Tag: provide

Categories
City of Muscatine Press Releases

City launches new citizens engagement tool

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine has partnered with SeeClickFix and CivicPlus to provide a new platform that will allow citizens improved options to report quality-of-life issues and request services.

With the free Muscatine Connect – SeeClickFix mobile app and web tools, Muscatine citizens will now be able to provide City staff with pictures, specific descriptions, and more — valuable information needed to get the job done efficiently. 

In addition, the platform provides Muscatine officials with a centralized issue management system to manage issues from creation to resolution — engaging Muscatine citizens throughout the process.

This partnership not only allows Muscatine citizens to report problems, but also to view, comment on, and vote to fix problems submitted by their neighbors. Citizens can even create their own “watch areas” to receive notifications about all the issues reported in their community, enabling them to follow the progress of all service requests — not just the ones they report.  

Residents can visit the City of Muscatine website and click on the Muscatine Connect icon in the upper left-hand corner of the home page to begin a report or they can download the SeeClickFix mobile app for Android (GooglePlay) and iPhone (App Store). Visit the Muscatine Connect page on the city website for more information on downloading the app or how to submit a request. Residents can also view an FAQ about Muscatine Connect.

Citizens who report issues will receive an automated response letting them know that their issue has been received. Once an issue has been assigned, another email will be sent to provide a status update.

Please note that not all issues will be able to be immediately fixed. Issues will be completed based on priority-level and budget status. We welcome citizen feedback at feedback@muscatineiowa.gov and will be monitoring the application regularly in an effort to continuously improve its effectiveness.

Please note, the City of Muscatine has also ended support of the previous “Citizen Request Tracker” web application.

In addition to the mobile apps, Citizens can also visit seeclickfix.com/Muscatine to begin submitting a request.

About SeeClickFix

SeeClickFix was founded in 2008 to empower citizens with tools to publicly document quality of life concerns in their neighborhoods. By radically improving the quantity and quality of this data, SeeClickFix was quickly adopted by local governments, who needed a better way to receive information from citizens.

This exchange helped to build one of the largest neighborhood networks in the world — upon which public agencies and public citizens engage to improve communities. Today, SeeClickFix has official partnerships with hundreds of cities, engaging hundreds of thousands of citizens in the resolution of millions of issues. 

SeeClickFix has worked with government partners to develop municipal management tools on top of this citizen network. As SeeClickFix is adopted into the everyday lives of government users, the benefit of the engaged citizen base continues to gro

Continue reading “City launches new citizens engagement tool”
Categories
City of Muscatine Press Releases

TIF Policy, nuisance updates on City Council In-Depth agenda

MUSCATINE, Iowa – City of Muscatine staff will provide two presentations to the Muscatine City Council during its In-Depth session Thursday (Dec. 8), the first on a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Policy for the City and the second on potential updates to nuisance regulations. The City Council meets at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore Street, Muscatine, Iowa. 

A virtual session will be held in conjunction with the in-person meeting for those who want to view the proceedings or make a comment but do not feel comfortable attending in person. Instructions for joining the virtual session are listed below.

City Administrator Carol Webb and City Finance Director Nancy Lueck have drafted a TIF policy with input from the City’s TIF legal counsel. The purpose of the policy is to document the goals of the TIF program and to establish structure and objectivity for evaluating economic development projects. 

Incremental property taxes are the new property taxes generated by improvements to the project property. The amount of TIF funding available to a project is determined by multiplying the incremental property valuations by the year’s TIF tax rate. The TIF tax rate is determined by subtracting any protected levies (e.g., the debt service levies) from the consolidated tax rate of the property, while property valuations are independently determined by the Muscatine County Assessor unless determined by a minimum assessment agreement.

Establishing a standard policy and framework for economic incentives ensures that the City’s financial resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible while accomplishing key City goals.

City staff will bring the policy forward for approval at a future meeting should City Council support the development of a City of Muscatine TIF Policy. 

More information on the proposed policy can be found by clicking HERE.

The second presentation by Community Development staff regards the addition of 10 additional nuisances to City Code, the appeal process and administrative fees. The proposed additions already qualify as nuisances under the current City Code, but the more specific code would make understanding, complying with, and enforcing regulations easier for property owners, community members, and City staff.

More information on the proposed updates to City Code can be found by clicking HERE.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download a PDF version of the City Council agenda and/or attachments. 

Thursday’s City Council meeting is open to the public. Citizens who do not want to attend the in-person meeting can watch and/or participate through the GoToMeeting virtual meeting portal. Information on joining the session and how to make a comment during the meeting is listed below. The session will also be broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel and on Muscatine Power & Water Cable Channel 2.

On-Line Participation

To view or participate virtually, click on the link below or call in to the GoToMeeting. Be sure to mute your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone (press *6 when using phone or mute button on computer). At the appropriate time, you will be able to unmute your device to ask a question or make a comment. The public can also use the “chat” feature on GoToMeeting to pose a question to the Mayor, Council, or staff member. Those wishing to speak should use the chat box to post a message that will be seen by the Mayor who will address the questions or call on the speaker in turn. Those using their phones must wait until the Mayor asks for additional comments. The mayor will recognize you prior to you addressing the Council.

Muscatine City Council Meeting | Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

You can also use your phone by dialing +1 (669) 224-3412, follow the prompts, and type in Access Code 970-499-597 when prompted.

The link, phone number, and access code are the same for both meetings. You can remain logged on between meetings or exit and re-enter at the appropriate time.
 
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/970499597

Continue reading “TIF Policy, nuisance updates on City Council In-Depth agenda”
Categories
City of Muscatine Press Releases

Revised all-terrain vehicle ordinance to be considered

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The public is invited to provide comments during a public hearing Thursday as the City Council considers proposed revisions to the All-Terrain Vehicle Ordinance. 

The City Council meets in regular session Thursday (September 1) in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore Street, Muscatine, Iowa. A virtual session will be held in conjunction with the in-person meeting for those who want to view the proceedings or make a comment but do not feel comfortable attending in person. Instructions for joining the virtual session are listed below.

The City Council directed City staff to prepare changes to the All-Terrain Vehicle Regulations during the May 2022 In-Depth session. Since then, the State of Iowa passed a new code governing All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and Off-Road Utility Vehicles (UTV) throughout all 99 counties. The revisions to the City Code of Muscatine being proposed include definitions and requirements related to the use of ATVs and UTVs, and reasonable rules and regulations for the maintenance and operation of ATVs and UTVs on approved roadways within the City of Muscatine.

The first reading of the proposed revised ordinance will be held later in the meeting along with the second reading of the proposed revisions to the snow emergency regulations that include a return to snow emergency route designations.

In other business Thursday, the Council is expected to:

  • Approve the Development Agreement with Kent Corporation in regards to renovations of the former McKee Button Factory;
  • Approve the Development Agreement with Muscatine Downtown Investors LLC to create two upper-story units at 100 West 2nd Street; and, 
  • Approve a Supplemental Agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for maintenance of primary roads in municipalities.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download a PDF version of the City Council agenda and/or attachments. 

Thursday’s City Council meeting is open to the public. Citizens who do not want to attend the in-person meeting can watch and/or participate through the GoToMeeting virtual meeting portal. Information on joining the session and how to make a comment during the meeting is listed below. The session will also be broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel and on Muscatine Power & Water Cable Channel 2.

On-Line Participation

To view or participate virtually, click on the link below or call in to the GoToMeeting. Be sure to mute your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone (press *6 when using phone or mute button on computer). At the appropriate time, you will be able to unmute your device to ask a question or make a comment. The public can also use the “chat” feature on GoToMeeting to pose a question to the Mayor, Council, or staff member. Those wishing to speak should use the chat box to post a message that will be seen by the Mayor who will address the questions or call on the speaker in turn. Those using their phones must wait until the Mayor asks for additional comments. The mayor will recognize you prior to you addressing the Council.

Muscatine City Council Meeting | Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

You can also use your phone by dialing +1 (669) 224-3412, follow the prompts, and type in Access Code 970-499-597 when prompted.

 The link, phone number, and access code are the same for both meetings. You can remain logged on between meetings or exit and re-enter at the appropriate time.
 
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/970499597

Continue reading “Revised all-terrain vehicle ordinance to be considered”