HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-18 Video Transcription2025 State of the City
Introduction
Hello and welcome, City Council and residents of Iowa City. I'm pleased to be providing my
sixth State of the City address from FilmScene, one of our many treasured cultural spaces.
Tonight, I want to celebrate Iowa City's progress over the past year and reflect on our
awesome and amazing partners like FilmScene that help make Iowa City such a vibrant,
inclusive, and creative community. I want to start by acknowledging the people who make it
all possible.
First, thankyou current and past councilors foryour collaboration, commitment, and
energy. Former Councilor Andrew Dunn, we truly appreciate your thoughtful service to this
community. Mayor Pro Tern Salih, Councilor Megan Alter, Councilor Laura Bergus,
Councilor Shawn Harmsen, and Councilor Josh Moe: each of you brings your unique
perspectives and dedication to the work we do. By working together, we've been able to
improve the lives of those who call Iowa City home. I am honored to be your Mayor and to
serve alongside you. I also look forward to what we might accomplish next year.
Next, to our incredible staff of more than 650 employees, who keep Iowa City moving every
single day: I cannot thankyou enough. From police and fire services to our human rights
team, from our parks maintenance workers to our wastewater plant operators, and
everything in between, your expertise and passion drive the initiatives that shape our
community. And for those behind the scenes - City Attorney, City Clerk, Human Rights,
Communications, and Finance to name a few - we couldn't do it without you.
And to our residents, I want to express gratitude for your engagement, ideas, and trust.
Whether you've shared your voice at a council meeting, volunteered in a food pantry, or
simply offered a kind word to your neighbors, you are what makes Iowa City notjust a place
to live but a place to belong.
Finally, I must thank all my family and close friends. Mama Teague, you are awesome and
amazing. You are loved by me and this entire community. And to my husband Colton
Alexander -Teague, you're such a sweetie and thankyou for being alongside me in this
journey. You are awesome and amazing, and I absolutely love you and I couldn't do this
without your unwavering love and support!
Now, it's time to turn off your cell phones and grab some popcorn; let's take a closer look at
the year we've shared in 2024, as well as the path ahead for 2025.
Strategic Plan Values
Iowa City is guided by three core values that define who we are and what we strive to be.
These aren't just empty words —they are the principles driving every decision we make.
First, racial equity, human rights, and social justice remain at the heart of our work. We've
made significant strides in creating programs and policies that uplift historically
marginalized communities, and we've done a great job of celebrating our differences by
coming together at events like our first annual African Festival of Arts and Culture.
However, we know there's still more to do, and we remain committed to building a city
where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Iowa City's leadership on climate action also continues to set us apart. By accelerating our
innovative sustainability programs, investments in renewable energy, and efforts to reduce
carbon emissions, we are ensuring that Iowa City is not only resilient today but sustainable
for generations to come. Our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan reflects our promise to
protect our natural resources and combat the challenges brought by a changing climate.
And we understand that partnerships and engagement are the foundation of our success.
By collaborating with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, surrounding jurisdictions,
and residents, we know that working together strengthens us all. Your voices, ideas, and
involvement are essential in making Iowa City the thriving community we know it can be.
These values —equity, climate action, collaboration —they're more than our guiding
principles; they are our commitment to you, reaffirmed in our Strategic Plan update this
year. Together, we're shaping a future that reflects the very best of Iowa City.
Mobility
Now let's delve into our recent successes, starting with Mobility. Iowa City is a multi -model
community. Whether you walk, bike, bus, or drive, we want to give you choice in how you
get around.
One of our greatest mobility successes in 2024 has been our Fare Free transit pilot.
Passenger trips were up by more than 40% in the first year, and even more people are
choosing to get on the buses in our second year. While grant funds for the pilot project end
in 2025, we're now identifying the best way to sustain this essential public service moving
forward. We also selected a team to design our new transit facility, which will replace the
current aging building. Supported by $23.2 million in federal grants, this project, in
conjunction with fare -free transit, will help solidify Iowa City as a top-notch transit system.
