Iowa Smart Planning Task Force Report

In the 2010 legislative session, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law Senate File 2389 (SF 2389), which provided guidance for Smart Planning in Iowa and established the Iowa Smart Planning Task Force. This Task Force was charged with recommending policies and strategies for creating a stronger planning culture in Iowa, producing more resilient and sustainable communities. The Task Force, along with its two committees and four workgroups, met throughout the summer and fall of 2010 to identify and review best practices, consult local and national experts, and craft recommendations in the best interest of Iowans. A public input process was also implemented, resulting in improved recommendations.

The use of 3D planning in facial surgery: Preliminary observations.

Three-dimensional (3D) planning is becoming a more commonly used tool in maxillofacial surgery. At first used only virtually, 3D planning now also enables the creation of useful intraoperative aids such as cutting guides, which decrease the operative difficulty. In our center, we have used 3D planning in various domains of facial surgery and have investigated the advantages of this technique. We have also addressed the difficulties associated with its use. 3D planning increases the accuracy of reconstructive surgery, decreases operating time, whilst maintaining excellent esthetic results. However, its use is restricted to osseous reconstruction at this stage and once planning has been undertaken, it cannot be reversed or altered intraoperatively. Despite the attractive nature of this new tool, its uses and practicalities must be further evaluated. In particular, cost-effectiveness, hospital stay, and patient perceived benefits must be assessed.

Supplement Information to the August 2008 Infrastructure and Transportation Task Force Report, August 2008

The Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure and Transportation Task Force is acutely aware of the critical role infrastructure plays in Iowa’s communities, the lives of the residents, and the economic well-being of the state. With encouragement to the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission (RIAC) for its consideration of great need for infrastructure and transportation repairs, the Task Force provides its assessment and recommendations. As the RIAC fulfills its obligations to guide the recovery and reconstruction in Iowa, infrastructure and transportation must be recognized for its impact on all Iowans. The tornadoes, storms, and floods were devastating to infrastructure and transportation systems across the state. The damage did not distinguish between privately-owned and public assets. The significance of the damage emerges further with the magnitude of the damage estimates. Infrastructure includes components that some might initially overlook, such as communication systems, landfills, and water treatment. The miles of damaged roads and bridges are more evident to many Iowans. Given the reliance on infrastructure systems, many repairs are already underway, though gaps have emerged in the funding for repairs to certain infrastructure systems. Supplement Information to the August 2008

Supplemental Information to the August 2008 Long Term Recovery Planning Task Force Report, August 2008

Eighty-five of 99 Iowa counties were declared Presidential Disaster Areas for Public Assistance and/orIndividual Assistance as a result of the tornadoes, storms, and floods over the incident period May 25 through August 13, 2008. Response dominated the state’s attention for weeks, with a transition to recovery as the local situations warranted. The widespread damage and severity of the impact on Iowans and their communities required a statewide effort to continue moving forward despite being surrounded by adversity. By all accounts, it will require years for the state to recover from these disasters. With an eye toward the future, recovery is underway across Iowa. As part of the Rebuild Iowa efforts, the Long Term Recovery Planning Task Force was charged with responsibilities somewhat different from other topical Task Force assignments. Rather than assess damage and report on how the state might address immediate needs, the Long Term Recovery Planning Task Force is directed to discuss and discern the best approach to the lengthy recovery process. Certainly, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor expect the task to be difficult; when planning around so many critical issues and overwhelming needs, it is challenging to think to the future, rather than to rise to the current day’s needs.

Flood Plain Management & Hazard Mitigation Task Force Report, August 2008

The Flood Plain Management and Hazard Mitigation Task Force emphasizes the long-term benefits of mitigation and management to the entire state in preventing or reducing damages from floods and other hazards faced in Iowa. Investments in efforts to manage watershed areas and to mitigate any damages from floods or other disaster events benefit individuals, families, communities, agriculture, business and industry, and certainly public entities and infrastructure. The Task Force encourages the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission to balance the immediate needs for rebuilding to include the beginning of the investments required to effectively mitigate future damage and maintain effective policy in Iowa’s watersheds. The significance of the damage seen in Iowa from the tornadoes, storms, and floods of 2008 include the loss of eighteen Iowans in disaster-related events. This alone should inspire investment in mitigation efforts for all hazards. Much of the damage resulting from the disasters can be tied to floodplain management and hazard mitigation, pointing the way toward enhanced efforts and new initiatives to safeguard lives, property, and communities’ economic health. Even so, it must be recognized that the weather events throughout last winter and spring added impetus to the rains and storms that ultimately resulted in record flooding. Some perspective must be maintained as planning progresses and significant investments in mitigation are considered to meet a specific level of safety and protection from future threats. The Task Force identified a number of issues, and four were agreed-upon as those with the highest priority to be addressed by the Task Force through a set of recommendations.

