Our CR - March 2023

Taking Climate Action

Building a resilient, accessible, carbon-free future

Summer Play! Guide

FROM THE C I TY MANAGER

Cedar Rapids has experienced the profound impacts of our changing climate — heavier rainfalls, hotter days, and increased flooding. Extreme weather events continue to impact every corner of our world. For this reason, it is more important than ever that we take urgent and meaningful action to address these challenges.

T he Cedar Rapids Community Climate Action Plan is a blueprint, charting specific objectives and practical steps that can guide our community toward a brighter, more resilient, and carbon-free future. We are proud of how the plan builds on our community’s strong legacy of sustainability, representing the best of our shared strengths and dedication.

T he plan was created under the guidance and leadership of our Mayor and City Council, who continue to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to addressing these urgent challenges. While adopted in September 2021, the City has been working diligently to put several of its recommendations into practice for many years longer than that. This issue details how we have invested in infrastructure and social structures to combat anticipated floods, revive our urban forest, protect against the impacts of rising temperatures, and more.

Perhaps the most remarkable fact about the Community Climate Action Plan is how it is a product of our community’s input and collaboration. City staff made extensive efforts to ensure the voices of all our community members were heard and are reflected in its objectives. With equity at the forefront of the plan, we are confident that the actions we take today will create a safer, healthier, and more attractive Cedar Rapids for current and future generations.

None of this work would be possible without the collaboration, participation and support of the community we serve. The City of Cedar Rapids is eager to build on this momentum — and I invite each one of you to join us in our efforts to build a more sustainable future for all.

Jeffrey Pomeranz Cedar Rapids City Manager

In February 2020, the Cedar Rapids City Council passed a resolution calling on our community to take urgent action on climate change. Following 18 months of extensive planning and public engagement, the City of Cedar Rapids Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) was approved by City Council in September 2021. This issue takes a deeper look at the plan and provides updates on where we’re at in our second year.

O ur community has become remarkably familiar with the consequences of an intensifying climate. From record flooding in 2008 and 2016, to the Derecho of 2020, Cedar Rapids has endured a disproportionate share of extraordinary climate events. These have come at a significant cost and with many opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve.

O ur Community Climate Action Plan charts a future rich in community and dedication to the greater good. We are proud of this plan and look forward to working alongside everyone willing to help achieve the important goals set out in the plan. This city’s strengths and momentum, evidenced throughout the development of the action plan, give us confidence as we continue to move the goals forward. Read on to see how we created the plan and how we’re working to meet and exceed our vision.

GROCERIES

What is the Community Climate Action Plan?

The Cedar Rapids City Council declared an urgency for our community to take climate action, calling for the creation of a Climate Action Plan in February 2020.

Our Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) centers on equity and builds on our community’s existing strengths in sustainability. The plan’s goal areas and action items relate directly to the targets of Council’s climate resolution, including significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; resilience to climate hazards; and access to basic needs — including clean air and water, healthy food, parks and nature with lots of amenities, green jobs, and direct connections to City government — for Cedar Rapids’ most underserved residents.

CARBON-FREE RESILIENT & ACCESSIBLE

In all, the plan has 24 actions, including areas like enhancing transit and shared transportation options, developing sustainable business and development policies, preparing for electric vehicle infrastructure, protecting water quality, and developing a food access policy.

 All 24 actions and more details can be found in the Community Climate Action Plan at CityofCR.com/Climate .

How We Built the Plan

To develop the Community Climate Action Plan, the City used public surveys, focus groups, and an advisory committee — encompassing several months of planning and public engagement — to integrate the community’s priorities. Community is in the name, after all!

View the Plan

Read through the CCAP at CityofCR.com /Climate.

The Cedar Rapids community provided extensive input on the plan. Initial engagement included virtual introduction sessions, along with online and in-person surveys translated into several languages. A Community Climate Advisory Committee also met to provide equitable community perspective and guide the development of the CCAP. Focus groups — including such stakeholders as small businesses, neighborhood groups, nonprofits, schools, large businesses, and local industries — provided additional valuable input on the plan.

The plan’s two key goal areas are:

FUTURE CLIMATE IMPACTS

Cedar Rapids’ primary climate hazards:

Heat | The number of days over 90 degrees is forecasted to triple by mid–late 21st century.

Heavy Rain | Heavy rainfall events have increased 42 percent since 1958 and will increase another 40 percent by mid-late 21st Century.

Major Flooding | The Cedar River is rising one inch per decade. Heavy rainfall in the watershed increases chances of flooding.

FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS

• Residents identified heat as a primary climate hazard of concern.

