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Council adopts Envision CR updates and approves First Avenue East micro‑area action plan
Summary
The council adopted the 2024 Envision CR updates and approved the First Avenue East micro‑area action plan, which prioritizes business-support working groups, college-district partnerships and streetscape safety improvements after community engagement.
City staff presented annual updates to Envision CR and a First Avenue East micro‑area action plan on Feb. 25; the council adopted the 2024 Envision CR updates and approved incorporation of the micro‑area plan into the citywide plan.
Betsy Borchardt summarized the Envision CR process and said the city updates the plan annually to keep departmental initiatives aligned with council priorities. Staff said they updated 284 initiatives across Envision CR and related plans this cycle and plan community outreach, including an open house in April.
Noah Zieker presented the First Avenue East micro‑area action plan. Zieker described a concise planning process with targeted stakeholder engagement between May and December 2024, including six focus groups and an online survey mailed to addresses in the plan area. The study area covers roughly 60 acres around First Avenue, bounded roughly by A Avenue to the north, 17th Street to the east, Second Avenue SE to the south and 12th Street to the west.
Zieker said community priorities identified in the engagement included establishing a working group to identify barriers for new area businesses; partnering with the college district on business assistance programs; streetscape and road design improvements to improve safety for all users; seeking economic development programs that support neighborhood revitalization; and funding a historic context statement. The plan presents interactive online mapping, before-and-after graphics and engagement summaries to help residents and stakeholders dig into the recommendations.
Council members praised the presentation and staff’s interactive materials. Council asked about prospects for a grocery store in the micro area; Bill Michael said staff had been working with prospective operators and had applied for a USDA FARE grant to fund equipment for a potential grocer and had connected with the International Grocers Association for operator referrals. Michael said Hy‑Vee, the current leaseholder, would need to cooperate on transfer or sale of the grocery property.
Council adopted the Envision CR updates and approved the First Avenue East micro‑area action plan and incorporation into the citywide plan; staff intends to proceed with priority action steps and the planned community open house.
