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.