• Residents’ top climate priorities included:

 Replanting trees

 Increasing renewable energy

 Winterizing homes

 Healthy food access

 Energy-efficient homes

Equity in the Plan

As climate change intensifies, our CCAP calls for the basic needs of under-resourced residents in Cedar Rapids to be prioritized. Residents who have barriers to achieving basic needs — such as speaking a language other than English, living in poverty, not owning a vehicle, or having a disability — experience extra daily stress, making them susceptible to greater challenges when faced with extreme weather. These residents are most impacted by extreme heat and flooding — waiting outside for the bus, living without air conditioning, or working outside can be difficult and dangerous in those conditions. These same residents are often disconnected from City decision processes, because traveling downtown to a meeting or getting online to provide feedback may not be feasible with limited funds, mobility, time, and familiarity.

Public input for the creation of the Community Climate Action Plan prioritized equitable engagement, with a particular interest in surveying populations classified as vulnerable or underserved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the second round of surveys, 29 percent of respondents came from households earning under $25,000 (18 percent of Cedar Rapids’ households have incomes of less than $25,000), and 28 percent of respondents identified as non-white (17 percent of Cedar Rapids residents identify as non-white).

Equitable Engagement

is the process for developing understanding and partnership with residents who are underrepresented and under-resourced. As our community looks to reduce carbon emissions and build resilience to a changing climate, residents with vulnerabilities are central to the planning and decision-making processes and outcomes.

What is climate change?

Heat from the sun warms our planet. Some of that heat returns to space, while some of it stays in our atmosphere.

The burning of fossil fuels creates extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which traps heat and warms the earth, like a blanket traps heat and warms the body. Since the mid-1800s, humans have been using fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas to generate energy that is used in our everyday lives for electricity, transportation, and producing goods.

We now know that burning fossil fuels has released billions of tons of carbon dioxide pollution into our atmosphere, making the “blanket” thicker and trapping more heat, while causing the earth to warm and our climate to change. The planet is warming faster than it ever has in human history, but because we know what is causing climate change, we can take action to curb its impacts.

SUN

ATMOSPHERE

EARTH

HOW CAN RESIDENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Be prepared for weather events. Get involved with the P.A.C.T. program to understand what to do during a natural disaster. Learn about Neighborhood Resource Centers and find a center near you on page 15 of this magazine.

Make small changes at home to save money.

Consider gardening, riding your bike, purchasing a programmable thermostat, and switching to LED lightbulbs. The cost savings add up!

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface.

• Solar rays from the sun power our planet.

• When the sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some is reflected back to space, and some is absorbed.

• Gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, trap heat like the glass roof of a greenhouse.

• Those heat-trapping gases are called greenhouse gases.

• The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, put more gases in the atmosphere, which traps more heat and causes the earth to warm.

What does this mean for Cedar Rapids residents?

From record flooding in 2008 and 2016, to the Derecho of 2020, Cedar Rapids has become all too familiar with extreme weather caused by an intensifying climate. To prepare for future natural events, the City developed our Neighborhood P.A.C.T. program, asking residents to Prepare, Act, Communicate, and Train. This program aims to equip every resident with the tools and knowledge they need for any emergency event, including extreme hot and cold temperatures and storms affecting trees — all major concerns for residents of Cedar Rapids.

One of the biggest steps we are taking to prepare for future climate realities is the construction of our flood protection system. Stronger storms will bring heavier rainfalls and intense wet periods; having that system in place today prepares us for the future.

We also know that climate change will impact human health in numerous ways, but there are ways to ease these stressors. For example, following the loss of more than half a million trees from the Cedar Rapids canopy in 2020, the City is responding with an extensive replanting effort. Trees provide our community with shade, protection from winter winds, lower energy bills, cleaner water and air, and more. We will explore these efforts and more in the following pages.

Shop secondhand and send less to the landfill. Look at the contents of your GARBY garbage cart. Could some of that be reused, recycled, or composted? Are there alternatives to single-use products that make sense for you and your family? When shopping for clothing and home goods, have you considered refurbished or thrifted?

Continue learning, and share your knowledge. We’re all in this together. Share your knowledge with others, and search for ways to make your own life more efficient. Challenge yourself, and have some fun!

GreenMobility

When we built the Community Climate Action Plan, we started by taking an inventory of local Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The data we collected will help measure the success of our efforts to reduce emissions.

The inventory taught us that transportation is the largest non-industrial contributor of carbon dioxide in Cedar Rapids. For this reason, the Community Climate Action Plan focuses on ways we can reduce GHG emissions caused by transportation. The Plan identifies a goal for a 15 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled per resident by 2030 — and a goal of 84 percent of vehicle miles to be traveled in electric vehicles by 2050.

