HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-29 TranscriptionJuly 29, 2008 Special Town Hall Meeting Page 1
July 29, 2008 Special Town Hall Meeting 6:30 P.M.
Facilitator: City Manager Lombardo
Staff: Boothroy, Lombardo, Davidson, Fosse, Dilkes, Dulek, Helling, Karr
Panelists: David L. Miller, Iowa Homeland Security; John Wageman, Iowa
Homeland Security; William Vogel, FEMA; Suzann Cowie, FEMA
Town Hall Meeting:
Lombardo/ Good evening, folks. I see we're right at 6:30 so we'll get started. Thank
you. iJh, I'm Michael Lombardo, I'm the City Manager here in Iowa City, and
we really appreciate your turning out this evening. Um, the format of tonight's
meeting is going to be somewhat of a moderated panel, uh, we have some
questions that we've developed and also have solicited from the residents of...of
predominantly the Parkview Terrace neighborhood and Idyllwild neighborhoods.
IJh, we've incorporated the questions related to, uh, the FEMA buyout process,
the hazard mitigation grant program into here, and then, uh, we'll run through
those questions once we...we exhaust that list and I'll open it up to the floor for
additional questions. Um, I'd like to take a moment and just have self-
introductions. We'll start down here on the end with Bill and if, uh, the folks who
are up here with me can just introduce themselves and explain your position.
Vogel/ (unable to hear) and I am the Federal Coordinating Officer who's appointed to
organize all of the federal response to the State of Iowa for which Iowa may need
any type of federal assistance.
Cowie/ Good evening, I'm Suzann Cowie and I'm the Deputy Federal Coordinating
Officer for this event, and we're very happy to be here and are happy to answer
your questions.
Miller/ Good evening, I'm Dave Miller and I'm the Administrator for Homeland Security
and Emergency Management for the State, and I'm the Governor's authorized
representative for this disaster.
Wageman/ Hello, my name's John Wageman, and I work for Dave, and I'm the State
Hazard Mitigation Officer.
Lombardo/ If...if the folks in the back can adjust the microphone so that...the, uh,
they're a little bit louder. They're having problems hearing from the other
microphones. Thank you. If you have cell phones on, I'd appreciate if you would
either turn them off or put them to vibrate, please, um, thank you. And when we
get to the Q&A, we've provided microphones at either end of the hall and we do
ask that you come up and...and state your name and then, um, into the
microphone so that everybody can hear the question and we're not having to
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repeat the actual question. Um, over the past several weeks we've been working
toward a more thorough understanding of the hazard mitigation grant program,
commonly referred to as the FEMA buyout. Uh, and have met with many of you
at your neighborhood meetings to convey what we've learned and attempt to
answer additional questions. Um, as the City Council discussed flood related
matters at their July 15th work session, it became evident that while we had a
much better understanding of this program today than we did in June, uh,
questions were becoming much more specific and often related to a...a broader
state and federal decision making. So, um, at the Council's behest we've...we've
pulled this meeting together to...to be able to ask these questions and hear
collectively, uh, answers and...and hopefully minimize the back and forth, and
come to some level of common understanding about this program, how it works,
what the process and details are, and...and hopefully be prepared then to submit
the Notice of Interest and the applications that we...we need to, um...so, with
that, I have, um, a laundry list of questions. Many of them are... are very process-
driven and should be very brief. Uh, we want to make sure that we provide
enough time for you to ask and follow-up on, uh, a lot of questions that you have
or... or to augment the questions that we've asked and... and go deeper to help
improve your level of understanding, um, the first, uh, the first requirement in the
process for...is for the City to complete a Notice of Interest, and we've talked
about that, uh, in different opportunities in the past, and one of the questions that,
uh, comes up and there's some need for clarification is, when the Notice of
Interest asks if a property is located in the 100-year flood plain, does this refer to
the land, uh, or the structure?
Wageman/ That would refer to the structure. The home.
Lombardo/ Okay. And when it asks for fair market value, um, we've had some confusion
on our end about whether, uh, we're correct in that the fair market value is the
entire property, so building and land.
Wageman/ Correct, and what that is, it's the pre-flood fair market value. So, that would
be the value of the property, with the land and the home, um, prior to the flood
event.
Lombardo/ Um, one of the...the considerations or discussions with Council's been that,
uh, our primary goal is to receive as much, uh, hazard mitigation grant program
funding as...as is possible, um, through the allocations that have been made, and
is there any disadvantage to including all properties interested in the buyout in the
Notice of Interest?
Wageman/ I think it's to the City's advantage to put down exactly what they want to do.
So you would, um, you would list all the properties that you're considering for
acquisition, um, and of course based on homeowner input on who would like to
be acquired, and so there's really no disadvantage, um, to listing everything. It's
actually...actually it's an advantage to put down exactly what it is that you want.
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Lombardo/ Okay. I...I know some of my staff have questions about the...the formal
application, when that would be made available. Is there a timeframe for that, or
is it within a certain number of days from the NOI?
Wageman/ Well, um, our...the deadline for submitting the Notice of Interest, the
community's deadline to submit it to our agency is September 12th. Um, and
from there what we'll do is we'll review the Notices of Interest, um, we'll take
down the information and...and basically, um, based on the amount of funding we
think we're going to have, the types of, um, properties that communities are
requesting, you know, we're going to have a better idea of...of what it's going to
look like in terms of...of the actual application itself. Um, and the application
part of it is the easy part of it, really, um, the formal application part. Um, all
the...all the steps that are...that are required of the application, um, having the
properties identified, knowing what the values are, um, and some of the other, um,
inputs that go into the...into the application, um, and to do the Benefit Cost
Analysis, that's really, um, that's really the part that takes the most work, so the
application itself is...is...is, you know, we're trying to make that as streamlined
as possible, um, but it's really the information that goes into it, not the formal
application itself, that is...that's going to take the work.
Lombardo/ And so, if we were to submit the Notice of Interest prior to September 12t",
then would that enable us to start working towards the application sooner, or...or
will this all happen after...
Wageman/ It will happen all after September 12t" because what we have to do is we have
to look at the State as a whole, and...and look at all the communities, what types
of, uh, properties they want to acquire, and then sometimes based on available
funding we have to make some decisions on, um, further prioritization of...of the
types of properties that we're going to consider. Um, so, but there is work that
can be done in between submitting the Notice of Interest and when the formal
application, invitations, um, will go out to the communities. Um, and you know,
we'll probably start communicating more with the communities on that within the
next several weeks in terms of gathering the background information on...on the
properties, doing budget estimates, um, there's a lot of things that you can do, um,
when you know you're going to have an application eventually.
Lombardo/ This becomes important for you a11...I double-checked the signup process,
um, just before leaving and we've received 81 of the sign-up sheets. That's in
combination to what's online, uh, or the paper ones that you received in the mail.
LTh, there are about 251 properties that have...expressed initial interest in the
program. We need additional information, and so, um, if you've not filled out
the...the online form, or if you haven't filled out your paper form yet, we
encourage you to do so as quickly as possible. Uh, Jeff Davidson is here from our
Planning Department, and uh, we have additional forms here tonight if...if you
want to take the time tonight to fill them out. We're happy to...to provide that
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opportunity afterwards, but if you're waiting for this meeting tonight, then I
would encourage you please as soon as you can, and hopefully this week,
get...get those, um, paperwork or applications filled out for us. Um, just wanted
to take a moment to confirm, uh, an understanding of the timeline, and uh, we
discussed just a moment ago about the September 12th deadline for the Notice of
Interest, um, the State then reviews the Notice of Interest, uh, and then you'll
make an expression, uh, to each municipality as to, uh, a formal application,
and...and be invited to apply, is that...
Wageman/ Correct.
Lombardo/ ...how that works. Um, and then our understanding is that we'll be given a
minimum of two months to submit a formal application. Is that, um, correct, or...
Wageman/ Yeah, two months would be...two months would be the minimum, and again,
this is...this is a major disaster in Iowa, so there's a lot of work that needs to be
done by a lot of communities, um, and it may seem like a slow process to
homeowners, um, but the, uh, the requirements of the actual grant itself, and there
are a lot of them. I mean, everything takes time, so, um, two months would be the
minimum that communities will have to...to submit the application, yes.
Lombardo/ Okay, and then once we submit the application to you and you forward it on
to FEMA, um, is...our understanding is that that's about a two to three month, uh,
process on FEMA's end, as well Is that...correct?
Wageman/ I'd say it's typically...typically aminimum of two to three months, and it can
be longer, depending on the...on the complexity of the...of the applications and
what's going on. Um, Iowa is in FEMA Region 7, and it's afour-state region.
And, um, between the four states in the region, there's 35 open disasters, um, so, I
mean, they're all over the place. Um, just like Iowa. This is the fifth in Iowa in
16 months, so some things take a little bit longer than others, um, but you know,
FEMA...we have a very good FEMA region and they're very responsive so...um,
typically, historically, it's taken two to three months for the FEMA to review the
applications.
Lombardo/ Thank you. Um, and then, uh, once that's done we'll received a signed grant
agreement with the State and then the buyouts can commence after that, so we're
looking at a minimum of, uh, perhaps nine months and to a year before the
buyouts actually begin to take place.
Wageman/ Correct. And...what happens once FEMA does the, uh, awards the funds to
the...to the community. Actually, they award it to the State of Iowa, and then, uh,
we manage the grant, and we'll get with the communities and we'll go through
what's called a grant agreement, and that basically lays out the conditions of the
grant, um, and all the, uh, you know, the different things that the community as a
sub-grantee has to do, um, and pretty much aside of a couple things, like going
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through the historical review process on all the homes. Typically what FEMA
will do when they award it, they'll award what's called a Concurrence of
Understanding, um, to the community, which basically says the community may
buy a property, an approved property, but they can't demolish it until it's gone
through the historical process, and that process can be quite lengthy, but the good
news is typically that doesn't affect, you know, the transaction for... for the
homeowner.
Lombardo/ And so if...if a homeowner, um, wishes to demolish his or her home, uh, in
anticipation of...of participation in this program, is it...is it still eligible for
hazard mitigation grant program, or is it a wildcard situation, or do you have
advice on that?
Wageman/ Um, yes, yeah I do, um, the thing about that...it's a tricky question and if...if
the, if a homeowner were to do that today then basically what you're looking at
is...is what is the community going to put down, what are they trying to do. You
basically have an empty lot that you're asking them to buy. You know, they're
not asking you to buy a property, um, you're asking them to buy an empty lot,
if...okay? And the question is if a homeowner has got, was insured through the
National Flood Insurance Program, and they have increased cost of compliance
coverage, which means, you know, you can have it demolished and...and people
pay for it, you know, can you do that now and still participate in the program. If
you do it today before there's an approved application and before, um, the...that
particular structure's gone through the historical review process, then all bets are
off, and maybe you're talking about the lot. Now, if that same home is...is part of
an application and um, it's been awarded by FEMA, and we've done the grant
with the City, and that particular structure has gone through the historical review
process and it's all cleared, then they can do that immediately. But that's the
danger of it.
Lombardo/ So the long and the short of it is don't demolish the homes until after,
uh...um, we, um, we've talked a lot about the Benefit Cost Analysis, and...and
really without a thorough, I guess, understanding of specifically how that works,
and could you maybe explain just briefly what factors are considered in doing the
Benefit Cost Analysis, and then, um, who specifically performs that, and what
assistance, um, is available in...
Wageman/ (unable to hear) law reads is that any...any project that's approved under the
hazard mitigation grant program has to be cost beneficial. And so what you're
looking at is if we spend a dollar to do a project, we have to prove that it's going
to save more than a dollar in the future by avoided damages. So, simply
that's...that's the basis of it. Now, executing it's a different story, so, um, in
terms of property acquisition projects, a lot of things go into the factor. Um,
you're talking about a house and what's the possibility of it flooding again, and
that's why we have flood insurance rate maps and flood insurance studies,
and...and flood insurance ordinances, um, because we know there's a potential
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hazard out there. So, as part of the Benefit Cost Analysis, where a particular
property or a particular house sits in a flood plain, um, where the first floor
elevation is, um, all that go into play in whether it's cost beneficial. It's how
much that particular property is going to cost to acquire, um, the legal expenses,
the demolition expenses, um, versus what...what's predicted in future savings,
future avoided losses. Um, so the, a big determining factor in property
acquisitions is, is it located in the 100-year flood plain? Um, that's, you know,
pretty much if it's not, then it's very unlikely that that particular structure, um, is
going to be cost beneficial to do an acquisition project on. Um, the next thing is
where's the first floor elevation. If the first floor elevation is above the 100-year
flood plain, again, it's very unlikely that, um, that particular structure's going to
be cost beneficial. Now, as a project, and I'm going to clarify something right
here, um, there is no FEMA buyout program. Um, FEMA has a program, and that
they administer and it's called the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Um, and
they provided funding to states after major Presidential Disaster Declarations, and
one of the mitigation projects that can be done is property acquisition, or buyouts.
Um, so the buyout program is really the City of Iowa City buyout program. Uh,
because the City decides, um, what project they want to do, or if they want to do a
project, and they decide which properties they would want to include, um, for a
property acquisition, and of course, um, no one can force a homeowner to
participate. Um, but it is the City's program. It is...it is the City's project, so,
um, I see that a lot and I want to make sure that we all understand that it is your
City's project. Okay? It's not FEMA's. They provide some of the money for it,
but it...but it is your own City's. Um, so getting back to the Benefit Cost
Analysis, it's based on hydrology, um, what's the flow rate of where that house
sits in the 100-year flood plain, um, what's the base flood elevation of where the
house sits, how much is it going to cost, um, to acquire the property, and then the
benefits really are the avoided damages as a result of doing the project, and that's
how it's...that's really how it's calculated. That's kinda the simple...simple
version of it. And you asked who's going to do it, um, normal process is that the
community does it, um, and what we're trying to do is, um, get some assistance to
go out in the communities and help with it, because it is kind of a technical, um,
technical process, so...um, our agency and FEMA will be working with the
communities on doing that. And in fact, we can, um, you know, as soon as we
have information together, we can...we can kind of start going through that
process. Um, I do want to make one other point about...about Benefit Cost
Analysis. Um, it...a project has to be cost beneficial, so, um, if you have a
hundred properties that are included, you take all the costs of all hundred
properties and add `em up, and all the benefits of all hundred properties and add
`em up. Uh, you may not have to have every single home individually pass the
Benefit Cost Analysis. So if you have a lot of homes that...there's going to be a
lot of benefit and low cost to do, and some other homes, um, that, uh, don't pass
Benefit Cost on their own, as long as added together, it's cost beneficial. In other
words, it's going to save more than one dollar for every dollar you spend, then
you've got a valid project there.
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Lombardo/ And...and is it community wide one project, or do we separate them by
neighborhoods or...or districts?
Wageman/ Normally it's most effective to do one project. There are...there are some
conditions where you would want to do two, and that kinda has to do with the
Benefit Cost piece of it and if you've got substantially damaged homes in the
flood plain. It's, um, it depends and that's something that we'll work with you. I
was telling Michael before, before the community submits the application, we're
going to know exactly what's on it because we're going to be helping them with
it, so that when it is submitted we know the properties and the documented
Benefit Cost. It's all going to be based on what we can get to be, uh, a cost
beneficial project before the City ever submits it, so...and we'll be working with
you on that.
Lombardo/ And for each property, do we submit the...the Certificate of Substantial
Damage, um, with the application?
Wageman/ That would...that would be part of the requirement, um, if...if a, the
way...everything has to be cost effective, and FEMA made a determination, um,
and I love this rule too, `cause it makes it easier on homeowners and communities
and us, is that if a home is in the 100-year flood plain and it's declared
substantially damaged by local floodplain administrator, then it doesn't have to go
through the Benefit Cost Analysis process. It's automatically considered cost
effective. Um, and there's a lot of homes, um, in...that are declared substantially
damaged that couldn't pass the Benefit Cost Analysis on their own, so this is
really a good thing for... for our program, and for the city that wants to do it, and
the homeowners, as well.
Lombardo/ But in terms of the allocation of funds in general then, the entire project is
scored or...or do you separate out the ones that are substantially damaged and
don't have to go through the Benefit Cost Analysis?
Wageman/ Well, likely what you're going to want to do, and, um, is do a Benefit Cost
Analysis on every pro...or, on every individual structure, and that way, you know,
you can rank them top, basically top to bottom. Even the ones that you don't have
to, um, because in that way we can work to package it so that the project itself is
cost beneficial.
Lombardo/ So the project is, or the program is structured to maximize, you know,
the...the purchasing power of the funds that we receive. Is that a fair
characterization?
Wageman/ That's correct, and...and you know, the funds...I want to make this clear
though. When...when you submit, the City submits an application. I mean, it's
for "X" dollar amount and it's based on a detailed budget that a city submits. Um,
the amount of money it takes to acquire the property, the legal expenses, um, the
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administrative costs, management costs, um, if the city's allowing a replacement
housing benefit, um, everything is considered. So, when the city submits an
application, it's...it's really, this is for a dollar amount to do this. And...and this
is, these are the structures, these are the properties that we're going to acquire.
Lombardo/ Um, can you explain how statewide funding is determined for the hazard
mitigation grant program, um, we've...we've talked about general numbers as we
discovered them, and um, some...some of the feedback we received is less than
positive. We want to make sure we get that right for folks.
Lombardo/ Um, I mean the way the law reads is, and it's...HMGP is authorized under
the Stafford Act, is after a Presidential declaration there's a number of programs
that are turned on. Um, and there's three programs that, um, the total amount
that's awarded under those three programs, there's a percentage of that amount
that gets put in the HMGP program. So it's the Public Assistance program, um,
which repairs infrastructure, um, community buildings, public type facilities, um,
the Individual Assistance program, which I'm sure a lot of the people in this room
have applied for, and Disaster Unemployment. The total dollar amounts are...are
added together, and then...in the State of Iowa's case, um, 20% of that goes into
the...the HMGP pot. Most states get 15, but Iowa's is one of like nine states that
has an enhanced mitigation plan, so we get 20% instead of 15%, so that puts a lot
of extra funds in it, and we also try and maximize, um, the funds, um, for...for
property acquisition projects. So, for example, um, to stretch the HMGP funding,
um, we use the Public Assistance program to provide a lot of the demolition work,
so that doesn't come out of the city's budget and that doesn't come out of our pot
of money. Um, so if a home was substantially damaged, you know, we'll work
with the city, our Public Assistance, um, officer will work with the city and
they'll do a project worksheet for demolition of "X" amount of properties. So
that would not come out of the budget. Um, and in terms of, you know, really
who gets what, what we try to do is we want to mitigate the worst first. So we
have a disaster like this, um, we look at the types of projects we want to have as a
priority, and in this case, um, you know, it's property acquisition was a pretty
easy decision, um, to make, all things considered, because, um, not all...there's
only one mitigation project that's 100% effective, and that's property acquisition.
Uh, because property's acquired, in the flood plain; it's demolished, removed; it's
returned to green space; it's returned to flood plain; and nothing is ever going to
get damaged in that area again. So, um, we look at it that way. Then we also
look at what is within that group, you know, what's going to be the priority.
Well, we also want to help the citizens of Iowa, as a...kind of as a side benefit.
Um, so we look at primary owner, occupied homes as...as being in the first
category we want to look at, um, and then kind of go down the list. Now, the
thing is we don't...you don't know how much money you're going to get in the
hazard mitigation grant program. States will not know for sure until, um, the 12-
month mark. At the 6-month mark, um, FEMA gives us a preliminary estimate,
um, or 6-month lock-in. What that means is that's the minimum amount we're
going to give you. Um, and as these other funds, the Public Assistance and
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Individual Assistance program...funds are getting obligated and projects are
being done there, then the HMGP pot rises up a little bit. Um, the final lock-in is
at 12-months. So, it's really not until the 12-month where we know exactly, you
know, to the dollar the amount of money that we're going to get. Um, so beyond
that, it's an estimate, um, from what we're seeing.
Lombardo/ That fits nicely with a question we received, um, from...from residents
regarding how the State or FEMA divide funding for buyouts amongst
communities when, for example, Oakville, Cedar Rapids, Palo, and Iowa City all
have big needs, but are... are so very different, um, assuming a property in each of
the communities, uh, has...has identical characteristics, market value extended
damage, how will determinations for funding be made amongst the communities?
Wageman/ You know, it really isn't amongst the communities. It's looking at the
application itself and what you're...what you're trying to do with it. Um, so, and
that's one of the reasons why we did the Notice of Interest process, because that
gives us an idea of the amount of money it's going to cost to do all the projects
that the communities want to do. Um, so, if we have, um, based on the Notices of
Interest, let's say that equaled $100, and let's say we had $80 to spend on them.
Um, then we would look at, we might look at, `Okay, we're not going to consider
projects...properties like commercial properties.' And so if we do that, and we
have that information from the Notice of Interest, then maybe we're looking at,
`Okay, now it's only going to cost, um, you know, about $90,' and we have $80.
So, then we'll invite the communities to apply for that. And...and invariably, as
things shake out then the dollar amounts of applications, the costs, usually go a
little bit lower. Um, property owners that initially said they wanted to participate
no longer want to participate. Um, you find out some, um, you know, there's a
duplication of benefits issue where if a homeowner got, um, already got an
insurance settlement for their home, um, that would be...that would be deducted
from the purchase price because it's the same federal funding, um, so as those
things shake out, then generally we're going to know...it's going to be more solid
as it goes. So, for the application process, um, we might...we might say, `Okay,
we're going to only consider this type of structure,' and that helps us narrow it
down, along with the priority. So it's really not like you're competing with other
communities. It's...it's you're competing with, you know, what types of
structures that we can, um, acquire statewide and get out of the flood plain, and
what we want to do is we want to mitigate the worst first. So, you're talking
about if your house is in the floodway, your city applies and you're eligible
community, you're going to get bought out. Okay? Then it goes to the 100-year
flood plain, primary owner occupied, so there's...there's different ways that
we...we kind of, um, we can do that to make it all fit, so it's...but it's not like
well, we're going to give Cedar Rapids "X" amount of dollars and Iowa City "X"
amount of dollars, and, you know, the City of Smallville, um, and then there's
also the eligibility issue. Is the community eligible? Um, so I think that leads
into one of your next questions, Michael.
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Lombardo/ Yeah, uh, it has to do with the local mitigation plan and Iowa City, along with
many other cities, uh, who are likely to apply for, uh, funding under this program,
uh, do not have updated, uh, or if any, mitigation plan and I guess if you could
speak to...or provide some level of reassurance that we'll still be able to
participate, as long as we're working towards that end.
Wageman/ Here's what I'll tell you...what the law says. The law says that in order for
FEMA to award a grant under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, that the
community must have aFEMA-approved local hazard mitigation plan. Um, so as
of today, the city does not have...has not met that requirement. (unable to hear
person talking in audience) Local hazard mitigation plan. Now, the city is
working on its plan, um, and we, uh, they've been awarded a grant to do the plan.
Um, there's a caveat to that. There's potential for a waiver, and you know, that's
not something I can assure you on. LTh, but FEMA can waiver the planning
requirement, um, for one year after grant award, so, um, in this process we'll
work with the City, um, and...and likely make recommendation that, you know,
the City receive a waiver on this, um, for this particular type of project. iJh,
but...if the City doesn't...if the waiver's approved, if the State recommends it, if
Region 7 recommends approval and awards the waiver, planning waiver, um, and
the City's awarded an HMGP grant and a year later they don't have it approved
by...written and approved by FEMA, then the grants over. Everything
stops...right there. So, um, and you know, to date we've only...we've only
requested one waiver for one city since this...this started, the planning
requirement started.
Lombardo/ And that's from the approval, one year from the approval we have?
Wageman/ Right, one year from the grant approval, right.
Lombardo/ So, uh, to let you all know, we are working towards getting that local, uh,
hazard mitigation plan in place, um, and are trying to fast-track it as best we can
to meet these requirements. Um, there's been a lot of speculation and discussion
about the accuracy of the flood plain maps, and potential need for an update as a
result of this event. If flood plain maps are redrawn, what affect will that have on
the eligibility status and/or benefit cost score of properties that were damaged in
this flood event? I guess is it conceivable that properties that do not currently
qualify may as a result of updated map, uh, maps...then become qualified?
Miller/ (several talking away from mic) Um, and actually I don't have the answer,
Michael, but we did bring a couple folks with us tonight that may. Um, Bill,
would you raise your hand. Bill Cappuccio, uh, is with the Department of Natural
Resources, uh, and does flood plain management for them. Um, and frankly maps
and updates of flood plain maps have been an issue in the state for some time, uh,
I think Bill would tell you, and I would tell you, there is a program within FEMA
for map modernization. The bad news is Iowa is not on that schedule. We're a
rural state. (person speaking from audience) Yeah, being the rural state that we
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are, for map modernization and update of flood plain maps, um, we're not on
FEMA's schedule to do that. They're doing the most populous areas first...that
are affected by floods, which is certainly understandable because it is about loss
and loss avoidance and flood plain management, which means many of our
communities, if they want to update maps, uh, they need to do it on their own.
iJh, some of that works through Bill's office, and Bill, can you talk a little more to
that issue and how flood plain maps are updated and what the process is.
Cappuccio/ Okay, um, let me get this up here where I can...as Dave said, FEMA has a
map modernization program. It, uh, they started it back in 19...excuse me, 2002
is where they more or less kicked it off, and what the intention was at the time
that they kicked off this map modernization program was to remap the entire
country, uh, in five years, using a little over a billion dollars. Uh, it was pretty
ambitious, and it...probably too ambitious, and essentially when they started off,
uh, doing maps here in Iowa they started doing, uh, working through some of the
communities that they were identifying, and some of the product we were getting,
such as Iowa City, which...excuse me, such as Johnson County, which was one of
the first ones that came out of map mod, uh, we can discuss the...how that was
done and the accuracy of it and things like that later. But what happened later on,
as Dave mentioned, uh, they did a...they did a, what they coin midcourse
adjustment, about two years later, and what they decided was is that they didn't
have enough money to take and map the entire country and do a very good job of
it. So they are instead looking at mapping the 67% of the, uh, geographic area of
the country that holds, I believe it's 98%...95% of the population, if I remember
correctly. That leaves Iowa still getting some maps, but not very many, and uh,
the quality of the maps and the detail of the maps is, uh, going to be based a lot on
what they perceive as a risk, what they see as the, uh, prioritization, based not just
in this region, but nationwide, and that's how the funding is allocated.
