Q3 | FY24 City Council Priorities Report

City Council Priorities Quarterly Report

City Council Priorities

The Cedar Rapids City Council meets annually to establish goals for the City’s overall direction. City staff track progress in the resulting key priority areas listed below on pages 4–12. The following report provides public transparency with an emphasis on communication; ensures alignment with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Envision CR; and assists in the effective prioritization of resources.

JAN. – MARCH 2024

Flood Control System/Greenway

Cedar Lake Levee Project Resumed

In partnership with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Cedar Rapids completed construction on the fifth pump station in the Cedar River Flood Control System Master Plan. The pump station is enclosed in the CRST building’s first floor, along the east bank of the Cedar River. When underground storm sewer and drainageway gates are closed due to river flooding, any rainwater that typically flows through the landscape and into the river no longer has an outlet. All this rainwater would become trapped behind the FCS, with a potential to cause a large area of Cedar Rapids to flood. This type of flooding is called interior-drainage flooding. The CRST Building pump station will work with other pump stations in the system to prevent interior-drainage flooding — by pumping rainwater over the floodwall and into the river. The successful completion of this project is a major milestone for the protection of homes and businesses in the downtown area.

1st Street NE Grading Improvements

The bid phase for the 1st Street NE Grading Improvements project completed successfully. This project aligns with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ pump station project near the Tree of Five Seasons monument. When the storm sewer gate closes and the pump station is operational, there is a possibility of water ponding in lowlying areas near the pump station. While many

pump stations have nearby detention basins, the developed downtown area lacks space for one. Without this project, water could pond in the low-lying Cedar River Tower parking lot. This project will raise the parking lot to reduce ponding potential and enlarge underground storm sewer pipe, minimizing ponding impacts.

Ribbon Cutting: 12th Avenue

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge Flood Gate

We celebrated the completion and opening of the flood gate project near the 12th Avenue Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge with a ribboncutting ceremony in March. We also conducted essential maintenance on the bridge and worked on several nearby projects during the closure for gate construction. At one point, six different projects were active within the construction area, including the new mini roundabout at 12th Avenue and 2nd Street SE, the new City-owned parking lot behind the African American Museum of Iowa, and the reconstruction of the existing museum parking lot and entrance affected by our flood control project. The floodgate, costing $6.39M, measures 79 feet long by 8 feet high, 4 feet and 9 inches thick, and weighs 70,000 pounds. It stores in place and will roll across the road during flooding to keep waters out.

Grants Submitted for 8th Avenue Arc of Justice Bridge Replacement

We submitted two grant applications: one to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Bridge Improvement program, and another to the USDOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. These mark our 8th and 9th Federal grant submissions for the project. The bridge design prioritizes accessibility; positioned 15 feet above the existing 8th Avenue Bridge, it will remain operational during floods and play an important role in Flood Control System deployment. We earned a grant from the USDOT in April 2024 for our Fall 2023 PROTECT grant submission; this achievement will be further highlighted in the upcoming Q4 report.

Cedar Lake Levee

Affordable Housing

ROOTs Program Launches

Cedar Rapids’ Redeveloping Ownership Opportunities Together (ROOTs) program relaunched in February, aiding in long-term recovery from the 2020 Derecho. The program offers quality, resilient, and affordable singlefamily housing to low- to moderate-income households. We earned a $15M Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant to support 76 units, with construction on most set to begin by late spring.

Affordable Housing Commission Contractor Breakfast

In February, the Affordable Housing Commission (AHC) hosted a contractor breakfast along with Neighborhood Finance Corporation (NFC), Matthew 25, Habitat for Humanity, East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG), and the Housing Fund for Linn County. Staff shared details about programs and bidding opportunities for construction work funded by Federal resources to create affordable housing. The session garnered positive feedback, leading to the inclusion of more contractors on our project-bid list, an important component in executing these projects.

KCG Development (1220 Jacolyn Drive SW)

In January, City Council approved financial assistance for an affordable housing project at 1220 Jacolyn Drive SW by KCG Development, LLC. Financial assistance comes through the City’s Local Match-Economic Development Program. If granted Low-Income Housing Tax

Credits from the State, the City offers a 10-year, 100% exemption of new value. The development will entail a $16M investment in a new, 3-story, 58-unit multifamily building with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The units will all list at or below 60% of area median income.

