Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission FY2011 Annual Report

Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission FY2011 Annual Report

Dear Citizens of the Southeast Iowa Region, The Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission recently completed its 38 th year of service to the southeast Iowa region. Since its inception, SEIRPC has focused on providing excellent service to the region through technical assistance, planning, and regional collaboration. SEIRPC continues to produce results for the region. In FY2011, $5.8 million was secured by SEIRPC from outside sources for use in southeast Iowa. This is a 78:1 return on investment from member dues. Housing services again produced positive yields for the region. SEIRPC began administering the regional housing trust fund, Great River Housing, Inc. Over $1 million will be used to rehabilitate 100 owner-occupied homes in southeast Iowa, including a portion for down payment assistance. Currently, 32 homeowners have been assisted. Funding critical infrastructure is an annual focus for SEIRPC. In FY2011, staff secured funding for sewer separation, water treatment and source improvements, disabled workshop construction and safe room construction totaling nearly $4 million. The annual utility survey also provides regional officials and residents information on services provided, cost and other items to identify needs and opportunities. Planning for community development and transportation successfully completed multiple projects. In addition to administering the regional Surface Transportation Funds, staff secured $1.8 million for regional projects, like Safe Routes to School and urban bridges. Traffic data collection, trail development, Safe Routes to School, project development and administration and planning continue to be strengths for the region. In its seventh 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. After one year in the new facility, SEIRPC is pleased to see the entire building has been leased. Three private tenants have helped to provide a professional environment and to make the building self-sustaining. Staff continues to reap the benefits of a more efficient and more professional environment. Through the next year SEIRPC will continue to strive for excellence in the service it provides the region. Thank you for your continued partnership with SEIRPC and efforts to strengthen southeast Iowa. Sincerely, Brent Schleisman 2011 SEIRPC Board Chairman Mike Norris SEIRPC Executive Director SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 2

2011 SEIRPC Board of Directors Executive Committee Brent Schleisman, Chair Sue Frice, Vice Chair Hans Trousil, Treasurer Jim Howell, 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 Education & Workforce David File, Iowa Wesleyan College Phil Thomas, Southeastern Community College Sue Frice, Workforce Representative Henry County Brent Schleisman, City of Mount Pleasant Mark Hempen, City of New London Kent White, Henry County Klay Edwards, Private Sector Louisa County Mark Huston, City of Columbus Junction Ron Durbin, City of Wapello Chris Ball, Louisa County Jim Howell, Private Sector SEIRPC Management Staff Mike Norris, Executive Director Jeff Hanan, Assistant Director Zach James, Planning Director Bob Kuskowski, Transit Director Kim Schisel, Finance Director Lee County Byron Smith, City of Fort Madison Michael O Connor, City of Keokuk Gary Folluo, Lee County Steve Bisenius, Private Sector SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 3

2011 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: Sam Shea Mark Bechtel Tracy Troutner 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 Kent White Transit Advisory Committee Karen Bates-Chabel Paula Buckman Pat Colthurst Pam Erhardt Jeff Heland John Herring Bob Hoxie Ken Hyndman Steve Ireland Zach James Sarah Kaufman Bob Kuskowski Mary Maine Mike O Connor Doug Roelfs Brenda Sayre Gary See Terri Smith Connie Storms Ryan Wood Dennis Zegarac Finance Committee Sue Frice Gary Folluo Jim Howell Brent Schleisman Hans Trousil 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 Phil Thomas Dan Wiedemeier SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 4

2011 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Committees About SEIRPC Revolving Loan Funds SEIRPC s revolving loan pools makes funds available to assist businesses expanding or in start-up situations where jobs will be retained or created. The funds are loaned to fill in a gap in financing to expand or start a business. Loans can be used for machinery and equipment, working capital, land real estate and other activities directly related to job creation and retention. SEIRPC has over $2 million available through its revolving loan pools. Approximately $1 million is available at interest rates below three percent, and another approximately $1 million is available at four percent. SEIRPC has an existing $1.1 million loan portfolio, which includes funding from six different loan pools. Keokuk RLF Loan Review Committee Archie Logan Carole Betts Les Fowler Ivan Hasselbusch Mike Pribyl Ex Officio: Chuck Betts Joyce Glasscock Fort Madison RLF Loan Review Committee Larry Kelch Moudy Nabulsi Mary Ottoson Mike Spieler Ex Officio: Mayor Steve Ireland Henry County RLF Loan Review Committee Scott Bayor Klay Edwards David File Robert Meyer Stan Young Ex Officio: Gary See 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 Mike Spieler SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 5

