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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-17 Transcription July 17, 2006 July 1 7, 2006 Council: Staff: City Council Work Session Page 1 City Council Work Session 6:30 PM Bailey, Champion, Correia, Elliott, O'Donnell, Wilburn, Vanderhoef Atkins, Davidson, Dilkes, Fosse, Franklin, Helling, Karr, Knocke, Panos TAPES: 06-56 Sides land 2; 06-57 Side 2 Wilburn: Ok. Let's go ahead Karin. Al!enda Addition Karr: Wilburn: Karr: Wilburn: Mr. Mayor, before, if! could just announce the addition of one agenda item to tomorrow night's agenda, it's a resolution setting a public hearing to consider a proposal for a fourth amendment to the purchase agreement between the city of Iowa City and Wal-Mart Real Estate. It would be added as Item 9b tomorrow night. 9b as in 9b as in boy for the end of the agenda. Ok. Thank you. Plannin!! & Zonin!! Wilburn: Franklin: Correia: Now begin. a) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 1, 2006 ON AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING 2.83 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4435/4455 MELROSE AVENUE FROM NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC (P-1) ZONE TO NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC 1 LOW DENSITY MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (P-1/RM-12) ZONE. (REZ06-00001) b) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 1, 2006 ON AN ORDINANCE REZONING 2.32-ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 2401 SCOTT BOULEVARD FROM GENERAL INDUSTRIAL (1-1) TO NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLlCIINTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (P-1/CI1 (REZ06-0016). Ok. The Planning and Zoning Items. A is to consider a motion to set a public hearing for August 1" on the rezoning of2.83 acres of property from P-l to P- 1/RM-l2 on Melrose Avenue next to Chatham Oaks. This is for the Melrose Ridge project that's being done by the Johnson County Permanent Supportive Housing Limited Partnership. Item b. I have a question. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Correia: Franklin: Franklin: Champion: Correia: O'Donnell: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 2 Yes? There was issues of, I was reading in the minutes about that project, with the turn lane? Right. How was that resolved? Ah, they have combined their driveway with that of Chatham Oaks. Ok. Even though that's not what they wanted? Correct. Item b is to set a public hearing for August 1" on an ordinance rezoning 2.32 acres ofland at 2401 Scott Boulevard from I-I to PIl/CIl.That's the public and intensive commercial zones and this is for the East Side Recycling Center to enable the location of Habitat Restore at that site. c) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 1, 2006 ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14, ZONING CODE, SUBSECTION 4E-8C, NONCONFORMING SIGNS, TO AllOW FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF A NONCONFORMING SIGN BY SPECIAL EXCEPTION. Item c is setting a public hearing for August 1 ,t on an ordinance amending the zoning code relative to nonconforming signs to allow for the reconstruction of a nonconforming sign which is deemed to be a community landmark. Good. Good job. Thank you. d) CONDITIONAllY REZONING 1.39-ACRES ACRE PROPERTY lOCATED AT 1820 BOYRUM STREET FROM INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI-1) TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC-2) (REZ06-000014) Item d is a public hearing and first consideration on the rezoning of 1.39 acres from CI-l to CC-2. This is for property along Boyrum Street along 1820 Boyrum which is Best Ten Rentals. The reason for this request is to enable them to have a restaurant in this building. As you can see from the overhead that CC-2 zoning abuts this property to the west and to the north and almost to the east, too. It's CC-2 to the east of that I-I. So, there's rationale in rezoning this to this retail category. It is supported by the staff and by the Planning and Zoning Commission by a vote of 4 to O. There is a condition on the zoning which relates to the use of outdoor storage on the existing site for the existing use such that it will conform with the CC-2 requirements. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 3 Bailey: And we have a TIF agreement with this? Franklin: We do. Bailey: For, but the TIF hasn't certified? What was (can't hear) Franklin: It's not been certified, the owner of the property has not acted on this TIF yet. We have a number of things that we have to go through with them. They need to demonstrate that the assessed value has increased by 15%, have approval ofthe site plan which meets some design requirements of the TIF, and also, there would be an occupancy requirement come November. We had a letter out to the owner of the property in March of2005 after the TIF was adopted to deal with some of the site issues and have had no response, so I don't know whether he's going to act on that TIF or not. Bailey: And so how would this, would this rezoning have any effect on that agreement? Franklin: No it would not. It would not. Vanderhoef: Ok. Is this the old Goodwill building? Bailey: Across the street. Franklin: No, it's across the street. Vanderhoef: Ok. Franklin: And, the way that this TIF is working, it's a tax rebate, not to exceed $42,000.00, and so, if the property owner does not act to initiate the TIF rebate, it will not happen. Bailey: And then, regarding the sidewalks? Franklin: Yes, that was another condition. Bailey: So there's sidewalks to the north and south? The sidewalks will be connecting up to current sidewalks? Franklin: Yes. That's my understanding, that they will be. Bailey: I couldn't remember. Franklin: Yeah. I'm trying to remember just north of there, because there's a frontage road. Bailey: There's a little strip mall sort of a thing there. Franklin: Yes. Bailey: But I can't remember ifthere's a This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. _~._,_._.____.._.___.___"________.,..,__.._,_____"_.___~.___,_.._~~.~__.._~..__...._._____*._.___._.__'_ .,_...._.'______ _....._.__._._.._._ _ ____ _,...,~.'___M".....__...._~~___'___'__'''''_____'__'____,___,___,_,~,'..'__'_'",_ "_,_,"_'" July 17,2006 Champion; Franklin; Bailey: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Bailey; Franklin; Bailey: Franklin; Bailey: Franklin: Champion; Franklin: Champion: Franklin: Bailey: Correia: Franklin; City Council Work Session Page 4 (can't hear) Yeah. Because I would hate to have sidewalks that really don't connect to anything. Well, at some point then we would need to make them connect, because it's really important in a commercial, or retail and commercial area and especially one like this one, to have a sidewalk system. So, if there aren't sidewalks on the other properties we would proceed with? We have a couple of options then: we can proceed with a sidewalk project that's an assessment; you can do a sidewalk project that is a public project; or, if redevelopment of the property is anticipated, you can wait for that redevelopment to occur and then require it of the redevelopment. Can we find out if there are sidewalks north and south? Sure. Thanks. I just can't remember, Regenia. Well, I can't either, and I'm out there, that area. Ok. Anything else on that one? Oh. Here we have an overhead. We have sidewalks to the south but not to the north. Can you point it out to me? I can't see. Sure. Ok. There's a sidewalk there, but we don't have one here. So, it would continue this one up such that we would have some continuity, but then at some point we need to do something about the one here which, it would be appropriate to continue it up and have it connect to the sidewalk and you would Yeah. Yeah. Well, one of the things that we're looking at in our capital projects meetings now is all of these sidewalk gaps that we have all over town and trying to come up with some policy for how we address those. And, I mean, that's something that the Council This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 5 Elliott: Good. Bailey: That's a great idea. Franklin: will need to talk about too, as to whether you want to do assessments or you want to take them on as public projects or how you want to address that, but we'll bring that to you with capital projects. e) VACATING A PORTION OF RUPPERT ROAD WITHIN AVIATION COMMERCE PARK NORTH (VAC06-00004) f) 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. (SUB05- 00021) (DEFERRED FROM 6/27) Franklin: Ok. The next item, e and f go together, because this is the Aviation Commerce Park North final plat and with it the vacation of Ruppert Road for the reconfiguration. This is the existing plat, as you can see, with Ruppert Road running through the whole project. That's the road that's in there right now. With the reconfiguration of this for Aviation Commerce Park North, Ruppert Road here would be vacated. This road would be called Westport Drive, and this piece would stay for the time being until we are certain how that easterly property would develop. It is possible that someone would be interested in buying that entire piece, at which time then this cul-de-sac, which we call Smith's Court, would be eliminated. So. Vanderhoef: Is lot two the water retention for this project? (can't hear) Franklin: This is a gas station here. The water retention is down here in the outlots. This is where the gas pumps are. This is the site for the Super Wal-Mart, the property line is running along here, and so it's this entire piece with an easement to use the outlots for storm water detention and access. They've got some drives that come around the back here - I don't think I have the site plan on here, because it's premature to look at the site plan. Vanderhoef: I just didn't remember what the number 2 was. Franklin: Ok. Elliott: Karin, my understanding is we are to act on this with a strange decision by the Board of Adjustment. Apparently it does not impact this, or we should act as if it does not impact this? Franklin: Yes. Let me quickly run through this whole process so you understand the chain of events and the normal development, which, this is close to normal. We have This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 6 first a subdivision, which is a preliminary plat. That's when you take a piece of blank ground, and on it you show lot lines on the streets and water lines and the storm water management and the infrastructure and all of that. You have seen that and you have approved that. Stage that we're at now is the final plat, and the final plat is what establishes the legal lots. The final plat, as you see here, has far less detail than a preliminary. What it is showing is all ofthe lot lines, the right- of-way lines, any easements that are there and easements to be vacated. And the plat is what creates the lot, which then, after the lot is purchased, that is the time in which we do site plan review and approval, when it's reviewed for compliance with zoning, all the site plan requirements, set backs, screenings, sensitive areas - that's when you'd have to have, the purchaser of the lot would acquire the fill permit, would acquire the building permit, and would go forward from there. So, it's premature to get into the site plan before you have your final plat. So what we're dealing with is the final plat at this time. And we have a development agreement with Wal-Mart. This is a little unusual in terms of this being a city subdivision. Usually we have a subdivider's agreement and that subdivider's agreement lays out the obligations of the developer for putting in public improvements. With this particular subdivision, because we are the developers, we have a development agreement with Wal-Mart as the potential purchaser of this large lot I. And that agreement obligates them to certain public improvements, part of which are in the subdivision, such as the relocation of Ruppert Road to this Westport Drive. That would all be constructed, this new intersection here, at Wal_Mart's cost. Additionally, the acquisition of any construction easements, temporary or permanent easements, are at Wal-Mart's obligation. So they have been negotiating with all the property owners on the north side here. This also requires, because of the amount of traffic that will be generated by a Super Wal-Mart, improvements to the intersection of Highway I and Ruppert Road. And our development agreement also includes an obligation on Wal-Mart's part to reconstruct the Highway I/Ruppert Road intersection such that there's a left turn lane on Highway I going south. There is also a requirement for a sidewalk on the east side of Ruppert that would come up and connect with the sidewalk to the north on Hawk Ridge Road. The cost of these improvements as well as the acquisition of any easements, again, on any right of way that is necessary to enable that to happen, is at the, is Wal-Mart's obligation to do that, and that's what this development agreement is about. The final plat resolution will, your approval of it would be approving this final plat subject to that development agreement being signed by Wal-Mart, the plat will not be anything until that happens. And that all has to happen before the conveyance, which is to occur by July 31 ". Bailey: But going back to the vacation of the Ruppert Road. Franklin: Yeah. Bailey: Which is in support of this final plat but. if, for example, since we now have some new developments on this, if for example that this is not our, this doesn't end up selling to this particular buyer, my question is, would we still want to configure this land that's been rezoned in this way and vacate that road? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Dilkes: City Council Work Session Page 7 Not necessarily. What we would do at that point is we would not record that final plat. Ok. So legally what would be recorded at the County Recorder's Office is what you see here in the shaded area, the plat that is already in place. And not until we record this, this new final plat, which would supercede the one that is there now, would you have this new configuration and then all these obligations which go with it. So on the 31 ", assuming that that's the date that we're using, the chain of events would be that the, the conveyance, the closing would happen, the plat would be recorded, and then the deed would be recorded, in that order. Got it. Thank you. g) AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF 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, h) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE VACATING A PORTION OF THE OLD WEST BENTON STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY LOCATED NORTH OF THE CURRENT WEST BENTON STREET AND EAST OF SOUTH RIVERSIDE DRIVE. (VAC06-00003) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Moving on. This is, well first you have, you have g and h again, which, these two are connected. This is the request of Professional Muffler, Noah Kemp, to vacate a portion of Benton Street and then to acquire that portion that is vacated as well as property to the south of it. The red indicates the vacated portion of the old West Benton Street, existing West Benton Street being to the south here as opposed to being across the bridge, and then this yellow portion that's shown on the screen is City-owned property, which, the proposal is to vacate that, or to dispose of that as well as the vacated right of way to Mr. Kemp. It would retain an alleyway as well as parking for access to the Ned Ashton Park, which is a trailhead. I guess at this point it may be appropriate to talk about the conveyance conditions, because there is a disparity between what the staff would recommend and what Mr. Kemp wants, and if there's any questions about that I would direct those to Eleanor. I think as Mitch's memo said it appears to me that the primary area of dispute is the charge for vacation and conveyance of right of way, the red strip up there. As you can see from Mitch's memo. staff has met and discussed this issue, have made several concessions, but just did not feel from our standpoint that we could make that concession on the cost for the vacated right of way for a couple of reasons. Number 1, we don't see the distinction that is being made about the consent road and Number 2, there needs to be some public purpose to dispose of right of way, that's something other than fair market value. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 8 Vanderhoef: Personally, I've looked at this and discovered even that many people in the community don't even realize that we have the Ned Ashton Park down by the River, and those two or three parking places that are down there, and it's hidden. And since we don't have an entry and will never have an entry from the Benton Street side, that to close down the area to the north of this and convey that to accommodate an even larger building there will continue to hide it even more. So I would rather, if we are vacating alley area there, I would much rather have that conveyed and then put into the park land so that we get some more land that is up above, where people see it more readily as they cross the Benton Street Bridge and understand that there is a park in that area. I also think that without having the sewer upgrades in that area established, it appeared in the memo that we got 3 or 4 weeks ago that the alignment of that sewer that presently is under the comer of the old building is probably the preferred alignment by Public Works and to force right angle turns of a major sewer line as it's ready to cross the river may not be in the best interest of the City, so I would rather not sell any of this land until a future date when we can look at what is necessary for upgrades on Highway 6 and what might transpire as there are upgrades done on Benton Street to the west, which might influence what's happening in that intersection of Benton Street and Highway 6. Correia: Do you have plans for that intersection? Franklin: No, I can't Elliott: That on the River side? Franklin: Yes. Correia: Yes. Vanderhoef: That comes when we start doing the Benton Street work, which has been delayed about seven years now, and we thought we would be talking about it again with this next budget cycle because the infrastructure as we understood it, was very antiquated and sitting underneath that street. The street's been overlaid multiple times, to the point that we really don't have anything in the way of a curb lift to control our storm water coming down the hill, so it's a big project that's looming sometime in the near future. Bailey: What about widening the Riverside of? Vanderhoef: The Riverside I Bailey: To have, I mean, is that in the? Vanderhoef: The fifth lane is I think something that we should be talking to the DOT about in that stretch between Benton Street and Iowa Avenue, or at least to the end ofthe businesses that sit along the River, because we've got conflicting traffic going. Bailey: And there is a turn lane at this intersection right now. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 9 Wilburn: Yeah. Vanderhoef: At the intersection, but not further down. Bailey: But that would effect this business? Vanderhoef: Potentially. Franklin: You now have, you have two northbound lanes on Riverside. Bailey: Right. Vanderhoef: Mmm hmm. Franklin: You have a dedicated left turn lane and you have two southbound lanes. On Benton Street you've got a dedicated right turn lane, two throughs, a left turn lane, and one, two eastbound lanes. And so right now you have - one, two, three, four, five, six lanes on this leg. Wilburn: At the intersection. Bailey: Ok. Franklin: You have five on this leg, five on this leg, because we have a left turn leg there. Vanderhoef: No, you've got an extra, well we've got a full fifth lane is what we've got all the way down. Franklin: Yes. Vanderhoef: So there are pullouts so that when you enter traffic you can pull into the center lane Franklin: Right, right. Vanderhoef: And then merge. It's what we don't have between Benton and Iowa A venue and if we look at all of the improvements that the DOT has done on Highway 6 all the way through Coralville where there are businesses on both sides, there are, there's always the fifth lane in there and this is the one. Franklin: The constraints appear to be the Bridge. This stopped here because of Hartwig's, this lane, the extra lane that was added the last time the DOT worked on this. Hartwig's is relocating their building after it was damaged by the tornado, so that will be out of the way there ifthere is a desire to widen this at this point. Correia: Relocating to a different location, or relocating on their lot? Franklin: Relocating on their lot. Correia: Oh, ok. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 10 Franklin: Just moving it back. Correia: Just back. Champion: Because it's right on the sidewalk, practically. Correia: No, right, yeah. Bailey: Ok, so that went into effect, because this intersection is, we have the number of lanes that we're going to have. Fosse: Can Ijust stop and point out that the sanitary sewer issue will remain whether we convey property or not, because the previous building sat over the sewer, and if he needs to reconstruct over it, that then creates new problems for us, because that's such an old sewer and delicate, so the conveyance creates an opportunity to deal with that issue at the same time. Correia: So the new building is not going to be over that? Fosse: It will be. Vanderhoef: Yeah. That's, that's what I am not real comfortable with. Franklin: If I can point this out to you, in terms of size of the building, this hatch mark here is the definition of the old building. The new building is here, this kind of square thing. Let's see - I guess it goes up to here. Vanderhoef: Yeah. Franklin: So it is somewhat bigger. If this is not vacated, there will be a IO-foot setback requirement here, which is one of the reasons that we got into this with Noah. That there will be a lO-foot setback requirement here, here and here. He has gotten a special exception to vary the setback at this point to bring it closer to the Benton Street right of way, because there is quite a distance here between the property line and any of the lanes. But what it would mean is that he would have to have a smaller building here. If you did not convey this property either, he has no opportunity for any parking. His building was built on his lot totally. He didn't own anything around it on which the parking has been for years, so that is kind of what we're dealing with. Bailey: And so the sewer issue, lining the sewer will reduce the City's risk ofliability in this regard, reduce? Fosse: Right. If we line the sewer we've got a good near-term fix there, and part of this conveyance is retaining a sanitary sewer easement to dog-leg around the building at a later date. The reason we're not doing that now is because of a lack of slope, and to create that slope we need to make some downstream improvements that will hinge on the redevelopment of that Mumm's property down there, so we're just a bit out of sequence here. And we can maintain the easements to maintain This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. --~"~--_.~--,,---"--,"._._-----~-_.._-~_."_.--_._---,.----,---_.~---_._----"-- - --"-. July 17, 2006 O'Donnell: Wilburn: Bailey: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Wilburn: Elliott: Wilburn: Elliott: Champion: Bailey: Franklin: Champion: Franklin: Champion: Elliott: Bailey: (laughter) City Council Work Session Page II that safety valve for us in the future. The lining protects our interests in the meantime. Ok. Any questions? There's no agreement on compensation. He wants it free and we want him to pay. Ok. And the public hearing will be tomorrow? Is that correct? That's correct. You've got a public hearing and a resolution. Now, you don't have to act on the resolution tomorrow if you have other questions that you need to have resolved. It seems to me there are multiple concerns. We'll, we'll certainly rely on our Attorney's Office to determine ownership and that sort of thing, but I think we have to be considerate of the sewer situation, all that, but also consider that this is a business and someone's livelihood that we're talking about. I think the big thing though is that he can, he can, he's asking for us to relinquish at no compensation for that, that extra space. Right. And so my concern was reflected in the memo. We have no, future Council's have no basis for whether you solve public land or give it away, there's no Oh yeah, that's what I'm saying, our Attorney's office will take care of that. There was money available from different groups, though. I don't understand why he didn't apply for some of it. They had very few applicants for Oh, those business There's still money available. Yeah, there's still money available. From the Chamber and from United Way. I can't tell you exactly how much. There is money available. But, you know, I would like to give him this land but I can't as a City Council person give City land to anybody. Nope. You could buy it and give it to him. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Champion: Bailey: O'Donnell: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 12 I've got a wedding and a granddaughter coming up. I can help you out there. I feel the same way. I just absolutely don't have any trouble with this conveyance. We've got a sanitary sewer easement and we've addressed problems with any widening of the highway if that happens, if and when it happens, so I don't have any trouble with this. Ok. Let's move on, you can decide tomorrow night. The next item. Disregard what you see on the screen at the moment. It's interesting. i) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE 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) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Yeah. The next item is the second consideration on the rezoning from CI-l to CC-2 for the property that's on Waterfront Drive/Southgate Avenue in that area on South Gilbert in which there was a request from property owners to rezone this to CC-2. j) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE 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) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Itemj is the rezoning from ID-RS to RS-5 for Stone Bridge Estates, and that's what this, that's on the screen, relates to. Dee, you asked to get a sense of how the street connections were going to be in this area, and what this shows is the whole area, which includes, it includes the new Stone Bridge, which is this dotted area here, the existing Stone Bridge - I forget what these are called. This is Lindeman subdivision here. Hummingbird Lane over here, which was in the County that we took in when all of this came in. Scott, Lower West Branch Road, which Dave is going to talk about a little bit later, Taft Avenue and Court Street. And then these are the streets that will connect north to south in these neighborhoods. And the idea here is that you have connections that are made, such as this one right here, but there's a break, such that to continue on you have to make a turn, and what it does is it just slows people down as they go through a neighborhood if they have to make a turn. Likewise there's breaks in Lindeman subdivision, some more radical breaks here. So, that's a concept behind the street plans as these have been going through the process of your review and approval. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 13 Correia: How many new residents is that? Vanderhoef: Can we have a copy of that? Franklin: Could you have a copy of it? Vanderhoef: Mmm hmm. Franklin: Sure. Well, I don't know exactly, but right in here is 132. Correia: Ok. Wilburn: Wow. Franklin: Yeah. Bailey: Our infrastructure needs Champion: Annex that land? Wasn't there a square thing, we did annex the? Franklin: Yeah. This part, this dark red line is the corporate limits, so this house, this house Champion: Ok, ok. Franklin: Yeah, are not. Do you all want a copy of the street map? O'Donnell: No. Champion: No. Franklin: Ok. Bailey: Is it going to be available online? Karr: If enough of you want it, we'll archive it online, yeah. Bailey: Yes. I want a copy. Then I can go look at it online. Karr: Ok. k) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14, ZONING CODE, TO CLARIFY CERTAIN SPECIFIC PROVISIONS WITHIN ARTICLE 2B, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONES, ARTICLE 2C, COMMERCIAL ZONES, ARTICLE 2D, INDUSTRIAL AND RESEARCH ZONES, ARTICLE 48, MINOR MODIFICATIONS, VARIANCES, SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, AND PROVISIONAL USES, ARTICLE SA, OFF STREET PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS, AND ARTICLE SA, GENERAL DEFINITIONS. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: Bailey: Franklin: City Council Work Session Page 14 I) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE VACATING A PORTION OF DANE ROAD SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 1. (VAC06-00002) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) m) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF PARROTT ESTATES ADDITION, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB06-00001) Item k is second consideration on the zoning ordinance amendments that we've gone over before. Item I is second consideration on the vacation of Dane, a portion of Dane Road, it's an airport project. Item m is final plat for the Parrott States addition, which went through Planning and Zoning in February. It's just a been a question of construction plans and legal papers from their folks, so it is now ready to go. It's a fairly simple 3-lot, well, 4-lot subdivision with 2 out-lots. There will be one additional house as a consequence of this on lot 2, and then before out-lot A develops, it will require further subdivision. Again, to locate this for you, this is what butts up to Hickory Hill park, and it's quite rough on the east end of it. And this will be on septic until there's additional development on lot? Yes. On out-lot A, the big one. A. So why are we holding off on sewers, I guess? Won't there be It's partly, it's partly a choice of the people who own the property. There's a house on septic here, there's a house on septic here. What this is all about is a family situation in which they're creating another lot for another son who is going to have a house here. At such time, as anybody develops in the future off of Conklin Lane, this area would be developed presumably for something which you would review. And we would get sewer at that time. There's also issues with the construction of Conklin Lane that will have to occur before any further development takes here. So that won't occur until further development happens. Ok. n) CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR S & G MATERIALS TO CONDUCT SAND-MINING OPERATIONS IN A 17-ACRE AREA LOCATED GENERALLY WEST OF THE IOWA RIVER AND EAST OF OAK CREST HILL ROAD (CU06-00001). The last item then is a recommendation to the Johnson County Board of Adjustments, and this is for a conditional use permit, and this is just the way that the County code is written, that when there's a conditional use permit that's within the extraterritorial area ofthe municipality, the municipality is asked to comment. What you see on this display is showing you the area of the expanded permit versus what is already covered by the existing permit. It's a fairly small area of 17 acres, I think. The recommendation is that this be approved with This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. -----_.-,-,---,,-.-~._----~--,-~----_."---_._'----_.._.-.- .-.....-........---.-----------..--- July 17, 2006 Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Elliott: Bailey: Franklin: Elliott: Franklin: Franklin: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 15 conditions that improvements be made to Isaac Walton League Road between the railroad tracks and Oak Crest Hill Road, because that has been problematic for the existing quarry. And then the implementation of the Wetlands Mitigation Plan. These are all supported by the County staff, and I don't believe that there's any objections from the applicant. Karin, what is going to be in that area that will then be surrounded on three sides? Anything at all? That little sliver there? Yeah. In other words, the expanded area permit leaves you a block right there. Right here? Is that? Anything there? Mmm. I just thought, it looks odd, and it looks as if it's left there for a purpose, and I wondered what? Well, it's just somebody's else's ground. It's somebody else's property. Ok. But I don't think there's a house there, as I recall. It's just open ground. Okey doke. The deer. It's where the deer and the antelope play. Yes. Ok. I'm done. Wow. Wow. Council Appointments Wilburn: Ok. Council Appointment. We have one applicant for the Telecommunications Commission, Nicholas Parker. Champion: He's ok. Vanderhoef: Anyone visit with him? I'm sorry, I didn't get around to making a call today. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 16 Bailey: He didn't call me. Elliott: I've not heard from anyone. Champion: Well, he's a proper engineer. Bailey: Yeah, I think he, his application indicated that he Champion: Yeah, the application is well done. Wilburn: Yeah, he articulated what he was looking to do. O'Donnell: I'm ok with it. Bailey: Fine. Vanderhoef: Fine. Wilburn: Ok. So we'll make that appointment tomorrow. Lower West Branch Road Knocke: Champion: (laughter) Knocke: Panos: We're here tonight to give you a status and overview of the Lower West Branch Road reconstruction project, but I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to Dave Panos. He's one of our new senior engineers and he's the project manager for the project, so. Out of high school, yet? Yes, he is, and I'll let him take it over. All right. Thank you very much. Ok. Like Ron said we're here to talk about Lower West Branch Road a little bit. Just to generally give you a project overview of where we're at right now and were we're going from here. Let's see here. Project overview, generally the project consists of reconstruction of Lower West Branch Road from Scott Boulevard to Taft Avenue and also reconstruction of Hummingbird Lane from the existing concrete edge to Lower West Branch Road. Also included with this design, with this project, will be design of the City Square project. However, at this time, we're going to design the City Square, however only reconstruct the south part of that City Square project. The reconstruction includes removal and replacement of existing pavements and also utility improvements, which will include storm sewer, which will include long? sewer runs, box culverts. We will also be doing some sanitary sewer work, water mane and water mane installation along the project. The project then will consist of installation of a new pavement and sidewalk along the project corridor. And we, the design consultant for the project is Engineering Alliance, they'll be doing the design work for the project. What I've shown here is a couple cross-sections This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. ----~------_._--,-_.__.__..._--_._._---_.."- ------...---------.-.-------....-..-...------------ .__._--"---~--,.- July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 17 that we'll be doing for our design. The upper portion is Lower West Branch Road. You can see it's a 3 I-foot back to back roadway section with, concrete section with concrete curb and gutter. We will have an 8-foot sidewalk on the south side of the road, and you can see on the north side of the road we're showing a future 4-foot sidewalk. So, for the project we'll be grading the sidewalk out, grading the area for the sidewalk. However, the sidewalk won't be installed until development occurs on the north side of the road. The south portion of the slide here shows the Hummingbird Lane cross-section. What we have with Hummingbird Lane was intent for design was a 28-foot back to back roadway section and which will include concrete curb and gutters. And also with Hummingbird Lane we're planning to insta1l4-foot sidewalks on either side, you can see here, on either side of the roadway. This is a general overview of the project, kind of an aerial view of the corridor. As you can see, the yellow areas are the areas of reconstruction and widening of the concrete or the pavement, for the project itself. Starting here on Scott Boulevard, this portion on the west end of the project we'll be starting some reconstruction near Bickford and continuing to the east, as we get to Hummingbird Lane, we'll be reconstructing Hummingbird Lane, and of course, that's a 28-foot wide section, we'll be extending that from the existing edge and joining with the proposed area, Lower West Branch Road, and continuing further to the east we will of course be making any driveway tie-ins that will be necessary. From this point, move down to the south, or to the lower portion of this view here. You can see the City Square design. As I said earlier we'll be designing the City Square project and you can see there's actually some existing pavement up here right now that we'll be tying into and constructing to this portion for this project. However, to the north side you can see it's kind of a dashed area. We will actually be designing the City Square, however implementing these improvements at the time that that develops to the north of the road, so at this time we won't be including that with the design or with the construction. So continuing, commencing further to the east, we will tie into Taft Avenue. Then you can see kind ofa shaded blue area there, those are temporary asphalt areas that we'll be tying into existing roadways to make those connections correctly. Also on this plan we have shown some magenta or purple areas, somewhat on the plan that you can see, those areas are sidewalk that we'll be installing with the project. To the west here, starting on the west, from the existing Scott Boulevard sidewalk we'll be extending to the north to the intersection - I believe that will be a 5, or 4-foot sidewalk from the intersection then, along the south side of Lower West Branch Road we'll be installing an 8-foot sidewalk along the expanse ofthe project. Within the interior portion of the City Square we'll also be installing the 8-foot sidewalk, and of course that will continue on to the east as we get to Taft Avenue. This is a sketch of the potential look of the City Square, to give you an idea of what the intention is of the City Square and how this area is going to fit in and develop possibly in the future. This was included in the North District Plan, and just for your reference I thought I'd include that in the presentation. Now, our progress to date, currently we're pretty much complete with topographic survey and utility survey. Topographic survey is generally consisting of surveying existing grounds and utility survey is of course finding out the existing utilities in the areas and using those to develop a base map for design. We're generally 90, we're generally 100% complete with that; however, you usually anticipate during the design process you may have to go out and do some more surveys. So generally we're This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. .._~---~--~.