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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUrbanized 01-24-07 ~JCCOG r~ r.... Meeting Notice JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 6:00 p.m. Harvat Hall, Iowa City City Hall Agenda 1. Presentation of Cedar Rapids-Iowa City-Amana Colonies Passenger Rail Transit Feasibility Study 2. Call to order (approximately 6:20 p.m.) a. Introduce new board members and recognize alternates b. Consider approval of meeting minutes c. Discuss meeting time d. Set date of next meeting 3. Public Discussion 4. Administration a. Report from nominating committee for calendar year 2007 JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board officers i. Consider action b. Consider approval of the proposed FY2008 JCCOG Budget and Financial Forecast c. Consider reappointment of Pat Harney to the ECICOG Board of Directors d. Review of Iowa City Landfill programs e. Consider a request to host the 2008 Midwest Transportation Planning Conference f. Items from the Executive Director 5. Transportation Planning a. Consider an amendment to the JCCOG Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Plan b. Consider an appointment to the State Urban Design Standards and Construction Specifications (SUDAS) Board of Directors c. Discuss JCCOG board interest in a study of a consolidated transit authority for Johnson County d. Status report on development of Passenger Transportation Development Plan e. Review proposed Iowa Highway 1 improvement project between Iowa City and Solon f. Update on the development of the 2007 JCCOG Long Range Multi-Modal Transportation Plan g. Review local requests for Congressionally Designated Funds h. Update on recent activities 6. Human Services Planning a. Report on free bus ticket program b. Update on Successful Aging Consortium 7. Other Business 8. Adjournment shared on cilynl\pcd\\agendasliccogluapb-agd 1-24-07.doc MINUTES JCCOG URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2006 - 6:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CORALVILLE CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Iowa City: Henry Herwig, John Weihe Regenia Bailey, Connie Champion, Amy Correia, Bob Elliott, Mike O'Donnell, Dee Vanderhoef Sally Stutsman, Pat Harney Jim Wozniak Dave Ricketts Johnson County: North Liberty: University of Iowa: MEMBERS ABSENT: Tiffin: University Heights: Glenn Potter Erling Anderson STAFF PRESENT: Davidson, Neumann, Ralston, Severson, Williams, Yapp 1. CALL TO ORDER a,b,c. Recoqnize alternates; consider approval of meetinq minutes; confirm January board meetinq date, time and location. Chairperson Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Bailey recognized Pat Harney as alternate for Rod Sullivan of Johnson County. It was moved by Champion and seconded by Stutsman to approve the meeting minutes of October 25, 2006. Davidson noted that Rod Sullivan wished to have the following amendment to page five, paragraph two; last sentence; the sentence should read: Sullivan stated he would still like to see greater coordination of the transit systems with possible consolidation and perhaps this was a first step. As amended, the motion carried unanimously. Bailey confirmed that the January JCCOG Board meeting would be held on Wednesday, January 24, 6:00 p.m. at Harvat Hall in Iowa City City Hall. Elliott asked for discussion of the meeting time. Bailey stated this would be placed on the agenda on January 24. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION Bailey asked if there was public discussion of any item not on the agenda. Carol Spaziani of the Johnson County League of Women Voters asked if there would be additional JCCOG consideration of the inclusionary housing issue. Bailey stated this would be placed on the January agenda. Champion stated that this would also be discussed at the Joint Governments meeting on January 10 and that Iowa City Director of Planning and Community Development Karin Franklin would make a presentation. 3. ADMINISTRATION Bailey stated that the agenda would be changed to move Item 2(b) ahead of Item 2(a). Bailey noted copies of the JCCOG Joint Emergency Communication Center Subcommittee Final Report were available. b. Report from JCCOG Joint Emerqency Communication Center Subcommittee Iowa City Fire Chief Andy Rocca provided a review of the final report of the JCCOG Joint Emergency Communication Center Subcommittee. The presentation included an overview of the following items: How will it be governed?; What are we going to build?; How will it be operated?; Where should the proposed center be located?; How will we pay to construct and operate the system?; Other possible users of the system?; and Recommendations. JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board Minutes August 30, 2006 Page 2 Stutsman asked about the expense to hire a consultant to design the facility. Davidson explained that this expense was unknown but that it could ultimately end up being 10-15% of the estimated construction cost. Davidson stated the consultant contract could be structured into schematic design/final design phases. Champion asked about funds available through the E-911 surcharge. Lonny Pulkrabek, Johnson County Sheriff, stated that there was approximately $500,000 which had been saved by the E-911 committee through the existing $.45 surcharge. Pulkrabek stated that this surcharge generated approximately $200,000 per year. Pulkrabek outlined additional grant funds that might be available to assist with the consultant study. Stutsman asked about the estimated operating budget for the proposed facility. Steve Atkins, Iowa City City Manager, stated that the combined budgets of the existing Iowa City and Johnson County communication centers were approximately $1.5 million. Vanderhoef asked if it was possible for Iowa City to procure equipment for its existing use that could later be used for the joint communication center. Davidson replied that it was possible. Pulkrabek requested that letters be sent by JCCOG to the Cedar Rapids City Council and Linn County Board of Supervisors asking them to coordinate with us on the consultant study and also propose a reciprocal backup arrangement. Correia asked who would pursue the recommendations in the final report. Davidson stated that the existing subcommittee was a very effective group and they could at least be used as a starting point for subsequent discussion of the issues. Weihe stated he concurred with continuing to use the existing subcommittee. It was moved by Stutsman and seconded by Elliott to accept the final report of the JCCOG Joint Emergency Communication Center Subcommittee. The motion carried unanimously. Bailey stated that Davidson would set up a subcommittee meeting in January. a. Proposed JCCOG Arterial Street Plan Amendment to add the extension of Foreverqreen Road between 1 ih Avenue and Dubuque Street Bailey asked for a report from North Liberty and Coralville representatives on the funding of the proposed consultant study. Wozniak stated that the North Liberty City Council had unanimously passed a resolution which was included in the Board's packet. Wozniak stated the previous consultant study (EarthTech study) had been procedurally unsound and that there was debate on whether or not it was technically sound. Wozniak stated that the North Liberty City Council's position was that the extension of Forevergreen Road should not be presumed to be necessary. Wozniak stated that the proposed annexations by North Liberty and Coralville were an issue. Weihe asked for clarification of the "overarching study" of North Corridor roads. Bailey asked what distinguished the need for additional study of North Corridor roads from the existing arterial street planning conducted by JCCOG. Vanderhoef asked