KCG Development | 1220 Jacolyn Drive SW

Strengthen & Stabilize Neighborhoods

Workforce Housing

(1319–1333

Ellis Boulevard NW)

Disposition of City-owned property in the Northwest Neighborhood, vacant since the 2008 Flood, will make way for construction of seven townhomes. The total project investment is $1.5M. The developer plans to seek Workforce Housing Tax Credits from the State, alongside City economic development incentives.

Rockford Road SW

Micro-Area Action Plan

City Council adopted our first Micro-Area Action Plan in January. The plan focuses on the 0.13-square-mile area comprised mainly of publicly owned sports facilities near Rockford Road SW. Notable facilities include Veterans Memorial Stadium, ImOn Ice Arena, Veteran’s Memorial Tennis Center, Kingston Stadium,

and Jefferson High School’s Baseball Field. The plan outlines 16 action steps to address Character and Placemaking, Land Use, and Connectivity. We selected the area for its regional significance, history of localized flooding, and the opportunity to transform existing industrial, warehouse, and manufacturing spaces into entertainment, dining, and retail establishments.

Paving for Progress Update

Public Works crews already completed two spring Paving for Progress (PFP) projects, with more than 50 additional projects scheduled this year. Most of this year’s projects are in residential areas. This year will also see the largest number of projects completed by City crews to date. Major PFP projects with contractor assistance this year include 35th Street NE, Center Point Road NE, and Mount Vernon Road SE.

Veterans Memorial Stadium | Rockford Road SW Micro-Area

Quality of Life Enhancements

Delaney Park “Fist Bump” Basketball Court Mural

We will install our first basketball mural at Delaney Park this summer. Park users, neighborhood residents, and Van Buren Elementary School students identified preferred themes for the mural: diversity, unity, vibrancy, and abstraction. From a pool of nearly 50 worldwide artists’ submissions, the design entitled “Fist Bump” emerged as the preferred artwork.

Corridor MPO Regional Transportation Awards

This quarter, the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (Corridor MPO) allocated Federal gas tax funds for upcoming Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) as follows:

FFY25–29

$3.6M for Cedar Rapids trail projects:

•  4th Street Trail

•  Interurban (Sac and Fox) Trail — Segment 2

•  Cedar Valley Nature Trail Maintenance

•  Grant Wood Trail — Phase 2

•  Edgewood Trail — Phase 3

$3M to replace eight CR Transit fixed-route buses

FFY29

$4.4M for Cedar Rapids’ project to reconstruct 6th Street SW, from 1st–6th Avenue

Block ’n Roll Set to Debut This Summer

This summer will mark the debut of “Block ’n Roll,” a new program jointly launched by the Parks & Recreation and Community Development Departments. The program packs a reservable block party trailer full of all the equipment needed to easily host community events (tables, chairs, tents, coolers, lawn games, etc). The trailer will feature an inviting, custom-designed branding wrap.

Second Graders Dive into Free Swim Lessons

For the second year, the Parks & Recreation Department provided free swim lessons at Bender Pool for second graders from three local elementary schools: Johnson STEAM Academy, Garfield, and Cedar River Academy. A total of 138 students participated in our spring swim-lesson and water-safety-education program. The initiative aims to overcome common barriers preventing youth from accessing formal swim and water-safety instruction, such as transportation, cost, swim attire, awareness, and general fear of water. Each student receives proper swim attire and six skill-level-appropriate lessons as part of the program. The program is possible thanks to partnerships with the Cedar Rapids Community School District, the Cedar Rapids Parks Foundation, and financial support from the Cedar Rapids Kiwanis. We plan to expand the program to run throughout the entire 2024–25 school year.

