From: 1000 Friends of Iowa
Subject: MPO Public Information Meetings
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Please attend one of the Des Moines Area MPO Public Information Meetings
that are coming up.  There is one tonight (9/15) at 7:00 at the Neveln
Center, 406 SW School Street, Ankeny (515-965-9606).  The next one is
tomorrow night (Tuesday 9/16) in Pleasant Hill, the Community Room, 5151
Maple Drive (515-262-9368). See future dates below.

Talking Points for Des Moines MPO Public Meetings

1.  The three proposed growth scenarios might be characterized as Sprawl 1,
2 and 3. There is no attempt made to present a "Smart Growth" scenario. None
of the three options offer any hope for a more responsible development
pattern that would protect farmland and natural areas, or encourage
redevelopment and infill in existing cities and towns. If any one of the
three proposed scenarios are accepted by the MPO, it would lead to
transportation decisions that focus on more new highway construction at the
expense of maintenance of existing roads and expansion of other
transportation modes.

2.  Organizations with interest and expertise in neighborhood development,
environmental protection, agriculture, historic preservation, public transit
and bicycle and pedestrian access need to be integral participants of this
process from the beginning. The region's growth plan needs to reflect more
than the wish list of developers and city and county officials.

3.  Extensive abuse of tax abatement and tax increment financing (TIF) have
shifted more and more of the property tax burden to residential payers. The
three proposed growth scenarios mean further taxpayer subsidies to
accommodate a sprawling pattern of growth, a pattern that is being rejected
by more and more communities across the country. If the Des Moines metro
area is serious about becoming a place that people and businesses want to
locate, it will create a plan that is sustainable and affordable. The plan
must emphasize enhancement and redevelopment of existing cities and towns
and preservation of farmland and natural areas, assuring a higher quality of
life and a fairer distribution of the tax burden for all.

It is very important that our members choose a meeting to attend.
This is our chance to make our voices heard.

Sept. 15 - 7:00 p.m. - Neveln Center, 406 SW School St., Ankeny
(515-965-9606)

Sept. 16 - 7:00 p.m. - Pleasant Hill Community Room, 5151 Maple Drive,
Pleasant Hill (515-262-9368)

Sept. 18 - 7:00 p.m. - Des Moines Botanical Center's Willow Room, 909 E.
River Drive, Des Moines
(515-323-8900)

Sept. 23 - 7:15 p.m. - West Des Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic
Parkway, West Des Moines
(515-222-3400)

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