SEIRPC FY2012 Annual Report

Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission FY2012 Annual Report

Dear Citizens of the Southeast Iowa Region,

The Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission recently completed its 39th year of service to the southeast Iowa region. Since its inception, SEIRPC has focused on providing excellent service to the region through planning, technical assistance, grant writing, and regional collaboration. SEIRPC continues to produce results for the region. In FY2012, $3.2 million was secured by SEIRPC from outside sources for use in southeast Iowa. This is a 41:1 return on investment from member dues. Housing services continue to impact the region. SEIRPC’s housing programs impacted 136 units across all counties of the region. Through the Great River Housing Trust Fund, 81 units were either rehabilitated or in the process of being rehabilitated. Through other programs, SEIRPC brought in funds to enable the new production of 45 new units and rehabilitation of 10. A total of $1.4 million was invested back into communities for projects like: Safe Routes to School sidewalk improvements; warning sirens and safe rooms; and park improvements. A new emphasis on healthy communities has led SEIRPC to begin to merge its work areas into helping make southeast Iowa a better place to live through transportation, housing, and recreational improvements. Community planning and transportation projects remain strengths of SEIRPC. Multiple rail development grants were secured for regional businesses, and comprehensive and general plans were undertaken. Work on the redesigned Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) also was wrapping up in FY2012. In its eighth year, SEIBUS weathered funding reductions from federal sources to provide outstanding service to its regional clients. Both office staff and drivers have made large strides in finding efficiencies to provide services that are valuable and cost effective to the region. As an economic indicator, SEIRPC revolving loan funds (RLF) for business show signs of regional economic improvement. A total of $390,000 was lent in FY2012 with multiple other projects moving into FY2013. Through new emphasis on local lender contacts and awareness, SEIRPC met over 80 times with prospective loan applicants. Look for FY2013 to be a record-breaking year for RLF. Through the next year SEIRPC will continue to strive for excellence in the services it provides to the region. Thank you for your continued partnership with SEIRPC and efforts to strengthen southeast Iowa.

Sincerely,

Mike Norris SEIRPC Executive Director

Brent Schleisman SEIRPC Board Chairman

SEIRPC FY2012 Annual Report 2


2012 SEIRPC Board of Directors

Executive Committee Brent Schleisman, Chair

Sue Frice, Vice Chair Hans Trousil, Treasurer Mark Huston, Secretary

Gary Folluo, Member at Large Des Moines County

Jim Davidson, City of Burlington Hans Trousil, City of West Burlington

Robert Beck, Des Moines County Bob Hesler, Private Sector

Louisa County Mark Huston, City of Columbus Junction

Andy Truitt, City of Wapello Chris Ball, Louisa County

Jim Howell, Private Sector

Lee County Byron Smith, City of Fort Madison Michael O’Connor, City of Keokuk

Gary Folluo, Lee County Steve Bisenius, Private Sector

Henry County Brent Schleisman, City of Mount Pleasant

Mark Hempen, City of New London Greg Moeller, Henry County

Klay Edwards, Private Sector

Education & Workforce David File, Iowa Wesleyan College

Michael Ash, Southeastern Community College Sue Frice, Workforce Representative

SEIRPC Management Staff Mike Norris, Executive Director Jeff Hanan, Assistant Director Zach James, Planning Director

