2015 Statistics

2015 Progress

2015 services

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PROGRESS

2015 Annual Report

2015 Members of the ECICOG Board

Aaron Granquist

Jasmine Almoayed

Alan Johnson

John Harris

Amy Nielsen

John Zirkelbach

Bob Yoder

Kevin Heitshusen

Brent Hinson

Linda Langston

Christopher Taylor

Pat Harney

Darrin Gage (Chair)

Todd Wiley

Dave Fish

Tony Hocamp

Don Gray

Vicki Pope

Dusty Embree

Kathleen

VanSteenhuyse

Ed Raber

2015 Statistics

2015 Progress

2015 services

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The East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) is an

intergovernmental council established in 1973 under Chapter 28E

and provided for under Chapter 28H of the Code of Iowa. Governed

by a board of directors comprised of elected officials and private

citizens, ECICOG was created to promote regional cooperation and

to provide professional planning services to local governments in

Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Tama, and Washington Counties

with additional services in Cedar and Tama Counties. A portion of our

operations are supported by a per capita assessment paid by these

counties.

Since its creation, ECICOG has become recognized as an ideal

vehicle for addressing planning

issues that require a regional

perspective. Cities and

counties benefit from the

assistance of our staff in their

efforts to promote community

and economic development,

improve housing stock in the

region, manage solid waste,

and meet the transportation

needs of the area.

2015 Statistics

2015 Progress

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Additional services available in Cedar and Tama Counties

ECICOG Chair &

Executive Director

WORDs FROM

2015 Statistics

2015 Progress

2015 services

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Words From

ECICOG Board of Directors

Chairperson

Darrin Gage

ECICOG has the pleasure of working with leaders in our planning region on a wide variety of

community development and local government projects that bring direct and tangible benefits to

individual communities and to the region.

The 2015 Annual Report highlights progress and new, impactful

initiatives in the areas of housing, economic development,

environmental services and transportation services. It is exciting to

see the many immediate and long-term benefits these projects will

produce. Please review this report to learn about the multiple and

diverse projects ECICOG is engaged in across the region – it will be

time well spent.

ECICOG is proud of our role as a local government partner

and as a leader in regional cooperation. Please contact

ECICOG if you can benefit from technical, planning or grant

writing assistance to help make your community and our

region a better place to live.

Finally, thank you to ECICOG staff for your great work. It

is gratifying to see the positive results and daily impact of

your work at the local level where it benefits people most

directly.

This year’s annual report is truly a work in progress. Not to say that the publication you’re reviewing may be subject

to change, but instead that it features resources and programs relatively new to the region and to ECICOG. And

more importantly, these resources have been applied to areas in which we saw significant progress in 2015. These

include expanded business assistance programs, expanded assistance in the formation of and planning for

watershed management authorities, a new home-ownership program, and planning for new commuter transit

services.

Personally, I don’t think the whole of this progress is measured only by the

numbers, though they help to tell the story. I think the greater indicator of

progress is the shared intent of these efforts: To combine resources to address

shared issues. Whether it’s our agency and the three housing trust funds joining

together to leverage new resources for home-ownership, or public and private

entities collaborating to improve water quality, these efforts illustrate our

shared and growing acknowledgement that so many issues cross (and in some

cases have no regard for) jurisdictional boundaries. Appropriately, the most

successful solutions will likely blur or eliminate those same boundaries.

Pablo Picasso said, “To finish a work? To finish a picture? What

nonsense! To finish it means to be through with it, to kill it, to rid it of

its soul, to give it its final blow, the coup de grace for the painter

as well as for the picture.” A bit dramatic perhaps, but I have to

agree with the sentiment. I’m glad that we as a region and

ECICOG as an organization continue to strive towards progress.

I’m glad that we continue to adapt, to create, to explore. I’m

glad that we are not, “through with it.”

