HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-06-04 Transcription Page 1
Council Present: Cole, Mims, Teague,Taylor,Thomas, Throgmorton
Council Absent: Salih
Staff Present: Fruin, Monroe,Andrew, Mikes, Fruehling, Seydell-Johnson, Havel,
Knoche, Bockenstedt
2019-20 Public Works and Parks and Recreation capital project update:
Throgmorton/ Okay, let's convene the Iowa City City Council work session for Tuesday, June the
4th, 2019. The first thing I need to say is I understand Mazahir cannot be with us tonight.
I gather she's sort of in the thick of things in Sudan, and uh, we certainly wish her the best
and, uh, the same would go for all the other people of Sudan. Beyond that, I don't know
any details. Kellie, do you have any more information to add?
Fruehling/Not really, other than no internet, streets are closed, people are stayin'in their houses,
so....she said she'd get a hold of us when she had internet.
Throgmorton/Yeah. Okay, well there....there that is. Uh, the first item on our work session
agenda is the 2019 to 20 Public Works and Parks and Recreation capital project update.
Wow! What a long(laughs) descriptor! Hi, Juli (both talking)
Seydell-Johnson/Hi, Juli Seydell-Johnson, Parks and Recreation Director. Um, I'm gonna walk
you through a number of projects happening throughout Parks and Public Works. I'm
gonna go first cause I need to scoot out of here for another meeting. Um, I always have
to start by saying what a great place to live and work(laughs)urn, thank you for all the
support you've given to our parks and open spaces and it's amazing for a department to
have this many projects happening at once. It's also overwhelming (laughs) a lot of days
(laughs) but it's quite amazing. Urn,kind of a theme that goes through all the projects is
rain,rain,rain, wet conditions, um, you may have heard resident questions about how
come my park hasn't been mowed? Well, we're struggling keeping up on all the parks
across the city, there's no special ones getting mowed more than others. Other than
realize a lot of the parks are actually drainage ways and are designed to hold water. So
when they hold water, we can't mow. Urn, and same thing with the Highway 6/Highway
1 medians. There's some difficulties with that, but um....it seems to be getting better,
knock on wood. We seem to be drying out a little bit,and let's hope it lasts for a few more
days so we get....get caught up a little bit more. So I'm gonna take you through a number
of projects that are in the works right now. Some of them you're very familiar with, some
of them are smaller ones that are happening. Um, we start with Riverfront Crossings. I
wish I had a really nice picture of the nice greenery(laughs) out there. It looks a little
rough right now. That's why I don't have a new picture. Um, we were just talking with
the contractors from the first three phases about getting out there and getting some
reseeding done and remowing. It's been a tough year with the wetness and that out here.
Uh, phase one is done except for a few punchlist items. That's the trails, the wetland
area,the tree plantings, some of those things. Um, little bit of seeding left on that. Phase
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two is the nature play area. Once again seeding and sodding is holding us up on
accepting that, although it's open to the public. Uh,phase three is the restrooms, the
signage, urn, and the lights throughout the park, all those are functioning. We haven't yet
accepted the restroom and there's just a few punchlist items yet to go on that. Um, and
then later in the presentation I'll show you phase....the next phase, phase four, uh, which
we set the public hearing for tonight too. And just, do you wanna just ask questions
along the way, if I talk about a project you have some questions about.
Urn....next....(mumbled) Uh, small trail in-fill project, Highway 1. Uh,this is
underway. They're doing grading right now and....and the utility work underneath,but
that's in process. That's been a trail section we've been waiting for for quite a while.
Cole/ So this is north of Highway 1, correct?
Seydell-Johnson/Correct.
Cole/Could you go back to two?
Mims/From Sunset to Mormon Trek right now.
Cole/Okay. It's perfect! Really excited for that project.
Seydell-Johnson/Uh,Willow Creek/Kiwanis, the, uh, this is mostly the Willow Creek side, so
the restroom, shelter, playground are done now. It's a big mud pit (laughs) at the
moment, but urn, the....the equipment and everything's coming in on time. So once it
dries up a little bit, you'll see a lot of progress happening in that park. Probably take most
of the summer,um, to get the new playground, restroom, and shelter up and running
there....at that park. Lower City Park adventure play, we've been issued the contract for
construction on this. We have our,uh,kick-off meeting with the contractors this Friday.
Uh, so you'll be seeing construction on that throughout the summer as well, and probably
opening in the fall again. Uh, during that process,just so you know, the regular, the other
playground in Lower City Park will stay there and stay open until this adventure play is
ready,um, and then we'll take it out at that time. So there will always be a playground
there. Um, Eastside Sports Complex, this is just planting the tree buffer, uh, along the
railroad side of this, uh, this parcel to get it ready for future development. Uh,there are a
number of residents now asking more questions about Eastside Sports,just so you know
the master plan that was done a few years ago. This project, however, only plants the
trees. Uh, we hope to have the planting done this fall. Design work is complete. We'll
bid and plant trees next fall. Uh, City Park ball field improvements, this is a number of
small improvements for City Park ball fields. This is one that is delayed at the moment.
We plan to come back to it after the baseball season and into the fall. There's some
lighting and some fencing and....and a lot of smaller things that will happen there. Urn,
our main athletic fields person has been on a medical leave this....for the last couple
months, so we need to wait until he gets back to help with capacity to do that project.
The ADA improvements in the Rec Center,um,this is a project of having, urn, the...
family restroom area or shower area added to the pool deck at Robert A. Lee and then,
uh,repurposing the racquetball and game room, and as you're aware, uh,the Bike Library
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is no longer interested in having that space. Urn, so we will be developing it into more of
a generic recreation/rental space for community groups and....and recreation
programming. So,more to come on...on exactly how that will be developed,but it will
still take care of the ADA and access concerns,um, and I think make it a much better and
more usable place for the....for the public.
Throgmorton/Hold on for a second, Juli. Uh....we haven't really discussed what could be done
instead of....having the Bike, urn, Library move into that space. Uh, shouldn't we have
some discussion about that?
Fruin/We had two community groups respond to that and Public Space One was the second
group. They are working on acquiring both of the Gilbert Street homes. Uh, so with no
other groups that expressed interest, we....we, I gave Juli the go-ahead to go ahead and,
um, frame that space out for....you know it's basically what I call a vanilla box. We'll be
able to use it for programming. We still would be able to entertain third party
partnerships afterwards, but we didn't want to hold up all the....all the work in the
building by going out again when there didn't seem to be a whole lot of interest in the
community to start with.
Cole/ So if the Bike Library were to change their mind into the future, it would still be possible.
It wouldn't preclude that.
Fruin/Yes! Yes.
Seydell-Johnson/It would be possible but I would mention that we will, our basic vanilla box is
a little bit different than what they were proposing. So we'll...the way we will level out
the floor, we'll make it so that it probably can't be the two-story that they had envisioned.
Um, without additional work. So....it's a lot less costly to just level the floor where it's
at. Um....so....
Throgmorton/Yeah, I think this is....not, I'm not criticizing you, Geoff, but I think it's regrettable
that the Bike Library decided (several talking) oh yeah they decided they didn't...they
didn't wanna do it and, uh, it's a puzzle because they've had trouble finding space and
they've had to move around, move around, and they....here we provide the perfect space,
at least what seemed to us to be a perfect space and....so I don't understand. So if any of
you have really good contacts with Bike Library people (laughs) talk to 'em and try to
figure out what the heck they're thinkin', and if they made their firm decision, it's done,
there's no question, well there you go! But....
Cole/Yeah, I was hopin' that there could be at least some(mumbled)know that, I had talked to
one member who had(mumbled) I won't name her name, who had.....did not know that
there....that it was even closed off, and so I don't know if there's any different voices
within there,but I know their executive director was the person that was doing the
inves...or the negotiating, so....(both talking) if we can for future conversations would be
helpful.
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Fruin/I....I followed up with one of their....their board members, who was involved in the....in
the discussions,just to get a better understanding of what happened. Uh, I think the...the
cost of the remodel that they were looking at was....was fairly significant and while they
have some reserves in place, um,they didn't....they couldn't figure out how to close that
gap, cause they....there's nothing....for them to go to a bank and borrow, they're not, they
don't have equity in this property. They don't own it. You're looking at kind of tenant
improvements to the space and they were lookin' at upwards of a half a million dollars in
improvements that they wanted to do to that space and they just didn't have the ability
to...to do that. They had inquired with us about possibly buying the space and I wasn't
supportive of that. I....I think the City needs to maintain flexibility on that site. And I
had also talked about the possibility of us serving as the lending, uh....uh, agency, and
....and loaning them the dollars needed and, uh, I responded that, you know, we didn't
have funds identified for something that significant. It'd be one thing to talk about a
build-out grant, like a building change type of grant,but they're lookin' at needing a
couple hundred thousand dollars at least in...in financing and I didn't feel like that was
something that we should....we should be entertaining. Um, I....I don't know what went
into their design. They had a pretty elaborate design, as Juli alluded to. They were
looking at two levels, with an entrance off College. In my simple view of things,uh,
they....they certainly could, uh, could have reduced costs to just use the box space that
we were lookin' at, with the floor level as Juli was mentioning. Um, I don't think, for
whatever reason,they felt that that met their needs. Um....uh, so they decided to move
on. I don't, after talking with, uh, one of their board members, I don't think that they have
a solid plan B right now. They plan to continue to be in their space and continue to hunt
and we'll continue to keep an eye out for properties that might fit their needs,but it's
going to be extremely difficult to find a spot better than this in downtown.
Throgmorton/ Sorry, I'm just mystified. I understand what you're sayin' and I'm sure that's...
what people have said to ya. But(laughs) first thing I'd think about is scaling down the
project once I realized it was going to cost half a million dollars! (several talking) Yeah,
so....oh well! Thank you. Sony for the interruption! (laughs)
Seydell-Johnson/No,that's okay. That's what I'm here for! (several talking) Okay,uh, the next
thing is right outside the doors of the Robert A. Lee Rec Center. The parking lot has seen
much better days (laughs) Uh, we're looking at an entire rework of the design of the
parking lot outside of the Rec Center. Um, you'll see part of this this summer as we have
to provide access out of the Chauncey Swan ramp for the, um, the new building, the new
condos. Um,that affects the Farmers Market layout and it affects how we need to add
another driveway for that. So you'll see that part by August, when the building opens.
Um, the rest of these renovations will be either in the fall or the next spring. And that
includes some work with the creek, as well, stabilizing the creek, Ralston Creek,behind
the building too, or behind the parking lot. City Hall other projects, I love this picture.
Um, so those pipes, I hope you're not too attached to them(laughs) Um, they have no
functional purpose. They are decorative,uh, so we're gonna be removing those soon. So
that's one very small project,but it'll be a visual change on the outside of City Hall.
