Government Affairs: Local, State, Federal issues

On Friday, December 3Rd, the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce hosted a Government Affairs meeting, sponsored by Rockwell Collins. Robin Tucker, Realtor® with Tommy Tucker Realty Co. was among the attendees.

Several local state legislators were in attendance, as a room full of Chamber members, city and county elected officials had a conversation on the upcoming 2011 Legislative Session in Iowa, as well as local priorities and/or concerns.

• A review of the 2010 election, where a new governor (GOP) was elected, 60 GOP (22 new GOP members) to 40 DEM in the House and 26 DEM/24 GOP in the Senate


• One question asked, how should one best contact you as a member of the Legislature? Which led to an interesting conversation on the importance of building "relationships" whether discussing politics or in any aspect of life or business


• Flood mitigation (walls/levies) and upstream retention was discussed


• Concerns over Iowa's current property tax system, especially the impact on commercial/industrial taxes


• Home rule and the City of Cedar Rapids' need for more revenue steams


• Future of Vision Iowa


• Parking garage for new Federal court house - funding sources for the City?


• How will Cedar Rapids fund flood mitigation (walls/levies) - proposed bill and using Sales Tax revenue, similar to the City of Newton in it's recovery, after Maytag moved out


• Raising the hotel/motel tax from 7% to 9% - goal of local visitor's bureau


• The local visitor's bureau commented that 70% of the visitors to our area are from out of state - study concluded


• Frustration of State Government - 99 counties, lack of accountability and/or innovation, number of school districts and reason for the outcome of the 2010 elections ...

It was an interesting 90 minutes or less. Five members of the Linn County delegation in Des Moines were present. House members: Nick Wagner, Tyler Olson, Renee Schulte and Kraig Paulsen. Senate member: Rob Hogg was present

Sen. Hogg indicated he had one priority in 2011 for upcoming session: flood mitigation and upstream retention. All five members in attendance were re-elected in 2010. It is likely Rep. Paulsen will be the next Speaker of the House in the Iowa Legislature. The house was previously 56 DEM/46 GOP prior to the 2010 elections.

After the Realtor Government Affairs breakfast on Wednesday with the same five legislators, it was interesting to view the discussion at the Chamber event.

ttrco

Beware of the costs of an Enviornmental II study for Business Buyouts in Cedar Rapids

The challenges from the recovery from the Flood of 2008 continue in Cedar Rapids for property owners, including small business. Senator Rob Hogg was on WMT AM-600 and a flood recovery question was asked.

Second district congressional candidates spar over flood recovery - Radio Iowa
The two major party candidates who hope to represent Iowa's second congressional district are squaring off over flood recovery plans for Cedar Rapids. ...

Cedar Rapids renters to get flood assistance - Chicago Tribune
The Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved creation of a disaster recovery assistance program for renters. The program is called the ...

We received the following e-mail today concerned about Business Buyouts in Cedar Rapids:

Please make sure to read the email sent this week from the Business Long Term Recovery Team at the Chamber!!

This message is for anyone who has or plans on participating in the “voluntary” commercial property buyout process.

Background

At the 11th hour participants in this program were informed that to complete the buyout process they might be responsible for the costs of an Environmental II study and any resulting costs of cleanup of their property if contamination was found. Some people have agreed to this requirement while others have objected and not signed their agreements.

Status of the Issue

Currently the City and State are trying to come up with a plan to either reimburse those who have already paid for the testing or pay for the testing if it has not been done yet. The issue of who will pay for the cleanup has not been resolved but is also being addressed.

Our Position

It is our position that the commercial property owner should not be responsible for either the testing or the cleanup. It will be nearly impossible to prove who is responsible for contamination on your property if it is found. The flood deposited lots of stuff from lots of different locations.

Our Recommendation

Our recommendation at this time is to NOT sign any buyout agreement that holds you responsible for Environmental II testing and any resulting cleanup if required. You can ask for an extension of your buyout agreement until this issue is resolved. Do NOT feel pressured to sign the agreement at this time! If you have already signed a buyout agreement rest assured that we will insist that any decisions made will be retroactive.

Gary Ficken
Doug Schumacher

It's important to slow down, when one is dealing with contacts, including buyout agreements. It continues to be a challenging period for many small businesses and property owners impacted by the Flood of 2008, let alone the recession and challenges over the past two plus years.

ttrco

Chamber Reports: Highway 100 Project Added to IDOT Five-Year Plan

The June 10, 2010 Chamber newsletter reporting the following:

Highway 100 Project Added to IDOT Five-Year Plan
The Cedar Rapids
Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Iowa Transportation Commission
for their understanding and thoughtfulness in including the Highway 100
extension in the state’s five-year plan approved on Tuesday, June 8 at their
meeting in Fort Madison.