We also strove to remain responsible stewards of our transportation infrastructure.
Inflation, supply chain issues, and labor shortages have made these projects more costly
and significantly increased completion time. In November, we re -opened Rochester
Avenue, and it is fantastic! We also invested in major projects such as the replacement of
the South Gilbert Street Bridge and the reconstruction of Dubuque Street downtown. In
addition to improving the street surface, these projects create safer, more accessible
routes for those choosing to travel on foot. We made progress on our Bike Master Plan as
well, on top of other improvements to our sidewalks! We added new buffered bike lanes to
Rochester Avenue, and we continued to fill in gaps in our sidewalk network and replace
curb ramps to improve accessibility for everyone. Next year we'll see even more bike and
pedestrian enhancements throughout our community.
Housing & Neighborhoods
2024 marked an exciting year of progress towards improving our neighborhoods and
addressing the housing affordability crisis while laying the groundwork for additional
opportunities next year. Let's take a look.
Iowa City was selected by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as one
of 21 communities across the nation to receive the PRO Housing grant. This $3.75 million
grant will help us accelerate our plans to remove barriers to housing affordability by
updating our Comprehensive Plan, establishing a housing counseling program, and helping
the City directly develop affordable housing. The award builds on our previous work,
including the recent Affordable Housing Action Plan update and zoning code amendments.
Together these efforts will help expand housing choice, increase housing supply, and
encourage affordability.
At the same time, we continued to invest in housing. Last year, our Housing Authority
purchased three townhomes for permanent affordable housing, and we partnered with the
Domestic Violence Intervention Program to open a new shelter for survivors of domestic
violence and to secure another six units of permanent supportive housing for those leaving
the shelter. The City also provided more than $1.3 million in federal entitlement funds and
another million through our Affordable Housing Fund for programs providing support to
households with lower incomes - from assistance for housing rehabilitation and
downpayments, to the creation of new affordable rentals; from sheltering folks over the
winter to helping residents with security deposits - these programs, along with the social
service support we provide to our nonprofit partners, are essential in ensuring the
community takes care of those who are most in need.
Our Energy Efficiency in Residential Construction Incentive pilot program also rolled out
last year in partnership with the Home Builders Association and Iowa City Area Association
of Realtors. This program provides a grant for new homes that achieve a high Home Energy
Rating System score. This equates to a home that is 20% more efficient than the state
energy code. Not only will this program help boost energy efficiency, but it also rewards
best practices and reduces long-term housing costs.
We are also proud of our role in the Student Built House Program, in collaboration with The
Housing Fellowship, Iowa City Community School District, and Iowa City Home Builders
Association Vocational Training Council. The students in -training completed a two -
bedroom, energy efficient home at 724 Ronalds Street in spring 2024, with a second home
in progress. The future looks bright as this new generation prepares to become tomorrow's
skilled homebuilders.
In addition, we worked to ensure all neighborhoods in Iowa City have access to quality
natural and recreational areas. We completed work at Sturgis Ferry Park, Hunter's Run
Park, Happy Hollow Park, and the Conklin Street entrance to Hickory Hill Park. The City also
undertook significant planning efforts for the reconstruction of City Park Pool, the
redevelopment of the Terrell Mill Skate Park, the development of the new Adelaide Joy Park
on Shannon Drive, and improvements to College Green Park and the Mercer Park Ball
Diamond. These actions make sure Iowa City is the best place it can be to live, work, and
play.
Economy
According to various national ranking lists, Iowa City is among the most livable places. It is
also unique as a UNESCO City of Literature. However, we know many struggle to afford
daily necessities, even when employed. To that end, we are striving to achieve a more
inclusive economy— one that supports workers, entrepreneurs, and business owners
regardless of race, ethnicity, and immigration status.
We expanded implementation of our inclusive economic development plan this past year.