The planning process also showed us that focusing on green mobility can help the City take steps toward a more equitable, inclusive future.

IMPROVED TRAVEL: Complete Streets

Whether on foot, wheels, or another method, we all need ways to get around the city! By reducing the amount of traveling we do in automobiles, we can improve air quality and the health of our residents.

We all like to have choices for how we get from point A to point B. Our Community Climate Action Plan recognizes that we can all improve our carbon footprint by reducing the amount of driving we do in single-passenger vehicles. To ensure other options are viable, the City recognized a need to design other modes of transportation into our system — and to ensure these other options are safe and desirable.

In 2014, Cedar Rapids became the first city in Iowa to adopt a “Complete Streets Policy.” The policy ensures city streets are built to balance different ways people like to move around our community. It helps our engineers incorporate best practices for street design that prioritize all options for transportation: cars, buses, wheelchairs, bicycles, feet, rollerblades, scooters, and more! These design elements are automatically considered on any new streets or major street rehabilitation projects.

Studies have shown that when people have safe and accessible options for walking, biking, and using public transit, they are more likely to choose these modes over driving. This can lead to a reduction in vehicle miles traveled — and thus a reduction in the emissions that contribute to climate change. This is also why the City of Cedar Rapids is focusing on mobility and micromobility programs, like our bike and scooter share system provided by Veo. Micromobility options can be more affordable than automobile travel, providing residents with additional economical and efficient ways to travel.

By improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, providing complete multi-modal transportation networks, and investing in public transit — the City of Cedar Rapids is working to create a more sustainable transportation system that helps mitigate the impacts of climate change.

GREENHOUSE GASES (GHG s ) IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Cleaner Air Starts with Us

Maybe you already have a newer vehicle in your garage with an auto-start feature that turns the motor off when you’re at a stoplight or idling for more than a few seconds. Maybe you drive a hybrid or electric vehicle. If so, you’re already helping the City of Five Seasons address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions in our community. We continue finding ways to create a lasting legacy of conservation and sustainable practices in every aspect of our daily work, and that includes transportation.

The City’s operational sustainability policies call for City employees to limit idling of fleet vehicles, which reduces fuel costs and the release of unnecessary emissions. Employees are trained to turn vehicles off if they’re going to idle for more than 30 seconds. Exceptions exist for first responders and other vehicles when responding to emergencies or specific work scenes.

One encouraging development is coming in the form of the next fire engine currently being built by Pierce Manufacturing. This new engine has a high-capacity battery that allows lighting and basic onsite needs to be handled from its stores and for the diesel engine to cut off until active pumping resumes. According to Fire Chief Greg Smith, “This new tech is well aligned with the City’s Community Climate Action Plan. The added cost for this battery is expected to be offset in three years of operation, and our engines normally stay in service for 15 years.”

RESOURCE REDUCTION: Recycled Materials

When hearing about recycling efforts, most people think about sorting their cans and bottles from their trash. Beyond home recycling — due to the number of materials generated in construction done by City crews — our Public Works Department has turned to recycled road materials. By recycling asphalt, sand, and concrete used on our streets, the City is demonstrating its commitment to lowering costs and enhancing our operational sustainability.

Concrete materials leftover from road projects throughout the City are crushed into a modified subbase. The modified subbase materials are then used to help create concrete, used to build roadways. Fines, or tiny bits of rocks, generated by this process can be used on trails. Compactable materials can be used around sewer and water repairs. “Developing alternative uses for these products reduces waste and decreases operational costs — not just for Public Works, but for other departments as well,” said Assistant Public Works Director Mike Duffy.

After roadway projects are complete, the leftover asphalt is crushed into millings, also known as ground up, recycled asphalt. These millings work well in alleyways, as shoulder material, and even on golf courses as cart paths.

Annually, nearly 3,000 tons of material collected by street sweepers are brought to the Bowling Street location for recycling. This material is put into a sifting machine to sort the trash from reusable materials. “This process has helped us reduce the number of unusable materials we send to the landfill by about 80 percent,” Duffy said.

The material screened from the trash is typically high in organic materials, which can’t be used as a structural fill, but have many other uses. Materials diverted from the landfill have been used on guardrail-removal projects to soften roadway slopes, so that a guardrail is no longer needed. The materials have also been used during stump removal, acting as a fill to reduce settling before a final topsoil application completed the restoration process. According to City records, sweeper dumps have been used to backfill nearly 8,500 stumps across the City in the year 2022, following the Derecho of 2020.

