9:00 a.m. The meeting was called to order at the new ISAC Headquarters at 501 S. 7th St., Des Moines, Iowa. Supervisors Pat Harney, Mike Lehman, and Sally Sutsman were present, as was Auditor Tom Slockett. Denise Obrect represented the ISAC staff. Obrect indicated that this meeting was the first official activity to be scheduled in the new ISAC Building. Bremer County was also said to be participating in that day’s County-A-Day schedule.

Priority matters of the day before the legislature were reviewed, including:

• The State Revenue Estimating Conference had met and lowered the revenue projections for the state budget in recognition of a worsening economy.

• $45 million for economic empowerment were thought likely to be designated.

• The ISAC Board had endorsed the use of the "Rainy Day Funds" for annual appropriations.

• Clerk of Court legislation

• Senator David Miller had introduced, in Senate Ways and Means, an entirely new approach to property tax limitation legislation.

• Mental Health Parity

Reference was made to the information available in the Iowa Legislative News Service Bulletin, a Legislative Priorities Brochure, and the House and Senate Schedules. The new security measures at the capitol, such as metal detectors, were noted. It was a busy day for the ISAC Staff at the legislature. One to three staffers would meet with county officials if possible: John Easter, Bob Mulqueen ISAC lobbyists, and Mike Wentzien, Supervisor lobbyist.

9:11 a.m. The group left the meeting room to head for the Capitol.

9:14 a.m. ISAC staff reported that a fire had started at the Capitol, fire alarms had gone off and the fire department was on the scene. It was thought to be a good idea to stay at the ISAC building until more was learned about the situation at hand.

9:20 a.m. The "all clear" had been phoned from the Capitol. The Johnson County group departed as Mitchell County Supervisors Stan Walk and Vern Tanner arrived at ISAC.

9:50 a.m. Arrived at the capitol first floor cafeteria designated location to meet the ISAC staff. A telephone report revealed that John and Bob had been called into meetings and would be temporarily unavialable.

10:04 a.m. John Easter arrived and summarized legislative actions regarding the budget, appropriations, and calendars.

• SF2572 Omnibus Transportation Bill

• Engineer’s Service Bureau

• RUTF

• Condemnation issues (streamlining)

• Reclassification of Roads (on calendar for the afternoon)

10:10 a.m. The two Mitchell County supervisors joined the briefing.

Senators register on bills: for, against, or undecided. In the House members register: for, against, or monitor. A committee meeting on Mental Health Reorganization is scheduled to begin in Room 116.

• Contrasted with SF514 said to be full of gimmicks

• Passed Local Government, now in Senate Ways and Means

• Puts all issues on the table:

• Valuations according to market value, not productivity

• Eliminates rollback, homestead, family farm tax credits

• Broadens the base and lowers the rate

• Compensates loss of credits with exemptions:

• Residential $20,000

• Ag $50,000

• Commercial $25,000

• Isn’t expected to go very far, but frames issues

• In House Ways and Means

• Expands capacity for property taxation

• Farm Bureau has abandoned the bill

• Three or four substitute versions also do not have majority support

• Includes 60% majorities for some measures

• Uniform Patrol funding not allowed in Rural Services Fund

• Petitioners allowed to change ballot measure language

• $400,000 earmarked

• Placed in Department of Revenue and Finance budget

• Study commission to look at property, income, and sales tax (requested by Revenue and Finance)

• ISAC favors this approach as opposed to imposition of property tax limitations

• Re-enacts election of clerks of court

• 50% of fees would go to counties

• Farm Bureau study and inventory of needs. Participants would include supervisors and "people representing rural property taxpayers". ISAC does not support this bill.

• Regional jail bill

• By coalition from south central Iowa.

• Funded by $15 million from State Infrastructure Fund

• Loans for regional jails

• Proponents had intended it to apply only to counties of 5,000 population or less, but that restriction had been removed.

• Supported by the Cedar Rapids Chamber and it’s director, Ron Corbett

• ISAC has concerns about the creation of unfunded mandates

• Originally all counties would be required to create a committee

• Now optional

• Danny Carroll and Ed Fallon on committee

• Expense of recreating if cooperation already exists

• MH/DD Commission and State/County Management Committee combined

• By March 15^th Senate and House versions will have been heard by opposite chambers

• Clerk of Courts would cover multiple counties

• Realigns judicial districts

11:00 a.m. Terrence Neuzil joins group

11:02 a.m. Open time to attend legislative session and committee meetings at the State Capital.

12:00 noon - Luncheon meeting with Johnson County Legislators at Latin King, 2200 Hubbell Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.

1:33 p.m. - Discussion with the State Public Policy Group (SPPG) www.sppg.com.

The group was represented by Arlinda McKeen, Amy Campbell, and Deb Kazmerzak. It works with participative processes, both private and public, and is involved in public affairs work at the federal level, as well. McKeen has 10 years experience. Former Senator Tom Slater is the founder of the Group and advocates working according to the Mark Twain principle of "getting others to paint the fence for you" regarding public involvement and the exchange of information.

McKeen summarized the Group’s understanding of the purpose of the meeting. Jail overcrowding is a problem in Johnson County. A bond issue to build a new jail had failed decidedly. The proposed remedy was "the more sunshine the better" in a managed environment.

1. Facilitate the process by putting all the stakeholders at the table. The Group had legitimacy as a facilitator. It is from the outside, with no vested interests. Four or five options would probably be considered including building a new jail, expanding the old one, etc. At the table would be:

• People with a role with regard to overcrowding
• Opposition
• Service providers
• Facilitators
• Options would be examined

1. Public Meetings would be held. The necessity of sending prisoners to Linn County would be examined. Consequences would be discussed. Four to six public meetings would be held, in Solon, Hills, sites spread out in the county. Alternatives would be on the table so all points of view would be welcomed and included.

• The comments of the public would be recorded
• Problems would be discussed
• Solutions would be examined
• This input would be utilized to report what the public will accept
• The possibility that the public required additional information before acting would be examined
• Timing for action to be considered

1. Sales tax, school board measures
2. Public realization of the expense of not acting

• Meetings guided by a genuine, honest approach, inclusive of all the stakeholders

• 1996 statewide effort with the Attorney General and Local Infrastructure Committee regarding juvenile justice crime and corrections planning.

• Taskforce
• Focus group reports
• Public hearings

• Technology planning for the State, including Oakdale
• State library system reorganization of library services
• Housing, for the State, guiding group expertise/decision making
• ICN: Sell or Keep

• Complex issues
• Matrix of options
• 10 alternatives identified
• Involved picking apart extremely complex and political problems

• Polk County-How do we get a new Juvenile Justice Center? Included critiquing public speaking
• Iowa Events Center working with the Chamber of Commerce

• Process-sit down and discuss wants and needs
• Prefer to put together a proposal with a budget

• Pick from menu
• Add items

• Can work with a specified budget

• Craft a proposal
• Expenses detailed for:

• Travel
• Lodging
• Invitations
• Mailings
• Printing
• Web
• Email
• GIS
• Geomapping

Input was requested regarding "where do people come from" regarding the public meetings.

• Low turnout for meetings in Johnson County a concern
• Formats of the meetings/public hearings
• Advertise
• Public notices
• Non-paid notices
• Guided discussions
• Include questions for which answers are sought
• Balance constituency groups
• Community elders
• RSVP’s
• Enticements such as free meals
• Press
• Editorials
• Letters
• Craft a public message
• Encourage participation of attenders
• Six to eight months needed for process

SPPG has 25 people on staff. Recommend approximately six people be assigned to the effort.