Supplemental Information to the August 2008 Flood Plain Management & Hazard Mitigation Task Force Report, August 2008

The Flood Plain Management and Hazard Mitigation Task Force emphasizes the long-term benefits of mitigation and management to the entire state in preventing or reducing damages from floods and other hazards faced in Iowa. Investments in efforts to manage watershed areas and to mitigate any damages from floods or other disaster events benefit individuals, families, communities, agriculture, business and industry, and certainly public entities and infrastructure. The Task Force encourages the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission to balance the immediate needs for rebuilding to include the beginning of the investments required to effectively mitigate future damage and maintain effective policy in Iowa’s watersheds. The significance of the damage seen in Iowa from the tornadoes, storms, and floods of 2008 include the loss of eighteen Iowans in disaster-related events. This alone should inspire investment in mitigation efforts for all hazards. Much of the damage resulting from the disasters can be tied to floodplain management and hazard mitigation, pointing the way toward enhanced efforts and new initiatives to safeguard lives, property, and communities’ economic health. Even so, it must be recognized that the weather events throughout last winter and spring added impetus to the rains and storms that ultimately resulted in record flooding. Some perspective must be maintained as planning progresses and significant investments in mitigation are considered to meet a specific level of safety and protection from future threats. The Task Force identified a number of issues, and four were agreed-upon as those with the highest priority to be addressed by the Task Force through a set of recommendations. Supplemental Information to the August 2008

Iowa Department of Transportation’s summary of project status for infrastructure projects

Per legislative requirement, attached is the Iowa Department of Transportation’s summary of project status for infrastructure projects that have been appropriated revenue from various funds including Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure, Health Restricted Capitals, Bridge Safety, Revenue Bonds Capitals, and Revenue Bonds Capitals II. Although a status report for the Bridge Safety Fund was already submitted to the directors of LSA and DOM, a status report on those projects is also included within this attachment for consistency with last year’s reporting. In addition, per request from LSA, status reports for the FY 2011 passenger rail appropriation from the Underground Storage Tank Fund and the FY 2010 Commercial Service Vertical Infrastructure appropriation from the General Fund are also listed in this report.

Public infrastructure and the performance of manufacturing industries: short-and long-run

We present a theoretical framework for determining the short- and long-run effects of infrastructure. While the short-run effects have been the focus of most previous studies, here we derive long-run elasticities by taking into account the adjustment of quasi-fixed inputs to their optimum levels. By considering the impact of infrastructure on private investment decisions, we observe how, apart from the direct effect on costs in the short-run, infrastructure exerts an indirect source of influence in the long-run through their effect on private capital. The model is applied to manufacturing industries in the Spanish regions

Evidence on the complex link between

Most studies analysing the infrastructure impact on regional growth show a positive relationship between both variables. However, the public capital elasticity estimated in a Cobb-Douglas function, which is the most common specification in these works, is sometimes too big to be credible, so that the results have been partially desestimated. In the present paper, we give some new advances on the real link between public capital and productivity for the Spanish regions in the period 1964-1991. Firstly, we find out that the association for both variables is smaller when controlling for regional effects, being industry the sector which reaps the most benefits from an increase in the infrastructural dotation. Secondly, concerning to the rigidity of the Cobb-Douglas function, it is surpassed by using the variable expansion method. The expanded functional form reveals both the absence of a direct effect of infrastructure and the fact that the link between infrastructure and growth depends on the level of the existing stock (threshold level) and the way infrastructure is articulated in its location relative to other factors. Finally, we analyse the importance of the spatial dimension in infrastructure impact, due to spillover effects. In this sense, the paper provides evidence of the existence of spatial autocorrelation processes that may invalidate previous results.

Iowa Trails: Connecting People and Trails: Local Community Planning for Bicyclists and Pedestrians, 2000

Many communities in Iowa have expressed a desire to develop a plan for better accommodating pedestrians and bicyclists in their community. This desire results from the recognition that walking and bicycling are popular recreational activities and, are increasingly important as “alternative transportation modes.” Recognizing the desire on the part of communities to create better conditions for bicycling and walking, the Iowa DOT developed this handbook as part of Iowa Trails 2000. This handbook outlines the steps and resources required to create a comprehensive system of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Such a system can serve local needs and connect communities to the Iowa State Trails System and other regional attractions.

Evidence on the complex link between

Most studies analysing the infrastructure impact on regional growth show a positive relationship between both variables. However, the public capital elasticity estimated in a Cobb-Douglas function, which is the most common specification in these works, is sometimes too big to be credible, so that the results have been partially desestimated. In the present paper, we give some new advances on the real link between public capital and productivity for the Spanish regions in the period 1964-1991. Firstly, we find out that the association for both variables is smaller when controlling for regional effects, being industry the sector which reaps the most benefits from an increase in the infrastructural dotation. Secondly, concerning to the rigidity of the Cobb-Douglas function, it is surpassed by using the variable expansion method. The expanded functional form reveals both the absence of a direct effect of infrastructure and the fact that the link between infrastructure and growth depends on the level of the existing stock (threshold level) and the way infrastructure is articulated in its location relative to other factors. Finally, we analyse the importance of the spatial dimension in infrastructure impact, due to spillover effects. In this sense, the paper provides evidence of the existence of spatial autocorrelation processes that may invalidate previous results.

Rebuild Iowa Office Quarterly Report, January 2011

The RIO’S January 2011 Quarterly Report details the economic recovery strategy in housing; business; workforce development; infrastructure investments; individual services and guidance; local economic recovery; smart planning; mitigation planning; floodplain and watershed management; floodplain mapping and quality of life. The report also includes an update of the flow of federal and state disaster recovery funding to the state, counties, cities and individuals affected by the 2008 disasters.

Rebuild Iowa Office Quarterly Report, April 2011

The RIO’S April 2011 Quarterly Report is the Office's final report and details the economic recovery strategy in housing; business; workforce development; infrastructure investments; individual services and guidance; local economic recovery; smart planning; mitigation planning; floodplain and watershed management; floodplain mapping and quality of life. The report also includes an update of the flow of federal and state disaster recovery funding to the state, counties, cities and individuals affected by the 2008 disasters.