Planning Department 2011 Highlights Website Update and Facebook In FY2011, SEIRPC joined the world of Facebook to inform and educate regional residents about projects SEIRPC is involved with in the Southeast Iowa region. In addition, SEIRPC updated and streamlined the SEIRPC website to make it more userfriendly. You can see the new sites at www.seirpc.com and www.facebook.com/seirpc. Fort Madison Annexation Study SEIRPC staff worked with the City of Fort Madison to evaluate the possibility of extending the city s corporate limits to the US Highway 61 Bypass. The study identified a potential area to be annexed and evaluated how this would affect city services such as water, sewer, fire protection, police protection, etc. Fort Madison Extraterritorial Zoning Study In addition to the annexation study, SEIRPC staff also completed this study to evaluate the possibilities of utilizing extraterritorial zoning in the 2 mile boundaries of Fort Madison. Fort Madison Housing Enterprise Zone SEIRPC staff worked with the City of Fort Madison to create a housing enterprise zone in and around downtown Fort Madison. The enterprise zone will be utilized to promote upper story redevelopment in the core of downtown and rehabilitation of homes in the downtown periphery area. Resource, Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Grants SEIRPC assisted in writing 5 REAP grants for Southeast Iowa communities, of which two were funded for the maximum amount in their category of $75,000. Columbus Junction was awarded funding to make improvements to Chautauqua Park (picture to the right), while Wapello will be building a multi use trail along the Iowa River. 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. SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 6

Flint River Trail Progress - Bids have been let and construction has begun on the 2 northern most phases of the 20 mile trail system. This includes the area from Big Hollow Recreation Area south to the intersection of Highway 61 and Flint Bottom Road. Construction is expected to be completed on this roughly 8 mile stretch of trail by the spring of 2012. Final easement negotiations are expected to be completed for the third and final phase by the end of 2012 with final design work immediately following that. All phases of the trail are expected to be completed by 2015. Fort Madison Depot Progress Work commenced on elevating the Santa Fe Depot in Fort Madison, part of a larger project funded in part by SEIRPC grant writing. The overall $2 million project will elevate the depot out of the flood plain, construct a new rail passenger platform, reconstruct parking lots and renovate the interior for historic museum space and Amtrak. Louisa County Highway 99 Bridge at Oakville (Iowa River) SEIRPC staff secured over $12 million in grant funds for the project from state and federal sources. The project funded by EDA disaster recovery funds and county highway funds is underway with environmental studies and preliminary engineering. Planning Department Funded Grants in FY2011 Safe Routes to School Plans SEIRPC staff worked with the City of Wapello and City of Keokuk in creating Safe Routes to School Plans. The plans include a sidewalk inventory and other proposed engineering improvements that will make the communities safer for children walking and biking to school. Fort Madison Avenue D Bridge SEIRPC staff assisted the City of Fort Madison in securing $800,000 to replace a bridge along Avenue D that had been damaged by flooding in 2008. Project Source Funding Amount Columbus Junction Chautauqua Park Iowa DNR REAP $75,000 Wapello Fishing Pier and Trail Iowa DNR REAP $75,000 Des Moines County Aldo Leopold Interpretive Center Iowa DOT Scenic Byways $365,000 Columbus Junction Comprehensive Plan Update Iowa Department of Economic Development $3,750 Burlington Blackhawk Elementary Sidewalk Extension Iowa DOT Safe Routes to Schools $87,295 Keokuk Sidewalk Improvements Iowa DOT Safe Routes to Schools $116,485 Mediapolis SRTS Plan Iowa DOT Safe Routes to Schools $15,000 Des Moines County/Burlington - Flint River Trail Iowa DOT Enhancements $225,000 SEIBUS Hope Haven Expansion FTA New Freedoms $88,857 Fort Madison Avenue D Bridge Replacement Iowa DOT City Bridge Fund $800,000 Total Funding Secured $1,851,387 SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 7

Development Department 2011 Highlights Great River Housing Trust Fund The Great River Housing was established in FY 2011. The initial two-year grant is funded by the Iowa Finance Authority, Federal Home Loan Bank and local contributions from cities, counties and business. The funds will be used in the region to assist low to moderate income home owners with rehabilitation and/or down payment assistance. The housing trust fund plans to assist 100 homeowners over the course of the two-year grant. To date there are 29 awarded homeowners for rehabilitation, while 3 homeowners have received funds for down payment assistance. Housing Programs SEIRPC funded 28 housing units in FY 2011, split among downtown upper story, new single family construction and owner-occupied rehabilitation. Mount Pleasant Downtown Upper Story: Two downtown units were created and one rehabilitated; Burlington Downtown Upper Story: 11 units are under construction; Fort Madison Downtown Upper Story: three units are under construction; Des Moines and Louisa counties Single Family New Construction, closed on eight homes ( four under construction); West Burlington Owner Occupied Rehabilitation: Three homes completed, three under construction. In addition, grants were awarded in FY 2011 for: Burlington Neighborhood Stabilization Program; Burlington Owner Occupied Rehabilitation; Oakville Project Based Grant; Fort Madison Project Based Grant; and Keokuk Project Based Grant. SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 8

