HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/28/94COUNCIL WORK SESSION
November 28, 1994
5:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Jordan, Collier, Krizek, Mollenhoff, Anders,
Murphy, Getty.
Moved by Collier, seconded by Mollenhoff that the Agenda, as
proposed, be approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Tom Gallaher, with Silos & Smokestacks, provided an update on the
successful progress the program has made in the last year. The
program is three years old and has established objectives to be
accomplished. The originating members' intent is to revitalize the
Waterloo downtown district, attract good paying jobs to the area
and provide focus to our national heritage as it relates to our
area.
Silos and Smokestacks has taken a positive step towards approval by
the National Park Service as a heritage tourism area. The Park
System has established the concept as having national significance
which is the first requirement needed for approval. Waterloo has
been recognized as having strong ties to the story of American food
production and it is felt that this area would be an appropriate
place to tell the story. The Park Service has been favorably
impressed with the level of private funding and support that the
project has received. Silos and Smokestacks has identified 600
corporations and foundations with ties to agriculture or the
Midwest that are possible resources to provide funding and assist
with program development. It is estimated that 1100 new jobs will
be brought to the area with an estimated payroll of 12 Million
dollars. Tourism revenues should impact the state and local
revenues by approximately 4 Million dollars.
Twenty four projects have been developed with fourteen of the
projects scheduled for completion in 1996. Travel guides and auto
tour cassette tape guides are being prepared by employees awarded
to the project by the USDA. Heritage areas are being developed by
partnerships with the Buchanan County Historical Society, the
Meskwaki Tribe, Clayton and Floyd Counties, Iowa State University
and the Institute for Agricultural Biodiversity. Metro projects
are being developed to encompass a parade of power, the farmers
market and demonstration farms.
Federal funding is being pursued in legislation for the upcoming
year with the support of Iowa delegates to the House and Senate.
It is estimated that the National Park Service designation would be
approved in 1996.
Councilperson Getty inquired whether the National Cattle Congress
grounds could be used in any of the projects. Mr. Gallaher
responded that there are some ideas for possible use of the grounds
by the Silos and Smokestacks project but nothing has been formally
discussed with the property owners.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty,
seconded by Murphy that the meeting be adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Susan Fangman
City Clerk