Our CR Magazine - August 2020

C I T Y

O F

C E D A R

R A P I D S

SUSTAINABLE

CITY

Acting today for a better tomorrow

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A U G U S T

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AUGUST 2020

FROM THE

FROM THE CITY MANAGER • SPECIAL SECTION • DIRECTORIES •

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FALL PLAY! GUIDE •

CITY MANAGER

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Sustainability is a fundamental component of building a strong

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community, and is embedded in the core of the work we do at the City of Cedar Rapids. Encouraging sustainable practices and creating sustainable solutions is engrained in our organizational culture, and is a key focus for every City department.

On the cover: The Sinclair Levee, part of the City’s permanent Flood Control System, has been recognized for its sustainable infrastructure and cultural amenities that will last for generations to come.

In an effort to demonstrate our continuing commitment to making Cedar Rapids a more sustainable community, in 2012 the Cedar Rapids City Council adopted Guiding Principles of Sustainability for the City of Cedar Rapids, and the City launched the iGreenCR initiative. The “i” represents our City’s investment in making more sustainable choices, as well as the commitment made by each individual to making more sustainable choices in their daily lives.

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Through our ongoing iGreenCR initiatives — all emphasizing the

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importance of creating ongoing sustainable, renewable practices — the City of Cedar Rapids is working to become a national model for environmental excellence.

Creating a green, sustainable city requires a commitment from City government, as well as every business, organization and individual. Not only can sustainable practices create a healthier, happier environment for residents, but when public and private organizations become better stewards of the environment, they create positive economic benefits for themselves and the entire community.

The City of Cedar Rapids is a community focused on sustainability.

None of the initiatives highlighted in this magazine would be possible without the collaboration and participation of the community we serve. I look forward to continuing to build on our

Interested in Advertising With Us? Contact the Our CR Communications Coordinator at 319-286-5742.

momentum as we work to improve our community for today and for the next generation.

Jeffrey Pomeranz Cedar Rapids City Manager

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hen someone mentions sustainability, it is typical to think of recycling, composting, or using a rain barrel to capture stormwater for reuse in the garden. Maybe you’ve replaced all the light bulbs in your home with energy-efficient LEDs or made a conscious effort to unplug tech gadgets that aren’t in use.

While these green initiatives are all important components of sustainability, to be truly sustainable is to be able to withstand the test of time. A sustainable city is able to provide residents with all of the needs of today without depleting the resources future generations will need. And so, when the City of Cedar Rapids measures sustainability, it looks to assess and improve not only its environmental health, but also its social and economic health in a holistic way over time.

This is referred to as the triple bottom line of sustainability.

Sustainability efforts are not new for the City of Cedar Rapids. What is new in 2020 is the iGreenCR Action Plan — built from many years of momentum and success toward triple-bottom-line goals across City departments. In January, City staff formalized the iGreenCR Action Plan to further chart commitment to leadership and innovation across four areas of work, or elements — resources, nature, development, and community. Goals within each element address environmental, social, and economic health.

This issue highlights a few of the many initiatives underway to ensure Cedar Rapids’ future as a healthy, enduring community.

THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE OF SUSTAINABILITY CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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SYLVIA BRUECKERT PLANNER

My Job

Urban planning

helps build an environment that supports social, environmental, and economic sustainability.

We create neighborhoods where people are able to access the necessities of daily living that are accessible by walking, biking, or using transit. Urban design helps develop public spaces where people can gather and enjoy recreation, which can help increase a sense of connection to the community. The planning division engages the community whenever we develop plans. These plans range from EnvisionCR, which covers the entire city, to neighborhood or corridor plans that focus on more specific areas. Community outreach is a key part of our work and helps us identify issues in the community and develop solutions.

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SUSTAINABILITY JOB PHILLIP PLATZ

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

As Utilities Communications Specialist,

I am part of the team that provides residents with information, responds to questions, and interacts with the media. My job is to connect people to Utilities resources and programs and ensure the public has access to information regarding our long-term planning and sustainability goals. Each Utilities division is connected to sustainability — whether it is finding ways to reuse energy and resources created during the wastewater treatment process; connecting residents to sustainability tools; or getting the best use out of garbage, recycling and composted items. Part of my role involves working on the iGreenCR Action Plan and Sustainable Solutions taskforce. Each day, my work is linked to engaging in and promoting the City’s work to become economically, socially and environmentally healthy.

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ERIC HOLTHAUS

SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR

My job

as the City’s Sustainability Coordinator involves working with the community and City staff on sustainability projects and issues. I helped the City complete their STAR Community assessment that measured sustainability performance across 49 different objectives — covering environmental, social, and economic health.

I also worked with City staff to create a municipal sustainability plan, the iGreenCR Action Plan. I oversee progress to make sure we are consistently working towards achieving our goals. Currently, I am working to create a Community Climate Action Plan.

My job involves a lot of coordination and facilitation, all rooted in the pursuit of a healthy planet and healthy people.

My job allows me

STEFANIE MUNSTERMAN-SCRIVEN

to help residents to become more sustainable. Following a Solarize Linn County program, we saw an increase in PV solar systems and permits. We wanted to support residents in using solar energy. A team of individuals in multiple departments involved in permitting got together to make the process easier. We combined the permits into one permit, one review and one fee. We also transitioned to software that allows homeowners to submit permits through email and have them reviewed electronically, more quickly. Our changes allowed the City to support the increase in residential solar use and made our processes more efficient.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CEDAR RAPIDS CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION

The connection

between civil rights and sustainability is embedded in all systems of every community and includes access to safe and affordable housing, equitable employment and education opportunities, and having the power to influence change in your community. I lead the Civil Rights Commission in providing education and outreach to marginalized populations who have historically endured an unequal share of environmental harm. The Commission helps individuals with filing and investigating complaints, holding mediation to resolve allegations, referring individuals to agencies for assistance and safeguarding the rights of all residents. I am honored to be entrusted with the critical effort of ensuring all community members have equal opportunities.

LONIQUE SCOTT

HOUSING SERVICES

Housing

impacts every facet of a person’s life. When an individual or family has stable housing that is clean and affordable, they can focus on other things like taking care of their family, improving their health, getting an education, or managing their job. Studies show that financially helping individuals secure stable housing is more cost effective long-term than assisting them with finding shelter, medical, and judicial services. Many times, people only need gap assistance to get them through a tough time. Providing temporary assistance, like our Eviction Prevention Program, has helped families stay in their homes. My job helps sustain the social fabric of our community, one family at a time.