Miller/ Thank you, Bill. I think the other part of that, and something that will be
discussed in the Rebuild Iowa office that we've already started to discuss is will
there be an opportunity in Iowa for us to do our own mapping. Uh, and that is
something we're looking at, and if we do our own mapping, uh, the cost involved
in doing that, and will the maps that we produce be accepted by FEMA, uh, as
sound flood plain map methodologies. But it is something that we're looking at
to advance that process. And... and the bottom line there, I think, Michael, is it
will have an affect, or could have an affect. Let me rephrase that. It could have
an affect in making determinations, where the lines fall, who's in the 100-year
flood plain and who's not, which could have an ultimate affect on buyouts, and
ultimately has an affect on flood plain insurance, or national flood insurance and a
number of other decisions. (mumbled)
Lombardo/ For future events, or...or retroactively back towards this flood event?
Miller/ L ..you know, I don't think it would be retroactive. I think what we really talk
about is what do we have for flood plain maps now. The problem is if we go
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through map modernization and you could get caught in the middle of that, uh, as
we're making those determinations, uh, the point for us is we would work with
you on that, uh, on those issues and what we were doing when, and Bill, I have
one more question because this is the question that comes to DNR. Uh, we have
been talking, using a technology called "lidar," which is a light density mapping
system. Uh, that we think produces good flood plain mapping, that we would like
FEMA, and we've talked about getting FEMA to accept as updated flood maps.
There's only a small percentage of the state currently covered by lidar as well,
and I don't know if Johnson County's in that mix or not. Do you know?
Wageman/ What Dave's talking about is the lidar is a...it's a...a method of collecting
topograph...topographic mapping, two-foot interval topographic mapping, and
uh, the intent is to take and do the entire state. Currently, uh, the project is in its
third year, and we only have about half the state done. Now, the reason that is, is
that our intent was to try and get the very best quality product we could. We're
trying to get the vendor to fly when there was no leaves, no snow on the ground,
uh, when the river channels were empty so that we can get the most definition for
those areas. Hasn't exactly worked out very well last couple of years. LTh, so
hopefully the flights will be done within the next year. Right now Johnson
County is correct - is not completed in the lidar project. However, Iowa City
itself does have, I believe, it's own two-foot interval contour maps.
Lombardo/ Um, I just have one additional question that was gleamed from the...the lists,
and then I'll open it up for, uh, your questions. Uh, if additional flood mitigation
measures are prohibited on property acquired through the hazard mitigation grant
program, and not all properties are purchased in a given area, um, we have some
question and want to work with the neighborhoods to decide what else can be
done to safeguard homes that remain. Are there specific flood mitigation
measures that are recommended? Should we be focusing on, uh, certain types of
efforts, whether it be elevating homes or looking at constructing levees in...in, uh,
what used to be street right-of--ways? Can you help provide us a little bit of
guidance in that regard?
Wageman/ So your question is, is what can you do besides...besides property
acquisition?
Lombardo/ Right.
Wageman/ And you're talking specifically about residential property?
Lombardo/ Yes.
Wageman/ Well, elevation, um, you can do structural elevations, although in Iowa
through our program we haven't...we haven't funded a lot of those over the years.
Um, typically what happens for any type of new construction, um, it's part of
your local flood plain ordinance where you would have to put the first floor of
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your home in, um, a certain level, above the base flood elevation so that's already
being done, to some extent. Um, there's other types of programs that could
potentially provide funding, um, for mitigation projects as well. Um, you know,
you'd like to be able to say, well, you know, if we just put this levee right here,
and...run it through the whole town, that that would save a lot of properties.
Well, I mean, it might and it might not. It might create further damage
down...down stream, um, I mean, I'll give you an example. Um, in Burlington
on the Mississippi, I mean, we're very close to having some serious problems
there, but the levee broke on the Illinois side and all the water went there. Um,
and so if that levee hadn't broke, I mean, you know, there's cities in the southeast
part of the state, um, would have been severe...would have been damaged a lot
worse than what they are, so levees aren't necessarily always the answer in
communities. It takes a lot of...it takes a lot of planning to do, um; our programs
don't fund levees anyway. That's Corp of Engineers, and sometimes the
communities do that themselves. Um, so, those are just off the top of my head a
few things that you could consider.
Miller/ Let me talk about that just a little bit more. Um, we've been talking tonight, um,
chiefly about the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, uh, and the use of those funds
for buyout. This will cloud the issue, especially as you as citizens are trying to
make a decision on how you move forward, and you as a community try and
make a decision on how you move forward, but it...it needs to be said that the
HMGP program, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, is only one program, uh,
that's looked at when we do mitigation measures, and only one program that we
look at when we do property acquisitions. Um, the difficulty for the community, I
think, Michael, and the difficulty for all of us is to figure out where the
community wants to go. What it wants to create as green space. What it wants to
protect. How it wants to protect it. Whether it wants to allow redevelopment in
an area. And then we begin to look at the different grant programs and the
different sources of funding that can be used to help achieve those goals, to help
achieve that city plan, whether it's Community Development Block Grant money.
In rural communities, if it's...it's national, um, NRCS, help me, Bill, um, the
Natural Resources Conservation Service money. Whether it's, uh, other sources
of funding that could help do those projects. So why we're focused on HMGP
tonight, I don't want to leave citizens with...with the idea that that's the only
program that comes to bear here. Because it's not. And there will be other
programs we're looking at, uh, Bill and his staff, and the long-term recovery staff.
I know the meeting that they had this morning, Bill was about...looking about
how to marry programs together and look at what opportunities there were for
long-term recovery, whether it's property acquisitions or mitigation projects.
Vogel/ (difficult to hear) We've partnered with all of the different federal agencies, uh, so
that we can include representation from all of the different agencies within our
Public Assistance program, and as a matter of fact, on Friday we're on our way
over to a meeting with the Corps of Engineers for an interagency levee task force
meeting that they are hosting. So, there's an awful lot of interest in making sure
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that we include all of the different federal agencies that in the past may have
brought into the planning at a later point in time, and um, this program is working
very well. It's uh, it's...the participation that we've had in the program has been
phenomenal ever since it started. We've had a number of meetings for the
development of these programs and I...I will tell you that all of the projects, uh,
related to any type of infrastructure that FEMA is involved in and supporting the
state are composed of all of the agencies that we know of that may have a
contributing factor in the repair or the funding of those projects. So...thanks a lot,
Dave.
Lombardo/ What I'm hearing is, this is an important, uh, factor for us all to consider,
given the way the allocation is made for the hazard mitigation grant program, um,
the availability of funds to...to reach a1187 counties and accomplish their goals
may or may not be there. It really is a question at this point, and we have to be
prepared to avail ourselves of some of these other programs, and that was part of
our trip last week to...to visit our elected representatives in Washington is to
discuss these programs and...and begin to get a better understanding of how they
work and what level of funding may flow through them. So, we're in the process
now of understanding what else is available to us, um, which strikes me in what
I'm hearing, unless corrected, is that a community decision has to be made as to
what we're trying to accomplish and then you all will work with us to fit the
programs and the funding to accomplish those goals as best we can. Um, with
that, I'm going to open it up, uh, to questions from...from you all, um, I know this
is a very frustrating time, but I would, uh, encourage you in your candor to please,
um, to...to, uh, be able to be respectful of...of our guests here this evening. Uh,
and we'll do our level best to answer questions, but if there are questions from
you all, now's the time to ask them, please.
Eastham/ My name is Charlie Eastham. My wife and I live in Idyllwild, uh, we
have...I'm going to go over our circumstances because I haven't heard them
addressed today, or this evening. We have a house that we paid $182,000 for, a
condominium actually, $182,000 four years ago. At the time we purchased the
house, my wife inquired of a local insurance agency about purchasing flood
insurance. Their story was that, uh, it wasn't available and we didn't need it, so
we didn't buy it. The Homeowner's Association also has no flood insurance. So
we have an uninsured loss. The amount of the loss is in the neighborhood of
$150,000. Uh, our income does not permit us to finance $150,000, and we do not
have $150,000 in the bank or any place else. So, if we're, if our property is not,
uh, purchased as a part of a mitigation program, we will be, I think, faced with a
prospect of defaulting on our mortgage and probably declaring bankruptcy,
because we have no means of...without federal assistance or governmental
assistance, we have no means of paying for that amount, repair costs. Um, we
would prefer not to do that, but as they say, we have to be realistic too. Um, in
our case, I think frankly that the flood plain maps are incorrect. And I think
they're incorrect for all of Idyllwild, most of Parkview Terrace, and most of the
rest of the community too. Uh, I think our house level, or floor level, is actually
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lower than a reasonable definition of the 100-year flood plain elevation. So, we
would prefer that that elevation actually is correct...is computed correctly in the
course of this. I was discouraged to hear you say that, uh, even if it's recomputed,
that it won't be applied retroactively, which is to me a little silly, but uh, so I'd
like to have you address what you think should happen to my wife and I.
Miller/ I think...I don't know if I can give you a definitive answer, and I know that's
what people are looking for, but here's the things that have crossed my mind
and...and we've talked about the Idyllwild project, uh, a number of times. I don't
know about the flood elevations and if they're, uh, appropriate or not, and that's
something that...that Bill can talk to, um, Cappuccio can talk to. It's something, I
think, Bill Vogel can talk to a little bit about what the effects are if you remap,
and what that means, uh, and frankly, any retroactivity that...that takes place
because of that. Uh, in my mind it may become adouble-edge sword, that if you
found that you remapped and you're in the flood plain, it can cause you some
more problems, uh, rather than reduce your problems. It may make you eligible
for buyouts, but then the question is if you were in, should you have had flood
insurance, and if you don't have flood insurance, you absorb that loss. There are
all kinds of questions that come with that determination, uh, that I certainly don't
have the answers to tonight, and Bill, I don't know if you do either. Um, but
that's something that we'd have to discuss and figure out why. I think the other
answer, and we're struggling with it all over the state, um, and that is...is simply
this, and that's why I said the HMGP program is only one program that we're
looking at for acquisitions. One of the other ones that has many fewer strings
attached to it that we will look at; we look at potentially to match, because there's
a match requirement in HMGP, but we also use it to look at acquisitions and
that's the Community Development Block Grant program. The problem with
Community Development Block Grant program in this disaster is it is a huge
disaster and there's a limited amount of money there, so the question for the state
and for the communities is -how do we best leverage those dollars? What's the
best use of those funds? We've talked about other options, uh, on...on that. One
of the questions, and it's a question, um, and I realize the meeting maybe here
today, but one of the questions is, do we...for lack of a better term do we recolor
money as CDBG money, and if we did that and it has fewer strings attached, can
we actually do more acquisitions with less strings attached, which can help folks
like you. I don't know the answer to that now, but those are the things we're
struggling with because there are a lot of folks like you in that same situation.
Um, so when we talk about HMGP, it's just one answer. What we got to do is sit
down with the communities, look at all the programs, and try to find out what the
best way is to go, uh, to help folks like you, and I...I wish'd I had a better answer
for you. I just don't.
McGuire/ Hi, uh, first I'd like to thank you, uh, for, uh, coming to Iowa City this
afternoon, and I'd also like to thank you in advance for all the work that you're
about ready to undertake, uh, for Iowa. My...my question really is...is in regards
to fleshing out some of the details in terms of evaluating properties. So, um, there
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are properties that have, uh, 500-year structures on 100-year flood plain property.
So one of the questions that folks ask is, is it the property, is it the structure.
Those folks, uh, are...because of...of lenders required by law to have flood
insurance. In...in putting together a proposal, uh, the City might have a number
of properties. iJh, does for instance contiguous properties factor in? So for
instance, uh, if you've got, um, two 100-year, or you've got several 100-year
properties, 100-year structures, and then you've got a 500-year structure, 500-year
property in amongst that. How...how is, how do you go about, uh, formulating
just what is included, and again, if you could clarify, is it the structure, is it the
property, that determines the buyout, or a combination, uh, therein?
Miller/ I'm going to let John answer that, but he talked about it a little bit before and how
you package the projects. If we look at a complete package, you know, for
instance, we're into doing a package that...that may buyout a neighborhood.
Some of those are cost beneficial, some of them may...may not meet benefit cost
analysis, but if we group `em together, they do and we may move forward with
the project. John, you want to give a little more detail on that.
Wageman/ When I was talking about, you have to take the aggregate benefits and cost,
um, so you may have a property that, you know, it's a hundred dollar property,
that's what it cost to acquire it, but the software will calculate 500 dollars worth
of benefits. Okay? And then you might want to match that up to
another...another property, um, that's also a hundred dollar property, but it only
shows 50 dollars worth of benefits. So by...the whole project has to be cost
beneficial so you...you would take, you know, really what the community would
want to do is rank, you know, their structures, top to bottom, what's most cost
beneficial, um, top to bottom, and I mean there could, there probably will be
properties in there that themselves won't be cost beneficial, but as a group that
they would be, so, um, if you're talking at looking at a neighborhood, can you do
a property that has a vacant lot, um, sure you can. Uh, because if the City doesn't
ever want anything developed in there, and if it's in the 100-year flood plain, um,
the City might want to decide we're going to include this vacant lot because we
don't want anyone to ever build in this neighborhood again, in the flood plain.
So, there...and that's, again, that's some of the decisions that the City makes. As
long as it's cost beneficial to do that, uh, I know we've talked a lot about cost
beneficial, but you know, folks there's no way around that. It's got...that thing
has to happen. (both talking) ...otherwise it's not a project.
McGuire/ Sorry, what are the metrics of cost benefit?
Wageman/ I went through `em already.
McGuire/ Oh, I'm sorry, I...okay.
Wageman/ It's very technical.
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McGuire/ That's okay, you don't need to.