Bob Kuskowski, Transit Director Lori Gilpin, Finance Director


2012 SEIRPC Committees

Transportation Advisory Committee

Jim Davidson Gary Folluo

Mike Holtkamp Rich Mullin

Chuck Reighard Bill Richards Larry Roehl

Bill Small Eric Tysland

Ex Officio: Jason Huddle Mark Bechtel

Tracy Troutner

Transit Advisory Committee

Karen Bates-Chabel

Paula Buckman Pat Colthurst Pam Erhardt John Herring

Bob Hoxie Ken Hyndman

Zach James Sarah Kaufman Bob Kuskowski

Mary Maine Mike O’Connor

Doug Roelfs Brenda Sayre

Gary See Terri Smith

Connie Storms Ryanne Wood

Dennis Zegarac

Comprehensive Economic

Development Strategy Committee

David File Randy Foor Gary Folluo

Sue Frice Melissa Garth David George Elias Gutierrez

Terry Knoke Matt Morris

Al Muhlenbruck Randy Richards

Brent Schleisman Don Schmidgall

Dan Wiedemeier

Finance Committee

Sue Frice Gary Folluo

Mark Huston Brent Schleisman

Hans Trousil

Great River Housing, Inc. Board of Directors

Pam Broomhall Sue Frice

April Girard Jim Howell

Deb Massner Brent Schleisman

Dan Spray Hans Trousil Eric Tysland Kathy Vance Greg Moeller


2012 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Committees

About SEIRPC Revolving Loan Funds Revolving Loan Funds – After experiencing a lull in activity the previous year, inquiries and project funding through SEIRPC Revolving Loan Funds grew substantially in FY ’12. Loans totaling $390,000 were made to the following businesses: • Kingsley Inn & Alpha’s (Fort Madison), $125,000 • Café Olde World (Mediapolis), $15,000 • Iowa ProLube (Burlington), $50,000 • Complete Eye Care (Mount Pleasant), $150,000 • Wayland Economic Development Corp. (Wayland), $50,000

Staff continued its outreach and marketing strategy throughout the year, having made nearly 80 personal visits with potential clients and several meetings with economic development officials, cities, counties, and business groups throughout the region.

Keokuk RLF Loan Review Committee

Archie Logan Carole Betts

Harold Peterson Ivan Hasselbusch

Mike Pribyl

Ex Officio: Chuck Betts

Joyce Glasscock

SEIRPC RLF Loan Review Committee

Steve Brimhall Robert Buckman

Klay Edwards Chris Grimm Chad Hudson Mark Huston Josh Kirchner Jerry Krause Larry Kruse Jim Olson

Rob Ritson Jason Samples

Fort Madison RLF Loan Review Committee

Larry Kelch Moudy Nabulsi Mary Ottoson

Jacqueline Lumsden

Ex Officio: Mayor Brad Randolph

Henry County RLF Loan Review Committee

Scott Bayor Klay Edwards

David File Robert Meyer

Jim Henns

Ex Officio: Gary See


Planning Department

2012 Highlights

Planning Department - July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 Des Moines County Land Use – Since 2004, SEIRPC has provided direct contract services to Des Moines County for land use administration. Staff coordinates and administers the county’s zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, and floodplain development ordinance. Agency Marketing – Website, Facebook, and Newsletter – In August of 2011, SEIRPC launched a new website with the help from an Iowa State University Student. Since this time, SEIRPC has had 6,316 visitors to its website and a total of 21,421 page views. In addition to the new website, SEIRPC continues to build its social media presence. SEIRPC hit 100 “likes” in FY2012 and currently has a total of 107 likes. Through weekly updates, SEIRPC is able to reach approximately 200 people each week with news about projects with which SEIRPC is involved. FY2012 also brought back a monthly digital newsletter to keep regional members up to date on SEIRPC news.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies – In FY2012, SEIRPC began a process to complete their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies by combining the planning process for their regional economic development plan, long range transportation plan, and adding a section on community development. SEIRPC became one of only a handful of regional planning agencies across the United States to combine these areas into one regional planning document. The result was a much more elaborate and engaging public participation process that included 110 survey responses, 70 interviews, 3 subcommittees, and a CEDs Steering committee. Columbus Communities Comprehensive Plan – SEIRPC staff worked with the Cities of Columbus Junction and Columbus City to update their comprehensive plan to meet the new Smart Planning Guidelines passed by the Iowa Legislature. Through the process, SEIRPC utilized some new public involvement techniques including interviewing residents on the street during the Fall 2011 Columbus Days festival.


Lee County General Plan – With the announcement of over $1 Billion in investment from the Iowa Fertilizer Company, the Lee County Supervisors enlisted the help from SEIRPC to complete a General Plan to help guide future development in the county. The plan focuses on identifying future projects and policies for the county to consider regarding housing, transportation, and economic development.

Healthy Iowans Initiative – SEIRPC staff worked with Des Moines County Living Well to receive $14,000 to be used for creating a work plan and implementing health related projects in the Greater Burlington Area. Staff held a public input meeting to generate ideas for health related projects that included nearly 40 community members. Projects to come from this initiative included a community garden, a bicycle and pedestrian plan, and complete streets initiative.

