Who will manage downtown Cedar Rapids’ business district? Panel taps familiar consultant to advise

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Denver-based consultants the city tapped to draft a new vision plan guiding the revitalization of downtown Cedar Rapids will advise on possible changes to the structure of downtown’s managing entity.

As the Downtown Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District Commission contemplates changing which entity manages its operations, it has enlisted Progressive Urban Management Associates to advise on the process. The SSMID’s structure has been a sticking point for some — but not all — council members who see it as a key in driving the newly adopted plan guiding downtown’s future, as some initiatives will take partnerships and investment among public and private partners to bring to life.

The Downtown SSMID Commission is a mayor-appointed panel that oversees the district where a tax is levied on property owners for beautification projects, programming and maintenance. The commission is forming a task force to make a recommendation on its structure, which the whole SSMID will eventually vote on.

The Cedar Rapids City Council in December adopted a new Downtown Vision Plan that PUMA, the consultants, drafted with community input to provide a five-year guide to transform downtown. This plan identifies strategies and entities responsible for executing about 70 initiatives to spark new life into downtown as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vision plan is a collaboration between the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, the Downtown SSMID, the city of Cedar Rapids, Linn County and the 2001 Development Corp. — a local property ownership group that has bought and sold downtown buildings over the last 30 years.

To strengthen downtown services and implement plan recommendations, and align with the practices of most cities nationwide, the plan suggests “a strengthened public/private downtown management approach.” It outlined the pros and cons of the existing management structure and explored two alternatives: creating a more distinct downtown business center within the alliance or having the SSMID contract with an independent nonprofit.

For the last 12 years, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance has housed all downtown management and marketing responsibilities. Nikki Wilcox, the alliance’s strategic development director, works with new program manager Jennifar Bassett on downtown initiatives — Wilcox on administrative and strategic tasks, and Bassett on building relationships with downtown stakeholders and executing SSMID goals.

Because of a lack of consensus between Cedar Rapids city officials, the SSMID and the alliance on the structure of organizations managing downtown, PUMA President Brad Segal previously said the consultants did not make a recommendation for which option was best. The plan urges “a business plan for the preferred option and a collaboration commitment from the three key leaders — the city, Economic Alliance and the SSMID.”

When adopting the plan, Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said “future conversations about organizational structure are going to be critical to the success of this plan.” Council member Ann Poe initially suggested tabling the plan’s consideration until a structure was determined, but ultimately the plan passed with unanimous support among the nine-member council. Others, including council member Dale Todd, said it was important to begin action on the goals of the plan.

SSMID commission chair James Klein, president of Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, said it likely will take 90 days for the task force to complete its work. Commission member Randy Rings, TrueNorth’s general counsel, will chair the task force.

PUMA has given the SSMID recommendations on who should be on this panel. In the coming weeks, Rings will review recommendations provided by PUMA and ask appropriate people to be on the task force, Wilcox said.

Wilcox said the SSMID is paying for the task force’s work. PUMA advises on building SSMIDs, or “Business Improvement Districts,” in other cities and consultants will show the task force best practices of similar cities nationwide, she said, so “we’re excited to have their expertise.”

“They know exactly how our city functions because they have personally talked to over 250 stakeholders in Cedar Rapids” in the downtown plan’s formation, Wilcox said.

The 15-member commission has the final vote on the structure. The city council recently approved appointing Graig Cone, owner of Black Sheep and Pickle Palace, to the commission, but one vacancy remains.

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