High Demand for Community Gardens

We continued expanding community garden spaces this year as part of the Community Gardens in Parks Plan adopted by City Council last year. Community gardens offer a sustainable way to enhance residents’ quality of life, promoting healthy lifestyles and opportunities to connect with nature. These benefits align

with the goals of our Community Climate Action Plan and pollinator and natural resources initiatives. With new community gardens open at Lincolnway Park this spring, we now oversee five garden sites (at Gardner, Tuma, Ellis, Sinclair, and Lincolnway Parks), totaling 418 plots, including 8 ADA-accessible, raised beds. This season, plots at Gardner, Tuma, and Ellis Parks sold out within one day. As of mid-April, gardeners claimed all 418 leasable beds. Our plan outlines garden expansion to six more park locations over the next few years.

Jones Lodge Now Accepts Reservations

We renovated the former Jones Golf Clubhouse, transforming it into an ADA-accessible, publicly rentable space. This project closely followed the addition of the Jones Park pickleball courts, the first step to convert the former golf course area into new recreational amenities identified through extensive public input after the course closed. The Lodge can seat up to 90 people, making it an ideal venue for various events — including baby and bridal showers, graduation parties, family reunions and gatherings, retirement parties, birthdays, celebrations of life, corporate outings, and small weddings. The space also made a much-needed programmable area available for Parks Department use, having already gathered many older adults to enjoy the Friends at Jones Lodge program. This program offers weekly opportunities for engaging, enriching, and meaningful social interactions.

Delaney Park Mural

Jones Lodge Clubhouse

Dual-Use Facility Progress

To address our community’s older adults’ immediate needs, we established an “Older Adult Task Force.” The group includes various local organizations and businesses which will help us identify and overcome barriers older adults face in accessing programs and services. The task force will meet monthly over the next six months to develop actionable steps and determine responsibilities.

Downtown Quiet Zone Advances

The City awarded a construction contract to enhance pedestrian accessibility and safety at Downtown railroad crossings, preparing for the upcoming Quiet Zone designation. We are negotiating a railroad agreement at the C Avenue NE crossing near Quaker Oats and Cargill. Once finalized, construction can occur, tentatively in 2024–25. Following construction, Phase A (from C Avenue NE to 5th Avenue SE) will be ready for its Quiet Zone designation and implementation.

Bowling Street Trail

Since its establishment in 1978 as one of Cedar Rapids’ first off-street bike trails, the path has allowed area residents to access Jones Park, local businesses, and the Transit system — all without needing a car. Now, decades later, we are upgrading the trail to meet modern standards. The project will improve the trail surface between 33rd Avenue SW and Wilson Avenue. It will also extend the trail to connect with existing bikeways near C Street SW. With the trail project, we are adding sidewalks along Wilson Avenue SW — from 21st Avenue to C Street. Together, the enhanced connectivity will provide safer routes for all users to explore Cedar Rapids. The projects align perfectly with priorities identified during the public-engagement process for the Trails and Bikeway Plan, where connectivity ranked highest.

Former CRANDIC Railroad Bridge Re“Cycle”d

Removal of the former CRANDIC Railroad Bridge is nearly complete, making way for the construction of the Alliant Energy LightLine Bridge in 2025. The new bridge will directly link the Czech Village and New Bohemia neighborhoods across the Cedar River, further enhancing our regional trail system.

Edgewood Road Bridge Repairs & Trail Extension

While the Edgewood Road bridge undergoes important maintenance work, a simultaneous project is underway to widen the pedestrian walkway to trail width. This will allow the Edgewood Trail to connect across the Cedar River. By the end of this year, the trail will connect from Glass Road NE to O Avenue NW, from 16th Avenue SW to Wiley Boulevard, and from 37th–60th Avenue SW. Over the longer term, we expect the trail to connect all the way from Tower Terrace Road to the Eastern Iowa Airport.

Trails and Bikeway Plan Nearly Complete

We are collaborating with Linn County and the Corridor MPO to finalize a Trails and Bikeways Plan. The plan is set to replace the existing Comprehensive Trails Plan and Map adopted in 2012 and updated in

2015. We made significant progress on these plans over the past decade, nearly doubling our trails miles, from 26 to 47, and adding more than 50 miles of new on-street bikeways. In total, Cedar Rapids’ bikeways now spread across more than 100 miles of safe, marked routes.