Fort Madison Housing Enterprise Zone and Downtown Urban Renewal Area – SEIRPC staff worked with the City of Fort Madison to create a housing enterprise zone and urban renewal area in and around downtown Fort Madison. The enterprise zone and Urban Renewal Area will be offered as incentives to encourage development and redevelopment in the downtown area. Connect Iowa – Connect Iowa, a subsidiary of Connected Nation, is an independent non-profit organization designated by the State of Iowa to develop a broadband availability map. In addition to this, Connect Iowa contracted with the Iowa Association of Regional Councils to develop planning teams at the local level to look at factors such as access to high speed internet, adoption rates of high speed internet (where it is available), and usage of the internet to see how it was being used. SEIRPC staff conducted outreach efforts and organized local planning teams in each county of Southeast Iowa. SEIRPC worked with each planning team to help identify strengths and weaknesses of local broadband opportunities, as well as lead the teams through a planning process aimed at addressing specific local issues.

Louisa County Trails Plan – SEIRPC staff completed the Louisa County Trails Plan in partnership with the Louisa County Trails Council. SEIRPC staff assisted the trails council in gathering public input to identify a proposed trails network that includes shared use trails, park trails, shared roadways, equestrian trails, and water trails.


Transportation Department

Fort Madison Depot Progress – Under development since 2005, the Fort Madison Santa Fe Depot renovation and reuse project is nearly complete. The complex was elevated about four feet out of the Mississippi River floodplain, the interior was renovated and the surrounding site and parking lot grade was adjusted to match the building’s new elevation. Discussions are ongoing between Amtrak and Fort Madison on how to construct a new rail passenger platform and terms of use for Amtrak to use the depot for its train crews and passengers. SEIRPC has secured over $3 million in grant funds for the project.

Louisa County Hwy 99 Bridge over the Iowa River at Oakville - Environmental studies are nearly complete for the bridge near Oakville. After suffering pier damage during the 2008 floods, SEIRPC secured over $12 million in grants to assist the county in replacing the bridge. Final permitting and design are expected to be completed in 2013, with construction beginning in 2013 or early 2014.

Flint River Trail Progress – Construction on the northern most portion of the 20 mile trail system took huge steps in FY2012. This includes the area from Big Hollow Recreation Area south to the intersection of Highway 61 and Flint Bottom Road. Construction of this portion of the trail will be completed on this approximately 8 mile stretch of trail by the end of 2012. Easement negotiations are expected to be completed for the third and final phase in 2013 with final design engineering work to immediately follow. The final phase of the trail is expected to be completed by 2015.


Safe Routes to School Plans – SEIRPC staff worked with the City of Mediapolis and City of Burlington in creating and updating Safe Routes to School Plans. Staff worked with members of both communities to determine activities to help educate and encourage children to walk or bike to school safely. The plans also include a sidewalk inventory and other proposed engineering improvements that will make the communities safer for children walking and biking to school.

Traffic Counting Program – SEIRPC traffic counting program provide regional communities with an opportunity to get current data on local traffic including total number of vehicles, type of vehicles, and speed of vehicles. In FY2012, 10 entities took advantage of this program including Fort Madison, Franklin, Louisa County, Mediapolis, Morning Sun, Mount Pleasant, New London, Oakville, Rome, and Wayland.

Regional Traffic Speed Indicator Sharing Program – SEIRPC purchased two sign mounted and two trailer mounted speed indicators to be shared amongst participating agencies in Southeast Iowa. The program initially includes 6 entities: Lee County, Fort Madison, Burlington, West Burlington, Columbus Junction, and Mount Pleasant. The trailers have been in use for a few months and have received great reviews by participating agencies.


Complete Streets Education– As part of the Healthy Iowans Initiative in the Greater Burlington Area, SEIRPC staff has begun efforts to educate residents about Complete Streets. This effort has included presentation to community groups including Kiwanis, Lion’s Club, Rotary, Great River Medical Center Board of Directors, Burlington City Council, West Burlington City Council, Downtown Partners Greater Burlington Young Professionals, and Greater Burlington Partnership Board of Directors. The education effort will continue into 2013 with the temporary transformation of Main Street in Burlington into a Complete Street.