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Throgmorton/(mumbled) a little bit, urn, I'd say the pipes actually add some,uh, architectural
character to what otherwise would be a bland side to the building.
Seydell-Johnson/They do, but they're at the point where they've rusted in several places and we
either need to replace them, which is even more expensive(both talking)
Throgmorton/Yeah, they have no purpose other(mumbled)
Seydell-Johnson/The other big project happening in City Hall, we crossed our fingers all
through winter and made it through on one boiler. That's not smart here in Iowa. So the
other big project will be replacing the two boilers. Urn, we will go out to bid on that,urn,
later this summer, with work kind of August, into the fall, so that we have better
guarantee of temperature control here in City Hall, in the building throughout the winter.
Urn, Parks annual ADA accessibility improvements, so we....last year finished Highland
Park, uh, Pheasant Hill, Mercer and the playground area, urn, Villa Park, and this picture
is of Tower Court,but it's actually the older picture, which is before the new paths were
added in. So we've gone into all those, done some very simple path work, to include...or
to increase accessibility to the major features of the park. Uh, 2020, the three parks that
are slated for this summer—College Green Park, which is a very small paving project to
add a few spaces that need connections there. Probably it'll be our crews that end up
actually doing those. Um, Brooklyn Park needs quite a few extra additional paths to
make the connections there. It's very wet right now, so we're not sure when we'll get in to
do that one. Same thing with Hunter Run Park, urn, some accessibility issues there with
the playground and the shelter and once again it's in an area that's pretty wet. So this
might be later in the fall before we get back to these,um (mumbled) Um, the Rec Center
improvements, as I said, that is the ones that we just talked about, um, continuing with
other concerns in the Robert A. Lee Rec Center, we're going to be replacing the fire, uh,
and sprinkler system, urn, throughout with the ADA project. There's a number of other
needs throughout that building, so you'll see us continue to tick those off. We need new
ceiling tiles, need replacement of the floor tiles. There's lots of smaller projects that
we're,uh, trying to do to just continually upgrade and....and move forward with keeping
the building up. Creekside Park, urn, happy to say it got seeded yesterday. So,uh, this
picture was taken before the seeding,but the restroom and shelter are in place. The sport
court or the basketball court is back in place. Uh, the park maintenance crew will be
coming in to do the playground. Um, we can't get in right now on this one. It's too wet
and without....we want to give the seeding a chance. So it's very likely we will open the
park, urn, in a few weeks without the playground there to start with,but I assure you the
playground is coming(laughs) It's pretty cool,but it's going to take a little bit longer this
summer to get that in place. Uh, Riverfront Crossings, this is the next phase, the phase
four. This is the traffic circle. So the sculpture by Kenneth Snelson, um, moving from
Terrell Hill Park down here to the main entrance. It will give us a bigger entrance sign,
um, going into the park, give us some landscaping, and additional pathways,um, in that
northern area of the park. Uh,the grand opening for Riverfront Crossings Park is
scheduled for July 20th. Gonna have some exciting news coming out about things
scheduled that day. Unfortunately phase four, this part will not be done in time for that
July 20th grand opening. Uh, we will start, hopefully start construction just shortly after
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that. Uh, the other downside to that is it means that right after we open our great new
park, there will be some time periods where we actually have to close the entrance to do
this work. So, um, stay tuned. We're gonna do our best to work around that. I think the
trails will always remain open. Uh,but there could be some chances that there's some
days that the parking lot will have to be closed,uh, since they're actually working on the
entrance and the curb ramps and things right there. So that's coming. Hickory Hill
Park and frail redesign and redevelopment, that's coming along. Um, saw some
preliminary orders for the signs today. Those haven't been ordered. So signs are six or
eight weeks out at least. Um, the path work is...is moving forward, but it once again
(laughs)wet conditions are making it difficult. Same time we've done a lot of work with
the REAP grant funding that we've had to work on invasive species, um, prairie plantings,
prairie berms, those kinds of things are happening along with efforts by Friends of
the...Friends of Hickory Hill. So a lot happening in that park, uh, not quite as fast as we'd
hoped,but it is happening. Uh, community garden improvements, so the gardens are up
and functioning right now. They are...all the spaces are rented. Um, things are growing
fast there. So that's one place (laughs) we're happy to get plenty of rain. Um, we still
have three projects in the works for improving the gardens. Uh, they will happen next
fall, so one of them is a....a redesign at Chaddick Green. Um, and that's one that we
worked with Backyard Abundance at some neighborhood meetings in the area last year.
Um, the first designs were....financially out of the ballpark for what we were hoping for.
So we've gone back to the dr...drawing board a couple times to kind of size those down to
what we had funding for. So that'll happen in the fall. Walden Green will be a new
garden area. That's out on the western side by Mormon Trek. Um, that will go in in the
fall, and then Creekside, which you just saw, um, to the....get my directions right on that
park, to the northwest side of the shelter,there's....a residential lot. The neighborhood
meetings in that area asked not for community gardens,but a community orchard space.
So you'll be seeing us plant some more trees and do some, uh, we also have some money
for some artwork there, kind of welcoming artwork,um, that will also happen in the fall.
Uh, the Terry Trueblood solar project was one that you funded, uh, for this year. We're
just in the process now of doing a consultant agreement to get a consultant onboard to
look at possibilities on that. So more to come. Just wanted to make sure you know it's on
the project list. Hope to get it done probably.... looking at Ron on that one, late summer
or fall, maybe next year. We're not really sure until we get the consultant onboard. City
Park cabins, almost complete. The work on the cabins themselves has been done for
quite a while, an amazing restoration of those cabins. Uh, what we've been waiting on is
that, uh, when the restoration work was done, it raised the thresholds going in to the
cabins at the doorways higher than expected. There was more rotted wood there than
they anticipated. So it caused a new....you had to redesign the pathways to provide ADA
access. So I was told this week that we have the new design plans ready. They've been
turned over to the construction company, so you should see those paths soon and then that
project will be complete. College Green bocce courts, uh, also a new project that's in this
fiscal year. However, I think it'll...we'll actually get to it shortly, uh, mid-summer to late-
summer. We had a group of individuals interested in helping fund these. Um, there's
some money in the operating budget but two bocce ball courts that will go in at College
Green Park. Um, along with we're gonna try two, um, sets of bag, um, the bag game, the
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corn hole, urn, permanent. They're made out of concrete. So I think it'll be a really nice
addition to that park for additional recreation amenities there. (several talking)
Thomas/(mumbled) will that be?
Seydell-Johnson/When will it be?
Thomas/Where will that (both talking)
Seydell-Johnson/ ...where it'll be. So,uh, at the X on the, where they meet in the center. The
shelter's here and then just to the north, in that open....part of the open space. Urn, looks
like we can get it in without moving any...disturbing any of the trees. There's just enough
space for the bocce courts there, urn, and then it will be easy to provide,um, little paved
access off the, uh, sidewalk at each side. It works out quite nicely right there. So....we
just saw like 60% designs on those today. So, urn, should be out to bid in probably a
month. Um, Mercer entry landscaping, this isn't a very good picture to show this,but at
the entrance area to Mercer we have kind of tired landscaping lights that don't work a lot
of the time. Urn, so we will be replacing the lights. We're working on new LED lights
that will go there. Urn, new landscaping to freshen up the building, and then the play
sculpture that was downtown as the bicycle rack play, urn.....was on, um....(mumbled)
anyway downtown. That...that'll have a new location right in front of the building for
bike storage in front of Mercer. So we're excited to get that added to that park.
Chauncey Swan Park, crossing my fingers (laughs) it's coming...you know, still a
construction site over there,but urn, it will be getting back to that and that will be
opening up as a public park this fall or next spring....at this point. Playground
improvements, these are the ones that we have on schedule for not this summer but next
summer,but I just wanna bring 'em to your attention because we will start having our
public meetings on these very soon. Um, so first of all, Scott Park, which is what you see
in this picture. Urn, that will get a new playground and shelter, and we have a public
meeting scheduled for that one August 8th at the Party in the Park that is scheduled that
night at Scott Park, and that'll be a chance for the neighbors to weigh in on the
playground design. The shelters,we're using the designs from the park master plan. So
they're staying consistent throughout. Urn, there'll be some(mumbled) although in lots of
places what we're doing is either moving things out of the wet areas or moving them so
we don't have to have as large of accessible paths to get, or as long accessible paths, to
get to the playground features. So, we like to show the neighbors that, what's happening,
and usually we have two or three different playground designs for them to 'vote' on. We
take...we'll take comments on it and get their ideas for colors and amenities that they'd
like to see. So that's happening for Scott Park. Urn, Fairmeadows and Wetherby Parks,
so Fairmeadows is getting a playground replacement, which is just a small, will be a tot-
sized playground because of Grant Wood Elementary's pretty cool,big playground right
next to it. Urn, and a new shelter there. And then Wetherby Park gets a new restroom
shelter and playground, and Wetherby's quite a large (mumbled) so it's not getting a full
park renovation there either. It's just that central area where the restroom, shelter, and
playground are. Urn, and those public meetings will be combined on August 15th at Fair
Meadows. That's the Party in the Park that night, and I've given word to the South
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District folks and we're gettin' the word out about that. Urn, the fourth playground for
next summer is Napoleon at the softball complex. Um, that playground has a number of
drainage problems and it was closed most of last year,just because of, uh, there's so much
water and it's....it's getting to the age where there's some safety concerns as well. Uh, we
met on that project today too and we talked about it, and I think what we're going to do is
look at replacing the major playground with smaller pods of play equipment around the
softball diamonds. So there won't be a central play area,but they'll have smaller areas,
uh, near the concession stand and more, you know, geared towards things that don't
require as much safety service, um, are lower to the ground, probably not a slide there,
swings and the....the spinner type thing. So, little bit different concept in the works
there. We'll show it to ya as we get the work done on that. Um, Mercer pool lighting,
using some of the LED, we're putting LED lights in here. So some of the sustainability
money is going to replace these lights. The bigger concern is just the amount of lumens
that they have on the pool right now. Urn, we need to upgrade it to meet current safety
standards. So you'll be getting all new lighting over the indoor pool. The other problem
right now is any time we have a light go out (laughs)we have to drain the pool to get to it
in some of the center ones. It was a very poor design and so we hope to get that fixed
too, so that we have ability to change these things out when we need to. Um, big project
Mercer-Scanlon, we did the boilers and HVAC last year, coming back in this coming year
with a dehumidification project and then addressing some of the building envelope or
tuckpointing items on the outside of the building. Important that those happen together
because actually the level of humidic...humidity in the building is causing a number of
the....the problems with the structure (mumbled) So...continuing there. Fanners Market,
fun little art project, uh....uh, funded in the operating budget, but partially from some
Public Art Committee funds, uh, you'll be seeing this go over on the, um,parking garage
across the street. Just some art work to identify it as the space of the Farmers Market and
then that little frame for a little photo op, that can move, so that'll be in different places,
depending on the market. So, uh, it is scheduled to be installed by the end of June. So
you should be seeing it soon. And then the little project, you notice the bell is gone
(laughs)um, it had some structural problems. We're pretty lucky it didn't fall on
someone. So it's been sent....it's been sandblasted, urn,recoated; we're getting limestone
around the outside edges of the columns, kind of dressing it up again; urn, and it'll come
back as more of a focal point on the side of City Hall over here. So, it's been... we've
been adding more Farmers Market programming towards it, kind of drawing people over
there. That...this will really finish that up. Urn, so that's the major projects that are on the
screen. A couple of other smaller things that are happening that are kind of higher
visibility things. We are going to be getting outdoor table tennis and some shade at the
top of the nature play area at Riverfront Crossings. Urn, we had some donations for that
area last year that were to be used for those items. So we will be getting those in later
this summer. We got wind screens coming over at the Mercer pickle ball courts in
partnership with the pickle ball players. Um, they are (laughs) a growing group that's
using that and they use our gyms quite often, um, and that's' a, um, an improvement they
asked for, so they're working with us on that. Urn, we plan to use next year's CDBG
funding to add, to pave the path that is currently in the back part of Wetherby Park.
That's one of the, um, requests we've gotten from a number of neighbors in the South
District. Um, it's a gravel path through the park,beyond the sport court now, um, so
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we...we hope to come in later this fall and do...get that paved. Villa Park, uh, the
playground is almost in. We're waiting for one more piece to finish the ramp on the main
play equipment at Villa Park,but then we're gonna come back later. We've got some
more funding from the CDBG fund to put in a small shelter, like the size you see at
Cardigan Park or Frauenholtz-Miller,um, and a water fountain will be coming into that
park too later this year. Um, we have some park sign replacements happening, about 10
of them should be happening in the coming weeks, um, at various parks. So we're
moving them all to the new park signage that you've seen like, uh, like at the newer
Riverfront Crossing or Terry Trueblood and a few others around town. So that will
expand. We're also working to get auto locks on all the park restrooms. So right now, to
open up all our restrooms throughout the park system,we send out one or two,urn, temp
or seasonal employees every single day to open them and at the end of the day to close
them. Um, we are working to get those all on automatic locks that can be controlled
remotely, so that....staff will still go and check them every day, but it won't be necessary
to necessarily change, you know, open and close them. Um, it should make our
operations much more efficient. We get a lot of calls from walkers and runners that
would like them open as early as 5:00 in the morning. We just simply don't have staff
(laughs) 5:00 in the morning. So I think this will be a really nice operational change for
the public too. Urn, we're also working on expanding wi-fi throughout the parks, with a
larger project of,um,more to come on that. Um, and we're changing refuse and
recycling in a number of park locations, and I was joking today that I feel like we have to
put a treasure map out any time we move a garbage can (laughs) cause people are very
attached to where their garbage cans are. Um, the longer story is we're trying to get more
efficient with it. We've gotten a new garbage truck for the park staff, which is great
because it allows us to tip the garbage cans up into the truck without manually having to
lift them each time. Well with that what we've tried to do is centralize more of the
garbage cans and eventually recycling so that they're closer to the restrooms or the
entrances to the park. Um, there's been a lot of public comment about that at our dog
parks and City Park and some of the ones we started with,um,but we're finding people
are getting onboard and understanding what's happening,but in the meantime any time
we move a garbage can we get a call—what happened to my garbage can(laughs)—urn,
and that's the reasoning behind it. Urn, we are truly trying to make it more efficient. Um,
EAB, we've been out treating. You'll learn more about that in coming weeks. Lot of trees
that we're looking at treating, um, and unfortunately taking some....some big ones down.
And then natural areas plan,uh, implementing that as we go through,uh,we now have a
contractor. We will....1 don't think we've issued the contract yet for prairie restorations in
a number of areas and adding some additional prairie areas, and then in...invasive species
removal in some of our primary wooded areas, like Ryerson Woods,um, I don't think
there's any more at Hickory Hill Park right now, and a couple other locations. So we're
finally getting rolling on getting all those in the works, and just a ton of work happening
throughout the parks. Um, one last public meeting that's coming up, we have Snider and
Associates coming out to the Happy Hollow, um....Party in the Park, which is July 11th
to do a public process and more of a pre-master plan. It's a few years out before that park
will see more renovations, um, but we've been asked by the neighbors what are we gonna
do with the donations that were brought in for that? What else is happening? So we'd
like to bring them in and have that discussion, to at least get a plan in place and talk about
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priorities, uh, for what'll be happening there. So.... I'm out of breath cause that's a lot
and.....
Throgmorton/With regard to that park, Juli, you know I live a block and a half away from it, uh,
but, uh, I've noticed that there's kind of a wetland in back of the duplek or....yeah, duplex
owned by the Hayek family I think, but is that still in the Hayek family's ownership or
has that been transferred to the City or what?
Seydell-Johnson/ I believe it's still with them, yeah.
Throgmorton/Yeah, maybe they're doin' it because they've let grass grow taller around. There...
there're frogs there now and (laughs) it's,uh, really quite pleasing,but I didn't know if
there was anything official that had been happening there. Okay. Anybody have any
questions or reactions? With regard to what Juli (both talking)
Mims/ ...reaction, I mean, there's a ton of projects (laughter) good luck staying on top of'em!
(laughs)
Seydell-Johnson/ (both talking) amazes me how many details are in my head (laughs)
Mims/No I mean it's just lots of really, really good things, I mean, you know with our park
master plan and implementation. Things are going well, so thank you.
Teague/The rain has been a challenge......
Seydell-Johnson/ It has been.
Teague/ ...I'm sure for a lot of this stuff,but lookin' forward to it. To its completions. Yeah!
Throgmorton/With regard to Riverfront Crossings Park and the photograph at the top left here
that we're looking at, I was down there a few days ago, noticing how high the water was
in the...um...whatdaya call it, the (both talking) yeah, looked like it was working exactly
the way it was intended to work.
Seydell-Johnson/I'm glad you brought that up, cause it is....it is functioning exactly as we were
hoped for, um,both the way that Ralston Creek runs through there, um, it meanders at
lower times and it has an offshoot when it....when it floods through, comes through in a
flash flood. That's working well. Um, you know we're experiencing a little flooding in
the nature area,but that was to be expected and so far the river, Iowa River, has stayed
out of the park. So, um, yeah! It's....it's functioning well. And I think that's the case, as
frustrated as we are about mowing right now and....and the conditions out there, we're
seeing things start to work in all of our flood projects. City Park is getting flooded on the
edges and we're seeing that, um, I think that leads to further discussions of how we
continue to move things up from the river's edge, up towards the hillside,um,but I think
the playground and some of the things we're already starting are great movements for
that, um....it's been an interesting spring (laughs) so....
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Throgmorton/Uh, the wettest spring in recorded meteorological history here, I think(both
talking) I mean it was the second wettest four days before the end of May. Anyhow, I
was referring to May when I said that,but uh, I think probably ended up just above the
other too,but we'll see. Okay, any other observations or anything?
Cole/I was a little disappointed on the Creekside Park garden. Urn,how...how extensive was
that review process and how was the public input solicited that the orchard was chosen
over the garden?
Seydell-Johnson/ So the, um, as you remember we....we contracted with Backyard Abundance to
hold the....the neighborhood meetings, which they did last summer. Urn,what we heard
from the neighbors is that they really had gardening space in their own yards around that
area, so they didn't feel a need for additional gardening space there, but in the, as a group,
they wanted to have more of an orchard space so they could try and learn that as a new,
you know, a new edible landscape there. Um, so it really was driven by the neighbors
that came, um, to that park. Um, and I think it's a good choice for that particular site. I
think it offers something new and different there. There are, I should say there are still I
think a few raised beds that will be available there,but the majority of it is orchard.
Yeah. It's a little different than what we've done but....I think it'll be nice.
Throgmorton/ Okay, good deal. Well, you have plenty more work to do. You better get out there
and do it while it's still sunny. (laughs) Thanks, Juli! Hi, Jason!
Havel/Good evening. So we'll shift gears here a little bit. Uh, focusing on Public Works'
projects. And just starting out one thing I wanted to point out is, uh, this list (mumbled)
showing here is really those projects that are under construction or we expect to be under
construction here shortly. There's a whole other group of projects that are under design
for, uh,not only 2020,but also 2021. Uh, we started on some of those as well. So again
these are really focus on those projects that are, uh, currently under construction. So
we'll start things off with the west riverbank stabilization. As you know this is a project
that will include rip-rap, uh, chain wall on the west riverbank,just north of Highway 6,
uh, as it's been mentioned it's been a wet spring, um, so this one's been, urn, for the most
part been on hold for a lot of the spring. They had gotten out there,removed some of the
vegetation and the trees. That was due to the,um, bat habitat and makin'sure that's down
in time. Urn, so it....got that removed and now it's kinda been sittin', waitin' for the river
to recede and then they'll proceed with that work. Uh, we do keep an eye on it to make
sure we're not losing any more river bank while it's sitting there. Um, so far, uh, it's been
holding up pretty well so,but again we continue to keep an eye on that.
Thomas/Jason,how's the east riverbank? I....I noticed taking the bike trail down to Terry
Trueblood, there were a couple of spots where seemed the, urn, you know, it's kind of a
sheer fall, not too far off the edge of the trail.
Havel/Yeah, I think on the east side, and somebody else may be able to, um, chime in if I'm not
covering everything,but I believe on the east side there's a little more protection on some
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of that section of the bank. Urn, and we also aren't seeing quite the same, urn.....degree
of erosion there. So we continue to keep an eye on all those areas.
Thomas/Okay.
Knoche/The areas I....I'm guessing you're speaking of are behind where Durham Bus Service is,
urn, kind of south of Highway 6, north of the railroad tracks.
Thomas/Yeah.
Knoche/Urn, those....those are areas that we've had issues with in the past, during flooding
events. Urn, we're currently working with the Parks and Rec staff to try to figure out a
way to get some rip-rap in there. Urn, there's so low clearance issues, and with it bein' as
wet as it is, we'll have trouble bringin'rip-rap down from the north end without tearin'up
the trail. So it's....it just kind of....it's a wait-and-see right now to be able to get that
material in there to get it protected.
Thomas/Okay. Thanks!