-_.__.._-----------~-------- ....----.------ July 17, 2006 Elliott: Panos: Elliott: Panos: Elliott: Panos: Elliott: Panos: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 18 pretty much complete with the topographic survey. Right of way surveys and easement plat preparations generally 70%; geotechnical and wetlands exploration, consisting mainly of geotechnical considerations usually site exploring, subsurface explorations that we do to determine pavement thicknesses and some of the issues with pavement design, specifically and cuts and fills that we may have to do. Wetlands exploration, we, we're, the report has been completed as far as what is required for the delineation of the wetlands. We're generally at 85% with that, with that area. Preliminary roadway geometries, we're generally at 80%. Geometries, considering where we are now with preliminary design, really what I'm talking about the geometries is horizontal and vertical alignments and the roadway cross-sections that we'll be using for our design. Project schedule, July 31 ",2006, the consultant is complete, the preliminary plans and draft the easement plats for the project. August I" is, Council meeting for August 1 ". Considering that this is an agricultural, we're dealing with agricultural land here, we have a special consideration we need to make and then so we must submit a resolution to send notification to property owners and set a hearing date to authorize negotiations for property acquisitions. September 5th, I'd like to set a schedule, public meeting to authorize negotiations for the property acquisition. November I 'I, consultant is complete, the final plans, and December 12'h to January 17th, we are scheduling the public meeting to approve the plans and specifications and authorize a public, project lighting, sorry. That concludes my presentation. If anyone has any questions Yeah, I've got a question on Sure. construction process. Are you going to do this one side at a time, or are you going to have significant detours? How do you handle traffic during construction? Yeah, that's been a concern with the property owners out there, to maintain access to the properties, and of course, we want to make sure that we provide access And through traffic, too. And through traffic, well, we generally want to, the concern that we have is maintaining emergency access, for emergency vehicles to the property. So, we are in the preliminary stage of determining what we need to do to provide access to the property owners. So you're probably going to have a significant detour, with emergency access to property owners. It's possible. We could have some kind of a detour. But at this point we, those are issues that we are working out. Ok. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Panos: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 19 In general we, like I said, we're trying to, as much as we can, to work with property owners to determine what we need to provide for emergency access, mainly, and from there we're developing project plans. Cause there are people, quite a few people, who use that road to get from here to beyond. Mid-American Franchise Presentation Wilburn: Ok. Thank you. Next up is Mid-America Franchise presentation. I had asked for, Mid-America had asked for an opportunity to make a presentation to the Council. I had asked specifically if they could include the benefits to Mid-America and what their speculation on any benefits for the City for a mutual agreement. Today in storms like this we always think back and koow the good work that you all did and all the crews that you called upon, the resources you do, and again, we appreciate that, kudos to you. This is about a somewhat different matter. (cut off - end of tape) Elliott: Smith: Bailey: Wilburn: Smith: I want to koow how Terry is going to ad lib if the electricity goes off. I've been wondering that same thing, Bob. Flashlight? And just to set the, this is an opportunity for Mid-America to make a presentation. We'll take a couple of minutes - it's up to Terry whether or not he wants to take questions during, for clarification or things like that, but it's, my intention, beyond this presentation, if there are Council members who are, if there is a majority that are interested in further pursuing this information and perhaps entering a franchise agreement, that our next work session we would ask City staff to provide some information and perhaps follow up their interpretation of what's presented tonight. With that said, take it away. Thank you, Ross. Well, I think most of you probably koow me. My name is Terry Smith. I'm here tonight, previously as your Planning and Zoning representative, at this point now though, as representative for Mid-American Energy here in Iowa City. We appreciate the opportunity to talk about this topic. It's obviously been out there for some time, years, in fact, I think, if we look back at the timeline on these issues. It's all revolving around what I would consider really a philosophical debate. I don't think the question or the topic has really changed much. I would characterize it as "Why should the city of Iowa City renew a franchise agreement with Mid-American Energy?" I think that's the question before Council. And the answer to that, in my mind at least, is very simple, and that is to demonstrate a commitment to a long term, mutually beneficial relationship between our organizations. Together Mid-American Energy and the city ofIowa City have had a long-standing, mutually beneficial relationship, and we want to continue that. Our employees have demonstrated their commitroent to the community many a times, continue to do so every day. The voters have demonstrated their satisfaction with Mid-American Energy in This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 20 the recent election and, I want to be clear, I guess, about a couple of different points. Number one, absent a franchise agreement, Mid-American Energy will continue to be the energy provider, both electric and natural gas facilities, here in the community for Iowa City and Mid-American Energy will continue to invest and make the changes in our systems that we need to make in order to provide reliable service to our customers, so those issues really aren't for debate here in this process, to be honest. But with a franchise agreement there are added benefits, there are added value, to the City, to the customers of our community or to the residents, as well as to Mid-American Energy, and those are the things we want to talk about. Tonight I've heard from you as to what are they, so I hope to answer those questions. I've got about 9 slides here it will take 10 or 15 minutes to go through, and then we'll have opportunity for questions and we have some folks here that if! can't answer then hopefully they can. With that we'll start with Jake, the basics of what is the value ofa franchise agreement. This is what I would refer to as the boilerplate level. There are some things that are common across all agreements, regardless of the community in which we serve, and I'll start with the items on the right hand side, which is those things that are of value to Mid-American Energy. The core basic value of the franchise agreement is it provides for the permitted use of the public rights of way for our electric and gas facilities. In addition to that, it also provides the assurances that we need to a long-term relationship in that community to make those fundamental capital investments that we need to make. As we look at facilities in trying to decide whether to maintain them, relocate them or replace them, we're typically looking at a 10 or 15 year life span, that if they don't have that life span remaining in them we'll go ahead and replace them at this point in time. Absent a franchise agreement, that time frame under which we make those types of decisions is subject to change. Finally, the issues of providing the assurances that we need as we make those discretionary, public funding decisions within, internal to our organization. That again, we're a long-term community provider and partner in the general area. Those are the things that are of benefit to Mid-American and provide value to our organization. Conversely, there are items in the boilerplate type language that is of value to the city. The first one we typically identify is inderrmification language. In the event oflegal disputes, somebody damaged or at the negligence of Mid-American, we would inderrmify the City, hold them harmless in that effort. Kind of like an insurance policy, of course - you hope you never need it. In the event you do need it it's too late to get it at that point. Franchise agreement has some legal language to cover those issues. The next two points here with regards to long- term capital project planning and minimized public inconvenience parallels the issue that I talked about on the opposite slide there, about our long-term investment, capital infrastructure. The City is typically taking a long-term view at the improvements it's making in the community, whether that be with water, sewer, streets, paving-type projects, and we want to make sure we're both in sync with those long-term views. If one of us is taking a shorter term view of those facilities, it's likely that we'll be out of sync with our projects and we'll be back there inconveniencing people with projects and other things. So we believe that's some of the value that the franchise agreement does bring to the City. There's also language that covers the no-cost relocation of utilities within public right of This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Couucil Work Session Page 21 way for public improvements. It's spelled out fairly clearly in the franchise agreements, and there's language there for everybody to relate to and base their information on. Finally, binding the successors for Mid-American Energy in the event that there's any transition in the organization, obviously those contractual terms are carried forward to any future organizations. Those are kind of the, some of the core boilerplate items that we would point to as some of the benefits of a franchise agreement. In addition to that of course, across any number of communities you can have a number of other items that are what you call specific negotiable items within the agreement. What are the things specific and unique to Iowa City that Iowa City is after in this process? One of those things that varies through as you go from community to community is the specific term or length of the franchise agreement. Some are IS years in length, some are 20, some are 25. Those items are variable by franchise agreement. Pole attachments is another item that's pretty common in an electric franchise agreement. The previous agreement with the city ofIowa City had language there that enabled the City to attach its fiber optic and other communications facilities to our poles at no cost. At the request of the former mayor we have continued under a gentlemen's agreement, with that business approach and that philosophy during a period while the City and the Council could wade through this issue and make a final determination as to what they wanted to do with contract language. So that's kind of an open business issue that's out there that we'll talk about but is specifically provided for typically in a franchise agreement. Franchise fees is another critical issue that quite frankly there's a lot of confusion surrounding franchise fees, and my next slide will go into this a little bit more. The thing that is important to understand is within a franchise agreement, the things that you are not determining around the franchise fee is you're not determining whether the City actually will charge a set franchise fee or not. You are not determining that. You are also not determining what that rate would be, whether it's a half a percent or 5%. None of those issues are covered within the franchise agreement. What you're, and thirdly, I guess I probably would add, you're not determining what are the costs that that fee would be based on. None of those are included within the language that would be included in the agreement. All that would be included in the franchise agreement is the opportunity for the City to leave that door open for this or any other future Council, to determine whether it wanted to take option on franchise fees any time in the future. Today, without a, absent any franchise agreement, the City does not have that option. Back in 200 I, under the former agreement, the City did not have that option. That language was not provided for in the previous agreement. Mid-American does not support and we don't resist that franchise language. We are neutral on the issue. We view it as a tax, and if the City Council wants to tax its local citizens, we enable them to do that through the mechanisms that are provided. And all the language does that would get included in there is determine whether the Council wants to leave that door open or not at any point in the future. Again, those issues, the details of any fees, would be covered under a separate ordinance, controlled totally by the City, kind of absent Mid-American input in that option, opportunity. Finally are other things that the City may want to include. Many communities are looking to include language around third parties attaching to poles or occupying right of way. We have had discussions with City staff previously and what is it the City wants. Councilor staff probably need to determine what those items are. I know specifically just south of where we are tonight we've talked about a piece of This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. --- --'.---""--- - --"-,,,-,""~,-,-,-~-"---'-'----"'-'-- July 17, 2006 (laughter) Smith: City Council Work Session Page 22 property where Mid-American has ownership. There's been some discussion of a communications center there. Transfer of property is something we would look to taking care of outside of a franchise agreement. We wouldn't include the transfer of property necessarily within the agreement. However, ifthere's a timeline or the desire or need for Mid-American to vacate that property in a time frame and convert its facilities, that's something that we'd be willing to talk about and determine what is appropriate to include within the agreement. So there are some things that may be specific to the community based on projects or other activities you may have that could be negotiated as long as both sides agreed to that final language. Now, I talked about the franchise fees and I've got an example here up on the board now that identifies what a customer's bill looks like in the city of Des Moines. And what I'm not nervous, really. You've got my back, right, Brian? For the city of Des Moines, as many of you know, the city of Des Moines assesses a franchise fee through its utilities bill. It is specified as a line item on the bill to those customers within that community. It's an add-on to their current charges and it's set within our systems as a tax, by community, based on what that city council assesses. So the residents within the city of Iowa City are not paying for the franchise fees being assessed by the Des Moines City Council. Likewise, should the city of Iowa City choose to assess franchise fees, it would only apply to the citizens within Iowa City served by Mid-American Energy. It wouldn't apply to residents of Coralville or Johnson County or other communities. The other thing that I would point out on this is the legal requirements of the relationship with another topic of discussion lately, and that is the Local Option Sales Tax or SILO-type tax that we were, there's discussion going on with the schools. In the event the schools impose a SILO tax or Local Option Sales Tax, that would typically apply to the electric and gas facilities as well, or sales, so that would be called out on the local residents bill much in the way that what you see here. There is, there is a law at the state level that says you can not tax the citizens twice. I apologize, I don't know the exact language, but what it says is you can not assess both that Local Option SILO and a franchise fee at the same time on customers. The franchise fee would supercede the Local Option Sales Tax or SILO tax on the utility bill for the gas and electric service requirements. So if you look at where is the community headed, if the SILO or Local Option Sales Tax is assessed and it's applied to the electric and gas service, it would be an add-on to the utility bills of the communities that we serve. That money that we would collect would then be passed on to the agency, schools or state or whomever is assessing those fees. In the event the City would assess a franchise fee, if they are at the same rate, ifthe schools had I % and the City decided to do a I %, then it would replace what is there currently as a SILO tax and would become a franchise fee at whatever rate you would set, and then those funds that we would collect as a franchise fee would be paid of course to the government entity that's assessed those franchise fee rather than the schools or whomever else that may be. So, there's a couple of unique things there that you need to make sure we all understand as we all look at This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 23 franchise fees again. Weare neutral on that issue. We don't support it specifically and we are neutral. The other thing is, I've talked about what things are included within the agreements. I also think it's important to point out those things that are covered by state statute and outside of the realm or scope of what the options are to negotiate within a franchise fee, specifically rates or equalization of rates. I'm pleased to report the Iowa Utilities Board has passed the equalization proposal that Mid-American had submitted, so there are rate changes coming as we look to the future, in a downward direction for our community, which is a good thing. But rates are specifically controlled at the state level and not at the municipal level and not included within the discussions of franchise fee or franchise agreements. Likewise, the service territories that we cover, customer classes, whether it be residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and who falls into what categories, all those things are covered by state statute. Many of you know what the timeline has been. This has been going on for a long time. In 2001 Mid- American Energy and City staff began to, the negotiation process to renew the existing franchise agreements. In November of that year, 2001, the current agreements expired and there was what I would call kind of an on again, off again negotiation process for the next couple of years. I believe it was December of '03 when the City Council officially suspended franchise negotiations subject to a petition for a couple of ballot issues that had been received from a citizen group. And in the next month, January of '04, Council acted to place those items on the November 8th ballot, and I think that created a different form of public debate and really took this issue out of the hands of City Council until the public weighed in on that issue. Obviously the public weighed in on November 8th of last year with a 2: I margin defeating both ballot issues as proposed on that agenda, and the public has been heard and now the issue is of course back in the hands of City Council as to where do you want to go from here, what direction you want to go, and I think that's what initiated the discussions here tonight and we appreciate that opportunity to talk about it some more. Again, a review of what's at risk, what's the problem or downside with the status quo in operating without a franchise agreement? As I talked about previously, we've kind of got a gentlemen's agreement with the City, with the former mayor as to the no-cost pole attachments that the City is involved in. We're looking for direction from Council as to whether you want to move forward with an agreement if not, or not. And if not, that's a business arrangement that we need to talk about in another form of agreement if you will, of the issues associated with it and the costs associated with those attachments. Likewise the day to day business decisions regarding the discretionary contributions that Mid-American makes to the community in support of the community projects, our ongoing commitment to economic development, and the joint Mid-American and City actions: obviously those are somewhat business decisions that we need to make on a day to day basis and we're looking for direction again from the City as to what are your long-term views in our relationships together. As mentioned previously, our construction approach and how we support it, what's the life expectancy that we need out of our facilities, are we looking for a 20 year life expectancy or are we only concerned with something of a shorter duration as we move forward. And finally, outside of the Mid-American realm, I would consider This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. _._--~--~_.",-~..._--"~ --,-_.