Here are Cedar Rapids City Council candidates’ top priorities if elected

Editor’s note: This article is part of The Gazette’s coverage leading up to the Nov. 7 city and school elections.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Affordable housing and homelessness, economic development and continued progress on infrastructure, including street improvements and flood control, are among the top priorities for candidates seeking seats on the Cedar Rapids City Council.

In response to a Gazette questionnaire, candidates running to serve on the nine-member council said they would look to support sustainable economic development to create jobs and expand the tax base of Iowa’s second-largest city.

Several said they saw a need to maintain momentum on the 1 percent local-option sales tax-funded Paving for Progress street repair program, as well as the permanent flood control system as the price tag seems likely to swell beyond $750 million.

Improving the affordability and accessibility of quality housing also is a priority for several candidates, who said it’s needed to shelter a growing workforce and the population experiencing homelessness, which has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council members serve four-year terms and were paid $21,478 for the nonpartisan part-time roles in fiscal 2023, the budget year that ended June 30.

At large

Pat Loeffler, retired carpenter and co-owner of Corner Store Apothecary & Wellness, said he is seeking re-election to help Cedar Rapids move forward.

Loeffler, who evacuated his own home in the 2008 flood, said he is “excited to see things through to make sure both sides of the river, people are going to be protected from” future flooding.

As southern parts of Cedar Rapids grow in population and business opportunities, he said this will provide more family opportunities. He also would like to beautify the city with more public art.

“We’ve had great progress with more to come,” Loeffler said. “Working with this community is one of the most gratifying and humbling things I’ve ever done. I want to see things continue in the right direction.”

Ann Poe, program manager for The District: Czech Village and New Bohemia, said she loves Cedar Rapids and is passionate about seeing the community flourish.

One of the top issues she identified was addressing the human-caused climate crisis. She said she supports the city’s expansion of community gardens, with a water source, to give residents affordable and accessible options for growing and consuming healthy, culturally relevant foods.

The city needs to keep a focus on homelessness and affordable housing that includes gap housing opportunities for the workforce, Poe said. She said she has encouraged “hub” communities that are walkable and provide all necessary services in a short walk or with easy access to public transportation.

Poe agreed that the flood control system needed to be built “so that both sides of the river are protected.” She supported other basic infrastructure needs such as lighting, sidewalks, curb and gutters and continued street repairs.

Poe also envisioned supporting economic development and workforce programming and proactive business recruitment and retention.

On public safety, Poe said she wants to stabilize neighborhoods by continuing efforts to curb violence.

“I grew up here, my children and grandchildren live here, and I am motivated by the desire to provide the same quality of life to the residents of Cedar Rapids that I wish for my own family,” Poe said. “I believe my experience and leadership will help navigate the city in (the) next four years as we continue to move forward with the following opportunities.”

David Maier, Transamerica finance and control manager, who’s challenging incumbents Poe and Loeffler for an at-large seat, said “a flood control system is an absolute necessity for the sustainability and safety of all Cedar Rapidians.” He said he would ensure this project is funded and completed on schedule.

Construction is underway on permanent flood infrastructure, which is about one-third complete. The whole system, which will fortify residents and businesses on both sides of the Cedar River, will likely take another decade or more to finish.

Maier said he would look to disseminate information within the city’s emergency preparedness plan, Neighborhood P.A.C.T., which provides steps for residents to prepare for emergencies and know how to respond to minimize harm when disaster strikes.

Maier also said he would encourage more communication and coordination between the city and Linn County to “ensure alignment on business continuity planning and disaster recovery.”

Additionally, Maier said he would look to ensure there is a comprehensive assessment and possible disruptions are minimized as a result of new laws pertaining to cities passed by state lawmakers this year.

“My collaborative leadership style, expertise in budgeting and financial analysis, and passion for Cedar Rapids makes me an ideal public servant for City Council,” Maier said.

District 4

Dan Bahan, a senior technician for Nordstrom who’s challenging incumbent Scott Olson for the District 4 seat representing parts of western Cedar Rapids, said he would prioritize “potholes over politics” to get roads fixed, as “everyone knows the areas of town that get ignored and I want to give them a voice.”

“I want to bring a new perspective to our (city’s) leadership that is representative of your average working person instead of the small percentage of people that can afford to be landlords or real estate developers,” Bahan said.

After the 2020 derecho destroyed more than two-thirds of Cedar Rapids’ tree canopy, Bahan said he would like to expand Cedar Rapids’ tree planting effort. The city has partnered with local nonprofit Trees Forever on the ReLeaf program to plant 42,000 trees on public property over a 10-year span.

Additionally, Bahan said he supports walkable infrastructure and wants to prioritize community spaces over suburban development to reduce costs to maintain roads and other infrastructure.

“We also need to bring back the concept of a place where you can just go to meet people,” Bahan said. “Our priorities have built a lot of very nice houses, but communities that don't even know their neighbors’ names.”

Scott Olson, a semiretired real estate broker, said housing and infrastructure would be his main priorities if re-elected.

A broad base of funding sources and local partners is needed — especially as inflation challenges new projects — to create “truly affordable” housing options and to support those experiencing homelessness to transition them into permanent housing, Olson said.

Paving for Progress helps the city pay for projects using cash versus interest-bearing bonds, Olson said. Plus, he said visitors contribute to about one-third of the local-option sales tax revenue, and more than two-thirds of the revenue is spent on “long-neglected residential streets.” He said the city’s biannual lasering of all 650-plus miles of streets shows improvement.

“This computer-analyzed data provided to city staff allows them to adjust the street repair plan every two years versus making road projects a political decision,” Olson said.

Flood control construction has become more expensive because of inflation, Olson said, so “it is important we look at ways to complete the system with cost-effective adjustments.”

“I have been an active voice in moving the city forward from flood and derecho recovery to a strong and vibrant city,” Olson said of his nearly 12 years on the council. “As a 62-year resident, I have had the experience and drive to get things done while maintaining a focus on what really matters — making Cedar Rapids a great place to call home.”

District 2

Scott Overland, vice president of investments for Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, who is uncontested in the race for District 2 representing parts of eastern Cedar Rapids, said ongoing challenges for the city are to maintain and boost funding for affordable and workforce housing, including for those experiencing homelessness.

He said Cedar Rapids has made significant progress on constructing and financing flood protection, investing in police and fire as well as workforce development in helping local companies expand and attracting new companies.

Major progress also has been made in repairing streets through Paving for Progress with the emphasis now on neighborhood streets, Overland said. He said the city must maintain funding and buying power for infrastructure projects as costs rise.

“The city must continue to both prioritize and be creative to get the most value out of each dollar spent on projects and look for funding from nonlocal taxpayer sources where possible,” Overland said.

Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com