Parking Hubs Enhance Veo Micromobility Program

We worked with Veo to install six parking hubs in City rights-of-way. The hubs encourage Veo scooter and bike users to park in designated spaces. Studies indicate the availability of these parking hubs increases the likelihood users will park their devices in designated spaces and ride in the correct on-street locations rather than on sidewalks.

Edgewood Road Bridge

Homelessness

Housing Voucher Waiting List Changes

The City of Cedar Rapids serves as the Public Housing Authority for Linn and Benton Counties. In March, the City Council approved preference changes to the housing voucher waiting list, enabling three new preferences to remain open for applications referred by agencies:

Homeless or at risk of homelessness:

•  Up to 30 vouchers per year through Coordinated Entry. Aging out of foster care:

•  Up to 15 vouchers per year through the Department of Human Services and Foundation 2.

Refugee families that have utilized their full two years of resettlement funding and are at risk of homelessness:

•  Up to 10 vouchers per year through the Department of Human Services.

Clean & Safe City

Focused Approach

The Police Department’s focused efforts to address violent crime, particularly gun-related incidents, produced significant results this quarter. Shots-fired incidents in Q3 were 33% lower than the lowest Q3 since 2016. This continues a trend started in Q1, indicating a considerable decrease in citywide gun-related incidents. These results are thanks to extensive collaboration, including that between patrol and PCAT officers, creating an environment less conducive to gun violence; investigators holding people accountable for criminal conduct; and community partnerships, notably with Foundation 2, providing outreach and support to individuals involved in or at risk of involvement in gun-related crime.

We continue to see an overall trend of reduced violent crime in the city, with most forms of violent crime approximately 14% lower during this quarter than any quarter in the previous five years. Further noteworthy trends are reductions in murder and robbery, attempted murder, rape, and aggravated assaults.

Neighborhood Meetings

As part of the Police Department’s commitment to community engagement, a District Lieutenant and SAFECR staff regularly attend each monthly neighborhood association meeting. This provides community members

Homeless Systems Manager

We entered into a 28E Agreement with Linn County to fund a Homeless Systems Manager position for a threeyear term. The agreement also outlines the roles of a Homeless Systems Oversight Board and Homeless Systems Advisory Committee. These entities will support the manager by reviewing data and providing feedback.

Together with Linn County, we also entered into an agreement with the Housing Fund for Linn County to supervise and house the manager position. The position is a key recommendation from the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Design Clinic, contracted by the City in June.

with a direct point of contact for addressing concerns. SAFE-CR has seen much success using My CR to address issues in core neighborhoods, including tall grass, discarded refuse, dilapidated structures or homes, vehicle street storage, signs in the right of way, and others.

Coordinated Response Addresses Safety Risk, Unauthorized Activity

SAFE-CR identified concerning activity at a commercial property designed for use as a barbershop yet operating as a public dance club. This unauthorized activity posed significant health and safety hazards, including exceeding occupancy limits, inadequate exit illumination, lack of fire-protection systems, health code inspection violations for food service, and hookah usage.

The club’s loud music, paired with its proximity to a residential rental unit, resulted in disturbances to the rental occupants. SAFE-CR staff coordinated with the District Lieutenant, Building Services, Zoning, Fire Department, and Linn County Public Health to address the concerns. We held multiple meetings with the property and business owners to review imminent risks associated with the building’s improper use. This collaborative approach facilitated effective communication, provided critical information to all involved parties, and addressed the situation effectively.

New Fire Engine 1

The Fire Department placed the new Engine 1 into service in February. Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wisc. manufactured the new apparatus and furnished associated equipment at a total cost of $850K. Notable features include:

•  Idle-reduction technology reduces emissions by electronically shutting off the diesel engine and switching to lithium-ion battery while on scene;

•  In-cab air filtration scrubs cab air, reducing cancer-causing chemicals in the cab;

•  On-board pressure governor electronically manages hose pressure; and

•  A redesigned and lowered hose bed improves ergonomics and decreases chance of injury.

We anticipate Fire Engine 1 will have a 15-year lifespan on frontline service and 10 years in reserve service.

