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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-12-04 Minutes numberedCity of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: December 13, 1996 To: Mayor and City Council Johnson County Board of Supervisors From: City Clerk Re: Joint Meeting of the City Council of Iowa City and the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, December 4, 1996 - 5:55 p.m. in the Council Chambers Mayor Naomi J. Novick presiding. Council present: Novick, Kubby, Lehman, Norton, Thornberry, Vanderhoef. Absent: Baker. City staff present: Atkins, Helling, Woito, Karr, Fowler, Franklin, Davidson. Board of Supervisors present: Duffy, Bolkcom, Lacina, Sehr, Stutsman. Johnson County Staff present: Carol Peters. Board of Supervisors elect: Jordahl. Tapes: Reel 96-143, Side 2; 96-144, Side 1 SEATS Reel 96-143, Side 2 SEATS Director Larry Olson, Asst. Director Burnell Chadek, Parking and Transit Director Fowler, and Assistant PCD Director Davidson presented information about SEATS. Olson and Chadek presented an update and review of the Summary Report for 7/1/96 to 9/30/96 SEATS tour and ridership. Olson stated that he has had problems generating data since software was installed, and noted that he has given a copy of a similar report to the Iowa City Transit Department for their comments. Olson explained that 614 pages of data were generated for the first three months. Olson explained that the tour share information is the fairest way to allocate the cost of providing a SEATS trip. Novick asked Olson to define a tour share. Olson referred to the Appendix and stated that rather than allocate the entire length of a trip to the Iowa City passenger to Iowa City and allocate the entire length of the trip for the rural passenger to Johnson County, SEATS accounts for the efficiency of the overlap and divides it up. Kubby noted that the data processing is an incredible amount of work and doesn't seem to be efficient to do it every day. Burnell Chadek stated that as rides are actually pedormed the computer collects the trip minutes and tour share data and the tour share data is the most important information. In response to Stutsman, Norton said Council is interested in data that they can understand. Novick asked why it is taking more time with the computers than they did with paper and pencil. Olson explained that once SEATS personnel are fully trained there will be some savings in the dispatch area. In response to Lehman, Olson stated that Chadek went over similar information with Ron Logsden. Bolkcom stated he would like to consider monthly reports. Lehman stated he is interested in getting information from Fowler regarding what input is needed by Transit. Lacina said an issue is the collection of data that is usable and the county needs to know if the software is adequate and can be correctly analyzed. Fowler stated that staff is meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss the report. Kubby requested that staff look at the possibility of monthly reports. Lacina noted that ice storms, etc. influence ridership and Council is going to need more than 12 reports a year. In response to Norton, Fowler said tour minutes is the most accurate measure and is as close as you can get for assigning actual cost. Bolkcom stated that he would like to move away from weekly reports but still meet contractual obligations. Fowler stated he will evaluate information received from Johnson County and report back to City Council. 2 Bolkcom asked if SEATS monthly passes can be reinstituted. Novick stated the City cannot afford it. Duffy explained that he has heard from volunteers who are eligible to ride SEATS and are requesting a monthly pass. Kubby requested information regarding the number of monthly passes that would be issued. Olson estimated that approximately 30 monthly passes were issued. Lehman raised concerns about unlimited ridership with monthly passes. Lehman suggested using a type of monthly pass that limits the number of rides. Lacina suggested seeing if software is capable of doing a search by identification number and using a rider ID system. Council and Supervisors discussed the number of rides, income eligibility, and volunteers using monthly passes. Norton said he would like to know the number of passes used. Kubby inquired about the request for proposals and multiyear contracts. Davidson explained that if Iowa City continues to contract for paratransit service the City has to go out for an RFP. If the City were to decide that they want to operate SEATS themselves an RFP is not required. Davidson noted that the length of the contract can be up to five years. A majority of Council (Kubby, Norton, Vanderhoef, and Lehman) requested that staff relook at SEATS monthly pass information for Council consideration. LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX Reel 96-143, Side City Council and Board of Supervisors discussed local option sales tax. City Attorney Woito provided information. Novick explained that Cedar Rapids and Des Moines are planning to put a local option tax on the ballot. Norton asked that if a local option sales tax is established, can a municipality ask the Board of Supervisors to repeal that tax at any time? Woito explained that the statute reads the County can repeal any portion of the tax without an election, and the County can impose a repeal date without an election at the end of any calendar quarter, Lacina emphasized that the drafting of a petition to place the local option sales tax on a ballot is really important. In response to Lacina, Woito explained that a 28E agreement would not be affected. Novick emphasized that if Linn County institutes a local option sales tax Iowa City should bring it up again. Lehman stated that the Council was willing to put it on a ballot if they could agree how to spend it. Norton stated it would be easier to do the local option sales tax at this time if Linn County and Des Moines had it. Stutsman urged everyone to look at the local option sales tax as another source of revenue. Kubby stated Council and Supervisors should demand from the state more progressive options for different kinds of more fair taxes locally that they can choose from and to fix the rollback system that the state currently has. Novick suggested that the State Revenue Department representative present information regarding local option sales tax to County elected officials at an open meeting. In response to Vanderhoef, Woito stated that there is nothing in the statute to prohibit establishing a date and a percentage and designated purpose over two to three timeframes. Woito stated she would not recommend more than two timeframes. Bolkcom noted that the Johnson County Board of Supervisors are meeting with state legislators Saturday, 9 a.m. at the County Administration building. Kubby stated that residential growth isn't paying for itself and is putting more pressure on City and County to provide the kind of services our growing county needs. Lacina stated there is an impact from the restructuring of human services. Lehman stated there are more and more people 3 who want more costly City services. Novick stated that downtown merchants are going to be more willing to accept a sales tax because they are requesting more services. In response to Sehr, Woito explained that statute allows the Board of Supervisors to repeal the local option sales tax effective at the end of the calendar quarter during which you adopt a repeal motion. Slutsman stated that she would like the County and City to come together to hear information about local option sales tax. City Council and Board agreed to set up a meeting with a state representative to receive information about the local option sales tax. In response to Kubby, Novick stated that invitations will be sent to leaders of each community in Johnson County and a public announcement put in area newspapers regarding the meeting. SOUTH CORRIDOR ISSUES/WOLF SEWER Reel 96-144, Side I Norton asked that the City and County work together on the proposal for private sewage disposal system in the south corridor area. Norton noted that Iowa City has moved up the southwest interceptor sewer project to FY98. Bolkcom stated that he thought the County would want to restrict the ability to be a sewer provider to other properties. Lacina asked if there would be a special assessment against property owners for the sewer lines. Kubby stated that Council would need to consider a tap-on fee. Bolkcom stated that a policy question is does the City and County want a private entity providing services in that part of the county? Vanderhoef asked what was the thinking of the County when approving a sewer system in that area? Duffy stated that Wolf's other private sewage disposal system is perfectly clean, works good, and meets the same state regulations. In response to Norton, Lacina stated that they have to meet all state regulations. Kubby raised concerns about accountability issues regarding cleanup and repairs. Lehman stated people are going to request City services when problems arise. Bolkcom stated he would be interested in more information regarding public and private disposal systems. Lacina asked what difference is the jurisdiction? Bolkcom noted that the proposal is a rural subdivision. Norton raised concerns about the entrance into town. Kubby noted that City Council is looking at an entrance overlay zone. Duffy stated that the Wolf development will be a beautiful place. Duffy noted that Iowa law allows 2,000 gallons of effluent leakage from sewer pipes per mile. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES Reel 96-144, Side 1 City Council and County Board of Supervisors discussed industrial development issues relating to airport and Streb property. PCD Director Franklin provided information. Kubby noted she is hearing conflicting things about the Streb property as it relates to annexation. Kubby stated the City does not want a commercial strip along Scott Boulevard. Kubby asked if there were other things the County is interested in investing for increased tax base that will be realized in jobs? Lacina stated the City needs to invite Mr. Streb and his engineer in and sit down to talk to him regarding his plans. Franklin presented information regarding development of property along Highway 1. In response to Duffy, Franklin stated that when the City works on district plans, area property owners are contacted. Franklin explained that area property ownera were contacted during the airport master plan process. Franklin stated that information from the airport master plan will be incorporated in the land use plan. 4 GREEN BELT 965 Reel 96-144, Side1 City Council and Board of Supervisors discussed green belt/open space and cemetery use along proposed west alignment for Highway 965. Kubby stated that she would like to consider a rolling wooded area along the west alignment for 965. WEST HIGH LIGHT Reel 96-144, Side1 Stutsman raised concerns about traffic safety at the intersection of West High School entrance and Melrose Avenue. Kubby stated that Council expects financial cooperation with the school district for the project. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p,m,