News Flash

A public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Property Tax Levy for the City of University Heights will be held Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center, 1302 Melrose Avenue.

Leaf vacuuming is scheduled for April 6. Review the instructions to have leaves collected.

The Johnson County Emergency Management Agency's (EMA) app, JoCo Ready, is available for download.

The free JoCo Ready app combines multiple public safety-related resources in one convenient location, including:

• 511 Iowa road conditions.
• County weather conditions.
• Alert Iowa mass notification system.
• Pulse Point AED locator.
• Project Lifesaver, a search-and-rescue initiative for children and adults prone to wandering.

Some of these programs require additional steps to register.

Why should I sign up?

Johnson County EMA will use the JoCo Ready app to quickly notify users of important public safety announcements, such as snow emergencies, boil advisories, and other time-sensitive notifications.

How do I download?

iPhone and Android users can go to the Apple Store or Google Play store, respectively, and search for "JoCo Ready" or scan the QR code below. There is no cost to download.

Snow and ice removal requirements:

• Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the public sidewalk within 24 hours of accumulation. 
• The entire width of the sidewalk must be cleared down to the concrete. 
• The sidewalk extension/curb ramp leading to the street must also be cleared.
• Do not place snow/ice onto the property of another or onto public property. 
• Do not move snow/ice across a street to deposit it onto the other side. 
• Do not blow or shovel snow into the street.
• Notify your snow contractor of these requirements.
• The City has the authority to remove snow/ice from sidewalks not cleared within the 24-hour period and to charge the cost to the property owner without prior notification.

 Tips:

• Angle your snowblower chute so snow is deposited in your own yard, not in the street or in a neighbor’s yard.
• Treat your driveway and sidewalk with ice melt before precipitation begins if temperatures are expected to drop below 10 degrees. This will help prevent the snow/ice from freezing to the pavement and it will be easier to remove.
• Avoid parking on the street when snow is expected so snowplows can more effectively clear the street.
• Keep fire hydrants cleared of snow. If you or your neighbors suffer a house fire, it is critical that the firefighters can quickly locate and access hydrants. 
• Keep storm drains cleared of snow to help prevent flooding when temperatures rise above freezing.
• Barrels placed around town contain a mixture of sand and salt. These are not trash barrels.

City Ordinances:

• Ordinance No. 82 (PDF) - Removal of accumulations of snow and ice from sidewalks and assessing the costs thereof against the abutting property owner.
• Ordinance No. 97 (PDF) - Snow removal from sidewalks and driveways.

Yard waste and compost (the optional red cart) are collected curbside on refuse/recycling day, weather permitting. Both require Johnson County Refuse yard waste bags.

If you wish to get a 35-gallon red compost cart, contact LRS/JCR (319-665-4498) to arrange. LRS/JCR will collect a $25 deposit.

• JCR yard waste bags must be used for yard waste and inside the red compost cart. 
• Purchase JCR bags at Fareway on Westwinds Drive. Be sure to get the correct bags for University Heights.

One tied stick bundle will be collected free of charge each week. Attach a JCR yard waste bag to each additional bundle. 

• Cut sticks to size and tie with garden twine.
• The bundle can be no more than 36 inches around and 36 inches long. 

You may take yard waste to the compost facility at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center. The facility charges a fee.

• Saturday, May 23, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., rain or shine.
• Marietta Avenue parking area in front of Grandview Court.

Walk or drive up to discard items and peruse the ever-popular Too Good to Throw Away section. Volunteers will be on hand to unload.

The Iowa City Landfill has strict regulations in place for environmental protection and many items cannot be discarded in the dumpster (or in trash carts). Find out how to dispose of items that cannot go in the trash on the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center website.

• No hazardous materials.
• No batteries of any kind.
• No cardboard.
• No CFL or LED lightbulbs.
• No appliances, small or large (vacuum cleaners, microwaves, toasters, blenders, coffee makers, etc.).
• No electronics (computers, phones, monitors, electronic games, VCR/DVD players, TVs, etc.).
• No tires.
• No yard waste.

