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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Government Notes: Iowa City school board to consider cellphone policy
Also, award honors housing needs analysis work in Linn County
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The Iowa City school board is expected to take action on a cellphone policy Tuesday following a board work session where they are to discuss the policy.
As of Friday, there were no documents included with the school board agenda detailing what a policy could look like.
School board meetings are open to the public. The work session begins at 5 p.m., followed by a board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Educational Services Center, 1725 N. Dodge St. in Iowa City.
The Iowa City Community School District began reviewing its cellphone, technology and artificial intelligence policies over the summer.
The board and community underwent a book study of the book “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt, which argues that the rise of smartphones has led to a rise in mental illness.
Earlier this year, a survey was given to district administrators, staff and parents to gather feedback.
A recommendation for a new policy was expected to be presented to the school board in October, with a proposed implementation date.
Impact award honors housing needs analysis work in Linn County
An effort that sought to evaluate housing needs in Linn County — outside the major metropolitan area — has won recognition from the National Association of Development Organizations.
Linn County and the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) won a 2024 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations for its Linn County Housing Needs Assessment and Equity Analysis.
The Housing Needs Assessment looked at existing and future housing stock throughout Linn County (excluding the cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha) and identified strategies that can help ensure the housing market provides housing opportunities for people and families of all income levels.
“We are honored to have our Housing Needs Assessment recognized by the NADO Impact Awards,” said Charlie Nichols, Linn County’s planning & development director Charlie Nichols. “Quality housing is a cornerstone of sustainable growth, as it directly impacts economic development, community health, and overall quality of life. Ensuring the availability of housing that is affordable, accessible, and near employment centers is a key goal of Linn County’s Comprehensive Plan.”
The study showed the smaller, more rural communities within the county need nearly 700 more housing units by 2040 and an investment in rehabilitation initiatives to keep up with population growth.
The 14 communities studied included Alburnett, Center Point, Central City, Coggon, Ely, Fairfax, Robins, Springville, Walker, Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Palo, Bertram and Prairieburg.
With this data, Linn County communities can implement targeted strategies to meet the evolving needs of their residents and support inclusive, long-term growth.
A separate Housing Equity Analysis focused on communities within the metro area — Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha — and identified disparate impacts in housing based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability status, and other factors. Linn County is using the information from the analysis in its collaborative work, including through the Alliance for Equitable Housing, to develop solutions to address identified disparities.
“As a regional planning organization, one of ECICOG’s roles in our region is to help communities and counties plan for their future. This includes analyzing historical and current data, which then demonstrates trends and helps communities identify opportunities,” said ECICOG Housing Director Tracey Achenbach.
The full Housing Needs Assessment and Housing Equity Analysis are available on the Linn County website.
Reception planned for outgoing Iowa City Council member
The public is invited to a reception honoring outgoing Iowa City Council member Andrew Dunn this week.
Dunn announced in October plans to resign from his city council position, effective Jan. 1. He said his professional obligations as a labor representative have increased, and he expects to travel more for work in 2025.
The reception will be held Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Emma Harvat Hall in City Hall, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City.
In January 2023, Dunn was appointed to fill the council seat left vacant by Iowa Sen. Janet Weiner after her election to the Iowa Legislature. In November, he was elected to represent District C, which includes downtown Iowa City and north-central Iowa City.
The Iowa City Council has expressed its preference for a special election to fill the vacancy — with three years left on Dunn’s term. While the person who represents District C must live in the district, they are chosen in the general election by voters citywide.
A 4 p.m. work session and 6 p.m. formal Council meeting will follow.
42nd Street plans move ahead in Cedar Rapids
Replacement of a portion of 42nd Street — and underground infrastructure — in northeast Cedar Rapids was approved Tuesday by the Cedar Rapids City Council.
There were no comments during a public hearing on the estimated $5.1 million project during a council meeting Tuesday. The council voted unanimously to approve plans for the reconstruction.
The project — which is part of the city’s Paving for Progress program — will address 42nd Street from Edgewood Road to Pine View Drive NE. It will include replacement of the street and sidewalks, as well as a sidewalk extension along Twin Pines Golf Course to River Ridge Drive.
A new crossing will be added at Blue Jay Drive, with a refuge median and rectangular rapid-flashing beacon.
The project includes storm sewer and sanitary sewer improvements. The water main also will be replaced.
Bids for the project will be opened Dec. 18.
Construction is scheduled for 2025 and will likely extend into 2026. The section of 42nd Street from Pine View Drive to Wenig Road is a separate project that will bid in late 2025 for construction in 2026-2027.
Marion open house seeks feedback on comprehensive plan
An open house this week will kick off the public comment period for an update to Marion’s comprehensive plan: “Marion 2045: A Plan to Reach New Heights.“
The City of Marion and RDG Planning and Design are hosting the open house Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 4-6 p.m. in the atrium of Marion City Hall, 1225 Sixth Avenue, Marion. The consultant and city staff will be available for the come-and-go format. No formal presentation is planned.
Attendees will be asked to react to future land uses, growth and enhancement areas, and housing, community services and business growth.
The comprehensive plan provides community leaders and decision-makers with a road map for growth based on the vision of stakeholders. It considers not only current needs and issues within the community but guides future development for the next 15 to 20 years.
Those unable to attend are invited to visit cityofmarion.org/CompPlan to review the draft document after the open house and share comments. Plan development is expected to conclude by March 2025.
Iowa City looks for feedback on future of public art
The Public Art Advisory committee and the city of Iowa City is looking for feedback on the future of public art in the city.
Residents are invited to take an online survey that will ask for preferences on types of art and location of art. The survey will be open until Jan. 6, 2025.
There are currently 75 works of public art across Iowa City.
Johnson County residents asked for views on successful aging
The Johnson County Livable Community for Aging Policy Board, established by the Board of Supervisors, is launching a survey asking for experiences and perceptions of livability from those age 45 and older.
“The insights gained from this survey will be invaluable,” said John Kalohn, Chair of the Policy Board, in a news release. “We aim to understand how we can enhance livability for all ages in Johnson County, ensuring that our community is a place where everyone can thrive.”
The results from the survey will be used to guide strategic planning efforts of the board. Additionally the survey is looking for input on livability factors such as walkable and safe areas, access to transportation and overall opportunities for community gathering.
Approximately 22 percent of Johnson County residents are in the 45 or older age group.
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Megan Woolard, Grace King and Sara Konrad Baranowski, and correspondent Dick Hogan contributed.
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