Wageman/ I could talk to you later.
McGuire/ Okay. No, I'm sorry.
Wageman/ ...all night long, I promise.
McGuire/ Okay, all right. Thank you very much.
Wageman/ You bet.
Monik/ Hi, I'm Martha Monik and I'm in Idyllwild, as well, with Charlie. And I was
wondering from FEMA's point of view would Idyllwild be a single entity or
would it be 92 separate owners, and how would you do that? And nobody's really
addressed that question at several venues so far.
Miller/ I think we've talked about it. When we talked with the City officials, what,
Michael, a month ago, two or three weeks ago? Um, Idyllwild kept coming up,
and...and I don't know that we knew exactly how the property is structured, who
owns what pieces of Idyllwild and...and I don't have a picture of it in my mind
how the individual pieces fit. Who owns the land? Who owns the structures?
Who owns...who owns what pieces of...of the...
Monik/ The individual owners own from the paint in.
Miller/ From the outside walls in?
Monik/ No. From your unit paint in, and the Association owns from the paint out,
including the property, and so what's happened like cleanup has been assessed
1/92°a to everybody. Rebuild up to the walls will be assessed 1/92°d to
everybody. So the ownership is very complicated, and what FEMA, how you
would handle that in terms of owners needing to approve. You can't take apart a
four-person unit. You can't take apart a 92-association.
Miller/ Yeah, and I don't know the answer. Bill, any enlightenment on.. .
Vogel/ I guess the first thing that I would think about is the fact that it has to be a
voluntary program.
Monik/ So does that mean...
Vogel/ In other words, everyone who is an owner would have to submit a voluntary
submission to be bought out.
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Monik/ So that means that Idyllwild could not be bought out unless you have 92 sheets in
Michael's hands?
Vogel/ Uh, I certainly can't say for sure, but I would...I would certainly have to do some
research on that, but my...my impression is that an owner has to volunteer to be
bought out, so if there are 92 owners, all 92 of those owners for that one structure
would have to volunteer to be bought out.
Miller/ But I think part of the picture that I get in my mind is...is you have a number of
structures.
Monik/ Twenty-five.
Miller/ That's owned by one of the...the land is owned by one association, but there are a
number of structures that are owned individually, and they are, what...three or
four to a structure?
Monik/ There...four to a structure. Twenty-four, twenty five structures, something like
that, and this very complicated owning system, so in terms of applying, or the
City applying, I'd like somebody to talk to a lawyer or to figure out...(several
talking)
Miller/ ...we might have some information from the Small Business Administration who
is here this evening, too.
Dilkes/ I'm the City Attorney for the City of Iowa City. I have reviewed the Declaration
of Condominium, but there may be a lawyer in the crowd who, or is there
someone who's more familiar with that? You, Sir? (several talking)
Newroff/ LTh, I'm Loras Newroff at 13 Pentire Circle. There's a lot of comments you can
make about this and I know what your comments are, but indeed there are 23
buildings, there are...there are four units to a building, uh, there are 92 units. The
condo association is an entity, okay? Made up of the owners. The condo
association as an entity, uh, does business as a majority. The condo association
has already voted as a majority to accept a buyout. So that buyout has to take into
consideration the entire complex. It's that simple. So there...there, although all
of us maybe looked at that we have to do an individual unit application, which
many of us have done, we are one entity. You know, the City is going to have to
submit their application based on one entity. If you're going to take that entity
out of there, you're taking the entire complex out of there, a1123 buildings, a1192
units. There's no way that the way the entity is structured that any individual unit
owner can say, `I'm not going to sell,' therefore...for God's sake, there's four
units in a building, 23 buildings. There is no choice, and...and the entity has
already voted for a buyout. Okay. (several talking)
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Dilkes/ Um, yes, that's my understanding that the entity has...has, or the membership,
the unit owners who are the members of the association, have voted that way, and
I believe according to the declaration, the association can put the property up for
sale upon a vote of the membership. When it comes down to an actual
acquisition, there will have to be a voluntary statement from every homeowner,
from every unit owner, and a deed from every unit owner, in order to transfer that
property to the City, and I've talked to the association's attorney about that, Paul
Morph, to see if he knew of something that I didn't know, that would change my
thinking about that and he agreed with that.
Miller/ I don't know again if we'll have a ready answer for Idyllwild or not. I think it
presents some very unique problems. Um, or at least issues, if not problems, to
work through. Um, and...and there are all the other issues that we look at, as
well. Is it eligible for buyout? Is it something the City wants to do, because
remember in the program, the HMGP program, we fund the City to do the
buyouts, uh, not...not a direct funding to the homeowner. So it's the City's
project that...and where the City sits on that is another consideration. What they
want to do with that space, uh, how we walk through that. I think there are a lot
of issues we'd have to sit down and go through piece by piece before we even got
to a point where we knew if we were going to buyout the whole project or... or
even an ability to piecemeal it. Um, and how we did that.
Lombardo/ (difficult to hear) ...how much funding will be available, and so these are
things that we're going to have to work through one step at a time. Marco?
Jerrick/ Hi, Marco Jerrick, I'm on Normandy with my husband Roger. And I have a
couple of questions, um, just that I thought of listening to you all. Um, one is, if
you have flood insurance, are you, um, is it sort of a negative impact on if you're
considered in a buyout?
Miller/ No, I don't think so.
Lombardo/ No, the residual funding would be what, um, applicable to the program.
Derrick/ It would cost the City less.
Lombardo/ Right.
Derrick/ If you had flood insurance, because you don't double up, but you get.. .
Lombardo/ Right, but as an individual property owner, you're not penalized for having
flood insurance.
Derrick/ Okay, and um, another question, when you were talking about the, um, benefit
cost analysis and...and figuring out, you know, how much it costs the City or
whatever, so when you do this, do you consider like the cost when we were all
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sandbagging and what it costs the City and the, you know, the price for sand and
the bagging and the City's employees work, because you guys were down there
all the time, and I'm sure you had to pay overtime, and then once the flooding
happened, and then we were all cleaning out our homes, and taking it to the curb,
which was a great thing, and the City, you know, was down there taking
everything away, and I'm sure that was not in your budget originally for all that
that you had to pay the City workers. Is that also included in trying to figure out
if it's a cost benefit?
Lombardo/ Um, that's...that's applicable to the Public Assistance, right.
Wageman/ It takes a lot of things into factors. It has, I mean, we're talking about
something extremely technical, um, and.. .
Jerrick/ But I mean, I mean, that cost the City a lot, I would assume.
Lombardo/ But that is factored into Public Assistance, and then how much is allocable to
the State in general.
Derrick/ So, what I'm, I guess what I'm hoping is that is a benefit.
Miller/ Actually, let me try to answer even...even simpler, because it is a technical
process, but it is a very, uh, formalized process. Uh, it's a requirement by FEMA
that we go through that. There is a...a process and a software that we use to do it,
uh, there are a number of variables that go into it, um, probably the easiest way,
um, forme to explain it, and...and the way John's explained it to me, is a
very...bottom line it becomes a very simple calculation of what's the value of the
property, what's the probability of occurrence that the property will reflood again.
You know, if the probability is that it will reflood, and the savings from buying it
out, uh, is more than the cost of buying it out, then we...then we do it. But the
truth is if it's not, if the, uh, if the...the harder part of this disaster is this: we have
historic record-breaking flooding in this community and across the state. We've
had two of those in the last 15 years. And yet the probability of occurrence, if
you look at the law of probabilities, is fairly low. So while you're structure is
damaged, while your structure maybe destroyed, if I get outside the 100-year
flood plain and I have to use a 500-year calculation to figure it out, cost benefit
becomes very difficult. I mean, and it simply does. Uh, and...but how we group
properties, how we look at properties, all of that enters in, and it does get very
complex about how we walk through that. The short answer to your question is a
lot of those factors about the cost of response, the cost of those things, don't enter
into it.
Derrick/ When you're figuring that out and as you were talking about how soon this could
reoccur.. .
Miller/ Uh-huh.
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Jerrick/ ...and I'm sure probably everyone sitting up there is well aware of our hydraulics
department and whatever, and that there are people over there that are now
figuring out and calculating actually the probability of having something happen
like this again is much sooner than probably you would find in your software
program.
Miller/ Uh-huh.
Jerrick/ Does that go into account at all?
Miller/ I'll leave that one up to Bill, um, and the reason I do is this -it's what FEMA
thinks about it and the probability of occurrence, and it's the benefit cost analysis
we do that FEMA will accept that determines our ability to move ahead with the
program. So, the hard part on those things, and...and we're all trying to do, is
sitting down with the FEMA folks and saying, `Does this make sense? Will you
accept it as the method for determining the probability? Will you accept it as part
of, and in Bill Cappuccio's shop, will you accept that as we do the flood maps that
this is the new flood mapping and this is what tells you the story, whether it's
changes in hydrology, probability of occurrence, but they'll want to look at the
science behind it before they will accept it as part of the map modernization to
determine who's in and who's out, and at what level, whether it's floodway, 100-
year, or 500-year floodplain.
Jerrick/ Is that something where, um, I understand it's Mr. Marstadt, who's the Assistant
Administrator for FEMA?
Vogel/ Yes, for Hazard Mitigation, that's correct.
Derrick/ And that's exactly his area, Hazard Mitigation?
Vogel/ That is correct.
Derrick/ So, is he someone that you bring into this, to say, `Okay, we've got these new
parameters. They're not exactly in what we would have utilized in the software,
but you know they're out of the norm?'
Vogel/ Certainly, uh, when we, uh, work on any of these programs, as we develop
programs, as we study programs, as we, uh, work with them and we find out that
something maybe, uh, askew from what it is that's happening on the ground, we
certainly take a look at that and see what we need to do in order to be able to
examine it just and then reprogram it. LTh, and he is very active in his attempt to
inform people of the importance of flood insurance, and as a matter of fact, was
here and did a number of, uh, media interviews starting this past March, and
emphasizing the fact that there are 30 days required from the time that you
purchase flood insurance until the time that it comes into effect, and that
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unfortunately the, uh, circumstances as they were back in the end of February and
the beginning of March were set up to, uh, predict that there may be a terrible
flooding event, and uh, he...he certainly is active in all of those programs, and I
will tell you, uh, the new leadership in FEMA today is very, very concerned about
making sure that we're doing the right thing, and uh, the Administrator has spent
a lot of time and a lot of effort making sure that the right people are in the right
place to do the right thing, and I will tell you from my experience, uh, with the
agency there have been a number of changes that have been very, very effective
in making sure that we're taking care of those people who have a need, and if that
need is identified, I will tell you it's going to be looked at.
Derrick/ Thank you.
Vogel/ You bet.
Sass/ Some of the comments last couple minutes addressed my question, but a question
came to me. The gentleman on the far right was speaking about this cost
beneficial aspect of the buyout process, and specifically dollar...dollarplus
component. Um, meaning no disrespect to you, Sir, believe me, but the thought
that came to my mind was a quote attributed to Mark Twain, there are lies, there
are damn lies, and there are statistics. I dare say that anyone after 93, no expert,
no federal official, no state official would have anticipated a second flood in 15
years, and I dare say that until some things are done proactively to lessen the
likelihood of this happening again, we could be back here within a next year.
Some of these people would have been flooded out a third time. So, we have to
address...I'm not here specifically for a buyout. I don't my wife and I are going
to be eligible for it, but our main concern is since we want to live down there, that
the City, the State, the federal government -whoever -does something to be
proactive to lessen that likelihood because things can be done. Heighten the
spillway. Put a levee in on Normandy. You know, use the corridor reservoir for
what it was truly intended, flood control. People can recreate in dozens of other
places. Please, be proactive. Thank you. (applause)
Africa/ Hi, my name is Africa. I live on Normandy Drive and represent my mother, as
well. I have a lot of technical questions about this cost benefit analysis, but I
won't ask all of them. Uh, what'll help me out is if, uh, you can maybe
recommend a guidance document or, um, if you could recommend...site the
regulations, or something so we can understand this cost benefit.
Wageman/ Sure, yep. You can go on, you can get the software online. It's free of
charge.
Africa/ Okay.
Wageman/ Um, just type in, uh, mitigation benefit cost analysis.
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Africa/ Okay.
Wageman/ And you can, you know, anyone can get the disc.
Africa/ Okay, um, how `bout these regulations that give definitions for, uh, the cost
benefit analysis?
Wageman/ Well, the requirement, um, for the benefit cost analysis is the 44th Code of
Federal Regulations.
Africa/ Okay. (mumbled)
Lombardo/ The, uh, the...the software itself is an interactive CD and there are a lot of
layers of...of tutorials and definitions and...we open it up thinking it would be
quick to use and just trying to see where some of the homes...and it's a lot more
complicated and a lot more information...so...
Africa/ Sure.
Lombardo/ Um, a lot of that's in there.
Africa/ Okay, good. Um, so two short questions I had about, um, about definitions. You
said structure is what you count as...if it's determined being in the 100-year or
not. Uh, structure I know from the City means, uh, it means the outside grade, the
lowest grade outside your house. Is that the same definition for FEMA? Or the
hazard mitigation grant program?
Wageman/ The structure is the actual...your building, your house.
Africa/ Yeah, so are you talking about the lowest part of the structure, or are you talking
the outside grade of the structure?
Wageman/ Any part of the structure.
Africal So...uh, we have asplit-level, so the lowest part where the lowest drain is, that's
where it is.
Wageman/ No, if your home is square, if any part of...of the footprint of the home is in
the flood plain, then it's considered.. .