The Fire Department counts on residents to keep hydrants clear of ice and snow in winter. 

A house fire can double in size every minute so firefighters must access hydrants quickly to protect people, pets, and property.

• Clear snow 3 feet away from the hydrant in every direction.
• Clear a path to the street.
• Make sure firefighters can locate the hydrant easily and have space to work around it.

There may be a hydrant adjacent to your property or choose hydrants on the map below. 

The Fire Department, the City, and your neighbors appreciate your help.

Pink paint markings on sidewalk panels throughout University Heights indicate safety issues identified in the City’s inspection and inventory project. The City Council adopted a program for repair and replacement of those panels and information was sent to owners of property adjoining marked panels via certified mail.

The City Sidewalk Repair Program will arrange for a contractor to undertake the repair/replacement work on behalf of the City. Property owners who do not desire to do the repairs themselves can sign up to have the City’s contractor perform the required work. By having one contractor repair multiple sidewalks, the City hopes to obtain a competitive cost. Property owners who choose this option will be invoiced only for the actual construction costs on their property. The deadline to sign up for the program is December 1.

Find details related to sidewalk repair on the website's Sidewalk Information page.

Text of graphic:

Johnson County Refuse Inc. 319-665-4498

Recyclables Only.

Paper: Newspaper including inserts. Mixed paper including writing, copy paper, magazines, envelopes, folders, paper board/Kleenex boxes, etc. Cardboard. Please flatten. 

Plastics: Food and beverage containers numbers 1 through 7. Health and beauty product containers numbers 1 through 7. Household product containers numbers 1 through 7. No plastic bags or film. No Styrofoam. No containers used for hazardous materials such as antifreeze or motor oil.

Glass: Food and beverage containers only. Emptied and rinsed. Labels are OK. No ceramics or cookware. No vases, mirrors, or window glass. No fluorescent or light bulbs.

Cans: Aluminum cans. Steel Cans. Emptied and rinsed. Labels are OK. No cast iron or other metals.

Important: Do not place any items in a bag. Items must be free from each other. Rinse all food and beverage containers. Flatten or cut cardboard boxes. Empty containers only. 

Please no: Hazardous materials, automotive fluids, garden chemicals, paint products, cleaners, soiled paper, diapers, garbage, plastic bags or film, plastic or fiber feed sacks, Styrofoam Tupperware, rubber hoses, electronics, clothing, rope, wood, spent or live ammunition, medical needles or waste.

The exhibits displayed at the August Open House event are on the website.

• Links for the four exhibits for the Melrose Avenue Project on the Melrose Avenue Complete Streets Project page.
• A link to the exhibit for the proposed trails on Swisher and nearby land is on the Swisher Woods page. There is also with a link to University Heights Multi-Use Trail Master Plan Report, the presentation made to the City Council at the June 10 Regular Council Meeting.
• View the exhibit for the Monument Sign, which will be part of a future project.

Fireworks are prohibited in the City of University Heights, except as required by State law. 

Consumer-grade fireworks are allowed on private property during these times only:

• July 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• July 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• December 31, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Fireworks may only be used on private property or the real property of a person who has consented to the use of fireworks on that property. 

The use of fireworks is always prohibited on City property (parks, green space, sidewalks, right-of-way, streets, etc.).

The illegal use of fireworks has a minimum fine of $250.

For UHPD assistance, call the Communications Center at 319-356-6800.

The Alert Iowa mass notification service provided by the State of Iowa gives Iowa counties the ability to send local emergency alerts to a mobile device. 

Johnson County residents may sign up for this free service to receive alerts about severe weather, flooding, snow emergencies, boil water advisories, and other local emergencies. 

Sign up at Smart 911 to receive alerts from Johnson County. 

Get more information on the Iowa Homeland Security website.