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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-06 ResolutionItem Number: 5.d. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 1. Cigarette Permit for Mini Paradise Inc., dba Almost Paradise Mini, 125 S. Dubuque St. Attachments: cigarette resolution Prepared by: City Clerk's Office, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5043 Resolution Number: 23-284 Resolution to Issue Cigarette Permits Whereas, the following firms and persons have made an application and paid the taxes required by law for the sale of cigarettes, tobacco, nicotine and vapor products. Now, Therefore, be it Resolved by The City Council of Iowa City, Iowa, That: the applications be granted and the City Clerk is hereby directed to issue a permit to the following named persons and firms to sell cigarettes, tobacco, nicotine and vapor products: Almost Paradise Mini — 125 S. Dubuque St Passed and approved this 6th day of November 20 23 1 Ma Approved by Attest:(_ City Clerk City At orney's Office It was moved by Bergus and seconded by Alter Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: Nays: Absent: X Alter X B ergus X Dunn Harmsen Taylor X Teague X Thomas the Item Number: 6.b. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution amending the Administrative and Confidential pay plan by deleting the position of Assistant City Manager from grade 31 and adding it to grade 30. Prepared By: Geoff Fruin, City Manager Reviewed By: Eric Goers, City Attorney Fiscal Impact: The reclassification may result in minimal annual salary savings Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Attachments: Resolution Executive Summary: The Assistant City Manager position is currently vacant. Prior to initiating recruitment, the position responsibilities were reviewed and adjusted to best align with strategic plan goals and organizational needs. The resulting impact is a reclassification from grade 31 to grade 30. Background /Analysis: After reviewing the position responsibilities and considering organizational goals and needs, staff is recommending a reclassification from grade 31 to grade 30. The change is in large part due to a shift away from supervisory responsibilities to more special program and project management. Prepared by Geoff Fruin, City Manager, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52246 (319) 356-5013 Resolution Number 23-285 Resolution amending the Administrative and Confidential pay plan by deleting the position of Assistant City Manager from grade 31 and adding it to grade 30. Whereas, Resolution No. 21-112, adopted by the City Council on May 4, 2021 established a classification and compensation plan for Administrative and Confidential employees; and Whereas, the duties, responsibilities and requirements of the Assistant City Manager position have been updated and evaluated and grade 30 of the Administrative and Confidential pay plan has been determined to be the appropriate classification. Now therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa that: The Administrative and Confidential pay plan be amended by: 1. Deleting the position Assistant City Manager from grade 31. 2. Adding the position Assistant City Manager to grade 30. Passed and approved this 6th day of November , 20 21 N2!yo r Approved by Attest: = City Clerk City Attorn 's Office -10/31 /2023 It was moved by Bergus and seconded by Alter the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: Nays: Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas E Item Number: 6.c. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution amending the Administrative and Confidential pay plan by deleting the position of Program Assistant — Public Works from grade 25 and adding it to grade 26. Prepared By: Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Reviewed By: Karen Jennings, Human Resources Administrator Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: The estimated average increased cost for Fiscal Year 2024 is $6,100. This is the average difference in pay between the grades. Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Attachments: Resolution Executive Summary: After almost 29 years of service, the current Program Assistant — Public Works will be retiring at the end of the calendar year. After updating and evaluating the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the Program Assistant — Public Works it has been determined that grade 26 of the Administrative and Confidential pay plan is the appropriate classification. Staff is seeking approval to delete the Program Assistant — Public Works position from grade 25 and add the position to grade 26. Background /Analysis: Within the Public Works Department Administration Division, the current Program Assistant — Public Works will be retiring at the end of this calendar year. As part of the process to refill this position, the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position were evaluated and reassessed. It has been determined the appropriate classification for the position is grade 26 of the Administrative and Confidential pay plan. Although the increase to grade 26 of the Administrative and Confidential is an increase in pay on average of $6,100, the replacement of the Program Assistant — Public Works will be paid at a lower step in the grade. Prepared by Ron Knoche, Public Works Director, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5138 Resolution No. 23-286 Resolution amending the Administrative and Confidential pay plan by deleting the position of Program Assistant — Public Works from grade 25 and adding it to grade 26. Whereas, Resolution No. 21-112, adopted by the City Council on May 4, 2021 established a classification and compensation plan for Administrative and Confidential employees; and Whereas, the duties, responsibilities and requirements of the Program Assistant - Public Works have been updated and evaluated, and grade 26 of the Administrative and Confidential pay plan has been determined to be the appropriate classification. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa that: The Administrative and Confidential pay plan be amended by: 1. Deleting the position Program Assistant - Public Works from grade 25. 2. Adding the position of Program Assistant - Public Works to grade 26. Passed and approved this 6th day of November , 2023. MayoU Approved by Attest: I zQ p 4, 4-2u"c. P City Clerk City Attorn y's Office (Sue Dulek -11/02/2023) It was moved by Bergus adopted, and upon roll call there were: AYES: x X x and seconded by NAYS: Alter ABSENT: the Resolution be Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas &,ci Item Number: 6.d. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution accepting the work for the 2022 ADA Curb Ramp Project. Prepared By: Ethan Yoder, Civil Engineer Reviewed By: Jason Havel, City Engineer Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: None Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Attachments: Engineer's Report Resolution Executive Summary: This project has been completed by Bockenstedt Excavating of Iowa City, Iowa, in substantial accordance with the plans and specifications. The Engineer's Report and Performance and Payment bonds are on file with the City Clerk. • Project Estimated Cost: $ 185,000.00 • Project Bid Received: $ 159,216.00 • Project Actual Cost: $ 180,979.09 Background /Analysis: The locations for 2022 ADA Curb Ramp Project were based on complaints that have been received for curb ramps and included: Lakeside Drive at Aniston Street and Amber Lane, Washington Street at Amhurst Street, Foster Road at Willenbrock Circle, Martin Street and Willenbrock Circle, Willenbrock Circle at McCleary Lane, McCleary Lane at the alley between Ball Street and Foster Road, and Hickory Trail at Evergreen Court. ENGINEER'S REPORT November 2, 2023 Re: 2022 ADA Curb Ramp Project '• WIM Imp® -rw.rit._ CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 - 1826 (319) 356 - 5000 (319) 356 - 5009 FAX www.icgov.org Dear City Clerk: I hereby certify that the 2022 ADA Curb Ramp Project has been completed by Bockenstedt Excavating, Inc. of Iowa City, Iowa, in substantial accordance with the plans and specifications prepared by the City of Iowa City Engineering Division The project was bid as a unit price contract and the final contract price is $180,979.09. There was one (1) change or extra work order for the project as described below: Full Depth Patches at Moses Bloom Ln and Walker Cir $1,650.00 I recommend that the above -referenced improvements be accepted by the City of Iowa City. Sincerely, Jason Havel, PE City Engineer Prepared by: Ethan Yoder, Engineering Division, Public Works, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5145 Resolution No. 23-287 Resolution accepting the work for the 2022 ADA Curb Ramp Project Whereas, the Engineering Division has recommended that the work for construction of the 2022 ADA Curb Ramp Project, as included in a contract between the City of Iowa City and Bockenstedt Excavating, Inc. of Iowa City, Iowa, dated January 11, 2023, be accepted; and Whereas, the Engineer's Report and the performance, payment and maintenance bond have been filed in the City Clerk's office; and Whereas, funds for this project are available in the Curb Ramps - ADA account #S3822; and Whereas, the final contract price is $180,979.09. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that said improvements are hereby accepted by the City of Iowa City, Iowa. Passed and approved this 6th day of November , 2023 C r Attest: C,,"O 12� L 4L -a City Clerk — J It was moved by Bergus and seconded by adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: M Nays: Approved by City Attor ey's Office (Sue Dulek - 11 /02/2023) Alter the Resolution be Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas M Item Number: 6.e. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution to remove Commission member Eric Harris from the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission due to multiple unexcused absences. Prepared By: Stefanie Bowers Reviewed By: Sue Dulek, First Ass't. City Attorney Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: None Staff Recommendation: No recommendation Commission Recommendations: Approval Attachments: draft October 25 2023 TRC Minutes Resolution Executive Summary: The by-laws for the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission provide that a recommendation may be made to Council to remove a member who has had 3 unexcused absences. Harris has had 7 unexcused absences from regular meeting dates in the last year, and the Commission recommends Council remove him. Background /Analysis: Article IV, Section E of the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission By -Laws provides 3 unexplained absences of a Commission member may result in a recommendation by the Commission to City Council to remove the member and appoint a new member. Commissioner Eric Harris had unexcused absences from the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission on June 1, 2023, June 15, 2023, July 20, 2023, August 17, 2023, September 7, 2023, September 21, 2023, and October 5, 2023. On October 25, the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission passed a motion recommending City Council remove him from the Commission. The vote was unanimous. Section 372.15 of the Iowa Code governs the process for removal of all persons appointed to city office and includes notice and the right to be heard. If the resolution is passed, the Clerk will send Eric Harris a copy of the resolution by certified mail. Upon written request within 30 days of the date of mailing a copy of the resolution, he will be granted a public hearing before the Council on all issues connected with his renewal. Following the public hearing, Council will either confirm its earlier decision of removal or reinstate Eric Harris to the Commission. If no hearing is requested, removal shall be effective 30 days after the date on which a copy of the resolution is mailed. If a hearing is requested, he will remain on the Commission pending final resolution by Council. October 25, 2023 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes Assembly Room, Iowa City Senior Center Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Lauren Merritt, Wangui Gathua, Louis Tassinary, Chad Simmons, Marie Krebs. Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Sikowis Nobiss, Clif Johnson. Staff present: Redmond Jones, Stefanie Bowers. Meeting called to order: 5:22 PM. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Dillard read the Land Acknowledgement. Consider Recommendation to Remove Ad Hoc Truth & Reconciliation Commissioner: Dillard moved, and Gathua seconded to recommend to the City Council the removal of Eric Harris due to three unexcused absences per the by-laws section 4 article E. The motion passed 5-0. (Simmons was not present for the vote). Truth -Telling: The Native Partners did a welcome and grounding. Think Peace went over public hearings of a truth and reconciliation commission (TRC). The key objective of a truth process is to protect the rights of persons who were harmed. Some truth commissions work behind closed doors to provide confidentiality for persons testifying. The objectives of a TRC cannot be secured without the support of communities. The public can assist during educational outreach or a media strategy. Hearings for institutions are one type of public hearing. These are hearings for persons who were harmed and focused on cases. Public hearings should be in a space that provides a safe platform to honor persons who were harmed and create opportunities for constructive engagement and dialogue from the public. The approach for hearings should be survivor -centered to ensure appropriate protection and avoid new harms. Commissioners worked in pairs to identify truth -telling norms and roles and then reported to the group. The Native Partners provided closing reflections. The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 PM To view the recording or listen to the audio of this meeting, visit this link. AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2023 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 1/5 1/19 2/2 3/2 4/6 5/4 6/1 6/15 7/20 8/17 9/7 9/21 10/5 Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Gathua 12/31/24 A Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y A Y Y Harris 12/31/24 P Y Y Y A Y A A A A A A A Johnson 12/31/24 P A P A P P P P P P P A P Krebs 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Merritt 12/31/24 P Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Nobiss 12/31/24 P A P P A P A P P P P A P Simmons 12/31/24 Y Y Y Y Tassinary 12/31/24 A P P P KEY: P = Present A =Absent Prepared by: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319)356-5022 Resolution No. 23-288 Resolution to remove Commission member Eric Harris from the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission due to multiple unexcused absences. Whereas, Article IV, Section E of the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission By -Laws provides three (3) consecutive, unexplained absences of a Commission member may result in a recommendation by the Commission to City Council to remove the member and appoint a new member; and Whereas, City Council appointed Eric Harris to the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and Whereas, Commissioner Eric Harris had unexplained absences from the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission on June 1, 2023, June 15, 2023, July 20, 2023, August 17, 2023, September 7, 2023, September 21, 2023, and October 5, 2023; and Whereas, Section 372.15 of the Iowa Code governs the process for removal of all persons appointed to city office and includes notice and the right to be heard; and Whereas, on October 25, 2023, the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission passed a motion recommending City Council remove Eric Harris from the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1. Pursuant to Article IV, Section E of the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission by- laws and Section 372.15 of the Iowa Code, Eric Harris is removed from the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 2. The City Clerk is directed to mail a copy of this resolution to Eric Harris by certified mail. 3. Eric Harris, upon written request filed with the City Clerk within thirty (30) days of the date of mailing a copy of the resolution, shall be granted a public hearing before the Council on all issues connected with his removal. The hearing shall be held within thirty (30) days of the date the request is filed unless Eric Harris reasonably requests a later date. Following the public hearing, the Council will either confirm its earlier decision of removal or reinstate Eric Harris to the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 4. If no hearing is requested by Eric Harris, removal shall be effective thirty (30) days after the date on which a copy of the resolution is mailed to Eric Harris. If a hearing is requested, Eric Harris shall remain on the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission pending final resolution by City Council. Resolution No. 23-288 Page 2 Passed and approved this 6th day of November 2023. Mayo Attest: City Clerk Approved by ,;p City Attor y's Office (Sue Dulek — 11102/2023) It was moved by Bergus and seconded by Alter the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: AYES: NAYS ABSENT: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Item Number: 7.a. CITY OF OF IOWA CITY �fil COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Motion to set a public hearing for November 21, 2023 on an ordinance amending Title 14, Zoning Code, to reduce the maximum allowable height in the Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS-12) zone from thirty-five (35) feet to twenty-seven (27) feet. (REZ23-0005). Attachments: REZ23-0005 Memo-Deferral-Final-w-Attachments.pdf Late Correspondence to PZ.pdf Correspondence to PZ-Knote-10.18.2023.pdf r i -4 4 CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: October 17, 2023 To: Planning & Zoning Commission From: Anne Russett, Senior Planner, Neighborhood & Development Services Re: Request to reduce height requirements in RNS-12 zone (REZ23-0005) Introduction The Northside Neighborhood Association asked the City Council to consider reducing the maximum allowable height in the Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS-12) zone from 35 feet to 27 feet. At its June 6, 2023, work session, the City Council initiated the rezoning process by directing staff to prioritize the review of the proposed change. On August 16, staff presented this request to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Staff recommended denial. The Commission deferred the item to October 17 and requested that staff schedule another meeting with the neighborhood association to discuss the proposal. The Commission also requested additional information on the City's historic preservation program. Staff met with three representatives of the neighborhood association on September 6. During the September 6 meeting, the neighborhood association representatives noted that they were interested in reducing the maximum allowable height only for new single-family and duplex uses. Also, they originally proposed a reduction to 27', but based on our conversation it appeared they were open to other options to regulate height (e.g. 2.5 stories). Staff's understanding of their main concerns are as follows: • The existing maximum height of 35' provides a financial incentive for investors to demolish older, affordable, owner -occupied structures. • The 35' height maximum encourages redevelopment to out -of -scale buildings that can harm neighboring properties. The example given was the proposed single-family home at 319 N. Van Buren Street. Staff continues to recommend retaining the current height for the reasons set forth in the August 16 memo (Attachment 1). Analysis This section is an update to staff's original analysis included in the August 16 memo. This memo presents some additional information to consider regarding zoning code implementation, the effect of local historic and conservation districts, and redevelopment potential. Public Purpose The purpose of building height regulations is to promote a reasonable building scale and relationship between buildings. All land uses should be considered when establishing a height limit. Staff has concerns with having maximum allowable height limits that vary based on land use. First, because each zoning district may allow several different land uses, explaining the reason why they should be treated differently is necessary. For example, with the proposal, new single-family and duplex uses would be limited to 27', but other land uses allowed in the zone (e.g. religious institutions, daycares) would remain subject to the 35' maximum. If maximum allowable height varies between uses a governmental purpose for that variation October 10, 2023 Page 2 would need to be established. Staff has not identified a governmental purpose for such a change. Zoning Code Implementation The proposal also recommends that the 27' height maximum only apply to new single-family and duplex uses. The proposal also poses some challenges when it comes to implementing the zoning code. For example: • Existing single-family and duplex uses would remain subject to the 35' height maximum because the proposed change only applies to new structures — not existing ones. • New single-family and duplexes would be subject to the 27' maximum. • Other land uses, such as religious institutions, would have a maximum height of 35'. This height maximum would apply to both existing and new religious institutions. Furthermore, when the RNS-12 zoning district was created, it outlawed multi -family uses. However, there already were many such existing uses present in the area. Therefore, special provisions were created to apply to those existing multi -family uses in order to avoid creating nonconforming uses through the rezoning process. Instead, the code allows existing multi -family uses to be demolished and rebuilt to the present density, but the building would need to meet all other dimensional standards, including height. This is a difficult provision to implement because the owner would need to prove that the multi -family use was conforming with regard to use and density under the previous zoning designation. The details of decades old defunct zoning districts are not readily available to the public or staff. It would also need to be determined whether applying the height limit of 27' to new construction is or is not intended to include additions to existing single-family and duplex structures. This is another complicating factor. Any rezoning ordinance supporting this change would need to clarify the maximum allowable height for additions. The City's zoning code is already complicated, and the proposed changes would add to this complexity. The proposed amendment would mean that staff would have to implement different height requirements for different uses built at different times. This makes implementation even more complicated. Extent of the RNS-12 Zone Today, there are 500 properties city-wide zoned RNS-12. Of the 500 total city-wide properties zoned RNS-12, 375 (75%) are also regulated by a Historic District Overlay (OHD) or a Conservation District Overlay (OCD) zone. These overlay zones preserve properties that have been identified as important historic resources. The impact of the overlay zone regulations will be discussed in the next section. Of the 500 properties city-wide, 313 are within the Northside neighborhood. 266 (85%) of those within the Northside are also within a Historic or Conservation Overlay zone. Only 125 (25%) of properties citywide are zoned RNS-12 and not located within a OHD or OCD zone. 47 of these properties are located within the Northside neighborhood. In summary, there are few properties that are zoned RNS-12 and not located within an OHD or OCD zone. Figure 1 illustrates the boundary of the Northside neighborhood (in red), the location of properties zoned RNS-12, and properties located within a OHD or OCD zone. Table 1 provides a summary of this data. October 10, 2023 Page 3 E Park Rd W Market St W Washington St E Figure 1: Map of properties zoned RNS-12 Properties Zoned RNS-1Z Kimball Rd A Yn 11� O v m t Brown St z 2 � L O Z Fairchild St ® fa11.LW =�_I Iti i!iiil tB inn � I e L 1 11 Z Z M x L i N O O L7 Z 3 n � Z m Z Z E Washington St E College St I P —,= -4 CITY OF IOWA CITY Prepared by: Kirk Lehmann Date Prepared: March 2023 E Cedar St c )avenporF St.2 ton St E Bloocri�n9 j o Rochester Ave L 2 a v Hotz Ave ¢ f 7 �E III i��y^ o 9 61ONrson '2 St J Z z E Iowa Ave C9tc E Washington Q, u• -it t t� St U5 �4� E College St 9ba N N W Burlington rn J � E Burlington St - St 1 4 >R c o 0' j j E Court St Legend - t 'j 'jjN Maple St o Grant Q Northside/Goosetown Boundaryt Ct a Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS12) F a ^ t 3 0 Conservation District Overlay (OCD) ; Center a (•••,.) Historic District Overlay (OHD) BowAve Seymour Ave October 10, 2023 Page 4 Table 1: Summary of Parcels Zoned RNS-12 Ci -wide Number of Parcels % of Parcels Neighborhood Stabilization 500 100% Residential Zone RNS-12 RNS-12 with Historic or 375 75% Conservation District Overlay RNS-12 with No Historic or 125 25% Conservation District Overlay Northside Neighborhood Number of Parcels % of Parcels Neighborhood Stabilization 313 100% Residential Zone (RNS-12) RNS-12 with Historic or 266 85% Conservation District Overlay RNS-12 with No Historic or 47 15% Conservation District Overlay Historic Preservation Program The Iowa City Historic Preservation Plan was adopted by City Council in 2008. The Plan carefully and thoughtfully evaluated Iowa City's historic buildings and neighborhoods and set forth a plan of action for their stewardship. Historic neighborhoods and buildings are protected by the designation of local historic districts, conservation districts, and historic landmarks. Designation provides for the careful management of these resources through the historic review process. The purpose of historic review is to preserve or conserve historic architectural resources by discouraging alterations that either destroy the unique characteristics of a building or alter the character of historic neighborhoods. Local historic and conservation districts are designated through a rezoning process that applies either a Historic or Conservation District Overlay (OHD/OCD). Historic District Overlays (OHD) are geographically cohesive areas with significant concentrations of buildings and other resources that possess a high degree of historic integrity and convey a distinct sense of time and place. The Zoning Code also outlines the OHD in section 14-3B-1 as intended to promote the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public by protecting, enhancing, and perpetuating historic landmarks and districts of historic, architectural, and cultural significance. An OHD is the City's tool to safeguard historic buildings and neighborhoods throughout the community. The Code states that overlays also ensure a historic review of new construction or alterations of all properties in these areas to assure compatibility with the existing character of historic neighborhoods and preserve the historic integrity of the resources. As described in section 14-3B-2 of the City Code, Conservation Districts Overlays (OCD) are a geographically cohesive area that is similar to a historic district in character. However, because it has fewer properties that retain a high degree of historic integrity or contribute to a distinct sense of time and place, it does not currently qualify as a historic district. Because these areas are still considered worthy of protection, the City Council may designate them for conservation. OCD is intended to conserve the unique characteristics of older neighborhoods and resources, including their architectural, historical, and aesthetic qualities. Similar to OHDs, OCDs also require historic review of new construction and exterior alterations of all buildings within the OCD to assure compatibility with the existing character of older neighborhoods and preserve the historic integrity of the resource. Table 2 outlines the adoption dates for Conservation and Historic Districts existing within RNS- 12 zoned areas. October 10, 2023 Page 5 Table 2: Local Historic & Conservation Districts in areas with RNS-12 Zoning Location Local Designation National Register Governor — Lucas Street Conservation District May 2001 East College Street Historic District May 1997 July 1997 College Hill Conservation District May 2003 Northside Historic District May 2009 April 2005 Goosetown/Horace Mann Conservation District June 2014 Section 14-3B-3 Historic Review in the Zoning Code lays out the requirements for historic review. The historic review process is required when a material change to the exterior of a property within an OHD or OCD designation requires a regulated permit (e.g. electrical permit, building permit). The Historic Preservation Handbook, adopted by resolution and referenced within the Zoning Code, outlines guidelines that historic review applications are reviewed to. The guidelines address specific historic preservation issues and provide additional guidance to property owners and builders for the design of their projects. Examples of projects requiring historic review include: • New siding • Construction of decks and ramps • Replacement or addition of windows • Demolition of a garage or outbuilding • Porch construction, reconstruction, or replacement • Removal of porches, trim, brackets, chimneys, or defining architectural features • Additions Although some historic review applications can be reviewed and approved by City staff, major changes, such as new construction and demolition must be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. New construction requires historic review when a new principal building or outbuilding is proposed. The Historic Preservation Commission must approve the new building prior to any building permit being issued. The projects are evaluated against the guidelines in the Historic Preservation Handbook, which are intended to ensure compatibility with the character of the neighborhood where construction is to occur. The New Construction guidelines outline recommendations for many types of architectural and exterior features such as, balustrades and handrails, fagade, decks, setbacks, design, doors, windows, etc. With regards to building height the maximum allowable height is 35' pursuant to the Zoning Code; however, the Historic Preservation Handbook includes specific guidelines related to building height and mass and states that "new structures must be one and a half or two stories in height" in the Northside neighborhood. While this is a guideline, any proposal for new construction within an OHD or OCD zone would be reviewed based on the surrounding neighborhood context and the building mass and scale of adjacent buildings and require review and approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. Demolition involves the complete removal of a building or a portion of a building. Removal of dormers, decorative trim, porches, balustrades, chimneys, and other significant features requires a building permit for demolition, and therefore historic review. The demolition must be approved by the Commission prior to issuance of a building permit. With regards to demolition, the Handbook only allows it where the building is structurally unsound and irretrievable. For non-contributing and non -historic properties requesting demolition, the Commission will consider the condition, integrity, and architectural significance of the building. In summary, the City's historic preservation program is robust. The program helps to preserve, protect, and enhance historic and culturally significant properties throughout Iowa City. Because October 10, 2023 Page 6 most properties zoned RNS-12 are also zoned OHD or OCD (75%), it adds a large degree of protection from any future construction, demolition, or development changes in the future. Redevelopment Review Staff also reviewed demolition permits in RNS-12 zoning districts to identify redevelopment trends over time. This analysis has been updated slightly from the one presented in August to include information on when the demolitions occurred and the height of the new structures. Since 1992, the City had 17 residential demolitions in RNS-12 zones (excluding the demolition of a single-family home for a school playground that should be zoned P1). This averages approximately 1 demolition every 2 years over the past 31 years. Two of these from the 1990s are for uses that are no longer allowed. A full list of the demolitions of residential buildings can be found in Figure 2. 3 N E 2 N a c 0 E E 1 0 M Figure 2: Demolition of Residential Buildings in RNS-12 Zones, 1992-2003 I 111 161_ I " m m m oao00.0000m m m m o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 H H N N N N N el N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N The characteristics of these demolitions are summarized below. In addition, Figure 2 shows when demolitions occurred by year. Six of the 17 demolitions occurred prior to the land being rezoned to RNS-12. 1 single-family demo to create vacant lot in 1992; remains undeveloped 1 single-family demo to build parking 1 duplex demo to build 4-plex (no longer allowed) 1 group living demo to build 6-plex (no longer allowed) 1 duplex demo to build a church 3 demos for buildings damaged in natural disasters; one single-family redeveloped as a single-family, one single-family redeveloped as a duplex, and one multi -family redeveloped as a duplex 4 single-family demos to build single-family (includes 319 N Van Buren) 4 single-family demos to build duplexes 1 duplex demo to build a duplex Additionally, staff looked at building plans to estimate height of the redeveloped buildings. Plans were found for 11 of the buildings that have been built. 2 of the 11 are above 27' in height. Both of these are for multi -family developments that would no longer be allowed in the zone. 9 of the 11 are 27' or less in height October 10, 2023 Page 7 Based on this, it does not appear that the maximum allowable height of 35' acts an incentive for redevelopment or else more buildings would be closer to the height maximum. It may be an incentive for the development of multi -family residential, but doesn't appear to be an incentive to redevelop in zones that only allow single-family and duplex uses. Overall, it appears that development pressure in the RNS-12 zone has actually decreased over time and redeveloping small single-family homes into large single-family homes is not common. This is likely due to 75% of properties zoned RNS-12 also being located within Historic and Conservation District Overlay zones, which restrict demolitions and involve Historic Preservation Commission review. Comprehensive Plan Analysis The Future Land Use Map of the Central District Plan includes a land use designation for Single -Family Residential Stabilization. The description for this designation is as follows: "Intended for older areas of the city where single family homes originally predominated, but due to subsequent changes in zoning have experienced an increase in housing density and some conversion to multi -family and group living uses has occurred. The intent of this designation is to preserve the single-family residential character that remains by preventing further densification and conversion of single family residences to multi -family. Development Density: varies depending on mix of single family and conforming and nonconforming multi -family and group living uses." This land use designation is applied to large areas of the Northside neighborhood, portions of E. Market and E. Jefferson Streets, and areas of Lucas and S. Governor Streets south of Burlington Street. These areas generally correspond to the areas zoned RNS-12. As described in the adopted land use designation, the purpose of the designation is to "preserve the single-family residential character" by "preventing further densification and conversion of single-family residences to multi -family". In summary, the goal of this land use category is to maintain a single-family neighborhood and restrict the number of units by limiting other housing types. The land use designation does not speak to the scale of development, but rather housing types and density. The scale of the development is regulated by height in the zoning code. There are many statements within the comprehensive plan related to infill development and ensuring that it is compatible and complementary to the surrounding neighborhood. The maximum allowable height in most residential zones is 35', which implies it has already been determined that 35' is a height that ensures a complimentary scale. Conclusions • While height limits are intended to prevent domination of adjacent properties, the City has traditionally found that 3 story building heights are appropriate in all areas containing single-family uses, including the RNS-12 zone. The purpose of the RNS-12 zone is to maintain a single-family character, which has been interpreted as preserving single- family uses, and preventing the spread of multi -family conversions and redevelopment. The current height limitation is consistent with other single-family residential zones, thus serving the purpose of the RNS-12 zone to maintain the predominantly single-family neighborhood character. The purpose of height regulations are to promote a reasonable scale and relationship between buildings. All land uses should be considered when establishing a height limit. October 10, 2023 Page 8 A public purpose justification must be identified for regulations, such as maximum heights, that vary based on land use. Alleviation of perceived redevelopment pressures and preservation of neighborhood character are not served by allowing uses to be constructed at varying heights. • Implementation of the zoning code must be considered. The proposed changes require staff to implement different height requirements for different uses built at different times. Staff does not recommend creating unnecessarily complicated regulations. 75% of the properties zoned RNS-12 are located within a Historic or Conservation District Overlay zone. As the staff report outlines, new construction would be subject to historic preservation guidelines, and require review and approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. In short, 75% of properties within the RNS-12 zone are already subject to additional review processes that ensure new structures are not out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood. Redevelopment pressures do not appear to be mounting in areas zoned RNS-12. Since 1992 there have been 17 residential demolitions in the RNS-12 zone (six of which occurred prior to the land being rezoned to RNS-12). This is an average of approximately 1 demolition every 2 years. This may be due in part to the large number of properties that are located within Historic and Conservation District Overlay zones, which restrict demolitions. The purpose of the RNS-12 zone is not tied to historic characteristics or the scale of the development. For that purpose, the City has adopted Historic and Conservation Overlay areas and much of the area zoned RNS-12 is subject to those additional guidelines and requirements. For these reasons, Staff does not support the requested amendment to the zoning code, even as modified from the original proposal. Next Steps Upon recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, the City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed rezoning ordinance. Staff Recommendation Staff does not recommend approval of REZ23-0005, a proposal to change the maximum allowable building height from thirty-five (35) feet to twenty-seven (27) feet in the Neighborhood Residential Stabilization (RNS-12) zone for new single-family and duplex structures. As was noted above, staff has not identified a governmental purpose for having the maximum allowable height vary based on land use. If the Commission wants to recommend approval they would need to identify what the governmental purpose is for regulating height differently based on use. Attachments 1. August 16, 2023 Planning & Zoning Commission Memo 2. Correspondence Approved by: t� • J: ^� Danielle Sitzman, AICP, Development Services Coordinator Department of Neighborhood and Development Services ATTACHMENT 1 - October 18, 2023 Memo August 16, 2023 Memo to the Planning & Zoning Commission r i -4 4 CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: August 16, 2023 To: Planning & Zoning Commission From: Anne Russett, Senior Planner, Neighborhood & Development Services Re: Request to reduce height requirements in RNS-12 zone (REZ23-0005) Introduction The Northside Neighborhood Association petitioned the City Council to consider reducing the maximum allowable height in the Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS-12) zone from 35 feet to 27 feet. The association's petition can be found in Attachment 1. At its June 6, 2023, work session, the City Council directed staff to prioritize the review of the proposed change. Background History of the Neighborhood Residential Stabilization (RNS-12) Zone The purpose of the RNS-12 zone is to stabilize certain existing residential neighborhoods by preserving the predominantly single-family residential character of these neighborhoods. Provisions in this zone prevent the conversion or redevelopment of single-family uses to multi- family uses. However, existing conforming multi -family uses retain their conforming status when rezoned to RNS-12. The RNS-12 zone allows detached single-family dwellings and duplexes, but does not allow detached zero lot line dwellings or attached single-family dwellings. The zone does not allow new multi -family developments. The existing 35' maximum height is consistent with all single-family and multi -family residential zones in Iowa City. The zone was originally created after a controversy in 1992 when a project proposed adding more than one residential structure to a single lot in a Low -Density Multi -Family Residential Zone (RM -12). Owners of nearby properties petitioned Council due to concerns that allowing more than one residential structure per lot in RM -12 zones would be out of character with the existing neighborhood. In response, City Council adopted what is now known as the Neighborhood Residential Stabilization Zone (RNS-12)1 on March 30, 1993, and rezoned several properties in the general vicinity of Johnson Street on the west, Clapp Street on the east, Market Street on the north, and Jefferson Street on the south from RM -12 to RNS-12. See Attachment 2. In February of 1994, Council amended the RNS-12 zone to affirm the zone's single-family character and restrict the number of principal buildings permitted on a lot. It also further clarified that the zone does not allow the construction of new multi -family structures. Over time, Council continued to rezone several additional areas to RNS-12. While the circumstances for rezoning each area were different, the overarching goals included conserving each neighborhood's single-family character and preventing new multi -family development. A summary of the creation of the zone and the multiple amendments to the zoning map that resulted in rezoning from a multi -family zone to RNS-12 are as follows: 1 This zone was originally named Neighborhood Residential Conservation Zone or RNC -12, but was renamed RNS-12 in 2005. August11,2023 Page 2 • March 30, 1993: initial adoption of the RNS-12 zone, which amended the zoning code to create a new zoning designation focused on allowing single-family dwellings and not allowing new multi -family dwellings • March 30, 1993: properties along Johnson Street to the west, Clapp Street on the east, Market Street on the north, and Jefferson Street on the south were rezoned from the RM -12 zone to the RNS-12 zone • June 21, 1994: properties along Church Street between Dubuque and N. Dodge Streets were downzoned from RM -12 to RNS-12 • January 11, 1995: Fairchild and Davenport Streets, between N. Dubuque and N. Dodge Streets, and the 200 block of Bloomington Street, excluding properties zoned RM -44 along Dubuque Street were downzoned to RNS-12 • May 16, 2000: properties along the 300-600 blocks of S. Governor and S. Lucas Streets, and a portion of the 700-800 blocks and 800-900 blocks of Bowery Street were downzoned to RNS-12 • November 21, 2000: properties in the vicinity of Iowa Avenue, Washington Street, South Summit Street, Governor Street, Muscatine Avenue, and College Street were downzoned to RNS-12. The most recent change to the boundaries of the RNS-12 zoning district occurred on May 1, 2007. Property owners in and near the South Governor and Bowery Street areas petitioned Council to rezone the neighboring area from RNS-12 to RS -8. The purpose was to preserve the balance of rental and owner -occupied housing by ensuring that additional duplex conversions would not take place. Council approved the rezoning. The boundaries for areas zoned RNS-12 have not changed since 2007. Explanation of Building Height While the application of the RNS-12 zone has expanded to various areas of the city through multiple rezonings, the height limit in the zone has not changed since it was adopted. Maximum height regulations help promote a reasonable building scale and relationship between buildings, provide light, air, and privacy, and discourage buildings that visually dominate other nearby buildings. The maximum height in the RNS-12 zone is 35 feet, as defined in the code as measured from the average point of ground elevation 5 feet from the building (called "grade") and the roofline, which is the highest point of a flat roof, the deck line of a mansard roof, or the midpoint between the eaves and ridge of a saddle, hip, gable, gambrel, or ogee roof. Certain items are exempted from building height, such as chimneys, spires on institutional buildings, domes (and similar roof protrusions) without habitable floor space, parapet walls up to 3 feet, television antennas, and roof structures such as solar energy systems, stairways, ventilating fans, and similar equipment required to maintain the building. Maximum height may be increased if all setbacks are increased by an additional 2 feet for each foot of height above the height limit or through a Minor Modification process where applicable approval criteria are met. Staff estimates that almost all properties currently zoned RNS-12 conform with the current maximum height limit. Analysis Extent of the RNS-12 Zone Today, there are 500 properties city-wide zoned RNS-12. Of the 500 total city-wide properties zoned RNS-12, 375 (75%) are also regulated by a Historic District Overlay (OHD) or a Conservation District Overlay (OCD) zone. These overlay zones preserve properties that have been identified as important historic resources. The impact of the overlay zone regulations will be discussed in the next section. Of the 500 properties city-wide, 313 are within the Northside neighborhood. 266 (85%) of those within the Northside are also within a Historic or Conservation Overlay zone. 125 (25%) of properties citywide are zoned RNS-12 and not located within a OHD or OCD zone. 47 of these properties are located within the Northside August 11, 2023 Page 3 neighborhood. In summary, there are few properties that are zoned RNS-12 and not located within an OHD or OCD zone. Figure 1 illustrates the boundary of the Northside neighborhood (in red), the location of properties zoned RNS-12, and properties located within a OHD or CCD zone. Table 1 provides a summary of this data. See also Attachment 3. Figure 1: Map of properties zoned RNS-12 E Park Rd W Market St Properties Zoned RNS-12 E z N Kimball Rd �saBrown St laal// a'Sf.A! i�ns!yiLs� iCt •'a st 2 L�� .i'!04■ �j IlL u eu r _ -■o CITY OF IOWA CITY Preparetl Ly'. Kirk Lehmann Date Prepared MarcM1 2023 NE CedarSt -eni sr s Noe E Bloom,PAn St o Rochester Ave i E I a m Hotz Ave ¢' £ I P Jef/e SL a V N c o r i. rson f V O U' Z J S[ N2 Z z z z z Z z E Iowa Ave Lj;^moi` E Court St Legend I c W WashingtonE sit E Washington St in••u I Washington St ^�vo 3xA yv 45 RFL: IS5 1. 4�11 Q Northside/Goosetown Boundary 1 i, a4�P L+ _ Ct n a E College St .. E College St � m n N Conservation District Overlay (OCD) 9L 3 Center I Historic District Overlay (OHD) Bower P V N r W BurlingtonM Co E Burlington St F '^ S[ N2 N a a �H E■ Lj;^moi` E Court St Legend „ „ u Maple Bt o Grant Q Northside/Goosetown Boundary 1 i, L+ _ Ct n Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS12) .. 3 m n N Conservation District Overlay (OCD) TLj.' 3 Center I Historic District Overlay (OHD) Bower t`,b Ave Seymour Ave August 11, 2023 Page 4 Table 1: Summary of Parcels Zoned RNS-12 City-wide Number of Parcels % of Parcels Neighborhood Stabilization 500 100% Residential Zone (RNS-12) RNS-12 with Historic or 375 75% Conservation District Overlay RNS-12 with No Historic or 125 25% Conservation District Overlay Northside Neighborhood Number of Parcels % of Parcels Neighborhood Stabilization 313 100% Residential Zone RNS-12 RNS-12 with Historic or 266 85% Conservation District Overlay RNS-12 with No Historic or 47 15% Conservation District Overlay Local Historic & Conservation Districts All properties within an overlay zone OHD or OCD are subject to historic review for exterior modifications that require a regulated permit (e.g. building permit). As a result, any new construction or demolition must be reviewed and approved by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). Properties in these overlay zones are also subject to the guidelines adopted in the Iowa City Historic Preservation Handbook which are analyzed during historic review. With regards to building height the maximum allowable height is 35'; however, the Handbook includes specific guidelines related to building height and mass and notes that "new structures must be one and a half or two stories in height" in the Northside neighborhood. Any proposal for new construction within an OHD or OCD zone would be reviewed based on the surrounding neighborhood context and the building mass and scale of adjacent buildings. With regards to demolition, the Handbook only allows it where the building is structurally unsound and irretrievable. For non-contributing and non -historic properties requesting demolition, the Commission will consider the condition, integrity, and architectural significance of the building. Because most properties zoned RNS-12 are also zoned OHD or OCD, it adds a large degree of protection from any future construction, demolition, or development changes in the future. Field Work Review To identify the potential impacts of the proposed amendment, staff estimated the building height for all properties zoned RNS-12 using 2021 pictometry data from CONNECTExplorer. Staff decided to utilize this after exploring other options. One such option including using lasers and measuring distance and calculating height from the sidewalk; however, there were issues with accuracy. Furthermore, based on our conversations with both City and County GIS professionals they considered this tool to be the best option. It is important to note that without engineered drawings or the use of professional survey equipment and access to each property, it is not possible to ascertain actual building height from grade to roofline. Most buildings in this area were built before current building permitting processes, so construction drawings are not available. As such, this analysis only provides an idea of possible impacts; it should not be interpreted as a definitive count of affected properties. To adjust for potential error in measurement, staff categorized properties into groups with counts shown in Table 2. This analysis suggests that approximately (1/5) one-fifth of buildings zoned RNS-12 may become non -conforming if the height limit were reduced from 35 feet to 27 feet. Generally, these are spread throughout the area zoned RNS-12. However, the impacts of the proposed amendments could be lesser or greater depending on actual measurements. August11,2023 Page 5 Table 2: parcels by Buildingeight Building Height Number of Parcels % of Parcels Category >35' 13 2.6% Non -conforming; would continue to be non -conforming 30-35' 104 20.8% Conforming; may become non -conforming 25-29' 122 24.4% Conforming; may be conforming or non -conforming <25' 259 51.8% Conforming; may continue to be conforming Undetermined 2 0.4% Lack of data or challenging site characteristics Total 500 100.0% Source: CONNECTExplorer data collected by City staff Buildings taller than the proposed 27 -foot height limit would become non -conforming. Generally, these may continue as they are so long as non -conformities are not increased or extended. In addition, buildings may only be rebuilt to the same height as an existing structure where damage to that building is less than 75% of its assessed value or it is a historic building. Other more flexible non -conforming provisions generally apply to non -conforming single-family uses. Single-family uses may be restored to the same degree of non -conforming or less if destroyed or damaged by fire or a natural disaster. As such, the proposed amendment would have two main impacts on those owning property that may become non -conforming. The first is that future expansions must comply with the new height limit, which may create situations where an addition cannot be the same height as the original building. The second is that if something happens to a structure such that it is destroyed, it may not be permitted to be rebuilt to its current dimension. This has implications for owners in the area in the event of a disaster. It is also considered best practice to minimize the number of non -conformities caused by changes to the zoning code. Redevelopment Review Staff also reviewed demolition permits in RNS-12 zoning districts to identify redevelopment trends over time. Since 1992, the City had 17 residential demolitions in RNS-12 zones (excluding the demolition of a single-family home for a school playground that should be zoned P1). This averages approximately 1 demolition every 2 years over the past 31 years. Two of these from the 1990s are for uses that are no longer allowed. A full list of the demolitions of residential buildings can be found in Figure 2. N E Z Figure 2: Demolition of Residential Buildings in RNS-12 Zones, 1992-2003 X ry m a vi m n m m m .� ry m a in m r m m o .y ry m w m m m m m m m m o 0 0 0 0 0 o a o o .y .i .y ti ..