Planning Department Funded Grants in FY2012 Project Grant Source Funding Amount

Columbus Junction Monkey Run Creek Park Expansion

Iowa DNR - REAP $ 75,000

Keokuk Boulevard Road Sidewalk Improvements

Iowa DOT - SRTS $ 135,584

Columbus Junction Sidewalk Extensions Iowa DOT - SRTS $ 87,500 Mount Pleasant Tornado Sirens Iowa HSEM - HMGP $ 63,067 Burlington Junction Railway CASE Rail Spur Rehabilitation

Iowa DOT - Rail Revolving Loan and Grant Program

$ 157,948

Valley Distribution, Inc. Rail Spur Construction Iowa DOT - Rail Revolving Loan and Grant Program

$ 218,652

Burlington School District Safe Room/Wrestling Room Expansion

Iowa HSEM - HMGP $ 1,029,472

Burlington Junction Railway Rail-Truck-Barge Planning and Feasibility Study

Iowa DOT - Rail Revolving Loan and Grant Program

$ 40,000

Greater Burlington Healthy Community Planning and Projects

Iowa DPH - Healthy Iowans Program $ 14,000

Total Funding Secured $ 1,821,223


SEIBUS 2012 Highlights

SEIBUS ended the year with 105,898 rides. That is down 21% from last year mainly due to the final elimination of Tyson operations and the reduction of Hope Haven vehicles under sub-contract. Hours were down 27% and the most encouraging news was that miles were down 39% which shows that the operation improved in efficiency. In July SEIBUS was awarded the contract for CPC services in Lee County. Results are anticipated to create over 25,000 rides per year. Four buses were brought over from 10-15 Transit and SEIBUS hired three new drivers. In June a program was initiated with IDOT called Transit Cares, for Iowa Care recipients, which is a transportation benefit to those that can’t qualify for Medicaid. This project has benefited many riders that have medical needs for transportation to Iowa City. IDOT has awarded SEIBUS a contract that will provide subsidies until December 31, 2013 when Medicaid should cover these rides.

Fare Structure

Regional Partnerships in

FY2011 ♦ Area Agency on Aging ♦ Des Moines County ♦ Louisa County ♦ City of Fort Madison ♦ City of Keokuk ♦ Old Threshers Reunion ♦ Tri-State Rodeo ♦ Inpropco ♦ Great River Medical Center ♦ Hope Haven ♦ Lee County CPC

FY2011 Statistics Rides – 105,898

Hours – 16,282

Miles Traveled – 280,492

One Way

Round Trip

In Town $2.50 $5.00

Between Cities $5.00 $10.00

Monthly Pass* $25.00

Medical Shuttle $15.00 $30.00

* Monthly Pass can be used only in county


Development Department

2012 Highlights

• Des Moines County: 7 completed; 3 under construction, 7 approved and in process

• 17 total homes • Lee County: 18 completed; 2 under construction; 6 approved and in process

• 26 total homes • Henry County: 7 completed; 2 under construction; 9 approved and in process

• 18 total homes • Louisa County: 6 completed; 4 under construction; 10 approved and in

process • 20 total homes

• REGIONAL TOTAL: 81 homes either rehabilitated or in process of rehabilitation

Housing Programs – FY2012 • Wayland Downtown Upper Story (MFNC) – six units under construction • Downtown Burlington Upper-Story (MFNC) – two units under construction • Burlington Downtown Upper-Story – 10 units completed and two under construction • Fort Madison Downtown Upper-Story (MFNC) - three units under construction • Des Moines & Louisa County SFNC (Round #1 and 2) – 10 completed and nine under construction • West Burlington Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation – Seven homes completed and three under construction • NSP #3 – provided one homeowner down payment assistance and one new house under construction • NSP 1 – sold one house that was rehabilitated; one rehabilitation project under way; one new house under

construction. • REGIONAL TOTAL: 55 units under construction

Grants Applied For: City of Wayland – Owner Occupied Rehabilitation = $349,990 City of Fort Madison – Owner Occupied Rehabilitation = $349,990 GRHTF = $273,000 (plus $72,000 local match)

Great River Housing Trust Fund – Established in FY ’11 with $282,975 from the Iowa Finance Authority and $73,500 local match, the funds are being used throughout the four-county region to assist low to moderate Income home owners with rehabilitation and/or down payment assistance. In addition, GRHTF received funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank to add to this pool – making a total of $1,110,225 available. In FY ’12 the GRHTF:

Before Rehabilitation

Same Home During Rehabilitation


Project Source Funding Amount

Keokuk Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Iowa Finance Authority $349,990

