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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-15 State of the City Mayor Bruce Teague 2022 State of the City Address February 15, 2022 Introduction It is my duty, honor,and privilege to address the City Council and the community on the state of Iowa City. I would like to start by thanking my fellow City Council colleagues, both past and present.To our recently departed Mayor Pro Tem Mazahir Salih and the long-time Councilor Susan Mims—thank you. Your work was transformational.And thank you to our current council members, especially our newly elected Mayor Pro Tern, Megan Alter, and Councilor Shawn Harmsen. I am honored to serve alongside a group of such dedicated,caring, and courageous individuals who have entrusted me as their Mayor. I would also like to thank our more than 600 City employees who help make our community great. From the soccer fields where our kids learn to kick a ball,to the safe and clean water that runs from our tap, the work of our City staff is quiet and humble, but essential to our lives.We cannot recognize nor thank them enough. Finally,thank you to the awesome and amazing members of our community.The care you show for our City is endlessly inspiring. That is how I am feeling--inspired. Inspired by what we've been able to achieve together and inspired by the opportunities before us. I would like to take some time to reflect on both. Social Justice&Racial Equity I'll begin with what I believe is the most foundational characteristic of a prosperous community—social justice and racial equity. Time and again,Iowa City has stepped up and shown the courage and vulnerability it takes to tackle these issues head-on.This last year,the Oracles of Iowa City mural was unveiled,and it serves as a symbol of our commitment to not disguise the challenges or edit out the uncomfortable truths. We show this commitment in the words we use,the way we treat one another,and in how we invest in this community. Last year,we elevated our support for BIPOC businesses and entrepreneurs. In the coming year,we have budgeted a new set-aside specifically for BIPOC business development and have prioritized millions in American Rescue Plan dollars to invest in this effort. We have also responded to the calls for more equitable and just public safety in our community by changing how we approach calls for service. Last fall, our Fire Department launched a Navigator Assistance Program for community members in need. Through a new initiative to carry Narcan in response to the opioid epidemic, Iowa City police officers saved the lives of seven individuals experiencing an overdose in 2021.This is just one example of the professional and compassionate service our police officer's give and there are so many more stories that are just as kind and caring. We acknowledge that our police officers are being asked to respond to situations that do not always call for a uniformed officer.And so, I am proud to report that over the past year,through strong partnerships,our city has gained a Victim Services Coordinator,a Street Outreach and Engagement Specialist,a Mental Health Liaison, and an Immigrant and Refugee Community Outreach Assistant. I am pleased to share our City Council will be making a significant investment to expand the community's mobile crisis response efforts.And through our upcoming budget we will be increasing the annual Aid to Agencies Grant Program because our strong network of social service agencies play an essential role in our community. We continue to have create soul searching opportunities that are all coming together in the spirit of unity with items that were listed in our Black Lives Matter resolution that was adopted by council in June of 2020. The committed$1 million to social justice and racial equity initiatives and the work of our Truth &Reconciliation Commission are a few things we're all anticipating will impact all of us systemically. We adopted Juneteenth as an official City holiday and had our first of many memorable celebrations in 2021. I believe these are important steps forward in a city where we have always championed justice,equity, and inclusion. Recently,the Human Rights Campaign Foundation awarded us a perfect score for LGBTQ+inclusion for the eighth year in a row. Last Spring,when our City offered Iowa City Pride yard signs free to the public, they were so popular ye ran out three times! In the end,there were nearly 2,000 colorful markers across the city reminding us that we are a community who stands united. Neighborhoods/Development Last month,our Council approved a new SSMID in the South District,which will revitalize an underinvested area and support diverse business owners. I was inspired by the way the neighborhood imagined and drove forward this vision and I was heartened to see so many others provide support to ensure this vision succeeded.This SSMID will live on as a symbol of what can happen when a group of caring and committed individuals imagine more for their community. It is important we invest in these vibrant neighborhoods and last year,the city purchased 16 duplex units in the South District to be rehabbed and sold to first-time homebuyers from within the neighborhood.We have also bet on the resiliency of this neighborhood and so I was excited that after years of hard work,the first Form Based Code in Iowa City was adopted in the South District! This effort is part of the City's larger affordable housing strategy,to which we have committed another $1 million through our upcoming budget. And while we plan for the future,it is also important to preserve our past.So, I was excited to learn a few months ago that the years of hard work by City staff and our partners paid off...the Iowa City Downtown Historic District is not listed in the National Register of Historic Places! Climate Action In all the work we do, I alongside my Council colleagues, have called for continued leadership in Climate Actions. In 2021, Iowa City was honored as just one of 95 global cities named as a climate leader on the CDP A List.This recognition followed on the heels of news that our community emissions have dropped over 45%since 2010. In September, a weeklong climate action festival was held to celebrate how far we've come and garner excitement about the work ahead. Last year,the City launched two commercial and industrial energy efficiency matching grant programs, which is