Council OKs Police, Fire Station work

The Iowa City City Council voted Tuesday to approve a resolution that accepted the work that has been done to the police and fire department.

On a 6-0 vote, with Councilor Kingsley Botchway absent, the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning updates for the Police and Fire Departments were approved.

The project was completed by Day Mechanical Systems Inc., which is based in Cedar Rapids. The cost of the project was $173,136.83.

Council approves rezonings

The Iowa City City Council on Tuesday approved three public hearings for Nov. 18 that concern rezoning on a 6-0 vote.

City officials are looking to rezone approximately 40 acres of Herbert Hoover Highway from interim development single-family residential zoning to two other zonings. Around 32 acres will be rezoned to low density single-family residential, and approximately seven acres will be rezoned to low-density multi-family.

The new zones allow the city to provide sanitary sewer and water service to the property, as well as a pedestrian-access route to the city sidewalk system.

The council also approved to rezone Riverside Drive and Benton Street. The rezoning will be in compliance with the Riverfront Crossings Master Plan.

Council moves ahead on Ralston Creek project

Improvements to Ralston Creek could happen soon.

The City Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday, with Councilor Rick Dobyns and Councilor Kingsley Botchway absent, to open the Ralston Creek Improvements Project to bidding.

The project will be funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Storm-Water funds; officials estimate the project will cost $180,225.

The project will include reshaping and armoring the banks of Ralston Creek between Muscatine Avenue and Center Street. It will also include debris removal, outlet protect, installation of riffle pools, and site restoration.

Marketplace TIF vote put off

The City Council on Tuesday deferred voting on possible tax-increment financing to the Iowa City Marketplace.

The Council decided 6-0to delay a final vote on the $1.75 million funding until Nov. 18.

TIF would help finance the $4.4 million renewal project.

The project includes repurposing the former site of the Von Maur department store. Lucky’s Market, a Colorado-based organic-grocery company, will take the place of the store.

The project will also include parking lot and pedestrian-accessibility improvements.

— by Cory Porter