if North Liberty was suggesting that there should be additional arterial streets in the North Corridor. Wozniak stated this was possible. Correia asked about the road capacity issues associated with existing roads in the North Corridor. Davidson explained that the subsequent traffic study would examine the capacity of existing roads in the vicinity of the proposed Forevergreen Road extension. Bailey stated that she was under the impression North Liberty was not willing to pay for half of the proposed consultant study. Wozniak confirmed this. Bailey asked Herwig to state Coralville's position. Herwig stated that he was unsure of what North Liberty was proposing to be studied. Herwig stated that Coralville believed the EarthTech technical study was fine. Bailey asked North Liberty to clarify the scope of what they thought should be studied. Wozniak stated he was not certain of the scope but that it needed to be wider than the corridor which was studied in the previous consultant study. Bailey stated that at the previous board meeting the Board decided a new consultant study was needed, but that there was no funding for that study. Bailey asked if the annexation issues needed to be settled first. At 6:52 p.m. Bailey opened the floor for public comment. Larry Schroeder of Spring Valley stated that he wished to emphasize that North Liberty Road should be used for North-South traffic not Dubuque Street. JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board Minutes August 30, 2006 Page 3 Paul Morf stated he was the legal counsel for the Citizens for Sensible Development and that they cared about the character of the North Corridor. Morf stated that they still want to start over with a clean state, an open process, and an adequate study area. Doug Paul of Peterson Place by the Scanlon Farm stated that public input is needed from the beginning of the process. Paul stated he was dissatisfied that staff had determined the scope of the corridor to be examined by the consultant in the previous study. Vanderhoef asked about changes that would be made to JCCOG's traffic analysis model in order to get accurate numbers to make projections. Davidson stated that if significant land use changes in the vicinity of the Forevergreen Road extension are proposed by North Liberty and Coralville, the model would need to be adjusted. Davidson stated that to make traffic projections in this area without knowing what the land use plans were going to be. was putting the cart before the horse. Beth Davidson of Johnson County appeared and stated she concurred with Jeff Davidson's assessment that the land use issues needed to be resolved before accurate traffic projections could be made. It was moved by Vanderhoef and seconded by Stutsman to add the traffic study of existing arterial streets in the vicinity of the proposed Forevergreen Road extension to the JCCOG FY08 Transportation Planning Work Program. Bailey asked if the 08 Work Program would be considered in January, Davidson stated it would be March. Davidson stated that it was possible for JCCOG staff to examine the traffic issues, but not engineer the proposed arterial street extension or conduct an environmental analysis. Elliott stated that additional studies should move ahead without preconceived notions. Ricketts asked if the study area would be extended further west to 1-380. Davidson clarified the components of the existing JCCOG Arterial Street Plan in the vicinity of 1-380. Harney asked for clarification of the proposed interchange at Forevergreen Road. Davidson stated that a study conducted by the Iowa Department of Transportation had determined that because of the spacing of the 1-380 interchanges at Penn Street and 1-80, Forevergreen Road was the only possible location for an additional interchange. Davidson stated Oakdale Boulevard was shown on the JCCOG Arterial Street Plan as extending over 1-380 between Coralville and Tiffin. Bailey asked who had requested the original arterial street plan amendment for Forevergreen Road. Davidson stated the City of Coralville. Bailey called for a vote on the motion and the motion carried unanimously. c. Appoint nominatinq committee for calendar year 2007 JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board officers It was moved by Correia and seconded by Ricketts to have Stutsman, Herwig, and O'Donnell serve with Bailey on proposing a slate of officers for calendar year 2007. Bailey stated the subcommittee would report back at the January meeting. d. Preliminary FY08 budqet discussion Davidson stated that the FY08 JCCOG Budget would be presented to the Board for adoption at the January meeting. Davidson clarified the role of the Board versus the role of the City of Iowa City in preparing the JCCOG Budget. Davidson stated he did not expect significant changes to the financial commitments of JCCOG member organizations and that the budget was being prepared in accordance with the modifications to the JCCOG program of services that had been implemented in the preceding year. Bailey asked if it was possible to send out the proposed budget a week ahead of the January meeting packet and Davidson stated he thought that this could occur. JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board Minutes August 30, 2006 Page 4 e. Information from the Executive Director Davidson highlighted the Board on the corridor lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. Ricketts stated that lobbying for passenger rail service should not undermine the need for the community to acquire buses. Davidson highlighted the Board on the proposed reconstruction of Iowa Highway 1 between Iowa City and Solon and stated additional information would be available at the January meeting. Davidson stated that the JCCOG Johnson County Human Services Directory was available on the JCCOG website. Davidson mentioned the passing of Don Sehr and stated he had been a charter member of the JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board. 4. HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING a. Update on Human Service Aqency quarterly performance reports Severson outlined the initial quarterly performance report which had been prepared for Coralville, Iowa City, and Johnson County. Severson stated that these were a work in progress but that the first quarter report had gone well. Vanderhoef asked what Severson would do if she noted something that should be brought to the City Council's attention. Severson replied that comments were included with each agency assessment. Vanderhoef asked if the City's goals were matched up with the services that the agencies provided. Severson replied yes. Elliott asked if Severson was on the alert for duplication of services and Severson replied yes. 5. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Consider apportionment of Federal Transit Operatinq assistance Neumann presented the proposed apportionments of FTA Section 5307 funds as follows: Coralville Transit $221,392; Iowa City $746,933; CAMBUS $355,789 for a total of $1,324,114. Neumann stated these apportionments were based on the formula which had been reapproved at the October board meeting. Vanderhoef asked if the formula considered additional weight for the use of the transit levy, and Neumann replied it did not. Vanderhoef asked if this could be considered. Bailey stated the formula had been reconsidered at the October meeting. Vanderhoef asked if this could be examined again in the FY08 JCCOG Transportation Planning Work Program, and the Board concurred. It was moved by Champion and seconded by Weihe to approve the apportionments as presented. The motion carried unanimously. b. Consider administrative amendments to the transit section of the FY07-FY10 JCCOG TIP Neumann presented amendments for Iowa City Transit and Coralville Transit to delete projects that had been completed in FY06. Neumann outlined a change in bus replacements for Iowa City from 80% federal funding to 83% federal funding because of eligibility due to meeting ADA requirements. It was moved by Weihe and seconded by Ricketts to approve the amendments as presented. The motion carried unanimously. c. Consider amendments to the Surface Transportation Proqram section of the JCCOG Transportation Improvement Proqram Yapp presented two amendments requested by Iowa City to move $64,000 of STP funds for the Church Street/Dubuque Street intersection reconstruction project from FY08 to FY07, and $500,000 of STP funds for the Highway 6/Gilbert Street intersection reconstruction project from FY08 to FY07, Yapp stated both were for the purpose of property acquisition. Yapp stated there were no changes to the scope of these projects. It was moved by Vanderhoef and seconded by Ricketts to approve the amendments as proposed. The motion carried unanimously. JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board Minutes August 30, 2006 Page 5 d. Update on Passenqer Rail Study Davidson reviewed the passenger rail study final report and presentation to the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce 15-in-5 Committee. Davidson stated he was willing to make the final report presentation to the Board in January if desired. The Board stated they wished to have the report presented in January. Vanderhoef asked if the report included a technical evaluation, and Davidson replied yes. Davidson stated the presentation materials and the technical report were available on the JCCOG website. e. Update on JCCOG Lonq Ranqe Multi-Modal Transportation Plan Yapp reviewed the existing status of the update of the JCCOG Long Range Multi-Modal Transportation Plan. Yapp reviewed the public comment process which would be followed and stated that additional updates would be made at all board meetings until May, when the updated plan would be presented for approval. Weihe asked about the inclusion of rail transit oriented development in the plan update, and Yapp stated this would be addressed in general terms. f. Update on recent activities Davidson asked if there were any comments or questions about the projects that the Transportation Planning Division has been working on. There were no comments. 6. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. 7. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Elliott and seconded by Harney to adjourn. Bailey declared the meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m. data on cllyntlpcd/minutes/Jccog-uapb/2006/12-13-06.doc Date: January 12, 2007 ~JCCOG ..~ m e m 0 r.... To: JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board From: Jeff Davidson -;---# Re: Agenda Item #4: Administration (b) Consider approval of the proposed FY08 JCCOG Budget and Financial Forecast At your request the proposed FY2008 JCCOG Budget and Financial Forecast was provided to you in advance of the regular Board mailing. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments, or if you need another copy. (c) Consider reappointment of Pat Harney to the ECICOG Board of Directors We have been notified by ECICOG that Pat Harney's term on the ECICOG Board expired December 31, 2006. Pat has indicated a willingness to be reappointed. JCCOG appoints the four Johnson County representatives to the ECICOG Board of Directors. In addition to Pat, our other two elected official representatives are Ross Wilburn and Henry Herwig. Larry Wilson is the citizen representative. Let me know if you have any questions. (d) Review of Iowa City Landfill programs See following information. (e) Consider a request to host the 2008 Midwest Transportation Planning Conference We have been contacted by the Iowa Department of Transportation to see if we are interested in hosting the 2008 Midwest Transportation Planning Conference. The conference is held every two years and is focused on the states of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Attendees also come from surrounding states. The 2006 conference was held in Kansas City; the Quad Cities and Des Moines have hosted the conference in recent history. We have investigated this matter and determined that it is reasonable for us to host the conference if that is your desire. It is likely there would be between 150-200 conference attendees. We would work with the area convention and visitors bureau in determining a venue for the conference, and there would be a conference organizing committee formed with representatives from the four state area to organize the program and work out the related logistics. The overall budget for the conference would be approximately $40,000. The majority of this expense is recovered from registration fees; additional funding is available through the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, vendors, etc. There is typically no significant expense to the sponsoring organization other than the staff time devoted to organizing the conference. Typically each conference results in a $4,000-$5,000 surplus that is provided to the next conference sponsor. However, it is my understating that last year Kansas City decided to do some fancier things and ended up with a deficit of approximately $4,000. So we do not have any funds to work with, but Kansas City's deficit is not our responsibility. If we incur a deficit it would be our responsibility. Iowa DOT has indicated that this is not likely; typically the conferences generate a small surplus. Let us know how you would like us to proceed. jccogadm/memUAPB-admin.1.11.07.doc ~JCCOG ,..~ memo ..-.... Date: January 16, 2007 To: JCCOG Urban Area Policy Board From: Brad Neuman~d Waste Management Planner Re: Agenda Item 4(d): Summary of available landfill programs Over the years the Iowa City Landfill has expanded its waste reduction services for all residents and businesses in Johnson County and the communities of Riverside and Kalona in Washington County. With State waste reduction goals in mind, the landfill has developed many waste reduction programs in addition to the disposal of garbage. The landfill has been operating at its current location since 1972. As of this year the landfill has achieved a 35% waste reduction level based on per-capita measurements. Waste reduction levels have been measured since 1988. This meets the State's waste reduction mandate of 25%. The following is a list of each program offered by the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center. Feel free to make this information available to your constituents. Individual program pages are attached. WASTE TIRES: A waste tire collection program has been around in one form or another since the late 1980s. In the past the landfill sponsored a free waste tire collection program for residents of Johnson County. With the State funds for the program having run out, the free program is no longer available to residents. The landfill will continue to accept waste tires throughout the year at a cost of $.07/pound or about $2.50 for a car tire. The landfill collected nearly 65 tons of waste tires last year. All of the tires collected go to a company in Des Moines called Greenman Technologies for processing. Most of the tires are shredded and used as a fuel source for cement kilns and power plants (mixed with coal). The steel belts are also recycled. APPLIANCES (white goods): Appliances have been banned from the Iowa City Landfill since the early 1990s. The current fee for appliances delivered to the landfill is $12.50 each. This fee covers the cost of having a contractor pick up the appliances, disassemble the appliances, market the metals, and properly dispose of hazardous materials. The landfill currently has a