anticipated to save hundreds of thousands of metric tonnes of emissions each year. Carbon sequestration will play an important role in our emission reduction strategy and in 2022 prairie improvements will be made at Terry Trueblood, Kickers Soccer Park,and Peninsula Park. In the coming year,we will be launching new programs aimed at increasing resilience in our community and preparing our most vulnerable residents from extreme weather events.We'll also be ramping up our efforts to make Iowa City EV-ready so we can support the next generation of clean vehicle technology. Transit And in Iowa City,clean vehicles have made their way to our public transit system too!A few weeks ago, our first fully electric buses hit the streets!These sleek, bright new buses are a symbol of the future of our Transit system. We took our first steps toward that future last summer when we launched new route and fare changes that helped make our system more accessible, reliable, and convenient. I'm looking forward to working with my Council colleagues on the next phase of our re-imagined transit system—Sunday service,free fare for low-income riders, and late-night on-demand service. For those who prefer two pedals to an engine, I am proud of the progress we have made on the Bike Master Plan.The projects planned for the coming year will greatly improve bike connectivity in the South District. Arts,Culture,Rec When it comes to arts, culture,and recreation,we had so much to celebrate last year and a lot to look forward to. Last summer was the inaugural season of a partnership between the City and Filmscene that installed an outdoor cinema in Chauncey Swan Park to screen free movies for all ages. In August,we held a ribbon-cutting for a park renaming in honor of a personal inspiration of mine and an important Black icon--the late James Alan McPherson. Recently,we learned that the Iowa City Parks&Recreation Department holds the national record for the most Athletic Field Environmental Certifications! This is an honor and testament to the progress our City has made on our Parks and Natural Areas Master Plans.Which is why I am excited that in the coming year we'll also receive the completed Recreation and Facilities Master Plan and have the opportunity to think how about how we can further invest in our City's recreation,including one of the most popular topics of conversation...City Park Pool! All ages are invited to find joy in one of the many arts,culture, and recreation offerings in our community. Replacement of the Pedestrian Mall playground will take place later this year and will provide more accessible play options and plenty of shade. I am also looking forward to working with my colleagues to strategize how we can best invest our resources in the Senior Center to support their mission of ending social isolation for people over 50. We are fortunate to host such a vibrant arts, culture, and recreation atmosphere, but we shouldn't forget the core services that provides a strong foundation for our City to thrive. Infrastructure The state of our nation's infrastructure has been a topic of national discussion. I am proud to report that despite our City growing at one of the fastest rates in the state, putting a strain on our resources, Iowa City has the 3rd best pavement condition score of all metropolitan areas in Iowa. Each year,funding is prioritized to maintain the 237 miles of roadway in Iowa City and I'd like to highlight some of the major road improvement projects taking place recently. Last year,as part of the American Legion Road project,the new roundabout at Scott Boulevard was completed,significantly improving the flow and safety of this intersection.We look forward to completing this reconstruction project in the coming year, including a pedestrian tunnel connecting students to Hoover Elementary School. Work continues on the Melrose/IWV Road Improvement Project and on completing the rd Avenue Bridge Reconstruction and the Orchard Street Reconstruction Project. In the coming year,efforts will begin on the reconstruction of Fairchild Street, installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Scott and First Avenue,as well as the highly anticipated reconstruction of a portion of Rochester Avenue, which will significantly improve vehicle ride quality and safety. Through our upcoming budget,we again make significant investments in our water,sewer,and landfill infrastructure.These investments may not be as visible or exciting as a new playground or public art installation, but they mean that our residents can always count on reliable, safe,and sustainable public utilities and services. Federal Investment Federal funding through the infrastructure bill may provide more opportunities to make local infrastructure investments. I am fortunate to lead in a time when the federal government sees the value and the strengths in investing directly in our nation's cities.The historic American Rescue Plan Act has provided our City an unprecedented opportunity to make transformational investments that may never again be possible in our lifetime.The magnitude of this opportunity is enormous. Conclusion So in closing, I want to reflect on what this moment in time means for us. Last year during my State of the City,we looked back on the challenging year behind us and yearned for a return to normalcy.Since then,we've started using the phrase"new normal."And I call on us to ask what that really means. I believe our new normal is one that re-emphasizes equity and sustainability at the forefront of all that we do. One that is more honest about the inequities that exist but is ripe with the promise of new opportunities. I believe that in our new normal we don't shy away from the hard conversations and the tough issues, but that we do come to the table with a faith in the integrity and decency of one another.That we stay open to trust and respect, even when—and especially if-we don't agree. We cannot let the commonality of our goals and the shared hopes for our community go unacknowledged, or get lost in the process.There is too much work to do and too much momentum to be hopeful about. So,as we enter another year together, I ask my fellow Council colleagues,the City staff, and the entire community to join me in taking time to celebrate our accomplishments, make the most of the opportunities before us,and remember that above all—we are one community. In unity—your mayor, Bruce Teague.