Africa/ Okay, so that's different than the City's definition. So, the base flood level I'd
say it's about 650 point something...4, near our house, um, and then the lowest
level of the house is 648 is in the...
Wageman/ If you're talking about the...the first floor elevation, it's...
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Africa/ No, I'm talking about the structure, the lowest level of the house. The basement.
It's asplit-level.
Wageman/ Okay, if it's a split level, yeah. (several talking)
Cappuccio/ ...if the lowest ground adjacent to your building is elevate...the elevation is
below the 100-year flood...
Africa/ Uh-huh.
Cappuccio/ ...and by rights you should be shown in the special flood hazard area or 100-
year flood plain.
Africa/ Okay.
Cappuccio/ Is that what you're asking?
Africa/ Um, yeah. I know, I just wanted to get the...I am asking that, but...and that's for
FEMA-wise? I know the City has some different definitions here. So I want to
get this clear, um, for the elevating the house aspect, and I know the City is going
to have stricter rules. So if that's the answer then it's the lowest grade outside the
house, if not the lowest part of the house.
Cappuccio/ Well, what I'm asking is this, are you trying to determine whether or not your
structure is eligible from the standpoint of whether or not it's in the flood plain?
Africa/ Yes.
Cappuccio/ All right. There's something called a Letter of Map Amendment. Okay?
Africa/ Yeah.
Cappuccio/ Normally where we have people doing Letter of Map Amendment is when
they say, flood plain, I'm not in a flood plain. My ground is high.
Africa/ Right.
Cappuccio/ Elevation of the 100-year flood is 850. I just got a surveyor out here and the
elevation of my ground, the lowest ground next to my foundation is 850.5. They
submit a piece of paper to FEMA, and they get themselves removed from the
flood plain.
Africa/ Okay, so it is the lowest grade outside the house.
Cappuccio/ That's taken to determine whether or not the property is in the special flood
hazard area.
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Africa/ Okay.
Cappuccio/ Now, if you are in a special flood hazard area, then there are elevation
requirements for the lowest floor of your building. It has to be minimum one foot
above 100-year flood. Now, and so I guess the question I'm trying to find...are
you trying to find out what your floor level is or are you trying to find out, uh, if
your ground elevation puts you in the flood plain or not?
Africa/ I'm trying to figure out if the ground elevation puts us in the flood plain.
Cappuccio/ Okay, and are you shown in the 100-year flood plain right now?
Africa/ It's right on the corner.
Cappuccio/ Right on the corner?
Africa/ Yeah. So, I understand that we're going to get it surveyed, and that's fine.
Cappuccio/ So you maybe looking for a low amount to put you into the flood plain, as
opposed to take you out.
Africa/ Either way, it...it's good one way, it's good the other way, but I just want to
make sure that we shouldn't go shoot the lower drain of the lower level.
Cappuccio/ Why don't you talk to me about that. If nothing else I'll give you a phone
number you can call me and I'll help you through the process on that, okay?
Africa/ Okay, sounds good.
Wallace/ Good evening, um, my name is Mary Catherine Wallace, and I also am a
resident of Idyllwild, and what was going through my mind while I've been
sitting here and it was really peaked by you, Mr. Vogel, um, what...my question
is, is notification of citizens at risk, uh, we at Idyllwild received no notification
and yet later or soon as the flood was approaching we learned that the coffer dam
from the University had a one and a half foot elevation on the height of any
flooding that would occur. So that puts us in a different flood plain because of
mitigating circumstances, and you're saying that because of the weather, because
of factors, it was...what...um, common knowledge...not common knowledge
because we didn't think of it (laughter) but um, that...that some, who would be
responsible to notify citizens at risk, you're at higher risk. Things have changed.
What you had last year is not what is expected this year, and we're all caught with
no flood insurance. Had this been brought to, um, our board, to the members of
the Idyllwild Association, we would have had a conversation and we would be in
much better position right now in our lives.
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Lombardo/ Is the question, um, who is responsible for notifying...
Wallace/ Yeah, what is the responsibility from agencies or leadership, to citizens at risk?
Miller/ I think I understand the question. I don't know if I understand the answer.
Cappuccio/ The coffer dam we're talking about, if I remember correctly, was one that's
associated with a... a pipeline or something that they're putting across the channel.
I just found out about the coffer...I just heard about it myself last week actually,
and uh, well, we've got 70 other counties, so I've been a little distracted.
But...but my point being is, is that normally when somebody puts a coffer dam in
there like that, normally...normally we anticipate is that in the flood warning time
that they would be removed so that it won't have any effect. Of course we
assumed that those certain standards, the people who are dealing with it have the
wherewithal at the flood warning time had the capabilities and did...and they're
doing everything they can to remove it, and normally when we take and give
somebody a permit that they can put in a pipeline that...such as that, we're hoping
that they're going to be taking and mitigating that before a flood event. I'm not
sure what happened in that situation. So, but...but the idea of giving warning is
something that's changed. Normally shouldn't have to give warning if something
has changed, because under the best of circumstances it shouldn't...it should have
been removed (people talking from audience) in the flood warning time available.
Okay, but I'm just explaining it from how (unable to hear person in audience)
Define control. I guess my point being is, is that (unable to hear person in
audience) Normally what we do with temporary things like that is we permit
them with the understanding that any temporary structures that are placed there,
uh, for construction will be removed, in the warning time available so they won't
have any effect. (unable to hear people from audience) Excuse me?
Lombardo/ Um, if you have questions.. .
Cappuccio/ I really can't answer the question for you. (unable to hear person from
audience)
Lombardo/ Folks...folks, we're not going to get into a dialogue back and forth. If we
have questions, specific questions, I'll ask you to address the mic please. Sir?
Newroff/ Michael, I want to, uh, my wife and I are actually from Marshalltown and this
is a getaway property for us, and uh, I wanted to tell you that from Monday until
Thursday of the week that, uh, our entire condo complex at Idyllwild went under,
I really appreciate what the City of Iowa City and the volunteers in Iowa City did
to try to save Idyllwild. It was incredible.
Lombardo/ Thank you.
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Newroff/ Um, we were down here just about every day during that and it was incredible.
It was an incredible effort, so thank you. Um, you know, sitting here listening to
some of this, I just want to make certain that as the City of Iowa City looks
forward to submitting an application that it's really understood what we're talking
about. You know, we're talking about, in terms of Idyllwild, we're talking about
one entity, we're talking about 23 buildings with four units a building. Where we
live on Pentire Circle, it appears from the flood maps that were revised in
February of 07 that our building, that's the date that shows on the flood map, that
our building is literally in the 500-year flood plain. We had 3.6...3 feet, 6 inches
of water in our building for a week. The building directly across Pentire Circle
from us appears to be in the 100-year flood plain; had the same amount of water
in it. So that's what we're talking about; that's what all these questions had to do
with, uh, the land and the building and whatever. Uh, you know, Michael, I don't
know if you personally have been out there and.. .
Lombardo/ No, I hadn't.
Newroff/ If you were in our unit you'd see that the drywall is up to 6 feet. There's
nothing in the main floor. We have a second floor. It's all been torn out. It's
ready to be reconstructed or...or bought out by somebody, but the question that I
have is you look forward to the cost benefit of this, uh, has...has your building
department been out there, and do we know that we can rebuild, uh, with 1995
building codes, `cause that's when our building was built. So, has...has this
building been approved by the Iowa...has our building, has our complex, uh, been
inspected and been approved by the City of Iowa City to be rebuilt? That's one
question, and...and you don't necessarily have to answer that, but that's going to
have to be answered in this...in this application. What's, you know, what about
the building codes? What about the electrical, the plumbing, you know, the...the
fire walls, everything. Uh, it occurs to me walking around this place that it's a
toxic dump right now. You know, has anybody done an environmental study on
this land? Is the City of Iowa City going to approve the rebuilding of this
complex? Uh, you know, who's...who's looking at that? What's this in terms of
part of the application? Again, you don't need to answer this. I'd just like to
know that somebody at the City knows all these answers. It seemed that you were
a bit surprised, Michael, that we're dealing with one corporate entity here, and not
92 different units, and I understand that everybody's got to sign a voluntary deal.
It's...that's part of the protocol of the whole thing, but um, I just want to
understand that everybody understands what Idyllwild's all about and either
putting it back together or getting it bought out.
Lombardo/ Council's instructions to us as of the last work session are to pursue a full
buyout of these properties, and...and one of the points that I tried to make, um,
during that work session and I continue to make is that based on how funding is
made available for that program specifically, it's unlikely that through the hazard
mitigation grant program there will be adequate funds for Iowa City to...to
purchase all of the properties involved. So, from my...I don't know that
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definitively, but just based on the ways it's calculated, it seems unlikely. So,
our...my attention is shifting to what other resources, what other pot - CDBG and
otherwise - can be made available to continue to pursue that end. Now, we have
a work session scheduled with Council that follows this and we're going to
continue to work at this. Ultimately, uh, we'll have to make collective decisions
about what we hope to accomplish, and then try and fit the programs to it, but to
date, and what we're working off of, certainly is full buyout for these
neighborhoods, um, I have a lot of questions about what...about the people who
don't want to move, and there are a lot of residual questions and we're going to
have to chip away at this one aspect at a time, but for all intents and purposes
right now, we're working towards that end and that is to...to buyout all the
properties. Inspections, um, I don't know if Doug is here and we can touch on
that.
Newroff/ Thank you...thank you.
Lombardo/ You're welcome.
Boothroy/ In terms of, uh, code compliance...in terms of code compliance, uh, we treat
that as a repair, so that you'd be allowed to repair it as it was prior to the flood.
So you would comply with the 95, uh, code standards. The...if you were to
enlarge or change the structure in some fashion, those new changes, uh, an
expansion or something like that, would have to comply with the present code,
but as far as the repair work itself, it would have to comply with the code that it
was built under.
Tillman/ I'd like to address the comment that Mr. Miller made about that the people who
have flood insurance are not being penalized. I have paid up to a thousand dollars
a year for the last 24 years for my flood insurance and now I hear that all of the
payment that I've gotten back for having been diligent in trying to take care of
myself is going to be deducted from the buyout. Now, I don't know how you can
say that that's fair, um, and I'd like you to address the issue of that, um, payment
that you get from the National Flood Insurance program is for your structure, and
there's nothing paid on your property, and will the property be paid to you at your
fair market value, and also is your payment that you receive for your personal
property deducted from what you would get from the buyout?
Wageman/ Want me to answer that? Um, I think you misinterpreted what...what was
said. If you have insurance, um, through the National Flood Insurance program,
and they pay you a settlement, okay, let's say it's 100% destroyed. Um, and let's
say the value of the structure's worth $100,000. Let's say you get $80,000 from
the insurance, um, and let's say you are participating in the property acquisition,
um, you would...if you got the $80,000 and you spent all of it to repair your
house, then that's not going to be deducted from the purchase price under the
property acquisition. If you (unable to hear person)...why would you do what?
(unable to hear person speaking) No, I'm giving you an example. Some, because
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some people will take...some people will take and their insurance money. You
have to remember on this program, um, a lot of times it can last years and years
and years. Some, and it's the same thing with individual assistance funds. I
mean, if...if you're given individual assistance funds, um, to make your property
live...a person's property livable, and I'm not talking about yours specifically,
um, and the person takes that money, repairs, you know, takes drywall out, um,
then that...those funds are not reduced from the purchase price. If they take
that...the money that was issued for...to repair the structure and just put it in the
bank, then they'll count that as a duplication of benefits and that would be
reduced.
Tillman/ How do you account for that $24,000 that I spent on flood insurance?
Wageman/ Well, right now we're...right now what we're talking about is...is the...
Tillman/ I donated that money to this flood program basically.
Wageman/ Well, I want to answer your question here. So, if...if...you've received
settlement for your...your property...for your house?
Tillman/ Yes.
Wageman/ Okay, and is it, was it the amount, the value of...the value of the.. .
Tillman/ It was the value of the insurance.
Wageman/ Was it the value of the...of the property?
Tillman/ I don't...I don't know how they're determining fair market value.
Wageman/ Okay, and, well...was the value of your property before the flood event, and a
lot of times you use the assessed value. If it's a recent appraisal, but if for
example, if your...let's say your total property -house, lot and everything -was
worth $100,000 and I believe, and Bill correct me if I'm wrong here, for...for a
settlement on the property it just takes into account the house itself. And let's say
that that was worth $80,000, and let's say they gave you $70,000 for it. So if your
property were to be acquired, um, through the program, through the HMGP
program, you would still get an additional $10,000 for your property, plus the
value of the land, which the insurance didn't pay for.
Tillman/ Okay. So no matter what you will get the value of the land?
Wageman/ Yes, even if...yes. If an insurance...and I don't think the NFIP payments,
and I'm not an expert on NFIP, but they don't pay for the land.
Tillman/ No. They don't.
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Wageman/ It's for the property, so...so someone in your position is going to
get...insurance is only paying for the...a portion or all of the value of the actual
house. Um, so you're going to get the value of the planned and the property both.
Tillman/ Thank you.
Miller/ And then, let me add to that. The other thing we try to do in acquisitions is...is to
optimize all the grants, because you mentioned another part about your personal
property, your belongings they may have been destroyed, and it's my
understanding in the insurance, uh, programs that some of that may be protected
as well. Others you (both talking)...
Wageman/ That's not counted in...in the value. Nope, that's additional.
Miller/ That's additional. But what we try to do is optimize those in the buyout program.