Read more

Watch a video showing an aerial flyover of the
Highway 100 Extension Project.

Highway 100 Extension Gets $4.3 Million in State's New Highway Plan‎ - KCRG
Getting Highway 100 back in the plan was a major goal of Cedar Rapids and Linn ... The project was left out of the plan after opposition by the Linn County ...

ttrco

It's Monday, February 22Nd, 2010: What's going on today at the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids?

It's not Presidents' Day on the 22Nd, but it is George Washington's real birthday on the 22Nd!

See the latest Rotary Minute

Monday, February 22, 2010

Noon

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

Nancy Quelhorst, President, Iowa City Chamber of Commerce

Robin Tucker, Rotarian

Rotary Programs for the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids for the first half of the year:

• March 1, 2010 - Gary Hinzman, Director, Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.
• March 3, 2010 - Rotary Club Social at Theatre Cedar Rapids
• March 8, 2010 - Woo Jin Jung, New Life Fitness World.
• March 15, 2010 - Doug Brakham, Manager, ADM.
• March 22, 2010 - Brian Connors - Experiences Living and Starting a Small Business in Beijing.
• March 29, 2010 - To be announced.
• April 5, 2010 - Rich Patterson, Director, Indian Creek Nature Center.
• April 12, 2010 - Angie Dethlefs-Trentin, Executive Director, Iowa Council of Foundations.
• April 19, 2010 - Breakout Meetings at Member Businesses.
• April 26, 2010 - Shannon Ramsay, President, Trees Forever.
• May 3, 2010 - Kirk Ferentz, Head Football Coach, The University of Iowa.
• May 10, 2010 - Robert Massey, Executive Director, Orchestra Iowa.
• May 17, 2010 - Joe Jennison, Executive Director, Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.
• May 24, 2010 - Charles Swanson, Executive Director, Hancher Auditorium.
• May 31, 2010 - NO ROTARY IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY.
• June 7, 2010 - John Bloomhall, President, Diamond V Mills.
• June 14, 2010 - To be announced.
• June 21, 2010 - Chris Coleman, President, Better Business Bureau.
• June 28, 2009 - Passing the Gavel and Community Service & Appreciation Awards.

The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

• FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
• SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
• THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
• FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Avenues of Service

Based on the Object of Rotary, the Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:

• Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
• Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
• Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
• International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.

The Four-Way Test

The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
   

Mission

The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Diversity and Rotary

Rotary International recognizes the value of diversity within individual clubs. Rotary encourages clubs to assess those in their communities who are eligible for membership, under existing membership guidelines, and to endeavor to include the appropriate range of individuals in their clubs. A club that reflects its community with regard to professional and business classification, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity is a club with the key to its future.

Moving toward the future

In 2001-02, Rotary International began developing a strategic plan to guide the organization as it entered its second century of service. In June 2007, the Board of Directors approved the RI Strategic Plan 2007-10, which identifies seven priorities:

• Eradicate polio.
• Advance the internal and external recognition and public image of Rotary.
• Increase Rotary’s capacity to provide service to others.
• Expand membership globally in both numbers and quality.
• Emphasize Rotary’s unique vocational service commitment.
• Optimize the use and development of leadership talents within RI.
• Fully implement the strategic planning process to ensure continuity and consistency throughout the organization.

ttrco

Cedar Rapids receives top ranking Next Cities List

The Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce newsletter announced the following news today:

Cedar Rapids is ranked fourth in a list of “Next Cities” with a
population of 100,000-200,000 released by Madison , WI based Next Generation
Consulting. “Next Cities” are considered to be the best places to live and
work for young professionals and are evaluated in seven indexes including:
Vitality, Earning, Learning, After Hours, Cost of Lifestyle, Around Town and
Social Capital.

Top 5 Next Cities, population of 100,000 – 200,000

1. Fort Collins, Colorado
2. Charleston, South Carolina
3. Eugene, Oregon
4. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
5. Springfield, Illinois

For more information click
here.

Nice news for the City of Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids population is roughly 126,000 and is the county seat of Linn County, Iowa.

ttrco

Meeting on 3/2/09: Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids

ROTARY CLUB OF CEDAR RAPIDS
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2009
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

12 p.m.

Speaker and Topic:

ALLEN WITT, HALL & HALL ENGINEERS

CHAIRMAN, CEDAR RAPIDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Realtor® Robin Tucker will be attending his Rotary Club meeting today. It should be interesting to hear what fellow Rotarian and Chairman of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce has to say about the City and Chamber.

ttrco