Major WPC Grant Submitted

We submitted a $125M application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation grant. This was a coalition grant application with Iowa City, with $93M intended for improvements at Cedar Rapids’ Water Pollution Control Facility (WPC) and $32M intended for use by Iowa City. Both projects would construct Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) processes at the cities’ wastewater treatment plants. Funding announcements are expected in July.

New Technology Reduces Fuel Consumption

We have been using new vehicle-routing software in our solid waste and recycling collection vehicles to increase fuel efficiency and better balance driver routes. From Q1–Q3, we decreased fuel consumption by 4.4% and saved 6,798 gallons in diesel fuel. This translates to a $20K cost savings and 69.2-metric-ton reduction in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions — equivalent to 13.7 homes’ annual electricity use, 160 barrels of crude oil, or the charging capacity of 4.6M cell phones.

Staff Participate in 1-Bag Challenge and Spring Cleanup Efforts

Public Works and Utilities crews have kept an eye on litter, removing trash from I-380, medians, vacant lots, alleys, and other areas where litter is known to accumulate. Street sweeping operations also ran ahead of schedule this spring, keeping our roads safe and our city looking great.

Inspections Reduce Pollution and Localized Flooding Hazards

We initiated our annual program to inspect and maintain storm sewer structures this quarter. This work mitigates pollution, reduces localized flooding, and promotes a clean and safe environment. Two Geospatial Data Interns lead the program, required through our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. They collect GPS coordinates and update attribute data throughout the inspection process.

Business Friendly

ISU-Cedar Rapids Partnership

A new, full-time ISU employee started work as a liaison of the ISU-Cedar Rapids Partnership for Food Manufacturing and Bioprocessing. The liaison collaborates closely with our Economic Development team to address existing industry needs and will focus on executing a pivot-toworkforce series. Their primary duties include expanding access to ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) scholarship opportunities and fostering connections between the ISU CALS talent pipeline and open positions with Cedar Rapids’ food and bioprocessing employers. The liaison will also help expand opportunities for ISU students to pursue apprenticeships and internships locally.

Historic Economic Development Deal Reached with Google

City Council approved a Development Agreement with Heaviside LLC, a Google entity, for a data center project on the corner of Edgewood Road SW and 76th Avenue. The project would include a minimum $576M investment, construction of one or more data centers, up to $36 million in community-betterment payments to the City, and a 20-year, 70% tax exemption for the company as part of the State’s High-Quality Jobs Program. This would be the largest economic development investment in the City’s history.

International Flavors & Fragrances

City Council authorized sponsorship of a Business Financial Application from Danisco US Inc., a subsidiary of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), for the State’s High-Quality Jobs Program. The project would include a $22.2 million investment, primarily in a steam-generation facility

and related machinery and equipment eligible for the 427B Industrial Property Tax Exemption. This project is necessary due to the upcoming closure of the Prairie Creek Coal Fire Plant by 2025, which currently supplies IFF’s steam.

New Bohemia Roadway Revitalization

We awarded a contract for a street, sidewalk, utilities, and lighting reconstruction project in New Bohemia. These long-anticipated improvements will enhance curb appeal and increase accessibility in this rapidly revitalizing neighborhood.

Business Access Maintained

Construction staff created a plan to ensure business-specific signage would be posted throughout construction of the 8th Avenue SE/ Mount Vernon Road/10th Street Roundabout project, facilitating customer access. This project is in a busy corridor with little room for the construction work and signage. Staff provided businesses with location-specific detour route maps. Our team frequently checks in to offer assistance in helping their customers navigate to their businesses.

Alley Reconstruction

The Public Works Department enhanced The Heights development by prioritizing reconstruction of the alleyway abutting the facility, improving accessibility ahead of the building’s opening. The improvements also support the nearby businesses using the alley, fostering a business-friendly environment.

Stormwater Utility Processes Simplified

We updated the Chapter 72 — Stormwater Management ordinance, giving property owners more choices to manage stormwater runoff and earn credits on their stormwater bill. We also simplified the application process, making it easier for property owners to access the savings. This reduces costs for property owners while promoting environmental stewardship.

A CLOSER LOOK

By The Numbers