Um, if you're in FEMA grant program for individual assistance now, the
maximum award, uh, and it changes yearly based on consumer price index, but
the maximum award in this disaster is 28,800, Bill?
Vogel/ That's correct.
Miller/ Is 28,800? So when we look at the acquisition, we finally would say, `What did
you actually get? Is there an opportunity to maximize that amount,' to get you to
your property value. The other thing that we try to optimize is the Public
Assistance part of the grant. iJh, and that has to do with the communities as well
because that has to do with the demolition of the property. So, in the end, um,
there isn't a cost to you as the homeowner. You get the fair market value of your
total package -the land and the house -you optimize the grants for the other
parts that you have. The City does the demolition because we pay for it
with...with Public Assistance so you're not faced as a homeowner with doing the
demolitions, and we try to walk through that piece together. John (both talking)
Wageman/ Actually that wouldn't be correct in her case, um, because you have...you
have increased costs of compliance as part of your policy. That will pay for the
demolition part of it, and so ifthere's acost-share, um, that's the...that's the non-
federal, non-state share, the contribution of it. So, and that's also a good thing for
you personally and for...for the City. Um, and then the other...the other part of it
is...is, um, and I'm assuming the City would offer this because we would count it
as eligible. It's called replacement housing benefit. So if a homeowner's, um,
property was acquired and, um, in order...in order to, um, move outside of the
flood plain, typically those structures of similar...similar size and quality and
everything, um, typically costs more than homes than are in the flood plain. So, if
the new property that you purchase, um, is at least up to $10,000 more, then you
would also get, or anyone for that matter -primary owner occupied -would get,
could get up to $10,000 for replacement housing benefit.
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Dilkes/ I just wanted to note too that...that my understanding is that in the federal
regulations there is a provision that allows a state, under the hazard mitigation
grant program, to opt to provide a credit for, um, flood insurance premiums that
have been paid, um, and it's my understanding that the State has not made a
decision as to whether they're going to do that or not yet, at the time of buyout.
Wageman/ That's correct. And...and the problem with that, and that just came out within
the last few months that it would be considered an eligible expense, uh, the
problem becomes, um, then you've just increased the cost of the project. So
that's...that's the issue.
Lombardo/ I see that we're out of our allotted time. I guess, um, are we able to push back
the work session? Is that...question over here?
Kiel/ Thank you for doing that. Um, I do have a question for John and a different
question for Michael. Uh, Pam Kiel, 861 Normandy Drive. I want to return to
this base floor elevation within the 100-year flood plain. Could you just quickly
define that for us - what...what is the base floor?
Wageman/ Bill, you did a really good job of answering that last time. You want to
(laughter) give it another whirl.
Cappuccio/ Okay, can you help me first of all. Are you trying...are you asking from the
standpoint of determining if you're in the flood plain or...
Kiel/ We're definitely in the flood plain. The whole, we back out onto the park. I don't
know if that helps you visually at all.
Cappuccio/ Okay.
Kiel/ But we back out onto the park. All of the houses in the 100-year flood plain were a
split-level property. So we have what's defined as a basement that goes probably
six feet below grade.
Cappuccio/ Then that is the lowest floor.
Kiel/ That...okay, so that's your base floor that you were talking about.
Cappuccio/ Yeah, that is the lowest floor according to State of Iowa, FEMA, and Iowa
City regulations.
Kiel/ Okay, okay...well, we'll move right on to the question to Michael then. In terms of
coming up with the cost, you're going to have to determine the pre-flood market
values of the houses and properties. What thoughts do you have about how
you're going to go about doing that?
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Lombardo/ Um, we've looked at what's available under the program, and it's either
based on a...the recent appraisal or the assessed value plus, um, I think it's 110%
or...refresh my memory.
Wageman/ It could be. I mean, the City makes that determination, based on...
Kiel/ You had mentioned...there have been two figures mentioned at a, at one of the first
neighborhood meetings we had. One was 1.25 of the assessed value for tax base,
and then the other was 110% of an appraised value, if it had been appraised 12
months before, within the previous 12 months. And, are those the two figures
you're talking about using, because you guys came up with a different figure
altogether... recently.
Dilkes/ On the Notice of Interest that we have to submit, it's 110% that we'll use just as
an estimate, but our understanding...(unable to hear person in audience)...it's
110% that is the value we use on the Notice of Interest. It says that...it says
that...(unable to hear person in audience)...110% of the whole assessed value.
Kiel/ Based on taxes or appraisal? Those are very different.
Lombardo/Based on assessments.
Dilkes/ Now I'm just talking about the Notice of Interest, just for estimating for purposes
of the Notice of Interest. Okay? (unable to hear person in audience) No, let me
get to it. For purposes of the final decision on a buyout, that is...as we understand
it, a community decision, and we are looking at using...we can use an appraisal or
we can use assessed value with an adjustment, based on what the sales figures
represent. So that decision is yet to be made, but that's the...what we're looking
at.
Kiel/ Because 110% of the assessed value for taxes is a lot less than what a...of an
appraised value would be.
Dilkes/ But the 110% is simply an estimate for purposes of the Notice of Interest. We
have not made a determination what the value of your property is yet for a buyout.
Or of anybody else's for that matter.
Lombardo/ Do you have afollow-up question?
Kiel/ Just worried that you're not going to get enough money then.
Lombardo/ Mr. Linder.
Linder/ Thank you by the way, Mr. Lombardo, for not arbitrarily terminating this meeting
after exactly 90 minutes. LTh, after doing a good deal of reading in the statute and
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the regulations, and listening to what you've said tonight, and observing what's
going on in "mosquito flats" over the past few weeks, I've come to the absolutely
astonishing conclusion that FEMA, especially as it operates together with the
Small Business Administration, is a faith-based government agency. And the
reason for that is, it seems to be operating on what's called the "Matthew effect,"
under Matthew...25, verse...
Lombardo/ Mark, do you have a question that you want to ask?
Linder/ ...verse 29, for unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance.
Lombardo/ Mark, I'm...I'm going to ask you, do you have a question?
Linder/ I have a question, yes, Mr. Lombardo. And if not, then not, and so my question is
this - if you live in the 100-year flood plain, you may get FEMA money, even
though you have insurance, and if you live in the so-called and misnamed 500-
year flood plain, even though you're 725 feet from the river, but you had just as
much water in your house as the people who are in the 100-year flood plain, and
you don't have insurance because the people in the 100-year flood plain had to
have insurance, and no one told you that you had to have insurance, not even your
insurer, not the mortgage holder, and no one said that you shouldn't live there.
The City didn't tell you that. The City was more than willing to take your
property taxes, and utility companies didn't tell you not to live there, and the
postal service didn't tell you not to live there, and you're there and you're going
to get nothing, probably, and you're disabled and you can't make enough money
to appear to be a credible borrower from SBA, even though it's not a capitalistic
profit-making entity, you'll wind up with absolutely nothing from SBA either,
and you'll wind up with nothing, even though you were flooded out and no one
told you not to live there, and so my question is -why is it that the people who
already had flood insurance and are pretty well taken care of by their flood
insurance are going to get even more from FEMA, and all the other people, the
most of the people in "mosquito flats" who had no insurance, but were also
flooded out aren't going to get anything! What...what is the purpose of this
FEMA, SBA complex? If it doesn't help the people who most need the help?
That's my question.
Vogel/ Sir, uh, if you have...if you have applied, if you have registered with
FEMA...have you registered with FEMA, Sir?
Linder/ I'm speaking on behalf of someone who lives in the community. I don't live
there.
Vogel/ Okay, Sir. If you can tell me the names or give me (both talking)
Linder/ ...but that person did register.
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Vogel/ Okay, if that person registered, and they have not heard back from FEMA...
Linder/ No, that person's gotten $28,000, but that person isn't going to get a buyout even
though that person had three or four feet of water in the house and the house is
totally destroyed. That's the question.
Wageman/ But you don't know that yet.
Linder/ Mr. Lombardo told us we know that already. He told us not to get our hopes up.
That the $70 million the State of Iowa's going to get was hopelessly inadequate,
that Cedar Rapids alone could absorb far more than the $70 million.
Lombardo/ And...and I also followed up by saying we are looking at other programs,
such as the CDBG, to try and round that out. Um, so...
Linder/ Even though Mr. Lombardo also said that if there were a buyout, the City
wouldn't even use the land down there for City Park because it's just going to get
flooded again and the City doesn't want to have that expense again, justifiably so!
I agree with him, but why doesn't FEMA recognize what almost everyone in this
room recognizes that there is going to be another flood there and people want to
get out, but they can't. Who's going to come to their rescue?
Lombardo/ That's not a decision that...that I can make in terms of (both talking)
Linder/ I'm not addressing that to you, Mr. Lombardo. (both talking)
Lombardo/ But...but...Mark, Mark, you're attributing statements made to me that are not
totally accurate and...and I'm not going to go down that road with you, um, are
there other specific questions that (both talking)
Linder/ I'm waiting for an answer from FEMA about why the people who most need the
help in the SOO...so called misnamed 500-year flood plain and had no insurance
and everyone told them they didn't need insurance, including their insurance
agents, wind up with nothing, and how are they now going to finance rebuilding a
house when they don't even have the money now to, uh, to pay their rent?
Lombardo/ No determination has been made yet as to who's going to receive funding.
Linder/ Yeah, this is...right, because you people are not going to come back here in a
year when all the people in the 500-year flood plain are empty handed. This is
our one chance to speak to you, and we want to have some answers about that.
Why is the program structured in such a way that the people who most need the
help don't get it, and the people who least need it get it? (unable to hear person
speaking from audience)
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(female)/ ...I'm also in the, uh, 500-year flood plain, etc. Probably not going to get a
buyout. Probably going to rebuild. And I guess I'd just like to reiterate his
concern that if we don't do some sort of levee or the Corps doesn't take some
responsibility for flood control that then we'll be in a similar situation. I guess
that maybe is a more, I don't know, less hostile way of framing it up.
Lombardo/ I think it's a concern we all have. Um, what we're trying to determine is,
what is going to be possible under the hazard mitigation grant program, what is
going to be available and applicable and what will we be able to accomplish using
CDBG funds and approaching it from a lot of different levels, a lot of different
angles, how far reaching can we structure a program or not. Based on what is left
then if we're not able to reach the desired goals of...of buying out those
neighborhoods, what other flood mitigation measures can be put in place, uh, a lot
of that's going to be tied to the number of houses left down there, uh, what land is
available, and... and what funds were used to purchase it. There are a lot of
complex questions that we need to answer as we move forward in this, that...that
we're just simply aren't going to be able to answer right now. So, you know, we
continue to work towards this. We continue to try and identify what we're going
to be able to accomplish, but...but until we know what funding is available, and
how far reaching it's going to be, you know, there's a lot of speculation yet, and
that's where we are right now, is dealing with some level of uncertainty, and it's
going to remain that way for a while, until we know how these programs shake
out.
Linder/ But for the record, I still haven't heard an answer from FEMA as to why the
program is structured in that way.
Miller/ Let me answer that, because I think it's important. And we tend to give FEMA a
shot in these things, but it goes back to something that Bill said and we've said
from the beginning. And I don't mean to put it on the City either, but it is a
community effort that determines where you're going to go as a community. The
FEMA programs, and Bill, you can chime in at any time, since I'm defending you
here (laughter).
Vogel/ Thank you, Dave.
Miller/ The FEMA programs, number one, are never meant to make anybody whole. It's
not a replacement for insurance. It never was meant to be a replacement for
insurance. It was never meant to tell you you had to have insurance. It was
meant to get people back on their feet, following a disaster. And the reason Bill
asked you if the citizen that you're aware of had applied for federal assistance is
because that assistance was to help them get back on their feet. I'll grant you it
may not be enough. I'll grant you that. One of the things that we want to look at
in the Rebuild Iowa office are those gaps, and we know they're substantial and we
know they're there, in a number of areas. What individuals get for assistance is
one of those. If we bought you out today and you're in glow-income home, the
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fact that we may buy you out for $50,000 and it costs you $150,000 to rebuild
makes...means you have a hell of a gap! That's something else that we need to
look at. The money that we've received, the federal dollars that we've received,
are meant to help us. They will not replace everything that is lost. The challenge
to the community, and the challenge to the state, the challenge to a neighborhood
is how to best leverage those dollars to do what's in the interest of the community,
to figure out what we're going to buy, what kind of space it's going to be, are you
going to allow redevelopment, what can you do to protect it, whose programs can
be brought to bear, how you make those marriages, and what the impact is in the
community overall. So I understand what you're saying, but there isn't a simple
answer to this, and frankly, to lay it to FEMA that they should have told you this,
that they ought to buy everything in the 500-year flood plain because it flooded
isn't realistic.
Linder/ Because of your budget.
Miller/ No! Because of the probability of occurrence. I'm not doubting that people in
the 500-year flood plain were just as damaged as some people in the 100-year
flood plain, or frankly just as damaged as some people in the flood way, but we
have to have some calculation to set priorities about who receives what. When
the City makes its application, it will make judgments about the community, how
it looks, what they want to buy out, does it meet cost benefit analysis, and some of
those properties maybe in the 500-year flood plain.
Linder/ But just as generals are set to fight the last war, FEMA seems to be fighting two
floods ago. We're way beyond 1993. Maybe we'll have the 1000-year flood in
ten years. (several talking at once) Maybe we won't have one for a hundred
years!
Vogel/ Excuse me, Sir. FEMA encourages everyone to buy flood insurance.
