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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-26 Transcription June 26, 2006 June 26, 2006 Council: Staff: City Council Work Session Page I City Council Work Session 6:30 PM Bailey, Champion, Correia, Elliott, O'Donnell, Wilburn Atkins, Boothroy, Davidson, Dilkes, Franklin, Fosse, Hargadine, Helling, Karr TAPES: 06-49, Side 2; 06-51, Sides I and 2; 06-52, Side I Plannine & Zonine Wilburn: Franklin: Champion: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Franklin: (can't hear) Karin? Ok. Tell me if you can't hear me, ok? I can barely hear you. Here you go. Can you hear me now? Yes. It's Verizon? a) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 18 ON AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING 1.39-ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 1820 BOYRUM STREET FROM INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI-1) TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC-2) (REZ06-000014) The first item is to set a public hearing for July 18th on an ordinance to rezone property on Boyrum Street from intensive commercial to CC-2. This is the Big 10 Rentals Property. b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO CONVEY FORMER BENTON STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY AND AUDITOR'S PARCEL NO. 2006081 LOCATED TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF 708 S. RIVERSIDE DRIVE, TO PROFESSIONAL MUFFLER INC, AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SAID CONVEYANCE FOR JULY 18, 2006. c) VACATING A PORTION OF THE OLD WEST BENTON STREETRIGHT-OF-WAY LOCATED NORTH OF THE CURRENT WEST BENTON STREET AND EAST OF SOUTH RIVERSIDE DRIVE. (VAC06-00003) Item b is a resolution of intent to convey former Benton Street right-of-way, and this is in association with item c, which is the vacation of that right-of-way. This is part of enabling the reconstruction of the Professional Muffler building and on the screen is the general location of this. And I've been warned that our - yeah, the scans today came out rather blurry, so hopefully you can follow. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Dilkes: Correia: Dilkes: Correia: Dilkes: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 2 Well, the arrow points to the vacated right-of-way. This is to enable the reconstruction of Professional Muffler beyond the lot which they had which was damaged during the tornado. Other questions about this? We're retaining a 20- foot alley, essentially, just to the north of the property, which will go back to Ned Ashton Park, to retain access to that park and a small parking area, because Ned Ashton Park is a trailhead for our trail system along the River there. But otherwise, this property just provides access to Professional Muffler and to Linder Tire. Well, there's issues in the packet, different memos related to whether? Those are related to Can't hear you. The, most of the items in the packet are related to the price for the conveyance, and there is some distance between what Mr. Kemp would like to pay for this and what we have calculated, and I guess I'll let Eleanor address those items, since that's being negotiated through the City Attorney's office. And Rick Fosse is here too, because he's been involved; in fact, Rick, why don't you come on up, because he's been pretty involved in this whole scenario and can address specifically the issues involving the sewer. Essentially, the difference between the City and Professional Muffler at this point come down to whether they paid for the right-of-way. He's making an argument that because it's, he's making an argument that the City has an easement as opposed to owning the fee simple and therefore shouldn't extract compensation. We don't distinguish between that when we, when we vacate and convey right-of-way, and logically, it's my opinion that there isn't a distinction. You know, at this point he doesn't have the right to use it, and once we vacate it and convey it, he will have the right to use it, so that, that's a situation that always exists. But that's the argument that he's making. I believe also, although we have asked him to make a proposal for specifically what he's interested in doing, I think that's just come from him orally at this point. But it's my understanding that he is willing to pay for the auditor's parcel along the terms that are set out in Mitch's memo, there being a discount for the portions where there's an easement. He doesn't want to pay for the street right-of-way, and he wants the City to pay for relocating the sewer. That's my understanding of his position. So, in our resolution then, how, where is all that addressed? I mean, is it addressed in the resolution, all those? Which are you talking about, the resolution of intent to convey? We're not even, we're just setting the public hearing on that one, so that will all be Ok, so that So that will all be dealt with When we do the public hearing. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Dilkes: Correia: Dilkes: Elliott: Dilkes: Elliott: Dilkes: Bailey: Dilkes: Bailey: Dilkes: Bailey: Correia: Bailey: Dilkes: Bailey: Dilkes: Correia: Fosse: Franklin: Fosse: City Council Work Session Page 3 Once we do that. Ok. So that will all be worked out, we'll have the details of that. Right. So that which you just discussed will be ongoing. We're simply setting a public hearing now. We're setting a public hearing for it in b. Ok. and we are having a public hearing on the vacation in c. And so how does that effect vacating it? I mean, we're vacating it so we can convey, but if we don't eventually convey, do we want? Well, the way we always design these is we line them up to occur at the same time. Ok. And so this is just a first reading of the ordinance in c. Ok. Got it. Ok. So if the conveyance doesn't happen, will we just stop the vacation, then? Yeah. There's no reason to vacate if we're not Right, that's what I - got it. That's the whole purpose for the vacation. So the issue related to the sewer, then? Yes. Would you like some background on that? Brief. Ok. The building that got damaged by the tornado was built over a sewer, a sewer for which the city acquired a right-of-way, the easement was called a right- of-way back then in 1923. They built over it anyway, so in order to reconstruct . the building you either need to vacate the easement or get our permission to do that. And because of the configuration of the sewer, we think that the best option is to line the sewer and allow them to reconstruct over it, but we need to keep a This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Correia: Fosse: Champion: Fosse: Champion: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: O'Donnell: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 4 safety valve, that is an easement route around the building so that if we need to reconstruct later we can do that. We're currently using the sewer. Yes we are. Quite heavily. But he would like us to move the sewer? Is that correct? Yes. Ok. Thank you. I think we'll have more discussion next time. Ok. d) REZONING PROPERTY LOCATED AT 619 KIRKWOOD AVENUE FROM LOW DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-5) TO COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO-1) ZONE. (REZ06-00012) Ok. Then let's move on to item d. This is a request rezone - the property that's shown on the screen - from RS-5 to CO-I. Both the staff and Planning and Zoning Commission are recommending denial on this. And just to briefly reiterate the staff report, we have looked at rezonings in this area in the past, rezoned the funeral home to COol back in the mid-90s. At that time one of the issues was where do we stop. And there has been really no compelling reason. presented with this particular application to argue for rezoning, because again it raises the question of where do we stop. It really isn't about Mr. Teague's use, which certainly is laudable and necessary, but it's about the zoning of this property for Mr. Teague and whoever might own it in the future. And the question of where do you stop the commercial zoning and the encroachment into this residential neighborhood. And neither the staff nor the Commission was presented with a compelling reason to make the change, to make this commercial. So that's the recommendation. Any questions on that? No. e) REZONING PROPERTY LOCATED ALONG SOUTH GILBERT STREET, SOUTH OF WATERFRONT DRIVE AND NORTH OF SOUTHGATE AVENUE, FROM INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI- 1) TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC-2) ZONE. (REZ05- 00022) Ok. Item e is a rezoning request from CI-l to CC-2 for a number of properties along Gilbert Street. We did have a request from one property owner some months back, and at that time indicated that in order for us to look at a rezoning in this area we would need to have a concurrence of a number of property owners, that to rezone just the one piece would not be appropriate, it would be be a spot zoning. At that time, the property owner could not get enough people who This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Correia: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franlin: Elliott: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 5 would concur with that rezoning. Subsequently there's been more discussion that's gone on in the area. We had a request from Mr. Kennedy to reactivate this rezoning, and there has been discussion with all of these property owners in the, it's shown as the shaded area, which would be subject to the rezoning. There are two who have either been reticent or objected. One objected, the other was just not sure, and those are pointed out in the materials in your packet. The recommendation for this is to rezone it to CC-2. CC-2 is the zoning that was contemplated when the district plan was done for this area. Given the activity that we expect on Gilbert Street and the development that's going to happen south of here, that CC-2 is an appropriate land use here. With it of course comes with the caution about the Gilbert Street/Highway 6 intersection and we do have to do a left turn lane project that is currently in the capital improvements program that we're moving forward with with studies, construction plans, but the caution not to delay on that if we're going to approve these kinds of changes in zoning or any further development on Gilbert Street. What year do we have that in, in the CI? I think it's '08. '08 to do, to begin construction? Or even to Right. To have it constructed in fiscal year '08. So we would be doing, right now we're doing the planning for it in terms of the engineering work on it, but then we anticipate acquisition, so that takes some time. Karin, I'm not familiar with Southgate Avenue. Where is this in reference to, say, this is between Waterfront Drive and where's the railroad tracks? Give me an idea of what. Railroad tracks. Here's the arrow. The railroad tracks are south here, Bob, as this converges down here, the railroad is down in this part. Ok. So this is all considerably north of that. Yeah. Ok. 1) CONDITIONALLY REZONING 20.79 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON LOWER WEST BRANCH ROAD, WEST OF TAFT AVENUE FROM INTERIM DEVELOPMENT SINGLE- FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (ID-RS) ZONE TO LOW DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-5) ZONE. (REZ06-00013) Ok. Moving on to item f. This is a rezoning requested by the developer of Windsor Ridge for further development of Stone Bridge Estates from ID-RS to RS-5, kind of filling out this area north of Court Street. We do have conditional zoning on it which the developer agrees to share in the cost of the reconstruction of Lower West Branch Road, which we are in the process to, of doing that This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 6 project. In fact this next fiscal year, fiscal year '07. And also agreeing to comply with the Northeast District Plan principals and preserve the stone bridge which is in the area, thus the name Stone Bridge Estates. It's kind of where that arrow is. I tend to be - there we go, right in here. And as this other property develops we would, you know, hope to be able to have a pedestrian connection through here, but, yeah. Tell me what's intended by neighborhood designed policies. This has to do with the configuration of streets, that it's a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. These are all comprehensive plan terms, not ordinance language, but as we look at the plat for this we will be making connections with the existing neighborhood, that we will be looking out for pedestrian access throughout the subdivision, a lot of the things that we just typically do. So in other words, so that this would be similar if not identical to that style of neighborhood and streets and sidewalks, setbacks It's going to fit in with what's already there, with Stone Bridge, yeah, it's kind of what you already see. Ok. PROVISIONS WITHIN ARTICLE 28, MUL TI.FAMIL Y RESIDENTIAL ZONES, ARTICLE 2C, COMMERCIAL ZONES, ARTICLE 20, INDUSTRIAL AND RESEARCH ZONES, ARTICLE 48, MINOR MODIFICATIONS, VARIANCES, SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, AND PROVISIONAL USES, ARTICLE 5A, OFF STREET PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS, AND ARTICLE SA, GENERAL DEFINITIONS. Ok. Item g: I would refer you to your packet for this one, because I think the easiest thing here, these are a number of ordinance amendments that, you know, we just did the new zoning code in December and as we use it we find that there are things that need to be tweaked in it to make it work better for everybody, and in the ordinance itself, in the wheras sections, it point out what are the different factors that we are looking at in this ordinance. Also, the memorandum from Karen Howard to the Planning and Zoning Commission gets at the crux of why we're doing this as opposed to getting into the exact language. The, so I'm just going to run over those, and then if you have specific questions about the language we can talk about that. There's a change that's made to distinguish drives from within a, that are within a parking lot from those that are external to a parking lot. That has to do with screening, so we're not requiring screening around drives that are inside a parking lot. Makes sense. Clarifying language regarding exterior stairways. There was reference to stairwells. We want that to be stairways. Stairwells go down into, it's just a fine distinction. It also, so that it doesn't cover stoops, you know, little things out in the front? That with commercial, industrial and research zones, we have the same opportunities for minor modifications of site development standards as we now have with multi- family development. This enables people to more flexibly work within the code and allows a reduction or a modification in those standards administratively This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 7 rather than having to go to the board of adjustment. Changes in the building material requirements for large retail users, we had a provision in there regarding tilt-up panels, and this just refines it a little bit more to indicate that tilt-up panels will be acceptable in certain circumstances when they have the appearance of the materials that were preferred in those particular requirements. And then, lastly, that we had a provision in which, if you had parking underneath the building you could be no more than one foot above the sidewalk on the exterior of the building. Well, as we're looking at projects, say Burlington Street, and anticipate redevelopment in that area, Burlington Street peaks at Clinton and then goes down on either side. When you have those grade changes over a half block or a block, it's very difficult to make that one foot precisely, and so we've just got a little leeway with that. The effort still will be to get access directly to the businesses from the public sidewalk and not have steps or steps and arcades like the College and Gilbert building or the one on Burlington in which you really have to go up steps to get to the commercial spaces. That's just not working very well. The most recently built City parking parking ramps don't comply with that, do they? Yes. The one in which, the one right in back of, the one where the cable tv office is located? No, you can walk right from the street into the building. No, no, I mean that the lower ramp does not exceed more than one foot above the sidewalk level. No, that's not what this is saying. It's for subterranean parking. Yeah, this is when you have subterranean parking and that's your first floor level of your building, where you're going to enter your building for usage, commercial uses. That that can be, as it was, no more than one foot above the sidewalk. Why? Because you have no interface with that building. If you're trying to have a successful retail use, or office, but more retail use at that street level, if you have to go upstairs and in to get to that retail use, it makes it much more difficult for consumers and for that retail use to succeed. Good. You've just made a point that I'll want to raise in just a minute. It's also not as accessible for persons with disabilities. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Elliott Champion: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 8 Right. They're not as accessible, but the reason that we, with one foot they would not be accessible either. Well, yeah. Yeah. And what we're doing here Bob is we're loosening that up so it's not as strict and it gives some ability to modify that up to three feet in some instances, as long as there's somewhere along that way that you can get into the building. Could you not have simply done that by saying that you have to have immediate, direct, unencumbered access to the building and forget about whether or not it exceeds one foot at one place or another? But what if (can't hear) Now would that be defined as you have to go up ten stairs or up two stairs? Well, however you defmed the access to the building is however it could be, and forget about whether it exceeds one foot above the sidewalk. Well, that's what the effort is, to try and keep it down, so you don't have to say how many stairs or, that's defining the access. It's going around Robin Hood's barn to get at it, though. All you have to do is say that it has to have access of no more than one or two stairs. What's wrong with that? That's another option, but I think there might be some instances when you want maybe three stairs. This change right now is to make it more flexible. For the business owner. For the business owner. Because right now it says one foot and that's all you get. And we've got circumstances in which there's a greater grade differentiation. Are there any other questions on ordinance amendments? Yes. When we went through this garage business, we were told that the City is not going to get into building design. And I looked through here, and building design is mentioned a multitude of times. And also, I don't understand - I says the surface parking, parking and loading areas must be located behind principal buildings and concealed from view of fronting streets. Why do we seem, why do we Can you tell me Why do we seem to think that seeing a parked car is a crime? I think all this goes through What page are you looking at? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. _,_,__,_,~__.'_'_"_ _____~_______"~_,.__.,.,.._ - - __ ___ _,.._____~__.___,__..____________._,..._._._____._____,.____,~_ .....___._,__._____..___.._ "n June 26, 2006 Elliott: Bailey: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Wilburn: Elliott: Wilburn: Elliott: Wilburn: Elliott: Wilburn: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 9 Page 4. Thank you. I will point out that in those pages from page lon, only those items that are underlined are changes that are being proposed at this time. If you would like to change any of the other language you need to bring that up at another time. Ijust, Ijust raised again, I don't like the City getting into building design. It just seems like that's none of the City's business, and then, you just mentioned making easy access to commercial businesses, and when you put parking behind the business, when I'm driving by and I want to stop say, at an insurance office or a doctor's office or a paint store, I want to see whether there are parking spaces, and you're hiding them from me intentionally, and it makes no business sense. That's not the subject of these particular amendments, but if the Council would like to discuss those items again, we can do that as we did during the zoning ordinance. This is what I'm seeing in this zoning, and it seems incredible after what you said you went through to make it easier to access commercial business that you would hide the parking spaces from the people that want to get into the commercial business. Bob, do you understand that what you are suggesting is, if you want another revision to the code, then you have to get support to put that on the table. That's not what's on the table. I'm raising a point which I think needs to be made and I think there isn't sufficient support on this Council to do it. Ok. So you've raised your point, again. Yep. Ok. And I think it's anti-business and Ijust would like to see it changed. Well, you've raised your point. All right. h) VACATING A PORTION OF DANE ROAD SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 1. (VAC06-00002) Anything else? Ok. Item h is a public hearing on the vacation of a portion of Dane Road south of Highway I. This is just the remainder of Dane Road that has not been vacated. It was necessary to vacate it in order to go forward with the runway project at the airport. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Franklin: Dilkes: Franklin: Wilburn: Elliott: Franklin: Karr: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 10 i) VACATING A PORTION OF RUPPERT ROAD WITHIN AVIATION COMMERCE PARK NORTH (VAC06-00004) j) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF AVIATION COMMERCE PARK NORTH (A RE.SUBDIVISION OF NORTH AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT AND NORTH AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT-PART TWO), IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUBOS.00021) Item i is the vacation of Ruppert Road within Aviation Commerce Park. Now, it's my understanding, and i and j are related. J is the final plat for Aviation Commerce North - that is the final plat for what will enable the Super Wal-Mart construction or purchase, then construction. In that final plat there is a development agreement that we have with Wal-Mart which has not been signed, and will not be signed by tomorrow, was the last communication I had from Mitch. Yeah. That's right. It had been our understanding it would be signed by today, but it won't be. Which mean that the vacation and final plat should be deferred, so you want I I So I you want to continue the public hearing and the vacation and defer the resolution and then defer the resolution for the plat. Karin, is this until July 18th? Yes. And I, I can just get into the specifics of the development agreement at that July 18th or July 17th work session rather than doing it now, agreed? I had one question. Ok. But I can just, put it to the 18th, it doesn't matter. Whatever's your pleasure. I just, with this final plat, I was looking at the parking spaces that they had outlined. Are these all required, or are these, I, what level of parking is required and what level is Wal-Mart because. I'll have to check that. Everybody builds, everybody builds large parking lots that are rarely full. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Franklin: ITEM 10. Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 11 And understand that in your approval of this you will not be approving the site plan. You're approving the plat with the development agreement and then the vacation. APPROVING OF A THIRD AMENDMENT TO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF lOW A CITY AND W AL- MART REAL ESTATE BUSINESS TRUST FOR APPROXIMATELY 21.76 ACRES OF PROPERTY LYING WITmN LOTS 10 THROUGH 17 OF NORTH AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT SUBDIVISION AND LOTS 2, THROUGH 4 OF THE NORTH AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT SUBDIVISION - PART TWO. Item 10 which is on your agenda, which is the purchase agreement for the additional land that Wal-Mart has requested: you may go forward with that. And that thing would be contingent on whatever final decision is on the purchase? Right. Whatever they fmally decide on the 31 'i, yeah. Yeah. k) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE VACATING THE ALLEY LOCATED NORTH OF BENTON STREET BETWEEN CLINTON STREET AND DUBUQUE STREET. (VAC06-00001) (PASS AND ADOPT) I) AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN AN ALLEY IN BLOCK 27 LYING BETWEEN SOUTH CLINTON AND SOUTH DUBUQUE STREETS TO THE NORTH OF BENTON STREET, TO JOHNSON COUNTY. Ok. Then k is the pass and adopt on the vacation of the alley for, that the County had requested, and j is the public hearing and conveyance on that disposition to the county. Karr: 1. Franklin: 1. Champion: Oh,i. Bailey: 1. Champion: I,j, k, 1. Right. Bailey: Sing your song. Champion: It looks like an i. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Bailey: Wilburn: Franklin: Bailey: Elliott: Liquor Licensinl! ITEM 15. ITEM 16. Wilburn: Hargadine: City Council Work Session Page 12 I know. Did you break it, Karin? I, no, I think we need new batteries. Or take the batteries out and erase them. No show. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4, ENTITLED "ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES," CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "LIQUOR LICENSES AND BEIER PERMITS," BY AMENDING SECTION 3 TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT JOHNSON COUNTY OFFICIALS APPROVE APPLICATIONS FOR ALCOHOL LICENSES AND PERMITS ANDIO MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE STATE'S NEW ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM AND THE INCREASED INSPECTIONS BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE POLICE CHIEF'S GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING WHETHER APPLICANTS FOR INITIAL AND RENEWAL LIQUOR LICENSES, BEER PERMITS AND WINE PERMITS ARE OF "GOOD MORAL CHARACTER". Ok. Liquor license applications, agenda items 15 and 16. Good evening. Presently before a liquor license is brought before the City Council, I am asked to determine whether that applicant is of good moral character. This is right out of the State code where the language comes from. Up to now the department has had, has not had clear guidelines of what good moral character means. Our practice has been to look at a DCI criminal history report, supplied by the applicant, and then sign off on the application if nothing in that DCI report merits a red flag. We have not looked at the activities of the liquor establishment as it pertains to existing State of Iowa liquor' laws. Many state alcohol licensing authorities also employed field enforcement agents that routinely check bars in concert or with local law enforcement. Iowa does not do this. Presently there is a large profit motive to not obey the alcohol laws, and without regular inspections by liquor control agents, there isn't a motive to voluntarily comply. This proposal would supply a motive to comply with existing state laws. The motive would be the nOn-renewal of a liquor license if the applicant has a documented history of non-compliance. If this occurs, my recommendation would be to refuse the license which would trigger a written report to the Council justifying why we felt this action was merited. You would then have the authority to renew or deny the application. There are many alcohol establishments in Iowa City that do play by the rules. The passage of this proposal would not effect them. Lastly, I would like to thank the City Clerk and the City Attorney for your assistance in drafting this proposal. Basically, what we This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 O'Donnell: Champion: Dilkes: O'Donnell: Dilkes: Hargadine: Champion: Hargadine: Champion: Bailey: Hargadine: Bailey: Hargadine: Bailey: Hargadine: City Council Work Session Page 13 want to do is establish a track history that deals specifically with the State of Iowa and the City of Iowa City city ordinances as it pertains to alcohol, and if an establishment clearly violates them over and over and over, that will give us grounds to not sign a liquor license. Questions? Isn't that technically what we do, Chief, now? If you have so many violations now, your liquor license is taken away? Different violations. Would you, I think he's, Mike, are you talking about the sales to minors? Yeah, well, in general. Sales to underage people? There's nothing that says, though, that whether three's five, five's bad, or ten's bad _ at what point does the liquor license not get renewed? And in totality we're looking at all of the different license violations. That's something that we've not done yet, is establish clear policy for those that sign off, and that was the purpose of this proposal. I like this proposal. I think when we were discussing, the last thing we were discussing, the 21 law or the 21, whether we should go to 21 or not, one of the things the bar owners promised us was that they would have monitors in the bars, and they would monitor themselves, and I don't think they've done a very good job of that, and I think this will make sure they do what they promised to do. I would comment, I think some have done better than others. Yeah, of course, I don't mean all of them. I like this proposal quite a bit because I think it evens the playing field. I think it's a fairness issue. The question that I have is, given your criteria, do we have the capacity? I mean, some of these your officers will be checking on and, in the course of a year, do they have the opportunity to get to every establishment that has a liquor license? Over the course of the year, usually. There may be some that are outside of the downtown area that they do not. But if this goes into effect we are going to try and make it to every establishment. And see, I think that would be the most fair situation. I agree. Because I notice on this PAULA report, the year to date, not every place, not every establishment had a PAULA visit, and I think that if we do something like this it's important that everybody gets at least one visit a year. I would agree. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Baeth: Hargadine: Baeth: Dilkes: Bailey: Elliott: Baeth: Hargadine: Baeth: Hargadine: Baeth: Hargadine: Bailey: Hargadine: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 14 Chief, I would also like to point out that as one of the criteria, having P AULAs per visit ratio at 1.5, are you considering the number of visits as well? For instance, you could have one establishment on one visit have 2 P AULAs. The number of visits is part of the ratio. Right, so I'm saying, but, you compare that visit to another place that's visited 100 times and you only get 80 P A ULA:s out of that, and this one unlucky business might have one visit. Do we have any criteria established? It's a per-visit ratio, it says right there, per visit. It's not the absolute number. Of the year to date. He's saying, one might have a chance to have it spread over multiple visits, another might have had one bad night, one visit, that's it. Is that what you're? That's what I'm saying, yes. I think that's a possibility. You wouldn't want to have that bad visit right before your license was renewed. You'd want to. The other thing is, this is on the internet and it's published. Every business would have the ability to know where they stood. So if they were above the 1.5 and we're coming down to it, I'd, I would try and get the police back in there, improve that ratio. Ok. And would this be at your discretion, then? The other thing is, P AULAs by themselves, I don't think would be a primary factor. Ok. That's just something else in addition to other criteria. The worst criteria would be making obvious sales cases to minors. Well, and there is an opportunity to evaluate the corrective action that the licensee has taken, so that can balance out some of the issues that may have come up on a visit, which, once again, I think is a fairness, a good opportunity. Right. Sam, Ijust, I appreciate, I know I've talked to you personally, and I've been pushing for a reasonable, objective way to identifY the problem bars, because I haven't counted, but they keep telling me we have 40 bars. My contention is that a very small percentage of them are causing most of the problem. So, I really appreciate the fact that you've put this together. I do however have a concern about one of the areas, and that's the number of what, assault, fighting incidents. I think that could be cOlmterproductive and might, perhaps, be dangerous;because you might be encouraging the bars not to call when a problem situation appears to be imminent. Because if they call, they know it's going to go on their record. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Hargadine: Elliott: Dilkes: Elliott: Hargadine: Elliott: Dilkes: Elliott: Correia: Hargadine: Correia: Bailey: Correia: Champion: Bailey: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 15 So I'd like to find some way that we could ensure against that or lower that as a, because we certainly want them not to be reticent to call the police if problems are imminent. I agree with the thought process. With that small, minute number of problem bars that we're talking about, there's already an attitude of if it occurs outside of my establishment, it's not my problem. But they probably contributed to the argument that occurred inside anyway. It would not be held against the bar if they were the ones that called us down there and it was determined that they had nothing to do with, they just happened to be picking up the phone. In a few instances though, they're, the problem has occurred inside the bar and they kicked everybody out and just washed their hands of it when they should have called us to begin with. So that attitude already exists. Yeah, I I think also we specifically, Sam, if you remember, talked about not using calls for service. I mean, it would be an easy thing to look at, just looking at the calls for service, but we didn't specifically identify calls for service but rather tried to focus on the behavior and the reports of the behavior. I just think we need to be aware that there's going to be perhaps a reticence about calling for this kind of service. That I I think that's a misinterpretation of the intent, though. Oh, yeah, I know what the intent is, and the intent is the best. My concern is There's also other things that would motivate them to call, like? liability and stufflike that. Right. Is it always, do sometimes patrons call the police? Absolutely. Not just staff. Everybody has a cell phone. Everyone has a cell phone. Somebody has a cell phone, and they use it all the time. That's if they have one that's not being used. They have to hang up. What is, in your estimation, the most significant and the most serious problems that Iowa City encounters from the multiple bar scenes, or from the one bar scene This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26,2006. June 26, 2006 Hargadine: Elliott: Wilburn: Champion: Hargadine: Elliott: Dilkes: Correia: Hargadine: Wilburn: Dilkes: Elliott: Hargadine: City Council Work Session Page 16 with the multiple bars? I'm just thinking, because we mentioned P AULAs, you mentioned in here serving to an existing intoxicated person. What does, what does a person in your position think is the most serious problem with our bars? I don't know that there is one. It's a conglomeration of all of it. We have a high- intensity number of businesses down there that make a living selling alcohol. I certainly spend more of my week discussing alcohol issues than any other topic at all. I've got some that think we do too much down there, and there's others that think we don't do enough down there. All I can do is listen to all of them. But I think this is one thing that we, we can't control the revelry that occurs out in the ped mall, but this is one thing I think from a business standpoint that you can do to at least make sure everybody's playing by the rules. I was just thinking, and this might be more for Eleanor than for you, if it were to appear that P AULAs are one of our major problems, that's certainly what we've heard to this point over the past few years, if that were to be one of the major problems, is there a possibility. One of the bar operators suggested to me making Iowa City 21 and over and then, by a special amendment or however you might call it, bars could request to have 19 and over capabilities, and then we'd charge more for that. Is that a possibility? In other words, it would be a modified 21 and over that on certain requests, they could request to have 19 and over, but they would have to meet certain criteria, they would have to be more closely governed, and it would be possible to charge them more. Well, it exists now that they can request, what is that? An exception to the 19 (can't hear) The point of this is we want to use the existing rules that are already in place by the State and by the City and start using that for criteria against. I'm not really asking for more laws, I want just to use the ones that we've already been given. Is it a possibility? Yes. Yeah, and I would want to talk to Eleanor. The charging thing causes me some concern. The extra fee. If the police department were to get it, that might be good. I have a question. You remember, the way this works is that, that, if the recommendation comes from the police chief to deny them renewal for instance, and you deny them renewal, then it goes to the ABD and they take a look at it and And it would be They could both be overturned at that point, it's possible, but that's just the way. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. ---~_...._.,.- ----_.- .._,-~-_._--,_._-,---~----~-_._-_.__.._-~. June 26, 2006 Correia: Wilburn: Bailey: Dilkes: Hargadine: O'Donnell: Elliott: O'Donnell: Correia: O'Donnell: Correia: O'Donnell: Elliott: Bailey: Correia: O'Donnell: Correia: O'Donnell: Dilkes: (laughter) Correia: City Council Work Session Page 17 What does ABD stand for? Alcoholic Beverage Division. Because they have final say. Sure. It's my understanding though that they are encouraging municipalities to develop their own rules, which is a shift from years past. I think what everybody's backing off from is moral character, and the definition of that. It's an unfortunate word that apparently we have to use. Well, if It's an Iowa law, correct? Well, we have nothing to do with that terminology, but I think it's terrible. You know, moral character could just as well have been good business practices or something like that. I think it would have been accepted better. Well, I think when I first saw that I thought, huh, and then you take a look and you see that that's the language that's used in the Iowa code and we are saying based on Iowa code use of the definition of this. Determined by the legislators at that time. Yes. Maybe that's how we're defining it locally. At that time, but it's currently in place. It's in place. We have nothing to do. Right, right, that's what I'm saying. I do disagree with it. Well and all the criteria related to alcohol and the control of access to alcohol, and there's nothing in here about other, you know, extramarital affairs. It's all about alcohol. I think that was smart. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Hargadine: Elliott: Bailey: Hargadine: Correia: Champion: Bailey: Correia: Elliott: Wilburn: Correia: (laughter) Correia: Wilburn: Correia: Hargadine: Wilburn: Hargadine: City Council Work Session Page 18 And really, I think there's something, if a guy did a burglary ten years ago, does that really inhibit his ability to manage a bar now? If he served his sentence and he's back in the good graces of society. And that's covered in here. That But, technically, that's a violation of good moral character. But at least here we're sticking to the alcohol laws already in place. I think it's a good policy. I agree. It's fair. Create accountability. I continue to have concerns about the problems being reported, but again, I really appreciate you bringing this to us, because it's been much needed. You've better run while everybody's (can't hear) Well, I had I have a question though, I have another question. Go ahead. I'm just wondering if you had been in communication with other police departments in communities similar to ours, in terms of universities, town/gown, very close, like Madison or Ann Arbor to see what are some of the practices. Not formally. I do that work with other college town, came from one, and then Loras Jaeger is the chief from Ames, I do work with him quite a bit. They have, everybody's a little bit unique. I'm not aware of another city that has the density of the businesses all in one spot. There may be bigger cities that have them all spread out, but we've put them all in one. The other challenge is, as you've pointed out, different State laws and how those translate to control at the local level. And as I mentioned, some of those state alcohol authorities, they have their own liquor control agents and they send people out on their own. Iowa, they want the money from licenses, but they don't really want to do anything else, so. They leave that to you and me to enforce. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26,2006. June 26, 2006 Elliott Champion: Hargadine: Champion: Dilkes: Bailey: Hargadine: Elliott: Hargadine: Elliott: Hargadine: Bailey: Correia: Hargadine: Bailey: Correia: Hargadine: Karr: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 19 What else is new. Do you happen to know, and it's not really your department, how the occupancy numbers are working out? Didn't we hire somebody to enforce occupancy? Will you be doing that or the fire department be doing that? It is the fire department's primary, primary responsibility, but we will be there to assist them anytime they need it. Ok. 1 think the projected start date is September 151 for that. For the occupancy - right. One fmal note is on the issuance of warnings first. That's something we've discussed and we're willing to put a time period on this, because it is something that's a radical change for us and probably would be for the businesses that are effected. So that would give them, as violations come in, they'd get a letter from me which would warn them that if this were to continue, this type of activity would result in the loss of your license, so. Are you talking about occupancy specifically, or this No, I'm talking about this whole procedure. Ok. I think it would be up to the businesses to put it in place today. Some of the businesses are up for renewal all year long, so they wouldn't have time to prepare for this, so I think a warning system, a written letter. Will they get a copy of this? All the, would all the? Certainly. So how do you see rolling this in? When would it be effective, the policy? Will all the liquor I think they expire one year from when they're applied for. They don't expire all at once. They're all staggered. I know, but I mean, in terms of this, when we pass this policy, a new policy's in place, will all the liquor license holders get a copy of this so they know This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Hargadine: Karr: Correia: Elliott: Karr: Correia: Karr: Elliott: Correia: Karr: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: Champion: Elliott: Champion: City Council Work Session Page 20 I think that's a good idea. I think we plan on a mailing, an education system as well. Ok. I think especially the occupancy, as that becomes monitored, is especially important that the bars have time to adapt to that. That would be like the State telling Iowa City they have to have something that happened the night the tornado hit. Because football season starts and Friday and Saturday nights are just really something else. I think the fire department. They all have fire department is doing quite an educational piece on that as well. Good. They all have occupancy limits, so they should know. Yeah, so that's not a, the occupancy limits aren't changing. Right. No, but the fact that they're going to be enforced and need to be monitored I think is a change. Shouldn't be. It should not be a change, because it's No, when you have not enforced anything for an extended period of time, and then decide that you are going to enforce it at a peak period, that's not fair. Well, I would think the bar owners would want to enforce it (cut off - end of tape) Champion: Wilburn: Champion: Bailey: I think it should be enforced immediately. They know it's coming, they know how to count people. And they're getting a heads up. And they're getting a heads up. It's really dangerous in some of those bars, or in any building that's overcrowded and there's a disaster. Yes. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Crime Stoppers Wilburn: Hargadine: City Council Work Session Page 21 Crime Stoppers. Routinely the Department issues press releases ending with "anyone who has knowledge of this crime, please call the Iowa City Police Department." This rarely results in anyone calling us with information that leads to an arrest. Our Department would benefit from a Crime Stoppers program that breaks through the barriers giving people the opportunity to provide information without directly speaking to the police or having to testify in court. Most often we need information that allows us to zero in on a suspect or criminal operation such as a drug trafficking ring. There are approximately 1200 Crime Stoppers programs in communities around the world. There are at least 20 cities in Iowa that participate or have some type of Crime Stoppers program. These cities include Quad Cities, which includes Davenport and Cedar Rapids (I want to come back to those a little later), Burlington, Polk County, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Dickinson County, the city ofWaukee - most of these I've never heard of prior to this research- Clinton County, Spencer, Le Mars, Clay County, Montgomery County, Red Oak area, Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, Tri-County Crime Stoppers, which is based out of Ankeny, Cerro Gordo County, whatever. Laramie County, they have a program called Silent Witness, that is an affiliate of Crime Stoppers International and local. Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities Crime Stoppers. They've got two different structures, although they do the same thing. Cedar Rapids is a Council commission. Quad Cities is a not-for-profit, partnered with a local television station. In addition to these cities, I've got over 20 years of experience partnering with Crime Stoppers from my previous employer, having rotated through investigative four different times in my previous career I've seen Crime Stoppers work on cases that I was personally responsible for. These cases have ranged from thefts up to homicide. There, Columbia, the Crime Stoppers work was an independent not-for-profit. I've been solicited by corporate sponsors and individuals wishing to get involved and provide funding to get Crime Stoppers off the ground. I told them to hold onto that thought and I'd get back in touch with them. How the Board is set up, not-for-profit or Council Commission, I have no strong feeling. What I need, what the Department needs, are the results of having a program up and running. The Department's only involvement after it is set up would be to report to the Board on success cases where information provided by Crime Stoppers led to an arrest. The Board would decide how much to award and the manner in which it is paid. The awards would not be paid for with tax-supported funds. The Board would need to be comprised of individuals who can raise funds and be an advocate for Crime Stoppers. The chiefs and sheriffs of Johnson County are all in support of this program. They have agreed to allow me the use of their logos in any advertising. I am asking for you to do one of three things: approval of Crime Stoppers being a Council Commission or your blessing if you feel it is better for it to be an independent, not-for-profit or a combination, or not do it at all. I'm leaning towards the first two. Any questions as to how it would actually run? It would basically start out with every one of our press releases, ours and other County cases for that matter, would have the blurb "anyone that knows any information about this crime is urged to call Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1000.00 if information will lead to an arrest. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Correia: Hargadine: Bailey: Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Correia: O'Donnell: Hargadine: Correia: O'Donnell: Baeth: Hargadine: City Council Work Session Page 22 Who answers the phone? It has to be a 24 - 7 operation, which would mean it would be our staff in the dispatch center, that they would answer it "Crime Stoppers, may I help you?" Don't citizens already have the option of providing anonymous tips? They do, but it rarely comes in. So is the issue then sort of, because you could, there could be a tagline that said anyone with information could call, whatever the number, It's usually a catchy number, like 311- TIPS. I know, but what I'm saying is, is that if the spin of Crime Stoppers is that there is a name that is not Iowa City Police Department, so it's some That's part of it. And that there's this extra layer of that it's anonymous, but if you want the reward, there's a reward, then you would have to give your name. No. It's, when they call in they're issued a number and encouraged to call back after x amount of time, usually after 2 weeks to a month. That allows the Board to meet. The Department would report to the Board if it was a successful case. The Board meets and determines how much of a reward it is and then would notify us back at the Department how much that was. When the CrimeS topper called back in they would identitY them by that number, and then we would tell them "yes, you do have a reward coming. Contact so and so Board member for reimbursement. " They all have reward programs? But,do Yes. They all do. How would you get the reward? Who do you make the check to? It's usually set up by the Board. It helps if it's a downtown business; you need a variety of people on CrimeStoppers. It helps to have a banker, it helps to have an attorney. All of them of course need to be good at fundraising. And it helps to have a variety, a cross-section, but one of them, if it's a downtown business person, can be the person that makes the payments. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Champion: Correia: Champion: Hargadine: Champion: Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 23 I, ah And make You know, my first concern when I heard aboutthis a couple of weeks ago was that I really object to, I term this Big Brother attitude of the City, and so, because this, I would want it to be an independent organization and not by the Councilor the Police Department. And the other, the main question I would have then is so, if someone, it's a different phone number but it's answered by the Police Department, is this phone going to have caller id on it? No, it's. Oh, ok. And if there was another way to have a line answered 24-7, I would love to do that, but the reality is that's the only place that is manned. Some of them do have, you can only call between 8 and 5. I think they miss out on some things, because when someone has the urge to call, you want to capitalize on it, because they might talk themselves out of it. But do people not call, why don't people call? If it was widely known that the police accept, welcome, not, you think people call because there isn't, there's really the opportunity for potential reward that gets them to call, or it's that they don't think they're calling, well, they're not calling the police, although they sort of are calling the police, though they're not calling the police in the same capacity and people don't trust the police? Is that? I think a variety of things. A lot of the studies that have been done will pertain to the reward amount. And a thousand dollars or twenty-five thousand dollars, the motives for calling were not all that much different. That's why CrimeS toppers suggests capping it at one thousand dollars. Cedar Rapids doesn't have a cap - they would pay theoretically much higher if it were a heinous crime. The motives for people to call are varied. It may be one drug dealer who wants to get rid of his competition down the street. We don't care what the motives are, because the other guy is at some point probably going to call him. They may, the spouse has been doing burglaries and now he's made his wife mad. I mean, the motives are numerous; they're not always just for the reward, but they don't just pick up the phone and call the police department. I know, that's what I'm wondering. Is there any studies to suggest why people don't just call and talk to the police? I'm not aware of any. Is there any, what I was wondering is, are there any studies around, related to community policing and a neighborhood and community likelihood to interact with the police in this fashion? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Correia: Baeth: Hargadine: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 24 There is quite a bit on crime and Neighborhood Watch, for instance. Crime is usually lower in a community that's closer and communicate with one another and looking out for one another, so those types of neighborhoods are more likely to call police and say. But that's not, Neighborhood Watch and community policing are not the same, are they? I think Neighborhood Watch is an element of community policing. Sure. Can you give us an idea of frequency of use for a similar-sized city? How many calls they might get? I have not done any type of analysis like that. It's usually, actually, the press releases on a very few number - it's usually the more heinous types of crimes that we have to solve, and so of tens of thousands of reports that we take, it's a very minimal amount that actually merit that type of case. I tend to agree with Connie on the, I think it's something about the Big Brother aspect of it, and when I read through this, I'm not sure that this is a fit for our community, honestly. I know that apparently you had people approach you about it. Additionally, as a non-profit Board, we have a lot of non-profits in this community and they all are struggling, most of them, are struggling to raise money and I believe in donor choice, but I'm not sure that I would want to be the instigator of another non-profit organization to raise funds in this community, so Ijust don't see the fit for Iowa City, for myself. I think however we've talked about quality communities in the Corridor, and one aspect of quality communities that's probably as important as any is crime, safety. And I would be very much in favor of this. I agree with Connie in that I'd like to have a bit of a separation in it being perhaps a non-profit. But I think if anything, it will make an impact on crime which experience has shown in other similar cities it has made a significant impact, I think it's well worth the money and we're using greed the same way that those who are breaking the law use greed and we're attacking them on their own terms. And I do cringe, Regenia, I cringe when I think you reward someone financially for doing his patriotic and civic duty, his or her, but I think it's come to that, because so many people simply don't want to get involved. And if a hundred bucks will help them get involved, then let's do it. Yeah, but that's what the East German Secret Police used in 1950 East Germany, I mean, that's what makes me very uncomfortable. I don't think it says quality community. I think it says something else. Why is this different, to pay somebody, than to assume they'll do it on their own? Ijust don't think it communicates quality of life. I think a Neighborhood Watch may send a different message. I really have a lot of discomfort with this. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 O'Donnell: Bailey: O'Donnell: Correia: Bailey: Wilburn: Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Elliott: Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Wilburn: City Council Work Session Page 25 I see this as an extension of Neighborhood Watch. I have, I really don't have a problem. It's about Spy on your neighbor? being a good citizen. There's one interesting paragraph here. It says in twenty years Quad Cities CrimeS toppers has received 2,949 tips that have led to 1678 arrests. You know, but the thing about arrests is that, what's the conviction rate? Because people get arrested that end up getting released, too. I don't necessarily think, just because somebody was arrested because a tip came in, that means they were the Guilty. I think part of the story in there, and it wasn't necessarily, it led police to the direction, it wasn't necessarily the tip necessarily that identified the person, but it got them in the arena of them finding some facts to make an arrest which would be presentable in court. And this is not going to be an excessive weed complaint line. This is for a crime that has already been committed, and it's to assist us to determine who it was who did it. We may get 20 bad leads, but if we get the one good one that wouldn't have come in otherwise, that's what we're looking to get. I'm willing to continue talking about this in a way that includes the whole County- I mean, that's not, I like, in terms of thinking about Quad Cities, it's not the Davenport CrimeStoppers, it's the Quad Cities, it's all of those communities, it has the identity of being all of those police departments, not just one police department. I think it will evolve into a county-wide, just because whoever sets up the phone line, they're going to start solving crimes for the surrounding jurisdictions. I guess And that's, we would funnel that information to the appropriate agency. The Amber Alerts, what I was thinking about is the Amber Alerts, and you get those notices out, and it directs people to call, and those aren't, reward-based, making those calls. No, but everybody's heart sinks when their child is missing. Clearly that's an emotional issue that everybody can relate with. A convenience store robbery doesn't have that same emotional tie, so. Not everybody's going to drop what they're doing like they would on an Amber Alert. I, noticed, Sheriff you, my experience is with the community, I'm thinking of some cases, more recent cases where there was a shooting off of Highway 6 This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Bailey: Champion: Wilburn: Bailey: Baeth: Bailey: Elliott: Champion: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 26 down in Hollywood, Taylor area, and involved several young people, and some of my, the other people that volunteer with me would hear things, or word on the street. But, you know, I'd encourage folks to call and they wouldn't. But this is an example where, my understanding is, that some of the young people or one of the victims knew something about someone but wouldn't come forward. So this is the type of thing where I can see someone coming forward, potentially. I can remember at a neighborhood gathering of neighborhood centers and Iowa, there were a couple of law enforcement people over helping with the neighborhood party and I was helping them, it was cleanup, helping them carry picnic tables away and there was one table left and a couple of young adults, not teens but young adults in their mid-20s and Ijust said hey, fellas, can you give me a hand with this? We can't, you were helping the police. So, that, it, they weren't saying I'm not going to help you, but the association wouldn't. So again, I view this as a tool for reaching some people that wanted to come forward and provide information. I would Ross, you don't have any reservations about this? I really respect your opinion on this. No, I don't. I would be willing to continue to talk about this if we could get some more community input, because one of my concerns is it's not a fit for the community, and Sam has indicated that he has had business owners come forward, but to have a meeting at neighborhood centers or to have a meeting in different areas of the community and get other people's input, and if other people thought this was a good idea, general citizens, I think I would look at it differently. Regenia, how do you view our community as different from the others, how this wouldn't be a fit for ours, as opposed to others? I would say the others in Iowa, the counties listed and the cities, I would consider more conservative, generally, politically conservative, and I would consider that there's less concern about that Big Brother or more police intervention in people's lives. I think Iowa City, I mean, I grew up here and I think there's an attitude of, this is a progressive community. If, even if that mayor may not be true, and so, if we're going to talk about this and go forward with this, I think we should have additional community input, and I would be interested in exploring it to that degree, but I think that would be a good thing. I guess I don't see the Big Brother aspect when you, it's your civic duty if you see a crime committed, you really need to report it. And all we're doing then is providing financial incentive. Where's the Big Brother aspect? Who would be we? All I'm asking, I mean, I'm really uncomfortable with this and we all agree that if you're uncomfortable with something, Bob, you This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. __,_...m~___"_""'__"___""_"_"__'__~_____ ----,-----..----.--.-.-~-- ""'---------.....,.--- -,,-,,------_..... June 26, 2006 Elliott: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: Correia: Hargadine: Correia: Hargadine: Bailey: Correia: Wilburn: Hargadine: Correia: Wilburn: City Council Work Session Page 27 We all agree you're uncomfortable. No, no. If you're uncomfortable with something I respect that you're uncomfortable with it, I'm not going to necessarily ask you to explain it. I'm uncomfortable with this, I don't think it's a good fit for our community, I'm willing to explore it. I mean obviously ifthere's a majority I can't, you know, but I think that if we're going to move forward with this, let's talk to other people in the community and see ifthey're interested. If we're setting up a non-profit organization, you're going to want that feasibility anyway cause you're going to have to raise money, so it would be a start from that. I've got no problem with discussing it further and getting more community input. Not us. With the community. And also I'd like to include the other - if we're going to set this up and we think it's going to evolve into multi law enforcement agencies, then it should start that way, and it could be answered by the Iowa City Police Department. We're talking about the Joint Communications Center, answered by the Joint Communications Center or whatever, but I think that that. Part of the problem is that they have not set one up before either, so they thought it was a good idea if you would set it up. And I think it's fine ifIowa City takes the lead in that, but keeping everybody in the loop and having it from the beginning feel like if this is the way we go, that this is something that all the jurisdictions and municipalities are brought into, want to participate in, see the value in, that becomes All of the organizations that are tasked with solving the problems are already on board. And I think a lot of, it you go to the different neighborhoods, the differences are probably reflective upon whether they've been the victim of an unsolved crime. And that would be good information for me to have, personally. If they think this would benefit them, that's information I definitely want to hear. And I also think if we get, get information, information that you got about people that don't feel that the police are some agency to go to, that's also information I want to have. And what does that mean for how the police interact with community so that the breakdown I think I don't think that problem is unique to Iowa City. It's everywhere. No, I know it's not unique to Iowa City. No, but I also think there's way for the police to work in the community, community policing or whatever, to have different types of attitudes about the police. I think that's important. Well, ifthere's a majority that wish to defer it tomorrow or, I'm sorry This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Correia: Wilblim: Bailey: Wilburn: Correia: Champion: Hargadine: Champion: Correia: Elliott: O'Donnell: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 28 It's not on the agenda. That's right. There's not a decision, either. If there's a majority who wish to do some type of public input or whatever, then would say go ahead and suggest that. Again, I just view it as another tool available to law enforcement. Some of the folks, the concerns that you're expressing I acknowledge, but some of the same folks that you may want to hear from that might call in on a CrimeStoppers service I doubt are going to come to a public hearing or a neighborhood meeting. I'm just putting that out there. No, I'm not, I'm just saying if we know that these are there because we are in the community and hear it, not because we had a specific meeting and asked for that, we know it's out there, then I think there are ways to proactively address that, irrespective of whether we do CrimeStoppers or not. Well, I, I mean, I have some reservations, but I'm not totally against it. I think it's certainly worth exploring. I think it's naIve to think that everybody loves the police, and no matter how nice they are, they're probably not going to like the police. Because the police have a gun and they have a lot of power, and in certain areas where there are problems the police have a kind of negative They're authoritarian, in a town that doesn't really like authority. They're authoritarian, a lot of people don't like authority. I mean, my persona] experience is I've never had anything but wonderful experiences with police, so I'm not afraid to call the police. But my family has never had a bad experience with the police either. I don't have any family history to make me leery of the police. But I can tell you I know people, for instance, my brother had a friend who was shot by the police - his family doesn't have a lot of good to say about the police, and I'm sure their grandchildren don't have a lot of good to say about the police. So I think it's really naIve to think everybody's going to call the police. I think, I understand that, and I'm not, I'm trying to say that even in areas where there might be more police presence there, good people who want to go to the police, who fee] that the police aren't there for them and it's those situations that they can't easily access police in the ways that would fee] that was creating safety, and that's what I would like. Do you folks know who has a lower acceptance than the police? E]ected government officials. I don't know one person who's ever gotten a ticket on Burlington Street and said "boy, what a wonderful experience." You know, that just doesn't happen. I've had wonderful experiences getting tickets. I have! This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 O'Donnell: Bailey: Elliott: Champion: Elliott: Wilburn: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: Wilburn: Champion: Wilburn: Ellliott: Wilburn: Bailey: Champion: O'Donnell: Champion: City Council Work Session Page 29 If you are indeed afraid of contacting the police, then this seems like the ideal tool. Then let's check it out and see if other people in our community think it's the ideal tool and if so, use it. And I don't think there's anything wrong with the Police Department making the rounds of neighborhood meetings or neighborhood picnics this summer just seeing if, what people think of this and would they contribute money if we developed CrimeStoppers and would they be interested in participating. I don't know if I'll be supportive of it, but I think that that would be a good next step. I want to pursue this. I'm very happy to discuss it more fully. That's fine. It's not on the agenda, this is just a discussion. No, that's fine. But I certainly don't want us to drop it. I just want to make sure I heard you correctly. You said you want to get public input and then I missed something in the middle - you said you're not sure you'd support it anyway? Well, I'd like to hear what other community members think of this. I mean for what, I said that I don't think it's a fit for our community, and I'd like to hear if others think it is or it isn't. And then you'll base your decision on the input? That would help, probably. Ok. Because I'm really, really uncomfortable with it. So, how many are interested in giving direction to proceed with this? I'm willing to, I don't want to drop it. Don't use the word proceed - can we change the language - it's like moral. Yeah, use investigate it further. Ok. How many would like to investigate it further? Hear. Ok, and so 1,2 Well, it depends on what that means. Well, broad term. Proceed. No, proceed means we're going to do it. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Bailey: Correia: Wilburn: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: Elliott: Wilburn: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: Correia: Wilburn: Bailey: Correia: Bailey: Champion: Bailey: Correia: Bailey: Champion: City Council Work Session Page 30 Don't add another discussion of (can't hear) Not going to be on the agenda next time Well, io heariog what Connie was describing, she was wanting more information. About? I suspect she was talking about what you were talking about, trying to get some type of community input. Is that what you want? Ok. I think Now, just in fairness to staff, what is that, what are you, are you talking about one public hearing, are you talking about? I'm talking about going out rather than bringing, having people come? Aod who going out and, I'm just trying to? I don't know. I have a question - when does the neighborhood, I mean, I think we can identify the places that we might. That's, that's what I'm asking. Our neighborhood association has an officer that will attend if we call - I think it's a him. The neighborhood council? No. Our association. I assume that other associations are connected. But the neighborhood council has somebody from every neighborhood, isn't that correct? Right. That might be one good place to start. Yeah, that would be a good place to start. Then they could discuss at the neighborhood meetings rather than sending the police to every neighborhood meeting. We don't have enough police, but if somebody could go to the neighborhood council meeting, then the neighborhood council representatives could go to their neighborhood council and then could. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Bailey: Elliott: Champion: Elliott: Bailey: Correia: Wilburn: Champion: Bailey: Champion: Baeth: (laughter) Champion: O'Donnell: Baeth: Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: Hargadine: City Council Work Session Page 31 And provide a police officer if they wanted to hear more about it. Except neighborhood councils are not nearly comprehensive as this discussion would have them be. For instance, there are some neighborhoods that are not organized. (can't hear) Well, for instance, my neighborhood, there's no reason for us to, we like it, but within those neighborhoods that are organized there are a lot of people that are organized. We like our neighborhood - we're organized. (can't hear) So we're going to take it to the neighborhood council. Is there anything else, those of you who are wanting some input? Oh, I would probably, personally do some on my own. Also because I think again I'm a little reluctant to depend on a public hearing where there are citizens in town who will always attend public hearings versus citizens who won't. We're not talking about I'm totally willing to ask on my own and talk to people in my neighborhood or And I'm willing to ask all 29,000 students at the University ofIowa, get you guys an answer. One to one. One on one, absolutely. Yeah, yeah. I think you should sit with each of em for at least an hour so it's a comprehensive. I think I got a sense that there's general support on the part of the Council, but there's clearly some additional information. How about if we do this, let Sam and I figure out how we can do neighborhood councils, neighborhood centers, visit with those folks, get some sort of response from them, and let's bring it back a month from now. Great. Sure. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Atkins: Wilburn: Atkins: Elliott: Atkins: Bailey: Wilburn: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 32 Because I'd like to put it back on the agenda, and apparently, if your feelings are strong enough, you may have to vote on this. I'd just recommend as you decide where it is you're going to go you get a memo to Council so you don't come back in a month, say you did this, and a Council member or two, why don't you go here Ok, we already I think, for instance, Regenia might be interested in going to one or more of the meetings where this will be discussed, correct, so you'd like to know? Ok. We'll get you a schedule. We could take minutes, and then some more meetings. Ok. Thanks. Let's take a break, be back in here at 8:00. 8:00? Fifteen minutes! Burlimrton Street Median Franklin: Davidson: Ok. This is going to be a team effort here. The Burlington Street Median project if you remember, and I know you do, because you remember the video of the work session that we had of the simulation of what it would look like in the Burlington Street corridor in the future. And at that point the Council indicated that you had an interest in the median project and so we've pursued it a little bit further and wanted to share that with you. We have this in the capital improvements program for fiscal year '09, so there's that part of it that's kind of in the system so far. But we went ahead and we hired a consultant, Hoffman Design and Anderson-Bogert Engineers, so we have the design component and the engineering, because it's very important to have these two things linked together in this project. Just wanted to go over what the goals were of this whole thing, the whole idea behind it, and we'll get into these in a little bit more detail. Improving pedestrian safety, maintaining our traffic capacity on Burlington Street, it's a major corridor, that's a very important part of it. Reducing the corridor crash rate or any possibilities of crashes in the corridor. Linking the downtown to the near southside: remember, the near southside is that area south of Burlington Street where we see the potential for expansion of the downtown rather than going north, going south, and Burlington Street has been identified as one of those barriers to that potentially happening. And then lastly, just to enhance that corridor visually, this is one of the main corridors the people experience as they come to downtown Iowa City and through downtown Iowa City. So I'm going to have Jeff first address the pedestrian safety and the traffic capacity issues. A couple of you that I've spoken with about this have asked what's our motivation for doing this? Why are we even considering doing this?, which is a perfectly legitimate question. The major motivating factor for this is pedestrian safety. If you don't buy the argument that we need to try and enhance pedestrian safety along this corridor, then there's much less need for this project than we feel This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 33 is necessary. That's the principal motivation. At least a year or two ago improving pedestrian safety in this corridor was something that City Council specifically asked us to look into. We did come up with three strategies. We tested a bunch of strategies and then came up with three that we felt were things that would work to enhance pedestrian safety. Those were the countdown pedestrian timers, the continental crosswalk markings, which are the large rectangle markers across Burlington Street, and the vehicles must yield to pedestrians and crosswalk signs. Those were the three strategies. Now, those have been implemented recently enough that we don't have the after data to see how well they have worked, but we really feel that they were good, and as where none of them were terribly expensive. This is what we feel is kind of the next phase, if you really want to take an order of magnitude leap in this corridor to improve pedestrian safety, we feel that this is a good project. There has been a couple of research projects conducted, one by Oregon State University, one by CITRI, which is the research arm ofIowa State University and the Iowa Department of Transportation in Ames, and both studies showed that the crash rate can be cut in half, basically. They studied urban arterias with medians and without medians, and the crash rate was half as much, crashes involving vehicles and pedestrians, was half as much when there was a median present. So this is our main motivation. Two things, principally, that the median would do: it would do what we call channelize pedestrians to the intersections - I don't think I need to remind any of you that there's a great deal of crossing mid-block, especially in the two blocks between Gilbert Street and Dubuque, yeah, Dubuque. That corridor in particular has a great deal of crossing, and I would point out, it's not illegal to jaywalk. It's permitted by State law. You, the pedestrian must give the vehicle the right of way, that's the difference; at a crosswalk the pedestrian has the right of way. But it would channelize pedestrians to the crosswalks, which we feel would be a very positive thing. The other thing it would do is create a refuge area. If you did happen to cross, and for whatever reason, you were crossing against the light or you didn't make it, there would be a refuge area halfway across, which you can see clearly here. It's relatively narrow obviously at the intersection, it tapers down fairly narrow so we can squeeze in all the lanes, but it would be an area where the pedestrian could take refuge. So that's the principal motivation. And another thing, and Karin may wish to elaborate on this, is improving the aesthetics ofthe corridor. You know, between those curb lines there's really nothing of aesthetic value right now, and so we do feel that visually the over-story trees and then we'll put up a diagram that shows the whole corridor here in a second, factored into the area where the over-story trees are, which we think would make a, you know, as you looked down the corridor, would be very impressive from an aesthetic point of view. We did, however, and it was on the slide that Karin showed earlier, want to make sure that to the degree possible, we were maintaining as much traffic capacity as we could in this corridor. This is a major traffic corridor. It is a corridor with very little capacity to absorb additional traffic. During off-peak periods it has some ability to do that, but during peak periods it's virtually, at least at times, certain times of the year, at what we call saturation flow, where there's very little additional traffic that can be added. Because of that, JCCOG performed a study and then the consultant that we had assisting us with this project we had do a follow-up study. And it was the conclusion of both studies that we can implement this project and generally maintain the traffic capacity that we have. There's a couple of things here. We This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 (laughter) Elliott: Davidson: Champion: Bailey: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 34 want to preserve the amount ofleft turn capacity that we feel is necessary at each intersection, and we evaluated each intersection specifically. And you will see when we put up the next slide that we did have one block between Gilbert and Linn where there's really no room for the median with the over-story trees because of the necessity for the left turn lanes to be so large. The rest of the way down to Madison Street, actually all the way to the River, we do have the ability to have the over-story trees at mid-block. Go ahead. You can see that here. Just to orient you, maybe Karin can orient you and show you where Gilbert Street is and where - the lower right there is where Gilbert Street is, so that would be the far east right there would be the far east part of the corridor. And there's the CC-2 zone. Ned Ashton Park is very popular tonight. Anyway, I'll continue talking here while Karin tries to bring that up. What the traffic consultant concluded that did the follow-up traffic study update of the JCCOG study basically is that during peak traffic periods, there's very little ability to add additional left turners to the system because of the through volumes. The through volume will basically govern the amount of number of vehicles that can access the corridor during peak traffic periods. And for that reason it was the consultant's opinion that adding the median would not significantly impact traffic capacity. The other thing it does is it eliminates from, there are a few alleys and a few driveways along this corridor, and it eliminates left turns out of those. Now, left turns out of an access point such as that is a very high probability of a collision at that location. That's a movement where there's a number of conflicting movements. And it's, it's a very common strategy to reduce the crash rate is to add a median and eliminate those. There's still access in and out of them, but it's right turns only, right in and right out, so that would occur in a few places along the corridor. That would positively impact traffic capacity as well, as well as reducing the crash rate and, just so everybody is clear, this is not a super-high crash rate corridor, in spite all the volume, traffic moves relatively slowly and where, it's where traffic moves quickly that you have the high crash location. So it's not a high crash location, but there is some crash history in this corridor and we would bring, we feel, reduce that by eliminating the left turn out movements. Karin might want to speak a little bit more about the aesthetics and visually connecting the two sides of Burlington Street? It might be a low crash area, but we had two pedestrians killed on this street. Right. Right. I wanted just to explain a little bit, one of, to let you know that as we worked through this, and if you haven't had the chance to read the report, that this was a collaborative effort in terms of looking at this with representatives of the University ofIowa, the Downtown Association, as well as Public Works, Parks & Recreation and us in Planning. That the consultants spoke with the business owners in this area who would be effected by the access points in terms of the right in, right out. One of the businesses that had the most problem with it was the bank on Burlington Street, which indicated that they would resist this until This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Champion: Franklin: Champion: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: (laughter) Franklin: Elliott: Champion: City Council Work Session Page 35 there was redevelopment at that site. And you know that that block between Clinton Street and Dubuque Street is one in which we expect redevelopment in the next few years. The majority of the property is owned by Mark Moen, and I think there's some work that's being done with the bank that would incorporate the bank into their project, and so that redevelopment is likely to occur concurrently with when this project is scheduled, the capital project. What bank? West Bank. Oh, but people could go in right, and come out at the stoplight. The alley off of Dubuque, yeah, yeah. But right now, their drive-through comes out on Burlington Street and they would still have a right in, right out option, which, I'm not quite sure what the concern is, because right now they're only exiting, they're not entering. They couldn't turn left out. They couldn't turn left out, right. Right, Amy, that's exactly right, so it is a diminishment of some of their access. The other places we would have to work with were the Kum N' Go gas stations, primarily the one at Gilbert and Burlington. And there we have, the access there is from that alley which is just to the west of them, as well as off of Gilbert Street, and so we were looking at some ways in which we could incorporate access off that alley but then would have to go south, it couldn't go north, unless they wanted to go just right, so, there's things to be worked out with this, but I wanted to let you know that we had talked with the businesses there. In terms of the aesthetic, and I'm not going to talk too much about the linkage, I think you understand what that is, what that could do, because it's the pedestrian safety issue that really speaks to that linkage. What we're looking at in those planted areas where it popped out and you saw the trees in the last diagram, is an area which would have some fairly low plantings and then would have over-story trees in those areas in which there was room enough to put the over-story trees, and that would be every place except that block between Linn and Gilbert Street, where we don't have the width in the median that would enable the planted area. What also would be included would be this kind of a barrier rail that you see. That would go where - let me go back here - in this illustration that barrier rail (I'm trying to touch this lightly so it doesn't pop off). In those portions where - don't look at it. Ok. The portions where you don't have the planted areas in these reaches along here, and then this entire block, you would have this in that area right there. This is difficult. You could stack for virtually a block then? Stack left turn cars for? No, not any more than you can stack now. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Bailey: Elliott: Franklin: El1iott: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 36 You mean between Gilbert and Linn? I thought you said the safety island in the middle would not be wide so the stacking lane for the left turn would exceed how far? In this one, right here, this starts the lane for the left turn movement for Gilbert north. That's about half a block then. Yeah. In this particular block, yes. Over here, over here you don't need as much stacking space, and this is the analysis that Jeffreferred to, that was done block by block. This intersection that is portrayed in this particular illustration is at Madison and Burlington, where we worked with University and it was looked at in conjunction with the Rec Center construction that's going to be occurring, and also moving that sidewalk on the north side a little bit further north, and also moving that fence that is around Gibson Park. They want to try and direct pedestrians to use that sidewalk, but it's working in conjunction with the University there. Back to this illustration. This barrier is (cut off- tape ended) Franklin: (laughter) Correia: Bailey: Franklin: . . . the height that would deter people from going over the top. It's 23 inches to the top. Now, it doesn't mean that nobody could jump over the top, but it means that most people are not going to do that. The other feature which is included in the cost that's in your report has on the side of this form, there's kind of this skyline, and then the plan includes a lighting element that would be a LED light just kind of underneath the lip of this. That is just another feature that would kind of give you a signal that this is a corridor as you go down, down the street, Burlington Street. So between the barrier, the trees, this lighted element, would al1 define this corridor and at the one end, at this end. This doesn't help you by pointing at the screen, does it? It's al1 right. It's getting late. This right here is an opportunity to have a public art element, and that would be something separate from this whole contract, but it would be some sort of vertical element there that could identify the entry into Iowa City as you come over the bridge. Anyway, we don't need anything from you tonight, we just wanted to bring you up to date as to where we were with this. The next time this would come up would be during our discussion of capital projects, and the next step would be to do constructions plans in anticipation of construction in fiscal year '09. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Champion: Franklin: Champion: Franklin: Champion: Franklin: Champion: Franklin: Champion: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Champion: Franklin: O'Donnell: Franklin: O'Donnell: City Council Work Session Page 37 Karin, I just have one question. Is that barricade in the middle, that, whatever you want to call it. That swoopy thing? Yeah, that swoopy thing. I, is there enough room for people to, I could see that somebody under 40 isn~ going to hesitate to cross that thing if they want to get across the road. Maybe I would even do it, and I There is about a foot of room. Ok, so that, they'd be safe. Right there, where they could stand if they wished to. Now, in most places, I mean, this is where the channelization of pedestrian comes. Yeah, they wouldn't be stuck there such that they would be standing out in the Street. in the travel lane. But the barrier is there to act as a deterrent, to give you a visual cue that you're supposed to be down thisaway. Right. The block where we have the most problem with that, of course, is that one, where we don't have room to put in the planting and the bigger impediment. They still would be able to stand. They would be able to stand, yeah. And I think as we all looked at this and struggled with it in terms of you know, not having something there that was barbed wire and a chain link fence, that there's a certain bounds you try to reach, and you understand that you're not going to prevent it all, but you may hit, oh, optimistically, 96.5 of the people. You are optimisitc. I am. But you could, Karin, come out to the center and walk down that thing, couldn't you? It's a foot wide, so you could be walking down the center of Burlington. You could. And I have one more comment on, you know, this has not been a good year for me for trees. I'm still quite fond of them, but I don't know that I really would have an over-story tree over an extremely busy traveled street. You know, they drop leaves, and at certain times of the year ifit gets wet, that's just like driving on ice and sliding. I just don't think it's wise to drop leaves onto the center of Burlington Street. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Franklin: Wilburn: Correia: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: O'Donnell: Champion: Correia: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Correia: Fosse: Correia: Fosse: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 38 Well, Locusts, right? Honey locusts. Yeah, honey locusts were the tree that was suggested, and the skyline honey locust at that. I hear you, and if They don't drop leaves? Little tiny leaves. I guess you know if that were the prevailing opinion, that that was a major element that we talked about as a group to kind of define the corridor, and so we would need to talk about that, but yeah, we can. I think a major (can't hear) is safety, though, and anybody who's ever driven on wet leaves knows that they are slick. If you stop on them it's hard to take off, and you can slide when you try and stop. But I don't know, that's just my opinion. Build a tent over the streets. One of the issues in the report had to do with the sanitary sewer underneath - one of them needed to be replaced? Oh, as an opportunity, if we were going to do this, yeah. But that's not related to, that's not built into the cost? No. So that would have to be, would that be built into the cost? And it's not built into the cost of the CIP? I don't think it's in the current CIP - is it, Rick? No, no. And I mean, that's a project that may need to be done regardless of whether we do this or not. This project does not require the sanitary sewer project. Right, but I thought the report said it's presumed it's in need, presumed to be in need of rehab. Because of its age. Right. What we're doing this summer now that the students are gone is we're televising it, we've put in flow monitors so we can get a handle on how much additional flow line Tower Place has added to it, and by the end of the summer that issue will be in better focus than it is now. I have two questions. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. -- _.__._.,--~-_._--_.~-_._,-,"----_._--_.-._-_.~---'_._.--_._._--~--_._-----,~---_..._--_.__._-_..._--- June 26, 2006 Franklin: Correia: Champion: Correia: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Bailey: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: O'Donnell: Wilburn: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 39 We just wouldn't want to do this project and then rip it up again and have to do the sewer. Well, right, that's what I mean, so we would to make sure that's all happening at the same time, and then have the budgetary plan. But the sewer would be paid for with sewer money. Sure. What's PCC, first question? Portland Concrete Cement, cement concrete, I don't know. Ok, good. And where is this 3 million dollar fence that's going to be relocated? That's the Gibson That's the Gibson fence. 3 million!? Is that? 3 thousand, I thought the other. That's one heck of a fence. Yeah, I thought the other, ok, that's one heck of a fence. Ok. That would all be University costs. Million, thousand. It's the University. Ok. Good. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. FEMA DENIAL OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE Wilburn: Atkins: FEMA denial of public assistance - Steve. Ok. Connie, can I ask you to pass these out please? In the packet I prepared a memorandum advising you about the denial of our public assistance and the fact that we would be appealing that public assistance denial. Since that time, and that's been processed, since that time, on Friday, the Small Business Administration has released through a press release information declaring our area a disaster area. Now, I haven't quite figured out why SBA, a federal agency, thinks it is and why FEMA thinks it isn't, so I will defer all questions to, but I met with the SBA folks this afternoon, and want to kind of give you a quick This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Elliott: Atkins: Elliott: Atkins: Elliott: Atkins: Elliott: Atkins: Elliott: Atkins: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 40 update on that while we're appealing the public assistance portion, they're proceeding with the individual assistance. Again, SBA, they reminded me and, I should say, they informed me about 80% of their loans are for homeowners. I did not know that. I thought it was overwhelmingly, strictly businesses. SBA? SBA. Oooh, that's interesting. If you look at the handout that I gave you, the important thing here is that one we were declared, as well as the surrounding counties, our eligibility. Two, they open shop tomorrow at the County Administration Building, and will be here through Saturday, July 15th. This information is intended for you all to just get a feel for what kind of programs they have. If you go to pages 3 and 4 of the handout, it points out some of the things that are available through the SBA: home disaster loans, and I would note, one of the difficulties for example, the University was experiencing with some of the student renters, cars got crunched and apparently SBA will consider loan programs for replacement. At the bottom, where it says no credit available elsewhere to give you some idea of the interest rates, it's from 2.8 to 4%, so they're good interest rates. They also will help finance the business physical disaster loans, that is, if your business was physically damaged. And they also have for small businesses, if you have a cash flow problem, to get back up and running. Again, looks like a good program. We will be supportive ofthese folks and there was some media coverage. I didn't see extensive media coverage in response to this press release, but I felt if! get you a copy of this and we'll make it available, I'm sure I'll get calls in the office about this. The bottom line, we're pursuing the public assistance as an appeal, I wouldn't hold much hope out for that, but at least the SBA has stepped up and will also be helping out. Steve? Yes? Did the public assistance, did that apply to mean government-owned structures, or did that mean publlic/private facilities? Public properties, public damage, debris cleanup: that's what I mean by public assistance. Meaning what the City had to do. The City, the City and other government agencies had to expend, right. So, my question - did the amount of funds that we have in reserve enter into that decision of theirs, which means we were, if that's the case, we were punished for being very judicious with our budget. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 41 Atkins: I think you can make that assumption, that one, we did have, our reserve position was healthy and that we did spend from the reserves to finance our cleanup. We were, we have a good insurance program, we have large deductibles, but we are well-insured and we're still in the process of figuring out exactly how we'll stand with that. I think. Elliott: Excuse me, but it just bugs me a little that we have been very concerned, . financially and fiscally conservative, we have done a really good job under some trying circumstances, we're being punished for it, and the other, other cities may be rewarded for not being as good. Atkins: Well, if you read the denial, it said that it was not beyond our ability of the State and local governments to respond. In that case, they're correct - it was not beyond our ability. But those are permanent expenditures. They went to payroll, contract cleanup work, so once the money is spent, it's not coming back. Elliott: I've said my piece. It just bugs me. Champion: The whole thing might have boiled down to the fact that it's a Democratic County. Bailey: That's what I thought. Too blue. Atkins: Well, one of the things that they have, and I'll give you the short version of this, is that, and don't hold me to these numbers, they take the population of the County and they take it times $1.19, and they create a number, and then they take the population of the city that was effected and they do that population times $2.50. You add them all up and that's our threshold. So if your damage and expense for cleanup does not exceed that number, then you're automatically denied. Elliott: Wow. Atkins: . Now, our estimates, we feel pretty good about it, particularly because we have contracts for debris cleanup, we've already paid overtime for our employees that were involved. We're still working on some of the other projects, how much of our insurance settlement's going to be for the Rec Center roof, the window replacement, and those things. But it is, it is unfortunate, it was not beyond our ability, and if you were to ask me, I would have to say you are correct, it was not beyond our ability to respond. If it does, once again, once you've bumed up the reserve, you have to work to bring it back up. Correia: How much did we spend of our reserve? Atkins: We don't know exactly. I can tell you that we probably spent a million dollars, and that's just a rough estimate, because we haven't settled some of these. There are certain insurance claims pending where we paid for the work and will be seeking reimbursement from our insurance company, so those numbers will change. I'm going to probably wait 2 weeks to 30 days to see how the appeal goes. Then we'll present a plan to you on how we're going to cover all those This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Wilburn: Champion: Correia: Atkins: Wilburn: Atkins: SILO Update Wilburn: Al!enda Items Wilburn: ITEM 7. City Council Work Session Page 42 expenses, the effects on reserves, things such as that. But the SBA thing is out there ready to go. Do we have a database or list of homeowners, addresses where there's damage? No, we do not. No. There's no way to mail out this? Oh, this? We'll find a way to get the word out on this. I haven't figured that out. We just got this this afternoon, because we do want to make sure particularly those, like the Iowa Avenue folks, we have not figured that out, but we'll do our best to get this out. Ok. We do have a public relations group in town and he was part of the group that I spoke with and they're on top of it. I was impressed that they're pretty well organized. Particularly when this thing opens up - I'm assuming we'll get some press coverage tomorrow. Folks go down and actually see that they're there. The Crisis Center case advocates have been working with several of the folks, and so I'll make sure they get that out and they're also on a committee with the United Way, which the University has several folks on the list, and so they'll work to get that out to folks that have been getting assistance. The insurance people should know about