contract with a company in Wisconsin called Moor's Salvage for this service. Last year, the landfill recycled over 545 tons of appliances. ELECTRONIC GOODS (brown goods): The landfill began accepting electronic goods in 2003. With partial funding from the Iowa DNR the landfill established a permanent collection program. The most common item accepted in this program is computers. Televisions and other small electronic items are also accepted. There is a $5 fee for computer and television monitors under 18" and a $10 fee for monitors over 18". Midwest Electronic Recovery of Walford, Iowa currently collects the electronic goods from the landfill. This company recycles the parts and/or refurbishes the computers for resale. The landfill collected over 74 tons of materials to send to Midwest Electronics Recovery last year. COMPOST/YARD WASTE: Yard waste has been banned from all Iowa landfills since the early 1990s. The Iowa City Landfill accepts yard waste from all commercial and municipal haulers in Johnson County for $24/ton. Residents can drop off their yard waste for free at the landfill. The materials collected at the landfill are shredded and composted and the compost is made available to the public or used in large construction projects. Last year the landfill composted 5,874 tons of yard waste. 2 FURNITURE PROJECT: The Furniture Project was started by the Domestic Violence Intervention Program ten years ago with partial funding from the landfill. In 2003 the Iowa City Landfill took over the program completely and in 2006 Successful Living took over the operation of the program. The Iowa City Landfill provides storage for the program. All of the human services agencies that participated in the original program are still being served. The landfill is currently working on ways to increase the amount of furniture being donated to the program. With the ever increasing need for furniture, the landfill has experienced furniture shortages. Currently, furniture can be taken to the landfill or to Successful Living and donated for free. Tax receipts are available. Iowa City residents can schedule a time for curbside crews to pick up furniture for a fee. SALVAGE BARN: This program is operated by the Friends of Historic Preservation and is housed at the landfill. The landfill leases storage space to Friends for their operation. The program salvages materials from older buildings prior to being razed. Friends will salvage such items as doors, windows, flooring, trim boards, hardware, and anything else that they can salvage. These materials are sold to the public, which is great for local renovation projects. All of the money they make from the sale of the materials helps fund other restoration and preservation projects in Johnson County. The Salvage Barn is open every Saturday during regular landfill hours. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE: After many years of one-day household hazardous waste collection events, the Iowa City Landfill built a permanent facility to accept residential hazardous waste in 2001. This program will be going into its fifth year and continues to expand. The program has been available to all residents of Johnson County, free of charge, since it opened and has recently worked with the local school districts and small businesses. There is a fee for small businesses to use the facility. An appointment is required to bring materials to the facility, which is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. To schedule an appointment you can call 356-5185. The City of Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center now offers household hazardous waste (HHW) mobile collection services to neighborhoods in Iowa City and communities in the JCCOG service area. The mobile unit consists of a 16' special build trailer that allows landfill staff to collect and transfer small amounts of household hazardous materials. The Landfill would like to emphasize that the primary goal of HHW mobile collection events is to educate citizens about HHWs and their proper disposal options. It is the Landfill's goal to provide events for as many neighborhoods and communities as staffing allows. In addition, the landfill will continue to offer a permanent collection site at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center. Citizens may make appointments Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 1 :00 p.m.; there is no charge to use the permanent facility. To assist neighborhoods and communities in determining if they would like to use the mobile service, the following information provides a general summary of how to plan a local event, what Landfill staff provides, and what the neighborhood or community will need to provide. How an HHW mobile collection event works o Neighborhood or community must contact Recycling Coordinator two months in advance o Choose location, date and time o Meet with neighborhood or community contact who will be taking appointments o HHW acceptable materials list; no electronic waste, appliances, or trash o Could do in conjunction with Community Spring Clean-up o Event: Landfill staff sets up trailer with concession-stand window to receive materials. Customers arrive at staging area, receive survey to fill out as they wait, pull up to unloading area, and remain in vehicle. Landfill staff and volunteers unload vehicle, retrieve survey, thank customers, and direct them out. 3 Landfill staff responsibilities o Planning · Plan and verify location · Provide neighborhood/community contact with acceptable materials list and script for taking appointments o Advertising · Provide logos, postcard wording, etc. to neighborhood contact · Write press releases, if requested o Work with other entities to organize if necessary · (i.e., for Community Spring Clean-up days) o Event day · Arrive at site, set up trailer and roll-off container (if necessary) · Greet and give surveys as customers pull in designated staging area · Direct customers to unloading area · Unload vehicle (customer remains in vehicle) · Pack in trailer · Retrieve surveys, thank customer · Provide educational brochures about permanent HHW facility at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center Neiahborhood or community responsibilities o Provide $100 fee to Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (due when event date is set) for various administrative expenses, including planning time, fuel, and labor. · The neighborhood association or community government can pay the fee or it can charge a per-vehicle or per-home fee to recoup the money. If the money is collected the day of the event, it is the responsibility of the neighborhood or community volunteers to do so. Landfill staff will not collect money. Iowa City neighborhoods may inquire about funding assistance to the City of Iowa City's Neighborhood Services Coordinator, Marcia Klingaman, at 356-5237. o Advertising o Assist in planning and verifying location o Take appointments (if required) o Provide 6-8 volunteers on the day of the event to assist Landfill staff o Event day (volunteers) · Arrive at site, receive brief overview/orientation · Assist in greeting and giving surveys as customers pull in designated area · Assist in unloading vehicles onto carts (non-hazardous materials ONLY, i.e., latex paint) · Assist in retrieving surveys, thanking customer · Assist in event take-down (folding tarps, collecting traffic cones, taking down signs) o The neighborhood or community may choose to provide snacks/beverages for customers. The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center also offers HHW mobile collections for qualifying small businesses. Standard businesses disposal fees apply in addition to a mobile collection fee. Please call the Landfill at 319-356-5185 for more