In the spring, we awarded $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to initiatives
throughout the community, including the development of a regional hub for
underrepresented businesses and entrepreneurs at Dream City in the South of 6 business
district. We also launched our Targeted Business Development grant to serve
underestimated business owners and entrepreneurs who would benefit from consistent
business support and coaching services. And we are fortunate to see continued expansion
of our pre -apprenticeship program in partnership with the University of Iowa Labor Center.
This program focuses on bringing underserved populations into the building and
construction trades. The FY 2024 cohort included 28 graduates, doubling the number from
the previous year. Together these actions support business growth, provide living wages,
and remove barriers to inclusion in the economy.
Expanding access to affordable childcare has also been important to ensuring everyone
who wishes to participate in the local workforce can do so. Last year, we provided $2
million to the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County to develop a Family Resource
Center and an Early Childhood Center in the Towncrest neighborhood. This will create at
least 50 early childcare slots and provide a community library, computer lab, and other
important facilities for those nearby. We also continued our support for the Childcare Wage
Enhancement Program in partnership with Johnson County, Better Together 2030, and
other community partners. The program recently expanded to enhance wages for six
childcare centers in Iowa City.
We have also been active in supporting Iowa City in its designation as the Greatest Small
City for the Arts while advancing our community as a premier destination for residents and
visitors alike. Our Downtown Iowa City Ambassadors program, managed by Block by Block,
kicked off enhanced service levels last year, and we helped launch the X Marks the Arts
campaign, both of which would not be possible without the support of the Downtown
District. In addition, we remain committed to our arts and culture community partners, like
FilmScene and the Englert Theatre. We also collected extensive public input and three
formal proposals for our property at 21 S. Linn Street, just across from the Senior Center.
We are excited to explore a new opportunity at this critical corner, one that reflects the
community's character and underscores our commitment to ensuring a welcoming, vibrant
urban core.
Safety and Well -Being
But beyond economic success, we also strive to be a community that advocates for the
mental and physical well-being of all community members. Ensuring residents feel safe,
welcomed, and engaged is paramount to the core services provided by the City.
First and foremost, we want to ensure we get at the root causes when issues arise and
respond appropriately to them. To that end, we continue to work with Johnson County on
their Community Violence Prevention Program, Shelter House to provide effective Street
Outreach, and CommUnity Crisis Services for the Mobile Crisis Outreach hotline, available
by calling 988. Our Police Department and the Joint Emergency Communication Center are
furthering the integration of Mobile Crisis with dispatch procedures to divert relevant 911
calls to 988. Our two Mental Health Liaisons continue to do great work as well, and thanks
to our new co -responder police officer model, we're seeing even more active call response
and participation.
The City also continues to invest in non-profit partners for transformational, long-term
capacity enhancements within our social services network. One million dollars was
awarded to the Free Medical Clinic to expand capacity, improve services, and increase
accessibility for those with disabilities. Iowa City also started its Resilience Hub program to
improve the capacity of community -based organizations to maintain key services before,
during, and after extreme weather events in alignment with our Climate Action Plan. The
pilot hubs include Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County and the Iowa City Bike Library,
and we look forward to expanding the information and resources they can provide to
residents as they help us consider the needs of vulnerable community members when
planning for emergencies.
2024 also marks the start or continuation of several important public health and safety
initiatives. The Fire Department kicked off its partnership with Community Connect, a free
and secure platform to share critical emergency information about households and
businesses. This online application allows first responders to be better informed when
heading to an emergency and better equipped to protect those who may be onsite. The City
offers a Lead Reduction Program to help community members reduce possible lead
contamination from privately -owned water service lines. The program provides awareness
and informs homeowners with a voluntary service line insurance option. It also provides
grants to help pay for lead testing and replacement in service lines.
In addition, we continue to promote wellness through other public services. The Iowa City
Public Library is reinforcing its role as a welcoming hub for Iowa City's diverse community.
We established a bilingual Children's Department position in Spanish which allows
focused outreach and early literacy support. Our library also supports language learning
through weekly story times for children provided in English, Spanish, and Mandarin, and we
are enhancing our World Languages collection with works by participants of the University
of Iowa International Writers Workshop in the languages they write in. Through these
offerings, we can better integrate new community members by helping them easily build
networks and establish roots in our community.