� .w .y .y .i ry ry ry ry m m m m m m m m o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 H H N N N H N el N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N August11,2023 Page 6 The characteristics of these demolitions are summarized below. In addition, Figure 2 shows when demolitions occurred by year. 1 single-family demo to create vacant lot in 1992; remains undeveloped 1 single-family demo to build parking 1 duplex demo to build 4-plex (no longer allowed) 1 group living demo to build 6-plex (no longer allowed) 1 duplex demo to build a church 3 demos for buildings damaged in natural disasters; one single-family redeveloped as a single-family, one single-family redeveloped as a duplex, and one multi -family redeveloped as a duplex 4 single-family demos to build single-family (includes 319 N Van Buren) 4 single-family demos to build duplexes 1 duplex demo to build a duplex Overall, it appears that development pressure in the RNS-12 zone has actually decreased over time and redeveloping small single-family homes into large single-family homes is not common. This may be due to the fact that 75% of properties zoned RNS-12 are also located within Historic and Conservation District Overlay zones, which restrict demolitions. Affordability & Equity Housing affordability is a common goal between both the Northside Neighborhood Association and the City of Iowa City. According to the National Association of Counties Matchmaker Tool, Johnson County is a high-cost county with a rapidly growing population. This is a common indicator that housing supply is not sufficient to meet current housing demand. In addition, the Matchmaker Tool notes that 31.6% of renters in Johnson County are severely cost -burdened, spending half or more of their income on rent alone. Recommended policy solutions include upzoning land to allow for high-density housing and low-cost housing types, flexibility in design standards, establishing an affordable housing trust fund, and relaxing dimensional requirements. This assessment of county -level metrics provides ample solutions to the high-cost housing issue in Iowa City and Johnson County as a whole. Regarding the proposed reduction in height, staff has not found adequate evidence to suggest that a height limit restriction will increase housing affordability. Instead, staff presented and the Commission recommended approval of several best practice zoning reform strategies on August 2, 2023 to increase housing supply and improve housing options. Comprehensive Plan Analysis The Future Land Use Map of the Central District Plan includes a land use designation for Single -Family Residential Stabilization. The description for this designation is as follows: "Intended for older areas of the city where single family homes originally predominated, but due to subsequent changes in zoning have experienced an increase in housing density and some conversion to multi -family and group living uses has occurred. The intent of this designation is to preserve the single-family residential character that remains by preventing further densification and conversion of single family residences to multi -family. Development Density: varies depending on mix of single family and conforming and nonconforming multi -family and group living uses." This land use designation is applied to large areas of the Northside neighborhood, portions of E. Market and E. Jefferson Streets, and areas of Lucas and S. Governor Streets south of Burlington Street. These areas generally correspondence to the areas zoned RNS-12. August11,2023 Page 7 As described in the adopted land use designation, the purpose of the designation is to "preserve the single-family residential character" by "preventing further densification and conversion of single-family residences to multi -family". In summary, the goal of this land use category is to maintain a single-family neighborhood and restrict the number of units by limiting other housing types. The land use designation does not speak to the scale of development, but rather housing types and density. The scale of the development is regulated by height in the zoning code. There are many statements within the comprehensive plan related to infill development and ensuring that it is compatible and complementary to the surrounding neighborhood. The maximum allowable height in most residential zones is 35', which implies it has already been determined that 35' is a height that ensures a complimentary scale. Conclusions 75% of the properties zoned RNS-12 are located within a Historic or Conservation District Overlay zone. As the staff report outlines, new construction would be subject to historic preservation guidelines, and require review and approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. In short, 75% of properties within the RNS-12 zone are already subject to additional review processes that ensure new structures are not out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood. • Redevelopment pressures do not appear to be mounting in areas zoned RNS-12. Since 1992 there have been 17 residential demolitions in the RNS-12 zone. This is an average of approximately 1 demolition every 2 years. This may be due in part to the large number of properties that are located within Historic and Conservation District Overlay zones, which restrict demolitions. • Lowering the maximum allowable height will unnecessarily create non -conforming situations. • While height limits are intended to prevent domination of adjacent properties, the City has traditionally found that 3 story building heights are appropriate in all areas containing single-family uses, including the RNS-12 zone. The purpose of the RNS-12 zone is to maintain a single-family character, which has been interpreted as preserving single- family uses, and preventing the spread of multi -family conversions and redevelopment. • The purpose of the RNS-12 zone is not tied to historic characteristics or the scale of the development. For that purpose, the City has adopted Historic and Conservation Overlay areas and much of the area zoned RNS-12 is subject to those additional guidelines and requirements. • Reducing the height limit is not a recommended best practice for improving housing affordability, but rather increasing the diversity and density of housing would be the most appropriate methods. • The current height limitation is consistent with other single-family residential zones, thus serving the purpose of the RNS-12 zone to maintain the predominantly single-family neighborhood character. For these reasons, Staff does not support the requested amendment to the zoning code. August 11, 2023 Page 8 Next Steps Staff sent letter to owners of properties zoned Neighborhood Residential Stabilization (RNS-12) notifying them of the petition from the neighborhood association. The letter was mailed on July 26, 2023. Upon recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, the City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed rezoning ordinance. Staff Recommendation Staff does not recommend approval of REZ23-0005, a proposal to change the maximum allowable building height from thirty-five (35) feet to twenty-seven (27) feet in the Neighborhood Residential Stabilization (RNS-12) zone. Attachments 1. Northside Neighborhood Association Petition to City Council 2. Map of RNS-12 Rezoning Timeline 3. Map of Properties Zoned RNS-12 Approved by: r ) • Danielle Sitzman, AICP, Development Services Coordine Department of Neighborhood and Development Services ATTACHMENT 1 Northside Neighborhood Association Petition to City Council Ashley Platz From: James Throgmorton <jthrogmo@yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, May 29, 2023 4:41 PM To: *City Council Cc: Bruce Teague; Megan Alter; John Thomas; Laura Bergus; Shawn Harmsen; Pauline Taylor; Andrew Dunn; Geoff Fruin; Sharon DeGraw; Susan Shullaw Subject: Strengthening Iowa City's Central Neighborhoods Attachments: We sent you safe versions of your files; RNS-12formalrequestNNA2023.pdf; RNS-12Northsidemap.jpg R SK ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Mimecast Attachment Protection has deemed this file to be safe, but always exercise caution when opening files. Dear council members, I write to you on behalf of the Northside Neighborhood Association's (NNA's) Steering Committee. For reasons documented in the attached proposal, we in the NNA believe the Zoning Code should be amended to reduce from 35 feet to 27 feet the maximum height for single-family and duplex residential structures in Residential Neighborhood Stabilization (RNS-12) zones. This amendment would help ensure that infill development projects in RNS-12 districts contribute to a healthy balance of affordable rental and owner -occupied housing without compromising the character of the Northside and similar neighborhoods. Neighborhood Development Services staff have told us that either the City Council or the Planning and Zoning Commission must be the sponsors of requests to change the text of the Code Consequently, we ask the Council to initiate the rezoning process and direct staff to proceed in an expeditious manner. The only change being requested is to go from 35' to 27' in RNS-12 districts. We recognize that the proposed amendment would have to go through standard review by the City staff, the P&Z Commission and the City Council, and that those reviews and related discussions will influence your final decision about the merits of the proposed amendment. Thank you for considering this request and for your service to the people of Iowa City Best regards, Jim Throgmorton PROPOSAL FOR STRENGTHENING IOWA CITY CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOODS: Reduce the Height Limit in RNS-12 Districts to 27 Feet The Northside Neighborhood Association believes the Zoning Code should be amended to reduce from 35 feet to 27 feet the maximum height for single-family and duplex residential structures in residential neighborhood stabilization (RNS-12) zones.This amendment would make the height standards consistent with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan and the Central District Plan, and it would help ensure that infill development projects in RNS-12 districts contribute to a healthy balance of affordable rental and owner -occupied housing without compromising the character of the Northside and similar neighborhoods.' Our Request Neighborhood Development Services staff have told us that either the City Council or the Planning and Zoning Commission must be the sponsors of requests to change the text of the Code.t Consequently, we ask the Council to initiate the rezoning process and direct staff to proceed in an expeditious manner. The only change being requested is to go from 35' to 27' in RNS-12 districts. We provide you with this report so that you can decide whether the Council is willing to initiate the proposed rezoning. Assuming a majority agrees to direct staff to act, we would be prepared to provide further assistance as necessary. We recognize that the proposed amendment would have to go through standard review by the City staff, the P&Z Commission and the City Council, and that those reviews and related discussions will influence your final decision about the merits of the proposed amendment. Background about the Northside Neighborhood Located within the 1839 plat of the city, the Northside neighborhood is Iowa City's oldest intact neighborhood. Located within convenient walking distance of the downtown and the main campus of the university, the neighborhood contains features that mark it as a model for inclusive and sustainable development, including: a vibrant commercial district, a thriving and recently renovated elementary school, a mixture of housing types and costs, a significant forest canopy, medical facilities and grocery stores, and many appealing components of an attractive public realm, including North Market Square Park and many others.The neighborhood is also a valuable asset for Iowa City as a whole; for example, because its residential density is considerably higher than most other neighborhoods, the property tax revenue it generates per acre are also likely to be higher. The attached zoning map shows the boundaries of RNS-12 districts relative to the Northside neighborhood and its historic and conservation distrix overlay zones. Most of the RNS-12 district properties are located in the Northside; however, some are located southeast of the Northside neighborhood. The two other RNS-12 districts are located in the Longfellow neighborhood along South Lucas and South Governor Streets and in the College Hill neighborhood between Burlington, Washington, Governor Streets and Muscatine Avenue. We have reached out to representatives of Longfellow and College Hill neighborhoods and invited them to join us in this request We have chosen to follow the staff's advice; however, we are confused by the staffs interpretation of Sections 14 -8D -SA (Initiation) and 14 -8D -5C (Submittal Requirements) of the Zoning Code. Clarification would be helpful. Goals of the Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan, Central District Plan, Residential Neighborhood Stabilization (RNS-12) Zones, and Strategic Plan Our request is rooted in ambitions and purposes expressed in Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan, the Central District Plan, the RNS-12 provisions of the Zoning Code, and the recently adopted Strategic Plan for 2023-2028. Iowa City's "I C2030: Comprehensive Plan Update" (2013) states,"Quality infill development plays an important role in neighborhood reinvestment and may include rehabilitating existing structures or encouraging new development of vacant, blighted, or deteriorated property. Development of infill sites should add to the diversity of housing options without compromising neighborhood character or over -burdening infrastructure, including alleys and parking" (2013, p. 21).Two of the plan's specific goals are to "Ensure that infill development is compatible and complementary to the surrounding neighborhood" (p.24), and to "create a healthy balance of rental and owner -occupied housing in all neighborhoods" (p.28). z The "Central District Plan" (2008/2012), states in part,"While there are a considerable number of smaller, modest homes in Subarea A [which includes the Northside], the competition from student renters, who often live together and pool their resources, keeps these homes out of the financial reach of many singles or families looking for affordable homes to rent or own" (p. 13). Goal 2 of this plan indicates City government will "Work to achieve a healthy balance of rental and owner -occupied housing in the district's older neighborhoods to promote long-term investment, affordable housing opportunities, and preservation of historic homes and neighborhoods" (p.20).And it will "Examine existing zoning rules to ensure that they support housing goals and neighborhood stabilization efforts" (p.21). x According to Iowa City's Zoning Code (Section 14 -2A -I E), the purpose of the RNS-12 zone is "to stabilize certain existing residential neighborhoods by preserving the predominantly single-family residential character of these neighborhoods. Provisions in this zone prevent the conversion or redevelopment of single-family uses to multi -family uses." Section 14 -2A -4C- I further stipulates that maximum height standards in the Code are intended "to promote a reasonable building scale and relationship between buildings; provide options for light, air, and privacy; and discourage buildings that visually dominate other buildings in the vicinity." This maximum height "may be increased; provided, that for each foot of height increase above the height standard, the front, side, and rear setbacks are each increased by an additional two feet (2'):' Iowa City's "Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2023-2028" summarizes the vision, strategies and key action steps for the City Council and staff through the five-year planning period. While all of the Strategic Plan has relevance to the quality of life in the Northside neighborhood—we share the three key values expressed in the Plan—several specific elements of the plan directly relate to our request' One of the Strategic Plan's three key values pertains to "partnership and engagement," It states, "Community members believe engagement and participation in local government decision-making is worthwhile and sincere .... [and] Neighborhoods are revitalized as a source of grassroots community - building, empowerment, and prosperity for all households" (p. 8). 3 Those values are: 1) racial equity, social justice, and human rights; 2) climate action; and 3) partnerships and engagement The Strategic Plan also identifies five impact areas, the first of which is Neighborhoods and Housing. The vision for this impact area states: Iowa City is a collection of authentic, vibrant neighborhoods and districts. By way of internal and external streets and trails, each community member has safe, easy access to everyday facilities and services within a I S -minute walk or bike ride. Neighborhoods are compact and socially diverse, with a variety of housing choices and at least one place serving as its center. Permanent affordable housing choices are dispersed throughout the community. New higher density develop- ment blends with existing buildings and shapes a comfortable, human -scale pedestrian environ- ment. Public spaces are inviting and active with people recreating and socializing in parks, natural areas, and tree -lined streetscapes, all enhanced with public art and placemaking activities" (p. 9) a We in the Northside neighborhood are striving to preserve and strengthen the kind of neighborhood the Comprehensive Plan, Central District Plan, RNS-12 code, and Strategic Plan purport to value. We ask the City Council to put those values into action by amending the maximum height provision of the RNS-12 Code. Rationale forAmending the Maximum Height Provision of the RNS-12 Code There are three RNS-12 districts in Iowa City. Roughly 500 properties are located in them.Three hundred and thirteen (3 13) of the properties are located within the Northside neighborhood.To date, we have been focusing our attention on the properties located within the Northside neighborhood and the neighborhood located immediately southeast of it; however, we recognize the importance of reaching out to residents who live in the other two RNS-12 districts, and we have begun doing so. 1) The 35 -foot Maximum Height Undermines Affordability The existing housing stock in the Northside's RNS-12 district is quite diverse it terms of housing type, age, assessed value, and ownership. The 35 -foot maximum height for new single-family and duplex structures provides a financial incentive that undermines the affordability of housing in the neighborhood. According to our preliminary analysis of 244 residential properties located in the RNS-12 district (including the part extending east outside of the Northside's boundary): ' 137 designated as single-family/owner-occupied' 51 2 -family conversions or duplexes 17 rooming houses 16 3 -family conversions 12 apartments 6 4 -family conversions 3 5 -family conversion 2 condominiums 4 To help readers envision what such a neighborhood would look like, the Plan prominently displays a photograph taken during a Northside neighborhood block party. 5 Many properties designated as single-family / owner -occupied are owned by LLCs.VVe do not understand why they are classified as "owner -occupied;' but we presume that many of them are rented. 6 Detailed information about property ownership and assessed values in the RNS-12 and other zoning districts can be found in the Johnson County Assessor's Property Information Viewer a t:https:ilgis.johnsoncounrylowa.gov/piv/. As one would expect of an older central neighborhood, the buildings tend to be quite old; they range in age from one built in 1848 to two built in 2016. The breakdown of buildings according to age is as follows: 56 built in the 1800s 157 built from 1900 to 1949 31 built after 1950 The 2023 assessed values of the single-family/owner-occupied properties ranges from to $76,410 to $544,610; a breakdown of assessed properties can be seen below: 25 properties are assessed in the $ I00,000s or less 77 properties are assessed in the $200,OOOs 26 properties are assessed in the $300,OOOs 5 properties are assessed in the $400,OOOs 4 properties are assessed in the $500,OOOs It is especially instructive to look at the mix of owners of the 313 properties. Fifty-two (52) are owned by 30 Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) or corporations. Of the 313 properties located in the Northside's portion of the RNS-12 zone, at least 40 are owned by one company. The age, assessed values, and location of housing in the Northside's RNS-12 district has important consequences. The continued demand for student housing puts pressure on housing in the Northside and other close -in neighborhoods. In light of that demand, investors have a strong financial incentive to convert existing single-family structures to rental units (especially but not exclusively) for students or else to demolish existing structures and replace them with structures housing a larger number of occupants. Lot by lot, some developers seek permission to construct structures which are incompatible in scale and character with nearby buildings.This market pressure drives up the assessed values of property, which increases property taxes and makes the neighborhood less affordable for current owner -occupants and for families and individuals who wish to rent or purchase housing in walkable neighborhoods, such as those in the RNS-12 zone.7 A related challenge concerns deterioration of older buildings due to mistreatment or a lack of investment in their maintenance or improvement. Some rental occupants can be tremendously hard on buildings.This drives up the owner's cost of routine maintenance, repair, and upkeep. Older residents who live on fixed -incomes in structures that are small and old face a related challenge. As market forces cause the assessed value of currently affordable housing to increase, such residents must pay increased property taxes and, especially if they have low or fixed incomes, find they cannot afford to invest in home improvement or energy efficiency. Over time, such properties become increasingly vulnerable to purchase by investors who see opportunities to demolish existing buildings and redevelop the properties. 7 Recent actions by the State have limited Iowa City's ability to regulate the number of occupants per dwelling, and additional state legislation restricting the City's ability to regulate short term rentals, such as A!rbnb, has put further pressure on affordable housing. 4 Recent demolition of small home at 923 East Market Street 935 East Bloomington Street Our preliminary, partial analysis provides empirical evidence for this claim. We are aware of three recent demolitions: 935 East Bloomington Street 918 East Bloomington Street 319 North Van Buren Street Several other proposed demolitions are: 923 East Market Street 930 East Jefferson Street 915 East Davenport Street 923 East Davenport Street 943 East Davenport Street 1116 East Davenport Street in the RNS-12 districts and adjacent neighborhoods. The demolitions at 935 East Bloomington Street and 319 North Van Buren Street are especially instructive.The recent demolition at 935 East Bloomington Street transformed a property assessed at $166,410 in 2022 into a new two-story building with a finished basement into a property assessed at $536,220 in 2023. According to Zillow, it was originally listed for sale in October 2022 at $589,000. It did not sell after two reductions in price, and in March 2023 the one -bedroom basement was listed for rent at $1,000 per month. The three bedrooms on the second floor are listed at $900 each per month for rent The main floor is designed for shared use by tenants in the four bedrooms. The demolition at 319 North Van Buren Street signals what can happen to the character of a neighbor- hood when the owner proposes a new structure that maximizes its possible height under the current code.The owner has tried twice to obtain a permit to build a new structure. Most recently, the owner proposed a three-story structure, which would have been 38 feet tall.' A graphic image of what that building would have looked like in relation to the building immediately to its north is shown on page 6. 8 Our focus is on amending the maximum height limits specified in the RNS-12 part of the Zoning Code. However, our concerns about the potentially adverse effects of continuing the 35 -foot limit are influenced by the City staff's and the Board ofAdjustmencs recent decisions concerning that proposed building. Left Illustration of a recently proposed structure at 319 North Van Buren Street in relation to the home immediately to its north. In our view, infill development is inevitable and can have a positive impact when it complements the existing scale and character of the neighborhood. However, permitting 35 -foot tall homes makes it less likely that appropriately -sized and affordable new structures will be built. 2) The 35 -foot Maximum Height Compromises the Northside Neighborhood's Character Except for the South District's form -based code, which specifies 2.5 stories as the maximum height, it is our understanding that the current 35 -foot height limit applies to all single-family zones across the city. This 35 -foot maximum allows 3 full stories plus an attic.We understand that the intent of the 35 -foot limit was to accommodate houses built on sloping lots with walk -out basements. Such houses are usually only 2 stories or approximately 25 feet tall on the street side of the property but are located on lots that slope away from the street. Consequently, the back side of the house with the walkout basement includes another floor and sometimes approaches the 35 -foot height limit. Although there maybe exceptions to this house form, it is generally observed in parts of the city that have sloping lots. Very rarely, if ever, are Iowa City houses 35 feet tall when viewed from the street. In preparation of this document for Council's consideration, we examined property records and conducted visual surveys to determine the height of each single-family dwelling and duplex in the city's RNS-12 areas.We found that buildings in the Northside's RNS-12 zone typically range from approximately 15 -foot tall single -story structures with an attic to 25 -foot tall two-story structures with an attic; that is, they are overwhelmingly 1-, 1.5-, 2-, and 2.5 -story dwellings.We found no 3- or 3.5 -story houses on the Northside. Few, if any, approach the current 35 -foot height limit. Even the apartment buildings (which will not be affected by the proposed change) in the RNS-12 zone are lower in height than 35 feet and 3 stories, primarily because the lower level is located partially underground in most of these buildings.When we conducted our survey, we identified the taller buildings and measured them with a laser measuring tool. One reason for the current 35 -height limit in Iowa City's single-family residential zones is to allow walk -out basements on sloping Iots.There are very few if any sloping lots in the RNS-12 zones, which are located in older and Flatter parts of town.Therefore, there is no need to allow taller buildings to accommodate walk -out basements. Proposals like the recent one for 319 North Van Buren Street will not result in affordable housing. They remove existing affordable units and replace them with 4 -bedroom student rentals that go for more than $1,000 per month per bedroom.They also make the neighborhood less attractive overall and may discourage households that City government has been trying to attract to support Mann Elementary School, the Northside commercial district, and downtown. One might ask why a 27 -foot maximum height should be set for the RNS-12 zone if the Historic Preservation guidelines, which are overlaid on parts of the zone, recommend a maximum height of two stories in the Northside and Longfellow Historic Districts. In other words there is some indication that height is already restricted to less than the 35 feet in parts of the RNS-12 zone, so there may not be a need to amend the standard in Table 2A-2. But the guidelines are just that — guidelines, while the height limit in the zoning code is law and therefore carries more force. It is also important for the zoning law to be consistent with the guidelines to avoid confusion by having two different height limits apply to the same parcel. When the zoning law is not consistent with the guidelines, confusion can occur for both developers and the neighborhood as to what is possible to achieve.To more clearly guide investment decisions, the two should be consistent. In addition, the large parts of the RNS-12 zone that are not covered by Historic or Conservation District designations make it necessary to amend the height limit to 27 feet to achieve the community's stated goals and the purpose of the RNS-12 zone, which is to preserve the character of these neighborhoods. The RNS-12 zone was specifically drafted to preserve the existing single-family character of certain neighborhoods. The current 35 -foot height limit is counter to this goal. It encourages redevelopment with out -of -scale buildings that have harmful effects on neighboring properties. Permitting new infill structures of that height would make it more difficult for the Northside neighborhood to retain a healthy balance of affordable rental and owner -occupied housing without causing destabilization and compromising the character of the neighborhood. The homes and duplexes in the Appendix demonstrate that a range of housing types are compatible with a 27 foot height limit. Prepared by the NNA Steering Committee May -June 2023 7 APPENDIX: Examples of Buildings that Work with a 27 Foot High Code Amendment to the RNS-12 Zone Height measures are based on the method used to measure height in the zoning code, which is from the ground to the midpoint between the eaves (where the roof starts to slope) and the peak of the roof. 801 Bowery is 24 feet tall on the street side. The lot slopes slightly towards the back where it measures 26 feet tall. This house is 24 feet tall. 816 and 818 Fast Market Street. The building is 27 feet tall. This apartment building at 534 South Lucas Street is 30 feet tall. It illustrates some of the large apartment buildings (which will not be affected by the proposed code amendment) do not even reach the 35 feet currently permitted by the RNS-12 code. E Park Rd W Market St E z W Washington St O C M— U z z in c a E N W Burlington St o 2. N a 3 v O wn St N Ronalds St o v z Irch St Ul c y� Cedar St c m m E Davenport St. a r E Bloomo9ton St — v v> , Rochester Ave ZI I I! ; > arm. Hotz Ave < ILS o efferson St 9 J N L O U Brown St O Z z z L H M1�'�IF �a�f�}'�ltl��� :S -LA I�'dEUy A�yY ftlCo }�� ���/�t i.'.sf�s E1.[ Iy MM Um a1 Mgomm FF :1iLY}ImmmprEmff 117H D R MR'% M— U z z in c a E N W Burlington St o 2. N a 3 v O wn St N Ronalds St o v z Irch St Ul c y� Cedar St c m m E Davenport St. a r E Bloomo9ton St — v v> , Rochester Ave ZI I I! ; > arm. Hotz Ave < ILS o i St E College St © �iGscd�°e+ n E College St E Burlington St � N n ° Vf In N� C Legend A Northside Boundary Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS12) 0 Conservation District Overlay (OCD) ® Historic District Overlay (OHD) c o NI�•y(I-t°�7' j E Court St tLJJl7-F-1NG j .. Maple St O Grant Q x Ct c) N d N d N J rt G F d 3 K a T N Center Ave Seymour Ave efferson St 9 J N L O U C7 Z J 00 O Z z z z Z E Iowa Ave E Washington St E Washington ,cA �yy 4� i St E College St © �iGscd�°e+ n E College St E Burlington St � N n ° Vf In N� C Legend A Northside Boundary Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS12) 0 Conservation District Overlay (OCD) ® Historic District Overlay (OHD) c o NI�•y(I-t°�7' j E Court St tLJJl7-F-1NG j .. Maple St O Grant Q x Ct c) N d N d N J rt G F d 3 K a T N Center Ave Seymour Ave ATTACHMENT 2 Map of RNS-12 Rezoning Timeline N S w F G_ G?. 0 m — °v; E ParRtl N s z Brown St RNS-12 Rezoning Timeline Ronalds St M w =61W -M Church St m o a c J Z Z Z ]anuary3, 1995: Rezoning from RM -12 to RNS-12 Z 65 G) o w m 3 June 21, 1994: Rezoning from RM -12 to RNS-12 Ronalds St 0 u, o Fairchild St °' m J N z U - _ E Davenport St -- - o- d c E Bloomington St c 5 o O m � � 9 z 7 Pe N e e5 w E Market St or �o c m E Jefferson St Z Elowa Ave E Washington St E Washington St s E College St LaAzLIA L. - 1 T?1fy' YIIr®rm� CITY OF IOWA CITY Prepared by: Melanie Comer Date Prepared: August 2023 March 30, 1993: Rezoning from RM -12 tb RNS-12 c e m d U Rochester Q a `M Ave z n Hotz Ave in d S U-1 EJefferson St Woodlawn Ave E Washi St 0 v m c Or 0 0 0 m c 0 d o z 0 m Gonda/e Rd November 21, 2000: Rezoning from RNC -20 to RNS-12 s a > s N E Burlington St — sC CoJ/ m W c P m U01 g cn m m m 00 o W Court E Court St E Court Sl E Court St U St May 16, 2000: s U), Rezoning from m �, Maple St 9Pk 2 E Harrison RM -12 to RNS-12 m `" oOa y C St E o rn May 1, 2007: Ct �i U m v Rezoning from J E RNS-12 to RUD S_8 N in E Prentiss St -oo ®® c o Bowery St g ® c CenterAve m U Wright St U SeymourAve m 0 — m U) c � `o m s Lafayette St Sheridan Ave r m R � D c' > m `° U E St U m Page St S C&y E Benton St m s 2E J Jackson Ave 0 0.1 0.2 0.4 Miles St m Walnut St t t l l tai lI ATTACHMENT 3 Map of Properties Zoned RNS-12 E Park Rd W Market St n c La O 0 � O i9 C W Washington St N O N W Burlington St Properties Zoned RNS-12 Kimna4t Rd c c R N C Brown St z m C L O z N a v 3 8 � r • MR CITY CITY OF IOWA CITY Prepared by: Kirk Lehmann Date Prepared: March 2023 d K �� A M. nAlil I !I • F •'I 1® WT r�j��E Market St_ RIM �� y.U�_' _ rChurch-StI c i v' J ❑ of Q a _ Hotz Ave E ]efferson vi iii �. St p rn Joftersou St v L U �. Center O L7 Z ca L0 z St II HIMEm Ave z FM FT ® ®Im °' h c Cedar St N E Davenport St a JJJ 17 � er � E Blaam�n9ton L C a Rochester Ave Ti Legend E Washington St Q Northside/Goosetown Boundary Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS12) Q Conservation District Overlay {OCD} ® Historic District Overlay (01-11D) •ir••ri r r� LE E College St L Burlingtol N V N 0 d V W 2 t vY4snujyLU11 �a I St d�ryP rs E College St P E Court St Maple St A M. nAlil I !I :p 'I w: �I r�j��E Market St_ RIM �� y.U�_' _ Ct n c i v' J ❑ of Q a _ Hotz Ave E ]efferson vi iii �. St p rn Joftersou St v L U �. Center O L7 Z ca L0 z Ave z z z z E Iowa Ave Seymour Ave �i Ti Legend E Washington St Q Northside/Goosetown Boundary Neighborhood Stabilization Residential (RNS12) Q Conservation District Overlay {OCD} ® Historic District Overlay (01-11D) •ir••ri r r� LE E College St L Burlingtol N V N 0 d V W 2 t vY4snujyLU11 �a I St d�ryP rs E College St P E Court St Maple St C) Grant x Ct n N N a of Q ED �. rn v Center Ave Seymour Ave ATTACHMENT 2 - October 18, 2023 Memo Correspondence 711lip Friends of Historic Preservation P.O. Box tool, Iowa City, Iowa 52244 www.ic-fhp.org info@ic4hp.org August 14, 2023 Dear Iowa City Planning and zoning Commissioners: In June 2023, the Iowa City Council received a request for a zoning code amendment for RNS-I2 proposed by the Northside Neighborhood Association. The Friends of Historic Preservation supports the document "Proposal for Strengthening Iowa City Central Neigh- borhoods," which requests the maximum building height for single-family homes and duplex housing to be 27 feet in RNs -I2 areas. A review of the houses in RNS-I2 shows that single-family homes range from I, L I/2, z, to z I/2 stories in height. New taller infill housing would not match existing housing and would have deleterious effects in RNS-I2: I) It would introduce housing that is out of character in height, mass, and scale. Permitting oversized buildings affects the desirability of a block and the neighborhood. 2) Houses that are taller than 27 feet cast shadows and block sunlight for neighboring houses and gardens. 3) Allowing housing taller than 27 feet will hasten the loss of Iowa City's housing stock that is historic, durable, and affordable. At the same time, large quantities of high-quality lumber from old-growth forests would be added to the landfill (framing, siding, and flooring. 4) A survey of RNs -I2 areas shows that there are few if any full 3 story or 35 foot tall houses. Capping the height at 27 feet will maintain the existing residential character of the zone. ONE OF THE CITY'S GOALS IS TO IZEEP HOUSING AFFORDABLE. Housing that already exists is more affordable and environmentally green than removing old homes to construct new ones. We recommend City sponsored programs to revitalize older homes, such as the UniverCity Program. Where houses are in such poor condition that they are removed, they should be replaced with buildings that do not impose on their neighbors. Thank you for your time to review the RNS-I2 code amendment and for your work on the Planning and zoning Commission. GINALIE SwAim on behalf of the FHP Board of Directors Northside Neighborhood Association's Statement to the P&Z Commission Re: Stafrs RNS-12 Recommendation August 16, 2023 We trust you have read our proposal, so we won't go through it in detail now. We would be happy to answer your questions about it. We will instead focus on the City staff's report. That report makes a few key mistakes and misjudgments, which lead to inappropriate conclusions. We urge you defer voting on the proposed amendment, instruct the staff to correct these errors, and return to you with a revised report within a reasonable amount of time. First, we did not petition the City Council to consider reducing the maximum allowable height in the RNS-12 zone from 35 feet to 27 feet. Our request focused exclusively on reducing the maximum height for new single-family and duplex residential structures in that zone. Had the staff invited us to consult with them before writing the report, this distinction would have been clarified and any other errors corrected. We made one error ourselves. We meant our application to focus on new structures, but we accidentally omitted that word in our petition. Second, influenced by its error, the staff reports that 117 or more properties currently exceed the proposed 27 ft. height limit. They correctly observe there are 500 properties in the RNS-12 districts, 313 of which are within the Northside. But, instead of using these total numbers when determining how many properties currently exceed the proposed height limit, staffshould have used the number ofsingle-family and duplex properties when counting. 1n our petition we reported that only 188 of the 313 parcels located in the Northside are occupied by single-family structures, 2 -family conversions, or duplexes. Even if 3, 4, and 5 -family conversions are included, none of the 213 (188 + 25) structures are greater than 2'/2 stories and none of them exceed 27 ft in height. Third, the staff estimated building heights using 2021 pictometry data from CONNECTExplorer. Volunteers from the Northside actually measured the taller buildings. They walked or biked by every property in all of the RNS-12 zones including those outside of the Northside. They identified the taller houses and duplexes. After measuring some apartment buildings for comparison sake, they then went back to the taller buildings with a laser measurer and determined the height from the grade to the midpoint of the roof pitch. These volunteers knocked on the door of each house to tell residents the volunteers were doing research on houses in the neighborhood and asked if they could take some measurements. Every resident they asked granted permission. The volunteers then placed the laser device next to the house to obtain an accurate measurement.' 1 For buildings that were not accessible with a laser device, the volunteers used a tape measure to measure the foundation, any accessible trim, and several feet of siding to determine the number of laps of siding per foot. They then counted the laps of siding from photos. These measurements were added to determine building height. Even if this method underestimated a building's overall height, the fact that none of the measurements came close to 35 feet justified confidence in the calculations. Fourth, the staff emphasizes that that 85% of all properties in the Northside are located in Historic or Conservation Overlay Zones and that guidelines in the Historic Preservation Handbook state that "new structures must be one and a half or two stories in height." We would emphasize, however, that these guidelines do not have the force of law. The Zoning Code is what matters when it comes to heights, and it is important for the guidelines and the zoning law to be consistent with one another to avoid having two different height limits in the same zone. Fifth, the staff reports there have been only 17 residential demolitions in the RNS-12 zones over the past 30 years. We agree. However, we note that 14 of those structures were single-family, and 14 out of 151 is 10 percent of the neighborhood's current stock of single-family / owner - occupied properties. Moreover, the relative paucity of demolitions does not necessarily reveal a lack of development pressure. Over the years, 25 properties have been converted from single- family to 3, 4, or 5 -family structures. The staff also emphasizes that the Historic Preservation Handbook allows demolitions only when a building is structurally unsound and irretrievable. Yes, but years of neglect and disinvestment can make a building unsound and irretrievable. And the staff essentially dismisses our concern for the small, inexpensive, single-family structures located in the southeastern part of the Northside neighborhood outside the OHD and OCD districts. And, even more important, the past does not necessarily presage the future. Relying too heavily on past trends is like looking in the rearview mirror to know where you're headed. Just two weeks ago, you approved staff -proposed amendments to the Zoning Code which are explicitly designed to increase the supply of housing by making it easier and more profitable to build new structures. With this in mind, it is especially important to look at the mix of owners of the 363 residential properties located in the Northside neighborhood's RNS-12 district (plus the part of the district that extends east outside of the Northside's boundary). Forty-two percent (42%) are owned by 66 or more Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and other incorporated entities. LLCs owned by one individual own 13% of the 363 residential properties. One family owns at least 17 of the RNS-12's residential properties, and athird entity owns another 16. Together, these three owners possess 23% of all the residential properties in the Northside area's RNS-12 district. They are likely to have considerable influence over what gets demolished and what gets built in the RNS- 12 districts. Sixth, the staff indicates it is not aware of any evidence that the proposed height limitation would increase housing affordability. We never said it would. What we did say is that reducing the maximum permitted height of new single-family and duplex structures would reduce the pressure to demolish older, and currently very affordable, owner -occupied structures. Any new structure will be far less affordable than an existing structure. Seventh, the staff states that the existing 35' maximum height is consistent with all single-family and multi -family residential zones in Iowa City. It is our understanding that this is not true; the form -based code for the South District limits heights to 2 and'/2 stories or 30 feet at the peak of the roof (essentially 27 feet to the midpoint of a sloped roof), which is what we have asked for. Last, the staff states "it has already been determined that 35' is a height that ensures a complimentary scale." We disagree. The RNS-12 zone was specifically drafted to preserve the existing single-family character of certain neighborhoods. Section 14 -2A -1E further stipulates that the maximum height standards in the Code are intended "to discourage buildings that visually dominate other buildings in the vicinity." The current 35 -foot height limit encourages redevelopment with out -of -scale buildings that can have harmful effects on neighboring properties; it is, therefore, counter to the purpose of the RNS-12 zone. Permitting new infill structures of that height would make it more difficult for the Northside neighborhood to retain a healthy balance of affordable rental and owner -occupied housing without compromising the character of the Northside neighborhood. Given these facts, we urge you to defer, to instruct the staff to revise its report, and to consider the proposed amendment in the near future. We would be eager to work with staff to ensure that both parties agree about the facts that matter. August 15, 2023 Dear Commissioners, I served as Senior Planner for the City of Iowa City from 1994 to my retirement in 2018. In that capacity I supervised the team that drafted the Zoning Code and the Comprehensive Plan including the Central District Plan. Prior to being Senior Planner I was an Associate Planner from 1990 to 1994. 1 helped to draft and implement the RNS- 12 zoning district. I am therefore very familiar with the intent and application of these documents and ordinances. I believe that the Northside Neighborhood Association's proposal to limit the height of new single-family houses and duplexes to 27 feet is keeping with the intent of the RNS- 12 zone to stabilize existing residential neighborhoods by preserving the predominantly single-family residential character of these neighborhoods. The proposal is also supported by the policies of the Comprehensive Plan, Central District Plan and our community's goal to preserve affordable housing (I have attached excerpts from those documents that speak to this issue). The City adopted the RNS-12 in an attempt to maintain some of the close -in neighborhoods for individuals and families who wish to live within walking distance of downtown and the University of Iowa campus. The City Council and the Commission were concerned that proposals to redevelop existing housing with buildings marketed to University students would further displace affordable housing and change the character of the core of the city. At the same time, we recognized the need to provide a variety of housing including residences for University students. In addition to the RNS-12 zone we drafted the PRM and CB -5 zones to provide for high-density housing and mixed-use areas. We also recognized that the areas that we rezoned to RNS-12 already contained a great diversity of housing with a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, contemporary apartment buildings and older houses that had been converted to multiple dwellings. We wrote the ordinance to keep the mix of uses but not to further diminish the supply of single-family properties. In other words, the goal was to take development pressure off the existing neighborhoods north and east of downtown and the campus and encourage greater development downtown and south of Burlington Street. I believe we are now seeing the benefits of this policy with residential development in Riverfront Crossings and downtown. But there still is development pressure on the Northside and Goosetown neighborhoods where investment companies are buying up properties and making them unaffordable for individuals and families. Amending the height limit for new single-family/duplexes in the RNS-12 will help level the playing field by removing an incentive to redevelop existing houses with tall structures marketed to University students. When we rewrote the zoning code in 2005 we considered all aspects of the regulations with the goal of creating pleasant and sustainable neighborhoods. As stated in the Zoning Code, the height regulations are intended to promote a reasonable building scale and relationship between buildings; provide options for light, air, and privacy; and discourage buildings that visually dominate other buildings in the vicinity. When redrafting the dimensional regulations we considered reducing the maximum height of single-family dwellings in recognition that most houses are 1 to 2.5 stories. Even in new subdivisions it is rare to see houses taller than 2 stories on the street side of the property. After consideration, we chose not to propose a reduction in maximum height so as not to hinder walkout basements on sloping lots. As the Northside Neighborhood Association has pointed out, there are few sloping lots within the areas zoned RNS-12, and therefore 35 feet is not necessary to accommodate such structures. Although the City once maintained a uniform 35 -foot height limit for single-family residential uses, the South District Form -Based Code has set a precedent for restricting houses to 2.5 stories. I believe that is a good move and should also be considered for the RNS-12 zone where the intent is to preserve the existing character. Maintaining the current 35 -foot height limit invites redevelopment of much taller buildings than those that exist in the RNS-12 zone. Unlike other areas of the city which have larger lots, the Northside, College Hill and the western portion of the Longfellow Neighborhood (areas zoned RNS-12) consist of tightly packed small lots where construction of 3- to 3.5 -story houses will disrupt the quality of life of their neighbors. Taller buildings cast shadows that block natural light to interiors of homes and gardens. It appears that staff made an error when calculating the number of properties that would become non -conforming if the Northside's request is granted. Table 2: Parcels by Building Height on page 5 of the staff report is based on all 500 properties in the RNS- 12 zones. This includes multi -family apartment buildings that would not be subject to the amendment. The Northside's requested amendment only applies to single-family and duplex structures, very few of which are over 2.5 -stories tall. It has been indicated the historic districts have guidelines to discourage houses taller than 2.5 stories and therefore a reduction of the maximum height in the RNS-12 zone is not necessary. Does this mean we don't care about the quality of neighborhoods outside of historic districts? If you observe your own neighborhood I suspect you will find that 1- and 2 -story houses are by far the most common house type and are appropriate for the smaller -sized lots found in the RNS-12 zone. To further the goals stated in the Comprehensive Plan, I encourage you to recommend approval of lowering the maximum height limit for single- family and duplex structures in the RNS-12 zone. Sincerely, Robert Miklo ATTACHMENT: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EXCERPTS The following excerpts from the Comprehensive Plan and the Central District Plan support the Northside Neighborhood's request to lower the maximum height of single- family and duplex structures in the RNS-12 zone. As encouraged by these Plans, the Northside has identified a quality -of -life issue raised by recent development proposals for 35 -foot -tall buildings and has asked the City to address this concern. Page 21 Preserve Historic Resources and Reinvest in Established Neighborhoods: Adopting strategies to assure the stability and livability of Iowa City's historic and established neighborhoods helps to preserve the culture, history, and identity of Iowa City. Investing in the neighborhoods that are closest to major employers in the city preserves opportunities for people to live close to work, school, and shopping; pro- motes walking and bicycling; and reduces vehicle miles traveled. In addition, many established neighborhoods contain affordable housing options along walkable, tree -lined streets where City services and infrastructure are already in place and where neighborhood elementary schools and parks are the focal point of neighborhood activity and identity. Page 21 Encourages Compatible Infill Development: Quality infill development plays an important role in neighborhood reinvestment and may include rehabilitating existing structures or encouraging new development of vacant, blighted, or deteriorated property. Development of infill sites should add to the diversity of housing options without compromising neighborhood character or over -burdening infrastructure, including alleys and parking. Page 24 Land Use Goals and Strategies: Ensure that infill development is compatible and complementary to the surrounding neighborhood. Pages 28 and 29 Housing Goals and strategies: Strive to create a healthy balance of rental and owner -occupied housing in all neighborhoods. Preserve the integrity of existing neighborhoods and the historic nature of older neighborhoods. Develop neighborhood plans that help ensure a balance of housing types, especially in older parts of the city. Support the Historic Preservation Commission's efforts to meet its goals. Support housing rehabilitation programs and re -invest in housing in existing neighborhoods. The UniverCity Neighborhood Partnership purchases and renovates rental properties in areas near the Downtown and Campus. These homes are then resold as affordable owner -occupied housing. The goal is to achieve a healthier balance of owner -occupied and rental properties in near -campus neighborhoods that still retain a single- family character. CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAN Page 2 Describes how the plan should guide preservation of existing neighborhoods and redevelopment: The Central District Plan will be used as a general guide to future development or redevelopment within the district and for preserving valuable assets already present within established neighborhoods. It will take the efforts of City officials, area residents, businesses, and community organizations to achieve the goals and objectives in the plan. Planning staff, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, and the City Council will use the plan as a guide when reviewing development and rezoning requests. It will serve as a tool for neighborhood groups, community organizations, and other interested parties to advocate for improvements and form partnerships to make elements of the plan a reality. The City will refer to the plan when setting funding priorities for public projects, improvements to existing infrastructure, and public services. Property owners, business owners, and developers who are thinking of investing in the Central District will find the plan useful as a framework for their plans. The plan will also serve as a benchmark over time and continued input from the public will ensure that the plan works equitably and reliably. Preserve Historic Resources and Reinvest in Older Neighborhoods - Adopting strategies to assure the stability and livability of Iowa City's older neighborhoods helps to preserve the culture, history, and identity of Iowa City. Investing in the neighborhoods that are closest to the University and other major employers in the city provides options for people to live close to work, school and shopping, promotes walking and bicycling, and reduces vehicle miles traveled. In addition, older neighborhoods contain many affordable housing options where City services and infrastructure are already in place. Page 9 Describes zoning history and how zoning is a tool to achieve the community's goals: In the early 1960's, the City drafted a new comprehensive plan with help from an out-of- town consulting firm, which advised the City to up -zone many of the close -in neighborhoods to encourage redevelopment with higher densities and modern buildings. In response to the resulting up -zonings, rising University enrollment, and a University policy to build no new dormitories, widespread redevelopment of older neighborhoods began to take place in the 1970's in the form of the mansard-plexes (generally 12 -unit apartment buildings that were nicknamed for the simplified mansard roofs). In addition, the higher densities allowed in the new zones permitted the large single-family homes typical of the area to be split into apartments and rooming houses. Given that the older neighborhoods were built with streets, yards, and parking to support single-family homes, the increasing densities put a strain on the neighborhood infrastructure. Backyards were turned into parking lots, on -street parking became more congested, and apartment buildings were constructed that were out of character with the neighborhood. Many residents objected to the unchecked transformation in neighborhood character and petitioned the City to down zone areas to preserve the single-family residential character that remained. In response, the City Council down - zoned some of the City's older neighborhoods by adopting two new zoning designations, beginning with the RNC -20 zone adopted in 1983 and followed by the RNC -12 zone in 1992. These new zones acknowledged the mix of uses that had already resulted from the re -zonings of the 1960s while preserving the character of the older neighborhoods by preventing further densification. In addition, the Central District Multi -family Residential Design Standards, adopted in 2000, ensure that new multi- family structures built in the Central District are compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. The City has also been successful in protecting historic resources in the Central District through the adoption of historic district and conservation district overlay zones, and by bestowing historic landmark status on the area's most significant buildings and properties. Page 13 Describes student housing and affordability: Sub Area A (ares north and east of campus and downtown, including the RNS-12 zones) There is a steady demand for housing in the neighborhoods closest to Downtown and the University campus, and the market is quite complex. The University has approximately 6,000 on -campus housing units, while student enrollment is now over 30,000, making the private housing market the primary provider of student housing. Over the years, many single-family homes in neighborhoods closest to the university have been split into apartments and rooming houses or have been replaced with apartment buildings. The demand forstudent housing in Subarea A keeps apartment rents higher than in the rest of the Iowa City metropolitan area. Homeowners also compete for the charming historic homes that are conveniently located close to employment centers. While there are a considerable number of smaller, modest homes in Subarea A, the competition from student renters, who often live together and pool their resources, keeps these homes out of the financial reach of many singles or families looking for affordable homes to rent or own. While this mix creates a vibrant and interesting living environment, it has been an ongoing challenge to maintain a balance between the different housing types and mix of residents within Subarea A. With absentee landlords and a large number of inexperienced young renters, problems with property maintenance, loud and disorderly conduct, yard upkeep, and snow removal are more prevalent. In an effort to identify and address ongoing nuisance issues in older neighborhoods, the City formed a Neighborhood Relations Task Force in 2001, which included representatives from neighborhood associations, landlord interest groups, tenant interest groups, the Association of Realtors, and various City departments, including Neighborhood Services, Housing Inspections, the City Attorney's Office, and the Police Department. Page 14: Speaks to the role of Neighborhood Associations: An important goal of the Central District Plan is to continue to monitor and enforce the Neighborhood Nuisance Ordinance and to identify any additional quality of life issues that surface so that they can be addressed in a timely fashion through targeted code enforcement, mediation, education, or additional regulation. Neighborhood associations play a critical role in monitoring neighborhood conditions, advocating for services and neighborhood amenities, and disseminating information to area residents. Neighborhood Associations should continue their efforts to be inclusive and effective partners in maintaining quality of life in the Central District. The City should continue to support these organizations and encourage formation of new associations where needed. The City should also partner with the University to find ways to ensure that young University students have access to—and maintain—safe and healthy off -campus living environments. Many Central District workshop participants asked why the University wasn't taking a more active role in providing or partnering with private developers to provide better housing options for students. Dear Planning and Zoning Commissioners Neighbors have asked me to review the staff report regarding the proposed change in height for single-family and duplex uses in the Residential Neighborhood Stabilization (RNS-12) zone. I served the City as an Associate Planner from 1990 to 1994 and then as Senior Planner from 1994 to 2018 when I retired. As a member of the staff that drafted the RNS-12 zone and the Comprehensive Plan and Central District Plan which the zone is intended to implement, I respectfully disagree with some of staff's conclusions and offer the following. Previously staffs principal rationale for denying the neighborhood's request was that changing the maximum height would create non -conforming structures. The Northside Neighborhood Association (NNA) pointed out there are few single-family houses or duplexes that exceed 27 feet in height located in the zone. Staff also acknowledges that there have been no recent single-family or duplexes built in the RNS-12 zone that are over 27 feet tall. So staff's rational for denying the neighborhood request is not related to existing development pattern. Two recent proposals for a house that would be 35 feet tall with a flat roof rather than a traditional pitched roof, demonstrate that development patterns are changing. As stressed in the zoning code the intent of the RNS-12 zone is to stabilize existing residential neighborhoods by preserving the predominantly single- family residential character of these neighborhoods. The requested height amendment would contribute to this goal. Staffs current reasons for denying the height change are listed below with a response on behalf of the Northside Neighborhood Association. These responses are based on my years of experience drafting and implementing the Comprehensive Plan and the zoning code including the RNS-12 zone. 1. Staff: While height limits are intended to prevent domination of adjacent properties, the City has traditionally found that 3 story building heights are appropriate in all areas containing single-family uses, including the RNS-12 zone. NNA Response: Although traditionally all residential zones had a 35 -foot height limit, the new form -based code for the South District limits single-family height to 2.5 stories, which is generally 25 to 30 feet. Being the city's newest zoning district, this is acknowledgement that 35 feet is not always appropriate for a single-family neighborhood. The 35 -feet height is largely intended to accommodate houses with walkout basements — a situation which is not present in the RNS-12 zone. Even though the code allows 35 feet throughout residential zones (except now in the South District), other than houses built on slopes, such height is rarely seen in single-family homes and duplexes . And where it is used the lots are much larger than the small compact lots found in the RNS- 12 zone. Houses on larger lots tend to have greater setbacks and do not dominate or cast excessive shadows on their neighbors. The lots in the RNS-12 are among the smallest in the city — on these small lots buildings that are taller than 2.5 stories will be counter to the intent of the height standards as stated in the zoning code, "... to promote a reasonable building scale and relationship between buildings; provide options for light, air, and privacy; and discourage buildings that visually dominate other buildings in the vicinity." When the City Council adopted the code, the City acknowledged that RNS-12 neighborhood requires special consideration — that is the whole point of the zone. Having a 27 -foot height limit would be consistent with this policy. 