Government Notes: Volunteers collecting signatures Monday to put Cedar Rapids schools’ $220 million bond on ballot

Volunteers are holding a drive-through signing event Monday to collect signatures that would enable the Cedar Rapids Community School District to put a $220 million bond referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot.

More than 6,000 signatures from district voters need to be collected by Sept. 22 — this Friday — to get the question placed on the ballot.

Volunteers have not shared with The Gazette how many signatures have been collected so far.

Residents interested in signing the petition have three options Monday between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.:

The bond would help fund a facility plan that ultimately would reduce the number of middle schools in the district from its existing six. This would create a stronger feeder system for students in K-12, ensuring students stay together with classmates as they move from elementary to middle to high school.

School leaders have said they believe this would provide more equitable services to all students while reducing the district’s operational and maintenance costs.

Ballot language is due to the county auditor 46 days before city and school elections. At least 25 percent of the number of registered voters in the school district voting in the last election of school officials must sign the petition, according to Iowa Code.

In Iowa, school bond issues — basically, loans that schools take out, typically for 10, 15 or 20 years — require a supermajority of 60 percent to pass. In passing bond issues, voters in the district agree to repay the loan, with interest, through their property taxes.

If the bond is approved, the district’s property tax levy would increase by $2.70 per $1,000 of assessed taxable valuation. The owner of a house in the Cedar Rapids school district assessed at $200,000, for example, would see a school property tax increase of about $282 a year for 20 years, according to board documents.

Cedar Rapids City Council gives Country Club project final OK

For the final time, the Cedar Rapids City Council signed off on an expansion project at the Cedar Rapids Country Club, an issue that has revived questions about whether some council members should recuse themselves because of ties to the club.

Since the council signed off last year on a proposal for a new indoor tennis facility at the club, the project was modified to be an outdoor complex. The Country Club, 550 27th St. Dr. SE, asked to amend conditions of its Public-Institutional zoning after deciding it was not feasible to build a permanent building now.

Instead, the club will use a 38-foot tall temporary, inflatable “bubble.” Its use will be limited to 180 days a year, from Oct. 15 to April 30.

Instead of focusing as much on the impact of the project on their neighborhood in public remarks, some neighbors looked to appeal to the council by condemning the changes made last year to the ethics policy in the city charter, Cedar Rapids’ governing document. The council narrowed the definition of conflict of interest to bar the city’s top officials from involvement in matters where they stand to gain financially.

Still, only council members Ashley Vanorny and Pat Loeffler voted against it, and two members — Ann Poe and Marty Hoeger — recused themselves.

Hoeger said he recused himself because his company is supplying construction materials to the Country Club. He also is a club member.

Poe, who lives near the site, said she recused herself because of the impact the project may have on her property values. She consulted with the city attorney, who advised her to recuse herself.

Candidate filing deadline this week for local elections

The deadline for candidates to add their names to the Nov. 7 city and school election ballot is 5 p.m. Thursday in Linn County and most Johnson County communities. The deadline has passed for Iowa City and University Heights.

Visit Linn County’s website at linncountyiowa.gov/vote for information on what seats are on the ballot and how to file candidacy paperwork. In Johnson County, more information is available on the auditor’s website at johnsoncountyiowa.gov/november-7-2023-city-and-school-election.

To run for office, prospective candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and collect signatures on nomination petitions.

City elections are nonpartisan. In Linn County, city elections are not eligible for primaries. In Johnson County, only Iowa City and University Heights are eligible for city primaries, if required.

Iowa City encourages residents to mulch this fall

The City of Iowa City is encouraging residents to mulch their leaves into their lawns this fall.

While the city makes curbside composting and leaf vacuum programs available, a news release from the city says it recognizes the added environmental impact these programs can have with transportation emissions.

The city suggests mulching leaves directly into the lawn, using them as cover on garden beds, or composting them in the yard.

Compost and mulch is available through the city at no cost. Residents are invited to take containers and shovels to load the mulch at the following locations:

For more information, contact the city’s resource management superintendent, Jennifer Jordan at jejordan@iowa-city.org, or 319-887-6160. More information is also available on the city website at www.icgov.org/Home/Components/News/News/674/390.

Marion to engage in National Community Survey

This fall, the City of Marion is asking residents to participate in The National Community Survey.

According to the city, the survey will assess how Marion’s government is serving residents. It also will gauge perceptions of the city and it will make comparisons with other local government agencies identified as Marion’s peers.

Survey questions will ask residents to weigh in on community livability and quality of life, as well as local policies.

A random, scientific sample of 3,000 Marion households has been selected to participate in the survey. They will receive a mailing inviting them to complete the survey. The confidential responses will be weighted and analyzed to reflect the broader community.

Residents who are not chosen for the random sampling but would like to participate will have an opportunity to complete the survey next month. A link to the survey will be posted at www.cityofmarion.org on Oct. 11 and remain open for two weeks.

Data gathered from the survey will inform Marion’s strategic plan, the budget process and departmental work plans.

Uptown parking survey underway

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Uptown Marion is the subject of a parking survey that’s currently underway.

The study will have crews conducting parking counts on multiple days at various times over the next several weeks. Some counts will be conducted via drone technology. The first drone count was conducted last week, according to information distributed by the city.

Uptown Marion has become a busier place, thanks to several improvement projects in recent years. As a result, parking — which is free in the uptown area — can be difficult to find. The survey will seek to identify solutions.

In addition to the parking survey, the city, chamber and businesses launched a program this year that seeks to make parking in businesses’ lots available to Uptown visitors during non-business hours.

The city also is installing wayfinding signage that includes information about how long it takes to walk to Uptown destinations.

City officials have said recommendations from the parking survey will be available when the study is complete.

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