Community Development Block Grants Several CDBG applications were written by SEIRPC and received funding in FY 2011, including: City of Keokuk for a combined sewer overflow project City of Wayland for upgrading to water treatment plant and making emergency secondary source connection to Rathbun Regional Water Association a permanent secondary source; and City of West Burlington/Bridgeway Inc. for renovating the 1105 Derek Lincoln Drive property to house Bridgeway Inc. programs and administrative offices. Development Department Funded Grants in FY2011 Project Source Funding Amount Great River Housing Trust Fund Federal Home Loan Bank $753,750 Great River Housing Trust Fund Iowa Finance Authority $282,975 Great River Housing Trust Fund Local Matching Contributions $73,500 Burlington Neighborhood Housing Stabilization Iowa Department of Economic Development $452,120 Oakville Project Based Housing Iowa Finance Authority $15,000 Burlington Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Iowa Department of Economic Development $369,999 Fort Madison Project Based Housing Iowa Finance Authority $50,000 Keokuk Project Based Housing Iowa Finance Authority $50,000 Keokuk Combined Sewer Overflow Project Iowa Department of Economic Development $600,000 Wayland Water Treatment and Source Improvements Iowa Department of Economic Development $255,000 West Burlington/Bridgeway Property Improvements Iowa Department of Economic Development $152,350 Danville Schools Saferoom Project Iowa Homeland Security $942,262 Total Funding Secured $3,996,956 SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 9

SEIBUS 2011 Highlights FY2011 Statistics Rides 134,262 Hours 22,518 Miles Traveled 459,576 Fare Structure One Way Round Trip In Town $2.50 $5.00 Between Cities Monthly Pass* Medical Shuttle $5.00 $10.00 $25.00 $15.00 $30.00 * Monthly Pass can be used only in county SEIBUS ended the year with a total of 134,262 rides. This was a 3.3% reduction over FY2010, mainly due to elimination of the route from Burlington to Tyson Foods in Columbus Junction. While a 3.3% reduction in rides was not ideal, this did show that there was an increase in other services as the Tyson route accounted for such high ridership in the past. This is good news moving into FY2012 and 2013. In FY2011, SEIBUS put forth a proposal to Lee County to handle all of their CPC transportation needs, which was accepted. This would entail approximately 25,000 additional rides per year. Unfortunately due to a legal issue with their current transportation provider, SEIBUS was not allowed to proceed in FY2011, but hopes to have these issues should be cleared up in time for FY2012. Another exciting project in FY2011 was the approval from Iowa DOT for expanding our Medical Shuttle Routes. SEIBUS was able to purchase a new bus and receive 50% of operating expense for FY2012 to help get the service off the ground. The new service to Iowa City on Wednesday s has slowly gained traction with a successful year on the horizon for this route in FY2012. 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 SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 10

FY2011 Financial Highlights $78 : $1 RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM MEMBER DUES SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 11

New SEIRPC Office Facility 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. Facility Tenants 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 one year in the new facility, SEIRPC is pleased to see the entire building has been 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. SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 12

SEIRPC Administration SEIRPC Staff Mike Norris Debbie Laughlin Beth Hartman Susan Coffey Executive Director Executive Assistant Planning Assistant Grant Administrator Development Department Jeff Hanan Dan Eberhardt Tracey Lamm Sara Hecox Chris Ralph Sherri Jones Assistant Director Regional Planner II Regional Planner Grant Administrator Housing Inspector Planning Assistant Planning Department Zach James Justin Bushong Madeline Emmerson Planning Director Regional Planner Regional Planner Finance Department Kim Schisel Finance Director SEIBUS Administration SEIBUS Staff Bob Kuskowski Gerald Huebner Carolyn Lees SEIBUS Director Operations Manager Scheduler SEIBUS Drivers Sherry Andrews John Arp Jack Callas Dave Ewinger Art Heckenberg Marilyn Hunter Tom Smith Sherry Vaughn Nancy Aquino Ruth Boyd Don Eland David Ford Terry Heckenberg Kathy McLemore Randy Spiker Joe Yocum SEIRPC FY2011 Annual Report 13

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.