Linder/ How do you do that? In what form? Did you put a sticker on someone's house?
When? Someone said up there in February you knew something was going to
happen. Did you write letters to everyone in the 500-year flood plain to get...get
smart, go buy your flood insurance now.
Vogel/ We encourage everyone to have flood insurance.
Linder/ What does that mean? How...how did you do that?
Lombardo/ I'm...I'm going to shift and ask if you have a question over here, Sir.
Wynn/ No, I just wanted to respond that I'm Kevin Wynn from the Small Business
Administration and, Sir, if you'd like to I can meet you in the back and look at
your file mark, or the gentleman that you're talking about, and go over that one-
on-one with you, or anybody else in the audience. I'd be more than happy to look
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at your problems, if there are any. Uh, SBA and FEMA do come to the areas.
FEMA's noted for short-term assistance, and SBA comes in for the long-term
assistance. If there's any problems with anybody with the SBA tonight, come to
me. I' 11 be here after the meeting, more than happy to answer the questions, and
I'll have an answer for you tomorrow. Thank you.
Lombardo/ Thank you. We have time for, uh, two final questions.
Cunningham/ I'm Jo Cunningham. My husband and I own a condo at Idyllwild, and uh,
we have all been to1d...I'm assuming it's all of us...many of us anyway, have
been told by FEMA that we're in a special flood plain. I'd like to know what that
means, and uh, does it have any effect on the mitigation program?
Miller/ It does, and Bill, help us out here, because...Bill, and the reason I ask Bill to help
us out is this, his part in the office, and he does have a lot of the answers, that's
why we brought him along tonight, um, but they administer the flood program for
the State of Iowa, and there are different zones and different, um, assignments
made to the zones and they do have a bearing on how we look at flood plain and
flood plain management, and they will probably have some bearing on how we
determine, uh, how you determine who's in the buyout program and who isn't.
Bill, can you talk about the different zones and what they mean?
Cappuccio/ Sure. The zones as they're shown on your flood map is anything that's
shown with an "A" associated with it. Zone A, AE, Al through 30, AH, A0.
That means it's essentially in the 100-year flood plain or what they call the
"special flood hazard area." Anything that's outside the Zone A is considered to
be above that 100-year flood plain. Zone X, B, and C, uh, and so most of the
Idyllwild, uh, subdivision is shown on the map as being in a Zone B or X...X as I
recall, it's agray-shaded area. Now the Idyllwild, uh, subdivision has got an
interesting history. And that is that back when it was originally, uh, constructed,
it was a, it was considered to be a flood-prone piece of property. The developer
came in, filled it, got it removed from...got FEMA to remove it from the flood
plain by something called a Letter of Map Revision based on fill. They filled it
above the elevation of the 100-year flood. FEMA accepted that as being safe
enough to be removed from the flood plain, took it out of the regulatory authority
of the community by removing it from the regulatory flood plain. And then the
subdivision was built, and this is what I seem to recall. I...peripherally
remembered. In 2002, the flood maps for the City were, uh, updated. They were
updated to reflect discharge changes on the Iowa River, uh, due to a regulated
flow analysis that the Corps of Engineers had done on Coralville Lake. And on
actually several other, all the other Corps reservoirs in the state, Red Rock and
Saylorville also. And so, it wound up being that the 100-year flood profile went
up, generally about one foot. In doing that, all the...the Letter of Map Revision
would go back to FEMA to be reviewed. As I recall, the Letters of Map Revision
were validated as still being, um, in effect, saying that those areas were still
removed from the 100-year flood plain, and still considered to be 500-year flood
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plain. And that's what I recall about Idyllwild. (unable to hear person from
audience) Uh, from...that's a very good question. When did you get those?
(unable to hear person from audience) I'm sorry, when did you get these letters?
(unable to hear person responding)
Lombardo/ The question was, why did, uh, letters come back with certain designation
that (several talking)
Cappuccio/ Well, that's a very good question. I'm not going to say that is a, isn't a
mistake, because we do see, I mean, because we do see those things occur.
(unable to hear person from audience) Okay, and you're in Idyllwild. Okay,
well, I'll tell you what. Should I just give my phone number out to everybody,
and (laughter) if I had yours I'd give it out too, Dave, but anyway (laughter).
Vogel/ I'll give mine out! I (both talking)
Cappuccio/ All right, I'm just teasing. It's 515-281-8942. (unable to hear person from
audience) 515-281-8942.
(female)/ And Bill, what is your last name?
Cappuccio/ Oh, you're going to love that! Uh, it's Cappuccio -Cappuccio. We're
probably out of time now after that, aren't we? (laughter) No problem.
(applause) I'm not...(several talking)
McGuire/ Okay, L ..I think earlier, and I know this question is going to go on, and when I
talk with Bill outside I got a very clear answer, but, uh, and this goes back to a
number of people. What is the designation - is it, okay, so let me...if you can go
through that whole thing, and I'll give you a scenario and, okay. Many of the
neighborhoods, and especially, many of the homes for instance in Parkview
Terrace are a combination of 500 structures in 100-year, on 100-year ground. So,
when I use the word property I actually don't mean the structure, but I mean the
ground. So you've got 100-year structures on...I'm sorry, 500-year
structures...(unable to hear person responding)...structures that are above 650.
The floor, and we're not...well, let's go to that. Is a basement a floor?
(male)/ Yes it is.
McGuire/ So if your...if I'm in a home and my outer wall is at 650.5, and the house sits
on top of that wall, but underneath is a basement, okay, but is that structure a 100-
year structure or a 500-year structure?
Cappuccio/ Let me answer the questions. That's where it comes down to the elevation of
the ground. FEMA's flood maps are based not on the elevation of the structure.
They're based on the elevation of the ground the structure sits on. Okay? So if
you have ground, let's say that the elevation...let's say that the elevation of the
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100-year flood is 850. If your ground is located at 850.1, then your structure,
your property, can be...is not in the 100-year flood plain. If the map shows it in
the 100-year flood plain, you could, through Letter of Map Amendment, get it
removed. If on the other case your...the elevation of your ground is 849.8, no
matter how high you take and elevate your structure, you're still in the 100-year
flood plain, because your ground is in the 100-year flood plain. Now the other
question about the basement. Again, if your ground is above the elevation of the
100-year flood, you could dig a basement. You could have a basement as deep as
you want to. You're not in the 100-year flood plain by FEMA's map, so you
don't have to worry about where your lowest floor is. But if you are in the 100-
year flood plain, you have to have your lowest floor, including the basement of
the new structure or substantially damaged one elevated one foot above the 100-
year flood.
McGuire/ So, Bill, life is never that simple. What if you have a property that is one-third
ground that's 100-year...
Cappuccio/ You're in the 100-year flood plain.
McGuire/ Okay. So, I...and I raise this question because I know, uh...
Cappuccio/ Can I add to that? What they call it is the lowest adjacent grade, so what you
look for is the lowest ground as it touches your foundation, at the lowest ground
as it touches your foundation is above the 100-year flood, then you can get
removed from the 100-year flood plain. If it's below the 100-year flood, then
you're in it. One other thing, you're right -it's not always simple. A lot of that
has to do with when that property was constructed and if a fill was placed since
the flood map was originally published.
McGuire/ So, for Idyllwild, uh, they...they had somebody come in and move them out
of...
Cappuccio/ They came in with engineered fill, elevated it above the 100-year flood, and
removed the property from the 100-year flood plain by what we call a Letter of
Map Revision, based on fill. A loamer "F."
McGuire/ Now the reason I ask this question is because uh, in the Parkview Terrace
neighborhood, if you were to look at it, there's certain properties that are just one
fell swoop, 100-year structures below 650 on ground that is below 650, but then
there's a broader swath of structures that are, uh, you know, the foundation of the
home, uh, not including the basement -abasement below that -but just say the
exterior wall, is 650, 651, but their property is either wholly...the ground is either
wholly, uh, 100 or partially 100, and I raise that because all of a sudden it changes
the number of homes that are in for buyout purposes, if I understand this
correctly, within the 100-year flood plain in Parkview Terrace neighborhood. Is
that right?
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Cappuccio/ If you take, well, start with what the map shows and if the map doesn't show
what your situation is, you have the opportunity through Letter of Map
Amendment to get the map changed. (both talking) On either side.
Lombardo/ So, we're out of time. We're going to be reviewing the last ten minutes of
this, um, several times as we figure out who's in what flood plain, I'm sure. Um,
please call with additional questions. We're going to take afive-minute break and
uh, then proceed into a Council work session. Thank you all for coming.
BREAK
July 29, 2008 Special City Council Work Session 8:45 P.M.
Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Correia, Hayek, O'Donnell, Wilburn, Wright
Staff: Lombardo, Helling, Dilkes, Karr, Dulek, Davidson, Fosse, Boothroy
Others: None
Flood Matters:
Bailey/ Okay, um, for the first item on our work session I'd like to start just a little bit,
uh, reflection or follow-up questions that we need to have answered from what we
just heard. Are there additional questions, um, thoughts from what we just heard
regarding the buy-out program, or discussion points?
Wright/ Um, this may not be related directly to at least the FEMA buy-out program - it
does to, uh, possibly being able to leverage some of the other funds. Do we have,
uh, any ideas at this point...we have an idea of when we might have an idea of
when some of those funds might be available, or...or what opportunities other
than CDBG that that might be?
Bailey/ Um, when we were in D.C., and Michael will add to this, uh...
Wright/ Could you just eat that microphone, Regenia?
Bailey/ When we were in D.C., um, there were a couple of different pots of money that
they talked about -the mitigation program, which we're pretty familiar with from
FEMA. The CDBG, which Michael mentioned tonight, and will talk a little. bit
more about those details, and then the EDA, and um, as you know, when the first
appropriations bill there was an additional $300 million in CDBG funding for the
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disaster states, and there was an additional $100 million, um, coming through,
um, the EDA for the disaster states. The challenge from what I understand, and I
spoke to a staff member today regarding CDBG funding, the State doesn't know
the time schedule, as far as I understand, and I don't think you've heard anything
lately, so do you want to just flush that out, Michael?
Lombardo/ Yeah, and we...we really tried to get specific answers, and so much depends
on, um, what Congress is willing to do at this point and what they're capable
of...they have a couple weeks left to introduce bills and have them acted on
or...or ultimately maybe not be until September sometime, um, that we get an
answer, and...and if they miss those deadlines because of internal negotiations or
discussions about what the appropriate level is, it, you know, they're going to take
another bite out of it, at, you know, after the first of the year so there's not going
to be just one opportunity, but they aren't even certain internally, specifically
when that other...additional appropriation is going to be accomplished or not.
They're working to maximize that right now.
Bailey/ So what we're working with, um, is that first appropriations bill, and what we've
got people talking to the State about are those dollars, and they don't have a time
schedule, and I think that that's part of our challenge, particularly i£..and they
also haven't decided regarding CDBG funding if they're lifting the restrictions.
Am I...do I have that correct? At this, okay, at this point. So that's where that is
right now. Go ahead.
Lombardo/ If I could just add. There is a deep understanding on the part of our, uh,
federal representatives that...that the way the CDBG program is structured
currently that, uh, restrictions will have to be lifted to make it effective for, not
just our needs, but all of Iowa. So they are looking at the rules that pertain to
those programs, and...and what, you known, needs to be done to make sure that if
they make the funding available through those programs we're able to use it.
Bailey/ And CD...the current, um, appropriations bill with the extra $300 million of
CDBG will not come to us directly as an entitlement city, but will come through
the State, through the Department of Economic Development, and subsequent
appropriations bills, I think we should be talking to, um, our federal elected to talk
about entitlement cities receiving money directly. This happened in Grand Forks
in 97. It enabled them to get money more quickly to the people who needed it,
and I think that that's something, um, we're advocating for, should continue to
advocate for, is that entitlement cities, we recognize that some money will need to
come to the State, but entitlement cities, because we're set up to deal with that
CDBG system, um, should get our funding directly. So, if you talk to people, if
you talk to Congressman Loebsack, if you talk to Senator Harkin or Senator
Grassley, I think that we should be advocating, as an entitlement city, to get, uh,
future appropriations from CDBG directly in response to this disaster. Other
questions from tonight's discussion?
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Champion/ When I was hearing the description of cost analysis, whatever that term they
used, and they kind of made it clear that the 100-year flood plain is where the
stress is going to be...interested in the future. Is there other money for other
mitigation, like if we wanted to get an engineer to tell us what we could do to
preserve Idyllwild and parts of "mosquito flats." Is there other monies available
for that kind of mitigation?
Bailey/ CDBG, if they lift the restrictions, is our understanding it could be used for that,
as well as potentially some EDA money, um, but at this time we don't know
because they haven't lifted the restrictions. Did you want to add something?
Lombardo/ Only in that, you know, the determination of substantial damage is also a
factor. So, even if homes are not in the 100-year flood plain and have substantial
damage...we heard that the multiple iterations of determining whether a structure
is in the 100-year flood plain or not, there's a lot of work to be done, probably on
a house-by-house basis to make some determination, um, of whether FEMA
will...will...or the State, will deem it as in the 100-year flood plain or not, and I
have a feeling based on the topography and the nature of the houses that are in
both neighborhoods, there's going to be quite a bit of...of work to be done there
to determine that.
Bailey/ Other questions?