Words From

ECICOG

Executive Director

Doug elliott

For Our Region

2015 PROGRESS

2015 Statistics

2015 Progress

2015 services

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Housing Rehabilitation

ECICOG oversees several different housing programs that are dedicated to improving quality of life by offering innovative and flexible funding options in order to expand affordable housing opportunities in our

region. Two of the programs include the Housing Fund for Linn County (HFfLC) started in 2007 for the Linn County area and the East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund (ECIHTF) started in 2010 for Benton, Iowa, Jones,

and Washington Counties.

Over the years our housing programs have been successful. In 2014 the two housing trust funds were

granted $864,482 and were able to use these funds to rehabilitate 193 homes. The HFfLC received $372,358 and rehabilitated 85 total households in eight different cities in Linn County, including Ely, Marion, Hiawatha,

Center Point, Springville, Robins, Troy Mills, and Cedar Rapids. The ECIHTF received $492,124 and rehabilitated 108 total households. The housing trust funds also applied and received funding in 2015

securing $724,199. The HFfLC was awarded $426,278 to use in Linn County and the ECIHTF was awarded $297,921 to use in Benton, Iowa, Jones, and Washington Counties.

HOME Program

On top of receiving the funding for housing rehabilitation in 2015, ECICOG also applied for and received funding for a first time homebuyer program. This is substantial progress for ECICOG, as it is a new housing

program we can offer to our region.

The Iowa Finance Authority HOME program awarded ECICOG $540,000. In addition, the HFfLC, the ECIHTF,

and the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County have also each contributed $42,000 to make the total funding received $666,000.

The program will help first time homeowners with down-payment assistance and repairs needed to bring the home up to local codes and rehabilitation standards. It is open to first time homebuyers in the counties of

Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington (excluding properties within the city limits of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City). ECICOG hopes to assist approximately 24 homeowners in our region.

Applications and guidelines for the program can be found online at www.ecicog.org/homebuyers-assistance.

2015 Progress

Housing & Community Development

City of Cedar Rapids & Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street RLFs

In 2009 ECICOG established a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and since then the RLF has provided over $6.2 million in loans that have assisted over 40 businesses in Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and

Washington Counties. These loans have leveraged an additional $37 million in matching funds.

Based on ECICOG’s own RLF success, in 2014 ECICOG was approached by the City of Cedar Rapids

and the Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District to administer their RLFs. The Cedar Rapids RLF was created to encourage expansion and growth in the flood impacted area. The Czech Village/New

Bohemia Main Street District RLF was created to assist new and existing businesses within the district in development and expansion efforts. In less than a year these RLFs have provided over $153,000 in

loans, assisting 8 businesses.

MICRO, MEDCO, and Marion RLFs

In 2015 ECICOG made even more progress in establishing itself as an economic development organization

by administering three new revolving loan programs. ECICOG was approached by three different organizations to help administer their RLF programs, including the City of Cedar Rapids for their MICRO Loan

program, the Marion Economic Development Corporation for the MEDCO RLF, and the City of Marion and the Marion Chamber of Commerce for their Marion RLF.

The MICRO Loan program provides small, short-term loans for businesses in the Cedar Rapids city limits. The loan program also includes help with business plan development and mentoring through SCORE of East

Central Iowa and the Cedar Rapids Public Library. The MEDCO RLF supports businesses engaged in manufacturing or service industries, supporting new and expanding businesses located with the City of

Marion. The Marion RLF provides business creation and expansion assistance for small businesses located within the City of Marion boundaries.

These three RLFs have already provided over $30,000 in loans so far, but are still very new programs. As we move into 2016, we anticipate these RLFs will continue to provide great opportunities for businesses in our

region, just as the other loan programs have this past year. For more information on any of the RLFs visit www.ecicog.org/revolving-loan-funds.

