Spring 2022 Updates

With another academic year behind us, Idaho Policy Institute (IPI) is celebrating a year of being back on campus in the Environmental Research Building (ERB). Being on campus facilitated numerous collaborations with our colleagues outside of IPI including work with Dr. Jaci Lee, Criminal Justice Assistant Professor, on a Guardian Ad Litem program evaluation for the Idaho Supreme Court and Brittany Brand, director of the Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute, on a resilience assessment for the City of Kamiah. In addition, IPI Interim Director Vanessa Fry is a co-lead on the Planning Grant Leadership Team for the Resource Nexus for Sustainability Grand Challenge. The Leadership Team will develop the blueprint that will guide the research focus, community involvement, and overall success of this Grand Challenges Initiative.

The move to campus also allowed us better connectivity with students. This year we had three graduate research assistants, six interns, and a work-study student. In addition, this year’s MPA Capstone course and Housing Opportunities for All VIP engaged 42 students on 19 projects with community partners. McAllister Hall, an IPI Research Associate, became IPI’s Manager of Student Engagement to accommodate this growth in our work with students. In this role, McAllister ensures that IPI’s students work alongside IPI researchers on community-driven projects while also receiving tailored professional development and mentorship support. 

As we move into the summer months, IPI team members will continue our research together while also preparing for the upcoming academic year. We’re excited to welcome the School of Public Service’s incoming dean, Dr. Angela Bos, and look forward to working with her!

We’re also all planning on taking a little vacation time – and we hope you are too.

Best wishes for a productive and fun summer!

Vanessa Fry
Interim Director, Idaho Policy Institute

Gabe Osterhout, Matthew May, Cheong Kim, Emily Pape, Vanessa Fry

Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) commissioned a study from Idaho Policy Institute to better understand the state’s DMV service delivery model, compare it to DMV arrangements in other states, and research potential policy alternatives.

IPI conducted analysis using information from:

• 15 prior surveys distributed by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA)
• Two new surveys receiving responses from DMV administrators in 27 states and 175 DMV agents working in 40 Idaho counties
• 18 interviews with administrators in select states and local county assessors and sheriffs 
• DMV transaction, agent, and office data in Idaho and other states
• Literature assessing best practices

Overall, Idaho’s DMV arrangement is unique. ITD oversees services, establishes policies and procedures, and provides training and equipment. County sheriffs and assessors administer driver and vehicle services and manage their own offices and agents. Many DMV administration decisions are made independently in each of Idaho’s 44 counties resulting in varying degrees of efficiency and customer service across the state.

Other state models also feature tradeoffs: more centralized arrangements enable greater standardization and economies of scale, but come with fewer points of access. Less centralized ones grant more local access but can create inconsistencies in service delivery. Private partners can expand DMV access and ease of use, but can also widen inequities and require oversight from the state agency. 

Moving forward, policy options for Idaho’s model include:

• Increasing communication between each level of government
• Addressing local concerns about loss of revenue
• Formalizing the state-county arrangement or involving other third parties
• Preserving local access through opt-in opportunities.

These options could improve Idaho’s DMV service delivery for administrators and customers alike.

HUD Eviction Protection Grant Program Evaluation

Ben Larsen, Lantz McGinnis-Brown, McAllister Hall, Vanessa Fry

IPI will provide data collection and management services for a recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant in collaboration with Idaho Legal Aid Services, Utah Legal Services, the Montana Legal Services Association, Jesse Tree of Idaho, and Intermountain Fair Housing Council. The program provides legal assistance and supportive services to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction in Idaho, Montana, and Utah. IPI will collect data for all clients and services provided under the grant to fulfill federal data reporting requirements. Project partners will also use this data to inform decisions about the program’s goals and operations. IPI will collect eviction court case data, where available, in Idaho, Utah, and Montana to identify areas with high eviction rates.

Canyon County Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs)

Matthew May, Aisha Kayed, Lantz McGinnis-Brown, Ben Larsen

IPI plans to produce a white paper outlining key takeaways from research on TDRs and considerations for establishing a TDR program in Canyon County. The research team is currently reviewing the relevant literature regarding the use of TDRs, including information on TDRs implemented by surrounding state and local governments. The research team will gather data mostly focused on surrounding partner cities and national best practices, as well as provision for TDRs in Idaho statute. 

Communicating Housing Data

Lantz McGinnis-Brown presented to the COMPASS city planners’ subcommittee in IPI’s housing data dashboard. He highlighted key themes in the data relating to the housing market in the Treasure Valley.

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Board Presentation

McAllister Hall and Emily Pape presented results from their survey of Idahoans to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) Board this month. The survey asked residents about their participation in outdoor recreation and will inform IDPR’s plans for the future.

MPSA presentation

Cheong Kim participated virtually in the Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago, IL, held April 7-10, 2022. He presented a paper (co-authors: Matthew May, Vanessa Fry) that examined how local governing institutions–i.e., CEO selection by appointment, emergency management position, mayoral election by the council, at-large council election, and smaller council–affected the implementation of COVID-19 policy. In the presentation, he emphasized the potential of the institutions that could reduce excessive politics in policy implementation.

• Emily Pape, who has worked at IPI as a research assistant since 2019, graduated on June 4th with her master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago.
• During Employee Appreciation Week, the IPI team won the trivia night in a very close game.