Havel/All right, anything else on that one? Moving on, the equipment shop parking lot overlay,
uh, this is one that is actually included in a project that you will have before you tonight
to set the public hearing. So with our annual asphalt overlay project, this one will be
included. Urn, it's....pretty straight forward. An overlay of the parking lot, which
certainly is in need of some repair. The West Park lift station rehabilitation, this is one
that we're actually doing in-house with our waste water staff Urn, they are basically
going through...this is, uh, lift station located in City Park, um, going through and....and
rehabbing that and upgrading the, sort of the guts of the,uh, the lift station down there.
First Avenue water main replacement, this is one you may have seen here recently,urn,
it's just now kicking off. This will include new water main from Court Street down to
Friendship. Also include some work just east of the First Avenue and Court Street
intersection. Urn, those improvements are associated with...with the pressure zoning
we're looking to do with our water system. Urn, so this will include,uh, some lane
closures on First Avenue, as well as there will be a closure of Court Street for a period of
time as they're doing those improvements. So, completion of this, we're looking at,uh,
the goal would be to have that done before school starts in the fall. Annual storm water
improvements, this is an annual project that includes a number of projects, urn, we're just
getting those started. We actually took bids on the first one today, which will include
some storm sewer, uh....repairs on Peterson Street. We have a....a bid later this week to
include some work that needs to happen down by the waste water plant. Mt,we have a
couple more projects planned for later this year, uh, among those will be a drain tile
project, which had been popular. Obviously with the wet weather, urn, that we have done
those a lot of years to kind of....those areas that continually have problems with, uh,
sump pump discharges or other issues, urn, so we will have a....a drain tile project later
this year, as well as a couple other ones. Another one that will come up will be, urn,
some intake repairs that will happen on Dodge Street. Traffic calming, this is one again
an annual project that we work on,urn, throughout the city. This year what we're
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working on is we do have a, urn, installation of speed humps that we will be doing on
Highland that has been approved. Um,there's also a number of other sites that are
currently in the....the program or kind of workin' their way through,um,to determine if
they'll end up with a project or not. One other one that is out there is a section of.....
Glendale that we're working on too, looking to see what options we might have there.
Urn, looking, I believe speed humps were not an option or not a preferred option in this
inst....or in this location and so we're working through what we might be able to do for a
temporary project, looking at maybe some medians or somethin' like that,uh, and what
we would do is put those out there for a period of time, let people kind of see how they
work, see if it's somethin' that they'd be interested in,um, and then if there is support we
would look to possibly move forward with that. Curb ramps,ADA,this is another annual
project where we do curb ramps,uh, again throughout the city. We are just wrapping up
the project from last year, uh, the big one included here is the bump-out there at Jefferson
and Linn. That was included as part of this project. Uh, last year's project is more or less
complete,just finishing up some of the restoration work with that.
Throgmorton/ I'd like to say somethin' about the bump-out. I think that's a really good
improvement. I'm very happy to see it. It's one I know I've mentioned many times in
prior meetings, and I've heard many people talk about how difficult it is, challenging it is,
to cross that particular intersection because, you know, for one reason or another. So I'm
happy to see the bump-out!
Havel/ Sure! Annual pavement rehabilitation, again you'll see this one tonight, um, as we set the
public hearing for this year's asphalt overlay project. Just to point out some of the
locations that are there, urn, we're looking at, uh Newton Road, up near, uh, the
University. There'll be a section of our Park Road, Ferson intersection also is in need of
some repair there. Urn,there's a section of Clinton Street, which I believe is....Court
down to Benton. There is a section of Fairmeadows Boulevard from Hollywood
Boulevard to Highway 6, and then finally, uh, Gilbert Street, from the Kirkwood Avenue
intersection to the south, uh, I believe it's down to Third Street,uh, that section of asphalt
as well. Annual bridge maintenance and repair, urn, this one right now we are currently
going through, uh, every two years we go through and do our bridge inspections. So
we're,those are underway right now. With this cycle we've also...we'll be looking at
doing a master plan to kinda help us set up for what we would have over the next five or
six years for those bridge projects. Um, one thing that that will help with is funding.
Obviously as we add projects that,uh, to the list for available bridge funding,um, this
will help with that process. We also have plans for some repairs to Iowa Avenue bridge,
urn, and then obviously there's some, um....bridge replacement projects we have in the
works as well, with Prentiss Street and Second Avenue. Annual sewer main replacement,
this is again an annual project that focuses on, urn, a couple different things. One, we
have spot repairs. We are finishing up this year's project. We had, I think there was about
nine sites. Um, those have been completed. Just workin'through the punchlist and
restoration work there. Also been working on some sewer lining work. Um, we are
down to I think there's two sites left for that one and should have that completed by the
end of the month. Bicycle master plan implementation, this is one, urn,that has been in
the works for a little while and we'll be continuing. Um, I think for the most part the ones
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that we are working on to date have been involved in other projects. I believe there is
one section of Governor Street,basically from Burlington down to Bowery that we will
be trying to figure out if we can incorporate it into another project or if we need to do that
separately. Urn, as we look out, we're also looking at doing an RFP to help with some of
the projects that will be,um, get somebody to help us with the design for the projects
over the next couple years. Public Works facility, uh, if you've been down there lately
it's, uh, it's really corrin' along. Um, they got more or less the building shell is up, uh,
like a lot of projects it's been a wet spring so it's kind of a mud hole down there,but, uh,
it is progressing and it is coming along. So,um, still looking at having that complete yet
this year is the plan. The Landfill leachate pumping system, so again this is a....a
leachate and,urn, gas collection, uh, system. A lot of the piping work has been complete.
Uh, right now we're looking at really kind of the SCADA system, so the communication,
um, and the ability communicate with the rest of the system and do stuff remotely, urn, is
kind of the work that we're workin' on right now. The Myrtle and Riverside intersection
signalization, this obviously is one that was done in conjunction with the overlay of
Riverside Drive. Urn, as far as the Myrtle and Riverside piece, lot of the,uh, curb ramps
and the turn lane have been installed. The median has been installed. Um, really what's
left for this intersection is the signal work. Urn, and then also the overlay of Riverside
Drive.
Throgmorton/The overlay is gonna take place next year, is that right?
Havel/The overlay will actually be, I think they're planning to start on the 9th with the overlay
this year. We're probably lookin' at that being,uh, I'd probably say maybe end of June-
ish would be kind of when we'd be looking at completion of that overlay. Riverside
Drive pedestrian tunnel, this is one, uh,plans are more or less complete. We're working
our way through the,uh, property and easement acquisition now, so once we have that in
place then we would be ready to proceed with construction. Um, plan right now is still to
hopefully get that done yet this year, urn,but we're just kinda wadin' our way through that
process. Uh, as I mentioned, Riverside Drive and Governor Street overlay, so the
Riverside Drive piece again startin' later this month. Hopefully have it done by the end of
the month. Uh, the Governor Street overlay is more or less complete. Workin' on some
restoration stuff,but the overlay, the bike lanes have, uh,been striped so that is more or
less complete. The one part of that project that still remains is there is still a plan to do
some repair to Dodge Street. Uh, you'll remember that was a joint project with the DOT,
so it's really DOT maintenance of Dodge Street,but um, we're workin'with them on that
to get that done with the project and then we will also stripe bike lanes on Dodge Street
as well, so...that part remains, um,but uh,hopefully that'll be, we'll get that squared away
here soon.
Mims/Jason, I had a quick question on the bike lanes, and I...meant to call Geoff or somebody
and just ask about it. When you go up Governor and the signage is for the bike lane to go
in towards the cemetery and go up Summit Street instead of going down that steep hill
where the road narrows. But the signage....doesn't appear to me to be....as much maybe
as it needs to be. I mean if you're a bicyclist and you just kind of head down riding,
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there's no....there's no like arrow in the bike lane that the bike lane is ending and you
need to turn right.
Havel/Sure!
Mims/There's like a street sign almost right at the intersection, so I would just throw that out as a
suggestion to be looked at, and I don't....I don't know what the standards are in terms of
signage within the bike lanes,but I can easily see somebody actually getting past that
intersection,hittin'the brick and like, oh wait a minute, I was supposed to turn in there
and they're already past it.
Havel/Yeah,we can take a look at that(both talking)
Mims/(mumbled)
Havel/ ....certainly where that transition from that bike lane to that bike boulevard that does peel
off there. You're right. Yep! Okay! Anything else on this one?
Mims/So with Dodge, I mean, coming down Dodge is pretty rough in spots, and so....but that's
not up for another overlay then or...
Havel/ So there will be some improvement there. The DOT has some money set aside. It's not
enough to do all of it, and so we're trying to figure out what....what we're able to do with
that and how best to use that money for...to make the best repairs we can.
Mims/Down around the corner! (laughs)
Havel/(both talking)You know in an out year in the CIP we do have,uh,reconstruction of
Dodge Street. So that's on the horizon,but we're just kinda...tryin' to patch our way(both
talking) Yeah.
Mims/Thanks!
Havel/Idyllwild, this is one,um, you've heard about before as well. So this one we're about 90%
plans, uh, gettin' close to havin'that wrapped up. We are working through the appraisal
and the easement acquisition process now, so this is another one where I think we'll be,
uh,ready to go here shortly and then once we have those easements in place,um, then we
would proceed with the project. Uh, we're hopin'to get that,uh,underway yet this fall.
The picture is not right on this one,but the equipment shop roof replacement—this is one
we actually are, um, I believe....is.....out for bid right now. Um, so this'll be a
replacement of the equipment shop roof,uh, again it's past its useful life and it's certainly
in need of repair. So,um, picture's incorrect,but that's the project. Burlington and
Clinton intersection improvements, this is one that's been a long time coming,um,the
sidewalk...or the curb ramp and signal improvements are done. The roadway
improvements are done. They're finishing up the restriping of the four-lane to three-lane
conversion, in addition to bike lanes now,but I think there's some things we have to kinda
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tweak there,but uh,we're gettin' close. One thing I will note is I believe it's the south
east corner there by the Hieronymus site, um....sort of final completion of that will likely
be done when that building is complete. Urn,but there's ramps in place now, so the
intersection's useful, uh,but that's kinda the final completion would be done with that
project.
Throgmorton/Speaking of the building, it's pretty amazing,uh, to me at least to see that they're
continuing construction. Uh, apparently all the difficulties were....worked out after the
fire. I thought it would take them many more months (laughs) than this to do that.
Havel/Certainly a quick turnaround.
Throgmorton/Yeah.
Thomas/What's the anticipated completion now?
Havel/For the building?
Fruin/They're about three months behind schedule, so I....I wold guess, uh, later this summer or
early fall we'll be coming to you, uh, for an amendment to the development agreement,
because the development agreement contemplated a December 31st completion date, but
the fire set'em back about three months.
