty. The company wanted a larger, permanent location because of its growth.

The city will kick in standard incentives — a 10-year, 50 percent reimbursement of increased taxes. The project is expected to generate $1.4 million in total taxes, of which $523,000 would be rebated.

Currently, the Iowa-based company’s North Liberty facility is located at 2740 Stoner Ct. The company offers truck and trailer rental and leasing, contract maintenance and logistics services.

The project will create 10 jobs that pay at or above the state’s high-quality wage rate of $26.20 an hour, Economic Development Coordinator Scott Mather said. The new facility will have full drive-thru shop bays, an automated wash bay and office space.

Marion City Council office hours return to Marion Public Library

Marion City Council office hours have resumed at the Marion Public Library, 1101 Sixth Avenue.

One or more council members will be available from 9-11 a.m. each Saturday through the fall and winter months to visit with residents. Residents also may call or email council members directly with questions and input by finding their contact information at www.cityofmarion.org.

Marion’s Community Survey opens to all residents

The city of Marion seeks input as it partners with The National Community Survey for information on how the city is assisting residents well and where there is room for improvement.

The 2023 survey is now available to all residents at https://polco.us/marionia23op. It is estimated to take 15-20 minutes to respond. For those who received a postcard and survey in the mail as part of the random sample and have already responded, the city asks not to respond twice. The online survey will be open through Oct. 25.

Prairie Pool and Wellness Center bond referendum information sessions

A $43 million general obligation bond issue that would fund construction of a swimming pool and wellness center in the College Community School District that will be operated by the YMCA is heading to district voters Nov. 7.

The district is holding virtual information sessions later this month for the public to learn more about the bond and ask questions. The sessions are:

The facility, if approved by voters with the district, could open as early as summer 2025. It would be located across from Prairie Crest Elementary, 301 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. It would include an aquatic center with a competition-size pool with diving and seating for spectators, a recreational pool with a splash pad, a walking and running track, basketball and multipurpose courts and a cardio and weightlifting area.

The bond also would fund an expansion of a wrestling practice room and convert existing gym space into an indoor batting facility at the new Ninth Grade Center — opening next fall — and an addition of a concession stand and ticket booth at John Wall Stadium, 401 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids.

The Zoom links for the virtual information sessions can be found online at crprairie.org/news/2023/10/09/pool-and-wellness-center-bond-referendum-informational-meetings/

Learn about Linn-Mar schools at Lion Learning

Families in the Linn-Mar Community School District are encouraged to learn more about the district by attending Lion Learning hosted by Superintendent Amy Kortemeyer.

The first Lion Learning meeting this year is 6 p.m. Wednesday in the boardroom of the Learning Resource Center, 2999 North 10th Street, Marion.

Kortemeyer and school board members will go over key objectives in the district's new strategic plan, which includes academic goals, strategies to improve community engagement, retention and recruitment of teachers and management of the districts financial, physical and technological infrastructure.

This will be the first of about three Lion Learning opportunities during the 2023-24 school year.

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