Reducing Salt Use

In a further effort to help reduce our carbon footprint and air pollution, the Public Works Department has reduced the amount of salt used during snow and ice events by 30 percent. This has been possible through upgrades to equipment to allow for pre-wetting of material, blending of liquids, and brine application prior to storms to prohibit the bonding of snow to the pavement. Calibration and training have also been focuses to ensure a high level of service. Because of the reduction in salt use during these events, the City has reduced the amount of salt ordered to have on hand.

AMOUNT OF SALT ORDERED (IN TONS)

15-Minute Living

A15-minute neighborhood is a neighborhood where residents have access to basic daily needs within a 15-minute walk. These neighborhoods are an important part of the City of Cedar Rapids’ efforts to create a more vibrant, healthy, and sustainable community. Residents in 15-minute neighborhoods rely less on cars, improving the overall health of the population. Within these neighborhoods, programs like our Rollin’ Recmobile and improved trail access help create more connections and equity, with a focus on health and wellbeing for current residents and future generations.

Improving Health Outcomes

When residents live within a 15-minute walk to basic services, they benefit in many ways. Working and living within a neighborhood can translate to more free time, a better quality of life, and stronger community ties. In addition, living within walking or biking distance of most places you go causes improved health and less vehicle pollution. Close access to parks improves personal wellbeing, too. All of these are reasons why 15-minute neighborhoods and access to nature are part of the 2050 Vision in our Community Climate Action Plan.

Parks have the greatest health impacts on those who live close to them and can use them easily and often. These benefits go beyond better physical health — improved mental health through interaction with nature is also a perk. Parks can improve the health of neighborhood residents through food programs like community gardens and planting fruit and nut trees in parks.

The City works to make sure parks are in close proximity to all residents. When planning new park spaces and amenities, planners look at areas where deficiencies exist. Hughes Park in southwest Cedar Rapids is one example of adding green space in a neighborhood where the distance to a park pushed the boundaries of 15-minute active transportation.

Through the Parks and Recreation Department’s Rollin’ Recmobile, the City brings recreational services to parks, making walkable recreation a reality for kids. The mobile van stops in 16 neighborhoods, bringing summer programs and activities to the areas where kids already play. The program also provides an opportunity for partner departments and organizations to bring critical community information about services within the 15-minute zone.

“We have been thrilled with how Rollin’ Rec has grown to include dozens of partners who join us at stops. Our presence in neighborhood parks provides a perfect opportunity for others to join and provide services or

information at the same time,” said Hashim Taylor, Parks and Recreation Department Director. The community has prioritized multi-modal connectivity, meaning that streets must serve pedestrian and bicyclists in a safe and efficient way. We strive to have trail connections or streets with bike lanes within a half mile, or 10- to 15-minute walk. These trail connections are critical for commuting and enjoying recreation.

In 2022, the City worked on 6th Street, Lindale, and Seminole Valley Trails, in addition to bikeways on six streets. In 2023, plans include work on seven trails and bikeways on five streets.

While it’s wonderful to have amenities close by, making sure everyone can use them is even better. Over the past few years, the City has invested significantly in accessibility improvements that make sidewalks, curbs, and traffic signals accessible to everyone. The vast improvements level the playing field, from sports facilities, playgrounds, and walking trails, to ramps on temporary outdoor ice rinks. Improvements have been completed in the northeast and northwest quadrants, making it easier to use every amenity within parks. Soon park improvements will be finished in the southeast quadrant, with plans finalized for the southwest quadrant this spring.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO Community Gardens

A key item within the Community Climate Action Plan is to develop a food-access policy to ensure underserved residents can achieve healthy and relevant food within a 15-minute walk. Many people with lower incomes live in food deserts — areas that have some food options, but not healthy choices or culturally relevant food. While food items may be purchased at convenience locations, 63 percent of low-income residents are more than half a mile away from a full-service grocery store.

The Community Climate Action Plan makes accessibility to healthy food a priority in all vulnerable neighborhoods. One of the ways it does this is by creating community gardens.

Cedar Rapids has begun the process of expanding the network of community gardens in parks across the city. These plots will increase access to fresh foods,

which will improve food security. The newest community garden will be available at Sinclair Park this spring, and will include ADA-accessible parking, a concrete path to the garden area, and ADA-accessible raised garden beds.

Additional community gardens are being designed for Huston, Reed, Twin Pines, Tokheim, Noelridge, Cherry Hill, and Lincolnway Parks. The locations of the gardens were determined through an extensive communitydriven planning process to develop the City’s first Community Garden Plan. These gardens will be designed based on community feedback related to plot size, availability of raised beds, ADA accessibility, and additional amenities on site, such as fruit trees, seating, tool storage, and more. The adopted Community Garden Plan will also include discussion on garden management, including bed allotment,

fee structure, community partnerships, and garden rules. The draft Community Garden Plan is available on the City’s website (CityofCR.com/Gardens) and is anticipated to be come before the City Council for consideration in April.

