Flood projects dominate Iowa City's to-do list

IOWA CITY – The 2008 flood continues to rule the list of capital projects planned for Iowa City.

Flood recovery and mitigation projects account for $112.3 million of the $268.7 million five-year capital improvements program, or CIP, the City Council discussed during a work session Monday on the fiscal 2013 budget. The total includes money from the state and federal governments helping to pay for the projects.

“The floods occurred almost four years ago, and for some people are a distant memory,” Mayor Matt Hayek said. “But our budget shows clearly that flood issues continue to dominate planning for the future.”

What's more, that $268.7 million figure is more than double the $112.1 million worth of projects on the five-year program immediately before the flood.

“That's significant,” Rick Fosse, Iowa City's public works director, told the council.

Flood projects are difficult for three reasons, he said. They are technically challenging; involve state and federal money, which brings more red tape; and there are strong opinions on some projects.

The most controversial flood-related project has been a proposed levee on Taft Speedway Street across the Iowa River from City Park. Following complaints from residents whose homes would be left between the levee and the river, the city has hired a firm to study alternatives.

That study is scheduled to be done next month, and the $11.8 million project remains in the CIP for now.

The purpose of Monday's meeting was not to debate the projects, but council member Connie Champion said she definitely was opposed to the levee. New council member Jim Throgmorton said he would be asking very tough questions when the project came back before the council.

Next to Taft Speedway, the city plans to reconstruct and elevate Dubuque Street and replace the Park Road bridge. Design work on the $34.2 million project could start this fall

Council members asked staff if only two lanes of the four-lane Dubuque Street could be elevated as a way to save money. Fosse said that's something they considered and found obstacles to, but they'll look again.

The most expensive project is the relocation of the north wastewater treatment plant, which flooded in 2008, to the south plant, at $49 million. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and be finished in spring 2014.

Home buyouts continue to be the city's priority in flood-prone neighborhoods. About 85 homes have been purchased and another five to 10 are expected, accounting for $25 million to $30 million in property value, said Jeff Davidson, the city's director of planning and community development.

The city also is trying to determine the size and funding for a new animal shelter after the old one was damaged in the flood.

Also Monday, city staff said the proposed tax rate for next fiscal year has increased from $17.27 per $1,000 of taxable value to $17.31. That's because of information just received on tax-increment financing calculations and a change in valuations from apartment buildings converting to residential cooperatives, which pay less in property taxes.

City officials here and elsewhere in Iowa have warned that an

Iowa Supreme Court decision last year allowing such conversions would cost communities property tax revenue.