August 14, 2012 Botanical Center

Transcription

1 August 14, 2012 Botanical Center Members present: Staff Present: Guests Present: Council Member Jon McAvoy, Adel Mayor Skip Conkling, Altoona Mayor Ruth Randleman, Carlisle Council Member John Edwards, Clive Council Member Christine Hensley, Des Moines Council Member Jill Altringer, Grimes Mayor Ken Bresnan, Indianola Council Member Deb Thomas, Mitchellville Mayor Doug Pierce, Norwalk Mayor Jay Pattee, Perry Mayor Gary Heuertz, Polk City Supervisor E.J. Giovannetti Council Member John Forbes, Urbandale Council Member Kim Sacker, Van Meter Council Member Jim Sandager, West Des Moines Mayor Jerry Sullivan, Windsor Heights Jeff Lester, City of Des Moines Attorney Laura Graham, Asst. to the City Manager, Des Moines Alan Kemp, Iowa League of Cities Erin,Iowa League of Cities Kate Carlucci, Iowa League of Cities Tony Timm, Central Iowa Shelter and Services Jim Cownie, Central Iowa Shelter and Services Markeeta Oliver, City Manager, Norwalk Gretchen Tegler, APPROVAL OF MINUTES

2 Moved by John Edwards, second Jim Sandager LEGISLATIVE SESSION REPORT Alan Kemp, Iowa League of Cities Kate Carlucci with the Iowa League of Cities reported the priorities for the League for the upcoming session. These include the continuation of the property tax and TIF legislation, increase of Road and Bridge funding, fair and sustainable pension programs, emphasis on local decision making, hometown economic development, and assisting communities with water infrastructure improvements. Christine Hensley: Would like to put together a game plan regarding the 411 Pension Plan. Given the recent Des Moines Register editorial, it would be worthwhile to consider a follow-up to the register. Gretchen Tegler was here previously to discuss follow-up editorials in the past being inaccurate. Alan Kemp: There were similar articles in the Wall Street Journal, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Citizens are clearly picking up on this issue. The Governor also appears to give some support. Erin : 62% of Iowa s population reside in 411 impacted communities. Here in the mentro the cities impacted are Des Moines, West Des Moines, Indianola, Ankeny, Clive, and Urbandale. Alan Kemp: The agenda will be ready by December 4 th or 5 th. Will confirm once a date is finalized. Christine Hensley: Has there been any discussion about alternative revenue sources to property taxes? Kate Carlucci: The focus has not been on property taxes, but believes this is where the issue of alternative revenue sources can be raised. Jon McAvoy: Small cities local option sales tax proposal, feels there is a good chance this will happen. Alan Kemp: An analysis will be shared to discuss the impact, review cost drivers and understand the overall impact. Erin: The League will launch a new Research Tool based on the Fiscal Conditions Survey that went out to clerks and fiscal agents of cities earlier this year. The responses

3 will feed into the tool which will allow it to break down the results by city and field. The tool will also be able to normalize the data based on inflation. Ken Bresnan: What is the availability of this tool? Erin: This fall. Likely late September/October and will be available on the website. It has not been decided if it will be placed on the membership or the public side of the site. Alan Kemp: This tool will allow us to break down the statistics we used last session and back up the data and review relevancy of our argument. It will also be able to provide talking points for cities and will hold us harmless. Chris Hensley: Shouldn t we be proactive and be looking for a solution ahead of time? Gary Heuertz: Agreed. Allen Kemp: Governor is still likely looking at a rollback. Chris Hensley: You ve listed 6 priorities, but perhaps that s too many? Perhaps we list six, but emphasize the top three and determine what we want and be proactive and then the legislature will be on the defensive. Ruth Randleman: What is the delivery system to get ahead of the conversation? Are we the system? What s the education process? Alan Kemp: Regional meetings to engage key legislators and candidates will be part of this process but won t be nearly as beneficial as cities using the tool and taking the issues one on one and for all of that information to be consistent. Jerry Sullivan: Has there been any conversations regarding the speed camera process for approval? Alan Kemp: The League s position is that home rule should decide. Surprised by the new guidelines that came out of nowhere. Christine Hensley: Has a meeting with Paul Trombino next week. Des Moines had no idea we would be reviewed. Alan Kemp: The rules were created this summer with no approval process for the guidelines.

