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Politics & Government

More Council News: Iowa City Downtown Survey Critiqued

Read on for more news from the Iowa City Council meeting.

Iowa Citian Caroline Dieterle told the Iowa City Council a recent survey she took on the downtown’s economic potential went against buying local and was obviously geared toward chain stores.

“I found the survey…worthless,” she said. “Anybody who has been acquainted at all with the construction of surveys, which I have, knows that the survey can be constructed to engineer a result that is predetermined or wished for.”

The new online survey, https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Downtown Iowa_City, is part of a $50,000 study. The City of Iowa City and the University of Iowa commissioned Divaris Real Estate to analyze retail opportunities in downtown Iowa City in order to get like input about how to enhance shopping options downtown.

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“When I looked at the suggestions the survey was offering, for things for people to tick off that they would like to see in downtown Iowa City, almost all that I was acquainted with … already were doing things that were represented by a business that’s already in downtown Iowa City, sometimes more than one,” Dieterle said.

New Liason Appointed

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The newly appointed liason to the city council for the University of Iowa student government, Cody Graham, introduced himself to the city council Tuesday night. The University of Iowa junior political science major grew up in Centerville, interned two years in Congressman Dave Loebsack’s office, and currently works part time in the Museum of Natural History on campus. Graham said student safety on campus would be at the top of his list in University issues that need addressing.

Landscape Median Funding Approved

The council voted unanimously to apply for grants totaling up to $750,000 from the Iowa Department of Transportation to develop a landscaped median on Burlington Street from the Iowa River to Capitol Street. The University of Iowa has tentatively pledged $750,000 for the $2 million designed to increase pedestrian safety and enhance aesthetics along this key entryway to downtown Iowa City and the University of Iowa campus. 

Roosevelt Elementary Students Honored for Citizenship

Iowa City Mayor Matt Hayek handed out three Iowa City Outstanding Student Citizenship awards to Roosevelt Elementary students Ana Crespo, Isabelle Grey and Sadie Widmer at the city council meeting Tuesday night.

“We also want to recognize your parents and teachers and other people who are here to support you, we know they have just a little bit to do with your success, so we’re very proud of you,” he said.

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