Cedar Rapids may get professional help lobbying for flood funds

[Editor's note: One in a series of stories on flood protection, a topic that The Gazette considers a content priority for 2013.]

With $65 million or more at stake, the city of Cedar Rapids is making a persistent, albeit low-key, effort to win approval of a 7.5-mile flood protection system.

The key legislation, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2013, which authorizes the Secretary of the Army to construct flood protection systems and other waterway improvements, was approved in May by the U.S. Senate, but hangs in legislative limbo in the House.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett hoped the 83-14 vote in the Senate was an indication the bill “would be one issue able to get through the political wrangling that has been going on in Washington.”

However, not only has there been no vote on 10-year, $12.5 billion WRDA, but a House companion bill has yet to be introduced.

The inaction is “extremely frustrating” to Corbett and other city officials, especially in light of the millions of dollars the federal government has invested in Cedar Rapids flood recovery.

“It's like you've made this investment, don't you want that investment protected now with a comprehensive flood protection system?” Corbett said.

The slow pace has become the norm in the split-control Congress, according to Joe O'Hern, the city's development director.

Flood protection “is certainly one of our top concerns,” O'Hern said, “but it hasn't been that long since it passed the Senate in the context of the way legislation is moving.”

“So we're going to keep on pushing,” Corbett said.

The Army Corps of Engineers' plan for Cedar Rapids calls for a $104 million flood protection on the east side of the Cedar River from the Quaker plant above downtown to the Cargill plant below downtown.

The city's more ambitious “preferred” flood protection plan includes west-side protection, more extensive protection on the east side and more attractive, more expensive removable flood walls through the downtown.

With so much at stake the city has engaged in a dogged personal lobbying effort by Corbett, other members of the City Council and City Manager Jeff Pomeranz and O'Hern.

City officials meet with the Corps frequently and button-hole members of Congress both in Cedar Rapids and in Washington. Democratic Eastern Iowa Reps. Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack have been supportive of Cedar Rapids' efforts. The city also reached out to other members of the Iowa delegation, including District Republican Rep. Tom Latham, who is close to House Speaker John Boehner.

“They are certainly aware of our issue,” Corbett said. “It's not just Cedar Rapids that is incurring flooding.” Latham represents Ames and Des Moines, cities that have had their own share of flooding.

That approach makes sense, according to Braley, because funding for flood protection and other infrastructure projects in WRDA “are important not just to my district but every district.”

“The way things work in Washington, the more people who are aware of an issues the more likely you are to get the type of support you need,” he said.

The city's lobbying effort is getting assistance from the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

“The city is definitely the leader on this, but we are supporting the city on this,” said President and CEO Dee Baird. “We ask ‘When do you need some advocacy, when do you need a lobbying call, when do you need a voice of business to chime in on this?

The alliance is taking its cues from the city, she said.

“They've been real good about keeping us in the loop,” Baird said. It's a big priority for us, so in any way we can assist the city in that we have been.”

Everyone – private citizens, businesses and the council -- wishes the House would act, O'Hern said. “Passage would be a huge step forward for us.”

While the alliance said it has heard from businesses that have delayed development or expansion because of the lack of flood protection, Corbett is convinced the businesses community is confident flood protection will be coming.

“You wouldn't see the development downtown or in New Bo Village if they didn't think there was gong to be flood protection,” he said.

Big projects take time, he added. The development of Interstate 380 and The Eastern Iowa Airport didn't happen overnight.

He would like to see more progress, but the mayor said businesses and industries “know we're working on it.”

The city soon may have a Washington lobbying firm working on it, too.

The city has not sent our requests for proposals or offered any contracts, but Corbett said Pomeranz has interviewed a couple of firms.

“We understand our delegation has a lot on their plate and can't devote 100 percent of their time to our issues,” Corbett said.

Hiring lobbyists to press the city's case in the Capitol is “an option you don't want to foreclose,” O'Hern said. “We want to keep our options open.”

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