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July 2023 | Visit us online at www.icgov.org/climateaction. 

Veggie goodness from the Farmers Market

The 2023 Farmers Market has over 125 vendors participating.

Each week, 215 pounds of fresh, locally-produced foods are donated from the Farmers Market to local hunger-relief organizations. This number is expected to double by late season.

More than 50 types of vegetables are grown by local farmers, and the healthiest Iowan diets include all of them!

Iowa City wins major award to expand electric bus fleet and build a zero-emissions transit facility!

The City of Iowa City's Transportation Services Department has received a monumental $23.2 million grant to replace the City's aging transit maintenance facility and purchase four additional electric buses, paving the way for future expansion of the electric bus fleet.

"The new facility will be purpose-built for electric or other low-emission technology and will be powered by clean, renewable energy, enabling Iowa City Transit’s transformation into one of the most sustainable transit systems in the United States,” says Darian Nagle-Gamm, Transportation Director.

Transportation Services currently provides rides to over 1.1 million people a year and expects ridership to grow as the City implements a two-year Fare Free pilot program on August 1, eliminating bus fare for all riders.

Check it out: Spot the Hot activity kits

At Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, residents can find Spot the Hot Activity Kits to check out for at-home enjoyment. Kits include materials for heat-related science experiments, free pool passes, a sticker featuring Goldie the Climate Action Mascot, and an activity booklet with information about heat islands.  Visit the lower level customer service desk at Robert A. Lee to get a kit and give the activities a try!

All seasons of Lawn Love in Iowa City

Summer is a great time to get out and appreciate the many creative approaches to Iowa City lawns.

Re-wilding a back or front yard adds interest, seasonal color, food and habitat for wildlife, and the type of maintenance that bypasses the mower!

Four Iowa City yards are spotlighted in the IC Lawn Love video series; enjoy all of the video shorts at the City Channel. 

Trading a traditional lawn for diverse natives or an edible landscape is possible in Iowa City neighborhoods, although it does not equate to a maintenance-free yard. Learn more about lawn options and considerations at icgov.org/lawnlove.

IUB announces public hearings on natural gas rate increase

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has scheduled six public consumer comment meetings starting July 24, 2023, regarding the customer notice filed by MidAmerican Energy Company  for an increase in its natural gas base delivery rates.

These meetings allow MidAmerican ratepayers to comment on the proposed increases as well as on the overall quality of service.

Five in-person meetings are scheduled throughout MidAmerican’s service territory and one virtual meeting is planned. For details on times and locations, visit the IUB website. Written comments can be filed by completing and submitting the IUB’s online comment form

Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission meets monthly

Access upcoming and past meeting packets  at the Climate Action Commission web page.

Help map Iowa City heat islands!

The City's Climate Action and Outreach Office is seeking volunteers to help map areas of higher heat in Iowa City this July as part of its Spot the Hot initiative. To register as a volunteer, please complete our online form.

As volunteers, residents will receive training on using special sensors that record temperature, humidity, time, and location data. They will also be assigned a specially configured route to follow in pairs as a driver/navigator team.

More information is available at ICgov.org/SpotTheHot. The project is a collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Iowa City, and the City of Cedar Rapids.

Pictured above: a participant in the 2022 urban heat island mapping campaign in Columbia, SC.

UI BioBlitz returns to Ashton Prairie

Don't Ditch. Donate!

Last summer, in a span of four hours, over four tons of materials were diverted from the landfill through recycling and donation programs at the City's Donation Drive-Thru. This included 127 pounds of batteries recycled to help prevent landfill fires, more than 2,000 pounds of clothing and shoes, more than 2,000 pounds of mattresses and box springs, and 850 pounds of books. The event will return this year; mark your calendars and check it out!

• 12 - 4 p.m. Sunday, July 23
• Chauncey Ramp lower level

Iowa City's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan has a goal of decreasing the amount of waste reaching our landfill 80% by 2050. Learn how you can help us reach our waste reduction goals at icgov.org/Donate.

The Upcyclers of Oaknoll

This Sustainability Spotlight celebrates the creativity and waste-reduction efforts of Oaknoll residents: some of Iowa City's greatest upcyclers! Nancee Blum uses corks left in a container in Oaknoll recycling rooms to provide lightweight aeration in the bottoms of pots for her patio plants. Kay Full creates bookmarks from pieces of napkins, cards, and paintings. Katharine Nicholson (not pictured) has sorted and organized upcycled containers donated to Free Lunch Program for decades.  Mary Palmberg (the photographer, not pictured) collects egg cartons for her farmer friends, cardboard tubes for art projects at the Children's Museum, and countless other materials that need a new home! 

Upcycling impacts climate change by reducing methane emissions from landfills, eliminating some of the need for new raw materials, and extending the usable life of goods. Feeling inspired? Learn more about upcycling's benefits on this web page and get started with ideas from Iowa City's Environmental Education page. 

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This newsletter is published by the City of Iowa City Climate Action and Outreach Division. For more information, contact Sarah Gardner at 319-887-6162 or Sarah-Gardner@Iowa-City.org