Government Notes: How Cedar Rapids residents can get low-cost trees

In partnership with local nonprofit Trees Forever, the city of Cedar Rapids is offering a low-cost tree adoption for Cedar Rapids residents.

Residents may reserve up to three low-cost trees at treesforever.org/adopt. Pickup will take place at the Veterans Memorial Stadium parking lot at 950 Rockford Rd. SW from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 13. Trees must be reserved before the pickup date. Quantities are limited for each species.

This distribution is part of the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan, a partnership between the city and Trees Forever to replenish the tree canopy lost in the 2020 derecho.

Sinclair on Sixteenth project will add housing to Cedar Rapids

The Cedar Rapids City Council last week signed off on a development agreement with Sinclair on Sixteenth LLC, an entity of Coralville-based developer Watts Group, to build a $10.7 million multifamily housing facility and two four-plex buildings in the Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood.

The project at 705 16th Ave. SE will add 32 market-rate rental units and two four-plex townhome buildings at the site, which is owned by St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.

Construction on the first townhome building would start in September and be complete by April 2024. Work on the multifamily housing would start by June 2024 and wrap up by August 2025. Construction on the second and final townhome building would start by September 2024 and finish by April 2025.

In the multifamily building, most units will be one-bedrooms, but there also will be some two-bedroom units.

The city will provide a reimbursement of 100 percent of the added property taxes up to about $2.1 million or until 20 annual payments are made.

This project is one of several that Watts Group is pursuing in Cedar Rapids, in addition to NewBo Lofts, which will add two 55-unit buildings at 455 16th Ave. SE, as well as the $22.2 million redevelopment of land west of the historic Brucemore estate for market-rate rental housing.

Cedar Rapids taking board and commission applications

The city of Cedar Rapids is taking applications from Cedar Rapids residents to fill current and upcoming vacancies on many city boards, commissions and advisory committees. These advisory groups can help the mayor, City Council and city staff in guiding the future of the city.

According to a news release, the city is committed to gender balance on all boards, commissions and advisory committees. The city encourages women, minorities and qualified individuals with disabilities to apply.

Information on how to apply is available on the city’s website at cedar-rapids.org. Applications will be shared with the mayor and City Council for review. All applications are kept on file for one year.

For more information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at (319) 286-5060 or email city-clerk@cedar-rapids.org. Applications are due by April 30.

North Liberty approves updated comprehensive plan to guide city’s future

The North Liberty City Council praised the “robust work” that went into creating the city’s updated comprehensive plan before unanimously approving the plan to help guide the city’s future.

City staff worked with RDG Planning and Design during a yearlong effort to craft the plan and ensure the community was involved.

Residents’ ideas and feedback were used to help create a shared vision for the city through the 2022 comprehensive plan Connected to Tomorrow, which will serve as a foundational document guiding city decisions.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” council member Ashley Bermel said. “It’s extremely well written and hits on so many points that I did not even think to consider, and I just appreciate the amount of guidance that we have for the future in making North Liberty successful.

A draft of the 116-page comprehensive plan was released in January. The last time the city updated its comprehensive plan was in 2013.

The plan includes guiding principles for land use, as well as a vision for transportation, the environment, belonging, housing, economic growth and other related areas.

Council member Brent Smith said he learned more about North Liberty while reading the plan.

“It really is informative,” Smith said, adding that the document will help guide the current and future city councils.

Cedar Rapids students learn competitive job skills

Dozens of juniors and seniors in Cedar Rapids high schools are participating in the district’s work-based learning program this semester, which connects students with Individualized Learning Plans to local businesses.

An Individualized Learning Plan details special education instruction, supports and services a student needs to succeed created through a team of the child's parent, teacher and other school staff.

Beginning this school year, students began learning real-world experience by working in the school district’s buildings, including its Buildings and Grounds and Graphics and Printing departments, according to a news release from the district.

One student is working in the Graphics and Print department three hours a week stapling books for elementary schools, laminating posters and assembling name tags.

Another student supports kitchen staff at Kennedy High school by preparing juice, fruit cups and refilling condiments, according to the news release.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area government bodies. Marissa Payne, Izabela Zaluska and Grace King of The Gazette contribute.