ECICOG’s New RLF branding created in 2015

2015 Progress

Economic Development

Indian Creek Watershed Plan

In 2012 the Indian Creek Watershed Management Authority (ICWMA) formed to bring together people and communities in the Indian Creek Watershed to generate ideas, plans and actions to protect the Dry, Indian and Squaw Creeks and the communities they flow through. The members of the ICWMA include Linn County, Marion, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Robins, and the Linn Soil & Water Conservation District. ECICOG’s role was to facilitate the ICWMA formation, write grant proposals for watershed planning work, and eventually collaborate on the watershed plan development.

The ICWMA, through the City of Marion, received a state grant to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan. In 2014, significant strides in plan development were made, including research and data collection, surveys, and lunch and learn goal setting sessions. In 2015 the ICWMA introduced the draft plan and held open houses to gather input from the community. After the open houses, the ICWMA incorporated the public input and finalized the Indian Creek Watershed Management Plan which can be found online at indiancreekwatershed.weebly.com/the-plan. Each of the local government ICWMA members adopted the Indian Creek Watershed Management Plan and committed to its implementation.

Clear Creek Watershed Plan

ECICOG gained significant experience in watershed planning by working with the ICWMA, and also made progress in establishing the organization as a trusted watershed planning agency. In 2015 ECICOG was approached by Coralville to facilitate the formation of the Clear Creek Watershed Coalition (CCWC), as well as draft a planning grant application.

Under ECICOG’s guidance, the CCWC was formed in 2015 as an Iowa Watershed Management Authority with full participation from all eligible watershed members, which include Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, Oxford, Tiffin, Iowa County, Johnson County, the Iowa County Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Johnson County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Additionally, ECICOG submitted an application on behalf of the CCWC, and in December of 2015 learned that they had been awarded $100,000 in watershed planning funds from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The award will go towards the development of the Clear Creek Watershed Management Plan starting in April of 2016 with a target completion date in October of 2017. Similar steps will be taken to complete the plan as was done with the Indian Creek Watershed Management Plan, including research and data collection, lunch and learn goal setting sessions, and plan open houses for public comment.

2015 Progress

Solid Waste & Environmental Services

Commuter Study and Committee

In December 2014 the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) was directed by the Iowa legislature to conduct a study about the needs and demand for commuter transportation alternatives in the Interstate 380 corridor. The study, which can be found at www.iowadot.gov/commuterstudy, focused largely on the commute between the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas and recommended a variety of transit options. The study also suggested that ECICOG be the lead agency for implementation of these transit options, specifically leading the initial efforts.

In January 2015, based on the Iowa DOT’s suggestion, ECICOG scheduled the first study implementation meeting and helped form the Corridor Commuter Transportation Steering Committee. The committee is made up of various stakeholders in our region, including those in economic development, transportation, planning, and academic institutions. The committee has met regularly for the past year and made significant strides in developing the modes of transit suggested by the study, which include a public interregional express bus service, a subscription bus service, a public vanpool program, and a public carpool program.

Vanpool Program

In late 2015 the committee made significant progress towards the development of a vanpool program, a program for the public to use in order to reduce the congestion on the Interstate 380 corridor during the work commute.

ECICOG was recommended by the committee as the agency to apply for and administer the vanpool program. Based on this recommendation, ECICOG applied for funding from the Iowa DOT through the State Transit Assistance (STA) Special Projects and the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP). ECICOG was awarded funding from the STA Special Projects in September 2015 and ICAAP in January 2016.

Based on the funding received, ECICOG is currently putting together a request for proposals in order to select a vendor to operate the vanpool program. The funding awards ECICOG received will become a monthly van subsidy to reduce the passenger fee. ECICOG’s goal is to have the vanpool up and running by in October of 2016 with a fleet of 26 vans.

For more information on the committee, meeting agendas, press releases, or news coverage visit www.ecicog.org/commuter-plan.

A variety of transit services will be branded under this logo that was recently developed by

Iowa’s Creative Corridor

In addition to the vanpool program, this

past year the Iowa DOT has been working on

rideshare software. They have selected a vendor

and will roll out the website this spring.

