Flood work nearly doubles Iowa City’s capital projects list

If you want to put the scope of the 2008 floods in perspective, consider Iowa City's capital improvement program.

The CIP, as it's more commonly called, lists five years worth of projects city staff would like to undertake.

In the previous five fiscal years, the CIP totaled $112 million. In the current five-year, post-flood CIP, there are $252 million in projects, and 45 percent of them are flood related.

It's both exciting and daunting, Public Works Director Rick Fosse said.

“When you double the amount of projects we're working on, that's a challenge,” he said, adding that with much of the money coming from the federal government, there will be more paperwork and guidelines.

City staff went through the CIP with the City Council this week during a meeting on the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

One of the projects not related to the flood is the planned construction of an overpass for trains at the First Avenue-Iowa Interstate Railroad crossing in southeast Iowa City. Trains there have been a curse to – and drawn curses from – many a driver for years. It's not unheard of for traffic to be blocked for more than 10 minutes, and there is no convenient bypass.

On the flood projects, the majority of the cost will be paid for with federal and state funds. The city's share will include $31 million from the voter-approved local-option sales tax and nearly $8.5 million in bond issuances.

Most of the projects have already been reported on extensively. They include the elevation of Dubuque Street and Park Road bridge and the relocation of the north wastewater treatment plant – all of which flooded in 2008.

Others include three levees, a new animal shelter and the elevation of the intersection at Normandy and Manor drives in the flood-prone Parkview Terrace Neighborhood.

Some council members questioned the $4 million price tag on the new animal shelter. The city would cover $700,000 of that, and Connie Champion and Regenia Bailey wondered if a fundraising campaign by shelter supporters could bring in more than the estimated $1.5 million.

The First Avenue railroad crossing has been discussed for years, but finding the money for it has been a problem. The CIP fully funds the $7.1 million project, with $1.2 million coming from federal grants.

Council member Ross Wilburn said with a smile that he hears from a lot of people about the crossing.

“It sure would be nice to see that First Avenue” finished, he said.

The city is in the design process, with the crossing to be elevated and the road to be lowered. The city hopes to start construction in 2012, and it is expected to take two years to complete, City Engineer Ron Knoche said.

Just because the projects are listed in the CIP does not guarantee they will be undertaken within five years. The council typically removes or delays some work because of a lack of money, and some are dependent on federal or state money that has not yet been granted.

The council is considering

cuts to the CIP and the general fund budget as a way to keep property taxes down. It will continue that discussion later this month.