Despite the name, community gardens are not for public picking. Garden plots are available for public rental and can only be used by the individual renter. The addition of public plots or donations bins will be considered through implementation of the Community Garden Plan. The City also has plots that have been rented in past years at Ellis Park, Tuma Park, and near Gardner Golf Course.

 Interested in renting a community garden plot? Find information about renting garden plots at CityofCR.com/GardenPlots

Community Gardens are

…

• A place to get to know your neighbors,

• A learning environment,

• A way to get physical fitness and improve your health,

• Where people of different generations can interact,

• A place to learn about food from other cultures, and

• A way to decrease crime by building community.

Based on input received, this concept plan was developed for the Sinclair Park Community Garden, opening this spring.

CHERRY

NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER LOCATIONS

NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTERS: Providing Resources in an Emergency

The tree canopy over Cedar Rapids is beginning to grow again. The scars of the Derecho of 2020 are beginning to heal, and City leaders have already provided a legacy solution to answer another one of the big “What Ifs”: What if we lose communication around the City for days, roads are impassable, and residents are unable to travel more than a mile or so to seek information, shelter, and assistance?

As we look to a future with more possibilities of extreme weather, and as we look to a past with a history of flooding and wind events, the importance of preparing for disasters is a high priority for the City of Cedar Rapids.

Neighborhood Resource Centers (NRC) were one of the early successes of the 2020 Derecho recovery process. They have proven to be a positive addition to the Incident Commander’s list of available options to address access issues during

an emergency. NRCs are strategically located facilities around the city that provide immediate shelter, basic survival needs, and centers for information exchange. Cedar Rapids has eleven Neighborhood Resource Centers. Some are City owned, and others are provided through positive relationships with churches and area businesses.

Fire Chief Greg Smith is the City’s lead Incident Commander and found NRCs to be exceptional options for his team in 2020. “We were able to use the Neighborhood Resource Centers for critical communications and emergency services,” he said. “Most of them are capable of providing electricity with generators and have room for those in need to seek temporary shelter.”

LINDALE

City staffers have continued to find ways to utilize NRCs since 2020 and share reminders of their locations to residents by hosting events promoting the P.A.C.T. program, which stands for “Prepare. Act. Train. Communicate.” P.A.C.T. helps residents prepare for disasters and household emergencies.

Chief Smith and his team spent several evenings in August 2022 at NRCs passing out preparedness materials. “We featured five of the NRCs with stops at each during our P.A.C.T. Week promotion and found people were interested in what these centers could do for them in the event of an emergency,” he said. All Cedar Rapids residents are encouraged to learn where their nearest Neighborhood Resource Center is located and to use them when they are activated as part of a disaster response. To find out more, visit CityofCR.com/PACT.

LastingLegacy

The actions we take to address climate change now will make Cedar Rapids a safer, more inclusive, healthier, and more desirable place to live, for current residents and for generations to come. The future of Cedar Rapids is bright, and the projects we complete in the next few years — such as Flood Control, ReLeaf, water quality initiatives, and development policies — will leave a lasting legacy on the City and future Cedar Rapidians.

ADU Gingerbread Contest

To help raise awareness around Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) this year, the City of Cedar Rapids and AARP Iowa partnered to create an ADU gingerbread contest. Community members picked up free gingerbread house kits to create their own versions of ADUs and were encouraged to upload photos to the Cedar Rapids Public Library website for voting. Gift cards were given out to the 11 finalists.

EFFICIENT LIVING: Better Buildings

To help with lowering living costs, many families are considering moving older family members into their homes. This may mean renovating a garage, side room, or attic so a grandparent can be close to family, save money on rent, and have quicker access to local amenities.

This is the vision the City has for investing in sustainability for many neighborhoods within the community. By adding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Missing Middle Developments into neighborhoods, Cedar Rapids residents will drive 20 to 40 percent less compared to more sprawling communities. The City’s Zoning Ordinance encourages Missing Middle Housing and ADUs, concepts that are supported by EnvisionCR, the Age-Friendly Action Plan, and the Community Climate Action Plan.

Missing Middle Housing

ATTACHED ADU

A dwelling unit that is considered part of the primary structure but results in an expansion of the primary structure’s footprint.

DETACHED ADU

A dwelling unit that is separate from the primary structure (e.g. garage apartment or a standalone structure).