Havel/Pedestrian mall reconstruction, so we're in year two of that. Um,phase one, the Black
Hawk Mini Park are, uh, substantially complete. There's still some work on the stage
canopy that's occurring. That was from a previous phase,um,but they are more or less in
phase two. They continue so that's the east-west section. Uh, they've been alternating
kind of....the stuff up against the building, then the stuff in the middle,just to—again—to
kind of keep access to the businesses through that stretch. Urn, so looking at completion
later this year. Foster Road extension, um, this is one that's part of a development
project,but uh, certainly been involved, uh, from inspection and....and some of the, um,
coordination I guess as they....they work through that. Urn, utility work is progressing,
um, last I had heard that they're pretty more or less on schedule with that. With the wet
weather, obviously, they're, uh, like everybody else, trying to...to maintain that schedule,
especially for paving. Um,but looking at completion yet this year. Mormon Trek
conversion, this is one that we had started last year. Uh, they've done a lot of...or the
main line paving, or,uh,repairs were done last year. Now they're focused on the
intersections. So they've been working at the Rohret Road,uh, Mormon Trek
intersection. They'll kinda work their way to the north, again focusing on the
intersections, not only pavement repair but also curb ramps. Uh, at the same time they're
also doing signal replacements. Uh,they still have to restripe the, from four-lane to
three-lane. Also the,uh, the roadway lighting north of Melrose on Mormon Trek is yet to
come. We're looking at completion I think....we're aimin' for probably end of, uh, July
for that project. Gilbert Street improvements,uh, don't have to go far to find this one.
Urn, it's....the, I think here with the water main work, that is more or less complete. So
they are moving on to street patching,um, as well as curb ramps. There will also be
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signal and lighting work. That will be a little bit further behind, urn,just due to the lead
time of getting the poles and mast arms and all of that. Um, so hopefully they'll get some
of the other work completed and it'll be a short break there until that....those materials
are delivered and they can get that completed. Urn, so we're probably looking at
completion later this fall, um, again will be dependent mostly on when those materials
come in.
Cole/What's the project cost on that?
Havel/Uh, I don't have that in front of me. I wanna say it was about a million.
Pruitt/It was a little over a million dollars.
Havel/ Sidewalk infill, this is another one that you have on your agenda tonight, set the public
hearing. Urn, so this'll be sidewalk on the north side of Rochester, basically between our
ground storage reservoir over....uh, east to, I believe it's St. Thomas Court. Um, so
install, uh, sidewalk in-fill section there along the north side of Rochester. The Iowa City
gateway project,urn, this is one, obviously we've been talkin' about for quite a while. We
are gettin' down to the end,urn,punchlist items for the most part. Some work that still
remains to be done. They have some signal work that needs to be done. Um, they also
have.....uh, let's see, so there is also some railing that we need to have installed and then I
think the biggest piece that's left is the end treatments for the arches. Urn, I think we've
worked through....we have the design in mind and what we plan on that being, uh, which
would include some planters and some railing, urn, to....to blend in with the rest of the
bridge and the surrounding, uh, area. Workin'with the contractor, uh, with the goal to get
that done yet this year.
Throgmorton/Jason, where does the bike trail that goes under the bridge, where does it stand?
Havel/I believe that is completed. I believe they were working to back-fill that yet...or this
week. So I think the trail is in. They're working on restoration now. Highway 1 trail,
Juli had mentioned. Urn, waste water treatment plant electrical distribution, urn, so again
this is upgrading, uh, the generator and some of the distribution down at the waste water
plant. This is another one that's really been affected by the wet weather. Urn, they've had
a lot of issues with dewatering on the site, but they continue to....to plug away. I believe
the generator should come in later this summer, um, so they're working on some of the
switch gear stuff now and....and it is progressing, with completion later this year.
Landfill gate, this is one that came up unexpectedly, um, weren't familiar...or weren't
aware of it. Uh, there was a vehicle that had hit the Landfill gate. It's probably been a
couple months ago. Urn, we had actually bid out a project to replace that, um, and did...
can't really....if we didn't receive any bids or we received one that was really high. So
we've put that back out,um, talked to contractors to get a better idea of...of how to make
that more,um, competitive. I think we've extended the timeframe there for completing
that, but really it's a replacement of the....the Landfill gate that was damaged as part of
that incident. Miller Avenue sidewalk and retaining wall, this is over by Benton Hill
Park. Um, this was the, uh....a project that will install basically a sidewalk on the east
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side of the park. Urn, there was sidewalk recently constructed with the development just
south of there, so there's kind of a gap between that and the sidewalk along Benton Street.
This'll fill that in. Um, if you've been out there with the grades, uh, they're certainly in
need for a retaining wall to get that sidewalk in. Urn, again, another one that's been, uh, a
victim of the wet weather. They've....they're pretty much ready to go as soon as it dries
out enough to get that wall construction. It's actually started a little bit this spring and
ended up havin' to take some out just due to the wet weather.
Throgmorton/ So with regard to that park, Jason, it seems to me just observing the....the
improvements are all needed. So I'm glad that they're taking place, but the....the
construction work's been really harsh on that park. I thought it used to be a pretty lovely
park and it is not right now. Uh, so I'm hopin the landscape improvements, or you know,
modifications after the sidewalk's put in and the retaining wall and all that kind of thing,
uh, will restore the park to some of its....aesthetic character.
Havel/And that's....a lot of times that's a challenge, especially with the timing of the bat habitat
and that stuff, you know, there's that desire to get those trees down right away in the
spring, so as the construction work goes, they'll come through and clean it up and then,
um, certainly will look different than it does now.
Thomas/How....how high will that wall be?
Havel/Uh, I don't know exactly. I believe it was in the neighborhood of about five feet, at the,
uh, highest point.
Thomas/Well will it require a....a fence (both talking)
Havel/There will be, yes. And that is all I had for....for the projects. Urn, one thing I did wanna
point out, obviously these are our capital projects, um, in addition to that there's also a lot
of development work that's been going on. Urn, I believe,uh, within Public Works, and
especially in Engineering,we're looking at also being involved with about eight
subdivisions currently, um, as well as about 21 site plans. So I didn't list those
individually,but obviously it's, urn, stuff that we're involved with as well. Um,but yeah!
Another busy year! So....any questions?
Mims/Thank you very much!
Havel/All right. Thank you!
Throgmorton/Thanks a lot, Jason. All right, uh.....does anybody wanna say anything about
any....review we've just had?
Mims/ I mean I'd just say I think it's indicative of the good planning that our staff does. I mean
some of these things related to....strategic plans we've done, like bike master plan and
park master plan and stuff,but there's an awful lot of it that really is on the backs of just
staff, in terms of knowing what kinds of things need to be updated, improved,repaired,
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you know, that sort of stuff. So I just wanna commend staff for their, you know, planning
and foresight and organization and coordination to,urn, pull all this off and I'm sure it
includes Dennis as well, in terms of finance of....how we.....how we schedule and when
we do these things. (mumbled) thank staff for their efforts on that.
Throgmorton/I guess I'd wanna mention a couple things. Uh, one is....I was on Clinton Street
yesterday at a certain point and was really....I knew the north and south parts of the
restriping had been done,but I noticed that the striping from, what, Jefferson Street to....
Burlington....had either, it had been partially completed, as of yesterday. It may be
entirely finished by now. So I'm really pleased to see that and I look forward to both
riding....driving my car and riding my bike on that, to get a feel for it. See how it....see
how it works! (laughs) Yeah, but I'm really pleased to see that the striping's been done.
The other thing I wonder about, uh, which you did not have a chance to touch on, Jason,
is the...the project we have....that involves inventorying road conditions to...that would
enable us to have, um, priority....list of priorities basically for rehabbing and repairing,
etc. Where's that stand?
Havel/ So we are working with a consultant. We're just about to the point to have that consultant
agreement ready,uh, to go. The plan is to have that evaluation, at least have the findings
of that,ready for, uh, the next budget cycle, to at least have that kind of help us with
planning of projects. So I don't know if we'll have the full report done, but we've told
them that the goal would be to at least have them, urn, some recommendations for the...
the five-year CIP.
Throgmorton/Great! Thanks.
Thomas/One thought I was just having was on Governor, where, you know, by....installing the
bike lane with the buffer, the traffic lane widths have been reduced as a consequence of
that, and I don't know if we have any data, uh,prior to the project in terms of what we
saw in terms of traffic speeds, but I....I'd be interested to know if....you know, I....you
know, we've been....1 certainly, I've been emphasizing the importance of width, lane
width, with respect to traffic speeds. So it'd be interesting to see what, if any change
there has been. I mean it certainly does seem, you know, going from a 15-foot wide lane
to...I don't know what it is now, maybe 11, urn, should make a significant difference in
terms of....how people drive that corridor. I mean I know when I'm on it it certainly
seems more right-size than it was before.
Fruin/We can check that.
Clarification of Agenda Items:
Throgmorton/Okay, nothin' else? If there is nothin' else, we can move on to clarification of
agenda items. We have a pretty short agenda so...I don't know if we have anything that
needs clarifying, but if we do.... (both talking)
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Thomas/Well I'm not sure if my....my late handout, I....I guess it could be considered
correspondence, um....
Throgmorton/You can bring it up now, I think. Why not?
Thomas/ It wasn't clear to me when I saw the late handout if it was given a number....eight point
something, but in any event, uh, I included that because, you know, we're....now that the
trees are leafing out, you know, I've been....I must say shocked at what I'm seeing. Um,
the....it certainly appears that more ash are pretty seriously infected than I....I thought,
and so...uh, I just wanted to raise that concern. Um, I read parts of the tree management
plan, which spoke about....if you ever had a chance to look at the appendix, um, you
know, what the goals of treatment would be, and I....I'm feeling that, urn, our ability to be
able to comply with those guidelines is going to be....is a concern to me. I don't know
exactly where we are with respect to the, uh, the assessments, and in fact, you know,
one....one thing I would wanna ask is if, for example, with those streets with, uh, ash as
the dominant specimen, um, to....to carefully assess what conditions we're talking about.
Um, because....you know,those are the streets, as was noted in the appendix, where
you're going from....you know, full canopy to zero....potentially zero canopy, and uh, so
all aspects of that canopy—it's environmental, it's aesthetic and so forth—go from full
value to zero value. Um, there's a dead tree in North Market Square. You know, it's, um,
a lot happened over this past winter in terms of seeing the effect and uh.....so anyway, I
.....I just wanted to bring that up. It's, uh, you know, I feel we've....(clears throat) do the
best we can but I....I feel like we've....we've, the treatment is....is at least a year late in
terms of giving us more control over the outcome.