2. Staff: The purpose of the RNS-12 zone is to maintain a single-family character, which has been interpreted as preserving single-family uses, and preventing the spread of multi -family conversions and redevelopment. NNA Response: This is the current staff's interpretation. For those who live in neighborhoods, single-family character means all of the things that make up quality of life: enough sunlight to allow gardens, trees and other living landscaping, light shining through windows on a winter day, a fresh summer breeze, privacy, and not having light and air blocked by a 35 -foot -tall wall a few feet from one's property line. A 27 -foot height limit for the small lots with one and two-story houses would be a better way to preserve the existing single-family character of the RNS-12 zone in the Goosetown, College Hill, Longfellow and Northside neighborhoods. 3. Staff: The current height limitation is consistent with other single-family residential zones, thus serving the purpose of the RNS-12 zone to maintain the predominantly single-family neighborhood character. NNA Response: Again the RNS-12 zone is a special zone that calls for special consideration to stabilize and preserve single-family residential character. It has no sloping lots that require a 35 -foot height for walk -out basements. Its lots are among the smallest in the city. Continuing to allow 35 -foot -tall buildings within a few feet of a neighbor's property does not promote the intent of the zone. The proposed 27 -foot height would be similar to the 2.5 -story limit in the South District form -based code so there is precedent to limiting residential height to less than 35 feet. 4. Staff: The purpose of height regulations are to promote a reasonable scale and relationship between buildings. All land uses should be considered when establishing a height limit. A public purpose justification must be identified for regulations, such as maximum heights, that vary based on land use. Alleviation of perceived redevelopment pressures and preservation of neighborhood character are not served by allowing uses to be constructed at varying heights. NNA Response: There are good public purpose justifications for having varying heights based on land use: The rationale for a 27 -foot height limit for single-family and duplexes in the RNS-12 is to preserve the existing quality of life in these neighborhoods by ensuring that new 35 -foot tall houses on these small lots do not dominate their neighbors denying them access to sunlight, breezes and privacy. The few other land uses allowed in the zone are already given special consideration to accommodate them within their neighborhoods. Consider: 1) the RNS-12 zone is a special zone where the goal is to preserve the single-family character that currently consists of 1- to 2.5 -story buildings with minimal setbacks; 2) Multi -family uses are already identified for special consideration and are given special non -conforming rights in the zone; 3) The only non-residential uses allowed in the zone are religious institutions, primary and secondary schools, and day cares. These uses require approval by the Board of Adjustment ensuring a reasonable scale and relationship between buildings. If the 27 -foot height limit is adopted for only single-family and duplexes, the few non- residential uses allowed in the zone would retain the potential of being up to 35 feet tall, but these uses are subject to greater setbacks that mitigate any height above 27 feet. The additional setbacks for religious institutions and schools are 20 feet on the front and sides, and 50 feet in the rear. These greater setbacks are sufficient to mitigate shadows cast by a 35 -foot -tall building, and to allow sufficient air circulation and landscaping. So the code already has different dimensional requirements for different land uses in the same zone. There is good "governmental purpose" justification for treating houses and duplexes on these smaller lots differently by limiting their height to be consistent with the existing development pattern. This is consistent with the intent of the zone and the From a practical view staff's concern about having different land uses with different heights is unfounded. Even the apartment buildings in the zone do not reach 35 feet in height. For example, the apartment building pictured has three floors but the lowest is partly submerged below grade. This results in the building being shorter than the 2.5 -story house next door. This technique was commonly used for the apartment buildings built in the zone. Given the restrictions of the RNS-12 zone, it is unlikely that new apartments will be built in the zone. 5. Staff: Implementation of the zoning code must be considered. The proposed changes require staff to implement different height requirements for different uses built at different times. Staff does not recommend creating unnecessarily complicated regulations. NNA Response: The Northside's request is to amend the maximum height in the RNS- 12 zone for single-family and duplex structures only. This was spelled out in communications with the City (dated May 29, 2023), which you have in your packet. In the August 11 staff report, staff apparently misread the request to apply to all uses in the RNS-12. As noted in the August staff report one of staff's major objections to the neighborhood's request was that reducing the height limit for all uses might make some existing buildings non -conforming. It has now been clarified that the neighborhood's request applies only to single-family and duplexes and would not affect existing apartment buildings and that very few non -conformities would be created. Meeting with staff in September and looking for compromise, Northside representatives floated the idea of applying the change only to new single-family and duplexes and not existing houses. As noted on page 2 of the staff report applying a different standard to new and existing houses could be complicated. The neighborhood agrees with staff that the height amendment should apply to both existing and new single-family and duplex structures. This will eliminate staffs concern about this aspect of the ordinance (third full paragraph page 2 of staff report). There are few single-family houses or duplexes in the RNS-12 zone that are over 27 feet tall, and those that exist would be legally grandfathered in. So applying the amendment to existing as well as new houses and duplexes should not be an issue. The one house that may exceed 27 feet in height is located at 225 Fairchild Street. It is designated historic so it could be rebuilt to its present height if destroyed per Section 14 -4E -6:C.3 of the code. Fortunately its height comes from a steeply sloping roof and it has generous setbacks so it does not impose on its neighbors. On page 2 paragraph 2, staff raises questions about multi -family uses in the RNS-12 zone. Multi -family uses have special provisions spelled out in section 14-2A-7: C. of the code. These provisions allow legally established apartment buildings to continue and to be rebuilt if removed by disaster or the owner's choice. The issue of confirming the degree of conformity of the property already exists in the current code. This will not change if the neighborhood's request is approved. (The City Clerk has a collection of zoning codes and maps dating back to the first Iowa City zoning ordinance adopted in the 1920s — these documents may address staff's concern about determining conformity expressed at the end of paragraph 2 page 2 — but again this amendment does not apply to multi -family buildings and has no bearing on this issue of conformity.) Regarding the complexity of the proposed change: whenever a building plan is applied for in the RNS-12, the plan should be checked against the various dimensional requirements of the zoning code (Table 2A-2). Confirming that a building measures at 27 feet tall or less should be no more difficult than determining if the plan is for 35 feet. Whenever I reviewed a plan for zoning compliance I did not rely on my memory regardless how familiar I was with the tables in the zoning code — I always checked the plan against the table and text because I knew that a mistake could cause a problem for those building on the property or for their neighbors. It is not a complicated task. 6. Staff: 75% of the properties zoned RNS-12 are located within a Historic or Conservation District Overlay zone. As the staff report outlines, new construction would be subject to historic preservation guidelines, and require review and approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. In short, 75% of properties within the RNS-12 zone are already subject to additional review processes that ensure new structures are not out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood. NNA Response: So is the City saying that as a community we do not care about the quality of life in the RNS-12 zone for those outside of historic/conservation districts? And what about those who live in a house in a historic/conservation district that is on the border? Should their properties in the district be restricted to 2.5 stories, while the investment company that owns the adjacent lot just outside the district can build a 3.5 - story building blocking their views, airflow, privacy, and access to sunlight? A 27 -foot height limit would reflect the common development pattern in the RNS-12 zone and help preserve the quality of life for neighborhood residents. It should apply regardless of historic/conservation district designation. 7. Staff: Redevelopment pressures do not appear to be mounting in areas zoned RNS- 12. Since 1992 there have been 17 residential demolitions in the RNS-12 zone (six of which occurred prior to the land being rezoned to RNS-12). This is an average of approximately 1 demolition every 2 years. This may be due in part to the large number of properties that are located within Historic and Conservation District Overlay zones, which restrict demolitions. NNA Response: The pace of redevelopment should have no bearing on writing good zoning laws that guide whatever development will occur. Just one out -of -scale building can have a negative effect on its neighbors, making the neighborhood less desirable for the individuals and families that live there. Until recently there have been no 35 -foot tall houses or duplexes proposed or built in the RNS-12 zone. Investment companies have been buying up properties in the RNS- 12 zone and have been building larger buildings like the duplex at 930 E. Jefferson Street. These new buildings are being designed to maximize the number of bedrooms. They are often marketed to college students. The rents on these dwellings far exceed the rents of the houses that they have replaced. There have been two recent proposals from an investment company to build a 35 -foot - tall single family -house on N. Van Buren Street. By going up to 35 -feet the developer would be able to fit more bedrooms on a small lot. This new model of development will have negative effects on the quality life of neighbors by blocking their views, air flow, privacy, and access to sunlight. A 27 -foot height limit in the RNS-12 zone would remove an incentive to investment companies to buy up even more properties to replace affordable houses with more expensive dwellings. The NNA's requested change is consistent with the intent of the RNS-12 zone, the Comprehensive Plan and the City's goals for affordable housing. 8. Staff: The purpose of the RNS-12 zone is not tied to historic characteristics or the scale of the development. For that purpose, the City has adopted Historic and Conservation Overlay areas and much of the area zoned RNS-12 is subject to those additional guidelines and requirements. NNA Response: Again, because one lives in an RNS-12 outside a historic/conservation district they should not have the same quality of life — access to sunlight and summer breezes — as those who live in a district? Some RNS-12 properties within historic/ conservation districts share property lines with lots that are just outside the district. Should they be restricted to 2.5 stories while the investment company next door can build a 35 -foot tall building that blocks their views and access to sunlight? Conclusion: In 1992 the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council responded to residents of east Jefferson Street, who were concerned about their neighborhood's future, by adopting the Residential Neighborhood Stabilization Zone (RNS-12). The new zone was so successful at preventing large buildings from replacing smaller affordable houses, the City expanded its application to several other neighborhoods. These neighborhoods have now identified a new threat in the form of 35 -foot -tall structures that would greatly diminish their quality of life. Changing the height limit from 35 feet to 27 feet will help ensure that the existing single-family residential character of the RNS-12 zone is preserved. This is also a matter of affordable housing. The amendment will diminish an incentive for investment companies to purchase and redevelop the affordable housing stock found in these older neighborhoods. And it will help maintain the quality of life for our city's residents. As shown in Table 2A-2 from the zoning code, the neighborhood's request is not complicated — it simply requires that the figure 35 be replaced with 27 in the Maximum Height column for the rows for single-family and duplex. Sincerely, Robert Miklo Tat lI 2A.2' Dl men;ional Requirement$ In TP6 $ingle.Femily Residential Lanes ZUIWu. Ninlm"L4t Rlpll=ww Is S.[aleul 9WWIF IIYIN unimYm Ut IIlmlw1 Illmli un aw'FI4Yl NIXIW51 gpM wi M Ln1 An Mlnp LAI F1Mbyl F,..l Side Rear RtMlmum MFlmum TOWI Flom Of @p. F1.00 Sten l&WFLI MINIM (PLO P.) ffLl (R.I Relpht IkAdleq ■u§dkg SHb.* w�Og1' (34 IR! Null C...r Carr$ PMunpol � 7H RNS aelecaa km4 sm 46 4d 166 S 22 s- Y Xf7 ARIL 0% Na 504 17 II49Ny 1Fmlly iWa 9 I aeplex vw SA4V 45 m 15a 5+22 ®ee pe 0 44b 5a'X 4 S nll 1 B 97 Mw R" 5,M p,w,4 45 m le 5+22 m 203 4nb 5090 a /IlEeA i!!e be! M aaa Ihri 4 W odmuvl epaa nh 46 m m G22 m m 2t 4de IM n1e nM1 Northside Neighborhood Association's Statement to the P&Z Commission Re: REZ23-0005 RNS-12 Maximum Allowable Height Amendment October 18, 2023 One month ago the Commission began considering the Northside Neighborhood Association's request to change from 35 to 27 feet the maximum allowable height for single- family and duplex residential structures in Residential Neighborhood Stabilization (RNS-12) zones. After hearing the staffs recommendation and related public comment, you deferred action on the proposed amendment. You urged City staff to meet with us, to revise their earlier report, and to provide you with recommendations for tonight's meeting. On September 6, three of us on the Northside Neighborhood Association's Steering Committee met with City staff members Tracy Hightshoe and Anne Russett as you had requested. Tracy and Anne can speak for themselves, but we found it to be an enlightening and constructive conversation. During the meeting, they asked us, what are your specific concerns, and how does the proposed reduction address them? In its October 10 report recommending against approving the proposed change from 35 to 27 feet, City staff raised several concerns. But one stood out: the staff could not identify a governmental purpose for having the maximum allowable height vary based on use. Before proceeding further, let me get one of the star's concerns out of the way. In the September 6 meeting, looking for a mutually acceptable compromise, we floated the idea of applying the change only to new single-family and duplexes and not to existing structures. However, the staff report persuades us that applying a different standard to new and existing houses would produce unnecessary complications. Consequently, we agree with staff that the height amendment should apply both to existing and new single-family and duplex structures. Doing so is consistent with our original petition. This should eliminate staff's concern about this aspect of the proposed amendment. So what led us to propose the change in maximum allowable height? Put concisely, the current 35 -foot limit encourages redevelopment with out -of -scale buildings that can have harmful effects on neighboring properties. The existing height limit provides a financial incentive for investors to demolish older, and currently very affordable, owner -occupied structures, and makes it less likely that appropriately -sized and affordable new structures will be built. This financial incentive stems from the fact that RNS-12 zones are located in the University hnpact Area and are, therefore, subject to intense demand for off -campus student housing. The recent demolition and development at 935 E. Bloomington St. exemplifies how this process works. It was this housing market pressure that stimulated City government to create the RNS-12 district and to give it a unique public purpose, namely: "to stabilize certain existing neighborhoods by preserving the predominantly single-family residential character of certain neighborhoods." As former City planner Bob Miklo states in his most recent written advice to the Commission, "for those who live in neighborhoods, single-family character means all of the things that make up quality of life enough sunlight to allow gardens, trees and other living landscaping, light shining through windows on a winter day, a fresh summer breeze, and not having light and air blocked by a 35 -foot -tall wall a few feet from one's property line." This market pressure also led City government to stipulate as a matter of public policy in the Central District Plan (p. 20) that the City will "[w]ork to achieve a healthy balance of rental and owner -occupied housing in the district's older neighborhoods." Continuing to permit new infill structures as tall as 35 feet in RNS-12 zones would make it more difficult to achieve that objective. The potential that out -of -scale buildings could have harmful effects on neighboring properties is also affected by the unique physical characteristics of the RNS-12 neighborhoods. Single-family and duplex structures comprise the vast majority of properties in those neighborhoods. Very few, if any, of those structures currently exceed 2'/2 stories, which is roughly equivalent to 27 feet. There are numerous multi -family structures, but new ones are prohibited. The only non-residential uses allowed in the RNS-12 zones are religious institutions, primary and secondary schools, and day cares. Moreover, the compact lots found in the RNS-12 zones are among the smallest in the city. Consequently — unlike in other residential zones with large lots and setbacks — 35 -foot buildings could easily dominate or cause excessive shadows on neighboring structures. The existing 35 -foot limit, therefore, runs counter to the purpose of the RNS-12 zone. Section 14 -2A - IE stipulates that the maximum height standards in the Code are intended: to promote a reasonable building scale and relationship between buildings; provide options for light, air, and privacy; and discourage buildings that visually dominate other buildings in the vicinity. Furthermore, the current 35 -foot maximum was originally adopted to allow walk -out basements on sloping lots. There are very few sloping lots in the RNS-12 zones. There are none in the Northside's RNS-12 zone. Therefore, there is no need to accommodate single-family and duplex structures on sloping lots by permitting 35 -foot heights. Let me now address the staffs specific concern about having varying maximum heights based on land use. We believe there are good public purpose justifications for having varying heights. The rationale for a 27 -foot height limit for single-family and duplexes in RNS-12 zones is to preserve the existing quality of life in these neighborhoods by ensuring that new 35 -foot tall houses on these small lots do not dominate their neighbors and deny them access to sunlight, breezes and privacy. If the 27 -foot height limit is adopted for only single-family and duplex structures, the few non-residential uses allowed in the zone — schools, religious institutions, and day cares — would retain the potential of being up to 35 feet tall, but these uses are already subject to greater setbacks that mitigate any potential harms. In the end, there is really only one question you need to answer: will changing the maximum permitted height of single-family and duplex structures from 35 to 27 feet increase the likelihood that new infill development will help achieve a healthy balance of affordable rental and owner -occupied housing while preserving the predominantly single-family residential character of RNS-12 neighborhoods? If you answer yes, you should vote in favor of the proposed amendment. Thank you. We would be happy to answer any questions you might have. 0 October 15, 2025 Bear Commision Members, ,a The city staff reports that 75% of properties within the RNS-12 zone are already subject to additional review processes that ensure new structures are not out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood." WE the undersigned support the height reduction from 35 feet to 27 feet. We are part of the 25% of the RNS-12 zone not in the historiciconservatioh districts. That doesn't mean we are not concerned about our neighborhood and;.t�,uallty of life. �+ It is very painful to be dismissed by the City as not worthy bf their consideration. Sincerely, �v eq 4J 4 S-U- ✓ aL( On Oct 17, 2023 Dear Commission Members, I am one of the group of neighbors who approached the City in 1993. We were concerned with a proposed development that we felt would dramatically change the character of our neighborhood. We asked for help. The city responded. Changing the zoning from RM -12 to RNS-12 was the solution the City came up with. Over the years other RM -12 zones in the University Impact Zone also requested to be rezoned to RNS-12 because of the pride and love for their neighborhood. Most of the homeowners in our neighborhood are working class.They have worked hard to own their homes and they are proud of them. At the time of the rezoning to RSN-12 the concepts of historic districts and conservation areas were foreign to them. They wanted to give new neighbors the dream of home ownership that they had experienced. They had faith the new neighbors would responsibly respect what was already here. And for years that was true. But we have now reached a point where newcomers are interested only in their rights and maximizing their investment. The investment those of us who live here have made in creating and maintaining a neighborhood is of no concern to them. Their properties become dark holes the sucking life out of the neighborhood. I am asking you to amend the height to 27 feet in the RNS-12 zone out of love and pride in my neighborhood. I believe this is needed to continue the investment made in creating and maintaining our neighborhood. Sincerely, Nancy Carlson Anne Russett From: Freerks, Ann M <ann-freerks@uiowa.edu> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 1:41 PM To: Anne Russett Subject: RNS-12 height limit A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Hi Anne, Below is a letter I would like shared with the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission before the meeting tonight. Please let me know you have received it and it has been distributed. Thank you, Ann Freerks Dear Planning and Zoning Commissioners: I am writing to request you vote in favor of the Northside Neighborhoods request to reduce the height limit in the RNS-12 zone from 35 feet or 3.5 stories to 27 feet or 2.5 stories. I do not live on the Northside, but on the far west edge of the Longfellow Neighborhood. My neighborhood is comprised of RNS-12 and RS -8 zones on the border with areas that are entirely occupied by undergraduate students. As you may know I spent many years as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. I know first -had that the RNS-12 zone was created to STABALIZE these areas and maintain what is left of those single family characteristics. If you vote against this, I firmly believe it will be a green light for redevelopment by investment firms, further eroding the fragile bits of affordable housing maintained in these areas. I am also writing to tell you a bit about how I ended up in the neighborhood where we have been for over 30 years. I hope you take a few minutes to read it. I want you to feel how important it is to have these special places and that they should be protected. I want you to see how voting for this height limit will aid that protection. When we were a young family just starting out we were attracted to the charming houses of South Governor Street. We liked the proximity to Longfellow Elementary where our kids, if we I had them, could walk to grade school. It was also a very affordable option. We looked at newer structures, but in our price range they were without basements or were far from where we worked and did not have the historic houses and established trees that attracted us to the western side of the Longfellow Neighborhood. In 1993 we took the plunge and bought a 100 - year old house that needed lots of work. We were welcomed by a number of elderly couples from next door and down the street who had raised their families on South Governor Street. They were happy that our house had not become a student rental like so many others in the neighborhood. We didn't know it at the time, but WE were helping to stabilize the neighborhood. In 1999 we were surprised when a charming old house across the alley from our house was torn down and a large 3 -story apartment building went up. There was no care given to how the building fit in the neighborhood. All the beautiful mature oak trees were cut down. Every square inch of available space was taken up with the new building. There did not appear to be concern for the comfort of tenants. If there was, there would have been some usable yard space set aside for them. I will never see this replacement structure as an asset to the neighborhood. Although we enjoy having college kids as neighbors as it keeps us a bit youthful — we like the mix of young and older residents — we found that as more and more students moved in their habits can conflict with working families. There are those who have late-night parties, and shoot off fireworks during the summer. Some things we did not appreciate considering we had to get up early to get our kids to school and us to work. I have had many of these conversations with college neighbors and try to see them as teaching moments. There are costs and benefits in every situation. For this reason neighborhood stability is key. Increase in density on these narrow lots has great impact. We knew little about zoning before the apartment building went up. Several of our neighbors were in the same situation. We talked and then decided to approach the City. That is when we found out that Lucas and Governor Street were zoned RM -12 Multi -family and there were more plans for 3 -story buildings. Investors were actively trying to buy properties. A realtor called me and said I should get out while I can. For a brief moment we considered selling and moving to a new neighborhood, but we thought of our elderly neighbors, who had welcomed us to the neighborhood, and the other young families that were also making their homes in the western streets of Longfellow. We also knew long-term renters who were drawn to the neighborhood for the same reasons we were. They were also concerned about being displaced by new more expensive student housing. We decided to stay and fight for our neighborhood. K This experience taught us that zoning can be a powerful tool affecting our daily lives. We and our neighbors petitioned the City to rezone our neighborhood to RNS-12, Residential Neighborhood Stabilization. The investment companies that were buying up houses objected to our request, but the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council agreed with us that Iowa City needs some close -in neighborhoods that are sustainable and attractive to all sorts of households — owner -occupied families as well as renters, young families, singles and retirees. After our successful rezoning effort I was asked to apply for an opening on the Planning and Zoning Commission. I felt it was my duty to give back. I served several years with the goal of using zoning to make both new and existing neighborhoods pleasant places to live for ALL residents. Recent proposals for 3 -story 35 -foot tall houses in the RNS-12 zone have revealed a loophole that is counter to the intent of the zone to stabilize and preserve existing neighborhoods. I urge the Commission to approve the Northside Neighborhood's request to bring the allowed building heights in line with the existing houses in the RNS-12. This will not only apply to the Northside but will be beneficial to South Lucas and Governor Streets. We have raised our family on South Governor Street. Our kids have grown - at some point we will be ready to sell and move on. We hope to sell to another young family who will send their kids to the newly renovated Longfellow School and walk to their jobs downtown. We hope you support such families with good zoning policy. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for serving on the board. Ann Freerks Former Planning and Zoning Chair 443 South Governor Street Please distribute this letter to all Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission members prior to your October 18th meeting. Thank you. 3 Images from Sharon DeGraw October 18, 2023 HEIGHT MATTERS NEW HOUSES • Only one or two stories • Can have a walkout basement • Rarely 35 feet tall APARTMENTS IN RNS- 1 2 • Most apartment buildings are less than 27 feet BETHEL AME CHURCH • Less than 27 feet — fits well in the neighborhood • Day Care is well under 27 feet tall E7LL-4F W -L x -T C U& Images from Dave Moore October 18, 2023 III Hf TT tl� E T IEA r ❑ _ T -I -f+ -:I, . IIN :L'. Y. E •-1 IIE+_TE L'L h..::._.: ....yY .... M6RT14 ELEVATION HT 12/21/18 8'11 AIV€ �- �.A �� +: qtr ...; ;_Y � �� f' y�•,. Anne Russett From: Jared Knote <jaredknote@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 9:11 PV To: Anne Russett Subject: Re: Iowa City Planning and Zoning 10/18/2023 - Public Commemnt Discussion Visual Aids nRISfL ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Hi Anne, Thanks so much for trying to make the visuals available at tonight's meeting. Not that it will change the commissioners' votes, but if you can share these visuals and short reminder of the voiceover with them, I would appreciate it. Page 1- The circle represents the stabilization neighborhood I wanted to share perspective on. All images are public domain -- Google maps, plus the assessor's office. Page 2 - Is a sample of typical Jefferson Street housing stock in that neighborhood -- mix of small ranches and four squares and capes. Page 3 - If you were to turn around, these redevelopments evidence the type of infill. The side-by-side duplex on the left was one of the 2021 teardown-rebuilds. While it's hard to show scale, the concrete full -floor basement extends over my head. That may not count as part of the height of the building, I don't know. Perhaps that concrete "story" may qualify as "basement" even if above ground. On the right is another property redeveloped by the same developer. Again, the "basement" is higher than my head. Page 4 - In addition to out of scale height, the rebuilds are also out of scale with depth, with most green space taken up by house and parking. Trees removed. Page 5 - From the assessor's office of the property, these pictures show what was torn down and what was replaced. The original likely had a basement, but at human scale. So neighbors who pass one another might get to know one another. Page 6 - Redevelopments can destabilized a generative neighborhood of connected people. More houses are coming down. Here on the same block, facing Market St, this green house was torn down. Page 7 - This is the 1000 block of market. This is what I see every morning outside my house. This dense neighborhood is a celebration of housing choice, and many different types of neighbors -- renters, owners, students, non -students, various definitions of "family" and single and age and race. The density and variability support diversity, affordability, and stewardship. But today, on the other side of this neighborhood block, I learned another house of human scale is being torn down. On Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 3:43 PM Jared Knote <iaredknote(cDgmail.com> wrote: Hi Anne, I hope you're doing well. Would you please be able to help me regarding the Planning and Zoning Commission tonight (10/18/23)? If there is a call for public comment, I would like the opportunity to share some perspective with the commissioners, staff, and public. Visual aids might help, as I've seen others use in the past. Would you be able to help me include the attached PDF tonight if discussion is opened to the public? (I could send PPT, but the file size is large.) Thank you in advance. Respectfully, Jared Jared Knote Market St. Iowa City, IA Jared Knote mobile: 516-455-3618 Jared Knote mobile: 516-455-3618 Images from Jared Knote October 18, 2023 City of r Search in domment • CityoflowaCity WebDocuments Boards,,:-ccommissfons andmmnmittees > Planningar T y ---- 4 ! IM p. Q (D1$ Fit windM 1 • 1 a ll .• Flan TP; F"I rl RUPWt% ZW" Rf5-12 w 1 1 ru.yj�• Lewd s 9 I�r.WYrnlrra i.rl,i, y �W 4r�O�Y r°fb. AMW 927EJ&Ne St Iowa City, laza -Wor ODGgI2 Street View No, 2022 3,, rnvm do 1, x 4% 935 EJ&ffo on St 4 Tawe CRY laws . GoNle Street View Nw 2022 fee mwe dates . r {pp j i� I J r I �/+i. +n!Slfxwllwmtn. .._'iiiyi I — , _i� 11154• ' + �� � ; I-�r� 0' S:; r!Iaiiiiif ie' f ..� • •�i�'tA':- Ri�{�S.y st �{r;.� yE't.4�TV '-+` S'�,i y- Y �-� _ , ��w 1�. �'N .'-• gyp, •, - ��� .:r r `� "a'�"l .:��5'+�L1Lid<LdYa=2P"i •.nx 1 .'��7.$.iA�i _"tri — 1 941 EJ•ff =n St 9 Iowa City, Iowa . Google SVeet View Nor 2021 See more dao .r � � f L"� �� � . r • ` 'A � I ; � r6 C � is �t F^y�':s. ii • rte. .. - 2�`i nr"'� ". y' �. �rJ'^ r" ��_ yy��ry tl C Pin S S r �; � rvtca ��✓ f r v. I.d Jk` s- F J y.r = rpdf a/ 5 1— 100% 0 a � , � 974 E Market St Iowa City, Iowa } I IW4 N.2,D22 3mmore dates .%}'z'1�1f7 r f PA Ar 3. 'PI e Google 02C East Market Streel. Iowa • X 1019 E Mnfl t9r Iowa (ily, Iowa Google Street Mew Nov 21122 See moi. d.h i ,,,,,•�. .�� lr �,, �+\ cry leyr s Y el Connors® � Hoc ocrnistry 6J' Item Number: 7.b. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution setting a public hearing on November 21, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the American Legion Road/First Avenue Landscaping Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Prepared By: Reviewed By: Fiscal Impact: Staff Recommendation Commission Recommendations: Attachments: Resolution Justin Harland, Sr. Engineer Jason Havel, City Engineer Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Geoff Fruin, City Manager $205,000.00 available in the American Legion/First Avenue Landscaping Project account #P3989 Approval N/A Executive Summary: This project generally includes installing plantings within the roundabout at the intersection of American Legion Road and Scott Boulevard, installing plantings within the roundabout at the intersection of First Avenue and Scott Boulevard, and installing street trees along American Legion Road from Scott Boulevard to Taft Avenue. Background /Analysis: The First Avenue and Scott Boulevard roundabout, American Legion Road and Scott Boulevard roundabout, and American Legion Road from Scott Boulevard to Taft Avenue have recently been reconstructed. Natural aesthetics such as plantings and street trees were purposefully left out of those projects, as the City has historically had more satisfactory results with landscaping projects which were awarded to prime contractors with landscaping experience. Trees and plantings within the roundabout are meant to provide a sight line barrier to oncoming traffic, while street trees enhance the natural corridor aesthetics and provide additional environmental benefits. Project Timeline: Hold Public Hearing and Approve Project Manual: November 21, 2023 Bid Letting Date: December 13, 2023 Contract Award Council Meeting Date: January 2, 2024 Construction Dates: April — June 2024 76 Prepared by:Justin Harland, Engineering Division, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240, (319)356-5154 Resolution No. 23-289 Resolution setting a public hearing on November 21, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the American Legion Road/First Avenue Landscaping Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Whereas, funds for this project are available in the American Legion/First Avenue Landscaping account # P3989. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: A public hearing on the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-mentioned project is to be held on the 211t day of November, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa, or if said meeting is cancelled, at the next meeting of the City Council thereafter as posted by the City Clerk. 2. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish notice of the public hearing for the above-named project in a newspaper published at least once weekly and having a general circulation in the City, not less than four (4) nor more than twenty (20) days before said hearing. 3. A copy of the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-named project is hereby ordered placed on file by the City Engineer in the office of the City Clerk for public inspection. Passed and approved this 6th day of November , 2023 Ma e % ApproveLC_2___ d by Attest: { v City Clerk City Atto ney's Office (Sara Hektoen - 11/02/2023) It was moved by Bergus and seconded by Alter the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: Nays: Absent: X Alter X Bergus X Dunn X Harmsen X Taylor X Teague X Thomas Item Number: 7.c. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution setting a public hearing on November 21, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the City Park Festival Stage Improvements Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Prepared By: Reviewed By: Fiscal Impact: Staff Recommendation Attachments: Resolution Ethan Yoder, Civil Engineer Juli Seydell Johnson, Parks and Recreation Director Jason Havel, City Engineer Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Geoff Fruin, City Manager $256,000.00 and funds are available in the Event Facility Improvements account #R4381 Approval N/A Executive Summary: This item begins the bidding process for the City Park Festival Stage Improvements Project. This project generally includes upgrades to the access to the stage and the crown, as well as upgrades to ventilation and lighting. Background /Analysis: Renovations are needed at the festival stage to improve the viewer experience and improve the access to the crown for lighting access. As part of the project, additional lighting and backstage ventilation improvements will be made to improve the experience of the actors. Riverside Theater is contributing $50,000 to the project. Project Timeline: Public Hearing / Approve Project Manual — November 21, 2023 Bid Letting — December 12, 2023 Award Date — January 2, 2024 Construction — Winter 2024 to Spring 2024 I, V Prepared by: Ethan Yoder, Engineering Division, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240, (319)356-5145 Resolution No. 23-290 Resolution setting a public hearing on November 21, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the City Park Festival Stage Improvements Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Whereas, funds for this project are available in the Event Facility Improvements account #R4381. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1. A public hearing on the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-mentioned project is to be held on the 21St day of November, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa, or if said meeting is cancelled, at the next meeting of the City Council thereafter as posted by the City Clerk. 2. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish notice of the public hearing for the above-named project in a newspaper published at least once weekly and having a general circulation in the City, not less than four (4) nor more than twenty (20) days before said hearing. 3. A copy of the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-named project is hereby ordered placed on file by the City Engineer in the office of the City Clerk for public inspection. Passed and approved this 6th day of November , 2023 yo Approved by '? Attest: f � .� l� � t d'�q C, E_ City Clerk City Attor y's Office (Sara Hektoen - 11/02/2023) It was moved by Bergus and seconded by Alter the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: Nays: Absent: X Alter X Bergus X Dunn X Harmsen X Taylor X Teague X Thomas Item Number: 7.d. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution setting a public hearing on November 21, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Prepared By: Alin Dumachi, Sr. Engineer Reviewed By: Jason Havel, City Engineer Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: $3,750,000, available in the Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project account #S3939 Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Attachments: Location Map Resolution Executive Summary: This agenda item begins the bidding process for the Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project. The project generally includes the reconstruction of Dubuque Street between Iowa Avenue and Washington Street, as well as the reconstruction of the alley between Dubuque Street and Linn Street. This includes removal of existing and installation of approximately 930 linear feet of new storm sewer, approximately 3,850 square yards of street and sidewalk pavement, 400 linear feet of new sanitary sewer; installation of subdrain and roof drain trunk line, installation of new water main, hydrants, fittings and services; installation of new lighting, irrigation, electric and parking meters; and installation of landscaping features including plantings, pavers, mulch, limestone blocks, bicycle racks, litter receptacles and benches. Background /Analysis: This project was included as a part of the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan and reconstructs Dubuque Street from Iowa Avenue to Washington Street, as well as improves sidewalk pavement, addresses critical utility updates, and enhances the retail environment with streetscape components. The Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project also includes alley improvements, lighting, and wayfinding. The project includes the following design elements: • 9" PCC pavement for Dubuque Street and alley; new sidewalks • New 12 -inch ductile iron water main with new hydrants and services • Replacement of existing sanitary sewer and storm sewer system, with new storm sewer pipes and intakes • Installation of new street lighting, parking meters, and landscaping features, such as plantings, pavers, limestone blocks, bicycle racks, litter receptacles, and benches. Project Timeline: Hold Public Hearing and Approve Project Manual: November 21, 2023 Bid Letting Date: December 21, 2023 Contract Award: January 2, 2024 Construction Dates: Spring 2024 to Fall 2024 Prepared by: Alin Dumachi, Engineering Division, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240, (319)356-5143 Resolution No. 23-291 Resolution setting a public hearing on November 21, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Whereas, funds for this project are available in the Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project account # S3939. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1. A public hearing on the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-mentioned project is to be held on the 21St day of November, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa, or if said meeting is cancelled, at the next meeting of the City Council thereafter as posted by the City Clerk. 2. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish notice of the public hearing for the above-named project in a newspaper published at least once weekly and having a general circulation in the City, not less than four (4) nor more than twenty (20) days before said hearing. 3. A copy of the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-named project is hereby ordered placed on file by the City Engineer in the office of the City Clerk for public inspection. Passed and approved this 6th day of November , 2023 M yo Approved by ? / Attest: - e -�� � �,�, L City dlerik City Attorn 's Office (Sara Hektoen - 11/02/2023) It was moved by BerPus and seconded by Alter the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: Nays: Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Item Number: 10.a. Executive Summary: A public hearing will be held November 6, 2023 to consider a resolution authorizing conveyance of 2129 Taylor Drive as part of the South District Program. This will be the sixth home sold under the program. Background /Analysis: Under the South District Program, the City proposes to sell 2129 Taylor Drive for $147,600. The City acquired the duplex at 2129-2131 Taylor Drive in 2019 for $125,610 ($62,805 per unit). City funds were used to rehabilitate the home to sell to an eligible buyer. The home received a new roof, windows, doors, lighting, high efficiency furnace and air conditioner, air source heat pump water heater, long life -cycle flooring, and high efficiency appliances. Following rehabilitation, the duplex was converted to a 2 -unit condominium. The sale price of the home is $147,600. This includes $35,000 in city funds that were used to rehabilitate the property. These costs are provided to the buyer in the form of a conditional loan which will be forgiven over 10 years. This amount was included in the sale price to more accurately reflect the value of the property and to avoid artificially deflating home values in the neighborhood. The remaining $112,600 includes the city's purchase price, carrying costs, and rehab costs in excess of $35,000 which include adding a third bedroom in the basement. The buyers will finance the remaining balance through a private lender to purchase the home. The home features two bedrooms and one bathroom on the main floor with an additional CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution authorizing conveyance of a single-family home located at 2129 Taylor Drive. Prepared By: Stan Laverman, Senior Housing Inspector Reviewed By: Erika Kubly, Neighborhood Services Coordinator Geoff Fruin, City Manager Sue Dulek, Ass't. City Attorney Fiscal Impact: City funds were budgeted at $35,000 for rehabilitation expenses, and up to $25,000 in federal HOME funds may be used for buyer down payment assistance. There will be no impact on the general fund for ongoing operational expenses. Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: NA Attachments: 2129-2131 Taylor photos Resolution Executive Summary: A public hearing will be held November 6, 2023 to consider a resolution authorizing conveyance of 2129 Taylor Drive as part of the South District Program. This will be the sixth home sold under the program. Background /Analysis: Under the South District Program, the City proposes to sell 2129 Taylor Drive for $147,600. The City acquired the duplex at 2129-2131 Taylor Drive in 2019 for $125,610 ($62,805 per unit). City funds were used to rehabilitate the home to sell to an eligible buyer. The home received a new roof, windows, doors, lighting, high efficiency furnace and air conditioner, air source heat pump water heater, long life -cycle flooring, and high efficiency appliances. Following rehabilitation, the duplex was converted to a 2 -unit condominium. The sale price of the home is $147,600. This includes $35,000 in city funds that were used to rehabilitate the property. These costs are provided to the buyer in the form of a conditional loan which will be forgiven over 10 years. This amount was included in the sale price to more accurately reflect the value of the property and to avoid artificially deflating home values in the neighborhood. The remaining $112,600 includes the city's purchase price, carrying costs, and rehab costs in excess of $35,000 which include adding a third bedroom in the basement. The buyers will finance the remaining balance through a private lender to purchase the home. The home features two bedrooms and one bathroom on the main floor with an additional bedroom in the basement. The buyers are currently residents of the South District neighborhood and are first-time home buyers. The buyers will complete a homeowner education course and counseling through Horizons. a r X'iy i � w l..:.'as. _ r ��^^ . ..2 � f \ � ` �� �- z«z� �T� «:.�. � ���� ��-�-- � ? �� : 7 . . . � .� Before/Progress Photos: 2129-2131 Taylor Drive www.icgov.org/SouthDistrict Prepared by: Susan Dulek, First Asst. City Attorney, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319)356-5030 Resolution No. 2-1_2g? Resolution authorizing conveyance of a single-family home located at 2129 Taylor Drive. Whereas, the South District Home Investment Partnership Program is an effort by the City to encourage home ownership and reinvestment in designated neighborhoods; and Whereas, the City purchases residential properties, rehabilitates them, and then sells them to income -eligible buyers; and Whereas, the City purchased a duplex at 2129-2131 Taylor Drive, rehabilitated it, and converted it to a 2 -unit condominium; and Whereas, the City has received an offer to purchase 2129 Taylor Drive for the principal sum of $147,600; and Whereas, this sale would provide affordable owner -occupied housing; and Whereas, on October 17, 2023, the City Council adopted a Resolution proposing to convey its interest in 2129 Taylor Drive, authorizing public notice of the proposed conveyance, and setting the date and time for the public hearing; and Whereas, following the public hearing on the proposed conveyance, the City Council finds that the conveyance is in the public interest. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that Upon the direction of the City Attorney, the Mayor and the City Clerk are authorized to execute a warranty deed conveying the City's interest in 2129 Taylor Drive, Iowa City, Iowa for the sum of $147,600. 2. The City Attorney is hereby authorized to deliver said warranty deed and to carry out any actions necessary to consummate the conveyance required by law. Passed and approved this 6th day of tuber, 2023. a r Attest: City Clerk Approved by City Attor y's Office (Sue Dulek— 11/02/2023) Resolution No. 23-292 Page 2 It was moved by Taylor adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: a 13 and seconded by Nays: Alter the Resolution be Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Item Number: 10.b. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution approving project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project, establishing amount of bid security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids. Prepared By: Ben Clark, Senior Engineer Reviewed By: Tim Wilkey, Wastewater Superintendent Jason Havel, City Engineer Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: $1,350,000 available in Account #V3175 — Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements 20228 Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Attachments: Resolution Executive Summary: The project will incorporate three capital improvement projects into one construction contract, including influent flow monitoring, grit classifiers, and biosolids conveyor improvements. Background /Analysis: The existing in -channel area velocity sensor/meter will be replaced with a parshall flume for increased flow measurement accuracy and confidence, which are imperative for plant operations. This will require channel modifications, flume and sensor installation and programming into the headworks programmable logic controller. The grit classifiers were installed in 2002 and have reached the end of their useful design life. They required a major frame repair in 2015, as well as multiple rotating parts replacements over the past 5 years. With improvements in technology, the new classifiers are more effective at dewatering and will produce a more advantageous, drier grit. The conveyor currently collects biosolids from the belt filter presses, taking them to a shaftless screw auger and lifting the biosolids up to discharge over the truck bay. It has been found that when all three presses are operated together, the screw auger cannot keep up with the volume of biosolids delivered by the conveyor. This project will replace the existing conveyor and auger with a continuous conveyor that will keep up with the volume of all three presses, allowing greater operational flexibility. Project Timeline: Bid Letting — November 30, 2023 Award Date — December 12, 2023 Final Completion — December 2024 0 t: Prepared by: Ben Clark, Engineering Division, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240, (319)356-5436 Resolution No. 23-293 Resolution approving project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project, establishing amount of bid security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids. Whereas, notice of public hearing on the project manual and estimate of cost for the above- named project was published as required by law, and the hearing thereon held; and Whereas, the City Engineer or designee intends to post notice of the project on the website owned and maintained by the City of Iowa City; and Whereas, funds for this project are available in Account #V3175 Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements 2022. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa that: 1. The project manual and estimate of cost for the above-named project are hereby approved. 2. The amount of bid security to accompany each bid for the construction of the above- named project shall be in the amount of 10% (ten percent) of bid payable to City of Iowa City, Iowa. 3. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to post notice as required in Section 26.3, not less than 13 days and not more than 45 days before the date of the bid letting, which may be satisfied by timely posting notice on the Construction Update Network, operated by the Master Builder of Iowa, and the Iowa League of Cities website. 4. Sealed bids for the above-named project are to be received by the City of Iowa City, Iowa, at the Office of the City Clerk, at the City Hall, before 3:00 p.m. on the 301h day of August, 2023. At that time, the bids will be opened by the City Engineer or his designee, and thereupon referred to the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, for action upon said bids at its next regular meeting, to be held at the Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa, at 6:00 p.m. on the 5' day of September, 2023, or at a special meeting called for that purpose. Passed and approved this 6th day of November , 2023. Ma Approved by Attest: City lerk City Attor ey's Office (Liz Craig - 10/23/2023) Resolution No. 23-293 Page 2 It was moved by Thomas adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: and seconded by Nays: Taylor the Resolution be Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Item Number: 10.e. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution authorizing the allocation of $500,000.00 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) funds for the purpose of a cost -share program to promote lead reduction in drinking water. Prepared By: Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Reviewed By: Jon Durst, Water Superintendent Liz Craig, Assistant City Attorney Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: None Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Attachments: Resolution Executive Summary: The resolution will approve the allocation of $500,000.00 of ARPA funding to a water fund revenue account to be used to start a cost -share program aimed at providing an incentive to eligible property owners to reduce the amount of lead in their privately -owned plumbing or install a barrier to filter out lead particulate. Background /Analysis: Lead exposure is a known hazard to human health. Lead is present in drinking water from residential plumbing. The City desires to reduce the exposure to lead in drinking water to conform with the Federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. To this end, the Water Division has proposed an ordinance amendment to prohibit the partial repair of lead water service lines and require replacement with lead-free components and entered a marketing agreement with a company offering optional insurance for service line coverage. The cost to mitigate sources of lead in residential plumbing can be significant. To further the lead reduction goal and decrease costs, the City is proposing an annual limited -funding cost - share program. The cost -share program would offer a cost -share of 50% not -to -exceed $5,000 for lead service line replacements, 50% not -to -exceed $3,000 for service line materials verification digs, 50% not -to -exceed $1,000 for drinking fountains or point -of -use filtration devices, and 50% not -to -exceed $500 for faucets. The City will promote and educate customers about the ordinance amendment, available insurance options, cost -share opportunities, and free lead sampling provided by the University of Iowa Get the Lead Out Program and Iowa City Water Division via utility bill inserts, insurance solicitation mailings, the City's website, news releases, social media, and an open house event for service providers and residents. Staff recommends the cost -share program be annually funded by the assignment of water rate revenues and marketing agreement fees. To provide for initial funding without a significant water rate increase, staff recommends the assignment of $500,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Treasury State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund ("SLFRF") allocation as part of the American Rescue Plan Act ("ARPA") per 31 CFR 35.6(e)(1)(iv). The cost -share program will be administered by the Water Division of the City's Public Works Department. � V,e-" Prepared by: Ron Knoche, Public Works Director, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240; (319) 356-5138 Resolution No. 93-994 Resolution authorizing the allocation of $500,000.00 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) funds for the purpose of a cost -share program to promote lead reduction in drinking water. Whereas, lead exposure is a known hazard to human health; and Whereas, the City desires to reduce the exposure to lead in drinking water to conform with the Federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, 40 C.F.R. Part 141, Subpart I; and Whereas, City staff has proposed an ordinance amendment that, beginning on January 1, 2024, will prohibit the partial repair of lead water service lines and require replacement with lead-free materials; and Whereas, the City has taken steps to educate the public about the cost to replace lead service lines, and also entered a marketing agreement with a company that offers property owners voluntary service agreements for the repair or replacement of leaking or defective water service lines; and Whereas, residential plumbing is a source of lead in drinking water, as are fixtures such as faucets and drinking fountains; and Whereas, the cost for a property owner to take action to mitigate exposure to lead from plumbing sources or to replace a lead service line and can be significant; and Whereas, to further its lead reduction goals and mitigate the cost burden on property owners, the City has created a cost-sharing program to help property owners take action to verify whether their water service line has lead components; to replace a known lead service line; and to replace certain faucets, drinking fountains, and install filtration systems to reduce lead exposure; and Whereas, the cost -share program will be administered by the Water Division of the City's Public Works Department; and Whereas, City staff will educate the public regarding the cost -share program through the City's website and through utility mailings; and Whereas, the cost -share program may cover a portion of a residential property owner's private cost to replace a lead service line (50% up to $5,000); a residential property owner's cost to perform a materials verification dig (50% up to $3,000); and/or a residential or commercial owner's cost to replace existing in-home or business components with low -lead components or install a point -of -use filtration system (faucets 50% up to $500/drinking fountains and filtration systems 50% up to, $1000); and Whereas, staff recommends the cost -share program be funded on an ongoing basis by the assignment of water rate revenues and marketing agreement fees; and Whereas, the U.S. Department of Treasury allocated the City funds through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund ("SLFRF") as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (aka, ARPA) to meet local needs; and Whereas, the investment in necessary water infrastructure for additional lead remediation and household water quality testing is an eligible use of SLFRF funds under 31 CFR 35.6(e)(1)(iv); and Resolution No. 23-294 Page 2 Whereas, the City desires to allocate $500,000.00 of SLFRF funds to initiate the Lead Reduction Program prior to the start of fiscal year 2025; and Whereas, the reduction of drinking water lead exposure is in the interest of the City. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1. The City Manager is authorized to use $500,000.00 in SLFRF funds to allocate to the Lead Reduction Program. Passed and approved this 6th day of November 2023 Attest: City Clerk KAdyja C) Approved by G City Attor ey's Office (Liz Craig — 11/02/2023) It was moved by Bergus and seconded by Thomas the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: Nays: X X X X X X X pweng\masters\ConsultAgt. doc Absent: Alter Bergus Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Dunn Item Number: 10.f. CITY OF OF IOWA CITY �� COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution approving preliminary funding recommendations under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs. Prepared By: Tracy Hightshoe, Neighborhood and Development Services Director Reviewed By: Geoff Fruin, City Manager Redmond Jones II, Deputy City Manager Fiscal Impact: The City has been allocated $18,325,190 in ARPA-SLRF funds. This agenda item would encumber $4 million of those funds, to be authorized for expenditure under a future agenda item. Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: NA Attachments: Inclusive Economic Development Request for Statements of Interest Summary of Statement of Interests Dotlizhi LLC Statement of Interest The Dream Center Statement of Interest Just from the Heart Statement of Interest Just From the Heart Multicultural Development Center of Iowa Statement of Interest NCJC Statement of Interest Tailored Tax & Accounting LLC Statement of Interest Wright House Statement of Interest Statement of Interest Summary Resolution Executive Summary: In March of 2023, the City launched the Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Program using $4 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. 30 Statements of Interest were received by the May 1, 2023 deadline, totaling just over $25 million. Applicants could apply for both their capital needs as well as operational needs to support a thriving economic hub with various business supports in the community. The Statements were reviewed by a committee consisting of two members from the City Manager's Office and the Mayor. During the review period, a member of the City Manager's Office retired and the Neighborhood & Development Services Director joined the committee. The committee reviewed capital needs first and invited applicants in for discussion on possible partnerships and collaborations as many applicants included many of the same elements such as commercial kitchens and classroom space. Following this evaluation process, the review committee then reviewed operational support requests. The committee recommends moving forward with seven preliminary funding awards. Approval of this resolution will authorize staff to work with each agency to develop a full proposal and corresponding grant agreements, which would again require City Council approval prior to the funding award being made. Background /Analysis: In 2021-22 the City of Iowa City received $18.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Relief Funds. After dedicating several months in 2021 to gathering public input, the City Council identified several spending priorities, one of which was to strategically invest in the business support structure for systemically marginalized populations. With City Council's direction, in March 2023 City staff released a Request for Statements of Interests with the intent of cultivating a strong entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem focused on underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs. $4 million in ARPA funding was allocated to the program with the intent of funding one or more capital projects, up to $3 million, and to provide operating grants of up to $1 million. The Request for Statements detailing the program details and eligibility criteria is attached. The requests were reviewed based upon the program criteria and ARPA guiding principles established by the City Council. A summary of all funding requests submitted is attached. While many compelling projects were submitted, the committee selected seven organizations and/or collaborations to work with to further enhance business support and create an entrepreneurial hub for marginalized communities. The Statements of Interest for each selected organization are attached for your reference. The recommendations included the following: $100,000 to Dotlizhi LLC (Indigenous Collective) for small grants and technical assistance to businesses specializing in Native American arts and culture, . $3 million to Dream Center (Dream City). $2 million for acquisition and renovation of a property and $1 million for small business support services, . $20,000 to Just from the Heart for business marketing assistance; including: TV commercials, radio spots, and on-line messaging, $600,000 to Multicultural Development Center of Iowa (MDC Iowa) for business support, access to financing and marketing/website development, . $80,000 to Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County for financial literacy and business development, . $100,000 to Tailored Tax & Accounting LLC for accounting, tax preparation and financial business planning, and $100,000 to Wright House for business support and minor capital improvements. The funding recommendation to the Dream Center includes acquisition, extensive renovations, and business support programs. Technical assistance funds are necessary to further define the scope of the project, provide a design concept and cost estimate for the renovations, and other related costs such as legal fees and accounting costs as approved by the City. The resolution authorizes up to $100,000 to be incurred as part of this funding recommendation to finalize an agreement for City Council consideration. Upon City Council approval of this resolution, staff will work with each agency to develop a full scope of services and budget. The City anticipates working with the University of Iowa Non-profit Resource Center to provide training to awarded non -profits receiving $100,000 or more to strengthen their operational capacity and to assist the organization meet local, state and federal requirements. The City will pay for this initial consultation with ARPA administrative funds. It is our hope that this puts these organizations in a place to secure and comply with future state and federal opportunities to support their ongoing operations. Each agreement will be brought back before council for final approval before the funding award is made. r 94 'III All t A II�WI2 RTA CITY OF IOWA CITY UNESCO CITY OF LITERATURE Request for Statements of Interest Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Funding Made Possible Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Relief Fund Issued: March 13, 2023 Two Informational Open House Sessions (optional): April 6, 2023 in City Hall @ 12 noon and 6:00pm Submittals Due: May 1, 2023 (4:00 p.m.) Backeround and Purpose On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into law. This legislation provided the City of Iowa City with local relief funds aimed to aid the community in addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and helping build resilience throughout the community. In September 2021, the City Council identified guiding principles to assist in the prioritization of the use of federal relief funds. Further, the City Council identified initial priorities that encompassed emergent needs and strategic investments. One of the strategic investment priorities was to invest in the business support structures for Iowa City -based Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). To better understand needs and ensure strategic use of the one-time federal relief dollars, the City supported the development of a community -wide Inclusive Economic Development Plan that was coordinated bythe Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) and led by Astig Planning. After months of planning work involving input from community presentations, focus groups, interviews, a survey, and a strategic doing process, Astig Planning presented the Inclusive Economic Development Plan to the City Council on September 20, 2022. In December 2022 the City of Iowa City adopted a new Strategic Plan that summarizes the vision, strategies, and key action steps over the next five years. Two key guiding values of the Strategic Plan include Racial Equity, Social Justice & Human Rights, along with Partnerships and Engagement. Further in the Economy Section of the Strategic Plan strategies were identified to 'ensure appropriate infrastructure is in place for future business growth and development' and 'cultivate a strong entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem with o focus on creating new pathways for success for systemically marginalized populations. Lastly, a specific action item in the plan reads, 'Utilizing American Rescue Act Funds, execute on agreeable recommendations in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan with a particular focus on actions that build long-term support and wealth -building opportunities for systemically marginalized populations.' To advance this vision, the City Council decided to dedicate an estimated $4 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and announce this Request for Statement of Interest opportunity seeking project and program concepts and demonstrating the capacity to manage, develop, partner, and implement said concepts. The City is looking for Statements of Interest that aim to execute the recommendations within the Inclusive Economic Development Plan in a manner that aligns with the values and goals of the adopted Strategic Plan. Grant Program Overview The City intends to award $4 million in grants and/or loans to one or more organizations that meet the goals of the aforementioned plans. Consistent with the recommendations in the "Inclusive Economic Development Plan", the grant program anticipates making awards in two distinct categories: 1. Physical Space for multicultural business hubs, business collaboration spaces (shared retail, kitchens, etc.), and youth entrepreneurial and community centers. It is anticipated that approximately $3 million will be available for this category and eligible expenses include land acquisition, construction, remodeling, furniture and equipment, technology, and associated soft costs. 2. Business Support Programs that include small business grants and/or financing programs, technical assistance, community navigating services, and similar support networks. It is anticipated that approximately $1 million will be available for this category with an emphasis on programs that are designed to ensure long-term impact. The City retains the right throughout this grant program to adjust funding amounts and the number of awards based on information learned through the Statement of Interest process. Grantees will be required to meet all applicable federal, state, and local requirements related to the proposed project and funding sources. Successful grantees will demonstrate an ability to leverage City grant funds with other funding sources to carry out the project. Projects are anticipated to be completed (with all city funds being expended) by December 31, 2026. The City encourages applications that will demonstrate partnerships between multiple organizations and include multiple funding sources. Eligibility Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements • Both non-profit and for-profit organizations are eligible to submit a Statement of Interest. • Iowa City -based organizations must be the lead applicant on any proposal presented to the City. • Any physical space proposals must be located in Iowa City. Business support program proposals must be located in Iowa City or demonstrate a primary focus on benefiting/serving Iowa City businesses and residents. • Proposing organizations must be able to demonstrate an organizational ability to manage significant grant and/or loan funds. This does not preclude organizations that do not have said experience from applying. In such cases, the City will work collaboratively with successful organizations to provide technical assistance for financial management. At this time, interested parties need not worry about obtaining a State of Iowa Targeted Small Business designation. However, as proposals, programs, and/or projects are developed the City may require such designation and/or program requirements depending on the nature of the proposal. If needed, City staff will work with applicants that may need assistance to gain their Targeted Small Business designation. Statement of Interest Submission Requirements To be considered for funding completed Statements of Interest must be emailed to CMOadmin@iowa-city.ore or delivered in person. Emailed applications must receive a confirmation email from City staff before the application deadline to be considered for funding. If applying in person (City Hall, City Manager's Office, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City), make arrangements with a staff representative to ensure receipt before the deadline. Please call 319.356.5012 to make drop-off arrangements before arrival. Submissions are due by 4:00 PM, May 1, 2023. All Statements of Interest submittals must provide the following: 1. A cover letter identifying the lead applicant and, if any, co -applicants. Include the lead organization's name, address, and the address of the project site (if known). Provide contact information (name, title, phone, and email) for the person leading the project. Please specify in the cover letter if the application is for (1) physical space, (2) business support programs, or both. 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. Demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan 3. A description of how the project builds community resiliency following the COVID-19 pandemic by building capacity to serve residents of the community. 4. An estimated project budget including how much in City assistance you are requesting. Identify both the proposed sources and uses of funds for the total project. Identify if each funding source has committed funds. 5. A preliminary timeline for the execution of the project. The City intends for all grant funds to be expended by December 31, 2026. If this is not possible in the project schedule, please detail the estimated draw -down timeframe. 6. A statement about the organization's ability to perform appropriate grant and financial management, including any related experience managing city, state, or federal grant funds. Provide 3 years of financial statements of the lead organization, if available. Please indicate what type of technical assistance may be needed to help prepare the organization for grant management responsibilities. 7. A description of all work related to the project that has been completed to date, if any, including any secured funding, contracted professional services, property, land acquisition, grant or loan activity, etc. 8. Any other information, including letters of support, the submitting agency deems appropriate. As the funding entity, no letters of support should be sought from City of Iowa City staff or elected officials. Evaluation Process All Statements of Interest that meet eligibility requirements will be evaluated by an internal team of City officials, including representatives of City staff and the City Council. The team, at their discretion, may interview one or more of the submitting agencies to gather more information or clarify project intent or detail. The City team will recommend to the City Council that the City work directly with one or more of the submitting agencies to develop a full proposal based on the preliminary funding recommendations for each project. Upon initial approval by the City Council, City staff will work with the selected applicant to develop comprehensive proposals and corresponding grant agreements for final City Council consideration. It should be noted that any physical space grants may also come with technical assistance funds for selected applicants to help fully develop project plans for a proposal. Resources The FY 2023-2028 City Council Strategic Plan: www.icgov.org/strategicplan Information on the City's use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds including the guiding principles document: www.icgov.org/arpa Inclusive Economic Development Plan: https://www.astigplanning.com/basic-01 September 2022 Presentation of the inclusive Economic Development Plan: youtube.com/watch?v=OsXCbTvN1fA (1h:44m time-mark of the video) — Presentation Slide Deck Attached Additional Questions Questions regarding this Request for Information can be directed to Redmond Jones, Deputy City Manager, at (319) 356-5012 or redmond-Tones@iowa-city.org. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Summary of Statement of Interests Prelim. Funding Lead Applicant Summary Funding Request Recommendation Capital + Business Support Requests Indigenous boutique, offices including one for Summer of the Arts, a native foods cafe, 2 non profits, large gathering Indigenous Collective (Dotlizhi LLC) space, small loans and technical assistance. $ 4,000,000 $ 100,000 Empower underrepresented entrepreneurs, multicultural business hub with state-of-the-art equipment, new tech and Wright House fashion, business mentoring. $ 1,007,460 $ 100,000 Building acquisition, renovations and entrepreneurial support. Will include commercial kitchen, upgraded classroom technology, micro commercial spaces, event Dream City (Dream Center)) space, small business coaching, childcare. $ 3,000,000 $ 3,000,000 Remodel and repurpose site at 1011 Arthur St. to include New Life Apostolic Ministries community kitchen, event space, youth empowerment, etc. $ 1,810,104 $ - Property acquisition and business support programs. Community kitchen with Food and retail incubator featuring Center for Worker Justice an open market area and food court seating. $ 2,300,000 $ - Grow and strengthen local food growing and distribution. Field to Family (Field Center)) Request would be matched with RSFIC, MDClowa and F2F. $ 1,700,000 $ - Transform physical space at 2651 Roberts Rd for multicultural business hub, youth entrepreneurs and Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County implement business support programs. $ 545,000 $ 80,000 Indoor market, commercial kitchen, innovation center, access to financial resources, business support and micro Multicultural Development Center of Iowa lending. $ 815,000 $ 600,000 Business Support Requests $ 15,177,564 $ 3,880,000 Fundraising, leadership training for churches and non Generosity Solutions profits. $ 11,260 $ - Aelieve Digital Marketing Teaches digital marketing skills. $ 180,000 $ - Financial and strategic financial literacy support with bookkeeping basics, taxes, accounting, financial statements Tailored Tax & Accounting LLC and cash flow projections. $ 100,000 $ 100,000 Business to house Centre for Languages (ESL), Child Services Sunday Goshit&Amos Kiche and Mental Health non-profit services. $ 1,850,000 $ - Leadership development program focusing on internal Mindful Leadership leadership capacity. $ 195,000 $ Just from the Heart Digital marketing to assisted businesses. $ - $ 20,000 Business support programming, support for physical space grantees & development, nurturing the Inclusive Economic BT2030+ICAD Ecosystem. $ 805,000 $ - Prelim. Funding Lead Applicant Summary Funding Request Recommendation Refugee and Immigrant Collective to provide non-profit management training with a goal to build capacity within the non-profits that serve Iowa City refugees and Refugee& Immigrant Association immigrants. $ 210,000 $ Career readiness training and life skills for members of Center4 Family Services refugee community. Hosta job placement hub. $ 500,000 $ Subsidized marketingto support IC-based underestimated The Gazette and emerging business. $ 150,000 $ Business mentoring/coaching for up to two years. Action Coach will certify additional coaches and provide in-kind Action Coach Campus orientation to businesses. $ 1,000,000 $ - Size Up, Inc. Online business support programs (based in Austin, TX). $ 12,488 $ The Opportunity Accelerator offers digital marketing, an e- marketplace, access to capital interface and learning on Opportunity Accelerator friendly dashboard. $ 150,000 $ Therapist seeking funds to expand practice and hire Thomas & Associates Counseling & Consulting therapists of color. $ 200,000 0 3 year rent subsidy for South District Market tenants, update monument sign on Highway 6, build website SouthGate Companies promoting vendors business and monthly advertising. $ 100,000 0 Anaman Concierge Services Funds to expand their business. $ 2,500,000 0 Non profit health care provider providing place for people Upendo Care, Inc. (late) with intellectual disabilities. $ 775,000 0 Fund to assist business and host Press Events for area Press Coffee artist's exposure. $ 20,000 0 Supportfor women of color includingjob training, Sankofa partnering with orgs, ski II bu i Id i ng. $ 400,000 0 Rodney's Jerk Project Individual business proposal. $ 200,000 0 Foundation to assist non profits, community leaders and local businesses with resources, direct support Help Hope Love professionals and supplies. $ 150,000 0 Glow The Hydration Station Aesthetics and More Focused on single business located in Coralville. $ 175,000 0 $ 10,083,748 0 Grand Totals $ 25,261,312 $ 4,000,000 l� V rowa City Indigenous olle Iowa City Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs May 1, 2023 Contents 03. 04. COVER LETTER GENERAL DESCRIPTION 05. COMMUMNITY RESILIENCE 06. PROJECT BUDGET 07. TIMELINE 08. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 10. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Cover Letter May 1, 2023 c/o Redmond Jones, Deputy City Manager City of Iowa City redmond-jones@iowa-city.org Dear Mr. Jones, We are proud to submit a letter of interest for the Iowa City Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs. Our group, called the Iowa City Indigenous Collective, is comprised of seven main partners -- The House of Dotfizhi (lead applicant), South Side Street Foods, Great Plains Action Society, Red Hawk Art, Water Panther Consulting, Carrie Schuettpelz Consulting, and the Iowa City Summer of the Arts. We are applying under both projects (1) physical space and (2) business support programs to serve as a hub and cultural space for the indigenous community of the Iowa City corridor, as well as an incubator for Native -owned businesses and nonprofits. In the following pages, you will find all requested materials. Please let us know if there's anything else we can provide. Thank you for your consideration, Alicia Velasquez Alicia Velasquez The House of Dotfizhi dotlizhi@outlook.com , `J General Description In Iowa City, we sit upon land that at one point belonged to the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk Nations. In Iowa more broadly, nearly 70 Native American tribes have once resided on this land. Today, there are over 55,000 people who identify as Native American and/or Alaska Native living in Iowa -- nearly 18,000 of whom reside in Johnson County and its surrounds. Yet, opportunities for Native economic development and place -making -- whether it be community gathering space, restaurants, small businesses, or innovation hubs -- simply do not exist in our state. We at the Iowa City Indigenous Collective aim to change that. Specifically, we are proposing the development of a space to house: • a boutique selling handmade Native art by Midwest Indigenous artists • up to three leased offices, including for partner Iowa City Summer of the Arts, • a Native foods cafe, • up to two Native nonprofits and a shared administrative office, • a large, well -lit multipurpose hub. Not only would this space serve to bring together the Native community in important ways, it would also serve to address a simple fact. That, in Iowa, Native people face incredible barriers to success. When compared to the average Iowa resident: • Native people are twice as likely to be unemployed • Native people are three times as likely to live in poverty • Native people are three times less likely to have a college degree Beyond being a space where Native people can network -- important elements in creating mentorship and increasing access to knowledge and information -- the ICIC will support the goals of Iowa City's strategic plan in important ways. This includes: • Events to support indigenous entrepreneurs, like: grant -writing workshops, apprenticeship programs, seminars on acquiring loans and other financing, college readiness classes • A shared -cost model for Native -owned businesses and partner nonprofits housed in the space (electricity, administrative duties, internet connectivity, etc.) • Events for the broader Eastern Iowa community on indigenous history; cultural competency; and diversity, equity, and inclusion; invited speakers -- including Native writers and thinkers Taken together, we are confident that -- with the City of Iowa City's support -- the ICIC will serve as a powerful springboard for future inclusive economic and community success. ICIC Proposal 4 tment esilienc rat Like many others, we in the Iowa City indigenous community find ourselves picking up the pieces following the onslaught of the COVID pandemic. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, American Indian and Alaska Native communities have experienced some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the United States. Native people were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for the virus. For many people in our Native community - particularly our elders - these patterns led to lengthy periods of isolation and disconnection from community. Native -owned businesses and nonprofits also experienced disproportionately high impacts from the pandemic. According to the First Nations Development Institute, 69% of Native nonprofits expect to see a revenue decrease as a result of COVID-19. Moreover, 1 in 5 Native nonprofit organizations has not received a grant to support their work within the last 3 months. It is, therefore, with a renewed sense of purpose that we at the Iowa City Indigenous Collective intend to build our community. Although the University of Iowa has a Latino and Native American Cultural Center (LNACC), many members of our Native community -- particularly our elders -- do not feel comfortable in university spaces. Rather, we must create an intentional space to cultivate our multi- generational community. In addition, developing opportunities for Native -owned businesses and nonprofits, whether they are new or rebuilding post -pandemic, is of critical importance in creating more equitable economic success in our community. ICIC Proposal J Project Budget all numbers are estimates Income Source Source Amount National Science Foundation - Midwest Innovation Engine Grant (finalist) TBD Iowa City Summer of the Arts - contribution for space plus furniture and technology TBD monthly lease $50,000 Other Grants TBD Capital Campaign TBD Start -Up Expenses Fixed Expenses (2 -yr request) Expense Amount building - renovation or $ 3 million construction furniture and technology $50,000 sub -grants to Native small $50,000 business owners technical assistance $50,000 grand opening speaker insurance $20,000 and celebration NATIFS + Rez Fest visits $10,000 Iowa City Powwow $20,000 Expense Amount electricity & internet $200,000 / annual * 2 yrs rent or property taxes $200,000 / annual' 2 yrs administrative support + $ 100,000 grant mgmt / annual * 2yrs insurance $ 50,000 / annual * 2 yrs events, marketing, ads $250,000 / annual * 2 yrs TOTAL $ 4 million ICIC Proposal 6 Project Timeline Mo 1-4 Mo 4-12 Mo 12-20 VkProposal Stage One • Offer made on 121 W Benton Street or similar property • Learning trips to Minneapolis (NATIFS) and Las Vegas (RezFest) • Pursuing additional grants and establishing capital campaign Stage Two • Renovation of space begins • Establishment of apprenticeship program and training materials • Tribal consultation with Iowa First Nations Tribes Stage Three • Renovation of space completed and space finalized • Targeted advertisement and marketing campaign • Apprenticeship program begins Stage Four • Space blessing and tours to the public • Programming begins (seminars and workshops) • Grand Opening celebration with invited guest speaker i 5 Alicia Velasquez (Apache, Yaqui) is the creator and owner of The House of Doti'izhi, Iowa City's first woman -owned Native American business. She is an award-winning artist having won awards for excellence from both the Iowa City Summer of the Arts and the Des Moines Art Festival. Her work has been featured at Indigenous Paris Fashion Week, Phoenix Fashion Week, the DUMA Craft Invitational, JCK Magazine, Native Max, and numerous other publications. She is the co-founder oftwo nonprofits -- The Autism Center and Fourth Sister Rising. In that capacity, she has experience in the areas of fundraising, financial w management, employee oversight, and training. She is a sought-after public speaker, giving talks throughout the country on issues like small business ownership, indigenous enterprise, Native traditions, autism and developmental disabilities. She lives in Alicia Velasquez Iowa City with her husband and children. ownar. The House of Da:hi Daniel Velasquez (Yaqui) is the Restaurateur and Chef of Iowa City's first fry bread truck. He has over 30 years of restaurant and hospitality experience, ranging from full-service restaurants to fast food. Prior to opening South Side Street Foods, he was a field leader at Chipotle — working his way up from cashier in just six years. He is a successful business cultivator, having trained and developed ten General Managers and four Restauranteurs during his time with Chipotle. He was also responsible for increasing sales four years in a row over plan, and received a best cash flow award. Daniel's experience in the food industry is as diverse as it is robust, having served in capacities from dishwasher to trainer, from shift leader to accounting manager. During his time in Phoenix, he helped open the first Starbucks in a municipal building and scored a 100 percent on the notoriously difficult barista test. He is the cofounder of the nonprofit, The Autism Center, and has experience in the areas of financial management, employee oversight and training, and food service. He lives in Iowa City with his wife and children. Daniel Velasquez owner, south side sheet roods Sikowis Nobiss (Plains Cree/Saulteaux) began her life's work of uplifting Indigenous voices at 19, when she got her first job at the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council in Fredericton, Canada. In 2015, she founded Great Plains Action Society as a way to increase Indigenous solidarity in Iowa City. In that capacity, she has applied for and received grants from a number of entities, and has managed those grants. In February 2017, during the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, Sikowis began Little Creek Camp, From August 2017 to September 2020, she worked for Seeding Sovereignty where she organized at a national level. As her heart is with her people and the prairies, Sikowis returned to Great Plains Action Society where she can work at a grassroots level and a fully Indigenous -led organization. Sikowis is also a speaker, writer, and artist. She graduated from the University of Iowa in Sikowis Nobiss 2008 with a Masters Degree in Religious Studies (with a focus on Native American Religion and Culture) and a Graduate Minor in Fo„nder,creen Piams American l ndian Native Studies. She fights for a better future for her two young children. She lives in Iowa City. Action Society Carrie Schuettpelz (Lumbee) has nearly 15 years of experience in the public policy field. She spent seven years as a homelessness policy advisor in the Obama Administration. In that capacity, she managed the budget process of over $40 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development; reviewed grant applications and determined awardees; provided technical assistance to community partners; and led strategic planning initiatives nationwide. She is an expert in social policy and affordable housing, and an experienced consultant on issues of Native economic development and policy. She has served on several boards of directors, including for Iowa's statewide homelessness funding known as the Continuum of Care. In September 2022, she sold her nonfiction book The Indian Card to Flatiron Books. She holds an MPP from Harvard University, and MFA from the University of Wisconsin and a BA from the University of Iowa. She lives In Iowa City with her husband and children. fill Shelley Buffalo Decoioniai Pathfinder Carrie Schuettpelz consultant Shelley Buffalo (Meskwaki) is a food sovereignty, rematriation and restorative justice advocate. Through collaborative partnerships and her consultancy, Water Panther, Shelley mindfully directs her labor to penetrate and transcend the colonial mindset. Shelley believes that this undoing and reweaving is Grandmother's lesson for human life on earth. Each time we reweave the fabric of society, we have the opportunity to make it more beautiful." She also serves as the Decolonial Pathfinder for Great Plains Action Society, an Iowa City based nonprofit aimed to increase Indigenous solidarity. In 2021, she joined Seed Savers Exchange, one of the largest nongovernmental seedbanks in the United States. In her role as Seasonal Seed Steward, she preserved heirloom plant varieties through regeneration, distribution and seed exchange. Prior to that role, Shelley served her community in coordinator roles at Red Earth Gardens and with Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative. -- Judy Morrison (Cherokee, Osage) is the owner of Redhawk Arts. She has spent twenty-three years working for the State of Iowa, as the Native American Consultant for the Department of Corrections and the Department of Human Services at the Cherokee Mental Facility. In that capacity, she advises Native offenders and staff on issues related to ceremony, re-entry, and sustainable success. She is also an expert on Native enrollment and membership policy, and is the person responsible for verifying tribal affiliation of Native offenders. For fifteen years, she was the founder of a nonprofit called Seven Feathers, which worked with Native children with disabilities across seven states. She has previously served on the Iowa Governor's Advisory Commission on Native Americans, and helped established the Commission on the Status of Native Americans under former Governor Chet Judy Morrison Culver. She is also thee former Chair of the University of Iowa's Human Rights Commission. She is a Long-time Iowa City resident. owner Redhavk Arts Lisa Barnes (ally) has served since 2009 as the Executive Director of Summer of the Arts, Inc., an Iowa City -based nonprofit arts organization which provides free arts access to music, visual arts and movies through a variety of festivals and events. During this time, she has led fundraising and marketing initiatives as well as expanding the programming and its reach of free events. She has overseen grant management of a variety of grants including funding from the Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Department of Cultural ••' Affairs and National Endowment for the Arts. Barnes was the fiscal manager on an "Our Town" grant from the NEA, which focused on programming in underserved areas of Iowa City, Prior to her tenure at Summer of the Arts, she owned her own meeting planning business for 13 years, where she planned and produced a variety of continuing education sessions, events and conferences throughout the country. Barnes believes in supporting her community and has been involved in a variety of roles LIM including serving on the Board of Directors of the Iowa City Downtown District and Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance. She is Lisa Barnes currentlya member of the Iowa Cit Downtown Rotary Club. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the Exreouve Director mwe Y Y g cry summer or the Ane University of Iowa and a certificate in nonprofit management from Iowa State University. She Lives in Iowa City. Thom Johnson (Karuka), Iowa City Area Business Partnership Meskwaki Nation Workforce Development Libby Washburn (Chicksaw), Consultant Sarah BLais, New Bo City Market Diegane Dione, Human + Machine Rise Ventures Kate Hoff, NATIFS E Space Comparables Samples of commercial spaces that are currently available in Iowa City, including pricing and square footage Space Visualization Images depicting what the space might look like in its most ideal form Sample Programming Mock-up brochures and ads for potential programming Letters of Support • Sara Blais, New Bo City Market • Cady Gerlach, Better Together 2030 • Diegane Dione, NSF Midwest innovation Engine • Darlene Wind, Iowa City Native community elder ICIC Proposal lie] 121 W Benton St list price: $1,600,000 square footage: 4,480 pros: location, parking cons: small space, needs some renovation io S Gilbert St list price: for rent square footage: 4,523 pros: location cons: small space, no parking, needs total renovation 2835 Northgate Dr list price: $2,850,000 square footage:17,967 _ pros: large space, updated features, free parking cons: location 1816 Lower Muscatine Rd list price: $6,975,000 square footage: 84,277 pros: free parking, updated features cons: location, space very large Space Visualization Below are spaces we would take inspiration from in our own renderings of ICIC w x+ Sample Networking Event Sample Calendar of Events SO �'OLI Wdllt tO IOWA CITY INDIGENOUS COLLECTIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS �A/�IItP/J� April 7-14, 2025 MON MAKERSMTG' FAFSA 101 Are you a Native entrepreneur? Or °' 13 PM 6 PM ;1 - maybe king about starting your awn business? ES KIDS HOUR BOOK READING min arta: k 10AM� 8 6PM� �. erainswrm ideas e WED MAKERS Ml DRUM CIRCLE' ,1/ • Network with omens lookingro - 12 PM 3 C 6PM0 start or sustain a business • wrcM1 Hear nompeopleess { TNUR YOGA' BEADING CIRCLE' uccess • Learn more about our ` 8 A 6 P Tebustorsh[p program nrorsbip program FRI ELDERSFOOD PANTRY' Free shilCaare will be provided ��'yCOFFEE f'B�NIE _5 P1 SAT NATIVE MARKET NETWORKING' ION'a CAN anrur, II svns, I11(lI6LIlOLIS iOIlective enuFmmlre_ex.-ex. eevxowruiaensresorcomsruwc. RiVITI LLENTSOIOO.eRe I www.incoea 4I[ b vvxnNHE sr. will m Sample Program Ad 13 Letters of Support x ................................................................... May 1, 2023 c/o Redmond Jones, Deputy City Manager City of Iowa City redmond-iones@iowa-city.org Dear Mr. Jones, 1100 314 St SE Cedar Rapids Iowa 52401 It is my honor to be writing a letter of support for the Iowa City Indigenous Collective project , proposal. In my role as the Senior Director of Market Operations at NewBo City Market, I oversee all aspects of our operations including mission and delivery around equitable business incubation and economic development in our community. After personally discussing the project proposal with Alicia Velasquez and her husband, Daniel Velasquez, I can confidently say that they are on the cusp of something that could revolutionize not only the equitable development of Iowa City but the Indigenous and Chicano communities at large in the state and region. As a recipient of federal dollars and several private foundation grants prioritizing economic development and equity, I can easily recognize a necessary and pivotal project when I see one. As a personal and professional mentor on this project, we will be providing connections to our network of funding sources throughout the development of this project to ensure it is sustainably funded in its first five years. NewBo City Market will also serve as a model for business incubation services that can be translated to the needs of the Indigenous and Chicano communities that will be served through the proposal. NewBo City Market was instrumental in the revitalization and economic prosperity of Cedar Rapids as it recovered from the flood of 2008, and we see an opportunity in this proposal to recreate that momentum and achievement in Iowa City. A project such as this will ensure an investment is returned to the city ten -fold in a matter of years through the equitable economic development that it will foster. We encourage you to invest in that vision and reality by funding the Iowa City Indigenous Collective project proposal in full. Sarah Blais Senior Director of Market Operations NewBo City Market 1100 3rd St SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 BETTER TOGETHER 2030 A SNARED FUTURE FOR JOHNSON COUNTY April 2023 To the ARPA Selection Committee for the City of Iowa City: This is a letter of support for ARPA funds for the Iowa City Indigenous Collective. It clearly aligns with the All in Vision and pillars outlined as priorities by the Better Together 2030 and visioning process feedback by the entire community as well as the Inclusive Economic Development Plan opportunities, barriers identified, and recommendations. Providing a collaborative and accessible space that creates a sense of belonging and promotes entrepreneurial activity will allow native community building, economic development and place -making to develop, grow, and become a vital part of the inclusive economic ecosystem here in Iowa City. Additional places to network and creating entrepreneurial spaces that are authentic and vibrant that are unique to communities they seek to serve are an important part of the BT2030 All in Vision. The proposal clearly identifies possible locations, and the team has done the work to know what is needed to make this a reality. They have also gathered an impressive team, advisory board, and network of individuals that are committed to the success of this project that will make it a reality. The determination and passion for this work is not only evident in their proposal, but in the community and trust building that has occurred in the previous years that led them to this point. This, coupled with the team's abilities, will no doubt lead to the project's success. Native people were negatively and disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which ARPA dollars seek to help alleviate. The public investment dollars through ARPA also provide a once in a generation opportunity to expand transformational projects and initiatives that are otherwise unavailable. With that, Better Together 2030 support this proposal and will support the Iowa City Indigenous Collective to make this project a reality. With our support, Letter of Support from Heartland Innovation & Regional Engine"" (HIRE) To Whom It May Concern Heartland Innovation & Regional Engine' (HIRE) is a consortium of 20 plus organization members to that was formed in November 2022 as an entity for a proposal that was submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Regional Innovation Engine program this past January. Our consortium includes 20 plus public and private partners including 2 Fortune 500 companies and 4 Universities: U of North Dakota, Missouri State U, Kansas State and U of Iowa. In a nutshell, the NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program is a bold new initiative committed to creating regional -scale, technology -driven innovation ecosystems throughout the United States. The NSF is looking for multi - stakeholder partnerships involving state government, universities, industry, entrepreneurs, and VC funds collaborating together around innovation (startups formation), workforce development and solving societal challenges (STEM education, DEI, poverty etc.) https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/regional-innovation-engines The NSF Regional Innovation Engine program represents a unique opportunity to help increase venture capital Investments in these Heartland States and startups founded by Native American. Native American entrepreneurs face a number of demographic -specific challenges that can hinder their ability to start, finance, and grow entrepreneurial ventures. If our proposal is funded by the NSF (pending decision in Q3 of 2023), HIRE will collaborate with Iowa City Indigenous Collective to help achieve these main goals: • Purposeful, beneficial societal impact to the regional Native American community by directing significant resources and activities to increase STEM education, training, and new business formation. Challenges faced by the Native American community with respect to lack of learning/communication infrastructure and culturally appropriate engagement model resources are a key priority for the HIRE initiative. • HIRE has established a collaboration with the Iowa Native American Council (NAC), with Dr. Carrie Schuettpelz as a representative. NAC will broaden its work, particularly around educational enrollment and job training. NAC will work together with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) to create programming at all Iowa regent institutions, as well as community colleges throughout the region. Funding from the NSF Engine grant will support a) additional (Native) staff to create partnerships and oversee the work; b) scholarships to technical and community colleges, as well as 4 -year institutions; c) internship stipends; startup incubators; and d) community building initiatives aimed at bringing Native partners to the table. • Enablement of Native Americans Entrepreneurs by having HIRE source startups founded by Native Americans. HIRE Innovation Team will include a team of Native American Innovation Ambassadors (e.g. former entrepreneurs and educators from the community) to develop a communication, engagement and sourcing strategy and plans specifically for Native Americans entrepreneurs. Signed: — ---- ---- Print Name: Diegane Dione, HIR dlember oeosyaz aFpsagn. 2 0 2 3 Date: / ---------------- – – -- – – – ---- Organization: Heartland Regional Innovation Engine, LLC (HRIE) "doing business as" Heartland Innovation & Regional Engine (HIRE) To Whom It May Concern: Below is my story. I tell it to you in the hopes that it will demonstrate how much we need an indigenous space in Iowa City. I was adopted and lost contact with my biological, and Tribal family when I was 4 years old. I was sent far away from my home in Northern Minnesota. I grew up on a farm in rural Iowa, outside of Iowa City. I was adopted by a white couple that could not have children of their own. They adopted two white baby boys and another Native American girl from my reservation but we were not related. I was raised to not value that part of myself that was Native. Well, you can take the girl off the Rez but you can't take the Rez out of the girl. After studying, traveling and just living surrounded by other Natives from various Tribes I finally moved back home to my Reservation. I worked 17 years for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and 19 years for the US Forest Service. I was transferred to Albuquerque, NM and worked for the Forest Service for 15 years there until I retired. I moved back to Iowa City to be with my daughter and grandchildren. Immediately after moving I spent the next two and a half years traveling back to my rez and back to Albuquerque, traveling anywhere but here. I had come full circle, back to a place that was devoid of Native culture, and no other Native people to interact with, trying to survive here to me was like living in a black hole. My life was about to change for the better. A friend texted me a link to a website that had information about an Indigenous woman who had opened a boutique and was selling her art and jewelry. My friend offered to introduce us next time I came back to town. We went to her store and I met Alicia Velasquez, bought her jewelry, talked with her and we became fast friends. Unbeknownst to her she had thrown me a lifeline. The relief of knowing I was no longer alone was indescribable. Through Alicia and attending activities at her store I have met more Native Americans with families that reside here and in the surrounding area. It was and still is unbelievable to me, that these people are here, having grown up isolated for so many of my formative years. It is wonderful to have a community with like minded people to share ideas and learn from each other. Many tribes are represented in this ever-growing group of Indigenous people. We have a lot to learn about each other. about our cultural differences and similarities. We are a close knit yet welcoming group, that supports each other spiritually, mentally and emotionally. These fellow two leggeds are my Tribe and family!! Sincerely, Darlene Wind Iowa City ASTIG PLANN,NG May 1, 2023 Redmond Jones, Deputy City Manager City of Iowa City Re: Iowa City Indigenous Collective project Dear Mr. Redmond, On behalf of my company, Astig Planning, I am truly honored to write a letter of support for the Iowa City Indigenous Collective project. If funded, this project will demonstrate the commitment Iowa City has to elevate and support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) business ventures, making our town a model for others throughout the midwest. As the senior planner for the Inclusive Economic Development Plan (IEDP), I was overjoyed to hear that a project of this magnitude was coming together. This is exactly the kind of opportunity we hoped might be possible, if given adequate resources. I say'hoped might be possible' because we could never have dreamed of such a powerful collective emerging. I have worked with many of the people represented in this proposal and each of these individuals are formidable community leaders in their own right. This group has the passion, community resources, and vision to successfully create the groundbreaking new venture proposed. This project, in turn, has the power to heal, change lives, and contribute meaningfully to Iowa City. The IEDP outlined several areas where the city could invest resources and remove barriers, such as creating more access to educational opportunities that are taught by and for BIPOC business owners and hosting financial literacy demonstrations. The main IEDP recommendation outlined the creation of neighborhood -level business hubs with BIPOC leaders at the helm, who could provide safer communal spaces for other BIPOC-led businesses. The Iowa City Indigenous Collective breathes life into this idea and shows us what this looks like for our Native -led businesses. The statistics are stark when we look at our Native populations, whether it is food insecurity or low wages or any other category of social determinants of health. Our Native communities are living in a post -apocalyptic country, one where their communities have suffered genocide and have had little to no opportunities to create generational wealth. This is a grim picture. I don't write these words lightly. What you have in this proposal is nothing short of a gift—an opportunity to re-create, rebuild, and re -imagine what is possible for our Native -led business community and all of Iowa City. I urge you to give this project all of the attention it deserves. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, V Fixmer-Oraiz CEO & Founder, Astig Planning Astig Planning works toward a world of activated communities, healthy ecosystems, and lasting equity. A world in which those most impacted by today's social problems are at the center of creative, community-based solutions that lead to full and dignified lives. ncn R 3 A I T A cover letter identifying the lead applicant and, if any, co -applicants. Include the lead organization's name, address, and the address of the project site (if known). Provide contact information (name, title, phone, and email) for the person leading the project. Please specify in the cover letter if the application is for (1) physical space, (2) business support programs, or both. Dream City 611 Southgate Avenue Iowa City, IA 52240 April 28, 2023 RE: Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Letter of Interest To Whom It May Concern: We are writing to express our interest in the inclusive economic development support for underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs. Our organization has been committed to supporting the growth and success of underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented communities over the past five years and through various partnerships with our partnering agencies included in this letter of interest. A little over a year ago upon learning about the City of Iowa City's Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Business and Entrepreneurs funding, we have been working to maintain and expand entrepreneurial supports within our current location at 611 Southgate Avenue, gain necessary estimates on costs to renovate our space to meet the needs of underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs, and have united a team of local representative leaders within our community. We have seen firsthand the positive impact that our work has had on the individuals we serve and the broader community as a whole. We are confident that with the support of funding for this initiative, we can take our work to the next level as well as address the key findings from the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and carry out part of the City's Strategic Plan. Our team is composed of individuals and organizations looking to collaborate and continue the economic development and community resiliency work we have already been doing, some of us for over 15 years. We are hoping to receive 3 million dollars of these funds for physical space and business support programming. Specifically, 2 million would go towards us purchasing and renovating the existing property at 611 Southgate Avenue in Iowa City. 1 million would go towards entrepreneurial support services that directly serve underestimated populations of entrepreneurs — both existing and new small business owners. Through equity within the building, assets, programming, including the diversity market, funds from events, and salaries of 611 Southgate Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240 Office: (319)2143037 Email: info0dreamcitvia.or¢ www.dreamcityia.org I www.facebook.com/dreamcitvia I www.instagram.com/dreamcitvia staff and partners involved with this project, we will be contributing about $1.5M over a period of time. We are grateful for the opportunity to apply for these funds and for this new process that not only elevates and focuses underestimated and marginalized entrepreneurs, but also prioritizes collaborative efforts to ensure sustainability. While this letter of interest prioritizes the current collaborating partners, our team is excited to further engage and integrate work with other community partners to continue doing this important work together. Sincerely, Frederick Newell Executive Director 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. Demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan Dream City Proposal: A Regional Hub for Community and Economic Development Our task in this moment is to think beyond what our present circumstances reflect. It requires us to dream big. This letter of interest does just that. It articulates a vision for community development that is transformative, collaborative, and centers groups in our community that have been underestimated and underrepresented. It outlines an approach to development where the benefits are broadly shared and regenerative. And, it is led by individuals and organizations who have a strong track record for building community resilience in the community. We are experienced collaborators closest to these issues and believe we have the solutions to impact underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs. Dream City has long served as a hub in the South District. The space and leadership have provided physical, safe space, support/resources, programming, community and more for folks who cannot or do not find it elsewhere. Dream City has become a home for if you can dream it and if the space can accommodate it, it can happen within the building. The funding available has created an opportunity for Dream City to partner even more with others to continue its work and expand - in scope, impact and in ambition -to become a resilient regional hub for community building and economic development in Iowa City and beyond. As a regional hub, we envision a collaborative space where underestimated businesses and community initiatives can access a range of resources, services and programming designed to empower existing efforts and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Underrepresented entrepreneurs face a unique set of challenges and barriers. By providing a dedicated space for underestimated businesses, we aim to level the playing field and help close the wealth and opportunity gaps that persist in our communities. The key components and goals of this proposal are building acquisition, building updatestrenovations, entrepreneurial support programming and the creation of an entrepreneurial equity endowment fund. Making these goals a reality will address the key barriers from the Inclusive Economic Development Plan with regards to cost of rent, gaps in information about resources, lack of access or perceived lack of access to financial banking systems, lack of relationships with business support systems, hostile environment within business support systems, short supply of business mentors and lack of access to childcare options (Inclusive Economic Development Plan, 7). This is a direct action in response to "bolstering entities and organizations that currently support small business and entrepreneurs", "providing resources to the underestimated entrepreneurial and business community", and "building infrastructure to create spaces for the underestimated business community to thrive" (8). Furthermore, this letter of interest prioritizes the City of Iowa City's values of racial equity, social justice, human rights, partnerships and engagement as well as climate action. Specifically, our goals are directly aligned with the City's plan action steps for economy: reinforce Iowa City as a premier community to locate and grow a business, ensure appropriate infrastructure is in place for future business growth and development, and cultivate a strong entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem with pathways to success for systematically marginalized populations (City of Iowa City Strategic Plan: FY23-28). Building Acouisition. Renovations. & Uoarades Owning the building and retrofitting it to become a more modern, energy efficient and functional space will enable us to fully do this work. Which will include the creation of a shared commercial kitchen space, micro -commercial and incubation spaces, multi -use event space that will host existing and new programming, and much more. The exploration to acquire the green space lot next to the property would also be included in this goal. Building Acquisition & Renovations Acquiring ownership of the building and the green space lot and carrying out renovations will provide our organizations with several benefits that will be important components to economic development that supports local businesses, attracts new investments and creates a more welcoming, diverse and sustainable economy. Some of those benefits include: • Financial Flexibility • Enhanced Property Value • Improved Functionality and Efficiency • Enhanced Safety and Accessibility • Improved Energy Efficiency and Modernization • Increased Revenue Potential • Increase Collaborative Business Operational Spaces • Positive Impact on the South of 6 Iowa City Business District, South District Neighborhood and Iowa City Community • Increased visibility • Improved safety • Enhanced business district pride and cohesion • Environmental benefits With regard to the Inclusive Economic Development Plan, these benefits decrease the cost of commercial rent, increase the number of safe, non -hostile environments within the business ecosystem, all while decreasing the lack of access to childcare options. Commercial Kitchen A commercial kitchen is an essential resource needed within our community especially for many of the underestimated populations -owned businesses we have been supporting over the last several years. The addition of a commercial kitchen within our building will provide for the space, equipment, and resources needed to prepare and serve food at scale. Here are additional benefits • Compliance with health and safety regulations • Increased production capacity • Cost-effective food production • Professionalism and credibility • Versatility and flexibility • Building a Community of Collaboration With regard to the Inclusive Economic Development Plan, there is and has been an overwhelmingly high demand for commercial kitchens within our community. The current commercial kitchens available for entrepreneurs are booked out months in advance and are not always at an affordable rate. By having another commercial kitchen in the South District, this increases access to this resource, has the capacity to keep commercial kitchen rental costs low and with it being run by underestimated populations increases the opportunity to decrease gaps in information while building in business mentors. Classroom Technology Upgraded technology in our classroom spaces will provide underestimated population -owned businesses with access to the same resources (e.g. collaborative spaces, equipment and technology) and opportunities as their peers, while also helping to promote diversity, representation and equity. With regard to the Inclusive Economic Development Plan, upgrading technology in collaborative, shared -space classrooms will decrease the disconnect between business support systems and mentorship in the underestimated populations' business community. Again, by investing in these spaces, the City has an opportunity to bolster entities already serving and providing resources to underestimated entrepreneurs and small businesses. Micro Commercial Spaces Micro commercial spaces are small commercial spaces/storefronts typically designed for small businesses or startups. The goal for offering these spaces is to create a transformative commercial and cultural incubation hub within the South District for underestimated owned businesses and entrepreneurs that are affordable and accessible. 4 According to commercial lending experts, commercial rental space should not exceed over 15% of a businesses revenue. As identified in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan, a significant number of businesses in Johnson County are spending 20% to 79% of their revenue on their commercial rent. This is not sustainable and it prevents many underrepresented businesses from starting, growing or expanding. While it is unclear why this disparity exists, the need for affordable commercial spaces is clear. Astig Planning surveyed businesses countywide for the creation of the Inclusive Economic Development Plan. The number one barrier mentioned by existing businesses was affordable rent. For emerging businesses a lack of affordable commercial space was the second highest ranking barrier. While there will be no hard cap set for businesses to lease these spaces, the goal of this program will be to graduate businesses into larger and/or permanent spaces within two years. During that time the program will work with each business to develop a financial roadmap for growth that is specific to their business. This roadmap will identify financial opportunities/resources, be they grants or loans, that can fund each business's next stage of growth. The program will work with each business to become eligible and meet requirements. The benefits to businesses will be multifold: real-world business incubation and development i.e. interacting with consumers/customers, personalized mentorship, and increasing awareness of financial resources that exist on a local, state, regional and national level. There are numerous BIPOC owned businesses in Iowa City and throughout the region searching for and in need of commercial space. The Diversity Market for example has created a pipeline of businesses who are ready or who will soon be ready to take the next step to grow their business. The challenge and the gap that exists is in finding affordable and right -sized spaces to more safely incubate their ideas and methods. Micro commercial spaces solves this problem, while connecting these entrepreneurs to a supportive network and a set of broader business services. This safe incubation time within Dream City and the connections to networks and services will allow for the continued growth and evolution of businesses into other locations when they outgrow their space at 611 Southgate Avenue. Benefits include, but are not limited to: • Affordable and right -sized commercial spaces • A goal to graduate businesses within two years • Personalized financial roadmaps to fund the next stage of growth • Increased awareness of existing financial resources and opportunities created for underrepresented entrepreneurs Event Space Our event space will be specially designed and equipped to host a variety of events, such as conferences,educational meetings (e.g. Lunch & Learn Down to Business Series), weddings, and concerts and other cultural traditions and events (e.g. quinceaneras). Here are some benefits of the event space: • Networking opportunities • Broader exposure for emerging ideas, initiatives and entrepreneurs • Revitalizing and building community resiliency -A space to bring communities, social groups and families together. The power of us coming together for one cause, cannot be overstated. The collaboration between our organizations has created a collective impact that is greater than the sum of its parts. We believe that by authentically working together, we will build a more diverse, inclusive, and resilient economy that benefits everyone in the community. In regards to the Inclusive Economic Development Plan, renovating and investing in these event spaces again bolster entities already providing services to specifically provide resources to underestimated entrepreneurs and the business community such that the reach is greater and more sustainable. Entrepreneurial Support Programming Entrepreneurial support services are a crucial component of empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to succeed. These services provide a wide range of resources, including business development support, mentorship, coaching, networking and access to funding opportunities. Through these programs and services, emerging entrepreneurs can overcome obstacles associated with starting or scaling businesses and develop new skills to grow their ventures. Community Business Support Programming Within Dream City, the collaborations with partners programming will include business incubation programs, mentorship, workshops and other resources to support minority-owned businesses. We are already doing this with the Down to Business Lunch & Learns. These services are designed to help entrepreneurs meet the unique challenges of running a business and it is important to note that this very Lunch & Learn series was an idea born and initiated directly from the Inclusive Economic Development Plan's Strategic Doing as pathfinder project that found its home within the newly formed South of 6 Iowa City Business District currently operating out of the 611 Southgate Avenue building. Benefits from these support programs include: • Increased revenue and access to capital • Increased marketing skills • Increased networking opportunities • Increased financial literacy and accounting skills • Increased knowledge on hiring and retention practices • Increased self-care and wellness practices South District Diversity Market Dream City has been the fiscal sponsor of this market since its conception. This market is a consistent opportunity to shop and support local entrepreneurs in the Iowa City and Johnson County area. Its primary focus has been and continues to be elevating underestimated populations of small business owners that include, but are not limited to: women, BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, returning citizens, LGBTQ+ and youth. • Increased affordable access to space • Increased visibility and awareness to build customer base • Increased opportunity to practice entrepreneurial and small business skills • Increased networking opportunities with current and potential small business investors • Increased opportunity to build economic ecosystem amongst fellow entrepreneurs from underestimated populations • Increased opportunity for current existing financial institutions and economic development entities to outreach and engage underestimated populations of entrepreneurs directly One on One Small Business Coaching - Individual Business Support System We will partner with a local business coaching firm, ActionCOACH Campus who has the tools and curriculum to mentor, teach business fundamentals and empower business owners to grow a sustainable business, one step at a time, with proven results. Each business owner is matched with a certified business coach who will hold them accountable by meeting with them bi-weekly for a period of two years. The goal is to teach and guide businesses to identify the pain points in their business, establish a clear vision and mission for their business direction and formulate an action plan with short-term quarterly goals that align with their longer 3-5 year plan. Coaches with ActionCOACH campus who are getting certified in English and Spanish are Marlen Mendoza, CEO of Mendoza Consulting and Adriana Contreras, Owner of Adriana Salon in the South of 6 Iowa City Business District. This coaching team will keep business owners accountable as they prepare and work toward the growth of their business. They will accomplish this with an initial deep dive business diagnostic to identify immediate growth areas. Secondly, go over the 6 -steps tool to help them set up their business priorities in the proper order. Finally, with bi-weekly coaching and quarterly growth club meetings. The numbers from their P&L statements and those shared at the quarterly growth club will be the quantitative data to track how much their business has grown. After each bi-weekly coaching session, their feedback surveys will serve as qualitative data to monitor how the business owner feels and how much value they receive post -coaching sessions. At the end of every coaching session, we always ask them to share their biggest take -away and what they will focus on in the two weeks ahead. By providing personal and comprehensive services to support minority-owned businesses a path is created to economic empowerment and growth for communities that have previously been underrepresented. Furthermore, since these programs are led by minority populations, the City has a rare opportunity to directly invest in the leadership already carrying out this important work directly. This helps to sustain and grow the economic development efforts of the representative leadership within our community. Entrepreneurial Eauity Endowment Fund Additionally, an entrepreneurial equity endowment fund will be created and maintained to ensure the longevity of inclusive economic development for underestimated and marginalized entrepreneurs and small businesses in our community. This will also lead to expanding the capacity of representative leadership within the Iowa City area. This project will establish an endowment fund that will award grants to underrepresented and underestimated entrepreneurs to fund growth projects on a bi-annual basis. The funds for this endowment fund will come from the profits of leased spaces and private contributions. Businesses throughout the Iowa City area will be eligible to apply. This endowment fund would contribute to existing efforts to lessen the barriers to access to capital. It would benefit entrepreneurs in this area but could also serve as a magnet, attracting businesses to the area as well. A benefit from this project includes: • The creation and allocation of a self sustaining grant program to fund growth projects for and by underestimated and underrepresented entrepreneurs annually. 3. A description of how the project builds community resiliency following the COVID-19 pandemic by building capacity to serve residents of the community Community Resiliency has been a focus of Dream City since its conception. It is something that we model as a sustainable way to bring residents, businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities together. Well before COVID-19, the South District has experienced many challenges that have created barriers to improving quality of life. Habitat for Humanity, a long standing entity of revitalizing, has a Quality of Life Framework that shares, "to create systemic and sustainable change the community must focus on foundational outcomes:" Sense of Community: Identifying with the area, feeling connected and supporting one another 2. Social Cohesion: Being willing and able to work together 3. Collective Action: Sustaining ongoing projects and advocacy efforts Dream City has been creating a Quality of Life Framework from which to operate and will continue. With the City's support, Dream City is able to expand the work it has been doing for over a decade directly to build community resilience to serve residents which will increase the impact and ensure that efforts are sustainable and led by those most impacted by the change. Some of the ways our organization has been building resiliency at 611 Southgate Avenue includes: • Events/Activities—below are some of the events that have already taken place at Dream City in the past: o UI Mobile Health Clinics o Inaugural 2021 South District Diversity Market Season o South District Neighborhood Association Neighborhood Meetings o Johnson County Voter Registration Site o Johnson County Interfaith Coalition Local Candidate Forums o Winter Gear Distribution Site o I Heart Black Business LLC and Small Business Workforce Development Educational workshops o Back To School Giveaways o Community Dinners, Community Events, Community Meetings, Community Circles, Recitals, Black History Museum Space and incubation space for nonprofits and community initiatives, economic development, small business: Past & Present Use A. Nonprofits 1. Dream City 2, South District Neighborhood Association 3. Multicultural Development Center of Iowa (MDC) 4. The Purpose Place 5. Mision Cristiana Elim 6. LifePointe 7. Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa Circle Sessions 8. Iowa City Community School District Student Workshops 9. UI Mobile Health Clinic 10. Job Fairs (partnership between Vocational Rehabilitation, Iowa Workforce, Iowa City Fire Department, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, South District Neighborhood Association, Iowa City Community School District) B. Other Economic Development 1. Launch of Pilot South District Diversity Market (Dream City continues to be the fiscal sponsor of this market as it moves into its 3rd season) 2. South of 6 Iowa City Business District Coffee Connection Business Forums 3. South of 6 Lunch & Learn Down to Business Series 4. Soft opening of Selina's Creations Food Catering Business 5. Pop-up Cafe Incubator 6. Hosted Iowa City Area Development Group Million Cups 7. Hosted Iowa City Area Business Partnership Community Leadership Program 8. Hosted Tippie College Executive Leadership Program Class C. Small Business Office Space 1. South of 6 Iowa City Business District (SSMID) 2. Astig Planning LLC 3. Mental Health Practitioner (small business) 4. Banjo Knits Empowerment LLC 5. Finer Streetwear 6. Kneading Escape Massage Therapist Space 7. Mendoza Consulting LLC (Co -Working Space) 8. The Red Seat Podcast 9. STRIKE Martial Arts 10. Photography Studio 4. Estimated Project Budget • 2 million Building Acquisition & Renovations - City of Iowa City • 1 million Programming -City of Iowa City A. Building Sustainable Revenue: o Leased office spaces rental fees o Commercial kitchen fees o Facility/Event usage fees o Leased micro -commercial spaces B. Launch Capital Campaign o Grants (Local, State, Federal) o Corporate Partnerships o Crowdfunding o Events C. Leveraging Existing Revenue and In -Kind Support: o On-site Youth After -School Programming (addresses lack of childcare) already established through Dream City for working -parents within the regional hub o Existing Building and Equity o Site Development Plan o Coordination of existing economic development programming, events and advocacy o Diversity Market o Lunch & Learns o So.6 Coffee Connections o Black Professionals of Johnson & Linn County 5. Preliminary Timeline 10 A. Building Acquisition & Renovations • Acquire building • Draft designs based on budget and priorities • Renovate building • Continue to move partners into building B. Entrepreneurial Support Programming • Continue established economic development and community programming • Increase programming and services offered within the hub as leased office spaces are intentionally filled with entities that can provide professional development (e.g. accounting) and restorative practices (e.g. massage therapist); expand programming and services as renovation timeline allows C. Create Community Equity Endowment Fund • Save a percentage of the funds from leased spaces and facility/event space usage and build fund • Reinvest fund into property, programming and community efforts that enhance and expand inclusive economic development and entrepreneurial supports 6. Statement of Dream City's Ability to Perform Grant and Financial Management We are committed to providing effective and efficient grants and financial management for all funding received. We currently oversee a small budget of about $250,000 per fiscal year. Our organization has a track record of successful grant and financial management locally and at the state level, and we recently added an accountant to our board or directors who is well -versed in managing federal grant funds, complex grants and budgets. We have a comprehensive approach to grant management that includes careful planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. Our Executive Director and Finance Committee are skilled at identifying and addressing potential challenges and risks, and they work closely with funders to ensure that grant requirements are met and that reporting is timely and accurate. We have a proven track record of managing funds effectively and transparently, and ensuring that financial resources are allocated in accordance with our organizational goals and values. At Dream City, we understand that effective grant and financial management is critical for achieving our mission and for being able to support other businesses and entrepreneurs. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct, and we are confident in our ability to manage any grant funds received in a responsible and effective manner. 7. Project Related Work -To -Date At Dream City, over the past several years, we have partnered with various partners and organizations to implement a number of successful initiatives aimed at supporting 11 underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. We have been doing this work alongside our partners going on 3 years now collectively. Things Accomplished Thus Far: 1. Agreement with owner of 611 Southgate to purchase the building 2. Estimate completed for renovations of spaces 3. Agreement with current tenants (subsidized rent) of 611 who would continue to occupy spaces and interest from other businesses and entrepreneurs interested in renting spaces 4. South District Diversity Market 5. Lunch & Learns 6. Space Created For Pop Up For Businesses & Entrepreneurs 7. Partnership w/U nderesti mated Businesses & Entrepreneurs 8. Track record and/or statements of abilities—[Please see our brochure] - Frederick Newell: Executive Director of Dream City, Pastor of The Purpose Place, Inclusion & Outreach Coordinator for the Iowa City Community School District, Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County, Awards: Corridor Business Journal 40 Under Forty, Think Iowa City Bravo Award, Press Citizen's Person To Watch, Community Service Award, BVP MILK Service Award - Marlen Mendoza: Owner of Mendoza Consulting LLC, Former President of League of United Latin American Citizens, Founder of Emprendimiento Latino 5M, Founder and Leadership of Diversity Market, Founder of South of 6 Iowa City Business District - Angie Jordan: Executive Director & Founder of South of 6 Iowa City Business District, South District Neighborhood Association Co -Founder & President, Founder and Leadership of Diversity Market, Owner of Banjo Knits Empowerment LLC; Awards: Black Voices Project MILK Service Award, City of Iowa City Human Rights Award, Think Iowa City Bravo Award, ICAD Sizzle Award, Women's Foundation Ovation Award,The Best of Crandic Social Justice Award, Corridor Business Journal Women of Influence, Corridor Business Journal 40 Under Forty, Press Citizen's Person -to -Watch, Press Citizen's Person of the Year Award, Board Member of Better Together 2023, Board Member of Dream City Tasha Lard: Entrepreneur, Owner of JD Beauty Supply, President & Founder of South of 6 Iowa City Business District, Founder & Manager of Diversity Market, Founder & Director of Black Professionals of Johnson & Linn County, Founder of MOGUL Consulting, Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Board Member of Table 2 Table, Press Citizen's Person -to -Watch. Awards: ICAD Sizzle Award, Think Iowa City Bravo Award. - Simeon Talley: Entrepreneur, Community Builder and Community Developer 12 Any Other Supporting Info Attached A. Statement of Abilities Brochure B. Site Development Plan C. Letters of Support D. Financial Statements 13 ANGIE JORDAN Angie is an Iowa City native with a double major in cognitive psychology and cultural anthropology. She has a background in youth development, family empowerment and community building. Angie co-founded and leads South District Neighborhood Association, South District Diversity Market, the South District Self -Supported Municipal Improvement District and runs her own small business -Banjo Knits Empowerment LLC. Currently, Angie is the inaugural Executive Director of the South of 6 Iowa City Business District, Board Member of Better Together 2030 & Dream City while serving on the SDNA Leadership Committee. ABOUT US r3cr) R- A N. C l i Dream City mission is to inspire change through advocacy, art, community development, wellness, and community connections. We have been accomplishing this mission through our connection academies along with some partnerships we have formed over the past 3 years. Through our partnerships, with some amazing thought partners and leaders, we have created a hub for community and economic development within the Iowa City community. As a hub, we are seeking to become a regional hub while continuing to build collaborative spaces where underestimated businesses and community initiatives can access a range of resources, services and programming designed to empower existing efforts and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. FREDERICK NEWELL Frederick Newell is a native of Chicago, IL and has lived in the Iowa City area since 2006. After graduating with a BA in Social Work from the University of Iowa in 2010, Frederick founded the Dream Center in 2012, a nonprofit organization that began as a response to the growing number of youth affected by absentee and non- involved fathers. He is the proud father of 8 children and the husband of Tianna Newell. Along with being a father and husband, he serves in many roles within our community from a coach, mentor, confidant, pastor, community activist, equity team member and servant leader. Tasha Lard Tasha Lard is a native of Chicago, IL. She obtained an associate's degree in Human Services focused on Correctional Counseling. Later, she continued her education at Upper Iowa University, where she pursued her bachelor's degree in Human Services. Despite her background in Human services, she decided to take the entrepreneurial route three years ago and opened JD Beauty Supply, located in Pepperwood Plaza in Iowa City, Iowa, and included in the Cities South District SSMID (Self Supported Municipal Improvement District.) Tasha is also the co- founder of the Black Professionals of Johnson County & Linn County. Marlen Mendoza Marlen Mendoza is the founder and CEO of Mendoza Consulting and has worked with philanthropy, national non -profits, state and local government, and the private business sector. Marlen received her B.A. in International Studies in Global Health at the University of Iowa. As a self-starter entrepreneur, she works on various economic development projects in Iowa City. She is the co- founder of Emprendimiento Latino 5M, co-founder of the Diversity Market and incorporated South of 6, a business district in south Iowa City. She is an active member League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) council and is the State Deputy Director of LULAC Iowa. il Simeon Talley Simeon Talley is a midwest based entrepreneur and curator currently living in Iowa City. While living in the midwest he has spearheaded projects such as Iowa Fashion Project, Flyover Fashion Fest, Middle of Nowhere Music Festival, RADinc, Political Party Live Podcast! and more. The throughline of all his work focuses on building community and creating opportunities for ideas and entrepreneurs who are often overlooked. He is currently the owner of Basic Goods, a retail store located in Downtown Iowa City and an Executive MBA candidate at Tippie College, University of Iowa as well as leading a new commercial development effort focused on micro-retail/commercial spaces THE DREAM CENTER Statement of Activity July 2019 - June 2020 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:59 PM GMT -05:00 1/2 TOTAL Revenue 43400 Direct Public Support 43450 Individual Contributions 28,720.25 43560 Business Contributions 9,313.18 Total 43400 Direct Public Support 38,033.43 44500 Government Grants 44530 Local Government Grants 75,468.47 44540 State Grants 39,959.10 Total 44500 Government Grants 115,427.57 44800 Indirect Public Support 4.38 45000 Investments 45030 Interest -Savings, Short-term CD 24.69 Total 45000 Investments 24.69 46400 Other Types of Income 10.59 Total Revenue $153,500.66 GROSS PROFIT $153,500.66 Expenditures 60900 Business Expenses 60920 Business Registration Fees 250.48 Total 60900 Business Expenses 250.48 62100 Contract Services 62110 Accounting Fees 339.97 Total 62100 Contract Services 339.97 62800 Facilities and Equipment 62840 Equip Rental and Maintenance 400.00 62890 Rent, Parking, Utilities 7,952.28 62900 Vehicle 5,824.83 Total 62800 Facilities and Equipment 14,177.11 65000 Operations 123.56 65010 Books, Subscriptions, Reference 1,309.82 65040 Supplies 1,852.33 65050 Telephone, Telecommunications 2,965.17 65060 Website, Video, Marketing 1,188.98 65070 Computer Software 834.94 Total 65000 Operations 8,274.80 65100 Other Types of Expenses 65120 Insurance - Liability, D and O 4,579.17 65160 Other Costs 4,886.76 65170 Staff Development 683.00 Total 65100 Other Types of Expenses 10,148.93 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:59 PM GMT -05:00 1/2 THE DREAM CENTER Statement of Activity July 2019 - June 2020 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:59 PM GMT -05:00 2/2 TOTAL 65200 Program Direct Expense 1,202.99 65210 Entrance Fees 5,328.04 65220 Food Expense 4,284.57 65300 Supplies 15,077.41 Total 65200 Program Direct Expense 25,893.01 66000 Payroll Expenses 43,564.16 68300 Travel and Meetings 68310 Conference, Convention, Meeting 279.52 68320 Travel 1,393.12 68330 Fuel 231.24 68340 Mileage 3,411.16 Total 68300 Travel and Meetings 5,315.04 Total Expenditures $107,963.50 NET OPERATING REVENUE $45,537.16 NET REVENUE $45,537.16 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:59 PM GMT -05:00 2/2 THE DREAM CENTER Statement of Activity July 2020 - June 2021 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:59 PM GMT -05:00 1/2 TOTAL Revenue 43400 Direct Public Support 43450 Individual Contributions 36,231.86 43560 Business Contributions 24,928.11 Total 43400 Direct Public Support 61,159.97 44500 Government Grants 44530 Local Government Grants 152,615.97 44540 State Grants 5,500.00 Total 44500 Government Grants 158,115.97 45000 Investments 45030 Interest -Savings, Short-term CD 77.01 Total 45000 Investments 77.01 46400 Other Types of Income 46430 Miscellaneous Revenue 0.08 Total 46400 Other Types of Income 0.08 Services 4,720.64 Total Revenue $224,073.67 GROSS PROFIT $224,073.67 Expenditures 60900 Business Expenses 60920 Business Registration Fees 521.83 Total 60900 Business Expenses 521.83 62100 Contract Services 5,599.35 62110 Accounting Fees 706.11 62150 Outside Contract Services 500.00 Total 62100 Contract Services 6,805.46 62800 Facilities and Equipment 10,310.27 62840 Equip Rental and Maintenance 2,170.33 62890 Rent, Parking, Utilities 11,408.47 62900 Vehicle 5,193.06 Total 62800 Facilities and Equipment 29,082.13 65000 Operations 65010 Books, Subscriptions, Reference 4,107.03 65040 Supplies 3,705.21 65050 Telephone, Telecommunications 2,758.56 65060 Website, Video, Marketing 356.86 65070 Computer Software 240.42 Total 65000 Operations 11,168.08 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:59 PM GMT -05:00 1/2 THE DREAM CENTER Statement of Activity July 2020 - June 2021 TOTAL 65100 Other Types of Expenses 65120 Insurance - Liability, D and O 6,467.00 Total 65100 Other Types of Expenses 6,467.00 65200 Program Direct Expense 619.79 65210 Entrance Fees 260.00 65220 Food Expense 10,257.80 65300 Supplies 7,043.06 Total 65200 Program Direct Expense 18,180.65 66000 Payroll Expenses 41,307.50 Taxes 5,416.85 Wages 71,184.96 Total 66000 Payroll Expenses 117,909.31 68300 Travel and Meetings 14.40 68330 Fuel 1,042.25 68340 Mileage 2,292.96 Total 68300 Travel and Meetings 3,349.61 Reimbursements 500.00 Uncategorized Expenditure 30.00 Total Expenditures $194,014.07 NET OPERATING REVENUE $30,059.60 NET REVENUE $30,059.60 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:59 PM GMT -05:00 2/2 THE DREAM CENTER Statement of Activity July 2021 - June 2022 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 01:00 PM GMT -05:00 1/2 TOTAL Revenue 43400 Direct Public Support 43410 Corporate Contributions 12,374.89 43450 Individual Contributions 29,079.04 43560 Business Contributions 77,578.86 Total 43400 Direct Public Support 119,032.79 44500 Government Grants 44530 Local Government Grants 103,475.08 44540 State Grants 10,397.50 Total 44500 Government Grants 113,872.58 45000 Investments 45030 Interest -Savings, Short-term CD 91.28 Total 45000 Investments 91.28 Services 17,262.59 Total Revenue $250,259.24 GROSS PROFIT $250,259.24 Expenditures 60900 Business Expenses 480.00 60920 Business Registration Fees 907.30 Total 60900 Business Expenses 1,387.30 62100 Contract Services 31,645.56 62110 Accounting Fees 717.40 62140 Legal Fees 20.00 62150 Outside Contract Services 1,200.00 Total 62100 Contract Services 33,582.96 62800 Facilities and Equipment 9,704.84 62840 Equip Rental and Maintenance 16,447.00 62870 Property Insurance 3,271.00 62890 Rent, Parking, Utilities 33,814.44 62900 Vehicle 1,592.72 Total 62800 Facilities and Equipment 64,830.00 65000 Operations 65010 Books, Subscriptions, Reference 4,950.70 65040 Supplies 6,260.97 65050 Telephone, Telecommunications 4,674.30 65060 Website, Video, Marketing 2,653.30 Total 65000 Operations 18,539.27 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 01:00 PM GMT -05:00 1/2 THE DREAM CENTER Statement of Activity July 2021 - June 2022 66000 Payroll Expenses TOTAL 65100 Other Types of Expenses 5,414.46 Wages 65120 Insurance - Liability, D and O 9,345.50 74,989.88 65160 Other Costs 5,250.00 68320 Travel 65170 Staff Development 2,793.43 2,956.50 Total 65100 Other Types of Expenses 17,388.93 Reimbursements 65200 Program Direct Expense Total Expenditures $259,816.11 65210 Entrance Fees 4,637.93 NET REVENUE 65220 Food Expense 10,468.10 65300 Supplies 15,216.19 65400 Scholarships 2,098.20 Total 65200 Program Direct Expense 32,420.42 66000 Payroll Expenses Taxes 5,414.46 Wages 69,575.42 Total 66000 Payroll Expenses 74,989.88 68300 Travel and Meetings 348.75 68320 Travel 909.10 68330 Fuel 2,956.50 Total 68300 Travel and Meetings 4,214.35 Reimbursements 12,463.00 Total Expenditures $259,816.11 NET OPERATING REVENUE $ -9,556.87 NET REVENUE $ -9,556.87 Accrual Basis Thursday, April 27, 2023 01:00 PM GMT -05:00 2/2 SOUTHGATE AVE MECHANICAL r I CUSBROOM I CLAS _M i 5LC SE gETAILMICSVITERO STAIgE MECH. I I I I I I I r 1 ' I V I 1 1 I I I I I I 1 1 I I H - w Ji rr Y D Y O LuY SK1 SITE PLAN SLINGSHOT ARCHITECTURE Apr 26, 2023 STAIR$ JBE I��. C1 MECOMMUMTV CIXAMEIICIAL KRCf1EN y1CgA0E ELEVry*R SF MICRO REfAILSUITE OUTDOORCOMMUNRVgWM GATHERING (OREAMCITY PROGRAMMING] o `RETKSURO RErAILMI RE 3700 sE FLE%IBLE EVEM SPACE w - YABFMICRO O REfALLSMRE x MECHANICAL r I CUSBROOM I CLAS _M i 5LC SE gETAILMICSVITERO STAIgE MECH. I I I I I I I r 1 ' I V I 1 1 I I I I I I 1 1 I I H - w Ji rr Y D Y O LuY SK1 SITE PLAN SLINGSHOT ARCHITECTURE Apr 26, 2023 215 SF 1 215 SF OFFICE OFFICE OPEN TO IivA ►1124I= 120 SF I 120 SF OFFICE OFFICE BUILDING ADDITION SK1 DREAM CITY - 2ND LEVEL - BUSINESS HUB 215 SF I 215 SF OFFICE OFFICE OPEN TO BELOW 120 SF I 120 SF OFFICE OFFICE STAIRS MECHANICAL II ELEV. KITCHEN STAIRS I MECH. CONFERENCE OPEN OFFICE CONFERENCE SLINGSHOT ARCHITECTURE Apr 26, 2023 BUILDING ADDITION SLINGSHOT ARCHITECTURE SM DREAM CITY GROUND FLOOR PLAN Apr 26, 2023 BUSINESS STAIRS HUB ENTRY 500 SF MICRO 1350 SF COMMUNITY RETAIL SUITE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN STORAGE ELEV. 2400 SF 500 SF MICRO COMMUNITY ROOM RETAIL SUITE (DREAM CITY rn zz PROGRAMMING) 2 O 0 O Q 3000 SF U FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACE O ¢ 500 SF MICRO RETAIL SUITE w w Q S rn STORAGE + 330 SF 330 SF 500 SF MICRO RETAIL SUITE MECHANICAL CLASSROOM CLASSROOM ELEC STAIRS MECH. BUILDING ADDITION SLINGSHOT ARCHITECTURE SM DREAM CITY GROUND FLOOR PLAN Apr 26, 2023 1 AST��G PLANNJNG To Whom It May Concern: On behalf of our organization, Astig Planning, I am writing to express support for Dream City's grant application for funding. This is an opportunity to make an impactful, long-lasting investment to improve a property within the South District in Iowa City. Our mission is to create plans that build bridges between decision -makers and community members and increase transparency, cultivate action, and deepen trust.We believe that planning can be a force for positive change in our communities. Astig Planning practices environmental and community planning that acknowledges the resultant barriers and complexities of our society today. The building has become the physical hub for not only economic development, but for over a decade, has been a hub for youth, family and community development. Dream City provides critical services that improve the quality of life for many community members throughout Iowa City. They are highly qualified for receiving these funds because of their proven history of effective collaboration with other entities and resources, the BIPOC community and other underestimated populations (e.g. youth and returning citizens) along with their foresight and action around building a shared future. Dream City brings people together whether it's through serving as a Johnson County voting site, job fairs, mobile health clinic site, community meals gathering space, youth programs, family events and by being the lead sponsor of the South District Diversity Markets for three years in a row to name a few examples. Most recently, Dream City has partnered with So.6 and Mendoza Consulting to make history and host the first Lunch & Learn series: How to Finance Your Business in the South District bringing underestimated entrepreneurs in direct contact with lending institutions. Supporting Dream City will help the entire community by investing in an organization that values inclusivity, informed -action and team -work. Astig Planning works toward a world of activated communities, healthy ecosystems, and lusting equity. A world in which tltow most impacted by today's social problems nix; at the center of creative, eommunity-based solutions that lead to hell and dignified lives. Astig Planning supports Dream City's application for funding which will also help to enhance the Iowa City's economic sector, while elevating the quality of life for the many more they will be able to serve through their services and facilities with these improvements in place. Sincerely, S- V Fixmer-Oraiz CEO & Founder Astig Planning Wright House 910 S Gilbert Street Iowa City IA, 52240 P: 319-541-9790 E: wrighlhouseoffasbion@gmail.com May 01, 2023 Redmond Jones II Deputy City Manager 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Re: Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Dear Selection Committee Wright House of Fashion is writing this letter on behalf of the Dream City and Pastor Fred Newell. We have seen Fred grow his non-profit organization since 2006 when I first met Fred. Over the years their vision and mission have come to life, and they have made the impact our community needs. I have seen Dream City put in place programs that improve the health and wellbeing of Black youth, women, and men. This is a much-needed service in our community as we try to build quality of life. I know Fred personally and we are neighbors. I know first-hand that he is a standup father and husband and love what he represents. In addition, he has me mentoring one of his sons Amir Newell from Chicago who is a junior at City High. I have developed a design relationship with this young man over the past year and for that relationship I am grateful for the opportunity. We are writing this letter in support of Dream City and Pastor Fred Newell and by awarding this funding, Dream City will be well positioned to continue the important work that supports underrepresented people in our community. Sincerely, 0" - . Andre' Wright 4r,., OF JOHNSON COUNTY Advocating for Quality Childcare in Our Community To Whom It May Concern On behalf of 4Cs Community Coordinated Child Care, I am writing to express support for Dream City's grant application for funding. This is an opportunity to make an impactful, long- lasting investment to improve a property within the South District in Iowa City. 4Cs mission is to level the playing field so that all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, receive a quality early educational experience that provides a pathway to kindergarten readiness. Our vision is that by providing access to a quality early learning environment, our community becomes stronger and every child is set up to become a successful student. We have had the opportunity to partner with Dream City during the pandemic in the Neighborhood Nests project and are delighted that the building has become the physical hub for not only economic development, but for over a decade, has been a hub for youth, family and community development. We were honored to be a part of that community when we ran our NEST for children experiencing homelessness within Dream City. Dream City provides critical services that improve the quality of life for many community members throughout Iowa City. They are highly qualified for receiving these funds because of their proven history of effective collaboration with other entities and resources, the BIPOC community and other underestimated populations (e.g. youth and retuming citizens) along with their foresight and action around building a shared future. Dream City brings people together whether it's through serving as a Johnson County voting site, job fairs, mobile health clinic site, community meals gathering space, youth programs, family events and by being the lead sponsor of the South District Diversity Markets for three years in a row to name a few examples. Most recently, Dream City has partnered with So.6 and Mendoza Consulting to make history and host the first Lunch & Learn series: How to Finance Your Business in the South District bringing underestimated entrepreneurs in direct contact with lending institutions. Supporting Dream City will help the entire community by investing in an organization that values inclusivity, informed - action and team -work. 4Cs supports Dream City's application for funding which will also help to enhance the Iowa City's economic sector, while elevating the quality of life for the many more they will be able to serve through their services and facilities with these improvements in place. ISincerely, Missie Forbes Executive Director, 4Cs Community Coordinated Child Care 1500 Sycamore St Iowa City, IA 52240 319.338.7684 info0iowa4cs.com www.iowa4cs.com SOUTH OF 6 IOWA CITY BUSINESS DISTRICT MAILING P.O. Box 2342 Iowa City, IA 52244 OFFICE 611 Southgate Avenue Iowa City, IA 52240 angie@southof6.org (319) 383.6112 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tasha Lard President Tracy Jon Sargeant Vice President Elizabeth Walters Treasurer Michal Eynon -Lynch Secretary VOTING Caleb Wilson Carey Miller Elias Ortiz 8 Bronis Pertei Erin Sullivan James Mims Kyle Galloway Nick Bergus Sara Sundblad Tim Crosby EX -OFFICIO (non-voting) Adam Kurth Liz Hubing Monica Nieves Nancy Bird Redmond Jones Thom Johnson Tyesha Perry Angie Jordan Executive Director February 28, 2023 City of Iowa City 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA. 52240 To Whom It May Concern: On behalf of the South of 6 Iowa City Business District, I am writing to express support for Dream City's grant application for funding to make property improvements. This is an opportunity to make an impactful, long-lasting investment to improve a property within the South District in Iowa City. The South of 6 Iowa City Business District's mission is to enhance economic development, wayfinding and placemaking in the South District that supports a diverse, welcoming community. Our vision is that the South District is a multicultural ecosystem that celebrates diversity and innovation to incubate a business renaissance that enhances the Iowa City experience as a whole. We are a new economic development hub for work and shopping opportunities housed, intentionally, within the 611 Southgate Ave property. The building has been the physical hub for not only economic development, but for over a decade, has been a hub for youth, family and community development through services and programming and organizations like Dream City. Dream City provides critical services and programming that improve the quality of life for many community members throughout Iowa City. Dream City is qualified for receiving these funds because of their proven history of effective collaboration with other entities and resources, direct connection and trust within the BIPOC community and other underestimated populations (e.g. youth and returning citizens) along with its foresight and action around building a shared future. The 611 Southgate Ave property brings people together whether it's through serving as a Johnson County voting site, youth after-school center, job fairs site, mobile health clinic site, South District Neighborhood Association meeting space or by being the lead sponsor of the South District Diversity Markets for three years in a row just to name a few examples. Most recently, the 611 Southgate Ave property was the location and made history as the host site for the first Lunch & Learn series: How to Finance Your Business in the South District which brought underestimated entrepreneurs in direct contact with lending institutions and each other as a community. Supporting Dream City will help the entire community by investing in an entity with a track record that values inclusivity, informed action and team -work. The South of 6 Iowa City Business District supports Dream City's application for funding which will help to enhance the south side of Iowa City's economic sector, while continuing to elevate the quality of life for the many more with these property improvements in place. Sincerely, Angle Jordan, she/her/hers South of 6 ]o City Business District, Executive Director April 14, 2023 City of Iowa City City Manager's Office 410 E Washington St Iowa City, IA 52240 RE: Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Dear Review Panelists: On behalf of the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD), I want to express my full support and enthusiasm for the application presented by Dream City for funding made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act for Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs. Since its inception, Dream City has inspired change through advocacy, art, community development, wellness, and community connections and continues to grow. These available ARPA funds could be the catalyst for their next stage, as they stretch to support the broader Johnson County. We support the fortification of their current space to empower their movement. This will allow Dream City to enrich and expand their programming in the South District and beyond. Dream City's values align with the inclusive economic development goals of the regional Better Together Vision as well as our values here in the Iowa City Downtown District. By awarding this funding, Dream City is well positioned to offer new channels to engage communities not currently or effectively served and will result in long-term impact in Iowa City. Thank you for your consideration! Nancy Bird, Executive Director, ICDD BETTER TOGETHER 2030 A SHARED FUTURE FOR JOHNSON COUNTY Apri 1 2023 To the ARPA Selection Committee for the City of Iowa City We received many requests for letters of support for this funding round. However, this hub project proposed for 611 Southgate Avenue in Iowa City was one that we requested to write a letter of support for as soon as we learned of their plans. This project couples together existing community leaders doing the work sought by the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and provides the important infrastructure and funding needed to take their work to the next level — something that will benefit the entire Iowa City area and its historically marginalized communities for generations to come. The partners involved in this project have established relationships with the underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs that this funding seeks to reach. The transformational project will serve diverse populations from many backgrounds and provide flexible spaces that meet exactly what the Inclusive Economic Development Plan identified as the key to cracking the code of improving our economic ecosystem: neighborhood level hubs that are authentic to the neighborhoods and communities that they serve with supports and accesses that these partners bring to the table. As we have observed the partners in this project serving the community over the past years and in recovery of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that the people, businesses, and entrepreneurs that this funding seeks to reach already have a deep trust for the project partners and often seek help and services from these partners first or when others have failed to serve their needs. What these partners are lacking currently is the infrastructure support that is needed to ensure equitable services and take their work to the next level. This is not a situation that will be a "if you build it and staff it" people will engage. This is a project that is already on the precipice of making a once in a generation transformational impact in their community if given the appropriate resources to do so. The BT2030 partners will commit to ensuring that this project is surrounded with the goodwill and community support needed to make it a reality. This is the project that our community has been waiting for and so desperately needs. With our deepest support, Cady Gerlach Executive Director 10/29/22 To whom it may concern, Dream City, an organization located within the property at 611 Southgate Ave. in Iowa City, IA, has been a powerful and proactive community building force in Iowa City's South District. Their dedication to building up the futures and goals of the youth and families in our neighborhood extends outward into support of all kinds for programs and initiatives that improve the world around them. Dream City, led by the compassionate and principled Fred Newell, has regularly partnered with the South District Neighborhood Association on efforts to create economic growth and stability. One standout example is their decision to initially host and subsequently sponsor and promote the South District Diversity Market in the summers of 2021 and 2022. Fred saw the wisdom in an opportunity for local vendors to bring their home businesses together in public and welcome the power of collective marketing. He also supported the opportunity the markets brought to bring art and entertainment regularly into the South District area, positively affecting individuals and families within the neighborhood and beyond. In addition, Dream City is always working on behalf of our neighborhood kids through programs as diverse as the Connection Academies, individualized assistance during pandemic online learning, fun family and kid activity days to build community spirit and connect people who had been isolated during height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fred has welcomed informational events and community events into the space, including working with the Johnson County Auditor's Office to provide a walkable satellite voting location in a community where many neighbors rely on public transportation and walking daily. They have hosted events like a free medical clinic and the Iowa City Book Mobile along with Neighborhood Job Fairs and Iowa City Community School District youth summits. Fred graciously makes space for our SDNA general meetings as well as our Leadership Committee meetings, giving us a secure, reliable, and accessible location along with storage space for sound equipment, event tent, tables and association supplies. Dream City will be the best steward owner of 611 Southgate, and the South District Neighborhood Association is firmly in support of their taking over ownership. Submitted by the South District Neighborhood Association Leadership, on behalf of the South District Neighborhood Association Member -Residents DocuSign Envelope ID: E95ED487-03B3-4851-AF2D-A8D9D19DD3C6 Dear Vendors, I am writing this letter of support for Dream City receiving the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the City of Iowa City and Johnson County ARPA funds designated for Inclusive Economic Development Support. They are committed to making a positive impact in our community. Through their shared vision of promoting inclusivity and diversity, they are helping to create a more just and equitable world for all. The Diversity Market team has created an innovative concept that celebrates diversity and provides a platform for underrepresented businesses to thrive. By supporting these businesses, they are not only fostering economic growth but also promoting the rich cultural heritage of our community. Dream City has created and sustained a welcoming community that encourages growth, creativity, and inclusivity. Together, Dream City and The Diversity Market team are working to create real, lasting change that will benefit our community for generations to come. DocuSigned by: ]5C19BCgFg434B5. [� _ DocuSigned by: SASA95CB]2W420__ DocuSigned by: F�451 EE 5B]E E Docu5lgnetl by/Du/3�AVBeF_E•,1.0A0,639�... E DnnnSignetl by 532 4] DocuBignetl by: 8048E920AEBA416_. CDocuSigned by: SE9843 CDocu5lgnetl by: 9gE4D�... DocuBignetl by: DocuSlg�nneeddQby�h� 38081]B]48D... 09�3]�EBCC04FA... ` DocuSigned by: ]C99]]3FE2]ddFB... DocuSigned by: E taY�SSa C-'64WA9AD131 BBA42E.. CDocuSigned V _ y�l/ FEF44594AF7D49D... EF DocuSig"ed by: __ /]�� A]AMJT-N 99 . Adv City of Iowa City 1. A cover letter identifying the lead applicant and, if any, co -applicants. Include the lead organization' s name, address, and the address of the project site (if known). Provide contact information (name, title, phone, and email) for the person leading the project. Please specify in the cover letter if the application is for (1) physical space, (2) business support programs, or both. 