IN FOCUS: 7.2.26 A Weekly Update from City Manager Ryan Waller

For the Good of the Order

Fireworks & Fireflies is Happening Tomorrow
Marion will host its 6th annual Fireworks & Fireflies celebration tomorrow night. This free community event will take place at the Klopfenstein Amphitheater at Lowe Park beginning at 6 p.m. Mayor AbouAssaly and City Council members will welcome attendees prior to Well Lit taking the stage at 7 p.m. An additional performance stage, featuring School of Rock, the Barnyard Discoveries petting zoo and an expanded Family Fun Zone, will be located near Irish Drive. Attendees can bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers. Patrons are asked to leave pets, sparklers, fireworks and pop-up tents at home. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Two free shuttles to Lowe Park from the Linn-Mar High School parking lot will run continuously starting at 6 p.m. Additional details, including a list of FAQs and a parking map, are available at cityofmarion.org/fireworks.

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. The Yard Waste Facility is 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.

Reminder about Fireworks Rules
In accordance with State law, consumer fireworks are only allowed to be launched in Marion on July 3, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and July 4, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. this time of year. Fireworks may be purchased and used only by persons 18 years of age or older, and used only with the property owner's permission. Fireworks may NOT be used in public parks. Any other dates and times are authorized by permit only. The use of fireworks outside of the designated dates and times is considered a nuisance in Marion's code. Property owners allowing fireworks to be discharged on their property outside of the established dates/times may be subject to citation for a municipal infraction. The fees for a municipal infraction are $750 for the first infraction and $1,000 for each subsequent infraction. Residents can report fireworks usage outside of the permissible dates by calling the Marion Police Department's non-emergency line at 319-377-1511.

Schedule Change for Next Week's City Council Meetings
Please note, next week's City Council meetings are being consolidated. The work session and regular meeting will both take place on Tuesday, July 7, at 4 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at Marion City Hall, 1225 6th Avenue, and is also available to stream live online. Agendas, minutes and video recordings are available on the City's meeting portal.

Eat. Drink. & Be Marion: Pub Crawl Fundraiser
Uptown Marion will host its 12th annual Eat. Drink. & Be Marion: Food & Pub Crawl Fundraiser on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 5-9 p.m. With a ticket, you will receive a complimentary glass, t-shirt and exclusive deals from participating businesses in the Uptown Marion District. Also, enjoy live entertainment, $1 bar specials, food samples and extended shopping hours as you walk to each participating establishment. Ticket proceeds benefit the ongoing revitalization and beautification efforts of Uptown Marion - A Main Street Iowa District. Must be 21 years or older to participate. For more information visit: UptownMarion.com.

No Parking Proposed for Area 4
To improve emergency vehicle access and assist other larger vehicles such as garbage trucks and snow plows in maneuvering the street more easily, the City is implementing "No Parking" on one side of the street. Recently, letters were sent to all residents directly impacted by this change in Area 4, which is bound by 10th Street to the west, 31st Street to the east, 10th Avenue to the south and McGowan Boulevard to the north. City Council will review and discuss the proposed changes on Tuesday, July 7, at 4 p.m. at Marion City Hall. Any interested person may appear and provide comments in support of or objection to the proposed action during the applicable public comment period. Comments may also be submitted via email to the City Clerk at [email protected] by 3 p.m. on July 7 to be shared during the meeting. For a full list of impacted streets or to learn more visit www.cityofmarion.org/noparking.

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. Last week, letters were sent to residents in the southwest quadrant with defectives panels in need of repair. Under City code, property owners are responsible for maintaining the public sidewalk adjacent to their property. Impacted property owners can fix the sidewalk panels themselves, no later than July 26, 2026, or elect to have the City complete the repairs. A Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 7 at 4 p.m. at Marion City Hall. Any affected property owner may appear and provide comments in support of or objection to the proposed action during the applicable public hearing. Learn more at www.cityofmarion.org.

