Government Notes: Renovations relocate meetings in Marion; holidays impact services

Renovation work at Marion City Hall will begin in January and means several meetings will be hosted in alternate locations for several weeks.

During the renovation, meetings of the City Council, Planning & Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment will be temporarily moved to the Linn-Mar Educational Leadership Center, located at 3556 Winslow Road.

If additional meetings are affected, updated locations will be listed on the meeting agenda. Agendas, minutes, and video recordings remain available on the City’s meeting portal.

The city is appreciative of Linn-Mar letting city staff use their facilities during the project.

Johnson County area transit services winter schedule

Transit agencies throughout Johnson County will be operating on modified schedules or not offering service around Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Iowa City Transit

Iowa City Transit buses will not be in service on Christmas, Thursday Dec. 25 or New Year’s Day, Thursday Jan. 1, 2026.

On Christmas Eve, Wednesday Dec. 24, the buses will operate on a Saturday schedule with the last departure at 6 p.m. Additionally on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday Dec. 31, the buses will offer normal weekday service but with the last departure at 6 p.m.

The 3-Eastside loop will be temporarily out of service beginning Monday Dec. 22 due to area schools winter breaks. Regular service will resume Monday, Jan. 5.

Coralville Transit

Coralville Transit will on Christmas, Thursday Dec. 25 or New Year’s Day, Thursday Jan. 1, 2026.

On Friday Dec. 26, buses will be operating on a Saturday schedule with the last bus leaving at 6 p.m.

Coralville will offer regular transit service on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday Dec. 31.

Trip Connect

Trip Connect does not operate on Thursday Dec. 25 or New Year’s Day, Thursday Jan. 1, 2026

Johnson County SEATS

The SEATS administrative office will be closed on Christmas Eve, Wednesday Dec. 24, Christmas Day, Thursday Dec. 25 and New Year’s Day, Thursday Jan. 1, 2026. Rural service will not be provided on those days.

Limited paratransit service is available Dec. 24, riders are directed to call 319-339-6128 for service.

Johnson County launches emergency management app

Johnson County’s new emergency management app, JoCoReady is now available for free download in the Apple or Google Play Store.

The app is meant to provide the most immediate updates to residents regarding public safety matters such as boil advisories or weather emergencies. The app also combines other safety alerts systems into the app, including:

Residents seeking more information have been directed to call 319-356-6761.

Grant Wood AEA bids farewell to retiring board members

The Grant Wood Area Education Agency last week bid farewell to four outgoing board members, who collectively served more than 120 years of dedicated leadership and governance in support of the agency.

The outgoing board members are Lynn Cannon, Sue Gates, Jim Green and Marlene Hill.

“The impact of 120 years of combined service cannot be overstated,” Susie Meade, Chief Administrator at Grant Wood AEA, said in a statement. “The four retiring board members brought steady leadership, thoughtful governance, and a deep commitment to serving students, educators, and districts served by Grant Wood AEA. Their contributions leave a lasting legacy on the agency and those it serves.”

Grant Wood AEA provides programs and services designed to support quality education for all students by improving teaching and learning. Agency services support more than 72,000 students in public and accredited non-public schools in seven counties. This area includes Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties.

Coralville Council expected to vote on lease extension for Lululemon

Members of the Coralville City Council are being asked this week to vote on a lease change for Lululemon, which operates in the Iowa River Landing District.

The lease would extend the company’s presence in the Iowa River Landing District for another five years. The lease would have two five-year extension options.

The new lease would also allow lululemon to move to a larger 5,785-square-foot space in the Iowa River Landing, which had been occupied by Winestyles and Diamond Leaf Stores. The space is closer to 30 Hop Restaurant near the traffic circle on E. Ninth St.

The city owns the buildings within Iowa River Landing, which means leases are subject to council approval.

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Garbage and recycling collection adjustments for Christmas, New Year’s Holidays

The Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays will impact garbage and recycling collection in coming weeks.

In Cedar Rapids, garbage collection will happen like usual for Monday through Wednesday routes. There will be no Thursday pickup on Christmas or New Year’s Day and there will be a one-day delay for the remainder of the week.

Live Christmas trees will be picked up beginning Dec. 26 through Jan. 16. The city asks you leave the whole tree whole. The trees can be placed into Yardy carts for collection, but the lid must be able to close. Otherwise, set whole trees at the curb at least three feet from the other collection carts. No flocked or artificial trees will be collected.

In Marion, garbage and recycling collection will happen according to the normal schedule for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday routes. It will be delayed by one day for Thursday and Friday routes both weeks, happening Friday and Saturday instead. Due to the increased size in garbage carts, the City will no longer allow an extra free bag of garbage the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The Yard Waste Facility and Recycling Drop-off Center (195 35th Street) will be closed on Dec. 24/25 and Dec. 31/Jan. 1.

Curbside collection of real Christmas trees will be provided from Jan. 5-16, 2026. Trees, free of stands and decorations, should be placed at the curb on your designated collection day. Flocked trees or those in bags will not be collected. This service is available to all households regardless of whether they subscribe to curbside yard waste service

Capital Improvement Program Update and Implications for the Proposed Aquatics Park

Last week, Marion City Council provided feedback to staff regarding the Fiscal Year 2027-31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget. Funding requests included line items for continued planning and design, as well as land acquisition funding for the proposed aquatic park. These placeholders provide staff with the opportunity to evaluate potential alternatives and refine cost estimates.

The analysis and research will drive future council decisions.

Any land purchase would be contingent on City Council deciding to proceed with a public vote, Marion City Manager Ryan Waller said in his weekly newsletter distributed last week. Last fall, Marion City Council voted 6-1 to hold off on putting the proposed outdoor aquatics park on the November ballot. Staff are working with the resident-appointed steering committee to discuss next steps and create an updated timeline associated with replacing the aging Marion Pool at Willowood Park.

If this project were to receive City Council approval, it would proceed to a community vote.