City's wish list includes money for relocating I-29 utilities
Posted: Wednesday, December 05, 2007
With all the presidential candidates swinging through town, statewide issues have taken a back seat in the public eye. They won't Friday.
That's when Sioux City officials will present their legislative "wish list" to five Sioux City state lawmakers during the annual City Hall Day.
As they have in prior years, on Friday city department heads and council members will lobby for support for programs and funding from Des Moines. The meeting is held every December in advance of the January start of the legislative session. By the time the legislative bills start flying, those presidential candidates will have flown out of the Hawkeye state for good.
Scheduled to attend the 9 a.m. meeting in the Council Chambers are state Sens. Steve Warnstadt and Ron Wieck, and Reps. Christopher Rants, Roger Wendt and Wes Whitead.
The agenda contains some new items and some holdovers. Here's a preview:
Infrastructure:
In a repeat performance, the city will seek legislators' support to reduce the city's costs to relocate all those utility lines buried near or under Interstate 29 downtown when the state rebuilds the freeway. The Iowa Department of Transportation wants the city to foot the bill, estimated to cost around $30 million.
In a new proposal, the city will seek support for the new IDOT's Time 21 proposal to increase road, rail and bus funding. Time for who? It stands for Transportation Investment Moves the Economy in the 21st Century. Now you know.
Economic Development:
Expect the city to lobby heavily for state support to continue so-called border legislation to make Sioux City competitive with surrounding states through the Targeted Jobs Tax Withholding Tax Credit Program.
Last year, state lawmakers introduced the legislation at the behest of Sioux City government and business leaders, which the Legislature adopted. The state named Council Bluffs, Fort Madison, Keokuk and Sioux City as pilot project cities. Sioux City has used the program more than the other three to assist local firms expand and/or relocate.
Rants and Warnstadt played key roles in pushing the legislation, which was signed by then-Gov. Tom Vilsack.
City leaders again will push for Enterprise Zone Fund changes and support increased funding for Vision Iowa and Community Attraction and Tourism grants.
Public Safety:
Fire Chief Greg Martin will explain the need for continued funding for Iowa Task Force One, which supports Sioux City's and Cedar Rapid's Urban Search and Rescue Teams, the only ones in Iowa,
City Attorney Jim Abshier will give an update on those "red light" cameras, which the council has put on hold pending lawsuits in other cities.
Miscellaneous:
Airport Director Rick McElroy will explain the request for an increase in the percentage of funding from the Aviation Infrastructure Fund for cities that have military operations.
Chief Martin and Human Resources Director Bridey Hayes will explain a proposal to change the physical ability testing for firefighter candidates.
Once again Kurt Miller, purchasing/fleet/transit director, will seek Transit Infrastructure Funding to replace the transit systems operations and maintenance building.
Community Development Director Patty Heagel will seek support to reduce the amount of time a seller has to record a contract sale of property, while Dennis Gann, events facilities director, will seek continued funding for the Regional Sports Authority. Thanks to city lobbying efforts, that authority was created last year.
If only Santa were granting those wishes, they might come true.
*****
Quote of the Week: Following another long debate Monday on how engineering consultants are selected, Councilman Dave Ferris remarked, "Thanks to staff for not walking out on us."
Lynn Zerschling, city hall reporter, may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@lee.net. Previous columns may be read online at siouxcityjournal.com
That's when Sioux City officials will present their legislative "wish list" to five Sioux City state lawmakers during the annual City Hall Day.
As they have in prior years, on Friday city department heads and council members will lobby for support for programs and funding from Des Moines. The meeting is held every December in advance of the January start of the legislative session. By the time the legislative bills start flying, those presidential candidates will have flown out of the Hawkeye state for good.
Scheduled to attend the 9 a.m. meeting in the Council Chambers are state Sens. Steve Warnstadt and Ron Wieck, and Reps. Christopher Rants, Roger Wendt and Wes Whitead.
The agenda contains some new items and some holdovers. Here's a preview:
Infrastructure:
In a repeat performance, the city will seek legislators' support to reduce the city's costs to relocate all those utility lines buried near or under Interstate 29 downtown when the state rebuilds the freeway. The Iowa Department of Transportation wants the city to foot the bill, estimated to cost around $30 million.
In a new proposal, the city will seek support for the new IDOT's Time 21 proposal to increase road, rail and bus funding. Time for who? It stands for Transportation Investment Moves the Economy in the 21st Century. Now you know.
Economic Development:
Expect the city to lobby heavily for state support to continue so-called border legislation to make Sioux City competitive with surrounding states through the Targeted Jobs Tax Withholding Tax Credit Program.
Last year, state lawmakers introduced the legislation at the behest of Sioux City government and business leaders, which the Legislature adopted. The state named Council Bluffs, Fort Madison, Keokuk and Sioux City as pilot project cities. Sioux City has used the program more than the other three to assist local firms expand and/or relocate.
Rants and Warnstadt played key roles in pushing the legislation, which was signed by then-Gov. Tom Vilsack.
City leaders again will push for Enterprise Zone Fund changes and support increased funding for Vision Iowa and Community Attraction and Tourism grants.
Public Safety:
Fire Chief Greg Martin will explain the need for continued funding for Iowa Task Force One, which supports Sioux City's and Cedar Rapid's Urban Search and Rescue Teams, the only ones in Iowa,
City Attorney Jim Abshier will give an update on those "red light" cameras, which the council has put on hold pending lawsuits in other cities.
Miscellaneous:
Airport Director Rick McElroy will explain the request for an increase in the percentage of funding from the Aviation Infrastructure Fund for cities that have military operations.
Chief Martin and Human Resources Director Bridey Hayes will explain a proposal to change the physical ability testing for firefighter candidates.
Once again Kurt Miller, purchasing/fleet/transit director, will seek Transit Infrastructure Funding to replace the transit systems operations and maintenance building.
Community Development Director Patty Heagel will seek support to reduce the amount of time a seller has to record a contract sale of property, while Dennis Gann, events facilities director, will seek continued funding for the Regional Sports Authority. Thanks to city lobbying efforts, that authority was created last year.
If only Santa were granting those wishes, they might come true.
*****
Quote of the Week: Following another long debate Monday on how engineering consultants are selected, Councilman Dave Ferris remarked, "Thanks to staff for not walking out on us."
Lynn Zerschling, city hall reporter, may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@lee.net. Previous columns may be read online at siouxcityjournal.com
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Unimpressed Resident wrote on Dec 5, 2007 6:31 PM: