MINUTES OF THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
MAY 11 AND 13, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chairperson Jordahl called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 9:05 a.m. Members present were: Charles Duffy, Jonathan Jordahl, Mike Lehman, Sally Stutsman, and Carol Thompson.
Jordahl: The first item is review of the formal minutes of May 6th. No particular concerns are being voiced. We'll move on. That will be on for approval on Thursday.
JAY HONOHAN: SENIOR CENTER UPDATE
Jordahl: Lets see Jay Honohan, good morning. Business from Jay Honohan of the Senior Center Commission update.
Senior Center Commission Member Jay Honohan: Good morning.
Jordahl: Good morning sir.
Stutsman: Good morning.
Honohan: The Commission wanted me to just make a little report to you. I believe that one of the major things that we've accomplished recently is that the Space Review Committee made its report. I believe that you have all received copies of the Space Review Committee report. If you have any questions about that report I would glad to try to answers them for you. I was a member of the Space Review Committee. I've been busy I was also a member of The Finance Committee. We made our report to the City Council. I am not sure that you have received a copy of that report. Its one that is dated May 4th. Perhaps I could leave my copy with Carol and she could make copies for you and I can get another one. But basically as you know the Space Review Committee we made certain recommendations we would like the Council to consider granting us the 3,500 square feet on the 1st floor of the Iowa Avenue parking ramp for a 2nd Assembly Meeting Room. That would accommodate the new Horizons Band and we could open that to the public use as a meeting place for downtown which we thought was fairly important. Then we were asking for additional space for the various Senior Center programs and the Senior Dinning and Elderly Services. We calculated a need of approximately 3,700 square feet for that so we asked for 3700 square feet on the 2nd floor of the ramp adjacent to the Senior Center. We presented then a report to the Council, I'll make available to you today, from the Finance Committee about how to finance that. We suggested that the basic cost of the shell should be financed with parking revenue bonds. Then we proposed the interior costs, and all of this is in the memo you are welcome to take notes but I have all of this in the memo, we propose that we attempt a public fund drive and we tried to be conservative on that and say $100,000 although we know that the Mercer Park Gymnasium they raised $300,000 but we thought we'd conservative. Then we were counting on your contribution based upon the 20% of the present 28E Agreement of about $72,000 and then we were asking from the City $189,000 the balance of the costs of approximately $900,000. We did not include... Although the Mayor and I have some disagreement, I have always taken the position that the skywalk is a given for the ramp to the Senior Center. I have talked to bonding attorneys and they have indicated that the skywalk can be financed with parking revenue bonds and I've talked to the Finance Department and they've indicated that the parking revenues can generate that kind of money without any problems, without increasing the parking rates downtown which is a concern of the Council. Our problem after all this presentation is that we also estimated that we would need additional staff and the City Council is having real problems with that. Our estimate was about $70,000 and then the City manager tacks on, always has considered part of the City's contribution a loan, so we have to pay it back through budget stuff so the cost of that is about $100,000. The City Council, we met with them about a week ago and I would say the budget discussions were pretty grim because of the operational costs. We haven't given up, we're stubborn but at the same time that seems to be our biggest hurdle at the present time, the operational costs. What the Commission is going to recommend, I guess I should say, we haven't yet decided. But I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Stutsman: You talked about... Oh I'm sorry Jay...
Honohan: I beg your pardon.
Stutsman: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off. I had a question about that loan, what are you referring to...
Honohan: Well the City loans money to in effect, they give the Senior Center Commission the cash up front out of the Reserve Fund and then they pay it back for these capital improvement costs, that's what we're talking about. They pay that out of the Reserve Fund rather than issue bonds or something like that. In effect they're bonding it through the Reserve Fund instead of GO Bonds on taxpayers.
Jordahl: Yes, I was speaking with Steve Atkins about this about a week or so ago and he said that they carry a significantly larger reserve than we do in the area of $10,000,000 that they can attach for things like this so then they budget to pay themselves back. So they're kind of their own bank in a way.
Honohan: That's right. Its an internal obligation bond I guess you could call it. But we're still... I know you are very interested in Senior Dining. They asked for less space than we recommended. We felt... I don't know if any of you have been in there and seen the 4 people in an office that is not too much bigger than the table I'm sitting in front of. I think that they've got adequate dining, the Assembly Room is adequate for their dining facility. The kitchen and the active storage I'll call it, is adequate I think but they need some storage space and we recommended some kind of space in a parameter of at least 200 square feet so they can bring in bulk stuff, buy it cheaper and then use it. But they were very reasonable in their request but we just didn't think that they were looking far enough ahead I guess you could say.
Jordahl: Well especially when you are building.
Honohan: Yes and that's what's really, if you can pardon the expression, driving us up a wall because if we don't get that ramp space the Senior Center is those 4 walls. That's it because there is no place to go except for that.
Jordahl: Does anyone else have questions?
Duffy: How much was this $100,000 that you ended up with, was for what again?
Honohan: One program person and maintenance and then the Social Security all that sort of stuff and then about a $40,000 pay back of the money out of the Reserve Fund.
Duffy: Thanks.
Honohan: I'll leave this with Carol.
Jordahl: We've been having a number of conversations around this topic. We have the Heritage Funding for Senior Dining that's in play right now. We've got discussions regarding the Senior Center 28E Agreement going on. We also have an item on the agenda for the small town meeting coming up the end of the month to talk about development of sites for senior services in the various towns. I'm wondering in the context of those discussion whether you have, as you look at the possibility of staying within those 4 walls... I was present at a lot of the City Council discussion last week too, it seemed like they were disinclined to spend a lot of money on building right now. As you look at that 4 wall space is there discussion among the Senior Center Commission of relocating some activities that may duplicate activities that are conducted elsewhere. I am thinking of the Recreation Center for example as one place where there are things that sort of duplicate functions within the Senior Center.
Honohan: Well at our retreat, we had a retreat time flies about 5 or 6 weeks ago now I think, we discussed as one possibility irrespective of whether we get the ramp space, of having programs outside of the Senior Center. That is under consideration and the Commission as a whole has discussed this at its meeting. Right now we have been concentrating mostly on that space situation because this came upon us real fast, we didn't realize the ramp space might be available. So we have been generating most of our time right aiming it at that. But yes, this is under consideration. What we've got too is, again we discussed this at our retreat and I noticed this was on ABC last night, is the expanding senior population and the fact that they are much more active than we think a lot about seniors. As a matter of fact I qualify I'm 69. So I'm a senior and I think I'm pretty active. We are looking at, we did in the retreat, about things to meet this kind of population. A lot of which would take place outside the Senior Center. But we still need places like Senior Dining, Elderly Services, Visiting Nurses Association, agencies like that. You need a central place, its kind of a nice place. Like the County is worrying about some of its services, all of it is in one place and we have a lot of people that can go to one agency and then to another the same day, that sort of thing. So, yes we're looking at that but you need both in my opinion.
Jordahl: Does the senior population break out into 2 groups that you could define as active seniors and less active seniors? I mean not that I would want to be categorized as a less active senior.
Honohan: I'm not so sure. I've never had that question posed to me before. I don't know the answer to that.
Jordahl: If you're looking at 2 sides it might be that there is some reasonable division.
Honohan: Yes, there could be. Although, you get a lot of people doing a lot of volunteer work that use walkers and things like that and to me that's active even though they have some physical limitations.
Jordahl: There may be a better way of describing a distinction. Other questions? We have a pretty full agenda, I think we'll say thank you very much for your report and your involvement and we are certainly continuing to be involved in this issue as well.
Honohan: I'll leave this with Carol so she can make copies.
Jordahl: Thank you.
SOLON MAYOR MERLIN STUDT: HIGHWAY 1 IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN IOWA CITY AND MOUNT VERNON
Jordahl: Alright, the next item on the agenda. Mayor Studt has come down from Solon. Good morning Merlin.
Studt: Good morning.
Jordahl: They are talking about a road up there. Going to tear up your town?
Studt: Well I don't know exactly what they're going to do. Good morning ladies and gentlemen except you Carol, my name is Merlin Studt I'm the Mayor at Solon. I appreciate the opportunity to be here today. I guess basically what I want to do is talk about concerns and opportunities that I think we as the City of Solon and citizens as Johnson County have before us in reference to what the Department of Transportation wants to do with Highway 1. As I'm sure you are aware DOT's plans, are to improve Highway 1 to what they refer to as a Super 2 Highway from Iowa City basically from the interstate to Mt. Vernon. There will be some obvious changes I think from the standpoint of the route, the highway will generally follow the same path that it has now. The concern the DOT has is what do they do when they get to Solon. Of course we've as a community tried and continued to try and stay on top of what they're doing as far as their planning process for that highway. At a meeting a couple of weeks ago the DOT gave exposure to the several various plans they have, either to enhance the highway as it goes through Solon or chose an Easterly route or a Westerly route. They had several different options that they were showing us. Of course our obvious concern is what they do actually do in Solon. If they chose a bypass we are concerned what will happen as far as an economic impact to the City. They do have another highway that is referred to as Main Street in Solon that is Highway 382. We want to make sure there is good connection with that so that we don't lose probably our most valuable resource as a community and that's the viability of our downtown business district. Those are our local concerns. Other concerns would be if they do bypass they are obviously going to look to abandon what ever section of Highway 1 that they're not going to use. That would have an impact to the City because they would obviously be requesting us to look at taking over that Highway. Although we have done a lot of annexation up there I am pretty sure that there is a fair portion of that highway they would be turning to the County to look to take over. So that should be at least a concern or something that you should be aware of if they do talk in terms of a bypass. I had mentioned that we have concerns and opportunities. The opportunity I think is a recent and not well identified willingness by the DOT to look for public input on projects they are doing. As evidence by the open meeting and discussion that they had with the plans that they showed us. They are encouraging comments, suggestions, concerns, and try to have a channeled through some official body. The City of Solon to that end has, allowed we have not set a specific date, sometime within the next 30 to 45 days we like to have a meeting similar in format to what the DOT did. They have supplied the City of Solon with the maps that they used for that meeting, so we would have those for review again. We would like to take it one step further and have some type of an agenda and perhaps, professional input to that agenda to make sure that we can draw together a consensus of concerns, a consensus of ideas or suggestions and be able to forward that to the DOT. Because Highway 1 is a primary commuting artery for the Northeastern part of Johnson County I felt it made a lot of sense to come talk to you to see if you would like to first of all participate in a meeting that we would plan. Also to ask if it would make sense or if they would have the expertise or know where to find it to help plan an agenda through the use of some staff personnel from JCCOG. We certainly feel at Solon that this issue is perhaps the single most important item that has faced the town certainly in the last 50 years. We want to make sure we do things right. We certainly have never planned a meeting like this before and would like to make sure that we have that type of meeting that does result in some substance and will allow us to carry a good message to the DOT. In a nutshell that's what I have. I'm here kind of begging I guess. I'm looking for your support, I hope that you are mutually interested in what goes on with Highway 1 and would hope that we can figure out as two governing bodies how we might be able to look at this situation and have the kind of input that will mean something.
Stutsman: Well I applaud you for being proactive on this issue instead of being reactive. So I think this is a great idea and for one Board member any way we can participate and help I think would be just great. Merlin could you tell me what the time frame on this is, did they give any indication?
Studt: Their indication for their next real time frame for an important action they said within one year to 18 months that they would decide on the actual route. So we do have time and opportunity as long as we don't sit on our hands. It was very evident to me at the meeting that the DOT had just by the sheer number of people that were there that it will likely take more than one meeting to draw together a consensus of what is going on and what we would like to forward to the DOT. So our process of course involving government bodies we know that doesn't move real fast so I think a year to 18 months is really not a lot of time for us.
Duffy: Merlin I can remember back to the late 70's when they suggested almost the same thing, remember the DOT. But it didn't materialize. One was the pass around Solon. Indeed there was a lot of people there. A week, 10 days ago when they really didn't have any program they were showing people and I though that was amazing to have all those people show up. In the rural area ECICOG I think should be contacted because they are the ones that handle most of the rural roads, plus the money comes through them. But I think now DOT will probably any feedback they got will pass that on to the Feds. So they get the federal dollars.
Studt: Well I think to this point Charlie, and I don't mean to interrupt, they probably have gotten some input. I think they're looking for more and I think they would like to have the recommendations of the City and certainly from the County's standpoint I look at this as an opportunity for you all to review what their looking at and be able to make comments.
Stutsman: Well does the Board feel that this is worth our time and energy and to work with Merlin and if so do we set up just one representative to work with Merlin and maybe ECICOG or JCCOG and just organize a community meeting.
Duffy: Well I'd say maybe we should all get involved.
Jordahl: Well I think we should all be at the meeting.
Thompson: Do we have to make the recommendation to JCCOG to do this.
Stutsman: Well I think somebody has to make the initiative. Would it be the Johnson County or would it be... I don't think it makes any difference whether its Solon or Johnson County.
Administrative Assistant Carol Peters: I don't think Solon is a member of JCCOG.
Studt: I don't think we are.
Jordahl: No, we've recently had that request for planning assistance.
Duffy: But ECICOG is the one I think. ECICOG.
Studt: You think that's the better vehicle?
Duffy: I believe it is.
Studt: We would not have any problem contacting...
Duffy: Keep in mind one thing that Solon is part of the County and there is a certain amount of representation for the Cities that we're supposed to keep in mind, that you represent through this Board of Supervisors because about 17% of the tax dollars in Solon comes through the Board of Supervisors. So I think anything we can do and congratulate you and the City Council on looking in on this thing.
Studt: Well, we're proud to be part of the economic growth for Johnson County and we think we have a lot of opportunities as a community. The only thing I'm looking at the highway and we know they're going to do something, I think its like a good health care program, early detection can go a long ways. If we can at least make sure we know the plan then we can work with it to minimize any negative impacts it may have. That's what I'm looking for.
Lehman: I think you've made some real strong points stuff that possible maintenance may have to take over if some part of the road is reverted back to us. Also our Secondary Roads 5 Year Plan some of the roads coming on to Highway 1 could be effected in our budget plans down the road here, if they're improved maybe we wouldn't have to do some of the interior type roads.
Studt: Well that's right. I know initially your County Engineers at least had a cursory look at the maps. But I would certainly encourage all the input he could give and even to the point of perhaps looking at your zoning areas to make sure there is adequate access and egress for agricultural or development areas so that we don't compromise any of those interests.
Thompson: Is it down to the 2 choices now, either the current route or the bypass?
Duffy: Or going through the town.
Studt: I think their favored routes right now I believe would either take it through its existing path through Solon or one of their routes to the East. I don't know that they're terribly interested in trying to go West, you don't have to go very far West from Solon and you end up dealing with Lake McBride and then bridges and things like that. So I think East or the existing route makes the most sense to them.
Thompson: Is there room on the existing route to do the road as they're designed it?
Studt: Well I'm not exactly sure how much extra land or easement is needed right-of-way for a Super 2. But whether they go through town or East of town they have a lot of conflict areas. Immediately East of town, I'm sure you are aware of this I think you took action on this, we have a developer building a golf course and I think he's pretty interested in not having a Super 2 Highway go through the 9th green. So we have some concerns outside of town too. We feel that that golf course will help add to the economic viability of the town. To answer your question directly they would have to be regardless of where they go acquiring property or parts of property.
Stutsman: Well I am the representative to ECICOG from Board of Supervisors. If it would be OK should I go ahead and make contact with ECICOG and see which way to go.
Jordahl: I would suggest we clarify the question of JCCOG's involvement too because Solon recently requested their planning assistance. I am unclear about how that responsibility divides.
Stutsman: Well maybe by contacting ECICOG they can give us some direction about which would be the best way to go.
