JCCOG Organization
 
JCCOG was chartered in 1980 as a successor organization to the Johnson County Regional Planning Commission.  The Iowa City community achieved urbanized area status with the 1980 census, and JCCOG was organized to accommodate federal transportation planning requirements for urbanized areas.  In January of 1982 the Governor of the State of Iowa designated JCCOG as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Iowa City Urbanized Area.

The steering committee which established JCCOG attempted to address certain shortcomings of the preceding regional planning commission.  The most significant changes were (1) the establishment of two policy boards to deal separately with urban and rural issues, (2) the representation of only elected officials on the policy boards (except for the University), and (3) the incorporation of JCCOG staff within the organization of the City of Iowa City.

Separate Policy Boards

The separation of urban and rural policy boards was done in an attempt to acknowledge the varying interests and concerns of the urban and rural portions of Johnson County.  This separation of urban and rural concerns is carried through in the funding of the four JCCOG program areas.  The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is represented on both the urban and rural policy boards since they represent the entire population of Johnson County.  North Liberty is also represented on both boards, since they are impacted by both urban and rural issues.

Urbanized Area Policy Board

The JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board includes representatives from all governmental units included in the Iowa City Urbanized Area as defined by the U.S. Census.  Also included are representatives from the City of North Liberty and the City of Tiffin.  The number of representatives is roughly proportional to population, although Iowa City is limited to six members so they do not have a majority of the Board.  All representatives are elected officials, except for the University of Iowa's which is appointed by the president of the University.  Federal transportation regulations mandate the Iowa Department of Transportation be included as a non-voting member.


 

 The members of the Urbanized Area Policy Board receive JCCOG staff services in the following areas:

Meetings of the JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board are held on an as-needed basis, approximately eight times per year.  The meetings are on Wednesdays, 4:00 p.m., at the Johnson County-Iowa City Senior Center.

Rural Policy Board

The JCCOG Rural Policy Board includes representatives from all incorporated areas in Johnson County outside of the Iowa City Urbanized Area.  Also included is Johnson County, representing the unincorporated portion of the county.  All representatives are elected officials, and at least one of the two Johnson County Supervisors on the Rural Policy Board must also be a represen-tative of the Urbanized Area Policy Board.


 
 

The members of the Rural Policy Board receive JCCOG services in the following areas:

Planning assistance to small communities was provided directly by JCCOG staff until the mid-1980's.  Since that time it has been funded by JCCOG but provided through an agreement with the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG), a six-county regional planning agency which includes Johnson County.

Meetings of the JCCOG Rural Policy Board are held on an as-needed basis once or twice a year.

 
Elected Officials

All JCCOG policy board representatives are elected officials, except for the University of Iowa's who is appointed by the president of the University.  This arrangement ensures that elected officials are involved in policy matters at the regional planning level.  It also provides continuity between policies developed by JCCOG and policies developed by the city councils/policy boards of the JCCOG member agencies.
 

Relationship with the City of Iowa City

JCCOG is organized under the City of Iowa City.  Although funding is received from all JCCOG members, JCCOG staff are employees of the City of Iowa City.  Through a 28(E) agreement, JCCOG staff provide assistance to the other members of JCCOG.  This arrangement provides for cost-sharing between Iowa City and JCCOG for such functions as accounting, word processing, secretarial services, drafting, motor pool, and building rental.