SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 24, 2018
Sullivan’s Salvos 5/29/18
In this edition:
*Comprehensive Plan
*SOTA
*Don’t Mow the Ditch!
*Kaufmann Update
*Did You Know?
*Comprehensive Plan
After 18 months, 31 public meetings lasting over 100 hours, and hundreds of public comments, Johnson County passed its 2018 Comprehensive Plan by a 4-1 vote.
There have been a lot of comments about the Comp Plan “process”. And believe me, in local government, process matters. That is precisely why I led off this piece with the statistics: 18 months, 31 public meetings lasting over 100 hours, and hundreds of public comments.
There are a couple of things I would do over if I had the chance, both relating to our Planning and Zoning Commission. In one instance, P&Z was inadvertently omitted from a written section that discusses the future review of the document. Obviously, P&Z should be part of any review. That was an unfortunate oversight by Planning, Development, and Sustainability (PDS) staff, but thankfully it was caught. And hey – PDS staff did AMAZING work on this! I am willing to cut them some slack on this small omission. I just wish it had been something else!
The other thing I would change was a specific process. PDS staff came to the Board a couple months ago, noting that one of the stickiest issues in passing a Comprehensive Plan is the adoption of a Land Use Map. I can vouch for this. This was the third time I have voted on a Land Use Map – shrinking the development areas each time. In 2006, the map included everything east of 965 and west of Highway 1, from Linn County on the north to I-80 on the south. We voted to shrink that in 2006, and shrunk it again during the process of adopting the 2008 Land Use Plan.
PDS staff knew that this map was going to be controversial. They knew it is the kind of thing that has cost Supervisors elections. So they asked the Board members to create individual maps. Then staff overlayed them to see where there were areas of agreement and disagreement. We then hashed out the map as a group. All in all, it worked really well.
The problem is, P&Z had not done a similar thing first. Because of their advisory role, they probably should have done that. So yes, it is a process I would change. But would it have changed any outcomes? I sincerely doubt it. When I drew my map, I was drawing upon YEARS of comments that I have gotten from the public. A couple more data points would have been fine, but I doubt it would have changed how ANY Supervisor drew her or his map.
Because of these two slights, the P&Z Commissioners were upset. They have made that known. And I feel bad about that. But the Supervisors carefully went point by point through the 24 P&Z recommendations. We voted to adopt 17 out of 24. The next day, one of the P&Z members accused the Supervisors of “failing to listen”. 17/24 apparently does not constitute listening. I’m not sure what the threshold is – 20/24? Or is this simply that the Supervisors did not agree with everything they wanted?
Let’s all be honest here. The majority of the members of the P&Z Commission have been outspoken in support of the challenger in the upcoming Supervisor Primary. That campaign is predicated on the idea that “Supervisors do not listen.” Listen to whom? There are equal numbers on every side of this issue. Anyway, you would have to be pretty naïve to think there are no politics involved. These couple P&Z members have a vested interest in making incumbent Board Members look bad. So when it comes to some of the complaints about process? Methinks they doth protest too much.
Another thing – the Supervisor who voted no claimed the public has not had time to weigh in. Again, 18 months, 31 public meetings lasting over 100 hours, and hundreds of public comments! Yes, the final draft was finished the day before we voted – that is true. But the 24 recommendations we voted on? Those have been out there 5 WEEKS! Yes, 5 weeks! To pretend that somehow the public did not know what we were voting upon? Disingenuous at best.
This is simply an attempt to obfuscate and delay. And that is frustrating, because creating the Plan is only the beginning! Now we have to do the work! My guess is that most of the public would rather see us address some of these concerns rather than hold another public hearing. One of the knocks on government is that it moves too slow. Calling for more delays would only serve to reinforce that point. It is time to act!
I am very proud of the 2018 Comprehensive Plan. I think it sets Johnson County forth in a good direction. Thanks to everyone who share their thoughts - 18 months, 31 public meetings lasting over 100 hours, and hundreds of public comments!
*SOTA
Nothing says Summer like the festivals produced by Summer of the Arts! I joined the SOTA Board last year, and have really enjoyed being a part of it all.
Here are the 2018 Festival Dates:
Friday Night Concert Series: May 18 – August 31, 2018
Iowa Arts Festival: June 1 – 3, 2018
Free Movie Series: June 9 – August 25, 2018
Iowa City Jazz Festival: June 29 – July 1, 2018
Iowa Soul Festival: August 17 – 18, 2018
*Don’t Mow the Ditch!
The County’s Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) program reminds residents that Iowa law prohibits the mowing of ditches along county secondary roads and state primary and interstate highways each year prior to July 15. The no-mow order allows time for hatching and development of ground-nesting birds and pollinators.
Johnson County Roadside Vegetation Manager Chris Henze said that in 2010, legislation changed the date from July 1 to July 15. “Studies have shown a significant increase in nesting success, with more nestlings ready to fledge, given this extra time,” Henze explained. The law also expanded the restrictions to include county roads, thereby protecting an additional 500,000 acres of vegetated right-of-way statewide.
“The two-week extension also allows refugia—a suitable habitat—for pollinators during these peak flowering times for many native plants,” Henze said.
Exceptions to the law allow for maintaining sightlines and for controlling weeds. Cutting for hay is not among the exceptions. The law reads:
Mowing roadside vegetation on the rights-of-way or medians on any primary highway, interstate highway, or secondary road prior to July 15 is prohibited, except as follows:
- Within 200 yards of an inhabited dwelling
- On rights-of-way within one mile of the corporate limits of a city
- To promote native species of vegetation or other long-lived and adaptable vegetation
- To establish control of damaging insect populations, noxious weeds, and invasive plant species
- For visibility and safety reasons
- Within rest areas, weigh stations, and wayside parks
- Within 50 feet of a drainage tile or tile intake
- For access to a mailbox or for other accessibility purposes
- On rights-of-way adjacent to agricultural demonstration or research plots
“In an agricultural state like Iowa, the law serves as a reminder to mow only the shoulder and leave the rest for the birds,” Henze said. “Aggressive mowing weakens vegetation along slopes, which allows erosion and soil loss. That can also create openings for weeds.”
Visit the Secondary Roads page at www.johnson-county.com/roads and click on Roadside Vegetation Management for more information on the County’s IRVM program.
*Kaufmann Update
As you may recall, on March 21 I challenged State Representative Bobby Kaufmann to a debate on HF2372. (I texted him the challenge before it appeared in Salvos.)
The bill was later changed, and passed in a different form. But he still supported taking away even more local control. (Not from his Dad, mind you, but from Johnson County.) I still think this is a terrible vote, and an important topic to discuss. I still want the debate.
I have not yet received a response from Representative Kaufmann. I will keep you posted.
*DID YOU KNOW? All Summer of the Arts Festivals are free!
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 3:57 PM
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