Feasibility of an Iowa Urban Service Bureau TR-761

With more than 900 cities in the state, the level of communication regarding urban public works issues is lacking. The Iowa Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) provides information through their conference programs and a limited listserv. The Iowa League of Cities also addresses municipal activities. However, no specific organization is set up to communicate and address urban public works activities in Iowa. The Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA) Service Bureau is an excellent example of how a service bureau provides value to their users. The ICEA Service Bureau provides a system for county engineers to communicate among themselves and with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), as well as maintain databases of information that can be utilized to provide statewide county information. Because cities do not have a corresponding organization, they are at a disadvantage when information is needed to justify changes in financing or regulatory issues related to streets and other public works issues. Individual municipalities are able to provide information for their agency, but a system does not exist for cities of all sizes to input information and have it accumulate so that a more complete picture of urban issues can be presented. An urban service bureau would provide a mechanism to become conscious of and respond to emerging issues in a more efficient and effective manner. This report details the feasibility study activities for developing, financing, and operating an urban service bureau. A diverse technical advisory committee (TAC) was formed to guide the study. The committee included representatives from cities of all sizes from across the state, the ICEA Service Bureau, Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), the Iowa League of Cities, county engineers, the Iowa DOT Local Systems Bureau, and engineering consultants. After responses to a questionnaire sent to Iowa cities showed support for a city-level service bureau, a majority of the TAC endorsed a plan to move forward with developing such an organization within the existing Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) program at Iowa State University

Feasibility of an Iowa Urban Service Bureau TR761

With more than 900 cities in the state, the level of communication regarding urban public works issues is lacking. The Iowa Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) provides information through their conference programs and a limited listserv. The Iowa League of Cities also addresses municipal activities. However, no specific organization is set up to communicate and address urban public works activities in Iowa. The Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA) Service Bureau is an excellent example of how a service bureau provides value to their users. The ICEA Service Bureau provides a system for county engineers to communicate among themselves and with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), as well as maintain databases of information that can be utilized to provide statewide county information. Because cities do not have a corresponding organization, they are at a disadvantage when information is needed to justify changes in financing or regulatory issues related to streets and other public works issues. Individual municipalities are able to provide information for their agency, but a system does not exist for cities of all sizes to input information and have it accumulate so that a more complete picture of urban issues can be presented. An urban service bureau would provide a mechanism to become conscious of and respond to emerging issues in a more efficient and effective manner. This report details the feasibility study activities for developing, financing, and operating an urban service bureau. A diverse technical advisory committee (TAC) was formed to guide the study. The committee included representatives from cities of all sizes from across the state, the ICEA Service Bureau, Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), the Iowa League of Cities, county engineers, the Iowa DOT Local Systems Bureau, and engineering consultants. After responses to a questionnaire sent to Iowa cities showed support for a city-level service bureau, a majority of the TAC endorsed a plan to move forward with developing such an organization within the existing Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) program at Iowa State University

Technology News, June-July 1999

Technology News is a newsletter produced by the Iowa Department of Transportation to provide information to the transportation specialist in Iowa's cities and counties. Technology News is one of CTRE's primary avenues for exchanging transportation-related information with local agencies. The bimonthly newsletter gives an up-to-date look to the up-to-date information our 2,500+ readers have grown to expect

Public Employees Leadership Institute Final Report, August 2011

Public agencies in Iowa are continually challenged with reduced staff levels, reduced budgets, and increased expectations for services provided. Responding to these demands requires a well-informed and coordinated team that includes professionals, supervisors, technicians, lead workers, and workers. Becoming a coordinated team requires the training and interaction to produce a common foundation to build upon. In 2007, a training program did not exist in the state to provide this level of training for existing or upcoming managers and leaders of public agencies. The Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), in conjunction with Iowa public agency representatives, set out to provide that foundation by developing the Iowa Public Employees Leadership Academy, which was renamed the Public Employees Leadership Institute in July 2011. The Institute is an on-demand, online training program designed to create better (or new) leaders and supervisors for Iowa’s public agencies. The Institute provides a curriculum to train the next generation of leaders, who will replace existing leaders when retirements occur. Through the Institute, Iowa LTAP will provide a coordinated, structured, non-credit educational program available for a modest fee. The techniques and skills offered through the Institute can apply to all who wish to develop or sharpen their leadership and management abilities. This will be true whether the participants are employed in the public or private sector. The 14 courses that were developed and are being offered are as follows: Supervisory Techniques and Skills, Team Development, Communications Skills, Leadership Skills, Community Service/Customer Orientation, Legal Understanding, Fundamentals of Government, Finance, Resource Management, Operations and Maintenance, Basic Management, Emergency Management, Project Management, and Winter Maintenance Management

Court-Ordered Foster Family Care Reform: A Case Study

The authors examine the implications of G. L. v. Zumwalt, a case that resulted in a far-reaching consent decree that mandates specific reforms in policy and practice to be implemented by a public social welfare agency in its delivery of services to foster children and their families

The history of the Federal government\u27s involvement in water resources : an attempt to correct externalities?

The Federal government can undermine or support state water laws and programs by asserting its legislative power to manage domestic water resources. Predicting the future thrust of the Federal government\u27s legislative involvement in water resources can help states build flexibility into their plans and anticipate where they may be able to get Federal funds to accomplish their water management plans. This paper applies the economic concept of technological externalities to predict that future Federal involvement. The hypothesis of this paper has two parts: 1) that in addition to becoming involved in water resources management to provide public goods and promote the settlement of the West, the Federal government also used its legislative power when externalities were present; and 2) that the externalities are non-excludable, non-rival, negative, and affect a large number of people. To test this hypothesis, historical areas of Federal water resources legislation are reviewed. They include: 1) changing or limiting surface water quantity, location, and use; 2) protection of surface water quantity; 3) protection of air quality; 4) ground water use; and 5) protection of ground water quality. The first part of the hypothesis is supported because externalities have been corrected. However, the second part of the hypothesis is rejected because the externalities associated with these areas are non-rival or rival, not just non-rival. The historical pattern of Federal involvement is that it attempted to correct non-excludable, non-rival or rival, negative externalities that affect a large number of people. Applying this pattern to future areas highlights five potential areas of future involvement: instream flows, cloud seeding, wetlands, vegetation, and non-point source pollution. States should incorporate these areas into their management plans and identify other externalities to maximize their use of Federal resources

Technology News, April-June 2015

Technology News is a newsletter produced by the Iowa Department of Transportation to provide information to the transportation specialist in Iowa's cities and counties. Technology News is one of CTRE's primary avenues for exchanging transportation-related information with local agencies. The bimonthly newsletter gives an up-to-date look to the up-to-date information our 2,500+ readers have grown to expect