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. Demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan 3. A description of how the project builds community resiliency following the COVID- 19 pandemic by building capacity to serve residents of the community. 4. An estimated project budget including how much City assistance you are requesting. Identify both the proposed sources and uses of funds for the total project. Identify if each funding source has committed funds. 5. A preliminary timeline for the execution of the project. The City intends for all grant funds to be expended by December 31, 2026. If this is not possible in the project schedule, please detail the estimated draw -down timeframe. 6. A statement about the organization' s ability to perform appropriate grant and financial management, including any related experience managing city, state, or federal grant funds. Provide 3 years of financial statements of the lead organization, if available. Please indicate what type of technical assistance may be needed to help prepare the organization for grant management responsibilities. 7. A description of all work related to the project that has been completed to date, if any, including any secured funding, contracted professional services, property, land acquisition, grant, or loan activity, etc. 8. Any other information, including letters of support, the submitting agency deems appropriate. As the funding entity, no letters of support should be sought from City of Iowa City staff or elected officials. Just From The Heart is a 501 C-3 organization that collaborates with small businesses in a community and finds out their needs. After analyzing their needs, a partnership is created to assist them with funds, equipment, and marketing strategies to take their business to another level. JAPEC Media provides marketing solutions to small businesses to help them advertise their business. The lead organizations are Just For The Heart & JAPEC Media. The address of both is 10801 Arial Court, Clermont, Florida 34711 The lead applicant is Mr. Anthony Clowney, (A. C. Justice) President of Just For The Heart & JAPEC Media. His address is 10801 Arial Court, Clermont, Florida 34711 and his email address is japecmedia&gmail.com. Just For the Heart and JAPEC Media are applying to provide business support to small businesses in Iowa City, Iowa. 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. Demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan At the present time the description must be very general because we are still learning more about the community. We will review information about the community and the businesses in the community (large and small). We will look at the successful businesses as well as those that are struggling to evaluate what situations they deal within their quest for success. We will pay close attention to their marketing strategies. 3. A description of how the project builds community resiliency following the COVID- 19 pandemic by building capacity to serve residents of the community. Our plan will focus on building growth in the small business community. We will focus on building partnerships and teamwork to help every business grow in the community. 4. An estimated project budget including how much City assistance you are requesting. Identify both the proposed sources and uses of funds for the total project. Identify if each funding source has committed funds. At the present time, we cannot put together a budget because we have not been able to evaluate the needs of the community, but marketing will be a focus throughout the budget. 5. A preliminary timeline for the execution of the project. The City intends for all grant funds to be expended by December 31, 2026. If this is not possible in the project schedule, please detail the estimated draw -down timeframe. It would be our plan to have used the monies received by December 31, 2026 6. A statement about the organization' s ability to perform appropriate grant and financial management, including any related experience managing city, state, or federal grant funds. Provide 3 years of financial statements of the lead organization, if available. Please indicate what type of technical assistance may be needed to help prepare the organization for grant management responsibilities. At the present time, we are unable to provide any of this information. This would be our first grant of this nature. We would want to speak with an accountant prior to taking these funds to ensure that we understand the proper way to use the funds and report them. 7. A description of all work related to the project that has been completed to date, if any, including any secured funding, contracted professional services, property, land acquisition, grant, or loan activity, etc. As stated, this would be our first grant or project of this nature. 8. Any other information, including letters of support, the submitting agency deems appropriate. As the funding entity, no letters of support should be sought from City of Iowa City staff or elected officials. With our short notice, we have not been able to secure any letters of support. Just From The Heart is a Not For Profit 501 c-3 organization that focuses on helping businesses succeed. Their mission statement is listed below: "We are a team of professionals from various fields various fields who are committed to educating and empowering the public on matters of health, financial planning, and daily living. Our goal is to make a significant positive impact on our community. In addition, we encourage corporations, large and small to join us in our endeavors as well as donors. It is the funds from within the community stay in the community in order to assist its residents. The stronger the community, the stronger are the individuals who make up the community and their sense of empowerment to shape their realities. Just from the heart is willing to work with organizations in a combined effort to assist in growth and economic development of our BIPOC community. We realize that after food and shelter the residents must have jobs, businesses, and careers that will allow the BIPOC community build wealth for families and communities. Fact 1, if we do not help, then nothing will change. Our goal is to be able to assist businesses become the catalyst that jump starts our BI POC communities. Fact 2, often it is issues of finance that places pressures on BIPOC families. We believe that JAPEC Media through its subsidiary can help businesses reach its potential, and we believe that small/family businesses bring the family unity closer. Our events, small business commercials, media presentations, and marketing strategies are geared to reach the needs of small and family businesses. JUST FROM THE HEART \\ 501 C3 NOT-FOR-PROFIT FIGHTING FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS "Thank you for taking the time to review this information and our proposal. We are looking forward to working with you and your organization (s)" j - Executive Director A.C. Justice First of all, we are impressed with the work that Iowa City has invested and the continued commitment of its leadership to bring this wonderful opportunity to your community. We have done research on your community and along the way have decided to feature some of your programing from your channel 4 as we have found some of your promotions as inspirational not just for Iowans, but for others who share in the BIPOC communities regionally, nationally, and even globally. As you know the world is getting smaller by the day. Here at JAPEC Media we are dedicated to helping you share your vision with the world, and this certainly includes Iowa City business. We have created several opportunities for Iowa City small businesses to share goods and services to their market and to larger markets. We help product, business messages, and build eco -systems that allow small businesses work amongst their peers (other small businesses) to build each other up and create their own special networks. Our "Help Us Help You Program" allows our team to help tailor small business messages to their customers but also expands existing cliental through shared media exposure. Imagine the power of having a Small Business network that allows to create TV shows or small business commercials. Getting your own television show that focuses on your business or the support your non-profit offers small businesses can now be a reality! JAPEC Media now works with two streaming television networks that broadcast worldwide. We can broadcast your business messages in lens or focused on community; in other words, we help businesses represent their good and services, but we also encourage connections to the positive happenings that small business is bring to their communities. Commercials, Commercials, Commercials... reaching customers is critical to the success of business. We believe that there is a reason that big mega corporations spend so much money on commercial. Because it's a direct line to the profit margins of these corporations. But we believe that small business can and should have the same access to its marketplace that these large companies do. That's why we what to give Iowa City businesses the opportunity to create commercial content (with our assistance) that will show a personal touch, share a vision, and gain the exposure that small businesses need to survive. We can take ideas and create high quality commercial at expenses that small business can afford. We can create at business locations or in the cloud. We provide voice over services, music services and help create jingles that will enhance the overall experience. Welcome to JAPEC Media!! Our mission is to share information and knowledge with communities across the world to help them understand each other. This will be done through news, documentaries, shows and events. We believe in collaboration and cooperation by partnering with media outlets around the world. Find out more about JAPEC Media in this newsletter and join us!!! JAPEC COMMUNITY LIFE "We Are Here rAGA�Z,N JAPEC Community Life Magazine is dedicated to giving people a voice. The creator and visionary believes that knowledge and education gives the reader power. The magazine searches and looks into the issues of today and provides all 3 sides to the story provides videos and informative stories at the local and federal level to help readers understand what is going on in communities across the country. You can contact JAPEC Community Life Magazine through email: iapecmediaCcWmail.com httos://www. usticeapentcorp.com/magazine C°MMUNiry 111 COMMUNITY 1 TV Community 1 TV is an innovative television network committed to bringing the community news, knowledge and education. One of the goals of the network is to provide the community with knowledge about government and how it works. It is the hope that this knowledge would increase community involvement in activities and events provided by the local cities. Giving the people a voice is a priority for the network as well. You can contact Community 1 TV through email: iapecmedia(cWmail.com https://www. iusticeapentcorp.com/communtV-1-tv-network ALL NATIONS TV All Nations TV, is an innovative Christian and Community based broadcasting company that is meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving industry. All Nations TV, LLC uses modern technology similar to Netflix, huluPlus and 1,233 other channels that stream to your TV. In addition, they broadcast a channel on the Roku Top Set Box under the 'Religion & Spirituality' category, which is available in 19,354 cities in the United States. All Nations TV, LLC, has covered all of the bases, now you can broadcast your ministry to the world via TV, PC, and Smart phones. You can contact All Nations TV through email: iapecmedia(cDama il.com DOC WORLD RADIO LISTENING IS A PART OF YOU Docs World Radio is a 24 Hour/ 7days a Week Christian Radio Station. The station allows its listeners to have a sense of belonging and allows their voices to be heard. It's programming is Family Friendly & caters to all ages. The Station features News, Music, the Arts, Entertainment & Cultural Events. The listeners are also given an opportunity to share their comments & opinions about the music and the station. For more information, you may contact the station by e-mail: iapecmedia(ZIIgmail.com JAPEC ZONE TV A PART OF YOU BUILDING COMMUNITIES ONE ZONE AT A TIME "Building, Informing and Giving Knowledge.... One Zone At A Time.." The mission of Zone TV is to provide information to the local community about upcoming events, activities and opportunities. Zone TV will work with local businesses to created informative ads promoting items they have for sale. Zone TV will also work with state leaders, local community leaders and local community centers to provide information about upcoming local events and opportunities. You can contact JAPEC ZONE TV through email: iapecmedia(ZEIamail.com Project Budget Small business Services 40 Small Business Commercials for Iowa City underestimated businesses. $ 12,000 Airtime: on Community 1 TV, All Nations TV, and JAPEC Zone TV. Access to other JAPEC media partnership outlets: Community Life $ 2,000 Magazine, radio, and newsletter. "Help Us Help You Program" commercials will be downloaded on data drives that can played on a loop and displayed at local $ 3,500 locations- JAPEC Zone TV. Production Services— on location, pop-up studio time, music/sound production, jingles, and script assistance. $ 2,500 Project Total $20,000 JUST FROM THE HEART "Just From The Heart," is a Not For Profit 501 C-3 organization that focuses on helping businesses succeed. AdalL IV= 0 W A April 30, 2023 STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVSLAB 1222 5 Gilbert Ct, Iowa City 319-333-D600 1 wwwMDCIOWA.org Statement of Interest for Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses & Entrepreneurs MVC Iowa is pleased to submit this Statement of Interest for the City of Iowa City's Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs grant program made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Relief Fund, Project, Iowa City Incubate — a multi-year proposal for both physical space and program support, which will provide BIPOC-owned businesses, historically marginalized individuals, and community partner organizations with direct support to create a more inclusive economic development ecosystem. Lead Applicant: Multicultural Development Center of Iowa 1927 Keokuk Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Site addresses: 533 and 535 Southgate Ave Iowa City, IA 52240 In unity, Tracy on Founder and Executive Director Applicant Point of Contact; Tracy Jon Sargeant Executive Director 319-333-0600 tracyjon@mdciowe.org AdalL IV= 0 W A GENERAL DESCRIPTION STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVS LAB 1222 5 Gilbert Ct, Iowa City 319-333-11 1 www.MDCIOWA.org MDC Iowa's project proposal for an Iowa City -focused BIPOC business support hub provides direct support for historically marginalized community members and community organizations which includes a commercial kitchen, shared retail space for micro -enterprises, incubator space, innovation center, and centralized resource and e-commerce platform. This project expands on the organization's current BIPOC Business Accelerator program (INCUBATE) that focuses on aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners who are socially and economically disadvantaged- The program empowers underserved and underestimated community members to achieve economic self-sufficiency and reduce economic inequity, as well as create generational wealth while closing the wealth gap that has increased during the pandemic for people from marginalized communities, including low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and immigrant communities, which are disproportionately people of color. To achieve these goals, MI]C Iowa has developed a proposal with three critical components: - Capital investment: purchase of commercial real estate to establish an indoor marketplace, Incubator space, commercial kitchen, innovation center, and centralized resource and e-commerce platform. - Micro -lending: increase funds available in the MPC Iowa Community Loan fund for startup grants, forgivable loans, credit builder loans, and micro -loans. - Operational Capacity: increase current operational capacity to include program support staff to engage with small business owners, individuals, and community partner organizations. F19;1419[a]J*31te.LeI�LL�yi�]:�i�]ululrlilY�'� i�;I 11 1. Increase Visibility and Access to Business Support Systems and Resources One of the top barriers identified in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan jIEDP) is the insufficient access to business support systems. This is due to several factors including lack of support resources in multiple languages, unawareness of business resources due to limited marketing and outreach, and the absence of centralized resources. A foundational component of the IC Incubate project is the development of a centralized platform that provides access to business support resources and a unified e-commerce tool that connects agencies and organizations throughout Iowa City. Connecting all available business support resources in one centralized platform will increase visibility and improve community resilience. By combining the centralized resource system with the e-commerce tool, in both a mobile app and web platform, individuals and businesses can buy, trade, source, and support other BI POC -owned businesses while simultaneously getting access to the business resources they need. The platform will be available in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese, which is also supported by the IEl MDC Iowa also recognizes the ongoing need to bridge the gap of the digital divide which has been widened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The STEM Factory program will continue to provide access to technology and training to socially and economically disadvantaged people in our community. Public kiosks at community AdalL IV= 0 W A STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVS LAB 1222 5 Gilbert Ct, Iowa City 319-333-D600 1 www.MDCIOWA.org partner locations, computer literacy training in French and Spanish, Internet access, and computer equipment will continue to be provided as part of the existing STEM diversity and racial equity initiative. 2. Improve Access to Startup Funds and Working Capital A major barrier for historically marginalized members of our community as identified in the IEDP is equitable access to micro -lending for business startups and working capital for early-stage businesses. To create a more resilient community we need to address these barriers that disproportionately affect BI l entrepreneurs, The MDC Iowa Community Loan Fund will provide affordable and responsible financing, and technical assistance for community stabilization and community development. The loan efforts will benefit low to moderate -income neighborhoods with a lens toward minority micro -enterprise. Additionally, the MDC Iowa Loan Fund will create nimble andflexible programs that will fill credit gaps in Iowa City for those who are deemed as higher risk in traditional lending platforms. To create a scalable micro -lending program, MDC Iowa will leverage a pool of funds from a surrounding network of financial institutions that will provide loan loss reserve funds in addition to the ARPA funds. Hills Bank, GreenState Credit Union, and Iowa Community Capital have pledged their support for a multi- year plan that will create the momentum needed to keep the lending program thriving for years to come. 3_ develop Sustainable and Affordable Business Infrastructure As outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan by Astig Planning, one of the main challenges that limit small businesses from scaling beyond a home-based business is access to a commercial kitchen for food service businesses and affordable rent for retail -based businesses. To address this problem, MDC Iowa's proposal will invest in a commercial real estate property that has an existing commercial kitchen as well as space that can be converted into a shared retail and incubator space for small businesses that can accelerate their growth with access to a cost-effective retail outlet. Creating new commercial businesses that create local jobs, healthier food, and revitalizes empty retail space is at the core of the Iowa City Incubator project by MDC Iowa. Intentionally locating the incubator space in the South District neighborhood will improve access, increase local economic contribution, and demonstrate a model for investment in the district. This also directly aligns with the city's strategic values and community impact plan. 4. Increase Community Resilience As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, countless members of our community have suffered from financial challenges that continue to affect them today. Not everyone has an appetite to become an entrepreneur which should not exclude someone who needs help improving their financial situation and credit profile. As such, MDC Iowa will provide financial literacy training workshops and credit builder loans to assist community members that have experienced financial challenges. The credit builder loan program will be AdalL IV= 0 W A STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVS LAB 1222 5 Gilbert Ct, Iowa City 319-333-D600 1 wwwMDCIOWA.org paired with a credit builder course and will use our experienced community partners, Hills Bank and GreenState Credit Union, to provide ongoing support and access to additional financial services. For entrepreneurs and existing small business owners, the same initial credit builder program will be available with one main difference. After one year, credit builder graduates are eligible to access a loan pool of S250D to $50Di] with a demonstrated business loan need. MDC Iowa will also provide continued business coaching to support those who graduate from the Credit Builder course. S. Create Sustainable Capital Infrastructure Part of the perpetual trauma that exists for historically marginalized people is the inconsistency in the help offered by agencies and organizations. Well-intentioned programs that are not properly funded or sustainable due to poor planning and inexperience eventually leads to the termination of services which actually causes more harm than good. As part of the sustainability plan, MDC Iowa will become a Community Development Financial Institution (Cl which is funded by the CDFI Fund_ This fund plays an important role in generating economic growth and opportunity in some of our nation's most distressed communities. As a local, BIPOC-operated Cl i Iowa would be able to offer resources and innovative lending programs that meet the needs of social and economically disadvantaged people in Iowa City. After becoming a Cl MDC Iowa will already have an established Community Loan Fund with dozens of loans for BIPOC-owned businesses and be able to leverage additional federal funding options that will directly support the sustainable capital infrastructure that wil I fund the micro -lending program for years to come. G. Create Racial Diversity in Financial Lending We are past the time to change the racial equity and diversity of the financial lending landscape in Iowa City. If we continue to fund the existing financial institutions that do not represent the communities that they serve, we should not expect to change the equitable distribution of wealth, improve access to capital, or make changes to products and services based on the needs of a diverse community. By funding MDC Iowa's Community Loan fund and IC Incubate project, Iowa City has the opportunity to empower a new financial institution model with racial minorities represented in leadership positions and decision-making roles. Without the City's intentional investment in this new model, we risk reinforcing inequity, missing opportunities to drive innovation, improve decision-making based on shared lived experience, and reduce systemic racism and discrimination lending. AdalL IV= 0 W A STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVSLAB 1222 5 Gilbert Ct, Iowa City 319-333-D600 1 wwwMDCIOWA.org INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT MDC Iowa's project directly addresses several of the recommended action items in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan by Astig Planning. As one of the original collaboration partners in the development of the IEDP, MDC Iowa has already proven a commitment to providing programs and resources that offer both public -facing support and behind the scenes support. Some of the top barriers outlined in the IEDP plan was access to affordable rent, lack of access to financial systems, gaps in information, lack of relationships with business support systems, and short supply of mentors. MDC Iowa's program addresses all these barriers and with the help of an intentional and strategic investment of ABPA funds these problems can be reduced and eventually eliminated. The Iowa City Incubate project will provide. Affordable rent as part of the shared micro -retail space. Increased access to financial systems through monthly workshops and expanded micro -lending for higher risk borrowers. Improve relationships between a wider range of community members and MDC Iowa through expanded community partner engagement with CWJ, Refugee and Immigrant Association, Inside Out Reentry Enhanced mentoring program support and access to a more diverse mentor resource pool through a collaborative partnership with ICAD Group. v 7. cna Ines III uo noes and procedures at ImmIIple towns Y.In[ernal work, lsterrnlllt� lacaldovernnlenh elgpnnauonslYat andausinesssuppefl tunemly suppprl institutions �, Small Winessssl nnuemeneur. 4. Praride resaur.-- Ia The unueresumatea entrepreneurial and kusiness eammunirtr to Beale snares lot the unneresitmmea pueineSa e0mmunitnl5 Indee The Iowa City Incubate project and current INCUBATE program align with Iowa City's long-term strategic plan in both values and impact areas. Racial equity, soc ial j u sti ce, and human rights are at the core of MDC Iowa programs. Climate action is a main influence and guiding principle at MDC Iowa's INNOVS Lab and the BIPOC Business Accelerator program, which supports renewable strategies for individuals and businesses. The addition of a new joint program with Field to Family, IC Compassion's Global Food Project, and RSFIC is the most recent example of MDC Iowa's commitment to address Climate Action through sustainable practices. Both the Field to Family/ Global Food Project and MDC Iowa programs embody the future vision and put into action the changes necessary to greenhouse gas and carbon -emissions, increase buying local, and reducing energy consumption through a community -wide shared services framework. AAOIL IV= 0 W A COMMUNITY RF51LIFNCY STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVS LAB 1222 5 Gilbert Ct, Iowa City 319-333-D600 1 wwwMDCIOWA.org The IC Incubate project will build capacity and promote resiliency in Iowa City, helping community members better respond to future challenges. By improving access to economic opportunities, business education, entrepreneurial pathways, equitable financial lending, personal financial tools, and consistent support, the community will be better able to withstand economic instability and recover from crises. Increasing the current loan capacity to support underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs while expanding outreach through community partner organizations creates a scalable model to improve equitable access to services. Instead of a 1:1 model which supports an organization creating their own similar services, the IC Incubate project will leverage the years of experience that MDC Iowa has gained from delivering direct support to BIPpC- owned businesses. By creating a shared services model, IC Incubate can provide local partners with access to programs, resources, and reduce inefficiencies from duplication of efforts. A platform that is available in multiple languages is key to improving community resilience and building a more inclusive economic development ecosystem that includes our immigrant and refugee populations. An inclusive economic development plan may look comprehensive, but if itfails to address the language barriers that prevent some members ofour community from accessing resources, it will not be truly inclusive or effective. Building an inclusive economic development plan without addressing the lack of access to business support resources available in other languages is like setting the community table for dinner but forgetting to invite some of the guests. While the table may be set, without all the guests present, the dinner will not be truly inclusive or be an accurate representation of our community. i Iowa will ensure sure that everyone gets an invite to the community dinner table and the invitations will be available in their native languages. This togetherness, fairness, and shared connection will build community resilience. There should be no doubt that the COVI❑-19 pandemic has magnified how disconnected we are and highlighted the social and economic disparities for our communities of color. IC Incubate can help build a diverse and robust local economy through direct micro -enterprise support, reduce inequity within our community by improving access to economic opportunities and resources for BIpOC entrepreneurs, and build new connections across racial and socioeconomic statuses creating a shared sense of purpose and community. AdalL IV= low 0 W A PROJECT BIJDGET In-ki In-ki Amount STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVSLAB 1222 5 Gil Bert Ct, Iowa City 4krWIR =06.4 ARPA Match (E Match (P Funding Source www.MDCIOWA.org Real Estate purchase & renovation of property Real Estate purchase & renovation of property Real Estate purchase & renovation of property Support) Description $120,000 ARPA Operational capacity (staffing) $60,000 In-kind/ Match (Committed) Operational capacity (Staffing) $300,000 CDFI (Provisional) Operational capacity (Staffing) $70,000 ARPA Technical Assistance (Professional services) $70,000 In-kind/ Match (Committed) Technical Assistance (Professional services) $75,000 ARPA App, e-commerce & centralized resource platform $75,000 in kind/ Match (Committed) I App, e-commerce & centralized resource platform $50,000 ARPA I Technical Assistance (Direct Business support) $50,000 1110TWIT17171M In-kind/ Match jCommittedj Total Project Budget I Technical Assistance (Direct Business Support) *MX 1 o w A PROJECT TIMELINE STEM FACTORY 1427 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOV8 LAB 1222 5 Gil bert Ct. Iowa City 319-333-0600 1 www.MIDCIOWAorg ki J There are several factors that could significantly affect or alter the project timeline. The below preliminary timeline outlines milestones for the proposed project. LV Create new materials for - Remodel of incubate space Apply for CDFI certification immigrant & refugee and & shared retail space S°h & 61� immigrant & Fresh Start accelerator - Hire 2nd of 3 new business refugee cohort - Finalize floorplan for new coaches S°h & 61� Fresh Start shared retail marketplace - Commercial Kitchen, returning citizen cohort - Hire V of 3 new business Shared Retail & Incubate 3 new BIPOC accelerator coach Space opens cohorts - Purchase commercial Launch IC Incubate app, e- 75t' loan milestone building commerce platform, and 25th new business startup - 1" & 2r1d immigrant & centralized resource center milestone refugee cohort - 3rd & 4u' immigrant & 100th financial literacy/ - 1" & 2"d Fresh Start refugee cohort credit builder milestone returning citizen cohort - 3rd & 41h Fresh Start BV Extended Business returning citizen cohort Support member milestone 3 new BIPCIC accelerator 3 new BIPOC accelerator cohorts cohorts 1 -All 1 1 Bold Items indicate activitiesYtasks that are budget expenditures. Based on the proposed timeline, all ARPA funds will be expended by December 31, 2026, *Mx 1 o w A COMMUNITY IMPACT STEM FACTORY 1427 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVS LAB 12225 GilbertCt, Iowa City 319-333-13600 1 www.MDCIOWAorg ki J IC Incubate has the potential to change hundreds of lives, families, and future generations through direct support. How community partners leverage these tools, resources, and support can only increase the impact that this project will have on our community. Below are some preliminary estimates on what funding this project would look like in terms of quantitative measurements. Some qualitative measurements for the IC Incubate project include! Increased Representation in Entrepreneurship, Employment& Lending rj 71 Improved Cultural Competency & Normalizing Multicultural Marketing Increase in Bill Home Ownership & Intergenerational Wealth Transfer AdalL IV= 0 W A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVS LAB 1222 5 Gilbert Ct, Iowa City 319-333-D600 1 www.MDCIOWA.org MDC Iowa has a history offinancial management of grants and public funds from Iowa City, Johnson County, numerous corporate partners, and private donations totally $350,000 over the past three years. Operating as a lean organization, majority of the funds have been used for direct business support in the form of technical assistance grants through the BIPOC Business Accelerator program. Financial statements like cash flow and financial position to support the responsible management of these funds is available if necessary. Due to the estimated number of new loan applicants, an increase in the number of cohorts and businesses supported, and the complicated application process and auditing requirements in applying to become a Cl it is the position of MDC Iowa's board of directors that the organization leverage a C PA to provide technical assistance. The organization has been working closely with the Aminata Taylor, a local CPA and owner of Tailored Tax and Accounting, LLC, to provide a range offinancial management services. Part ofthe project budget includes retaining Ami as the comptroller to oversee fiscally responsible allocation and distribution of funds. There are several benefits including the direct support of a female Black -owned business in Iowa City, the intentional involvement of a certified public accountant in the internal controls of a growing organization with plans to become a Cl and the increased accuracy of financial reporting required by the city and federal government. Tailored Tax and Accounting will also assist with the management of any technical assistance or grants provided to program participants through MDC Iowa's INCUBATE program to ensure proper accounting of public funds that are distributed to small businesses in Iowa Co. RELATED WORK As a nonprofit organization providing BIPOC-owned businesses with direct assistance and support in Iowa City since 2019, MDC Iowa has been committed to promoting inclusive economic development with an intentional focus on underserved and historically marginalized, underserved, underestimated, and historically disadvantaged members of our community. If awarded this grant, MDC Iowa would be able to accelerate wealth -building by improving racial equity in economic development and create a strong, thriving, and sustainable small business ecosystem for BIPOC-owned businesses. MDC Iowa's INCUBATE Bill Business Accelerator is a proven program with a track record of helping more than 60 BIPOC-owned businesses and works to ensure that the benefits of economic growth opportunities are more equitably distributed to those who have been historically marginalized or excluded. J II 043 Businesses Served in the first four cohorts 01175% of participants are women Mentor 2 Hours �' i%.% 1 1sQS of participants 99% identified as a person of color KN()%, Fh t,F TRUTH R FS P F CT $51 k in total small -dollar and micro -loans distributed to 15 entrepreneurs & businesses ©, Businesses Received 34 Technical Assistance 15 New Companies Launched U 14 New Jobs Created E! 4111 YY DIVERSITY AAOIL IV= 0 W A LETTERS OF SUPPORT STEM FACTORY 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City INNOVS LAB 1222 5 Gilbert Ct, Iowa City 319-333-D600 1 wwwMDCIOWA.org Please see the attached letters of support from community partner organizations. These letters of support may differ from other in that they not only affirm the work MDC Iowa has been doing but also show their commitment to support of this project in an active role as a partner. Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City (RSFIC) Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) Inside Out Reentry Community Hills Bank and Trust Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240 To our trusted selection committee, Funding MDC Iowa's proposal would make a long-lasting impact and create a sustainable infrastructure for Iowa City into the decades ahead of us. This is about an existing set of partnerships and programs that just need a kickstart to become self-sufficient and sustainable. RSFIC and its founders, Michal & Riley Eynon -Lynch, have supported MDC Iowa over the last two years and we have already seen tangible results. We have helped MDC Iowa with both cash donations and in-kind donations that assist with operating expenses to the tune of $100,000. We also plan to continue supporting MDC Iowa into the future. We will help make sure that any ARPA funds granted to MDC Iowa are magnified, and we are in a position to help them become self-sufficient and sustainable after the ARPA funds are depleted. Our future plans include leadership development, mentoring of business coaching staff, development of a business -focused volunteer program, and collaboration on micro -lending opportunities for BIPOC-owned businesses that align with our common missions. Sincerely, Riley Eynon -Lynch Executive Director and Cofounder Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City IOWA CITY AREA DEVELOPMENT DRIVING INNOVATION March 15, 2023 City of Iowa City Attn: ARPA Grant Committee 410 E Washington St Iowa City, IA 52240 Re! ARPA Funding Request — City of Iowa City Dear Review Committee: I am writing today in support of the work being done by the Multicultural Development Center of Iowa and Tracy Jon Sargeant. Inclusive Economic Development is one of the core areas of focus for the Better Together work and ICAD has partnered with Tracy and MDC Iowa to deliver on that work over the past 3 years. The focus has been primarily on building entrepreneurial skills and support networks (financial, mentoring, + skill development) for historically marginalized residents of Johnson County MDC Iowa's BIPOC Business Accelerator program has graduated over 45 participants in the past 3 years that have resulted in over a dozen new business starts while building the skills and confidence of dozens more future small business owners. The BI POC Business Accelerator is a ni ce compl imer t to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and creates another pathway for entry into the Iowa City/Johnson County business community. The Builders and Backers program that ICAD leads works closely with MDC Iowa to provide resources and support in addition to Venture School and other regional entrepreneurial support organizations and programs. Given the success and mnmen tum we've experienced in our col labo ration and activation of this s pace we are excited to scale this work going forward. The investment from the city will help to provide foundational programs and resources to build and expand these collaborations going forward. Sincerely, Tom Banta President, Iowa City Area Development @MERGE 136 South Dubuque Street 1 Iowa City, IA 52240 1 319-354-39391 www.icadgroup.com IFInside Out Reentry Community 500 N. Clinton st. Iowa City, IA. 52245 (319)338-7996 www.uvsideoutraantrv.ora April 28, 2423, Re: MDC Iowa's ARPA application Dear City of Iowa City: Inside Out Reentry Community is a comprehensive reentry community in Iowa City whose mission is to support people involved in the criminal legal system in changing from the inside out, and to educate the public, in order to promote healing, restore relationships and achieve success in the community. At Inside Out, we assist and support individuals in their reentry to the community after incarceration, and many individuals' express interest in entrepreneurship. We are writing this letter in support of the Multicultural Development Center of Iowa's application for the ABPA Inclusive Economic Development Program for their Returning Citizen Entrepreneurship program. Inside Out Reentry Community commits to support the Multicultural Development Center of Iowa's program by referring interested individuals to their program and by providing guidance on case management practices. They have completed multiple successful cohorts of their Business Accelerator Program and are a trusted community partner. Sincerely, Michelle Heinz Executive Director - Inside Out Reentry Community =� HILLS BANK April 27, 2023 City of Iowa City 410 E Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 To Whom It May Concern, On behalf of Hills Bank, I am happy to provide this letter of support for the Multicultural Development Center of Iowa in their application to receive funds thru the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Hills Bank was founded in 1904 on the principle that banks should care about the people they serve and provide ways to help them prosper. Our cultural focus is one of service to our customers, friends and neighbors. Hills Bank has 4 offices in Iowa City and 9 offices in Johnson County, which house over 300 of our 500+ employees. We are locally headquartered in Johnson County (Hills] with 19 total offices spread throughout Johnson, Linn and Washington Counties. We remain committed to remaining locally owned and located, which allows us to retain a truly local orientation and remain true to our Iowa room Hills Bank is proud to have partnered with the Multicultural Development Center of Iowa forthe past two years, providing $25,000 for their programming plus volunteers to help teach financial literacy in Iowa City to their BIPOC clients. We admire their mission to provide guidance and mentoring for the BIPOC business start-ups in our community and believe they add value to our community and residents. We look forward to continuing to provide funding and volunteers annually. We hope you will consider their mission and focus as a meaningful investment for Iowa City! Thank you for your time. Sincerely, /� ��G(or-v r %210� Amanda Arn [shelmer) 1" VP, Community & Shareholder Relations Direct 318.879.2148 }} HILLS BANK 131 E. Main Street. PC BOK 160, Hills, IA 52235 1_800A45.5725 1-111r,bank.com in NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS EXPANSION: OUR NEXT 50 YEARS Strengthening Families, Building Neighborhoods, Creating Community A STATEMENT OF INTEREST FOR THE CITY OF IOWA CITY INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR UNDERESTIMATED BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS r' 000 M N N a m Lead Organization: The Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County PO Box 2491 Iowa City, IA 52244 Project Site Information Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center 2651 Roberts Rd Iowa City, IA Leading Staff Member: Rachel Rockwell Executive Director 319-354-2886 each el-rockwel I@ n cJ c. ora Monday, May 1st, 2023 Funding Organization's Contact: Redmond Jones Deputy City Manager City of Iowa City red mo n d -J o nese iowa-city. o ra Dear Redmond, City of Iowa City Staff and Council, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (NCJC) have opened doors to "new Iowans" for 50 years. From a small 3 -bedroom apartment to two community centers serving our neighbors, we have become key connectors of vital knowledge and resources for Iowa City's most low-income, low resource neighborhoods. The families we encounter daily are resilient and simply need an extra boost of support from their neighbors. Through our neighborhood centers, NCJC works in tandem with newcomers to navigate this community with more ease. Together, we are strengthening families, building stronger neighborhoods and creating real community. My name is Rachel Rockwell, and I am the Executive Director at the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (NCJC). As we move into the next 50 years, we are focused on how NCJC will expand its high-quality programs and services to support more disadvantaged youth and families living within Iowa City and nearby communities. If you ask anyone who knows me well, they will tell you my passion for and dedication to youth development is only rivaled by my enthusiasm and expertise around culturally inclusive business development. In 2006, I was trained as a professional business development coach and for E -Myth Business Development (httpsi//www.emAh.com/business-coaching-approach). Since that time, I've provided small business development consultancy to over 70 small business owners in the U.S., Jamaica, Aruba, and Tanzania.I have also engaged with grass-roots community efforts, universities, nongovernmental organizations, governmental agencies, youth groups, women's groups, small business owners, and artisans to develop their entrepreneurial capacity in the U.S., Jamaica, and Tanzania . I find joy in working with people from all different cultural backgrounds to implement and achieve desired outcomes through business planning, strategic planning, and implementation of business systems and best practices. While in East Africa, I developed a syllabus for and cofacilitated an Entrepreneurial Development Course at The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, designed and coordinated a Business Plan Competition, and developed and led a 10 -week business development class for Tanzanian women. In Jamaica, I worked to build capacity within the Social Development Commission branch of the government for their staff to support entrepreneurship in youth and community groups. Without a doubt, this breadth of business development experience influenced the NCJC Hiring Committee in choosing me to lead the organization. I am excited for the opportunity to advance our existing community centers, youth and adult programming, NCJC staff, volunteers and community partnerships in order to continue this development work in Iowa City. We are submitting a statement of interest in the City of Iowa City's Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs to create a culturally centered business experience for the Iowa City Community. We urgently request that the City's grant proposal team considers granting Neighborhood Centers $500,000 to: 1. Transform the physical space at 2651 Roberts Road, Iowa City for the creation of a multicultural business hub, youth entrepreneurial and community center through funding construction, remodeling, furniture and equipment, technology, and associated soft cost. and 2. Implement Business Support Programs including youth entrepreneurship, micro - enterprise, start-up, and small business development courses and workshops, technical assistance, and a city-wide business plan competition. 154_D 11 Page �e Who We Are The Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County began as a grassroots effort to connect the secluded westside Iowa City families to much needed resources and more access to their greater community. The effort provided youth with more positive alternative afterschool activities sparked by issues of youth vandalism and delinquency. For 50 years, NCJC staff, volunteers and community members have worked hand-in- hand with neighboring residents to strengthen their own systems, build upon their existing neighborhoods and create genuine community. While we focus programmatically on our neighboring residents, we equally focus and reflect internally on the makeup of our staff, volunteers and board of directors. Over the years, we have discovered the importance of having staff and involving partners that reflect the racial and ethnic makeup of the families and youth we serve. NCJC operates in four main areas: Early Childhood Education, Youth Development, Family Support and Community Engagements programs. Since inception, we have welcomed "New Iowans" - predominantly immigrant and refugee families settling in Iowa and American families arriving from major cities surrounding Iowa - into our Centers and programs. We are and have always been adaptive and accommodating towards the different groups of people arriving at our doors - i.e., southeast Asian, Central and South American, Central and East African, African American, and more. As new youth and families enter our programs, we have made a point to hire from within the groups we serve. For instance, currently many of the residents living near our Pheasant Ridge Center are Sudanese. Therefore, many of the children we serve are Sudanese and many of our staff are Sudanese. Currently, we have five family support workers who - combined speak 7 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swahili, Lingala, and Arabic - support our immigrant and refugee families in navigating the greater Iowa City community. By definition, NCJC is itself an underestimated business with BIPOC professionals at the helm. In 2022, NCJC hired its first Black Executive Director and Black Associate Director furthering an initiative to form a leadership team that reflects our families and youth. Concurrently, two-thirds of NCJC's management team is Black and at least 75% of all staff are racially non-white. Our Board of Directors have recently elected a Black board president and have added two new Black board members - one of which grew up in the Pheasant Ridge neighborhood. We know that this type of representation and the opportunity we have before us is extremely rare. We intend to do everything in our power to address existing barriers and implement neighborhood -level systems to better meet the needs of those experiencing poverty 4a_o ,c 21 Page �n:;e and increase opportunities for BIPOC community members to achieve economic success. We thank you for your consideration in funding this initiative. Sincerely, Rachel Rockwell K"11,98"M Executive Director Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County 4—D 31 Page Through this project NCJC will create a culturally centered business experience for the Iowa City community through the design and construction of a Neighborhood -Level Multicultural Business Hub at 2651 Roberts Road, Iowa City. In partnership with the Wonderful Westside Neighborhood Association and the University of Iowa , Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities, NCJC will utilize creative placemaking practices to engage historically underrepresented groups, such as low- income families, young people, renters, communities of color, recent immigrants, and speakers of English as a second language through processes that center around creative, artist -led activities and compensation to residents. This will strategically shape the physical and social character of the Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center in order to spur economic development, promote enduring social change and improve the physical environment of the neighborhood and Center. NCJC will: Develop its .3 acres of unused land on our 1 -acre plot of land to construct a 3 -season indoor/outdoor roundhouse market and community gathering space that will support up to 20 vendors at a time at zero or very low cost for use of the space. • Contract with local BIPOC architect and Wonderful Westside Neighborhood resident David Houston, to design an outdoor market building and community gathering space. • Reconfigure our security systems, inside doors and locks, and install necessary barriers to areas where the public should not have access (licensed childcare rooms, admin offices) so that our existing center space can be more easily accessible to underrepresented business owners and groups after regular business hours and in the winter months when the outdoor market space is closed. • Host weekend markets in the spring, summer and fall in the newly constructed roundhouse market building and newly redesigned outdoor space. • Invite local artists, educators and business owners to access the space at no or very low cost during non -market days for yoga, dance or art classes, workshops and meetings. • Partner with Bashir Fadl of The Kindsy Foundation to host a minimum of 4 business development workshops/year and 4 five-week business development cohorts in 2024 and 2025. Workshops will focus on developing financial literacy, business plans/proposals, organizational leadership, marketing and other topics as identified at the neighborhood level. �u'mo 41 Page • Partner with Brownpreneurs and host a free in-depth, three-day, youth entrepreneurship summit in 2024 �or up to 50 youth.