City Council approves fire station reconstruction
Riley Davis and Rachel Schilke, News Reporters
May 20, 2020
The Iowa City City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a purchase agreement to relocate Fire Station 3 to a 1.5-acre lot in a new subdivision on American Legion Road. The original east-side Fire Station 3, built in 1972, currently does not meet the modern facility standards and lacks suffic...
Iowa City Mayor signs order delaying water rate increase, adjusting public sidewalk restrictions
Kelsey Harrell, News Reporter
May 13, 2020
Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague signed a proclamation Monday aimed at helping residents and businesses navigate the novel coronavirus pandemic. These restrictions come as Gov. Kim Reynolds gives businesses across Iowa permission to reopen on May 15. "As restrictions are being loosened throughout our...
Happy Hollow Park’s “skinned” infield converted to turfgrass
Riley Davis, News Reporter
May 11, 2020
Community pushback to converting one of Iowa City’s “skinned infield” ball parks to turf grass is prompting an Iowa City city councilor to look into restoring the field. Between Brown Street Historic District and Oakland Cemetery on the northside of Iowa City, Happy Hollow Park is known...
UI student governments ask Iowa City to forgive utilities for unemployed students, residents
Riley Davis, News Reporter
May 6, 2020
The University of Iowa Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate and Professional Student Government wrote a joint letter April 29 asking the Iowa City City Council to consider forgiving utility fees for unemployed students and residents, amid financial uncertainty in the COVID-19 pandemic. The lette...
‘We’re preparing for everything,’ University of Iowa president says of plans to resume campus operations
Eleanor Hildebrandt, News Reporter
May 6, 2020
University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld said in an interview with The Daily Iowan Wednesday that the university is considering several potential solutions to address how to safely resume campus operations, especially for the upcoming fall semester, amid COVID-19. “We’re preparing for e...
City of Iowa City expected to take $4.6 million loss in 2020 budget
Riley Davis, News Reporter
May 6, 2020
Two months since Johnson County confirmed its first positive COVID-19 case, the novel-coronavirus pandemic has created a “fluid and unpredictable” financial environment for Iowa City and caused negative impacts to revenue and expenditures, as local officials predicted at an Iowa City City Council me...
Iowa City City Council faces community pushback for Benton Hill Park prairie restoration
Rachel Schilke and Riley Davis
April 21, 2020
Ten emails from concerned Iowa City community members filled the Iowa City City Council’s mailbox before its Tuesday meeting asking city councilors to reconsider selecting a local neighborhood park as a site for prairie restoration. Local neighborhood homeowner Lindsey Park sent an email to th...
‘Zoombombing’ disrupts online connections as UI classes, government meetings move online
Kelsey Harrell, News Reporter
April 12, 2020
When Professor Elke Heckner logged on to a scheduled Zoom class session 20 minutes early, she found three unexpected visitors. None of the trio were students in the interim University of Iowa German Department departmental executive officer's class. All of their screen names were displayed, and a...
Iowa City City Council votes to pay temporary employees until May 16
Rachel Schilke, News Reporter
April 7, 2020
The Iowa City City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve continued pay for city employees until May 16. After that date, the roughly 260 employees with temporary status would be furloughed unless the council approves an extension. Iowa City City Manager Geoff Fruin provided the council with three...
Iowa City City Council spikes solar energy project in Waterworks Prairie Park
Rachel Schilke and Riley Davis
April 7, 2020
Iowa City residents' strong opposition to a solar-energy project at Waterworks Prairie Park prompted the Iowa City City Council on Tuesday to vote unanimously against a lease agreement with MidAmerican which would have advanced the project. Several community members advocated for the city counc...
Local governments hold first virtual meetings, provide access for public participation
Riley Davis, News Reporter
March 25, 2020
The Iowa City City Council and Johnson County Board of Supervisors are transitioning their regular meetings to a virtual format in an effort to allow for public access and participation amid the COVID-19 outbreak, which has closed public buildings for staff and community safety. The city counc...
Iowa City City Council defers conversation on solar-energy project to next meeting
Annie Fitzpatrick and Rachel Schilke
March 24, 2020
Iowa City and MidAmerican Energy plan to expand the use of renewable energy in Iowa City through a joint solar-energy project at the Iowa City Water Plant. MidAmerican’s request to lease the land went before the Iowa City City Council on March 24 and the council voted to continue the discussion April...