INTERNAL ADU

A dwelling unit that is located within the primary structure without expansion of the footprint (e.g. basement or attic units).

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

ADUs are self-contained homes with their own kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area on the same lot as the main house. Some people might recognize ADUs by their other commonly known names, such as granny flats, backyard bungalows, guest houses, in-law suites, basement apartments, carriage houses, and casitas. ADUs can be an important source of affordable housing to keep housing costs down for both owners and renters. ADUs are permitted by right in all zoning districts that allow residential uses.

Missing Middle Housing

Though similar, Missing Middle Housing is a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units located within walkable neighborhoods. There are several types of housing options for diverse populations, such as duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and multiplexes. Most of the Missing Middle Housing types include four to eight units per building with one off-street parking space per unit.

These housing options increase active mobility and access to basic needs, improve air quality, and increase financial resiliency — meeting goals in the Community Climate Action Plan, and making it easier for residents to have a happier, healthier life.

BUNGALOW COURT TOWNHOUSE MULTIPLEX LIVE/WORK MID-RISE

IMPROVING Water Quality for All

Increasing equitable access to clean water is one goal of the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The City already consistently achieves federal clean drinking water standards, but drinking water is just one of many aspects of water protection. One of the CCAP’s action items is to protect water quality by supporting source water protection initiatives that reduce nutrient-rich runoff into the Cedar River. Another goal is to support stormwater costshare programs, which encourage residents to get involved.

At the City of Cedar Rapids, we work to prevent contaminants from getting into our source water — the Cedar River — and into storm drains, to help protect others downstream. The City collaborates with many partners to help protect our precious water resources as it heads downstream, reaches our wells, and flows through your tap.

Stormwater Sustainability

Stormwater — or rainwater and snowmelt from hard surfaces like roofs, driveways, and sidewalks — flows directly into streams and rivers instead of soaking into the ground. Unlike sewage, stormwater is not treated for pollutants. The City invests in various practices to improve the stormwater we send downstream:

Landscaping features

Native vegetation soaks up runoff, absorbing nutrients and providing habitat for pollinators. Features like rain gardens, bioretention cells, and bioswales capture excessive runoff in ponds or send runoff to a storm sewer or surface water system.

Soil quality restoration

Tillage, aeration, and compost improve lawn health. Healthy soil absorbs a greater volume of rainwater.

Permeable pavers

Permeable pavers allow stormwater to seep through their joints and soak into the soil beneath instead of flowing directly to creeks and rivers.

1,000 Acres Pollinator Initiative

Stormwater Cost-Share Program

The Stormwater Cost-Share Program reimburses 50 percent of costs (up to $2,000) for the installation of features, like rain gardens and permeable pavers, that improve the quality and decrease the quantity of stormwater. Private property owners subject to the Stormwater Utility Fee are eligible to participate in the program.

 For more information, visit CityofCR.com /Stormwater.

Cedar Rapids partnered with Linn County Conservation and the Monarch Research Project to convert unproductive public land into native prairie pollinator habitats in Linn County, Cedar Rapids, and Marion. This project benefits monarchs, pollinators, and water quality health through nutrient management using green infrastructure. The goal, to establish 1,000 new acres of native pollinator habitat across Linn County, was achieved in 2021 — with a total of 1,082 new acres funded by the Monarch Research Project and managed by the jurisdictions involved. This initiative included 318 new acres of diverse native prairie within Cedar Rapids properties, such as parks, golf courses, and other underutilized City lands.

EXPANDING THE Flood Control System

Successfully responding to the adaptation of climate change means understanding the consequences of climate change and working to mitigate them. The City of Cedar Rapids’ biggest climate risk is increased flooding; therefore, the work our teams are doing for the Flood Control System is crucial. The Flood Control System is designed to convey the same water volume as the Flood of 2008, reducing flood risk through the heart of Cedar Rapids on both the west and east sides of the river. The system will include a combination of floodwalls, levees, pump stations, and gates, and will incorporate aesthetic elements that reflect our community’s culture, history, and vision.

“This system will help to improve environmental quality by establishing systems to protect wildlife, water, and air quality,” said Rob Davis, Flood Control System Manager. “Having these permanent measures in place will allow the City to create a lasting future that will protect its residents from financial, physical, and emotional hardships as they relate to flooding events.”

1ST AVENUE FLOODGATE

The most recently completed Flood Control System project is the floodgate located at 1st Avenue, which is 11 feet 3 inches tall. During a flood event, this wall, weighing more than 80,000 pounds, will roll across 1st Avenue, lock into place, and keep flood water out of the downtown area. This floodgate has the convenience of easily rolling across the road in five minutes, with the help of an electric winch, and closing off floodwaters from the downtown area.

