Local Government

Also in this week’s Government Notes, the city of Cedar Rapids and Cedar Rapids schools will host an open house to discuss a green schoolyard initiative on Tuesday.

Hiawatha residents and leaders will honor the Linn County town’s history and look toward its future this month with a June 14 community celebration to mark the city’s 75th anniversary.

A proposed 192-unit affordable housing development in southwest Cedar Rapids aims to complement and support the ongoing construction of the city’s new Westside Library.

The City of Marion has updated its city code relating to weeds to define guidelines for natural landscaping.

Iowa City will nearly double the amount of money it provides to area nonprofits after the city council voted Tuesday to increase funding in the city’s Aid to Agencies fund by $350,000, to nearly $1.1 million.

The Iowa City Council is moving forward with plans to put a 1 percent local-option sales tax on the general election ballot this fall. If a majority of voters give their approval, the tax could raise as much as $8-10 million each year.

District 1 is one of five Cedar Rapids City Council seats up for election this fall. The window for candidates to file to run for office opens Aug. 25 and closes Sept. 18.

Also in Government Notes, the Hawkeye Area Labor Council announced it is endorsing the Cedar Rapids school bond that will go to voters in November.

Iowa City’s Burlington Street Bridge is crossed by nearly 19,000 vehicles each day. But it is deteriorating. A 2021 report described the structure as being in “poor” condition and “structurally deficient.” City leaders are working with the University of Iowa and Iowa DOT to plan for replacement of the structure, work that could begin by 2028 or 2029.

The City of Coralville is pausing a project that would have added two new baseball diamonds to the Coralville Youth Sports Park after construction bids came in higher than expected.

The action plan builds on findings from a recent survey of area music industry professionals.

Summer in the Square, a new community program, will offer weekly programming at downtown Cedar Rapids’ Greene Square. The schedule includes a mostly free mix of concerts, fitness classes, hands-on kids activities and more.