Local Government

Treasurer Sharon Gonzalez retiring at the end of her term this year

Mayor Chris Hoffman began his first term as mayor earlier this year but he’s not a stranger to local government. Hoffman was on the North Liberty City Council for 14 years before being elected mayor.

The Iowa City Council has directed nearly $1 million in pandemic relief funds to CommUnity Crisis Services so the nonprofit can expand its mobile crisis outreach program. The move comes in response to the increased need for mental health services during the pandemic.

Krebill, 59, started as a firefighter and paramedic for the department in 1991 and was just opening its second fire station. She worked her way up the ranks, from captain to district chief to deputy fire chief and then to fire chief in 2014.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt the new district maps, prepared by the nonpartisan state Legislative Services Agency.

The estimated project cost is now $10.7 million due to material and labor cost increases, but the city is looking to cut that down to $9.9 million “without jeopardizing the integrity of the project.”

The search began last fall after Fire Chief John Grier announced his retirement from the Iowa City Fire Department. Grier’s last day is Friday.

Cedar Rapids’ budget for fiscal 2023 includes infrastructure investment in flood protection, streets and utilities capital improvement projects. The budget allocates $1.4 million in federal funds to offset lost revenue from COVID-19 and another $1 million for tree planting

The timeline is uncertain for when Cedar Rapids will restart contributions of hotel-motel tax revenue to nonprofits in the 2023 budget year, but the City Council is beginning to allocate federal ARPA funds to restore some of the lost funds.

The urban reforestation plan, which aims to be a model for other communities, envisions trees as a tool to remedy social inequities, advance climate adaptation goals, enhance city design and strengthen community bonds through replanting and policy changes.

Cedar Rapids has convened a citizen panel for its once-a-decade process of reviewing the city charter, the document that governs the municipality and establishes its council-manager form of government

The motion failed with Supervisors Stacey Walker and Ben Rogers voting against it, and with Supervisor Louie Zumbach voting for it.