4 Christine Hensley: Should there have been an approval process? Could someone find out prior to next week s meeting? Kate Carlucci: Working with the DOT to fix or change the guidelines to work for cities involved. However, the republicans and some democrats have strong opinions on banning so be prepared if the Senate goes republican. Insurance agencies, cities and businesses are keenly aware of the policy. Ken Bresnan: Agree that the property tax issue needs an action plan. Jay Pattee: Has there been any discussion on internet sales tax? There needs to be a closer look at the state s loss of revenue. Kate Carlucci: Didn t follow the issue very closely last year, but there was a bill proposed although it didn t get any traction. Alan Kemp: The federal government is taking this issue up, but it will take awhile to move forward. Skip Conkling: Has there been any thought to a statewide hotel-motel tax? Where the State will collect and divide amount on a formula basis. Kate Carlucci: Never been looked at before but something to consider. E.J. Giovanetti: The executive committee discussed having the League back at the September meeting, but has decided to wait until December. CENTRAL IOWA SHELTER AND SERVICES (CISS) Jim Cownie and Tony Timm provided an update on the CISS. Jim Cownie: Regional cooperation is important and the MAC has a history of partnering on projects that are important to the greater Des Moines community. Feels CISS and the homeless in general is an area where regional cooperation is imperative. Would like to see a grant or a gift from the MAC for $200,000. Tony Timm: Several of the MAC members toured the new facilities last month. CISS was formed in the 90s due to the death of five people after they were refused shelter. Several faith-based organizations came together to form CISS. The new facility is

5 43,000 square feet and will include a veteran s transitional housing component. It is scheduled to open the last week of September. Jim Cownie: The current plans for the new site also provide space for a garden where it is hoped that skills could be taught to the shelter residents and then be applied to future employment opportunities in the metro through partnerships with the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the City of Des Moines Park & Recreation department, and others. A current partnership is in the process of being formed with Pioneer/DuPont. Christine Hensley: The back page of the packet provided includes a breakdown of funding received. The City of Des Moines has committed a sizable amount to funding the project. If you look at the realstory of the people who live here, there is no doubt that all of our communities have benefited from CISS services. This is a regional need. We can follow-up with each city on how to achieve the $200,000 goal. Gary Heuertz: DMACC and DART are funded out of property taxes. If this is a regional problem, have we looked at doing something similar for CISS? Christine Hensley: No we haven t. Need to go to legislature for approval if you wanted. Could do it on a property tax basis vs. a per capita basis. Jim Cownie: This is a one-time request. Would hate to put a tax burden on taxpayers forever. Over 200,000 people live in the suburbs. This is a request of $1.00 per person. We would also accept funding over a term of years. Ruth Randleman: Are there statistics available that show the services provided by CISS provide a decrease in costs to cities? Having this information available would make it easier to build the case for councils. Tony Timm: There is a study that shows CISS can provide services at a third of the cost of the County. A third of our residents are mentally ill, a third are domestic violence cases. We had a case from Indianola just yesterday related to an eviction. Ruth Randleman: It would be easier to show statistics in order to build a case about reduction in costs to citizens. Jerry Sullivan: Could someone provide a breakdown per capita per city? E.J. Giovanetti: This will be discussed at the next executive committee. If anyone has an idea on this itme, contact one of the executive committee members.

6 Skip Conkling: The City of Des Moines added $3.5 million but if we were to divide the cost from $1.00/person to $0.50/person, Altoona would pay $7,500. Could Des Moines come in and pay an additional $0.50/person like the other cities? Would be helpful to have this information finalized for budget discussions in February. Christine Hensley: I can t speak for Council. But it can be discussed. E.J. Giovannetti: As we discuss CISS looking at needs of the community, they are flexible in their timeframe and a one-time commitment could be spread over multiple years. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS The regional bike ordinance has two more cities to discuss. Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:45 a.m.