information about business HHW collections or contact Jennifer Jordan at 319-887-6160 or iennifer-iordan@iowa-citV.ora to discuss scheduling a neighborhood or community HHW mobile collection event. RECYCLING DROP SITES: The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center has several drop site locations throughout Iowa City. The drop site locations include Hy-Vee Food Store on North Dodge Street in Iowa City (newspaper, clear, brown, and green glass, #1 through #7 plastics, and metal cans), Eastdale Plaza in Iowa City (newspaper and #1 through #7 plastics), Hy-Vee Drugstore on Rochester Ave in Iowa City (newspaper and #1 through #7 plastics), and the Iowa City Landfill (newspaper, mixed paper, #1 through #7 plastics, metal cans, and corrugated cardboard). The landfill has a drop site for scrap metals. The landfill also works closely with City Carton Recycling, which also has a drop site located on East Benton Street in Iowa City (newspaper, white paper, corrugated cardboard, clear, brown, and green glass, #1 and #2 plastics, metal cans, magazines, and chipboard). All of these facilities are available to residents in Johnson County free of charge. 4 AVAILABLE MATERIALS The landfill also makes available to the public compost, wood chips, and usable materials accepted at the household hazardous waste collection facility. The household items are available in the exchange room located in the scale house building at the landfill, which is open during normal landfill hours. Residents should call the landfill at 356-5185 before coming out to check on the availability of compost and wood chips. The following pages summarize the available programs. Feel free to make copies of the summary pages for distribution. I can be reached by calling 356-5235 or by email at brad-neumann@iowa- cityarg. Attachments jccogadm/agd/landfillpro1.12.07..UAPBdoc WASTE TIRES Annual Collection (FY06) Fees Where does the waste go? What happens to it? History 64 tons $0.07/lb (about $2.50 per car tire) Greenman Technologies Des Moines In Iowa, the main use for tires are as tire derived fuel; the tires are shredded, mixed with coal, and used as a source for cement kilns and power plants. Shredded tires, or "crumb rubber" can also be used in engineering applications such as roadbed fill, in leachate systems for landfills, or as playground turf. The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center has been recycling tires since the late 1980s. http://www.iowadnr.comlwmad/recycling/tires/facts.html landftll/fact sheet APPLIANCES "white goods" Annual Collection (FY06) 543 tons Fee $12.50 each Where does the waste go? Moor's Salvage Wisconsin What happens to it? The contractor picks up the appliances, disassembles them, markets the metals, and properly disposes of the hazardous waste. History Appliances have been banned from the landfill since the early 1990s. Other Appliances may contain hazardous materials such as refrigerants, mercury-containing devices and PCB capacitors. Iowa requires that all discarded appliances be demanufactured by a permitted appliance demanufacturer, who removes the hazardous components and disposes of them in an environmentally sound manner prior to recycling the metal. News In 1999 in the US, 39 million appliances were recycled. More than 1.72 million tons of steel was recovered at a recycling rate of 77.3 % http://www.budgetsteel.com/recycle.htm www.adamssteel.com/appliance.htm landfill/fact sheet ELECTRONIC GOODS "brown goods" Annual Collection (FY06) 74 tons Fee $5 for television and computer monitors under 18" $10 for television and computer monitors over 18 Where does the waste go? Midwest Electronic Recovery Walford, Iowa What happens to it? The components are dismantled and recycled and/or refurbished for resale. History The landfill began accepting electronic goods in 2003. Other Midwest Electronic Recovery is "dedicated to a mission of reusing, reducing, and recycling e-waste... to the highest level of environmental responsibility" (MER website, 2004; http://www.ewasterecvcle.com/) News Nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years. Mobile phones will be discarded at a rate of 130 million per year by 2005, resulting in 65,000 tons of waste (EP A, 2004). landfill/fact sheet COMPOST/Y ARD WASTE Annual Collection (FY06) 5,874 tons Fee free for residents $24/ton for commercial/municipal haulers Where does the waste go? What happens to it? At the landfill, the materials are shredded and composted. The compost is then made available to the public or used in large construction projects. History The landfill has been composting yard waste since the early 1990s when it was banned by State mandate. Other More yard waste is produced in the spring and fall than winter and summer. At-home composting can be a good way to enhance your garden or flowers. News Yard waste still makes up about 2.3% of materials in the landfill (DNR, 1998) even though it has been banned for 15 years. brush bundles http://www.icgov.orgigarbage/index.htm landfill/fact sheet FURNITURE PROJECT Annual Collection (FY06) 200 tons (est.) Fee free for drop-off at landfill Where does it go? Gently used furniture, including beds, chairs, tables, aJ?d dressers, goes to local human service agencies such as the Shelter House, Crisis Center, DVIP, MECCA, and HACAP to be matched with people in need. What happens to it? History The Furniture Project was started by the Domestic Violence Intervention Program 10 years ago and has been partially funded by the landfill until 2003 when the landfill took over the program completely. Successful Living now operates the program for the Iowa City Landfill. Other Charitable donation receipts can be obtained for your donation. News The landfill is currently working on ways to increase the amount of furniture being donated to the program. These could include increasing curb-side collection, writing letters to local organizations, and using the local media to draw attention to the program. landfill/fact sheet SALVAGE BARN U sage Information Annual Collection Fee Where does the waste go? What happens to it? History Other News 80-100 people per day utilize the service when it is open (every other Saturday) The Salvage Barn salvages about six large projects per years, mostly old houses about to be razed. Free Re-usable goods from buildings about to be razed are stored at the landfill in space leased to the Friends of Historic Preservation. The materials are sold to the public. The Salvage Barn is open every Saturday during regular landfill hours. The program is operated by the Friends of Historic Preservation. Proceeds from the sale of materials help fund other restoration and preservation projects in Johnson County. Materials can include doors, windows, flooring, trim boards, claw-foot bathtubs, doors, light fixtures and anything else that can be safely salvaged. According-to the Salvage Barn director, "People love it when we can save them money in dumping fees." When people see the sign at the landfill and realize they can avoid dumping their architectural materials, they call or stop in, donate the materials, and save on tipping fees. Many programs exist throughout the U.S. to increase building recycling. Another great exaIJ;1ple is Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. There is a ReStore open in Coralville. http://www .restorekc.org/ HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE Annual Collection (FY06) 150 tons Fee free for citizens, fee for small businesses Where does the waste go? Some of the waste is reused through the Exchange Room at the landfill. Citizens can shop for paint, cleaners, and other used products. What happens to it? Products are processed and disposed of properly. History The HHW program at the landfill began in