The city of Cedar Rapids is seeking artists for a mural that will go on the playing surface of the Delaney Park basketball court.
The selected artist or art team will work with the city and the neighborhood to create a full-size court mural for the basketball court at 5240 Wilson Ave. SW.
Artists may submit their ideas and qualifications on a form at CityofCR.com/PAC.
A selection panel will choose an artist or team to work with the neighborhood to develop a design for the 4,500-square-foot court.
Submissions are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 1. One finalist or team will be selected by Feb. 20, with a design due March 25. The mural will be installed next summer.
Ashley Vanorny elected to National League of Cities board
Cedar Rapids City Council member Ashley Vanorny was elected to a two-year term on the National League of Cities board at the organization’s 2023 City Summit in Atlanta.
In this role, Vanorny will provide strategic direction and guidance for the league’s federal advocacy, governance and membership activities. It is the nation’s largest organization for cities, their elected leaders and municipal staff.
“I am excited for this opportunity to represent Cedar Rapids and Iowa on the board, fostering collaboration with, and learning from, colleagues across the nation,” Vanorny said in a statement.
“I look forward to sharing the valuable lessons I’ve gained from the exceptional Cedar Rapids city team. I firmly believe in the strength of our great cities and the positive impact we can achieve together. I am looking forward to this national-level opportunity to advocate for policies that impact Iowans.”
As a member of the board, Vanorny will meet in March, June and November to guide the organization’s strategic direction.
Board members are selected by a 15-member nominating committee and are confirmed by a vote from the League’s membership at the organization’s annual business meeting.
This is the first time in eight years an Iowan will serve on the board after former Cedar Rapids council member Kris Gulick’s 2015 term.
Her election comes after she became board president of the Iowa League of Cities earlier this year.
Olson receives ISU’s top alumni honor
The Iowa State University Alumni Association recently honored Cedar Rapids City Council member Scott Olson, a 1969 ISU architecture graduate, with its Alumni Medal, recognizing his commitment and contributions to the university.
The medal, established in 1948, is the association’s highest honor and is given to individuals who demonstrate service to the university through alumni-related activities.
Olson has served on the alumni association’s board, including as its chairman, and has served on various committees, including finance, trusteeship, strategic planning, legislative matters and board relations.
“Being recognized with the ISU Alumni Medal is a true honor,” Olson said in a statement. “I’m proud to be part of a community that values education and makes a positive impact, reinforcing the importance of giving back in support of the next generation of our citizens.”
An ISU Foundation governor, he stays involved in alumni engagement through his participation on the College of Design Advancement Council. His involvement includes fundraising and strategic planning.
The association also recognized Olson’s service in his professional career and community engagements, including roles in the U.S. Army, on the Cedar Rapids Veterans Commission, as founding partner of OPN Architects, founding board member of Four Oaks Family and Children Services and in municipal government.
Olson previously earned university honors, including the ISU Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumni Award and the Alumni Humanitarian Award.
Iowa City to honor outgoing council members Tuesday
The city of Iowa City is hosting an open house Tuesday, Dec. 12, to recognize outgoing city council members Pauline Taylor and John Thomas.
The open house will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Helling Conference Room in City Hall, 410 E. Washington St.
A 4 p.m. council work session and 6 p.m. formal council meeting will follow.
Taylor and Thomas were first elected in 2016 and re-elected to second terms in 2020. Both terms end at noon Jan. 2.
Work begins today on Willow Creek Trail bridge in Iowa City
Weather permitting, work will begin today, Dec. 11, on the Willow Creek Trail bridge replacement project.
The asphalt trail in southwest Iowa City will be closed at Shannon Drive, Irving Drive and near Westwinds Drive.
The existing trail bridge will be replaced, as will 104 square yards of the trail leading up to the bridge. Work is expected to be completed in January.
Clear Creek Amana reviewing elementary boundaries
The Clear Creek Amana Community School District is reviewing its elementary school attendance boundaries as the district prepares to open a new elementary school next fall.
The school board approved the new school’s name — East Ridge Elementary — last month. The school is being built 30 acres of land west of Coral Ridge Avenue and east of the Interstate 380 and Highway 6 intersection in Coralville.
The new school will be the sixth elementary in the school district. Parents, students and staff suggested names for the school earlier this year.
The attendance boundaries of the elementary schools have been under review since July 2023. The community is invited to provide input on four options by completing an online survey — ccaschools.org/Page/5790 — by Wednesday, Dec. 12.
The district also gathered input during an in-person meeting last week.
The proposal includes making Tiffin Elementary School, 104 N. Park Rd, a preschool to first-grade school. Currently, the school is preschool to third- grade. Students would then go to Oak Hill Elementary School, 504 N. Park Rd., for second and third grade if they were in the Tiffin and Oak Hill attendance zone.
Amana Elementary would remain a preschool to fourth-grade school as would Clear Creek Elementary. North Bend Elementary would remain preschool to third grade.
East Ridge Elementary would be open to fourth-graders from North Bend and Tiffin and all fifth-graders in the district.
Over the past several months, school leaders have worked with RSP & Associates — school planning consultants — to analyze planned development in the district, housing values, birthrates and other projections.
Other factors include building capacity, class sizes, transportation needs, family dynamics, future bond availability and tax savings.
Coralville makes parks and trails nicotine and tobacco-free
Coralville and the Coralville Parks and Recreation Commission are being recognized for making all city-owned parks, open spaces and trails tobacco and nicotine free.
The ordinance, adopted by the Coralville City Council in October, prohibits using any form of tobacco or vaping product in city parks or trails.
In recognizing the city for the ban, Johnson County Public Health noted that “exposure to secondhand smoke, electronic cigarette aerosol and tobacco/vaping product litter reduces the enjoyment of these spaces. Secondhand cigarette smoke harms everyone and there is no safe level or exposure to secondhand smoke, even in outdoor environments.”
Coralville Park and Recreation Commissioner Mackensie Graham said in a statement that “we anticipate the impacts of this ordinance will include reducing secondhand smoke in city-owned or operated parks and decreasing tobacco/vape-related litter which poses a hazard to children, pets, wildlife and the environment,”
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne and Grace King contribute.