Strategic Plan Resources
While our community enjoys a high level of public services, we would not be able to do so
without consistent evaluation of the resources available to the City. To that end, focusing
on our facilities, people, and financial resources is essential to supporting our work.
To marshal these resources, we continue to implement data -informed practices to help
guide decisions. A big step in this direction is the completion of our 2024 Community
Survey. This survey provides a valuable baseline on the public's perception of our services
and can help us focus on areas most in need of additional support. Similarly, we hired a
new Crime Analyst to help further improve public safety data and fine-tune the mental
health and crisis intervention services we rolled out last year. We have also been involved
with the Bloomberg Harvard
Leadership Initiative to expand our problem -solving capacity and build upon the
effectiveness of our operations.
We are constantly evaluating our facilities to ensure they meet the needs of our staff and
the public as well. In addition to the new transit facility project, we began planning for the
co -located equipment building and are exploring how to best integrate these with our other
Public Works operations. The City also completed its space needs assessment of City Hall,
the Police station, and Fire Station #1 which are outdated, undersized, and have significant
accessibility issues. Based on the preliminary findings, we look forward to exploring
opportunities to move the Police Station and Fire Station #1 off -site, while looking at future
expansion of City Hall. The Senior Center also completed its first phase of exterior repairs,
including new signage, and the Landfill kicked off its building replacement project which
will dramatically improve working conditions, enhance operations, and better protect
equipment. Another notable accomplishment is the new solar panel installation at the
Iowa City Municipal Airport, which is expected to cut electrical costs by around 50%. These
projects, along with regular maintenance projects such as HVAC replacement and roof
repairs, help us deliver on the high quality services our community deserves.
Financially, we continue to practice prudent and transparent fiscal management. As a
result, Moody's reaffirmed our Aaa bond rating as one of three cities in the State with this
designation. This important rating allows us to lower borrowing costs and spend less on
interest expenses and more on programs and services that directly benefit the public.
Fortunately, this strong foundation should set us up well for an uncertain future.
Looking Forward
Looking ahead, we do face several challenges. We as a City are coming up on some of the
most difficult budgetary years in the last two decades. Property tax reforms mandated by
the State Legislature, stagnating taxable valuations, inflation, and volatile expenses all
contribute to uncertain impacts on our future finances.
However, the future of the City remains bright. We are committed to providing the high -
quality public services that residents demand, with a continued focus on our core services.
We also have many exciting opportunities coming up.
As we explore the best path forward to address the housing crisis, we are fortunate to have
built up $6.8 million in affordable housing fees generated through our inclusive zoning and
Tax Increment Financing policies over the past fewyears which we can strategically re-
invest. We will also continue to explore how to best make our Public Housing program
sustainable while finding ways to position Iowa City to undertake additional affordable
housing efforts in the coming years.
We look forward to those new and exciting projects that will truly make a positive difference
in our community: sustaining fare -free transit service, building anew City Park Pool,
reconstructing Court Street, and planning for the replacement of the Burlington Street
Bridge will all take a substantial amount of effort, but with a great reward.
As I look ahead to 2025, 1 am energized by what is on the horizon for this great community
that is always seeking to improve. We will continue to grow and strengthen, and I remain
thankful for the opportunity I have to help guide us as we move forward together.
Conclusion
appreciate you joining me tonight for this journey of the year's highlights. As you know,
Iowa City is a community of storytellers. The story of 2024 is one of perseverance and
progress, and each of you in the audience tonight has played a key role. I hope you willjoin
me as we keep moving forward in 2025.
And if you happen to be free on a summer evening, I hope you'lljoin us and our partner
FilmScene for the Free Movie Series, held each Saturday night at sundown in Chauncey
Swan Park downtown. It's a great opportunity to join others in the community for a
wonderful night out.
Together, we've accomplished so much, and the road ahead is full of opportunity. Let's
keep building our amazing city one step at a time.
In unity —your mayor, Bruce Teague