Iowa City announces Earth Expo, Neighborhood Energy Blitz and campus Miyawaki forest planting

Community announcements opened the meeting, including details about an Earth Expo, a Neighborhood Energy Blitz and a campus tree‑planting project.

Tristan Keller, education coordinator for Green Iowa AmeriCorps Iowa City, said the Earth Expo will be held April 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center and will highlight local and statewide organizations working on sustainability and conservation; the event will include a sustainable fashion show organized with the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center and feature more than 20 local designers and businesses such as Crowded Closet, Savvy Boutique and 10,000 Villages.

Staff also reminded members of the Neighborhood Energy Blitz on April 26 with morning and afternoon shifts (roughly 9–11 a.m. and 3–5 p.m.), during which volunteers distribute energy‑saving boxes and collect used light bulbs for recycling. Commissioner Zach (first name only in record) and other volunteers described it as an easy volunteer opportunity.

Shetty noted the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability maintains an Earth Month web hub (sustainability.uiowa.edu/earthmonth) where community events can be added. Shetty and other commissioners reported the university is planning a Miyawaki forest planting on Arbor Day (April 25) to plant about 4,000 trees on roughly one half‑acre of campus over a series of events starting on Arbor Day.

Ending: Staff agreed to include the Earth Month web hub link in the meeting minutes and to circulate event details and tour opportunities to commissioners.