Studt: They might be the only ones that know.
Stutsman: But at least we could start the process and just see.
Studt: I think that would be great and Sally if you'd want to keep in touch with me on that. To finalize or summarize, as I've said we have not set a specific date for this meeting. We were checking for available dates for one of the school facilities so we could have space to spread out these maps. Once we have a list of dates I would like to offer those dates to you all and see if you are interested in jointly participating in that meeting.
Jordahl: We have a computer with as projector that could put a map up on the wall if you had a bigger room, a gymnasium or something with a big screen. We might be able to make it more accessible to a larger group of people.
Studt: Well, certainly if we had something like that it would be kind of nice. I'd have to show you the maps and show you just really what they look like, because they are like Chinese scrolls they go for feet and feet and they're about this wide. I don't know that they're an easy thing to work with, tables work really great. But maybe the projection system might work.
Jordahl: Maybe the DOT might be able to give this to us on a disk or send and e-mail or whatever and it might make it a lot easier. I don't know Rick maybe between you and Mike maybe we could find out whether that's available or ECICOG somebody can figure out whether we can do this on a disk.
Stutsman: Well those are the details we can work out later on.
Studt: Yes. Yes.
Jordahl: I appreciate your planning efforts. I read in the paper recently there's a planning group up there, the CIA they call it. That is involved in the looking forward to the future.
Studt: Well yes and ours is the friendly CIA. Actually we have several groups that are interested in economic and culture growth of Solon and until we find some kind of resolve with what's going on with the highway a lot of things that we would like to carry forward with Solon really have to put on hold.
Jordahl: Lets focus on this one.
Studt: We just really don't know what to do until we know where the highway is going.
Jordahl: I want to encourage you to view the highway not just as a problem although it certainly could be one, but if you have creative ideas of the way you want Solon to grow then maybe there's a way to get DOT to tie into that. Charlie was talking about ECICOG and enhancement dollars, some of those enhancement dollars can go to do things like street scapes in cities. So there might be a way to piggyback on to this thing and have a good result.
Studt: Well, I am not bringing just totally fear and scared emotions regarding the highway because the one reason why Solon is as prosperous as it is right now I believe is because of the highway. So we've learned through the years to have a love/hate affair with that road. Its good for us and its bad for us.
Jordahl: OK. Well you don't have a date for the meeting yet. Sally do you want to work with Merlin, you suggested that and the ECICOG connection on setting this up?
Stutsman: Yes. That would be fine.
Jordahl: I think the Board would like to probably all go so we need some sort of an agenda to...
Stutsman: Oh, I'm sure. I was just thinking I don't think the whole Board needs to part of the planning, we can work those details out and then certainly let everybody know when the meeting is.
Duffy: If you need 2 Supervisors I would like to be the 2nd one because I'm involved up there.
Stutsman: Oh sure, that makes a lot of sense.
Duffy: How did they get along yesterday in what's in Cedar Falls?
Studt: Next Monday that they go, on the 17th.
Duffy: Oh, next Monday?
Studt: Right. The CIA has a group that is going up there.
Duffy: Yes, I was asked to go with them but if I can work it in I probably will.
Studt: Well maybe we'll ride in the same bus together Charlie.
Duffy: Alright, great.
Jordahl: I'm sure you'd be welcome to attend the planning sessions if you'd like Charlie. 2's the kind of thing, its 3 that needs an agenda.
Duffy: Well this is a group that we started up quite a while back.
Jordahl: We've got quite an agenda today, speaking of agendas we'd probably better move ahead with that.
Studt: I understand that.
Stutsman: Merlin you don't have a card do you.
Studt: Yes, I do.
Stutsman: OK, good.
Studt: I do appreciate you making time for me and our town on the agenda on short notice like this.
Jordahl: Hey, this is big history happening here. As you said 50 years this is going to be important.
Stutsman: Great, I'll let you know give you a call.
Jordahl: We are really glad you've come to us.
Studt: Thank you.
Duffy: Have a good day Merlin.
Jordahl: Thanks Merlin.