Reports from City Personnel — M.10

Executive Summary Meeting Date: April 20, 2026 Agenda Item: Consider grant application to Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) Conservation Education Program for soil health education within Johnson County public schools Prepared by/Contact: Kasey Hutchinson, Environmental Regulations Coordinator, Johnson County Department of Planning, Development & Sustainability Attachments: Summary Slides Background Johnson County Soil Quality Restoration Program, Pocket Prairie, and County Right-of-Way (ROW) Soil Sampling Programs comprise Johnson County Soil Health. These programs help raise awareness of the importance of soil as natural infrastructure and the importance on preserving and improving soil health. As part of Johnson County Soil Health education and awareness efforts, the Department of Planning, Development & Sustainability (PDS), would like to apply for an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Conservation Education Program (CEP) grant, to extend soil health education to 7-12th grade students in Johnson County public schools during the 2027-2028 school year. The IDNR REAP CEP awards funding of up to $10,000 for small grants. PDS will team with Scott Koepke, founder of Garden Bridge Outreach as well as a Johnson County Soil Health ROW Soil Sampling Program partner, to coordinate school assemblies where Mr. Koepke will implement his established and popular healthy soil microbiology teaching platform. Johnson County PDS seeks to communicate with, and gain buy-in, from schools located throughout the county. 913 South Dubuque Street ♦ Iowa City, Iowa 52240 ♦ 319-356-6083 ♦ www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov