[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6539472,"mediaKeyId","3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09","parentId",3642326,"title","Marion staff propose wide public works fee increases; council asks for comparables and phased approach","audioSeconds",1162,"startMs",570000,"endMs",1732000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09&start=570&end=1732","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09/thumbnail_570000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6539472/Marion-City/Linn-County/Iowa/Marion-staff-propose-wide-public-works-fee-increases-council-asks-for-comparables-and-phased-approach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539472-52094afe658f52c5837aa2ebf0a70082/orig.mp4?Expires=1776418901&Signature=OgrtrnNI8K1Omb3cEVbAGIkf8rYbUl58O0zw6vVGaCUp9r9ocBBjwVpGIRt5uLKRLPZwI1WKgXg2PNVnH1XgvjvCTqHp5xxIkO2-Y2HxHhiD14BfjzTWG23eWdpPK4p~loGwQGLLHINARGWr-5JBW25ulea2g6dJWktaCKtBdbyDkjB57jhuMq554Q3Mci1F7p8N-891pdMNHjVjUYbM2~0XsmZD8PrwaLvOSN85ngKU5qvq8VcE-WJIjNC0V7q-sCYZU~4RSqlhti5osLupy9f9B-GLAWcy5Ljqu5qOiuleeCVrRylM-rfXHq-bS3NP8BNow26vg5jwO5mdFU7msg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marion","date","2025-06-03T22:59:53Z","article","Public works staff presented a proposed update to Marion’s public works fee schedule at the June 3 city council work session, telling council many fees have not been changed since February 2008 and recommending several new and increased charges.

Mike (Public Works) described several engineering and public-works fee changes: consolidating multiple permits into a single right-of-way/temporary encroachment permit at $40 (plus $10 when curb work is involved); raising erosion-control fees (minor from $25 to $100; major from $100 to $250); raising sewer-connection review from $50 to $100; and increasing plan-of-improvements review to $200 for projects an acre or less and $400 for larger parcels. Staff also proposed a $50 fee and hold‑harmless agreement for permanent encroachments (for example, irrigation lines in right-of-way).

\"So project plans — one good thing that did come out of COVID was we used to print 11 by 17 plans ... We now give them a link to OneDrive, and they can download and print as much as they want. So we don't need to charge that $25 fee because our plans are electronic,\" Mike said as he outlined several eliminations and consolidations.

The most substantial changes were proposed for traffic-control equipment. Staff recommended replacing the current refundable A-frame deposit with a class‑3 barricade rental at $250 per day, a $150 delivery fee and a $400 replacement cost. As an intermediate option, staff proposed traffic cones at $25 per cone per day with a minimum of four cones per closure, a $75 optional delivery fee and a $400 replacement cost (the replacement cost is applied to the set of cones for a closure). Staff said the change is intended to reduce city liability by requiring commercially compliant, reflective devices for street closures.

Other proposed adjustments included using FEMA equipment-rate tables plus labor for equipment charges, updating solid-waste special collection rates (increasing the first 15 minutes from $40 to $60 and $40 for each additional 15 minutes), a $25 cart‑cleaning fee when residents return unclean carts, and maintaining a $25 charge for missed/late pickup that provides a return pickup option.

Councilmembers sought comparables and questioned the size of the jump for some items. \"Have we benchmarked these against our comparables?\" one councilmember asked. Staff said comparable cities often do not offer rentals and that benchmarking is ongoing; staff will supply comparable data and more granular cost recovery analysis before council considers adoption. Staff also said the city is moving toward an annual schedule for fee reviews so updates won’t accumulate for decades.

Councilmembers suggested phasing in large increases for items with dramatic cost differentials, and asked whether different rates could be considered for non‑profit or public‑interest uses. Staff agreed to return with comparable data, a clearer cost-recovery breakdown and suggested sequencing. The proposed fee table is scheduled for council consideration on June 19 with an intended effective date of July 1 if approved.

No vote on the fee schedule was taken at the June 3 work session; staff will return with additional benchmark data and recommended modifications.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","YouTube - City Council - Audio/Presentation - 6.3.25","oneSentenceSummary","Public works staff proposed a comprehensive update to Marion’s public works fees — many unchanged since 2008 — including higher plan-review and erosion-control fees, new permanent-encroachment charges and substantially increased barricade rental rates.","taxTitle","Marion City, Linn County, Iowa","taxId",55360,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6539477,"Corridor MPO outlines regional transportation funding and grant push for Marion",843,1138000,295000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09&start=1138&end=295","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09/thumbnail_1138000.jpg","/articles/6539477/Marion-City/Linn-County/Iowa/Corridor-MPO-outlines-regional-transportation-funding-and-grant-push-for-Marion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539477-40139c6db866dea5ddfc839cc90c2c1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776418901&Signature=XWKHBa0bZsdISAsepeVWitDWEwbXKLQkqDwof9m8wRgcJ9axiM~ryZIzPdjrC5jxqQo8kfc9BsUX8Oa0mLxzIkDnrzOt0Suk5IhB7MZwc6AU0gqi0mLivdZGu0hGufScz5Sd0cxysFXRQLa0sXHRAETbR5LUrPVizu7e8UXjT6sq4HMR7PdXW6tzRErcDX5JTqt8Pvv6TW-4ukq0zTZj4aE2YGf7jft1JwHGrIcoZQ~0laU0e43rmMMiaCGn77LtHHbUSW3-oibfm~Mo6oqzdObuge20uextBv7aIompevPkiw150QxyuQi39TDH28QFl9vco91cZKUajoDDQPxguA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liz Burke, Corridor MPO manager, told the Marion City Council during its June 3 work session that the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) coordinates regional short- and long-range transportation planning and programs federal transportation funds for road, trail and transit projects.

\"MPOs are transportation policy-making boards that are required by both federal and Iowa law,\" Burke said. She said Marion is one of the MPO’s members and pays about $100,000 a year in local dues; those local dues are matched about 80% with federal funds for staff salaries and planning work.

The MPO manager said the organization consolidates regionally significant projects into its long-range plan and allocates limited federal dollars through a Transportation Improvement Program. \"If you think about all the projects that any community in the region wants to complete as far as transportation goes, the MPO takes the projects that are regional in nature and puts them into our long range plan,\" Burke said.

Council members pressed Burke on the scale of the program’s annual funding. \"What is the on an annual basis, average, what is the amount of money that gets funded through the CMPO?\" one councilmember asked. Burke replied, \"It's about $8,000,000 a year.\"

Burke and council members also discussed discretionary federal grants — competitively awarded funds outside formula allocations — as a way to bring additional infrastructure dollars into Marion. Burke said the MPO and member cities have been actively pursuing discretionary grants for roads and trails. Council members asked how federal delegation seniority affects grant success. Burke said formula-funded MPO allocations are set by formula, but added that longer-serving legislators can be influential on discretionary dollars.

Council members noted the MPO plans a Washington, D.C., outreach trip to press federal legislators about discretionary funding for a regional project on Tower Terrace Road that advanced in the process but missed funding when allocations ran out.

The presentation closed with council praise for the MPO’s coordination role and an invitation for questions.

The MPO presentation was an informational item; no council action on MPO funding or membership was taken at the June 3 work session.","Liz Burke, Corridor MPO manager, told the Marion City Council that the MPO coordinates regional transportation planning and programs about $8 million a year in federal funds for roads, trails and transit; Marion pays roughly $100,000 annually in local dues.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6539462,"Council to dissolve landfill subcommittee, reviews curb petition and fireworks code change; adjourns to closed session on real estate (7–0)",806,3682000,4488000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09&start=3682&end=4488","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09/thumbnail_3682000.jpg","/articles/6539462/Marion-City/Linn-County/Iowa/Council-to-dissolve-landfill-subcommittee-reviews-curb-petition-and-fireworks-code-change-adjourns-to-closed-session-on-real-estate-70","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539462-053698c28edafd1583360ad842c3b5cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776418901&Signature=UQLTOXrdEu~PFh6XE5q6jaZaqmysUXOxxhqpHyJlwRl73hhYz4Mi8hJieqkz77YwcGsp~BqRHk2HHnlD-m~jkjsCbM0Ew227qXCV5Mc-HarWIzw8Csxmg6iJZOzoUNyrzFYuPXrZVjp4tasRQEam2QKEedIIQ0mSdFMo32upSuYJr~cVvtMTzHoxiVp8GZBj84kJTPZLwGf3RFX1FGiBaePGXpIbeVU9aDSPNcD2NMCF9uEpAICQuwD1On9p7k~TTq~R1YtE5eGbZezzYUyiHja3ccr~pf--kVaJrXstmPVOGsav3SjvcwvPdIz8EeUBaWXNNbKpjg~Q8oirD2zjkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff said the landfill subcommittee appointed by the council earlier this year has completed its information-gathering work and will be recommended for formal dissolution at the council’s next regular meeting.

Staff also presented a resident petition asking the city to add curb and gutter along a portion of 20 Fifth Avenue. Public works staff said the city’s HMA overlay work and its $150,000 annual curb-and-gutter program guide prioritization; when street or subsurface utility work requires a trench at the back of curb, staff typically couples curb construction with the utility work. Staff advised that adding curb on every recently overlaid street would reduce the number of streets that can be completed each year given current funding.

On state law changes, staff said Iowa Senate File 303 (SF303), signed by the governor, removed local authority to prohibit consumer fireworks on July 4 and Dec. 31 and requires updates to the local code. \"This bill prohibits local governments from restricting consumer fireworks on July, and December 31,\" staff said, and the city will propose ordinance changes to bring the code into compliance and will notify residents via social media and the city website.

The work session ended with a motion to adjourn to closed session \"regarding real estate transactions as permitted under Section 21.5(1)(j) of the Code of Iowa.\" Councilmember Sarah Menser moved the motion; it was seconded (second not named on the public record). The city attorney/ legal counsel reviewed the agenda item and told the council he believed the topic was appropriate for closed session under the cited code provision.

A roll-call vote followed. The minutes record these votes in favor of adjourning to closed session: Councilmember Johnson — yes; Councilmember Harper — yes; Councilmember Miskaman — yes; Mayor Abu Asli — yes; Councilmember Menser — yes; Councilmember Brant — yes; Councilmember Sternad — yes. The motion passed 7–0 and the council adjourned to closed session to discuss real estate matters. No public action on the real estate items was recorded in the work session minutes.","Staff recommended dissolving the interim landfill subcommittee and reported that state law SF303 requires changes to Marion’s fireworks ordinance; council then voted 7–0 to adjourn into closed session on real estate matters.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6539467,"Marion targets 15 bus stops for shelters and pads using CMPO funds; Hy‑Vee location needs site work or easement",1508,2125000,3633000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09&start=2125&end=3633","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3642326-86efff44265208022fb86585a754ed09/thumbnail_2125000.jpg","/articles/6539467/Marion-City/Linn-County/Iowa/Marion-targets-15-bus-stops-for-shelters-and-pads-using-CMPO-funds-HyVee-location-needs-site-work-or-easement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539467-8d5772e195f351c085ef26d9c74c0cd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776418901&Signature=MCALkpYl~iYNaWWySeZGwnxVoJFdPRmxRgAjCM6jzhBPpBrtpeHKyZXeQq~ioegTdimewSLIU3BEIG3O1fZNwJMBbzwc~W-Pac5fD51dutAKKo9zEDGzwaARY4hX5CRSQerL6d4s58PGk54snRGkG3rTvbo8D-mKkubUJiftiiInUEA6qMtuIvCOkERwLaDfHOzZBulGn9O34vBIjcxEdjPP9zm6IJT65rtiD6T5-3KvYm61unr43ys~917u~5Jdx989srM7RTv1VQ22Qzx59bkAErFW7H-S2Kb9Aq7XT7Nf~SH1OEs7BjAfTRa35Ev3iJGlTJZ98XH24p2qEI-cYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Marion City Council on June 3 they plan to use $315,000 in Corridor MPO funds together with city matching dollars to upgrade about 15 transit stops in Marion and begin environmental review work.

Staff said the current inventory includes 49 stops inside Marion: four have concrete pad, bench and shelter; one has pad and bench; and 44 are signs only. The recommendation is to upgrade 14 sign-only stops to a concrete pad, bench and shelter and convert one pad-only stop into a pad-and-bench location (no shelter at that constrained site).

Staff estimated roughly $400,000 in hard construction costs and about $32,000 in NEPA (environmental) review costs; the city must also comply with Buy America/Build America sourcing requirements, which may affect shelters and vendor selection. \"With the new administration, it's Build America and Buy America,\" staff noted; vendors and specifications may change as rules evolve.

Location decisions will guide environmental reviews and final design. Several high‑ridership sites sit on private property — including Walmart and a Carlson Way/151 area — and staff said federal funds generally cannot pay for improvements on private property. The Hy‑Vee stop drew particular attention: staff said a shelter at the stop as currently sited could impede driveway sight lines because of a curve and grade. Staff said options include moving the shelter a short distance north on Hy‑Vee frontage, partnering with Hy‑Vee for a property easement or pursuing a locally funded outside-the-MPO project to place a shelter on private property.

\"If that's the wish of the council, I think we could work with that,\" the project lead said when council members suggested shifting the Hy‑Vee location for visibility and access.

Councilmembers asked staff to provide a ranked chart of the highest‑ridership stops and whether the proposed upgrades match those top stops. Staff said Cedar Rapids Transit and MPO data informed the selections and that they will provide a detailed ridership/ranking table and site‑specific right‑of‑way assessments before any construction decisions. Staff also warned that completing NEPA and meeting federal procurement and sourcing rules will affect the schedule; staff described a best‑case goal of beginning construction the following year but stressed timing is uncertain.

The council expressed general support for proceeding to site review and NEPA studies for the proposed locations and asked staff to return with the ridership chart, refined cost estimates and notes on private‑property locations and possible easements. The MPO does not require a formal vote to start environmental review; staff will proceed after council concurrence and return with NEPA findings and final design.","City staff proposed using $315,000 in Corridor MPO funds and city matching dollars to upgrade about 15 Marion bus stops from signs only to concrete pads, benches and shelters, with an estimated $400,000 in construction and $32,000 in NEPA environmental reviews.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Marion staff propose wide public works fee increases; council asks for comparables and phased approach

Corridor MPO outlines regional transportation funding and grant push for Marion

Council to dissolve landfill subcommittee, reviews curb petition and fireworks code change; adjourns to closed session on real estate (7–0)

Marion targets 15 bus stops for shelters and pads using CMPO funds; Hy‑Vee location needs site work or easement