TARIQ BALOCH

WATER UTILITY PLANT MANAGER

My job

focuses on the essential service of providing quality drinking water to our residents, commercial businesses, industry and customers. Working with a team of engineers and plant staff, I plan for growth and infrastructure needs to meet water demands in Cedar Rapids today and in the future. I manage the costs of our operation to help keep water bills reasonable and affordable. I also provide information and participate in meetings with schools, businesses, and organizations throughout the state and nation. We work collaboratively to lead environmental initiatives that benefit Eastern Iowa. Our entire Water team works every minute of every day, seven days a week to ensure water is on tap.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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ELEMENT:

This element focuses on resource conservation and clean energy utilization. Action steps are meant to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste, with the overall goal of creating a healthier environment in which to live.

Developing a Community Climate Action Plan & Greenhouse Gas Inventory

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ccording to the Iowa Flood Center’s (IFC) Update 2020 report, Iowa’s wettest two-year period on record wasn’t decades upon decades ago. It was last year and the year prior. From January 2018 through December 2019, communities across the Midwest experienced unprecedented flooding.

IFC was created during the recovery and aftermath of the record-setting 2008 flood. The flood devastated downtown Cedar Rapids and communities throughout Eastern Iowa. Data from the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service website show an increased frequency and severity of flood events in Cedar Rapids over time.

As described in the Iowa Policy Project’s 2019 report on Climate Change and Flooding, an understanding of past and future climate events is based in the fundamental physics that define Earth’s atmosphere. Since the mid-1800s, scientists have studied the robust connections between natural and human-induced climate change. The prevailing knowledge has been since proven by thousands of scientists worldwide, with the aid of

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today’s powerful computing. We now know that the composition of earth’s atmosphere determines how much of the sun’s energy is stored as heat and how much escapes back into space.

Small changes in this balance can dramatically shift global temperature, cloud formation, and precipitation.

In 2015, the City of Cedar Rapids’ Comprehensive Plan, EnvisionCR, charted a new roadmap for the community’s future. Under the strategic plan, City Council called for the preparation of a Community-wide Climate Action Plan (CCAP), meant to address greenhouse gas emissions from land use, transportation, street lights, water consumption, waste generation, and building energy. In January, the iGreenCR Action Plan formally launched the CCAP planning process.

Then in February, Cedar Rapids City Council passed a resolution further

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recognizing the urgency for community climate action. Consequently, City staff will develop a community-wide greenhouse gas inventory to inform development of the CCAP. Efforts to mitigate greenhouse gases will include carbon, methane, black carbon, and coal reduction as well as an increased use of renewable resources.

In Midwestern states, as heavy rain events, river flooding, and major heat events increase, communities can choose to build resilience to these events and work to reduce greenhouse gases which contribute, or they can bear the economic and societal costs associated with inaction. For Cedar Rapids, our strategy is a proactive one of studying the sources of greenhouse gases in our community, increasing use of green energy, lining our streets with trees, and building infrastructure that increases resource-efficient mobility options. These are hallmarks of great

communities — and the outcomes also deliver benefits to those most vulnerable to climate hazards.

One of the primary climate hazards anticipated to affect Cedar Rapids is increased flooding. As you’ll read on page 14, building the Cedar River Flood Control System is a major initiative meant to adapt our city for a future where major flood events are increasingly common. Other work includes prioritizing stormwater management and green infrastructure, which may not only reduce water quantity challenges, but also improve the quality of water heading downstream. In these ways, the CCAP considers not just ways we can mitigate climate change, but also identifies work we can do to adapt and prepare for projected future conditions.

Climate change is expected to continually introduce more extreme weather and seasonal anomalies to Iowans and to residents in Cedar Rapids. Longer stretches of unusually hot days will become increasingly dangerous to people without access to air conditioning, or who are unable to commute by car. Responding to a flood emergency will be more difficult for those without emergency funds, those who do not understand the language in which emergency information is distributed, and the elderly.

EMPOWERING SOLAR

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n the past five years, green energy technologies have become more efficient and cost-effective. At the same time, City departments have worked to energize the community by streamlining solar energy permitting, inspection, and zoning for commercial and residential installations.

In 2017, the City held its first Solar Group Buy program.

The program helped more than 100 homes in Linn County save money while installing more than 600 kilowatts (kW) of solar energy.

For this work and more in the field of solar energy, Cedar Rapids became the first community in Iowa to receive a SolSmart gold rating. The designation is given to communities which work to remove installation barriers and foster the adoption of solar energy.

New solar energy objectives under the iGreenCR Action Plan include:

Because people with existing burdens or vulnerabilities are likely to be impacted the most by climate change, the CCAP planning process will prioritize historically underrepresented residents in the development process and through the plan’s outcomes. The goal is to identify and respond to the human needs of our community, including access to clean water, clean air, healthy food, green space, nature, green jobs, and training programs.

“A focus on equity is important for creating solutions that do not further exacerbate technology or prosperity gaps,” explained Eric Holthaus, City Sustainability Coordinator.

“While you can imagine solar energy and electric vehicles are important components in mitigating climate change, an equity lens recognizes that these cannot be the only solutions.

With an equity lens, we broaden the focus to include actions that can benefit all of our residents, including improved home energy efficiency, transit and mobility infrastructure, weatherization, and so on.”

The planning process will entail a year of public engagement to determine climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for the entire community. The plan will further bolster Cedar Rapids’ reputation as an environmental leader in the Midwest. Follow the planning process at www.iGreenCR.com. 

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

Research and implement smalland large-scale solar and energystorage opportunities.

The City already uses solar power at four of its facilities, totaling more than 200kW in energy and saving over $10,000 every year. The City used a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to finance the solar arrays, only paying for the electricity (at a lower rate than regular electricity) with no capital costs. Staff will work to expand this program and find additional solar and energy storage opportunities in the years ahead.

Participate in additional solar group-buy programs.

For a second time in 2019, Cedar Rapids teamed up with Linn County and other partners to install more than 700kW of solar energy on 90 properties. Nearly 500 residents attended educational “Power Hours” to learn how to green their energy. The program will be available again in 2021.

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IMPROVING HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY

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lugging a drafty window or leaky door can make a big difference on your home energy bill. While it isn’t always easy to identify problem areas, energy efficiency auditors with Green Iowa Americorps have the tools needed to improve air infiltration in old and new homes alike.

“Using a blower-door test and conducting pressure readings inside and outside of the house, our team determines how much air is leaking out and can identify the biggest areas of concern,” said Nathan Daniel, audit coordinator for Green Iowa Americorps in Cedar Rapids. “Then we make fixes or provide recommendations to save energy.”

The group’s Home Energy Performance Audit assesses how houses consume energy and identifies measures owners can take to improve efficiency. The audit also approximates money lost each year due to inefficient insulation or appliances. While

the savings can add up for homeowners, the iGreenCR Action Plan envisions a community where such audits — and energy efficiency tools, such as LED light bulbs — are made available to more than 1,000 homes by 2023. That’s why the City has partnered with the local nonprofit group Matthew 25 to support Green Iowa Americorps energy audits in our community.

