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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPB Minutes January 29, 2020 ApprovedMINUTES APPROVED MPOJC RURAL POLICY BOARD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020 – 6:00 PM CITY OF IOWA CITY – COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 410 E WASHINGTON ST, IOWA CITY MEMBERS PRESENT: Hills: Tim Kemp Johnson County: Pat Heiden, Lisa Green-Douglass Oxford: Margaret Reihman (Alternate) Shueyville: Micky Coonfare Swisher: Christopher Taylor OTHERS PRESENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Brad Neumann, Sarah Walz, Frank Waisath, Ian Klopfenstein 1. CALL TO ORDER Kemp called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. a. Introduce Board members and recognize alternates Margaret Reihman was recognized as an alternate for Tim Hennes of Oxford. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Green-Douglass moved for approval of meeting minutes, with Heiden seconding. The motion carried unanimously. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None 3. ADMINISTRATION a. Consider approval of the Rural Policy Board section of the FY21 MPOJC Budget and Two- Year Financial Forecast Taylor moved for approval of the FY21 MPOJC Budget and Two-Year Financial Forecast, with Coonfare seconding. The motion carried unanimously. b. Consider approval of the FY21 Johnson County assessment schedule for the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) Heiden moved for approval of the FY21 Johnson County assessment schedule for ECICOG, with Green-Douglass seconding. The motion carried unanimously. 4. AVAILABILITY OF EAST CENTRAL IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ASSISTANCE Ralston indicated that ECICOG is the Regional Planning Association for east-central iowa, including within MPOJC’s jurisdiction. MPOJC collects ECICOG dues for Johnson County entities and forwards the funds to ECICOG. These dues are assessed on a per-capita basis and provide funding for ECICOG’s planning and grant administrative services. For FY21, ECICOG has proposed a 2% increase for the counties they serve – as reflected in the assessment schedule provided in the meeting packet. 5. DISCUSS MPOJC ORIENTATION OPPORTUNITY FOR BOARD MEMBERS Ralston explained that the opportunity is available to board members who are interested in learning more about the role, services provided, and structure of the MPO. Interested parties should contact staff and identify possible dates for an orientation. 6. DISCUSS POTENTIAL MPOJC WORK PROGRAM PROJECTS FOR FY21 There was no in-meeting discussion of potential work projects for constituent rural communities. 7. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPOINTING A REPRESENTATIVE TO A MPOJC BYLAWS REVIEW COMMITTEE Ralston shared that, per MPOJC Bylaws, bylaws are to be received every five years by a committee of representatives, with at least one coming from the RPB. Staff has received a request to specifically review the bylaws stipulating how appointments are made to the ECICOG Board of Directors. The request intends to investigate whether current term limits provide adequate time for appointees to orient themselves with ECICOG structure and processes to be active representatives. Taylor volunteered to participate in the MPOJC Bylaws Review Committee. 8. UPDATE ON SMALL COMMUNITY TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ASSISTANCE Neumann informed the board that MPOJC conducts several traffic engineering studies for smaller communities in Johnson County on an annual basis. These projects include capacity studies, speed studies, traffic signal evaluations, traffic sign and pavement marking evaluations, pedestrian crossing studies, and average daily traffic (ADT) counts. Each constituent community will soon receive a letter requesting traffic engineering studies for 2020. 9. UPDATE ON THE CRANDIC PASSENGER RAIL & RAIL-TO-TRAIL STUDIES Neumann updated the board on the status of HDR Consulting’s feasibility study, a component of Phase III of the study process. On-board bus surveys have been completed and the feasibility study is slated to complete later this month with a stakeholder presentation scheduled to follow in February. 10. CONSIDER ELECTION OF CALENDAR YEAR 2020 RURAL POLICY BOARD OFFICERS Heiden nominated Kemp for Chair and Taylor for Vice-Chair. Green-Douglass seconded the nominations. The motion to approve Kemp for Chair and Taylor for Vice-Chair carried unanimously. 11. OTHER BUSINESS None 12. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by Taylor, with Coonfare seconding. Meeting adjourned by Kemp at 6:26 PM.