Hayek/ Sort of apropos...Connie's comment, um, is this even on? Okay, apropos
Connie's comment, um, I think...my assessment of where we are as a city right
now is we collected a lot of information on...on the buyout program, as much as
we can reasonably collect at this point in time, and the process is under way to see
how far that takes us, um, but...with respect to more general comprehensive river-
front planning, just starting that process, and that's a process that will require
engineering and hydrology and the input from a lot of experts, um, and...and I
think that it's important for the City to push forward in that broader
comprehensive sense, as well, and I know that we will do so, but I think it's
important for us to communicate that to the community, because the...the reality
is starting to set in that there maybe limited funds for buyouts, uh, and people
are...are realizing that, uh, but that leaves then this issue of what do we do, uh,
regarding riverfront protection in the corridor generally, and that's...that's what I
think we ought to be focused on and I met with Jerry Anthony and Steve McGuire
and that's the message they were communicating from their neighborhood, as
well, um, and I know we're doing that. Michael, you and I talked about that, but I
think as a Council it's important for us to...to maintain focus on buyouts, but also,
uh, place a great deal of focus on, uh, more global issues regarding our riverfront.
Bailey/ Did you want to talk about (unable to hear)
Lombardo/ Only to affirm what, you know, Matt said - we are, uh, working with the
University and with Coralville to discuss that very thing, and...and whether or not
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we can agree to a process to reconsider that corridor or...or if, you know, there
are specific needs, and we need to take it to a different level as a community, you
know, we'll determine that, but there is, um, a broad agreement that this is a
process we can enter into together. We're talking about the details of it and what
it might look like and trying to look at all the different aspects before we propose
to you or...or anyone else really a specific process for getting at that. We're
trying to understand what...what can we agree to, and...in terms of not just
process, but areas and...and, you know, what do all of the independent entities
want to get out of such a process.
Hayek/ And admittedly, it's a far more complex issue to...to tackle when you've got
numerous municipalities, uh, and the University, who have to be part of that
conversation for it to be effective, but it's going to be important for us to do that
and to communicate that we're doing it.
Bailey/ Other comments, questions? Okay. Um, other items...I just wanted, I thought
we should go through tonight.
Wilburn/ I'm sorry. I did...I wanted to add one thing - it just occurred to me, uh,
Regenia. Um, I agree with the stuff that you pointed out, Matt, but we don't want
to lose site that we're trying to max...this presentation tonight reinforced to me
the importance of trying to, uh, proceed with the buyout plan, looking for other
resources. We're trying to maximize the external dollars, external to the City's
uh, budget, um, because then those are...many are going to require a match, and
we're going to have to at that point decide what our local capacity, our local
financial capacity to...to assist. That's where you get into, uh, how much of the
need we're going to be able to address, and certainly we don't want to lose site of
the other things, but...unfortunately the part that we can't control is time, and
processes of other entities, in terms of time, and that's...that's going to be a
frustration we...we will not be able to take away from folks, but, uh, we should
continue to proceed, um, with the best information we have, uh, and make the
decisions that we can make as, uh, those steps come around.
Bailey/ Okay. One of the things I wanted to highlight, uh, in your, uh, mailboxes we...I
put the packet that we took to D.C. As you can see, our number one goal as we
indicated to the community is to seek increased funding for the buyout program,
and that's when we were told that CDBG funds and some of these other funds
could potentially be used for that. We also talked about, um, some other
mitigation strategies, as you...you have alluded to, um, consideration of elevation
of Dubuque Street and replacement of Park Road bridge, and this becomes a
regional project. It has influence on Coralville. It has influence on the
University, and Coralville and the University joined us in D.C. so we all, uh,
talked about this particular project, and then we talked about, uh, the relocation of
the north wastewater treatment plant. So as we've discussed, this was a concern
during the event, and something that certainly has down-river implications, which
seem to interest our elected officials about the regional impact of this particular
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flood mitigation project. So, that information you have. We...we met with, uh,
Senator Harkin's staff; Senator Harkin was ill that day so was unable to meet with
us. We met with Congressman Loebsack and his staff, and we met with Senator
Grassley and his staff, and they understand and are working very hard on getting
funding. They were all very disappointed that the second appropriations bill was
not going to be voted on before they recessed in August, um, but encouraged us to
stay in contact and we've followed up with them with electronic files of...of these
projects. Um, Rick and Jeff and Michael can answer any specific questions about
these projects, but generally I think we felt it was a good trip, a challenging one to
get back, but a good trip all in all. So, um, and I think that this is something we're
going to have to continue, as you talk with people, as they're in the district during
the recess, talking about these projects and talking about, um, how we're moving
forward as a community, talking about the long-term river corridor planning
project, I think, is also going to be important. So, are there any questions or
comments about that, um, those efforts? And as you know, these projects came
from the longer list, and I'll just point out that you might have noticed that on
goal number two, the cost is at $21 million. On the first memo that we received,
that cost was around $11 million I believe, or $11.5, and that was based upon 93
costs. So, if people see that discrepancy, you can explain that these are more
accurate, updated numbers, right, Rick? Okay. Okay, any comments or questions
about that? Matt, do you have an update about the business fund? I know that
you guys have met.
Hayek/ Yeah, here's some good news. Um, we formed a...an ad-hoc committee. Wendy
Ford, our Economic Development Coordinator, me, and then, uh, Alicia Streeter
of the Chamber of Commerce, uh, concerning the $75,000 that the City allocated,
uh, to, uh, business clean-up expenses, uh, to which the Chamber of Commerce is
pledging, uh, funds, and I think to date they've got somewhere in the low-five
figures already in the coffers. Um, and in the course of two meetings in the last
two weeks, we have allocated about $67,000 to...I don't know, maybe fourteen
businesses, uh, my math may not be exactly right, um, actually it'd be two more
than that because fifteen times...yeah. $67,000 to a number of businesses,
and...and the applications are still coming in. They're tapering off a little bit. I
don't know if we'll have enough money to...to fund all of the applications, but
we're trying to be consistent and fair about it, and we're funding businesses on a
first-come, first-serve basis, um, and we're getting the money out there, and so I
think checks have already been delivered to some places.
Correia/ So will we get a list of all the businesses (person talking away from mic, unable
to hear). Oh! We'll get a list of all the businesses that have been assisted?
Hayek/ Oh, I'm sure we will.
Bailey/ Questions for Matt? That's great. Um.. .
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Champion/ Oh, I just have one question. I know Coralville also added some money to
that pot. Is that part of that same pot you're dealing with?
Hayek/ No, it's not.
Champion/ Okay.
Hayek/ There's a different committee for that.
Champion/ Okay.
Hayek/ Uh, and the Chamber is coming up with an equitable way of dealing with
contributions made to them when it relates to businesses in Iowa City versus
Coralville. Uh, and admittedly in Coralville the needs of businesses, uh, greatly
exceed those in Iowa City.
Bailey/ Other questions? Thanks. Um, Michael, can you talk a little bit...there was a
request, you know (unable to hear) trailers, um, there have been some discussions
about FEMA trailers and other Council Members may have been hearing this, and
I just thought if you have an update that would be helpful for...
Lombardo/ Yeah, I can do that. Um, Rod Sullivan has agreed to coordinate with
Coralville and Iowa City. I'm in contact with him, uh, about getting trailers to
this area and getting them placed. There's some rumor or speculation out there
that, um, we are refusing trailers, and nothing further from the truth can be
happening. What I think...what I think has happened is that the areas, the parks
that have pads available that can receive trailers, currently are not in Iowa City
proper, that they maybe out and around the edges or in North Liberty. I mean, I
left a message for Rod, but clarify that for me, but we...we're not turning trailers
away. We're...this is somewhat of a new understanding of the need, and so
we've agreed to work with them to...to, as collectively as possible, get trailers to
the needs of the people who...who are requesting them.
Bailey/ Questions? I don't know if others have received calls. Now, trailers have to be
on like mobile home pads. I mean, they just can't be parked and...somebody
called me about parking one on their property. I mean...(person talking away
from mic, unable to hear) You could just grab the microphone.
Lombardo/ I asked Rod if he had specific information on terms of how that works so that
we can just get together, debrief and understand it, either he or Dave Wilson or,
you know, so we don't have to chase down that information ourselves. Um, so
I've asked for an update on all that.
Correia/ Yeah, and actually the County Planning and Zoning Commission contacted all
the mobile home parks and knows how many open pads are available at each park
in the County, so there's an email that went out identifying the, um, sort of the
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first choice of all the parks based on ease of transportation, `cause like Forest
View has...and Iowa City has available pads. There's transportation there. Um,
some of the others that are right on, in the county, but right on the line, um,
Modern Manor and on Scott Boulevard where there's transportation and same
with Lakeview, so...um, but at the long-term recovery committee what we
learned was that, um, FEMA doesn't offer trailers. The community has to request
trailers and so, um, that needed to come from some entity, government entity, in
the county.
Bailey/ And as we get numbers, it might be helpful to know how many Iowa City
residents are in trailers. I mean, that would be a probably a good talking point as
we...
Lombardo/ Yeah, as this comes together, I'll absolutely update you and give you all that
information.
Bailey/ Thank you. Other questions that you....um, I just wanted to let you know that the
Rebuild Iowa Commission, and we have quite a few, um, local members,
including Marian, is on a task force that meets tomorrow morning, quite a few
local people who placed and applied for task forces, so we do have representation
from Iowa City on those task forces. The Rebuild Iowa Commission is doing a
tour on Thursday, a brief tour in the area, and they will have a commission
meeting in Cedar Rapids on...this Thursday afternoon, July 31St, from 2:00 to
5:00. I haven't seen the agenda; I wanted to bring it for all of you. They haven't
posted it yet, um, and I plan to attend, but would welcome others to attend that,
just so we hear sort of their discussion and their process. So, it's at Kirkwood,
um, I think it's...I think the meeting itself is in Iowa Hall, but if anybody is
interested also in attending I can get you that information. I've called them a
couple times for the agenda. So I just wanted to give you a heads up about that,
and we will be on the tour. Rick is preparing materials for that. They're bringing
a 52-person bus. I don't know if they're filling the 52-person bus, um, but they're
doing that. So, that visit is this Thursday, and then they have subsequent visits to
other areas of the state, and the report is due to the Governor's office, um, the
Tuesday after Labor Day. So, um, that's how that's proceeding and how we're
participating with that. Other issues? Flood issues. Um, are there other flood
issues for our upcoming work session? Will we have the Notice of Interest draft,
um, by August 11 tn~
Davidson/ What we're going to do in order to give everybody `til next, a week from
Friday, is you won't have anything in your packets, but I will update you at your
work session on the 1 ltn as to exactly what the final numbers are, uh, I think
everybody's heard we've gotten 82 already, uh, and we expect a lot more. So, uh,
don't look for anything in your packets, but I'll update you on the l ltn
Bailey/ Okay. Are there other, um, questions or issues that we will want to discuss
concerning the flood at that work session, in addition to the Notice of Interest?
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We can update on the Commission and the tour. Other items that you think of,
Michael? Flood related, yeah, let's start with flood. If you have, um, if you have
things that you want us to discuss on that work session, so we could put it on...on
the schedule, let Michael know for that.
Hayek/ Is that work session flood only, or is it flood plus regular?
Bailey/ It's flood plus. It's a flood plus, and it can continue...we have a Council meeting
that night, as well, and the work session can continue after. So we could do a
flood after... flood work session after. (mumbled)
Hayek/ I don't care how we divvy it up, but my question would be, at some point we're
going to be getting some mid-year, or August budget information. When do we
take that up as a Council and discuss it?
Lombardo/ Um, I think Kevin's committed to, uh, second week of August of having that,
so it's conceivable the end of August that we would then bring that before you.
Um, I saw initial numbers, but he said they were very cursory and...
Hayek/ So not at the August 11, but the next.
Lombardo/ The 27th, I think it...maybe, um...and we have a whole host of other issues
that pending, um, the Mayor and I chatted about some of them. I want to meet
with, uh, Dale and staff to discuss some of them, as well, and I think we need to
roughly prioritize those, that list or order them, and then get together with you
to...to discuss what do you want to talk about first and start getting that
scheduled, and...the list is quite long and there's some large items on there.
Bailey/ So we plan to get back to our pending list pretty...and we have quite a hefty
pending list, so work sessions in, um, August and September are probably going
to be rather lengthy. Questions, other questions?
Champion/ I think the hardest things for us to decide is how we're going to prioritize all
this information, um, how we're going to get together...the Letter of Intent or
whatever you call that. That's pretty easy, just send everybody (mumbled) but
then we're going to have to come up with a program.
Davidson/ Yeah, and, Connie, the one thing I'd ask you all to remember is that
September 12th deadline for the Notice of Interest. Um, I would really appreciate,
if it's possible for you, to give us any change in direction based on the
information that you'll have about this intake process, uh, I would hate to wait `til
that last City Council meeting in August to get your final direction for what you
want the Notice of Interest to be, because it just may not give us enough time. As
much as you can give us on August 11th about what you want that Notice of
Interest to be, if you want to put any limitations...
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Champion/ Well, I think we've determined that, that we're going to...
Davidson/ Right. You have, as of now, but my understanding is, based on the
information we present you, you may wish as a body of seven to make...to make
a change in your policy towards that. As much as you can do at the work session
on the 11th, we would really appreciate it.
Wilburn/ You would prefer not to pull an all-nighter the night before it's due, is what
you're saying.
Davidson/ Thank you for putting it more specifically, Mr. Wilburn. (laughter)
Bailey/ Okay, other items? Okay. Thanks, and um, thanks to staff for setting up that
town hall meeting. I think it was really helpful.
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