After initial audits are performed and results assessed, a team member schedules a weatherization appointment to address problem areas. Teams can spend between two to eight hours reducing air infiltration and making efficiency improvements. The cost for services is always free, although donations are requested to offset materials costs.

Common improvements include window frame caulking and sealing, weather stripping along door frames, electrical

outlet and water pipe insulation, and foundation and HVAC sealing.

When finished, teams conduct a postweatherization audit to calculate the effectiveness of the service. The group also educates residents with energy- and money-saving strategies and can refer folks to their local utility providers for additional energy-efficiency program information.

Audits are open to the entire public. Some services may be modified or otherwise affected by COVID-19. Learn more at greeniowaamericorps.org 

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

MEDICATION PROCEDURE If you haven’t upgraded your toilet in a while, you could be flushing money down the drain and not even know it! The iGreenCR Action Plan seeks to provide more residents with insight into effective water conservation — and a means to save some cash.

The Cedar Rapids Utilities Department’s popular “Water Wise” program provides up to $75 rebates when replacing old toilets with EPA WaterSenselabeled High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs). Rebates up to $50 are also available for the purchase and installation of rain barrels and rain sensors for lawn irrigation systems.

Sometimes a simple process change can result in more efficient use of resources.

Firefighters, who are all trained at the Emergency Medical Technician level with one-third of the firefighters at the paramedic level, provide out-of-hospital emergency care to the sick and injured. Aspirin and glucose paste are two medications that firefighters have available for cardiac and diabetic emergencies. Prior to a change in the pharmacy program between the Fire Department and Area Ambulance Service, firefighters would need to travel to a local hospital’s pharmacy after any of these medications were used, resulting in increased fuel consumption and out-of-service times for the firefighter crew.

Firefighters would also have to regularly make trips to the pharmacy when medications expired.

The Fire Department now acquires medications through a secure vending machine system with the medications purchased by Area Ambulance Service. Area Ambulance Service also visits the nine Cedar Rapids fire stations monthly and replaces soon-to-expire medications.

By the same token, the ambulance personnel provide replacement medications that were used by firefighters to provide care to a patient before the ambulance departs to transport the patient to the hospital.

A cost analysis report found that just four eliminated trips from an outlying fire station to the pharmacy was enough to pay for a one year supply of over-the-counter medications for the entire department. In other words, after the need for just four trips was eliminated, there has been both a monetary and emissions savings.

According to Training Chief Jason Andrews, “Managing resources is an essential part of serving our community. This was a quick win that improved service delivery, reduced demand for resources, and keeps firefighters available for other emergencies.” 

“Older toilets can waste three to five gallons of water per flush,” shared Holly Ruble, rebate coordinator and City environmental specialist. “In even a small household, that much water really adds up.” Ruble said replacing one toilet could save a household of four as much as $40 per year on their water bill.

Rain sensor and rain barrel rebates can also rake in the savings. Ruble calculated, “Using a rain sensor to interrupt a sprinkler system when your lawn is already wet can save nearly $20 per cycle.” That’s based on a quarter-acre lawn and irrigation cycle of half an inch of water.

Act fast! The rebate programs run through at least September 15 of this year, with some rebates extending through December 31. The program is subject to availability of funds and other restrictions.

Learn more and apply at

CityofCR.com/WaterWise 9

ELEMENT:

This element explores how partnering with nature’s ecosystem services can improve public health. Action steps are meant to increase our resilience to high heat and heavy rainfall events and help insect species avoid population collapse.

MORE THAN A CENTURY OF SUSTAINABILITY

The City of Cedar Rapids Utilities Department has a long history of leadership and foresight in the arena of sustainability.

Records from its earliest days as the Cedar Rapids Water Company prove its example in considering social, economic, and environmental responsibility as guiding compasses.

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construction and monitoring costs at their own facilities.

When the water system came online in 1875, its sole purpose was to supply water capacity to the City’s firefighters.

Thirteen years later, the City realized the value and convenience its system could provide residents, and began pumping drinking water to their homes. By 1896, Cedar Rapids became one of the first American cities to adopt “rapid sand filtration,” which allowed water drawn directly from the Cedar River to be treated for consumption — and allowed the Water Company to expand its supply capacity.

By the 1970s, Americans were taking an even more critical look at the condition of their water supplies and Cedar Rapids began planning for the next generation of treatment processes. By 1980, construction was completed on a new Water Pollution Control Facility (WPC). Grants through the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as authorized by the 1972 Clean Water Act paid for most of the plant construction costs.

Unfortunately, federal programs in place today through EPA only provide loans instead of grants, as communities put together funding programs to replace and update their wastewater treatment operations.

That capacity would become important as an economic driver for the community’s increasing manufacturing and agricultural base. In 1934, Cedar Rapids became the first city in Iowa to undertake sewage treatment on an all-inclusive basis, pioneering joint treatment with industries. Joint treatment allows industries to send their untreated waste streams to a central treatment location, saving on

Today, as portions of the WPC near the end of their useful life, the Utilities Department continues in its methodical pursuit of triple-bottomline sustainability while planning for the future. Acknowledging continued environmental concerns surrounding the condition of Iowa’s water quality — and room for improvements in energy consumption and conservation — the Department performed a

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rigorous planning effort to align future improvements with the City’s sustainability goals.

“We didn’t want to take a one-sizefits-all approach,” explained Steve Hershner, Utilities Director for the City.

“One of our advantages is our unique relationship with residents, industries, and producers upstream. We spent more than four years devising a plan that could blend those relationships to improve the quality of water leaving our treatment facility, reduce the risk of flooding and drought, reduce our carbon footprint, and improve soil quality for farmers upstream.”

The WPC Plan for the Future charts more than 20 years of Capital Improvements Projects. The plan incorporates needed replacements for aging facilities and additionally focuses on the ability to use wastewater as a resource. Recovered energy can help power the resource-intensive plant.

Biogas created by the system can be scrubbed and re-injected into the natural gas supply. Nutrients from biosolids created in the treatment process could also be extracted and reused.

This holistic approach will likewise help the department meet the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, which calls for a 75 percent reduction in phosphorus and 67 percent reduction in nitrogen from point-

source pollution, or plants like WPC which send treated water back into the river. These reductions will reduce our impact on the Cedar River and also reduce contributions to the Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” — a large area where pollution has killed fish and other aquatic life.

The City has also taken steps to improve water quality in the upstream watershed, having recently completed the fiveyear Middle Cedar Partnership Project. The project provided for collaboration between the City and partners upstream to install Best Management Practices (BMPs) on more than 28,000 acres. Such practices have triple-bottom-line impacts.

