Minutes-02/02/2005

Tiffin Planning and Zoning Commission February 2, 2005 A regular meeting of the Tiffm Planning and Zoning Commission was brought to order by Chair Steve Berner, 6: 30 p. m. at the Tiffin Fire Station on Wednesday, Februar 2, 2005. Members present: Steve Berner, Terry Richardson, Stephanie Surine, and Ruth DeMuth. Absent: Melvin Reeve. Also present: Mayor Glen R. Potter, Karin Dils, Mark Petersen and Jim Bartels. Joe Raso of Iowa City Area Development Group has been in his position for four years, present tonight to provide information to city on development work. Raso has worked on Main Street programs in Cedar Falls, Rural projects in Delware county and economic development. The major thrust of the group is basic sector development, that is manufacturing or major service industries as these provide for a second layer of commercial businesses. An example would be Proctor and Gamble. 500 basic sector jobs can produce 2,000 second layer jobs to an area. In 1995 Johnson County had 60, 000 jobs ( with 48% public sector) --- today there are 77, 000 jobs( with 38% of these public sector). Approximatey 2, 000 of the 17, 000 new jobs were public employment. Four goals of ICAD are 1) expansion existing jobs - 2) workforce development of the 3) recruit for new basic sector jobs 4) communication ICAD had the same logo for nearly 20 years and have just adopted a new look. 60 to 90% of information is looked for on the web today. The web site has become the most important means of getting information out. The new" LOIS" Location One Internet System has just been started at ICAD with State of Iowa support. Ruth DeMuth has just started an information collection effort for Tiffm and Karin is getting the information collected up on the site. Both Ruth and Karin have attended the ICAD instruction for the LOIS. Raso recommended that the City work on economic effort by backing the site up with a prospect information group. A group that can provide more detailed information to an interested party. Labor Shed information is providing facts such as 4, 700 workers leave Linn county each day to find employment, and 5, 000 drive into Johnson County for employment. ICAD helped gain 63 million dollars of investment over the past few years, 1 million square feet of work space and 780 new jobs. Over the longer term ICAD has helped gain 2, 135 jobs. Jim Bartels and Jerry Cox arrived at 7: 00 p. m.