__.~,-_.+--_.._-'-- ..... -. --,,-------~--~--_.,--_.- - ---..- July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 24 price, service, reliability; economic development is kind of a cornerstone of any prosperous community, whether it's an existing business or a new business looking to come to the community. I think in many cases they're looking at the utility as an item for consideration to them, looking to make sure they know what their costs are going to be, looking to make sure that they know that there is going to be reliability and service levels that they want to expose their business to, and so 1 think there's key factors there at risk absent a franchise agreement as well. The business decisions for Mid-American, we've called it, put a couple of items here that we think we need to make some decisions on at some point during this year. Since 2001 we've voluntarily continued to act as though franchise agreements are in full force and effect, again, for our discretionary spending dollars as well as our pole attachment agreements. We would like to get a view of where the Council is headed on this issue so we can validate those current decisions we've made. And in fairness to the 400 other communities we serve, Mid-American is looking to make sure that we do that appropriately an as we assess the availability of our discretionary dollars for the multiple requests that we get. My final slide is obviously the request that we have. The issue has been discussed for years in the public environment. We expect that public debate to continue. Weare not trying to shut off public debate on this issue at all. What we are asking is that at least 4 of the Council members would be interested to resume negotiations that were halted in 2003 and that we would together, with City staff, develop mutually acceptable draft agreements that could answer the specific questions that you might have as to what is the value to Iowa City of this draft agreement, and then to have staff report back, obviously, to Council, with those draft agreements so that the further discussion and public debate can continue forward. Absent those draft agreements, it's kind of difficult to debate the merits of an issue of something that doesn't exist. So, that is our hope, that is our request of you tonight, and I would be glad to answer any questions you have and I appreciate the opportunity. Champion: Terry, how long would the franchise agreement be for? I mean, you hear from a lot of people, I mean,S years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years. I know it's difficult to make investments in the community without a franchise agreement for a long enough length of time to make it worthwhile. For instance, I wouldn't consider putting money into my business without at least a 10 year lease, so I understand that, but what kind of agreements are out there, and what is the term that is acceptable for making investments in the community? Smith: Sure. Our preference of course would be a 25 year agreement. Champion: Ok, (can't hear) Smith: I'll accept that. We didn't have that before with Iowa City, we had a 15 year agreement with Iowa City before, that's what we'd like to work from. In the negotiations that we had with staff previously it has been a 15 year agreement with an opener - help me out, Dale - at year 7 or year 8, I believe, somewhere in This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. _._._..._..-,~.-~-".._.~..__.'_-_'_---"- --.---..-.--..-..- ._,_.~......_------------'- July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 25 the middle there was an opener opportunity, so there was a compromise opportunity so that we could have something in place because there was opportunity on a shorter term so that if it needed to be re-looked at it could be by either side. Champion: And, oh, I'm sorry, I forgot my next question. I'll think of it, somebody else might have a question. Vanderhoef: The re-opener you're talking about, would that, something that might be of interest to all of us that if at the state level the rules change, then are-opener might be in order sooner rather than later. Iowa Utility Board, you never know what's going to come down from there and/or the State Legislature. Smith: Right. And we've worked with staff in the past I think to put various types of language in there that would protect against, you know, future changes and unknowns, so, we'd be glad to work through those issues, whatever they might be. Vanderhoef: That seems almost like a boilerplate piece to me. Smith: Absolutely. Bailey: I have quite a few questions because as, from your time line, I got on Council and inherited a situation that didn't have anything to do with a franchise agreement. So when you started you indicated that you were going to about some specific benefits to consumers, but I didn't hear those outlined. The individual consumers, what are the benefits of a franchise agreement versus what we see now? Because as customers see now, I'm sure that they're delighted that their lights come on and the lights are still on after the storm, so what are the direct benefits to consumers from a franchise agreement? Smith: As I mentioned, with the business or industrial class customers, some of the benefits might be who their utility provider is going to be over the long-term. From an economic development standpoint, you know, knowing what their rates are. Mid-American has fixed rates through 2010. We have rate equalization, a process that would tend to lower the residential rates and other as we go forward, so that's one area of benefit. Our philanthropic or discretionary spending that we provide to, you know, United Way, the social organizations, the environmental organizations through Trees Please or others. Bailey: And what was that dollar amount in the last year? The community project support in the last, let's say, when did this start, 3 years or so? I mean, what have these been before the franchise, when we didn't have a franchise? What do you anticipate they might be? What are we talking about here? Smith: Well, as I've mentioned we've continued with the status quo environment absent a franchise agreement since 200 I, so those, those investments in the community for its long-term economic viability have stayed about the same throughout time. I do have some information here that I can share with you in various categories as we've broken it down through economic development, property taxes, etc. that This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. --..--- .~-_._.-._--_.~ ._,._--"._-----_.__._-~_._-------'"--- July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 26 we have kind of tried to determine what the value of those are over a period of the term of the agreement. For example, a 15- year franchise agreement, our investment in property taxes alone is 24 million. Bailey: Through the property you own here, right? What do you mean? Smith: Through property taxes that Mid-American pays. Bailey: Ok. In Iowa City. Smith: Development, yes, here in Iowa City. Correia: Those property taxes are paid whether you have a franchise agreement or not. Smith: That is correct. Correia: And would a franchise agreement include, I'm sorry. Bailey: I didn't, I was also curious about the philanthropic investment in the community. I mean you indicated United Way, I know that you supported Summer of the Arts, but what's that been and how would that change if we don't engage in a franchise agreement? Basically you're saying, I think, that to be fair to the other 400 communities with which you have a franchise agreement, that you would probably put those on a higher priority for philanthropic consideration through your foundation, correct? Smith: I think that's accurate, yes. Bailey: Ok. So what are you investing in the community now and what are we potentially looking at and potentially what might go to another community I guess is what I'm asking. Smith: In the category of economic development, we've determined that to be about 1.5 million dollars over the course of the 15 year franchise agreement. Bailey: And economic development is distinct from philanthropic. What does that mean? Smith: I've got a number of categories I've got some numbers here. Let me, let me Vanderhoef: Read them all. Bailey: No, I just don't know what economic development means. I mean, you're investing in ICAD? Smith: Yes. Bailey: Ok. Smith: Annual community, what we call our global days of service, this is where our employees volunteer in an organization and then our investments in dollars This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. ---_.-...~-~_._...~---_._.~------_._---_._...-.__.._..------------..----- -_.~_._-".--------,_.__....,_._--_.~-----_._-----_..._--'-- July 17, 2006 Bailey: Correia: Smith: Correia: Smith: Correia: Smith: Correia: Smith: City Council Work Session Page 27 follow those employees, approximately $650,000.00 over a IS year franchise agreement. Trees Please, many of you know of the investments we've made there over the last few years, we've calculated about $213,000.00, again, over that IS year term. That's probably a conservative number when you at we did $10,0000.00 this year for the storm restoration, we did $20,000.00 for the project up on Dubuque Street as well, this year. We did $20,000.00 last year to the city ofIowa City, so there's $50,0000.00 in a two year period. Energy efficiency programs, the energy efficiency rebates, the programs that we have in our community, are about 18 and a half million dollars. Total value of all those items is about 44.7 million dollars. And again, we can give you copies of this if you want. That would be great. So what about investment in United Way or your, you have a program that helps low income customers that are having trouble paying their energy bills. What would the investment in those types of philanthropic activities be? I don't have those exact numbers with me tonight, Amy. Obviously United Way is a combination of both the company giving as well as the employee giving, and we have not made any decisions at this point as to what changes in our philanthropic giving would be absent a franchise agreement. As I stated before, we've chosen at this point to continue business as usual in the community here knowing that we're trying to move forward through a process and there's time that's going to take place and ultimately will determine whether we're going to move forward or not. So would these types of investments that you just listed, would those be included in a franchise agreement, or you're saying because of a franchise agreement you're saying these things would follow, but it wouldn't be formally established? I would defer to my franchise experts. I don't know that we have any agreements currently that really specify you have to do this, you have to do that. We have looked at maybe providing language that would say we will report to you what we are doing so you're aware of those issues and what we're doing. But if you So this is - I'm sorry. It's really more of an issue that if we know we're a long-term community partner in the community, we want to take on that role as helping invest in the community for its mutual benefit. So these numbers that you just listed are projecting forward, right? You're projecting over a IS-year life ofa franchise agreement, you're projecting forward what the investments would be. That's correct. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Correia: Bailey: Correia: Smith: Correia: Smith: Correia: Smith: Bailey: Smith: City Council Work Session Page 28 Ok. So I guess, I don't know, Regenia, if this was your question, this would be a question I would have: what has been the past, so the past three years, without a franchise agreement? That was my question. But I want to get a sense of is in the gap of a franchise agreement, we were talking about a IS-year franchise agreement, what have you been doing? I mean, what has been the status quo that may improve with the franchise agreement? If, if Well and I'm looking at, I guess I'm wondering about actual numbers to the previous franchise agreement which expired or ended in 2001 or 2003 or whenever 2001. 2001. That was a IS-year agreement? Mmm hmm. So we, you would have access to the data, the numbers of what Mid-American investment was in the community in different categories during that previous 15 years, and you'd be able to provide documentation of what the investment has been during these years with no franchise agreement and then be able to project. Is that? I guess I'm interested in those numbers. Right. Those would be really helpful for me, not so much as a test or a benchmark for a franchise agreement, but you know, any decision that we make we have to explain to the community, and, well, I'm not going to get into that, but Ijust think that would be helpful. Right. And the numbers that I've given you are based on what our prior history of giving has been in those areas as well as trying to project forward. Again, as we look at Trees Please over a 15 year projection, we're projecting $213,000.00. I can tell you in the last two years that was $50,000.00. I think we also talked about earlier this year we gave $25,000.00 to the United Way for storm recovery efforts here in Iowa City. That again was above and beyond what our normal United Way giving was, where we were a pace-setting company last year, so, and significant increases, and one of our employees that led that effort is with us tonight as well. So the organization and the employees have continued to give generously since the franchise has expired, and we've continued to operate status quo but there are, there comes a point where we have to make some business decisions as to where do, how far do we continue that, and absent a franchise agreement, those decisions get tougher, to make those investments in a community where you don't have a long-term agreement versus those communities that you do. As you all can appreciate those discretionary dollars are never enough to satisfy all the needs, so we This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. -'~-----'------'~-'-'------'---'-'---"-"-^-~--'"---'-. __ __.___..._____.~_____.m.__.____'__'___..._..m.'.._.~_.. July 17, 2006 Elliott: Wilburn: Elliott: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: Smith: Bailey: Smith: O'Donnell: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 29 If I heard correctly I heard a question about has there been a difference in the community participation financially, philanthropically, developmentally during the 15 years of the previous franchise and the 5 or 6 years since that time. I believe I heard you say that there has virtually been no difference because you have been operating as if there were a franchise. And I think for those reasons that's why a franchise is needed. Even without considering the philanthropic aspect, I think for a business to make the necessary investments in a community, that it needs, I don't want a utility company operating on a year to year basis. I want one that operates on the basis ofthere's an agreement that covers, whether it's 10 or 15. I can't imagine anything more than 15. I would prefer 10. I just think it's necessary for that kind of agreement for the company to make the necessary investment. If I, if I could interrupt, the intent tonight was to tease out information, not for us to argue one way or another for. I'm not arguing, just stating how I feel. And so I, I'm sorry. Just a question. Oh, ok, go ahead. I just wondered what your current investments are in the community? What's your staffing level here in Iowa City? I know that my bill payments go to Davenport, but what's your staffing level here, and then what other kinds of investments do you currently have in the community? Our current staffing ranges between 70 and 80 employees. We're kind of at a peak right now with summer seasonal interns, students, those kind of things, so generally in the 70 to 80, and your other question was with regards to investment, what other investments do we have here? What else would you group in that sort of investment, business investment in the community. I mean, I count your employees as a large one, but what else? Sure. That constitutes about a 3.3 million dollar annual payroll investment when you look at the employees. We've at least doubled that if not even more for the infrastructure improvements that we make on an annual basis as well for extensions of gas, electric, etc. to service new business, to replace existings. We also have investments in property. We are one of the larger property owners in the community, and the various substation sites, the service building site that we have, we maintain a service building here in the city ofIowa City. I think that, wasn't the purpose of this to determine if there were four of us that wanted to move ahead and discuss franchise? Yes. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Bailey: O'Donnell: Bailey: O'Donnell: Wilburn: O'Donnell: Wilburn: Elliott: Wilburn: Smith: Wilburn: Smith: Wilburn: Smith: City Council Work Session Page 30 But with Terry here, I think it's important for those of us who have never been through this to get these answers so we don't have to bring him back. Well, I think that's true, but all of these are going to be duplicated as we discuss the franchise. How so? When we discuss a franchise, whether it be, I personally support 15 year, I think that's commitment, I think that Mid-American's committed to the community and we should commit to them and the community. I believe they've sent us a very clear message. But I really think I, I think we're to decide if we're to go into negotiations about a franchise agreement. I, before we started, I also stated Mid-American asked for this opportunity to present information. We could ask questions of that information. If there were 4 who wanted to, maybe leaning that way, to begin some type of negotiation, that we would ask of staff to respond to some of this material and then give us an update on some things, for example, we've been waiting for information, legal information, related to Des Moines' case, so I foresaw hearing some information from Steve and from Eleanor at our next work session so we can work methodically through this. I'm not I'm for moving ahead as soon as possible. I, I still have a question, I haven't had a chance to ask, and this is based on the information presented and it is not saying one way or the other or stating my position. In your opening you had said that franchise helped provide the assurance that Mid-American needs to make the long-term investments: equipment, engineering, staff and construction, substations, whatever. Correct. Is a franchise agreement the exclusive criteria that you use for that? No. Absolutely not. But it is Can you walk me through what some ofthose others might be? I mean, I had reporters asking me today about our 74th place in Money Magazine's, and all the different, if this is a growing place and the community, the city is making investments in economic development, in growing buildings, attracting people, I would think that, I would think would be part of the reasons that one might continue, and so I'm asking is that exclusive or are there other factors? There are other factors. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. ~'-'------'---"------~-~--'--~'------- ...-...--------.' -~_.~_._.._._._-_._~---_._,---_._-----~._----_. July 17, 2006 Wilburn: Smith: Wilburn: Smith: Wilburn: Bailey: Smith: Champion: Smith: Correia: Smith: Correia: Smith: Vanderhoef: City Council Work Session Page 31 And can you walk me through what some of those might be? Those factors will vary based on the decision being made, whether it's being made on staff or facilities, plants, growth, projected growth - one of the things I tried to start with is to make sure I provided everybody assurances that we will continue to be the service provider absent a franchise agreement, and we will continue to make the appropriate investments that we need to to provide reliable service to our customers, so that factor is constant and would not change in this effort. Ok, thank you. Obviously there are decisions that we make for timing and other things that, depending on threats to the organization, you know, having facilities condemned and being taken over and changing ownership, as those issues become more and more real, they become more and more part of the everyday business decisions that are made obviously. Are there other questions related to the presentation or that will help Council decide whether or not we want staff to present information to us at our next work session, in order to take that next step? This is just an off-hand question. Are there non-profit rates? Do you do? Ok. Is that set by the utility board, those customer classes? Correct. The customer classes as set by state statute, the Iowa Utility Board, are residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, streetlight, those are pretty much it. I have a really off the wall question, Terry. Does having a franchise agreement discourage Mid-American from seeking out alternative energy? Absolutely not. Mid-American Energy is continuing to invest in alternative energy sources at almost a record level and we are doing that, you know, we have franchise agreements with many other communities, we continue to do that on their behalf. Should any community transition ownership, that's one of the things that they would potentially lose, is that portfolio of alternative energies that Mid- American provides and has in its portfolio of generation. Can a franchise agreement set a benchmark for alternative energy use? I don't know that we've ever had one that's done that, but again For example, it could set a benchmark that we wanted a certain percentage of energy provided to the City be from alternative, I mean, could that be a possibility in a franchise? I'm seeing heads shake in the back of the room that say no. There are benchmarks though for the company in total. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17,2006. July 17, 2006 City Couucil Work Session Page 32 Correia: Set by the company. Vanderhoef: Set by the company. Correia: Can the communities set additional? Smith: There are a number of things that we can do within a franchise agreement but in order to do any of those things you have to enter in that negotiation process. Correia: Sure, well I just want to think can or can't Wilburn: And tonight's not the night to have those negotiations. Correia: And I'm just wondering can it legally be included or not, cause I mean that would just, if it can't Champion: (can't hear) I don't know. Smith: I'm not sure. I don't think it can be, but, you know, if we were in negotiations and that's what the City wanted, we would look to see if that's an option and what we might be able to agree with regardless of the issue. That's ultimately the approach. Wilburn: And again it would be my hope that at the next work session, should four of us be interested, that would be something we could hear from staff. Vanderhoef: Can I ask one question before you? Wilburn: Sure. Vanderhoef: I thought you were wrapping up. I just want to be sure that I understand the role ofIowa Utilities Board in any power that was generated by the City by an alternative method. What is your responsibility as a local provider to pick up and transport excess energy that we might generate? Smith: I believe it's state requirement that we purchase that, we enter into a purchase agreement to purchase it and not necessarily transport it. We have a number of agreements with a number of communities. Davenport you may be familiar with, produce electricity there that they us for their system and sell off-system to us, so there's different agreements that get fashioned around those alternate sources of production, those are options. Vanderhoef: Ok. That was what I thought. However, I recognize that the point source ofthe energy and the transmission line that might be available, and is there anything that you can provide us that might give us an idea of what the cost would be or if, who picks up the cost for the transmission from the generation site to transmission site? Smith: Those are very specific and detailed agreements usually that are executed upon, and they're very much site specific as to where your generation source might be, where the nearby lines and the capacity would be, what the capacity or what the This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 33 output of your generation would be that would need to be transported so, absent some, you know, specific details of site and capacity and all that, I don't know that we could provide you a specific answer to that. But those are obviously things that we work through with all the providers, whether they be community based or some 3'd party based. Vanderhoef: And would that be a separate contract above and beyond a franchise, Smith: Yes. Vanderhoef: or is it something that can be put into the franchise? Smith: It would be a separate contract totally. Vanderhoef: Ok. Thank you. Wilburn: Are there four of us who would like to have staff respond to this information and ask some of those other questions from our point of view? Elliott: Yes. Bailey: Mm hmm. V anderhoef: Yes, please. Wilburn: Ok. Bailey: Can I also mention that, since there are four of you who are interested in moving forward, I would like you to consider putting together a negotiating team that includes at least 2 Council members instead of just doing this staff, because I think there are lots of interesting ideas around this table about possibilities for a franchise agreement, and I think that those should be at the table initially rather than us responding to some draft agreements. So, is that something we can talk about at the next work session? O'Donnell: Sure. Wilburn: Ok. Smith: Again, I would just like to thank you for your time and the opportunity to talk about the issue. Good night. Wilburn: Thank you. Let's take ten minutes. Back here at ten after eight. Street Vendors ITEM 7. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, ENTITLED "MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC," CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED "PARKING REGULATIONS," AND CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED "PARKING METER ZONES AND PARKING LOTS" TO LIMIT PARKING IN This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 34 STREETS AND RAMPS FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE. (PASS AND ADOPT) Wilburn: Vendors, reference agenda item #7. Helling: Before you start your discussion, I just passed out sort of copies of three areas downtown, one of City Plaza and then the 100 block and 200 block of Iowa Avenue, just indicating where the vendors are. You had asked for some information last time about the existing vendors. I guess only a couple of things I'd point out. Number one, even though we actually, on a trial basis, expanded to the sixth vendor on City Plaza, because of the reopening of the leg that goes east past the library and over to Linn Street, the six vendors who are there have elected spots in more traditional areas, which is the north-south leg and then the leg east or west towards Clinton Street. Wilburn: Their name is spelled out there. Correia: But on the Iowa Avenue? Bailey: Ijust see Nacho Taco. Correia: Nacho Taco. Helling: On Iowa Avenue it's the same, yeah, there is, there is a second vendor. They haven't selected their spot yet. The vendor who was gonna be there opted not to go and so the other one's gonna hopefully be up and running, maybe even this week, and they have indicated that they also want to be in the 100 block. Correia: And so these, this Nacho Taco, which I've never seen on Iowa Avenue, on the sidewalk. Vanderhoef: And they've got two locations? Helling: Oh, they're there a lot. Correia: Ok, but anyway, what are their hours of operation? Helling: Ah, same as the, rest of the vendors. They have to be there, I believe, on lunch hour every day except Sunday; I'm not sure about Saturdays, and then the evenings, they don't have to be there until like Wednesday through Saturday evenings, that's a minimum. Correia: But what are the hours, evening hours? Helling: Ah, their lunch hours are like from II to 2 and the evening hours are, I believe, 5 to 8. Bailey: Ok. Correia: So we don't have any street vendor programs for late night. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting oOuly 17, 2006. _..___...____._~_.__...__._m.__~.._.._.__.,._.,_.._._ __ _ _,,__________~___.__.~_._,._'._.m____.. --'"..--"-~.__.._-".._"-_."._,--_._-----~~_.._._.~-----.---.---------.--....---,........- July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 35 Bailey: But they can be there. Helling: Are you talking about the local vendors or the street vendors? Elliott: You're talking about Correia: Hours that we regulate. Helling: Yah. Atkins: We don't regulate streets. Helling: They can be there Correia: No, I know we don't. The ones that we do regulate. Helling: They can be there beyond those hours as much as they want. Correia: Oh. But minimally. Oh I see. Helling: These are minimums, right. Correia: Ok. Ok. Bailey: And that runs from May. Vanderhoef: And are you saying Taco, Nacho Taco, has two locations on Iowa Avenue? Champion: They all do. Helling: Right. They all have two locations they can operate at one or the other or they can move between. Most of them operate one location all the time or, in the case of City Plaza, they will operate on the Dubuque Street right of way between Washington Street and the fountain at lunch hour and then they move over Wilburn: Close to the bars, yeah. Helling: to the College Street right of way between Clinton and the fountain at night. Elliott: Two locations does not mean simultaneously. It means one or the other, correct? Helling: Or moving back and forth. They can actually move back and forth, yes. Elliott: Yeah, that's what, one or the other. Bailey: And that's May through October? Helling: That's May I" through October I". This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 36 Bailey: Right. And then, if they have a permit, they can be there later than October I" as they choose. Helling: Absolutely. Correia: Oh, ok. Those are required. Bailey: As the weather permits. So then they can just do it as - nice day, you can take your cart out. Helling: Some are there at night, all winter long. Baeth: So the purpose of the minimal requirement is to see if these spots are being used? Helling: Yes. If they're going to have a permit, take up one of those, then we want them there at least a minimum amount of time. Bailey: Which makes sense to me, you know, you're trying to create an ambience, you do have to require some minimum hours. Helling: Right. Vanderhoef: Would there be any interest in creating franchise for a late night group that would operate, say, from, if the minimum is up until 8:00 for the daytime ones, that they minimally had to be there until 8pm, after 8pm, for some of these people that want to operate from the street, put them up on the plaza and let them franch, have a franchise, that was specific for late night. From that 8 or 9 o'clock until? Bailey: Right. Correia: Well it seems like there are, so all of the vendors, current vendors on City Plaza have the hours of the, those required hours, but they all could be there Bailey: Late night. Champion: Later. Correia: But most, at least a few of them aren't. So it seems like there's almost opportunity for space to be used during that late night that somebody who operates during those other hours could give up their spot for those opportunities for late night for somebody who only wants to operate in late night. Does that make? Wilburn: Well, I think part of it, if you're just looking at space and opportunity, I mean, I think there's a couple differences between some of those street vendors, because some of them are not operating carts. They have something in the back of a truck, and so it's a little different investment level that they would have to make in their own equipment, so it mayor may not be the issue of. They could apply with a cart just like anyone else, or if we were to open up one or two more spots. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17, 2006. . July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 37 Vanderhoef: But there's a waiting list for those cart areas. Correia: Yes, but I mean like right now. Yeah. Wilburn: Yeah, I'm Vanderhoef: I'm thinking, Ross, that there might be that opportunity for a different cart to come in later in the evening if all. Wilburn: But you're still talking about carts, not street. Vanderhoef: Absolutely. I am not interested. Correia: Well you're also talking about Bailey: Well, and we used. Oh, go ahead. Wilburn: Go ahead. Correia: I was just saying, you are also talking about setting up a permitting for folks that only want to serve a certain niche. So right now if you want to have a permit on the City Plaza, you have to be open during lunch and during those evening dinner hours. You don't have the option only to be open during the late night hours. Bailey: But that's, that's what I was going to say. The use of our public ways, we allow people to use our public ways for a public benefit, and the public benefit is creating an ambience downtown, and so we have requirements that may not be optimal business hours. They certainly have the opportunity to take advantage of those late night, those Thursday through Saturday late night hours, if they feel that's appropriate for their business. And so, use of public ways is not necessarily to create a business opportunity or a niche market for somebody who's interested in simply serving late night. As far as I'm concerned, I mean, we talked about this when we revised that part of the code, that there's a public benefit, so there is a trade-off of allowing it with a permit and some supervision and some structure to it. And I don't see the public benefit of allowing somebody to do a niche market that seems to have a captive audience, when there are people who have gotten a permit and who serve on Monday at lunch hour even if it's like this, which I can't imagine is a booming business, in the rain or the heat. So I just would rather expand our current program rather than have a niche market. Elliott: How many, how many of the street peddlers do we have that work late night? Champion: Two. Right now there's two. Elliott: I'm sorry, street, pedestrian - pedestrian vendors. How many of them do work the late night? Helling: There are four that have spots, that selected spots specifically in that area where they do the best business at night. Ah, I think. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17,2006. July 17, 2006 Elliott: Helling: Wilburn: Elliott: Champion: Helling: Elliott: O'Donnell: Elliott: O'Donnell: Elliott: Correia: Champion: (laughter) Champion: Correia: Elliott: Champion: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 38 But is that late night? Yeah, I think they're out there most of the time, the four of them, until probably 2 or 2:30 in the morning. Yeah, they are. What has happened to their business while the street vendors have been operating for the past, what, couple of months at least, if not last summer? Two years. Well, there was one out there some time last summer, but there's more this year. I don't know the answer to that. It seems to me that the street vendors have found a market and my question would be whether that market is, is hampering the financial stability of those pedestrian vendors that we certify. Well I certainly think it would effect them, Bob. I don't know. Well it would have to, if you have four that work there on a regular basis, and I know there's at least four. It's all a matter of competition and numbers. That's why I would like to hear from the pedestrian vendors. Does Eleanor have Does anybody support my idea of, of I must just get it right out here and find out. Does anybody support my idea of designating two areas downtown for street vendors. I do. I do. I changed my mind from last week. (can't hear) off, just like we do our carts, instead of adding more carts. I don't, personally want any more carts on the pedestrian mall, I think we have enough, it's going to start hampering movement around. But why not designate two spots for late night street vending, street vendor, and make sure it's in a place where people -like I don't want them cooking barbecue in front of my store, but there are probably place where they could go. You're not there late night, are you? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 39 Bailey: (can't hear) Champion: But nobody would object. O'Donnell: So what's your question, is anybody supportive? No. Champion: Yeah, is anybody supportive. (laughter) Correia: I am. Champion: Even Elliott does? Bailey: No, no. Wilburn: Well, one of the concerns that I have, and I alluded to this last time, Connie, was, it is use ofthe public right of way that's designated for parking, and it may not be a huge issue now but when football season starts and basketball season starts, there are people, even though we've got nice parking structures, there's your Regenia Baileys who are going to come down who refuse to park and those who want to park in front of the Bailey: Oh, Ross, I will walk down. Wilburn: And those prime spots where the street folks are parking, are right near where some of the folks who are at some of the bars and the restaurants right there, so. Champion: Parking places (can't hear) two. Elliott: And you're talking about two, perhaps maximum four. Wilburn: Yes I am. Correia: I mean, and we set Champion: Yeah. And let me tell you right now, the worst detriment to parking downtown or in the street are people who own businesses down there who feed the meters all day long and all night long. That's the worst detriment to parking downtown, not the street vendors. Bailey: Hmm. O'Donnell: But, would you Wilburn: That's why I'm willing to Correia: But there's also. Vanderhoef: Then we need to enforce our feeding the meter. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17,2006. July 17, 2006 O'Donnell: Elliott: O'Donnell: Correia: O'Donnell: Wilburn: Elliott: Wilburn: Bailey: Wilburn: Elliott: Bailey: Wilburn: Elliott: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: Champion: Correia: Bailey: City Council Work Session Page 40 Which we have Connie and Amy, I think we've gone down to defeat. There's a lot of I also, Ijust Go ahead. Well this, we're not taking the vote on that tonight, I mean. No, but tomorrow is the final vote. So, and I'm just saying And I will (can't hear) I agree with Regenia, it's the, whether or not you want to use the dedicated public right of way for that and I agree in your conversation about the ambience you want to create by allowing the use of the public right of way. And we have made that decision already at the Jazz Fest. What do you mean? That's temporary. Yeah, and this would be temporary portions of days. Well, but that's the thing. Jazz Fest is a limited number of days, it's 3 days. I mean, why should Marcos get a $750 permit and Monday through Saturday be out there II to 2 no matter what the weather is for the privilege of doing late night, and then we hand over permits to people to do late night, which might be the most lucrative time. I'm not for giving it to them. Hand over permits? We should charge them, if it's more, charge them more. Ok. We charge for the permits, then what would be the, how would we ever get lunch time vending carts, if we only intend that people get a vending cart permit for the opportunity to do some of the late nights as they choose, because that's not currently regulated now. I mean, that's, that's, you put up with these hours designated so you can serve through the football season, late night if you choose, or late night if you choose during the summer. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17,2006. July 17, 2006 Correia: Helling: Correia: Bailey: Correia: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: Elliott: Wilburn: Bailey: Correia: Elliott: O'Donnell: Elliott: Bailey: Elliott: City Council Work Session Page 41 So we're, we think that there are vendors who wouldn't want to be there when they're there during lunchtime? That they're only there because that's mandated. Well, there's no way to know that for sure, but they do their best business late at night, and I suspect that there may be one or two who would opt not to be there as frequently as they're required to be there if they didn't have to. Well why do we require them to be there during that amount of time if? It's a public benefit to create the ambience that we decided we wanted downtown, just like the cafes. We're not there to provide business opportunities for people. I mean, that's what storefronts and private market iffor. We don't mandate sidewalk cafes. Right. Exactly. That's why you go to the private market, so you can do what you choose. If you want to use the public ways, you have to have some structure, and you have to have some public benefit. I mean, we allow people to have parades for public benefit, to have demonstrations for their free speech public benefit, and this creates ambience. I mean, that's what public ways are for. There's got to be a public benefit. Define ambience, because I voted for it because the people wanted it. I didn't vote for it because it looks good. It's a - I'm saying it's a pedestrian mall. There are different things to do there. There are people to watch, you can grab something to eat, you can get a coffee and you can sit outside. You don't have to necessarily go into a shop, you can sit outside, you can eat outside. Yeab. It's kind of neat. Atmosphere. It's kind of neat. That's ambience, Bob. Austin, what do you think? But I wouldn't, I guess, my thinking is, ifthey didn't want to be there during the day, I would say you don't have to be. I think Ifthe public doesn't want to support it, I'm not for telling them they have to be there. Well, that's the private market, and if That would be like telling a storekeeper downtown what hours they have to keep. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Bailey: Elliott: O'Donnell: Bailey: O'Donnell: Bailey: (laughter) Elliott: O'Donnell: Champion: O'Donnell: Correia: O'Donnell: Dilkes: Wilburn: Dilkes: Elliott: O'Donnell: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 42 No, but this is our public way. We get to choose. If they want to choose their hours, that's the private market. Hmm? No. I would just take more of a business approach, so you know, we disagree. That's fine. But you. We have a responsibility in how we regulate public ways which we went through when we revised that section of the code, for months. That's right. And it's also been said that downtown, the restaurants, and some of the bar restaurants are closed at that hour and that's not the case. Some of them are open. You can get pizzas or - I don't frequentthese frequently. But it's your birthday tomorrow, and Well anyway I think there were just three of us. We're done. However, that's not the case. There are some bar restaurants that have the kitchens open late, and this is direct competition with those folks that are paying high rents. But you could say the same thing about the carts in the pedestrian mall. That's also competition. But we can't limit competition. Isn't that against? No, but you can, you can limit it, or we'd have 25 carts instead of 8. I think you're best served by keeping your focus on how, how you think the public ways should be used and for what purpose. Mm hhm. Once you get into the competition thing, it's a slippery slope and it's not a legitimate basis for regulation. But, I said we've already decided that public ways can be used for that. That's been decided. As it should be. I want to hear Austin's opinion. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Baeth: Bailey: Baeth: Champion: O'Donnell: Bailey: Baeth: Bailey: Correia: Helling: Bailey: Champion: O'Donnell: Bailey: Wilburn: Champion: Wilburn: Correia: Baeth: Correia: Tornado Review Wilburn: City Council Work Session Page 43 I, from a student's perspective, I believe that the street vendors also add to the ambience at night. It expands it out of the ped mall but also to other streets downtown. I, a couple of questions. First of all, where did this issue originate? Was it a complaint for competition, or parking? Smoke. Smoke. (can't hear) From the grills. From the sidewalk cafes. There was some complaints about smoke from the grills. Ok. At least that's my understanding. So if we have, and so we, if there was - oh, go ahead. I, I've heard concerns regarding parking, the smoke, the general appearance, urn, and there has been some concern of what they leave behind in terms of grease and things on the street. Yes. I've heard that. They don't participate in the cleanup. I've heard that too. And I've heard complaints about parking. That's what I originally heard from folks. Mrnrn hmm. Ok. Urn. Ah, were you done, Austin? Yeah, actually. Ok. Thank you. Let's see. This will be on tomorrow night's agenda. Turning This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 44 Fosse: Steve had asked me to put together a presentation to brief you on what we went through with the tornado and all the steps we went through and what some of the remaining issues are. So to do that, what I'm going to do this evening is take you through some of the initial days of it and then we'll review some of the, focus on some of the specific challenges that extended beyond that. I do want to begin by thanking the Press Citizen and the Gazette. This was a fast moving event, not only the storm itself butthe cleanup, and our staff really didn't have a chance to get out and take as many pictures as we would have liked and the Gazette and the Press Citizen were very nice to share their pictures with us to use in this type of presentation. So with that I'll kick it off - it's about, it's a good strong 15 minutes, so you can just kick back and relax, and if you have any questions, just chime in. So, to begin with the initial hours, the warning sounded and one of the things that really helped us limit injuries was the hail- that forced people off the streets and got them into shelter. That was a good thing. When the tornado struck, we started calling in Police, Fire and Public Works and Parks employees before the tornado was even out of town, so people were on their way coming downtown. We set up an emergency command post over in the Fire Department. That's where we go when there's a disaster of this sort. We all congregate there, and that's where we set up our communications and our staging for responding to it. We also sent staff over to the Johnson County Emergency Operation Center. That's part ofthat whole NIMS concept, the National Incident Management System, and you'll hear more about that a little later in the summer, because every community is required to become NIMS compliant, and we'll be back to talk with you about that. The Fire Department, well, after the storm struck, people started to come out and assess what was going on and we started to get a flurry of calls and, for various emergencies. The Fire Department sent a representative over, excuse me, the Police Department, to help prioritize those types of things, and in all they responded to 68 emergency calls that evening. But what was very difficult for us is that beyond those emergency calls that we were getting we really didn't have a good focus on what had happened out there. It was dark, we couldn't see what was going on, so the Fire Department put together 5 teams of 2 people to go out and we divided up the City and they did a quick initial damage assessment so we could begin to focus where our efforts would be and they went out property to property and looked for what was going on. Some of the things we were finding along Burlington Street, the church of course. The Fire Department was out to get some light on the area because the lights were out in the area. Shortly after that people just started coming out. They were very curious, and downtown became packed. So that's where the Police Department began to mobilize and get out there just to make sure that everything was getting along ok. Our Streets Department came in and began work immediately. One of the things about the NIMS program is having what's called Incident Management Plans, so that you have plans in place before things occur so that as your staff comes in they don't need to wait for instructions, they can just go and start working on things, and that was the case with the tornado. And that was the case with the tornado. People came in, they knew what to do, get started, establish routes for the Fire Department and to the hospitals first and then work on arterial streets and that sort of thing, so it worked out very well. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. ~-~----~.._._- ..,.----_._..._-------~~------_._-----------_.~----_.._--_._-,-- July 17, 2006 (laughter) Fosse: City Council Work Session Page 45 Mid-American went through some very similar steps. I think that's Terry right there in the picture, the guy that was up speaking with you earlier. They had a lot of things to deal with that evening, of course. There were a lot of students that were without a place to stay because of the gas leaks, they were out of their homes, so the Red Cross was setting up places for them to stay. And you didn't want to be the last one there that night or you'd get this mattress. But, as it turns out, it really wasn't an issue, because the students really had no intention of going to bed that night. It was kind of a Mardi Gras atmosphere out there. There were a lot of people milling around downtown, and the more precarious the building the closer they go looking at it. So that's where the National Guard was very helpful to us, just keeping people away, let them take a look. And one of the things we were very concerned about was Plaza Towers. It was a very tall building, and it had loose glass up there that had not come loose, or hadn't fallen out yet but was kind of hanging, and it's like dropping something, dropping a card - you don't know where it's going to go. So we had to keep people far away from that. We worked throughout the night, the Department of Transportation brought in a lot of traffic control for us that was badly needed. We got a lot of mutual aid from other communities. Just Washington County alone sent in about 100 fire, law, and EMS folks that were staged down at the fairgrounds to assist with that. We worked through the night. Priority was to clear the streets. Not to start removing debris, but just to get the stuff to the sides so you could get through, and you had to be very careful doing that because of the downed electrical lines, the gas leaks that were in the area. That's why we had Mid-America in our command post, so that we could be in communication with their staff out there. It was extremely helpful, gave our folks some comfort level that they weren't going to get tangled up in live wires. You also had to be careful that there weren't people under those trees that were down when you start pushing them around with an end loader, because you don't know if anyone has been trapped underneath it. So, and one other thing that we did in the middle of the night that night was send people into the parking ramps to check those out, to make sure they were still structurally sound, so we could open them up in the morning, because that storm didn't like parking ramps. It hit three of them pretty much directly. Friday morning when the sun came up we began to get a handle onjust what had happened the night before. And we were looking around at our streets, figuring out what we needed to do. And bear in mind, this was not a disaster according to FEMA. We began to develop a game plan for the day on how to sort things out, and it was difficult, because we had private property owners dealing with cars. We had Mid-American dealing with utilities, and then we had the public staff dealing with the downed trees, and then people of course were working on buildings as well. The students all kind of disappeared for awhile early in the morning and then they resurfaced later, perhaps after a nap, and started to look around and just take stock of what had happened and begin to collect some of their stuff. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 46 This fellow was in the car when that occurred so it was very fortunate that he doesn't seem to be hurt badly. Again, it was, you can see the DOT trucks, they were in right away on Friday to help us out, as was Johnson County. Where those trucks were very helpful, they were big tandem axle trucks. Our urban trucks are single axle, they're small, they're designed for getting around tight comers. These trucks can haul a lot of stuff, so that's where they were helpful to have in there. Again, just a few shots of the debris out there and along Highway 6. This is, or, yeah Highway 6, Riverside Drive. Oh, outside the path of the storm it was just another pleasant Friday morning, and one of the things that Steve has always emphasized to us over the years as we've faced similar disasters is it's very important to maintain business as usual as much as you can. So we're out picking up garbage, doing everything that we normally do, as well as dealing with the storm there. By mid-morning the crowds were starting to be a problem for us. People were coming in to see what was going on. Downtown was packed - the sidewalks, the roadways, and not only was there a ton of traffic, but our traffic control system was down - our signals were damaged. And a good share of what the police and highway patrol and sheriffs office were doing was assisting us with getting our trucks in and out of these areas so we could do the work. And there's some of our folks doing the work. You see a lot of equipment in here, but I want to emphasize that it really is back-breaking, grueling work for the people that are out there running the chainsaws and scooping the stuff up. There's a shot of the DOT helping us - they sent an excellent crew in there. Burlington Street took a beating. There was, a lot of our electrical stuff got messed up there. Part of what we did Friday was the Engineering Department put together 5 teams of 2 people to go out and do a more widespread damage assessment than the Fire Department did the night before. We did that for two reasons. One is FEMA requested it, because they wanted to know how much damage they were dealing with, and we needed it so we could focus our efforts. Our traffic signals were tom up pretty bad. 1 like this shot because you've got to hand it to these red lights - they've been decapitated, but they were still working. (laughter) Fosse: The National Guard was very helpful. This is a medical unit, now, and they were, we asked them to do traffic control and they did just a wonderful job. They had lunch with this woman here and just a kid, really did a nice job. I was amazed at the confidence these people portrayed when you put them out in a difficult situation. Our folks were out working on traffic control stuff right away. That was a priority tip for us. It took a full week to get that restored. We'll talk a little more about that later. More of the damage assessment - we began to look at our buildings and determine what the extent of our damages were, and by the end of the day on Friday we were able to put together this map and a preliminary cost estimate to FEMA, so they got that Saturday morning, and this map really helped us to focus our efforts. It's been a popular map around the town. People like that. Mid-American had their work cut out for them of course, and they did a wonderful job. At their peak I think they had 215 people in town working on this, This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17,2006 City Council Work Session Page 47 and there's a right way to go about this and a wrong way. I don't believe this was a Mid-American staff here but somebody just being reckless and fortunate that they're still alive. Buildings were a big issue for us, and our Housing and Building Department downstairs played a big role in that. When buildings were badly damaged, the electrical and gas service were shut off to them, and before those were turned back on, Housing had to inspect them to make sure that within the buildings gas lines had integrity and electrical systems were safe before those buildings were re-energized. They also looked at structural issues and whether or not a building should be labeled as unsafe because of structural problems. They had a very busy day as well. So far we've had 268 pennits related to storm repair, valued at three million, five hundred and thirteen thousand, eight hundred and thirteen dollars; so far, that's the extent, but there's a Jot of homes and some businesses where not much work has occurred yet. Saturday - our goal on Saturday was to get all the arterial streets open. We wanted to accomplish that by the end of the day, and that's something we were able to do. We were also assessing what we were going to need for resources in the coming week and making contacts to other communities to provide those through the Iowa Mutual Aid Compact. That's something we became a member of a number of years ago. We're the first community in the state to use it and it worked out very well. It's - you call another community, tell them what you need, they send the crews over. All the paperwork is in place. It covers what the costs are, liability, insurance, that sort of thing, and as it turned out, that was a very good thing, because one ofthe crews that came down from Cedar Falls, that was our only injury. A fellow fell off a truck and broke a hip, from Cedar Falls, and what could have been a complicated situation from liability and insurance and all that was not, because that was in place. So it's a good thing to have. Another thing - oh, people were already starting to get debris out to the curb on Saturday as well, so we were, we were starting to deal with that, but still our focus was on clearing the streets, not necessarily on debris removal yet. And, if you recall, that was a hot day, and the Red Cross was very helpful in keeping our people hydrated and fed. Another thing that we were focusing on that day, based on our damage assessment is rain was on the way Saturday night, so we needed to know where we needed to seal up building envelopes so we didn't have secondary damage. We needed to seal the roofs. This on the library, for instance, had a lot of roof penetrations there. We wanted to make sure those were sealed up before the rains came Saturday night so it doesn't get in and get the books wet. Sunday was pretty much a day of rest. We took that day off just to let people recuperate. They'd worked pretty much 2 sixteen hour days straight, and it also happened to be Easter, so everybody went home, recuperated. We also spent a lot of time on the phone between Iowa City, Johnson County, DOT, talking, putting together a game plan for Monday morning so that when everybody got together we knew what to do. The folks that didn't get Sunday off were the Police Department, because you remember, we don't have traffic signals downtown yet, so they had to stay out there and work and kept a very good attitude about that. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting oOuly 17,2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 48 The Police Department went to 2 twelve hour shifts, and they were on that for a full week, from Thursday night to Thursday night, until we got the traffic signals up and running. And what they did is they partnered one of their officers with somebody from the National Guard or a sheriff or somebody from a county or agency outside of our county so they could work together. Our Monday morning game plan, we all met down at the Streets Department at 7 o'clock, Public Works and Parks together, and what our plan was, in the worst hit areas in the center, that's where we were gonna focus our equipment and get started there, and then our Solid Waste and Refuse workers would run their normal routes and then at the end of the day they would empty their trucks and start working around the perimeter, with the idea that they would meet at some point within a couple weeks. We brought in these types of machines that help load up the debris, and we were running two of them, loading two trucks at a time. Very effective, did a great job for us. The Press Citizen ran a series of pictures - it was really nice. Our guys felt really good about it. They showed Friday, Saturday - actually, this was the way it looked at the end of the day on Saturday. They took the picture on Sunday. Remember I said we cleared the streets, didn't necessarily remove? And then on Tuesday the debris was gone. Champion: Wow. Fosse: And this is Iowa Avenue, so they did a very nice job. And I was impressed that they saved this tree. With all of the stuff piled around it, they were able to salvage that. After we made our initial pass of the City during that first week of getting debris from the curb, and we made three complete passes through the City over time, our focus changed to the creeks. And the terrain we kind of followed Ralston Creek right through town, and the people along there are keenly aware that when you have a lot of debris in the Creek, if we get a big rain you're in trouble, because it just piles up and causes flooding. This was really more difficult to deal with than that stuffthat we found along streets out there, because this was private property. We had to negotiate access for each of these properties, plus the terrain is precarious. It's just nasty work, it's difficult to get that out of there. Now I'll shift into some of those other areas of, that had a kind of a long- term impact for us. We're done with the chronological part of it. First one is debris management. We had a lot of stuff to deal with. The first thing we did is we waived fees out at the landfill for a period of a week so that people could get rid of this stuff and not worry about what it cost. We took in 2,377 tons of debris out there, and we gave up about $88,600.00 in fees for that, we ate those costs. We also needed to get approval from the DNR so that we could put commingled waste in the landfill cell; that is, we sorted as much as we could, but there was still some tree debris in with the building debris, you might imagine, that came out of the curbs. We also set up a couple drop sites for tree debris, so we had very little of it going to the landfill. One was down at the Public Works yard, the other at Scott Park, and then we brought in the equipment to start mulching that. We have a grinder, and then we also rented a couple. And there was some salvaging of the good wood, that was taken out of there, and we produced about 9,000 - somewhere between 7,000 and 9,000 cubic yards of mulch that we gave away, and that is all gone. I This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Champion: Fosse: City Council Work Session Page 49 didn't even get any. I thought it would last a lot longer than that. I didn't make it over there in time. We did some of the mulching out at the site. I want to point this crew out. This is a crew that Vermeer sent over, Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella. These guys were like the Navy SEALS of tree removal. They just were so well equipped and skilled, they were amazing to watch, and they came in and helped us out. And we did a quick modification to our trucks so we could get more mulch on there and get more work out of every trip. Out at the landfill, dealing with the construction debris that came out there, the EP A considers construction debris less nasty than the rest of the waste, so you can build a less expensive cell to store that in, so we did that quickly. We built a less expensive cell and we're charging $10 per cubic yard - excuse me, $10 per ton - for this, versus $38 per ton for disposing of other waste, so that's saving people money. More importantly for us, it's extending the life of our landfill out there, because we're not burning up good, expensive landfill space with building debris, and there we are pushing some ofthat down in there. Traffic control- that was really a major focus for us that week. We had a lot of things to deal with. We had seven signal poles, we lost seven signal poles, fifty- three signal heads, two cameras, one traffic control cabinet, and seventy-five signposts. Had to replace those, and one of the things that was very helpful is we brought in other communities to help. As I mentioned, Cedar Falls was here for about three hours, and the guy did a great job during that period. And then Waterloo sent down a truck as well, and their crew was very skilled and helpful to us, so it's good to have that aid from other communities. I had to show you this picture - this is the traffic signal out by the Honda dealer. It's completely in good shape, but it was rotated 10 degrees, and its foundation goes 12 feet into the ground - it's reinforced concrete. Oh my god. It's just amazing to me that it could twist it like that. So all we did was realign the signal heads so they still point down the lanes and we left it good to go up. Our public building damage assessment really became more detailed each day because we had to, we had to look in great detail at just what needs to be fixed out there and to what extent the structural problems existed. One of the surprises we found at the Rec Center, these are single T beams going across here, versus the double Ts that you'll see across the street here, so they're a little bit unstable if they're not connected to things, and we found that the connection points between this T and that T had been broken, so we were worried about that tipping off the end of the building. Shawn didn't know that when he was standing there, but that's one of the things that needed to be secured, and it's just the matter of the level of detail that you needed to look at. This is our new parking ramp up there on Court Street and this is the Rec Center roof. Had to identify all the penetration points over there. The debris just really tore that up seriously. This is right over across the street at the, at the Wilson Building, there we go, John Wilson Building over there. This is a parking ramp, Dubuque Street ramp. All sorts of damage in small places that you wouldn't expect to find it. Hail damage to HV AC units up on the roofs - they all took a beating up there, that hail I talked about before the storm. This ramp right across the stamp was one that we kept an eye on and one that we wanted to inspect before people went in it. It's a This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 50 little bit different construction method than our others in that this was precast. The concrete was poured off site and then it was assembled here, and you'll see that the joints are just stacked together. These don't carry the loads, they don't transmit loads as well as like a cast in place structure, like you see here, which we see in some of our other parking ramps. So you rely on the stair towers and also these little pieces of concrete here that you see. If you' walk through there to go to the farmers' market, you'll see these. These pick up the wind loads. They work perfectly. These structures are designed to withstand a wind of90 miles per hour; that was an F2 tornado at about ISO miles per hour and they stood up very well, so. I was impressed with this; I had never seen how one of these performed in a real event and it performed very well. Just inspection of other facilities out there - this addition on the Wilson Building over there is gone. We replaced the roof on that. At the Court Street Transportation Center we had some damage. That took a direct hit and that's how it looks today. We've replaced panels up there and it's in good shape. If you recall, you passed a resolution about a month ago to go out, get quotes and do this work rather than going through the normal bidding process, which adds a couple months to the work, so we were able to get that done. One of the issues for the community is historic and conservation districts, and those are shown in the red here. So the tornado hit a number of those types of buildings. The Planning Department put together a public information workshop April 26th that did a great job of getting people information and letting them know what those districts mean in the context of the repair and reconstruction of their homes, and they had good turnout for that. They also scored $250,000.00 historic rescue or, excuse me, historic resource development program grant. I think Joe Bolcom helped with getting that through the state. So far 14 homes have qualified for up to $15,000.00 each to aid with that restoration. The National Trust for Historic Preservation put up $5,000.00, and it was matched by the Friends of Historic Preservation, so there are funds available to help people with some of those obligations related to these districts. Now, right of way restoration is still going on. We're not done with that yet. About ISO tree stumps had to be dealt with out there, some of them quite large, and it wasn't just a simple task of ripping those out of there. A lot of gas leaks were caused because the gas manes are between the sidewalk and the street and the roots are all intertwined with them, so when they pull the roots out you tear the gas manes with it, so that's why that's going a little bit slow and careful, because we don't want to have problems. All this heavy equipment on sidewalks broke a lot of sidewalk. The trees broke a lot of sidewalks; we're just out fixing that. We're not asking the property owners to do that, we're getting that done. Glass everywhere. One of the, a lot of it's in our streets, little stuff that will get in your feet and be a problem, so we worked with, again, through IMAC, and the City of Bettendorf, yeah, Bettendorf, has street sweepers that are vacuums. Ours are kind of like Bissle sweepers, they use a brush to get stuff up. We brought in a vacuum street sweeper and ran it over all the streets out there so we at least got the glass off the streets. That's a good thing, but I'm sure there's a lot still in the grass and along the sidewalks out there. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Elliott: Fosse: Elliott: Fosse: City Council Work Session Page 51 Volunteer work was incredible. We had a tremendous number of people that wanted to volunteer. Marian's office was the office that kept track of who had volunteered and what sort of resources they might be able to provide. In total we used 431 volunteers during the process. Most of it was at the tail end when we got the big machinery out of there so we're not mixing them up with that, and a lot of the handwork that had to occur. This is a group that came in from Grand Rapids, MI, and just in over a weekend these people got over 50 truckloads of debris out of Ralston Creek. Excuse me. The big stuff is gone, we got that out with the trucks and the heavy equipment, but the small stuff poses problems too, because it, in enough volume it washed down and piles up on bridges and also causes flooding and that sort of thing. They stayed at the Rec Center and they really, they worked hard, they worked very hard. The Rec Center put up a couple different volunteer groups that were here working with us. And with that we'll move onto Parks and of course Hickory Hill Park got hit very bad and along with that Court Hill Park. Parks are putting together plans for Court Hill Park now. They've got a number of donations and they're working with Project Green to get their advice and input on that. And then, as far as the medians on Iowa A venue and Washington Street, Project Green are heading up those projects, and they're putting together plans to restore those two to what they looked like. Just a couple blocks away - that's the amazing thing of this storm, it's just how concentrated it was and how, you know, two blocks from all that destruction it looked like this a week after the tornado. But this was originally a Project Green project and so they have taken some good ownership in the Iowa Avenue median. With that, I'll open it up to questions, see if you have any. Rick, what was the communication between the two centers, the one at the, at the County Administration Building and the one here? Which, which had precedence? Well, they, they both, I don't know that either one had precedence. They both very much had a place in the response, and what was staged out of here was a lot of the operations, where we communicated with our employees, Mid-American employees, and stuff that was happening out in the field. What was going on over at the County office was coordination between the different agencies: law enforcement, National Guard, Red Cross, all those things, so we had representatives over there and we communicate with them as far as getting the resources that we need. Whatever it was, it must have worked well. I remember those three pictures in the paper that showed from - what was it? - Friday morning, Sunday and Tuesday. Unbelievable amount. But I was just wondering, would those two central groups, would anything be changed? I think that, that we want to look at ways to improve our ability to communicate over here, and that in turn was communication back and forth. Part of the process in dealing with this has been a couple debriefing sessions at the County level and at the City level and at the Department level, all looking for ways we can do a better job next time and we've got ideas, we're working on that. One of This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 52 the things that impressed me from this event was there were literally (can't hear) coming forward and doing what they needed to do. There were no standouts, no heroes, everybody doing what needed to be done, and knowing what to do. That's a big part of it. Anything else? Thanks for listening. Champion: Good job. Elliott: Thank you. Vanderhoef: Thank you. Al!enda Items Wilburn: Agenda items. Vanderhoef: Notes. Atkins: SILO Bailey: SILO Karr: Excuse me - we revised the. Wilburn: That's right, I. Vanderhoef: Can we have Rick put this onto a dv thing and run it on our cable? Bailey: That would be great. Atkins: Sure. Fosse: Well, actually, I prefer getting out to service groups, cause you get free lunch for that. (laughter) Vanderhoef: service group where you get pizza, too. Correia: Go to a service group where they're taping it, and then it can get on Bailey: Tape the presentation, not you eating lunch. Correia: Right. O'Donnell: It's really good. Wilburn: Thanks. SILO discussion. Correia: Well, Bob and I went to the school district. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 53 Elliott: You worked it, I observed. Correia: Last Tuesday. Who is planning to attend the Wednesday? Bailey: I am. Correia: You can do that - ok. And you have those remarks. Bailey: Yes. And that's what I understand that I'm going to reiterate, correct? Am I going to say anything else? Say something like Coralville. Correia: Yeah, I think it's. Similar to. Bailey: No. Elliott: I would point out Vanderhoef: Make the request again for a meeting. Elliott: The next day I had lunch with a friend of mine who said he had gone to the meeting with his mind pretty well made up, but he said one thing that really caught his attention was when Amy talked about the tradition of partnership between Iowa City and the schools and he said it made me start thinking a little differently than I had, so, I was glad that you mentioned that. Champion: She gets a gold star. Wilburn: There you go. All done. Know what you're going to do tomorrow, Wednesday night? Bailey: Yeah, I just won't say that I'm a parent of two schoolchildren and I'll be Correia: Yeah, don't read it verbatim or anything. Bailey: I won't. Correia: I'm a friend of a parent. Elliott: I'll be there just watching if you don't mind. Bailey: Oh that's fine. O'Donnell: When is it? Bailey: Wednesday at 7:30. Atkins: 7:30. Elliott: Wednesday. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Champion: Dilkes: Correia: O'Donnell: Correia: O'Donnell: Bailey: Correia: Wilburn: Elliott: O'Donnell: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: Al!enda Items Wilburn: O'Donnell: Champion: Bailey: ITEM 8. City Council Work Session Page 54 I appreciate you going to do that. I just want to follow up on Johnson County's use of any portion of the SILO tax. I did talk to the County Attorney's office about that provision in the code that appears to limit them to using it for property tax relief. I think Marian got a call from one of the supervisors today wanting to talk about that opinion, and I referred him to the, we referred him to the County Attorney's office, but they read the code and it appeared to be in agreement with that. Well, and there was a letter in our correspondence today, copy from the city of Coralville to the school district supporting that shared, for our shared, for the joint communication center. Support yeah, supporting a joint meeting. Yeah, but also supporting Ok. Indicating that that's what they were indicating support for the Right, but they will not be sending a representative. No. They will not. Right. No, they will not. On Wednesday. Right, they will not. Agenda items. Very short agenda. It is. That's because it's your birthday. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A SECURITY INFORMATION POLICY PURSUANT TO HF 2590, CODIFIED AT lOW A CODE SECTION 22.7(52). This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. -'-"_.".-~'----'--_.-"--~---' -_._--_..__._._._-,~---~------------_._. - ._-"--,. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 55 Elliott: I had a question but I got it answered today, and just for your information, initially, when I read item 8 about information changing standards for security procedures and emergency procedures it was determined that that simply amplifies or reaffirms our policies and policies that we have been using for years. Vanderhoef: Have to find that page. Dilkes: Actually what that does, just to follow up on Bob's statement is that those items that are listed on the resolution as being confidential and protected were previously specifically protected by the code, by the state code. Now they've repealed that protection and put it back in place, but required that you have a policy protecting it, so that's what this does. ITEM 6. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4, ENTITLED "ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES," CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "LIQUOR LICENSES AND BEER PERMITS," BY AMENDING SECTION 3 TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT JOHNSON COUNTY OFFICIALS APPROVE APPLICATIONS FOR ALCOHOL LICENSES AND PERMITS AND TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE STATE'S NEW ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM AND THE INCREASED INSPECTIONS BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) O'Donnell: On number 6, I'm sure we're all going to support this, but I still have problems with good moral character. You know, I just, just think that Champion: You can't identify it? O'Donnell: I can't identify with it, right Connie. Using you as a judge, that says a lot. (laughter) O'Donnell: No. However, you just, I don't know, I think the terminology is very unfortunate, that that terminology is what we have to use. It could very well have been how you run a good business or good business character would have been better. I don't like this. Elliott: I agree Mike. We're just saddled with it. O'Donnell: Yeah. There's nothing we can do about it, except complain. ElIiott: Yes. Karr: And just to note that we are asking expedited action on that one as well. ITEM 5d. CONDITIONALLY REZONING 1.39-ACRES ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1820 BOYRUM STREET FROM INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI-1) TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC-2) (REZ06- 000014) This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 56 Vanderhoef: We have a request for, in our little packet tonight, for expedited on the Boyrurn, which is. Karr: But the Boyrum is item d, but you're holding public hearing and having first consideration. Bailey: We don't expedite Karr: So really you wouldn't expedite until the next time, because your expediting of that is already built into the first consideration the same night as your hearing. Wilburn: Other agenda items? Correia: I have Bailey: Go ahead. ITEM 3e. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 1, 2006, ON A PROPOSAL TO CONVEY A SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOCATED AT 1220 SOUTH FIRST AVENUE TO A PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM TENANT. Correia: The, in the consent, agenda 3e. We've been doing, #1, 3e#l, with the tenant to owner public housing program tenant. We've been doing a lot of these, and I was wondering if we could get an update for Wilburn: Sure. Correia: just on how the program operates in terms of policies and procedures operating that, govern that, and where we are with the plan of selling off public housing, how we want to revolve that, those funds. Atkins: General update? Correia: Yeah, a general update and I guess ifthere's any sort of plan in place, target numbers of Atkins: City STEPS may have something on it, I'm just not familiar with the role. Correia: Or I'm not sure if it's set out. Atkins: Let me just check for you. Elliott: Also, when they're not, excuse me. Correia: Well, because the other thing I was also wondering about is, like, for example, this program or this specific sale ends up requiring the owner to have two mortgages because they can only get a mortgage, so I also wonder about if we want to do a community land trust program, similar to the housing fellowship that would take out the cost of the land so the owner has to deal with only one This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17, 2006. .---...---'.-------- - --_._-_._._--_.._-,,,..._---_._~-_._- July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 57 mortgage. It might also spread out affordability longer than 15 years, which is the way it seems is that affordability is at 15 years to now. Atkins: That's a different policy. Bailey: Do you want to roll this into our housing discussion? Correia: Yeah, but I haven't seen it come up, so I'm just wondering. Bailey: Right, but I mean, could that be part of it? Vanderhoef: But that secondary is always there to make them affordable. The City always takes the land Bailey: But a community land Correia: For 15 years though. After 15 years, if it's sold within 15 years, the first owner is, but it's only 15 year affordability Bailey: Requirement. Correia: Yeah, requirement. Vanderhoef: Well, if they, if the same people stay, they have earned Correia: Yeah, if the same people stay. Vanderhoef: the right on that ownership and the equity that they have built. Correia: Yeah, that was the other thing, but I also read in here in the resolution, if I'm not understanding this correctly, if they do sell before the 15 years, they have to split the profit with the City and I also wondered about that. Vanderhoef: That's standard. Elliott: My question is Champion: Low income person. Correia: No, it has to be sold to a low income person if it's within the first 15 years. Elliott: Have we ever had to eat a second mortgage? Vanderhoef: So they don't get a windfall, Amy. Correia: I don't know that there would be a windfall, but. O'Donnell: What did you say? Dilkes: Share in the appreciated value. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 58 Correia: Yeah, no, I understand, right. O'Donnell: They had? Correia: They split the share of the appreciated value with the City if they sell within 15 years. O'Donnell: They have to sell it to a low income person. Bailey: Mmm hmm. Correia: Well yes, it still has to go to an income-eligible person, but I'm just, I'm always wanting to koow more about the ins and outs and why. O'Donnell: I would too. Atkins: Why don't I write a general overview and then you can frame your questions out of that? Bailey: Well, then, when are we next discussing housing? Atkins: I owe you a little 8 or 10 points, I've got that pretty well finished. Bailey: Ok. Atkins: And the only thing we have not done is inclusionary zoning. Wilburn: Which we were waiting for something from? Atkins: That's on our things to do. Bailey: Right. But this could be another discussion within our housing, because. Atkins: We haven't summarized this in awhile so, not a bad idea, we'll get something together. Elliott: Steve, my question on that, have we ever had to eat a second mortgage? Vanderhoef: Mmm mm. Because they're covered by their total value. Atkins: Yeah. I don't recollect. Elliott: No, but if somebody doesn't meet it and the bank takes it back? Ok. Atkins: I don't think so. Correia: Do you have foreclosures? Is that what you're asking. Vanderhoef: One. Wasn't there just one foreclosure that? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. -,,,.__..._.~~-_.._-",._----~---_.__.__.__._---_._-_.,------------,. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 59 Atkins: You know, there's something scratching around. It seems that there was one. I'm just not real sure, but I'll find out. ITEM 3f(10). CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORlZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND CITY CLERK TO ATTEST DOCUMENTATION FOR THE RELEASE OF A SCHOOL SITE COVENANT WITH WINDSOR RlDGE DEVELOPMENT. Bailey: I have a question on 3F(10), the school site covenant with Windsor Ridge Development? So this land that's been held for a future school site, the covenant is being removed. So what will happen, will it just go for sale? Atkins: Go back to the developer, I think. Franklin: It goes back to the developer. Atkins: Back to the developer. Bailey: Back to the developer. Ok. Wilburn: Any other agenda items? IPS of 07/06 Info Packet - Martin Diaz: Hedge trimming complaint IP13 of 07/13 Info Packet -Martin Diaz: 3 North Westminster Bailey: Dilkes: Bailey: Dilkes: Wilburn: Dilkes: Bailey: Wilburn: Bailey: I have two questions from the info packet too. About this ongoing correspondence regarding some quality care work. What is, what is our policy? Are we going to suggest that we have photographs? I mean, can we do something in the procedural thing so we don't have this kind of back and forth? Well, I responded to him once and you've seen the, his next letter, and I haven't responded to that. I'm going to have to talk to Doug and talk about whether that's something that we should do or want to do. We haven't gotten to that yet. I mean I guess with, you know, digital cameras are pretty common. That might, you know, save you some time or save staff some time, to just, you know, have some photographic documentation. Yeah. Ok. I'll explore that with Doug. There's still digital editing out there that we might be accused of, so. What did you say? That's true. There's still digital editing that we might be accused of. See, my mind doesn't even go to those places. An honest person. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting ofJuly 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 60 Elliott: My question on Wilburn: You just haven't had enough people complaining about, wanting to see your credibility. Go ahead, I'm sorry. Bailey: Just the kind of life I live. Go ahead, Bob. ITEM 3e(2). CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 1, 2006 ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE RE.DEVELOPMENT OF BROOKLAND PARK, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID HEARING, AND DIRECTING THE PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTOR TO PLACE SAID PLANS ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. Elliott: On #2, Brookfield Park, or Brookland Park, what is the cost, what is the estimated cost on that? Vanderhoef: 2 of which? Elliott: Consent calendar. Bailey: 02. Elliott: E2. Vanderhoef: Resolution. Bailey: Setting a public hearing. Elliott: I just wondered, what kind of money were we talking about? IP17 Historic Preservation Minutes of June 22 Atkins: 225 sticks in my mind, but let me get that, confirm that for you tomorrow. Bailey: And then I had a question from the info. packet too, this must be historic preservation minutes. They're discussing again some work that was done without getting a permit. It seems that this is the second or third time that I've read this in the minutes, from property owners that are doing work without permits. Are we having a problem? Atkins: Champion: I don't believe there's a problem. It just happens on occasion. It happens in areas that aren't historic, too. Bailey: Right, right. Yeah, I understand that, but this is like the 3'd time, 2nd or 3'd time I've read this this year, and it's only July, so. Atkins: Given the number of homes that are involved I don't believe it's extreme. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 61 Bailey: Ok. Wilburn: Other agenda items. Atkins: It's true, and Dale points out that a couple of them are still unrelated. Bailey: Oh, ok. Because I was thinking maybe We could do a little thing on cable about what requires a permit. Welcome to Iowa City. Wilburn: Other agenda items. Correspondence #3g(8) Deborah Conger - Handicap parking at Old Capitol Mall Correia: I just had a question from the correspondence, #8, about handicapped parking at Old Capital Mall. In terms of, so when we're doing repair in ramps, is there any way to keep handicapped, a certain number for handicapped patrons needing? I mean can we? Atkins: Yeah, that, I don't know how to. Champion: That would be tough to do. Atkins: It's deck ceiling, so you're doing this vast area. I'll ask Joe. Champion: There are other handicapped Vanderhoef: That may be a case where the paratransit from the University ought to pick up and deliver and take them back home. Bailey: Right. Correia: Well, and that's the other thing that I wonder about, if we know people who have handicapped parking permits if they could get notification in the mail when there's going to be issues with not having access to that parking - I mean, if they have a permit. Obviously we don't know Champion: They can go to any other ramp though if they have a permit. Atkins: Yeah, we don't issue them that I know of in other communities. Elliott: This was a person who had difficulty walking any distance and it was a particularly distressing situation. I'm not sure what could have been done, but I thought it was brought to our attention and we need to at least look at it. Bailey: Well and, can, if we're working on certain floors, can we take more parking on those floors that are open and available close to the door. Champion: Well, eventually you're going to have to do the entrance level. I mean, they do it in sections. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Bailey: Correia: Bailey: Champion: Bailey: Champion: Atkins: Champion: Atkins: Bailey: Wilburn: City Council Work Session Page 62 Right. There's handicapped spaces on every floor. Yeah, we have handicapped spaces on every floor close to the entrance, so could you take more of those so there were more close parking? For instance, Tower Place was closed for three days. Closed. Completely closed. You'd have to shut it down. You have to shut it down. You can only work in small spaces for so long. I'll ask Joe. But. Can you check on some options? (all talk - can 't hear) Wilburn: Conncil Time Any other agenda items? Agenda items? Council Time. Anyone? Correspondence 3g (#4) Gary Drown - Traffic Ticket Elliott: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: O'Donnell: Champion: O'Donnell: Elliott: Ijust really liked, Melissa wrote a nifty letter. I think it's really neat when our people respond to a communication and it's done very thoughtfully, and a lot of public relations thought went into her reply. Which one is it? A person was asking about I think parking tickets, if I'm not mistaken, and the way she responded to it was just very well written. Oh yeah. Has anybody been down to the dog park? Beautiful. It is so incredible. It's really neat. Thank you, Dean. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 Champion: O'Donnell: Bailey: O'Donnell: Bailey: Wilburn: O'Donnell: Bailey: Correia: Wilburn: Correia: City Council Work Session Page 63 It might be our nicest park. I think it's fantastic. Marie and I walked down there and it's just, you know. I think we were all skeptical about something new but this sure seems to be working, and it's really. It's busy, right? What's that. It's real busy. It's very busy. It's a busy little place. So. I have one. Go ahead. Well, speaking of parks and signs, I wonder about getting a sign for Napolean Softball Park. I don't see any signs. I keep looking. Do I, am I missing it on Highway 6 on either side? There is on the bike path, but. There's none on the street. (all talk - can't hear) Atkins: Correia: Wilburn: Atkins: Just trying to remember. When my daughter played softball, I can remember there was. That sign was moved because of construction. Yeah, that's what it was, maybe. I'll find out. Schedule of Peudiul! Discussion Items Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: Champion: I just wanted to point out that you know we have a lot of these pending discussion items and we're kind of a little behind. Kind of? Yeah. Because we skipped two tonight and we have three. Well no, I guess we did Burlington. We have two more that we've designated for July 31 ", so I don't know how you want to handle those, but. What were they, Regenia? Which ones were you? This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. . July 17, 2006 Bailey: Champion: Bailey: Champion: (laughter) Bailey: O'Donnell: Correia: Bailey: Correia: Bailey: Correia: Champion: Bailey: Champion: Bailey: Champion: Atkins: Champion: Bailey: Correia: Wilburn: Champion: City Council Work Session Page 64 Parking on city park football weekends was designated for July 17th. Fire station #2 was slated for tonight. Sand Lake to, you know, be named, the concept plan for the 31 ". We're going to be dealing with the football parking. Yeah, and Grand Avenue roundabout concept plan for the 31". I don't like that. There we go. We can cross it off the list, thanks. I love (can't hear) Farmer's Market on the 31 ". What? Farmer's Market, 31 "? Maybe I have a different list. Farmer's Market, 31 "too? Yeah. Before we added it I wrote it in. Well Farmer's Market we can deal with it almost whenever. Yeah, you're right, we can deal with that like in the fall, right? Yeah. We have more pressing things to deal with. Are we going to decide next what to do with this housing issue? Right. I think we really need to decide what our next steps are going to be. So maybe that should definitely be on our next work session. I don't have that summary, unfortunately. Our future discussion, I mean. What's the next steps. Right. Well, and I think we might Let's see if Regenia will be meeting with you to prepare, because I'll be (can't hear) with the next agenda. I'll be gone. Might be back here by then. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006. July 17, 2006 City Council Work Session Page 65 Wilburn: No. Karr: You might take vacation. Elliott: Mr. Mayor, we don't want to hear a report of you flying over your handlebars, either. Wilburn: I hope not, either. Bailey: And you wear a helmet, right? Wilburn: Yes I do, always. Champion: Just keep his face nice. Bailey: It's the top of your head that you have to worry about when you hit the pavement. O'Donnell: Knees hurt too though. Wilburn: Right. See you tomorrow night. This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of July 17, 2006.