2015 Progress

Transportation & Regional Development

For ECICOG

2015 Statistics

2015 Statistics

2015 Progress

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Words From

Community Development Block Grants

$1,657,068 in Funding

Secured for Future

Projects in 4 Cities

Belle Plaine, Lisbon, Marengo, and Oxford Junction

Projects Completed in 3 Cities

with Funding Totaling

$1,097,000

Marengo, Onslow, and Oxford

2015 Statistics

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Revolving Loan Funds

ECICOG RLF

$6,295,195 in Loans

9 Businesses in 4 Cities

Other RLFs

$73,000 in Loans

6 Businesses

ECITransit Provider Services

201,848 Total Rides

1,109,928 Revenue Miles

76,696 Revenue Hours

6 Providers

Providers include Benton County Transportation, Iowa County Transportation, Johnson County Seats, Jones County Jets,

Linn County Lifts and Washington County Mini Bus

Hazard Mitigation Planning

1 5-Year Plan Completed

Serving 7 Cities,

4 School Districts

Clear Creek Watershed

9 Members and

100% Participation in the

Clear Creek Watershed Coalition

$100,000 Planning Grant Awarded

Secured only watershed planning grant in the state at the time

Indian Creek Watershed

70 Attendees at

2 Plan Open Houses

1 Women Caring for the Land Workshop

30 Attendees

6 Member governments adopted the

Watershed Management Plan

2015 Statistics

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2015 Statistics

Solid W

aste

& E

du

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tion

ser

vices

Summer Library Reading Program

1,263 Attendees 30 Programs

27 Libraries

6 Counties

Iowa Waste Exchange

286 Businesses Assisted

73 Materials Matched, Resulting in

2,208 Tons of Waste Diverted from Landfills

$71,012 Cost Savings from Diversion

Educational Services

2,280 Attendees 58 Programs

Programs include assemblies, classrooms, day care, summer care, libraries, conferences and Civic Groups

Indian Creek Watershed Website

62 Unique Visitors Weekly

197 Pages Viewed Weekly

Tama County Landfill Website

10 Unique Visitors Weekly

13 Pages Viewed Weekly

Website created for Tama County Solid Waste

Commission in August 2015

ECICOG Website

583 Unique Visitors Weekly

2,860 Pages Viewed Weekly

2015 Statistics

On

lin

e P

resen

ce

Facebook

457 Likes

1,738 Monthly Reach

Across all Facebook pages, including ECICOG, Iowa Waste Exchange, and

Indian Creek Watershed

ECICOG On Google+

350 Views Weekly

Google+ page was created to connect with other organization and

to increase ECICOG’s website SEO and online visibility

To Member Governments

2015 services

2015 Statistics

2015 Progress

2015 services

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BENTON COUNTY

City of Atkins · Comprehensive Plan · Summer Library Reading Program · SRF Adiministration City of Belle Plaine · Comprehensive Plan · CDBG Wastewater Project · CDBG Housing Application City of Garrison · Garrison Fun Day Booth City of Keystone · Assist with Collection Contract · Summer Library Reading Program City of Luzerne · Assist with Collection Contract City of Shellsburg · Summer Library Reading Program City of Urbana · Research for City Clean-Up Day · School Recycling Presentations · SWAP Application Assistance City of Van Horne · Summer Library Reading Program City of Vinton · Recycling Education Benton County · Benton County Conservation Day · ECIHTF Home Repair Grant Administration · FHLB Application/AHP Administration · Housing Trust Fund Administration · Landfill Services Education & Promotion · Solid Waste E-Newsletter · SW Commission Research and Assistance