They improve water quality, they improve soil health to increase farmland yields and they improve water quantity.

By holding moisture in place upstream, downstream flooding decreases; the practices can also provide a moisture reserve in times of drought.

The City also contributed to the development of the 2018 Farm Bill, which increased funding options for communities and producers to collaborate on conservation practices supporting nutrient reduction. While the MCPP ended this year, the City of Cedar Rapids is pursuing approval of several additional projects that will continue our work with different upstream farmers or increase the intensity of conservation practice adoption and installation with our existing network of watershed partners.

This work has been incorporated into the WPC improvements

plan and operations budget. The City is currently partnering with the Iowa Soybean Association and Cargill to pilot a nutrient exchange program. Money spent on BMPs upstream can offset the need for future construction at WPC, changing the speed and scale at which regulatory nutrient reductions need to be accomplished.

The City can receive credits for nutrient reduction; Cargill can receive credits for carbon sequestration; cleaner water can be verifiably achieved upstream; challenges of flooding and drought can be addressed; and farmers can benefit from healthier soil. Furthermore, the farmers’ crops become fuel for the city’s agricultural industries. These are triple-bottom-line impacts from a utilities department that has seen the benefits of a focus on environmental, economic, and social health for 145 years. 

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POLLINATORS AND PEST CONTROL

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ne of the ways that the City improves the environment for citizens is by utilizing industry-wide best practices to enhance biodiversity. Working to better ecosystems locally boosts public health. Two of the most significant programs are prairie plantings for pollinators, and reducing the use of pesticides on City properties.

way organizations in the area have tackled this issue cooperatively and the support that the private community has provided,� said Brent Neighbor, Parks Superintendent.

The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department has been on the forefront of creating pollinator habitat within an urban park setting. Pollinators play a critical role in maintaining diverse ecosystems and contribute to production of more than thirty percent of our food. The first prairies on City property were installed more than ten years ago along the city trail system.

Cedar Rapids also teamed up with the Monarch Research Project and other local government organizations to address the long-term implications of the dwindling number of pollinators. The group committed to convert underutilized public land in Linn County into prairie pollinator zones with a goal of planting 1,000 acres within five years. At year four of the goal, the project is on track with 892 acres planted. The City of Cedar Rapids alone has planted 300 acres of prairie in parks, along trails, on golf courses, on right-of-ways, and near storm and sewer detention basins. “We are proud of the

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To further support increases in the number of pollinators and to improve the environment, the City aligned with iGreenCR to establish guidelines for reduced use of pesticides. The Parks and Recreation Department uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the guiding principle for deciding whether or not to use a pesticide. IPM applies common-sense practices using information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment.

When combined with pest control methods, this allows the City to manage pests in an economical way that has minimal negative impact to people, property, and the environment. The process involves monitoring and identifying pests, and taking action when preventive methods are not available or effective. The least risky pest control methods are chosen first to avoid the use of pesticides. 

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ADD A RAIN GARDEN TO REDUCE STORMWATER RUNOFF

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tormwater is water originating from rainfall or snowmelt. Unlike the sewer system connected to your sink or shower drain, stormwater is carried by curbs, open drainage ways, and storm sewers directly into local streams and rivers without treatment. Pollutants and debris are often picked up along the way.

The City is invested in reducing urban runoff, contamination carried to our streams and rivers by stormwater. A portion of landowners’ Stormwater Utility Fee is reserved for projects that promote infiltration, a process which allows water to soak into the soil instead of run into the storm sewer system.

Any project that promotes infiltration is eligible to apply for the City’s Stormwater Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program.

The program provides partial reimbursement up to 50 percent of project costs for commercial and residential projects.

The iGreenCR Action Plan calls for 100 percent of annually allocated Stormwater BMP cost-share dollars to be put to use each year by 2023.

GROWING

C

OUR FUTURE

edar Rapids tackles both environmental and social sustainability issues with a unique approach. The City partnered with Trees Forever’s Growing Futures program to provide more opportunities for teen job employment and improve the health of the urban canopy. Through the Growing Futures program, teens are employed to plant trees in neighborhoods that lack tree cover throughout the spring, summer and fall. These trees reduce storm water runoff, clean the air, save energy, and improve mental and physical health.

Teens work in teams of seven to ten, and are provided with career readiness opportunities that will help them be future leaders in the community. In addition to planting trees, they learn about tree identification, conflict resolution, first aid, financial literacy, and building a resume.

While the program was paused this past spring and summer due to COVID-19, the City is excited about the potential that this partnership holds. “We are excited to participate in this program that not only benefits the community through additional trees planted, but really engages teens who are chosen to lead in their neighborhoods,” said Todd Fagan, City Arborist.

The Cedar Rapids Growing Futures program is sponsored by the City of Cedar Rapids, Transamerica, United Fire Group, Alliant Energy, and the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. 

Example projects include rain gardens, bioretention cells, permeable pavers, and soil quality restoration. Cara Matteson, Stormwater Program Manager for the City, said projects can be simple and practical, yet beautiful. “Rain gardens are one attractive way to help reduce the risk of localized flooding and stormwater pollution,” Matteson remarked.

Matteson also explained, “The program is a winwin for customers and the City. For half the cost, homeowners can improve their properties and play an active role in improving the City’s water quality and storm sewer system performance.”

Learn more at CityofCR.com/stormwater

We are excited to participate in this program that not only benefits the community through additional trees planted, but really engages teens who are chosen to lead in their neighborhoods.”

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ELEMENT:

This element leverages our built environment to conserve resources, enhance the community’s long-term financial position, and improve social equity to create a more vibrant city.

Beyond Flood Control Fighting with Sustainable Solutions

The Flood Control System has been recognized for its sustainable infrastructure, including the use of stormwater best management practices.

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lood threats are a part of life in Cedar Rapids. Since 2000, the Cedar River has reached flood stage fifteen times. Since 2010, there have been seven major flood level events, including the second highest crest on record in 2016. While the City has become adept at flood fighting and constructing temporary measures, the long-term goal is a permanent system that increases our resiliency against environmental hazards in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

The Flood Control System — with segments underway now in a variety of locations up and down the river — incorporates environmentally and socially conscious engineering to not only reduce the risk of flooding, but also provide for recreational amenities and spur economic growth.

In 2019, the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) awarded the

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Cedar Rapids’ Flood Control System with the Envision Bronze rating for sustainable infrastructure. The Cedar Rapids project was the third Envision award granted to an infrastructure project in the state of Iowa. The Envision sustainable infrastructure rating system assesses sustainability in five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Natural World, Resource Allocation, and Climate and Risk. These contribute to positive social, economic, and environmental impacts on a community during the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects.

The award recognized flood control efforts in the NewBo/Sinclair District, an area previously classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a brownfield site. The flood control project, which included a levee, pump station, and detention basin, turned otherwise unusable land into a public asset, complete with stormwater best management practices, bioretention areas, and recreational amenities such as a twelve-foot walking trail. This area is just one example of a system built to do more than fight floods — incorporating environmental, recreational, and cultural amenities that will make the system unique to the Cedar Rapids community.  AUGUST 2020

Preserving H

istoric structures are one of the most unique ways of expressing a community’s heritage. No other city will have the same buildings, same characteristics, and the same stories as those found in your community. What’s more, preserving historical structures can be more cost-effective and less resource intensive than building new. In Cedar Rapids, work is ongoing to preserve these buildings and their stories for generations to come.

The City recently completed a historic survey of one unique neighborhood on the SE side, Bever Woods, named after Sampson Bever, a banker who came to Cedar Rapids in 1852 with his wife and children. The 59-acre neighborhood holds more than 120 housing lots of beautifully diverse sizes and styles. At the time, a streetcar line traversed through Bever Avenue and Grande Avenue, serving the western neighborhoods of Cedar Rapids.

Homebuyers had the opportunity to purchase a lot and build a custom-

designed house to their liking when the neighborhood was consolidated in the 1920s. Early residents included merchants, businessmen, and professionals from middle- to upper-class backgrounds. The diversity of lot sizes and flexibility of allowable house size made for a variety of social classes living in the same neighborhood.

The Bever Woods area underwent intensive historic survey in 2019-2020, as recommended in the City’s Historic Preservation Plan. The process included archival research and fieldwork, along with photography to document buildings in the area. The survey revealed that the neighborhood is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, which provides for protection and preservation, adding the neighborhood to a public, searchable database and documenting its historic

significance.

Criteria for being added to the National Register includes age of the structures or neighborhood, integrity and whether a structure retains historic appearances, and significance to historic people or events. The formal application to be added to the National Register will begin soon. The Bever Woods neighborhood also has the ability to register as a Local Historic District. Cedar Rapids currently has two local historic districts: 2nd and 3rd Avenue Historic District, and Redmond Park - Grande Avenue Historic District. 

To learn more about historic districts, visit CityofCR.com/hpc

RECENTLY DESIGNATED HISTORIC LANDMARKS

1228 3rd Avenue SE

905 3rd Street SE

1700 B Avenue NE

• Locally landmarked on January 22, 2019

• Currently known as Bottleworks Condominium

• Locally landmarked on June 23, 2020

• Locally landmarked on June 25, 2019

• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing resource to the B Avenue NE National Historic District

THE PERKINS HOUSE

• House was built in 1897 • Designed by local architect Charles A. Dieman • Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 for its distinct architectural features, including the two-and-a-half story tower; large, prominent chimney on the front façade; the open portico porch with round-arched brick columns, and a Palladian window on the east side of the house.

WITWER GROCERY COMPANY

• Built in 1946 • Listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significant contribution to Cedar Rapids history • Last multi-story factory/warehouse built along any of the Cedar Rapids railroad industrial corridors • Important locally-owned grocery wholesaler C E DinA Cedar R - R ARapids PIDS.ORG

CENTRAL PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • Built in 1904

• Connection to the William Waterhouse family, who were significant in the development of the Central Park Neighborhood, the church, and downtown Cedar Rapids • Connection to famed artist Grant Wood, who attended the church as a child

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS QUALITY OF LIFE

E

conomic sustainability promotes the use of economic resources in an efficient and responsible way that provides our community with long-term benefits and profitability. A successful business community directly impacts our residents’ quality of life by helping to support local amenities, offering a variety of job opportunities, and improving the overall economy. The City of Cedar Rapids is committed to supporting our local economy by attracting new business, helping existing businesses expand and grow, developing workforce initiatives, and a variety of other activities.

BUSINESS ATTRACTION

BUSINESS RETENTION

Cedar Rapids has a longstanding reputation as a strong, supportive business environment. That’s why we are an ideal location for companies, from small businesses to global enterprises.

Retaining businesses in Cedar Rapids is an important part of increasing economic opportunity and prosperity for all citizens who live, work, or visit our community. For several years, the City of Cedar Rapids has conducted business retention visits in order to learn more about local business successes and challenges and to identify possible solutions for any difficulties local businesses are experiencing.

Local leaders work to streamline processes and permitting, and to create incentive programs that reward companies for making investments. Depending upon a company’s specific needs and plans, available programs include small business assistance, tax increment financing (TIF), workforce training programs, redevelopment tax credits, innovation funding, corporate tax credits, research activities credits, and other business incentives.

The City’s Economic Development staff meet with a representative cross-section of Cedar Rapids businesses — major employers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startups — to help minimize obstacles and challenges to growth that may be facing a company.

The City of Cedar Rapids is proud of the businesses that have chosen our community to provide goods and services, as well as use our talented workforce. Retaining these businesses by helping them grow and thrive is a continuing goal of the City’s economic development strategy.

Cedar Rapids Economic Development Services staff works with companies to find economic development program options that fit their specific needs. This work is critical to ensure the ongoing economic vitality of our city.

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AUGUST 2020

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Workforce continues to be a focus for many area businesses.

The City, along with local partners, works on a number of initiatives to assist with workforce development and recruitment.

In response to economic changes due to the pandemic, the City of Cedar Rapids, the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids regional development organization (ICR IOWA), Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD), Kirkwood Community College, and other area economic development organizations, have partnered to measure and respond to current workforce needs in our region. The first step in this process was to develop and collect responses via a workforce survey to measure the current state for area businesses. The survey measured changes to business practices, recent and anticipated staffing changes, positions indicted as most challenging to fill, and employers’ interest in economic development focus in the coming year. Survey information will inform future workforce strategies to help businesses during their recovery.

ISU PARTNERSHIP Iowa State University (ISU) and the City of Cedar Rapids maintain a unique collaborative partnership to increase cooperation and information exchange between faculty research and the City’s agribusiness, food manufacturing, and bioprocessing industries.

Businesses in Cedar Rapids benefit by having connection to the resources, research, and innovation framework available at Iowa State. The partnership also focuses on education — providing relevant seminars, round-table discussions and forums for industry leaders to interact and learn. These ongoing partnerships and interactions lead to new discoveries and advance productivity to keep anchor industries competitive. This partnership shows our commitment to the growth and advancement of existing industry in Cedar Rapids.

Opportunity Zones Encourage Community Investment

Going forward, City staff will work to connect directly with the business community in an effort to identify workforce retention and recruitment to bridge gaps between local community members looking for an opportunity and local businesses.