Throgmorton/John, on a related point, my recollection is that the staff has indicated they would
be, uh, injecting, what, 400 of our ash trees—that's what I remember—and that, uh, there
was a....uh.....the ones that would be injected had been identified, uh, as a result of the
investigation by the staff and by some outside help,but I don't think we've seen a map
showing the locations of those 400 trees. But I know we can get a map that shows that;
uh, it would be good to see it, I think.
Fruin/Um, it's sitting in my in-box here. So either in the Thursday info packet or the following
info packet,but prior to your next meeting we'll have a overview of our chemical
injection, uh,process and we can include a map with that. And you can feel free to ask
questions at that....at that next Council meeting, based on that info packet, but um, John,
you're absolutely right. As....as we've engaged with the contractor,they're goin' around
and lookin' at some of these trees and sayin', you don't wanna....you don't wanna waste
your money on treatment; this one's too far gone; and I gave you heads up on three on
Washington Street that we'll be removing that are significant. And the....there's others
too. Um, but our contract calls for treatment of up to 400, urn, that's what....so we'll
show you what ones we're lookin' at. We do have some flexibility to bring some others in
as we're, um, scratchin' some off the list.
Thomas/And finally one thing I mentioned in correspondence with Geoff was....depending on
how this plays out, but on those streets where we have, you know, full canopy lost, uh, I
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think....the, selecting trees to....achieve in as short a period of time as possible, again not
necessarily going with mono-cultures because we've, you know, seen how that can end
up, but, uh, selecting trees so that, um, you know the....restoring the effect is
accomplished in as short a period of time as we can. Uh, cause it.....you know, if....if
you've lived on a given street with a full canopy for 30 years, and you see that canopy
disappear, uh(laughs)uh,that's....that's quite a blow.
Throgmorton/Yeah, one such street is Davenport, as you know, and....yeah, it's....it can be
devastating. For sure!
Mims/ I think it'll be interesting when we get to that point to see what staffs recommendation is,
cause I know Juli certainly has talked about a real diversity in terms of the species and
views and some of those certainly are going to be faster growing trees than others and I
mean I think we've gotta look both short and long-term, that we're not putting a bunch of
stuff in that's fast growing,but then some of the fast-growing trees 20 years or so is kinda
their life span so....
Thomas/ It's, yeah, I'm not suggesting we...that every single tree be a fast growing tree, but uh...
you know, it...at the same time(laughs) you know, I think they need to be part of the mix.
Mims/You don't want all oaks that are gonna(both talking)
Thomas/(laughs)right!
Mims/ ....(both talking) 70 years, I hear what you're saying! (laughs)
Throgmorton/Okay, any other....agenda items?
Mims/Yeah, I would, I mean we can discuss this in the formal but....I'm havin' a little trouble
understanding number 12, the support for the developing local food hub, in terms of....
what it is we're getting that we, that isn't already being provided in the community and
why is this coming up now and maybe not part of an Aid to Agencies process. How...
how was that outside of Aid to Agencies and all of a sudden we've got this 45,000. So I'd
get....little better understanding, cause the memo didn't.....didn't give me quite enough I
guess.
Monroe/ Sure! Okay, so,um, we recognized that the....that local foods funding that has been
budgeted over the last several years, uh, had not been....been expended. There were a
variety of projects that were kind of brought up in....in the past as a potential use and
ultimately, um, there wasn't a....a major project or a use over the last several years for
local foods funding. So,um, we decided to investigate what our opportunities might be
to....you know, util....utilize those funds and....and create an environment in which we
can, um,provide better access for people to have local foods or to, uh, support the
regional local foods economy that would be supporting people like,um,providing local
foods to, through contracts with the School District, or,um,providing that to other local
institutions that, um....you know, Michelle Kenyon from Field to Family, um, the
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recipient organization is gonna be here to discuss exactly who they serve and then what
....and what circles they operate, urn, the kinds of contracts that they come to, that they
would use, urn (both talking)
Mims/Okay!
Monroe/ ...with the local food hub, so that....that was the thought, that well (both talking)
Mims/I can wait (both talking)
Monroe/ ...further explain,but that's the gist of it.
Mims/I'll wait till the formal then. Thank you.
Monroe/ Sure!
Fruin/ I think the key is with that is, urn, we had a separate funding source and the Council has a
strategic plan goal of growing the local foods economy, so we did a mini Aid to Agencies,
RFP, saw what kind of proposals were out there and we felt this was the best. So
it's....four or five months in the works.
Mims/Okay. That helps, thank you!
Throgmorton/Other items? Okay, I have a couple I want to bring up. Uh, one is Item 7f, in the
late handout, which is the 2019 asphalt resurfacing project. So I don't have any objection
to any of it, but I....just observed that some work will be done on Dodge Street between
Burlington and Bowery, and if I read correctly, that will result in the removal of 40 on-
street parking spots. Right? So I don't object to that,but I imagine that there are some
residents who live on that street who might. So, I think just....we need to be conscious of
that, and I know we're only setting a public hearing for our next meeting,
but....it's....yeah.
Havel/One thing I would just note is they would, uh,both the property owners and the residents
will receive notification, uh, ahead of the public hearing. So they would have the
opportunity to speak at the public hearing about that issue.
Cole/ Is that to improve traffic flow?
Havel/So basically what it is is it's a way to, uh....the parking will be replaced with a buffered
bike lane, and so it'll go,uh, that's essentially what would happen.
Froin/It's a project in the bike master plan.
Throgmorton/Yeah, so it's important to notify the neighbors, the residents, and...so that they
have a chance to speak about it, if they want to. Also wanted to mention one other thing
that could require the help of Dennis! (laughs) Item 6c, the approval of inter-fund
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transfers. So, I only bring this up because it's a new requirement resulting from
legislation passed this past session. I wonder if you could help us,just quickly explain
and help us,make sure we know what's goin' on (both talking)
Bockenstedt/ Sure! This is somethin' it was a change in the administrative code, and as part of
the budget process we do a number of administrative transfers, like we transfer road use
tax funds to the....to the Forestry Division to help pay for our Forester. We (mumbled)
employee benefit funds, uh, levy to the general fund to cover employee benefits, uh, we
transfer funds to the MPOJC. We have a whole range of transfers that we....we do and...
and due to a....a, it's (mumbled) small community, uh, for a transfer to utility funds, they
decided to change the administrative code, that now requires that all inter-fund transfers
be adopted by, uh, City Council resolution. So we're kinda workin' our way through how
we're gonna make sure these resolutions get adopted prior to, uh, you know,putting those
transfers on the books. Um, so right now we're gonna take all the remaining transfers for
the year, this actually went into effect in the middle of April. And....and have those all
adopted by resolution, and then you'll see another one come forward, uh,probably in
either later this month or early July for the transfers for....for fiscal year 20, and those
will be like a'not to exceed' amount cause we use some of those quarterly, some monthly,
some as needed, some we don't know the amounts until we actually receive hotel/motel
taxes or other...uh, other events take place. Uh, so you know as we go through the next
fiscal year, we're just gonna have to evaluate that as far as, you know, are there transfers
that....that need to take place that were not included in that resolution, uh, amounts that
are....are changed or amended, um, due to maybe a project comes in over or under,uh,
what we anticipated. So, uh, due to that administrative code, uh, we're just havin'to work
through, uh, that impact on....on what we're doing and the timing of it and....
Throgmorton/Great! Thanks. Would anybody like to ask Dennis any questions about that?
Teague/I just wondered what was the concern that the....that was had, for documentin'this.
Bockenstedt/Um, well, uh,there was....we went to a training session in May, uh, from, uh,the
State Auditor's Office and the Department of Management, and (mumbled)my
understanding that,uh, a small community transferred, uh, enterprise funds or utility
funds to the general fund, and uh, some of the residents had concerns about this. Um,
that I....I believe were addressed at that level. However,urn, due to that,uh, taking
place, uh,they decided to impose,uh, this upon all of the communities,uh, in
jurisdictions to now have to, uh, essentially run all of our transfers, uh, through
resolution.
Throgmorton/I used to do this with my sons. One son would do something wrong and....
Mims/Everybody gets punished! (several talking and laughing)
Throgmorton/ ...punishment would be directed toward both of'em (laughs) I'm only kidding but,
you know, it feels that way.
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Cole/Real quick too, how typical is it that statutes become effective April? I noticed we've had a
couple now that have been April. Don't they usually do July 1st or...or not?
Bockenstedt/ I don't know if this was actually done by statute, uh (both talking) administrative, I
believe it's probably, uh, Management, uh, came up with this administrative change, urn,
and they made it effective immediately, which, uh....was almost impossible because as
far as I know we didn't even receive communications about this, until we went to the
training seminar and essentially they said, well.....it was too late for April, um, however,
any transfers in May would, uh....fall under that administrative code, and so I assume it's
when we do our annual audit, you k now,part of that annual audit is a compliance audit,
and they would review our transfers to ensure that they, uh, complied with the
administrative requirements. Um, so that's why we kinda had to rush into getting this
done because it....it just really came about in short notice. (mumbled)
Cole/ Seems to be a trend lately, right?
Information Packet Discussion (May 23,May 30):
Throgmorton/ Okay, so we can probably move on to the information packets. May 23rd packet?
Anybody have any questions? Or whatever, reactions?
Mims/I (mumbled) the Police Department report. I think there's lots of good information there.
I wanna, you know, congratulate them on a couple of really important grants that they got
this last year. The one on strengthening law enforcement response to domestic and sexual
violence. It's a national demonstration initiative. They're one of six sites, uh, in the
country, doing some work with that, and then the data-driven justice initiative, which was
extended, which we've had that for a little while that Dave Schwent does a lot of work on,
urn, has been just a significant piece of being able to do our Housing First project
and....and gather data from that and really see the effects of some of the different, um,
programming. So...uh....new....mission statement, which I think is a very positive
change, um...just a, it's always good to see this information.
Throgmorton/ I see a lot of, uh, valuable information in the...farther on in the report, uh, that the
Chief does not refer to directly in his overview, like total calls for service are down for
the third straight year. Arrests have steadily declined by 30%, by a total of 30%, since
2013.
Mims/But to interrupt you just a second, Jim, what I did find interesting was in...and there's
nobody here to answer the question. I'm not sure Chief Matherly could,but you said the
total calls for service are down the last three years. But look how much they're up from
2012, 2014, and 2015. I just....found that really interesting, I mean we....I mean 12 was
at, about 65,000; 2013 was about 70,000; then it went down to about 67 and 65, then it's
jumped up to 71, 70 %,just over(both talking)
Throgmorton/True enough. Yeah!
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Mims/ ...so it was just kind of interesting. I'm glad to see that we're on the decline,but we're still
significantly higher than we were in 2012, 14, and 15.
Throgmorton/Yeah, that's true. Somehow....somehow I didn't see that graphic. I wish I had.
Uh, so....point taken! Uh, but I do notice also that group A crimes declined by 8 %2 %
from 2014; violent crimes have declined by 7% since 2014, even though they increased
from 2017 to 2018; uh, and total juvenile charges, referrals declined a lot for both blacks
and whites....juveniles. I....I think it's important to kind of pay attention to the detail,
and I guess I wanna make it a key point here. Earlier in one of the slides that Juli showed
us, um,the slide showed a frame....um.....in front of, what was the building it was in
front of? Well anyhow....in front of a building, it was in a photograph, and the...you
were supposed to be able to stand behind the frame so that people could take photographs
of you. (several responding) Where was it?
Teague/Across the street, the parkin' lot. Chauncey parkin' lot.
Throgmorton/Oh yeah, on the side of the parking lot. Right! So the....the point I'm making is
it, framing is really crucial, with regard to something like the data concerning the
incidents of crime, arrests, etc. We need to do a better job of framing, which is a way of
drawing people's attention to certain things. You know, if you're....if you're a
photographer, you frame the photograph. If you're really good at it, you ask what's
the....what is the....what is it I'm really trying to take a photograph of, and then you
frame it so that it's just right, or uh, you know, when a person stands in the new frame
thing by the Chauncey Swan parking lot, they'll be able to do that as well. But we can do
it with regard to key things that we're doing so that we can draw the public's attention to
what we're doing really well, and if somethin's bad, you know, well we have to deal with
that too,but framing matters a lot.
Mims/And when you talk about that framing, Jim, I think one thing that's interesting in here is,
cause you talked about the juveniles,but when you look for the calls for service related to
juveniles, those numbers have been going up. They've been trending up every single
year. But the juvenile court services—referrals/charges—have been trending down.
Which off the top of my head says to me our police are getting more calls, uh, related to
juvenile issues,but a smaller percentage of those are resulting in juveniles being in the
judicial system. They're (both talking) they're finding other ways to interact with
juveniles and avoid them being in the judicial system. So framing, as you say, is very
important.
Throgmorton/Yeah!
Thomas/The other thing I....I, you know, I...the overall data is interesting in terms of looking for
trends and so forth, but I still am really interested in....the GIS aspects of this data
collection, you know, where....where is.....where are these data points being collected
and what pattern they generate,uh, because it's not evenly distributed across the city. I
mean they're going to be, um, unique patterns that, you know, as I've often emphasized, at
least from my experience, we all have different ways of experiencing Iowa City. That's
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not, there's not one Iowa City. There's many Iowa Cities and I think some....some way
of, you know, breaking that information down so it's a little bit more correlated with how
people actually experience Iowa City would be helpful.
Throgmorton/Okay, uh, other items on that information packet? I'll mention Item 6,minutes of
the CPRB's May 14th meeting where the board will be recommending that the Council
appoint a liaison to the CPRB. I guess we don't have to take any action on that until we
get some kind of, get a formal recommendation from the board. Uh,but we have
discussed the possibility of having liaisons to various boards and commissions before.
Bruce, you weren't here when we did this,but this...back in early 2016 we discussed that
as a possibility and that the...at that time the Council decided not to do it. So in this case,
one board is recommending that we assign a liaison to that particular board. So we'll
have to process that and think it through.
Taylor/I....I still was a little concerned about what they truly were asking us to do, to be a
liaison but they talked about, uh, concern about the make-up and function of their board,
but I thought when they were here to talk about it,uh, they talked kinda about the
differences in decisions made, uh,with the Police Chief versus the CPRB. So I was a
little concerned(both talking)
Mims/ ...well that was part of that change that we made in the ordinance, and I think your first
comment, Jim. I think the...you know, the time to really talk about this is when we get
the actual recommendation from them and see the wording(several talking)
Throgmorton/ ...that topic will come up as we're havin'that conversation. Okay,how bout the
May 30th packet?
Cole/ Can we get to IPS?
Throgmorton/ Sure, go ahead....which is (both talking) staff needs guidance on,right? Uh....oh!
Simon! You're gonna say something about this.
Andrew/Uh, the tax abatement program. Um, so this is one that, uh, staff has been working on,
uh, with the committee, um, from folks outside the organization as well for, uh, some
time now. It was part of your affordable housing action plan, um, from 2016. Um, this is
a provision in State code which allows property taxes to be abated on improved value for
up to 10 years, and it can be up to 100% of those, uh, increased taxes. Um, we have a lot
of flexibility within that, what the percentage is, whether it's a sliding scale. Um,we are
also looking at this, uh, provision of State code for a commercial tax abatement as well,
which the Economic Development Committee heard a little bit about yesterday. Um, so
where we landed with this one, it was very hard to, uh, get it to pencil out in a way that,
um, really saw the provision of new, affordable housing. Uh, to our knowledge we're the
only city in the state that is going to use this provision in State code explicitly for
affordable housing. It's generally to inspire some type of development in communities
that are seeing none. Uh, so we're trying to,uh, use this as an additional tool to inspire
more affordable housing. Uh, so working with bankers and developers,um, we've landed
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on a 40%, uh, tax abatement for the 10 years. Urn, it would have to be a multi-family, uh,
development that included more than six units. That was the lowest threshold in which
we could get it to pencil out, that we would get at least one unit, urn, from that building
and still be able to abate those taxes. Urn, the,uh...tenant must be at or below 60% of
AMI, but the rent can't exceed, uh,what the 40% level would be. Uh, so the rents will be
lower, but they will, uh,be allowed to,uh,pursue a little bit of broader, uh, tenant pool.
The concern was that, urn, that putting that number too low, uh, that they wouldn't
necessarily be able to fill those units. So, uh, that was the feedback we, uh, received on
that. Uh,just as the EDC heard yesterday,urn, with the commercial tax abatement we're
looking to, urn, start this to be narrowly tailored. It is a by-right, urn, for the developer,
so, uh, if they check all the boxes that we put, all the parameters that we put on the
program, they work directly with the Assessor and it doesn't come through us like a TIF
project would be, urn, approved individually or the....the parameters of the TIF project,
uh, a TIF incentive would be approved individually. Uh, so we're trying to start a little bit
more conservative, see what, uh, what we get out of it, uh, and we are able to....to change
that going forward to make it, urn, a little....to make the incentive a little bit higher if
we're not seeing the....the development of new housing that we want to.
Cole/ Simon, I was wondering whether you could comment on who the committee consisted of.
I know for are inclusionary zoning in Riverfront Crossings, we had sort of a coalition of
developers and affordable housing advocates and they were able to get a unanimous
recommendation. Could you comment a little bit on who that community consisted of
(both talking)
Andrew/Um, there were, urn, and we did have some membership changeover. It was close to a
year and a half the committee was meeting, so we did have some membership
changeover, and urn, in the interim, uh, there were, uh, two, uh, development companies,
uh, represented. One does, uh, especially through the Housing Trust Fund, uh, develop
affordable housing. Uh, couple of bankers as well, urn, to work on the numbers, to see,
urn,how we could get those to pencil out. Urn, and really....I feel like at least the staffs
perspective was get as much out of this as we can. You know, the....the affordability
component wasn't as much, um....of the issue as how can we get that affordable housing,
with this program, that wasn't really designed for it. So it was really more focused on the
(both talking)
Cole/And did we have the affordable housing advocates as part of that committee or...or not?
Andrew/I think other than the...the individual developer, I don't think that we did. I....I really
feel like my role on that committee was the affordable housing advocate,but....no, we
didn't...it was really more about trying to get the, to see how the numbers would work.
Teague/When you're talkin' about the numbers, do you anticipate other funds will be, urn,
utilized as well, like CDBG? Or....
Andrew/ It could be used in concert with other programs, certainly with other finding sources.
Uh, one of the parameters we're putting on it is that it can't be combined with TIF. Uh, it
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would be basically using the same increment as,uh, a TIF project, and frankly we can
incentive affordable housing through a TIF project right now and we wouldn't need this
program for that. Urn....but yeah, that's where we landed, and uh, one other thing I will
add to it. Uh, when you do create a tax abatement area, uh, we don't have, urn, areas
identified. We wanna be able to use this citywide, or at least outside of Riverfront
Crossings. Urn, but, uh....essentially we'd be....looking at what the proposed
development was first, and then creating the tax abatement area for that parcel. Um, part
of the process when you create the area is you have to notify every property owner and e
every tenant within the area that you've, um, delineated. So, urn, again trying to start
more conservatively. So effectively we would expect that the developer would come to
this, say I have this parcel of land, I'd like to put up a 12-plex, urn, we're gonna make 15
to 20% of those affordable. Um,price the rent up 40%, urn, can we create the tax
abatement district for this parcel.
Mims/ So you could create that tax abatement just for that one parcel?
Andrew/Yes, correct, and there have been cities that did that. I believe that the City of
Coralville used that for a LIHTC project, uh, for a sand company, uh that's working with
us currently. They set up a....an abatement district just for that parcel.
Mims/ Can you explain to me the rationale where....if I understand this, people up to either 60%
or 80%could...would be eligible but the rent is gonna be limited to what a household at
40% (both talking)
Andrew/Right!
Mims/Okay, so I guess what was the logic of somebody who's between that 40 and 60, I mean
they're getting a better benefit obviously of paying only the 40%,but kinda what was the
logic(both talking)
Andrew/ Sure! The logic was that we wanted, uh, the incentive to be lucrative. We wanted to
address the lower income area, uh, lower AMI levels,uh, that we do through a lot of our
80 and 60%. Um,but the concern was, uh, filling those units and having enough, uh,
families to fill those units, and also there is no claw-back, um, mechanism. You know,
once they have this set up, they get it for the 10 years and as, uh,hopefully families
incomes are increasing throughout those 10 years, uh, that it became very problematic
that, urn, you'd either, um, they'd have to find a new tenant,urn, or not renew a lease with
somebody else. So, you know, ideally they're starting at the 35 or 40, and then as their
income increases,they wouldn't necessarily have to find a new unit,but their rent
wouldn't be able to be increased.
Cole/And the 10 years is set by statute, correct?
Andrew/Yes, and we don't have to go the full 10 years. Um, that was, uh, where we landed to
make it pencil out. Um,but frequently, especially with the commercial tax abatement,
you'll see a three or five-year schedule.