IOWA COUNTY

City of Ladora · Assistance to Firefighters Application · Hazard Mitigation Planning City of Marengo · CDBG Wastewater Phase 2 & Phase 3 Projects · Elementary Assembly Program · Hazard Mitigation Planning · Iowa Valley CSD Hazard Mitigation Planning · Summer Library Reading Program City of Millersburg · Hazard Mitigation Planning City of North English · Hazard Mitigation Planning · North English CSD Hazard Mitigation Planning · Summer Library Reading Program City of Parnell · Hazard Mitigation Planning City of Victor · Hazard Mitigation Planning · HLV CSD Hazard Mitigation Planning City of Williamsburg · Assist with Collection RFP Process · Hazard Mitigation Planning · Summer Reading Program · Williamsburg CSD Hazard Mitigation Planning Iowa County · Amana Summer Library Reading Program · Landfill Services Education & Promotion · ECIHTF Home Repair Grant Administration · Facilitate Clear Creek WMA Formation · FHLB/AHP Administration · FHLB Application · Hazard Mitigation Planning · Housing Trust Fund Administration · Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan · Solid Waste E-Newsletter · SW Commission Research & Assistance

JOHNSON COUNTY

City of Coralville · CDBG Water & Wastewater Applications · EDA Business Assistance RLF · Facilitate Clear Creek WMA Formation · Summer Library Reading Program City of Hills · Comprehensive Plan City of Iowa City · EDA Business Assistance RLF · Facilitate Clear Creek WMA Formation · HMGP Application for Flood Buyout · Landfill Services Education & Promotion City of North Liberty · Facilitate Clear Creek WMA Formation City of Oxford · CDBG Wastewater Project · Clear Creek Amana Community School District HMGP Notice of Interest for Safe Room · Facilitate Clear Creek WMA Formation City of Shueyville · Codification · Development Review · Land Use Map · Zoning Ordinance City of Tiffin · Comprehensive Plan · Facilitate Clear Creek WMA Formation · Multi Family New Construction · Summer Library Reading Programs Johnson County · Facilitate Clear Creek WMA Formation · FHLB/AHP Administration III · Flood Insurance Reimbursement Program · HTFJC Grant for Home Repair Administration · Loan Interest Supplemental Program · Mobile Home Grant Administration · Solid Waste E-Newsletter

2015 services

JONES COUNTY

City of Anamosa · CDBG Water Application · Earth Day Fair · Summer Library Reading Program · School Recycling Presentations City of Monticello · Chamber of Commerce Presentation · School Recycling Presentations · Summer Library Reading Program City of Olin · CDBG Water Application · Elementary Assembly Program · Summer Library Reading Program City of Onslow · CDBG Wastewater Project City of Oxford Junction · CDBG Administration - Housing · Code and Ordinance Inspection · Codification · Summer Library Reading Program City of Wyoming · CDBG Administration - Housing · CDBG Wastewater Project Jones County · Co-sponsored Jones County Green Space Field Day · ECIHTF Home Repair Grant Administration · FHLB/AHP Administration · FHLB Application · Housing Trust Fund Administration · Landfill Services Education & Promotion · Loan Interest Supplemental Program · Operations Plan & ERRAP for Transfer Station · Solid Waste E-Newsletter · SW Commission Research & Assistance

LINN COUNTY

City of Bertram · Development Review City of Cedar Rapids · Administer Cedar Rapids Business Assistance RLF Program · Administer Czech Village New Bohemia Main Street District RLF Program · Administer MICRO Loan RLF · EDA Business Assistance RLF · ICWMA Watershed Planning & Grant Writing · Landfill & Recycling Presentations to Various Community & School Groups · Summer Library Reading Program City of Center Point · Center Point Urbana CSD Hazard Mitigation Planning · Codification · Summer Library Reading Program · Zoning Ordinance City of Central City · Summer Library Reading Program City of Coggon · CDBG Wastewater Project · Summer Library Reading Program City of Ely · Summer Library Reading Programs City of Fairfax · Summer Library Reading Program City of Hiawatha · EDA Business Assistance RLF · ICWMA Watershed Planning & Grant Writing · Summer Library Reading Program City of Lisbon · CDBG Administration - Housing · CDBG Income Survey · EDA Business Assistant RLF · Summer Library Reading Program

