BY CINDY TOOPES COURIER STAFF WRITER
July 16, 2008 12:23 am
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OTTUMWA — At their July 1 meeting, City Council members questioned paying a $9,999.60 membership fee to Area 15 Regional Planning Commission (RPC).
The council majority rejected the item and members requested an update on RPC services. They got one Tuesday night.
Answering the call were Planning Director Dave Shafer, Ottumwa Transit Authority (OTA) Administrator Pam Ward and Area 15 Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Ellen Foudree.
Shafer said the proposed resolution would authorize paying RPC for the membership fee and financial support. The payment would continued the availability of RPC’s development, grantsmanship and technical services to the city.
The 40 cents per capita fee covers July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. All city departments can use RPC’s services, he added.
In his report, Shafer noted other services and assistance provided by RPC include assistance and review of grant application to the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Economic Development Administration and State Historic Preservation Office.
“RPC occasionally serves as liaison between the city and federal agencies and provides technical assistance to several departments,” Shafer said.
RPC also works with the city on housing projects, transportation planning, regional trails planning, Ottumwa Transit Authority capital improvement/operating projects and programming city projects into the transportation improvement program.
Pam Ward, administrator of Ottumwa Transit Authority (OTA) and 10-15 Transit, emphasized the importance of RPC’s assistance in transportation.
Ward said RPC helps with planning documents, such as for new work and updates on the long-range plan.
“These are documents specific to transportation. With these we can get money from buses every time we replace one,” she said. “We have a fleet of 64 vehicles. This money is critical to us.”
Through 10-15 Transit and its Job Access Program and OTA’s door-to-door program, Ward is able to access $1.3 million for the transportation programs in the city and other areas. She said she can do so “because of RPC staff members.”
Saying she didn’t want “to belabor a point,” Ward urged the council to consider approving the RPC membership.
“This is so important,” she added.
Foudree gave each council member printed information about RPC and its services. Items included a copy of the quarterly newsletter; and three brochures, one on the commission itself, another titled “Southern Iowa Home Ownership Program” and a third, “Regional Economic Development Investments, Inc.,” which pertains to financial assistance for business start-up, expansion and retention.
She also included “Opportunity Squared Regional Analysis: Economic Development in Southeast Iowa,” a January 2008 study of workforce characteristics. The document includes laborshed details about occupations, employment, education and median wage.
Foudree said RPC is a voluntary association of member local governments whose “primary purpose” is to cooperate in finding solutions to similar local problems and needs. Any local government in the RPC service area is eligible to participate. The service area includes these counties: Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello and Wayne.
The commission is multi-jurisdictional and offers a comprehensive approach in transportation, planning and housing, according to Foudree.
“We respond to the regional angle. Ottumwa is a regional hub, a center of commerce, education and health,” she said. “We reach beyond the corporate limits.”
For first-time home buyers, RPC provided 119 loans totaling $518,000 throughout the region. Thirty-one of the 119 loans are for homes in Ottumwa, Foudree said.
RPC has also loaned $4 million in “business start-ups.” The funds went to 58 businesses that have provided 1,699 jobs. Seven of those businesses are in Ottumwa.
“We work behind the scenes with the city. We’re not highly visible but we’re always accessible,” Foudree said. “I hope we can continue.”
Councilman Keith Caviness said the “presentation was well done and very informative.”
How RPC assists on grants was of interest to Councilwoman Shannon Addison. She wondered if RPC staff members read the grant and answer the questions.
Foudree said her staff can assist by formulating the grant application.
Addison also asked what RPC’s fee would be if requested to write a grant from start to finish.
“Our grant writing services are free to members,” Foudree said.
Councilman Gordon Aistrope said he “originally had concerns” about RPC but the presentation convinced him the city gets a “good return on its investment.”
“Please, don’t assume the council knows what groups do. I suggest we do this more often,” he added.
“At your pleasure,” Foudree said.
The council unanimously approved paying another year of membership fees to Area 15 Regional Planning Commission.
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
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