IN FOCUS: 6.19.26 A Weekly Update from City Manager Ryan Waller

For the Good of the Order

OPN Architects/Marion Fire Department Headquarters Awarded a 2026 COTE® Top Ten Award
OPN Architects has been awarded a 2026 Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award by The American Institute of Architects for the design of Marion Fire Station No. 1. Bestowed annually, the COTE® Award celebrates projects with sustainable design excellence. In the award's 29-year history, this is the first time a fire station has won the award. When challenged by the City of Marion to design a station that would be a national benchmark for how biophilic design can reduce PTSD in firefighters, OPN rose to the occasion. The station reduces response times, establishes a strong and transparent civic presence and supports firefighter physical and mental wellness. Find out more. Congratulations!!

Council Awards $50,000 in Hotel/Motel Grant Funding
The City of Marion collects a 7 percent room tax on overnight stays at hotels and motels in the community. Each year, a portion of the funds is then redistributed through a grant application process to organizations that work to increase tourism in Marion. A committee of City staff, City Council representatives and residents reviews the applications, determines the recommended funding allocations and makes a recommendation to the Council for use of the funds. Earlier this week, Marion City Council awarded $50,000 to eight area projects/organizations. Those awarded funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year include the Marion Arts Festival, Marion Historical Museum, Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, Marion Historical Society, Marion Metro Kiwanis BBQ Rendezvous, Red Cedar Chamber Music, Prospect Meadows and YENKO Spark in the Park Cultural Festival. Thanks to each of these groups for the many ways they contribute to our quality of life.

Construction Nearing Completion on Three Major Uptown Housing Projects
Three significant projects are expected to be completed later this summer in Uptown Marion. Hoth Flats, located in the 800 block of 10th Street, will feature a 24-unit apartment building. This property offers modern one- and two-bedroom apartment homes with quality finishes, and underbuilding and surface parking. They are currently accepting applications with priority leasing for households impacted by the 2020 derecho. Belltower Lofts, located in the 1200 block of 8th Avenue, will feature 55 units designed to meet a range of housing needs. This property will include studio apartments, one-bedroom apartments and one-bedroom lofts. This mixed-income housing initiative is currently accepting applications and aims to support residents who meet certain income criteria and were impacted by the derecho. Broad & Main on 6th, located in the 1100 block of 6th Avenue, will add 41 luxury apartments with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. It also features underbuilding parking and 3,000 square feet of commercial space adjacent to the Central Plaza in City Square Park. The building will mirror Broad & Main on 7th, with leasing information coming soon!

Gill Park Playground Update
Planning for the Gill Park playground replacement continues to move forward. Following community engagement efforts, neighborhood feedback and review by the Park Board and City Council, the playground concept has been finalized. The Marion Parks and Recreation Department is now soliciting engineering services to develop a site plan that integrates the new playground with existing park features, accessibility needs and future improvements. Engineering and site planning are expected to be completed by late summer, with construction scheduled for fall 2026. Full project completion is anticipated in November 2026.

Speed Limit Changes on Highway 13 and Highway 151
Persistence pays off and we are happy to report that the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) has reduced the speed limits on Highway 13 and Highway 151 within Marion city limits. The reductions affect portions of Highway 13 near 35th Avenue, Linn Aire Avenue, and Highway 100/Secrist Road, as well as Highway 151 between Highway 13 and the eastern city limits. The signs in these areas have already been updated. The change is intended to improve safety for residents and motorists traveling through Marion.

2026 Major Pavement Patching Project Update
Work on 35th Street from Munier Road to 3rd Avenue is complete and the road is now open to traffic. Pavement marking painting and diamond grinding remain and will be addressed at a future date. Additionally, on Tuesday, June 23, work on 10th Street will shift to 29th Avenue from 10th Street to Indian Creek Road. 29th Avenue will be closed with limited access for residents who live on Indian Creek Circle. Message boards have been placed in advance to notify residents and motorists of the upcoming closures and traffic impacts. Please follow the posted detours. The work is expected to last four weeks, weather permitting.

Community Members and Businesses Encouraged to Celebrate America's 250th Anniversary
The City of Marion is marking America's 250th anniversary with a months-long celebration featuring patriotic events, military tribute banners and community decorations. Building and business owners are encouraged to create patriotic window displays and storefront decorations, and residents are encouraged to take part by decorating their porches and entryways with patriotic flair now through Veterans Day. This fall, the community will be invited to take part in a tree planting event, where 250 trees will be planted to mark the occasion.

Independence Day Holiday Hours
Marion City Hall and other City offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Regular business hours resume on Monday, July 6. Garbage, recycling and yard waste collection will not be impacted. Collection will take place on the regularly scheduled day. The Yard Waste Facility is also closed on Friday, and both the Recycling and Yard Waste Facilities will be closed on Saturday. On July 3 and July 4, the Marion Pool will be open for lap swim from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and open swim from 1-5 p.m. The Marion Public Library will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on July 3 and closed on Saturday, July 4. The bookmobile will not run on Saturday, July 4.

Sidewalk Inspection Program Underway
In May, the Public Works Department began its annual sidewalk inspection program in Marion. Previously, this was a biannual program evaluating the condition of half of Marion every two years. Now, this program has been modified to inspect one quadrant every year in a four-year rotation. This year, the focus is on the southwest quadrant of Marion. After completing the inspection, residents may find their sidewalk has been marked with pink paint. The pink paint signifies that the panel may be defective according to the City's adopted repair standards. Starting next week, residents with panels in need of repair will receive a letter outlining the process. This process is changing slightly over previous years, and these differences will be outlined in the letter.

We're Hiring
If you're looking to make a positive impact in the community, the City of Marion is currently hiring for multiple positions. Current full-time openings include a police officer, police management analyst, permit clerk or permit technician I, public works equipment operator and water system utility worker. There are seasonal openings for a mower and a public works worker. We're also hiring a part-time 911 communications operator. Find the details at www.cityofmarion.org/employment.

New Faces in New Places
On Monday, June 22, Raven Morales will join Team Marion. Raven will be a part-time patron services team member with the Marion Public Library. She comes to us from Alaska, where she worked with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Congrats, Raven! Welcome aboard.

Word on the Street

• When will the pavers be installed in that were part of the Central Plaza project?
  Paver installation was delayed so that the contractor building Broad and Main on 6th could maintain access to the site. We've received word that they intend to install the pavers in July as they work toward gaining occupancy in August. Within a couple of months, construction should be completed on Broad & Main on 6th!

• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between June 15-19, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 5400 block of Kacena Avenue, eastbound. Between June 21-25, the mobile speed vehicle will be located in the 5400 block of Kacena Avenue, westbound.

Upcoming Events

Future Council Items

Here's an overview of several items that will be coming before the City Council in the weeks ahead.

On the Docket

The following are a few of the major activities on my calendar for the coming week:

• Scheduled time out of the office
• Internal meetings
• Meeting with Juliet Abdel
• Meeting with Marty Lenss & Mark Seckman
• State of Your Airport (Eastern Iowa Airport) event
• MEDCO Investor Breakfast

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