Our Agency

ENHANCE IOWA

COMMUNITY ATTRACTION & TOURISM REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES
TBK Bank Sports Complex

4850 Competition Drive

Bettendorf, IA

Wednesday, August 14, 2019
10:05 a.m.

Committee Members in Attendance	Other Board Members in Attendance
Mike Broshar	Rita Frahm
Kyle Carter	Mary Wells
Lisa Hein	Valerie Van Kooten
John Burns	Jacquelyn Arthur (phone)
Doug Boone	Pat Deignan (phone)
Staff Members in Attendance
Alaina Santizo	Jessica O’Riley
Maicie Pohlman	Rita Grimm

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Broshar called the meeting to order at 10:10. Five Committee members were present. The agenda was approved. The minutes from the July 10, 2019 meeting were approved.
 

REPORTS
Ms. Santizo gave the Program Manager’s Report dated August 1, 2019:

Applications Received: 86                                                    

Next Application Deadline: October 15, 2019
Funded Projects: 55

CAT Amount Awarded:     $17,418,301

Total CAT Project Costs: $214,034,964

CAT Funds Currently Available

$3,856,547

Pending CAT Applications

There are currently 14 pending applications requesting approximately $5,062,220:

Small Population Area Applications

 

Legislation requires that one-third of each annual CAT allocation be reserved for small population area applications each year.  The chart below summarizes the status of this requirement:
 

Year	1/3 CAT Allocation	Awards to Small Population Areas	Amount Above or (Below) Requirement
FY2017	$1,666,666	$3,122,498	$1,455,832
FY2018	$1,666,666	$3,452,505	$1,785,839
FY2019	$1,666,666	$2,701,200	$1,034,534
FY2020	$1,666,666	$228,000	($1,437,778)

APPLICATIONS

American Legion Post #317 // Radcliffe Legion Rebuild

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included the reconstruction of the Radcliffe Legion Hall. Mr. Broshar raised concerns about the architecture of the facility and ADA compliance. On a motion by Mr. Boone and seconded by Mr. Burns, the CAT Committee forwarded the American Legion Post #317 // Radcliffe Legion Rebuild project to the Enhance Iowa Board with a recommendation that a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $55,383.

Ames Foundation //Ames Miracle Park – Inis Grove Accessibility Improvements

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included construction of the miracle park. Project fundraising is still underway, and the organization plans to close the gap by the September meeting.

City of Mount Pleasant and Mount Pleasant Community School Foundation // Paving the Way to Outdoor Pickleball in Mount Pleasant

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included the rehabilitation of tennis courts into pickleball courts. The courts will be used by the school and the community. The school will have first access to the courts for three weeks in spring and fall for physical education class, and one hour daily for pickleball club. Otherwise, the courts will be open for community use. On a motion by Mr. Carter and seconded by Ms. Hein, the CAT Committee forwarded the City of Mount Pleasant and Mount Pleasant Community School Foundation // Paving the Way to Outdoor Pickleball in Mount Pleasant to the Enhance Iowa Board with a recommendation the a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $21,750 contingent on completed fundraising within 30 days.

City of Shell Rock // Shell Rock Swimming Pool

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included the demolition and reconstruction of the City’s swimming pool. The project has completed fundraising and plans to start construction in late summer 2019. On a motion by Mr. Boone and seconded by Ms. Hein, the CAT Committee forwarded the City of Shell Rock // Shell Rock Swimming Pool to the Enhance Iowa Board with a recommendation that a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $116,828, contingent on verification of the final cost and funds spent to date.

Englert Civic Theatre Inc. dba The Englert Theatre // The Englert Theatre

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included the renovation and preservation of the 107-year old building. The Board noted the breadth of fundraising completed before making an application to Board. On a motion by Mr. Boone and seconded by Mr. Carter, the CAT Committee forward the Englert Civic Theatre Inc. dba The Englert Theatre // The Englert Theatre to the Enhance Iowa Board with a recommendation that a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $214,804, contingent on completed fundraising within 90 days.

Franklin County Agriculture and Fair Association // Franklin County Convention Center Extreme Makeover/Renovation

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included the renovation and expansion for the Franklin County Convention Center. Project fundraising is still underway. The Board asked that the City of Hampton be approached to provide a more significant financial contribution. The committee gave guidance that a potential award would be closer to the Board’s average of 15% or $180,000.

The Committee recessed at 12:23

The Committee reconvened at 12:45

City of Joice // City of Joice Library and Community Center

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included reconstruction of the library that was destroyed in a fire and the new construction of a community center. On a motion by Mr. Carter and seconded by Mr. Burns, the CAT Committee forwarded City of Joice // City of Joice Library and Community Center to the Enhance Iowa Board with the recommendation that a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $340,000, contingent on completed fundraising within 60 days.

Linn County Conservation // Morgan Creek Park Development Phase I

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included the scope of the project and location of the park related to the Cedar Rapids metro area. The committee expressed concern on the limited individual and business support for the project. Representatives explained that a larger fundraising campaign will begin in October for the local support of the project. The committee encouraged representatives to return when they can show a broad base of fundraising for the project.

Polk County // Lauridsen Skatepark & Spectator Park

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included an explanation of the proposed park and its amenities. Updates were provided showing an additional $200,000 has been raised. Work has started on the skatepark and the completion date is planned for spring/summer of 2020. The committee expressed support for the project and encouraged the applicant to close the fundraising gap.

YMCA of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area // New Regional YMCA in Marion

Project representatives provided the first presentation of the project to the Board. Discussion included the construction of a new YMCA in the Marion community. The project is scheduled to begin later this fall. The applicant provided documentation of available debt financing to cover the fundraising gap on the project. The committee gave guidance that an award would likely be around $400,000 and requested that representatives return to the September meeting with updates.

City of Algona // Algona Public Library Building Project

Mara Strickler gave an update showing that financing gap has been closed by the City of Algona. On a motion by Mr. Boone and seconded by Mr. Burns, the CAT Committee forwarded the City of Algona // Algona Public Library Building Project to the Enhance Iowa Board with the recommendation that a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $400,000.

ArenaCo and Johnson County Historical Society //Johnson County Historical Society Museum Relocation

Project representatives gave update on project fundraising. The City of Coralville has committed to financing the remaining gap of the project. On a motion by Mr. Carter and seconded by Mr. Boone, the CAT Committee forwarded the ArenaCo and Johnson County Historical Society // Johnson County Historical Society Museum Relocation to the Enhance Iowa Board with the recommendation that a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $500,000.

Brooklyn Community Development // Brooklyn Opera House

Project representatives provided a written update showing additional fundraising and debt financing to close the gap on the project. On a motion by Ms. Hein and seconded by Mr. Carter, the CAT Committee forwarded Brooklyn Community Development // Brooklyn Opera House to the Enhance Iowa Board with the recommendation that a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $500,000.

Brucemore // Brucemore Preservation Project

Project representatives provided a written update showing additional fundraising and debt financing to close the gap on the project. On a motion by Mr. Carter and seconded by Ms. Hein, the CAT Committee forwarded to the Enhance Iowa Board a recommendation that a CAT grant be awarded in the amount of $400,000.

OTHER BUSINESS
No other business.

CLOSING BUSINESS
The next CAT Committee meeting is tentatively set for September 11, 2019 at the Blank Park Zoo (7401 SW 9^th St, Des Moines).

ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Ms. Hein seconded by Mr. Carter, with no objection, the meeting adjourned at 2:35 pm.