HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/04/94COUNCIL WORK SESSION
April 4, 1994
4:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Krizek, Getty, Murphy,
Jordan, Mollenhoff.
Members absent: Collier.
Others present: Terry Lorenzen, Airport Director, and Camille
Hogan and Bob Peterson members of the Airport Commission.
Moved by Getty, seconded by Mollenhoff that the Agenda, as
proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six. Absent: Collier.
Terry Lorenzen, Airport Director, presented a revised lease
agreement with Ryan Construction Company, a Cedar Rapids
development company, which would encourage economic development
growth in the area near the airport.
The original agreement was approved by the city following a hearing
held on February 15, 1993, and called for allowing an option to
lease up to 30 acres of land. The revised agreement calls for
breaking the lease area into two 15 acre tracts and leasing one 15
acre tract to Ryan Construction Company.
The lease agreement calls for a seventy-five (75) year initial term
with annual rental payments of $100 per acre of leased ground (15
acres) and may increase in any year based on the Consumer Price
Index (CPI) as published by the United States Department of Labor.
Commissioner Hogan stated the agreement with Ryan Construction was
done with the blessing of the previous administration to help
promote economic development in a new Tax Increment Financing
District near the airport. She further stated the Airport
Commission does have the final say on what type of business Rayan
Construction recruits for the land, as long as it does not
"unreasonably" turn down a prospect. She said they obviously
prefer whatever they do bring in to be aviation related, and that
the land near the airport is a "gold mine" for any business that
would rely on transportation. This property is readily available
by air, rail and the highway system.
Several Councilmembers were concerned with a 75 year lease and also
the $100 per acre seemed low. Mr. Lorenzen stated it is not
possible to sell the airport land because of federal dollars used
in obtaining it originally and a long term lease agreement is the
only way to encourage a developer to build on the land. Also,
Ryan's options to lease expires in 8 years if no tenant is found.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by
Murphy, seconded by Jordan that the meeting be adjourned at 4:30
p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Collier. Motion carried.
Tom Campbell
Acting Clerk/Auditor
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
April 4, 1994
5:45 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Collier, Getty, Jordan,
Krizek, Mollenhoff, Murphy.
Also present: Donna Rhone, Walt Stephenson, Sharon Juon and Regina
Duggan.
Moved by Krizek, seconded by Mollenhoff that the Agenda, as
proposed, be approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Sharon Juon, Executive Director of Iowa Northland Regional Council
of Governments, presented a proposal which would allow the Metro
Transit Advisory Committee to investigate a consolidated transit
system in the area. She stated the mission of the committee would
be to develop and coordinate a cost effective, customer -based
transit system for people in Region Seven and surrounding
properties. She said there are a number of agencies that currently
provide transportation to specific interest groups in the
Waterloo/Cedar Falls area, creating duplication of services
offered, as well as routes covered.
An attempt for a similar merger in 1986 raised a lot of
controversy. This plan died when the five unions for the
transportation providers could not reach a new labor contract. Ms.
Juon stated she knows this merger will not be completely without
some potential controversy, but the bottom line is we have a lot of
vehicles on the street that perhaps, if better utilized or cross
utilized, could better serve the needs of the entire community.
Ms. Juon and other members of the Advisory Committee will be
meeting with all local elected officials in the coming weeks to
garner support for the plan, and she will be asking the City of
Waterloo to adopt a resolution of support in a couple of weeks. We
are not asking for any money, but at some point, we are going to be
asking you to make some really tough decisions.
MET Transit Director Walt Stephenson said consolidating efforts may
not result in the transportation providers returning money to the
city, county, etc., but should help improve services and fill in
service gaps. It makes no sense to have duplication of services
part of the day and no services at all during other times.
Mayor Rooff named Linda Rekward as the City's liaison to the Metro
Transit Advisory Committee.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by
Jordan, seconded by Krizek that the meeting be adjourned at 6:06
p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Tom Campbell
Acting Clerk/Auditor