Single Family New Construction Round #4 Iowa Economic Development Authority $349,588

Great River Housing Trust Fund Iowa Finance Authority $252,719

Great River Housing Trust Fund Local Matching Contributions $ 63,600

Total Funding Secured $1,015,897

Community Development Block Grants – The following applications were submitted for review to the CDBG program: City of New London – Storm water management project = $344,000 City of Conesville – Pump Station improvements and sanitary sewer extension = $120,000 City of Wapello – Aerated lagoon system = $500,000 The following applications were submitted for review to the Community Action & Tourism Grant program: Louisa County Fair Youth Center = $125,000 Mount Pleasant Union Block Building renovation= $601,000

Development Department Funded Grants in FY2012

Flood Recovery - Nearly 175 flood damaged properties have been purchased and demolished in Des Moines & Louisa Counties: CDBG

City of Oakville: Awarded in 2010, over 100 properties have been acquired with one remaining. Fifty-six were demolished and cleared under this program. Nearly 16 homes were purchased by a local non-profit group and have been rehabilitated and will be re-sold. Louisa County: Thirty-two properties were purchased and demolished in rural Louisa County. Properties were made into green space. Des Moines County: Nineteen properties were purchased and demolished in Huron Township.

HMGP Louisa County: Twenty-nine properties were purchased, demolished and turned into green space in rural Louisa County.


FY2012 Financial Highlights $41 : $1 RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM MEMBER DUES

Federal/State Grants:

33%

Pass-through Revenues:

36%

Contracts 28%

Member Dues: 3%

2012 Revenues

Personnel: 29%

Pass-through Expenditures:

36%

Building: 6%

Contract Services

29%

2012 Expenditures


In November 2010, SEIRPC moved its offices from the Memorial Auditorium in downtown Burlington to the former IPC/Raider office building at 211 N. Gear Avenue in West Burlington.

The new location has fulfilled the objectives outlined by the board of directors for a new facility and offers unprecedented stability for the organization.

After two years in the new facility, SEIRPC is pleased to see the entire building leased. Three private tenants have helped to provide a professional environment and to make the building self-sustaining. SEIRPC looks forward to utilizing the location as a future tool for regional collaboration and development for southeast Iowa.

New SEIRPC Office Facility Facility Tenants


SEIRPC Administration

Mike Norris Executive Director

Debbie Laughlin Executive Assistant

Beth Hartman Planning Assistant

Susan Coffey Grant Administrator

Development Department

Jeff Hanan Assistant Director

Dan Eberhardt Regional Planner II

Tracey Lamm Regional Planner

Sara Hecox Grant Administrator

Chris Ralph Housing Inspector

Sherri Jones Planning Assistant

Planning Department

Zach James Planning Director

Justin Bushong Regional Planner

Madeline Emmerson Regional Planner

Finance Department

Lori Gilpin Finance Director

SEIBUS Administration

Bob Kuskowski SEIBUS Director

Gerald Huebner Operations Manager

Carolyn Lees Scheduler

SEIBUS Drivers

Sherry Andrews Nancy Aquino

John Arp Paul Booth

Ruth Boyd Jack Callas

David Ewinger David Ford

Art Heckenberg Terry Heckenberg

Marilyn Hunter Deni McClinton

Larry Nuss Terry Rader

Randy Spiker Charles Stevens

Joe Yocum

SEIBUS Staff

SEIRPC Staff


SEIRPC Finance Director Kim Schisel, 1964-2012

Kim Schisel, SEIRPC Finance director since 2004, passed away suddenly on Monday, October 22, 2012. She was an integral part of SEIRPC and was well known for her professional acumen. Kim was also a friend to many and leaves behind a husband and three sons. SEIRPC will remember her fondly and will honor her with a memorial tree planted on the SEIRPC grounds.

In Memoriam

Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission 211 N. Gear Avenue, Suite 100

West Burlington, IA 52655 Phone: 319-753-5107

Fax: 319-754-4763 www.seirpc.com

www.facebook.com/seirpc

This Annual Report was prepared in part through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, State Transit Assistance,

and from local membership dues and contract for services.

http://www.seirpc.com/

http://www.facebook.com/seirpc

SEIRPC FY2012 Annual Report

Documents

Transcript of SEIRPC FY2012 Annual Report