City Seeking Parking Management Consultant
Earlier this week, the City issued a request for proposals seeking a qualified and experienced parking management consultant to evaluate parking in the Uptown area. The goal is to build on the recommendations from the 2023 Uptown Parking Study while factoring in Uptown's substantial commercial and residential growth. The 2023 Uptown Parking Study provided a good sense of our current capacity through utilization of public (on-street and off-street) parking and private parking, as well as establishing general strategies for managing our existing parking supply. This is the next step in the process. The selected consultant will evaluate our current inventory and prepare us for growth over the next 5-10 years. A consultant is expected to be selected by early fall 2026.

2026 Major Pavement Patching Project Update
Work on 29th Avenue from 10th Street to Indian Creek Road is complete and the road is now open to traffic. On Monday, July 6, work will shift to 10th Street from Indian Creek Road to 29th Avenue. During construction, 10th Street will be reduced to southbound traffic only. Northbound traffic will be detoured using Indian Creek Road and 29th Avenue. Message boards were placed in advance to notify residents and motorists of the upcoming closures and traffic impacts. Please follow the posted detours. This work is expected to last four weeks, weather permitting.

Marion Boulevard Construction Begins Monday
On Monday, July 6, Boulder Contracting will begin work on the Marion Boulevard Bridge Approach and Deck Repair Project. During the first stage of construction, the outside lanes of Marion Boulevard between Blairs Ferry Road and 1st Street will be closed to traffic. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. Additionally, the traffic signal at 1st Street will be turned off during construction. The intersection will operate as a right-in, right-out-only configuration. Please follow the posted signage. This work is expected to last six weeks, weather permitting.

Road Construction Updates
Road construction season is upon us! As always, slow down in construction zones and watch for workers. Stay up-to-date on these and other projects by subscribing to the Public Works Project Newsletter. Here's a look at the latest.

Marion Pool Payment Options
Beginning July 1, electronic payments are the preferred method of payment for admissions and concessions at the Marion Pool. Cash will still be accepted when needed. Using credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and other contactless payment methods helps reduce the time staff spend handling and reconciling cash, allowing them to focus more on serving guests while improving the safety and efficiency of daily operations.

Marion Public Library Launches Community Food Pantry
The Marion Public Library is expanding access to essential resources through the creation of a new community food pantry, a project made possible through a combination of grant funding and community support. The pantry is located on the library's main level near the media section and is available during library operating hours. It is designed to offer convenient and welcoming access to food resources for community members. Learn more at marionpubliclibrary.org/news.

Friends of the Marion Library Book Sale Happening July 17-19
The Friends of the Marion Library Book Sale is happening July 17-19. The sale on Friday, July 17, from 4-5 p.m. is reserved for Friends members only, but all are welcome to attend on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, July 19, from 1-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, hardcopy books are $3, paperback books are $2, children's books are $2 for hardcopy and paperbacks are $1. On Sunday, a bag of books is $5. The event will be in the Marion Public Library in the Community Room and all proceeds will support the Library. Hope to see you then!

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, 911 communications operator, public works project assistant, permit clerk or permit technician I and public works equipment operator. There is a seasonal opening for a public works worker and we're also hiring a part-time 911 communications operator. Find the details at www.cityofmarion.org/employment.

New Faces in New Places
We want to congratulate Taryn Hildenbrand on being hired as the City's new communications specialist. She was the events and communications intern last summer and has since supported the Parks and Recreation Department in a part-time capacity. She begins her new role at City Hall on Monday. Congrats, Taryn!

Word on the Street

• Can you provide a status update regarding the pedestrian bridge that will be added on Lucore Road?
  The Iowa Department of Transportation received six bids for the Lucore Road Sidepath Project. The low bid was from Rathje Construction. This was a project that had a lot of community support to connect the Hunters Ridge area to the existing trail network. There will be an extension of the sidepath and a separate pedestrian bridge placed next to the existing vehicular bridge. The construction calendar will be determined when the preconstruction meeting takes place. Construction should begin no later than April 5, 2027, and be completed within 65 working days. City Council will hold a public hearing and consider the bids at the July 7 City Council meeting.

• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between July 3-7, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 2700 block of 10th Avenue. Between July 9-13, the mobile speed vehicle will be located in the 2800 block of 10th Avenue.

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:

• Internal meetings

• Meeting with Brandy Meisheid

• City Council meeting

• Eat. Drink. & Be Marion. fundraiser

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