It's Cedar Rapids!! Chet wins!!
Oh man, Chet, I knew that Don Defore hint would give it away. Yes, Cedar Rapids is the Paris of the Midwest and it also happens to be my own beautiful home town. CR (as we locals call it) is probably the largest city in the US (2000 Census around 120,000) still using the Commission form of government. Cedar Rapids has been very proactive in planning and has some very nice riverfront development and a fairly thriving downtown (a large locally owned department store was still operating downtown well into the 80's, which made it easier for the City to adapt after the mall was built). Chet, next time you are in CR, be sure to stop by the Quaker Oats plant (world's largest cereal plant) for the company tour, and tell 'em DecaturHawk sent ya!