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Teague/And the reason not bein' in Riverfront Crossings? Can you tell us what that (both
talking)
Andrew/There were a couple of, urn, rationale for that. You know, one is that it is already a TIF
district. It does have the inclusionary zoning requirement, urn, so, urn, even a....a
developer not asking for an incentive is going to be required to do the 10% in Riverfront
Crossings. Urn, if we wanna incentive anything above the 10%, we already have the
ability to do that, using the same increment through TIF and that would give you more
control, urn, over an individual project. You'd have more negotiating leverage with that
than you would with the tax abatement program.
Teague/And this isn't a new program. This has been around.
Andrew/Yes, the State law's been in place(both talking) 1979, somethin' like that.
Teague/ Sure!
Andrew/Urn, but again I think this is the first time that a community in Iowa has used it
explicitly for affordable housing, and not just...it's generally used more like the workforce
housing tax credit, where you're just trying to get more, urn, units online.
Throgmorton/With regard to Riverfront Crossings, if I understand the proposal correctly, I feel
uncomfortable with requiring developers in one district—Riverfront Crossings—to
include affordable housing, requiring them to do it, and in another case,providing tax
exemptions for developers to do it. That....feels imbalanced,maybe even unfair to me.
So I'd have to process that(both talking)
Andrew/ Sure!
Throgmorton/ ...persuaded it's a good idea.
Andrew/The logic with that in Riverfront Crossings (several talking in background)urn, was
that there was also significant upzoning...oh, sorry!
Mims/No, I mean we were all just kind of saying the same(several talking) The upzoning that
we did with the form based code in Riverfront Crossings was why we require that 10%
affordable housing in Riverfront Crossings. So we....we kind of gave all the land
owners, developers in that area a....a break if you will by that....that change in the code.
Throgmorton/ Good point, thank (several talking)
Dilkes/ ...based on our zoning(several talking)
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Mims/Yeah! Simon, can I go back just a minute, cause I'm still....I'm gonna follow up on my
previous question. So as I read this, it's limited to people that are at 60%or below of the
median income. But the rents are limited to the 40% level.
Andrew/Correct.
Mims/Isn't that a dis-incentive to the developer that they could be renting to somebody who's at
the 60% income level, but they can only charge the....the rent for somebody who's at the
40% income level?
Andrew/The....basically we tried to push that rent as low as we could, and still make it pencil
out with what tax benefit the developer would likely see. Um, so we did start at the 60%
level, such as with the inclusionary, uh, housing requirement in Riverfront Crossings, but
then we found as we worked through the numbers that if we were willing to do 40% on
the entire development in terms of tax abatement, we could push that rent a little bit
lower.
Mims/All right. Thank you.
Throgmorton/I'm a little concerned also and we're gonna run out of time here, but I don't think
we're gonna be able to finish this,that's the way it feels to me, but anyhow...uh, I fou...
I'm a little bit concerned by the...uh,the one paragraph that, um.....says 'developers can
request different terms,' which as I read it was very open-ended and....and I....I feel
uncomfortable with that, unless I'm persuaded not to be(laughs)
Andrew/It would be similar to requests that you see now, uh, through a TIF project or, um,
basically it....the only thing that that comment is trying to get at is if they want
something different than the parameters that are in this, uh, program that that's a
completely different new discussion with City Council. Um, that, uh, the parameters of
this program are by-right, so if this isn't lucrative enough for them or they have
something different in mind, that would just be a request to staff and Council, like any
other request for incentives.
Dilkes/The urban,the area....the urban revitalization area, which is the area in which the tax
abatement applies has to be established by the Council. And those criteria have to be....
up front as part of the establishment of the area.
Andrew/But basically this is where we would start as staff with any requests for the tax
abatement and so long as you all are comfortable with those parameters, we would
proceed preparing it for your consideration, without, um, basically coming back to you to
ask for negotiation. Whereas anything outside of these parameters would be a new
discussion because you wouldn't have had the chance to weigh in on it yet.
Throgmorton/ Okay, do you folks feel like we know enough about this....to say to staff, yeah,
proceed and return to usu with a....a specific proposal or do we need to talk about it more
after the formal (mumbled) sorry, after the formal meeting?
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Mims/I'm comfortable. I guess my last question would be....so the program would be
established. Will it be coming back to us in the form of a resolution or an ordinance at all
or....
Andrew/Because (both talking)
Dilkes/Yes!
Andrew/Oh, sorry! Go ahead.
Dilkes/Go ahead!
Andrew/Because we're not setting up the abatement areas right now, where the urban
revitalization area right now those would all come back to you, similar to the urban
renewal area process with(both talking)
Mims/ Okay, so the....the outline of what it would take to get one would just be in staff
documents that you could review with a developer but then if they wanted to go forward,
they would...you'd have to come back to get the....the area established.
Andrew/Exactly!
Mims/(both talking)
Andrew/ Sony!
Mims/So then what you would be telling somebody is if....if they didn't wanna do what was in
that plan, you couldn't negotiate with 'em without coming back to Council, looking at
different terms.
Andrew/Right.
Mims/Okay. So the six bullets are what we would be starting with, unless Council had more
discussion?
Dilkes/We're not.....we're not gonna go through the process of setting up an urban revitalization
area on terms other than these, unless (both talking)
Thomas/ ...come back once it becomes (several talking) as a district.
Mims/ So I'm comfortable....I'm(several talking)
Thomas/I'm okay.
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Froin/We're essentially asking for permission to market this. You're gonna....you're gonna have
final say in creating it, but we wanna market it. We didn't want to get out in front of you
before we did that.
Andrew/And I would liken it to our economic development policies, you know, when we're
negotiating TIF, urn, we know if we're puttin' money into it and it's residential, we're at
15% or more affordable housing, and that's just a parameter that staff knows (both
talking)
Cole/Yeah, I'm comfortable...
Throgmorton/Okay, well I have one other concern I wanted to just mention and then we're
gonna have to stop, uh, prior to the formal meeting. Uh, yesterday in our Economic
Development Committee meeting, uh, we had a brief conversation about tax incentives
relative to, uh, carbon emission reductions. And the....the gist of the conversation was
that since we have a climate action plan that seeks to reduce carbon emissions on a steady
glide path(laughs) over the next,what, 30-plus years, that....uh.....well, I claim that we
need to make sure that our economic development incentives ensure that new
construction was on that glide path. So I just wonder whether this particular, uh,
incentive for affordable housing could also have an incentive built into it with regard to
new housing construction. I don't wanna push the point, uh,because it complicates
things a lot right at the moment. Uh,but I had that concern and just needed to put it out
there. Okay, thanks, Simon. We will, uh, return to the March....uh, May 30th, um...
information packet after the formal meeting. So we're gonna adjourn this meeting now
and, uh, until 7:00 for our formal meeting! Thanks!
(CONVENE TO FORMAL MEETING)
(RECONVENE WORK SESSION)
Information Packet Discussion (Ma)30th) (cont.):
Throgmorton/Uh.....we stopped with....the May 30th information packet.
Cole/ 1P5.
Throgmorton/IP5 we had not finished. So....the question was with regard to IP5, uh....well,
Charlie obviously raised a point that is relevant to the question at hand. So...
Cole/ I would certainly like to get the feedback.
Teague/And I would suggest we give it to HCDC and wait for their response.
Throgmorton/What do the rest of you think?
Thomas/I'm okay with that.
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Throgmorton/Pauline? Susan?
Mims/Yeah.
Throgmorton/Yeah, let's do that. All right, any(both talking)
Teague/I do have one question for staff. Are there any time-sensitive items related to that?
Andrew/Nope! The only, uh, time issue would be how soon we could get the program rolling,
but....
Teague/Okay.
Andrew/No, uh, external time constraints.
Cole/And I assume Simon would be able to participate in that process too, correct? With
HCDC?
Andrew/If, uh, that's what Geoff and Tracy decide, absolutely.
Cole/Okay.
Throgmorton/I'd like to bring up a point with regard to, uh, IP#3, which is the strategic plan....
uh, the list of pending topics. With regard to Item 9, update on climate action activities.
Uh, Geoff and I discussed this and, uh, decided that it would be good to have the update
on climate action activities during one of our meetings in July, probably the second
meeting I would guess,but this is something that hasn't been decided but should...you
should expect to have it occur in July. And....so I just wanted to make that point. And
any....any other topics, folks? I think I have one more but, uh....
Cole/The only....were you gonna speak?
Throgmorton/ Go ahead!
Cole/Okay. The only comment that I would make is that, urn, IP3, the pending Council work
session topics. As we all know we try to be as judicious as we can in terms of what goes
in and what goes out,um, and for today's work session it was a wonderful update on our
capital improvement. It was terrific,but sort of moving forward I'm really hopeful that
we can allot most of that time for the pending work session topics,because I think we do
have a lot of policy issues that come before us and that is our opportunity to speak as a
body as to those....these....these issues. So, um,that's sort of my view, and I'm just
hopeful that sort of moving forward that we.....not have quite as much as sort of updates
of capital improvement when we have a number of work session topics that we need to
get through.
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Throgmorton/Yeah. Okay, any other IP items on the, uh,the May 30th....information packet?
Thomas/IP7, the, um....National League of Cities 'State of Cities 2019' I thought had some
interesting, um....coverage on, you know, range of issues, various strategies cities have
taken. Certainly worth taking a look at.
Throgmorton/Anything else?
Cole/ 1P8, I was just thinking about Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition help for
Gul...(mumbled) residents. Geoff, do we have any update in terms of where we're at, or
maybe that'd be Johnson County,uh,Affordable Housing Coalition in terms of this issue,
in terms of mobile home policy, in terms of updating our affordable housing plan?
Fruin/No, I....I don't have anything. I'd be happy to reach out to Sara and send you an update.
Cole/Okay!
Taylor/ It's unfortunate Sara left. Um, Mazahir and I had been sort of selfly-appointed to meet
with them and we hadn't heard from Sara to get together so I don't know that they have
really done anything yet with that.
Throgmorton/Okay, any other...IP items? All right, I'm not hearing any. So I...that was the last
t hing we needed to do on the work session.
Mims/ ....late handouts for KXIC?
Throgmorton/Correct, and I have volunteered for the 16th, is that right? Is that the date? 12Th.
Mims/I'll take June 19th.
Thomas/I'll....July 10th.
Taylor/Do July 3rd.
Cole/June 26th.
Fruehling/Got July 17th, 24th, and 31st.
Teague/I can do the 17th.
Throgmorton/Are all of us accounted for? Well, Maz.
Fruehling/(mumbled)until August.
Throgmorton/Yeah, uh, we can invite another staff person....to fill one of the (several talking)
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Fruin/Want us to take both of those? Or just one?
Throgmorton/Are they consecutive(several talking) Yeah, yeah, why don't ya do that. Okay, so
we're good to go, huh? All right, I think we're done with our work session. Any
objection? All right, we're done. Thank you!
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