Long Range Advisory Comm. Info
'Jeanne Schneider - LongR<lllge -Planning ~d~i50ryCorn_n,i!>si~n.doc
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Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
City Code of Ordinances
Sec. 36-4. Long-Range Planning Advisory Commission Created; Composition:
There is hereby created a city long-range planning advisory commission, which shall
consist of seven (7) members including a member of the city council designated by the
council and six (6) residents of the city appointed by the city council who shall be
qualified by their knowledge, experience and ability to contribute to the city's long-range
planning and development efforts.
The city council shall annually designate a council member to serve as an altemate in
the absence of the council's designated representative.
Sec. 36-7. Powers:
The commission shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities:
(1) To provide a leadership role in the planning, coordinating and sponsoring of a
periodic community planning process;
(2) To coordinate and supervise the preparation and maintenance of the
comprehensive plan;
(3) To provide input to the city manager in the preparation of the city manager's
recommended multi-year capital improvement program (CIP);
(4) To make comprehensive studies of the present condition and the future growth of
the city to provide input into the community planning process and to guide and
accomplish a coordinated, consistent and harmonious development ofthe city in
accordance with the present and future needs thereof to the end that the health, safety,
morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare may be promoted;
(5) To make or cause to be made such surveys, studies, maps, plans, or charts of the
city with due regard to its relation to neighboring territory as may be determined as
necessary to carry out the purposes of the commission;
(6) To recommend amendments to all or a part of the comprehensive plan in response
to the community planning process, upon its own initiative or upon recommendation
presented by the zoning advisory commission, but only after a public hearing;
(7) To review proposed urban renewal plans and urban renewal plan amendments and
urban revitalization plans and urban revitalization plan amendments for consistency
with the comprehensive plan for the city;
(8) To undertake pUblic information efforts to enhance public understanding of the
community planning process generally and the comprehensive plan specifically; and
(9) To undertake from time to time other specific long-range planning projects which
may be referred to it by the city council.
The city council shall have the authority to establish or revise the priorities of the
commission.
The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission generally meets the third Wednesday
of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Carnegie-Stout Public Library Auditorium.
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Jeanne Schneider - REAP Committee. doc
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Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)
REAP stands for Resource Enhancement and Protection. It is a program in the State of
Iowa that invests in, as its name implies, the enhancement and protection of the state's
natural and cultural resources. Depending on the individual programs, REAP provides
money for projects through state agency budgets or in the form of grants. Several
aspects of REAP also encourage private contributions that help accomplish program
objectives.
REAP County Committees
REAP has very extensive public participation procedures. Individual county REAP
committees are organized throughout the state. Public and private organizations that
are interested in any of the REAP elements can participate on county committees. The
primary purposes of these committees are to coordinate REAP projects among the
various entities and develop a county REAP plan to help direct future REAP projects.
These committees are basically comprised of anyone interested in REAP's purposes
and programs, and being involved in REAP on a local level. The following organizations
are specifically listed in the state law as having membership on the committees:
. County Board of Supervisors
. County Conservation Board
. Commissioners of Soil and Water District
. Board of Directors of each school district in the county
. cities in the county
. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
. Iowa Farmers Union
. National Farmers Organization
. Iowa Farm Unity Coalition
. Any other recognized farm or farm commodity group
. Iowa Audubon Council
. Iowa Sportsmens Federation
. Iowa Sportsmens Federation
. Ducks Unlimited
. Sierra Club
. Pheasants Forever
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Jeanne Schneider - REAP Committee.doc
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. The Nature Conservancy
. Iowa Association of Naturalists
. Izaak Walton League of America
. League of Women Voters
. other recognized wildlife, conservation, environmental, recreation, conservation
education, or historical-cultural preservation groups in the county.
Duties of County REAP Committees include coordination of plans and projects
developed by cities, counties, and soil and water districts. Committee members look for
opportunities to link projects and to make projects complement one another. Such
opportunities can often help get the most benefits out a project for a given amount of
money, or save money that can be used for other projects.
Each County REAP Committee should have a five-year REAP plan. This plan identifies
priorities for resource enhancement and protection and lists specific projects that
address those priorities. These plans are ideally updated annually in order to keep
priorities and project proposals current. Cities and counties often mention these five-
year plans in grant applications to show how the proposed project will help accomplish
priorities established by the REAP Committee.
County REAP Committees can also suggest how REAP money should be used in the
county. The ultimate funding decisions are up to the county conservation board, soil
and water district, and cities that receive money from the various REAP accounts.
County REAP Committees are the best sources to communicate the values of REAP to
local citizens. These activities are important to the long-term vitality of the entire REAP
program.
County REAP Committees do not use REAP money to operate. Expenses incurred by
committees are paid from the county general fund. Examples of expenses are printing
and mailing costs for five-year plans, meeting announcements, and meeting minutes.
Dubuque County REAP Committee
The Dubuque County REAP Committee has the responsibility of developing a five-year
plan for resources enhancement and approving any applications for state REAP
funds. The membership consists of representatives of all cities in Dubuque
County, the Dubuque County Conservation Board, the schools districts, the Soil and
Water Conservation District, the Dubuque County Historical Society, the League of
Women Voters, and other groups that are interested in conservation. They meet
annually prior to the application deadline which is usually mid-August.