*rkshops will teach aspiring Commented[CD1]: is there a number missing here? youth the fundamentals of how to start, grow and maintain a successful business. • Host a city-wide Business Plan Competition with scholarships awarded to winners to support start-up and business growth for BIPOC youth and adults in 2025 and 2026. • Expand our existing youth employment and Leadership programs (Y.E.S. and Y.E.L.L.) to each include an additional 4 -weeks of programing focused on youth entrepreneurship. Employ a masters -level intern from the Tippe College of Business to provide financial literacy outreach and technical assistance to BIPOC community members in business and act as a liaison between local financial institutions and underestimated business owners (especially immigrant and refugee populations) helping to navigate the complexities and overcome barriers to obtaining funding for small businesses in an inclusive and equitable manner. • Develop a sustainability plan that looks to grow this initiative in 2026 and beyond, leveraging its successes to attract new funding from private, local, state, and federal sources and potentially mobilize to form a Westside Self - Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID). 4u_o +�'ry�� 5 1 P a g e 15® ^J Our Case: Rebuilding Social Capital in the Wake of Social Distancing The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated many far- reaching negative public health, social, educational, and economic discrepancies in our most vulnerable communities, where wage-earning, health, and n--•• wellbeing have been strained for years. School closures, social distancing, and confinement during the peak of the pandemic have cut people off from their networks of 'C support and the community resources many rely on to keep families connected and sustained. This has caused Asignificant and ongoing damage to our community and _ w social structures. More specifically, the current and aftereffects of this damage has affected our community's most marginalized individuals disproportionately. The Wonderful Westside Neighborhood, where the proposed project will take place has been as hard hit as anywhere else in Iowa City. Census data shows that residents near our Pheasant Ridge near Center have a population of 1,411 with 53% of its population living in poverty. Youth under age 18 make up a whopping 36.4%. 78.3%identify as Black, African American or two or more races according to the American Community Survey 5 -year estimates 2017-2021. More than a third are foreign -born with a majority primarily from Sudan. lil� uNaS 9.,f � 41• 1,411 UnY�. %IY 25 23% ''. B% 36% 53% I �'... ,nom 37% Resilience hubs like Neighborhood Centers play vital roles for healthy, vibrant communities. They provide opportunities for residents to access essential services, and provide a space to interact, socialize, and grow with their Neighbors. They are common ground areas that are focused on inclusivity, while fostering a culture of health and wellbeing in the communities they serve. The Centers have always been more than just building structures but hosts for strong community Z.. building. Beautifying and increasing functionality within these spaces will create a renewed and joyous atmosphere as we invite our neighbors and the wider community back into our Centers. We will continue to rebuild past connections through neighbor -led 61 Page councils, block parties, community gatherings (ex. Movie nights, potlucks, community partner events, family/teen nights, game nights, cultural events etc), informal clubs (business club, garden club, book club, etc). Our community partners experiences, such as Table to Table, Iowa City Community School District, Mobile Health Clinic, Iowa Children's Museum, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Christ The King Church, Johnson County Public Health, United Action for Youth and more, would be enhanced by our spatial updates. Leveraging resources from local, state, and national sources allows NCJC the ability to offer a consistent and stable neighborhood presence that provides a balanced mixture of care and programming that educate, build community, and teach new skills. Funds will increase our Pheasant Ridge Center's capacity for economic development activities, allow residents to benefit from the utilization of currently unused land, and ultimately improving community health and economic empowerment to support residents' financial well-being and improve health outcomes. (Rapid Assessment of Pandemic Impact on Development Early Childhood (RAPID -EQ Household Survey Project and the Center for Translational Neuroscience at the University of Oregon, 2020) 154u_m 71 Page �e 4a_m 81 Page � � Project Expenses Engineering & Design Services $25,000 Construction $200,000 Pheasant Ridge Security Enhancements $15,000 Landscaping/Outdoor market space $47,000 Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Business Development Facilitation (BIPOC contractors) $80,000 NCJC Staff -Salaries & Wages • Youth Program Staff • Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator $60,000 Translation/Interpretation Services $5,000 U of Business/Finance Master's Level Internship $75,000 Marketing $30,000 Equipment/Materials $28,000 Business Competition Scholarship Awards $40,000 Other/Indirect Costs/Administration $60500 Total Costs $665,000 Proposed Project Funding Sources Committed? (Y/N) Government Grant Funds City of Iowa City/ARPA Economic Development $545,000 N Other Grant Funds Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities Grant $5,000 Y AARP Community Grant $15,000 N Other(NCIC donations, sponsorships & fundraising) $50,000 In -Kind NGC Other Indirect Costs/Administration $30,000 Y Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Business Development Facilitation (volunteers) $20,000 N Total Revenues $665,000 Totals Difference $0.00 4a_m 81 Page � � Phase Activities Timeframe Draw -down estimate Design & Develop detailed proposal for land usage, 05.2023-10.2023 50K Development outdoor market building, economic development activities and partnerships. Begin Internship to assist with planning and partnership development Activate Secure initial funding, contracts, deposits 11.2023-02.2024 50K agreements & partner M.O.U's, train NC]C youth staff. Construction Launch and complete construction of outdoor 03.2024-06.2024 150K market building, adjacent outdoor space/gardens and accessibility and indoor security enhancements Engage Engage underestimated business vendors, the 07.2024- ongoing 100K Westside Neighborhood, youth and the broader community in weekly market opportunities, community gatherings, technical assistance, business club participation, entrepreneurial development cohorts and workshops. Assess Review data, outcomes and relationships for 07.2025 -ongoing SOOK programmatic improvements and opportunities Sustain Identify and secure funding necessary to sustain 07.2025-07.2026 45K and expand economic development activities 1 +�'ry�� 91 Page 15® ^J The Neighborhood Centers has an extensive history of managing grant funds of over 50 years. We manage our diverse grants portfolio at city, county, state and federal levels. In addition to undesignated funding through the United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties, we have administered and managed funding through the following: City Funds: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Social Justice and Racial Equity Grants (SJRE) County Funds: Johnson County Social Services Decategorization Funds (Decat) Juvenile Justice -Youth Development Funds OJYD) Early Childhood Iowa - Family Support Funds (ECI) Early Childhood Iowa - School -Ready Funds (ECI) Department of Human Services Funds (DHS) State Funds: Department of Education - Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program Department of Education - 21st Century Funds Department of Education - Shared Visions Head Start - Even Start Grants Federal Funds: Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Americorps - Americorps VISTA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) National Grants: General Mills Kohls Cares for Kids Foundation Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation No Kid Hungry 4u_o +�'ry�� 10 1 P a g e 15® ^J July 2022 - Dec 2022 Neighborhood Centers has dedicated staff time and resources towards surveys, research, planning and implementation of best practices to address lack of connection, sense of belonging, safety, and cycles of poverty and violence that impact NCJC staff, families, neighborhoods, and the broader community. As a result NCJC has redesigned it's organizational structure, raised wages for all of it's hourly staff by 20% and have been actively inviting neighbors, old and new partner organizations, and the broader community into our centers to help us celebrate and provide guidance and support for the direction of NCJC as we embark upon our next 50 years of service to the community. The City of Iowa City granted NCJC $29,600 to update and improve furnishings, technology, decor and outdoor signage at our Pheasant Ridge location. Jan 2023 - March 2023 NCJC acts as a convener and incubator for the birth of Iowa City's newest Neighborhood Association, The Wonderful Westside Neighborhood (WWN). WWN Vision: The Wonderful Westside Neighborhood will be a safe, peaceful, and desirable place to live, work, and play. We will work together to empower inherent leadership, improve economic and social well-being, strengthen sense of belonging, and make connections with resources as we elevate, celebrate, and integrate the diverse cultures and voices of our residents. NCJC developed The Wonderful Westside Garden Project (WWGP) project plan to faster stronger connections between Iowa City's west -side residents by relocating, expanding and improving the Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Centers' existing garden beds and encouraging multigenerational and cultural gatherings. is part of NCJC's larger response effort to rebuild connections among those most negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic living in the neighborhoods we serve. Applied for funding from AARP in the amount of $15,000 July 2023 - May 2024 NCJC's CommUNITY University recently secured funding in the amount of $15,400 through the Iowa City Racial Equity and Social Justice grant and launches in July of 2023. 4a_m 111 Page CommUNITY University is neighborhood level approach that embodies all three of the Better Together 2030 guiding principles: "REPRESENTATIVE LEADERSHIP to dismantle systemic inequity and deepen a culture of inclusion and belonging COLLABORATION among public, private, nonprofit, neighborhood and University players to develop innovative scaled solutions GROWTH MINDSET with the willingness to try new things —because growth and skill are improved with effort and persistence Use Circles, Strategic Doing, Collective Impact, and other participatory models to identify and empower solutions at the most local level." NCJC will coordinating and host six (6), 5 -week cohort learning experiences that utilizes elements of the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) framework for participants to "heal from the wounds of the past, to build mutually respectful relationship, across racial and ethnic lines that honor and value each person's humanity, and to build trusting intergenerational and diverse community relationships that better reflect our common humanity." https://healourcommunities.org/ This framework, expert facilitation, and collaborative nature of CommUNITY University supports the building of relationships, connecting of people, and expanding circles of engagement needed for overcoming racial division and isolation, developing emerging neighborhood leadership, and building both personal and political will. The topics of CommUNITY University's Six, 5 -week learning cohorts in year 1 act as foundations for future cohorts that will focus on economic development and are as follows: • Realizing your Leadership Potential (Discovering Our Primary Aim) • Restorative Justice Practices in our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods • Resilient Community Leaders (Trauma informed care for leaders/community caregivers) • Community Violence Reduction • Storytelling for Inclusion & Equity • Financial Literacy 4u_o ,c 121 Page 15 ®f` Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County Board of Directors 2023 Executive Team President: Mel Sanders Vice -President: Wayne Fett Secretary/ Treasurer: Kris Ackerson Directors Hodge Carter Sarah Majerus Paul Park Daphney Daniels Ahmed Ishmail war, 131 Pa g u ®� [` MiE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IOWA INITIATIVE IO � School lPlanning FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES and Puhic Affairs May 1, 2023 It is my pleasure to write a letter in support of the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County's (NUC) application to the City of Iowa City's Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs grant. Public engagement and experiential learning greatly enhance educational experiences for students at the University of Iowa, while also helping communities and organizations address urgent needs. IISC has a long history of helping students to become leaders working to address local, national, and global challenges and Innovators developing solutions that serve the public good. Over the Last year, IISC has had a deeply meaningful collaboration with the City of Iowa City and NUC to support the formation of the Wonderful Westside Neighborhood Association and, more importantly, to help engage residents about the needs and opportunities within the neighborhood. Our contribution to this effort has Largely focused on gathering stories from residents and stakeholders, with the idea that those stories lay a strong foundation for wafting a vision for the neighborhood built around shared goals and values. We aimed togather input from a group that represents the demographic and socioeconomic diversity that makes this neighborhood unique and speml in Iowa City. We are excited to continue partnering with NUG to help guide residents through the eady stages of the neighborhood association. Two common themes across individual conversations are that a) NCICs Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center plays an extremety important role for building cohesion within the neighborhood and providing essential services to residents and b) economic opportunity and economic inclusion is a high priority, espetially as it supports immigrant families in their transition to Iowa City. NCIC's proposal introduces entrepreneurial services in an underserved area and to underestimated populations. The project will not only serve current and future residents of the neighborhood, but will also become a tremendous asset for the entire Iowa City community. I fully support this important proposal from NCJC and look forward to continuing as a partner for NCIC and the residents of the Wonderful Westside Neighborhood. Sincerely, Travis Kraus Associate Professor, School of Planning & Public Affairs Director, Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities The University of Iowa Q Delete 8 Archwe © Report - h Reply 01 Reply all r� Fawatd - 0 Q - F3 - P - Fw: Letter of Support 4 - Fmm: bashidadl@Md ntasta.ne[<bashidadl@ilisfdMaslic.neb Sant Monday, May 1, 20D 1:21 PM To: Rachel Rockwell<Rachel-Rockwell@ncic.org> Subject: RE: kettetof Support Dear Grant Review Coasmittee, Sly name is Bashir Fadi, and I am the President of the Kindsr Foundation. Over the past rear, at the "Kmdsr Foundation' oc,ve sue cessfully engaged and trained hundreds of loe ar income and monitorir Iowa Citr/Johnson County residents into becoming entrepreneurs Our greatest to, is the tens of lower income residents of Iowa Gtr that bare created their own corporations, been invoh-ed in Bazaar and other forms of parmerhships under the Kinder Foundation training sessions and support. As such, at the Kindsr Foundation, we are vary excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the Neighborhood Centers. of Johnson Count¢ is President of the Kinder Foundation, I am avting to express mp enthusiastic support for the neighborhood grant application submitted by the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County . As an active member and supporter of residents of this neighborhood. I can attest to the vim] importance of this group's won in promoting community engagement and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. Over the past 12 reazs, I have nitnessed firsthand the many positive impacts of the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County's initiatives_ From organizing child educational services, c uc muuig ecems and activities that bring neighbors mgether to providing resources and support for local businesses and residents, this group has been instrumental in creating a strong same of community and improving the overall yell -being of our neighborhood. Gives the significant impact that the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County has already had on our community I hate no doubt that the proposed grant fundingnill be put in good use. nth these additional resources, they will be able to expand their programs and services, reach ayen more community member; and further enhance the vibrancy and livability of our neighborhood. Thank volt for pout consideration of this important grant application. I strongly encourage sou to support this earths cause, and I look forwazd to, seeing the mourned positive impact that me Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County aill have on our commmu , sincecdy, Bashir Fadl (561)400-34.4 BuhuffzUr¢ ITISFantas== 151 Page FINANCIAL BUSINESS SUPPORT Presented By: Aminata Taylor Tailored Tax & Accounting, LLC 136 E Dubuque St Iowa City, IA 52240 contact@tailoredtaxandaccounting.org 319-651-2189 MAY 1, 2023 TAILORED TAX & ACCOUNTING IOWA CITY 4 MULTICULTURAL RHEA DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTER a IOWA N TAILORED TAX tt .iceurvrw: To: City of Iowa City 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear: Grant review committee, On behalf of Tailored Tax and Accounting (Organization), please accept this letter as our intent to apply for the business support program portion of ABPA funds made available by the City of Iowa City. The purpose of this statement of intent is to request funding to provide the Financial Business Support Network (FBSN) to underrepresented businesses at a free or discounted cost. As you are aware, this need was identified in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan (IEDP) and is one of the action areas in the City's Strategic Plan. The burden of obtaining fiscal help has been especially heavy on businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). These businesses have faced challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it difficult for them to access the resources they need to survive and thrive. 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. Demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan The Organization aims to create a Financial Business Support Network (FBSN) to strengthen BIPOC businesses by providing in-depth and strategic financial literacy support with tools that businesses need the most. Many small businesses and minority businesses lack the financial acumen necessary to keep their business in the black and to create long -tern financially successful plans to help them scale their businesses, whether through natural profit margins or securing capital funds. The FBSN will tackle difficult financial literacy issues which prevent businesses from growth, expansion and ultimately result in business closure. Businesses who work with the network will be better equipped to maintain the dream of ownership while creating realistic financial plans that allow them to thrive, obtain loans/lines of credit and to sustain long-term solvency in ever changing markets. The Business Support FBSN will focus on 5 key financial areas: • Book-keeping basics and financial modeling • Quarterly Tax Filings, Tax Planning and Tax Preparation • Accounting Basics • Financial Statements • Cash Flow/Financial Projections According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, entrepreneurs started 843,320 new businesses in the year ending March 2021.Twenty percent of these businesses are expected to fail in the first two years. BIPOC businesses face greater odds of failing with eight out of ten failures in the first year. Financial issues are cited as one of the main reasons these businesses closed. Strategies will include the following: TAILORED •cis x ACCOcn•nNc One/One Services Classes Workshops Services Finance Course • Tax Prep/Planning Financial Quarterly Small Credit Repair Train the Trainers • Accounting Services Education Classes Business Series- Sessions Working with • Financial Business 1 per month or On Demand 6 per year Community Planning (12/ per year) accesslwebinar One/One Advocates • Credit Repair Total of 36 trainings assistance 5 Trained per year • Turnaround Service Classes) 4 Per year minimum Serve 20-30 ear 1 3. A description of how the project builds community resiliency following the COVID-19 pandemic by building capacity to serve residents of the community. The FBSN will build community resiliency by ensuring underrepresented business can achieve the following: • Access to high-quality financial technical assistance at a discounted rate, which will help them navigate the current economic climate and position themselves for long-term success. • Be better equipped to manage their finances, including budgeting, cash flow analysis, forecasting, and strategic planning. • Be able to make more informed financial decisions that are aligned with their long-term goals and objectives. • Be better equipped to address any potential economic downturn. • Create community experts and resource networks to increase access to relevant financial resources. • Provide Information access portal/social networks/information to Iowa City Businesses. • Provide safe/affordable options for high cost financial problems (ie..tax resolutions/poor credit, poor financial management) Targeted Activities: • One-on-one consultations with BIPOC business owners. • Targeted Financial Literacy Series (from 5 key areas). • Provide fiscal management to network businesses. • Target Immigrant ITIN Business Service. • Provide Tax Preparation Services and tax resolution. • Provide Credit Repair Assistance/Credit Resolution Services. • Provide Accounting/Payroll/Audit Services. • Networking Business Summit Event/Programs. Moreover, the knowledge that will be acquired by the owners and staff of these businesses is designed to enhance our capacity to serve our community. We believe that our program services are well aligned with the City's goal of fostering inclusive economic growth and promoting equity in access to resources. 4. An estimated project budget including how much in City assistance you are requesting. Identify both the proposed sources and uses of funds for the total project. Identify if each funding source has committed funds. 0 TAILORED 1.%x& acrn•n ,.an The total project budget is 5100,000. We are requesting $100,000 in grant funding, this will be matched by $50,000 from the Resilient and Sustainable Future for Iowa City, $30,000 from various sources (grants/program revenue), and $20,000 of in-kind services by seasoned professionals within the network. 5. A preliminary timeline for the execution of the project. The City intends for all grant funds to be expended by December 31, 2026. If this is not possible in the project schedule, please detail the estimated draw -down timeframe. The FBSN expects to be self-sustaining within 24 months using the following as seed funding to expand our capacity in the Iowa city corridor. The organisation will use the funds to train community groups/advocates to provide services outlined in the proposal on an ongoing basis and expand professional service providers in trusted communities. Assuming the program funds are allocated by September 2023 the following timeline will be executed within 18- 24 months: • September 2023- Organize an Iowa City Smart Business Summit to begin network/connecting opportunities and hire contractorstfacilitatomftrainers. • December 2023- Prepare Training and Calendar for Series/Course/Program, schedule individual meetings/sessions. • Winter 2024- Launch Courses/Programs. • Spring 2024- Launch FBSN Webinar Series/ITIN Workshops Launch FSBN Network Podcasts and Social Network Platforms. • Fall 2024- Create Additional Group of FBSN Trainers/Programs. • December 2024- 2" Iowa City Smart Business Summit with Key Community Advocates and New partnerships. • January 2025 -Services for FBSN should be self-sustaining with income streams/and continuing program services. 6. A statement about the organization's ability to perform appropriate grant and financial management, including any related experience managing city, state, or federal grant funds. Provide 3 years of financial statements of the lead organization, if available. Please indicate what type of technical assistance may be needed to help prepare the organization for grant management responsibilities. The Organization was established in 2022, with the goal of helping strengthen small businesses by bridging the gap between accounting, operations, and long-term sustainability. We have expanded our initiative by offering financial literacy classes and accounting support for underrepresented businesses through intentional partnerships, such as collaborating with Merge, MDC Iowa and RSFIC. The founder of the organization, Aminata "Ami" Taylor, has a strong background in finance, holding a CPA license and an MBA. Additionally, the organization is established as Targeted Small Business (TSB) with the State of Iowa. Ami served as the Chief Financial Officer of United Way of Anchorage managing over $70M of ARPA and CARES funds for the city Anchorage, Ak. With these skills and experience, the FBSN is well positioned to continue providing fiscal services for this proposed program. The FBSN does not anticipate help to prepare for grant management responsibilities, we believe we are capable of managing this limited program. 0 TAILORED '110"L tccni..,IiNc 7. A description of all work related to the project that has been completed to date, if any, including any secured funding, contracted professional services, property, land acquisition, grant or loan activity, etc. To date, tailored Tax and Accounting has provided training courses for small businesses, offered free consultations, worked with groups such as the MDC Iowa, UWJWC and RSFIC providing accounting assistance such as budgeting, payroll, and financial management. Creating a Financial Business Support Network will increase the capacity of service providers for these and other organizations as they serve small businesses. The organizations have thus far utilized a pay as you go approach. Creating this network, equipping additional providers, and streamlining topics can help create a more defined process of services with a broader group of professionals. The FBSN will allow the community to have access to a broad network of providers rather than relying on one group of experts and eliminate the barrier of cost prohibitive services by private firms. 8. Any other information, including letters of support, the submitting agency deems appropriate. As the funding entity, no letters of support should be sought from City of Iowa City staff or elected officials. Here at Tailored Tax & Accounting, using the FBSN approach we strongly believe that this program can significantly impact the financial health and resilience of underrepresented businesses in the Iowa City area. By investing in their success, we can promote economic equity and build stronger, more resilient communities. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to exploring ways that our organizations can partner together to be the change that we seek. Sincerely, Aminata Taylor,CPA, MBA From: Kymberly Stevenson <Kymberly Stevenson@IowaEDA.com> Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2023 9:35 AM To: Tailored Tax and Accounting <contact ilorgdtaxandaccountin .or Subject: TSB Certification Dear Aminata, Congratulations! Your application for certification as a Targeted Small Business with the Iowa Economic Development Authority has been reviewed and approved. Please retain this e-mail as proof of your certification. An official letter, window cling and certificate will be mailed to you also. Your targeted Small Business status shall be recertified every two years. You will be notified by mail when it is time for you to recertify your business. In accordance with state rules for certification, it is your responsibility to advise this office when significant changes occur in your business that may affect this certification. This includes changes in company name, ownership, telephone number, address, etc. The following items have also been attached: • A digital "badge" that you may use on your website, social media feeds (feel free to tag Iowa Economic Development Authority1) or promotional materials to acknowledge your certification status. This badge may not be skewed or scaled when used in print or online. If your certification expires and is not renewed, you must discontinue usage of this mark. • A "How To" guide for navigating the portal to update your Business profile and manage your state bidding opportunity notification settings. • A "How To" guide on doing business with the state, put together by our partners at the Center for Industrial Research and Serve (LIRAS). If you are interested in selling to the state, be sure to check out CIRAS's list of events and webinars for small business owners interested in government procurement, found here: httsJ1www.ciras.iastate.edulevents-worksho sl o The state of Iowa has also created a free Orientation Workshop for Vendors interested in doing business with the State of Iowa! Click HERE to sign up for an upcoming workshop! o Iowa State University also holds Vendor Orientation sessions monthly! Topics covered include how to do business with Iowa State, the bid process and information on what they buy. Click htt s:llwww. rocurement.iastate.edu/vendor-informationlorientation to learn more information about the dates for an upcoming session! o To be considered as a vendor of goods and services in the event of an emergency, please fill out the Iowa Emergency Management Response survey to get your name in the Emergency Response vendor database: httpsaldocs.goggle.com/forms/d/a11FAIpQLSdiW6gpALVxwOSrkK3F8136 c3Kl3hJ u2sd FSkGhgvcHvO7OTwlviewform o A flier about the TSB program with information about our low-interest micro - loan program and procurement opportunities with the state of Iowa. A flier about federal Housing and Urban Development's "Section 3" program. Businesses that qualify for this program are listed in the HUD Section 3 Business Registry database and are eligible to receive information about HUD - related bid opportunities. Please contact Nichole Hansen at nichoie.hansengiowaeda.com for more information. Certified Targeted Small Businesses are also able to receive 48-hour advance procurement notice opportunities and bid information with state agencies by logging into your TSB portal here: www.lowaeda.com/tsb. If you have not already logged on to the system when you created your application, you will receive a separate e-mail with instructions for logging on to this site. The Iowa Economic Development Authority appreciates your time and cooperation in the process of TSB certification. Once again, congratulations on becoming a certified Targeted Small Business! KYMBERLY STEVENSON I TSB Business Development Project Manager IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 200 1 Des Moines, Iowa 50315 +1 (515) 348-6193 1 kymberly.stevenson@iowaeda.com Statement of Qualifications for: Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs 1 1 WY Wright House May 01, 2023 Redmond Jones II Deputy City Manager 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 910 S. Gilbert Street Iowa City LA, 52240 P: 319-541-9790 E: wrighthouseoffashion@gmail.com Re: Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Dear Mr. Redmond Jones II, Wright House is a non-profit organization empowering underrepresented populations with art, design, and fashion as vehicles for change. Our organization includes a dedicated incubator space, a screen - printing area, business programming in the form of a fashion accelerator, and revolutionary graphic design classes and workshops equipping Iowa City with the future tools of tomorrow. We are seeking funding for building renovations and for support programming, specifically $554,444 in funding for BIPOC programming support, equipment and $453,016 in funding for our physical space. Our enclosed statement of qualifications showcases what Wright House is currently doing to support and for the development of underestimated businesses and entrepreneurs in Johnson County. Our submittal response will focus on these areas: • A plan to empower underrepresented entrepreneurs. • Creating a safe, multicultural business hub, using state -0f -the -art equipment, new technology and fashion as vehicles for change. • Create business mentoring programs to increase the economic viability for marginalized early stage businesses. As Founder and Executive Director of Wright House. I am confident that our organization is well- equipped to receive this substantial funding for our non-profit. Our mission is to create a more inclusive and equitable community by providing access to art, design, and fashion resources for those who may not have had the opportunity. Thank you for considering our funding request. If you have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed documents, please contact me by email at wrighthouseoffashion @gmaiLcom or by phone at 319-541-9790. Sincerely, Andre Wright Ouestion 2. A general description of the project Including the purpose, benefits, Page 3 and specific goals of the project. Demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project wil I accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan. [rl40l4:Tel9■]=[.-14q;?I;A0M►1 Wright House is Iowa City's first fashion house, and aims to empower underrepresented populations through design, fashion, and sustainable principles. We know it's essential to provide opportunities for creative expression, workshops, and training, to build skills in business, leadership, teamwork, and citizenship. This leads to positive change in the lives of individuals and communities and can help individuals unlock their potential and create a meaningful difference in their lives and communities. By providing access to these resources and creating an ecosystem that supports BIPOC businesses and underrepresented populations, we are helping to address systemic inequalities and empower individuals to become leaders and change - makers. Wright House prides itself on creating a safe and supportive environment for these programs to thrive. Given the history of systemic oppression and discrimination that many BI POC individuals and communities have faced, ensuring that these programs are welcoming and inclusive and that participants feel respected and valued is crucial. Creative skills, entrepreneurship, and arts education can give individuals the tools and mindset to pursue their passions, develop their talents, and positively impact their communities. These focus areas are significant for BIPOC individuals and underrepresented populations, who have historically faced systemic barriers to accessing education, resources, and opportunities. We also know that there is value in collaboration and partnerships with the creative design and business communities. Working together can leverage our collective strengths and resources to create a more significant impact and support for underrepresented populations. tnriusfve Economic ❑eveloprwnf Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Question 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. Demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan. Dur focus on creative skills, entrepreneurship, and arts education is essential to creating a more just and equitable society. Arts education is also crucial, providing individuals with a creative outlet and a means of expression. This is particularly important for underrepresented communities, who may face additional barriers to expressing themselves and sharing their stories. By providing access to arts education and supporting creative expression, we are helping amplify the voices and perspectives of historically marginalized people. By providing access to these resources and creating a supportive ecosystem, we are helping to address these inequalities and empower individuals to realize their full potential. Entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for building wealth and creating economic opportunities for marginalized communities. By fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting BI POC businesses, we are helping individuals and contributing to the economic growth and vibrancy of Iowa City. Providing an educational facility will offer new job opportunities for individuals historically underrepresented in the creative fields in Iowa City. In addition, by providing access to training and mentorship, you are helping to build a talent pipeline and support for individuals who may not have had these opportunities otherwise. The Wright House contributes to the community's overall health and well-being by providing safe spaces and arts education programming. In addition, by providing access to resources and mentorship, we are helping individuals develop skills and build businesses that can contribute. Research shows that providing safe spaces for underrepresented communities can significantly impact individuals and communities. According to an article by Vox Media, safe spaces can reduce stress, promote good mental health, and foster Page 4 a sense of belonging and empowerment. This can lead to increased engagement in the community and ultimately result in improved health outcomes, greater civic engagement, and increased economic mobility, Early arts education has been shown to have numerous benefits for individuals and communities. The National Endowment for the Arts conducted extensive research on the topic. According to their report "The Arts and Achievement in At -Risk Youth: Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies," students who participate in arts education programs tend to have better academic outcomes, including higher grades, higher graduation rates, and higher college enrollment rates, In addition, the report suggests that arts education can positively affect social and emotional development, including self- esteem, empathy, and tolerance. Additionally, arts education has been shown to promote positive social behavior and contribute to a sense of community and cultural awareness. Wright House has developed a robust support system for startups by providing them with resources, information, and mentorship to help them thrive. By offering low to no rent and acting as a business incubator hub, we are reducing some of the financial barriers that can prevent startups from getting off the ground. By partnering with local mentors and credit unions, we are also helping startups access the capital they need to grow. Our network of over 100 mentors is also an asset. It gives startups the guidance and advice they need to navigate the complex landscape of starting and growing a business. By fostering a safe and supportive business community, we create an environment where startups can thrive and succeed where no one feels alone in their business. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Pace b Question 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. Demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan. Goal 1: Create an environment where partnerships thrive in a comfortable, culturally diverse, and engaging atmosphere that fosters respect and trust. Strategies Activities/service Benefit to the community Performance measures /data sources Develop an Serve as an extension for Strengthens relationships Develop database of all ecosystem of support partners needing screen among the community current partners and services among partners printing, graphic design, and BIPOC individuals. they provide. business support. Partners: Dream City, Creates a landscape that Hold quarterly commission Great Plains Action Develop a needs is transparent and fosters meetings to reassess Society, Riselent ecosystem and see where a quality community. progress of partnerships, Sustainable Future we need support and how discuss areas of improvement Iowa City to support others. and what is working well. Support marginalized Create and host workshop This will create new Increase enrollment in our populations with series for underrepresented diverse, qualified, and arts and entrepreneurship skills populations focusing experienced individuals programming by 20% by on graphic design and entering the workforce 2025, the business of design. and entrepreneurship in Programming will include Iowa City. At the end of each session Partners: UI School lectures, hands on activities, series, gather feedback from of Art and Art History, group projects, and guest Recruitment of local participants and instructors to Warner Music, Black speakers. community members who evaluate the effectiveness of Graphic Designers are passionate about our workshop series. We will Guild supporting undeserved use this feedback to improve populations. future sessions and ensure that we are meeting our target audience's needs. Use visuals within our Create visuals of inspiration Increases the Increase the number of space so that others and empowerment. emotional well-being BIPOC artists visibility, feel welcome of BIPOC individuals especially local artists, yearly Use quotes from ancestors by continuously being by displaying their work to spark conversation. exposed to pictures and within the Wright House Partners: Black, visuals of other powerful building. Latino/a, indigenous Use local BIPOC artist to ancestors. This will and Sudanees artists create murals on interior produce a place of safety Develop a directory of local and exterior of Wright of & sacredness. BIPOC artist who specialize Fashion. in varies types of art. Promotes diversity and inclusivity while supporting local artists and adding a unique and meaningful element to the art scape in Iowa City. Promoting Diversity Installing gender neutral Supports a welcoming Increase the number of and Inclusion bathrooms. environment within Iowa City gender -neutral bathrooms and communicates the Wright over the next three years. Partners: UI School House's values of inclusivity. of Art and Art History, Gather feedback from Iowa City Community individuals in the space School District, Warner via a survey. Music Inclusive Economic Development Sopporf for Underes7lmated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5. 1.23 Page 8 Question 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan. Goal 2: Create a safe, multicultural business hub using state-of-the-art equipment, new technology, and fashion as vehicles for change. Strategies Activities/service Benefit to the community Performance measures /data sources Invest in state -of- Keyless entry for 24-7 Encourages individuals from Develop memberships the -art equipment access with membership different backgrounds to offering 24-7 access and and new technology plan. safely share their experiences monitor yearly increases in and insights and organize membership numbers. Install 24-7 security cultural events and activities Partners: Riselent surveillance monitoring. that showcase the richness Gather continuous Sutainable Future of Iowa City. feedback from our Iowa City, PACE Offer high speed internet, community to tailor our Management modern office furniture Creates a modem and offerings to meet specific and other amenities. efficient workspace in the needs and preferences. Arts District of Riverfront Crossings that meets the needs of our community. Incubator space Dedicated space in the Community members will Track the number of front of the Wright House have a low to no cost space, underrepresented Partners: Riselent building for underrepresented offering a flexible rental cycle entrepreneurs that start Sutainable Future entrepreneurs is available to make it more assessable new businesses after Iowa City, PACE daily, weekly, or monthly. for local entrepreneurs. to utilizing our facility and Management pilot their ideas. services. Community Training and workshops: A dedicated space like Track how many people kitchen Develop a curriculum this will produce new food use the kitchen. that covers the basics of entrepreneurs and develop Partners: Riselent the food and beverage different opportunities for Track the number of Sutainable Future industry, including food cultures to work together trainings and workshops Iowa City, PACE safety, menu planning, and and support our growing hosted. Management, customer service. multicultural population. Sudanese community, Track the number of Black community Provide ongoing support Offers a supportive and food and beverage to program participants, inclusive environment entrepreneurs produced including mentorship, for underrepresented because of the space. networking opportunities, populations to learn and and access to funding grow in the food and or other resources to beverage industry. help them grow their businesses. 311) printers and Manufacture textiles and Help to bridge the digital divide Track the number of Screen -printing develop adaptive parts for and empower more people projects created by using equipment fashion or other creative to access the benefits of the 3D printing equipment. flelds. technology. Partners: UI School Gather feedback from of Art and Art History, Programming surrounding participants and monitor Iowa City Community technology and Innovation the complexity of the School District and how it applies to the projects, the size and way we live, work, and capabilities of the printers, Interact with each other. and the availability of materials. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5. 1.23 Question 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals Page 7 of the project. demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan. Goal 3: Commit to building and sustaining art and entrepreneurial -centered roles for the community that values individual and group learning and social and emotional development as partners. Strategies Activitieslservice Benefit to the community Performance measures/data sources Mentor youth from Connect students with Stimulates economic Work with 10 youth all high schools experienced entrepreneurs growth by creating more entrepreneurs through who can provide guidance job opportunities and the year. and advice through boosting local businesses. Partners: UI networking events, Assist 2-3 students to School of Art and mentorship programs, or Keeps creative resources create clothing lines. Art History, Dream one-on-one mentorship. available locally and keep City, Great Plains talented students in Iowa Work with local steres Action Society, UI Provide students with City. for brand and product Jacobson Institution opportunities to gain real- distribution. world experience through apprenticeships. Develop clothing Have each designer go through Expand the retail Develop 5 clothing entrepreneurs the Wright House accelerator ecosystem and provider brands by the end of process where students will opportunities for more 2024 by supporting, Partners: ICAD, receive guidance on marketing, residents to earn a living. developing, mentoring, Downtown District production, and branding to help or providing direct Revival, Catherine's, bring their visions to reality. Create a mutually services. Warner Music beneficial partnership that helps to strengthen Iowa City's retail ecosystem and support the growth of the designer's business. Quarterly Fashion Host community fashion Introduce the Iowa The goal is for 10-20 Shows shows within the Wright City community to designers per year House quarterly. nontraditional designers. will go through our Partners: VICE, accelerator program Better Together Accelerator program will Highlight local designers beginning 2024 and 2030, Think Iowa support and mentor the from cur accelerator showcase their brand City, Revival designers by providing programs. on stage. resources, networking opportunities, and support Build social and emotional Track attendance at for their growth and skills that turn In to Ilfe fashion shows with a development. skills like confidence, goal of getting over empowerment, and 5K attendees over the accomplishment. course of 3 years. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 8 Question 2. A general description of the project including the purpose, benefits, and specific goals of the project. demonstrate the community benefit of the project using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Specifically, note how the project will accomplish the goals outlined in the Inclusive Economic Development Plan and City Council Strategic Plan. Goal 4: Develop a plan to empower underrepresented entrepreneurs in Iowa City to increase required trust and relationships necessary to address minority learning needs and abilities. Strategies Activities/service Benefit to the community Performance measures (data sources Create business Create ongoing business • Creates new wealth Measure how many mentoring programs mentoring program to and opportunities for entrepreneurs we to increase the support entrepreneurs. marginalized folks in our connect with mentors. economic viability of community. marginalized early- Developed a list of strong • Increases diversity within Measure how many stage businesses. mentors to support the the community and develop businesses. ecosystem. promotes overall growth Partners: Greenstate, of Iowa City's business Hills Bank, Warner ecosystem. Music, Riselent diverse and inclusive Sustainable Future Iowa workforce, leading to City increased innovation and creativity within local businesses. Financial education Provide accessible and A tool for increasing Use analytics to online toolkit convenient resources for financial literacy and measure how many individuals to learn about empowering individuals people use this tool. Partners: Greenstate, personal finance and in the community to take Hills Bank, Warner money management. control of their financial Gather user feedback Music, Riselem futures and make informed and continually update Sustainable Future Making the toolkit financial decisions. and improve the toolkit Iowa City available on mobile based on their needs devices, making it and preferences. easily accessible and scalable to reach a larger audience. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 9 Question 3. A description of how the project builds community resiliency following the COVID-19 pandemic by building capacity to serve residents of the community. BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCY We strategically put together our fashion house by utilizing existing space in new and innovative ways. During the pandemic, many businesses struggled, and Varsity Cleaners was one of them. We wanted to preserve a recognizable landmark in Iowa City into a safe and sustainable fashion house while preserving the historical value of the building. We created a multicultural organization, a hub, and a creative workspace that serves as a bold safe space, a multicultural business hub, a creative workspace, and an educational facility equipped with workshops and training equipment. We use these tools to empower as we are invested in creating opportunities and building resilience within our community. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion, especially concerning body positivity and underrepresented groups, demonstrates that we are conscious of our community's needs and are willing to provide new and authentic experiences. Wright House is creating new pathways for community engagement, building generational wealth with the understanding that community is at the heart of economic development. Our approach to community engagement and building generational wealth reflects a broader sense that people are the heart of economic growth and community engagement. We demonstrate, through action, how to stand up for ourselves, speak truth to power, and create a safe, bold, and productive place to be — a place to ht in, to belong no matter what we feel, think, or look like. Fashion and art are powerful tools for self-expression and have the potential to impact individuals and society positively while helping our community engage in essential conversations from unique voices and perspectives. Our talented team of BIPOC and underrepresented multicultural students and professionals brings a wealth of diverse experiences to the table. We leverage these unique perspectives to create experiences that genuinely reflect the diversity of our world. Through our work, The Wright House strives to open doors and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 10 Question 4. An estimated project budget including how much in City assistance you are requesting. Identify both the proposed sources and uses of funds for the total project. Identify if each funding source has committed funds. PROJECT BUDGET STATEMENT Many financial resources have been invested in Wright House's initiatives. Wright House has secured a physical location through a partnership with Resilient Sustainable Future Iowa City. Wright House is currently working to secure funding to gain full ownership of the building for $965,000. Current renovations have already been completed for $200,000.00. This has allowed Wright House to offer the space accessible to entrepreneurs and marginalized communities to maximize their capital. In addition to personal financial contributions, Wright House has volunteered our time doing mentorsh1p, training, and workshops for students and the community. Executive Director Andre' Wright has also invested personal money in the facility and people to ensure the space is safe and comfortable for all. The chart below showcases our project budget and what we request for building improvements and programs for the BIPOC and marginalized communities. The estimated project budget is $1,007,460, we are requesting the City of Iowa City assist with funding $453.016 for building improvements and $554,444 for BIPOC programming and equipment. The building project will be executed in phases, with the completion expected by December 31, 2026. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 77 Question 4. An estimated project budget including how much in City assistance Page you are requesting. Identify both the proposed sources and uses of funds for the total project. Identify if each funding source has committed funds. Budget for Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Line Item Expense Justification Brief description Costs 1 Community kitchen Economic development opportunity Retail/educational classes $300,000 2 LED Trac lighting Ambiance's and production Sustainable facility $2,000 3 Living wall Well being Sustainable facility $4,000 4 Exterior paint Face lift identity Welcoming space $4,500 5 1 New exterior sign Identity of our organization Location landmark $7,9D0 6 Wall for interior of garage Organizes the building Organizes the building $500 7 Blinds for windows Privacy / safety 1 energy efficiency Privacy 1 safety $3,000 8 Key -less entry Memberships / inclusiveness Memberships $5,000 9 Renovated restrooms Unisex and ADA compliance Restrooms for everyone 540,000 1 p Exit door renovation Fire Marshall orders Allows for events $10,000 11 Security system Safe inviting space Safe inviting space $3,500 12 Fur out and insulate walls Building renovation Energy efficiency $50,400 13 Ductwork in flex space Building renovation Re -insulate ductwork $2,900 14 Transfer ductwork Building consistency Expose ceilings $7,000 15 Gallery area demo Building renovation General demo $12,000 Building Improvements Total $452,700 16 Program director 40 hours week at $36.50/hour Three year position, $70,000/year $210,000 17 Operations manager 20 hours/week at approx $20/hour Three year position, $20,000/year $60,000 13 Fashion accelerator 10 hours/month Instructor Facilitate workshops (Yearly contract) $301000 19 Graphic design 10 hours/month Instructor 1 Facilitate workshops (Yearly contract) $30,000 20 Financial education 10 hours/month Instructor 1 Facilitate workshops (Yearly contract) $30,000 21 Mentor support services This will bring energy into the mentorship ecosystem. $1001hr stipend $10,000 22 Payroll services Social Security, Medicare, Work- men's Comp, etc 12% of salaries Third -party payroll S63.400 Business Support Programs and Personelle Total $494,444 Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 12 Question 4. An estimated project budget including how much in City assistance you are requesting. Identify both the proposed sources and uses of funds for the total project. Identify if each funding source has committed funds. Budget for Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Line Expense Justification Brief description Costs Item Amount Wright House Building Building ownership Equity investment (property) 23 3d printers Empower underrepresented to 6.50" x 7.68" x 11.61" $4,000 Equity Grant Commission use future tech nalagy. Build size Private donations 24 Projector & screen Production. We will use these for $4,000 community Incubator space rent community presentations. Economic empowerment 25 Direct to garment printer Empower underrepresented Print samples and develop $27,000 Greenstate Credit Union & Ink for startup entrepreneurs. Allow students to brands. programs print samples on the spot. Warner Music donation Music foundation 26 Multi -head embroidery Empower underrepresented Allows for on the spot $15,000 machine entrepreneurs. manufacturing. $20,000 27 Large sublimation fabric Empower underrepresented Allows for on the spot S10,000 printer entrepreneurs. manufacturing. 