The Iowa City City Council, on a 4-0 vote, approved an ordinance creating a Self-Supporting Municipal District in and around downtown on Tuesday.

Councilors Terry Dickens, Matt Hayek, and Connie Champion abstained from voting because of conflicts of interest.

The district would allow businesses to tax themselves. That revenue would then be used to develop the district.

Plans were approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in a 5-0 vote earlier this month, with two commission members absent.

There will be three public City Council hearings on the matter slated for Nov. 1, Nov. 22, and Dec. 6.

— by Asmaa Elkeurti