RIVERSIDE PARK

The relocation of the Riverside Skate Park and playground will make room for a large detention basin as part of the City’s flood control system. This $4.5 million investment will improve the air quality of our community with the addition of a new parking lot, trees, and shrubs, and will encourage more physical activities for residents. These improvements will also increase the use of green infrastructure, such as a storm water detention pond, since it relies on less mechanical equipment, resulting in reducing the City’s carbon footprint.

CZECH VILLAGE PUMP STATION

The Czech Village Pump Station is the largest pump station to date. This pump station will be located south of the 12th Avenue bridge. Once completed, the pump station is anticipated to have a pumping capacity of up to 145,000 gallons per minute. This much-needed addition to the City’s southwest quadrant will ensure that rainwater will be pumped as needed back into the river, lowering the City’s risk of flooding. Pump stations are designed to lift stormwater when flood gates on storm sewer pipes are closed off at the river. Within this pump station, a series of gates will be installed to direct stormwater back and forth between the storm sewer pipes and pumps. Ultimately, this will prevent river and rainwater from backing through the sewer into the neighborhood areas.

During a rain event, detention basins create a large pond where rainwater can collect and be stored while waiting to be pumped over the flood wall. Using a detention basin can shrink the size of a necessary pump station, in this case substantially, at approximately $6 million. Using a smaller pump station also makes for a smaller carbon footprint and lowers future maintenance costs while improving air quality.

 Learn more about the City’s Flood Control System and view the Master Plan at CityofCR.com /FloodControl .

A Cooling Effect

While trees contribute positively to the environment in many ways, one of the most substantial is the impact they have on heat islands. Heat islands are areas within cities that experience higher temperatures due to buildings, roads, and infrastructure that absorb and produce more heat than areas with more natural elements. Model projections from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change show that Iowa may become much hotter in the future — with 5–15 days each year reaching over 106 degrees Fahrenheit between the years 2041–2060 — should emissions continue to rise rapidly. While this impacts all, those living in heat islands are impacted most substantially.

Trees can cool our surroundings by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit by shading surfaces as well as releasing water vapor through their leaves. Even small trees help, cooling us off when they release water vapor. As the newly planted trees in Cedar Rapids mature over the years, the cooling effect they produce will increase. As a result of their ability to cool surfaces and provide shade, trees have been shown to provide substantial energy cost savings each year. Placed near buildings, trees can reduce airconditioning needs by up to 30 percent.

The ReLeaf plan’s projected 42,000 trees planted in 10 years will have a significant impact on cooling the community. For an even greater impact, the ReLeaf plan — which is part of our Community Climate Action Plan — identified neighborhoods in the community where trees could provide the quickest effect on heat islands and prioritized those as early planting locations. A map showing these locations can be found at CityofCR.com/ReLeaf.

OTHER WAYS TREES HELP:

Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) acting as the environment’s lungs, storing carbon in their trunks, roots, and branches, and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. According to the European Environment Agency and the Nature Conservancy, the lifestyle of an average global resident results in as much carbon released into the atmosphere as can be stored by 165 mature trees.

Trees provide other important ecosystem services, including improving soil quality, controlling stormwater, and providing wildlife habitat.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Residents of Cedar Rapids can help by planting trees and nurturing them to make sure they thrive. This includes making sure that trees are well hydrated by watering young trees when they need it. Watch for information from the City, Trees Forever, and Monarch Research as we restore the urban canopy.

 Find details about the ReLeaf plan at CityofCR.com /ReLeaf.

A Bright Future for Solar Power

If you’ve had the chance to familiarize yourself with the City’s Community Climate Action Plan, or you’ve done your own research, you’ve probably read about the environmental and financial advantages offered with solar power. It reduces your dependence on fossil fuels, and it’s effective in many applications. The City set ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and be net-zero by 2050. A key component of becoming carbon free is increasing renewable energy production and usage community-wide. T he City has installed solar power panels at the northwest transit garage and the Chandler Street, Glass Road, and Oklahoma Avenue water booster stations. Those installed systems produce 250 kilowatts and produce $10,000 of electricity each year. Additionally, they were installed with no up-front costs through a Power Purchase Agreement. In 2022, the Ellis Golf Clubhouse opened and is outfitted with rooftop solar.

To help reach the City’s goals for solar energy, we partnered with Grow Solar, an initiative of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Starting in 2017, and offered again in 2019 and 2021, residents and businesses were able to purchase reduced-cost solar power solutions suitable for their situation and receive discounts on installation fees.