The Opportunity Zones incentive is a community investment tool established by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communities nationwide. Opportunity Zones provide a tax incentive for investors to re-invest their unrealized capital gains into dedicated Opportunity Funds.

Cedar Rapids has three designated Opportunity Zones: Census Tracts 19 (0.7 square miles including downtown,

MARKETING

MedQuarter, and Coe College), 22 (0.6 square miles including Kingston Village and Taylor neighborhood), and 27 (1 square

In order to put Cedar Rapids’ best foot forward, the City’s Economic Development Division developed a comprehensive marketing plan focused specifically on economic development.

mile including NewBo and Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood).

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The City’s Economic Development website (EconomicDevelopmentCR.com) is designed specifically to meet the needs of corporate executives, site consultants, and real estate brokers. The website provides specific information pertaining to each one of our target industries, as well as information for entrepreneurs and retailers.

Maps show an external audience the benefits of our central locations, and show a snapshot of distances and drive times for potential customers. The site also highlights the core districts and quality of life amenities of Cedar Rapids.

In addition to the website, the City also has branded marketing pieces for each of our main target industries, featuring subjects such as utilities, infrastructure, access to customers, etc. These contain pertinent information for specific industries, and can be used at trade shows, when visiting prospects, as mailers, in targeted emails, and in a variety of other marketing efforts.

I-380

Cottage Grove Aven

DOWNTOWN E Avenue NW

Mt Ve

KINGSTON VILLAGE

NEWBO

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I-380

Wilson Avenue SW

Bever Avenue SE

SUSTAINABLE FUTURES START

IN THE HOME

W

e all have a housing story. Perhaps you know a recent college graduate trying to find a place they can afford while they start their career. Perhaps you have aging parents who need to downsize and find quality, affordable housing. Perhaps you know someone who needs financial support in order to complete necessary home repairs. You may even know someone who is struggling to find a permanent place to live. We all have a housing story that is personal and connected to us, our families, and our communities. Understanding these stories helps shape how we use resources and respond to resident needs. Part of the City’s sustainability plan includes improving existing housing for all income levels, increasing community awareness on resident resources, and pursuing partnerships to increase services and resources for those in need, including those experiencing homelessness.

HOME REHABILITATION Housing opportunities and access remain one of the most foundational elements to residents’ quality of life. A stable and affordable home unlocks other social, emotional, and mental benefits. Cedar Rapids continues to leverage partnerships with local agencies to help revitalize existing neighborhoods.

The Affordable Housing Network has rehabilitated more than 100 homes in the Wellington Heights neighborhood on the southeast side, part of their

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Total Child program that utilizes local and state funding for neighborhood revitalization. Because of these property value improvements, access to tax increment financing became possible — which unlocked an additional $75,000 to continue home rehabilitation efforts in our core residential neighborhoods. |

AUGUST 2020

BEFORE

AFTER

In addition to the work being done by the Affordable Housing Network, the Neighborhood Finance Corporation makes it possible for more homeowners to make investments on their property. Neighborhood Finance Corporation encourages the purchase and renovation of homes in targeted Cedar Rapids neighborhoods, regardless of income level. Since the program launched in September 2018, more than 57 loans have closed, representing $2.5M in lending ($429,760 in forgivable loans and $1.3M in home renovations).

“I would 100 percent recommend NFC. It was refreshing to work with them. They were helpful from day one!” says resident Curtis, who decided to purchase his first home after securing a forgivable loan through NFC to make the necessary improvements.

Neighborhoods across the community are seeing renewed beautification and maintenance. Over time, these efforts will continue to accumulate and help transform our housing stock, attracting families, preserving property values, and supporting local business recruitment and retention efforts. To see if you qualify for home rehab assistance, visit cityofcr.com/nfc.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES During the early months of the pandemic and in the long, slow months following the immediate impacts of the virus, the City worked hard to ensure residents had access to information on rental assistance, legal aid, mental health resources, transportation, and more. Cedar Rapids partnered with The Gazette on providing an organized, categorized list of resident resources they could find all in one place.

Residents can find this master directory, which is updated constantly, at thegazette.com/ coronavirus-resident-resource. The City’s Affordable Housing Commission also quickly put together a resource sheet and distributed it to families through local landlords and also sent it through the mail in utility bills.

Housing Services staff made themselves available for town hall Zoom meetings, Facebook live events, and presentations to partner agencies such as the Civil Rights Commission. Topics were germane to the current COVID-19 crises, but also touched on a variety of housing and rental issues, such as ADA discrimination and accommodation, tenant rights, landlord rights and responsibilities, eviction moratorium, resident resources, financial advice, and even service animals.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

COMBATTING HOMELESSNESS Every year, the community’s overflow shelter usually closes in the spring. This year, with the unprecedented global pandemic hitting Iowa in March, the overflow shelter took on a different purpose, and remained open until the end of June. The City partnered with Linn County to continue these services and FEMA funding will cover the majority of costs. This facility became a refuge for those seeking shelter, medical care, and a safe place to find a meal.

Partner agencies such as Willis Dady and Waypoint provided shelter logistics and services, ensuring people experiencing homelessness knew where to go in the event they had been exposed to the virus or were experiencing symptoms.

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Urban Dreams APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

T

he City of Cedar Rapids recently contracted with Urban Dreams (UD), a Des Moines based inner city nonprofit that provides substance abuse, mental health, job training and placement, inmate reentry services, community engagement, education, and community advocacy for people of color and low-income individuals and families. Working with the City and local industry, UD will create and implement a workforce training apprenticeship program for Cedar Rapids.

The Cedar Rapids Urban Dreams program will implement a holistic approach, providing participants with preemployment training and an additional support network focused on continuous training, development, and mentoring.

Some of the strategies will include: • Establishing partnerships between Urban

• Case management assistance for all clients

Dreams and local employers to create sustainable workforce pipelines

placed by UD at participating organization/ industry partners

• Creation and implementation of a career

• Technical assistance for the organization/

readiness and “soft-skills” training course, covering skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce

industry including cultural competence training and program evaluation

“We are extremely excited to work with area businesses to create models that are specific, intentional, and will make great progress in Cedar Rapids,” said Izaah Knox, Urban Dream Executive Director. “This is a collaborative effort, and we want to partner with area businesses to help create new pipelines to diverse populations to help fill critical workforce gaps and provide brand new hope for families and individuals in the community.”

The program focuses on adults and young people from the City’s underserved and low-socioeconomic areas.

UD will work with individuals who have had barriers to success, including high school dropouts or at-risk youth, individuals lacking career guidance or understanding of career opportunities, those with prior criminal records, and those under or unemployed.

Because many people underserved, underrepresented, and living in poverty often lack some employment skills required to succeed in business, the program will include training in “soft skills,” assistance with enrollment in school where appropriate, community service requirements, and ongoing monitoring of graduates.

This innovative collaboration brings together businesses, non-profit and service organizations, and individuals for the betterment of the entire community. Urban Dreams is a significant investment in the economic and social future of Cedar Rapids. 

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AUGUST 2020

ELEMENT:

This element prioritizes equity, services, and community connectedness.

Action steps are meant to ensure residents have access to basic needs like transportation, healthy food, and meaningful work.

O

ver the past few months, parks and recreation organizations across the nation have scrambled to adjust to new health guidelines for keeping parks safe and providing recreation opportunities for citizens. From putting up signs with requirements for distancing to making decisions regarding the safety of opening pools, parks and recreation professionals had to provide services in a different way. As staff in Cedar Rapids watched what their peers were doing in other cities, they had an advantage. A plan for a mobile recreation program, the Rollin’ Recmobile, had been underway for almost a year. This model for providing recreation services directly to neighborhoods could easily be adapted to the health crisis.

The Rollin’ Recmobile supports the City’s community sustainability initiatives. With goals of increasing youth participation and reaching vulnerable populations, mobile recreation is able to support neighborhoods and reduce the financial and transportation barriers to programs. “To best support kids in neighborhoods, we recognize we have to be where they gather and can easily join in and play,” said Scott Hock, Parks and Recreation Director. “While we had been planning to launch the Rollin’ Recmobile in 2020, prior to the pandemic, the flexibility of the program made it a perfect fit for this year.”

This summer, the Rollin’ Recmobile visited fourteen park

sites each week. Many of the sites were in the urban areas of Cedar Rapids where kids have fewer recreation opportunities. Each week, the van delivered programs and materials aligned with Linn County Public Health guidelines to keep kids safe. While the intention was to move from just handing out recreation activities to doing sports and playground games with the kids, the priority of safety kept group activities out of reach.

The van stopped near splash pads in parks where kids were already gathering. In parks without splash pads, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department hooked up sprinklers to fire hydrants to give kids an opportunity for water play.

The Police Department stopped at sites daily to interact with and get to know kids. In addition to weekly crafts and games courtesy of the Parks and Recreation Department, area organizations including the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa, ISU Extension Office, and Z102.9 joined in with additional fun things to do. The Rollin’ Recmobile also provided the neighborhood with access to free meals and snacks for kids.

As the seasons change, the City intends to use the Rollin’ Recmobile to supplement potential cancellations of other activities caused by the pandemic. The Parks and Recreation Department is able to adjust to changes quickly so the program can continue to support the community.

Watch for information as it becomes available on the City’s website at cityofcr.com/crrecmobile. 

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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BIKE LANES SUPPORT LIVABILITY Did you know that bike-friendly infrastructure is not only environmentally friendly, but also supports a more equitable and inclusive community?

One of the benefits of riding a bike is that it helps reduce

on-street bike lanes throughout the community also continue to unlock access for more residents, in more neighborhoods, which is good for the local economy.

This year, new bike lanes were added on Coe Road NE/12th Street SE between Center Point Road and 3rd Avenue, and on 42nd Street NE between Edgewood Road

vehicle miles traveled on the roadway, which is good

and Wenig Road. Cedar Rapids believes all members

for air quality and also for reducing wear and tear on

of the community deserve safe access to services and

public streets, saving everyone money. In addition to

destinations, regardless of how you get there. 

the environmental benefits, bike-friendly communities mean more transportation options for more people.

Many residents who do not own their own vehicle are transit-dependent, and rely on public transportation

Have You Tried Transit?

in order to access destinations such as grocery stores, shopping centers, or employment. Bike lanes come into play by helping residents complete “the first and last mile,” which refers to how someone will ultimately get from the Ground Transportation Center to their final destination and vice versa, often by walking or riding a bike. The Bike Share program, launched in 2019, has helped close the gap on the first and last mile by making rentable bikes and scooters available for short trips around the core of our community, either for fun or for transportation. Dedicated

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ew changes are coming to Cedar Rapids Transit this fall, increasing service and reducing travel times. The changes will help streamline routes, add service frequency, and ensure routes with the highest demands are receiving the most service. Starting Tuesday, September 8, the additional service frequency will include morning and afternoon peak service on all hourly routes that depart from the GTC — making sure our highest demand routes are the most sustainable.

Those routes will have 30-minute service from 6:15 8:15 a.m. and 12:15 - 5:15 p.m. The increased frequency will provide additional passenger capacity during peak ridership times, giving more residents the chance to opt

AUGUST 2020

Make Sure You’re Counted

RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

CENSUS DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30

B

y working with individuals who have suicidal ideation, depression, family issues, substance abuse, or housing issues, the impact on police resources is reduced.

It is an innovative approach and the Cedar Rapids Police Department is one of the first law enforcement agencies in the Midwest to collaborate with mental health professionals to decrease police calls for service and reduce the likelihood of incarceration.

You still have time to complete the 2020

census! Residents need to complete the short survey by September 30, 2020, in order to be counted. The census is held once every ten years to get an accurate count of all people living in the United States, determining funding for public resources and state representation in Congress. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone. Communities that are undercounted are disadvantaged both economically and politically. All residents, regardless of age, race, citizenship, or background, should be counted to help ensure Iowa receives the funding and representation it needs to meet the needs of all its residents. It’s quick, simple, and secure.

Take the census online at 2020Census.gov. Residents can also respond to the census by calling the U.S. Census Bureau: 844-330-2020. 

into public transportation rather than taking a personal vehicle.

Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, capacity limits will remain at fifteen passengers per bus and fare collection will remain suspended at this time. Fare collection is anticipated to begin this fall, when protective driver shields are installed on all buses. Face coverings (mask, bandana, neck gaiter, or scarf) are required while on the bus. For more information, please visit the Cedar Rapids Transit website at cedar-rapids.org/transit. 

The Law Enforcement Liaison, who is an employee of Foundation 2, works with police officers and responds to calls for service involving individuals with a mental health crisis. The Law Enforcement Liaison has the primary role of assisting officers who have identified individuals who may need some type of assistance because of mental illness or cooccurring disorders. The Police Department has also assigned a police officer dedicated to assisting the Law Enforcement Liaisons as part of the City’s share of a $222,345 federal grant received through the United States Department of Justice.

The grant enhanced a prior federal match grant that allowed the Police Department to partner with Foundation 2 to create the Law Enforcement Liaison position. As a testament to the need for this community resource, from April 1-June 20, 2020, both the officer and Liaison have managed 215 mental health-related cases.

The recently received grant funding will also allow the Police Department to add a second Law Enforcement Liaison employed through Foundation 2. Interviews for the second position were held in July, with an anticipated August start date for the second position.

