COUNTY ISSUANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSES STUDY COMMITTEE

June 9, 1997 - First Meeting for 1997-1998

MEMBERS PRESENT

• Chris Van Meter, County Finance Committee, Chairperson
• Richard Johnson, Auditor of State, Vice Chairperson
• Donald Breniman, Director of Audits, Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT)
• Terry Dillinger, Director, Office of Driver Services, IDOT
• Robert Hagey, Sioux County Treasurer
• Pat Milligan, Iowa Motor Truck Association
• Darrel Rensink, Director, IDOT
• Peggy Smalley, Audubon County Treasurer
• Daron Van Helden, Public Affairs Consultant, AAA Minnesota/Iowa
• Wayne Walter, Winneshiek County Treasurer
• Mary Kay Williams, Appanoose County Treasurer
• Sharon Winchell, Cass County Treasurer

MEETING IN BRIEF

Organizational staffing provided and prepared by Mike Kuehn, Legal Counsel
Additional staffing by Tim McDermott, Legal Counsel

1. Administrative Matters.
2. Background.
3. Committee Discussion and Actions.
4. Future Meetings.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

1. Administrative Matters.

The first meeting of the County Issuance of Motor Vehicle Licenses Study Committee was held on June 9, 1997, at Des Moines Area Community College. All members of the Committee were present except the Operations Research Analyst from the County Finance Committee. That position is currently vacant.

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by Darrel Rensink. The Committee elected Chris Van Meter as Chairperson and Richard Johnson as Vice Chairperson. The Committee then discussed and adopted procedural rules, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.

2. Background.

The County Issuance of Motor Vehicle Licenses Study Committee was created by 1997 Iowa Acts, H.F. 372, to study, make recommendations regarding, and, if such a system is enacted, oversee the implementation of a uniform system for the issuance of motor vehicle licenses by county treasurers. The Committee is to study the experience of the six counties (Adams, Cass, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, and Page) currently authorized to issue motor vehicle licenses, take testimony from the IDOT and other interested parties, survey customers in the six counties and selected other counties, make a cost comparison between issuance of licenses by the Department and by the counties, recommend guidelines for all motor vehicle license activities, and make recommendations regarding motor vehicle license issuance in the state. The Committee is to report to the General Assembly not later than January 1, 1998, and shall act in an advisory capacity regarding implementation of a county issuance program, should one be enacted, until December 21, 1998.

3. Committee Discussion and Actions.

The Committee determined that some funding would be required to carry out the requirements of H.F. 372 and directed the Legislative Service Bureau to prepare a memorandum requesting funding by the Legislative Council for the June 25, 1997, meeting of the Legislative Council.

The Committee identified several issues for consideration, including the following:

1. Costs of providing motor vehicle license services.
2. Level of service quality, including how the motor vehicle license issuance system meets the needs for highway safety, revenue generation, and response to changing requirements.
3. What technology issues are facing the motor vehicle license issuance process at the IDOT and county levels?
4. What kinds of and how many public hearings or facility visits should be undertaken?

The Committee agreed that it would seek to complete its work and have its final report and recommendations issued by December 1, 1997, and to consistently consider the interests of the taxpayers and to reach a consensus in making recommendations.

The Committee agreed to create three subcommittees to address particular motor vehicle license issuance issues. These subcommittees are as follows:

• Cost Subcommittee:
  • Warren Jenkins, designee of Auditor of State Richard Johnson, Chairperson.
  • Chris Van Meter
  • Donald Breniman
  • Nancy Richardson, designee of Darrell Rensink
  • Mary Kay Williams
  • Wayne Walter
  • David Reynolds, Legislative Fiscal Bureau (added to Subcommittee at the request of Chairperson Van Meter)
  The Cost Subcommittee is charged with the development of cost information regarding the issuance of motor vehicle licenses.
• Quality and Survey Subcommittee: Sharon Winchell, Chairperson.
  • Pat Milligan
  • Terry Dillinger, or Tina Hargis as his designee
  • Peggy Smalley
  • Robert Hagey
  The Quality and Survey Subcommittee is charged with the development of the customer survey and the making of recommendations regarding guidelines for motor vehicle license issuance and other quality of service issues.
• Technology Subcommittee: Darrel Rensink, Chairperson, or Nancy Richardson as his designee.
  • Terry Dillinger or Tina Hargis as his designee
  • Richard Johnson or Warren Jenkins as his designee
  • Robert Hagey
  • Daron Van Helden
  The Technology Subcommittee is charged with the responsibility of investigating and making recommendations regarding technology issues, including changing technology in the issuance of motor vehicle licenses.

4. Future Meetings.

The Committee set the following dates for its future meetings:

• July 17, 1997, Room 118, Capitol.
• August 13, 1997, Room 19, Capitol.

OTHER INFORMATION FOR THIS COMMITTEE:

| Charge | Members | Staff | Final Report |

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Last update: MON Feb 2 1998
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