Members of the Iowa City City Council will hold a Listening Post at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, at Mercer Park, 2701 Bradford Drive. Council representatives who will be in attendance at the first event are Mayor Pro Tem Mazahir Salih, Councilor Laura Bergus, and Councilor Janice Weiner.

This event will serve as the first in a series of six planned to aid in the development of a plan to improve community policing. Each listening post will feature a different area of focus, and relevant service providers will be invited to contribute their insight and expertise to the conversation. Detailed topics and schedules for the remaining listening posts will be announced. Comments can be shared directly with Council at the event or online.

The Wednesday, Sept. 16 event will focus on the topics of mental health, crisis intervention, and addiction. Local service providers who will be in attendance are Becci Reedus of the Mobile Crisis Outreach/CommUnity Crisis Center, and Ron Berg of Prelude Behavioral Services.

Those who cannot attend, can submit ideas using the online form at www.icgov.org/BLM, under Community Policing Public Input.

Face coverings and social distancing will be required to participate in this event due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the City's face covering ordinance. The City will provide masks at no charge to participants who do not have one. Those who attend should also bring their own chairs, blankets, and water.