the early 1990s as a once-a-year collection event. In 2001, the landfill built a permanent facility to use as an exchange. Other The program has been expanded with the addition of a mobile HHW collection unit. Call 356-5185 for more details. News The program is in the process of trying to increase the number of small businesses using the program, for whom a small fee will apply. The landfill has also purchased a mobile collection unit that is scheduled to be in service next spring. http://www.icgov.org/hazardous.htm landfill/fact sheet RECYCLING DROP SITES 2003 Collection (FY06) 193 tons Fee free Where does the waste go? Drop off sites: Hy-Vee on North Dodge in Iowa City Eastdale Plaza in Iowa City Hy- V ee Drugstore on Rochester Avenue in Iowa City Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center City Carton, Inc. in Iowa City What happens to it? The materials are sorted and compiled at City Carton, Inc., sold to manufacturers, processed and then re-enter the market in a new form. Recycled plastics can be used in a range of applications, such as fiberfill for sleeping bags, plastic lumber, containers, flower pots, toys, or recycling bins. History City Carton, Inc. was founded in 1967. Iowa City residents can recycle plastics, cardboard, glass, metal, newspaper, mixed paper, magazines, and phonebooks. Other Plastics account for 15.1 % of materials landfilled in Johnson County (DNR, 1998). landfill/fact sheet AVAILABLE MATERIALS Compost "top soil" is available in bulk. There is a minimum charge of $1 for 200 pounds. Check with the landfill for availability of compost and to schedule an appointment if necessary. Wood chip mulch is available at no charge. However, you may need to load on your own depending on available equipment and landfill staff. A scheduled appointment may be necessary. Paints, cleaners, and other used household supplies are available at no charge through the exchange room. This service is open during regular landfill hours to browse and no appointment is needed. Architectural items are available for sale at Salvage Barn. Materials can include doors, windows, flooring, trim boards, hardware, and anything else that can be safely salvaged from building before they are razed. The Salvage Barn is open on Saturdays during regular landfill hours. landfill/fact sheet ~JCCOG .-........ memo Date: January 11, 2007 To: JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board From: Anissa Williams, Traffic Engineering Planner~ Re: Agenda Item #5a: Consider approval on amendments to the JCCOG Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Plan The JCCOG Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) plan is a summary of existing and future transportation technologies expected to be used in the Iowa City Urbanized Area. These technologies include global positioning systems, interconnected traffic signals, and special event traffic control strategies, along with many other computer based technologies. When project or corridor specific technologies are proposed such as for the Interstate 80 improvement project, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires the ITS plan be amended. As part of the improvement project for Interstate 80 between the Tiffin interchange and Dodge Street, Iowa DOT will use ITS technologies to help manage traffic flow during the construction. These technologies include strategies such as: o cameras that can be viewed live from a website and detect incidents o sensors to detect speed and volume of traffic o variable message boards Under a contract with the Iowa Department of Transportation, Jacobs Civil Engineering Consultants has completed updating the JCCOG Regional ITS Plan to include the technologies that will be implemented for the Interstate 80 reconstruction project. The plan can be viewed on our website at http://www.iccoO.oro/headlines.asp?ID=79 . FHWA has reviewed the revised version of the ITS Architecture plan and has "accepted" this as sufficient for JCCOG entities to use federal funds to implement ITS applications, providing they are consistent with our approved plan. The TTAC committee has recommended this for approval. Feel free to review the complete plan online and bring any questions to the JCCOG Board meeting on the 24th of January. Please consider approval the plan with these revisions. ~JCCOG rr_.... m e m 0 Date: From: January 17, 2007 JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board 'John Yapp, Assistant Transportation Planner 7~/ uy-- Agenda Item #5(b): Consider an appointment to the State Urban Design Standards and Construction Specification (SUDAS) Board of Directors To: Re: The SUDAS Board of Directors is a group of professional engineers from around the state of Iowa developing an urban design standards and construction specifications manual. This manual is a compilation of recommended design and specifications practices for all types of urban infrastructure including streets, sidewalks, sewers, water mains and other infrastructure necessary for municipal development. The goal of the SUDAS project is to encourage design and specifications uniformity across the state which will minimize contractor confusion, encourage more bidders and reduce costs. JCCOG contributes $8,000 annually to the SUDAS project using Surface Transportation Program funds. Coralville Assistant City Engineer Scott Larson has been JCCOG's representative on the SUDAS Board of Directors, and is interested in serving again. The JCCOG Transportation Technical Advisory Committee has recommended unanimously to reappoint Scott Larson; please consider a motion reappointing Scott Larson as JCCOG's representative to the SUDAS Board of Directors. jccogtp/mem/jy-agditem5b.doc Date: January 10, 2007 ~JCCOG r~ m e m 0 r.... To: From: JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board Brad Neuman~COG Assistant Transportation Planner Linda severs~JCCOG Human Services Coordinator Agenda item #5(d): Update on Passenger Transportation Development Plan, a.k.a. Passenger TDP -- formerly known as the Joint Human Services Transportation Plan; including Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC), New Freedom, and Special Needs funding opportunities Re: The Passenger Transportation Development Plan (PTDP) is required by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) of Iowa's eighteen Regional Planning Affiliations (RPAs) and nine Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), which includes JCCOG for this urbanized area. The PTDP is intended to coordinate planning for several funding programs. PTDPs incorporate federal requirements for coordinated planning as well as address needs-based project justification. The PTDP is mandatory and is required to be in JCCOG's transportation planning work program. This planning process covers the Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) program, as well as the New Freedom and Special Needs programs, all of which are accessed through Iowa DOT. JARC funds are available to assist programs oriented to the transportation needs of low income persons or persons with disabilities related to employment. New Freedom funds are for projects that go beyond minimums established by ADA or expand services to persons with disabilities. Special Needs funding can be used in existing ADA programs including contract services. The PTDP covers a four year period and is intended to demonstrate where there are needs that can be served by programs funded by JARC, New Freedom, and Special Needs. JCCOG's planning process regarding the PTDP began with focus groups and interviews allowing us to assess deficiencies in local transportation systems. Stakeholders included transit riders, employers, human service agencies, employment services, and public transit providers. In