**These minutes were completed by ECICOG**

Minutes of the Public Leadership Group

Rugger's Cafe

420 Community Drive

North Liberty, Iowa

Friday, June 29, 2007

1.00 p.m.

      Co-chair Barron called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.

      Present:  Linn County Board of Supervisors Lu Barron and Jim Houser; Johnson County Board of Supervisors Terrence Neuzil, Sally Stutsman, Rod Sullivan, and Pat Harney. 

      Also present:  State Senator Bob Dvorsky, Mary Day from Sen. Grassley’s office, Beth Freeman from Sen. Harkin’s office, Cedar Rapids City Councilor Brian Fagan, Central City Mayor Don Gray, University Heights Mayor Louise From, Robins City Councilors Cathy Welton & JD Smith, Hiawatha Mayor Tom Patterson.

      Others present: Mike Goldberg, Assistant to the Linn County Board of Supervisors; Terry Dahms, Dell Hanson & Janelle Rettig, Johnson County Trails Advisory Committee; Dick Hogan, Cedar Rapids Gazette; Bernita Roznik & Joanne Popelka.

(a sign-in sheet was not available, so all in attendance may not be reflected in these minutes)

      ECICOG staff present:  Doug Elliott & Robyn Jacobson.

2. Welcome and Introductions:  Co-chair Lu Barron welcomed all to the meeting. Those seated around the table introduced themselves.

3. Wrap-up - Connections Tour 2007: It was the general consensus that the tour was a valuable experience. Sally Stutsman said it was important to see how the trails system worked and where the gaps existed. Brian Fagan asked if any policy direction could be determined from the tour. Harney said it was important to complete the link.

4.  Update on Cooperative Initiatives:  Fagan gave an update on the Courthouse/Court System Operations initiative. He said that the executive committee of the Linn County Bar Association said they were supportive of investigating the idea. He had not spoken yet to the Johnson County Bar Association.

      Barron reported that the Technology Corridor Business Alliance had already begun working on the Toll-free Telephone Access initiative, including contacting the state utilities commission and determining the steps that would need to be taken. Given their progress, she suggested the Leadership Group provide support to their efforts.

5. Next Meeting Date:  The next meeting will be August 23, 2007. Location TBA.

6. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:00 p.m.