2015 services

City of Marion · Administer City of Marion/Marion Chamber of Commerce RLF · Administer MEDCO RLF · CDBG Downtown Revitalization Project · Day Camp Program · ICWMA Watershed Planning & Grant Writing · Summer Library Reading Program City of Mount Vernon · Comprehensive Plan · Summer Library Reading Program City of Robins · ICWMA Watershed Planning & Grant Writing City of Springville · Summer Library Reading Program · Zoning Ordinance Review Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency · Assist with Landfill Tours · Community SW Educational Programs Linn County · CDBG Flood Recovery · FHLB/AHP Administration · FHLB Applications · HFfLC Home Repair Grant Administration · Housing Fund for Linn County · ICWMA Watershed Planning & Grant Writing · Loan Interest Supplemental Program · SHTF Application · Solid Waste E-Newsletter

Transportation & Regional Development · Administration of Regional Transit System · Administration of State & Federal Funding Contracts · Annual Consolidated Transit Application · Census Data Analysis & Mapping for Various Reports & Studies · CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program Maps · City of Robins, Hills, Vinton, Palo & Alburnett Comprehensive Plan Maps · Consult and Maintain Title VI Plan · Coordinate with Metropolitan Planning Orgs · Jones County Comprehensive Plan Maps · EDA Business Assistance RLF · Iowa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Maps · Prepare Annual Passenger Transportation Plan · Prepare Annual Service Agreements · Prepare Grant Applications on Behalf of the Corridor Commuter Transportation Steering Committee · Prepare Public Involvement Plan · Procure Regional Transit Equipment · Regional Trails GIS Database · Sensitive Area GIS Mapping · Serve on Subcommittees of the Corridor Commuter Transportation Steering Committee · Staff Assistance to Contracted Transit Providers · Staff CRDS Workgroup · Staff MDST · Staff Passenger Transportation Advisory Committee · Staff Regional Trails Advisory Committee · Staff Corridor Commuter Transportation Steering Committee · Staff RLF Committee · Staff Transit Operators Group · Staff Transit Services Review Committee

· Staff Transportation Policy Committee · Staff Transportation TAC · Transportation Improvement Program · Transportation Planning Work Program Iowa Association of Regional Councils · EDA Fiscal Agent · IARC Rental Inspections · Staff Serves on Board of Directors Iowa Recycling Association · Awards Committee · Education Committee General Public and Other Organizations · Cedar River Watershed Coalition · Clear Creek Watershed Coalition · Continuum of Care · Corridor Conservation Coalition · Indian Creek Watershed Management Authority · Information Provision & Referral · IPTA - Iowa Public Transit Association · LACOAD-Linn Area Community Organizations Active in Disaster · Planning & Zoning Workshops & Training · Regional City Clerks Workshop · Regional Sustainable Business Alliance · UNI Pre-Service Teacher Programs

2015 services

TAMA COUNTY

City of Chelsea · Summer Library Reading Program City of Dysart · Summer Library Reading Program City of Tama · Elementary School Assembly Program Tama County · Landfill Services Education & Promotion · Solid Waste E-Newsletter · SW Commission Research & Assistance · SW Commission Website Development & SEO

WASHINGTON COUNTY

City of Kalona · EDA Business Assistance RLF · FHLB Housing Rehabilitation City of Wellman · CDBG Wastewater Application Washington County · ECIHTF Home Repair Grant Administration · FHLB/AHP Administration II · FHLB Application · Hazard Mitigation Plan Amendment · Housing Trust Fund Administration

REGIONAL

Housing & Community Development · Administration – Homebuyers Assistance Program Solid Waste & Environmental Services · Iowa Waste Exchange Administration, Services, Newsletter/Marketing, Grant Assistance · Prepare Form E for SWAP Applications · Solid Waste Comprehensive Planning · Staff Assistance to Solid Waste Commissions · Staff Solid Waste TAC · SW Regional Contract Assistance - Tires, White goods, Electronics