The Iowa City City Council is initiating random phone surveys beginning today.

Fifty Iowa City businesses and 360 registered voters will be called between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

This information will be combined with the results of focus groups running September through December. These meetings will consist of City staff, department heads, and present and future city councilors.

Survey information will be used by the councilors for planning and funding future city servers.

— by Luke Voelz