28 Trac lighting Ambience's and production Fashion show lighting $2,000 29 Blackout blinds Privacy 1 safety/ energy efficiency Protect south windows $3,000 Equipment Total 560,040 We are requesting $1,007,460 for building improvements, business support services and equipment. The above charts breakdown our project budget and justification for each item. We are happy to discuss each line item with the selection committee. Revenue Source Description Projected Amount Wright House Building Building ownership Equity investment (property) $956.000 Iowa City Social and Racial Iowa City Human Rights Grant recipient for 2023 $25,000 Equity Grant Commission building improvements Private donations Local community Private donations from local $10,000 community Incubator space rent Local entrepreneurs Economic empowerment $2,500 Sponsorships Local business owners Sponsorships to run events $10,000 Greenstate Credit Union Banking Funding to support our $5,000 programs Warner Music donation Music foundation Funding to support our $10,000 programs Wright House membership Services/facility Help underrepresented $20,000 businesses with access to services and tools Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestinoted Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Question 5. A preliminary timeline for the execution of the project. The City Page 73 intends for all grant funds to be expended by December 31, 2028. If this is not possible in the project schedule, please detail the estimated draw -down time frame. PRELIMINARY TIMELINE The Wright House is a creative business hub for underrepresented populations to collaborate on unique design and fashion -related projects. It was founded in 2022 by Andre' Wright, volunteers, community activists, and Icoal youth, at 910 South Gilbert Street, Iowa City, in what was once the historic Varsity Dry Cleaners and Laundromat. The Wright House has many programs and projects to support the mission of the In 2023, the facility opened and had business workshops development, graphic design classes, building renovations, roof and interior updates, equipment purchases, and security system installation. The Wright House Board of Directors was launched in February 2023. The Wright House also named its first program director in 2023. We are currently running business support mentoring sessions, graphic design classes for high school youth on Wednesday evenings and participate in building the retail and fashion ecosystem by hosting model calls and fashion shows. In 2024, the Wright House plans to paint the exterior of the building, build the community kitchen, renovate restrooms, expand the training center, offer accredited college courses, and hire additional business support help. In 2025, the incubator space expansion and fashion brand accelerator program will be developed. We are working with financial institutions to offer funding to the winners of those fashion accelerator programs to jump- start their business. In 2026, the final project completion will have a holistic fashion campus that supports underrepresented and marginalized business owners. The Wright House has partnered with Warner Music's Hand in Hand ERG and The University of Iowa to offer a 12 -week hybrid graphic design program for BIPOC-identifying youth (ages 13-20) in Iowa City. This program teaches everything related to the music industry's creative side, such as merchandise design, collaborating with artist teams, and showcasing an artist's voice through fashion. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Question 5. A preliminary timeline for the execution of the project. The City intends for all grant funds to be expended by December 31, 2026. If this is not possible in the project schedule, please detail the estimated draw -down time f rame. In addition, the Wright House offers incubator space for entrepreneurs, brand developers, dreamers, marginalized businesses owners, and creatives. They can test their ideas, products, and businesses without any barriers, with no fees and minimal donations. There is a screen -printing workshop, drag show productions, mentoring program, fashion workshops, and model calls to build an ecosystem for entrepreneurs and creatives. Building improvements have been made, including asbestos abatement, radon vent removal, heating units installation, a recording studio built, LED track lights installed, and roof installation. Our plan is to work with the city to build out a phased approach to construction and a plan matching the funding we would receive from the ABPA grant. �'L PROPOSED PROJECT/BUILDING Q2 Q3 TIMELINE L �i Page 14 January I March I April I May I June I July I August I September I October I November I December ❑ BIPOC Business Support Services ❑ Building RenovationAnstallation projects Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Question 6. A statement about the organization's ability to perform appropriate grant Page 75 and financial management, including any related experience managing city, state, or federal grant funds. Provide 3 years of financial statements of the lead organization, If available. Please indicate what type of technical assistance may be needed to help prepare the organization for grant management responsibilities. Wright House is a new organization and has one tax filing year. Although we are new Andre' Wright our founder and Executive Director has had director roles and has overseen building projects like MERGE and understands substantial budgets due to his experience with running multiple companies as an entrepreneur. Wright House has its financials reconciled every month by Katalyst Systems impact. We meet once a month with our investment team and an independent review of our finances are conducted during those reviews. This fall our reviews will be performed by Tailored Tax. In addition to independent review we meet monthly at our Board meetings and our Treasurer is providing a monthly report and updates. We feel we are more than equipped to perform appropriate grant and financial management with three separate reviews of finances and budgets. We are also willing to work with city staff and officials to determine the best plan or program for reporting progress and budget management with the city about our project. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 16 Question 6. A statement about the organization's ability to perform appropriate grant and financial management, including any related experience managing city, state, or federal grant funds. Provide 3 years of financial statements of the lead organization, if available. Please indicate what type of technical assistance may be needed to help prepare the organization for grant management responsibilities. Profit and Loss - WHO January - December 2022 Expenses TOTAL Income 25.00 WHDF Sales 53,026.68 Tow Income $63,026.58 Cost of Goods Sold 361.90 Cost of Goods Sold 7.699.35 TOW Cost of Goods Sold 87,899.35 GROSS PROFIT $46,327.,93 Expenses Advertising 25.00 Ask My Accountant 2,084-27 Bank Charges 472.70 Cable 361.90 Gas 360.52 Insurance 125.00 Legal & Professional Fees 1,200.00 Life Insurance 161.26 Meals and Entertainment 1,721.97 Mobile Phone 246.77 Office Expenses 128.24 Shipping and dellvery expense 1,889.12 Square Fees 180.41 Supplles 1,566.28 Taxes & Licenses 179.83 Travel 2,740.03 Total 6per" =13,48@.30 NET OPERATING INCOME $31,855.03 Other Expenses Miscallaneous Computer Software 1,801.50 Parking Fee 690-42 Total Miscalaneous $491.92 Tare) 001er Expenses $2,491.92 NET OTHER INCOME $-2,491.92 NET INCOME $29,373.11 Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 17 Question 6. A statement about the organization's ability to perform appropriate grant and financial management, including any related experience managing city, state, or federal grant funds. Provide 3 years of financial statements of the lead organization, if available. Please indicate what type of technical assistance may be needed to help prepare the organization for grant management responsibilities. F. 990-N Name 2022 Emp"r ldenrif tit Number Note: Form 990-1 can ONLY be fled elechonicaly, and is filed in lieu of Forma 990 or 990 -EZ, if eligibility is met. The fpllvmng i ame are required fpr a Wmpl9te eleoranip a tmivjgn' 1. Employer mriJ ration number (EIN), also known as a TaVayer IdentrimiM n Number (TIN) 87-3686197 .............................. 2. Tax year2022 ...................... .. ....... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ....... .. .. .. .. .. . .. s. Legal name of organization ................................................... Wright House of Fashion Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Halling street address ..................................................... 911 S Gilbert Street City a foreign province............................................................................. . Iowa City State or foreign country code........................................................................ IA rs coda........................ ................................................................................. 52240 9. "offer names the organceM n uses (Doing Business As) S. ................ r rsnopaf offs x name . Andre Wright Hailing street adcliess................................................. .. 308 E Burlington St 189 Suer address bne 2 ........................................................ City. . . .................................................................................. Iowa City Foreign to o lnm...................................................................................... State or foreign county cab .......... ........................................................... .......................52240 ........ IA Zipodds.................................................................................................... .... 8. Web afire address if Bre organization has one 7. ... .. .. ................... Orgarnbrallon's anmal grass receipts are normally E50,000 or less X 8. Orgenmstion is tewnunaled or in the propesa of ten. m alion Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Question 7. A description of all work related to the project that has been completed to date, if any, including any secured funding, contracted professional services, property, land acquisition, grant or loan activity, etc. RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE In 2022, Andre' Wright, along with volunteers, community activists, and Ictal youth, founded the Wright House (WH F) at 910 South Gilbert Street, Iowa City, in what was once the historic Varsity Dry Cleaners and Laundromat. In less than one year, this space has provided a refuge and a creative environment for underrepresented populations to collaborate on unique design and fashion -related projects. Current Programs/Projects Workshops with University of Iowa and Warner Music - Wright House has partnered with Warner Music's Hand in Hand ERG and the University of Iowa to bring a robust 12 -week hybrid graphic design program to Iowa City. Leaders in WMX's Creative department will teach BIPOC identifying youth (ages 13- 20) everything as it relates to the creative sidle of the music industry like merchandise design, collaborating with artist teams, and how to showcase an artist's voice through fashion, They also get to experience other business professionals from Warner Music staff in marketing, e-commerce, sales, and human resources. This project ends with the youth being chaperoned to an exclusive event to see their final product. Incubator space - We have 1,500 sq. ft. of dedicated space for entrepreneurs, brand developers, dreamers, marginalized business owners and creatines. This space allows you to test your idea, product and business creating economic empowerment opportunities for those that want to be business owners. We created this space to prevent any barriers for businesses to earn a profit. We have no fee to use the space and ask for a minimal donation. It is available for day use, weekly use, or monthly. You are able to provide an experience to your customer and create the environment that matches your brand. We have had multiple brands and businesses already use this space to economically empower themselves and we realize how much of an advantage a business owner has with little to no overhead. Page 18 tnclusfve Economic ❑eveloprwnt Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Subrnittaf 5.7.23 Question 7. A description of all work related to the project that has been completed to Page 79 date, if any, including any secured funding, contracted professional services, property, land acquisition, grant or loan activity, etc. Screen printing workshop - We teach the value of screen printing so our underrepresented business owners can learn how to manufacture from scratch. Silk screen printing is one of the oldest techniques in printing and when mastered you can control your future. This skill is essential in the infrastructure of creating a brand. It also teaches someone how to economically empower themselves. Drag fashion show - Wright House stands in solidarity with people who identify as LGTBQIA+ and we have a members of those communities utilizing the space. In January we decided to do a drag show in our facility to showcase talent from that community and showcase how inclusive our space will be. We have hosted a number of photo shoots improving the physical appearance of our marginalized population with photos that show them in the best light. This also has been an opportunity to understand how we are running a professional studio for these creative types empowering them to live their dreams of being in the media industry. Business support and mentoring program - Our mentoring program will meet two times per week for two hours for a total of 16 hours of mentoring time. We will have one primary classroom instructor augmented by numerous guest speakers with practical expertise in areas of business ownership, lending, management, human resources, marketing, sales, retail, supply chain, financial analysis and leadership. Fashion workshops and model call - As our mission is to build an ecosystem for entrepreneurs and creatines. The model calls and workshops assist with this goal by bridging new people into the space so they can experience what it would be like to be a part of an emerging industry like fashion. This also builds essential skills about time management, confidence, trusting and working with others. These are essential to the workforce and building civic minded residents in Iowa City. Multicultural business hub building improvements - Over the course of the next five years our facility will go under many changes and renovations. We have currently invested in these building improvements to date. Asbestos Abatement Radon vent removal Heating units installed Recording studio built Roof install Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 20 Question 8. Any other information, including letters of support, the submitting agency deems appropriate. As the funding entity, no letters of support should be sought from City of Iowa City staff or elected officials. The following pages will showcase our support partners. We are not building an ecosystem alone we have a number of allies, youth and support from prominent local and national organizations. tnolusfve Economic ❑eveloprwnt Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Subrnittaf 5.7.23 Page 21 Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City 1927 Keokuk St, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240 To our trusted selection committee, Wright House of Fashion is in a key strategic position to help Iowa City shift to a more just, equitable, and sustainable economy. They have found a rare opportunity to both empower underrepresented people today AND build sustainable industries that will keep empowering all of us into the future. I am an experienced entrepreneur, successful business owner, and lifetime community builder, and I whole-heartedly support this proposal. I'd like you to know that further support from the city will be magnified by me and the wide base of supporters Andre' Wright has called to his cause. Andre' is building a strong board led by former city councilor Karen Kubby, and he has the ongoing mentoring support of my organization IRS FIC to help him navigate bigger and bigger levels of success and financial power. Also, the Wright House of Fashion building on Gilbert St is under the care of R S F I C as well, so new funds awarded can go to improvements in the organization and will be safe from building repairs, insurance, and other maintenance. Additionally, RSFIC can provide professional, paid accounting services to WHoF so they can dearly understand and report how funds are being used. It's hard to understand exactly how important Wright House of Fashion could be, because nobody else is doing what Andre' is doing. But, after working with Andre' for the last several years, I've seen him shift underrepresented students from feeling doomed to feeling empowered. I've seen him attract hundreds of hours of passionate volunteer labor. He is transforming a toxic old building into a new source of energy and power, and he is successfully empowering underrepresented people in an industry that could well become a major economic boon to all of Iowa City. Because of all this, I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of my money supporting Wright House of Fashion. I warmly encourage y'all to join me and all of the other WHoF supporters! 0� sr�-�_,L Riley Eynon -Lynch Executive Director and Cofounder Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 22 Iowa City Community School. District Educational Services Center Matthew Deaner Superiatendent of Schools -'t rrh I)odge Mfect• Iaua t un 1A 5245-61141688.I!mm, • I a\ 13191 r,8&1todQ 'A Iouxu}srinx+l:,-r-' Date: April 13, 2023 1'0: Whom It Mary Concern Re: Letter of Support for Mr. Andre Wright It is my honor to support Andre Wright and the Wright House of Fashion in their application for the American Rescue Plan Grant Application, l personally have had the pleasure of getting to know Andre and the values he stands for. I have been able to witness Mr. Wright's work with our students in our schools. In 2017, Mr. Wright taught our students as a community member fashion design, and they put on a Fashion show for two consecutive years to complete the program. Andre has donated his time to present during MLK events every year and held screen printing workshops at City High School for students to develop new skills. He is an active advocate for our Liberte High School Black Student Union helping them raise funds through the proceeds generated by selling hood ies. We would love to continue to further our collaborations with Mr. Wright and the Wright House of Fashion. Supporting his work with this grant will allow an instrumental community member to better serve the youth of our community. We wholeheartedly support his efforts and cannot wait to see what is next. Sincerely, Matt Ngner Superintendent Iowa City Community School District Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 23 THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA To all concerned: COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES School of Art and Art History 150 Art building West Iowa City. Iowa 52242-7000 It is my pleasure to provide this letter of support for Andre' Wright's application for the Iowa City American Rescue Plan Act grant supporting Iowa City -based Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. In my role as Associate Professor of Design at the University of Iowa, l have the pleasure of working with Andre' for many years and watching as he continues to expand his highly effective creative outreach efforts throughout the city and region. His commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is an invaluable asset to the Iowa City area creative community. I have had the pleasure of knowing Andre' since his time as an undergraduate graphic design student at the University of Iowa in 2005.1t was clear at this early stage of his education and career that Andre' has ambitions to affect change through visual communication and community engagement. He was a motivated and effective student—always pushing himself to develop a design language that would serve as an effective amplifier for underserved communities and causes. As a result of his dedication to the Field, 1 have remained in contact with Andre' and have been consistently impressed by his work with the Humanize My Hoodie and Wright House of Fashion brands. These brands engage communities that are often neglected by contemporary design and fashion and center their stories and experiences in meaningful and important ways. Over the past several years Andre' has been invited to speak at the School of Art and Art History several times. With every visit, students are deeply impacted by his story and how he has developed his social activism through traditional design and fashion outlets. Andre' is one of the most inspirational and successful creative professionals in the Iowa City area, and he has remained committed to engaging with students at all levels. Most recently I have partnered with Andre' to develop and implement an extracurricular graphic design program for area high school students. We have he en working with a diverse group of eight students that represent City, West, and Liberty High Schools. This has been a rewarding experience to all involved and, as a pilot initiative, has proven that there is a great amount of potential and bandwidth for meaningful and positive social impact. I am confident that the ABPA grant funds would unlock great potential to reach even more students with additional programming. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at Bradley-dicharry@uiowa.edu or by phone at +1.319.855.0085. ely, rad ley Dic rry Associate Professor, Design, Studio Division Coordinator School of Art & Art History, University of Iowa Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 24 CL'T%R'A6I306: ISCLM April 21, 2023 City of Iowa City City Manager's Office 410 E Washington St Iowa City, IA 52244 RE: Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Dear Review Panelists: On behalf of the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD), I want to express my full support and enthusiasm for the application presented by Wright House of Fashion for funding made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act for Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs. We have known Andre Wright and partnered with Wright House of Fashion on many events over the years and appreciate the space they are creating for inclusive economic development through mentorships, workshops and education for underrepresented entrepreneurs. With the addition of their new home on South Gilbert Street, we wish to see this organization continue to grow. Wright House of Fashion's plans to expand on their partnerships locally and nationally to serve underrepresented creatives in Iowa City is the kind of developmental opportunity we would like to see for this community. We firmly agree with Wright House of Fashion, when arts education is underfunded and overlooked, it directly impacts the community. The available ARPA funds will ensure this is not the case. By awarding this funding, Wright House of Fashion is well positioned to offer creative opportunities, career development and apprenticeships that support the underrepresented artists in the Iowa City community. Thank you for your consideration! VVr46�—Z;c Nancy Bird, Executive Director. ICDD Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 25 BETTER TOGETHER 2030 A SHAVED III TY LL ION JOHNSON OOYHTT April 2023 To the ARPA Selection Committee far the City of Iowa City This is a letter of support for ARPA funds for the Wright's House of Fashion project. When Andre Wright reached out to the BT2030 partners and team about his projects it was clear that the plans and goals clearly align with the All in Vision and pillars outlined as priorities by the Better Together 2030 and visioning process feedback by the entire community. Additionally, the project's mission meets the goals of the Inclusive Economic Development Plan, which our community has committed to implementing. Because of this, Better Together 2030 and our partners are pleased to support this project. In collaboration with non-profit partners, local schools, and creative arts industry leaders, Wright House of Fashion's goal is to assist in closing the Black designer's gap for youth in the Iowa City Area. Additionally, the Wright House of Fashion aims to provide youth living in our community with entrepreneurial education, hands on learning experiences and mentoring that allows them opportunities to stimulate artistic prowess, increase social -emotional intelligence, and foster positive community engagement. Better Together 2030 has also supported the connection with Wright House of Fashion and Biz Innovator at the Jacobsen Institute. Providing an authentic and accessible space that creates a sense of belonging and promotes entrepreneurial education for youth is more important than ever as we emerge from the traumas of previous years. This project builds off the work Wright has provided over the past several years piloting this educational experience in downtown Iowa City and at City High School. The concept was well received and meets a need to provide inclusive economic development opportunities for our underestimated populations. Providing this opportunity for youth has the potential to connect youth with entrepreneurial skills while also engaging with the community. ARPA dollars provide a once in a generation opportunity to expand transformational projects and initiatives that are otherwise unavailable in the traditional funding mechanisms, or are otherwise unattainable or perhaps challenging to fund over multiple years with traditional public funding streams. This proposal fits the priorities of the City of Iowa City's goals with their ARPA dollars and will answer many of those same needs that the Better Together 2030 All in Vision seeks to address. We wholeheartedly support this proposal and will work with the Wright House of Fashion to make it a reality. With our support, cAfV4 1� Cady Gerlach Executive Director Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 2& IOWA April 28, 2023 Jacobson Institute University of Iowa 106 Pappajohn Business Building C102 Iowa City, Iowa 52242 319-33rr2204 Fox 319-353,-2445 wvrw.jaoobsoninsliIute-ors On behalf of the Jacobson Institute at The University of Iowa, I am writing to offer my complete support and recommendation for Andre Wright and his endeavors to support youth in the Iowa City community via the Wright House of Fashion. The Wright House of Fashion provides an opportunity within our community to have a safe, comfortable, culturally diverse and engaged atmosphere where youth and adults can thrive. The Wright House of Fashion will empower underrepresented entrepreneurs and creatives with the skills, training and mentorship needed to enter and thrive within the local business ecosystem. My path first crossed with Andre's when he was piloting a fashion -design course with local high school students at City High School in 2017. Recognizing the important role that entrepreneurship and business startup might play for his students, Andre invited me to be a guest in his classroom — aver six weeks I joined the students and took them through the basics of starting a business. Fast forward six years, Andre and the Wright House of Fashion are positioned to fully integrate entrepreneurship into the offered programming. Andre and I had the opportunity to reconnect and envision how the Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship could partner to support this important oommunity-based initiative. This summer, Andre will participate in the Bizlnnovator Startup Teacher Professional Development. During the training, he will learn strategies and methods for teaching the entrepreneurial startup process, including Design Thinking and Lean Startup Methodology. Andre will build his unique model for incorporating Bizlnnovator Startup and entrepreneurship into this youth programs- Upon completion, he will be certified to offer his high school student participants the opportunity to earn 3 transferable college credits in entrepreneurship from The University of Iowa. Please accept this letter of support for Andre Wright's grant application. I am excited to work with him to help foster the entrepreneurial spirit in youth engaged in programming at the Wright House of Fashion. Sincerely, Dawn Bowlus Director Jacobson Institute Dawn-Bowlus@uiowa.edu 319.335.0985 Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs submittal 5.7.23 Page 27 JC'fVq moo 11coK SodPto April 21, 2023 RE: Letter of Recommendation for Wright House of Fashion 5;4" jvobbj Great Plains Action Society 412 Kimball Road Iowa City, 1A 52245 Cell: 314-381-8034 sikowisa g reatpl ai nsoction.org I am honored to write a letter of recommendation for Wright House of Fashion. I have organized with Andre Wright over the past 3 years on different issues and have seen first hand how hard he works. Andre is extremely dedicated to bettering the Iowa City community by uplifting and empowering BIPOC folks -particularly the youth. Andre screen prints for Great Plains Action Society and makes sure we are able to spread our message. I worked with Andre on our Truth Will Not Be Whitewashed campaign [linked to our annual Truthsgiving event] for two years. The first year we collaborated on a hood ia and gave out hundreds to people in the community and the second year we collaborated on a fashion show to raise awareness about Truth sgiving. Andre also founded the Black Liberation Space in 2020, with a mission to provide a space for BI POC folks during the pandemic in the Iowa City area. Our organization, Great Plains Action Society benefited from this space and that is how Andre and I became friends. Through this friendship, we have increased outreach and solidarity between the Black and Indigenous communities. I am proud to be Andre's friend and work with Wright House of Fashion. He is an amazing father and husband and has managed to accomplish so much aver the years. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or would like to speak mare about his merits and qualifications. Ay hai kitatamihin, Sikowis (Christine Nobiss), MA Plains Cree/Saulteaux, George Gordon First Nation Executive Director, Great Plains Action Society Commissioner, Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 28 r]R--AN.-C! 7 Y April 21, 2023 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter to express my full support for Wright House of Fashion. Their commitment to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities and fostering a diverse and inclusive community is inspiring and much needed. I have had the privilege of working with Wright House of Fashion founder, Andre Wright on several projects aimed at promoting community development and social equity. His expertise, strategic thinking, and dedication have been instrumental in achieving positive outcomes for our community on so many levels. He has shown a remarkable ability to connect with young entrepreneurs as well as many other business owners. His current project, which focuses on empowering underrepresented populations with art. design, and sustainable practices as vehicles for change, Is particularly noteworthy. By ad d ress I ng the barriers and challenges that these communities face, they are developing more conscious citizens who can then contribute positively to their schools, communities, and the world. Wright House of Fashion approach to inclusive economic development is not only morally right, but it also makes good economic sense. By tap ping into the full potential of our diverse community, Wright House has been creating a more resilient and prosperous economy that benefits everyone. I fully support their efforts and look forward to witnessing the history they will continue to make within our co mmunity. I see the work they have accomplished without the resources they need, so for them to receive the resources they need, I can only imagine haw much more impact they will make within our communities. Best Regards, Frederick Newell, Executive Director 611 Southgate Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240 Office: (319)214.3{137 Email: infoOdreamcitvia.orx www.dreamci�ia.org I www.facebook.com/dreamcityia I www.instagram.com/dreamcityia Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 29 WARNER MU51C GROUP 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 To Whom it may concern, As an employee of Warner Music Group, I am writing to express my strong support for Wright House of Fashion and their application for funding under the American Rescue Plan Act. Through our ongoing partnership with Wright House of Fashion, we have collaborated on several projects that showcase their commitment to providing youth with the skills and confidence needed to pursue careers in the fashion industry. One of our collaborations Included a hood le that raised 10k for Colin Kaepemick's "Know Your Rights Camp." Additionally, Wright House of Fashion has partnered with us to develop the Fashion Activism class for students from Iowa for two concurrent years. The students developed the top-selling merchandise item for the artist "Grandson" for his fall tour in 2022. I have personally witnessed the character, tenacity, and enduring passion of Andre, the Founder, who is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged youth through fashion education. Andre's leadership has been instrumental in the success of Wright House of Fashion, and I believe that this program will continue to make a sig nificant impact on the lives of many people in the oommu nity with his guidance. The funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act would allow Wright House of Fashion to continue their vital work and expand their services to meet the growing needs. As a partner of Wright House of Fashion, I strongly urge you to consider their application favorably. Their expertise, dedication, and track record of success make them an ideal recipient of these funds. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sinc ely, Gordon Thomas WMX 1633 8 roaawsy, New York, NY 10019 Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 30 ANDRE' WRIGHT www.linkedin.corrk/in/andre,graphics PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY H ighly creative and multitalented, leader with extensive experience in branding, design, and fashion. Exceptional Collaboration and interpersonal communication skills with abilities in developing client and vendor relationships, overseeing projects from concept through final delivery, and multi -tasking while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines. Passionate about design, fashion, and being an innovative creator of branding and advertising strategies for campaigns. SIOLiS AND QUALI FICA TIONS v Project management az Mentorship .• Management Brand consulting : Business consulting Brand development v Proposal development aL Public speaking Logistics TECHNICAL GO MPETE NCI ES v Graphic design ai Art direction ai Illustration Marketing : Logo design/development : Website design s4 Screen printing :r Movie & film production °r Layout design v Design direction as Connector ai Fashion design B US kNESS OWNERSHIP Wright House Of Fashion Iowa City, IA Founder I November 2021 to Current • Founder of the first fashion house in Iowa City that empowers underrepresented and marginalized populations with skills in art, design, fashion, and professional development. • Converted 6000 sq. ft. former cleaners into a huh for fashion using sustainable principles to literally clean the building up. ■ Pioneered an accelerator program in Iowa City that focuses on Design, fashion, production, and retail. • Developed a dedicated space far social and emotional well-being using fashion as the vehicle for change. Key Accomplishments: o Partnered with Warner Music to create merchandise for Canadian rockstar Grandson- * Developed a local fashion eco -system that has produced more than a dozen fashion shows. a Managed multiple partnerships with Universities, City Officials, and investors. o Worked with the legendary Kid Capri, Roxane Gay and Medicine Place on tour merchandise. Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submitral 5.7.23 Page 31 ANDRE' WRIGHT www.linkedin.com/in/andregrai3hics Humanize My Hood ie Iowa City, IA Co -Founder, Creative Director I lune 2018 to Current Designed to empower Black & Indigenous people to stand up against racial injustice by using the hoodie to fuel conversations about race and stereotypes globally • Use the Humanize My hoodie sweatshirt, as well as educational tools, to arm our marginalized comm u pities with innovative ways to uplift humanity and fight against violence and racism • Provide jobs for low-income youth and distribute hoodies for entire communities who've experienced hate • Create a platform for the formerly incarcerated to be seen as more than their crim inaI record • We also provide opportunities for others to become allies KeyAccomplishments: o Landed national Foot Locker contract in over 285+ doors a Created educational programs designed to increase cultural competency amongst individuals o Managed multiple partnerships and created several community development programs 0 5uccessfully managed a partnership with Warner Music Group a Donated money to Cal in Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp o Producer of a film that has been selected at for local, national, and international film festivals including Paris International Film Festival, New York Independent Film Festival o Grew a conversation about a hoodie into an international movement for Black and Indigenous People Born Leaders United Founder, Fashion & Creative Director I March 2013 to Present Iowa City, IA • Oversaw all aspects of brand development, website creation, product pricing, and promotion • Designed for the everyday hardworking person and the everyday survivor of the day-to-day struggles we all face • Created distinctive logos each representing the mantra: We are all Born to lead. We are all Leaders in our own right. This clothing line keeps us United! Key Accomplishments: o Produced and created over 20 fashion shows in New York, Iowa City, Waterloo Iowa and beyond o Provided numerous people opportunities to become models, designers, and work In the fashion industry. Trailblazer of the Iowa Fashion Community o Brand was published in four national magazines o Worked at NYFW as a creative director o Created a short film about fashion titled Against the Grain A BLU love Story Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submitral 5.7.23 Page 32 ANDRE" WRIGHT www.linkedin.com/in/andregraphi cs Shive-Hattery Architecture -Engineering Iowa City, IA Marketing Director, Iowa City I February 2006 to May 2015 • Respond ble for coordinating technical proposals and qualification packages for architectural/engineering clients including, but not limited to, market and topic research, business/marketing and advertising, graphic design, writing and editing both collaboratively and independently • Proven ability to communicate and coordinate with diverse constituencies Demonstrated solid project management, organizational abilities, attention to detail, print production and computer skills • Successful track record working against tight deadlines and within specified company guidelines Key Accomptishments: o Developed distinctive graphic identities for proposals and marketing submittals o Created highly persuasive sales and marketing presentations for multi -million -dollar projects o Lead designer For various architectural advertising campaigns with successfully Measured ROIs Iowa Memorial Un Ion Marketing & Design Graphic Designer I May 2001 to July 2005 Iowa City, IA • Successfully managed and coordinated graphic design projects from concept through completion • Collaborated with clients to create vision, conceive designs, and consistently meet deadlines and requirements • Effectively built, motivated, and directed design and production teams • Created original logos, posters fliers & brochures for comedians, musicians, hypnotist, etc. • Worked in a team environment with marketing & web designers Key Accomplishments: ❑ 1st place T-shirt design winner for The University of Iowa Weeks of Welcome Campaign ❑ Designed human rights mural 15ft X 5ft for the University of Iowa o Created multiple designs and implemented a distinctive look for the Iowa Memorial Union entertainment marketing pieces Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Page 33 ANDRE' WRIGHT www.linkedin.comfin/andregraphic5 EDUCATION The University of Iowa Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA, Liberal Arts 2003 - 2005 Iowa Central Community College AA, Graphic Arts 1998. 2000 Graphic Designer BOARDS& COM MMay INVOLVEMENT • Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County o Member of Board of Directors o Volunteer November 2016- March 2018 o Cause: Civil Rights and Social Action ■ Iowa City Community School District Foundation o Member of Board of Directors o Volunteer August 2D16 -March 2017 o Cause: Education • American Advertising Federation o Public Service Board Chair o March 2014- March 2015 o Cause: Graphic Design Social Services AWARDS & REcOGNIrIONS • 2022 Sizzle Award, Iowa City Area Development Group • Hall of Fame Inductee, 2021 Junior Achievement Entrepreneur of the Year • Recipient, 2018 Spark Leadership Award, Iowa City Chamber of Commerce • Recipient, 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Outstanding Community Commitment • 2016 11 People to Watch in 2017 • Recipient, 2016 Corridor Bus iness Journal 40 Under 40 Award • Winner, 20D4 EPIC Empowering Professionals in Iowa City Design Contest • Winner, 2003 University of Iowa T -Shirt Design PUBLISHING Local fashion activist Wright House Of Fashion partners with Warner Music Black Liberation Space Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Submittal 5.7.23 Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Summary of Statement of Interests Prelim. Funding Lead Applicant Summary Funding Request Recommendation Capital + Business Support Requests Indigenous boutique, offices including one for Summer of the Arts, a native foods cafe, 2 non profits, large gathering Indigenous Collective (Dotlizhi LLC) space, small loans and technical assistance. $ 4,000,000 $ 100,000 Empower underrepresented entrepreneurs, multicultural business hub with state-of-the-art equipment, new tech and Wright House fashion, business mentoring. $ 1,007,460 $ 100,000 Building acquisition, renovations and entrepreneurial support. Will include commercial kitchen, upgraded classroom technology, micro commercial spaces, event Dream City (Dream Center)) space, small business coaching, childcare. $ 3,000,000 $ 3,000,000 Remodel and repurpose site at 1011 Arthur St. to include New Life Apostolic Ministries community kitchen, event space, youth empowerment, etc. $ 1,810,104 $ - Property acquisition and business support programs. Community kitchen with Food and retail incubator featuring Center for Worker Justice an open market area and food court seating. $ 2,300,000 $ - Grow and strengthen local food growing and distribution. Field to Family (Field Center)) Request would be matched with RSFIC, MDClowa and F2F. $ 1,700,000 $ - Transform physical space at 2651 Roberts Rd for multicultural business hub, youth entrepreneurs and Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County implement business support programs. $ 545,000 $ 80,000 Indoor market, commercial kitchen, innovation center, access to financial resources, business support and micro Multicultural Development Center of Iowa lending. $ 815,000 $ 600,000 Business Support Requests $ 15,177,564 $ 3,880,000 Fundraising, leadership training for churches and non Generosity Solutions profits. $ 11,260 $ - Aelieve Digital Marketing Teaches digital marketing skills. $ 180,000 $ - Financial and strategic financial literacy support with bookkeeping basics, taxes, accounting, financial statements Tailored Tax & Accounting LLC and cash flow projections. $ 100,000 $ 100,000 Business to house Centre for Languages (ESL), Child Services Sunday Goshit&Amos Kiche and Mental Health non-profit services. $ 1,850,000 $ - Leadership development program focusing on internal Mindful Leadership leadership capacity. $ 195,000 $ Just from the Heart Digital marketing to assisted businesses. $ - $ 20,000 Business support programming, support for physical space grantees & development, nurturing the Inclusive Economic BT2030+ICAD Ecosystem. $ 805,000 $ - Prelim. Funding Lead Applicant Summary Funding Request Recommendation Refugee and Immigrant Collective to provide non-profit management training with a goal to build capacity within the non-profits that serve Iowa City refugees and Refugee& Immigrant Association immigrants. $ 210,000 $ Career readiness training and life skills for members of Center4 Family Services refugee community. Hosta job placement hub. $ 500,000 $ Subsidized marketingto support IC-based underestimated The Gazette and emerging business. $ 150,000 $ Business mentoring/coaching for up to two years. Action Coach will certify additional coaches and provide in-kind Action Coach Campus orientation to businesses. $ 1,000,000 $ - Size Up, Inc. Online business support programs (based in Austin, TX). $ 12,488 $ The Opportunity Accelerator offers digital marketing, an e- marketplace, access to capital interface and learning on Opportunity Accelerator friendly dashboard. $ 150,000 $ Therapist seeking funds to expand practice and hire Thomas & Associates Counseling & Consulting therapists of color. $ 200,000 0 3 year rent subsidy for South District Market tenants, update monument sign on Highway 6, build website SouthGate Companies promoting vendors business and monthly advertising. $ 100,000 0 Anaman Concierge Services Funds to expand their business. $ 2,500,000 0 Non profit health care provider providing place for people Upendo Care, Inc. (late) with intellectual disabilities. $ 775,000 0 Fund to assist business and host Press Events for area Press Coffee artist's exposure. $ 20,000 0 Supportfor women of color includingjob training, Sankofa partnering with orgs, ski II bu i Id i ng. $ 400,000 0 Rodney's Jerk Project Individual business proposal. $ 200,000 0 Foundation to assist non profits, community leaders and local businesses with resources, direct support Help Hope Love professionals and supplies. $ 150,000 0 Glow The Hydration Station Aesthetics and More Focused on single business located in Coralville. $ 175,000 0 $ 10,083,748 0 Grand Totals $ 25,261,312 $ 4,000,000 Item: 10.f STAFF PRESENTATION TO FOLLOW: T CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 3S6-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www.icgov.org Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs Preliminary Funding Recommendations Dotlizhi LLC (Indigenous Collective $100,000 The Dream Center $370007000 Just from the Heart $207000 Multicultural Development Center of Iowa $600,000 Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County $80,000 Tailored Tax & Accounting LLC $100,000 Wright House $1003000 $4,000,000 STAFF PRESENTATION CONCLUDED CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (3 19) 356-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www.icgov.org Prepared by: Tracy Hightshoe, NDS Director, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5244 Resolution no. 23-295 Resolution approving preliminary funding recommendations under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs. Whereas, the U.S. Department of Treasury allocated the City funds through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund ("SLFRF") as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (aka, ARPA) to meet local needs; and Whereas, federal regulations permit the City to make subawards with SLFRF funds for the purpose of carrying out an eligible use under the SLFRF program; and Whereas, impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly increased needs among small businesses and the agencies who support them in Iowa City and elsewhere; and Whereas, to ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place for future business growth and development; and Whereas, to cultivate a strong entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem with a focus on creating new pathways for success for systemically marginalized populations, Council directed City staff to conduct a Request for Statements of Interest for eligible non-profit agencies and small businesses to apply for $4 million of Inclusive Economic Development Support Capital and Operational Grants; and Whereas, the City of Iowa City received over $25 million in requests for ARPA Inclusive Economic Development Support funds; and Whereas, City staff and Council designees have evaluated applicants and made preliminary funding recommendations for the allocation of the $4 million of Inclusive Economic Development Support Capital and Operating Grant funds; and Whereas, the preliminary funding recommendation for The Dream Center is $3 million. The project includes acquisition, extensive renovations, and business support programs. To further define the scope of the project and estimate costs, technical assistance funds are necessary to finalize an agreement for City Council consideration. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: The preliminary funding recommendations consisting of $4 million for the organizations identified below are hereby adopted. Dotlizhi LLC $100,000 The Dream Center $3,000,000 Just from the Heart $20,000 Multicultural Development Center of Iowa $600,000 Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County $80,000 Tailored Tax & Accounting LLC $100,000 Wright House $100,000 $4,000,000 Resolution No. 23-295 Page 2 2. The Dream Center is authorized to incur expenses that will be reimbursed under this award, up to $100,000, to further define the scope and budget of the project including architectural fees to develop a concept design and estimated costs, legal and accounting fees, and other related costs as approved by the City's Neighborhood and Development Services Director. 3. Staff are authorized to proceed with preparing full project proposals and corresponding SLFRF Subrecipient Grant Agreements with each entity, to be brought back before City Council for approval at a future formal meeting. Passed and approved this 6t -h day of November 2023. AaY44 C's i Approved y Attest: C ., 13� -tc, . City Clerk City ttorney's Office (Sue Dulek— 11/02/2023) Resolution No. 23-295 Page 3 It was moved by Alter and seconded by Bergus that the Resolution be adopted and upon roll call there were: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: _x Alter X B ergus X Dunn X Harmsen Taylor X Teague X Thomas Item Number: 10.g. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT November 6, 2023 Resolution in support of manufactured housing park residents. Prepared By: Shawn Harmsen, City Councilor Geoff Fruin, City Manager Reviewed By: Eric Goers, City Attorney Tracy Hightshoe, Director of Neighborhood and Development Services Fiscal Impact: N/A Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Attachments: Resolution Executive Summary: This resolution acknowledges the concerns raised by local residents of manufactured housing parks, including those opposing frequent rent increases, new unjust fees, and diminishing park maintenance obligations provided by new out-of-state investment owners. The resolution urges action at the State level and calls upon local government and non- governmental leaders to join residents in seeking fair changes to leases and overall living conditions in local manufactured housing parks. Prepared by Shawn Harmsen, City Councilor, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52246 (319) 356-5013 Resolution Number 2,1_2A6 Resolution in support of manufactured housing park residents Whereas residents of manufactured housing parks in and around our community have raised their voices to protest frequent and egregious increases in their lot rent, as well as new unjust fees, since their parks were purchased by out-of-state investors; and Whereas residents of manufactured housing parks in and around our community have raised their voices to protest a reduction in park maintenance and other services at the same time their new landlords have been increasing rents; and Whereas residents of manufactured housing parks in and around our community have raised their voices to protest the ability of their landlords to evict a resident without having to show just cause; and Whereas residents of manufactured housing parks in and around our community have raised their voices to ask for fair and legal leases that spell out park owners' responsibilities to maintain clean and safe parks and prohibit abusive lease provisions; and Whereas residents of manufactured housing parks in and around our community have raised their voices to ask for the ability to have first right of purchase should their landlord consider selling the property; and Whereas the laxity of our state laws as they relate to manufactured housing parks, and the disparate State protections when compared to renters, promote out-of-state investors purchasing whole neighborhoods that place our residents in jeopardy; and Whereas the City Council recognizes that residents often live in fear of retaliation from landlords, especially when they feel like they stand alone; and Whereas the City Council believes that safe, decent housing is a human right; and Whereas our community's housing costs have outpaced local incomes; and Whereas mobile homes have traditionally provided one of the most affordable sources of safe, decent housing in Iowa and the City Council recognizes the vital importance of manufactured housing parks in our community's housing stock; and Whereas the City Council recognizes the threat that currently exists to the safety, stability, security, and affordability of housing in manufactured housing parks caught in the web of out-of- state investors seeking to maximize their own profits at the expense of current tenants and our local community; and Whereas the City Council recognizes that residents of manufactured housing parks support our economy, and provide many of the services and work that our local economy needs to thrive; and Whereas the City Council recognizes that to ensure fairness across our city and our state, leaders at all levels of government and throughout the community need to work together to solve the collective problem of the lack of rights of manufactured housing park residents; and Page 2 Whereas the City Council recognizes the power of many voices coming together for the same goals and to make the kinds of changes that solve problems. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa that: We see and hear manufactured housing park residents as they speak out on the unfairness that has become a part of their lives and threatens their homes; and We offer gratitude to manufactured housing park residents for the work they do to organize and speak out, often despite concerns about how such action might also threaten their ability to stay in their homes; and We add the voice of the City of Iowa City to the calls for the owners of manufactured housing parks in and around our community to reduce the amount and frequency of rent increases, restore park maintenance and other services to park residents that they previously relied upon prior to ownership changing to out-of-state investment corporations; and We add the voice of the City of Iowa City to the calls for State elected officials to fix state laws to address the unfairness that makes so many of our residents vulnerable to becoming the prey of unscrupulous investors, including but not limited to our endorsement of: 1. Statewide rent protections against unjustified rent increases, including a cap on frequency and percentage of rent increases and longer notice period for proposed increases. 2. A requirement that owners show good cause before evicting a resident. 3. Laws requiring fees to be capped at reasonable levels and tied to good cause, so that owners cannot circumvent rent protections. 4. Laws that require fair leases that spell out park owners' responsibilities to maintain clean and safe parks and prohibit abusive lease provisions. 5. Laws giving residents the first right of purchase should an owner desire to sell the property, with a reasonable amount of time for residents to pursue local ownership. We call upon state lawmakers, if not willing to make the above changes to state law, to restore the ability of local communities to exercise home rule and remove barriers to the enactment of local ordinances that would accomplish the above list of goals; and We support ongoing efforts by local governments to pursue ways to improve the safety and stability of residents in manufactured housing parks; and We direct city staff to work with residents and other local governmental and non-governmental entities to work toward the principles and goals stated within this resolution. Passed and approved this 6th day of November 20 23 Mavor t Attest: 1 City Clerk Approved by`, G City Attorn 's Office — 10/30/2023 Resolution No. 23-296 Page 3 It was moved by Harmsen and seconded by Taylor the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: Nays: Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas is- i t? , •• h .�:• or - . rr Ir •w ®I L .ri M Constance Blakeslee