The Law Enforcement Liaison is just one aspect of a robust collaborative effort between the Police Department and Foundation 2 to provide assistance to those in need of mental health services. Representatives from both agencies meet on a regular basis to address systemic issues and evaluate the program. The concept of a Law Enforcement Liaison was conceptualized from this ongoing collaboration between the Police Department and Foundation 2. 

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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Who’s Our Most Valuable Player?

YOU

Hundreds of residents answered the call and sewed thousands of cloth face masks for those in need.

E

arlier this year, when the Municipal Volunteer Program (MVP) launched, no one could have predicted that some of the program’s first efforts would focus on fighting a global pandemic. The MVP program was formed to encourage residents to be actively involved and interested in promoting community well-being, and perhaps that’s never been more important than now.

When Cedar Rapids officials called on local volunteers to help sew cloth face masks for residents in need, the community responded!

Between April and May, more than 3,300 masks were donated from residents as well as groups, including the Girl Scouts of East Central Iowa, Threads Cedar Rapids, New Covenant Bible Church, and the Cedar Rapids/Marion Sewing Group.

Donated masks went to local social service agencies to help with distribution to residents in need, including Linn County Public Health, United Way of East Central Iowa, HACAP, the RISE Program, YPN, Willis Dady Shelter, and United We March Forward.

Many people dropped off masks along with notes of encouragement and gratitude for essential workers. As COVID-19 continues to impact residents and communities, the mask drive illustrated the heart of many of our residents to give back to their community and come together during the crisis. 

LOCAL RESTAURANTS

Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Support

RESTAURANTS +

Features:

• Loft Patio • Covered Patio with Firepit • Salon

LOCAL DELIVERY

• Yoga/Fitness Studio • Whirlpool Spa • Hospitality Hub • Private Dining Area

765 Boyson Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 | 319-350-7600

WWW.CHOMP.DELIVERY

www.BoysonHeights.com

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AUGUST 2020

FALL

All homes will have their loose leaves collected bi-weekly (one time every other week). Please keep and refer to this schedule to determine your collection period. If you have questions, please call the Solid Waste & Recycling Division at 319-286-5897 or visit CityofCR.com/leaf.

LOOSE LEAF

REMINDER: YARDY carts are collected year-round.

COLLECTION

OCTOBER

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

15

16

17

22

23

24

29

30

31

5

6

7

12

13

14

19

20

21

Southeast

12

Southwest

13

14 Northwest

Northeast

18

19

20

21 SW

SE

25

26

27

28

NOVEMBER

NE

1

2

NW

3

4 SW

SE

8

9

10

11

16

17

18

SE

22

23

SW

24

25

DECEMBER

30

1

7

27

28

3

4

5

10

11

12

NW

2

SE

6

26 NW

NE

29

Rake leaves into long piles on the parking area or grass next to the street. Leaves MUST be kept out of the street.

Keep leaf piles away from obstacles like your collection carts, mailboxes, cars, and utility poles.

During fall loose leaf collection, brown paper lawn and leaf bags are collected every week with the YARDY cart. The bags cannot exceed 40 pounds.

Collect brush and branches to put in your YARDY cart for collection.

Any brush that does not fit in your YARDY cart should be cut into 3-foot lengths and collected into secured bundles that do not exceed 2 feet in diameter or 40 pounds in weight.

NW

NE

15

For SE and NE quadrants, all leaves must be out by 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of your collection week.

For SW and NW quadrants, all leaves must be out by 7:00 a.m. on the Wednesday of your collection week.

OCTOBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2020

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TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FALL LEAF COLLECTION

Get collection reminders and service interruption notices sent directly to you.

SW

8

9 NW

NE

Leaves must be ready by 7:00 a.m. on the first collection day in your quadrant. Collection may occur on either day marked.

Southeast (SE)

Northeast (NE)

Leaves must be out by 7:00 a.m. on Monday

Southwest (SW)

Northwest (NW)

Leaves must be out by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday

Get the message.

CRNewsNow.com

CITY SERVICES DIRECTORY CITY SERVICE

LOCATION

Animals

7241 Washington View Parkway SW

Assessor

City Services Center, 500 15 Avenue SW

319-286-5888

CRAssessor@Cedar-Rapids.org

Bid Opportunities

City Hall, 101 1st Street SE

319-286-5021

Bid-Purchasing@Cedar-Rapids.org

Building and Housing Codes

City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW

319-286-5831

Building@Cedar-Rapids.org

Buses

Ground Transportation Center, 450 1st Street SE

319-286-5573

CRTransit@Cedar-Rapids.org

Fire Safety Inspections

713 1st Avenue SE

319-286-5166

CRFire@Cedar-Rapids.org

Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste Collection

City Services Center, 500 15 Avenue SW

319-286-5897

Solid-Waste-Recycling@Cedar-Rapids.org

Housing Assistance Programs

City Hall, 101 1st Street SE

319-286-5872

HSG-Admin@Cedar-Rapids.org

th

th

PHONE

EMAIL ADDRESS

319-286-5993

AnimalControlMgmt@Cedar-Rapids.org

Land Development

st

City Hall, 101 1 Street SE

319-286-5822

DevelopmentServices@Cedar-Rapids.org

Park Rentals

Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th Street NW

319-286-5566

Recreation@Cedar-Rapids.org

Potholes and Street Maintenance

City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW

319-286-5826

Street@Cedar-Rapids.org

Recreation Programs

Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th Street NW

319-286-5566

Recreation@Cedar-Rapids.org

Sewer Backup or Problems

City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW

319-286-5815

Sewer@Cedar-Rapids.org

Traffic Signals, Signs and Markings

City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW

319-286-5176

Traffic@Cedar-Rapids.org

Utility Billing

City Hall, 101 1st Street SE

319-286-5900

WaterMail@Cedar-Rapids.org

For more information about the City of Cedar Rapids and its services, call 319-286-5080 or visit cedar-rapids.org.

CITY COUNCIL

To leave a message for a City Council member, call 319-286-5051.

Find your district at linncountyelections.org.

MAYOR

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 2

Martin Hoeger

Scott Overland

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 5

Dale Todd

Scott Olson

Ashley Vanorny

Brad Hart

b.hart@cedar-rapids.org

m.hoeger@cedar-rapids.org

dalet@cedar-rapids.org

scott.olson@cedar-rapids.org

AT LARGE Patrick Loeffler

p.loeffler@cedar-rapids.org

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a.vanorny@cedar-rapids.org

AT LARGE

AT LARGE

Tyler Olson

Ann Poe

t.olson@cedar-rapids.org

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s.overland@cedar-rapids.org

|

AUGUST 2020

ann.poe@cedar-rapids.org

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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