this. They're dealing with these people all the time. That's a good idea. We'll do our best to get the word out. Ok. That's it for the FEMA thing. Unless you have any more questions on it. SILO update. In the packet is the letter that I sent to the School Board and I've heard no formal communication back. The School Board is going to be discussing this tomorrow at their meeting. The County has also sent a letter to the School Board basically similar to the letter that I had sent. Otherwise, unless anyone has any update, that's all I've got. Agenda items. AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF 426 BAYARD STREET TO FRANTZ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Correia; Atkins: Correia: Boothroy: Correia; Correia: Correia: Dilkes: Boothroy: Elliott: Champion; Elliott: Boothroy: Elliott: Boothroy: Elliott: Boothroy: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 43 Why don't we talk about Bayard Street? Bayard Street? I think Doug is, yep, here he is. One question I had was there seems to be the desire to keep that second lot from being developed. I know there's options of having it come in or whatever with some of the potential homeowners or planned owners or whatever. If the City and the neighborhood doesn't want that land ever to be developed, can the City just keep that? No. Why is that? Because, E]eanor can correct me but, under the statute that we used to condemn the property we're obligated to dispose of it. We didn't condemn it for public purposes, we condemned it to eliminate the nuisance property, which was the house that was dilapidated, still is. And it's my understanding from talking with Mitch about it, we can not keep any of that property. But it could be, could the, that piece of property be separated from the house and be conveyed to a non-profit, Parks, you know? It has to be conveyed for rehabilitation or demolition for housing. Right. It has to be for a development, not for a park. It can not be used that way. Well, the person who seems to have, it seems to me, it'll depend on what other people think, but at least the proposal that I would support plans not to develop that parcel of land. Right. So how does that fit when you say it was condemned for the purposes of development or demolition, if we're not going to develop it? Well, he's using it as all one lot, and so it's part of the house that he's rehabbing and so the tract ofland, the two lots. That's a lot, so no problem then. Right. That's correct, and he's willing to restrict through a covenant that it won't be ever developed I think that's asking a lot of the property owner, but if they want it, that's fine. He volunteered that for, he said perpetuity. Say again? How long does the covenant last? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Champion: Boothroy: Correia: Champion: Boothroy: Dilkes: Boothroy: Dilkes: Champion: Boothroy: Dilkes: Correia: Champion: Boothroy: Bailey: Champion: Boothroy: Bailey: Dilkes: City Council Work Session Page 44 How can that be? I don't know. He said as long as he could. I don't know how long that can be, but as long as he can possibly covenant he would. How long It will take it to the next owner. No I think it goes No, no, non. You can restrict up to 20 years and then it can be renewed. So a long time. A long time. 20 years isn't a long time. But it can be renewed. We didn't, we didn't seek proposals that wouldn't, we sought any kind of proposal and these are the ones you got. We didn't seek ones that wouldn't develop that lot. But I mean, there were some communication from neighbors that they don't want that lot to be developed. Of course not. Absolutely. Those trees are incredible. Did you see them? I know, but The City Forester, I had the City Forester go out and take a look at it because there was some, one of the proposals had suggested building two houses, and the trees might not be in the best of condition, and Terry said that the trees can survive for a long time, and it would obviously be a crime to cut the largest one which could be damaged by a second house. According to Bill Frantz, I think he said it was over 30 feet in diameter, which would make it a very old tree. Much older than many of us. I have a question about the contract. I guess this was the contract, and we read a lot of contracts. So if the sale is subject to the conditions of the proposal, where do we indicate that in the contract? How does that work? The resolution that you have allows an amendment to the contract to take care of that, and we allow Steve to make that amendment. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Bailey: Dilkes: Bailey: Correia: Bailey: Correia: Dilkes: Correia: Dilkes: Boothroy: Dilkes: Correia: Boothroy: Elliott: Boothroy: ODonnell: City Council Work Session Page 45 Ok. And then, clause II, is there any significance that the buyers have not examined the abstract to the title of the property and the abstract is not accepted? Is there any significance to not examining the abstract? No, it will be examined prior to closing, it just, it's just an indication that they're not accepting title at the time they signed the purchase agreement. Got it. Thank you. I liked the proposal from McDonough's structures. I liked that it was somebody, I mean, I understand that one thing that is not, that we don't like, or like as much, is that he didn't indicate he wanted to hold that second lot. He's not planning to develop it at this time, but what I like about it is he has experience in historic structures, plans to live in the house with his family, I don't know. I looked at that too, and then I went out and looked at the property, and I didn't really see how you could, if there's no covenant not developing the second lot, I would be uncomfortable with that, because. Can we sell it with the covenant not to develop it? Why can't it come from our sale? Sorry, I missed the question. Can the City sell that with the covenant not to develop the second lot? That's what we were talking No, she's asking could we have put the covenant on at the time we offered it for sale, as opposed to having it come from the applicant. We have some concern about doing that. It was, because of the way the statute reads, so it was our preference to not limit it at the time of the solicitation of offers. Ok. So. And I did discuss that with Brad, and he was not willing to limit the future development potential of that lot. I really like the fact that the covenant was the idea of the developer. Or the purchaser, I would say. Bill has not only proposed that, but he was very active in meeting with all of the neighbors, more so than any of the other applicants, and I give him a lot of credit for that. And I have received 2 emails and 3 phone calls supporting his proposal, so, he has some broad support in the neighborhood for it. I've had 3 phone calls. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Elliott: Boothroy: O'Donnell: Bailey: O'Donnell: Boothroy: Bailey: O'Donnell: Wilburn: Boothroy: Wilburn: ITEM 21. Champion: Atkins: Champion: Atkins: Correia: Elliott: Atkins: Champion: City Council Work Session Page 46 I had an initial phone call very early on from a very close neighbor who recommended another buyer, one of the four, and that person contacted me later and said "we've met with Frantz, and we now prefer that" so whatever that means. I had the same experience. I also had that call. Those lot sizes aren't uncommon up there. There's many big lots. Well, once you put a garage in there too. Yeah, and he's going to restore the garage, not tear it down, so that makes a big difference. What's uncommon is the oaks. Yeah. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Other agenda items? CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND HOWARD R. GREEN COMPANY TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE MCCOLLISTER BOULEVARD IOWA RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT. Well, I just have one, and I'm not saying we should do it, but I hope when we do the bridge project, that we will consider making it bat friendly, if it's possible. It may not even work in this climate. Making it what again? Bat friendly. Oh, bats, as in critters. Bats. Connie, you give me the willies. Haven't we done that before? I mentioned it. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Atkins: Champion: Atkins: O'Donnel1: Bailey: O'Donnel1: Champion: Bailey: Champion: Elliott: Bailey: Atkins: Correia: El1iott: Correia: Bailey: Correia: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 47 No, I think we actual1y did something once. I don't think so. It was just this bridge. You don't think so? I wouldn't have forgotten bat friendly. Bat friendly, the bats live under there. Item 21. Isn't the Park Road Bridge bat friendly? No, that's pigeon friendly. It's pigeon friendly. Oh. Bats, pigeons. (can't hear) and I think it would be, it could become a tourist attraction, and not only that, they eat thousands and thousands and thousands of mosquitoes every night. Oh yes. I think we should look into it. Ok. I'll send al1 the ones by my house every night. Do you have a fixation on Bruce Wayoe or something? I have a question on that item, but it's not exactly on that item. It's not 21 or it is 21. It is 21, but it's not what we're fighting about. It's not about bats. Consent Calendar CorresDondence 3e(13) - Laura Stern: Thatcher Mobile Home Park Correia: Dilkes: Atkins: There's correspondence in the packet from a resident of the mobile home park there, so are those documents, requesting documents? Yeah, Public Works and my office are working together to pul1 those together. We've been responding to them I think routinely as they, as they come in, and you'l1 see copies of that. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Correia: Atkins: Correia: Dilkes: Atkins: Correia: Dilkes: Champin: Bailey: Champion: Item 21. Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: Champion: City Council Work Session Page 48 Ok. So are there plans as this project progresses to meet with residents ongoing, just? You know, we're certainly welcome to meet with them any time they want. I know we've had some conversations with those folks and how much formal we can get I just mean in terms of like, I think when 1 " Avenue was going through there were regular meetings with neighborhood folks and the City just updating on the process. They've already had how things are going. Yeah, I think we've had those, but there's no reason why we can't have more. And we have not settled on the exact aligrunent of the road yet. Right. Right. It's too bad that road probably will come pretty close, and then they're going to have the hog thing on the other side of them. Well, then, that road is going through Sand Hill Estates, so it's not like it's a, we're not talking about an interstate. No. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND HOWARD R. GREEN COMPANY TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE MCCOLLISTER BOULEVARD IOWA RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT. Item 21, continuing, not a bad item. What's the item again? The same number. In the concept, I mean, we've talked about having inclusion of bike and pedestrian access, and shouldn't that be, where is that noted in here? The conceptual bridge design is not noted, so I just wondered, I just want to make sure that's always out front. I will check on that. Because that's going to be also a really important part of the tour, the bats and the bikes And the trail goes through it. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. ,,---"-~-'-'---------' June 26, 2006 Bailey: Elliott: Champion: Elliott: Bailey: Elliott: Champion: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: Elliott: Wilburn: Atkins: Elliott: Wilburn: (laughter) Elliott: ODonnell: Elliott: Correia: Elliott: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 49 The trail, trailhead is mentioned, but I think that's important to keep in front of us. It's time for me to ask, since this is an extension of Mormon Trek, does anyone else agree with me that it should be named Mormon Trek and not a different name? It's got to be a different name on the other side of the road, right? No, it's the same street. When it turns directions it changes, right? Just like, it seems odd to me, you're driving down Kirkwood, and Kirkwood makes a turn and all of a sudden you're on a different street. We have many streets. You get lost. It makes no sense. We'll take you out on a tour so you don't get lost on McCollister. It's an extension of Mormon Trek. Nobody agrees. I think the point is well taken that at what point do you stop in helping with deliveries and people understanding what part of Mormon Trek. I think that's a salient point. It's like Iowa Avenue and Newton. Yeah. If every highway in this country changed names every time it made a corner, where would we be? It's not a highway, though. Apparently you folks agree - it's just nonsensical. Bob, I still like Captain Irish Parkway. Oh, I did too. Steve. I still have, I'm still on 21. Ok. Was this, was this consulting project bid out? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Dilkes: Correia: Dilkes: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Elliott: Bailey: ITEM 17. Elliott: Atkins: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 50 No we put it up for proposal and then we interview, interview folks. Rick's department does that. So was there, do we do We do an RFP, right? Yes. We do a Request for Proposals, an RFP, which, you do those on projects where money really, it's one of the factors but not all of the factors. Oh. You can't really competitively bid a service contract. Did we have a sense it would cost this much? We're quite comfortable with this number. It's already budgeted. Project is about 5 million dollars, and this represents about 8%, so that's about right. This is the one we had the federal earmark for, so we're anxious to move this along. So these are federal funds, that what you are saying? Yes. Great. Two years, no, it's probably about a year ago that we received a federal earmark, which is a nice word for pork. Yeah. Yeah. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED POSITIONS IN THE TRANSIT DIVISION OF THE PARKING AND TRANSIT DEPARTMENT BY ADDING ONE FULL.TIME AND FOUR PART-TIME (.75) MASS TRANSIT OPERATOR POSITIONS. Ah, 17 Steve. $132,400.00 - is that salary and, is that total compensation? That's the package, right. How many people is that? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Atkins: Elliott: O'Donnell: Elliott: Champion: ITEM 19. Correia: Champion: Bailey: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 51 One full-time, four part-time - .75, yeah. It's whatever's necessary to run the new routes. Oh, I see. Amy just pointed out - it's stated right there. I wasn't going to say that. Oh, that's nice of you. I, is everybody else done? CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CHAPTER 28E AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA AND THE CITY OF CORALVILLE, IOWA FOR THE PROVISION OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. I had other things. I had a question on item 19, the Coralville. Oh, that's exactly what I was going to bring up. Oh good. That was my next one. So, I'm not quite clear. Weare, our current animal shelter Let me explain it to you as it was explained to me. The Animal Control Advisory Board has not functioned very well. Bad on attendance, and when we were negotiating with Coralville for the purposes of animal care services, that was one of the issues. Our representatives did not show up on a regular basis, so the proposal was to try the task force idea. The Coralville residents didn't show up, or all of the residents? Coralville, not the residents, their appointees. appointees, yeah. But the other ones. Yeah, and it was a means by which to kind of rejuvenate this group offolks, get some new faces, and that's why we're cooking up the task force. So we're disbanding the old one and creating a new one with a different name with the same function? Yeah. Functions will be a little more different. And we're giving Coralville $54,000.00? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Bailey: Dilkes: Atkins: Elliott: Correia: Bailey: Atkins: Elliott Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 52 Yeah, I have a question about that. Yes, that's by contract, yeah, we have to reimburse them. For what? For what? I knew you'd ask me that. We have to remit $54,000.00. That was the $54,000.00 Plus 13, we're paying 13. I asked Sue about that. It's a buyout provision of under the previous contract, because they had made contributions to the facility as it was envisioned as a joint facility, so it's a buyout, the cost of their contribution minus depreciation, etc. I think accounting came up with. It sounds all right. And now it's. Conditional occupancy Now it's just our facility? Yes. And they are like per diem. And we, they, we provide services to them by contract. With our policies. With our policies, yes. So we'll no longer say Iowa City/Coralville It doesn't say that now, think it says Animal Care and Adoption Center. Actually, it's the Iowa City/Coralville Adoption Center. No, there has been letterhead to that effect, and we will have to change that, because it's wholly ours now. And how much did we get from the old 28 East, since I'm new, what was the amount we got every year from Coralville? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Atkins: Champion: Atkins: Champion: Correia: Elliott: Champion: Bailey: Atkins: Elliott: Atkins: O'Donnell: Elliott: O'Donnell: Atkins: Wilburn: O'Donnell: Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 53 I don't know. So now we're going to be paid per dog or per cat or alligator. They bring the animals. They're subject to our policies. One of their concerns was that they wanted to cap the number of days that we would keep an animal from Coralville, and we objected. We said if you're going to bring animals to the shelter, we're in the animal care and adoption business and if the animal has to stay 20 days, it stays 20 days. But if the animal remains adoptable, then you will have to pay, and they ultimately agreed to that. That's our policy. Because we have animals we've kept a long time and adopted much later on. The cat I adopted had been there for 10 months. He's wonderful. What did you say? We keep them for that long? Yeah, my cat had been there for 10 months. We're an adoption center. That's unusual, Bob. Oh, I would say. We do, we will keep, if we believe an animal is adoptable. But Misha is really good with the cats there. Oh, yeah, very much so. I mean they have kind of a free run, there's cats on the counter when you walk in, really kind of a neat thing. They're shelter cats, there are shelter cats, as in cats are just part of the shelter. They've been formally institutionalized. Other agenda items? No. Ijust have, this task force, I'm sorry. This is an I'm sorry - I told Misha she didn't have to stay tonight, because I didn't think there would be any questions. It's about animals. Are you kidding? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Champion: Atkins: Elliott: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Elliott: Correia: Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Elliott: Atkins: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 54 Oh, I understand. So this is a new attempt to make this task force more active. Yes it is. Particularly within, I would assume that it would be in our best interest to do the education programs. Right. This is such a high profile public service. Some sort of an advisory body, task force of citizens makes a lot of sense. And it also helps reinforce the overall concept that we're in animal care and adoption, we're not a dog pound. That's right. And what would happen if we didn't want to take Coralville's dogs? I'm not saying we shouldn't, but what would? Oh, we will take them as long as they pay. Their concern was when we drop an animal off after 10 days, we don't want to pay anymore. And our point was, no, if the animal, I mean, if the animal is sick or something we'll put it down. What do they do with, say they pick up a cocker spaniel and we have kept it for a month and they say we ain't paying anymore? They will pay. They have to, they have a contract. They have to pay, they have a contract. You mean, they have to pay forever, until the dog dies? Or is adopted. Our objective is to The animals are, Bob, the animals are moved out. They're not, other than the shelter cats, who hang around for a long, long time, the animals are moved through rather quickly. That would be why the task force should get on this education component of educating about animal over-population. I think you've just been told. We don't have enough for public safety but we have enough for dogs. Well, if the animal and it's owner is found, they pay. Oh, hey. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Atkins: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: Champion: Bailey: (laughter) Wilburn: Elliott: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 55 Oh yeah. To get it back you have to pay. Oh, yeah. Pay for the microchipping too. Right. And spayed, and what do you call it. Well, they don't do that twice. Any other agenda items? Ross, when did you lose control? I have a couple of things related to correspondence. Is that under agenda items? Consent Calendar CorresDondence 3e(3) - Bob Hoff: Skateboard additions Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Bailey: Correia: Atkins: Correia: There is correspondence about the skate park? Yeah. Is that something, I hadn't thought of in this letter about events, sporting events. Is that something that, you know, thinking about the Sports Authority and the CVB and potential. The skate park was built for the intent of being recreational, and that was, I don't think there was ever any doubt that was what we were trying to do. As far as the Sports Authority, the folks from the CVB and their intent, could skate boarding be some sort of, yeah, whether our facility could satisfy that? Well no, that's what they're saying, that is what they're asking for, this person. There's a couple issues pending that will have an effect on the skate park. The University, which we expect to come back before long with the boathouse, we indicated to them that one of the things that we'd like to see is that they'd have public restrooms. Whether we want to expand this thing or not, there's some engineering issues. The ground's pretty soggy and there's a nurnber of things we'd have to look at. If you want us to do some estimating for you, we can do that. Yeah, was there a plan? I thought the public restrooms in there. The public restrooms was the biggest, lately was the biggest deal. I thought we put those in? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Champion: O'Donnell: Atkins: Correia: Atkins: Bailey: Champion: Bailey: Atkins: Correia: Wilburn: City Council Work Session Page 56 Beg your pardon? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you? I thought we put in restrooms in the CIP. You did put those in the CIP, yeah, we just haven't gotten around to building it yet. But then with the boathouse thing I don't think we want to duplicate them, but we'll know about that before too long. When you built the skate park was there a plan to continue to do improvements or changes? I don't recollect that. I think we decided that, it was pretty pricey at the time and I think we said $300 plus thousand dollars is about where we want to go and we ended it right there. We just meant it to be recreational. And it was an experiment. We didn't know if it was going to be accepted. I mean Oh yeah, it was intended to be It has been and that's why I was wondering ifthere was a market for expansion of that. If we expanded it so it had a competitive appeal and it was rented out for these events, then that would be. Then we'd have parking all over Terrillmill Park and everybody's yell at you about that. Always the optimist. But you know what, if we wanted the people, I don't think we'd put the location, it would be better to have another one in another location. Yeab, and there are some younger kids who want, I don't know what it would be, younger. Scaled down version of it. We want a bigger version and a smaller version. Perhaps this is something we could continue at CIP budget talks. Consent Calendar CorresDondence 3e(10) -Naftaly Stramer:Parking at the Art & Jazz Festivals Correia: Bailey: Ok. I also, there was correspondence from, I'm not going to get her name right, from Oasis Falafel. And my, I think it would be worth talking about free parking during festivals at some time, but my issue with this correspondence is how she didn't receive a response back. It's a he. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. -----------~.__._"'-"'---_._._"-"'-------_._-"~ ._,-_...--_......__._~,-----------_..~._-~.._--"- June 26, 2006 Correia: Atkins: Karr: Correia: Karr: Correia: Karr: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Bailey: Helling: Correia: Helling: Correia: Helling: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 57 He, sorry. He didn't receive a response back. I had questions about that and I just wonder about the process ofletting people know as soon as they send something in like an automatic response what the process will be so they're not waiting. Well, first of all in making the assumption that they're correct, because we're really quite good about getting folks a response. I mean, normally, I can't tell you. Are you talking about item #10 on the Consent Calendar? Correspondence. I believe that the person did receive the standard response that it was going to Council, but there was no direction from Council to do anything more than that. Right. And so I think that might have been the breakdown. Is that what you were wondering about? Kind of. And I would agree with you Amy that folks who write we sort of make it a rule that they will get a written response either by email or by letter. Right. So unless we direct that you respond to these people, they only get the standard response, correct? Typically if someone (can't hear) you'll get correspondence from people, volumes of people on issues just stating an opinion. Right, yeah. So typically when someone just writes in and states an opinion, we11 just wait until you get it and see if you have any interest or whatever rather than respond to every single person, because we do get a lot of emails. Yeah. But what we do typically do, if anybody is either looking to dialogue with you or get some response from Council members, then we respond and tell them that you do not get your emails directly, that it is forwarded to you as part of your consent agenda as official correspondence, and then we suggest they go to the website and get your phone numbers and contact individuals in that way. So, then, is there anyone interested in talking about free parking during festivals at any time (can't hear) This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Champion: Elliott: Atkins: Champion: O'Donnell: Correia: Atkins: City Council Work Session Page 58 No. I'd be interested in knowing what the cost to the City would be. There's no free parking. It would be a lot. I think the purpose of that is just to get some more people down there. Oh, I understand, so can somebody, Dale, can you respond to this gentleman and there doesn't seem to be? Ok. We'll take care of it. Consent Calendar CorresDondence 4e(2) -Jay & Michelle Geisen: House at 17 S Governor St Correia: Bailey: Correia: Atkins: Correia: Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: Elliott: Correia: Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Franklin: Atkins: Thank you. And then I had one other thing from the correspondence. Someone, I think it was maybe the house at 14 S. Governor was wondering about 17 S. Governor. I had a question about that. And I drove by there and I didn't realize that was 17 S. Governor and I have gone by there a lot and I have wondered about that. Behind the sorority house. Yes. So, what's the deal with that? Well, I thought Historic Preservation talked about that as well, that particular property. They could have, I know that. Oh. Here's the woman that knows. Which, that is the ACO house? Behind it. Right behind it. The house behind it. It's been racked, twisted. Well, we don't know if it's been racked or not. That's what I This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Bailey: Dilkes: Bailey: Dilkes: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 59 That's the assertion. The property owner has submitted a demolition request for a demolition permit. This is in a historic district and so he was told he needs to go to Historic Preservation, was given the documents that he needed to fill out for that. We have not heard from him. The Preservation Commission was concerned about the building, because the longer you leave it unsecured with all the rain, then it sort of becomes demolition by default. The avenue that is available in the code is that the Historic Preservation Commission can ask the Building Department to pursue remedies with the property owner to get a building secured. The Building Department has done that, has sent the notices to Mr. Rittgers (Reis), I believe is the owner, and there has been no response. So, it's been a series of non-responsive incidences with the particular owner. You know, it's kind of difficult to say what happens next. (can't hear) Pardon me? Does the owner live in Iowa City? I don't know. The name sounds familiar, but I don't know that he lives here. I think he's just been a property owner for years and years and years. When the Building Department, according to the code, the Building Department could go further with this in terms of issuing a citation which then would go to court. I'm not sure of what we get out of all that. But in the meantime we don't, we can't secure it by ourselves? No. Well, in the meantime it is demolition by neglect. Well, I mean, there is a dangerous building code, If it becomes dangerous, yeah. with those kinds of things it becomes dangerous, if it's unsecured for too long, sometimes that Can contribute to One of the things that the Commission was concerned about and we have been cognizant of is treating everybody fairly. And the sorority right next store obviously is in the same condition. However, we've had communication with Alpha Chi Omega representatives with an architect that's working on the building to let them know what's necessary and work with them on their decision making, which they're still waiting on insurance from, and so (cut off- end of tape) Elliott: The house we're talking about now, we could be dealing with that similarly with the one we just talked about that was condemned and resold. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Bailey: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Dilkes: Bailey: Dilkes: Wilburn: Elliott: Bailey: Council Time Wilburn: Elliott: ODonnell: Bailey: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 60 It's possible. Because all we can require is that they seal it up. Well, it has to be a nuisance. Yeah. But I mean, we can't require that he spend $200,000.00 to put it back in shape. No. Yeah, so, it appears. I guess if he chooses to do nothing with it and to just let it deteriorate, then it gets to the dangerous building situation and we step in. But then, there's a motivation to demolish it, which is exactly what he wanted in the first place. Correct. But it's in a historic district. That will restrict what can be built there. Yes. It would be reviewed. And it would restrict what we could do with the house after we condemned it. Similar to the one at Washington. Right. Similar to the one. Other agenda items? Bob? Nope. I've done complaining tonight. Oh, thank goodness. Council time. Oh. Want to hold that? Oh, you can complain. I'll wait. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006. June 26, 2006 Wilburn: Bailey: Correia: Bailey: Correia: O'Donnell: Bailey: Wilburn: City Council Work Session Page 61 Ok. I'll just encourage Council and Bob to read the Corridor Business Journal. There's an article by Kevin Munson, from Munson Architects about design elements. Oh yeah, I did read that. That was nice. Can I just, so quickly, about Council Time, I just want to just do a brief update about the Advisory Commission. They're working on, they're wanting to have some identity in the community, working on t-shirts and name tags and identifYing different activities in the community they want to go out and be involved and be recognized as the Youth Advisory Commission, branding. Katie Roche is going to come to our next meeting, see if there's any way they can volunteer and help with the remainder of the Summer of the Arts, and then talk about future collaborations with the Summer of the Arts and encouraging youth volunteer service in the community and more visibility next year with that. They also want to talk about some policy issues. The first one would be the late night bus issue, that was one member brought up, and then I'm wondering the sense of you all having them tackle the apartment recycling issue. There's a couple of members that are really into environmental and recycling, so that's one area that's come up, and I thought we could take a stab at that. And do they talk a little bit, I always had a vision that we would expand the downtown recycling, that there would be a recycling container next to every trash can or something similar. Did they, I mean, that, if they're interested in recycling, I'd love to hear what their thoughts are. Yes, very interested. Why not? If environmentalism and recycling is their thing, let's get some energy behind that. And doing that at festivals too, because I know we do it at festivals. All right. See you tomorrow night. Toodles. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of June 26, 2006.