Cedar Rapids City Councilmember Ashley Vanorny said her decision to participate in Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial was “a very calculated risk but one that was good and necessary to take.” Vanorny is one of 270 volunteers enrolled at the University of Iowa’s study site. Overall, there are more than 40,000 people participating in the international […]
Cedar Rapids City Council
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What’s next for Cedar Rapids? City council members talk through priorities for 2021
The Cedar Rapids City Council met virtually on Tuesday for a special session focused on key priorities for the upcoming year. “This is a great opportunity for the city council members, the mayor and staff to talk about priorities, and it’s particularly opportune with some of the challenges that we’ve certainly seen this year, whether […]
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Cedar Rapids launches online climate survey, seeks members for the city’s Climate Advisory Committee
The city of Cedar Rapids launched an online survey for residents to provide input about the city’s climate action plan. The survey, which is online until Nov. 20, will be used to make the city’s Community Climate Action Plan. The survey is available in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Swahili and Kirundi. In February, the […]
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Cedar Rapids City Council advances plans to create a citizen review board
The Cedar Rapids City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday that brings the city another step closer to creating a citizen review board for the city’s police department. The resolution directs city staff to create an ordinance based on the recommendations developed by city staff. The ordinance is expected to be drafted and presented […]
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City of Cedar Rapids shares how residents can get involved in its climate action plan
The city of Cedar Rapids is organizing opportunities for residents to get informed and involved with the city’s ongoing climate action efforts. The public engagement process will kick off on Thursday and wrap up in December, according to Eric Holthaus, the city’s sustainability coordinator. The process includes virtual presentations, a community survey and details on […]
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Derecho recovery will cost Cedar Rapids at least $60 million
The derecho that hit Cedar Rapids on Aug. 10 caused $60 million to $80 million worth of damage, according to the city. Overall, the August derecho caused $7.5 billion worth of damage, according to estimates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Washington Post reported that no thunderstorm or tornado has caused “as much […]
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Survey shows Cedar Rapids residents support creating a citizen review board for the CRPD
Slightly more than half of Cedar Rapids residents who responded to the city’s survey believe a citizen review board would have a positive impact on the community. The Cedar Rapids City Council heard from city staff on Tuesday about the survey results and next steps, including a resolution with recommendations that will come before council […]
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More than 5,000 homes and businesses in Cedar Rapids are still without internet
About 5,600 people in the Cedar Rapids area are still without internet nearly a month after the Aug. 10 derecho. The main internet providers in the area — ImOn Communications and Mediacom — provided an update during the Cedar Rapids City Council’s Tuesday meeting. Lisa Rhatigan, vice president of marketing at ImOn Communications, said 10 […]
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Derecho recovery delays plan to establish citizens review board in Cedar Rapids
The timeline to establish an independent citizens review board in Cedar Rapids to provide public oversight of the police has been pushed back a couple of months due to the impacts of the Aug. 10 derecho. A presentation to the Cedar Rapids City Council on recommendations and results from the public input process is now […]
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City of Cedar Rapids creates survey to get input from residents about citizens review board
The city of Cedar Rapids launched a survey for residents to provide input about a citizens review board and information about their interactions with the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Residents can take the 10-question survey through Aug. 31. The survey is online, but paper copies are also available. Anyone wanting a paper copy mailed to […]
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Cedar Rapids City Council backs plans for mini-golf course
The Cedar Rapids City Council unanimously approved plans for a mini-golf course that would give families a fun outdoor activity to do next year while also increasing the city’s revenue. The city’s four golf courses — Ellis, Gardner, Twin Pines and Jones — have lost $1.54 million in the past six years. On average, it’s […]
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City of Cedar Rapids shares how public can get involved in creation of a citizen review board
City staff shared information during Tuesday’s Cedar Rapids City Council meeting about the 90-day process to create a citizen review board, including how the public can get involved, goals of the process and next steps. But residents who spoke after the presentation during the meeting’s public comment period raised concerns about how the work is […]