Solar power plays an important role in the City’s plans for sustainability and creating a legacy of clean, renewable energy use everywhere it’s feasible. Cedar Rapids Sustainability Manager Sara Maples said the group solar program and the City’s renewable energy initiatives provide a way for residents to learn about solar energy, save money, and invest in clean energy for decades to come.

“New federal funding opportunities make renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades more affordable. Homeowners who install solar can deduct 30 percent of the cost from their federal income taxes. Other rebates and tax credits are available for purchases such as heat pumps, electric vehicles, and electric appliances.”

As encouragement for builders and property-owners to explore solar power options, Cedar Rapids streamlined the permitting process for solar installations alongside the group-purchase options. This resulted in Cedar Rapids being recognized as a Gold-rated SolSmart Community.

 To learn how you can participate in a group solar program, visit: CityofCR.com/SolarGroupBuy.

Cops Get Scruffy for Charity

One of the Cedar Rapids Police Department’s favorite fundraisers each year is “No-Shave November,” a month free of shaving for officers, and a chance to contribute to a local charity through the Cedar Rapids Police Protective Charity (CRPPC). In 2021, “No-Shave November” was extended to include December, and in 2022, Police Chief Wayne Jerman authorized an even longer extension to include November, December, January, and February. Officers donated $50 each month to participate, and those funds were distributed to local charities through the CRPPC. Women officers skipped the beard growing, but many still donated to the fundraising effort. CRPD civilian employees also participated, with their benefit being the permission to wear jeans while at work.

In 2022, the following received donations from the “No-Shave” program: Running 4 Heroes, Michael W. Oglesby Foundation, Salute to the Fallen Foundation, C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors), and The Unity Tour. CRPPC Treasurer and Officer Charity Hansel said officers were excited about the extension in 2022. “Our officers are passionate about so many great causes, and the organizations we supported were chosen from their suggestions. We’re grateful for the chance to do this for our community, and especially for the extra months we had this year to wear beards.” According to Hansel, the CRPPC raised close to $20,000 through their “No-Shave” efforts this year.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

The City of Cedar Rapids strives to receive diverse input from citizens to guide decisions. Representation from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences is critical in creating a community that serves all citizens. One of the best ways to have a voice in the future of Cedar Rapids is to serve on one of the many City boards, commissions, or advisory committees.

Women, minorities, and qualified persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by April 30, 2023. For more information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 319-286-5060, or email city-clerk@cedar-rapids.org.

CITY SERVICES DIRECTORY

SW 319-286-5826

Street@Cedar-Rapids.org

Maintenance

Recreation Programs Northwest Recreation Center, 319-286-5566

Recreation@Cedar-Rapids.org 1340 11th Street NW

Sewer Backup or Problems City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW 319-286-5815

Traffic Signals, Signs and City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW 319-286-5176

Markings

Utility Billing City Hall, 101 1st Street SE 319-286-5900

Sewer@Cedar-Rapids.org

Traffic@Cedar-Rapids.org

WaterMail@Cedar-Rapids.org

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

CITY COUNCIL

MAYOR

To leave a message for a City Council member, call 319-286-5051. Find your district at LinnCountyElections.org

Tiffany O’Donnell t.odonnell@cedar-rapids.org

DISTRICT 3

Dale Todd dalet@cedar-rapids.org

AT LARGE

Patrick Loeffler p.loeffler@cedar-rapids.org

DISTRICT 1

Martin Hoeger m.hoeger@cedar-rapids.org

DISTRICT 4

Scott Olson scott.olson@cedar-rapids.org

AT LARGE

Tyler Olson t.olson@cedar-rapids.org

DISTRICT 2

Scott Overland s.overland@cedar-rapids.org

DISTRICT 5

Ashley Vanorny a.vanorny@cedar-rapids.org

AT LARGE Ann Poe ann.poe@cedar-rapids.org

SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING

HOLIDAY COLLECTION SCHEDULE

Some holidays result in a one-day delay in collection for some or all of our customers.

NEW YEAR’S DAY*

No Collection – 1 Day Delay for Remainder of Week

*NO DELAY if the holiday falls on the weekend.

MEMORIAL DAY

No Collection – 1 Day Delay for Remainder of Week

LABOR DAY

No Collection – 1 Day Delay for Remainder of Week

THANKSGIVING DAY

No Collection – 1 Day Delay for Remainder of Week

CHRISTMAS DAY*

No Collection – 1 Day Delay for Remainder of Week

*NO DELAY if the holiday falls on the weekend.

If a holiday is NOT included in this list, there is NO INTERRUPTION in the collection schedule. CityofCR.com /Garbage