by Karen Kubby

January 10, 2009, was the 20-year anniversary of my first electoral win. This democratic socialist feminist victory was a shock, a scare, and a threat for some. For others, it was the first time they had ever voted for someone who had won. For me, it meant being sworn in immediately, making multi-million-dollar budget decisions within days.

This anniversary created an opportunity for reflection. I have a tattered envelope entitled, “The Progressive Years.” I think of this as the two-year period between 1993 and 1995 when I served the [Iowa City] community alongside Bruno Piggott and Jim Throgmorton. The envelope helps me remember why so many people invested time and money in local campaigns for me and my progressive colleagues. Here are some of the progressive changes that took place during The Progressive Years.

Public Discussion: We decided that the public’s business should be higher on the agenda, so we changed the resolution outlining meeting rhythms by placing public discussion before planning and zoning issues instead of after. The change meant that developers and their attorneys did the waiting, not everyday citizens. We can thank Bruno Piggott for this shift in public process; it makes a big difference to those wanting to participate in local government in time to put their kids to bed.

Historic Preservation and Conservation:  This was not about what color people paint their houses. It was about insuring that all flavors of Iowa City history are preserved, re-used, and incorporated into contemporary life. This ordinance allowed neighborhoods to petition to be an historic or conservation area.

Sensitive Areas Ordinance (SAO): The SAO evolved from a proposed “Save the Trees” ordinance. Mike Hodge wanted to redevelop an infill piece of property. He promised to save the trees in the back yard. This was said at a formal public meeting. I took it as a handshake, a solid commitment.  Two days later, many of the trees were down. I vowed that any such future agreements would be legally binding.

Bruce Glasgow came to the council for a development on the corner of Scott and Court. On this land was a grove of burr oak trees that were 160 years old – adolescence for this species. I kept asking to include maintaining the trees as part of a conditional zoning agreement. At one meeting, I heard a booming voice from the back of the room: “Kubby, I’ll sign anything you want!” Glasgow had agreed to save those trees. Of course, it was in his economic interest to do so, as it made those lots more valuable. A pair of owls continues to nest in those trees, and the Raptor Center brings abandoned fledglings there to be raised by them.

After this, there was much pressure and work to develop a more broad-based ordinance to protect a variety of sensitive areas including wetlands, ravines, steep slopes, and prairies, as well as tree groves. The ordinance is not perfect, yet it showed the value of these natural areas in our community and has made a difference. Ten years later, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors passed a similar ordinance that covers sensitive areas in the unincorporated areas of Johnson County.

Another progressive aspect of the SAO is the process by which this ordinance was formulated. The city brought together developers, environmentalists, and others to talk about how to structure such an ordinance. The stakeholders on various sides of the table weren’t used to working together, yet came up with something that was both visionary and practical.

Gender Identity:

A woman approached me about discrimination she faced in the workplace on the basis of gender identity. Our ordinance did not recognize this form of discrimination. She wanted to set things right. She presented her story to the council, who directed the Human Rights Commission to draft an updated ordinance. The update passed 7-0,although it would have been in jeopardy with the next council. Over ten years later, Johnson County and the State of Iowa included gender identity as a protected class.

Economic Development Guidelines:  The city created guidelines that entities would have to abide by when requesting public assistance in the area of economic development. Expectations about wages and benefits, environmental issues, and energy efficiency were outlined. The downfall of these efforts is that the guidelines remain only guidelines, not regulatory expectations.

These are just a few of the larger areas where progressive impact was made. Local government vision and action can be seen as a role model for other levels of government. An engaged community reinforces the natural instincts of elected progressives.

So, next time you are being an armchair policy maker, think about how you might get off your ass and outside of your head. Go speak at a public hearing, write that email to provide input, apply to serve on a local commission, or petition to get your name on a ballot. Progressives need to stop talking about how the world should be and starting putting our hats in the ring to actively engage in how the world will be.

We have much to offer. Let’s get to work.

— Karen Kubby ran twice for the Iowa City City Council before winning her first election.