addition to the focus group meetings and interviews, JCCOG has gathered information regarding the local geographic distribution of employment centers and employment related activities, the location of welfare recipients and low income residents, and the distribution of residences and employment centers which are currently not served by public transportation. A draft listing of deficiencies and recommendations for new service has been emailed to the Iowa City, Coralville, and Cambus transit managers for comment. JCCOG has set up meetings with the managers in early January to finalize this portion of the plan. JCCOG will also be gathering additional information from each system regarding their existing passenger transportation operations, including types of service available, eligibility for service, hours and days of service, provider of each passenger transportation service, new passenger transportation services, recent coordination efforts undertaken, joint use of facilities, management needs, existing fleet needs, and facility needs. All of this information must be included in the PTDP. A draft of the plan is due to Iowa DOT by February 1, 2007. The DOT review will be completed by March 1, 2007 with the final version of this plan due on April 1, 2007. The plan will be reviewed by the JCCOG Transportation Technical Advisory Committee and will need JCCOG Board approval. If anyone has any questions or would like to see a copy of the draft deficiencies and recommendations portion of the plan, please give me a call at 356-5235 or em ail me at brad-neumann@iowa-cityorg. cc: Jeff Davidson jccogadmlmem/uapb.passtransplanll.doc ~JCCOG ....~ m e m 0 ,...... Date: January 12, 2007 To: From: JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board A../ Brad Neumann, Assistant Transportation Planner Kent Ralston, Assistant Transportation Plannerv.!r- Re: Agenda Item #5(e); Highway 1 Improvement Project Iowa DOT has notified us of an improvement project for Iowa Highway 1 North. The project is intended to address some existing issues with the highway within current budget realities. The proposed project cost is $7,000,000. This is not the former "Super 2' project that was proposed several years ago, nor does it include a Solon bypass. The reconstruction of Highway 1 between Iowa City and Solon will address safety concerns as well as improve the surface of the roadway, add paved shoulders, improve key intersections, and improve drainage. Initial ground survey work has begun for development of design plans. The project is currently scheduled for construction in FY2009 and FY2010. Project elements include: Paved surface will be 36 feet wide (2 lanes @ 1 Z, 2 shoulders @ 6') Shoulders will be 8' in width (6' pavement and Z granular surface) Improved drainage will be constructed along 100% of the project on both sides of the roadway No proposed changes to the Highway 1 alignment Approximately 90 entrances will be widened to a minimum width of 20 feet. General restructuring/retrofitting of several key intersections to improve safety. For more information about this project, please contact Kent Ralston at 356-5253 (kent- ralston@iowa-citv.orq) or Brad Neumann at 356-5235 (brad-neumann@iowa-city.org). Jccogadm/agditm/ttac _ hwy1 doc ~JCCOG ,..~ m e m 0 r.... Date: January 17, 2007 JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board John Yapp, Assistant Transportation Planner 7 ~ ,Y ~ Agenda Item #5(f): Update on the 2007 Long Range Multi-Modal Transportation Plan To: From: Re: Staff has been diligently working on the 2007 -2035 JCCOG Long Range Multi-Modal Transportation Plan ("Plan"). We have been working with Iowa DOT on revisions to the 2035 traffic model forecast, and are working toward an adequate level of accuracy given existing land use plans and growth trends in the area. The JCCOG arterial street plan and traffic model output will be used to develop a list of transportation infrastructure improvements. This list of improvements will be compared to. and constrained by our analysis of transportation infrastructure funding streams. Several draft sections of the Plan have been posted to the JCCOG website at www.iccoq.orq/whatwedo/transportation/lrmmtp.htm. We encourage you to review these sections and to let me know if you have any questions or comments about the document. All of our public input organizations have been notified of draft plan sections being available for review. A rough draft of the pedestrian-bicycle section has been reviewed by the JCCOG Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee, and is being revised. At the suggestion of Iowa DOT, we are posting individual sections of the plan in more easily digestible portions. We will assemble the full draft plan in late February/March for review and a required 50-day public comment. You will notice the appearance of the Plan is more visual, through the use of charts, photos and maps. This has been a specific strategy of ours, to put transportation related information in a more visually engaging format. This Plan is a requirement of the Federal Highway Administration to provide a document to help guide and coordinate transportation infrastructure decision-making. The Plan is due by the end of May 2007, and is to be updated every five years. Let me know at our January 24 meeting if you have any questions. jccogtp/mem/jy-agditem5f.doc ~JCCOG r,....... m e m 0 Date: January 11, 2007 To: JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board From: Jeff Davidson ~I Re: Agenda Item #5(g): Review local requests for Congressionally Designated Funds (CDF) Following is a list of transportation projects that we have been apprised of which are proposed for Congressionally Designated Funding (CDF) when the Corridor lobbying trip goes to Washington D.C. this winter. Coralville · Coralville Intermodal Center · Clear Creek Trail Phase 5 · 1-80/First Avenue interchange improvements Coralville/Iowa City · Passenger rail excursion service between Coralville River Landing and downtown Iowa City. Coralville/Iowa City/Johnson County · Iowa River Corridor Trail pedestrian trail bridge over Iowa River at Dubuque Street Iowa City · First Avenue railroad overpass North Liberty · 1-380/Penn Street interchange · Highway 965 JCCOG has no jurisdiction over projects which are requested for special earmark funding. Projects are proposed and lobbied for by individual units of government. This is provided for your information only. Bring any questions to the January 24 meeting. jccogadm/memUAPB-earmarks.doc ~JCCOG rr..... m e m 0 Date: January 11, 2007 To: JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board From: Jeff Davidson ~ Re: Agenda Item #5(h): Update on recent activities Following is an update on recent activities of the JCCOG Transportation Planning Division. Street and Highway 1. Assist with the design of Gilbert StreeUU.S. Highway 6 intersection 2. Concept plan for Clinton StreeUBurlington Street intersection improvements 3. Proposed Forevergreen Road Arterial Street Plan amendment 4. Assist Johnson County with reevaluation of county road performance standards 5. Mormon Trek Boulevard/McCollister Boulevard - various segments at various stages of planning/construction 6. Assist North Liberty and Coralville with the Highway 965/Coral Ridge Avenue corridor study 7. Traffic study in vicinity of River Street/Riverside Drive; UI College of Public Health 8. JCCOG road construction website 9. Adopt Complete Streets policy 10. Coralville Interstate Justification Report for First Avenue/I-80 interchange 11 . Arterial street traffic analysis model 12. ICAAP grant application for railroad overpass at First Avenue in Iowa City Transit 1. Paratransit certification appeals 2. Passenger Transportation Development Plan for Iowa DOT 3. Transit TIP amendments 4. Apportion federal transit operating assistance 5. Memorandum of Understanding between Iowa City Transit, Coralville Transit and SEATS for Iowa DOT 6. State and federal transit grant administration 7. Federal New Freedoms grant application for Iowa City Transit 8. Transit Administrative Procedures Plan, FY2007 9. Year-end National Transit Database reports 10. Attended Iowa Public Transit Association state-wide meeting in Des Moines Pedestrian/Bicycle 1. Evaluate arterial street crossings of Court Hill Trail 2. JCCOG Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee activities 3. Assist with application for Safe Routes to School funding 4. Implement regional trail signs 5. Prepare local trails of regional significance information for Iowa DOT 6. Finalize Complete Streets Policy information 7. Sidewalk deficiency map for Urbanized Area 8. Present trails information to the University Parking and Transportation Committee Traffic Engineering Planning 1. Administer Iowa City traffic calming program 2. Evaluate valet parking in downtown Iowa City 3. Highway 965 speed study for North Liberty 4. Traffic signal warrant studies at 965/Cherry Street in North Liberty, and Old 218/McCollister in Iowa City 5. Assist Tiffin with access control issues on U.S. Highway 6 6. Quarterly crash location summary for Iowa City Police Department 7. Urbanized area high collision location report 8. Response time modeling for Iowa City Fire Department 9. All-way stop study at intersection of River Street and Riverside Drive 10. On-street parking evaluations 11. Sight distance evaluations 12. Signage and pavement marking evaluations 13. Oversee installation of street marker signs in Iowa City Multi-Modal/Other 1. Assist Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor with DC lobbying trip preparation 2. Passenger rail study with Cedar Rapids 3. Assist Iowa City with capital improvements programming 4. Assist Iowa City with Central District Plan 5. Update of JCCOG Long Range Multi-Modal Transportation Plan 6. Prepare FY08 JCCOG Transportation Planning Division budget 7. Begin to analyze university employee journey-to-work survey responses jccogad m/agd/rcnt -activities-ua pb.doc 2 Date: January 17, 2007 ~JCCOG ...r..... m e m 0 To: JCCOG Urbanized Policy Board From: Linda s~~~uman Services Coordinat.or Re: Agenda Item 6(a): Report on Iowa City's Free Bus Strip Ticket Program This memo is to share information about the Free Bus Strip Program that I coordinate. With the support and financial backing of Iowa City Transit, the Free Bus Strip Ticket Program was started around 1990 to assist individuals with transportation needs. These individuals are reached through the different health and human services agencies in the community; currently 11 agencies (with 13 locations) receive bus strip tickets (20-395 per month). Each agency determines its own guidelines for distribution. The guidelines may limit the number of tickets per household, the number of tickets per week that are distributed, or the purpose of the bus trip. Bus strip tickets are typically utilized to allow individuals to get to appointments related to health care, benefit applications and interviews, job interviews and other job related activities. Some are used for recently employed individuals until they receive their first pay check. Others are used for attending classes or returning from an appointment. Some tickets may be used as an incentive to help the person return for a follow-up appointment. Occasionally the tickets may be used to visit a friend or to take a break from a stressful living situation. I wanted to include statements from various health and human service agency staff to illustrate the importance of the Free Bus Strip Ticket program: "It allows residents to go to their appointments, jobs or personal errands in a timelier manner. Without the tickets, people would be walking." "The tickets provide the individuals with disabilities, that we work with a reasonable accommodation to participate with this agency. Many of our clients have limited financial resources and may also have difficulty with driving or walking because of disability." "Everyone is always grateful to be able to be mobile. Even though we, with transportation, think of Iowa City as a small town, people with no transportation can have a very difficult time getting around." Comments from people who received bus strip tickets: "The bus tickets I received at the Crisis Center helped me find a job" (23 year old parent of two). "Without these, I would not be able to attend Job Seeking Skills training or look for work." "These really help me as I didn't have any extra money for bus tickets this week." Ron Logsden, Transit Manager, states "The Bus Strip Ticket Program is one small way to assist people with limited resources to make some progress in their lives and introduces them to a reliable source of transportation which we hope they will continue to use in the future." The program distributes 1,195 tickets per month and 14,340 per year. The value of these tickets if they were sold is $10,755.00 per year. However, the tickets are targeting individuals who would be unlikely to purchase bus rides. The program can make a difference in a person's life if it helps them with job related activities, to receive treatment for a health issue, to attend classes to improve skills or to receive educational training, to sign up for benefits, or to attend a school meeting for their child. In my role as JCCOG Human Services Coordinator, I have been coordinating the distribution of the free bus tickets to local human service agencies. Let me know at our January 24th meeting if you have any questions. jccog hs/mem/freebusrpt.. doc ~JCCOG r....ii.... memo Date: January 17, 2007 To: JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board From: Linda s~uman Services Coordinator Re: Agenda Item 6 (b): Update on the Johnson County Consortium on Successful Aging Bob Welsh, Chairperson of the Consortium on Successful Aging, and I would like to update the JCCOG Urban and Rural Boards on the Consortium's recent activities. Since our September 19, 2006, planning session, the Johnson County Consortium on Successful Aging has taken some significant steps forward to make Johnson County, with its urban-rural mix, a model livable community where persons can age successfully. 1) A committee has developed a position description for an Aging Specialist for a Livable Community and has approached major funding sources. It is our hope to have funding secured by April and a person hired by July 1, 2007. 2) An RFI (Request for Information) is being sent to 16 organizations to determine who would be willing to add an Aging Specialist to their staff and/or serve as the Employer of Record. 3) A committee has been formed to develop a data base that will provide accurate information about the services that will promote successful aging and a livable community. It is planned that the data base will have three components: website, print and phone service with a human response. JCCOG will have a role in this initiative. 4) A committee is being formed to develop an action plan to make services for seniors more widely available throughout the county. 5) Plans are being made as to motivate and engage seniors about the benefits of physical activity and healthy lifestyles to affect behavioral change. 6) Plans are also being made to address the barriers to obtaining accessible and universal design homes. We believe these steps will provide social, economic and cultural benefits. We hope these efforts will help make Johnson County a model livable community for all. The Consortium welcomes your collective and individual input as we proceed. jccog hs/memos/I s. su ccessfu lagi n g. doc